GM: Carl Choiniere
Coach: Bruce Cassidy
Last season: 12th overall. In playoffs, lost to Helsinki
Ins and Outs
(Season 13 to Season 14)
In: Jonathan Toews (free agent), Andreas Johnson (waivers), Olivier Roland (waivers), Jake McCabe (waivers), Jakub Vrana (waivers), Ties Van Soest (draft), Tyler Kleven (draft)
Out: Nick Leddy (free agency), Gabriel Bourque (free agent), Chris Kreider (free agent), Mattias Backman (free agent), Sandro Forrer (free agent), Dalton Prout (free agent),
Potential Lineup
Tomas Hertl/Tyler Seguin/Niklas Danielsson
Pavel Buchnevich/Connor McDavid/Andreas Johnson
Adam Erne/Jonathan Toews/Olivier Roland
Dillon Dube/Frederik Gauthier/Kevin Labanc
Jacob Moverare/Zach Werenski
Maxim Noreau/Viktor Antipin
Jake McCabe/Moritz Wirth
Matt Murray/Cal Petersen
Three Questions
1. What happened last season to this squad? After almost winning the President’s Trophy in Season 12, the Outlaws bombed in Season 13. They dropped from 2nd to 12th overall in that time and had the misfortune of facing Helsinki in Round 1 of the playoffs. In that series, they played very well, winning three 1-goal games and pushing the Jokerit to a 7th game. An analysis of the stats from last year makes it appear Oslo was trying to fly with one broken wing, specifically the right wing. Niklas Danielsson did well (51 points and +10) but the other three on that wing struggled. No offense to Gabriel Bourque, Kevin Labanc and J.T. Compher, but wherever you see some lackluster statistics on the team list, there is the abbreviation RW attached to it. Bourque was -17 with a -35 turnover ratio; Labanc was the only forward in the bottom 6 with a double-digit plus-minus number; and Compher scored 1 goal and 9 points in 80 games. Bourque and Danielsson have been replaced and Andreas Johnson and Olivier Roland have been inserted into the lineup to try to help this team move up. And there is always a chance that Oslo could move star center Tyler Seguin to RW if they need to. Backup goalie Cal Petersen really struggled in his rookie year but should get better.
2. What is this team’s identity now? Oslo used to be known for – and envied for – its talented defense corps. Opposing coaches had to concentrate on pressuring the D more than they did against most teams. That left gaps that Tyler Seguin and others exploited. Nowadays, Oslo is Center City. After signing Jonathan Toews, the Outlaws are led by three dynamic centers: Seguin, Toews and Connor McDavid. Toews (91 points last season with Helsinki) gives them – in effect – three guys who could play center on the top line. Left wing Tomas Hertl (70 points) has benefitted from playing with Seguin and if GM Carl Choiniere’s coach (he may or may not retain Todd Reirden) decides to try Seguin on the right wing, with McDavid between him and Hertl, then the team could send a very danderous top line out there every game. But the defense still has three pretty amazing players. Zach Werenski, Viktor Anitpin and Jacob Moverare, who has developed in a powerful man, are still stars on the back line.
3. Oslo has a cap issue. Are we wrong? No, you’re not wrong. Oslo would probably have loved to have been able to keep Niklas Danielsson, Nick Leddy and Chris Kreider, but as the seasons changed, they had just $4.6 million available to fill 4 spots. We might see a few more relative “no-names” in the lineup this season. A positive is that Matt Murray, their outstanding goalie, still has a year left on his $7.9 million contract and signing him to an extension – he’s just 29 – should be relatively easy to fit into next season’s salary structure. Another positive is the NHL play of Oslo prospect Thomas Bordeleau. In an 8-game cameo with San Jose late last season, Bordeleau looked comfortable and confident, scoring 5 assists and getting more than 15 minutes and 30 seconds of ice time per game on average. If he has a good rookie year with the Sharks, the Outlaws will have quite an offensive prize in their possession. And they already have Ty Smith who should pan out to be a good defenseman for them.
Rose’s Focus
“Olso’s penalty killing was great last season and it should be great this year too. I love watching them kill penalties in front of steady Matt Murray. Viktor Antipin and Zach Werenski really read plays well and it’s cool to see Tyler Seguin and Connor McDavid shift their mindsets from offense to defense. And I like what I saw from defenseman Maxim Noreau last season. He is mobile and has a knack for getting into shot lanes and taking pucks off guys. I expect a good season from Noreau. He plays like a throwback to an earlier age, when defensemen cared about defense and I had a shapely figure that drew glances from WWII soldiers. My guess is you younger folks today – with your modern way of talking – would say ‘I really had it goin’ on’ back in the day.”
