Category Archives: Keith Fries

Keith Fries, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

2020 NHL Draft: Five Players from the WHL to Keep an Eye On by @Keithfries

While there’s plenty of time for draft boards to change, before next June, I thought it’d be fun to look at some of the top prospects coming out of Canada, this year. 

For this article, we’ll be examining five players from the WHL that I’ll be keeping a close eye on. 

So, without further ado, let’s get started. 

Justin Sourdif – Center – 5’11” – 165 lbs. – Vancouver Giants 

Heading into his full sophomore season, Sourdif has been a prominent fixture of the Giants’ offense, contributing 46 points (23Gs|23As) in 64 games played, last season. In 17 post-season appearances, Sourdif continued to find the score sheet finishing with 8 points (2Gs|6As). 

He’d go on to play in this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, representing Team Canada, where he averaged 1 PPG over 5 games. 

Those numbers speak volumes about his consistency and ability to find the back of the net, but that doesn’t tell you the full story about his game and style of play. Foundationally, Sourdif’s ice-vision and positioning drive his success. 

Although 5’11” and a bit lanky, Sourdif has no issue getting to the net. In fact, crashing the net seems to be his first instinct. He can take his fair share of chops and dish ‘em out, too; very rarely looking out of place, physically, when attacking the dirty areas. 

He’s a remarkably good skater with clean edges and up-tempo speed. As a shooter, he quickly corrals the puck for a one-timer and can go top cheese, with ease. …Ch-ease. 

HockeyProspect.com currently has Sourdif ranked as the 11th-best prospect available for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. While that may be a bit of a reach, in my opinion, it still speaks volumes about his potential. I currently have Sourdif ranked as a mid-1st-round prospect, but even I might move him up my draft board by the time June gets here.

Seth Jarvis – Right-Wing – 5’9” – 165 lbs. – Portland Winterhawks 

Jarvis, much like Sourdif, is an undersized forward who finds a lot of success down low. 

A natural goal scorer, Jarvis does a nice job of tracking the puck and running with his linemates on breakaway opportunities. His paddle and the puck seem magnetized, as he’s usually around the puck cleaning up rebounds. Has excellent control on his backhand shot. Jarvis’ WHL career statistics suggest he could be quite the playmaker with nearly 60% of his points generated from assists. 

As a skater, Jarvis does a nice job of reaching top acceleration before moving at a fast-paced glide, widening his stance for greater balance. 

2020 is shaping up to potentially be one of the best drafts in NHL history. The top-5 is more like a top-10, and thus, a late first-round pick would hold greater value than in years past. My feeling with Jarvis is, he could end up being the benefactor of a team with one of those late picks – a team already in Stanley Cup contention who could work Jarvis’ into their line-up as a spark plug. 

A solid performance in this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup has Jarvis fresh in the minds of scouts. 2019-20 could prove to be a make-or-break season for Jarvis’ draft stock, who I currently have ranked in the 20-35 range. 

Kaiden Guhle – Defense – 6’3” – 187 lbs. – Prince Albert Raiders 

Selected with the 1st-overall pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, Guhle had an added level of pressure put on him before he ever made it to Prince Albert. 

A physically imposing defenseman, Guhle does a nice job of locking down the opposition with solid board battles and bone-crushing checks. I’d liken him to a freight train, a north-south powerhouse of force. 

Naturally, as you might expect, Guhle’s shot is heavily rooted in what a defensive defenseman’s offensive game usually looks like: heavy bombs from the point and a powerful wrister. 

An inconsistent performance at this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup left scouts with as many questions as they had exclamations. But, I like to err on the side of optimism and I’ll say that, while it wasn’t his best outing, a stacked Team Canada might’ve handcuffed Guhle, to an extent. 

That doesn’t excuse untimely penalties and defensive hiccups, but this hit on top 2022 draft–eligible prospect, Brad Lambert, sure does.  

Guhle is going to have to live up to the hype of being a former 1st-overall selection, this season, with Lukas Cormier, Noah Delemont, Jamie Drysdale, and Jeremie Poirier nipping at his heels. With a stacked group of forwards leading the head of the class, I wouldn’t expect to hear Guhle’s name called until the lottery selections have been made. 

Kyle Crnkovic – Left Wing – 5’6” – 154 lbs. – Saskatoon Blades 

I’m sure you’ll hear Crnkovic referred to as a “bulldog,” many times, throughout the season. But, he’s not really a bulldog so much as he is a poodle. He’s small, sure, but he puts on a show. I’m saying all of that to give you some context because Crnkovic is VERY good, but I don’t think his story will be properly told by draft analysts. 

In an era where smaller players are becoming the norm, Crnkovic will draw comparisons to [INSERT NONSENSICAL COMPARISON, SOLELY BASED ON HEIGHT, HERE]. 

All jokes aside, Crnkovic is a deceptive playmaker with a hell of a shot. He does a nice job targeting an open linemate for an assist or picking his spot to fire one in, himself. For a left shot, left-winger, Crnkovic creates a lot of space for himself to operate. 

He can play at varying speeds, but his stride is a bit… for a lack of a better word, clunky. By comparison, Sourdif is an elite skater that captivates your attention, whereas Crnkovic impresses you with his ability to hang in the play. 

And while many are going to point to his size as a question mark for physical play, know that Crnkovic isn’t afraid to attack the net or fight through traffic. 

As for his draft stock, I can’t see it rising high enough for Crnkovic to hear his name called on day one. That said, he’ll be a fixture of many teams’ draft boards on day two. 

Cross Hanas – Left Wing – 6’1” – 165 lbs. – Portland Winterhawks 

Son of Winterhawks’ scout, Trevor, Cross was selected by Portland with the 77th-overall pick, in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft. But, don’t go thinking he got the job because of his dad. 

Hanas is a reliable two-way forward whose work on the defensive end leads to his offensive production. He’s a patient player who anticipates well. 

From an IQ standpoint, Hanas might be overlooked by analysts. He seems to make the most out of every shift, whether he’s seeing the scoresheet for a goal/assist or simply balancing the scales in his +/- column. 

He’s very mature and hasn’t backed down from big moments, having already represented Team U.S.A. in various international tournaments. From Highland Village, Texas, Hanas had been a fixture of the Dallas Stars’ Tier 1 bantam club.  

His skating is fun to watch. He can dance with defenders just as easily as he can blow right past them while heading north-south. 

Once he makes his way into the offensive zone, Hanas has a knack of finishing his stride with a wrap-around attempt; which he can score on with his forehand or going Lacrosse-style. Away from the net, Hanas has shown great accuracy and power in his wrist shot, as well as great passes while quarterbacking the play.

Hanas is easily a day two prospect because the first-round is loaded more than ever, this year. But that said, he’ll be a wise pick up on day two.

Anywho, that’s it for me this time. Cheers, Heroes!

Follow Keith on Twitter @keithfries

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Keith Fries’ 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Review

It should be said, right out the gate, that tournaments like the World Junior Summer Showcase and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup should be taken with a grain of salt. Not every prospect is present and some of the matchups are lop-sided. Which, is a great segue into my first topic…

TEAM CANADA’S DOMINANCE

After Canada’s opening contest, in the preliminary round, against Finland, I tweeted out the following:

https://twitter.com/keithfries/status/1158405341836525568

Finland was arguably Canada’s toughest opponent in their first three games and it all signs pointed to their cakewalk into the medal rounds.

Quinton Byfield, rated as my #3 pre-season prospect for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, put on highlight-reel performances game-after-game. His size and skill draw you in, but his team play and compete keep you sticking around. A sweet between the legs goal was all scouts needed to see to put the stamp of approval on this young man. And I say “man,” because he’s built like one and acts like one.

But some might say it was Cole Perfetti who really stole the show, for Team Canada. His elite hands and skill with the puck were heavily displayed, and based on that skill carried Team Canada to a shootout victory over Jesper Wallstedt and Team Sweden.

https://twitter.com/HC_Men/status/1159916543217557504

Craig Button of TSN fame noted that the roster assembled for Team Canada may be one of the best, and while the performances were certainly one-sided in the preliminary round, Canada wasn’t without their struggles.

Sure, they beat the Swedes in a shootout but one could argue that such a dominant team shouldn’t be in a shootout, anyway. That’s not to discredit the Swedes, mind you, who did an excellent job of wearing down Canada in the first 40-minutes of the game.

And, we all know Canada’s fate in the gold/silver medal round, so I won’t dwell on that part other than to say it proves Canada wasn’t an unstoppable juggernaut.

Another great segue, because…

YAROSLAV ASKAROV IS THAT GOOD

I mentioned in our pre-tournament article, here at BLH, that our Askarov would have to be elite in-order for the Russians to contend for a gold medal, let alone win it. To say he lived up to that billing would be an understatement.

Between a tight back-and-forth contest against Team Sweden and holding the lead to secure a gold medal victory against the Canadians, Askarov showed why he is more than worthy of a lottery pick, next June. My fellow BLH scout, Max (@TPEHockey), believes Askarov could go in the top-10, so I consulted with him about Askarov’s performance at the HGC, and here’s what he had to say:

“I think Askarov is a superstar. His play and style is impeccable. To summarize, he holds all the qualities of an NHL star and I see him worthy of a top-10, and maybe a top-5, pick.”

2021 GOALTENDERS

Jesper Wallstedt, who I mentioned earlier, came into this tournament with a lot of interest from scouts, myself included. Billed as a potential franchise level goaltender and top-10 pick in his draft year, Wallstedt did exceptionally despite losing two, meaningful, matchups against Russia and Canada. He showed great poise and did a nice job of keeping Sweden in the game when little offense was being generated on the other end of the ice.

For Team Canada, Tristan Lennox really impressed me when his number was called for some big games. Really liked his approach to the game – simple, but when he makes a big save he does it with style. He wants to bring the crowd out of their seats with a huge glove save but knows not to go chasing those moments. Or waterfalls, as TLC would say. You hear me, Lennox? Don’t go chasing waterfalls. …Stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to.

Sorry… Point is, Lennox was good.

https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1159893298150039552

BIGGEST RISER AND FALLER

It’s all subjective, but, I thought Cole Perfetti did an excellent job of establishing his name as a top prospect. You see names floating around various boards and you’re trying to see which of those players takes a foothold, and Perfetti certainly did that. His shootout performance, mentioned above, would’ve been enough to keep scouts salivating, but seeing those incredible dangles and goals translate over into actual gameplay was something else.

My biggest faller was Helge Grans. I had heard some good things about him, before the tournament, and was interested in watching him play. But one bad play-after-another didn’t keep me watching for very long.

https://twitter.com/JokkeNevalainen/status/1160218632934367232

Max’s Riser: Hendrix Lapierre

Max’s Faller: Jan Mysak

WHO DIDN’T PLAY AT THE TOURNAMENT (OR THE WJSS) THAT YOU WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN?

I’m a big supporter of Jaromir Pytlik, a Czech-born YouTube sensation turned top prospect. Loosely, you could affiliate his rise in popularity with that of 2018 draftee, Oliver Wahlstrom, who gained initial fame through his internet videos. But make no mistake about it, I ranked him as my pre-season #10th-overall pick for a reason.

Let’s go back to Max, one more time, to close this one out:

“I would’ve liked to have seen two guys out of the AJHL, playing for the Sherwood Park Crusaders, Michael Benning and Carter Savoie. Benning scores at a very similar rate to Cale Makar (2017 draftee) at the same age. This, while Savoie was one of the AJHL’s best rookies.”

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Edmonton Oilers: BLH’s 2020 Top-Ten NHL Draft Prospects w/@TPEHockey + @KeithFries

Now that the dust from the 2019 NHL draft has settled and with the upcoming Hlinka Gretzky Cup set to start this week, it’s time we started getting into the 2020 class, right?

Word has it that this draft might be as good or better than the 2015 class and the 2003 class. Just from doing a little bit of digging so far, there’s a group of about 8 players that are basically in everyone’s top-ten lists so far and the top-5 has more or less been set.

So without further adieu, let’s get into our lists!

Name BLH (@beerleagueheroe) Max (@TPEHockey) Keith (@keithfries)
1. Alexis Lafreniere – LW Alexis Lafreniere – LW Alexis Lafreniere – LW
2. Quinton Byfield – C Quinton Byfield – C Anton Lundell – C
3. Lucas Raymond – RW Lucas Raymond – RW Quinton Byfield – C
4. Alexander Holtz – RW/LW Anton Lundell – C Lucas Raymond – RW
5. Anton Lundell – C Noel Gunler – RW/LW Noel Gunler – RW/LW
6. Cole Perfetti – C Alexander Holtz – RW/LW Tim Stutzle – LW
7. Noel Gunler – RW/LW Yaroslav Askarov – G Alexander Holtz – RW/LW
8. Jamie Drysdale – D Cole Perfetti – C Marco Rossi – C
9. Justin Barron – D Marco Rossi – C Justin Barron – D
10. Dylan Holloway – C Jamie Drysdale – D Jaromir Pytlik – C

For shits and giggles, we thought it would be fun to take the latest Stanley Cup betting odds and apply that to a hypothetical scenario that would tell us where the Oilers would be drafting in 2020 and the site we used told us that they will be selecting 9th overall. So who would each of us select in that case?

Max’s Take at #9

With the Oiler’s hypothetical 9th pick in the 2020 draft, I would select goaltender Yaroslav Askarov.

Edmonton’s need for a goalie is no secret with 37-year-old Mike Smith and 31-year-old Mikko Kokkonen expected to split the net next year, a top prospect is needed to fill the void. While Shane Starrett and Stuart Skinner are good goalies neither have NHL starter upside. Askarov, on the other hand, can be expected to be a franchise goaltender at around the level of Andrei Vasilevskiy. Although this isn’t a pick based solely on need. Askarov is around my number 5 or 6 ranked player for the 2020 draft. I wrote a full article breaking down his game so I won’t get into that here, but Askarov is certainly worthy of a top 10 pick. He showed last season he was every bit as good as Spencer Knight despite being a year younger. His style and statistics are impeccable, and every aspect of his game is top-notch.

Other good options at #9 could be centers Marco Rossi and Dylan Holloway, but if you want to look to the wing Jan Mysak is a very intriguing guy out of the Czech league.

Keith’s Take at #9

While Justin Barron is my 9th-overall selection – who would be a nice fit for Edmonton, so, I’m not discounting that as a viable option – I’m going to rely solely on my draft list and select Tim Stutzle.

Stutzle’s greatest strength is his skating, which, if you were to rank on a system out of 5, he’d be a 6. Or for you ‘Spinal Tap’ fans out there, his skating can turn up to 11. In one of my viewings, the opposition was closing in to finish a hard check on Stutzle, who quickly recognized the hit coming and did a figure skating 360-degree spin in the air, avoiding contact, and stuck the landing.

He can play at multiple speeds, and with solid heads up play and a high hockey IQ readily on display, it’s not hard for Stutzle to take over games and play at his desired pace.

I can’t see him hitting some rapid growth spurt, so he’ll need to start filling out the frame he has. Playing his draft year in the German pro-league (DEL) should help toughen him up and give him some kind of idea of the level of competition he might be facing in the AHL – where I’m projecting he’ll be for a year-or-so before making a splash on the main roster.

BLH’s Take at #9

Tell ya what. I really like Justin Barron at #9 because he’s such a smooth operator. I like what Draftgeek.com had to say about him,

Barron is a mobile, intelligent defenceman. He’s not extraordinarily flashy, but he transitions the puck and can create offence from his position. He can start a breakout, distribute the puck from the blueline, and run a powerplay, and there’s a lot of value in that that NHL teams will be looking to capitalize on.

But I’m not sure that he’s the guy I would take there. My feeling is that there’s a need to select a game-breaking forward in 2020 and since they skipped on Matthew Boldy this past year in favor of Philip Broberg, I’d like to see Holland call the name of Dylan Holloway.

He’s one of the fastest and most powerful players in the draft and he’s got the size to boot (6’1″ 192 and growing). Not only that, but he was the AJHL’s 2nd leading scorer as a 16-year-old… That’s nuts! He’s got the hockey IQ to go with the physical tools and I’ve heard his character isn’t of any question.

Now, I don’t know if he’s close to a Chris Kreider type or if he’s closer to a Dylan Larkin one, but either way, I believe the attributes that he brings to the ice are ones that would benefit the Oilers more so than the likes of a Marco Rossi or a Hendrix Lapierre.

I’ll say this though, it would be awfully hard to pass on Jamie Drysdale if he were around or if Anton Lundell or Noel Gunler dropped.

Who do you have your eyes on for the 2020 NHL draft? Let us know in the comments below!

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Edmonton Oilers Rumor: Narrowing Down the Search for a 3C + 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Group B Preview

The Hlinka Gretzky Cup is set to kick off on August 5th and run until the 10th in Breclav, Czech Republic and Piestany, Slovakia. For those of you that are new to the competition, it’s basically the world’s best under-18 players going head-to-head. Canada has won 22 of the last 28 contests and are looking to repeat as champions after winning last year’s edition of the tournament that was played in Edmonton and Red Deer.

Check out @TPEHockey‘s Group A preview here.

Today’s Group B Preview is from Keith Fries (@keithfries)

USA

While the USNTDP kids are off getting ready for their season, it’s the other noteworthy U.S.-born prospects that take center stage at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. This hodgepodge roster features players from the: USHL, USHS, WHL, and OHL, amongst others, with Blake Biondi leading the charge.

But it’s 2021 draft-eligible prospect, Matthew “Mackie” Samoskevich that I’ll be keeping a close eye on. The first time I saw Samoskevich was at last season’s U17 5 Nations tournament, where he finished with 7 points (4Gs|3As) in 5 games played and only drew 4 penalty minutes. I wouldn’t put him in my 2021 top-10 (yet), but he’s someone I feel will draw a lot of attention, in a couple of years.

I wouldn’t be quick to write off the USA. I’m not saying they’re going to win it all, or even that they’ll medal, just that I’m expecting a better outcome than middle-of-the-pack and lower.

Sweden

With both Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz participating in the 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase, a U20 tournament featuring top NHL prospects, and the absence of Noel Gunler, Sweden’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster didn’t sit well with fans who were hoping to see at least one-of-the-three make the cut.

Instead, Sweden will lean on Helge Grans, Zion Nybeck, and Oskar Olausson to carry the load. In net, it’ll be fun to watch Jesper Wallstedt (2021 draft eligible) and see how he’s progressed since last year’s tournament, where he competed as a 15-year-old. Regarded as the best goaltender for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Wallstedt’s name has been seen on various draft boards in the top-5 as a franchise goaltender the likes of Marc-Andre Fleury and Carey Price.

A solid team effort could net the Swedes some bling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O5r-lrG1Vg

Russia

The Russians have some real firepower up front in Daniil Gushchin, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Vasili Ponomaryov; and on the back end, 2021 draft-eligible prospect, Daniil Chayka, could be incredibly dominant returning to a larger European rink, already playing in N.A. for the OHL’s Guelph Storm.

But the story begins and ends in net with Yaroslav Askarov. Askarov is not only the best 2020 draft-eligible goaltender but many, including my colleague Max (TPEHockey), feel he’s worthy of a top-10 selection, next June. At last year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Askarov posted a 2.26 GAA and a .913 SV% in 4 appearances. If he takes those impressive stats to the next level, Max’s projection of a top-10 prospect wouldn’t be a reach, at all.

Russia’s success rests on the shoulders of Askarov – who will have to be elite if this team wants to advance to the gold/silver medal game.

Slovakia

Since winning back-to-back bronze medals in 1997 and 1998, Slovakia’s been on a dry spell and has finished: 8th, 7th, 6th, and 8th in the last four tournaments, respectively. It’s going to be a big mountain to climb, and, while anything’s possible, I don’t think sports betters are going to be laying down money on Slovakia any time soon.

Slovakia’s roster has yet to be made public, but I’m projecting that Samuel Knazko, a defenseman playing in Finland for TPS’ U20 Jr. A club will make the team; as will Martin Chromiak, who tallied 1 assist in 2 appearances in the Slovakia pro-league, this past season.

As I mentioned above, I’m not expecting Slovakia to hit a home run, but finishing in 4th or 5th would be a huge coup, and stepping stone, for their program going forward.

About that Third Line Center…

There are basically two things left for Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland to check off his summer list of things to do,

  • Sort out the Puljujarvi situation
  • Find a centre for the third line

By the way things are being reported on the Pulju front (at least locally), it sounds like Yessa might be coming back to Edmonton to try and work things out. That said, I think there are still lots of teams out there that are trying to get their salary caps in order and the potential for a trade is still quite real. My feeling is that we might be waiting until training camp when the GMs start to get an idea of how their rosters are shaping up.

Now, as for the third line pivot, I’m lead to believe the Oilers are looking for a player with three to five years of experience.

At first, I was under the impression that they were looking for a right-handed centreman until recently when Bob Stauffer said that might not be the case anymore.

Nevertheless, the work I’d previously done was on the right-handers, so here is a list of centers who shoot right, have taken over 2000 faceoffs, have 3-5-ish seasons worth of experience (240-500 games played), and in my opinion, could be had via trade,

  • Ryan Strome (NYR)
  • Riley Nash (CLB)
  • Nick Bjugstad (PIT)
  • JG Pageau (OTT)
  • Luke Glendening (DET)
  • Tyler Johnson (TB)

(Obviously, the list is much larger if you don’t omit the players who couldn’t be had via trade)

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If we narrow it down to 1000-2000 faceoffs taken, we can add Rickard Rakell (ANH), Jonathan Marchessault (VGK), and Chris Wagner (BOS) to the list of candidates. Although, I’d probably take Rakell and Marchessault off just because there’s no way that the Ducks and Golden Knights are dealing those guys.

So that leaves is with Strome, Nash, Bjugstad, Pageau, Glendening, Wagner, and Johnson.

I’d probably remove Ryan Strome just because his price point, age, and production are ideal for the Rangers and that boat has sailed for Edmonton. I’m going to strike Bjugstad off of the list because he makes too much money ($4.1M for this year and next). I do think that Tyler Johnson would be of great interest to the Oilers due to his ability to basically play across the board and his close relationship with Kailer Yamamoto, but his contract is problematic as well and Tampa doesn’t exactly have the room to take money back either. My feeling on Pageau is that the Sens really value him and it would really cost to acquire him. I’m talking a 1st rounder plus a good young near NHL-ready prospect at least. For me, that’s not a price I’m willing to pay and Nash is probably just a bit too expensive for a guy coming off of a 3g/9a season.

Now we’re down to Glendening and Wagner as right-hand options.

Wagner is very cheap ($1.25M) and he’s positionally flexible. He plays a really hard-nosed game and his FO% from last year was 49.4%. Last season he scored a career-high 12 goals, but I do believe he was stationed on the wing for the most part though.

Luke Glendening is a guy I’ve been championing for quite a while now. He was 56.1% on the dot last year and he only makes $1.8M for this upcoming campaign and next. For those that are curious, he’s 30 years old and undoubtedly on the final legs of his career. I mean, he’s not going to add that much offense to the Oilers save for around 15-20 points. I do believe, however, that he would really be a great help on the penalty kill and that’s a place where the Oilers new head coach is putting a lot of emphasis on improving. I feel like a line of Markus Granlund, Glendening, and Josh Archibald could really do some damage as a shutdown line of sorts.

What about the left-handed centers? I don’t know if the Oilers really need to go down that road if this is the case. They’ve got players who have experience playing down the middle but shoot left like Khaira and Granlund. Colby Cave is another. I suppose the same could be said for the righties too eh? They’ve got Haas and Brodziak but one is unproven and one is rumored to be heading to Ference Island for the remainder of his contract.

Anyways, we’re getting off track a bit. The left-shot options out there using the same parameters above are as follows:

  • Riley Sheahan (UFA)
  • Alexander Wennberg (CLB)
  • Viktor Rask (MIN)
  • Radek Faksa (DAL)
  • Johan Larsson (BUF)
  • Vladimir Sobotka (BUF)
  • Boone Jenner (CLB)
  • Zemgus Girgensons (BUF)

Let’s get the players from Buffalo out of the way first. Sobotka is making too much money ($3.5M) for what he produces (13pts in 2018/19) but he’s got a fantastic FO% (56%). Girgensons at $1.5M and 15pts could probably be replaced internally for half of the price and Larsson, I feel, finds himself in the same boat as Girgensons. So no to those guys.

Next, Columbus. I would love to have both Wennberg and Jenner on the Oilers. Unfortunately, the Swede makes $4.9M per year for the next four seasons, so I think we can safely say that unless the Oilers are moving Nugent-Hopkins, Wennberg is staying in Columbus. Jenner on the other hand is a bit cheaper at $3.75M. That’s still probably a bit too rich for Edmonton’s liking unless they can move a contract back to the Blue Jackets. I like Jenner’s 53% faceoff percentage though and he’s only 26 and he plays the kind of game that would endear him to the fanbase very quickly.

Just before moving on, the Oilers could bury Brandon Manning and Kyle Brodziak (if he’s not sunbathing on Ference Island) and open up some cap room that could give them the option to try and pick up one of the more expensive options we’ve gone over today, but I feel like Holland would best be served having that available cap room for the season.

The remaining candidates are free agent Riley Sheahan who I think is unsigned for a reason… Radek Faksa, who Bob Stauffer has suggested might find himself in Calgary at some point should the Flames rid themselves of TJ Brodie, and lastly Viktor Rask.

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We’ll start with Rask, $4M is not typically the kind of money a player makes for 9pts of production. Could Edmonton convince MIN to eat 50% and then acquire him? $2M for a 26-year-old with a history of multiple 30pt seasons is a lot easier to tolerate, no? 51.1% on the draw last season too.

I like Radek Faksa and I would definitely welcome him on the Oilers squad. He knows his role on the team and he busts his ass on the ice. He’s getting paid $2.2M this season and then he’s an RFA. He’s good for 30pts per year too and is plus 50% on the faceoff. Being 6’3″ and 220 lbs doesn’t hurt either.

I like Faksa, Jenner, and Glendening the most and I think that Ken Holland’s relationships with Jim Nill and Steve Yzerman could really help out should they be options for Edmonton.

Personally, I don’t know why the Stars would want to move Faksa but if he’s available, Holland has to see what the cost is there. As for Glendening, I don’t think he’s going to make it to the 3rd line as the Red Wings signed Val Filppula this summer and they’ve got Michael Rasmussen in the fold. It might be in Detroit’s best interest to get something for him.

Who do you like best for the Oilers third-line center, and how much would you be willing to pay?

  • Radek Faksa (DAL)
  • Viktor Rask (MIN)
  • Boone Jenner (CLB)
  • Luke Glendening (DET)
  • Chris Wagner (BOS)

Let us know in the comments below who you like!

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Edmonton Oilers: The Ten Best Free Agency Options + 2019 Draft Review from @TPEHockey and @KeithFries

Nothing new on the Jesse Puljujarvi front eh? I know during Mark Spector’s spot on Oilers Now yesterday that he didn’t think that the Finn would be dealt this week and thus speculated that this bit of drama would extend into the summer. Host Bob Stauffer disagreed.

But we did have a bit of news coming out of Switzerland! It’s being reported that the Oilers will be signing a gentleman by the name of Gaëtan Haas from SC Bern in the Swiss league. He’s a right-shot centre who can fly! According to Bob Stauffer, he’s also quite efficient on the faceoff dot and he projects to be the Oilers third line centre.

Here’s his brief scouting report from EliteProspects.com,

Gaetan Haas is an offensive center, who plays a reliable and smart two-way game. An excellent skater, who reaches very good top-speed and can make end-to-end rushes. Has soft hands and strong puck-skills. Haas sees the ice well and can play the point on the Power Play, distributing the puck using his excellent vision. He leads by example by competing hard for the puck, doing solid backchecking and not being afraid blocking shots, rounding out his solid defensive game. Haas can lead a team’s shutdown line. (by Rafik Soliman, November 2015)

Stauffer had spoken to some questions about Haas’ “compete” level, but if we’re going by the report above (it’s nearly four years old mind you), it sounds like his intensity level is fine.

Why don’t we watch a clip of the 27-year-old in action?

Not bad. He’s got some quickness to his game and can certainly shoot the puck well and from those highlights, he could be an option on the 2nd unit PP. I guess the one thing with these Euro signings that we have to ask is, how well will they do on the smaller ice surface and the more aggressive style of play?

Coinciding with how long Stauffer has been hinting at the Oilers signing someone out of Europe is this report from back in May saying that Haas had received an offer from one NHL club. Previously, the Calgary Flames were watching him.

Speaking of signing players, the Edmonton media is REALLY putting the push on for Brett Connolly eh?

If you take out Brett Connolly’s name and replace it with Milan Lucic, how thick is the irony?

Yes, this player did have 21 goals at even strength last year for a powerhouse Washington Capitals team. So would it be safe to say he was probably not getting the other team’s best defense trying to stop him? Let’s figure it out!

According to PuckIQ.com, Brett Connolly’s 2018./19 TOI broke down like this:

  • Gritensity (Bottom 6 TOI) – 256.9
  • Middle (Middle 6 TOI) – 429.7
  • Elite (Top Line TOI) – 305.6

I think it’s pretty accurate to report that he spent most of the time playing away from the opposition’s best players but did he perform the best in this role?

Opposition CF% Rel DFF% Rel 
Elite 6.30 6.20
Middle -0.40 -2.33
Grit -1.20 -2.83

CF% Rel – Shots on goal, missed shots on goal, and blocked shot attempts relative to teammates
DFF% Rel – “Dangerous” unblocked shots (shots determined to be the equivalent to a 29ft wrister) relative to teammates

So from the metrics above, we can see that Connolly actually did quite well when lined up vs the league’s best and got gradually worse as he was played vs average and below average opposition. That would be a plus for the Oilers, right? He would’ve been the best right winger on the team last season in this regard.

I’m not really sold on Connolly myself and I wonder how his numbers would react to playing in the West with the kind of travel the Oilers do? Would he be able to replicate his shooting percentage from last year? Adding to that, players that have come from the Eastern Conference to play for Edmonton haven’t always done well and then we have to consider the contract… The other thing that can’t be forgotten is the expansion draft is coming and will Connolly be looking for protection in the form of a Lucic-like contract, no-move clauses and all?

If the Oilers were to sign him, I would like to see him signed for the reported $3Mx3 but I cannot see him doing that at all. I don’t care if he is from Western Canada, he has to be looking at some of these deals being signed and laughing a $3M per year offer off the table.

My top-ten list of preferred free agent signings looks like this:

  • Joonas Donskoi (SJ) – RW – Perfect middle 6 fwd who can help on the PK.
  • Petr Mrazek (CAR) – G – Excellent back-up option and aged right.
  • Alex Chiasson (EDM) – RW – Loved his hustle and fearlessness last season. Bit slow though.
  • Brandon Tanev (WPG) – RW – Annoying waterbug Edmonton has been lacking forever.
  • Pat Maroon (STL) – LW – A better option than Lucic AND he’ll fight. Chirp game solid.
  • Ryan Hartman (DAL) – W – Solid bottom-6 30pt player. Good buy low option.
  • Derrick Brassard (COL) – C – Great middle-6 option down the middle. Might be out of EDM’s price range.
  • Daniel Carr (VGK) – LW – Brendan Gallagher-lite. Too good for the AHL.
  • Brandon Pirri (VGK) – W – Also too good for the AHL. Scores in bunches but disappears.
  • Mario Kempe (ARI) – W – High engine, smart down low. Not much of a point producer though.

What about you? Who’d you like to see the Oilers sign?

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2019 Oilers Draft Review from Max and Keith


Philip Broberg

Keith: If we’re dialing in on specifics, Broberg begins the conversation of “offensive defensemen.” While Bowen Byram put up ungodly numbers, this season, what separates Broberg from Byram is his skating and puck rushing abilities. Between the two, Byram can be flat-footed, at times, especially in his own zone. The same can’t be said of Broberg, who is an elite skater with top-end speed. Will quarterback the play both in 5-on-5 and power play situations, alike. And with an underrated shot and playmaking abilities, it’s enticing to think what Broberg could become when running with speedster like Connor McDavid or Ryan McLeod.

Max: With the 8th pick, the Edmonton Oilers took Philip Broberg. Broberg is a powerful two-way defenseman whose combination of size and speed got him taken at this spot. His straight-line speed is unmatched by any other defensemen in the class and his hands are impressive for a 6’3” d-man.

With that being said Broberg has glaring issues and is a confusing pick when you look at who’s available at this spot. Broberg struggled to replicate the successes he had against U18 competition at the U20 and pro levels. His puck rushing is one example of how his play has been shut down at older levels as he can’t overpower his opponents. The other issue is that Broberg lacks hockey IQ and quick decision making. He often makes confusing or ineffective decisions with and without the puck in the offensive zone.

Personally, Trevor Zegras is the can’t miss player at this spot with Caufield and Newhook also being better options.

Raphael Lavoie

Keith: Seen as a bubble first-round talent, I had Lavoie going early on day 2 and that’s how things panned out. His offensive gifts and size are very enticing, and it’d be hard to pass on those intangibles at this point in the draft. What I think scared off scouts from pulling the trigger in the first-round was Lavoie’s lack of a well-rounded game and maybe some mental focus issues, as well. I didn’t get a chance to watch many Halifax games, this season, and the few I did I wasn’t overly impressed by Lavoie. I see what he can become, but as of right now, he’s just that – a pet project that needs work. Really good piece of playdough to mold.

Max: At 38 Lavoie is a steal. His production in the QMJHL, especially in the playoffs, was staggering. Lavoie is a great puck possession player who, like Kakko, is a hard guy to take the puck away from. His solid skating foundation also allows him to be effective offensively along with his shot. The problem with Lavoie and the reason he fell is that he’s seen as a low ceiling player. Lavoie isn’t going to be a star in the NHL. His outlook is a 3rd liner and anything else is unlikely.

While I do like the Lavoie pick, if I was picking at this spot my pick would be Nils Höglander.

Ilya Konovalov

Keith: As I suggested in one of the final draft mailbag’s we conducted, here at BLH, there were three goaltenders that stood out to me, in this class, as a step above the rest: Spencer Knight, Dustin Wolf, and Ilya Konovalov. A double-overager, Konovalov performed incredibly well, this season, in the KHL, posting an unreal 1.89 GAA and .930 SV% in 45 games played. While the Oilers have both Olivier Rodrigue and Stuart Skinner in their pipeline, it may be the change of management and coaching that led to this decision – where Rodrigue and Skinner may be seen as picks under the old regime that may-or-may not pan out.

Max: With the 85th pick the Oilers made my favorite pick of their class. Konovalov has had a stellar season with Lokomotiv in the KHL last year. He put up a .930 Sv% as a 20-year-old on a very large workload. Konovalov put up similar numbers to that of Igor Shestyorkin and Ilya Sorokin when they were his age. His issue is that he’s only 6’0” tall, but other than that there are few issues in his game. If he pans out than Edmonton could have their starter.

For me I had Domenick Fensore ranked higher and he went at #90, but Konovalov is the right guy for Edmonton. He’s probably the perfect pick here.

Matej Blumel

Keith: Blumel was a shining light in the USHL, and made the most of his opportunities after returning to Waterloo as an overager. An effective two-way forward, with a very nice shot, Blumel was ranked by most scouting services, on average, right around 100, so this pick isn’t a reach it’s a reality. On the international stage, Blumel has been a contributing factor for the Czech Republic, and with a commitment to U. Conn, next season, will be paired up with fellow countrymen Jachym Kondelik and Tomas Vomacka – and I suspect, if he settles in comfortably, he could have a very good 2019-20 season.

Max: In the 4th round and on you’re pretty much just using lottery tickets. At pick 100 they spend one on an overager who was just over a point per game in the USHL. Blümel is a Czech national heading to UConn in the NCAA. They’re historically a very good program for European prospects. Blümel put himself on the map with a strong World Jr. A Challenge.

At 100 there aren’t a ton of great players left. Although Ethan Keppen falling this far was shocking. He was one of few bright spots on an awful Flint Firebirds team. @Scouching put together a great feature piece not long ago.

Tomas Mazura

Keith: The Oilers double-down on Czech-born prospects by taking Mazura at #162. He took a big step forward, statistically, from the 2017-18 season, finishing with 1.46 PPG in 37 games played. For my own projections, the USHS-Prep league is a great place to develop, but takes a hit when evaluating the level of competition when compared to the USHL and CHL. Committed to Providence College beginning in the 2020-21 season, it’ll be interesting to see where Mazura plays, next season. A nice fit might be the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL. As for the player himself, the Oilers are getting a creative playmaker with really intriguing size.

Max: Mazura is a player I haven’t really heard anything about. He wasn’t a player that was supposed to be drafted but the Oilers take him at 162 anyway. He had a strong season at Kimball Union, a US prep school. He’s committed to play with Providence in the NCAA in 2020-21.

At this point in the draft, I have no clue how they pass up on Marshall Warren. Ranked in my early 2nd round he fell all the way to 166. This guy scored at a PPG in his time against NCAA competition with the NTDP.

Maxim Denezhkin

Keith: This could be a swing-and-a-miss or a homerun when all’s said and done. Really undersized forward that put up average numbers in the Russian junior league (MHL). So you might be thinking, why would the Oilers draft him? Well, when you’re 5’10” – closer to 5’9” – and you put up ANY points, it’s intriguing. His upside is more promising than his downside when you look at the little parts of his game like his willingness to attack down the middle of the ice and play with his heads up. This will take some time, and we might have a career AHLer, here, but if you can get the most out of him I think Denezhkin could be an effective bottom-6 role player.

Max: I’ve never heard of this guy so I’ll keep it quick. Played with Lokomotiv in the Russian jr. league. He had an ok season and got a shot in the KHL playing one game.

Here I’d take Dustin Wolf who’s one of my favorite players in this draft. Led the WHL in Sv% at 17 and won his conference’s goaltender of the year award. Wolf played almost every game for Everett and was dominant. The problem? He’s 5’11”.

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