Around the League - 2023/24

[Bender]

People need to calm down with their takes. A few weeks back detoilet was 'a wagon'. It's early.

Vancouver has played DAL, TB, FLA and NYR and the rest have been crap teams. Eight of the 12 games have been against teams that are unlikely to make the playoffs (and I'm including the 3 games they played against EDM)

They have 9 wins and 2 losses but if the loilers were any where close to the team the media thought they were, EDM would have likely won 2 of those 3 games, if not all three. Then Vancouver's start would have been 'good' but at the same time they are still beating teams they should be beating.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, the Avs have a 7-3 record in their first 10 games with 7 of those games on the road but they might as well start rebuilding according to some.

Is it a millenial thing - to not be able to take a step back and see things for what they are ? (not aimed at anyone in particular)

 

[RECKLESS]

I likes when the oil leaks.

 

[henchman21]

People need to calm down with their takes. A few weeks back detoilet was 'a wagon'. It's early.

Vancouver has played DAL, TB, FLA and NYR and the rest have been crap teams. Eight of the 12 games have been against teams that are unlikely to make the playoffs (and I'm including the 3 games they played against EDM)

They have 9 wins and 2 losses but if the loilers were any where close to the team the media thought they were, EDM would have likely won 2 of those 3 games, if not all three. Then Vancouver's start would have been 'good' but at the same time they are still beating teams they should be beating.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, the Avs have a 7-3 record in their first 10 games with 7 of those games on the road but they might as well start rebuilding according to some.

Is it a millenial thing - to not be able to take a step back and see things for what they are ? (not aimed at anyone in particular)

Pot meet kettle, kettle meet pot.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

McDavid has had 4 different head coaches in 7 years. Oilers fans calling for Woodcroft to get fired. Another new coach coming in, that will be 5 in 8 years.

At some point it’s not the coaches and GMs.

 

[Pokecheque]

McDavid has had 4 different head coaches in 7 years. Oilers fans calling for Woodcroft to get fired. Another new coach coming in, that will be 5 in 8 years.

At some point it’s not the coaches and GMs.

It can still be the GM. Holland hasn’t done much different than Chiarelli. Frankly, he’s been worse in some regards.

But whatever, that was a pretty ugly night for everyone involved with the Oilers. The fact that they keep galaxy-braining things in Edmonton only benefits the Avs.

 

[Chiarelli]

The Oilers are just built shitty. They draft comparable to the Avs (shitty) but aren't able to pull off good trades or signings to mask the shitty drafting. McDrai aren't the problem.

 

[The Abusement Park]

McDavid has had 4 different head coaches in 7 years. Oilers fans calling for Woodcroft to get fired. Another new coach coming in, that will be 5 in 8 years.

At some point it’s not the coaches and GMs.

I mean the last two GM’s have saddled that team with some awful
contracts and haven’t addressed a lot of the issues on that roster… like at all. I think the GM’s are the biggest issue there. McDrai aren’t blameless but I wouldn’t put them above the GM’s that have gotten rid of basically all their cap space on shit dmen and goalies. McDrai are near the bottom of the list of issues in Edmonton right now.

 

[henchman21]

It isn't rocket science with the Oilers... they don't have depth and have never really had the room for quality depth. They try to get by with guys like Ceci in their top 4 and McLeod, Foegele, Janmark etc in their top 9. Their stars got paid top dollar early, they make a mistake with Nurse, and the cap didn't go up to give them any room. They can go as far as their stars take them, and if the stars struggle, the whole team takes a huge hit. If the stars are on a heater, Drai and McDavid are capable of carrying a team.

They are better than what they've shown so far though.

 

[Pokecheque]

Incidentally why did the Oilers completely change their defensive scheme? Wasn’t the old one working? This one certainly isn’t.



Holland is a shit GM. His one priority was addressing the goaltending and he failed MISERABLY there. The only move I can see that’s worked out has been Zach Hyman, but his play hasn’t really moved the needle.

 

[dahrougem2]

I will never understand Ken Holland refusing to trade picks/prospects away for a legit goalie but turning around and handing Jack Campbell a boat load of cash as a UFA.

 

[Balthazar]

Oilers overpaid for a guy like Nurse because they didn't really have a choice but to gamble on him. They gambled and lost. Same with Campbell.

Like Marchand said "nobody is taking a discount to play in Edmonton".

Oilers can't draft for shit and have to overpay UFA's to stay there. It's nearly impossible to get good depth in those conditions...and if you lose your gambles you're f***ed.

 

[henchman21]

Incidentally why did the Oilers completely change their defensive scheme? Wasn’t the old one working? This one certainly isn’t.



Holland is a shit GM. His one priority was addressing the goaltending and he failed MISERABLY there. The only move I can see that’s worked out has been Zach Hyman, but his play hasn’t really moved the needle.

The 1-1-3 can be very effective. At its best, it is a heavy trap system that denies controlled zone entries at a very high rate. At its worst it breaks down on the open side of the ice and you need a goalie who is athletic and capable of rush stops at a high rate. The Oilers are simply trying to emulate the Trotz trap system he used in Nashville, Washington, and Long Island. Dallas also rode the system to the finals in 2020.

The problem with it against the Canucks is they have a group of supremely skilled players who are very adept at making and receiving clean passes with the hands to make one guy miss. Arguably, Hughes is the best breakout passer in the league (him or Fox) then he's getting it up to one of Miller or Petey who are good enough to beat guys 1v1 or pass to wings who are skilled enough to one touch pass. It is a terrible matchup for the Oilers, especially because they are not a good 1v1 defending team in general.

IMO the Oilers should run a variation of the left wing lock that falls into a 2-1-2. The Pacific isn't filled with top end RD puck movers. McDavid and Drai should easily be able to provide the center pressure needed. If there is something their wings are built for it is scrums on the wall and the whole point is to create a 2v2 wall scrum. Then falling into a 2-1-2 allows them to ramp up the pressure and counter attack with their skill. They'll likely give up a similar amount of goals, but they will produce a crap load more.

I will never understand Ken Holland refusing to trade picks/prospects away for a legit goalie but turning around and handing Jack Campbell a boat load of cash as a UFA.

That's really the death knell of it. They could have found a way to get a top end goalie, but they chose to limp along. Many teams can get along with an average starter and win... there are plenty of ways to build to make that work. The Oilers are just not built that way. They need a better goalie to have success... and the systems they are running are like trying to bail water on the Titanic.

 

[John Mandalorian]

Pot meet kettle, kettle meet pot.

Look at you Mr “I Don’t Care About What Others Think Even Though I’m Constantly Confronting Them About What They Think”.

Admittedly, that’s a long name.

 

[henchman21]

Look at you Mr “I Don’t Care About What Others Think Even Though I’m Constantly Confronting Them About What They Think”.

Admittedly, that’s a long name.

Ahhh I missed this place

 

[CobraAcesS]

Ahhh I missed this place

Your absence was blamed for at least two of the shutout losses if I'm not mistaken.








What they don't know is those are the only three games I've missed watching.

 

[GeoRox89]

Quinn Hughes 1 Goal 3 Assists. #Norris


Couldnt have happened to a better fan base. So cocky

If their heater and unsustainable shooting percentage doesn’t come back down to earth soon - you are all about to remember that it’s the Canucks who have the worst fanbase. Oilers fans are insufferable but I’ll give them credit for one thing, they stick by that team. Canucks fans bandwagon like they’re the Hawks

Now that Fox is down, Quinn is winning unless Makar goes on an incredible run or Quinn gets injured or his production falls off a cliff. Even though I (jinx/consolation) bet a good chunk on him when he was still really undervalued in the odds before that 5 point night, I still hope his production somehow craters.

If it doesn’t I’m going to have to deal with a Christmas dinner that consists of ‘Hughes, Hughes, Hughes. Has anyone told you about Hughes? He’s the second coming. He once single handedly saved a truckload of puppies and 93 people from a burning nursing home. In between games, he cooks all the meals at the soup kitchen. He’s the greatest player to ever live and an even better person. Hughes, Hughes, Hughes.’ I haven’t had this much irrational hatred for a very good player who isn’t really inherently unlikeable since Jumbo Joe because I was already sick of hearing about him before this season.

 

[henchman21]

Your absence was blamed for at least two of the shutout losses if I'm not mistaken.








What they don't know is those are the only three games I've missed watching.

 

[LOFIN]

I will never understand Ken Holland refusing to trade picks/prospects away for a legit goalie but turning around and handing Jack Campbell a boat load of cash as a UFA.

Because "legit goalies" are not really growing on trees. Nashville has been unwilling to trade Saros.

There are 5-7 guys in the league you can really with confidence say are good/great goalies. The rest? It's a crapshoot.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Because "legit goalies" are not really growing on trees. Nashville has been unwilling to trade Saros.

There are 5-7 guys in the league you can really with confidence say are good/great goalies. The rest? It's a crapshoot.

Hasn't Gibson been on the block for like three years though?

I feel like I hoped quietly every year that Edmonton wasn't smart enough to pull a three team trade to get him.



I didn't have to hope that hard lol.

 

[Alienblood]

Look at you Mr “I Don’t Care About What Others Think Even Though I’m Constantly Confronting Them About What They Think”.

Admittedly, that’s a long name.

 

[LOFIN]

Hasn't Gibson been on the block for like three years though?

I feel like I hoped quietly every year that Edmonton wasn't smart enough to pull a three team trade to get him.

Is he that good? And for that price tag? And even if Gibson wants out of Anaheim, does he want to go to Edmonton? He has a M-NTC.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Is he that good? And for that price tag? And even if Gibson wants out of Anaheim, does he want to go to Edmonton? He has a M-NTC.

I think at one point he just wanted to win lol. This off-season he might have said ok to even Edmonton, but who knows.

 

[SirLoinOfCloth]

I know I shouldn't, but visiting the Oilers board is cathartic.

Especially when you come across things like this:

If we go 7-2 or anything close the next 9 games and the goaltending/defence shows improvement then I won't be worrying but I doubt that happens.

 

[LOFIN]

I think at one point he just wanted to win lol. This off-season he might have said ok to even Edmonton, but who knows.

I guess Gibson would be an upgrade. Has to be said though, this season some of those losses Skinner/Campbell have played good enough to win. Can't expect your goalie to save one-timer tap ins, breakaways and 2 on 1s all the time. The defensive breakdowns and errors have cost them more than the goalies I think.

I guess Ekholm alone wasn't enough.

 

[Pokecheque]

Because "legit goalies" are not really growing on trees. Nashville has been unwilling to trade Saros.

There are 5-7 guys in the league you can really with confidence say are good/great goalies. The rest? It's a crapshoot.

They could’ve done better than they have. Hell, the Avalanche already have. In fact the way the Oilers went about it was the worst possible way to do it since they had to commit $$$ and term to Campbell, and then as most people predicted, he regressed.