Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors

Edmonton Oilers Talk: Yamamoto Offer Sheets and Should McDavid Wear the ‘C’ for Canada in Beijing?

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!

If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!

Give us a follow on the socials!

Oilersnation (baggedmilk)

  • …I was a little bit surprised to see a handful of Twitter folks in my mentions saying that they wouldn’t mind if someone hit the Oilers with an offer sheet on the former 22nd overall pick.
  • I know that Edmonton has more forward depth this year and that Yamo had a tough season in 2021 but that, in my opinion, was not for a lack of chances but rather an inability to finish.
  • The guy had all kinds of grade-A chances to score but he just couldn’t bury anything, and as a result, his season totals are lower than we would have liked to see.
  • Either way, when you look at what the comp would be for any potential offer sheet then you see how brutal it would be to lose an offensive guy for a measly 2nd or 3rd round pick. Even if it’s a 1st + a 3rd round pick, I don’t know that I’m really interested in acquiring picks unless they’re going to be flipped for someone that can help when October rolls around. Is that really reasonable?

BLH’s Thoughts: Is it just me or is an inability to finish a problem? I’m not sure why we’re just shaking that off as something insignificant and has anybody considered the idea that the opposition might have the book on Yamo now and with that are checking him with a bit more ease?

If somebody came in and threw an offer sheet at Kailer Yamamoto that netted the Oilers a 1st round pick AND an 3rd round pick, take the picks! Even if they weren’t flipped, the next two drafts are looking really good and Edmonton has the roster depth to withstand the loss of one of their RWs. You never know where another club’s first rounder might end up when it comes to the draft lottery, the Oilers could get lucky and net themselves their own Tim Stutzle. 

Conversely, if Yamo received an offer sheet that only scored the Oilers a 2nd or a 3rd, it would be in their best interests to match it and handle any cap issues now. 

The Athletic (Mitchell)

Oilers’ potential Olympians are a small group with maximum possible impact
  • Connor McDavid: Early chatter has McDavid’s linemates as the hot topic. Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon and Crosby are popular choices, although Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida Panthers) and Mark Stone (Vegas Golden Knights) are also compelling options…
  • Leon Draisaitl: He’ll arrive at the Olympics at or near the peak of his abilities (he’ll turn 26 in late October), and his recent NHL output has been outstanding. Draisaitl won the Hart, Art Ross and Lindsay awards for the 2019-20 season.
  • Jesse Puljujarvi: His style of play (rambunctious, aggressive puck pursuit) can at times run counter with the NHL Oilers, but Puljujarvi has always looked at home in the Finnish system. That’s likely to continue if he makes the national team for the Olympics.
  • Darnell Nurse: Most of the lists I see omit Nurse from Canada’s defence, and it may well play out that way… Nurse has dynamic skating and recovery skills that will have high value in a short tournament like the Olympics… 
  • For fans of the Oilers, there are few likely Olympians, but all will play prominent roles on their national teams. 

BLH’s Thoughts: I really don’t have much more to say on this. What can one say anyhow? I hope all the Oilers who’re slated to win spots on their national team’s stay healthy before, during, and after the tournament and that everything goes off without a hitch while they’re in China. 

Oh! I know, there’s been some chatter as to who should be the captain of Team Canada and the homers in Edmonton are obviously saying McDavid should lead the team but I don’t think it should be him. I think it’s Sidney Crosby’s captaincy to lose or possible Patrice Bergeron’s. They’re international experience and success in the NHL speaks for itself and there’s no way either of those players should be looked over when it comes to who wears the ‘C’ for Canada in Beijing IF they make it over. 

NHL Trade Talk

Canadiens Allow Jesperi Kotkaniemi to Slide to Hurricanes

  • …the Canadiens are saying goodbye to one of the organization’s most promising young players in Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The announcement was terse and to the point, simply saying that the team wouldn’t be matching the one-year, $6.1MM offer sheet that Kotkaniemi signed last weekend.
  • …the Hurricanes also now have their own salary-cap crunch. According to CapFriendly, the Hurricanes have a full roster and are $1.52 million over the salary cap… Something has to be in the works, because otherwise it doesn’t seem manageable.
Logan Brown Looking to Be Traded By Senators
  • Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun notes that RFA forward Logan Brown hasn’t signed a qualifying offer with the Ottawa Senators and the player is looking to be traded by the organization.
  • … the San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes (depending on the Kotkaniemi situation), and Arizona Coyotes could be among the interested teams.
Montreal Canadiens Almost Traded for Marc-Andre Fleury [Report]
  • …according to popular website DANLESCOULISSES.com, the Montreal Canadiens had their eyes on goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury prior to the veteran landing with the Chicago Blackhawks.
  • Apparently, the Canadiens were thinking they might lose Carey Price to the Seattle Kraken and as a backup plan, were ready to swing a deal for Fleury.
Oilers Hit Snag in Kailer Yamamoto Contract Negotiations
  • Edmonton Journal scribe Jim Matheson notes that the Edmonton Oilers and forward Kailer Yamamoto have hit a bit of a roadblock when it comes to getting a contract extension signed.
“They are still grinding away, like Devin Shore working the corners, on a bridge deal, either one or two years because (A) the Oilers have dimes and nickels to spend not loonies and toonies with their cap situation and (B) they are still not sure what Yamamoto really is after he didn’t take a step forward last season. Is he a second-line right-winger with Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or a 3RW with Warren Foegele and Derek Ryan?”
  • Matheson argues that the biggest sticking point are comparables that Yamamoto’s camp is using. This wouldn’t be a big deal except for the fact that the Philadelphia Flyers just signed Joel Farabee to a six-year and $30 million deal he had similar numbers to Yamamoto and also no leverage.
Classic Captain Wendel, taking care of business once more! Click the pic and grab a shirt for yourself!

Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors

Edmonton Oilers Talk: Are the Oilers Destined to Lose One of Jesse Puljujarvi or Kailer Yamamoto?

If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!

Give us a follow on the socials!

The Athletic (Nugent-Bowman)

A dark horse candidate to make the Oilers? What happens if Duncan Keith retires? Trade for John Gibson? Mailbag

Edmonton has a goaltending depth chart of Mike Smith, Mikko Koskinen, Alex Stalock, Stuart Skinner, Ilya Konovalov and Olivier Rodrigue. There doesn’t seem to be enough playing time for everyone. What’s the plan to clear up the glut?

  • …the Oilers’ preference is to have Stalock attend training camp and see what happens.
  • …the Oilers only plan to carry two goalies on the active roster this season.
  • It’s more likely Koskinen makes the Oilers as Smith’s partner because he played in the league last season and the Oilers might need to showcase him in the NHL if they want to trade him.
  • …there’s a reasonable chance a goalie is bought in before the trade deadline passes.

BLH’s Thoughts: My feeling is that Stalock is going to clear waivers and be sent to Bakersfield, then the three-headed goaltending tandem becomes Keith Gretzky’s and Jay Woodcroft’s problem until a solution can be found.

Best case scenario is that Ken Holland can pull off the kind of trade that his predecessor pulled off. Remember when Chiarelli turned Ben Scrivens into Zack Kassian? Pretty decent trade…

What are the odds Duncan Keith retires after this season to sign a front-office deal with the Oilers for a reverse recapture penalty?

  • Stranger things have happened, but I wouldn’t count on it… there’s another thing to consider, which I was reminded of this week: Keith changing agents (to Gerry Johansson from Ross Gurney) before the trade to Edmonton. It would take another contract for Johansson to get paid, aside from new endorsement deals.

BLH’s Thoughts: The whole switching agents puts a hold on any retirement talks. Johansson is going to want his cookies too and the only way he’s getting those is if he can get Keith another contract after this one expires.

What timeline do you think Holland is on to ice a serious contending lineup?

  • Holland has three more years on his contract, and I fully expect he’ll get to see this project through.

BLH’s Thoughts: Yeah, I’m with DNB here. I’d go as far as to say that it’s David Tippett who’s on thin ice and this season being the last on his contract. So, with that in mind, Holland has at least one more coaching hire until his seat starts to get hot. 

What are the moves he can make between now and then, given the contractual commitments he’s made?

  • He’s starting to paint himself into a corner.
  • Maybe Kassian or Barrie is eventually moved for futures to clear up a bit of room. Regardless, based on what Holland has done this offseason, we all should have a pretty good idea of what the Oilers are going to look like for the foreseeable future.

How can the Oilers reasonably expect to keep Yamamoto and Puljujarvi based on the cap situation they’ve created for themselves?

  • It could be particularly problematic if Puljujarvi breaks out this season, especially since he has arbitration rights next summer.
  • Perhaps there are ways to clear up some money by then like trading out someone like Kassian.
  • The Oilers are hoping these top prospects make an impact. But if they do, it’s going to be hard to keep them all. It’s a Catch-22 in the salary cap system.
  • The issue… is how they’ve put themselves in this mess. The Nurse situation is perhaps the most obvious example.

BLH’s Thoughts: I have a feeling that in 2022-23 there will be at least one, if not two, different wingers on the right side of Edmonton’s roster. I reckon the team likes Puljujarvi a bit more given his physical build, as dumb as that sounds, so the pressure will be on Kailer to make himself as useful as possible and in as many different in-game scenarios as possible or he could be used as trade bait. Not being a Holland pick works against him too. 

Do you think a John Gibson trade is possible? If so, does Mikko Koskinen, Philip Broberg, a 2022 first and a 2023 second get it done?

  • Gibson’s traditional and advanced numbers have been average at best for the past two seasons, albeit on bad Anaheim teams.
  • His salary, though perhaps not prohibitive, could cause major headaches for the cap-crunched Oilers, especially if the Ducks aren’t taking back notable money in the form of a long-term deal.
  • He also has a 10-team no-trade clause…
  • An NHL executive told colleague Jonathan Willis in March that he’d do this deal if he were Ducks GM Bob Murray: Gibson for 2021 and 2022 first-round picks, Koskinen, Chiasson, Raphael Lavoie and Olivier Rodrigue.

BLH’s Thoughts: Damn! I’d do that deal too. Chiasson a UFA, Koskinen off the books a season later, Lavoie’s projections wavering from 4th liner to top-sixer, and scouts thinking that Rodrigue may just end up a backup only… The only bet is on the draft picks really and even then, who knows what those players will be down the road in five years. 

Now, Broberg, a 1st, and a 2nd? Personally, I don’t think that gets it done because there are financial considerations in play here, but even if there weren’t, I still don’t think that gets it done. 

I think the Oilers would need to go down a road that’d see them give up one of Yamamoto or Puljujarvi, one of Broberg or Samorukov, somebody with a fatter contract (Koskinen, Kassian, Ceci, Barrie), and a 1st rounder.

The bottom line is that it’s an inter-divisional trade and I’m not sure there’s an appetite for Holland or Bob Murray to do that. 

Lowetide.ca

ALWAYS CRASHING IN THE SAME CAR

BENSON AND MARODY

  • Do you think they’ll make it? I am less convinced of Marody, about 50-50 on Benson.
  • How does Marody get to the NHL from here? Suspect it involves waivers, either to a new NHL team or back to Bakersfield. A mid-season recall and some scoring success on arrival would be the clearest path available in my opinion.
  • What does Benson need to do? I think PK success will be a key.
  • What about Brendan Perlini? Perlini is opposite Benson in that he’s a big, fast man who can score goals. He is an uncertain checker though and that’s a lot to overcome in the role Tippett will audition him for. In my opinion, Benson and Perlini aren’t applying for the same job, although one making the team may mean a demotion for the other man.
  • What are Benson’s chances? He’s an orphan prospect. Holland could add a PTO today that would put him lower on the depth chart. I don’t count Benson’s skating issues as eternal damnation, but he doesn’t shoot the puck much and passing wingers are not a team need in Edmonton. Benson needs to reinvent himself, going from a terrific playmaking winger with the ability to win battles to a two-way winger who can forecheck aggressively and play a regular PK shift.

BLH’s Thoughts: LT pretty much lays it all out for Benson and Marody. Myself, I don’t even think that a season of playing on Bakersfield’s PK during a COVID year where there was very little travel and the club only played the teams in their division will help him get on Dave Tippett’s special teams units. I’m just not confident that he’s got the boots to get it done, but I’m eagerly awaiting training camp to see if he’s changed that. 

Spector’s Hockey

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators general manager Pierre Dorion confirmed contract discussions with Brady Tkachuk’s agent are continuing and progress was being made

TSN: Shawn Simpson reports via Twitter a source tells him the Tkachuk camp is getting frustrated. The winger is staying positive but can’t understand why it’s taking so long to get a deal in place. “I asked what had been offered, and it was termed that they have not received a legitimate offer from the Sens,” said Simpson.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson wondered how much Oilers winger Kailer Yamamoto will receive after the Philadelphia Flyers signed Joel Farabee to a six-year, $30 million contract. The pair have almost identical stats, with the 21-year-old Farabee tallying 59 points in 107 NHL games while the 22-year-old Yamamoto has 52 points in 105 contests.

Classic Captain Wendel, taking care of business once more! Click the pic and grab a shirt for yourself!

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!

Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors

Edmonton Oilers Talk: Who’ll Join McDavid in Beijing and Could Holloway Go Straight to the NHL from College?

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!

If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!

Give us a follow on the socials!

The Cult of Hockey (McCurdy)

NHL players return to Winter Olympics; which Edmonton Oilers might be among them?
  • The agreement among the National Hockey League, the NHL Players Association, and the International Ice Hockey Federation was made official in an IIHF press release issued Friday morning.
    • The agreement also means the potential Olympic debuts for some of the world’s top NHL players such as Connor McDavid (Canada), David Pastrnak (Czech Republic), Sebastian Aho (Finland), Nikita Kucherov (ROC), Victor Hedman (Sweden), Leon Draisaitl (Germany), and Auston Matthews (USA), among many other potential national team candidates.
  • Which other Oilers might join them overseas? Leading candidate is surely Darnell Nurse, a five-time representative of Team Canada.
  • Jesse Puljujarvi has a reasonable shot to make the Finnish national side, which may be largely dependent on his continued emergence during the opening months of the upcoming NHL season.
  • The other? Zach Hyman, who would be considered a long shot based on statistics but who is in with a shot given Canada’s long history of including a smattering of role players among the superstars that typically dominate the roster.
  • …the Oilers will play EIGHT consecutive road games, three before the Olympics, five after, while local ticket holders will have to cool their jets from Jan 27 to Mar 05 — over five weeks!

BLH’s Thoughts: The local media is really pushing Hyman in the “Kunitz” role for Team Canada because of his two-way ability, but I’m thinking that Mark Scheifele would be a better choice plus he can play center and has a history of producing at a much higher rate than Hyman… 

A lot of folks are putting Nurse on this squad right off the bat and I’m not sure he’s a lock. Is he a better choice than Jakob Chychrun or Adam Pelech, Shea Theodore or Morgan Rielly? It’ll be a fantastic battle to witness, that’s for sure!

If you like longshots, keep an eye on the Slovakian team, I think there’s a possibility that they take some very young talented players who’re eligible for the 2022 NHL draft. 

Of course, I’m hoping to see Finland reunite one of the best lines ever to hit the ice at the World Juniors, Laine-Aho-Puljujarvi! 

The Hockey Writers (Swane)

Oilers’ Holloway Could Go Straight From NCAA to NHL
  • Holloway’s pro debut is coming next month, it’s just a question of whether it happens in Edmonton or Bakersfield. While his primary position is center, the left-shooting Holloway is also very capable at left wing, increasing the potential spots he could fill in Edmonton’s lineup.
  • It’s rare, but a handful of players in Edmonton’s NHL history have gone right from college to the Oilers without making a stop in between, and the list includes some notable names.
    • Marko Tuomainen
    • Mike Grier
    • Dan McGillis
    • Tom Poti
    • Andrew Cogliano
    • Drake Caggiula
  • Holloway may have a better chance of cracking the bottom six at center.
    • …it’s an interesting competition that includes veteran Kyle Turris, who was a healthy scratch down the stretch and in the playoffs last spring, and 21-year-old Ryan McLeod, who supplanted Turris and has shown great promise…

BLH’s Thoughts: Unless somebody gets hurt, I can’t see Holloway getting any games at the start of the year. The narrative that I’ve been hearing is that he’ll go to Bakersfield and be their no.1 center as that’s the position the organization wants to develop him at. Anything more than that and he’s worked his ass off to earn it. 

Spector’s Hockey

NBC SPORTS: Adam Gretz recently pointed out two variables that could determine whether this season becomes Hertl’s last in San Jose.

  • Money will be the first as Hertl could seek between $7 million and $8 million annually on his next contract.
  • The other is whether he wants to stay. A recent report indicated he was believed among the players unhappy with teammate Evander Kane flouting team rules last season.

OTTAWA SUN: Ken Warren took note of the recent speculation over Hertl’s future. He believes the Senators could acquire the versatile forward with the right offer, drawing in part upon their well-stocked cupboard of prospects.

USA TODAY: Vincent Z. Mercogliano believes Hertl would be a sensible trade target for the New York Rangers.

THE ATHLETIC: In his latest mailbag segment, Tarik El-Bashir was asked whether the Washington Capitals will trade Evgeny Kuznetsov. 

  • He does wonder if a team interested in Jack Eichel could shift their attention to Kuznetsov if and when the Buffalo Sabres captain is traded. 
Classic Captain Wendel, taking care of business once more! Click the pic and grab a shirt for yourself!

Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors

Edmonton Oilers Talk: “What we don’t know is the value Holland places on this player.”

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!

If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!

Give us a follow on the socials!

Lowetide.ca

A BIG RED BEACON, A FLAG AND A MAN ON THE RAIL

KAILER YAMAMOTO

  • It was an earth shattering pick for the organization, Oilers history to that point in time showed extreme bias about taking smaller forwards in the first round, this was a watershed selection. What we don’t know is the value Holland places on this player.
  • I had looked forward to seeing him play for several years in Edmonton, but as mentioned on this blog all summer, players drafted before the Holland-Wright group arrived may be less secure than the group chosen after their arrival.

Tyler Benson

  • What is the cost of drafting Tyler Benson, developing him, then using a two-week audition as a pass/fail? Is that efficient?

BLH’s Thoughts: Smaller players who aren’t picks of Holland are, as LT says, more likely to be moved. It’s a thing with GMs as they try to put their own stamp on the club and when Holland is gone, if the Oilers reach outside the organization to find a new GM, that guy will do the same… 

I don’t want the team to move Yamamoto because I think he’s going to be a fantastic middle-six winger. However, the NHL is a business and sometimes dollars can get in the way of building a hockey team. GMs have a tough job and that’s why they get paid the big bucks to do it, not you or me.

As for Benson, if you truly believe in a hockey player, then you’re committed to seeing his development through. Even if that means it stalls out before he gets to the NHL. 

I think specific to Benson’s case, a lot of roadblocks have been thrown in his path all throughout his career from injuries in junior to Covid at the pro level. It’d be nice to see something go his way in 2021-22, wouldn’t it?

The Hockey Writers (Couch)

Oilers Get Blue Line Experience with Keith Addition
  • Last season Keith showed some visible signs of regression, but that was on a Blackhawks team that didn’t qualify for the playoffs. He finished 2020-21 with 15 points in 54 games. His decrease in offensive production could be attributed to a secondary role on the power play with Adam Boqvist getting time last season.
  • In his 16 year career, he has made the playoffs in 10 of them. Of those 10 postseason appearances, he won the Stanley Cup three times and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2015.
  • Over his career, Keith has averaged 28:00 ATOI in the playoffs.
  • Even into his 30s, he has played over 25 minutes on average per night.
  • He has exceeded 30 minutes of ATOI in three of those seasons.
  • His postseason numbers are also very impressive, recording 18 goals and 86 points in 135 games.
  • Keith will be someone the Oilers depend on when on the penalty kill, along with his projected new defense partner Cody Ceci. Keith should get penalty kill time every game…
  • With multiple defencemen in the pipeline that are set to breakthrough very soon, Keith will be an important role model and mentor for the next group, even if it’s just a limited exposure in training camp.

BLH’s Thoughts: You don’t have to sell me on this player. I’m a huge proponent of veterans on young clubs, especially ones who’ve had the kind of team and individual success that Duncan Keith has had in his career. 

The Oilers have a massive swath of high-potential defensemen marinating in their system and getting their careers started in 2021-22 and the men that Ken Holland brought in will all be tasked with passing down their knowledge to these bluechippers. Training camp this year is going to be a very important window of opportunity for these young defensemen to gain as much knowledge from the Barries, Cecis, Keiths, Russells, and Nurses. 

If your plan is to build a deep defense like Nashville had for years, having these hey vets in place will go a long way to seeing that plan out successfully. 

The Daily Goal Horn

Capitals Evgeny Kuznetsov
  • …if the Caps struggle out of the gate they may be more inclined to make a deal involving their second line center. Washington would love to gain some younger assets and cap space in a deal.
  • Teams that were rumored interested at one time or another were the Rangers, Kraken, and Blue Jackets.
  • Tarik El-Bashir who covers the team for The Athletic added this;
“My gut feeling on the Kuznetsov trade speculation is this: if he were going to be dealt, it probably would have happened by now.”
Tomas Hertl on the move?
  • Tomas Hertl will be a UFA at the end of this season. At this point and time, the Sharks have not seriously engaged with Hertl’s camp about an extension.
  • In a recent Czech interview with iDNES.cz, Hertl gave an update.
“I wonder if San Jose will want to re-sign me and if I’ll want to stay there, I don’t want to think about it so it doesn’t negatively affect me. I’ll start the season and see how it turns out.”

 

Classic Captain Wendel, taking care of business once more! Click the pic and grab a shirt for yourself!

Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors

Edmonton Oilers Talk: Could Ken Holland Flip One of His New Signings Later this Season?

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!

If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!

Give us a follow on the socials!

The Athletic (Mitchell)

Lowetide: What should the Oilers expect from Cody Ceci in his first season?
  • Oilers fans will remember Cody Ceci as a member of the Ottawa Senators, where he played tough minutes at a young age and struggled.
  • Some might recall his one year in Toronto, where Ceci played fewer minutes against elites and had much better results.
  • Ceci had an interesting season five-on-five, finishing ahead of Kris Letang in points per 60 (1.23 to 1.22) while playing second or third pair with Matheson.
  • Ceci looks like, and at times the results resemble a shutdown defender. He is not that player type, though. He’ll bring more offence than Larsson, but in shot and goal suppression the difference is notable. 
  • It’s safe to conclude that Ceci will improve the puck movement and contribute more at five-on-five than Larsson, but will also allow more shots (and opportunities) than Larsson would have if he turned in another healthy season.
  • Ceci’s skill set matches the description of a two-way defender, so viewing him as a replacement for Larsson is unwise.
  • The contract is long but affordable, and if it comes to it, tradable.

BLH’s Thoughts: I’ve been reading and hearing, for what seems like years now, that NHL defenses should be chalk full of puck movers. Well, we’re going to see if the analytics community is right. It didn’t exactly work for the Avalanche in the playoffs last year, but that’s only one year and Vegas worked them over pretty good. 

I’m taking the piss a bit here because Vegas simply outmuscled Colorado and the refs put their whistles away amongst other issues. All I’m saying is that the absence of a cycle breaker beyond Darnell Nurse is going to be felt. That said, nobody is saying that one of Edmonton’s dmen won’t emerge as the club’s new defensive stalwart or that the fancy stat ultras won’t be right and having more puck movers on defense will translate to more goals. 

I like Ceci, he’s got good size, he gets around the ice well, he’s improving with experience, and he’s a player that the Oilers can move up and down the lineup. He’s a defenseman that provides the club some flexibility in multiple facets and to me, I can’t find fault in that.

The Cult of Hockey (Leavins)

The curtain draws open wide on Ryan McLeod’s Edmonton Oilers career
  • Certainly, a player with skating skills that approach an elite level.
  • He is a young prospect with remarkable defensive instincts for his age.
  • Related but not, he was also just a shade under 51% in the face off circle.
  • And we also witnessed an impressive amount of ice in his veins, given how reliable he was down the stretch and in the playoffs. 
  • To my eye, taking a more direct line to the net would really help in the production department.
  • McLeod seems poised to play with better wingers than we’ve seen on the Oilers 3rd Line in some time.
  • …a hint that the Oilers are serious in giving McLeod an even shot at the full-time job is the off-season chatter than Kyle Turris (the only other serious contender for one of those 4 center spots) may spend most of camp at Right Wing.
  • PROJECTION: Ryan McLeod is likely to break camp in either the 3 of 4C slot, depending on how the battle with Derek Ryan goes. But the opportunity very much seems to be there for McLeod to grab.

BLH’s Thoughts: Who do you think will be Edmonton’s 3C in 2021-22? I feel like it should probably be McLeod going off of TOI because he’s got the physical traits and with Ryan’s age, the team might want to pick their spots with him. 

When McLeod gains more confidence and man strength, I think we’ll see him drive the net more often. It’s not something that’s brought him success in the past mind you, but once he gains a familiarity with the league and establishes himself on the team as a full-time member, he’ll start to take more risks. 

Until then, I’ll be happy to see him use that elite skating and those soft hands to be one of the team’s best defensive hockey players on the ice at any given time. 

NHLTradeRumor.com

Classic Captain Wendel, taking care of business once more! Click the pic and grab a shirt for yourself!

Exit mobile version