Post-Game Talk: Can we leave Stu in a California Closet?

[CrazyJoeDavola]

Watching every other goalie in playoffs make great saves is infuriating

 

[Zguy370]

Watching every other goalie in playoffs make great saves is infuriating

That's normal, that's what NHL starting goalies are supposed to do, just not even great saves, but just normal saves

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I had no idea the Oil had a smile coach on the team. That explains a lot. I too, did a little digging and found we also have a Buddhist monk on the staff...

Both are wearing blue and orange, you know.

Sorry. Not sure about the tone of your post. Here's a good piece on Mumford's work with the Oilers and some of the depth of his training and experience. 'Unshakable belief and confidence:' How a sports psychologist helped make the Oilers Cup finalists

Personally I think alot of what comes across as arrogance or seeming reality denial in Skinner is a guy paddling as hard as he can not to meltdown like a candle (like the big money free agent Plan A did). I think the guy is masking the doubt and high criticism that comes with the toughest position in the game.

"Mumford reminded players they couldn't fixate on moments of failure, even though he knew it was keeping them up at night. Dwelling on mistakes, he said, wouldn't get them out of this.

Mumford described the concept further in his book: "One of the primary lessons of mental training is that we always -- 100 percent of the time -- need to be moving toward our goal," he wrote. "And in order to do that, we need to be able to let go, and I mean really let go of our mistakes."

I hold Skinner accountable for not being a reliable, consistent goaltender this team needs during a finite window era. But I place full blame on rotating management that have failed to deliver this team established quality, consistent goaltending that can, in part, mitigate leaky poor own zone goal suppression required by elite Cup contenders.

 

[MessierThanThou]

Here's a sobering thought:



The Cup was ours for the taking in 2023 and 2024.

I'm telling you: Unprecedented. Historical. Mismanagement.

 

[RegDunlop]

Remember how Grant Fuhr put up Vezina-candidate numbers in his rookie season and was even more impressive than Skinner was in his first year? And then the very next season Fuhr found himself doing time in the AHL because he was playing like shit? Yeah, I don't think Slats would've suffered Skinner for very long either.

Omg
I was picking the post to respond to on subject. Congrats!!!! Ha

Thing that came to mind watching the Skinner comedy hour in his mask was trying to imagine a player in the 70s or most of 80s watching that on the bench. He would not be allowed to media after game. He would not be spoken too socially. He would not be given any courtesy.... and the idea...even implication that he starts another game ever, let alone the next one would be absurd. That's the family rated version of what would transpire. Reality would have bordered on violence believe me...I lived it. Again as a former SS supporter...
I'm thinking that should be the final nail.

And for those concerned about Picard.... I believe this guy can take us just as far. He can't be the chosen one but his m.o. is as a savior. He's more than capable

 

[MessierThanThou]

Omg
I was picking the post to respond to on subject. Congrats!!!! Ha

Thing that came to mind watching the Skinner comedy hour in his mask was trying to imagine a player in the 70s or most of 80s watching that on the bench. He would not be allowed to media after game. He would not be spoken too socially. He would not be given any courtesy.... and the idea...even implication that he starts another game ever, let alone the next one would be absurd. That's the family rated version of what would transpire. Reality would have bordered on violence believe me...I lived it. Again as a former SS supporter...
I'm thinking that should be the final nail.

And for those concerned about Picard.... I believe this guy can take us just as far. He can't be the chosen one but his m.o. is as a savior. He's more than capable

I'm lucky I wasn't sipping a beverage when I read "as a former SS supporter" because I would've spat all over my keyboard. I wanted to heart react and laugh react this post simultaneously.

 

[RegDunlop]

How am I getting defensive? Hilarious you say that and then ramble this garbage.

Yes goaltending dominates the conversation when your goalie lets in 11 goals in 2 playoff games. That shouldn’t be surprising.

Your head has been in the sand all year when it comes to goaltending so I don’t expect that to change now.

The thing is....like the old joke....
Why not both?

Tending sucks but I think we still lose playing like the shit our fs and ds have put forth.

And there's bs on all sides and stats. That guy sporting every other goalies % on 25ish shots has Kuemper at 2 ga in 24 shots I think. It was much worse.... 3 GA in 15 or 16 iirc. No need to bs - its bad enough

What I do think everyone and I mean EVERYONE Skinner supporters, haters, coaches, management, etc should be on the same page about ...is Picard starting game 3. It dosent matter how you feel about the player, the goalie, whatever - it's not working and a change is needed.

 

[brentashton]

There's been a lot of talk online and beyond about Skinner being caught on camera smiling while he and the Oilers world was melting down last night. I think this is being misinterpreted as arrogance when it is quite likely a coping mechanism to stress and pressure.

Looked into this premise a wee bit and among doing so came across this video by Oilers mental coach guru George Mumford:

There's a ton I don't like about Skinner the goaltender. Some personal aspects that can annoy me. He was brutal last night behind an abyssmal, dumb Oilers team that leaked high danger chances to Kings finishers. But I highly doubt there's any glee with a player who's struggled as the known weakness of an old veteran team that's firming holding on to a precious window phase to win it all.

I get what you’re saying having been involved with performance coaches in the past but most coach people to use coping approaches that are subtle, internal and don’t alert others to their situation or mindset. With much respect, the best coping mech he should use would be to bear down, focus and make a save.

Save the smiles for after the game.

 

[CycloneSweep]

People are twisitng themselves into pretzels trying to rationalize the claim that it was all goaltending.
Anything to deny the harsh reality that this team has major issues that dont end with Stuart Skinner.

It’s not ALL goaltending and people know that.
What people know is they have seen this exact roster this year play much much better. At their best this team can look like a top 10 team however even at his best Skinner isn’t a legit goalie.
Legit goalies are able to cover when your team has a bad game. Our goalies can’t do that and that’s a massive problem for a contender.
Skinner isn’t the start of or problems but he is a massive one.

 

[frag2]

He's a full blown Pejorative Slur, so no shock there



These guys are either clueless about hockey, or have been told not to criticize Stu Shitter and Dustbin Schwartz (lest they lose media access), or both

Don’t be surprised with how authoritarian our team PR handles things. Remember how Spec (I know…not the best example) kept bitching about the Oilers this and that year ago on Sportsnet broadcasts? Look now. He’s no longer there. He used to also do Oilers Now and he’s now not on that as well.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Don’t be surprised with how authoritarian our team PR handles things. Remember how Spec (I know…not the best example) kept bitching about the Oilers this and that year ago on Sportsnet broadcasts? Look now. He’s no longer there. He used to also do Oilers Now and he’s now not on that as well.

This morning they were talking to Smid about how teams can slump when they lose faith in their goalies and maybe goalies do the same when they lose faith in their team and he was like “uhhh im not a goalie but uhhh, yeah, that doesn’t happen” they were trying so hard to make it a thing and he wouldn’t bite.
But he did say players absolutely play worse when they don’t trust their goalies.

 

[MessierThanThou]

People are twisitng themselves into pretzels trying to rationalize the claim that it was all goaltending.
Anything to deny the harsh reality that this team has major issues that dont end with Stuart Skinner.

Who the hell is claiming it's all goaltending? Seriously. Give me one poster on here who thinks our only problem right now is Stu?

Even me: Host, Organizer, and Master of Ceremonies of the Skinner Haters Ball has spent time today complaining about Knob, Nuge, Nurse, and our carousel of inept GMs in the McDrai era.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I get what you’re saying having been involved with performance coaches in the past but most coach people to use coping approaches that are subtle, internal and don’t alert others to their situation or mindset. With much respect, the best coping mech he should use would be to bear down, focus and make a save.

Save the smiles for after the game.

Beyond my knowledge how and when to utilize mental strength resiliency techniques. Have no clue about it to make an informed opinion. That reaction happened to get caught on camera. Unguarded moment behind a mask. While his world and team's was in full meltdown. Pretty raw moment.

 

[RegDunlop]

He's a full blown Pejorative Slur, so no shock there



These guys are either clueless about hockey, or have been told not to criticize Stu Shitter and Dustbin Schwartz (lest they lose media access), or both

I don't get it
And I'm not even commenting on Skinners play. Not really. But... anyone's whose played the game seriously knows what it's like to give every F ing thing you've got only to be let down over and over again. You play a different game. A nervous, untrusting, less offensive game.

Why can't our mgnt see that?

 

[guymez]

It’s not ALL goaltending and people know that.
What people know is they have seen this exact roster this year play much much better. At their best this team can look like a top 10 team however even at his best Skinner isn’t a legit goalie.
Legit goalies are able to cover when your team has a bad game. Our goalies can’t do that and that’s a massive problem for a contender.
Skinner isn’t the start of or problems but he is a massive one.

When was this exact roster playing like a contender?
Hasnt happened this year.

For example...in the last 30 games of this season the team was barely over .500.

In the first 20 games they were at .500.

This team never had a meaningful stretch of games this season where they played like a contender.

 

[guymez]

Who the hell is claiming it's all goaltending? Seriously. Give me one poster on here who thinks our only problem right now is Stu?

Even me: Host, Organizer, and Master of Ceremonies of the Skinner Haters Ball has spent time today complaining about Knob, Nuge, Nurse, and our carousel of inept GMs in the McDrai era.

Just read the PGT. That will answer your question in spades.

As if changing the goalie makes this team a contender.
LA is kicking their asses all over the ice.
I mean name one aspect of the first 2 games that the Oiler have won?

 

[midnightcopper]

Sorry. Not sure about the tone of your post. Here's a good piece on Mumford's work with the Oilers and some of the depth of his training and experience. 'Unshakable belief and confidence:' How a sports psychologist helped make the Oilers Cup finalists

Personally I think alot of what comes across as arrogance or seeming reality denial in Skinner is a guy paddling as hard as he can not to meltdown like a candle (like the big money free agent Plan A did). I think the guy is masking the doubt and high criticism that comes with the toughest position in the game.

"Mumford reminded players they couldn't fixate on moments of failure, even though he knew it was keeping them up at night. Dwelling on mistakes, he said, wouldn't get them out of this.

Mumford described the concept further in his book: "One of the primary lessons of mental training is that we always -- 100 percent of the time -- need to be moving toward our goal," he wrote. "And in order to do that, we need to be able to let go, and I mean really let go of our mistakes."
accountable for not being a reliable, consistent goaltender this team needs during a finite window era. But I place full blame on rotating management that have failed to deliver this team established quality, consistent goaltending that can, in part, mitigate leaky poor own zone goal suppression required by elite Cup contenders.

I should have dug a little deeper, because I actually felt that was not serious, but it's perhaps I'm too old school. But if that's what's needed for players to cope with the pressure...so be it.

 

[RegDunlop]

There's been a lot of talk online and beyond about Skinner being caught on camera smiling while he and the Oilers world was melting down last night. I think this is being misinterpreted as arrogance when it is quite likely a coping mechanism to stress and pressure.

Looked into this premise a wee bit and among doing so came across this video by Oilers mental coach guru George Mumford:

There's a ton I don't like about Skinner the goaltender. Some personal aspects that can annoy me. He was brutal last night behind an abyssmal, dumb Oilers team that leaked high danger chances to Kings finishers. But I highly doubt there's any glee with a player who's struggled as the known weakness of an old veteran team that's firming holding on to a precious window phase to win it all.

I know. And I sort of agree it's a coping mechanism.

But I look at it this way - when I'm clearing out the front of the net and a player just crosschecked my D partner, whacked and jabbed 4x at my goalie before 'accidently' kneeing him in the head, I will not play the next or possible 2 games if said player skates away untouched. Why?
BECAUSE IT JUST CANT HAPPEN -SAME AS LAUGHING IN YOUR MASK AFTER 10 GA

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

When was this exact roster playing like a contender?
Hasnt happened this year.

For example...in the last 30 games of this season the team was barely over .500.

They’re down in GF, GA, PK and PP from last year. Too many games where the depth was non existent. This team flat out isn’t as good as last year.

 

[RegDunlop]

I'm lucky I wasn't sipping a beverage when I read "as a former SS supporter" because I would've spat all over my keyboard. I wanted to heart react and laugh react this post simultaneously.

!!!!!
Yeah that kind of...sticks out!

 

[McFlyingV]

This morning they were talking to Smid about how teams can slump when they lose faith in their goalies and maybe goalies do the same when they lose faith in their team and he was like “uhhh im not a goalie but uhhh, yeah, that doesn’t happen” they were trying so hard to make it a thing and he wouldn’t bite.
But he did say players absolutely play worse when they don’t trust their goalies.

Of course they do. Anyone who has played hockey knows how much of an impact bad goaltending has on the team, and especially consistently bad goaltending.

 

[BlackDogg]

2024 Oilers

2025 Oilers

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I should have dug a little deeper, because I actually felt that was not serious, but it's perhaps I'm too old school. But if that's what's needed for players to cope with the pressure...so be it.

I'm old school too. But modern era utilizes all sorts of sports science practices to improve performance. With goaltending largely mental strength and resiliency a core requirement to succeed and thrive, not a surprise that this is essentially a mainstream practice starting at amateur stage of play. Goalies have also evolved beyond 40 pound horse hair goal pads. Evolving best practices in a $5 billion dollar industry and millionaire workforce is just good business. Hiring Mumford is actually one of a shrinking list of good decisions Jackson has made. Among the bad ones is not getting a proven veteran goaltender to drive a short winning window.

 

[MessierThanThou]

Just read the PGT. That will answer your question in spades.

As if changing the goalie makes this team a contender.
LA is kicking their asses all over the ice.
I mean name one aspect of the first 2 games that the Oiler have won?

Even so, McDavid willed the team to tie it up in Game 1...and Stu let them down in typical fashion. If McDrai can't even win games on their own anymore, we really are f***ed.

 

[RegDunlop]

This morning they were talking to Smid about how teams can slump when they lose faith in their goalies and maybe goalies do the same when they lose faith in their team and he was like “uhhh im not a goalie but uhhh, yeah, that doesn’t happen” they were trying so hard to make it a thing and he wouldn’t bite.
But he did say players absolutely play worse when they don’t trust their goalies.

Well...truth be told if I was a tender I'd lose faith in my D with Smid in front of me!!
JK I liked the chaotic Smidster