It is time…to shimmer and shine.
With all due respect to every single Canadian athlete in ever single event in Italy, there is no one thing that will galvanize or rip apart Canadian sports fans than ow the Men’s Hockey Team does.
And as Oilers fans, we have some very specific skin in the game.
That and more in this edition of…
9 Things
9. Connor McDavid has been named one of two alternate captains for Team Canada in Italy. Cale Makar wears the other “A”, and Sidney Crosby the “C”. More on the Olympics coming up…
8. I have some mixed feelings on Calvin Pickard. He is such a good soldier. Seeing him get a shot to play elsewhere was something I could have felt good about. However, clearing waivers means still having him at your disposal down the stretch and into playoffs. That makes your team better.
7. I think Mattias Janmark’s roster spot is in jeopardy. He remains a slightly above-average skater (in terms of top speed and bursts, NHL Edge). But his offence has dried right up. And the Oilers penalty kill has been in free-fall. Still useful to have on the roster, I believe he bests serves the team as the 13-14F.
6. In the short-term I think it is most likely that Adam Henrique takes the Janmark spot in the lineup. Henrique will be a full participant in the post-Olympic mini-camp. He is not the same skater but is a superior offensive player to Janmark, a good PK man and strong at faceoffs. There are more ways he can help you. And Henrique should return rested and in good condition.
5. I see lots of folks re-litigating Stan Bowman’s moves in the Oilers net. My take: I do not know how you come to any concrete conclusion on either Tristan Jarry or Connor Ingram until the team’s defence gets sorted. Yes, both goalies can and need to be better. But until the amount of Grade “A” shots they are facing gets cut by at least 50%, it will not matter much who is in net.
4. The Edmonton Oilers have signed defenseman Arto Leppanen to a one-year, two-way contract extension. It will keep the talented Finn in the organization through the 2026-27 season. It took almost half the season for Leppanen to adjust to the defensive side of the North American game. Then, he got hurt. But there could be a player there. What he can do with the puck is hard to teach. Makes sense to extend the experiment by a season.
3. It is a bigger, more urgent decision for Stan Bowman to decide what the NHL team needs in terms of personnel down the stretch. Their recent struggles notwithstanding, I fully expect the Oilers to make the playoffs. But I do not see them getting out of the West until their can cut down on their chances and goals against. So, while I am not against that other “top nine forward” I keep reading about, I see this club short a reliable, veteran NHL defenceman of being a serious Stanley Cup contender.
2. A lot was made of Leon Draisaitl’s frustrated comments as the Oilers limped into the Olympic break. I see them as exceedingly valuable. Anyone can speak out. But arguably only one other player on this roster would have as much influence in doing so that Draisaitl. As I wrote in this space last week, I have come to believe that the Oilers are lacking the voices necessary in that room and on that bench. I explained how the departure of Glen Gulutzan and Paul Coffey had left a void in the swagger department. But while the Gulutzan ship has sailed I would not be surprised to see Coffee re-percolate. He is right down the hall.
1.I do not care to trample on the Olympic dream of any Canadian willing to represent their country. I do not wish any of the players selected ill, and I hope beyond hope that they can contribute to a gold medal winning performance. These guys played their entire life for a chance at this rare experience. You are more than welcome to continue to debate and adjudicate the Team Canada roster. But I have decided not to be the one to discuss the worthiness of any specific player at this particular moment. I want them all to have the time of their lives…and win!
I will say that it is an error not to add Zach Hyman to this roster. Perhaps I will be proven wrong. But Hyman is the entire package: He is skilled, plays a hard and heavy game, and is strong both ways. He can kill penalties (even though he has not done much of that this season). And he has a long, productive resume as Connor McDavid’s winger. That said, the Canadians have a wealth of talent to choose from at forward. I freely admit is a tougher part of the roster for Hyman to crack.
And I have said all along that Evan Bouchard deserves to be there even as a 7-8 in case injuries hit. The biggest numbers say that Bouchard is the most elite offensive D-man in the NHL. He leads the league in scoring by a defenceman (15-48-63 in 58 games played). Leaving behind talent like that is easy to debate, especially at a position where Canada is not as strong as it has traditionally been. I mean…don’t we want all those elite forwards to get the puck?
But in the end, Team Canada has only one Oiler: Connor McDavid. And to say that I am fascinated to see how he does on this stage and in this moment is a terrific great understatement. This will help define his legacy as a player. Olympic gold was something that not even the great Wayne Gretzky was able to achieve as a player. It is special.
I felt McDavid was very good but not necessarily great at the Four Nations Cup. His iconic winning goal obscured that fact a bit. But that was not the Olympics. Simply put, here is no bigger stage than the one he is on now.
And truly great players can elevate in those special moments.
Leavins Cult of Hockey
Recently, at The Cult…
STAPLES: Big ticket items on Stan Bowman’s NHL deadline shopping list?
STAPLES: What do the words of Leon Draisaitl mean really?
Bruce McCurdy, 1955-2025.
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