Around the League - 2024-2025 Part II

[ULF_55]

Edmonton has grown so much over the past 4 years since that 2021 sweep. Their core guys have turned into legitimate killers and they’ve been supplemented with good support pieces. And they’re coached well too.

You mean coach using square pegs in square holes?

 

[Superstar]

Edmonton has grown so much over the past 4 years since that 2021 sweep. Their core guys have turned into legitimate killers and they’ve been supplemented with good support pieces. And they’re coached well too.

Signing Hyman and Kane really helped them change their fortunes.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

I actually thought they were much better 5 on 5 in the two road games, at least compared to their home ice performance. Problem is, nobody can finish

They had what five even strength shots the last 40 minutes tonight. How bad were they at home lol.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

The Stars look like the Leafs of the west. So much talent on paper and yet they can barely score the last 3 games.

Also love the Oilers crowd. Always so loud cheering for their team every home game. Wish our arena could have this kind of atmosphere every game.

Wish our players could give us reason to support them to that degree every game

 

[GQS]

Wish our players could give us reason to support them to that degree every game

Sure but even the times that the Leafs do play well, the arena is rarely as loud and rocking as it is for the Oilers, Habs or Flames. You definitely see more hyped and loud Leafs fans outside of the arena than inside during playoff games.

 

[ruaware41]

Delete

 

[ULF_55]

Okay, who here still thinks Bouchard isn't that good?

 

[Trapper]

Signing Hyman and Kane really helped them change their fortunes.

It also doesn’t hurt that their stars have a 2nd, 3rd, 4th gear.
Our stars couldn’t spell intensity if you gave them half the word.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Sure but even the times that the Leafs do play well, the arena is rarely as loud and rocking as it is for the Oilers, Habs or Flames. You definitely see more hyped and loud Leafs fans outside of the arena than inside during playoff games.

Shitposting aside I don't really disagree with you tbh, I just wish they gave us more moments in the playoffs to cheer about.

 

[Gallagbi]

Sure but even the times that the Leafs do play well, the arena is rarely as loud and rocking as it is for the Oilers, Habs or Flames. You definitely see more hyped and loud Leafs fans outside of the arena than inside during playoff games.

Theres hope with most fanbases, there is dread with the Leafs.

When there has been hope, the ACC/SB is very loud. I've been there for some great playoff moments (Niewy/Lalime Game 7, Berezin/Thomas OT, Green forcing game 7 in Philly in a double or triple OT, Game 6 last year vs. B), but it's definitely a tense crowd lately. Getting shit on your last two home games doesn't exactly leave you with great recent memories either

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

Shitposting aside I don't really disagree with you tbh, I just wish they gave us more moments in the playoffs to cheer about.

The people who go to Oilers games comprise a healthy dose of field workers (who make a good amount of coin) and are quite rowdy. I think this is what gives them the edge v our barn. Whenever they show the square, I wonder how much louder it'd be inside if the kids they show would be in the seats.

Been to both and honestly the atmosphere is so much better in Edmonton. Even the Leaf fans were mostly oilfield workers, so we were rowdy as f***!

 

[mikeyz]

 

[Fogelhund]

Okay, who here still thinks Bouchard isn't that good?

Bouchard is who he is. A very talented offensive D man, with a booming shot, who is marginal defensively. He fits the genre to a T. When things are going well for the team, he's going to look brilliant. He's on a high scoring team, that suits his game beautifully. When they are winning, he looks great. When they lose, he's often a -2... High event hockey player.

 

[Fogelhund]

That part really concerns me. I get that we have too many similar type players, and they struggle 5v5... but talented players should still shine on the PP. That doesn't make any sense at all.

 

[fahad203]

That part really concerns me. I get that we have too many similar type players, and they struggle 5v5... but talented players should still shine on the PP. That doesn't make any sense at all.

Struggle in PP has been obvious for a while now. We dont have a strong point shot. Every team just collapses and keeps us outside..

 

[Fogelhund]

Struggle in PP has been obvious for a while now. We dont have a strong point shot. Every team just collapses and keeps us outside..

A strong point shot is a nice weapon to have, but it isn't why we struggle, and it isn't as critical on the PP as it once was. It's about effective puck movement, we are too passive, and too slow.

With the same group, we have been a top PP team for years... 7th in 23/24, 2nd in 22/23, 1st in 21/22... Of course that is regular season, and that's without a strong point shot. Bouchard has a great point shot, and it's made the Oilers MORE dangerous, but they were very effective before Bouchard, without a point shot.

PP's success are determined by getting high percentage shots, with cross crease, and cross seams being the most effective way to score. We are just too tentative, too slow.

Here is the Edmonton game last night... two PP goals.

Dallas Stars - Edmonton Oilers - May 27, 2025 | NHL.com

NHL Gamecenter - Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers, May 27, 2025 - summary, stats, boxscore, play by play, recap and more.

www.nhl.com

Quick puck movement, cross crease/cross seam, where the goalie can't move quick enough to cover the empty net. Two goals on the PP.

There are two Carolina PP goals here... Carolina Hurricanes - Florida Panthers - May 24, 2025 | NHL.com

Very quick puck movement, cross crease for the second one... goalie out of position...

We are slow right now. We hold the puck, we skate around with it. We overthink the whole thing.... I think that's Marner's problem... especially in the playoffs... overthinking, getting tight and putting too much pressure on himself.... he can't get out of his own head, and just play hockey.

Matthews shooting going from elite, to meh sure as hell doesn't help. Last year, you give him an inch, and it's in the net.. super quick, super accurate. This year in the playoffs, he was leading the league in shots taken, and couldn't hit the barn door... 6.4% for a guy who career is 15.8%.. he is still second in the playoffs for shots.


This idea that you need a point shot, is a very old school thought process. These days, without a screen, or a tip in, that's a shot that likely isn't going in, and it's a very low probability. Point shots with traffic, score around 3% of the time.. without, around 1%.

https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2166495

Point Shots Suck

Yes, they really are terrible

hockeysarsenal.substack.com

 

[Superstar]

It also doesn’t hurt that their stars have a 2nd, 3rd, 4th gear.
Our stars couldn’t spell intensity if you gave them half the word.

I-N-T-E-N-tion-to-succeed...

 

[SprDaVE]

Rough news. He also had some tough injuries on his knee awhile ago.

 

[ULF_55]

For clarity:

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

 

[ULF_55]

Bouchard is who he is. A very talented offensive D man, with a booming shot, who is marginal defensively. He fits the genre to a T. When things are going well for the team, he's going to look brilliant. He's on a high scoring team, that suits his game beautifully. When they are winning, he looks great. When they lose, he's often a -2... High event hockey player.

Leafs certainly could use a 25 year old defender like him.

Not even sure which defender on the Leafs is their number 1, 35 year old Tanev?

 

[ULF_55]

PP's success are determined by getting high percentage shots, with cross crease, and cross seams being the most effective way to score. We are just too tentative, too slow.

Here is the Edmonton game last night... two PP goals.

Dallas Stars - Edmonton Oilers - May 27, 2025 | NHL.com

NHL Gamecenter - Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers, May 27, 2025 - summary, stats, boxscore, play by play, recap and more.

www.nhl.com

Quick puck movement, cross crease/cross seam, where the goalie can't move quick enough to cover the empty net. Two goals on the PP.

On the PP:

RW position - Draisaitl versus marner

Maybe we should dig up Einstein to see if he can figure out the difference, eh?

 

[BallardEra]

Hyman injury was most likely a shoulder or wrist.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

For clarity:

View attachment 1043091

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

1 PPG in 70 games is actually insane.

 

[fahad203]

Rough news. He also had some tough injuries on his knee awhile ago.

Massive loss. Really rooting for Hyman. Such a likeable human being

 

[ULF_55]

1 PPG in 70 games is actually insane.

Wonder if there is a "total PP shots per player" stat we could dig up for the same timeframe?