Edmonton Oilers Talk: Broberg, Lavoie, Yamamoto, and the Latest NHL Rumors!

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Lowetide.ca

IT DON’T MEAN A THING (IF IT AIN’T GOT THAT SWING)

If you watched the Bakersfield Condors on the weekend, it would be easy to walk away with the impression that the Oilers have one future NHL goaltender (Stuart Skinner) and two defensemen (Markus Niemelainen, Phil Kemp), while higher picks (Philip Broberg, Raphael Lavoie) seem awkward or mistake prone.
The best way to view a pure AHL rookie is making a note of mistakes early in the year and see how many are solved by mid-season… Age and experience is huge, especially through the entry deal.

Comparables:

Philip Broberg (20) 2 games, 0-1-1(AHL); Oscar Klefbom (20) 48 games, 1-9-10 (AHL).

Broberg is mobile and has effective elements to his game (he is a great skater, but also has the ability to separate quickly by stopping and making a quick first step the other way). He doesn’t recognize danger, physical danger, and that’s going to get him hurt. He also appears to be passing to an area, as opposed to being precise, that might be a leftover from the big ice.
I will tell you the intel received from Sweden before Broberg arrived suggested he needed more time, so there should be no surprise. No need to panic, but you’ll want to see progress as the season rolls along.

Raphael Lavoie (20) 19 games, 5-5-10 (AHL); Adam Lowry (20) 64 games, 17-16-33 (AHL).

Lavoie is a pure scorer with size, so when his match is a two-way forward we could be looking at an adjustment in trajectory. I hesitate to use it, because Lavoie’s skill (he’s a marksman) didn’t get a chance to shine in a short AHL rookie season.
Has he learned to be in constant motion more often? Lavoie’s style involves plenty of glide, and NHL coaches were hammering that out of the game in the Fred Shero days. Can he be more consistent? I saw him at the opening faceoff last night, and the next time he was really noticeable in the game was a (very) late sequence where he got two shots off.
I did notice his passing on the weekend, he’s got skill. Is it enough to play top-six in the NHL? A big part of his story is coming this season.

BLH’s Thoughts: It’s my belief that if Philip Broberg doesn’t reach his potential, it won’t be because he wasn’t good enough for the NHL or because he didn’t have the tools both physically and mentally, it’ll be because of injuries. That point LT makes about him not recognizing danger is one that glared during preseason and there are a few clips out there from him getting smoked over in Sweden too. If a dummy like me can see it, there’s no doubt in my mind that his opponents are well aware of that flaw.

As for Rafa Lavoie, big men have to show they can’t play and for most of junior he could rely on his excellent shot and size. That is no longer the case as the goalies are better and the opposition is bigger, stronger, and smarter. So, to combat that, he needs to become more unpredictable on the ice. The skaters on the other team cannot be able to predict where he’s going to go and what he’s going to do. What I do like is that his playmaking is trending up. I mean, for a guy who’s strength is his shot, to go out of his way to improve the passing, that’s a good sign. Let’s hope his on-ice IQ and positioning goes the same route.

Edmonton Sun

OILERS NOTES: Yamamoto looks to cut down on penalties

Yamamoto is a dogged checker and sharp enough to be out against the other team’s power play with Josh Archibald out, but Yamamoto took 13 minors last season and took two against Calgary on Saturday, mostly stick fouls.

“I told Kailer about a lesson an old coach taught me a long time ago when I was a penalty-killer. He said to me ‘Tip, you’re a penalty-killer, not a penalty-taker. So when we take a penalty I want you on the ice, not the penalty box,’” recalled Oilers coach Dave Tippett.

This is the first time Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins has been back to Edmonton as an NHL head coach since he was fired in December, 2015.
Shore, who can kill penalties, will be activated if he gets through Tuesday’s pre-game skate healthy. Easiest roster move: sending Ryan McLeod, who played 6:21 against Vancouver and 5:23 against Calgary, to Bakersfield because he doesn’t have to clear waivers.
Kirill Maksimov, the Oilers fifth round draft in 2017 who played junior in the OHL in Niagara, refused an assignment from Bakersfield to Wichita (ECHL) and he is on unconditional waivers to release him from his contract ($70,000 to play in the AHL).
Goalie Olivier Rodrigue has been sent from Bakersfield to Wichita where he’ll be the starter.

BLH’s Thoughts: Killer is going to need to move those little legs a bit more so as to avoid having to reach with his short stick. I reckon it’s early days as well and that means the refs are working out their own kinks, so we can expect more iffy calls in my opinion.

Coach Tippett is right though, Moto is way better served on Edmonton’s PK than he is chatting it up with the penalty box attendant.

NHLRumors.com

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic: Mattias Ekholm didn’t get any trade protection in his new four-year contract.
Mark Lazerus of The Athletic: Don’t think Dylan Strome will last much longer with the Chicago Blackhawks. Strome is basically their 14th forward and requires waivers to be sent to the AHL.
Russ Cohen: New York Rangers Vitali Kravtsov is back in Chelyabinsk and was at a KHL game over the weekend… Have been told that there are around five teams who have shown some interest in him.
Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic: One NHL executive thinks the St. Louis Blues will trade Vladimir Tarasenko after the season.
…at some point this season the Blues will look to bring in some goalie depth. Hard to see both goalies, Jordan Binnington and Ville Husso remaining healthy all season or not slipping up a bit.