Post-Game Talk: From the jaws of defeat…

[TheNumber4]

What makes you think he isn't trying his best?

I'm just saying that the Oilers haven't invested much into their starting goalie and sometimes you have to expect to get what you pay for. They spent 7 mil on JSkinner and Arvidsson in the summer that they could've put toward a goalie upgrade if they wanted (minus the salaries of their hypothetical replacements and + Pickard's or Skinner's salary I guess).

Makes more sense to be mad at management than Skinner since I see no reason to believe he isn't doing all he can.

I was hoping for a goalie upgrade, but it seems the Oilers management decided to gamble on Skinner improving and playing above his salary.

He’s gotten 2 additional goalie consultants/coaches in addition to Schwartz. Yeh pretty sure a lack of effort isn’t the problem.

 

[Drivesaitl]

He looked just like Gagner looked like last year. He got crushed pretty much every time he touched the puck. IMO, he’s done and at risk of injury every time he steps on the ice.

Victim Arviddson.

This is the same as last season. I told people it was like "they killed Kenny again" The version we have can't even avoid a hit. On the one play he got hurt last game (again) its because he's fallng down anytime he's touched or breathed on and then crashing into the boards. Its painful. Just seeing it. In prime he was a good player. But not the version we got.

Imagine paying 8M to a guy that looks worse here than Old Gagner on his third iteration here.

 

[TheNumber4]

Some stats related to Mattias Ekholm's period with Edmonton.... Since he became an Oiler:

NHL teams:
1. Dallas .681
2. Edmonton .670
3. Boston .665

NHL defencemen ES scoring:
1. Quinn Hughes 87
2. Cale Makar 81
3. Josh Morrissey 80
4. Evan Bouchard 76
5. Erik Karlsson 69
...
10. Mattias Ekholm 63

NHL players plus/minus:
1. Mattias Ekholm +82
2. Gustav Forsling +80
3. Dylan DeMelo +64
4. Connor McDavid +57
5. Leon Draisaitl +54
6. Quinn Hughes +53
7. Evan Bouchard +51

Remember when some nutty fans thought the Oilers should be acquiring Erik Karlsson? Since Ekholm was acquired, he has scored 91% of Karlsson's ES points while going +82 to Karlsson's -25.

Mattias has had a rough few weeks, but overall, I'd say since his acquisition he's been the Oilers' best Dman since Pronger.

Lol Yes. That was me last week. But also a lot of others a few years ago when he was actually on the market. And we still should. What does Ekholm being a complete beast have to do with adding another to the roster?

Now let’s look at Ekholms EV scoring prior to Oilers days. And imagine what that could do for EK65.

The Oilers are also currently looking at Matheson. Who’s like dollar store EK65. We’d be lucky if EK65 hit the market at 50% but alas he probably won’t.

Didn't make any sense to me. The Oilers, at the time, were the highest scoring team in the NHL and were filling the net on a nightly basis. Their challenge was defence and goaltending, and those weren't issues that Karlsson was going to help with.

Yes. Back then that was completely right. And Ekholm wasn’t really rumored to be on the market, to compare to those guys that were. Ultimately, EK back then was a pipe dream that fizzled out even back then, from myself included. And the debate then shifted to Chych vs. Whoever, then Ek came out of nowhere to put the debate to bed once and for all.

 

[brentashton]

These are possibly Indian Mandarins which are often available here now and are better than the Chinese ones (anything is) They usually come attached with the stems which is also kind of festive looking in a bowl. Could be something else though. I've been in that grocer, its quite good. They have good fruit and produce. Its H & W but seems way better than the Edmonton stores.

H & W. Yes, that’s it. Thank you.

 

[brentashton]

If my Dad was throwing food in the house Mom would have made sure he didn’t have a good year.

My dad is fastidious and immaculate in his organization and cleanliness when it comes to everything he does. To see him do this the first time was jaw dropping to say the least.

However, it’s Ukrainian tradition. (He also touches up the spantex and paints the spot if it looks even anything oddly different than the rest of the ceiling.)

 

[Stoneman89]

Could have got me for next to nothing

If nothing else, you could lead the team in the pre-game stretches!

 

[Stoneman89]

Cooked, washed, fried, baked, toast. What’s with all the cooking terms?

And the famous "done like dinner".

 

[Drivesaitl]

My dad is fastidious and immaculate in his organization and cleanliness when it comes to everything he does. To see him do this the first time was jaw dropping to say the least.

However, it’s Ukrainian tradition. (He also touches up the spantex and paints the spot if it looks even anything oddly different than the rest of the ceiling.)

Its always going to look different.

heh. I'm more pragmatic. Things that need repairing get repaired. We also have two cats and anybody thats a cat or dog owner knows you eventually have to accept theres just going to be some pet related damage in homes. To furniture etc.

Just a side note but one of the hardest adjustments I had to make upon hearing I was Celiac was not being able to eat Perogies. Loved those things. Gluten free versions are just terrible, not the same texture, stick together, don't taste the same. sigh.

I'm meticulous with where my tools or pots and pans or anything are. I have a place where everything should go and my wife is a radical. hehe. Often I think she's just playing with my system of organization. But then she's the one that loses her keys and claiming others must have "hidden" them. She puts things wherever they land.

 

[brentashton]

Its always going to look different.

heh. I'm more pragmatic. Things that need repairing get repaired. We also have two cats and anybody thats a cat or dog owner knows you eventually have to accept theres just going to be some pet related damage in homes. To furniture etc.

Just a side note but one of the hardest adjustments I had to make upon hearing I was Celiac was not being able to eat Perogies. Loved those things. Gluten free versions are just terrible, not the same texture, stick together, don't taste the same. sigh.

I'm meticulous with where my tools or pots and pans or anything are. I have a place where everything should go and my wife is a radical. hehe. Often I think she's just playing with my system of organization. But then she's the one that loses her keys and claiming others must have "hidden" them. She puts things wherever they land.

You and I’ve spoken…my dad is a journeyman tradesperson and believe me, you can’t tell when he’s finished correcting his Xmas Eve hi jinx. Journeyman cabinetmaker and carpenter, I wish I had his skills.

I must live in your mirror universe.

I’m exactly the same with my tools and belongings. My family calls it a sickness. My wife on the other hand (and I love her dearly) can at times be operating like she’s Fred Sanford.

And you know our story about Celiac. My daughter shares your disdain for GF perogies, commercial or home made. I’ve tried them too, just not the same, no matter how much mushroom sauce you cover them in.

 

[tardigrade81]

If nothing else, you could lead the team in the pre-game stretches!

Lmao. As long as I can pregame with a few beers

 

[bucks_oil]

I'm not convinced reading their board that this is much to go on.

Bruins are a classic example of a team getting slowly worse every season until there isn't much left. I keep asking this but after Pastaman what is there in Boston. Who else is supposed to produce. They all still think Marchant is some kind of legend. Bruins fans historically elevate their club and wouldn't realize how Bad Bruins are playing and how much pressure they would put on their goalie. Despite the scoreline (Oilers weren't sharp tonight) I've seen several other clubs come in here and play a tighter game than the Bruins were. Worse for the Bruins is they had no awareness on ice from their topline who else was on ice. I think the worst coverage tonight was by the bruins topsix, if you could even call it a topsix. Its basically Pasta/Marchand and no names.

The Bruins have considerable difficulty scoring or mounting much of anything even on the PP so when behind in games they get cheating. That didn't feature tonight because they jumped the score and never trailed. But its plain ugly to see this Bruins team behind. Their team game is imploding pretty much like the Rangers have. I don't blame that on Swayman.

Just look at the Bruins roster. Where are the goals gonna come from. This results in the kind of garbage 200ft game that Pasta just played tonight. Worst game I've ever seen him play. Because he hast to be the offense on that club.

A team has a real problem when Mark Kastelic is the only guy that made a good move in tight, and he did a couple times. Bruins have negligible scoring confidence.

I see it somewhat differently… in the last 4-5 years they have lost:
1) a first ballot DEFENSIVE forward… there might have been 2-3 guys like Bergeron ever.
2) a first ballot defenseman in Chara
3) an all star level playmaking C in Krejci…

And yet the following year with ZERO new additions of note, they put up the best regular season OF ALL TIME.

That’s only possible when you’ve got 25 guys playing solid two-way hockey for years… the only way to make the squad is the same.. and so those fans are in denial only because they think that’s all you need… structure trumps talent… and honestly usually, usually they are right

 

[Drivesaitl]

I see it somewhat differently… in the last 4-5 years they have lost:
1) a first ballot DEFENSIVE forward… there might have been 2-3 guys like Bergeron ever.
2) a first ballot defenseman in Chara
3) an all star level playmaking C in Krejci…

And yet the following year with ZERO new additions of note, they put up the best regular season OF ALL TIME.

That’s only possible when you’ve got 25 guys playing solid two-way hockey for years… the only way to make the squad is the same.. and so those fans are in denial only because they think that’s all you need… structure trumps talent… and honestly usually, usually they are right

How does this counter anything I'd stated. We're saying the same things. Where we differ is whether the Bruins recent seasons run of play is at all indicative of where they were at. Beantown clubs are founded on mounting strong reg seasons where they can just outplay opponents. These were paper tiger seasons and predictably whenever the team was immersed in playoffs the last few years they were nothing. usually first round exit. Lat time Bruins put a playoff run together was 6yrs ago when they had their complete lineup.

 

[McBooya42]

Everyone will have their opinions about Craig McTavish, but I understand now why he practically leapt to the stage to draft Leon Draisaitl like a giddy child. What a beauty! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone.