Over on TSN 1260, Jason Gregor had Peter Chiarelli on his show to talk about the start of the season and the GM answered an array of questions on everything from Mikko Koskinen, to PTOs, to Rattie, Bouchard, and a whole lot more.
Mikko Koskinen’s NMC:
The first thing Gregor brought up in the interview was that he discovered that Mikko Koskinen’s contract came complete with a no-move clause, something that no one knew about until today. When asked about it, Chiarelli gave his version of the events and tried to explain (kinda) why an unproven backup with four NHL games on his resume deserved an NMC.
“Well first, Jason, I don’t think that’s the correct assumption that he’s here regardless. There’s certainly discussion that if he struggled etc, because he doesn’t require waivers, that he would spend time down (in Bakersfield).”
Uhhh… He did struggle apart from last night’s game. But that’s not the point, why did he get an NMC?
“He didn’t start very well, obviously, but his practices have gotten a lot better and his second start was a lot better notwithstanding the goals. I can maybe only fault him for one against that Winnipeg team. He’s getting more acclimated to the ice surface, to the team, and I’m happy with the way he progressed.”
You’re not really answering the question, sir. Why an NMC? It was here that Chiarelli talked about a gentlemen’s agreement with Koskinen’s agent that would have allowed for him to go to Bakersfield if needed. Is that right?
“Correct, but that was the subject of discussion. It was more of a safeguard for the full year.”
Why tho?
“If it was a problem, it was something that we could discuss. I wasn’t really worried about him going down there and working on his game.”
Right. Sooooo what would have happened if Koskinen didn’t agree to go down in the end? Hooped? I’ve watched enough Entourage to know that agents lie. Maybe I just don’t understand why an unproven backup goalie with only four NHL games under his belt was worth an NMC? This doesn’t make any sense to me. Anyway… moving on.
On PTO players:
With Alex Chiasson and Jason Garrison still around on PTOs, Chiarelli quickly explained how this works and what the team has to do with their PTO players ahead of the season.
“We don’t have to make a decision by tomorrow (like the rest of the league) — we’re allowed to play PTO players in Cologne.”
Chia then admitted they probably will make the decision before leaving for Europe, though. He hinted at how it wouldn’t be fair to bring guys over to Europe without giving them an idea of what their future holds, which I agree with.
On Jason Garrison and Jakub Jerabek:
Honestly, I didn’t really know what to expect from Jason Garrison given how little he played in the NHL last year, but he’s been reasonably effective throughout the pre-season and Chiarelli agreed.
“Garrison, I thought, has done quite well. He’s been very solid on the back end. He’s made very efficient plays and I like what he’s brought so far.”
And to be frank, Garrison’s game has been made to look a whole lot better with Jerabek’s game looking like hot garbage. I know you signed him to a one-year deal but you’d have to agree with that.
“I think (Jerabek’s game has) been average. I think he’s a smart player and we all remember him getting beat in Winnipeg on speed because his gap wasn’t great. I think he’s been average so far. He has to be better.”
I think you’re being nice here, Pete. I respect it, but I’d love to know what you really think. He’s been #ActuallyBad. But I don’t want to take a negative turn on this thing so we’re going to move on.
On the right wing depth and pre-season surprises:

One of the things I was worried about coming into the season was the lack of experience on the right side. Fortunately, those concerns have been squashed, at least for now, and I was curious to know what Chia thought about his young wingers stepping up to the challenge.
“I’m pleasantly surprised at this point. I expected progress in Jesse (Puljujarvi)’s case. With Ty (Rattie), he’s a very cerebral player and he’s at a point in his career where he realizes (he’s) in a good spot and a good opportunity here. He had a very good summer and so did Jesse. Jesse lost 10 pounds and you can see it in his skating.”
To be honest, I was hoping that Gregor was going to talk about Puljujarvi’s delicious abs that he wrote about earlier this week but I guess it was not meant to be. Do I think Gregor dropped the ball here by not talking about the newest sixer to be added to the all-abs team? Yes. But you can’t win ’em all, ya know? Regardless, Pool Party has looked good and so has Ty Rattie.
“(Rattie) has shown that he can play with those guys so far.”
To put it lightly! Dude has shot the lights out in the pre-season and I love it. Certainly, no one expected this kind of pre-season production from Rattie so that had to be a big bet for the team, no?
“I was hedging bets. There was risk attached to it because we saw a short sample size at the end.”
I won’t lie to you, Pete, I’m super pumped it’s worked out so far and desperately hope it can continue even at a lighter pace. I wasn’t sure that this plan was a good idea at first, but I’m liking how it’s turned out so far. No risk, no reward — I get it.
“There is risk in putting him in that spot but we felt like if it didn’t work that there were other things that we could have done that would have required other player personnel moves.”
Other personnel moves!? Oh man, what could that have been? Excuse me for a moment while I drift off into the land of possibilities… Actually, you know what, I’m happy no trades got made to find a player (at least for now) because a certain someone that we won’t name hasn’t exactly had a winning record with trades, ya know?
On Yamamoto:
How could we talk about the right-wingers without mentioning Yamamoto? Impossible. So what say you, Pete. Tell us about young Yam Fry.
“With him, you also look at what he brings other than scoring right now. He has scored at this level, and as the games progress into the regular season – stronger, faster, heavier the games get – and obviously he’s not the biggest player, so (you look at) the other stuff that he brings. He brings speed, and he’s a tremendous forechecker and penalty killer, but you don’t want to pigeonhole.”
One of the concerns I have about Yamamoto is how he’ll be able to handle the grind of an NHL season, so it makes me happy to see that the organization has this on their mind too. No, Pistol Pete didn’t exactly say it but I’m going to go ahead and read between the lines a little bit. I mean, he’ll probably be fine but I’m a ‘plan for the worst, hope for the best’ kind of person. Physical concerns aside, I think Yamamoto’s had a very solid training camp.
“I thought he’s had a good camp so far and he’s another one who is a very smart player.”
Hockey IQ and rabble rabble rabble. I get it. Defence? Defence.
Bouchard or Bear:

One thing we’ve talked about at great length during the pre-season is who is going to get the sixth (???) spot on the Oilers’ defence — Bear or Bouchard. When Gregor asked about it, Chiarelli talked about the need to be patient with young defencemen but offered up a look at what they’re seeing in both players.
“There are areas of (Bouchard)’s game like stick defending and body position that could cost a goal, and yeah, we have to weigh those things with the benefit he gains.”
To be expected, really. Young defencemen really have it tough in the NHL because of the drastic difference in speed, quality of players, etc, so I like to hear that the team is conscious of that. Not that I expected anything else, but I was around for the Jultz era so I’ve been hurt before. Excuse me if I worry.
“If we were to make the team today, he would be on the team for that test period of nine games or however many games it stretches to.”
The thing that sucks for Bouchard is that he can’t go to the AHL. It’s either the big dance or back to junior for him, and I don’t know how much more he’d get out of another season with the Knights. Maybe they’ll do that thing where he’s in the press box a lot and don’t send him down until the World Juniors tourney starts. I don’t particularly like that idea, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
On the other hand, Ethan Bear is a little bit older and more experienced so, in theory, he could have a leg up, no?
“I think Ethan, just from experience and age, is a little bit ahead defensively. He got a little taste of it last year … and that experience is invaluable.”
Not only did he get those 18 NHL games, but he also got a full year with the Condors to try and acclimatize to the pro-hockey. Ideally, he’d go for another year in the ‘A’ to keep rounding things out because the NHL is not a development league despite what this franchise has tried to do many times over the years.
“His game still has some holes but it’s still getting better.”
Yeah, I get that. Like Bouchard, that’s not overly surprising that a young defenceman still needs to work on the defensive side of his game.
“You’ve gotta make a tough decision. As an example, with the goalies, we didn’t really give Al (Montoya) a lot of trial time in the pre-season, but we made that decision on the body of work from when we acquired him and what Koskinen has done in Europe. You have to look at all factors when you make these decisions.”
Well, that and the NMC too. I mean, I know you said there was a handshake type agreement in place with the agent if he needed some AHL time, but come on… Don’t piss in my ear and tell me it’s raining. But we’ve covered that already so we’ll move on.
On the European start:
Considering the Oilers are starting the year with a wild road trip, how does that work for things like waivers and roster finalization? I mean, you guys will be in Germany when everyone has to submit their rosters.
“We do get some concessions (such as carrying non-roster players, as an example). As far as the waiver wire and the roster, we’re allowed to carry some players during the regular season that aren’t on our roster yet. There are a couple of conveniences … but it will be hard.”
I almost wonder if that’s something that is almost secondary to just surviving the jetlag, travel, and mental whirlwind that comes with a European start, no?
“Our medical and training staff, starting in July, have been implementing a program from A-Z, starting from the beginning of this week to when we get in Boston after the game in (Sweden), with regard to sleeping aids, whether they’re simple things like earplugs and masks or natural sleeping pills… the timing of every event on the off-days and practice days is to quickly assimilate to the time.”
I’ve been lucky enough to travel a lot in my 33 years and one tip I’ll offer is to not sleep until you get to your destination country. What I did was pound back a bunch of Red Bulls and forced myself to stay awake until it was night time in my destination city. That should work, no? Worked for me.
“Part of it is that you can’t over-do it, and our medical staff and training staff have done a lot of studies about what’s optimal (for a shorter time frame)”
Oh, right. You guys have doctors and trainers and shit that handle all of this so I’m guessing they didn’t recommend the “binge on Red Bull to stay awake and then get blackout and sleep when the locals do” theory, huh? Too bad. It’s a good time. Probably knocked years off my life, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.
“We think we found a happy medium from a science perspective and a logistics perspective so we’ll see how it goes, but we think we did a good job on it.”
SCIENCE! But seriously, I hope so, Pete. You and I both know that a good start is crucial for this season to be a success and we desperately need that to happen. I don’t want to eat as many beets this year and you likely want to have a job come next October, so we’ll both have to keep our fingers crossed that this train stays on the rails.
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Chiarelli went further in-depth on a lot of the topics above and it’s definitely worth listening to to get an idea of where the team is at and what’s to come. Check out the full interview here.
LOVE Chiarelli, lol … hope the Oilers extend him for multiple years …
bottom line: koskinen is a gamble – what free agent isn’t. If he turns out to be a solid backup who can steal a few games, everyone is happy. If not, everyone can get their pitchforks out. I’m sure they are close by.
Hey Opi..we love having you comment at ON. Let’s do this: we know you will be here whenever the flames beat the Oilers, or the Oilers go through a rough patch, that’s a given. But a REAL commenter will also show up whenever the Oilers beat the flames, or the if the Oilers go on a winning streak. You up for it? What do you say?
Crickets
Flames fan walk into the lion’s den when things are going well? Never happen.
Certain Flame fans have no boundaries….circus time.
Anybody know why Chia would have gifted Mikka Leakko Kostthegame a freebee No Movement Clause … makes one wonder if Chia is getting kickbacks, hey …
Appreciate the warm welcome & invite … I’m always around, son … win or lose, rain or shine … death, taxes & Opi … guaranteed, yes … 🙂
No Derian – I don’t love having Opi comment here – He is a POS troll
Slippery Pete sure knows how to Dodge the straight forward questions,….He went to Harvard you know.
Sheeeesh.
You do realize a lot of stuff is considered private from the public. Not everything should be shared and every GM does it. It’s not like PC is the only one, their decisions and thoughts don’t have to be an open book to everyone
I kinda can’t stand bagged milks sarcastic commentary on everything, i like opinions but it just seems so overdone, immature… just saying 🙂
“Kinda” can’t stand. Win!
If you reread some of your articles, you would think you missed a few English classes along the way
Your constant obsession with six pack abs is somewhat disturbing by the way. Tip toe through the tulips kinda disturbing, not that there’s anything wrong with that…
There is a blogger on ON whose writing doesn’t appeal to me. So I don’t read his stuff. Just saying.
I agree, it seems he prefers to talk bad about management or players he personally has an issue with. I prefer articles that are not biased and give you the info and maybe a respectful opinion. There are about commenters that can make snarky comments.
Who missed English classes?
How does Chiarelli still have a job???
Because he has not been terminated. The season hasn’t started yet, the Oilers are playing fantastic in preseason and you can’t logically say any if his decisions have been bad until at least 40 games into the season.
Your question would have been fine 5 months ago, your just a little late to the party now.
They also played fantastic last pre season
Coach and GM are on a short leash or Gulutzen will be the new coach before Xmas.
Why do I get the feeling that Jerabek will (undeservingly) make the team and we will find out later that he also received a NMC?
Hey. Nice PC did the show. Kinda see what his PLAN is!!! Ohh boy, he must be nervous
What? Wait Kositsin ( cause it’s in ) got a 2.5 mil contract and a no movement clause??? WTF Holy hell , please do not let Chia negotiate contract terms any further. Damn its bad enough the contracts for Strome, Cagguila, Benning were all overpayments and now this news that Kositsin has a no movement clause. An unproven golatender in the NHL and Chia gives him 2.5 and a no move, and no wonder the Oilers couldnt shed contracts or salary, deal like this one for Kositsin are why. Sorry but this is terrible GM leadership
You know if you’re going to coin a nickname for someone but have to explain it in parentheses each time, it means it’s too obscure and doesn’t work. Give it up.
Based on what he writes, I am almost certain it is Eakins, based on how clueless he was at coaching hockey in the NHL hockey.
Don’t really see a NMC being important, it’s just a sweetener. If he struggles he can’t be traded anyway.
Koskinen got a NMC because there were 5-6 other interested teams and apparently 2 teams offered 2 year deals. If you believe that is the player you want, you have to up the offer to get him. Personally, I prefer the 1 year $2.5 mill with a NMC than a 2 year at $2 mill he was apparently offered by CAR. You pay more for less term.
Also I do believe PC if they have an agreement to send him down for 5-6 games to get playing time. He just doesn’t want to be stuck in the he AHL for most of the season. That makes sense.
I hope they conceded 2.5 million and a NMC to Koskinen because they see something in him. I’m not sure what makes him different from Nilsson and other goalies that had good stats in the KHL. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt for now, but Kosk struggles then it adds to the aura of incompetence that surrounds the management. They’ve done great drafting though, when these young guys establish themselves it will go a long way in helping me forget the poor decisions.
for whoever likes the koskinen signing I show you this.
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=115982
colorado signed him for 690k 2 way deal, 2 years younger and better numbers than koskinen. Chiarelli has no clue when it comes to pro players, and when he sets his mind on a player (aquiring) he over pays, gives to much to the player, (lucic, russel, caggulia, koskinen) and when he doesnt like you he loses assets by trading them away for much less than they are worth or wastes space (hall, gryba, pouliot, eberle, slepy). Yes slepy isnt anything special, but he is better than caggulia and worth the time and development more so than caggulia.
need to search all options instead of being narrow minded.
Bad comparison. Obviously that goalie you mention will sign for less money. Colorado already is set in goal.
bad comparison, how? He signed a few days after we signed koskinen. Why didnt we see the better younger goalie? even if it was for the same contract we gave koskinen. Also your point doesnt make sense. Why would a 28 year old goalie sign to go play in the AHL when he would make the same if not more in the KHL.
Younger and Better, should command more money and guarentees not less.
I think because the guy we signed was briefly a Bruin….fairly common theme
Stand corrected; not ex Bruin (surprise)
He was just assigned to the AHL
I’m hearing how the team is intense this training camp and that they will take “ownership” of the season and I sincerely hope they do have a successful year.
I think we have l learned to check our expectations and see if these guys can walk the talk. I’m neither positive or negative about the year. I just want it to get started.
Chirelli needs to go. 2.5M + a NMC for a backup ‘tender who’s never played a shift in the NHL??? (but somehow he can hold the line on Nurse) I don’t care if Koskinen turns out to be a solid backup, this is ludicrous. For this kind of dough he could have gone out an acquired a very good NHL tested and proven backup. This was a huge gamble that didn’t need to be taken.
You know what’s funny. It’s funny how the media and fans have said for years that the Oilers aren’t physically good enough to compete with the west. How every game, before 16-17, they were physically outmatched and dominated. And then comes along Peter, who starts making moves to correct these adjustments. And despite making the Oilers physically competent to compete with the west. Despite ALL of the bad trades, ALL of the “bad defence” and “inconcistebt goaltending” the Oilers are 36-17-5 against their division. He’s come in, and made this team a physical club that can handle the Getzlaf’s, Thorton’s and Burns’ of the west.
And despite ALL of that, all of you still hate this man! It’s amazing really. But no, all of us rational and sensible Oilers fans just shake our heads at your remarks. The Oilers could win the cup and ya’ll still complain about Peter.
Valid points. Get ready for the Trashes!
What does winning the division achieve? Who cares if he’s accomplished that. Why would that even be his goal to begin with? Isn’t Stanley the goal?
I’ve listened to the interview and I don’t think he ever asks PC why he gave him an NMC. I don’t think it’s fair to say he avoided a question which was not asked. This article is misleading. Not sure if that is purposeful or just shoddy.