The Gretzky-Hlinka tournament has rightfully taken center stage, especially with Canada once again bringing home the gold medal. However, beneath the calm surface of this triumph lies a flurry of activity and excitement, much like a swan gliding gracefully while paddling furiously below the water.
In this edition of **9 Things**, we’ll dive into some notable highlights:
9. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and His Racing Success
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins launched his RNH Stable brand back in 2014, and his journey in horse racing has mirrored his impressive NHL career. Recently, his horse “Infinite Patience” clinched victory at the B.C. Cup Distaff in Vancouver, bringing her career earnings to over $600,000. Talk about a winning streak!
8. Sam Gagner Turns 35
Oilers fan favorite Sam Gagner celebrated his thirty-fifth birthday on Saturday. He still has aspirations to play in the 2024-25 season and has been training at his annual Muskoka Hockey camp. There are whispers about Gagner potentially taking on a player development role with the Oilers, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
7. Preseason Plans for the Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are set to kick off the 2024-25 season with an extensive 8-game preseason, starting against Winnipeg in Edmonton on September 22nd. While some fans feel this is excessive, each game provides valuable opportunities for players vying for a spot on the roster.
6. NHL Fantasy Projections
The fantasy wing of NHL.com has released intriguing projections for the Oilers in the upcoming season. They predict Connor McDavid will score 140 points and Leon Draisaitl will hit 120. Additionally, Evan Bouchard is expected to have a breakout season with 90 points, while newcomers Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner are forecasted to make significant contributions.
5. NHL Prospect Rankings
NHL.com has also unveiled its prospect rankings, a process we at The Cult of Hockey have recently completed as well. They’ve placed newly acquired Matthew Savoie at #1, followed by Roby Jarventie at 2 and Sam O’Reilly at #3. While I respect their rankings, I can assure you that our selections differ in some respects.
As we celebrate Canada’s success at the Gretzky-Hlinka tournament, it’s clear that there’s plenty to look forward to in the world of hockey, both on and off the ice! Stay tuned for more updates as the season approaches.
4. Recent dressing room footage shared on Oilers Plus made it clear why Connor McDavid chose not to return to the ice to accept the Conn Smythe Trophy after Game 7. True leaders don’t abandon their teammates for personal accolades in such critical moments. In fact, it would have been reasonable to criticize him had he done so. Case closed.
3. One offseason move by Jeff Jackson that I didn’t think immediately improved the team was the departure of Vincent Desharnais from the right side. While I understand the financial reasoning behind it, it remains to be seen if the solutions implemented to fill that gap will be adequate. Desharnais’ recent comments remind us why he was well-liked, and I wish him the best in Vancouver. However, it’s important to note that he struggled during back-to-back playoff seasons.
2. This week, the Oilers officially announced the retirement of defenseman Oscar Klefbom. The talented Swede hasn’t played since the 2019-20 season due to a serious shoulder injury, which is unfortunate. Klefbom was an excellent player, and one can’t help but wonder how different Edmonton’s path might have been if Ken Holland hadn’t needed to replace both Klefbom and Adam Larsson. Klefbom concludes his career with 34 goals and 122 assists for a total of 156 points in 378 games with the franchise.
1. There’s been a lot of buzz regarding the status of Leon Draisaitl’s contract negotiations. As I’ve mentioned before, this will be one of the two major issues the new Edmonton Oilers General Manager will tackle, alongside Connor McDavid. What we do know is that discussions are officially underway. Stan Bowman has confirmed that he spoke with Draisaitl’s agent, Mike Liut. Here’s what Bowman had to say about the early stages of what will likely be his most significant decision for the 2024-25 season: whether or not a deal gets done.
“I had a good conversation, and we’re starting things off. The timing will unfold as it does. I don’t have an update on where it’s headed, but there’s nothing negative to report.”
Bowman is no novice; he has 12 years of experience as an NHL General Manager. He understands that this will be a process. Despite some rumors suggesting otherwise, I don’t expect an immediate resolution. This negotiation is unlikely to be straightforward, even if it turns out to be amicable. Therefore, I anticipate it will proceed with careful consideration.
This should not cause concern. In fact, I believe that Stan Bowman taking a thorough approach is a positive sign. Fans shouldn’t want him to rush this process just to make a quick, favorable impression on the team he now leads, especially considering his arrival was not without its own controversies.
Bowman would be doing the franchise a greater service by prioritizing what is best for the team in the long run, rather than focusing on personal ambitions.
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