Hot Links: Friday, April 2

Morning, folks!

Our heroes, the Edmonton Oilers, are back at it tonight with a big match against the most hated Calgary Flames in the comfortable confines of Rogers Place. Edmonton will be looking for a rebound performance after maybe their worst game of the year in Montreal last time around. Of course, there were circumstances around that last game, but still.

Tonight’s a different kettle of fish, though, as the Oilers come into tonight after a few days of rest. Also Calgary sucks. That is also different. Montreal is below Edmonton in the standings but have ran their show for the most part this season. Calgary is below Edmonton in the standings and has a few blowouts to navigate psychologically. Here’s hoping they really struggle to and Edmonton scores another touchdown tonight. Maybe throw in a field goal for good measure, we do want 10, after all.

Lowetide’s digging into the Caleb Jones - William Lagesson “debate” — there really shouldn’t be one, whatsoever, IMO — so let’s do the same:

Courtesy: Evolving-Hockey | https://evolving-hockey.com/

Keep in mind, Jones’ PDO is ~0.949 right now. Lagesson’s is still 1.07. Read another way, Jones has been seriously unlucky this season and his impact on GA is still barely negative. Lagesson, on the other hand, has been lucky as shit and his impact on GA is still negative. These two players are not close, by my eye, nor by the numbers it would appear, and it would be nice to see Caleb Jones draw back in and slot in beside Adam Larsson — or whomever — on the second pairing for the rest of the season.

Worth noting, in Billy’s defense, that his deployment (37% OZS with Larsson) is a mite bit harder than Jones’ has been, but I imagine that’s largely down to Jones playing on the third pair more than he should be. When he was with Larsson, they played similarly tough minutes (43% OZS with Larsson) and Jones still grades well everywhere but GA:

It sounds like Jones is drawing back in tonight, hopefully he has a hat trick or something so he has a chance at keeping his job into the next game. If Tippett costs the Oilers Jones in expansion somehow, I’m going to fire him myself.

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Episode IV: A Blue Nope

In which Preston, Shona and Corey talk about the week that was(n’t), Taylor Hall, the Bakersfield Condors line of Tyler Benson, Ryan McLeod, and Cooper Marody, the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings and their hot start to the year, and the 2021 Isobel Cup Champion Boston Pride!

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Saturday’s Oilers / Canucks Game Has Been Postponed (Copper and Blue)

Hot Links: Thursday, April 1 (Copper and Blue)

Oilers Considering An “Oil Change” Style Program As Part Of Proposed Premium Content Service (Copper and Blue)

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Game Notes Flames @ Oilers: Douse The Flames (ON)

Outstanding Season For Oil Kings Forward Dylan Guenther Nets Team Canada Invite (ES)

Another Edmonton Oilers Game Postponed As Vancouver Canucks Sidelined For A Week By COVID (EJ)

Oilers Game Vs. Canucks Postponed (TOR)

OILERS NOTES: Celebration Of Life For Colby Cave To Be Held At Rogers Place (ES)

Dave Tippett Keeps Looking For Answers On Oilers Second Line (ES)

Report: Edmonton Oilers Offered Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Five-Year Contract (ON)

Kane Downplays Hart Race: McDavid Is ‘Head And Shoulders’ Above Peers (TS)

Edmonton Oilers Place Tyler Ennis On Waivers (ON)

Benson & Marody Co-Winners Of CCM/AHL Player Of The Month (TBC)

McDavid’s Era-Best Stats, Necas’ Big Breakout, And The Devils’ Saving Grace (TS)

April She Will Come (LT)

10 Big Questions that need answering about Stanley Cup aspirations of the Edmonton Oilers (EJ)

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Lowetide: The Oilers’ Big Decision On Defence — Caleb Jones Or William Lagesson? (TA)

Finding The Ideal Centre For The Oilers At The Trade Deadline: Brandon Sutter? Luke Glendening? Derek Ryan? (TA)