Edmonton Oilers Fans May Find Team Talk Harder To Find

Cult of Hockey

Published Jul 09, 2023 • 5 minute read

May 10, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN;The Edmonton Oilers celebrate a goal scored by defensemen Evan Bouchard (2) during the first period against the Vegas Golden Knights in game four of the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports Photo by Perry Nelson /USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Due to the draft and free agency, the early part of the off-season can often feel almost as busy as the regular season.

But then the second week of July hits and everything. Slows. Down.

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But there is still lots of Oilers talk to fill a Sunday column.

That and more in this edition of…

9 Things

9. Some people have wondered aloud whether a cap-squeezed Edmonton Oilers would contemplate a buyout of Jack Campbell. My information is that there is zero chance of that. None. Period.

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8. Oilers development camp was this past week. My Cult of Hockey colleague Bruce McCurdy attended, noting a few prospects who stood out: Matvei Petrov, Tyler Tullio and Max Wanner. 2021 1st Rounder Xavier Bourgault looks to have added some muscle. 2023 2nd Rounder Beau Akey displayed strong skating skills.

7. I would not be the only one wondering whether Jonathan Toews would be a smart add for the Oilers. But the more I talk to people, the less I think that Toews will play at all this season, if ever again. If he is committed and in shape? Then you take a shot. But I hear he is not even entertaining offers. If that is true…

6. Instead, I think a far more likely name to watch for Edmonton would be Tomas Nosek. It is not ideal that he is left-handed. But he is a natural center who was 59% on the dot last year, and 55% for his career and is a regular PK guy. There has been some depth scoring there in the past. And while not a “heavy” player Nosek does have tenacity. Could be an attractive fit.

5. So yes, Nosek would help an Oilers Penalty Kill unit which took on a lot of water last season. It is even more certain that newly signed FA Connor Brown will help that effort even further. Brown has been an effective PK man his entire career and has seen more ice short-handed his last two full seasons than any of the current Oilers forwards like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Mattias Janmark.

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4. There has been more than one mention out there that either Cody Ceci or Brett Kulak should moved. But replaced with who? One suggestion: Philip Broberg who has yet to be able to gain a foothold in the NHL. Or an available Free Agent. However, the Top 3 available FAs listed by AFP Analytics are Matt Dumba ($4.4m), Ethan bear ($2.6m) and Caleb Jones ($2.5m). See the problem? The grass is not always greener…

3. Ryan McLeod’s camp has filed for salary arbitration. I do not think you will see a quick resolution to this. Having taken a team-friendly deal last season I expect the agent will want to get the best deal possible for McLeod in Edmonton this year. In the meantime, a pending arbitration hearing (I do not think it will get that far, but…) has slowed down the works on a 4c deal and for any progress for the club’s other RFA.

2. The new deal for Bowen Byram has very likely jacked up the price tag for Evan Bouchard. Byram inked a 2-year, $7.7m contract. He is a really good player. But he has had considerable trouble staying healthy. Evan Bouchard has been far more predictable and productive. It seems very unlikely that the Oilers and the player would settle on a 1-year “bridge” deal. The potential cost come 2024-25 would be just too much of a risk. But it is also hard to see how the bill will come in any less than a $3.9m AAV. And if it did, while a healthy raise for a good player that would be a tidy bit of business done by Ken Holland.

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1.Yet more change on the suddenly turbulent Sports Radio front in Edmonton. Bob Stauffer’s Oilers Now on 630 CHED will move to M-F 5pm-7pm, Reid Wilkins’ Inside Sports a single hour from 7-8pm. It will basically be “block” programming, especially during hockey season. This is likely all about revenues. National sales in Edmonton have not bounced back since COVID, especially for those not in the top 3. The station is likely hoping they can sell this new product at a premium locally, even though there is not as big of an audience at night. Fewer (radio) sets are in use during evenings. Streaming falls drastically from late afternoons on. There is stiffer competition from TV sports. AM radio receivers are not as common in vehicles anymore, during that “drive home” slot. It will be harder to listen.

It is an interesting course of action especially in light of TSN 1260’s recent demise. Both CHED shows stood to gain audience in 1260’s absence without doing a thing. Stauffer is the longest continuously running Show Host on a station that once had unmatched longevity behind the mics. Usually, in broadcasting, you don’t try to fix what isn’t broken. Other radio programmers in town, at least initially, will be damn glad Stauffer is out of that Noon-2pm slot. Bob was a consistently high-rated pain in the ass to them (me included) for years.

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But the biggest question here is about the listeners. Swapping time slots is never a small thing in broadcasting. It is a big ask of your audience. After all, most people do not listen to the radio when you ask them or tell them to. They listen when they can when it fits into their lives. That is precisely why listeners or (in TV) viewers will rarely follow shows that change times. Broadcasters often ignore that. But just think about it: What are you doing at 6pm?

At least you the listener need not have any concerns about quality of content from either Host. Both Stauffer and Wilkins are pros. They will be very good. It may well be better than what was there previously. But whether this is ultimately “better” for the radio listener?

Well…only time will tell us that.

Now on Threads @kleavins. Also, find me on Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at [email protected]

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