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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Cult of Hockey
9 Things
- After the offensive outbursts last season by Darnell Nurse and Tyson Barrie , many said they would be unlikely to repeat those numbers. Well, after putting up 0.64 points/game last year, Nurse is averaging 0.88/game this season. Tyson Barrie put up points at .86/game clip last year and is just barely that pace at 0.80/per in 2021-22.
- Devin Shore left Friday’s game with an injury. Early indications are that he will miss some time. That being the case, logic dictates that Ryan McLeod will be recalled from Bakersfield.
- After Darnell Nurse averaged 25:38 of TOI per night in 2021 there was some indication that the club would try to get those minutes down a bit in 2021-22. So far? Nurse has averaged 26:06. So much for that idea!
- Mikko Koskinen has generally been very good. But after he allowed the 3-1 goal on Friday, I commented that “I think you want your goaltender to have that one”… teams that win get those saves at the right time.
- Only 2 players in NHL history have recorded more 3-point outings (6) than Leon Draisaitl through the 1 st 10 games of a regular season. Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky both have done in 7 times. With his 10 th goal last night, Draisaitl is also the 1 st Oiler since Glenn Anderson in 1985 to accomplish that feat in their 1 st 10 games of a campaign.
BLH’s Thoughts: “Teams that win get those saves at the right time.”
Last I checked, any team with a record of 9-1-0 to start their year is a team that wins, no? And do a lot of goalies get judged on their clutch abilities around the first five minutes of second periods?
I think Leavins is underestimating how good of a shooter Chris Kreider is. He was coming in with a full head of speed and his snap shot is one of the best in the league. I mean, Koskinen didn’t react to it until it was past him and the puck damn near blew a hole in the back of the net. Add to that the fact that he’s one of the hottest goal scorers in the league (four goals in his last five games and six in his last ten) and I’m not sure even Grant Fuhr would’ve saved that one. Did his shot tip off of Keith’s stick a bit too?
Not taking into consideration Dave Tippett’s refusal to use Stuart Skinner and overplaying Koskinen for a second straight year shouldn’t be ignored either. Mikko’s played fantastic (not “generally good”) in Smith’s stead and in my opinion, he’s allowed a stinker from time to time.
https://youtu.be/mwca3xAHxyc?t=116
Lowetide.ca
Raphael Lavoie is around the puck often now, if he keeps those feet moving he’ll get bigger minutes and those boxcar numbers will stand out in a good way.
Ryan McLeod is back to being a zone entry and exit asset in the AHL… I’m not sure Edmonton will consider him a recall option in the short term, he isn’t driving to the net with authority looking for rebounds or battling for pucks.
Philip Broberg is 3-4 even strength on-ice goal differential this season and is moving the puck quickly and effectively. I don’t know that we’ll see him in the NHL this season, but he is a player with NHL talent.
Markus Niemelainen is close to NHL-ready. His play this season has been excellent and he is contributing at both ends of the ice. A rugged defender who gets a piece of everyone in the defensive zone, he’s also moving the puck to the forwards consistently and even scored a goal.
Dmitri Samorukov is still catching up after missing most of training camp and preseason, but his progress and physical presence is obvious in each game he’s played in Bakersfield.
Ilya Konovalov has played in four games, had one quality start (.923), one subpar start (.893) and two (.810, .400) that can’t happen.
BLH’s Thoughts: Konovalov needs the year in Bakersfield, simple as that. He’d probably benefit from having some more experienced defenders in front of him too, but he’ll be hard pressed to find that with the Condors.
It’s weird, Kurt Leavins (Cult of Hockey) is of the opinion that McLeod will be getting a recall now that Shore is on the IR, but LT thinks opposite. The line combos yesterday tell us that McLeod isn’t an option yet because Tippett has moved Turris to center on the 4th line and Ryan back up to the third line. He’s also moved Kassian to the 2nd line and Yamamoto to the 3rd, but that conversation is for another time. However, I do know a guy in the Oilogosphere that has suggested the Oilers make that lineup move recently…
The Oilers are going to have to make a decision at some point here. I think they’re on the search for an Erik Cernak-type for the post-season. Somebody who’s got a big body, can skate, and thrives as a cycle breaker. This player would be for the third pairing ideally and therefore, does the team graduate one of Niemelainen or Samorukov OR cash in on those players in a trade for experience?
Spector’s Hockey
THE ATHLETIC:Scott Powers wondered what other changes could be in store for the Chicago Blackhawks after interim general manager Kyle Davidson replaced Jeremy Colliton as head coach yesterday with Derek King on an interim basis.
- Powers feels the Blackhawks have a handful of players they could move this season, suggesting Marc-Andre Fleury and Dominik Kubalik as trade candidates. Fleury, Calvin de Haan, Ryan Carpenter and Kevin Lankinen are among their notable upcoming unrestricted free agents.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau believes there are players the Blackhawks shouldn’t consider trading, such as Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach. However, he suggests Davidson should contemplate shopping long-time stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. While they each carry $10.5 million cap hits, they’ve got just one season left on their contracts following this one. Proteau thinks a team poised for a long Stanley Cup run could be willing to take on one or the other.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Matthew DeFranks recently reported Stars goaltender Ben Bishop is now technically eligible to come off long-term injury reserve.
