2017-18 Around the League Thread - Part III

[valkynax]

Can't wait for the chia panic trade

RNH for "defensive help".

 

[Baby Pettersson]

Boeser isn't going to catch Keller in scoring as the year progresses.

He is too good.

Catch Keller? Boeser is already ahead of Keller in scoring pace. Can't catch someone if you're in front of them!

(Unless you're running in a circle which does not apply to NHL standards).

 

[timw33]

lol @ thinking Jokinen + Yamamoto in the offseason made the Oilers a formidable team. lmao

Not to mention giving Kris Russel a big extension.

 

[Ace of Hades]

Boeser can catch up to Keller easily point wise (he is only 1 point behind Keller) , and Boeser has played 5 less games to boot.

 

[groov2]

I just looked up some stats around the NHL and noticed that Stamkos is on pace for 144 points. I know it won't happen, but man, this is an insane first quarter of the season for him.

 

[valkynax]

I just looked up some stats around the NHL and noticed that Stamkos is on pace for 144 points. I know it won't happen, but man, this is an insane first quarter of the season for him.

That line though, Stamkos and Kucherov plus Namestnikov (hey SNK line!) is just lethal as balls...

 

[canucksfan]

Oilers have scored the second lowest goals for in the Western Conference. Their offensive depth sucks.

 

[EpochLink]

Oilers have scored the second lowest goals for in the Western Conference. Their offensive depth sucks.

No need when they have MCJESUS, the guts and glory of RNH and the "toughness" of LOOCH.

 

[The Stig]

Whomever had us ahead of the Oilers at this point in the year, raise your hand

 

[Bleach Clean]

I can't for the life of me figure out why Hutton isn't producing more.

His transition game and zone exits have looked terrific and are easily the best on the team. He's getting scoring chances and his SOG totals are the highest of his career. And his on-ice shooting % is actually pretty good.

Everything I know about hockey tells me this guy should be scoring at a 25-35 point pace, but the points just aren't coming.

His weak shot doesn't help create rebounds. So after he's pushed the puck up-ice to another forward, he's left with trying to get another touch before the line scores. And even if he does get that second touch, there's not assurance he's able to make a deft pass in-zone to be on the assists sheet. It really stems from his shot. He's got to either improve it, or become a deadly passer in the Ozone.

All that said, so long as his line keeps a positive shot differential, he should factor in on something sooner rather than later.

 

[Carl Carlson]

Oilers are a mess. I'm expecting a trade or a firing any day now.

 

[valkynax]

Oilers are a mess. I'm expecting a trade or a firing any day now.

Might as well spare McLellan from that pile of turd, dude looks like he wants to eat someone's liver with fava beans and a nice side of Chianti.

 

[canucksfan]

Might as well spare McLellan from that pile of turd, dude looks like he wants to eat someone's liver with fava beans and a nice side of Chianti.

I think you mean Chiarelli.

 

[valkynax]

I think you mean Chiarelli.

Ew no dat's nasty
XD

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Feels like the oilers are even worse than Pre-McDavid
They are getting Dahlin

 

[valkynax]

What's the deal with Nolan Patrick? His numbers look really underwhelming, especially comparing with Nico Hischier.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Reinhart has always been less than he was made to be. Not improving whl numbers d plus 1 year was concerning. He is not a guy you trade for unless it is a Virtanen type trade. Even than how does he help this team? We have no shortage of soft slow skilled forwards. It makes for a soft slow team that is easy to play against. Which is exactly what the Canucks are right now.

man, paul reinhart has some disappointing loins doesn't he?

 

[DL44]

man, paul reinhart has some disappointing loins doesn't he?

Just weren't blessed with fast twich muscle fibres.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Yakupov is on pace for 25 goals
Must be overrated due to playing with McDavid

 

[stampedingviking]

Can't wait for the chia panic trade

Why would he make a panic trade? According to the commentators, he's one of the best GMs in the league, as evidenced by his body of work in Boston.

 

[LeftCoast]

Why would he make a panic trade? According to the commentators, he's one of the best GMs in the league, as evidenced by his body of work in Boston.

These are exactly the situations in which GMs do make panic trades. Expectations for the team were incredibly high coming into the season. You have to look at what they have done to get here:

• They replaced the entire coaching staff and General Manager - but notably not Lowe or McTavish.
• They drafted the best player to enter the league since Sydney Crosby.
• They have 6 top 5 overall draft picks - McDavid, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, Puljujarvi, Larson and Nurse, plus Klefbom who was 19 OA.
• They invested $33M in 4 top forwards - McDavid, Draisaitl, Lucic and RNH
• They Made huge trades to stabilize the Defense (Hall for Larsen) and Centre (Eberle for Strome), Goal (picks for Talbot) and Wing (Scrivens for Kassian / Picks for Maroon). In the Hall and Eberle trades, they (apparently knowingly) gave up value to fill specific needs.
  
• They brought in major free agents - Lucic, Caggiula and Russell to add toughness, skill and defense respectively.

These moves were designed for a deep playoff run this year and a chance at a championship before the salary cap forces them to retool. If they miss the playoffs, the pressure on Chiarelli, McTavish and Lowe (and maybe McLellan) will be intense. This is a major failure.

The team is clearly built wrong. The NHL has been trending away from these big, slow, "heavy" Boston / LA style teams. They have the fastest, most dynamic skater in the league, but other than McDavid, the team is really slow. The 2 forwards (other than McJesus) who play with pace are having a hard time making the roster (Puljujarvi and Yamamoto). Kassian, who also has good wheels, is playing 8 to 13 minutes per game on the 3rd and 4th line.

They have a defense that can not transition the puck and with all the investment in Larson / Russel / Klefbom, can't defend either. Cam Talbot was brought in to stabilize the goalie position, and after a really good first 2 seasons, is having a very rough stretch right now. I think Talbot is a really good goalie, but the chaos on D is affecting him.

There are defensemen and wingers actively being shopped across the league and Edmonton owns all of its own draft picks for the next 3 years. They also have a "chip" in RNH - who is very useful to them this year, but with their future cap issues, is not going to be a part of their future. This is a perfect situation for a panic trade.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Assist of the year right here
My jaw touches the ground when I saw this

 

[krutovsdonut]

as of today, the ten teams in the west between 4th and 13th are within three points of one another. jets in third are just one point up on that pack. nashville is one more point up. the only team with separation is the blues.

the east is not much better.

i can see some gms blowing their brains out making moves this year. good time to be a seller.

 

[DL44]

Wow..
LA loses again. Vegas beats Ana...

Vegas in 1st place in the Pacific!

Canucks a single point back of LA now.

Vegas depth and speed is for real. Got the coaching.
I don’t see a bottom falling out from under them.

 

[Knight53]

Duchene still pointless as a Senator. Turris flourishing in Nashville.

Meanwhile, Zibanejad has 22 points in 22 games.