Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” took an unusual route to the top. Released on her debut album, First Take, in June 1969, the song was already a standout - a haunting ballad with a subtle, beautiful melody and Flack’s rich voice carrying the whole thing.
But it did not explode right away. It took almost three years before it surged up the charts and reached number one in most nations.
That delay mattered. The track was hardly built for radio, with an intro so faint it could pass for dead air.
Still, once people heard it, the song was irresistible. It became the top song of the year, won Grammy awards, and helped turn Flack into an international star.
The boost from Play Misty For Me played a big part in that rise. The Clint Eastwood and Jessica Walter suspense film used the song as a key piece, and it gave the record the push it needed. Flack went on to even more success with “Where Is The Love,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song.”
That same idea - a talented piece needing the right push - is the lens being applied to the Oilers this summer. Mike Babcock is arriving in Edmonton with what most people believe is a set roster, but he will be looking for his kind of player.
The guess here is that Max Jones could fit that mold better now than he did at 22, while Josh Samanski and Quinn Hutson have traits that might appeal to the new coach. Alec Regula and Devon Levi are also names that may end up with bigger roles than expected.
At the same time, Atro Leppänen looks like a long shot to win Babcock over. The left side of Edmonton’s defense is described as crowded and strong, and the power-play minutes are expected to stay with trusted veterans. Leppänen has talent, and he could make sense for a team looking for a puck mover, but the view here is that he has no chance with these Oilers.
Still, nothing is set in stone. Leppänen can show up at camp and make his case, and a player can change his story with a strong enough push.
At 28, there is still time to establish himself in the NHL, and the point is that Babcock’s decision-making could open that door. The roster may look settled, but Babcock will choose his 23, not anyone else.
On The Lowdown today, Steve Lansky of the Inside the Truck podcast will join the show to talk about the surging Jays, signs of fall and hockey, and the ticking clock on the McDavid era. The show runs noon to 2pm on Sports 1440 and You Tube.
In Other News...
Oilers Fans Face A Familiar Connor McDavid Tradeoff This Season
Connor McDavid has made a career out of turning the Oilers into a nightly must-watch team, and this season the conversation around him is familiar: how much individual production comes with the territory when the bigger goal is winning in the spring. A recent fan survey suggests Edmonton supporters are bracing for a slight dip in his point totals, but not in the broader value he brings if the team is better positioned for playoff success.
The more interesting part is the temperature around what comes next if the Oilers keep coming up short. Fans may be willing to trade a little offense for a deeper run, but there is still an uneasy sense that the long view of McDavids future in Edmonton will depend on whether those results ever arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Capitals Face Intriguing Next Step With Two Young Forwards
The Capitals are already looking ahead to a tricky but important piece of business after a promising stretch from two young forwards. Ryan Leonard and Justin Sourdif have given Washington enough reason to think about long-term commitments, and the next step for the front office will be figuring out how to reward recent performance without losing flexibility as the roster continues to take shape.
Around the league, the broader landscape is shifting in ways that could matter down the road for teams trying to build and keep star power. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly has suggested Houston could be the next expansion market, with play potentially beginning in the 2029-30 season, while Connor McDavids future continues to be a topic of conversation as his Oilers contract plays out. For the Capitals, the immediate focus remains on Leonard and Sourdif, but the market for young talent is only getting tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers May Use A Familiar Face To Solve A Camp Dilemma
With training camp coming fast and the preseason shortened, the Oilers could use a low-risk way to add bodies and get a read on depth under new coaches Mike Babcock and D.J. Smith. Kurt Leavins of The Edmonton Journal floated the idea of bringing in a familiar face on a professional tryout contract, a practical move for a team that may lean toward players the staff already knows rather than spending precious time evaluating complete unknowns.
Curtis Lazar fits that description well. He has already worn an Oilers sweater and remains unsigned, making him an easy name to circle if Edmonton wants experience in a bottom-six role and some comfort in the camp competition. The appeal is obvious, even if the final decision still hinges on whether the organization wants to keep looking inward or give a known depth option another shot. [Read more 🡒]