Do the Oilers miss the playoffs again...

[BlueBaron]

I don't think they had much of an off season though they got Nurse to a good deal. Wings are still awful.

Too close to call because they have to have better special teams than last year but which Talbot will show up?

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

Its so much fun, reading how little fans of other teams know the Oilers.

When you look at what went wrong for the team last year, I think they should make the playoffs, unless McDavid goes down on a long injury.

San Jose has the division locked up this year. After that, its wide open.

With coaching and player changes, special teams (especially PK) are likely to improve.
If I were a betting man, they will have a much healthier season.
Their lack of depth at the wings is being poorly under-rated. Especially with how Pulju and Rattie are looking so far.
McDavid looks like he can put up 120+ Points this season

 

[Coffey]

Gee, I hope not.

 

[rubikscube]

McDavid needs to play 78+ games for there to be a chance. If he misses 10 or so cause of injury it could really sink them

 

[robertmac43]

Nah they miss again and the turmoil in Edmonton continues.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Naming a pile of guys that are marginal NHLers is not good depth. Many of those guys are not NHL caliber.

like who?

 

[LaymanX]

This is all on Talbot. He arguably has a bigger impact on the team's success than McDavid.

 

[Kanye]

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

Team is built around depth and not 3 players is what i'm saying. Just an awful roster up and down.

 

[TopG]

The dumpster fire franchise that is wasting McDavid will 100% NOT make the playoffs again... and again... and again........

 

[joe dirte]

Tobias Reider, Ty Rattie, Khaira, Caggiula, Brodziak, Pontus Aberg, Scottie Upshall is done, Chiasson is completely useless.

Even Lucic. He doesn't have the speed to keep up with the game. If you can produce 30 points, and contribute a two way game, and a little grit, then maybe you have use as a player.

But he's too slow to play a two way game, so he's too much of a liability for what he brings.

 

[zeke]

What does the Oilers actual lineup look like at this point?

 

[Porkleaker]

RNH, McDavid, Rattie line looked insane last night, but of course it's pre-season and Jets didn't ice many NHL players. Talbot looks not great and not terrible.....Hopefully Koskinen plays well and take off some of the pressure on Talbs.
I believe they'll make the playoffs, because if they don't some heads are going to roll. Also, I don't think they dealt with the expectations very well last season, people had them penciled in for winning the cup before the season even started lmao. After last seasons expectations have dropped dramatically so that should take some pressure off them, they can just play. Personally, I'm remaining pessimistically optimistic until the season starts and see if they can actually play some consistent .500 hockey

 

[Voodoo Child]

I have them at about 50:50.

The Sharks are the clear favorite and rightly so.

The Knights added Pacioretty, they're a better team than the Oilers.

The Ducks may have an aging core but they have a great D and good goaltending, they'll be equal or ahead.

The Flames, I don't think they improved dramatically but they did get better.

Never count the Kings out, but I think they're on the decline unless Kopitar, Doughty and Quick are God-like.

Then you've got Vancouver, which I have as a sleeper team to make noise - not necessarily make it, but generate some buzz.

Is this the year for Arizona or yet again will they be an October-January doormat and then enter beast mode January-April?

And that's not even counting the Central zone of death.

I have them at 50:50 because anything can happen, but there are seven teams in the West (Winnipeg, Nashville, San Jose, Anaheim, St. Louis, Vegas and Colorado) who are clearly better than they are.

 

[Porkleaker]

What does the Oilers actual lineup look like at this point?

Oops was the line-up from last night

 

[Wewillrise]

Forgot Russel-Benning

 

[Mr Positive]

I don't think they had much of an off season though they got Nurse to a good deal. Wings are still awful.

Too close to call because they have to have better special teams than last year but which Talbot will show up?

our wingers are a bit of a weak spot but it's not as bad as people say.
RNH is playing the wing this season. Him and McDavid will be an amazing duo in the league. Rattie was great last season and is looking great again.

Our bottom six wingers are fine.

So, the only real issue is the 2nd line wingers. Potentially, that includes Puljujarvi, Yamamoto, Lucic, Reider, and a couple other interesting players. Out of this group, our odds are decent we can get a good line together.

Our team's fortunes hang on the defense and goaltending. The wings are fine. They have high quality centers to work with.

 

[542365]

I think they'll be on the bubble. San Jose, Winnipeg, Nashville, and St. Louis are unquestionably better teams on paper. Anaheim always makes the playoffs and I see no reason why they would miss with the talent they have and Gibson. Calgary is much improved and should make it. Then you have the bubble with Minnesota, Colorado, Edmonton, Dallas, maybe Chicago. I would lean towards Edmonton making it, but they're far from a lock. If Talbot plays well and McDavid stays healthy they should get in.

 

[Porkleaker]

Forgot Russel-Benning

Benning can go away, he was more of a liability last season than anything lol

 

[McDNicks17]

What does the Oilers actual lineup look like at this point?

RNH - McDavid - Rattie
Lucic - Draisaitl - Rieder
Khaira - Strome - Puljujarvi
Caggiula/Aberg - Brodziak - Kassian/Yamamoto
Upshall/Chiasson

Klefbom - Larsson
Nurse - Russell
Gravel - Benning
Jerabek

Talbot
Koskinen

 

[rent free]

You are creepy



How are they going from lottery team to middle of the pack?

Seems like you're jealous we have connections to Vaughan and you don't...

 

[zeke]

RNH - McDavid - Rattie
Lucic - Draisaitl - Rieder
Khaira - Strome - Puljujarvi
Caggiula/Aberg - Brodziak - Kassian/Yamamoto
Upshall/Chiasson

Klefbom - Larsson
Nurse - Russell
Gravel - Benning
Jerabek

Talbot
Koskinen

danke

 

[CupsOverCash]

Be kind of embarrassing if they did. All those #1 overall picks and finally hit on one to have the best player in the league but then follow it up to miss playoff appearances.

 

[LMFAO]

What does the Oilers actual lineup look like at this point?

Not what I would do but I'd bet on

RNH-McDavid-Rattie
Lucic-Draisailt-Rieder
Khaira-Strome-Puljujarvi
Caggiula-Brodziak-Kassian

Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Russel
Jerabek-Benning

 

[Paperbagofglory]

Whatever the consensus on Hfboards is you always go with the opposite since they are wrong so often.

 

[habdynasty]

No