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!
The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!
If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!
Give us a follow on the socials!
- Youtube: Beer League Heroes Channel
- Twitter: @beerleagueheroe
- Instagram: @beerleagueheroes
- Facebook: Beer League Heroes
Oilersnation
Monday Mailbag – Getting more out of Kailer Yamamoto
What do you think the Oilers need to do with Yamamoto to try and get more offence out of him?
- “I honestly don’t know what else they could do. They give him top-six minutes and he just doesn’t produce. He’s lucky there isn’t a better option to put next to Draisaitl. I like what he does away from the puck but his lack of ability to create scoring chances is concerning.” – Yaremchuk
BLH’s Thoughts: One thing the Oilers could do is get him out there against the other team’s 3rd pairing and bottom-six. But ultimately, he’s got to work himself out of that rut by doing the things that produce points. That means shots on net, driving the blue paint, cut out the cute shit, and just get back to basics.
Do you think that Mcdavid just needs to shoot the puck? In the game against Columbus, you’re on a 6 game skid so shouldn’t McDavid be looking to score more than trying to help his teammate get a hatty? Are they trying to force passes too much?
- ” In the first seven games of the season he had seven goals and 39 shots. His last seven games he has one goal and 26 shots. Look for him to start ripping the puck more after Christmas.” – Gregor
BLH’s Thoughts: That’s good. Reckon we can also get him to cut out the one-timers on the PP? His wrister is much more potent and deceptive.
What’s your best guess on how the Olympic situation plays out?
- “The NHL won’t be going. The lengthy quarantine and risk of players missing more NHL games after the Olympics are over is too big of a hurdle.” – Gregor
BLH’s Thoughts: I’m fine with this.
Not an Oilers question but it’s Christmas week and I need to know what is everyone’s favourite holiday movie? Christmas Vacation is a yearly staple in my house.
- “There are a bunch of Christmas movies that I really like so I’ll just hit you up with a quick list: Christmas Vacation, The Night Before, Scrooged, 8 Crazy Nights, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas because it’s a classic.” – Baggedmilk
BLH’s Thoughts: Early on in the day, I usually go through my favs as a kid like the 1964 version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas from 1966, 1965’s Charlie Brown Christmas and The Muppet’s Christmas Carol. Then we move on to movies that were made after I was born, like A Nightmare before Christmas, Home Alone, Gremlins, Edward Scissorhands and Elf. After the kids are spent and we can have a stronger libation or two, we usually make a choice between A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas, A Bad Mom’s Christmas, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, etc.
The Athletic
How Jesse Puljujarvi has earned role as Oilers’ top right winger next to Connor McDavid
- Here are Puljuarvi’s numbers with McDavid at five-on-five through the years:
| YEAR | GOALS-PER-60 | POINTS-PER-60 | EXPECTED GOALS |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2016-17
|
0
|
2.86
|
61.3
|
|
2017-18
|
1.17
|
1.87
|
59.8
|
|
2018-19
|
0.9
|
1.8
|
44
|
|
2020-21
|
1.09
|
1.95
|
55.5
|
|
2021-22
|
0.7
|
1.58
|
60.1
|
- All of Puljujarvi’s individual scoring numbers easily clear the hurdle of complementary winger for an impact centre and the expected goal totals are strong…
- The key for McDavid-Puljujarvi as a pairing is McDavid’s scoring success and the combined five-on-five goal differential by the duo over time.
| YEAR | PTS/60 W JP | GOAL % W/13 | PTS/60 WO JP | GOAL % W/O 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2016-17
|
5.71
|
80
|
2.44
|
61.3
|
|
2017-18
|
2.57
|
61.9
|
3.31
|
55.7
|
|
2018-19
|
2.7
|
44
|
2.82
|
48.8
|
|
2020-21
|
4.02
|
54.9
|
2.96
|
60
|
|
2021-22
|
2.46
|
56.7
|
2.12
|
43.8
|
- The two men have always played well together but in the last two seasons, the numbers when McDavid-Puljujarvi are on the ice have been superior to other right wingers on the team.
- The added bonus: When 97, 29 and Puljujarvi are on the ice together over the last two seasons, the trio has outscored opponents 26-19 (57.8 percent) and delivers 4.91 goals per 60.
BLH’s Thoughts: The players that have excelled with McDavid have been big bodied muckers like Pat Maroon and Zack Kassian (to an extent). So, when you toss a 6’4″ 220lb Finn who has actual outstanding work ethic, skill and scoring potential, but also elite defensive IQ and board battle abilities; you’ve got the perfect complimentary winger for Connor.
So did he earn it with his NHL work, was he simply born to be this player, or both? I’ll let you decide.
NHLRumors.com
- Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The play of Pittsburgh Penguins winger Evan Rodrigues has bumped Kasperi Kapanen and Jason Zucker down in the lineup. Zucker only has 10 points in 30 games this season and could become expendable when they get healthy.
- Jonas Siegel of The Athletic: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Justin Holl has struggled this season. There have been rumblings that they could see what defensemen are available for trade but they have a couple of issues – salary cap space and assets to trade.
Coaches on the Hot Seat
- It doesn’t seem like Tippett will be fired in the near future, however, it is something to keep an eye on if the Oilers continue to perform worse than their expectations.
- Coupled with Radulov’s offensive disappearance and confusion in net, the Stars haven’t been reacting to their head coach in a positive way. Rick Bowness may soon find himself on the hot seat if the fortunes don’t turn around in Dallas.
- The Kraken’s playoff chances before the season we’re low, now they have a 1.3% chance of qualifying for the playoffs, according to moneypuck.com. Dave Hakstol was a controversial hire from the get-go and the naysayers have a lot more ammunition now.
BLH’s Thoughts: I’ll be very curious how this Oilers team comes out of the COVID protocols with Tippett behind the bench… Gulutzan and Playfair have given the bottom-six a bit more trust and they’ve been repaid with a 2-1-0 record. What if Edmonton goes back to playing 97 and 29 over a period/game when things get back going and they go back to losing games? Ken Holland’s never fired a coach before, but he might have to let Tippett go if the post-season finds itself at risk for the Oilers.
