Pre-Game Talk: Dropping like flies, whose the biggest surprise? (guaranteed to please Pole)

[McDoused]

Ugh losing Hyman was huge.

Our depth has definitely taken a hit without him and Brown.

Draisaitls line hasn't looked great with him carrying two 4th liners.

We are going to need some big performances out of Kane, Arvidsson and hopefully Frederic starts elevating his game.

 

[jesusbuiltmyhotrod]

A chance to avenge last years final should be extra motivation for the boys

 

[midnightcopper]

So u were in your teens in 2006 . I worked in Edmonton during that cup run and went to GM 3 SCF. It was magical and I had the best time of my life in that cup run. It was a massive party. I had to return home to NS for birth of my daughter. Seen GM 7 in my home in NS. Loss killed me
In the 80's, we had a dynasty. You never thought the good times would end. I wish we had stable ownership back then because we would have won 7-8 cups in a row. 1990 was a great cup win. It was unexpected.
Some of the older fellas on here, local fellas, could probably add to my blog on the 80's dynasty. We thought it would never end. Some nice to watch. But in life, all good things must come to an end.
Keep the faith, we can win it this year. We are a different team then last year. Next man up. I have some young Oilers fans in these parts that havent seen a cup yet. They are dying for one. One graduated with my daughter last year. GM 7 was played at their grad party. When Oilers lost, it destroyed him. He wouldnt come outta his tent at party, I said , Keep the faith, we will be back

If anyone has a little time, enjoy...

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Ugh losing Hyman was huge.

Our depth has definitely taken a hit without him and Brown.

Draisaitls line hasn't looked great with him carrying two 4th liners.

We are going to need some big performances out of Kane, Arvidsson and hopefully Frederic starts elevating his game.

Kane seemed to be hurt last game too. Hopefully it was nothing serious. If we go down Kane or if he is rendered ineffective and we lose Brown and Hyman it will be near impossible to win a cup.

 

[aggressive forecheck]

Another couple of days isn't going to make Ekholm anymore healthy. Mattias Ekholm is a better player than Jeff Skinner. We have the best two centers left in the playoffs and they can be moved between any and all assortment of wingers on the team, and adjustments made on the fly.

If Ekholm is ready you play Ekholm.

 

[midnightcopper]

I hope you and the younger fans who participate here, experience what some of us have experienced 5 times in our lives with some of the greatest assembled teams ever.

It’s euphoric and makes memories that stay with you forever.

Until then, enjoy the ride to get there.

I remember listening to a radio program way back in the day (I'm thinking after his retirement), and the comment is pretty much verbatim. But the reporter was talking to Wayne on the golf course, and asked him THE pointed question as to whether he thought about the cups he could have won had he stayed in Edmonton. He said he did all the time.

 

[brentashton]

I remember listening to a radio program way back in the day (I'm thinking after his retirement), and the comment is pretty much verbatim. But the reporter was talking to Wayne on the golf course, and asked him THE pointed question as to whether he thought about the cups he could have won had he stayed in Edmonton. He said he did all the time.

I think alot of fans do too. That’s why you enjoy what you can when you can.

Let’s wrap this sucker up tonite.

 

[trojansoilers]

If anyone has a little time, enjoy...

That was such a magical run...and we had a bunch of warriors on the team that were easy to cheer for:
Smytty, Hemmer, Fernando, Steady-Steve, Gator, Chopper, Big Georges, Rolo
Really gutted that Smyth was that close to getting a cup.

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

Another couple of days isn't going to make Ekholm anymore healthy. Mattias Ekholm is a better player than Jeff Skinner. We have the best two centers left in the playoffs and they can be moved between any and all assortment of wingers on the team, and adjustments made on the fly.

If Ekholm is ready you play Ekholm.

So much risk if you lose a forward when you start with 11 though. And those extra minutes can come back to haunt you if need one and McDrai got nothing left in the tank. Hyman and Brown are both guys who could have picked up more minutes in a. 11/7 scenario. Man I’m glad I don’t have to make these decisions.

 

[1981 Oilers]

I was born in 1994 and was 11 when 06 happened so not quite in my teens. That run made me a hard-core fan and I never really cared for hockey before that. I swear the city was even crazier back then than it is now. Maybe that team got more love for being underdogs. That whole 06 run felt like a cultural experience for me. I had never experienced anything like it before. The 80s really must of been something to behold. It's awesome that you older fans got to witness all of that. I can't possibly imagine living to see 5 cup championships nevermind 1!

I actually took my camcorder (06 was before Iphones) down town after every night they eliminated a team. They put out Detroit 1st round and Edmonton went bonkers. Man I got to see a lot of ta tas with the girls flashing everyone. It was awesome. I should be posting some videos of that run on here. Can we do that on here or is it allowed?
80's was a great time. The hockey was great. Lots of fights back then. When Edmonton and Calgary played, u could have donated blood to the Red Cross. It was a blood bath. Oilers had some tough players back then. Semenko, McClelland, Hunter, Brown, McSorely, Jackson. We couldnt be bullied. Messier would drive an elbow down your throat

 

[1981 Oilers]

If anyone has a little time, enjoy...

thank u
simply awesome. Lots of good memories there. What a run

 

[StoveTopStauffer]

Watch Noah Philp draw in ahead of J Skinner.

Watch Knob throw Stetcher in as a winger before Skinner LOL

 

[jesusbuiltmyhotrod]

It’s going to be rough without Hyman going forward.

Its a big blow but this team is more then deep enough. Why are some of you go so quickly to toxic negativity?

 

[aggressive forecheck]

That was such a magical run...and we had a bunch of warriors on the team that were easy to cheer for:
Smytty, Hemmer, Fernando, Steady-Steve, Gator, Chopper, Big Georges, Rolo
Really gutted that Smyth was that close to getting a cup.

We were short a starting goaltender then and now we're missing arguably our best two role players, stolen from us consecutive games.

That was a deliberate tactic by DeBoer. We need to win tonight and not lose anymore players to DeBoer's "best hockey of the series" shenanigans.

That cheapshot asshole.

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

I was born in 1994 and was 11 when 06 happened so not quite in my teens. That run made me a hard-core fan and I never really cared for hockey before that. I swear the city was even crazier back then than it is now. Maybe that team got more love for being underdogs. That whole 06 run felt like a cultural experience for me. I had never experienced anything like it before. The 80s really must of been something to behold. It's awesome that you older fans got to witness all of that. I can't possibly imagine living to see 5 cup championships nevermind 1!

The first time I was allowed to stay up late and watch hockey on tv was 1981, game one of round two vs NYI. I was 10 and I fell in love with the Oilers firebrand hockey. Lots of joy and suffering since. A cup now would be more special to me than any of the first five.

 

[Austerlitz]

That was such a magical run...and we had a bunch of warriors on the team that were easy to cheer for:
Smytty, Hemmer, Fernando, Steady-Steve, Gator, Chopper, Big Georges, Rolo
Really gutted that Smyth was that close to getting a cup.

I was living in Calgary at the time and I remember listening to sports radio one day and one of the commentators described that Oilers team as the hockey equivalent of a, 'zombie apocalypse movie'. No matter what you did, no matter what the score, no matter what time of the game, there were always three more forecheckers coming over the boards next, hitting anything that moved, throwing pucks on net and crashing the crease.

Its weird the things you remember. But that was the best description of that team I ever heard.

 

[aggressive forecheck]

They have to do it for Zach. If they win you know how much he means to the team.

 

[MessierII]

So much risk if you lose a forward when you start with 11 though. And those extra minutes can come back to haunt you if need one and McDrai got nothing left in the tank. Hyman and Brown are both guys who could have picked up more minutes in a. 11/7 scenario. Man I’m glad I don’t have to make these decisions.

I would go 11-7 because it’s one game. Shuffle McDrai and get the series in the bag and get a good rest before the finals. Doesn’t really matter if you run them ragged. You win this game you don’t play till Wednesday.

 

[foshizzle]

We could get a Jeff Jackson redemption arc if Skinner and Arvidsson play key roles going forward. Oilers fans would get a Jeff Skinner vindication arc also….

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

11-7 would be a disaster. Not for tomorrow night but the cup final if we get there, it adds a significant icetime load to every forward, expecially the top end ones and all the centers. If we go that route and win and the next series goes 6 or 7 games, the guys we most need to step up will be worn out.

Would rather put Stetcher at 4RW than go 11-7.

It would be more of a disaster if Ekholm gets hurt, we play with 5 defensemen.

Being down 1 forward is not really a big deal

 

[McFlyingV]

Its a big blow but this team is more then deep enough. Why are some of you go so quickly to toxic negativity?

Agreed. Losing Hyman sucks, but Ekholm if healthy is a higher impact player than Hyman that's just the truth. This team has some nice depth pieces in the press box that they haven't had in previous years, and guys who can shuffle up the line up.

This is the best this team has ever looked and they've done it without one of their top pairing D the entire way. I'd have a little more belief in this group personally that they can overcome the loss of Hyman.

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

We could get a Jeff Jackson redemption arc if Skinner and Arvidsson play key roles going forward. Oilers fans would get a Jeff Skinner vindication arc also….

Poor Knob would have egg plastered all over his face though. In a happy way mind you.

 

[harpoon]

But we know he'll play the system game and work hard. Better that than Skinner cherry picking and floating back.

Its funny how this board has (mostly) gone from ‘Knob is a moron for not playing J Skinner’, to ‘we can’t afford to play J Skinner even when we desperately need a body and he’s clearly the best one available’.

 

[aggressive forecheck]

Its funny how this board has (mostly) gone from ‘Knob is a moron for not playing J Skinner’, to ‘we can’t afford to play J Skinner even when we desperately need a body and he’s clearly the best one available’.

If Ekholms healthy enough to go I believe you have to go with the superhuman Swede. Go with 7 D.

I wouldn't have Stecher as a forward but I have no problems with him switching to rover with 3 D on the ice for a small number of shifts during a game.

It's basically activating a defenceman while there is an extra D to cover for him. The positioning isn't all that foreign to a team that regularly activates its defense.

 

[aggressive forecheck]

Additionally McDavid and Ekholm play the give and go beautifully. Ekholm could jump up in the play while 3 D are simultaneously on the ice. One D back to cover for Ekholm.