Tag Archives: Pavel Datsyuk

Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors

Edmonton Oilers Rumors: Holland in Detroit to Recruit Datsyuk, the Ask on Lucic, and Is Yak Returning?

How would you feel if Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland could convince TWO former NHL all-stars to join the team for the upcoming season? I think that it would be prudent to give it some thought as it sounds like Holland has put on his hard hat and started “THE GRIND” to overhaul this roster.

According to a source of mine, and in addition to the news of Holland going to Detroit this weekend, I’ve been told that the Oilers’ new GM is going to do his damnedest to recruit former Red Wings all-star Pavel Datsyuk.

In addition to that, his is what I was told,

Ken is starting to put his stamp slowly on the team. He wants a fast, quick team. That’s what the Nygard signing is about. Were going to have a busy summer here.

Ken went to Det to talk to Tippett and convince Pavel to come to EDM.

I did mention Ken Holland going to Detroit to possibly convince two former NHL all-stars into possibly joining the Oilers. Well, I think there’s a bearded Swedish fella who once captained the Red Wings but has been on the shelf for some time. I wouldn’t put a ton of hope into that one happening as I think that player is really happy with life at the moment, but the Datsyuk one, I think there’s something to that, for sure.

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The Ask for Milan 

It’s been previously reported by Elliotte Friedman on a number of occasions that the Oilers could’ve moved Milan Lucic last season but the ask was too high…. I found out what the ask was and you’re going to shit yourself when you read it.

  • One first round pick
  • One b-grade prospect
  • One top-6 forward

Man… Did Peter Chiarelli really love this guy or what?! Apparently, Chia thought Lucic was joking when he went to him to ask for a trade. Once he realized Lucic was serious, he jacked up the price.

I would venture a guess that the price has come down significantly. Maybe a 2nd rounder will do it but I don’t think the Oilers are going to let him go if it means they lose the trade OR if they have to retain salary. They’d most likely ask for something in return if salary retention is part of the deal.

The Return of the Yak!

If you’re into the conspiracy end of things, you might like this. On the same day that the Oilers announced the signing of Swedish speedster Joakim Nygard, the followed two players on their Instagram account, one being the Swede and the other being Bogdan Yakimov. This got the wheels going, so I asked and I was told that the Oilers ARE talking to him. Most of the front office guys that were around when Yakimov was here before are gone. There was friction.

Is Bogdan Yakimov coming back to play in Edmonton?

Personally, I’m not too sure about Big Yak. He hasn’t exactly lit up the KHL since he left North America and this year he managed to find a way to play on three different teams… He’s a bigger body and that leads me to suspect that he’s not that fleet of foot and with the team already having Jujhar Khaira and Milan Lucic providing the beef, is adding this 24-year-old Russian tank overkill?

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Joakim Nygard

Well, I’m not going to say “I told you so.” But we did mention the Oilers having interest in this guy back in March.

I’m very excited to see this player. I compared him to Andreas Athanasiou in the link above and I really think he could develop into this sort of player and if not that, then a taller version of Todd Marchant. The speed and tenacity is there and I’m absolutely sure that Nygard will be a massive threat on the PK, in the same manner, Michael Grabner has been for the Coyotes, Rangers, and Devils in the past.

The first time he breaks away from the other team’s defense, you’re going to be mouth agape. He’s ridiculously fast and I’d bet you he gives Connor McDavid a run for his money at next year’s fastest skater competition.

The other thing you’re going to like about him is that he has no fear. He LOVES to go to the blue paint. Now, if he can do that AND stay healthy, that remains to be seen.

Possible 2019/20 Forward Lineup

RNH-McDavid-Kassian
Lucic-Draisaitl-Puljujarvi
Nygard-Datsyuk-Chiasson
Yakimov-Khaira-Gagner
Cave

Still pretty big and slow for my liking. If the Oilers could find a way to move out Lucic and replace him with someone faster, maybe a Gus Nyquist? I think that’d help out a ton. On the other hand, do we want Holland re-creating the Red Wings or building something new? For me, I want a bottom-6 that takes pride in their defense and work ethic. I don’t want prima donnas who aren’t willing to play their roles.

What about you? Let us know in the comments below!

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Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors

Friedman Says the Oilers are the Front Runners for Giant Finnish Goalie Mikko Koskinen

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You probably have heard either via the Twitter or from Hockey Night in Canada Elliotte Friedman say that the Oilers are in on Finnish goaltender Mikko Koskinen. This new shouldn’t come as a shock to anybody. There are changes afoot in the KHL and a ton of talent is looking to come to the NHL. And if you’ve been listening to Bob Stauffer recently you’d know he asked both Todd McLellan AND Peter Chiarelli during their year-end avails questions as to procuring a goalie out of “non-traditional markets”…

Buyer Beware

Mikko Koskinen has played the last 5 seasons for Vladimir Putin’s team SKA in the KHL. He’s had the luxury of playing behind the best team money can buy over in Russia but that being said, he still has to play well to stay on said team and he has.

The 6’6″ 200lb Mikko Koskinen was once a blue-chip goaltending prospect in the New York Islanders system after being drafted as a 2o year old in the 2nd round of the 2009 draft 31st overall. Basically a first round pick.

But for whatever reason things didn’t pan out in that organization and his numbers were simply unacceptable, as you can see above, in his three seasons as a goalie in North America.

This from Islanders blog, Lighthouse Hockey:

While in the Islanders organization, he had basically one full season in AHL Bridgeport with an ugly .892 save percentage, though it was on a(nother) weak team. A hip problem clearly interfered with his performance during his entry level contract playing for the Islanders, Sound Tigers, and their then-ECHL affiliate Utah Grizzlies.

A couple of things working in his advantage are his size and I believe his age. Koskinen is 30 now and we know that goaltenders can be fickle when it comes to development but this fella has put up consistently good numbers since moving to Europe.

If the Oilers are looking at signing Mikko Koskinen to be their backup in 2018, are they aiming high enough? What I mean is that last season was lost due to “hoping” the kids would step up. Are the Oilers back to that “hoping” model again? Or are his numbers and the scouting reports out of Russia/Finland telling the Oilers that this guy can play 25-30 games next season?

Is Mikko Koskinen the next Viktor Fasth/Anders Nilsson or is he Chiarelli’s next Tim Thomas?

https://twitter.com/NHLbyMatty/status/987879721902977026

MY THOUGHTS

I’m divided. He doesn’t have a good history in North America but he’s older now and there are plenty of examples of goalies who flourish in the later years. The optimist in me says the Oilers should go for it because he’s a big netminder and he’s put up fantastic numbers in the KHL but then the pessimist says he’s a slow netminder and the KHL isn’t the NHL.

Should the Oilers go this route and it fails, they’ll probably still have Montoya as the no.3 who could come up but if they do sign the Finn and he succeeds, how high is the ceiling here? Are we talking Pekka Rinne high? Kiprusoff?

What is a realistic expectation of a 3o-year old goalie coming to the NHL from the KHL with his size and his stats?

https://twitter.com/NHLbyMatty/status/987880255053447168

Are we overthinking this? For the love of Pete, this is the backup goalie we’re talking about here…

Here are some scouting reports of the big guy:

He takes up a ton of net and he is difficult to beat when he has time to square up to the shooter. Predictably, he struggles a bit with his mobility and regularly ends up scrambling. However, he is extremely flexible for a man his size. That combined with his long limbs helps Koskinen make up for whatever deficiencies exist in his lateral movement. Brent Craswell (link)

Koskinen’s greatest asset is his size, which he uses to seemingly fill the entire net and he covers a lot of space in the butterfly. He is inexperienced in terms of the number of games played and has not had a lot of international experience – excelling in the SM-Liiga where he ordinarily does not see the booming slapshots or accurate snipers more common in North America.  Still learning as a goaltender, he must work to improve his quickness and foot speed. Very good at anticipating chances and setting himself to limit scoring opportunities.  Quality teammate who has earned the respect of the veteran players in Espoo. (link)

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Jack Gruninger, NHL

Beer League Heroes NHL Season Primers 2015/16: The Detroit Red Wings

As usual, the Detroit Red Wings had another good season, making the playoffs for the 24th time in a row, but were eliminated in the first round by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Red Wings may have suffered the biggest loss this offseason, losing head coach Mike Babcock to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Babcock has been replaced by Jeff Blashill, who previously coached Detroit’s AHL affiliate. He is a good coach who has had success at other levels and has coached many of Detroit’s current players before, so he will fit in well.

Key Additions: C Brad Richards, RD Mike Green, RD Robbie Russo

Key Subtractions: C Stephen Weiss, LW Erik Cole, RW Daniel Cleary, RD Marek Zidlicky, G Jonas Gustavsson

The Red Wings didn’t add a lot of significant players this offseason, nor did they need to, with a lot of young talent coming up from the minors ready to take on bigger roles. They have made upgrades in certain positions. Stephen Weiss was bought out, which allowed the Wings to bring in Brad Richards, an obvious upgrade. Marek Zidlicky, acquired at the trade deadline, has been replaced by Mike Green, another upgrade.

Projected Lines (All Players Healthy):
Henrik Zetterberg – Pavel Datsyuk – Justin Abdelkader
Johan Franzen – Brad Richards – Gustav Nyquist
Tomas Tatar – Riley Sheahan – Teemu Pulkkinen
Darren Helm – Luke Glendening – Tomas Jurco
Drew Miller

Niklas Kronwall – Jonathan Ericsson
Danny DeKeyser – Mike Green
Kyle Quincey – Brendan Smith
Jakub Kindl

Petr Mrazek
Jimmy Howard

Roster Contenders: C Joakim Andersson, C Landon Ferraro, C Andy Miele, C Dylan Larkin, LW Eric Tangradi, LW Tomas Nosek, RW Anthony Mantha, RW Mitch Callahan, LD Xavier Ouellet, LD Brian Lashoff, RD Alexey Marchenko, RD Ryan Sproul, RD Nick Jensen, RD Robbie Russo, G Tom McCollum, G Jared Coreau

A big advantage Detroit has with their roster is superb depth, mostly due to tremendous drafting and development. In addition to great depth on the current roster, there is tremendous depth in the system in all positions.

One concern I have about Detroit is the aging of key players. Datsyuk’s play hasn’t necessarily declined, but he is often injured. Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen, and Niklas Kronwall have all shown signs of decline. Eventually, these players will have to be replaced.

All in all, there aren’t any glaring weaknesses in Detroit’s roster. An interesting thing is the progress of Petr Mrazek, and many have him penciled in as the starter for Detroit this season. Jimmy Howard could eventually be put on the trade block.

As usual, I fully anticipate that Detroit will make the playoffs this season. This is a team that has a very good roster in all positions and could cause some damage this season and in the playoffs.

**Hey Everyone, BLH here. We’ve got some good news and bad news. The bad news is that our famed writer Jack Gruninger is going on hiatus as he attends university. The good news is the rest of the Beer League Heroes crew is going to pick up where he left off with the Season Primer Series. Best wishes to Jack and we can’t wait for his return!**