Post-Game Talk: A successful season?

[TypeSly]

Puljujarvi is a guy you regret trading in a hurry, imo.

I've said this many times before; Pulju is a guy with the tools required to beat anyone in the league, problem is he doesn't have any one Elite attribute.

But if he develops and succeeds in this league, he'll be a handful. This isn't a finished product, he's still very raw.

Yeah, but he's been like this since his rookie season, with miniscule improvements. He's been given every chance to succeed the last two seasons basically only playing in the top 6... and not just any top 6. Lines with two ofthe world's best centres. How long are we going to keep saying "if he develops" for before realizing that maybe he's just one of those players that is not suited for this league? Yes, we all agree that he has the physical tools. After 4 seasons, it's starting to be pretty clear that he doesn't have the mental or emotional tools to match.

 

[SaltNPeca]

Great Success.
Imagine Holland stuck with Tippett?

This team has a lot of holes, but a LOT of heart and battle. Never really gave up on a game and easily the most entertaining playoff team. Our stars were our best players with 3 or 4 some of the top playoff performers so far. 1 exception is Nurse, but if you look at McDavid and how the injured Draisaitl played how can you be pessimistic?

 

[The Panther]

It was a great season. This season (and last season, somewhat) is the closest I've followed the team since at least 1992. I've really enjoyed the ups and downs. It's been very entertaining.

Getting to see McD and Dr. Drai in this era is such a treat. McDavid in the 2021 (short) season and in the 2022 playoffs is like seeing Gretzky in the mid-80s again. Just so special. Draisaitl was injured but posted enormous scoring totals. What a stud.

The Oilers are set offensively, with the two megastars, the supporting forwards (Hyman is key), and the Bouchard / Barrie D-men. If Yamamoto improves a bit and Pulju manages to score a goal on more than one out of every 50 shots, that'd help too. But we're good for offense.

As we all knew going into this season, goaltending and defense were going to be rough. And they were. (Thank God Cody Ceci panned out so nicely, or this year's D could have been much worse.)

The good point is: Team is free of the Koskinen contract, and (presumably) Mike Smith is, at best, the club's backup from now on. But will it be Skinner or a new goalie who takes over the starter position? That is going to be Mr. Holland's opus.

The defence core is a bit weak. I liked the addition of Kulak, though, and Bouchard will be stronger next season having learned some lessons. Ceci was a revelation. Nurse, when healthy, is great. Barrie got way better under Woodcroft, and he is dynamite on the PP. But Keith is just too old. If he gets sheltered minutes, he can be of some value. But in any case, the Oilers desperately need another experience shut-down defenceman (ideally, who can also move the puck quickly).

Get another Cody Ceci-type defenceman and get a real goalie, and we're in good shape for next season. But I'm bit worried about paying Evander Kane....

 

[McBigYak]

I disagree. He’s just not that good. He was making saves on sure luck and desperation that should have been routine stops. He no longer knows how to play the position. Too deep. Too slow. Vulnerable short side. Vulnerable far side. Vulnerable high. Vulnerable five hole. Lunging at pucks. Belly flopping. Getting caught out of his net over and over. Waving his arms around like a tool when he f***s up. This team won two rounds in spite of Smith. Not because of him. I’m done with that clown. He can gtfo of town. The quicker the better.

He's carved out a pretty good career being a very unorthodox goalie and relying on pure athleticism. But yeah, doesn't tend to work too well into your 40's.

I'd almost guarantee we do not run with Smith as our starter next year.

 

[Whyme]

I feel confident the Oilers would've won this game with Koskinen or probably Skinner too. What a shame they had a goalie who'd been having trouble for a long while but they decided to trust him till the end. No surprise it ended like this.

 

[jesusbuiltmyhotrod]

Oilers win a couple games at least with good goaltending, oh well the Avs are simply better right now

 

[redgrant]

Mike Smith's temper tantrums after letting in goals just really adds to my level of frustration and negative feelings towards him. It's the worst. If he is the starter again next year... I'm giving up right now. Can't believe Woodcroft was so stubborn sticking with Smith all series long with how awful he was

He's clearly a toxic employee in the Oilers organization. What does a Dylan Holloway think seeing this? Regardless of what you think about Holland singing Smith he clearly is stubborn and refuses to heed advice not to skate out the the wall when the opposition is in zone.

Oilers win a couple games at least with good goaltending, oh well the Avs are simply better right now

The sad part is games 1 3 and 4 were 100% winnable with an average keeper. Mike Smith f***s up at the worst possible times.

 

[The Panther]

I was curious what the Oilers' records are for most points after three rounds (regardless of games played). Here are the top-10:

36 - Gretzky 1985 (13 GP)
34 - Gretzky 1983 (12 GP)
33 - McDavid 2022 (16 GP)
32 - Draisaitl 2022 (16 GP)
31 - Messier 1988 (14 GP)
30 - Gretzky 1988 (14 GP)
28 - Gretzky 1984 (14 GP)
26 - Coffey 1985 (13 GP)
26 - Kurri 1988 (14 GP)
26 - Messier 1990 (17 GP)

 

[Mez]

I’m not a fan of the whining about reffing.

Makes the fan base look really bad.

Who cares, everyone hates us already including the media lol

Classy stuff here:

What did the first tweet say? It's deleted now

 

[foshizzle]

Is Skinner considered “up” right now? I’m not sure how this stuff works, as he wasn’t ever dressed for the playoffs, though I know there are expanded rosters available for more healthy scratched players. I was under the assumption that maybe on paper he could still be considered to be in the AHL? But perhaps not.

He was. He was a black ace, like Holloway, and was available

 

[bucks_oil]

I was alright last night, and the Oilers were not going to beat this Avs team (or maybe?... McDrai).

But seeing this was at first funny and now it got my blood boiling. The Oilers deserved last night's game.

1) To me, the MacKinnon goal is classic goalie interference. Smith gets pushed in. Yes he doesn't have the puck, but pushing him in is clearly contact in the crease and inhibits his ability to make the save. I can understand why Woodcroft didn't challenge it (once bitten, twice shy), but it should have been called back.

2) The Ryan penalty was... I mean... I'm just speechless on that one. We should have had a power play.

3) The high sticking goal... TNT (I don't get Rogers down here) was saying they wouldn't call it a high stick because since the puck didn't go directly in, then it would be the shoulders, not the crossbar that matters. This is so classic NHL rulebook. Clearly we don't want guys to deflect pucks in above crossbar height... but getting a shot on goal that way and scoring on the rebound, even though the puck was directed illegally at the net is ok. Nonsense.

Now on #3, I'm not sure it was above crossbar height, but the logical inconsistency with the explanation given is ridiculous and something I've come to expect from the NHL.

 

[McDNicks17]

I think that curse Flames fans tried to put on Oettinger ended up on Markstrom and then Smith.

 

[foshizzle]

I was curious what the Oilers' records are for most points after three rounds (regardless of games played). Here are the top-10:

36 - Gretzky 1985 (13 GP)
34 - Gretzky 1983 (12 GP)
33 - McDavid 2022 (16 GP)
32 - Draisaitl 2022 (16 GP)
31 - Messier 1988 (14 GP)
30 - Gretzky 1988 (14 GP)
28 - Gretzky 1984 (14 GP)
26 - Coffey 1985 (13 GP)
26 - Kurri 1988 (14 GP)
26 - Messier 1990 (17 GP)

That’s a huge indictment on Ken Holland’s inability to build a decent roster. It took Leon and Connor to play at 80’s Gretzky level to make it to the third round.

 

[iCanada]

I was alright last night, and the Oilers were not going to beat this Avs team (or maybe?... McDrai).

But seeing this was at first funny and now it got my blood boiling. The Oilers deserved last night's game.

1) To me, the MacKinnon goal is classic goalie interference. Smith gets pushed in. Yes he doesn't have the puck, but pushing him in is clearly contact in the crease and inhibits his ability to make the save. I can understand why Woodcroft didn't challenge it (once bitten, twice shy), but it should have been called back.

2) The Ryan penalty was... I mean... I'm just speechless on that one. We should have had a power play.

3) The high sticking goal... TNT (I don't get Rogers down here) was saying they wouldn't call it a high stick because since the puck didn't go directly in, then it would be the shoulders, not the crossbar that matters. This is so classic NHL rulebook. Clearly we don't want guys to deflect pucks in above crossbar height... but getting a shot on goal that way and scoring on the rebound, even though the puck was directed illegally at the net is ok. Nonsense.

Now on #3, I'm not sure it was above crossbar height, but the logical inconsistency with the explanation given is ridiculous and something I've come to expect from the NHL.

The Ryan penalty was so bad.



#3 makes sense, as over half the time when you call a play down for a high stick ref doesn't have crossbar to use as a reference. Looks stupid here though.

 

[CycloneSweep]

I think that curse Flames fans tried to put on Oettinger ended up on Markstrom and then Smith.

You don’t need to curse Mike Smith for Smith to Smith

 

[bucks_oil]

The Ryan penalty was so bad.



#3 makes sense, as over half the time when you call a play down for a high stick ref doesn't have crossbar to use as a reference. Looks stupid here though.

I can understand using the shoulder in neutral ice, but anytime you are directing/deflecting the puck at net, the crossbar should be the rule. If you are close enough to get a shot, you are close enough to score and you are close enough to use the crossbar.

As a goalie I can tell you any save on a deflected shot, especially a high shot deflected down illegally, is going to be a cluster-F if you even save it. To expect the goalie to make a rebound save in that situation violates the spirit of the rule IMO. You should not be able to score on an illegal play, or on the rebound from an illegal play. If it's illegal to score that way, it should clearly be illegal to shoot that way.

 

[iCanada]

I can understand using the shoulder in neutral ice, but anytime you are directing/deflecting the puck at net, the crossbar should be the rule. If you are close enough to get a shot, you are close enough to score and you are close enough to use the crossbar.

As a goalie I can tell you any save on a deflected shot, especially a high shot deflected down illegally, is going to be a cluster-F if you even save it. To expect the goalie to make a rebound save in that situation violates the spirit of the rule IMO. You should not be able to score on an illegal play, or on the rebound from an illegal play. If it's illegal to score that way, it should clearly be illegal to shoot that way.

It is the rule for the goal to count. The challenge would be on whether stoppage or play was missed though because rebound went in.

So it would be shoulder.

Insane to me that this was a 2 minute penalty...

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[North Cole]

Puljujarvi is a guy you regret trading in a hurry, imo.

I've said this many times before; Pulju is a guy with the tools required to beat anyone in the league, problem is he doesn't have any one Elite attribute.

But if he develops and succeeds in this league, he'll be a handful. This isn't a finished product, he's still very raw.

Even if he doesn't become a finished product, I have no idea why the board wants to dump him so bad. He's a fine third liner, which you need.

He's never going to live up to the 4th OA hype, but that's no reason to throw the player away and then go riffling through the trash bin hoping for someone of the same level and likely coming up with someone much worse like Brassard. He's one of our better forecheckers, if people just accepted him for what he is instead of what they wanted him to be 4 years ago, maybe he would be less hated.

At the end of the day, he should be relatively inexpensive to resign, which is a good thing because we can't afford any more $5M+ players.

 

[Oilers]

That’s a huge indictment on Ken Holland’s inability to build a decent roster. It took Leon and Connor to play at 80’s Gretzky level to make it to the third round.

yes and no. McDavid and Drats went off the whole playoffs no doubt, but we had support from other forwards as well. Hyman and Kane led the team in goals with 13 and 11, both of which were great signings this year. Heck even Nuge chipped in for 14 points in 16 games who was also a signing this year.

Changes will need to happen next year, no question about it, but I'd hardly say Holland can't build a good roster.

 

[McShogun99]

Even if he doesn't become a finished product, I have no idea why the board wants to dump him so bad. He's a fine third liner, which you need.

He's never going to live up to the 4th OA hype, but that's no reason to throw the player away and then go riffling through the trash bin hoping for someone of the same level and likely coming up with someone much worse like Brassard. He's one of our better forecheckers, if people just accepted him for what he is instead of what they wanted him to be 4 years ago, maybe he would be less hated.

At the end of the day, he should be relatively inexpensive to resign, which is a good thing because we can't afford any more $5M+ players.

JP is a player you want on a checking line that can still chip in 15 goals. Once people stop looking at his draft position they'll realize that he's going to be very valuable to an NHL team.

 

[Louis Cypher]

I'm fine with Smith being the back up, they have to let Skinner 100% run with it.

I agree but we need someone else in the wings. If Smith goes down we can't have 2 rookie goalies.

 

[DrDrai]

Who cares, everyone hates us already including the media lol


What did the first tweet say? It's deleted now

It was some guy walking in a bog towards the Stanley cup, then gets hit by a photoshopped broom with a Avs logo on it and some song was playing.

Funny considering Roger’s is our arena sponsor.

 

[CupofOil]

Our entire leadership core is on the wrong side of 25, and a few of our players has career years. Hopefully some of our prospects can take the next step or next year might be rough.

Uh, they are 25,26 and 27. I didn't know that being barely over 25 meant that the career was all downhill from here on out.

I beg you cyclone, and I know it's in your nature, but can you not do the ultra negative schtick all summer or else it's going to be a real task to read these threads this offseason.

 

[BudBundy]

Not a warrior, it was stupid. He was a liability and now risks next season

It’s Nurses fault?? Wtf man? The coach decides who plays, and how much they play.

 

[bucks_oil]

It is the rule for the goal to count. The challenge would be on whether stoppage or play was missed though because rebound went in.

So it would be shoulder.

Insane to me that this was a 2 minute penalty...

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I don't think you are getting my point. I know what the rulebook says. I read it. The rulebook does not discuss rebounds from high-stick deflections one way or the other. It says you are not allowed to score from a stick above the crossbar.

I'm saying rather than saying it is illegal to score on a high stick, it is much more logical to say it is illegal to direct a puck at the net with a high stick. Logical, consistent, easy to interpret and apply.

Think about it this way. If Smith gets out of the way, the goal is called back. How is Smith supposed to determine whether to get out of the way or not within a millisecond? What happens if the puck touches Smith on the way into the net? Good goal, or bad goal? I don't know based on the rule. But it's the same play, whether it goes straight in, grazes Smith on the way by, or bounces off him to an attacker scoring on the rebound. The high-stick happens the same distance from the net, so saying you can't use the crossbar in that situation makes no sense.

By corollary, you aren't allowed to have a shot on net during a delayed offside. You blow it immediately because that shot is illegal (you should not have any advantage, goal, rebound or even frozen puck face-off based on that shot... because the shot itself is illegal). Similarly any shot with a high stick should be illegal. Remove the ambiguity.