Post-Game Talk: Four Nations, Three Losses, Two Forwards, One Defenseman, Zero Goalies

[oobga]

Goalies tend to be nervous, nebulous types and it takes a good coach to handle them. Fuhr was a good example.

Head coach, goalie coach? Or both? Just a line up of mentally defeated husks left in the oilers path this last decade+, except for Smith. Some who got it together somewhere else of course.

There are some guys that can keep their crap together on their own, but probably is hard to find/acquire them among the top tier goalies.

JJ did try hard with Mumford, who seemed to be used by Skinner more than anyone else. I do worry that these motivational/mental health coaches can run out of buttons to push over time though and if that is really gonna work for Skinner again, at least as well as it seemed to last season.

 

[Duke74]

First round exit. Bring on the pain

That's if we even make the playoffs

 

[Duke74]

Starting to think Knoblauch is not a great coach with his handling of Skinner, and juggling lines constantly but missing seemingly obvious combos to try out.

Draisaitl and Skinner had great chemistry for the two games that they played together. Back to the fourth line, Jeff!

I didn’t want to say it loud but it looks like he’s declining before our very eyes.

That wouldn't make sense. Draisaitl is a year and a half older and hasn't started to decline yet.

 

[CROTT]

Sure bud, you have a significant chunk of the board singing the praises of misunderstood hero Jack Campbell, so group think is the team is bad and the season is over, so lean in, it saves time.

I think a lot of people don’t look past the standings, this team is average out side of having two of the best forwards in the league to prop it up. If it wasn’t for Draisaitl having a monster season they’d be fighting with LA for second place and that’s just because of the drop off in the division and conference is drastic to Van/Cal and below that.

When the rest of the team plays a decent game, McDavid and Draisaitl give the Oilers that goal or two for a win. When they don’t this recent stretch is the result.

Also like I said in the GDT, if the players are going to come out sleep walking and continue to miss their checks that’s on the coaches as much as it’s on the players.

I heard a rumour that Coffey said last years poor start was due to bad conditioning coming into camp and the turn around was due to players finally getting in game shape and into playing. And that was the final nail in the coffin for Woody.

 

[Messrules11]

Knob is completely brain dead at this point. He won’t give J Skinner any ice time no matter how well he plays. He throws Kapanen and Podz on a line with Mcdavid, Podz has shown he can play with Drai but that’s about it. Kapanen is waiver wire fodder. He puts old man Perry with McDrai late in the game as if that’s some nuclear combination. Arvidsson is a failure, never gets healthy scratched. Henrique has been invisible all year, Brown is a turd and then there’s that phony RNH, rip that A off his chest and tell him he’s never getting it back. Then punt him into the sun.
Oh yeah, goalies, f*** both of them.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Goalies tend to be nervous, nebulous types and it takes a good coach to handle them. Fuhr was a good example.

I'm not sure I'd characterize Fuhr that way. Biggest thing is that he was an elite pedigree prospect who defined athletic ability in a different generation of 40 pound horsehair goaltender pads and heavy equipment. His mental strength in resiliency, grit, determination and ability to let go of bad goals was the foundation within what was a hall of fame career.

The Oilers have arguably been the worst organization within the NHL for the past decade in their approach to goaltending. They were fortunate to recycle an ancient warrior Smith because of Tippett's belief in the guy and despite some wobbles at times battled within every game to give this team largely above average goaltending. Betting big money and term on a known mentally weak Jack Campbell has to be one of the poorest scouting decisions ever made. But again because this organization has never prioritized the most difficult position in either drafting or development it has been a chronic weakness.

Now after rolling an off season spending big on small skill wingers this team's most crucial position and team's fortune is placed within the play of a mid-level development phase default #1 who was pegged as a project back-up through peak window years and a plucky AHL/NHL career tweener. It's a miracle Skinner didn't melt down under the pressure.

Neglecting this position forever carried massive risk and consequences. Magnified when this team defending goes pear shape like this recent run.

 

[Ritchie Valens]

Didn’t catch the whole game, just the third when it was already out of reach. Pickard is usually reliable but holy shit he let in some stinkers today after seeing the highlights. Get a goalie by the deadline, that is a must. In the offseason, goaltending scouting, coaching and development has to be completely overhauled.

 

[Ritchie Valens]

Knob is completely brain dead at this point. He won’t give J Skinner any ice time no matter how well he plays. He throws Kapanen and Podz on a line with Mcdavid, Podz has shown he can play with Drai but that’s about it. Kapanen is waiver wire fodder. He puts old man Perry with McDrai late in the game as if that’s some nuclear combination. Arvidsson is a failure, never gets healthy scratched. Henrique has been invisible all year, Brown is a turd and then there’s that phony RNH, rip that A off his chest and tell him he’s never getting it back. Then punt him into the sun.
Oh yeah, goalies, f*** both of them.

Never been a fan of him either.

Maybe there’s a major trade with Boston to be made involving Marchand but again, all RNH has to do is say “I ain’t leaving shit”, and that’s the end.

 

[tardigrade81]

Didn’t catch the whole game, just the third when it was already out of reach. Pickard is usually reliable but holy shit he let in some stinkers today. Get a goalie by the deadline, that is a must. In the offseason, goaltending scouting, coaching and development has to be completely overhauled.

I didn't see it either. With the goaltending continuing like this. We could get in trouble

 

[McTonyBrar]

Knob is completely brain dead at this point. He won’t give J Skinner any ice time no matter how well he plays. He throws Kapanen and Podz on a line with Mcdavid, Podz has shown he can play with Drai but that’s about it. Kapanen is waiver wire fodder. He puts old man Perry with McDrai late in the game as if that’s some nuclear combination. Arvidsson is a failure, never gets healthy scratched. Henrique has been invisible all year, Brown is a turd and then there’s that phony RNH, rip that A off his chest and tell him he’s never getting it back. Then punt him into the sun.
Oh yeah, goalies, f*** both of them.

The hell is Jeff Skinner going to fix LOL.

 

[Messrules11]

Never been a fan of him either.

Maybe there’s a major trade with Boston to be made involving Marchand but again, all RNH has to do is say “I ain’t leaving shit”, and that’s the end.

Ya, that NTC is a nightmare, I was hoping he was toast after his 6M contract expired but he signed for less likely knowing that if he went to another team the fanbase would see what a fake he is. His career would likely mirror Hall and Ebs, if not worse.

The hell is Jeff Skinner going to fix LOL.

He’s a better option than Kapanen and it’s not even close

 

[BlackDogg]

I'm rooting for Putin loving OV to break the insufferable great ones record. Evgani is about to make hockey great again.

 

[McBeastMode]

I agree.
This team is in serious trouble if either Draisaitl or McDavid isnt up to par.


What was the record (and goal differential) against the top 2 teams in each division last year?

For 2023/24 complete season...

 

[McDNicks17]

Playoffs don't look too promising..

I was curious what goaltending looked like during these.

45 goals against on 35 xGA.

-0.90 goals saved above average per 60.

The worst GSAA/60 in the league by goalies with over 15 games played is -0.78 GSAA.60(Georgiev).

 

[Ritchie Valens]

I didn't see it either. With the goaltending continuing like this. We could get in trouble

Get your resume sharpened up.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

I think a lot of people don’t look past the standings, this team is average out side of having two of the best forwards in the league to prop it up. If it wasn’t for Draisaitl having a monster season they’d be fighting with LA for second place and that’s just because of the drop off in the division and conference is drastic to Van/Cal and below that.

When the rest of the team plays a decent game, McDavid and Draisaitl give the Oilers that goal or two for a win. When they don’t this recent stretch is the result.

Also like I said in the GDT, if the players are going to come out sleep walking and continue to miss their checks that’s on the coaches as much as it’s on the players.

I heard a rumour that Coffey said last years poor start was due to bad conditioning coming into camp and the turn around was due to players finally getting in game shape and into playing. And that was the final nail in the coffin for Woody.

Honestly this team is just run of the mill with 2 stars, they should sell and hope for the best.

That's if we even make the playoffs

I mean they're probably too far up to miss the playoffs, but it's not out of the realm.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Honestly this team is just run of the mill with 2 stars, they should sell and hope for the best.


I mean they're probably too far up to miss the playoffs, but it's not out of the realm.

When McDavid is average the entire team collapses. Other than Draisatl you can’t count on anyone to step up.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

When McDavid is average the entire team collapses. Other than Draisatl you can’t count on anyone to step up.

Totally, it's why this is all done. Playing out the stretch. I thought we were past this, but nope

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Totally, it's why this is all done. Playing out the stretch. I thought we were past this, but nope

I’m sure the next waiver claim by Stan will rectify our woes. What a shitty management group we have.

 

[Soundwave]

I’m sure the next waiver claim by Stan will rectify our woes. What a shitty management group we have.

They should honestly claim Jusso Valimaki if he's still there, lol.

I was curious what goaltending looked like during these.

45 goals against on 35 xGA.

-0.90 goals saved above average per 60.

The worst GSAA/60 in the league by goalies with over 15 games played is -0.78 GSAA.60(Georgiev).

 

[I am the Liquor]

Starting to think Knoblauch is not a great coach with his handling of Skinner, and juggling lines constantly but missing seemingly obvious combos to try out.

I don’t think it’s the coach so much as the players tuning him out. Just like they did with the others who came before him.

 

[Soundwave]

I don’t think it’s the coach so much as the players tuning him out. Just like they did with the others who came before him.

Because it's exhausting to use systems play to cover up for a dummy management group that cannot ever figure out how to fill any position.

That's partly why it's called a new coach bump, we got a massive one, and we're still reaping benefits from it generally, the management is the one not holding up any of their side of the bargain. Upgrade the forwards? Nope. Upgrade the D? Nope. Upgrade in net? Haha.

At some point it grows stale on the players to keep having to dig down and work so hard against the odds. We have to walk uphill whereas other Cup winners like Colorado and Vegas and Florida got to enjoy walking downhill or on even ground because their management groups gave them a shit-ton of help in their Cup wins, here it's the opposite. We are actively handicapped by our front office, look no further than last summer's debacle of an off-season.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

88 USD to watch that disaster in person. Shades of 06-07 where the chemistry and willpower that took us to Game 7 the previous year simply isn't there, no matter how badly we want to deny otherwise.

I truly feel bad for you. 0 effort 0 energy 0 pulse. You deserve a refund.

 

[Soundwave]

I truly feel bad for you. 0 effort 0 energy 0 pulse. You deserve a refund.

Got to see Ovy score 3 goals, at least that's something.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Connor is no longer quite like Connor. 71 points vs MacK at 87. Even with a couple games off, its not good. The team, aside from goaltending even, can't afford that with the way the rest of the Top 6 play outside of Drai.

No question 97 has dropped off from his dizzying heights.