OILERS MIGHT HAVE AHL COMPANY ON ROAD TRIPS
Farm teams of NHL’S Canada-based clubs could tag along if Canadian division formed
The prevailing theory is the NHL will start the 2020-21 season in late January or Feb. 1 with likely a 48-game season, which would mean 16 games a month, then playoffs.
With a Canadian division for the Oilers, as we all keep saying.
And the Canadian teams not only could move their AHL affiliates to their buildings because of border/quarantine issues, but the farm squads might travel with the NHL teams on road trips. That would be a different wrinkle.
So, say the Oilers go to play Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. They would take the Bakersfield farmhands to play against the Toronto Marlies, the Laval Rocket and Belleville Senators — maybe afternoon games while the NHL team plays at night. The last time the Oilers had their farm squad in Edmonton was 2004-05 during the NHL lockout. Jarret Stoll, Raffi Torres, Kyle Brodziak, Rocky Thompson (an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks) and Jeff Deslauriers were on that team, playing at Rexall Place.
Oilers GM Ken Holland, however, says the plan is still to play in Bakersfield. “Let's wait another couple of months to see what the world looks like,” he said.
ARE THE OILERS FINISHED SIGNING?
Do they need another older defenceman to give their kids more time to percolate?
“Part of where we're going on the back end is our youth. We've got young players like (Evan) Bouchard, (Philip) Broberg, (Dmitry) Samorukov, who's going to be with CSKA until the end of the (KHL) season, so we'll see,” said Holland.
“We've also got Caleb Jones, who played about 20 minutes a night when (Oscar) Klefbom was out nine games (with a shoulder injury) this past season ... he did a nice job. Plus we've got (unsigned William) Lagesson who wants to come in and battle for a spot.
“But with the uncertainty of the situation, I might look to add one more defenceman at the right price and right fit.”
The price would be under
US$1 million, no higher.
Lots of alternatives: Slater Koekkoek (Chicago), Oscar Fantenberg ( Vancouver), Ben Hutton (Los Angeles), Michael Del Zotto (Anaheim) and Jan Ruutu (Tampa). Ruutu shoots right, while Koekkoek, who played against the Oilers in the qualifying round, can play both sides but shoots left. The others play left side.
PLAYING WITH URGENCY
There's some similarities to the style of game that Bouchard and John Klingberg play — the way they have patience with the puck, the way they pass, walk the line on the power play, get shots through.
It's up to Bouchard, who has three points in seven games with Sodertalje in Sweden, to improve the defensive parts of his game, as Klingberg did. he also needs to improve the pace he plays at.
“With most young defencemen who put up points, you have to work on that aspect ... it was that way with Griffin Reinhart and we talked about his urgency. We tried to work with Griffin on that. That was a theme with him,” said Derek Laxdal, the former Oil Kings head coach, now an assistant to Rick Bowness in Dallas.
“Klingberg was no different
(in the AHL). Then he got to Dallas and year after year he did a better job at getting back for pucks quicker,” said Laxdal, who coached him in the minors. “Colorado, Vegas, they all tried to run him in these playoffs and he got back for pucks hard and was deceptive. That's grown, and he's six years into his career. Doesn't happen overnight.
“Players coming out of junior don't understand the urgency with which you have to play to be an every day player in the National Hockey League. If you can teach a defenceman to get back hard and they pivot and have an extra second to move the puck. Plus, you don't get hit as much.
“In Klingberg's case, what he's really good at is absorbing a hit from a forechecker and making a play. That was exceptional in the playoffs. That's really improved over the years.”
FITTING IN HOLLOWAY
Will third-line centre or topsix winger be the ultimate role for Dylan Holloway, the Oilers' top draft pick who is starting his second season at the University of Wisconsin for coach Tony Granato?
“I think he could wind up on left wing with (Leon) Draisaitl and (Kailer) Yamamoto,” TSN scouting guru Craig Button said.
Holloway, who has a good shot at making Canada's world junior team, may be one of those kids who leave school early to try pro, maybe after his sophomore season.
LOCAL TIES
Defenceman Thomas Harley, whose orthopedic surgeon dad Brian played goal for the University of Alberta Golden Bears in the early '90s, was with Dallas during the bubble here.
“I believe he'll be an NHL player. The way he skates, the way he moves the puck, he's outstanding. He's a (Jay) Bouwmeester type, the way he can jump up (into the play),” Laxdal said.
“He almost made the Stars out of training camp last fall. Hopefully, he gets a shot with Canada at the world juniors.”
This 'n' that: Still no takers for Oilers winger Andreas Athanasiou, 10 days into free agency. Florida needs forwards but it may be for half of what he made ($1.5 million) last season ... Winger/centre Alan Quine got a one-way $750,000 deal from the Oilers in free agency after he had a two-way with Calgary last year that guaranteed him $450,000 to play in Stockton. Quine played centre in the AHL and wing for Calgary. He got into three playoff games against Dallas.