Tag Archives: Edmonton Oilers

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

Last Night’s Oilers Rookies Win, the Roster Impact of Yamamoto’s Signing, and the latest NHL Rumors!

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!

Edmonton Sun

Big night all around as Edmonton Oilers rookies storm back for win
  • Rybinski had the big night up front for the Oilers rookies, scoring the first two goals of the game for Edmonton, one in the first period and another in the second.
  • Kemp was lead dog on the blue line, tying it 3-3 midway through the second period and putting Edmonton ahead 4-3 early in the third.
  • Saturdays’ game is also the first live action in the Oilers organization for Bourgault, Edmonton’s first pick, 22nd overall, last summer… The night didn’t end that well, though, as he had to leave the game late in the third after being hit from behind by Calgary’s Ryan Francis.
  • In goal, Olivier Rodrigue went the distance for Edmonton. He got off to a rocky start with some rebound trouble, giving up two goals in the first five minutes and a third at 18:58, but settled in after that.

BLH’s Thoughts: That’s about as brief of a game summary you’re going to get from a member of the local sports media in Edmonton. Kinda disappointing if you ask me. 

Not that they’ll be any better, but here are some of my observations:

  • Lavoie looks to be ready. The reports on him from Stauffer are bang on and last night he looked like a right proper pro. His skating has really improved and physically he appears to be on the cusp of becoming an NHLer sooner than later. He was very dangerous on the evening as he rung a couple of shots off the post/crossbar. 
  • “Go-Go” Bourgault was a lot faster than I expected and worked quite well on the wall and in the muck until Ryan Francis (who’d be familiar with Bourgault from their time in the QMJHL) levelled him from behind late in the game.
  • Dmitri Samorukov’s game was a short one. Two big hits and that was that. Hopefully he hasn’t re-injured his shoulder or sustained a concussion. 
  • Philip Broberg was solid but unspectacular. I noticed he has a tendency to put his body in a bad position from time to time and as a result, he’s the victim of a bone-crushing body check from the opposition. He got tagged a couple of times last night that had me worried. Maybe he had a tough game, but he doesn’t look ready for the NHL yet.
  • Markus Niemelainen was really decent. He had some nice rushes up the ice and he laid some really hard checks too. I know I used to say that William Lagesson reminded me of Mattias Ekholm, but the Finn also does. I think Niemelainen is a better skater and a better stick checker than Lagesson. 
  • I know Phil Kemp scored a couple of goals, but to me, he was otherwise invisible. Jakob Pelletier almost beat him out wide, but aside from that and his goals, I didn’t notice a whole lot which may be a good thing mind you. 
  • Olivier Rodrigue got hung out to dry on almost all of Calgary’s goals but surprised me with his quickness and athleticism for the rest of the game. He played quite well, but he may want to work on the rebound control. 
  • Kesselring was out of his depth in my opinion. He seemed lost at times and it cost his team at least one goal against. 
  • Filip Berglund, hardly noticed him to be honest. 
  • Ostap Safin was very good on the PP down low and he had a lot of success winning puck battles in the muck. I liked his game.
  • Tyler Tullio was okay. He did his best Josh Archibald impression by smoking a couple of guys on the forecheck and he nearly beat Dustin Wolf with a late period clapper from the top of the circle. I didn’t mind his game at all. 
  • Matvei Petrov was average but he had a few chances to unleash his shot. Unfortunately he didn’t cash in, but he looks to me to be a bit of a long-term project. Since he was drafted 1st overall in the CHL import draft, he’ll be playing in the OHL this season for North Bay I believe, so he’ll be getting acclimated to the NA ice ASAP. 

The game on the whole was great! I thought that Calgary had it wrapped up when they made it 3-1 though. They were in full control dominating the game on a physical level and Edmonton couldn’t get their offense going. Ironic how it was their defensive defenseman, Phil Kemp, who’d basically win it for them with a brace, but good on the boys for sticking in the game and coming back to take it. 

If I had to give three stars, I’d say Rybinksi, Safin, and Kemp but Safin and Niemelainen were really good too. 

The Flames have a couple of good ones in Pelletier and Zary though. They played fantastic.

I will say I was disappointed that nobody took Ryan Francis’ head off after he obliterated Xavier Bourgault from behind late in the third. Maybe we’ll see some retribution on Monday. 

The Athletic

How the Kailer Yamamoto signing sets up Edmonton for training camp
  • The last domino in the Oilers’ offseason to-do list fell Saturday as restricted free agent Kailer Yamamoto signed a one-year, $1.175 million deal.
  • …the contract is a short-term win for the Oilers because of the discounted salary for a young forward who has produced capably.
  • Yamamoto gains arbitration rights next summer after playing his 10th game. His next deal could be much costlier should he bounce back from a subpar eight-goal, 21-point campaign.
  • His ability to check well and perhaps play more on the penalty kill should help the team in other ways when he’s not scoring, too.
  • Add in Yamamoto and this forward group should be much better and deeper than the one that finished last season. Coach Dave Tippett has all sorts of flexibility.
  • There are a lot of penalty-killing options at associate coach Jim Playfair’s disposal: Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins, Yamamoto, Ryan, Foegele, Archibald, McLeod and perhaps Draisaitl and Benson.

BLH’s Thoughts: Anybody else a tad shocked that he signed for so cheap? Why didn’t he just sign that deal earlier in the off-season and avoid all the hullabaloo? He’s missed the Captain’s skates and Ol’ Connor won’t be forgetting that. 

Now the pressure is on for Yamamoto. I suspect we’ll see him bounce back to some degree, but I don’t think he’ll ever get back to being nearly a point-per-game winger and I am very concerned as to his ability to stay healthy. I don’t know if it was as obvious to you last year as it was to me, but I’m of the belief that he was clearly dealing with some sort of injury that disallowed him to shoot at 100% or get in the muck to his full ability. 

The coaching staff should stick him on the 3rd line with McLeod and Foegele and give him the green light. He could be a driver on that line I reckon. 

The Daily Goal Horn

Matthew Tkachuk on Brady: “They’re not too close”
  • “He might be pulling a classic Tkachuk right now. Dad held out, Matthew held out, and Brady looks like he’s on his way right now,” he told Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek this week. “So hopefully it can get figured out here.”
  • Earlier in the week, TSN’s Gord Miller reported that Brady Tkachuk and the Sens were nearing a long-term deal.
  • Matthew basically refuted that report. “It’s just a lot of fake stuff out there regarding this,” he revealed. “They’re not too close. So hopefully it gets figured out, but who knows?”
Hertl on his contract
  • “We’ll see when I get there for camp and stuff, we’ll see if we get some talks. If not, I’m not worried,” Hertl told NHL.com. “For me, it doesn’t matter because I think I’ve proven I can be a good player, I’ve shown I can be a leader and I just want to do that and not think about my next deal.”
Canucks still working on Hughes and Pettersson
  • Hughes, 21, scored 41 points in 56 games last season. Pettersson, 22, registered 21 points in 26 games after an early slump where he scored only 2 points in his first 8 contests. Both players are the cornerstone pieces to the Canucks future but at this rate, could at least miss the start of camp.
Did the Sabres and Kings talk trade?
  • Elliotte Friedman reported that the Sabres spoke with one team about a trade recently, but nothing came of it. Could that team be the L.A. Kings?
  • “I checked with an NHL source familiar with NHL trade discussions involving Eichel and he basically laughed at it and had this to say: “That return [from the Kings] would be a lot more than we’ve discussed.”” – Jimmy Murphy, Boston Hockey Now

 

The new NHL franchise in Seattle already has their AHL affiliate worked out! Click the pick and grab a Karen shirt today!

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

2021-22 Oilers Vs. Flames Rookie Game 1: Three Players to Watch

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!

Edmonton Sun

Saturday night, Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames: Enough said
  • The first official piece of business in Edmonton’s quest for a breakthrough NHL season begins here, with the likes of Raphael Lavoie, Dmitri Samorukov, Philip Broberg and Xavier Bourgault leading the Oilers out.
  • For players who’ve had their seasons shortened, rearranged or totally wiped out by the pandemic, 60 minutes of meaningful hockey feels like Christmas. Sure, the runway into this game is desperately short, but nobody cares.
  • Lavoie (38th overall in 2019) is someone the Oilers will be watching closely. After playing 51 games in Sweden and 19 in Bakersfield last year, the six-foot-five forward is one of the most seasoned players out there.
  • The first injury of rookie camp came 20 minutes into Friday’s session, when winger Jake Chiasson (116th overall in 2021) left the ice favouring his arm or shoulder. He didn’t return.
  • Russian goalie Ilya Konovalov (85th overall in 2019) comes to camp with good Kontinental Hockey League numbers (2.29 goals-against average and .923 save percentage) and high expectations. But like Jesse Puljujarvi before him, isn’t especially fluent in English.

“I think his English is better than he’s given credit for,” he said. “And we have a few Russian players in rookie camp as well as main camp. I’ve also gone over to Russian 10 summers in a row working with younger players, so I have an understanding of ‘hockey Russian’ and can get my point across.” – Jay Woodcroft, Bakersfield Condors Head Coach

BLH’s Thoughts: Gonna do an abbreviated “Three Players to Watch” blog right here instead of dedicating an entire post. 

I don’t know if all these players will be in the lineup, but for argument’s sake, let’s say they will be. 

Edmonton Oilers:
  • Rafa Lavoie – Bob Stauffer said he’s built more like a pro now and his performances during rookie camp show he’s performing more like one as well. It’ll be hard not to notice the 6’5″ winger. 
  • Dmitri Samorukov – LOTS of hype from the local media going into this one. He’s sized like Adam Larsson and he plays a similar style now. 
  • Ilya Konovalov – We’re finally going to see just how good this goalie is. As an older player in this game, he shouldn’t struggle, but we should be aware of the transition from Russian ice to North American. So that’s going to be something to keep an eye on. 
Calgary Flames:
  • Jakob Pelletier – Pesky Brad Marchand-type. Sized like Kailer Yamamoto but faster and stronger on his skates and a better goal scorer.
  • Yan Kuznetsov – Big Russian dman who has a reputation for being very physical if you get too close. 
  • Dustin Wolf – Just a little guy, but made the WHL his bitch during his time there. A very athletic netminder and one of the best puckhandling goalies playing. 

I don’t know if the Oilers have the offensive chops to take this one tonight, but they do have the defense to take it. If they can avoid turning this game into a shootout, they’ll have a good chance of winning it.

The Flames have a lot of annoying little guys on their squad like Pelletier, Ryan Francis, Martin Pospisil, but they’ve also got really skilled players like Connor Zary and Dmitri Zavrgorodniy, hulking players like Mark Simpson, and high-end puck movers like Cameron Whynot, Jeremie Poirier, and Johannes Kinnvall.

At any rate, hockey’s back and that’s enough for me!

Flames Suck. Click the pic and get a shirt.

The Cult of Hockey

Huge defence crew stands out at Edmonton Oilers rookie camp
  • Standout player to my eyes was d-man Dmitri Samorukov who is not only taller than I remember but wider and thicker as well. Officially listed at 6’3, 198 lbs., though Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now suggests he’s more in the 215-220 pound range (and I believe it).
    • More importantly, he looked fast, confident, composed. He has upgraded his game in subtle skills like boxing out opposing forwards and clearing rebounds from danger.
  • Philip Kemp, whose play could best be described as low-key, competent, and not particularly eye-catching (at least, not today).
  • An automatic pairing was the old Skelleftea duo of Philip Broberg and Filip Berglund.
    • Broberg too has added some bulk to his already-imposing frame, and showed well in such details as angling opposing rushers to the outside and playing the contain game.
    • Broberg displayed excellent puck protection skills along the end boards in particular.
    • He was occasionally a little careless with the puck on his stick, once coughing it up into the slot after trying an ill-advised one-on-one move deep in his own zone. 
  • Markus Niemelainen, whose calling cards are length and reach combined with surprising mobility for a man who stands 6’5.
    • He was able to disrupt more than one “chase” drill from the trailing position, using that long reach to dispossess the forward of the puck before he even reached the slot.
  • Up front, big Raphael Lavoie caught my eye more than any other forward.
    • He’s got far more polish than he did as a freshly drafted youngster back in 2019, which is to be expected given his subsequent experiences at four levels of hockey including the Q, the 2020 World Juniors, Hockey Allsvenskan and the AHL.
    • Impressive size, even as he is still thickening out, seemed to have the puck on his stick a lot in the various 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 drills.
    • Was more engaged in making plays rather than shooting from outside, normally his first instinct.
  • One of Lavoie’s linemates was 2021 first-round draft Xavier Bourgault. The 18-year-old didn’t stand out, showed a few flashes of skill here and there but a fair bit of the “boy among men” syndrome, especially in constricted areas against those massive defenders.
  • James Hamblin, who looked very comfortable in the role, distributing the puck efficiently and heading to the holes.
  • Two more young forwards who lined up together were 2020 fifth round pick Tyler Tullio and 2021 sixth rounder Matvei Petrov.
    • Tullio is a smaller player who darts around the zone with and without the puck. 
    • Petrov has obvious skill, though his shooting eye was off as he missed the target with a couple of hard shots from good spots, then tickled the crossbar with one wicked drive from the ringette line.
  • Konovalov impressed with his positioning (always square to the puck), his side-to-side mobility, and his quick legs.
    • A smaller goalie at 5’11, he looks around screens rather than over them, and this cost him on one occasion where he leaned to his left just as Berglund unloaded a perfectly-placed outside shot that beat him over his right shoulder.
    • Seconds later and with a clearer view, he got the edge of his blocker on another well-placed blast from closer range by the sniper Lavoie.
  • Olivier Rodrigue, also demonstrated technically sound positioning and quick feet.

BLH’s Thoughts: For tonight’s game, I know that it’ll be hard not to keep the eyes peeled for Broberg, Lavoie, and “Go-Go” Bourgault, but I think from the forwards, I want to closely observe Tyler Tullio, Ostap Safin, and Matvei Petrov. On defense, I’ll pay a tiny bit more attention to Phil Kemp and Markus Niemelainen. 

The good players will stand out regardless, but I think at times it’s more important to check out the guys in the background. Maybe in the second game on Monday I’ll pick a new group to watch. 

The Hockey Writers (Rumors)

Shanahan, Keefe and Dubas on the Hot Seat
  • Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun notes Shanahan, Dubas, and Keefe are three names to watch this season when it comes to job security in the NHL. All could be relieved of their duties if this season doesn’t go well for the team.
Kaprizov Will Miss Start of Wild Training Camp
  • Even if the Minnesota Wild and Kirill Kaprizov get a contract extension worked out here in the next couple of days, the forward will miss the start of training camp. Michael Russo reports that on-ice sessions are set to begin next Thursday, but Kaprizov “won’t, at a minimum, be in camp on time due to work visa obligations/7-day quarantine.”
MacKinnon Calls Zadorov a “Bit of a Donkey”
  • On Thursday during the NHL media tour, MacKinnon responded to comments that he’s over the top when it comes to being a diet freak and said:

“Yeah, it got a little out of hand I think. Big Z. If you guys all know Z, he’s a bit of a donkey. People see a Russian translation and think it is the Bible, I guess. I don’t know. It’s all good. He went a little extreme. That’s what Z does. He loves a good quote.”

The new NHL franchise in Seattle already has their AHL affiliate worked out! Click the pick and grab a Karen shirt today!

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

Edmonton Oilers Talk: Guaranteed NHLers, 21 Questions, and Edmonton’s Secret Weapons

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

This Prospect Will Play In The NHL
  • I have two players ranked as eights to make it: Philip Broberg and Dmitri Samorukov. The interesting thing is they will be battling each other for ice time as they both play left defence. Broberg has played RD so he could move over, but ideally teams want lefties playing the left side. Competition is great, and it will only make them better, and unlike when Darnell Nurse and Oscar Klefbom broke in, the Oilers don’t have to rush Broberg and Samorukov to the NHL.
  • Both defenders are 6’3″ and above average skaters. They stood out as in a tier of their own at rookie camp.
  • I’ll be watching these two the closest when the preseason begins on September 26th in Calgary. I think they will push Kris Russell, Slater Koekkoek and William Lagesson for the third pairing LD spot. I’d be in favour of them starting in the AHL, as having two rookies (Evan Bouchard is the other) in your top-six D is not ideal, but as the season progresses I believe we will see one of them this year and both of them before the end of the 2022/2023 seasons.
  • The change in Samorukov really stood out to me yesterday. He is the prospect I’m most intrigued with and I’ll be watching him closely.

BLH’s Thoughts: “I’ll take the top-ten pick who’s played in Sweden’s top league and the guy who was a dominant force for one of the best team’s in the KHL last season.” 

Nice to see Gregor really going out on a limb there to pick a couple of guys who he thinks will be guaranteed NHLers. Reckon Dylan Holloway would’ve been one of his choices if his wrist had healed?

I’m being an ass, of course Broberg and Samorukov have a great chance to become full-time NHLers as soon as the 2022-23 season when William Lagesson and Kris Russell’s contracts are off of the books. All that’ll be left is for one of them to force Duncan Keith into retirement and then both can have a spot on Edmonton’s roster. 

I’m going to go out on more a limb though and say Tyler Tullio will be a regular in the NHL in the future. I like his leadership and character, he’s a fantastic skater with good speed, and has a scoring touch. At the very least, he’s Josh Archibald 2.0 or the next Dillon Dube. 

Oilersnation

21 Questions Ahead of the 2020-21 NHL Season
  • How high Connor McDavid can set the bar for NHL points production over a full season?

BLH’s Thoughts: RAPID FIRE!!! 150pts in 2021-22! 

  • I wonder if this is the year when Connor McDavid pushes 50 goals?

BLH’s Thoughts: He’ll eclipse 50 goals. 

  • Does RNH look at last year’s mess and take that as a challenge to get better even as a 10-year veteran?

BLH’s Thoughts: RNH will return to his 60pt self. 

  • How long will it take for Zach Hyman to build some chemistry with either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl? 

BLH’s Thoughts: Hyman plays the style that brought the likes of Pat Maroon and Zack Kassian success on McDavid’s wing. It won’t take long at all and I’ll say the chemistry is immediate. 

  • Can Mike Smith build on the strong 2021 season that saw him put up a 21-6-2 record and .923 save% in 32 appearances, or will we get the guy that settled in with a .902 save% in 2019-20?

BLH’s Thoughts: No. Smith will not “build” on that, but he won’t fall off a cliff either. I say he finishes the year with a .910-.915 save%.

  • Can Mikko Koskinen win us all back?

BLH’s Thoughts: Most definitely. Contract year, older defense, more defensively responsible forwards on the team. 

  • Which Zack Kassian will we get for the 2021-22 season?

BLH’s Thoughts: Kassian is going to cripple somebody in game one to show the haters he’s back. 

  • Will Kailer Yamamoto be able to cash in on more of the Grade-A chances he produces for himself/gets set up with by Draisaitl than he did last year?

BLH’s Thoughts: If he decides to re-sign with the club, yes, but from the 3rd line, not Draisaitl’s wing. 

  • Can Warren Foegele make us forget about Ethan Bear?

BLH’s Thoughts: Ethan who?

  • What are we going to get from Cody Ceci?

BLH’s Thoughts: Boring unspectacular hockey. 

  • Can Ryan McLeod cement himself as an NHL regular in what could be his first full season with the Edmonton Oilers?

BLH’s Thoughts: Yes. His speed will force people to take notice, but his finishing ability might make them forget. 

  • Is this the year when Tyler Benson steals a spot with the big club or is his time with the organization winding to a close?

BLH’s Thoughts: He only has Devin Shore to beat, so I say he makes the team. 

  • Is it that unreasonable to suggest that Puljujarvi could score 20 goals for the first time?

BLH’s Thoughts: It is not. What about 30?

  • Where will Evan Bouchard finish the year on the depth chart?

BLH’s Thoughts: Top-4. 

  • I’m wondering what it will be like to not worry so much when anyone not named Connor or Leon is on the ice?

BLH’s Thoughts: The same way you feel when you’re ending your night at a donair shop. You’ve been drinking, you’re not sure if this tasty delight is going to stay in your stomach, but you want it a lot and you’re willing to give it a go. So you let fate take hold of the wheel and what happens, happens. The worst case scenario is you blow chunks and go back to drinking to stave off the shame. 

The Cult of Hockey

Edmonton’s secret weapons if Kailer Yamamoto holds out? The Oilers have two
  • First is Warren Foegele, 25, who came over from Carolina in the Ethan Bear trade. I only know about Foegele by his reputation and some Youtube clips of all his goals in recent seasons. My first impression is that he’s a speedy version of Alex Chiasson, a big, tough winger who goes hard to the net, scores most of his goals banging away in the crease, but can also get off the odd brilliant shot.
  • My second secret weapon idea is to go with Cooper Marody, 24, in Yamamoto’s spot. Marody isn’t a speedster, but he’s great at handling and passing the puck. He’d fit in well with the give-and-go style of RNH and Draisatl. He’s also got good enough hands to play with McDavid.

BLH’s Thoughts: If Foegele has a shot like Chiasson, the Oilers might have a gem on their hands here. I’m looking forward to seeing what this guy can do since he’s such an unknown at this point. 

As for Marody, I need to see where his skating is and how his confidence level is competing against NHL defensemen. Until then, he’s Linus Omark with bad feet. Tippett won’t put him in his top-six unless he’s producing at ridiculous rate because offense is the only thing he brings to the party. 

If Yamamoto holds out (dumb move), Edmonton has Kassian to fill in, Hyman can scoot over,  and Kyle Turris would probably get a shot too. The club is pretty set to go if Killer decides to stay home. 

The new NHL franchise in Seattle already has their AHL affiliate worked out! Click the pick and grab a Karen shirt today!

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

Edmonton Oilers Talk: Will the New TV Deal and Expansion Team Finally “Free McDavid”?

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!

Edmonton Sun

Oilers cupboard is stocked with young goaltenders in system
  • In the minors, do we know how good Stuart Skinner can be? Is he going to be Laurent Brossoit, a solid NHL back-up or could he push and be a 1A, 1B partner with somebody else in time?
  • How good is former second-round draft Olivier Roy, who is coached by his dad Sylvain, the organization’s minor-league tutor?
  • Is third-round pick Ilya Konovalov, 23, who is in North American for the first time after his time with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL, capable enough to play in the AHL, right away?
  • Alex Stalock, 34, is also in the mix. There’s talk NHL teams may be allowed to carry a third goalie this season because of Covid concerns…
  • Skinner, 22, is the prototypical six-foot-four goalie who will be starter in Bakersfield. Rodrique, who played 11 AHL games last year as a first-year pro, is six-foot-two and 170 pounds, Konavalov, who backed up Eddy Pasquale last year in Yaroslavl, has played 104 KHL games.
  • At first blush, Skinner and Konovalov, who signed a two-year deal, could be the tandem in Bakersfield because Konovalov presumably didn’t come over to play in the ECHL. But Rodrigue, once on Canada’s world junior team, has lots of talent and will push the issue, with his father’s help, if in the minors.

“Goaltending (prospects) is a position of strength in our organization. They all bring something different to the table, all accomplished in their own right, with a pedigree,” said Bakersfield coach Jay Woodcroft.

BLH’s Thoughts: I don’t know if the goaltending is a position of strength for the Oilers per se, just because I’m not sure if they potential ceiling on any of the netminders in Edmonton’s system is higher than that of a backup goalie. I’d probably lean more to say that the club’s goaltending depth is a strength if anything.

Now, that being said, Skinner had a fantastic year in 2020-21 and Konovalov has shown promise from his time in the KHL. So there are reasons to believe with this group of netminders that one of them could emerge as a proper internally-developed option for the Oilers down the line. 

Oilersnation

Call The Rulebook
  • McDavid isn’t alone, but he’s the poster boy for everything wrong with NHL officiating and somehow fought his way through all the non-calls to put up 105 points in 56 games. Despite being second in the league in penalties drawn, way too much went uncalled. In four playoff games vs. Winnipeg, McDavid didn’t draw even a single penalty in 121 shifts. Not one.
  • The way I see it, what’s come to be known as game management is the single biggest issue leading to the inconsistency we see all too often. As opposed to missing a call because an official doesn’t see it, which happens in a game as fast as hockey, there’s other factors at play.
    • What’s the score?
    • What’s the penalty count in the game?
    • Can a referee make a fifth straight call against a team, even if it’s legit?
    • The referees can’t call every hook, hold or hack against McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon or fill-in-name-here, can they?
  • With a new seven-year TV deal with Turner Sports in place and a new team in the Seattle Kraken as part of the mix for 2021-22, might we at long last see the game open up and the entertainment factor cranked up a notch or two?

BLH’s Thoughts: As soon as I read that last point, the lightbulb went on. The officiating came under some intense fire last season and combine that with the new TV deal and Seattle coming into the league and I think there’s quite a bit of potential for powerplays to increase in 2021-22. 

But the real question is, if the refs do stick to the book, how long will it last? 

In the past, we’re seen years where the refs called everything to start the year and as the post-season approached, the calls became less frequent and by the time the playoffs were in full go-mode, they were tucked into the refs pockets. 

In any case, if Connor gets his way, the Edmonton Oilers are going to run all over the league. I mean, it’s getting to the point to where McDavid is like Mario Lemieux was in the 80s and 90s. You see, when 66 stepped on the ice back then, there was a legit chance that he could score or set up a goal every time and if there was a powerplay, it was almost guaranteed that the Pens were scoring. 

Spector’s Hockey

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Brady Tkachuk has yet to join his Senators teammates in Ottawa in preparation for the start of training camp on Sep. 22. He’s still back home in St. Louis as his agent and Senators management continues to work on a new contract for the 22-year-old left wing.

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma took note of the apparent lack of progress in contract talks between the Vancouver Canucks and young stars Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. He feels the negotiation pressure point of missing the start of training camp next Thursday could adversely affect their regular-season performance.

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan believes the Maple Leafs shouldn’t trade Morgan Rielly this season…  he feels they shouldn’t move their annual leader in ice time unless they’re certain of getting equal or greater value in return. “And that’s not going to happen,” he said.

The new NHL franchise in Seattle already has their AHL affiliate worked out! Click the pick and grab a Karen shirt today!

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

The Prospect Who Might Make Oilers Fans Forget about Adam Larsson

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 Hockey Writers

Oilers That Failed to Live Up to Their Preseason Hype
Tomas Jurco
  • On July 1, 2019, Jurco signed a one-year deal with the Oilers, worth $750,000. At first glance, it looked like he’d build off of his AHL success. Showcasing his skills that made him a second-round pick, he registered three goals, two assists in five preseason games.
  • Yet, after only 12 games and registering a disappointing two points in the regular season, he was re-assigned to the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL.
Ty Rattie
  • He was given an opportunity of a lifetime when the 2018-19 preseason started, as he found himself on a line with McDavid and Ryan-Nugent Hopkins. Rattie didn’t disappoint. He reclaimed his scoring touch, netting a hat trick against the Vancouver Canucks, and led the entire NHL in preseason points— producing seven goals, four assists in only four games.
  • While his preseason point totals showed signs of a breakout season, things didn’t pan out for the one-time WHL Playoff MVP. While suffering an early-season injury, he was taken off Mcdavid’s line and found himself on the bottom six. He finished the year with four goals, seven assists in 50 games.
Jussi Jokinen
  • In the preseason, Jokinen showed promise. In a game against the Winnipeg Jets, he had a three-point night, finishing with a goal and two assists. He wrapped up the exhibition round totaling five points in four games.
  • After registering only one assist in 14 games, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Mike Cammalleri…
Mike Comrie
  • On Sept.10, 2009, then Oilers general manager, Steve Tambellini, signed Comrie to a one-year deal to return to his hometown team. In an exhibition game, Comrie won over the crowd, registering four assists— he also got in a tussle with Florida Panther Eric Himelfarb.
  • That preseason, he led the entire league in points with 10 points in five games— even beating out a 24-year-old Anze Kopitar for the league-lead by two points.
  • Unfortunately for Comrie, after contracting mononucleosis, he finished the campaign with 21 points in 43 games— watching his points-per-game (P/G) drop from 2.0 in the preseason to 0.48. He would go on to play another year before retiring due to injuries.

BLH’s Thoughts: So this begs the question, will there be an overachiever on Edmonton’s roster this year and who might it be?

I’m going to go with Ryan McLeod, PTO man Colton Sceviour, or Alex Stalock. The reason being that during preseason, bottom-six players and backups tend to get more TOI than what they would in the regular season and it’s usually against a less than full-strength opposition.

With McLeod’s speed, Sceviour’s tenaciousness and scoring touch, and Stalock’s adrenaline from not playing for more than a year, I believe there’s potential for the sort of scenario that is presented in the excerpted article above.

Edmonton Sun

Edmonton Oilers knee deep in prospect defencemen knocking on the door
  • At present, the Oilers have Darnell Nurse, Duncan Keith and Kris Russell as the first three left shot D, with Slater Koekkoek and William Lagesson also in the mix. But Keith is 38 with two years left on his contract; Russell is 34, on a one-year. Some of the prospects are going to be pushing. And soon.
  • (Dmitri) Samorukov (third-round pick in 2017), coming off shoulder surgery, was terrific on a stacked CSKA Kontinental Hockey League team in Moscow last season until he got hurt in a practice battle drill in February.
  • His game improved dramatically from a lukewarm first pro season in Bakersfield, and he played in a number of NHL-sized rinks in Russia, not the big ice.
  • (Philip) Broberg (first-round pick in 2019), captain of the Swedish world junior team, is a fantastic skater and he’s played two teenage years in the Swedish Hockey League in Skelleftea, but he’s also two years younger than Samorukov, who plays a physical, hard game (maybe a left side model of Adam Larsson).
  • Broberg has a wealth of talent but assimilation to the pro game here may take longer because of the difference in ice-surfaces, where fore-checkers get on defencemen quicker and there are more board battles.
  • For now, Samorukov, who had a very strong first practice at rookie camp Thursday, looks ahead of Broberg on the depth chart. He’s taken some of the risk out of his game with the usual mantra for D — less is more. Simple passes, hard on the puck-carrier.
  • Broberg’s skating is elite, however. It gets him out of trouble in terms of moving the puck. Also allows him to close people off on the rush. If he starts in Bakersfield, he’ll have the best giddy-up of all the young D there. You can’t teach that, either.

BLH’s Thoughts: Bob Stauffer couldn’t hide his “enthusiasm” for Samorukov during his radio show yesterday. He said that Dima looks like a man and sounded very impressed with how well he looked on the ice. 

There’s going to be a spot open on Edmonton’s roster for a cycle-breaker and Sammy might just be the guy to fill it. I talked about how I wondered if an Eric Cernak-type player could emerge from the Oilers system not too long ago, right? Well, this big Russian assassin may just bulldoze his way onto the Oilers roster sooner than many previously thought. 

Question, why are folks still commenting on how Broberg will need some time to acclimate to the North American ice? The whole reason he was discovered was his ability to play on the small ice in Edmonton during the Hlinka/Gretzky tournament a few years ago. This guy thrives on the small ice where his skating and ability to close down on forwards due to said skating and his size/reach excels. 

I’m curious if these two young men force Ken Holland to make a tough decision during the season… Then again, Koekkoek and Russell aren’t exactly known to stay healthy for whole seasons at a time… Maybe a window of opportunity will open up for Samorukov or Broberg in 2021-22 to claim a spot on the Edmonton Oilers roster.

The Hockey Writers (Rumors)

  • According to Chris Johnston of The Toronto Star, “Hearing the #NYI are bringing defenceman Erik Gustafsson to training camp on a PTO.” He is a left-shot defenseman and it seems like the Islanders want to see what he’s got left to offer if anything.
  • Duncan Keith has joined the Oilers for on-ice skates. There was some chatter about why he wasn’t there with the rest of his teammates to start informal on-ice sessions, but he was still coaching his son’s team in Kelowna.
  • Patrick Johnston of The Vancouver Province reports, “Don’t be surprised if the Hughes deal turns out to be a little north of $8m. You can probably figure out what that means for term.” The hint here is that the Canucks are looking long-term and eight years for Hughes, trying to avoid a bridge deal.
  • The New Jersey Devils added a few interesting names to their training camp roster, signing Jimmy Vesey, Mark Jankowski, and Tyler Wotherspoon to professional tryout contracts.
  • Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly offered a few updates as far as the league was concerned during the NHL/NHLPA media tour.
    • He noted there would be partial capacity in Montreal and Vancouver; he was awaiting guidance in Ontario, but full capacity in Alberta and Manitoba.
    • He also noted the NHL salary cap is expected to go up $1 million for next season and that the league is still looking into the situations with Evander Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks allegations.
The new NHL franchise in Seattle already has their AHL affiliate worked out! Click the pick and grab a Karen shirt today!