It’s the middle of August and while you may think it’s a super slow time of year for Oilers news there always seem to be a few things to discuss.
THE BRASSARD ERA
The Derick Brassard era was just so much fun. First, Laraque tweets he’s going to sign a one year deal, then on Wednesday morning Matheson tweets that nothing has been confirmed as of yet and then at 2:00 PM I confirmed he was going to the Islanders on a one-year deal. The entire saga lead to some excellent text messages on the “smash hit” Nielson Show, these were two of my favourites.
“I don’t care what anyone says, Brassard was a better Oiler than Michael Nylander.”
“I can’t believe how poorly they handled this Brassard situation. Now he walks for nothing. SMH”
Amazing.
THE BRASSARD LINE
The worst part about Brassard not signing with the Oilers is that I had already determined the best combo for the third line here in Edmonton. Brassard with Markus Granlund on the left and Alex Chiasson on the right, tell me you didn’t like that trio as a veteran third line.
BRASSARD TO ISLANDERS
With Brassard signing on the island the Oilers may still be searching for a third line centre. Brian Boyle was a popular name, but I’ll point out what I’ve mentioned in the past; the Oilers were more interested in Boyle than he was interested in them, at least that was the case in early July.
I could still see Riley Sheahan getting a one year deal before camp opens. Holland is familiar with him, and he’s a perfect fit for a third line at this stage of his career.
Cooper Marody
Jason Gregor recently spoke to and wrote about Cooper Marody, and I’m coming around on the idea of him as a third line centre to start the season.
He had an excellent rookie season in the American Hockey League, but if he does end up making the Oilers out of camp I’d still like to see him with some veteran wingers. Like I mentioned with Brassard above, maybe Marody could start the season with Granlund and Chiasson.
HAAS ON THE WAY
Next stop -> @EdmontonOilers pic.twitter.com/R6U0OPRoNi
— Gaëtan Haas (@gats92) August 21, 2019
Ladies and gentleman, Gaetan Haas is on the way to Edmonton and it’s nice to see that he’s coming in to get on the ice well before training camp opens. You could make a case that Haas will be directly battling with Marody for a spot on the team.
“He has nothing left to accomplish over here, it’s time for him to give it a go in the NHL” is how a contact in Europe described him to me at the time of the signing. The one thing I wonder about Haas if he can’t stick as a centre; could he be effective as a right shot winger who likes to shoot the puck.
15 MINUTES
Jesse Puljujarvi wants 15 minutes a night while agent Markus Lehto continues to extend his 15 minutes of fame in Edmonton.
Puljujarvi was quoted this week saying he wants to go somewhere that will give him 15 minutes a night in the top six. For comparisons sake, JP played 15 minutes just 19 times during his time in Edmonton and finished with 4 goals and 4 assists in those games, those numbers pro rate to a 17 goal and 34 point season. What would we all be saying if Puljujarvi scored 17 goals as a 21-year old?
JP and his agent have now handled this situation as poorly as the Oilers handled his development.
OPENING NIGHT
Does Mikko Koskinen need to be the opening night starter? He is the incumbent and highest paid of the two goaltenders. It would probably be easier from an optics perspective to go to Koskinen and if he struggles Mike Smith can take over as opposed to naming Smith your starter and then hoping Koskinen can bail you out if things don’t start well. Unless Koskinen is an absolute train wreck in the pre-season I’d bet pretty good money on him starting in game one.
SAM GAGNER
Could Sam Gagner find a way to play with McDavid and Draisaitl? I would like to see this trio together for a five-game stretch. The number one reason being that Gagner thinks the game on an extremely high level and still has the hands to go with the mind. He also wouldn’t shy away from grinding pucks out of the corner. It’s a long shot, but I feel like it may work for a few stretches of the season.
MR. SMITH’S NEW LOOK
New team ✅
New colours ✅
@EdmontonOilers pic.twitter.com/WKO4qKglym— Jon Elkin (@elkingoalie) August 21, 2019
I was a goalie in minor hockey for six seasons so I’ve always had a little bit of a goaltending equipment fetish. I really like this look, and obviously it will look excellent with the new third jerseys. I’m kind of intrigued to see what it looks like with the two sets of regular uniforms though.
And yes, Kailer Yamamoto could probably skate through that five hole.
33 GOALS FOR MCDAVID?
Oilers Insider Bob Stauffer recently posted his point projections for the Oilers on his twitter feed and he has Connor McDavid finishing with 33 goals. If McDavid is healthy and only finishes with 33 goals I’d be stunned. Stauffer knows his stuff and he’s really good with numbers, but the 33 goal projection seems really strange to me. If McDavid plays at least 75 games and finishes with 33 goals or less I will donate $100 bucks to the charity of Bob’s choice.
Previously by Dustin Nielson:
- Projection Season: The Hockey News
- Ten Way Too Early Predictions
- Mr. Holland’s Summer
- Two Birds, One Stone
- James Neal: Year-By-Year
I’d say Gagner is too slow to play with McDavid on the rush.
McDavid scores 33 in his first 50, book it.
Maybe Stauffer knows something about Mcdavid’s recovery that we don’t? Why is there no word on how he’s doing? Maybe he won’t be 100% from the jump.
Lol. 2 teams gave him away including a minor league team. First line? Soft as butter in a heat wave.
Careful Edmonton is NDP town. Those are hurtful comments to the Snowflakes around here.
Why don’t we just leave the toxic political comments off the site, mmkay?
Hahaha! The only snowflakes are poor conservatives. Look at poor oppressed Donald Trump!
Teams also gave up on Kassian, not to mention Chiasson was on a PTO. You don’t have to be that good to collect points on a line with McDavid and Drai.
If someone takes a run at Connor will Gagner go all crazy eyes and beat the guy to a pulp? No? Then leave Kassian there until he shows he does not belong.
Lol. Gagner grinds in the corners, since when?
Lol. Gagner grinds in the corners, since when?
He is caked Sammy snowpants for a reason.
17 and 17 for Pool and what would I be saying? Not enough for a #4 overall that’s what I’d be saying!
I would like to see M Haley in a bottom three role. We need some one to go against that goon in Calgary.
There is a lot of people who seem to agree that the Oil have done something wrong with JP over the last 3 seasons. I think most of these think that the Oil rushed JP into the NHL and that more time in the AHL would have had a better result. Dusty seems to think that more NHL time would have been the key to success. I wonder who is correct.
JP should have been playing top six since the day her turned pro be it in Edmonton or the AHL. Playing him a few minutes an night in the bottom six with the plumbers the team had hurt his development.
So I guess you are in the more time in the AHL camp. That is keep him playing top 6 minutes in the AHL until he can step right into that spot in the NHL. Sounds good but we night be in the same spot today. JP wanting out because he has not gotten enough or any NHL time.
Gagner on the top line? How much crack did you smoke before posting that thought?
One thing about the media in this town is that they are very loyal to Oiler players, past or present. I guess they develop a certain fondness for players by being around them at some level. Personally once a plyer leaves the Oil he just like any of the 600 or so NHL players not an Oiler, just some guy trying to beat my team.
Just yesterday one local wag was saying that JP is a humble young guy because he has played shinny with some people in his spare time and therefore hopes things work out for him. In my nook as long as JP is “not an Oiler” and hanging around Europe he is king of like Bogdan Yakimov. An ex Oiler in Europe who is of no particular concern to me.
Gags got 8 with Eberle and Hall. He still has hands and vision. Gagner isn’t really slow, but the game is fast. Then again, Patrick Maroon was great on the 1st line for a season. It’s quickness of the mind – being smart – that is the main thing when playing with McDavid.
Gags got 8 what? Goals, assist, shifts, hits, faceoff wins???
Points in one game I assume.
Correct, should have traded him right after that.
How do you not know this!?!
I’d like to see Gagner get 1st PP time with them but I don’t know about EV. Kassian has the speed, good enough hands and goes and gets pucks plus is good to have a “enforcer” on the ice with our two most valuable players. But PP time where they can setup would be a good option for Gagner. But hell if Kass fades, then why not.
If McDavey only gets 30 goals, that means he will get 80 assists.
The funniest thing about the Brassard signing are the questions on Twitter about whether the Oil fans boo him when he comes back and would he get a tribute video. I think the team should show a sense of humor and make up a faux video for him when the Isles visit
Maybe Oilers fans just shouldn’t take George seriously…ever. Does he even have an actual job nowadays?
I love the idea. That would be hilarious.
Maybe Stauffer knows something about Mcdavid’s recovery that we don’t? Why is there no word on how he’s doing? Maybe he won’t be 100% from the jump.
Dang, I’m going five hole on Smith. That gap looks massive.