Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland has done a masterful job and undoing the handy work left by former general manager Peter Chiarelli. The bottom six forwards are deeper than they’ve ever been, the goaltending tandem is of NHL caliber, and the Oilers top-6 has the potential to be one of the most dangerous in the league just as long as James Neal’s season last year was an “outlier” as TSN1260’s Jason Gregor is calling it.
It’s really hard to refute Holland’s performances to date, I mean, a week ago everyone was up his ass giving him failing grades for the Oilers off-season so far and then he found a way to do the unthinkable by dealing Milan Lucic’s contract. I reckon some folks just don’t have the patience to see things through these days… The summer is long when there’s no hockey to watch.
I’ll go back to what I’ve said previously, Ken Holland is simply reversing some of Chiarelli’s mistakes.
Drake Caggiula out, Josh Archibald in.
Jordan Eberle out, James Neal in.
Ryan Strome out…
And so here we are waiting to see who Mr. Holland is going to bring in to replace Ryan Strome and on that note, I was passed this message a couple of days ago but life got in the way of getting a post out at the time.
“Keep an eye on 98. It sounds like a there’s a team from a small hockey market in the states, who just moved a major piece off their blueline, that has their eye on him.”
I’m under the impression that before he re-upped with his team, the Oilers were in on Nashville’s most recent RFA signing, Colton Sissons. Considering the message from my source above, a trade to acquire him (and perhaps more) might’ve included Jesse Puljujarvi and possibly a defenseman, my guess that defender might’ve been Matt Benning but I’ve got nothing substantial on that. It’s just a hunch given how he’s been in the rumor mill for some time and that the Oilers have guys like Joel Persson and Ethan Bear coming not to mention Evan Bouchard at some point as well. Bob Stauffer sort of spoke to that a couple of days ago on his show,
“Maybe the way to go might be to get a prospect from another organization that’s looking for traction/chance to breakthrough as well. I wonder if you’d consider doing that with an organization that’s maybe short of 45 contracts. Maybe there’s a guy you’d like to get off your 50-man list and maybe no money-wise but maybe just to create a bit more flexibility moving forward.”
I asked around about a possible Eeli Tolvanen exchange and was told: “No way that happens.”
Personally, I can’t really see that deal having made sense from NSH’s point-of-view. They are stacked on the wings and they have seven NHL defenders ready to go, so why add another winger and dman? So anybody reading this might chalk it up to hearsay, but then I think we could politely remind ourselves of the trade Calgary just made to acquire Milan Lucic and how that didn’t really make much sense to their team either…
The one last thing that makes me wonder about a Puljujarvi to Nashville is their coach. Would Peter Laviolette have time for Jesse? I mean, of all the teams, the Preds are really laden with vets and maybe that’d be the perfect place for Pulju. Also, he’d be closer to his best friends in Carolina (Sebastien Aho) and Dallas (Roope Hintz).
Trades happen for a plethora of reasons and they don’t always make sense. Sometimes perfectly reasonable trades don’t happen too. It’s just how NHL hockey works sometimes.
TPE Hockey’s 2019/20 WORLD JUNIOR SUMMER SHOWCASE PREVIEW
The World Junior Summer Showcase (WJSS) is an off-season showcase to give an idea of who could be on the roster come the World Juniors at New Years. Sweden and Finland each field a roster of their best U20 players while Canada and the US roster two different teams. The showcase isn’t a tournament so the teams don’t compete for anything, although the players are competing for a roster spot at the real World Juniors.
The competition is set to begin on July 26th and run until August 3rd in Plymouth, Michigan according to www.teamusa.usahockey.com
Canada
Canada’s team will be highlighted by the consensus #1 pick for the 2020 draft in Alexis Lafreniére. He’s expected to put on a show and display why he will go 1st next summer. Two other 2020 prospects in Justin Barron and Braden Schneider will also appear on Team Canada on their blueline. Both are projected 1st rounders. Speaking of the blueline, Bowen Byram and Noah Dobson will be their top players. For forwards expect Joe Veleno, Alex Newhook, Barret Hayton, and Kirby Dach to dominate. In net, Edmonton’s Olivier Rodrigue is the Team’s go-to-guy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1GlzDh6Drw
USA
The Americans, unfortunately, don’t feature any 2020 prospects due to a weak year from the US. Nonetheless, this team is very good. The 2019 draft class featured a ton of American talent. Obviously, Jack Hughes won’t attend, but Alex Turcotte, Trevor Zegras, Cam York, Cole Caufield, and Spencer Knight will all be there. This team is stacked with great players. Even when divided into two squads the Americans will be the best at this showcase.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOgi9bbsZu4
Finland
After last year’s WJC victory the Finns are in a rebuild of sorts. Without Kaapo Kakko the team isn’t great. Anton Lundell will be very fun to watch as he’s a top 5 prospect for the 2020 draft. He’s coming off a strong performance as a draft minus one player at last year’s WJC. Finland will look to their top 2019 picks in Patrik Puistola, Ville Heinola, Mikko Kokkonen, and Anttoni Honka. In net, they’ll play Justus Annunen, but with Ukko-Pekka Luukonen gone their goalie crop is weak.
Sweden
If you’re looking for an exciting team, look to Sweden. With two electrifying 2020, top 10 picks in Lucas Raymond and Alex Holtz you don’t want to miss a single one of their games. Aside from those two the Swedes still poses some fun, fun players. Jonatan Berggren, Nils Höglander, Sam Fagemo, Victor Söderström, Toby Björnfot, and Philip Broberg are all can’t miss players.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3YNqwlJNB0
I’m really looking forward to seeing these powerhouses go at it! Give Max (@TPEHockey) a follow if you’re a draft geek like me!
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
A new season means a new design! Click the image above to get the new Pulju shirt!The Vegas Golden Misfits are going to the Stanley Cup Final in 2018!!! Love ’em or hate ’em it’s an amazing story and this is one punk rocker’s way of giving tribute! Click the pic above and get yours today!Click the pic and grab a 16-bit McDavid tee!
Today’s guest post is from a fellow Oilers fan named Terrance Grise. He wanted to have a mock draft of his published and I’m happy to help him out.
If you’re looking to dip your toes into the water with regards to blogging, feel free to reach out and get in touch with me! Best bet is probably on Twitter here.
I’ll turn it over to Terrance now. Enjoy!
Elias Pettersson’s nickname is “Alien”. Here’s a shirt to celebrate it! Click the image to buy one!
Hey, hockey fans! If you think you’ve read every 2019 mock draft you can handle then you’re wrong cause I’ve got one more for you! Don’t worry it is slightly expedited as I chose to only cover the first 15 picks. I am a big draft nerd largely due to Edmonton’s positional tendencies over the past decade.
So this is how I think the top-15 picks should play out. Having said that as with most drafts this will most likely play out very differently than I think it will but that’s half the fun!
1.) Jack Hughes – (NJ Devils)
Posting 34 goals and 78 assists (112 Points) in 50 games (2.24 PPG), Jack Hughes is the bell of the ball for the 2019 draft class. Every aspect of his game screams franchise player, to the point that comparisons have been drawn to Connor McDavid. I am hesitant to draw the same parallels only because Hughes plays much more of an East-West game and forces openings by getting the defense out of position. He doesn’t seem to possess the same breakneck speed that #97 uses to embarrass defensemen. Having said that, he is an elite skater who will break his opponent’s ankles with perfect edge work and stick handling.
A part of me wanted to predict a Kaapo Kakko upset at first overall, largely due to the fact that New Jersey has done it before with the Nico Hischier selection back in 2017, that saw Nolan Patrick fall to Philadelphia. But given New Jersey’s need for a centerman and how elite of a prospect Hughes has proven to be, I just couldn’t justify it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR7VH4Xirr4
2.) Kaapo Kakko – (NY Rangers)
It was awesome watching Kakko in the Word Championship tournament less than a month back. You really got to see why he always seems to be mentioned in the same breath as Jack Hughes. It was also very apparent that he has been playing above his age class for a while now, looking very comfortable going up against some of the best that the NHL has to offer. He had a very strong season in the LIIGA scoring 22 goals and 16 assists for TPS. He is so strong on his skates and stick, this allows him to control the game down low and really dictate the play in the offensive zone. Being a left shot on the right wing, he really uses the inside angle to his advantage, beating goalies on either the short or far side from outside the slot. He also has the ability to make defenders look silly from in tight.
Considering how far the Rangers jumped at the lottery they will be thrilled with this consolation prize and that there is a strong chance that in five years’ time we will be looking back at this draft and arguing about who should’ve been taken first overall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0QpejmAih0
3.) Bowen Byram – (CHI Blackhawks)
Bowen Byram is my favorite player from this draft class. Growing up I loved watching Scott Niedermayer, and let’s just say when I watch Byram play, a feeling of nostalgia washes over me. I truly believe if he was eligible for the 2017 draft that he would’ve been the consensus #1 choice. His lateral movement on the blueline alone is enough to make scouts and GMs fall in love with him. Then you add his passing and playmaking ability to the fold and you have the most complete defenseman the draft has seen in a long time. Although his shot does not possess overwhelming power, he beats you with ridiculous accuracy and a fast release.
Byram potted 71 points in 67 games and also carried 33 +/- rating. Really good when you consider he went -3 and -5 in his previous two seasons with the Vancouver Giants. Quite frankly, Chicago would be crazy not to take him at 3rd overall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96A0xmTFTkA
4.) Alex Turcotte – (COL Avalanche)
If there was a comparable to Alex Turcotte it could be said he resembles a smaller version of Leon Draisaitl. His passing ability is eerily similar and I find that he also likes to slow the game down in the O-zone, even though he is a very good skater and can generate speed through the neutral zone. Any team would love to have his playmaking ability down low, especially on the power play. He has a strong, active stick and always seems to be in the right spot in all three zones. Teams are going to like this guy because he plays a pros game and probably only requires one more year of development before he’s ready for the show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvR0e2wpj3c
5.) Kirby Dach – (LA Kings)
I am just going to come out and say it, I really like this kid. He just may be the most polarizing player in this draft class, cause people seem to love him or hate him. Not too many people (that I’ve heard from anyways) seem to have a neutral opinion on #77. By all accounts, however, he seemed to really impress at the combine. I think he’s going to take a big step next year for the Saskatoon Blades and prove that he deserved to be a top-5 pick in the draft. Being the other large WHL centermen in this draft, Dach and Cozens have been compared to each other all season.
Personally, I feel that Dach can have more of an impact on the game and is not limited to being solely a point producing centerman. The knock on him, however, is consistency. This is the main area that I am predicting will improve sooner rather than later in the years to come.
I do also foresee the possibility of him transitioning to the wing as an NHLer. Having said that, forwards that can play multiple roles are becoming extremely valuable in this league. So having a big right shot guy who can take faceoffs every now and then could prove to be a game changer for the team who drafts him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOgVdIz6mi4
6.) Cole Caufield – (DET Red Wings)
GOALS, GOALS, GOALS! Alex DeBrincat may be the best thing that has ever happened to Cole Caufield. So many comparisons can be made between these two players, so we’ll see if teams have learned anything from Chicago back in 2015. For most of the year, Caufield has been ranked somewhere in the top-20, finishing the year with an unbelievable 72 goals for the USNDP, has seemed to shoot him up the rankings with the draft now only days away. Elite finishers are becoming increasingly hard to come by nowadays and Caufield may be competing for the Rocket Richard Trophy in the near future. It will be interesting to see how well his game converts to the NHL, but I think that he has proven to GMs and scouts that he has the ability to score goals and be effective in more than just one way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XXIDv7Gy0I
7.) Matthew Boldy – (BUF Sabres)
Like Dach, Boldy has incredible hands for a guy his size. His passing ability may also be the most underrated part of his game, as he is known largely for his heavy and accurate shot. He can also use his strength to get past defenders, and usually ends up making space for his teammates in the process. Already weighing in at 192lbs, Boldy may be the most physically prepared prospect in this draft class. There are a couple of aspects of his game that do require a little attention. Unlike his USNDP teammates, he can be caught out of position from time to time. He is also more willing to make riskier plays in the offensive end of the ice, something that he has been able to get away with because of the strength of his team in comparison to their competition. The good news is that these are habits that are arguably some of the easiest to remedy, and the positives that Boldy can provide to the team that drafts him, far outweigh the current downsides.
8.) Dylan Cozens – (EDM Oilers)
As one of the strongest skaters in his class, the pride of Whitehorse – Dylan Cozens – may just turn out to be one of the sleeper picks in the top-10 of this draft. Big right shot centers with skill aren’t easy to come by, and that is why at #8, this could prove to be a value pick. Although he has a big frame, he is more likely to use his speed to overpower the opposition and generate scoring chances. He’s a guy that likes to find the unoccupied areas on the ice, especially in the offensive end. Being one of the most complete two-way players, teams will be very excited to call his name at the podium on Friday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HkcX4Sf_aU
9.) Trevor Zegras – (ANH Ducks)
At this point in time, Zegras is the best passer in this draft. His vision and hockey sense allow him to predict where his teammates will be, and his execution allows him to get the puck to that exact spot when they arrive. It is beyond impressive watching him place the puck in vacant ice, at the exact moment it needs to be there, time and time again, rarely turning it over. He is a guy that coaches will design set-plays around just because of how perfectly he can execute passes. He loves to use his feet and the boards to his advantage to maintain possession, and also has an above average shot. Would not surprise me in the least if he was not available for the Ducks at #9.
10.) Vasili Podkolzin – (VAN Canucks)
No matter where Podkolzin is drafted, he is going to be one of those picks where the GM will say “We could not believe he was still on the board when Bettman called our name.”. Just based on his skill and the fact that he already has an NHL first step, he should be a lock at 4th overall. But for whatever reason, Russian prospects usually seem to fall a few places. Podkolzin is a big right winger with bite that plays a responsible game and takes pride in helping his defensemen out in his own end. Sample size may be the biggest factor for this pick but this is a guy that always seems to show up when the spotlight is on him, something that will occur quite a lot throughout his career.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFCA6GHrTOg
11.) Peyton Krebs – (PHI Flyers)
You always hate to see guys get injured, but it is especially rough when it happens just before their pro draft. Being that he is very young and has arguably the highest ceiling in this draft, I would hate to see Krebs fall due to this unfortunate Achilles injury. Krebs likes to stir the pot and set the tempo of games, he also has an uncanny ability to avoid taking bad penalties. He is a very competitive player who will out skate opponents to both ends of the ice and will beat them there more often than not, demonstrating his incredible hockey sense and positioning. Krebs may be the only player in this draft that has the potential to be just as effective on both the powerplay and the penalty kill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMJjAj3v8ks
12.) Phillip Tomasino – (MIN Wild)
Tomasino is a guy that has flown under the radar due to the forward strength in this draft class. However, after researching this kid and watching every one of his highlight videos on YouTube, I cannot see a scenario where 15 straight GMs pass on him. He refuses to be outworked and has one of the quickest releases I have seen out of a major junior player. If I was only given one word to describe him, “dynamic” comes to mind. Another right shot guy who can play multiple roles and has the potential to make GMs who pass on him look back and wonder “what if?” down the road.
13.) Philip Broberg – (FL Panthers)
This may turn out to be one of the most interesting/active drafts in recent memory. I say “active” because I can totally see picks being swapped and teams wanting to move up or down based on what selections occur in the top 5. I say this now because we are at pick #13 and this is only the second defenseman I have on the board. I honestly can’t justify placing Broberg any higher. Although he has very good skating and playmaking ability, he frequently makes questionable decisions with the puck that constantly burn defensemen at the NHL level. That is why I don’t think he is a top 10 player in this or most drafts. Having said that, if he can clean his game up, he does possess the upside to be a solid two-way, top 4 defenseman at the NHL level.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ylLjmJ3tQQ
14.) Spencer Knight – (ARZ Coyotes)
This is probably the pick that I am most skeptical about just because of how reserved GMs have proven to be about drafting goalies early in the first round. I am convinced that Spencer Knight deserves to be taken in the top 15, but would not be shocked at all if he fell as far as the early 2nd round. Knight has ice in his veins and remains composed under pressure. He has also perfected his technique, standing at 6’3” he positions his glove and blocker perfectly, as to not be caught too high or too low, reducing the amount of movement and energy he has to exert to make a save. Another reason I could see him falling is based on the strength of the USNTDP team in front of him, a justification that I acknowledge, but do not believe justifies ranking him lower.
15.) Raphael Lavoie – (MTL Canadiens)
If the Montréal Canadiens want to prove to the league that they are not required to have only small forwards on their team, while at the same time proving that they love their French Canadian players, then they should draft #50 from the Halifax Mooseheads, Raphael Lavoie. Not only does he make dwarves out of the players around him, but he also has tremendous skill and a pro-release. He also has a tendency to show up in big moments and capitalize on his opportunities. Being just 10 days shy from eligibility for the 2018 draft, Lavoie should be eligible to play in the AHL this year, as he turns 20 years old on September 25th. This may be desirable for a team looking to add youth to their pro-roster, sooner rather than later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4dGcSe1ZHs
Some players I believe deserve an honorable mention as potential top 15 picks include: Moritz Seider (D), Cam York (D), Victor Soderstrom (D), and Alex Newhook (F).
Click the pic and grab a 16-bit McDavid tee!
Recently on Twitter, I have seen a lot of discussion about the Oilers potentially trading down in order to acquire some assets, while at the same time hopefully making a value pick slightly later on. While this idea intrigues me, a friend of mine suggested maybe trading the 8th and Puljujarvi up to 3rd, as it sounds like Chicago really wants to take a forward and may be willing to trade down to do it. Given the current situation with Puljujarvi, and that trading him would help the Oilers with the upcoming Seattle expansion draft considering he will be eligible to be selected. Not to mention the fact that the 3rd overall would basically guarantee that you would draft one of Bowen Byram or Kaapo Kakko, I would make this trade all day long if Chicago was game. Based on what we know about Ken Holland and his recent comments, my guess is they make the pick at #8.
Part two is coming folks! I’ll address picks #16-#31 shortly!
Feel free to comment with your opinions and thanks for reading! You can follow Terrance on Twitter here.
It’s time to get into the #AskBLH mailbag one more time! This is where you ask me any question you’d like and I give you my honest answer. Topics might simply be centered on the Edmonton Oilers, but I encourage folks to step outside that box and ask me whatever is on their minds.
Now, I hope to get around to everybody who sends me their question, but sometimes it doesn’t work out. In that case, I will do my best to get back to you on the ol’ Twitter machine.
THE MAILBAG!
@dashate24 asks: Why do we want to trade Lucic for a more useless player?
Good question my friend! I think it’s just a matter of giving guys a fresh start in other markets. What I’m wondering is why the Oilers are the ones having to sweeten the deal if the Canucks are the ones who really want Lucic?
@AhmedMayta asks: Realistic free agents Oilers should target?
You know what Ahmed? I think it’s going to be really hard to gauge this until we know what the roster is going to look like the night before Canada Day. I would say they should go after players like Dan Carr, Brandon Pirri, Joonas Donskoi, and Brian Elliott, but if they find a way to clear up some cap space by trading some of their bigger tickets, that changes things. You might see them go after players like Gus Nyquist, Marcus Johansson, or Anton Stralman then.
@adnacOilGhost asks: You replace Bob Nicholson as CEO, what’s the very first thing you do?
Oh! I like this question. I’d make it as affordable as possible to go to regular season games for everyone. Bringing down the prices on healthier food options would be a must for me. I’d do what it takes to make the in-game presentation one that rivals that of Vegas’ or Nashville’s. The fan experience is really important to me, so I’d try to maximize that potential the most.
I enjoy anarchy a bit, so I’d also give media passes to the Oilers bloggers out there who pass my rigorous interview process.
As for the team itself, I’d encourage my GM to expand the scouting team as much as possible. I feel like teams really skimp out here. I want scouts everywhere, including Asia. I’d be having hockey camps all over the world promoting the brand and keeping an eye out for talent.
@dashate24 asks: Is it possible that Poolparty (Puljujarvi) gets an offer sheet at $2M x 4 years, and if he does, do we take the 3rd rounder?
I’d match it. JP at $2M for four years would be an amazing contract.
@ArchivistSports asks: What do you think JP will do this June/July?
I think he’ll head home and resume his off-ice training and participate in his annual charity games. Whether he comes back in September or not, we’ll have to wait and see on that.
@Tusen_bitar asks: Why and when you have chosen Oilers?
I was born in 1980, so one might consider me to have been born into the Oilers. My father tells me stories of cheering for Edmonton when I was a very young lad during their Cup dynasty days but I don’t really remember much about that.
As I got older I gravitated towards the Red Wings because of Yzerman/Coffey/Federov and the Penguins for Lemieux/Jagr/Coffey in the early 90s. I liked Peter Forsberg and the Avs for a while and also the Maple Leafs when Curtis Joseph was playing net for them too.
But I always had the Oilers in my back pocket. It wasn’t really until they started to get really bad as to when I ramped up my interest in the team and I simply haven’t found a reason to not cheer for them since then.
@OilDoug asks: What happens with Lucic this offseason. Stay? Go? What comes back?
He gone. What comes back for him? Who knows? It sounds like a player who needs a change of scenery like Milan.
@LonnbergMari asks: If Leavins is right and part of the team just doesn’t want to play with him, what should a smart gm do? Resign or trade and in either case, just hope for the best?
I’m torn on this. Aren’t we sick of the locker room cliques on this team yet? If Holland believes there’s still something in Jesse, he could sit down those guilty of alienating Jesse and give them a stern grilling. Then at the same time, sit Pulju down and tell him it’s time to grow up and that we don’t always work/play with people we like.
But if things are simply too broken, he would find a way to move him and get a good like-aged player in return. My fear in this scenario is that Jesse hits his stride on another club and the Oilers get burned though.
When it’s all said and done though, the players have a job to do, so they should go and do it.
— BLH (Edmonton Oilers Enthusiast} (@BeerLeagueHeroe) June 11, 2019
THE 2019 NHL ENTRY DRAFTS 1ST AND 2ND TEAM ALL-STARS by Keith Fries
With this article, I thought it’d be fun to try and construct all-first and all-second teams for this year’s draft-eligible prospects.
Keep in mind that I went with the player’s primary position.
All-First Team
LW – Matthew Boldy/C – Jack Hughes/RW – Kaapo Kakko
LD – Bowen Byram/RD – Moritz Seider
LG – Spencer Knight
A forward line made up of Boldy, Hughes, and Kakko would likely be nicknamed, “Goals and Grit.”
While Hughes maybe is more on the “goals” side than the grit one, there’s no doubt that he’s flanked by some rough riders with skill. We know of Kakko’s explosive offensive abilities, but Boldy also shows a propensity to score. All three are great puck movers. Speaking of which, there’s Byram whose bread and butter is getting the puck out of his own zone. Playing alongside the physically imposing Seider would make those breakout rushes much easier for Byram. Once the puck enters the offensive zone, both defensemen have the ability to jump into the play as a fourth-forward. In their own zone, Seider is the more reliable defender of the two and is helped in net by arguably one of the best goaltending prospects of all-time. Knight, who some would say has franchise potential, doesn’t need much help in front of him to be the brick wall that he is.
This starting line-up certainly helps, though, but even if playing with an All-Worst Team, Knight would find ways to make his squad seem competitive.
All-Second Team
LW – Peyton Krebs/C – Alex Turcotte/RW – Cole Caufield
LD – Philip Broberg/RD – Victor Soderstrom
LG – Dustin Wolf
Krebs, Turcotte, and Caufield would not only be a hell of a trio, but could legitimately be one of the best power play units, in history.
Krebs’ distribution game is off the charts, and with his smart reads and calculated timing, could dish out some beautiful primary assists to either Caufield or Turcotte. We know Caufield is arguably the best sniper in his entire draft class, but Turcotte’s shooting stroke is just as pretty and just as effective. While he may be more of a playmaker, like Krebs, Turcotte has the kind of slick mitts that you want in a centerman to either set up his linemates or finish with a remarkable shot. On the back end, they’re flanked by two highly-skilled Swedish-born defensemen, Soderstrom and Broberg. While Soderstrom handles more of the defensive duties – sound play in his own end, moving the puck along the boards, or manning the point, Broberg is able to jump into the rush with his lightning quick speed and heads up play. The two would make a formidable pairing, with a complimentary skill set. An argument could be made about who slots in at goaltender, here – possibly Ilya Konovalov or Mads Sogaard – but there’s no argument in my mind. Wolf has been lights out since debuting in the WHL in 2017 and has received nothing but criticism along the way – all because of his undersized frame. His IQ, compete level, and maturity are all well beyond his years.
F*ck those guys! Click the link and grab one of these beauty shirts!Elias Pettersson’s nickname is “Alien”. Here’s a shirt to celebrate it! Click the image to buy one!The Vegas Golden Misfits are going to the Stanley Cup Final in 2018!!! Love ’em or hate ’em it’s an amazing story and this is one punk rocker’s way of giving tribute! Click the pic above and get yours today!
Yesterday, the talk on Oilers Twitter and Oilers talk radio was about trading Darnell Nurse or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. An old adage in hockey is “get good players, keep good players”, right? But I feel like that is too simple. Sometimes good players gotta go for whatever reason. Be that of their own accord or that of a crazy GM, getting good players doesn’t always mean keeping them.
I’d prefer to say, get good players, keep good players unless you can trade for better ones.
Let’s take Darnell Nurse for instance. Now, I’m not the biggest fan of “Doc” because I feel his hockey IQ (defensive and offensive) isn’t quite where I’d like it to be and he has trouble passing the puck (just ask Jesse Puljujarvi). Where I love Nurse is when he can showcase his physical superiority, like when he rushes the puck from one zone to the other or when things get gritty. He’s got the physical tools, there’s no doubt in my mind about that, but I’m afraid, at least at this point in his career, the more subtle skills that make a dman great aren’t quite there… Yet.
I see a lot of people saying that Kris Russell is dragging him down and I don’t really believe that. They played over 1000 minutes together 5×5 but unless I’m reading the numbers wrong, I fail to see where Russell is dragging Nurse down.
These are the advanced metrics for the pair courtesy of Natural Stat Trick.
CF% w/ – 45.23 Nurse CF% w/0 Russell – 49.91
Russell CF% w/0 Nurse – 44.42
FF% w/ – 45.53
Nurse FF% w/o Russell – 48.31 Russell FF% w/o Nurse – 49.48
SF% w/ – 46.07
Nurse SF% w/0 Russell – 48.96 Russell SF% w/0 Nurse – 47.91
GF% w/ – 50
Nurse GF% w/0 Russell – 43.59 Russell GF% w/o Nurse – 52.17
SCF% w/ – 46.33
Nurse SCF% w/o Russell – 48.50 Russell SCF% w/0 Nurse – 47.46
SCGF% w/ – 53.23
Nurse SCGF% w/o Russell – 45.45 Russell SCF% w/o Nurse – 55.56
HDCF% w/ – 44.24
Nurse HDCF% w/o Russell – 47.11 Russell HDCF% w/o Nurse – 53.95
HDGF% w/ – 44.68
Nurse HDGF% w/o Russell – 47.62 Russell HDGF% w/o Nurse – 54.55
I think some will say that at 23 years old, topping 40 points is quite the accomplishment and I would tend to agree, but I will return serve with this question, would Darnell Nurse have scored as many points had Oscar Klefbom not been injured?
I don’t think he would’ve.
The Oilers have a terrible history of trading young dmen right as they’re about to blossom. Two names that come straight to mind are Justin Schultz and Jeff Petry. Man, how good would the Oilers be with those two in their lineup today? I think with that said though, did the Oilers really have the defensive prospect depth than that they do now?
Edmonton has three defenders that are ready to take the next step, William Lagesson, Caleb Jones, and Ethan Bear. Would it sting the Oilers as much to deal Darnell Nurse for help elsewhere now as it did back when Petry and Schultz were moved knowing that a 23-year-old William Lagesson could be ready to step in or a Caleb Jones?
Now Lagesson doesn’t have the north-south game that Darnell has but he does have the same snarl and he can move the puck quite well. Then again, maybe at the NHL level, Lagesson would need some time, but in my opinion, he’s about as ready to go as any prospect in the Oilers system should be and with the right partner, the transition period would be minimal. I look at him and see a young version of Mattias Ekholm. Who’d you rather have, Ekholm or Nurse?
So I would have zero qualms moving Nurse for an upgrade at forward and not just because of the on-ice product. Darnell Nurse will be a $6M defenseman by next season and I think I’d have a hard time being comfortable with him being paid that kind of money for what he produces.
You can be sure Toronto would be interested in him if he were to hit the market. Maybe there’d be an appetite for a deal centered around William Nylander… Who knows?
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THE NUGE
Would you trade Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the 8th overall pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for the 3rd overall selection in this year’s draft so that you could draft one of Jack Hughes (unlikely), Kaapo Kakko (unlikely), or Bowen Byram (likely)? This was a question posed on the Jason Gregor Show yesterday.
The reason I included Hughes and Kakko there is because the legend of Bowen Byram is growing by leaps and bounds as we get nearer to the draft in June. There’s some talk that he might even jump up to no. 2, he’s that good. Bob Stauffer, host of Oilers Now!, said that he’s been told by a number of scouts that Byram might be the next Scott Neidermayer. Gregor said he skates like the former Ducks/Devils rearguard but has that bite you’d see in a Drew Doughty or a young Duncan Keith. He’s a future no. 1 defenseman is what we’re being told.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WA8TL2Nyyo
The Edmonton Oilers do not have a future no. 1 dman in their fold and there are only a handful of them in the league as it is. So, knowing that RNH is getting impatient with the Oilers organization and the fact that the last defender in Edmonton that was that good might’ve been Paul Coffey, would you make that trade? Would Chicago make that trade?
I might. Considering how hard it is to land that sort of player, I might be willing to make that trade. I think the big question on my mind is if the Vancouver Giants superstar is projected to be as good as Miro Heiskanen or Rasmus Dahlin? If yes, then I’m all over that deal. Could you imagine a future pairing of Byram and Bouchard?
The argument against it would have to be the lost offense of RNH, right? My feeling is that the team would find a way to replace it and I think being lost in the emotion of this deal would be the $6M in cap space freed up. Could Ken Holland find a way to replace Nuge’s production with that space? I would like to think so.
Another argument against the deal might be Edmonton’s lack of skilled forwards coming up in their system. They’ve got quite a few good blueliners progressing nicely, why add another?
I will say this though, Ken Holland’s success in Detroit had a lot to do with selecting a talented young defender out of Sweden by the name of Niklas Lidstrom, do you think he’d want to recreate that scenario with Bowen Byram leading the charge?
What do you figure? Let us know in the comments below.
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I woke up this morning to see the Oilers Twittersphere still going bananas over Ryan Strome and Mike Gillis and who can blame them really. It’s not as if the fans of the team have anything to be happy about. They wanted McLellan out and they got their wish. They wanted Chiarelli out and they got their wish. Now there’s a sentiment out there that had the Oilers now made the Strome and Caggiula trade that the team would be in a better position in the standings, possibly in the playoffs?
Yikes…
Take a second and think about that for a second. Does that make sense?
The trades overshadow the players I think more than anything here. At the end of the day, the return that Chiarelli got for Strome and Caggiula wasn’t satisfactory but I do understand the reasoning for the trades.
Drake Caggiula did have seven goals for the team before being traded right after Christmas but he hadn’t scored the 12 games prior and there were no Ginos for another nine after the deal. In fact, he’s only scored 4 goals in Chicago. The Drake has a total of 18 points and is dash seven on the season. Don’t tell me that he was the missing link in Edmonton. That’s almost as bad as blaming Toby Rieder for the team NOT making the playoffs.
Good player, fun to watch, but obviously not the guy Edmonton was expecting when they signed him out of NoDak.
As for Strome, he had seven points in his previous 35 games in Edmonton before being dealt to the Big Apple. Three points in 18 games this season. THREE! Nobody can argue that that is brutal production and he was given a defined role on the team (3C/PKer) to boot. So it’s no wonder that in a season that meant so much, the Oilers felt they needed to move him on.
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My friend, SPR, had some interesting things to say on Twitter today regarding Strome that I will share with you here.
Question for the masses. Are the failures of Lucic, Rieder & Strome all Chia’s fault, or should we be looking at the philosophical approach of both coaching staffs too as a culprit? If u look at their #’s pre-EDM & post-EDM (Strome), guys tend to have success in different systems. I’m almost of the thought that it doesn’t really make a difference which bottom 6 players u bring in, if u take away all their offensive creativity & just tell them to dump & chase all game, like Yamo & JP were told to do, no one will have real success. It’s more of system thing
Two old school, heavy hockey coaches now in TMac and Hitch. Why do guys like Chiasson and Kassian have success? Is it because they play with 97 & 29 or is it because they’re ALLOWED to play a more creative style when they play with them?
Dump and chase from lines 2-4 and not getting there 75% of the time seems to be the M.O. of this team for years. If u want 3 scoring lines, u have to let 3 lines be offensively creative. Forcing them to dump and chase every night won’t achieve that.
Those teams do it with a purpose and immediately look to get puck to the slot for a high danger scoring chance. EDM continuously looks to cycle the puck back and forth till they get it to the point for a weak shot on net with anyone in front. It’s like all Edmonton does is stall and try and maintain possession on lines 2-4 till McDavid is ready to come back out. Let him open it up offensively then back to what doesn’t work again. Rinse, repeat.
I think there’s a lot of wisdom in what Sean is saying there. I mean considering that the skilled creative types were moved out (with the blessing of a couple of the greatest coaches in NHL history I might add) in exchange for players who were more predictable, it’s fair to ask what SPR is asking.
MIKE GILLIS
Today you might’ve read what Cult of Hockey Journalist (and Oilers insider) wrote about Mike Gillis. If not, you can do so here. The overriding sentiment is that Gillis should be interviewed, had information gleaned from, and ultimately not hired. But my question is, he’s going to know this going into any interview, so how much gold do you think you’re going to get out of him?
I don’t know if Gillis will get hired in Edmonton or Seattle or any other team looking for a new GM but I do know that he wants to wipe the front office clean in Edmonton if they’re interested in hiring him and I can see how that would rub people the wrong way in Edmonton. The Edmonton media doesn’t seem to like him because he’s not a nice man to deal with.
What I will say is that it hasn’t been working in Edmonton with the nice men. Thirteen years and one playoff appearance to show for it. Most of the front office has been the same in that time frame. So don’t you think it might be time to flip the switch here?
Maybe it’s time to hire the mean man and make things uncomfortable.
Is everyone projecting Mike Gillis in the wrong role though? Should we be talking about him as the Oilers’ President of Hockey Operations? How much would he be dealing with the media then? He could still implement his forward thinking and install whatever analytics department he wanted in this role but all the things that everyone shits on him for wouldn’t so much as apply to my belief.
Thoughts?
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WHERE THE OILERS WILL BE SHOPPING FOR HELP
I’m of the thought that the Oilers will be sending a pretty solid group of scouts to the World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia this year in hopes of unearthing some affordable additions to the team next season.
Names that have come up in the past are Joakim Nygard (W), Jacob Lilja (W), and Anton Wedin (W) from Sweden. Oula Palve (C), Otto Leskinen (D), Oliwer Kaski (RHD), and Ville Leskinen (W) from Finland. Perhaps Ilya Mikheyev (F) and Vlad Tkachyev (F) (Remember Vladdy Hockey?) from Russia as well.
Interim-GM Keith Gretzky did make mention of procuring some talent from Europe that is a bit more pro-ready on Oilers Now recently.
THE DRAFT
At this very moment, the Oilers are sitting at 8th overall. This means if the standings were to remain the same, they could draft either in the top-3 with a lottery win or move down as far as 11th if I’m correct on that.
Obviously, the Oilers will be looking for the best player available where ever they end up.
They can’t go wrong with 200pt man Jack Hughes if they win the lottery outright. Kaapo Kakko IS the winger they need and if you’re worried about another Finn getting picked and taking a bit more time to settle in, don’t. Kakko plays a much different game than Puljujarvi. His English might not be as good as yours or mine but the game is played on the ice and he reminds me of Matt Duchene in how he uses his edges and Joe Sakic with his shot. He’s lighting up the SM-Liiga as a 17-year-old…
After those two players, here are four more that impress me.
Alex Turcotte -C/W- (USNTDP)
Trevor Zegras -C- (USNTDP)
Vasili Podkolzin -RW- (SKA St. Petersburg)
Bowen Byram -D- (Vancouver/WHL)
Turcotte is a wrecking ball out there, not only with his physicality (he never gives up on the puck) but also the scoresheet. For the USNTDP U-18 program, he has 53pts in 30 games and for their junior team that suits up against USHL and NCAA teams, he has 34pts in 16 games.
Trevor Zegras is often referred to as Jack Hughes-lite. He’s a crafty line driver that doesn’t rely on others for point production according to Evan Oppenheimer.
“Betweenness” is a new metric that I’ve discovered that intrigues me. The most basic way I’ve seen it described is from DraftGeek’s Sam Happi,
Betweenness is a metric that estimates the influence of a player within his team’s scoring network. I like to look at it as a measure of how much the team would suffer if that player was suddenly removed from the scoring network of his team— the higher the betweenness, the more the team would feel the negative effects.
Of course, this stat isn’t the be-all, end-all that should determine a player’s worth. Its creator sums it up like this,
A player’s betweenness score may provide us with a lot of information about that player’s context, but it is only one way of doing that. Employing betweenness scores in one’s analysis may be extremely valuable — but it’s more like a thermometer than it is an actual doctor.
Zegras has also been racking up the points for that stacked USNTDP roster. For the U-18 team he’s amassed 76pts in 53 games and for the junior club he has 40pts in 27 games played.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-jv-71HZLM
Vasiili Podkolzin is a contested figure. He lit up the Hlinka-Gretzky tournament in Edmonton this past summer but he’s failed to really shine for his teams in Russia.
Admittedly, I have only seen a shift-by-shift video of him for SKA St. Petersburg but I was impressed with how smart he played. He’s quite good at being in the right spot at the right time both offensively and defensively.
I’ve said in the past, his aggressiveness is something I really enjoy. He reminds me a bit of Peter Forsberg or Evgeni Malkin in that manner sans Malkin’s size. Meaning he doesn’t take any shit out on the ice and he’ll come right at you if he feels he’s been done wrong by.
He’s probably going to stay in Russia for another season or two and that might be exactly what the Oilers need. Just to prevent them from rushing another 18-year-old kid into the lineup and blowing his development as their so apt to do.
Lastly, if Edmonton can get their hands on Bowen Byram, they should be jumping for joy. He’s the best defender available and he’s the perfect partner for Evan Bouchard if we’re projecting three-to-five years into the future.
Byram is a clutch goal scorer (I think he has 6 GWG OT goals this year). He can skate, shoot, and pass. He hits like a freight train despite not having a massive frame and he oozes leadership. Edmonton would be nuts to pass up the opportunity to grab him.
If the Oilers find themselves drafting lower than 8th, I would hope they explore a trade then. Either to upgrade the roster, which could be by subtraction (Lucic) or to trade down and pick up additional draft picks where they could select a forward like,
Cole Caufield (USNTDP) -W- Debincat 2.0. This kid scores at will.
Bobby Brink (Sioux City/USHL) -W- Fast rising up the rankings. Very smart and very skilled.
Phil Tomasino (Niagara/OHL) -W- Barzal-lite? You want speed and skill, Tomasino’s got it.
None of these players are big, apart from Kakko, who is 6’4″ and 200lbs plus but none are as slight as Kailer Yamamoto either.
Check out how the rest of the draft class is doing here.
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