Edmonton Oilers’ Josh Archibald Riddle: 9 Things

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These are, to say the least, unusual times.

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Even though Saturday’s Toronto-Montreal preseason game made it look like a semi-normal NHL season is just around the corner, the after-effects of the pandemic continue to have an impact. Over crowds. And in lists.

The Edmonton Oilers are one of the most obvious examples of that.

More in this issue of …

9 things

9. It was interesting to hear that Kailer yamamoto he had focused on improving his shooting during the offseason. I thought Yamamoto had a better 2021 than his stats indicated. He just had trouble finishing. And even though I buy “snake bite” to some extent, you are also very lucky.

8. There are 40 sports talk radio shows in English in the 7 NHL franchise cities of Canada. During the past year, Mitch melnick TSN Montreal had the most listened-to show (Numeris, 12+ Hours Tuned, R42020-R32021). The Good Show (Toronto) with Bunkis and Ennis was 2^{North Dakota}. Overdrive at TSN Toronto was third and Oilers Now with Bob stauffer was 4^th. For proper context: Toronto stations have 5.6 million potential listeners. Montreal is 4.1 m. Edmonton has just 1.3 million in its core market area.

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7. Some people are less than impressed with Duncan Keith’s NHL vaccination policy approach. I understand where they come from. However, my opinion is that while it was a difficult personal decision for the veteran … in the end? Keith did his homework, he did the right thing for his team, he will soon be out of isolation and back in his 2LD position. If we vilify those who hesitate, but ultimately choose to shoot, how do we hope to convince the remaining 20%?

6. It was announced last week that Kevin Lowe’s # 4 would be hoisted to the rafters at Rogers Place. This is an honor that has long since expired. I have no time or patience for anyone who believes that this Hockey Hall of Fame player and dedicated Edmonton citizen deserves it. I witnessed first-hand the substantial time that Kevin and his family donated to The Christmas Bureau, among many other causes. Also, a touch of the stick to the veteran Kris russell for doing the honorable thing and trading his # 4 for a # 6.

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5. Especially at this time of year I miss the track. Much of my life each fall has been spent in arenas, watching, reporting, and playing. A good memory is a team game at Moose Jaw Warriors camp in 1985. I was a defender on the “White” team. Kelly buchberger he was a winger on the “Red” team. After the game, my late father encouraged me to “lean more on that Buchberger guy.” I replied, “I’m trying, Dad, but Kelly is 6 inches taller than me.” Buchberger was with the Oilers the following year.

4. There are subtle little signals to pick up that suggest how an organization has evolved and functions. Here is only one. An associate of mine saw the Bakersfield coaches Jay woodcroft, Dave manson and Sylvain Rodrigue at the Alberta Golden Bears game in Edmonton on Friday night. A preseason game, no less. It would have been easy for them to have gone to the bar at night after a long day at work. Instead, they looked for every little advantage they could find. It’s good to see our AHL guys at work.

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3. There is no such thing in hockey as having too many Centers. It’s one of the reasons I think James Hamblin it’s a fascinating perspective to take into the greaser system. My connections at Medicine Hat (where Hamblin played his entire junior) say that the kid is not only very skilled, but he’s also a tremendous and dedicated person off the ice. Hamblin was a valuable asset at Bakersfield last season. And he’s impressed so far at camp this fall. Don’t be surprised that your AHL deal turns into an NHL one. The launch of Henry Rybinski yesterday makes it even more likely.

2. I’ve been reading some comments on the wisdom of full stadiums in Canada. I struggle with that view. After all, the club is following all health restrictions to the letter. Personally, I feel perfectly safe at my local bar after gladly showing my proof of vaccination and knowing that all the other patrons have done the same. So, given the strict restrictions that Rogers Place enforces, I think it would be among the safest indoor facilities in the country. The idea that they should go beyond what is required seems a bit arbitrary and a bit contrary to business. However, I still wonder how long the 72 hour trial option will last.

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Speaking of vaccines, what to do about it Josh archibald?

Let me start by saying that this vaccination issue IS Archibald’s choice. And while I may totally disagree with her (and to be very clear, I certainly disagree, and in the strongest terms), Archibald has the right to make his decision. And so I will (temporarily) leave beyond the ethical discussion for the specific purpose of this column. Instead, I’ll focus on how this affects the greasers on ice. And the impact is not minor.

If Josh Archibald stays with the Oilers but continues to refuse vaccination, COVID protocols will force him to miss about 3/8 of the season … as long as things don’t wind down in a few months. In this scenario, the club would benefit from the savings at the top of that circumstance and would also save it in real money (salary). So, in a touch of irony, this would give Ken Holland more room to move in terms of flexibility from the list and on the old bank account.

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If they bury you in the AHL, as some suggest, they save room on the salary cap. But Archibald would also receive the full payment. And the parent club loses the benefit of having the asset on ice. While it’s easy to disagree with Archibald’s decision, on ice he’s an effective 4^th NHL player lineup and penalty killer.

If your team is better with Archibald on the ice, night after night, then what better way to get this particular horse into the water than to put him on the NHL roster. Think about it. You will have to undergo daily tests. You will often be isolated from the rest of the team. And you are likely to earn only a fraction of what you normally would.

Archibald has never been a highly compensated player. It is the same reason why you are unlikely to opt out. You haven’t made enough money in your career to do that. So, framed by that context, leaving him on the NHL roster would seem to be a substantial incentive for him to get the jab and solve all of this.

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But all of this is subject to the law of diminishing returns. At some point, if Archibald still refuses to comply (not currently redeemable), does the organization just quit and try to move on? Maybe. Somehow I doubt that the patience of this organization is limitless.

After all, what does the owner of the greasers owe? Daryl Katz to be thinking? Mr. Katz is a man who has made much of his considerable fortune with the pharmaceutical industry. As a result, you would surely be a firm believer in science and in background checking and the reward of patents.

One of these things is not like the other.

Find me on Twitter @KurtLeavins

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