The Copper & Blue - Oilers Win Draft Lottery. Get To Draft McDavid. All The Stories.A site for fans of the Edmonton Oilers. Someday we'll get to write about an Oilers playoff game. Hopefully sooner than later.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/13253/copper-fave.jpg2015-04-22T13:21:26-06:00http://www.coppernblue.com/rss/stream/82281702015-04-22T13:21:26-06:002015-04-22T13:21:26-06:00The Connor Conundrum
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hRfv_9NjYNhqZDZKGlUiJ0i9OWw=/18x0:4230x2808/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46184662/GettyImages-462034762.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Exploring a potential Oilers future without Connor McDavid</p> <p>Connor McDavid is a special player, of that there is no doubt. Wayne Gretzky called him <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/wayne-gretzky-connor-mcdavid-sidney-crosby-best-30-years/">the best player in 30 years</a> and said you simply don't trade him.</p>
<p>I'm saying, maybe you do.</p>
<p>Now before you rage close your browser and call me an idiot on twitter, or jump to the comments and call me nuttier than squirrel shit, let's clear something up. I don't think you trade him, only because the players and the fans have been through shear hell the past 9 years and they really need just the idea of an Oilers team with McDavid.</p>
<p>That being said, I think there is a strong argument, from a hockey stand point, to trade this pick. First and foremost, I think you can address nearly all of your lineup needs. You can get probably get a combination of quality veteran and a good young defencemen, plus a very good draft pick in exchange. This would allow whoever is GM to then focus on goaltending and maybe rounding out the forward group.</p>
<p>The old adage is if you trade the best player in a trade, you lost it. There's plenty of history to support that idea, including a trade the Oilers made in the summer of 2005 to bring in Chris Pronger. There's also the reality that the NHL is a cap environment and you have to balance your cap management if you want to have long term success.</p>
<p>If Connor McDavid is as advertised, he's going to command a near max salary within a few years. A quick look at some of the top player cap hits in the league and you see them following teams:</p>
<p>Pittsburgh, Washington, Montreal, Anaheim, NY Rangers, Philadelphia, Carolina, Toronto, Nashville, Detroit, Minnesota and Tampa.</p>
<p>Noticeably absent from this list: Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago (for now). The 3 teams with the most regular season and playoff success in the past few seasons (yes I am aware 2 didn't make the playoffs this year).</p>
<p>The difference between a Crosby, who has an $8.7 mil cap hit and a Kopitar who has a $6.8 mil cap hit is that you can make up the ability difference between the two by having more depth in your lineup. The gap between what an elite talent brings vs a very good talent is not that great, despite the fact that there is a big difference in what they cost you.</p>
<p>Chicago is going to run into some major cap issues this summer as both Kane and Toews cap hits jump up into that elite level. They go from manageable $6mil cap hits to $10.5 mil. That $8 million + difference can basically pay for a quality set of 2nd line wingers.</p>
<p>As great as it would be to say "Keep McDavid because he's awesome", the fact of the matter is there are costs for having that sort of talent in your lineup. He's going to have a killer deal for the first 3 years of his career (thanks to his ELC), so the Oilers have to do what they can to maximize that value. Once his ELC is up, the Oilers are going to have a lot of very hard decisions to make and you could make the argument that McDavid will never have more value than he does right before this draft.</p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2015/4/22/8470105/just-hear-me-outdawgbone982015-04-22T12:54:03-06:002015-04-22T12:54:03-06:00'It's not your fault:' McDavid reacts to the lotto
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dFcy2F5DH988qDVv8dffF7bwfic=/28x0:678x433/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46183988/Screen_Shot_2015-04-22_at_2.41.36_PM.0.0.png" />
</figure>
<p><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/125401642" frameborder="0" height="375" width="500"></iframe></p>
<p>This is brilliant.</p>
<p>Matt Damon is Connor McDavid. Robin Williams is Gary Bettman. And McDavid's just found out that he's going to the <a href="https://www.coppernblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Edmonton Oilers</a>, who have won the 2015 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">NHL draft</a> lottery. <i>"They only ruined Yakupov a little bit!"</i></p>
<p>And of course, here's the original ... just because.</p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GtkST5-ZFHw" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe></p>
<p><i>h/t <a href="https://twitter.com/SkinnyPPPhish/status/590945409851269120" target="new">@SkinnyPPPhish</a></i></p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2015/4/22/8470067/connor-mcdavid-scene-good-will-hunting-oilers-nhl-draft-lotterySB Nation NHL News2015-04-21T13:12:08-06:002015-04-21T13:12:08-06:00This Is Going To Be Fun
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ekw-EUqJGmmaRLUE2SurK6ZfGpg=/0x562:2369x2141/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46176438/GettyImages-177450677.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bruce Bennett/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Sidney Crosby set a tough precedent in his rookie NHL season. Can McDavid match it?</p> <p>On Saturday, April 18, 2015, at approximately 5:15 PM ET, I found myself wrapped in the arms of my good friend, Russell, bouncing around my living room, the both us shrieking like banshees in pure elation. I proceeded to lie down on my couch and laugh a sort of maniac laugh—the kind where, by the end of it, your just gulping air and gagging with a big dumb smile on your face—until I very nearly puked.</p>
<p>I think it's some kind of sick joke that this organization has been offered the ultimate reward for close to a decade of gross incompetence. But forget all that. I'm excited about Connor McDavid.</p>
<p>No one is sure what this kid is going to do in the NHL. His ceiling is as high as they come, and expectations are just as lofty. As far as comparisons for this OHL supernova go, we can look to the last generational talent to grace the hockey world spotlight—none other than Sidney "The Kid" Crosby.</p>
<p>Let's take a perfunctory glance at NHLe's for both players using their final regular season of major junior. I'll be using Gabe Desjardins' NHLe numbers, available <a href="http://www.behindthenet.ca/projecting_to_nhl.php" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>Employing Gabe's value of 0.28 for QMJHL production, Crosby had an NHLe of 62 points over a full NHL season after his final year with Rimouski. With Gabe's value of 0.30 for the OHL, McDavid's projected production over 82 games at the NHL level, using point totals from his most recent season with Erie, is 63—one point higher than Sid's.</p>
<p>This is an impressive total for McDavid, but it's worth noting that his January birthday makes him eight months older than Crosby, born in August, at the time of the draft. That said, they were physically comparable in their draft eligible seasons. According to I<a href="http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/7785/iss_top15_prospects_for_the2005_nhl_draft/" target="_blank">SS' final rankings</a> before the 2005 draft, Crosby was 5'11'' and 180 lbs. McDavid is currently listed at 6'01'' and 187 lbs on the OHL website.</p>
<p>I'm not a doctor or a dietician, and this stuff must be tricky science, but the internet tells me a teenage male should gain about 2.5-5 lbs per inch. By that tenuous logic, McDavid and Crosby could have been pretty close to the same developmentally during their draft eligible seasons. Humans develop at such varying rates and it's pretty hard to pin down whether or not McDavid was benefitting over Crosby in such a small sample (two players) with such a small difference in age (8 months).</p>
<p>But all of that was more of an aside. The point I want to make is that Crosby came into the league as an 18 year old and blew it wide open. He scored 102 points (39 G, 63 A) in 81 games and improved the play of those who had the honour of taking the ice with him. In 2005-2006, among Penguins players who played at least 100 minutes, Crosby was third on the team in CorT% 5v5 at 46.88, behind only <span>Colby Armstrong</span> (46.99, 47 GP) and <span>Andy Hilbert</span> (47.37, 19 GP). During that season, Pittsburgh was last in the league in team CF% at 45.00.</p>
<p>What does it mean? Well, it seems Crosby helped his teammates perform better than the team average when they were on the ice with him, and that's a significant achievement for an 18 year old rookie on a piss-poor team. Never mind the 102 points.</p>
<p>Crosby came into the league and made everyone around him better. It's something that good players do in their primes, and phenomenal players can do at the tender age of 18 in their first season in the bigs. All signs suggest we should expect the same from McDavid. And as bad as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Oilers</a> are at winning hockey games, he'll have a much stronger supporting cast than Crosby did with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Penguins</a> in 2005-2006. The offensive potential of the Oilers' top two lines just went through the roof.</p>
<p>I have, for a long time now, been of the belief that no one player is going to be able to come in and save this organization.</p>
<p>And yet here I am, thinking exactly that—or something very close to it.</p>
<p>So do us a solid and fill those holes, MacT. Or whoever Bob Nicholson chooses to replace you.</p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2015/4/21/8463009/this-is-going-to-be-funCurtis LeBlanc2015-04-20T14:54:02-06:002015-04-20T14:54:02-06:00Young Leaf Fans React to Draft Lottery<iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CTGVQc6ggy4?feature=oembed" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Nothing better than leaf fans in agony. Gonna be some fun years with McDavid here in Edmonton.</p></p></div>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2015/4/20/8459123/young-leaf-fans-react-to-draft-lotteryapierson2015-04-20T08:02:04-06:002015-04-20T08:02:04-06:00Was The Lottery Not Done Correctly?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/C_7My_GdtgWBSN9kSScD5aZVyZk=/94x0:2684x1727/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46168362/GettyImages-461984752.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>If you're looking for some crazy with your morning coffee then this is the post for you. Lost in the celebration of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Oilers</a>' Draft Lottery victory on Saturday night was, apparently, the fact that the button was hit twice at the beginning of the lottery. This means that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a> actually won the lottery. Or at least this is what crazy people on the internet would like me to believe. Either way, enjoy.</p>
<p>And have fun thinking up other draft lottery conspiracy theories.</p>
<blockquote data-id="a/RdRvV" lang="en" class="imgur-embed-pub"><a href="//imgur.com/a/RdRvV">McDavid Scandal</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js"></script>
</p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2015/4/20/8456577/nhl-draft-lottery-conspiracy-connor-mcdavid-oilers-sabresryan_batty2015-04-20T06:00:02-06:002015-04-20T06:00:02-06:00The Ironing is Delicious
<figure>
<img alt="Connor McDavid" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SCwSyRtAedgdcz2Fp_GZQsR-dJM=/0x35:4770x3215/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46167058/GettyImages-461986924.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Connor McDavid | Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>How "fixed" was the draft lottery?</p> <p>As you may have noticed I've been offline for quite a while. My self imposed hiatus was due to some major changes at work and I really had no choice but to completely focus on work for a few months. My hiatus isn't over just yet but since the <a href="https://www.coppernblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oilers</a> won the draft lottery yesterday I felt that I needed to add my two cents but before going any further I'll share my draft lottery experience.</p>
<p>As you may be able to tell by my alias, I live in Calgary (<a target="_blank" href="https://www.world-airport-codes.com/canada/calgary-international-airport-1179.html">YYC</a>) so all I've listened to for the past 7 months has been how great the <a href="https://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Flames</a> are and how bad the Oilers suck. Actually it has been more than 7 months but this year was particularly unbearable. Any way, I lost interest in the season a few months ago and didn't really pay attention to games like I did in the past. I made a point of trying to watch all the games but they were more of background noise thing than anything else. I'd only really pay attention when a goal was scored or something stupid happened. So when the Oilers slowly climbed their way out of 30th spot into 28th I really didn't care. My only worry was draft lottery but again the team had disappointed me enough times already in the season, what was one more disappointment?</p>
<p>My enthusiasm around the draft lottery was obviously not great. The Oilers were 28th and they were probably going to draft <span>Vladimir Tkachev</span> with the 3rd overall pick. I had already reserved myself to complete and utter disappointment. I even forgot to watch the lottery due to a friend's son's birthday party. In fact I completely forgot that the lottery was happening until I got a text from my sister. All the text said was "U pumped". In her typical fashion there was no punctuation and absolutely no frame of reference, I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. Then I got a another text, and another, and another, then a tweet at me. I was still clueless as to what was happening until I turned on the TV and sure enough the Oilers had won the draft lottery.</p>
<p>Obviously my first reaction was to jump onto Twitter to see what as going on. It was a mixed bag of Oilers fans cheering and non-Oilers fans bitching about the draft. As I often try to do I focused on the opinions that differed from mine so I don't get stuck in an echo chamber of BS. Some of the complaints were the typical "Oilers don't deserve this." or "Another 1st overall pick?". The more "intriguing" ones though were the conspiracy theory type Tweets like "How much did Katz pay for the first overall?" and "The draft lottery is rigged!". I understand that emotions run high in times like this but the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=728795">new lottery system</a> that was put in place prior to this season, worked exactly as expected. The league wanted to get away from automatically rewarding the worst team in the league and limit teams from purposefully tanking.</p>
<h4>Did the Oilers Really Tank?</h4>
<p>This is an interesting question and it has been posed to me by many of my friends and coworkers. From my prosective the Oilers didn't really tank so much as they were just bad.</p>
<ul>
<li><span>The Oilers are a team that knows how to tank, instead of replacing Dallas Eakins with Todd Nelson they could've just as easily replaced Eakins with Kelly Buchberger and tried to guarantee a tank but they didn't.</span></li>
<li><span>If MacT wanted to tank he would've never stepped behind the bench at all he would've just handed Nelson the reigns.</span></li>
<li><span>If things really weren't working out and the Oilers' knew it then why fire Dallas Eakins 31 games into the season. Keeping him on would've practically guaranteed them 18 wins on the season based on his record when he was fired.</span></li>
<li><span>From when Eakins was fired to the end of the season, the Oilers moved up from 30th overall to 28th while other teams tried their hardest to finish last.</span></li>
</ul>
<p>There are just too many moving pieces to say the Oilers were purposefully tanking especially when they finished with almost the same amount to wins as they would have if Eakins was still the coach.</p>
<h4>The Irony</h4>
<p><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7p23mA2VV0A" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>The new lottery draft format was dubbed in the media as the "Oilers Lottery Rule". It was put in place so that teams like the Oilers wouldn't win the draft lottery every year. Remember the Oilers won the lottery in 2010 after finishing 30th overall and drafted <span>Taylor Hall</span>. In 2011 they didn't win the lottery but because 23rd place New Jersey won it, and could only drop 5 spots, the Oilers still got to draft first overall again and drafter <span>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</span>. In 2012 the Oilers finished 29th on the season but ended up winning the draft lottery and got to select first overall again selecting <span>Nail Yakupov</span>.</p>
<p>The board of governors for the NHL were a little bit upset that a team so poorly managed could continue to win the draft lottery that in August of 2014 they voted in favour of changing the rules for the draft lottery. Even though the odds still favoured the worst team in the NHL there was a big shift to give all of the teams that didn't make the playoffs a chance at the first overall selection.</p>
<p>Sure enough the team that the rule was created for won it because they won just enough games to be better than the obvious tankers. Oh the irony, as an Oilers' fan I love it.</p>
<p>P.S. Fun fact, he Oilers have drafted first overall after a season of 62 points.</p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2015/4/20/8455425/the-ironing-is-deliciousOilFanInYYC2015-04-19T16:00:00-06:002015-04-19T16:00:00-06:00Farewell...guy.
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KgpgbRNDesmmD-E07axbKdpWWss=/0x0:1500x1000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46165240/71p5UZZsooL._SL1500_.0.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>Wherever I may roam, On land or sea or foam, You can always hear me singing this song..wait a second, who is signing this song?</p> <p>From the future:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The <a href="https://www.coppernblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Edmonton Oilers</a> have traded xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx to the yyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyy for zzzzzz zzzzzzzzz, ending their long search for a first pairing defenseman, according to insider Bob McKenzie.</p>
<p>zzzzzz zzzzzzzzz joins a blueline with the Captain Andrew Ference, <span>Nikita Nikitin</span>, <span>Justin Schultz</span>, <span>Oscar Klefbom</span>, <span>Mark Fayne</span> and <span>Darnell Nurse</span>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Question:</p>
<p>If x can = <span>Leon Draisaitl</span>, <span>Jordan Eberle</span>, <span>Taylor Hall</span>, Connor McDavid, <span>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</span>, Darnell Nurse or <span>Nail Yakupov</span></p>
<p>-AND-</p>
<p>y can = <a href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Anaheim Ducks</a>, <a href="https://www.fiveforhowling.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Coyotes</a>, <a href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Boston Bruins</a>, <a href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Buffalo Sabres</a>, <a href="https://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Calgary Flames</a>, <a href="https://www.canescountry.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Carolina Hurricanes</a>, <a href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Blackhawks</a>, <a href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Colorado Avalanche</a>, <a href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Columbus Blue Jackets</a>, <a href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dallas Stars</a>, <a href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Red Wings</a>, <a href="https://www.litterboxcats.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Florida Panthers</a>, <a href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Kings</a>, <a href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Wild</a>, <a href="https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Montreal Canadiens</a>, <a href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nashville Predators</a>, <a href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New Jersey Devils</a>, <a href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Islanders</a>, <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Rangers</a>, <a href="https://www.silversevensens.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Ottawa Senators</a>, <a href="https://www.broadstreethockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Flyers</a>, <a href="https://www.pensburgh.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>, <a href="https://www.fearthefin.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Jose Sharks</a>, <a href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Blues</a>, <a href="https://www.rawcharge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>, <a href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Maple Leafs</a>, <a href="https://www.nucksmisconduct.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Vancouver Canucks</a>, <a href="https://www.japersrink.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Capitals</a>, or <a href="https://www.arcticicehockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Winnipeg Jets</a></p>
<p>solve for z.</p>
<p>Show your work.</p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2015/4/19/8454515/oilers-trade-hall-nugent-hopkins-eberle-draisaitl-yakupov-for-defensemanDerek Zona2015-04-19T11:47:55-06:002015-04-19T11:47:55-06:00McDavid to Edmonton is not a good thing
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UaEbVgOecXhOTXmauVVzu_bs5vQ=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46164170/GettyImages-461986700.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Claus Andersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Of all of the results of the NHL Draft Lottery, last night's outcome was the worst.</p> <p>I wrote this a few weeks ago:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Edmonton needs to learn how to build a hockey team to win. If Lowe & Katz get their paws on McDavid there is absolutely no justice in this world.</p>
<p>Please hockey gods don’t send another phenomenal young talent into this purgatory nightmare. Destroy this Soddom & Gammorah of a franchise, and as MacT turns to look back on its ashes turn him into a pillar of salt."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I was thrilled last night about McDavid. But this morning after the aura of my one night stand with <a href="https://www.coppernblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oilers</a> excitement has worn off, I feel obligated to revert to my previous opinion.</p>
<p>This Oilers' draft luck is not good for hockey & it's not good for Edmonton. McDavid to Edmonton was the worst financial scenario for the league. And it dooms us to another decade of immoral ownership and irresponsible management.</p>
<p><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theglobeandmail.com%2Fsports%2Fhockey%2Fhockey-lawsuit-exposes-grimy-underside-of-sports-ownership%2Farticle22646466&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.coppernblue.com%2F2015%2F4%2F19%2F8453191%2Flets-be-honest-mcdavid-to-edmonton-is-not-a-good-thing" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">For crying out loud we're getting the star player from the team that our owner was using to defraud our city of hundreds of millions of dollars.</a></p>
<p>The draft lottery should be even odds for all teams playoffs or not. A completely random distribution across all teams.</p>
<p>Or if they insist on a weighted distribution of odds, why not a Gaussian distribution that favors average teams?</p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2015/4/19/8453191/lets-be-honest-mcdavid-to-edmonton-is-not-a-good-thingbituman