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!
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Lowetide.ca
- The Edmonton Oilers got healthy in some important areas last night, with Kailer Yamamoto scoring a lovely goal and the fourth line delivering a big moment in the third period. The star of the night was Leon Draisaitl, who scored 2-2-4 and was a factor every shift. For the Oilers, first place has been reclaimed in the Pacific Division and early November looks a lot like October. That’s a good thing.
- Koskinen has a .933 save percentage for the season and is building a foundation for a career year in his walk season. Imagine Oilers fans online if Ken Holland signs him long term!
- Puljujarvi passed from a prime scoring position to McDavid who had no real look, and the young Finn hit the post a few times recently. I wonder if his confidence is at a low point, that can happen with young players.
- It was Foegele-Ryan-Turris who were on for the Schwartz goal. I like this line, but it’s 3-6 five on five goals after eight games.
- … third line (I like it) is the bleeder. Six GA in eight games is poor.
BLH’s Thoughts: I have noticed Jesse passing off in awkward positions recently. The posts LT is talking about came in games prior and he does look like he’s fighting it. Two games have passed and his name hasn’t hit the scoresheet, but he’s been very involved and that dish from behind the net to Hyman was elite. I reckon Pulju’s just got to get that big ‘ol butt back to the front of the net and ask Connor to bank one in off of it. You can see it, he wants to go, but the hockey gods have different ideas right now.
Now, if you looked at this team’s roster and had to guess which line would most likely get outscored 5v5, which would it be? My first two guesses would be the 3rd and 4th lines because they’re simply not as good as the top-two. But that’s some surface level analysis with little to no statistical backup. All I’m saying is that I’m not all that surprised that the Ryan line is the leaky one, however, I do wonder if the goal down the line is to see Ryan and Kassian on the 4th line and install better players on the 3rd line with Foegele. Maybe that’s the plan for the 2022-23 season. Something to keep an eye on nevertheless.
On LT’s facetious Koskinen signing scenario, Ken Holland signing a goalie into his 40s? That’s never happened before…
Oilersnation
Weight Lifted
- Undersized players like Yamamoto who move well, pressure the puck, create turnovers, check well, have a nose for the blue paint and can find the back of the net 15-20 times a season will always have work in the NHL.
- Take away the last component, the ability to finish, and a player can go from playing a top six spot to the bottom six as a depth player, or worse, faster than you can say, “close but no cigar.” Pedigree doesn’t matter. Where you were selected in your draft year doesn’t matter. Neither does the 42 goals you scored that one season in major junior – or the 11 you celebrated in just 27 games a couple of years back.
- When you’re 23 and have just 113 NHL games on your resume, 24 games with no sniff is forever. It will wear on you.
BLH’s Thoughts: As I said yesterday, this next week or so is going to be pivotal for Yamamoto. He’ll need to continue to get his name on the scoresheet consistently or else he’s going to become trade fodder for Edmonton’s Stanley Cup run and if it’s only going to cost a roster player, a first rounder, and a top prospect to bring in a guy like John Gibson or cheaper yet for someone like Rickard Rakell, that’s a swap the Oilers will seriously consider.
NHLTradeRumor.com
The Fourth Period reports the Ducks will look to trade forward Rickard Rakell along with defencemen Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson who are all in the final year of their respective contracts and can become unrestricted free agents in July 2022.
Earlier this offseason NHL Rumors were making the rounds that the Edmonton Oilers were looking to upgrade their goaltending. Reports had the Oilers interested in Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson… The Anaheim Ducks would want a hefty price which could be a good roster player, first round draft pick and a top prospect.
BLH’s Thoughts: From what I’ve been told going back to the start of last season, I would expect Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland to maintain consistent contact with Ducks GM Bob Murray from now until the trade deadline. The Oilers will most likely be looking to bolster their chances at a Stanley Cup this year and Rakell, Manson, and Gibson would all fit the bill as players who’d be of immense help.
One might think that an inter-division trade would scare Holland off, but he had no issues sending Milan Lucic down the QE2 to Calgary.
As it is, I don’t expect anything to happen until March with regards to a big roster move unless a major injury occurs.
