Bob talks Oilers (3/18/26)

0:00Hey, it's Bob Stoffer. I just wanted to let you know that you can listen to Oilers Now ad-free on Amazon Music, included with Prime. How many discounts does USA Auto Insurance offer? Too many to say here. Multi-vehicle discount, safe driver discount, uh, new vehicle discount, storage discount. How many discounts will you stack up? Tap the banner or visit USAA.com slash Auto Discounts, Restrictions Apply. Spring starts at the Home Depot, and we are bringing the heat to your backyard this season. Fire up the flavor with our wide variety of grills for under $300. Like the next grill for burner gas grill that's perfect for hosting your spring cookout. Then set the scene and turn your outdoor space into the go-to spot the patio sets for every budget. Bring it this season with grills that deliver flavor and patios that set the vibe from the Home Depot. Start your spring with low prices guaranteed at the Home Depot. Exclusions apply to home Depot.com slash price match for details. It is 435 in oil country. Tonight the Edmonton oil canes take on the Calgary Edmont 7 o'clock over at Rogers Place.

1:04A reminder at any time you can text us on the Ashley Fine Floor text line. BB and the YYC says Bob, what is it about Eastern Canadian sports writers that can't stand the fact? Conor McDavid plays in Edmonton. The latest is Pure LaRonne, suggesting McDavid will want out as soon as next summer. In order to sign with the Habs, absolutely shameful fear mongering without a shred of evidence. I never saw LeBron say anything about Montreal. I saw last week Pierre LeBron talk about the fact that there was some players that you had to watch this year including Brady Cuchuck with Ottawa and Austin Matthews with Toronto. And then at the end it brought it to Conor McDavid. And the unlikely scenario that we ended up in a situation where Conor might want to move on. I mean he provided about five different scenarios with David. I didn't find the piece to be in any way she performed particularly egregious.

2:08Nick in GP up in Grand Prairie says I'm not going to lie with Florida out of it and actively tanking. I'm a little bit worried Cuchuck is going to do something greasy. We'd love to see some meat in the lineup just in case. Well, I mean the orders brought up Clatenberg for the Florida game in November and he ran around a bit. Gadgetvitch has been out for Florida of late. They do not have Barkhoff, Reinhardt or Marshaunt. It's three really good plates. They're top two scores this year. Reinhardt, Marshaunt and their best player is Sasha Barkhoff. I mean that's the crazy thing about Matthews. You could chuck on this team. You can make a strong argument. He's your fifth best player. And will he do something greasy? I don't know. There is a player I am interested to see played him our own night and that's Michael Benning. He's Mac Benning's younger brother. He played three years at Denver University. His father is Brian Benning. Brian Benning is a guy that is

3:11of strong opinion. Brian's father, Elmer Benning was an outstanding scout. Brian carved out a pretty good NHL career for himself and was not a timid player. He was a 66 born. There may have been a time in which some thought a manual of Ivoros was the better player maybe in 1980 with Brian Benning. Brian Benning turned out to have an excellent NHL career. He's been a good business guy here in town. He's got two sons that have gone in the NHL and the Michael Benning's a little bit like Matt was a hard-knows sort of third-parent, right-shot D that always had a really good advanced analytics. All things considered. And Michael has had a wonderful year this year with Charlotte in the American Hockey League. I'm going to be, I think it's a super cool story and I'm looking forward to watching them play tomorrow night. Again, you can text us any time on the Ashley Feinflores text line at 780-451-888-100. Guests and winners now receive a certificate to Japanese Village. It's a true celebration for the Census. Quality and gradients and an unmatched girl set

4:15experienced book your seat at JVMogen.ca. Dawn and his staff will take care of you. 438. All right, we are going to go to the Oilers Now Audio Vault 4 Direct Workwear. The left and Nugent Hopkins Skies! The urning to left shot over the right hash on the spot that Leon Drysaddle normally occupies. But the Oilers talked Nugent Hopkins to this morning about doing a better job on puck retrieval. So to help make up the mass of absence of a guy by the name of Leon Drysaddle. And the puck goes to the right-wing

5:17point Murphy will shoot it towards it. Skars! Connor Murphy! Somehow got that shot through! Our goes to the corner, Sam Dickinson can't get it out to the middle off the post! Skars! When they say practice starts at 11, it starts at 10-40 and Vasilipa calls and has got the work boots in at 10-40 and he's working on one time and took the course to the line of Ferraro shot scores. That got tipped. Regenda got through there. That one deflects and it comes out through the middle. And Sherwood's got a breakaway. Sherwood in the shot scores! Key for Sherwood has tied the game at three. Off the right-wing Henry shot! Save Nugent Hopkins! Rebound Skars! Next Jones! Got the loose puck! Left-wing point, a snap shot save by Nugent! Rebound Skars! Sack Heimann! They scored two and win this one. 5-3 over San Jose.

6:22We all have that dream trip. We've been wishing we could go on, but too often, life for, usually, price gets on the way. That's why price line is here to help you turn your dream trip into reality. With up to 60% off hotels and up to 50% off flights, you can book everything you need for your next adventure. Don't just dream about that next trip. Book it with price line. Download the price line app or visit priceline.com and book your next trip today. Got your happy price, price line! Protein is now at Starbucks and it's never tasted so good. You can add protein, cold foam to your favorite drink or try one of our new protein lattes or matcha. Try it today at Starbucks. You know what? You can notice last night with the fans. They're helping pick the orders up as well. They know it's going to be more challenging without a guy by the name of Leon Dry settle in the lineup for the rest of the regular season. Max Jones with the Game Winner. This guy is playing for a contract. Here's Chris Knoblock on the Max Jones line. Yeah, I think Jones adds a little

7:27physicality. Speed definitely. They have played well. The St. Louis game they played really well and then we had to change some things with lineup with I believe it was new to coming back so we had to take somebody out and now with Leon being injured we have him coming back in and that line it was huge for us and we talked before where we need guys stepping up. You know, no one's going to replace Leon. That's never going to happen but everyone collectively needs to be a little bit better. That fourth line. All three of them were the difference tonight. Oilers with their injuries and it's not just Leon Dry settle. It's that little lineup. Some support forwards. Matthias Janmark Anton. Did I just say Anton Lander? Curtis Lazar and Colton Doc. Maybe Anton Lander 11 years ago but anyhow. Anton Lander.

8:27The Oilers have got injuries and that's going to push the deployment of more depth. You're always going to have injuries and I think one injury is another opportunity for somebody else. I think but last year where you know that was probably overboard. We were trying to find our team. We had the trade deadline and right after the deadline we were just losing guys all over the place and it was difficult to gain only momentum or find out what our lines were going to be and everybody's role going into playoffs and eventually we did in the LA series but it was almost too late. Having some adversity and missing some guys is okay for a team and as long as we have guys that are capable stepping up and playing better and I believe we do then we should be all right. I had seven fighters head coach Chris Norlock. Zach Hyman what a story. I mean he has got 29 goals now in 50 games this year 46 points plus 11 he's got the most goals in the NHL since December the first.

9:33He ain't the only one going pretty good by the way but here is Zach Hyman on depth contributions with dry cycle out. We're not going to be able to score five every night but it's nice when guys are feeling a part of it. Nobody's going to replace Leon. He's one of the best players in the world so collectively as a group everybody's got to raise their game be a little bit better and make you mentioned we got contributions all through the lineup. Adam Henry Koso commented on contributing last night. You know again on the score she seems like forever personally so it's nice to get those and just from everybody but I think it was more just you know we're taking over playing a hard simple game. You know they had to push in the second period and that's going to happen. You have to get right back to it. I thought we did a good job establishing that forecheck again in the third period and paid off for us. That's Adam Henry who finished up last night's game in between Ryan Newgen Hopkins and Zach Rosselvik. Rosselvik is playing for a contract

10:35and he's got a little bit cold here of late 17 goals 29 points. He would be very timely given Leon's absence of lineup right now if he got going a bit Dickinson finished the game with Pat Coulson and Kaapin and what could you say about Pat Coulson. He's up to 16 goals plus 17 209 hits on the year. Samanski ended the game with Max Jones and Trent Frederick. Frederick by the way blocked a shot late in the game. Kristoff Boxing last night. He'll be okay. Here is Max Jones who scored the game winner last night on the fourth line's play. Yeah I know it's huge. You know obviously being on the fourth line and being on the first line are two different roles completely different roles and we're more focusing on you know hitting creating a little chaos getting pucks back on the forecheck and then being good defensively in the odd time you know you get some good chances and I feel like our line has worked really well together as a fourth line to find chances and you know obviously then they'll start going in and you know at the end of the day that that's huge for you know our team to you know help help those top guys and you know they're

11:39going to score obviously but if we can help chip in a little bit it makes makes the games a little bit easier. Four forty five in oil country the Oilers and Panthers tomorrow neither of the two teams skated today which sometimes happens late in the regular season of Panthers. They're an extreme long shot to make the playoffs. There's a four point game yesterday for Emmerton. I put Emmerton in a decent spot here to nose a little ahead as we go down the stretch. When we come back we'll get to NHL today for elite promotional marketing and then we're going to talk about Evan Bouschard. This Friday the time traveling comedy movie of the year arrives Mike and Nick and Nick and Alice only on Hulu. The film stars Vince Vaughn James Marsden and Ace of Gonzalez in a wild action comedy about one disastrous night that spirals out of control. And here's the twist there are two Vince Vaughn's. Don't miss Mike and Nick and Nick and Alice written and directed by Ben David Grubinski streaming this Friday only on Hulu rated R.

12:41This episode is brought to you by Nespresso introducing Virtua Up the latest and a long line of innovation from Nespresso. It's innovation you can touch, sense and taste in every single cup. With a three-second start easy open lever and dedicated brew over ice button it's even easier to enjoy your coffee your way. Sip for yourself shop Virtua Up exclusively at Nespresso.com. You're invited to new us travel on a 14 day tour through New Zealand in November from Auckland sparkling shores to the adventure capital of cleanstown. You'll explore the bay of islands and ride the scenic Alpine train through the southern Alps. Your trip includes flights with air New Zealand, first class hotels, meals, local guided tours and entertainment. For more information on the New Zealand tour contact new us travel at newstravel.com. By the way

13:43I bumped in at Dennis and Jason Lollaburti today from new us travel and I just want to send a special shout out to Darcy Nicholson who a long time ago frequented and establishment the late great John Sexmith and myself used to hang with and Darcy was he was he just he had it going on he was a fun guy and I was super pleased to hear that Dennis had bumped in at Darcy lately so that is good news because he was we watched a lot of football together at most sports parlor back in the mid to late 1990s that I can tell you to say the least all right and occasionally mixed in a water as well that's due this it's good NHL today for elite promotional marketing your local branded merchandise specialist head to elite promo marketing dot com the young and back of the 880 shed studios Aiden Gannum. Well a first round pick signing an entry level contract today with the New York Islanders they get their

14:472024 20th overall pick Cole Eiserman signed for three years six games on the NHL slate today the New Jersey Devils are visiting the Rangers in New York Pittsburgh penguins visiting the Carolina Hurricanes Ottawa Senators going up against the capitals in Washington Calgary Flames host the St. Louis Blues Dallas stars visit the Colorado avalanche and the great return of Trevor Zegress the Anaheim ducks at home for the Philadelphia Flyers pickers field condors are off until Friday they'll play the goals in San Diego and then the Edmonton oil kings just three games left in their regular season they play another one tonight against the Calgary hitmen in Rogers place I'm going a lot game in about two hours time. Did you just say the great Trevor Zegress? Yeah I heard that yeah I made a mistake it not the great Trevor Zegress but there's a lot of drama with that trade and his great is great spelled G-R-A-T-E the world junior great there kids a bit of a hot dog isn't he all right the orders now injury report is brought to all season

15:49long by James each brown and associates Alberta injury lawyers Trent Brown a heavy hitter on the football field multiple times CFL all sorry one the 1993 great cup with the Edmonton Eskimos was part of the Murphy Brown secondary at that time where the Eskimos used to sort of alternate safeties or have them both in when they went to a six defensive back set Florida Florida's got a lot of injuries they got some good players not here I can tell you that Alexander Barkoff has started to skate after having a significant injury early in training camp he is not played a game all year Brad Martian out with a lower body injury placed on IR on Tuesday Sam Reinhardt is not on the Panthers current four game road trip he is out with an undisclosed injury Jonah

16:49Gagevich who is a very proficient fighter has been out a while I think he's only played like 10 games all season long they've got more injuries than that we'll see who they got go and tomorrow against the Edmonton letters the orders of course don't have Leon dry settle one of the top five players in the world he is out of the lower body injury is not been placed on LTI are yet Janmark Lazar and doc all on LTI are with upper body injuries Emerson close to a return he is out with an upper body injury as well you know what Aiden you know who merits some consideration to be a norastro if he candidate this year I bet I'm going to give a deep place for the oiders yes I thought so I'm just going to throw some numbers you recall the nine one loss that the oiders had against the Colorado avalanche back on November the 8th because you looked at me about halfway through the first period said I don't think we're getting a guest on the show

17:53yeah it was it was an awkward one and just a complete blip from from the team but you know so here here's the deal at that point Evan Bouchard was minus 11 okay so since November the 9th Evan Bouchard leads all NHL defensemen was 68 points in 53 games and his plus 31 he's playing 24 56 per game in terms of penalty minute time and ice amongst the guys that are considered the best opt-10 defenseman in the league Dallas is mirror a heishkin and would be the only one spending more time in the pk than Evan Bouchard were rentskin used by the way are both minus players over the last four plus months and Bouchard is gone plus 31 during the stretch by the way Ekholm's plus 35 but Ekholm usually isn't on the ice when the otters are pulling a goalie late these guys have done this both during his stretch in which the four goldeners that have played for Evanton have never had none of them are above 900 say percent of during that stretch

19:01it's interesting with Evan Bouchard because sometimes you know and people are going to say we'll stop for you're not objective because you work for the club and I would say when it comes to objective analysis sometimes you can't cling to three-year-old narratives Bouchard is consistently in the 99th percentile for proctor puck transition and high danger chance suppression calling him a liability is mathematically incorrect okay people also need to understand a little degree of sophistication regarding what Bouchard is as a player case in point heir to impact ratio so some of you would get this Bouchard's a player you know he's gonna touch the puck more than a stay-at-home defender maybe Bouchard touches a puck literally a hundred times a game and a stay-at-home defender touches a 20 the media focuses on the raw number of mistakes rather on the net positive impact and then you have the eye test a lot of voters for things like

20:07the Norris rely on eye test which is inherently biased towards high speed recovery Bouchard plays a more cerebral game rather than a scramble and dive game and some people interpret his calmness as a lack of effort of course then there's the echo chamber narratives once the label like oh he's just a power play specialist especially in a Canadian market it becomes like a self-fulfilling prophecy they sit there and talk around press call it's common knowledge he's just a power play specialist well he's probably Edmonton's best penalty killing defenseman right now as well and you also got to deploy current season tracking data to actually show who does what because maybe it provides a different perspective on things and then you get you know double standards kale macar atom fox make mistakes people don't sit there and wake out but you get that seven to 10 second clip of Bouchard making a mistake see that's proof and we end up

21:12in a situation where I don't think Bouchard has gotten credit for how good a year he's had again my belief is that from basically the second week in November on he has been the best defenseman in the NHL 17 goals 68 points plus 31 in 53 games playing 25 minutes a game and the only top-end D that plays more in the penalty kill is Bouchard he's plus 31 on a team that doesn't have a goal he that's above a 900 save percentage during that stretch so he ends up at plus 20 overall of course he's leading all NHL defenseman by several points my add was 78 points but some of you are like no you're an idiot stopper he makes too many mistakes not a chance you got your orders color glasses on and some others of you would sit there and say when are people going to figure out how good this guy really is food for thought often 880 news whether traffic update with Thomas

22:13Dias and when we come back we will hook up with Rob Brown two teams one cup the prime time stage is set for the TGL presented by so five finals Los Angeles golf club versus Tigers Jupiter links keep up it's playoffs tune in Monday March 23rd 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPN 2 and Tuesday March 24th 7 p.m. Eastern on ESPN and on the ESPN app