January 4, 2020 /

2019/20 Edmonton Oilers GM44: Oilers @ Bruins – 3P2W Plus A Little Prospect Talk

The Boston Bruins’ pace has slowed considerably lately. They’re 4-5-1 in their last ten games and I’m hoping that’s some sort of blessing for the Edmonton Oilers. A win will take them right back up into 3rd spot in the Pacific should the Rangers find a way to beat Vancouver.

On Twitter, I sent out a tweet that said that I believe that JJ Khaira’s days are numbered and with the way that Tyler Benson has been playing lately, the writing is basically on the wall. Now, we’ve seen the Oilers not be afraid to move NHL vets to Bakersfield, will that be the route they take with Khaira? Tough call. Is there a market for him out there? Also an unknown. He’s a big guy who’s not afraid of the physical side of the game but I don’t know if he owns a fast-twitch muscle in his body. On the other hand, he’s been a decent penalty killer during his career… So, who knows?

The 2020 Draft and Current Oilers Prospects

I had an extra hour to sit down and watch a bit of the Bakersfield Condors game against the San Diego Gulls. This is what I noticed,

  • Ryan McLeod has elite speed. The way he skates reminds me of Mike Modano. In this game, he was absolutely flying! The best game I’ve seen him play in a Condors uniform for sure. One of the big knocks on him is that he’s a perimeter player, but in this game, he was getting mucky and driving the net. I’d say he’s got one more year in Bakersfield before he’ll be ready for the NHL.
  • Kirill Maksimov had a really slow start to this season but he’s really come on since being placed on a line with Colby Cave. I think Cave’s speed and tenacity really opens things up for Maksimov to use his frame and shot. His confidence has really grown over the last month and that’s displayed in his point production. Both he and McLeod are feature penalty killers for the Condors and that speaks to the trust that their coach has in them. Another full season in Bakersfield with some more responsibility and he could be ready to go for the Oilers.
  • Evan Bouchard is ready to go as a bottom-pairing defender in the NHL. In this game, his passing and his shot were too obvious. It was the final minute of the game that should have the Oilers grinning like a butcher’s dog though. He was fully engaged in forcing the Gulls passes to the outside and their final shot of the game he blocked, then gathered the rebound and skated it right up the guts of the ice nearly dangling between two defenders. He was stopped before getting a shot off on the open net but his efforts drew a penalty and wound down the clock. BEAST MODE!
  • Tyler Benson, as we spoke about before, is stirring the drink for the Condors this year. For a second consecutive season, he’s one of the team’s leading scorers. I’m still not convinced by his skating, but I can put that aside since he’s basically scoring at a point and a half per game. What he’ll bring to the Oilers is someone who is very smart on the walls. His vision is outstanding and he’s got fantastic hands. The thing I really like about Benson’s game though is that he’s gritty. When the game’s not going his way, he inserts himself into it physically.
  • Joel Persson, he’s racking up points like it’s nothing in the AHL but the problem is he’s pretty chaotic away from the puck. He makes some mistakes that have you wonder how he got to this level as it is. Sometimes his urgency on the ice simply isn’t there and that goes back the Gaetan Haas story where he told Bob Stauffer that the first time he was asked to forecheck was when he arrived in Edmonton. I get that the game is a bit slower (or can be) in Europe, but sometimes it looks like Persson’s feet are stuck in wet cement. He can make a three-zone pass on the tape if you want though…

If I had to make a prediction, I would say that it’s the end of the road for the likes of Joe Gambardella and Cooper Marody. They’ve not really progressed in my opinion. These two players might simply be good AHLers at the end of the day.

The 2020 NHL Draft is set to be a pretty decent affair. I don’t know where the Oilers are going to be picking, but here is a list of names in different ranges that I think the Oilers should have peak interest in.

#3-#10

Anton Lundell (C) – HIFK, SM-Liiga: 20gp 6g 6a 12pts
Yaroslav Askarov (G) –  SKA-Neva St. Petersburg, VHL: 12gp 2.38 GAA .922 SV%
Alexander Holtz (RW/LW) – Djurgardens, SHL: 21gp 5g 3a 8pts

I love the idea of Anton Lundell suiting up in Oilers silks. This is the elite two-way centre that Edmonton has been needing since Shawn Horcoff was in his prime. Lundell is a mix between Alexander Barkov and Mikko Koivu.

The Oilers haven’t drafted and developed an elite goalie since the dynasty days and I’m not sure even then if Grant Fuhr and Andy Moog spent much time developing in the Oilers’ system. Times were different then though. So, could it be inferred that the last goalie to be developed into a starter was Devan Dubnyk? And in his case, he never turned elite until he hit Minnesota. Askarov is a rare breed of netminder but is looking like he’ll fall in line with the Luongos, Prices, and Vasilevskiys.

If you like Filip Forsberg, you’ll love Alexander Holtz. He’s a pure sniper with skills to kill. He can also skate very well. I know we said it with Puljujarvi and it should’ve worked out with him, but with Holtz, McDavid or Draisaitl would have a guy on their flanks that they know and trust will shoot when the puck is given to him.

#11-#20:

Dylan Holloway (F) – Univ. of Wisconsin, NCAA: 17gp 3g 4a 7pts
Jan Mysak (LW) – HC Litvinov, Czech Extraliga: 26gp 5g 4a 9pts
Connor Zary (C) – Kamloops, WHL: 34gp 22g 25a 57pts
Dawson Mercer (RW) Drummondville, QMJHL: 26gp 18g 24a 42pts

Dylan Hollaway is an all-round forward in the mould of a Charlie Coyle. Big bodied and isn’t your typical power forward in that he skates around banging bodies. He can dangle, pass, check, and basically play any role required.

Jan Mysak is a guy that I’m really leaning towards if he’s in Edmonton’s range. I love his speed, his offensive IQ, and to be frank, he reminds me of David Pastrnak a bit.

Zary and Mercer I’ve got to do some more homework on but by the way that they’re putting up stats, and from what I’ve heard from talking to scouts in the WHL and QMJHL, these are players that will have definite NHL careers. To me, they seem more middle-six than top-six forwards, but I could be convinced otherwise.

#21-#31:

Zion Nybeck (RW) – HV71 U20, SuperElit: 26gp 13g 30a 43pts
Vasili Ponomaryov (C/LW) – Shawinigan, QMJHL: 31gp 14g 16a 30pts
Alexander Pashin (F) – Tolpar Ufa, MHL: 23gp 11g 13a 24pts
Jake Neighbours (LW) – Edmonton, WHL: 40gp 13g 29a 42pts
Noel Gunler (RW/LW) – Lulea, SHL: 29gp 1g 7a 8pts

I reckon if the Oilers are picking in this range, there’s no better time to swing for the fences. Nybeck has Yamamoto-like size but with a little bit more skill and a higher offensive ceiling. I don’t think he’d be killing penalties in the future like Kailer is.

The Russians, Ponomaryov and Pashin, can really move and they’ve got a history of scoring a lot of goals against their peers. They’re both sub-6 ft but in their cases, that won’t matter going forward. If you’re an Oilers fan and you’re a tad scared of Edmonton drafting Russians, I get it. But let me assure you, times are changing with this new regime. Ken Holland has a history with the Ruskies and we should feel at ease knowing he’d be at the helm in the event Edmonton does pick one here.

Those that are living in Edmonton know Jake Neighbours very well. He’s your blue-collar favorite. At the junior level, he’s highly skilled but he plays a meat and potatoes style of game. His own coach likened him to the Islanders Anders Lee.

Noel Gunler is that player this year. The Josh Ho-Sang or Ryan Merkley of this draft class. They say he’s got some attitude issues and the Swedish Ice Hockey federation keeps leaving him off of their national junior squads. That’s not great, but if you listen to the scouts who describe his game, you’d think he’s a top-ten talent. This guy has the tools to be a top-six goal-scoring winger, but he likes to do things his way. He really is the kind of skater that you’ve got to do all your homework on because you could be passing up on a really good player by taking a shot at him if he doesn’t work out. But if everything does come together for him, he’ll make a GM and scouting staff look really good.

The Next Ten Games (41-50)

  • vs. Calgary Flames (19-15-5) – The Oilers should be bitter as hell coming back from the Christmas break and looking for retribution. In terms of gf/ga on the year, the Flames are -12 and Edmonton could feast on that. The Oilers have taken two of the past three contests. (WIN) LOSS
  • vs. New York Rangers (17-15-4) – Edmonton will get its first look at 2019 2nd overall pick Kaapo Kakko and welcome back former Oiler, Ryan Strome. This should be a scheduled win for Edmonton as the Rangers aren’t anything special this year. The Oilers have won three on the trot vs. the Rags. (WIN) WIN
  • @ Buffalo Sabres (17-14-7) – Generally, over the years the Oilers have had pretty good luck in Buffalo, but this year Jack Eichel is a man possessed and last time Rasmus Dahlin was out of the lineup. If Dahlin is back in for this game, he’ll add a significant threat. I like Edmonton’s chances here though. (WIN) LOSS
  • @ Boston Bruins (22-7-9) – The Bruins went into the Christmas break on a bit of a slump going 2-4-4 in their previous ten. This is going to be a challenge for the Oilers to win even when Boston is at their worst and there’s no better team to bust a slump against than Edmonton, right? (LOSS)
  • @ Toronto Maple Leafs (20-14-4) – Toronto’s confidence was sky high before baby Jesus’ bday, but guess who comes to play each time he’s back home. That’s right, Connor McDavid. It will take a complete team effort for the Oilers to beat their nemesis, Freddy Andersen, though as he’s really had Edmonton’s number. (OT LOSS)
  • @ Montreal Canadiens (18-13-6) – I really enjoyed Edmonton’s performance against the Habs in their earlier match. If the Oilers can replicate that, I don’t see why a win is out of the question. (WIN)
  • @ Calgary Flames (19-15-5) – Round two! Ding. Ding. In Calgary, I think the Flames might be able to muster up a win here. (LOSS)
  • vs. Nashville Predators (18-12-6) – Is Pekka Rinne in net? If so, I’ll give this one to the Oilers. If it’s Saros, the Preds have a much better chance of success. They’ve been an interesting team to watch this year and are playing in a tough division. Their 42pts at the break had them in 3rd last in the Central… (WIN)
  • vs. Arizona Coyotes (21-14-4) – Hallsy’s back and if the Oilers would like to go that extra mile, they could show him how much of a powerhouse they plan to be next season by wiping the floor with Arizona, but it’ll be a tough game. Arizona is a lot deeper than the Oilers and their netminding has been much better. This needs to be a game where Edmonton’s defense shines. (OT LOSS)
  • vs. Calgary Flames (19-15-5) – Coming off of a 10-day break, Mikko Koskinen and the Oilers will be well-rested. In theory, they should be as ready as they’re ever going to be to take on their inter-province rivals. (WIN)

(Standings as of December 26th, 2019)

Three Players to Watch for the Bruins

  • #41 Jaro Halak – He’s been outperforming Tuuka Rask lately with a 2-0-2 record in his last 5 games, a 1.94 GAA, and a .939 SV%. Will that be enough to stop McDavid and Draisaitl?
  • #47 Torey Krug – This little defender has been a consistent point producer during his NHL career and he’s been linked to the Oilers for what seems like forever. Health has been his biggest nemesis though. He’s got a massive shot and doesn’t take any guff on the ice.
  • #63 Brad Marchand – Only two goals in his last ten games, the NHL’s premier pest will be looking to add to that tally.

Three Players to Watch for the Oilers

  • #93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – The Nuge has seven points in his last five games and is on quite the heater which is great to see since he was slumping so badly earlier.
  • #6 Adam Larsson – Bob Stauffer said on his radio show that he thought the Iron Swede was struggling lately and that he needed to get back to his best. I thought Larsson’s been playing well, so I’ll be keeping an eye on him to see if Stauffer’s on to something.
  • #97 Connor McDavid – We could use some McDavid magic in this game. He was clearly frustrated after the Sabres game and I hope he brings that emotion into this one.

Below are the lines Edmonton used against Buffalo. There’s some chatter that Kris Russell might be out tonight and Caleb Jones reinserted into the lineup as his replacement. The d-pairings were mixed up during practice as Bear was back with Nurse and Larsson was back with Klefbom. That’d leave Lagesson to be partnered up with Jones should Russell actually need a game off. Mikko Koskinen will be starting the game.

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CategoriesBeer League Hero Edmonton Oilers NHL NHL Entry Draft Prospects

Tags2020 NHL Draft Bakersfield Condors Boston Bruins Edmonton Oilers NHL

Beer League Hero Written by:

I'm the Beer League Hero! I am from Camrose, Alberta but I make my home in Taipei City, Taiwan. I've been through the ups and downs and the highs and the Lowes, the Bonsignores and the McDavids, the Sathers and the Eakins but I'll never leave my Oilers, no matter what! They're with me until the end and then some. GO OILERS GO!