Edmonton Oilers Talk: “If Edmonton can’t find the cap space, the Oilers will be turning to players like…”

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Lowetide.ca

NEW FAVOURITE

We all have favourites, maybe it’s a style or a specific skill.
It’s easy to cheer for Bobby Orr and the players who were touched by God in each generation. What about those kids who are pushing but may not get there? For me, that’s such a big part of being a fan. Who do I like on this year’s Oilers team?
Among the prospects, I’m looking forward to seeing Dylan Holloway, Philip Broberg and Ilya Konovalov in Bakersfield or Edmonton this year. And from the 2021 draft, Xavier Bourgault (who has played in one pre-season game for Shawinigan) has a nice range of skills that puts him somewhere in the Bernie Federko family.

BLH’s Thoughts: I’m kinda like LT in that I think it’s fun to cheer for the McDavids and the Crosbys, but after a few seasons, it gets boring; at least for me it does.

My favorite young player coming up in the Oilers’ system might be Dylan Holloway because he’s a bit of a throwback player with the high-end skill. This is going to sound redundant but I also really dig Broberg. I was really impressed with the skills he showed at the Hlinka/Gretzky a few seasons back and last year at the World Juniors when he was clearly injured but wanted to stick it out for his country, I thought he showed outstanding character and leadership.

I don’t think I’d surprise anybody if I told you my favorite player on the Oilers was Jesse Puljujarvi. You can have your Draisaitls and your Keep Nuge Forevers, but I’ve got my Pulju and that’s just fine with me.

The Cult of Hockey (Staples)

Is Edmonton Oilers top draft pick the next Jordan Eberle? Or the next Rob Schremp?

We know that Edmonton’s top draft pick Xavier Bourgault is a prolific point scorer and dangerous attacker at the major junior level. What we don’t know is whether or not Bourgault will be able to translate his attacking prowess at the NHL level.
The comments from the draft experts on him read like they do for most forwards drafted in the 15th-to-30th overall range in a typical NHL draft, stressing his great offensive game, his wicked and sneaky fast shot and his adept passing, while mentioning he needs to battle harder and play better defence.
In Bourgault’s favour is that the Oilers are tight up against the cap and are going to need a steady supply of offensively talented wingers…
Jesse Puljujarvi or Kailer Yamamoto may well break out as strong top-line attackers, but will there be cap space to pay them?
If Edmonton can’t find the cap space, the Oilers will be turning to players like Dylan Holloway, Raphael Lavoie, Carter Savoie, and Bourgault to step up, step in and make waves.
Expectation for 2021-22. First, that he play a full year, that there will be no more COVID lockdown and cancelled games. Bourgault is returning to a stacked Shawinigan team and could well challenge for the league scoring title, averaging more than 1.5 points per game. There’s also a chance he’ll make Team Canada for the World Junior tournament.

BLH’s Thoughts: “Go-Go” Bourgault, I predict, will overtake Kailer Yamamoto one day and the reason I say that is I reckon that Killer is better suited as a third line player than he is in the top-six. He’s an energy guy who doesn’t drive his own line and typically, those players are found in the bottom-six. Yamo’s skilled enough to stay off of the 4th line and slot in on the 2nd from time to time though, so perhaps I should revise what I just said to he looks to be a good future middle-six RWer.

From what I’m reading and watching on YouTube with regards to Bourgault, his skillset seems more suited for the top-six IF he’s on the wing. Should be develop his faceoff skills, he could very well be the third line center this team’s been looking for, but even if that scenario comes true, we won’t see him as a full-time center in the NHL for at least five years I’d say.

The potential revolving door on Edmonton’s right-wing could make things very interesting as the club is building up some serious depth there with Puljujarvi, Yamamoto, Bourgault, Lavoie, etc. either on the team or developing in the system.

Spector’s Hockey

RDS.CA: Wondered if Kotkaniemi still wants to play in Montreal after being a healthy scratch in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Matt Larkin believes the Canadiens could put themselves in a financial bind matching that offer for a player who hasn’t performed like a top-six forward thus far and may or may not reach his potential.

TVA SPORTS: suggested five potential candidates as Kotkaniemi’s replacement. Dvorak, Eichel and Calgary’s Sean Monahan are the trade options.

THE ATHLETIC: In a recent mailbag segment, Kevin Kurz was asked if there was any trade interest in embattled San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane. He said they tried to move him earlier this summer but couldn’t find any takers. He feels any suggestion of moving him now is ridiculous, especially with four years remaining on his contract.