Do the Oilers miss the playoffs again...

[McIce Whole]

I see them as a bubble team, but if everything goes right sort of like it did in 16-17 then they can possibly make it. If Talbot comes back to his previous form and if they get some much needed scoring on the wing from Yamamoto and Puljujarvi and maybe have Nurse and Klefbom chip in more offensively from the blue line then they could surprise some people.

If everything goes right, we will be up there with San Jose for the top spot but relying on everything to go right would be a disaster.

If our defence and goaltending bounce back, as well as our special teams improve, I think we make playoffs.

Calculated risks IMO. Healthy Klefbom to improve our D vastly and bounce back year from Talbot are bets I’m willing to bank on.

Special teams was dead last, we added players to improve PK and I highly doubt power play will he as bad as last season.

 

[Cellee]

Every team is a key injury or 2 from missing the playoffs. Even without injuries it’s tonhard to predict. Even San Jose could miss the playoffs if things don’t go right for them.

That is not really true. I can think a lot of the playoff teams going through rashes of significant injuries.

 

[CraigsList]

Couldnt care less. Its always been an "Us against the world" mentality in Edmonton. Its the way we like it.

Lol, only you guys label yourselves as that.

Usually, you’re at the bottom so nobody really cares.

 

[Unspecified]

Yes

 

[Field of Dreams]

When I look at the Oilers upcoming roster, it doesn't look like its improved much, if at all from last year. In fact, it's considerably worse than the 15/16 roster, which of course was a 70 point team despite having Hall, McDavid, Drai, Klefblom, Eberle, Nurse, Sekera, RNH.

When you look at the oilers record over the last three seasons (or any number of seasons in the last decade) the 16/17 season is the exception, not the norm. I think we would be remiss to use that season to measure the quality of the current oilers team.

 

[Kanye]

Without McDavid, RNH, and Draisaitl it looks like Ottawa of the west.

Highly highly doubt they'll sniff the playoffs.

 

[Battle Lin]

mcdavid is the best right now, but other teams got stars up front too, but more importantly they got better overall teams...edm got good players, but there are better teams with better depth in the west for sure

 

[SoVi3t]

Whether they make the playoffs or not, their fans are going to be a chore to deal with.

 

[Dahlin 2 Eichel]

If they make the playoffs it is going to be decided in the last 5 games of the season.

 

[Sugi21]

No, I think they miss again. Defence is awful, again, goaltending is suspect with their backups, and the wingers are meh. It’s a 2 man team again.

 

[Straight Fire]

I think so, yes.

 

[NeverForget06]

Without McDavid, RNH, and Draisaitl it looks like Ottawa of the west.

Highly highly doubt they'll sniff the playoffs.

"take away a team's best three players and they are worse"

 

[Brian McDavid]

bless your heart

It was a poorly worded post. They meant Van is the only Pacific team guaranteed to miss, with SJ being the only lock. The remaining teams all have a shot.

 

[GodPucker]

In no problem with improved special teams.

 

[GodPucker]

"take away a team's best three players and they are worse"

Possibly one of the dumbest posts I have ever read here lol. As dumb as the celebrity in the username lol.

 

[McShogun99]

That is not really true. I can think a lot of the playoff teams going through rashes of significant injuries.

It depends who it is. If Pittsburgh had both Crosby and Malkin go down for a significant length of time it would be highly unlikely that they make it. Most well built teams can afford to have their best player injured but very few can survive if 2 or more get injured at the same time.

 

[Leafidelity]

I don't think the Oilers are good enough to make the playoffs. Not nearly enough depth.

 

[tony d]

I think they sneak in as a wild card.

 

[Burned]

If Talbot has a great year they can.

Talbot already had his "great" year

 

[StreetHawk]

and Shea Theodore holding out hurts too

not enamored with Vegas' defense to be honest...yes they have Fleury but I expect Engelland and McNabb to come back down to Earth...same with Miller

real unpredictable team IMO

Theodore isn’t holding out. He’s unsigned. Holdouts are players who have contracts who do not report.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

In like Flynn

 

[Oilers Propagandist]

Whether they make the playoffs or not, their fans are going to be a chore to deal with.

 

[Mobiandi]

Coinflip. They're in the mix but not at the forefront

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Theodore isn’t holding out. He’s unsigned. Holdouts are players who have contracts who do not report.

Well whatever..he’s not at camp and my point stands

 

[Voight]

The defence is still trash, but if they miss again Oilers fans will probably be happy that Chia + McLellan will be fired.