Are the Oilers a top 5 contender next season with Jack Campbell?

[Pass the Saitl Sauce]

Oilers just need goaltending that can stop the puck on the first three shots of a game more often than not, smith koskinen was so bad for putting the team down 1-0 or 2-0 early last year. If the oilers get the first goal of the game more often, they will win more.

When a goalie lets in the first shot of the game it will now forever be known as pulling “A Koskinen” and smith pulled a lot of “koskinens” last year as well. Pretty sure there was a game koskinen stopped 0/4 before being pulled last season

 

[North Cole]

People think the upgrade was from Smith the Campbell.

When the real upgrade is from Koskinen to Skinner.
The city was BEGGING for Skinner to replace Kosk as the backup. BEGGING.

Not even sure it matters how you slice it, the point is that on the whole Soup/Skinner >> Smith/Koskinen. The only people not recognizing that are intentionally being obtuse because they have some other narrative they want to peddle, in which case you can't change their mind anyways.

At the end of the day we get crucified regardless of who we go with.

Kuemper - Why would the Oilers pay this guy, did you see how Colorado won in spite of him? And his Eye injury, how will he recover?
Smith - Lmao Oilers going back to the well on a 40 year old goalie again? Didn't they learn this guy is washed, look how up and down he was in the playoffs... #fireHolland
Soup - Toronto had league worst goaltending, overpaid a guy that can barely tread water with a worse D in front of him, enjoy his struggles in the middle of the season. Clearly worse than Smith.
Husso - Wow gambling the McDrai window on a guy that played 60 games in his career? Goodluck!
Murray - Same comments that Toronto gets about acquiring him. Injured, mental issues, hasn't been good in years, etc.

It really doesn't matter what we did, those that want can poke holes in any of the UFA goalies.

 

[Dieseloil]

Oilers just need goaltending that can stop the puck on the first three shots of a game more often than not, smith koskinen was so bad for putting the team down 1-0 or 2-0 early last year. If the oilers get the first goal of the game more often, they will win more.

When a goalie lets in the first shot of the game it will now forever be known as pulling “A Koskinen” and smith pulled a lot of “koskinens” last year as well. Pretty sure there was a game koskinen stopped 0/4 before being pulled last season

Oilers are better by subtraction, Keith stunk against Colorado and was really bad at times against Calgary. But putting Smith out to pasture is the biggest plus, he for sure didn’t win the Flames series, and absolutely was putrid against the Avalanche.

 

[Three On Zero]

Not even sure it matters how you slice it, the point is that on the whole Soup/Skinner >> Smith/Koskinen. The only people not recognizing that are intentionally being obtuse because they have some other narrative they want to peddle, in which case you can't change their mind anyways.

At the end of the day we get crucified regardless of who we go with.

Kuemper - Why would the Oilers pay this guy, did you see how Colorado won in spite of him? And his Eye injury, how will he recover?
Smith - Lmao Oilers going back to the well on a 40 year old goalie again? Didn't they learn this guy is washed, look how up and down he was in the playoffs... #fireHolland
Soup - Toronto had league worst goaltending, overpaid a guy that can barely tread water with a worse D in front of him, enjoy his struggles in the middle of the season. Clearly worse than Smith.
Husso - Wow gambling the McDrai window on a guy that played 60 games in his career? Goodluck!
Murray - Same comments that Toronto gets about acquiring him. Injured, mental issues, hasn't been good in years, etc.

It really doesn't matter what we did, those that want can poke holes in any of the UFA goalies.

That’s what happens when the goalie market for UFAs was horrible this off season

 

[Spawn]

That’s the whole debate on Campbell though, what is he when he’s just being himself. Is he October/November Campbell or January onwards Campbell? He’s a bit of a rollercoaster himself.

As for the title question, no. Jack Campbell himself will not make the Oilers a top contender. That falls on the whole goalie group. It’s entirely reasonable to assume he cannot start 50+ games given his record of starts and health issues. Is Skinner ready to take on 30+ starts this season with positive success ? I couldn’t tell you but it seems like a lot to ask.
I’m not sure who else Edmonton has in the wings but it seems like a team poised to pluck another decent 3rd stringer off waivers or trade, If the cap allows.

Skinner played 13 games last season as the 3rd string/backup when Smith was frequently hurt. It doesn't seem like all that much to ask for a goalie to go from 13 games as a 3rd stringer to 25-30 games as a full time backup.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

what leaf fan thinks he’s an upgrade lol

Matt Murray has 2 cups. If Matt Murray can turn back time and lead the Leafs to a cup, he will automatically be put into the Hall of Fame.

 

[Three On Zero]

Skinner played 13 games last season as the 3rd string/backup when Smith was frequently hurt. It doesn't seem like all that much to ask for a goalie to go from 13 games as a 3rd stringer to 25-30 games as a full time backup.

Skinner will be the defacto #1 before Campbells contract is up. The guy will be good

 

[PaulD]

Can

cant play defense for shit. He can make a run and gun team 1st line but not one that plays two way hockey

Ha! OK Jauque Lemaire...........Name these teams that Evander could not play for.

Matt Murray has 2 cups. If Matt Murray can turn back time and lead the Leafs to a cup, he will automatically be put into the Hall of Fame.

If Matt Murray could do that he wpould never have been shown the door in Pittsburg and Ottawa.

Fact is Murray has not impressed anyone since he and Fluery were no longer a tandem.

 

[Duke74]

Draisaitls production was around 50% secondary assist to….. McDavid. That a huge luxury that Matthews doesn’t have

Matthews plays mainly with Marner. Draisaitl plays mainly with Yamamoto. What was that about luxuries again?

 

[Atomos2]

I don't put them in the top "contender" status with COL and a few others, but getting there if they can still get another top 4 damn sometime and Campbell gives them above average goaltending.


I will take a guy who plays like a Vezina for a few months then average.

Still makes for a great year and anything can happen in the playoffs. Being able to actually play like a vezina goalie is not a bad thing...

Average?? LOL

 

[Joe n]

Matthews plays mainly with Marner. Draisaitl plays mainly with Yamamoto. What was that about luxuries again?

interesting how over half his points came playing with McDavid.

 

[The90]

Oilers just need goaltending that can stop the puck on the first three shots of a game more often than not, smith koskinen was so bad for putting the team down 1-0 or 2-0 early last year. If the oilers get the first goal of the game more often, they will win more.

When a goalie lets in the first shot of the game it will now forever be known as pulling “A Koskinen” and smith pulled a lot of “koskinens” last year as well. Pretty sure there was a game koskinen stopped 0/4 before being pulled last season

You guys really don’t get how Campbell had the #’s he had from January on. He literally was letting in backing soft goals from everywhere. Lol. Look in the playoffs at the gallagher goal in game 7

Ha! OK Jauque Lemaire...........Name these teams that Evander could not play for.


If Matt Murray could do that he wpould never have been shown the door in Pittsburg and Ottawa.

Fact is Murray has not impressed anyone since he and Fluery were no longer a tandem.

Pittsburgh couldn’t afford Murray big guy. His play wasn’t why he left. @Sidney the Kidney mentions it somewhere in here

 

[AvStock]

Funny seeing blues fans talk about Toronto. They would have been rolled by Toronto

 

[Rubi]

There's gonna be a lot of people here eating crow I would say by February.

 

[Connor McConnor]

I love how this thread turned into a jealously contest featuring the Lamers and “The 6” vs the Canadian team that actually did something in the Playoffs.

interesting how over half his points came playing with McDavid.

In the playoffs when he’s playing on one leg and still outproducing Matthews? Damn man, learn what context means it’ll help you in your future. Drai went from being the Oilers best face off man to being a winger because he couldn’t put pressure on his ankle.

 

[The90]

I fcking love how this thread turned into a jealously contest featuring the Lamers and “The 6” fans vs the Canadian team that actually did something in the Playoffs.


In the playoffs when he’s playing on one leg and still outproducing Matthews? Damn man, learn what context means it’ll help you in your future.

Drai went from being the Oilers best face off man to being a winger because he couldn’t put pressure on his ankle.

Your ‘did something in the playoffs’ banner will look great right beside the leafs participation banner lol

 

[Three On Zero]

Matthews plays mainly with Marner. Draisaitl plays mainly with Yamamoto. What was that about luxuries again?

We are talking about playoffs, keep up if you’re going to chime in

 

[The Crypto Guy]

No. He is an average goalie.

The myth you dont need a good goalie to win a cup is just plain wrong unless you have a complete powerhouse team (avs) or you hit the lotto and your scrub goalie goes on a 2 month hot streak during the 2 months of the most pressure he will ever face in his life.

 

[GOilers88]

Easy to put up points against teams like the Kings and Flames instead of Tampa. Leafs have faced the team who went to the finals pretty regularly while the Oilers have faced bottom of the barrel every year.

On topic of the thread, who knows. Campbell can be elite but he can be awful. Maybe they get lucky and he is elite at the right time. History suggests no though, considering he is over 30 and hasn't ever figured it out as a starter. He has 1 season as a true starter and in it he gave the Leafs James Reimer level goaltending. This is who the Oilers just signed to 5x5 and why the Leafs let him walk to sign other bargain bin goalies.

Love Campbell as a person. Fearful for what the Oilers will do to him. Awful defense over there in a comparable fishbowl to Toronto. This time though, they won't have management bending over backwards to keep his confidence up (including straight up sitting him for a few weeks to just work with their trainers) and refusing to ever say anything bad about him.

Leafs defense being bad shows people don't watch the games. Leafs had a top 10 defense last year, and Campbell let in every single goal that had any chance of going in for a stretch of 3 months. A rookie AHL goalie was getting starts over Campbell at times because he at least was consistent.

If you can't beat the top dogs you never get to be considered a top dog. The excuses of losing to better teams grows thin after 6 years. How can you be considered a contender if you can't ever beat a contender?

 

[Duke74]

We are talking about playoffs, keep up if you’re going to chime in

Oh, the playoffs. Right. You mean the one where Draisaitl played on one leg while putting up 2PPG? That one?

 

[GOilers88]

There's gonna be a lot of people here eating crow I would say by February.

I just hope all the talk about how solid Calgary is doesn't get forgotten and replaced by chatter that they were never a threat if Edmonton somehow meets and beats them in the playoffs again.

 

[Three On Zero]

Oh, the playoffs. Right. You mean the one where Draisaitl played on one leg while putting up 2PPG? That one?

Most players play through injuries in the post season, and yes the one where he feasted on secondary assists

 

[The Panther]

I think some people are misunderstanding my points about Jack Campbell. I am not arguing that Campbell is an elite goalie or that he's the savior who will lead Edmonton to the promised land. Not at all. (Honestly, I haven't seen enough of the guy to have an opinion one way or the other.)

Statistically, Campbell is a slightly above-average NHL goalie. So is Mike Smith. Statistically, they're probably comparable. (Difference being that Smith is 87 years old and was injured four times in 2021.)

My point here is that what the Oilers desperately need is a functional goalie-tandem that doesn't have locker-room or social issues behind the scenes. And that's (I hope to God) what Cambell - Skinner is going to bring.

Again, I don't believe that clubs like Edmonton (or Toronto, for that matter) require elite goaltending to win. Colorado just won the Cup with their back-up in net. League-average goaltending is enough for these kinds of teams to make the playoffs and compete. And, any league-average goalie can suddenly get hot and go on a run.

I mean, Matt Murray won a couple of Stanley Cups and is probably a below-average goaltender, all things considered.

Basically, I'm just happy the Smith - Koskinen combo is over, as it was not working.

Most players play through injuries in the post season, and yes the one where he feasted on secondary assists

Draisaitl had 21 primary points in 16 playoff games.

So... you fail.

 

[Duke74]

Most players play through injuries in the post season, and yes the one where he feasted on secondary assists

1. You have to consider the grade of injuries. A high ankle sprain is considerably more difficult to play through than some bumps and bruises.

2. All star players, to a certain extent, "feast" on secondary assists. The playoff records that Draisaitl broke, on one good ankle, existed due to secondary assists in the first place.

But hey, don't let logic get in the way of your irrational hate for a certain fanbase, team, or player.

 

[Connor McConnor]

Your ‘did something in the playoffs’ banner will look great right beside the leafs participation banner lol

Whatever helps you sleep at night man. During the time I've been born Edmonton won the Cup (I was only 2), went to game 7 in the SCF, had another couple decent runs since.

The Leafs? Yeah, thought so. Hence why your fanbase is so pathetically jealous of another Canadian team that has done 10x more than you have in your lifetime. Oh yeah and we "stole" McDavid from you in the lottery draft.