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 Skookum Jim
Messages: 6158
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
6 Cups
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Bruce Curlock with good write up on Michaels (c/w video clips)
https://bcurlock.substack.com/i/192981198/owen-michaels
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Owen Michaels
Let’s be clear. Michaels is not a replacement for Sam O’Reilly. Yes, he is a right shot center. However, O’Reilly’s overall skill package and age make him a dramatically better prospect. What Michaels is for the Oilers is a prospect who fits an area of need which is right shot center. Michaels is a very smart player who understands how to play system hockey. He is always above the puck and in good spots both defensively and offensively.
While you can see the smarts in his game, you can also see the area of concern: skating. He’s not Jayden Grubbe for certain, but he simply is not a very dynamic skater. Some of it is posture. He gets into a very crouched position and that does not allow for full extension of arms and legs in the stride. He also does not avail himself of the crossover technique very well either.
Again, you can see that his smarts and puck skills allow him to impact in this play, but he is working very hard to do so. Fortunately, skating is an area can improve. Michaels is 24 in a month, so there is still opportunity for him to enhance this element to his game. If he can do that, he has some really good pucks skills to go with his hockey sense.
This is a signing I like for the organization. He likely tops out at a 4C role on an NHL team. That said, it is hard not to be impressed with the success of the development group of the Oilers in the last year. Hutson, Clattenburg, Howard, Carfagna, Jarventie and Samanski have all outperformed. Some of that is part to the work of the coaches and development group in Bakersfield. Michaels has enough fundamentals skills that I believe the team can help him improve his overall game.
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[Updated on: Sat, 04 April 2026 15:18]
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