Edmonton Oilers Talk: Darnell Nurse Contract Extension, Playing McDraisaitl, and Lavoie’s Future

Coming from an Edmonton Oilers point of view, BLH provides you with excerpts from the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation from all of the internet’s best sites including Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, The Athletic, TSN and more!

Give us a follow on the socials!

Oilersnation

Help Me Understand: NHL, Hot Takes, and More

I don’t understand why some Oilers fans think playing Connor McDavid with Leon Draisaitl in the regular season is a bad idea.
- Did you know that during the 2008 and 2009 regular seasons Sidney Crosby’s most common linemate at 5×5 in Pittsburgh was Evgeni Malkin. In those two seasons, Crosby played 1857 minutes and skated 709 minutes with Malkin. That is 38.1% of his 5×5 TOI with Malkin. The Penguins made the Cup Final both years, and in the playoffs, Crosby only played 10% of his TOI with Malkin.
I’m curious to see what the Dallas Stars will look like… What I don’t understand is their plan in goal.
- I know Dallas plays a better team defence than Vancouver, but Holtby hasn’t been lighting it up the past four years. He has a combined .904sv% in that time, but has posted .897sv% and .889% the past two seasons. Is he clearly better than Oettinger and Khudobin? Will they send Oettinger to the minors so they can play Khudobin and Holtby? Or will they trade Khudobin?
It is interesting seeing how people classify Zack Kassian. I think the most accurate description of Kassian would to say he is frustratingly inconsistent.
- I agree with those who say he is inconsistent, but to claim Kassian only has fourth line skill is inaccurate. In five of the previous eight seasons, his production was good, and in three seasons it was excellent at 5×5.
- He offers a rare blend of size, speed, physicality and he has better hands than some suggest. He just needs to show it more regularly.

BLH’s Thoughts: The great thing about what Ken Holland and his pro scouts have done this summer is that they’ve managed to build a forward group that is extremely fluid and, in theory, that should be a great hedge against any worst case scenarios that may emerge.

I believe this team will be fine for the regular season, it’s the post-season that Dave Tippett should be having an eye towards as the year progresses. Which players thrive in tight games? Who’s elevating their effort in key moments? As well as which individuals are disappearing when times get tough.

As long as he pays attention to those thing, he’ll have a much clearer idea as to how his playoff roster should be constructed.

Per @TomGazzola, Darnell Nurse extension in the $9M AAV range ×8yrs done; announcement shortly (days? hours?)

— Ross Creek Nasty (@akaRCN) August 4, 2021

Lowetide.ca

TRAINING CAMP HOPEFUL NO. 1: RAPHAEL LAVOIE

What will keep him out of the NHL? I’m no scout or coach, but he’ll need to keep his feet moving. Lavoie seems to land in the offensive zone and then reads the play, as opposed to pursuing the puck and keeping the play alive while using teammates. I don’t think that’s a fatal flaw, more likely a function of puck possession being easier for him in junior and his status as a pure scorer.
Is he good enough to eventually play on a line with McDavid or Draisaitl? Well, he’s a shooter so that aspect is attractive, but it’s too soon to project him to a skill line. We need to see him play the AHL at par, then dominate that level. He’s 6.04, 198 and can skate, so there are elements of a power forward here. The shot is golden, fantastic release on a heavy shot and he changes the release point late (via Scott Wheeler) to raise the degree of difficulty for the goalie, so that’s a feature of his game, but he has other dimensions.
What is the current depth chart at his position? I think his likely path is as a right wing, and my depth chart has him sixth (behind Jesse Puljujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto, Josh Archibald, Zack Kassian, Cooper Marody) and that’s outside the NHL for this season but a strong start in Bakersfield could get him a look.
Do you think he’ll make it? I think he has gaps in his game that will need to improve, but there’s too much talent to bet against with Lavoie. Wheeler’s article on the “shot-creation king” tells you how he’ll get to the NHL, and Lavoie’s improved play without the puck (when it comes) will convince the NHL coach to keep him there.

BLH’s Thoughts: There are many more questions that LT answers in his post, so click the link above and head over to read the rest. I just borrowed the ones I found the most intriguing personally.

So, I’ve said from the get-go that Lavoie reminds me of Alex Chiasson, but he’s only had handful of games in the AHL and I can’t make a definitive judgement on him until after this upcoming season.

I mean, it really depends on what plans the Oilers have for this player, right? Do they seem him as a top-sixer or are their hopes tied to him being a goal-scoring 3rd liner who specializes on the power play? The answers to those questions will direct where his development is concentrated and we’ve got to keep in mind that the team has Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto already installed onto the big roster leaving Lavoie to hope that his progression steadily improves as the contracts of Zack Kassian, Josh Archibald, and Kyle Turris expire so that he can walk right onto the roster in a few seasons time.

The Athletic

Team Canada summer showcase: U18 standouts and World Junior roster projection

RW Tyler Tullio: Tullio looked considerably stronger on his feet and that strength showed in his game, including in his wrister (which surprised me with its pop). He can wait too long to make his play, though, which slows things down because he’s not a skater who’s going to burn anyone. That put him into some tough spots occasionally.
C/W Xavier Bourgault: Bourgault looked really quick, flashing some straight-line acceleration on the backcheck and in 10-foot races. I was impressed by his change of directions with the puck, too. His skating has come a long way to become a real asset. I thought he played very well in the first two games and peaked in the final one with three points (one goal, two assists) as one of the best players on the ice.

BLH’s Thoughts: I don’t see Tyler Tullio making the World Junior roster, it’s way too deep and if his showing at this camp was below par that means he’ll need to light up the OHL this year in order to get consideration. As for “Go-Go” Bourgault, he could be in tough depending on how many NHL teams release their eligible players. Team Canada will have skilled players in spades, so they’ll be looking for skaters who can excel without the puck too.

Spector’s Hockey

NHL Rumor Mill – August 4, 2021

AZ COYOTES INSIDER: Craig Morgan reports Kessel’s trade status seems to change daily. He felt the club might be content retaining the winger this season with an eye on shopping him near the trade deadline. However, multiple sources claim Kessel’s representatives have approached Coyotes general manager Bob Armstrong requesting a trade before this season begins.

Honoring that request won’t be easy. Kessel would like to play for the Vegas Golden Knights but a source said they’re not interested in acquiring him. The Coyotes might have to remain patient as there isn’t much interest in the veteran winger around the league.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples wondered if the Oilers should make a pitch for Dallas Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin. The Stars need to move out a goalie and the Oilers need one.