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Morning, folks!
Just another manic Monday, am I right?!
Connor McDavid showed up at the BioSteel camp for a presser detailing why he WOULD NOT be participating in it, roughly an hour or so after I had parroted some news reported locally at the end of last week that he would be. Oops.
Just before the crack of dawn this morning, news broke out of Finland that our most recent wantaway Jesse Puljujarvi has inked a one-year deal with Karpat. The contract apparently includes an NHL out clause until December (coinciding with the NHL’s RFA deadline), but it’s looking less and less likely that Puljujarvi will play another shift in Edmonton, and more and more likely that I ranked him too high in our T25 U25 this season. Oooooops.
Those are - by far - the most talked about items in the Oily City so far this morning, but Corey Pronman’s NHL farm system rankings continued too, and the Edmonton Oilers came 9th. It feels a bit high for me, but Pronman is very high on Broberg and Edmonton’s defensive prospects are quite good as a group. Here are the best parts, for those of you without an Athletic sub:
“The Oilers’ farm saw some positive developments in the past 12 months. Their AHL team was very good with several prospects taking steps forward. They had a strong 2019 draft and amateur defensemen Evan Bouchard and Dmitri Samorukov had good seasons. For the first time in a while, you can say there is some depth coming for the Oilers to supplement their stars.” - Pronman, The Athletic
Pronman’s Oilers prospect ranks:
1 - Broberg (D)
2 - Bouchard (D)
3 - Samorukov (D)
4 - Benson (F)
5 - Lavoie (D)
6 - Yamamoto (F)
7 - Jones (D)
8 - McLeod (F)
9 - Marody (F)
10 - Konovalov (G)
To that end, Dmitri Samorukov finally appeared in our T25 U25 this year, landing at #11. Check back after lunch to see who’s at 10!
From Us
Jesse Puljujarvi signs one-year deal with Karpat. (Copper and Blue)
T25 U25: #12 - Dmitri Samorukov (Copper and Blue)
McDavid not skating at camp. Eyes training camp return. (Copper and Blue)
The SuperFan Podcast - Episode 2: Jeff Chapman (Copper and Blue)
Yesterday (Copper and Blue)
From Elsewhere
Lay off it, son. Brownlee takes aim at Cathal Kelly’s trash piece in the Globe. (Oilersnation)
Jesse Puljujarvi inks one-year deal with Kärpät in Finland. (Oilersnation)
McDavid speaks about knee. (Oilersnation)
Ken Holland speaks about McDavid speaking about his knee. (The Sun - I KNOW)
So long, and thanks for all the fish. Lowetide on JP’s homecoming. (Lowetide)
McCurdy profiles Tyler Benson. (The Journal)
For Money
The 19/20 Oilers and value contracts - a period of transition. (The Athletic)
Puljujarvi signs in Finland, dashing hopes of a return to the Oilers. (The Athletic)
Pronman’s farm system rankings. Edmonton is 9/31. (The Athletic)