With the NHL Draft now in the rear view, it remains a busy time on the summer hockey calendar with the annual “Free Agent Frenzy” just around the corner.
First, though, comes the important business of issuing — or not — qualifying offers to restricted free agents. The Edmonton Oilers have 7 such young players on expiring contracts, and have chosen to commence the renewal process with 4 of them and cut ties with the other 3.
Each is an interesting story well worth following, as indeed Oilers fans have done for years already in each case. Presented above in alphabetical order, so let’s follow that trend, with a brief summary at bottom of the 3 RFA’s who didn’t make the cut.
___
Tyler Benson was right on the bubble after a disappointing season spent spinning his wheels in first Edmonton, then Bakersfield. His waiver exemption having expired at the end of his Entry Level Contract, Benson signed a 1-year extension at league minimum last summer, and spent the first 5 months of 2021-22 on the big league roster. He struggled to gain traction, however, playing around half the games and averaging just 8:33 a night.
His was a classic Catch 22 situation, where he projected best as a support player with skilled linemates but never produced enough lower down the line-up to earn such an opportunity. His most frequent linemates on the season? Colton Sceviour, Ryan McLeod, Kyle Turris, Derek Ryan, Devin Shore, Zack Kassian. Not exactly Muderers’ Row. Same can be said about Benson himself with meagre stats of 1-1-2, -5.
To his credit Benson tried to change his game to that of an agitator, and proved fairly effective at getting under opponents’ skins, even as a couple of untimel;y penalties didn’t help his cause. But by early March with the team getting healthier and Evander Kane added to the top of the left wing food chain, Benson became supernumerary and was waived out of the league. He again proved to be an effective player at that level, but was hurt in Game 1 of the playoffs and that was that. A miserable end to a disappointing season.
Good decision by the Oilers to qualify him in my opinion. Since drafting him high in the second round in 2016, the club has invested 6 years in his development, 4 of them at the professional level. Over that time he has established himself as an excellent player in the high minors who can at minimum help at that level, keeping the team competitive and mentoring younger players. He will also be a depth call-up option for the Oilers, and surely retains hope of catching lightning in a bottle and making that next step when the opportunity presents itself.
Step 1: sign the qualifying offer outright. Step 2: work his tail off this summer improving his skating. Step 3: make a big impression in training camp and the preseason. The good news is that he is already very well known to coach Jay Woodcroft, but even that didn’t save him last March so he’ll need to take a step.
___
Ryan McLeod was a lock to be qualified, and remains one to be signed. Like Benson a high second round pick, McLeod had a much less impressive season as a rookie pro, but then made giant steps in each of Years 2 and 3 of his now-expired ELC.
This past season McLeod had an unremarkable training camp and got caught in a numbers game as the only bubble player who didn’t require waivers to get sent out to Bakersfield. He returned after a 7-game exile a much more focused player, and proceeded to work his way into and up the line-up, where he remained. McLeod spent a lot of nights at 4C but gradually moved up to 3C with the versatility to fill in at 2LW when needed. He averaged 12:46 per game in season and saw that bumped to 14:33 in the playoffs. He also became a regular on the second powerplay unit and a feature player on the penalty kill.
A truly gifted skater, McLeod excels in the transition game and has become increasingly comfortable carting the puck up ice at speed, demonstrating plus abilities in both zone exits and entries. He’s not a natural finisher, but has shown gradual improvement at that aspect, ultimately notching 12 goals in 87 regular season and playoff games in 2021-22. His scoring rates of 0.56 goals and 1.29 points per 60 minutes at 5v5 put him right on the cusp between 3rd and 4th line rates at 5v5, which squares with his deployment.
He also held his own by underlying numbers like on-ice shot and goal shares, and delivered good value against his ELC-limited cap hit. By far the more exciting news is that he held his own, largely at the demanding centre position, as a 22-year-old NHL rookie. As a Day 2 draft pick he has already established himself as an NHL regular with upside aplenty.
McLeod is unique among the 4 players receiving QO’s in that he does not have arbitration rights. In theory this should make an extension at a team-friendly price a very likely bet, though it says here the smart play is to sign a bridge deal of 2 or even 3 years at a somewhat higher price which should still prove to be a bargain over the lifetime of the deal.
Ryan McLeod is exactly the sort of player the Oilers need more of: a Day 2 draft pick, internally developed, and projecting as a solid role player at a reasonable cost for years to come.
___
Jesse Puljujarvi is by some distance the most discussed player among the Oilers’ current group of RFA’s, and the one who produces the most sharply-divided opinions. He represents the continental divide between the numbers and the eye test.
By eye, many saw an awkward, at times clumsy player who increasingly fought the puck and struggled to finish his own scoring chances.
On the production side his numbers were good-not-great: 7th among Oilers forwards in points, 6th in goals, 5th in assists, 4th in shots, 3rd in plus. All this in just 65 games, Excellent value for a 23-year-old with a cap hit below $1.2 million, but underwhelming to those who expected more from a 4th overall draft pick whose most frequent linemate was Connor McDavid.
His on-ice numbers, on the other hand, were universally fabulous. The Oilers outshot, outchanced, and outscored their opponents by a wide margin with JP on the ice, a trait that held true no matter who his linemates happened to be. Those results were provided in some detail in this late-season post so won’t be repeated here even as they changed a bit down the stretch. We subsequently compared him to another gangly but effective winger in Colorado, Valeri Nichushkin, back on April 22, a comparison that subsequently went viral (here is one example of many) even as Nichushkin’s star rose in the playoffs while Puljujarvi’s faded with a disappointing post-season.
Our own work here at the Cult of Hockey analyzing scoring chances managed to find areas where the eye test and the numbers largely agreed. In his season review on Puljujarvi, colleague David Staples zoomed in on the player’s ability to contribute to Grade A shots by through hard plays at net. He was particularly effective winning battles for or around the puck leading to or continuing a possession and leading directly to scoring chances, with 23 such attributions, 6 more than any other Oiler.
After an outstanding start, J.P.’s season was compromised by both illness and injury. In particular he never seemed to bounce back from a late season “non-COVID” illness that forced him out of 3 games. And ever since, a swirl of rumours about possible trades and trade requests, but to date no actual trade.
The club has now performed the necessary next step by qualifying the player, who now has arb rights. Likeliest outcome from this distance is a trade followed by a new (bargain) contract elsewhere, though a compromise 1-year extension is not out of the question. This is a player with plenty to prove and with time to prove it, given he turned 24 during the playoffs. Will that time be here in Edmonton? Aye, there’s the rub.
___
Kailer Yamamoto is in a superficially similar position as Puljujarvi. Another ’98 birthday, another first-round pick, another right winger, another youngster achieving arbitration rights on the heels of an inexpensive bridge contract. Even had the identical cap hit, at $1.175 million.
But there are important differences. Principle among them, Yamamoto has 4 years remaining under club control, Puljujarvi just 2. Leaving plenty of room for another bridge contract for K.Y., albeit at a nice pay raise after the 20-goal, 21-assist season the young winger posted in 2021-22.
We reviewed Yamamoto’s season in some detail here with the major takeaway being his improved play and production in the second half, coinciding with Jay Woodcroft’s time behind the bench. On the season as a whole he was a saw-off player by any metric from on-ice shot attempts to scoring chances to goals (+54/-57 at 5v5), but the upward trajectory down the stretch was encouraging indeed.
Recency bias if nothing else make Yamamoto’s bid for an extension more likely to be successful. Best guess here is a 2-year bridge at a healthy but not exorbitant increase.
___
The only man still in the running for a QO who didn’t get one is Brendan Perlini, who fired before falling back not once but twice. Signed from the Swiss A League last summer to a 1-year deal, Perlini rolled through training camp with 6 goals in 6 games and made the team outright. Once the games started counting for points, however, his production immediately dried up. He and Benson split time at a single position, a Dave Tippett “solution” that didn’t work well for either man.
Sent down after 0 points in 13 games, he got a second chance during the COVID crisis in late December. He proceeded to score 4 goals in the next 7 games, primarily through his lethal shot. But then LW Evander Kane arrived in Edmonton, and it was essentially curtains for both Perlini and Benson.
Despite a decent showing in Bakersfield (18 GP, 11-7-18, +5), the 26-year-old Perlini again finds himself on the outside looking in. That lethal shot has earned him a very respectable 50 NHL goals with 5 different teams, but the rest of his game has been found lacking, and by more than 1 judge.
The other 2 players not qualified by the Oilers, Filip Berglund and Ostap Safin, have already skedaddled back to Europe with an eye to continuing their careers there. Berglund, a 2016 third-round draft pick, waited the maximum time to sign an NHL deal, then promptly negotiated a load back to Sweden for the first of the 2-year pact. He spent just 1 season on this side of the pond, and while he displayed a decent all-around game in Bakersfield he was never in the conversation as a recall.
Safin played in North America for 5 years after being drafted by the Oilers in 2017: 2 in junior, then 3 evenly split between the AHL (58 GP) and ECHL (62). His size and speed off the wing reminded this observer of a modern-day Roman Oksiuta. Alas, his chance to make it was undone by injury.
The other side of this coin is RFAs not signed by other teams who subsequently hit the open market. Every year there are a few juicy candidates, with Chicago’s Dylan Strome an early candidate to be one in 2022. Stay tuned.
…takes place this week, the first since 2019. The Oilers have announced a 37-player roster for the behind-closed-doors event. 17 of those hopefuls are Oilers draft choices, let by 2021 and 2022 first-rounders Xavier Bourgault and Reid Schaefer. Surprisingly, 2020 first-rounder Dylan Holloway will not be present.
The other 20 camp invites are undrafted players, including the likes of netminder Ryan Fanti and forwards James Hamblin and Noah Philp who have already signed NHL-class contracts with the Oil.
A few players of interest among the invitees:
Listed here in inverse order of age, topped by 4 teenagers passed over in the recent NHL Draft. A good showing at a camp like this, and they are free to be signed. At least, that’s the dream.
The Oilers’ release informs hardcore prospectophiles that the traditional finale for this event, the Joey Moss Cup, will be live streamed in multiple formats on Thursday evening at 6pm MDT.
LEAVINS: A critical week upcoming for the Oil — 9 Things
McCURDY: The biggest addition for the Oilers at the draft was cap space
STAPLES: Twitter reacts to Keith retirement
LEAVINS: Duncan Keith set to retire
McCURDY: Reid Schaefer Oilers 2022 1st Round pick
LEAVINS: Zack Kassian dealt to the Desert Dogs
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
___
AP cricket:
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
—
Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Freeland says she’s ready to deal with Trump |
NASA astronauts won’t say which one of them got sick after almost eight months in space
43 monkeys remain on the run from South Carolina lab. CEO thinks they’re having an adventure
Freeland rallies a united front ahead of Trump’s return to White House
Deputy minister appointed interim CEO of AIMCo after Alberta government fires board
Montreal says Quebec-Canada dispute stalling much-needed funding to help homeless
S&P/TSX composite index down Friday, Wall St. extends post-election gains
Mitch Marner powers Matthews-less Maple Leafs over Red Wings
