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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The Athletic
Evan Bouchard’s evolution, in context: Why the Oilers defenceman’s big step forward should surprise no one
- There wasn’t ever much question that Evan Bouchard had the offensive skills to play in the NHL… The question was always whether he could defend as well as he could attack.
- …he’s averaging 3:28 per game while short-handed, slotting in next to Darnell Nurse on Edmonton’s top penalty kill.
- It’s also a number that tells us at least two things. First, and most important, it says Bouchard is committed to becoming a true all-situations defenceman. Second, it tells us this coaching staff is determined to help him get there.
- Though the coaches took flak last season for failing to find room for a fourth right-shot defenceman, the truth is that the organization has paid great attention to Bouchard’s development since Ken Holland took over as GM.
- Bouchard broke into the AHL in the 2019 playoffs. He scored eight points in eight games for Bakersfield… He got offensive zone starts and power-play time and scored points in the role of a specialist. The heavy lifting was done by older prospects and minor-league journeymen… All that changed the following year. Head coach Jay Woodcroft and defensive coach Dave Manson went from spotting Bouchard to using him as a true No. 1 defenceman.
- Bouchard was London’s first pick in the 2015 OHL draft… Bouchard was a big deal and could have acted the part. Instead, he bought into the things a very successful London program wanted him to do. Then he went and did the same thing with Woodcroft and Manson in the AHL. Now he looks to be repeating the pattern with Tippett and Playfair in the NHL.
- After winning over coaches in London and Bakersfield, he seems well on his way to doing the same thing in Edmonton.
BLH’s Thoughts: The cream tends to rise to the top, doesn’t it? Some will say he’s grinded his way to where he is and others will say that he was always destined to get there with his natural abilities. I’m not sure where I land on that debate because if hard work was the secret to success, construction workers would be the richest guys/girls on the planet.
Guys like Bouchard tend to succeed at whatever they put their minds to and lucky for Oilers fans, he’s decided to lean into the game of hockey. It wouldn’t shock me if he became a very good coach and possibly a GM when his playing days are over. He’s that gifted.
The Hockey Writers
Oilers’ Top 10 Prospects of the 2021-22 Season
- #10. Ilya Konovalov, Goaltender
- #9. Carter Savoie, Left Wing
- #8. Xavier Bourgault, Center
- #7. Tyler Benson, Left Wing
- #6. Raphael Lavoie, Center/ Right Wing
- #5. Stuart Skinner, Goaltender
- #4. Ryan McLeod, Center
- #3. Philip Broberg, Left Defense
- #2. Dylan Holloway, Center/ Left Wing
- #1. Evan Bouchard, Right Defense
BLH’s Thoughts: Right… I suppose everybody is entitled to an opinion, even when it’s a tad off… I keed!!! The names are almost right, but the order is a mess I reckon. Here’s my top-ten!
- Dylan Holloway
- Philip Broberg
- Dmitri Samorukov
- Xavier Bourgault
- Stuart Skinner
- Carter Savoie
- Rafa Lavoie
- Ty Tullio
- Phil Kemp
- Ilya Konovalov
Aside from Stu Skinner and Konovalov because I think a goaltender’s timeline to the NHL is vastly different than that of a skater’s, I’m not prepared to have Benson, McLeod, and Bouchard on a “Prospect’s List” because I don’t really see them as prospects so much anymore. They’re more like tweeners who might fit the specific requirements of some lists.
Tell ya this, Konovalov is having himself a time down in Bakersfield as he attempts to acclimate to the North American ice. I think the safe thing to do with this young man is to leave him be and re-visit him in January and again in March to see if his game has improved.
Spector’s Hockey
THE ATHLETIC: Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers listed their potential candidates to replace Stan Bowman as general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks.
- Among the notable names on their list were NHL senior director of player safety Patrick Burke, analytics guru Meghan Chayka, former Los Angeles Kings assistant GM Michael Futa, former Rangers GM Jeff Gorton, former player and current TV commentator Ed Olczyk, Carolina Hurricanes assistant GM Eric Tulsky and NHL analyst Kevin Weekes.
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli included Montreal Canadiens assistant GM Scott Mellanby, Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray and former Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford.
TSN: Darren Dreger believes the Blackhawks need experience in the GM’s chair going forward. He suggested Rutherford, Gorton and former Penguins and New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero.
BLH’s Thoughts: Reckon anybody with a sane mind is going to touch the Hawks with a 200ft pole anytime soon? The guy they installed to replace Bowman has been with the team for 11 years… If that’s not enough experience to see the season through, I don’t really know what to say.
If I had to guess, I’d say the team would go with somebody young who’s trying to establish him/herself in the league that has their ear to the ground when it comes to society today. A candidate who might be considered a real proponent for social justice…
