The PP is on McLellan's staff to figure it out. The Oilers, even with the exact same personel tore it up on the PP last year with Nelson and were very good with Krueger too.
Just have to find a way to get it going.
C Connor McDavid (2015, 1st, EDM) VIII
- Thread starter JawandaPuck
- Start date
-
Work is still on-going to rebuild the site styling and features. Please report any issues you may experience so we can look into it. Click Here for Updates
The PP is on McLellan's staff to figure it out. The Oilers, even with the exact same personel tore it up on the PP last year with Nelson and were very good with Krueger too.
Just have to find a way to get it going.
Hopefully they do. Like I said, I hope I'm wrong and McDavid tears up the League because it's fun to watch. Just don't get your hopes too high because it is a lot to ask of an 18 year old.
Lol people are so impatient with prospects these days. I am guilty of that too sometimes. We should always just wait at least 1/4 of a season before any conclusions..
I'm off.
As a non Oiler fan, McDavid has really impressed me. He's been better than I thought he would be 7 games in. Good for him!!!
As a non Oiler fan, McDavid has really impressed me. He's been better than I thought he would be 7 games in. Good for him!!!
HeavyHitter99
Registered User
- Jun 18, 2013
- 4,633
- 90
1. The defense has played surprisingly well, they haven't been a problem.
2. Klefbom, Sekera and Schultz move the puck just fine but they are missing one of their main PP weapons in Eberle who will boost Nugems production too.
3. The better he gets the more attention he will get? Yah that's with every young player in the league. Hall-Nuge-Eberle will still get the hardest match ups.
4. And you are completely wrong about your last point. Hall and Nuge haven't been playing as good this season and are taking on the toughest match ups. You saying they are better is incorrect.
On the power play, they've been dreadful.
Disagree. The better McDavid plays, the more other teams will try concentrate on shutting him down
2. Klefbom, Sekera and Schultz move the puck just fine but they are missing one of their main PP weapons in Eberle who will boost Nugems production too.
4. And you are completely wrong about your last point. Hall and Nuge haven't been playing as good this season and are taking on the toughest match ups. You saying they are better is incorrect.
Fair enough. I concede... you know more about the Oilers than I do.
Hope you're right because I've enjoyed every Oiler game and I look forward to the rest.
I'm off... It is 2 am here.
All I can say is this guy is a special hockey player. Unbelievable speed. Wicked set of hands and a million dollar brain to go with it.
He has impressed me most with his defensive responsibility, ability to win puck battles and his overall 200 ft game. He's a takeaway machine and hes the wrong guy to turn it over to.
No question his toolbox is on a completely different level than any other first overall pick the oilers have.
Seeing him live in Calgary was a treat. The whole arena buzzes when he touches the puck and he creates something every time he's on the ice it seems. Blazing speed through the neutral zone that defenders really struggle with. He makes Hall look slow with his sudden acceleration and change of gears. Not to mention he has the hands to turn guys inside out.
He has impressed me most with his defensive responsibility, ability to win puck battles and his overall 200 ft game. He's a takeaway machine and hes the wrong guy to turn it over to.
No question his toolbox is on a completely different level than any other first overall pick the oilers have.
Seeing him live in Calgary was a treat. The whole arena buzzes when he touches the puck and he creates something every time he's on the ice it seems. Blazing speed through the neutral zone that defenders really struggle with. He makes Hall look slow with his sudden acceleration and change of gears. Not to mention he has the hands to turn guys inside out.
FDBluth
Registered User
Yep. The combination of McDavid's speed, reach and Datsyukian-like anticipation makes him an extremely effective defensive player. He makes nearly as many impressive defensive plays as he does offensive. Once he gets better on faceoffs, he'll be one of the best defensive forwards in the game. Give him a year or two and he'll be a truly dominant player in all corners of the ice. Wow.
It's funny, because Crosby has a similar offensive anticipation ability to McDavid, but it doesn't seem to translate as much for him defensively. He sort of lumbers around defensively at times. McDavid's anticipation on defense is just as good as it is on offense. He's alway right on top of the play. I'm sure his speed has something to do with that.
It's a joy to watch McDavid play the game. Brings a stupid wide grin to my face. He's going to inject a lot of fun and excitement back into the league.
It's funny, because Crosby has a similar offensive anticipation ability to McDavid, but it doesn't seem to translate as much for him defensively. He sort of lumbers around defensively at times. McDavid's anticipation on defense is just as good as it is on offense. He's alway right on top of the play. I'm sure his speed has something to do with that.
It's a joy to watch McDavid play the game. Brings a stupid wide grin to my face. He's going to inject a lot of fun and excitement back into the league.
Kid is definitely exciting & fun to watch 
rarely do you find a player that converts close to 100% of opportunities into a scoring chance
the only challenge that I see happening is that as teams get to understanding is playing style (plays more of a "opportunistic" making the most of his break out chance)...they will catch one very quickly to shut him down
his below the line battles have not been effective...seems to want to play up high and in between the 2 blue lines for a defensive play or break out play
rarely do you find a player that converts close to 100% of opportunities into a scoring chance
the only challenge that I see happening is that as teams get to understanding is playing style (plays more of a "opportunistic" making the most of his break out chance)...they will catch one very quickly to shut him down
his below the line battles have not been effective...seems to want to play up high and in between the 2 blue lines for a defensive play or break out play
habsrule4eva3089
Registered User
- Nov 22, 2008
- 4,275
- 1,082
Aceboogie
Registered User
- Aug 25, 2012
- 32,649
- 3,896
Yeah possibly. However one has to wonder what impact the concussions had on Crosby and his peak. Those concussions came right around the time he was hitting his peak. He put up so incredible numbers in those years, but they were shortened. His play could have also been impacted a bit (couldnt skate for long stretches). What could we have seen from Crosby in those years? he was on pace for 132 and 137 points. Maybe 140 points or 135 both years?
If McDavid doesnt suffer those concussions *breaks wood knocking on it* maybe his peak years are 120, 125, 125, 120 (with lower league scoring)
I just want to see his peak because his 200 foot game along with his offense could be something we havent seen since Federov (and with some more offense)
My biggest concern (and still is) is McDavid's physical maturity. RNH was rushed into the league as a wet noodle (and a busted shoulder that they repaired a year later) and I feel McDavid isn't a full grown man yet able to handle the full 82 games without the I-word.
If Hall-RNH-Ebs is re-united - that line will take the toughest matchups... they used to dominate in the O-zone a few years back but coaches wanted to spread out scoring and spread out matchups.
If Hall-RNH-Ebs is re-united - that line will take the toughest matchups... they used to dominate in the O-zone a few years back but coaches wanted to spread out scoring and spread out matchups.
Aceboogie
Registered User
- Aug 25, 2012
- 32,649
- 3,896
Hes 197, almost same size as Eichel/Hall. hes actually well above NHL average for size. RNH was like 175-180
Aceboogie
Registered User
- Aug 25, 2012
- 32,649
- 3,896
http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/the-surprise-of-the-year-from-the-oilers-connor-mcdavids-strong-defence
Pretty well. In D zone he is typically in the right spot a majority of the time. Hes no Toews, but hes probaly above average for locating his man in choas and covering him. Still makes errors as an rookie will, but its at a far less frequency then I would have thought. Mentioned it before, but with Datsyuk injured, He might just be the best takeaway player in the NHL. Thats his incredible strength I didnt know he had. If hes within 4 feet of a player, the puck is either stolen or pass deflected. hes made takeaways I would never thought possible
Been very respectable off the puck. Not elite, but solid
NHL has the power to manipulate scoring. I think we are already seeing an increase in scoring due to more pps. NHL could shrink goalie equipment, widen nets, increase pps etc. theyve done it before.
Don't forget 3v3 OT. That change alone should put a few more points in the top players' pockets.
Luigi Lemieux
Registered User
People were saying the same thing in 2004. The very next season there were seven 100 point scorers and two with 120+. Don't assume the game will be played the same exact way every season from here on out.
He's putting up pretty respectable numbers and doing it almost entirely at even strength. The Oiler's PP has looked awful for the most part and he is playing on the second unit. It has been frustrating to watch him on the powerplay at times because they have generally been very poor at getting the puck to him. The plan for gaining the zone on the PP when he is out there should be "give the puck to Connor".
I expected him to be weak defensively, and he's been very good. I expected him to struggle to score goals but to put up a lot of assists, but he has more goals than assists so far. I also expected him to rely largely on the powerplay to get points, but he has been better at ES so far.
I expected him to be weak defensively, and he's been very good. I expected him to struggle to score goals but to put up a lot of assists, but he has more goals than assists so far. I also expected him to rely largely on the powerplay to get points, but he has been better at ES so far.
Aceboogie
Registered User
- Aug 25, 2012
- 32,649
- 3,896
Almost my thoughts initially too. I thought because he played almost as a winger in Eerie hed need a ton of sheltering in NHL. I thought him and Yak or LD might be solid linemates in 2 years when hes more polished defensively and couldnt handle that responsibility now. I also thought Oilers PP would benefit McDavid the most. But most of his points are EV (unlike RNH in rookie season)
Would still like to see him shoot more, and to QB the PP a bit better
