Value of: Functional Toughness to the Oilers

[Bryanbryoil]

I just saw it more as some vets made a gutsy play to do what the team needed because no one else would

100%. That is team toughness and guys showing some leadership and guts out there. That should not be their jobs game after game. Had that been Hathaway instead of Couturier we might be down a defenseman right now.

 

[FerrisRox]

We don't need more grit or toughness, absolutely not something the Oilers are lacking in any meaningful way. The only mildly gritty player we lost off our roster from last year was Holloway. Desharnais wasn't really gritty, nor Foegele, obviously not McLeod, or Broberg, or Ceci. Not sure why you think this is something the Oilers need. It's not.

First of all, you left out Evander Kane who absolutely plays with a little bite to his game and makes his presence felt physically.

Secondly, saying that Desharnais wasn't gritty is just plain wrong. He absolutely plays a physical game and is very active laying the lumber on opponents and making them think twice about going to the front of the net or going into the corners with him. I don't know how you could watch last season and come away with the idea that he wasn't gritty or physical.

This is a bizarre take.

Ever heard of this guy named Evander Kane? Desharnais played guys physically more with lumber than hits but he never made it easy on the opposing team in front of the net.

This guy gets it.

 

[macbowes]

First of all, you left out Evander Kane who absolutely plays with a little bite to his game and makes his presence felt physically.

Secondly, saying that Desharnais wasn't gritty is just plain wrong. He absolutely plays a physical game and is very active laying the lumber on opponents and making them think twice about going to the front of the net or going into the corners with him. I don't know how you could watch last season and come away with the idea that he wasn't gritty or physical.

This is a bizarre take.

Kane is still on our team. Desharnais did offer some physicality, but he was a #7 dman who was scratched in a third of our playoff games. Apart from him, our roster is missing nobody. So unless you think Desharnais is some massive loss, I fail to see how the Oilers are any less gritty than last year. Podkolzin is as gritty as Deshairnais, but he's a forward.

 

[ManofSteel55]

I just saw it more as some vets made a gutsy play to do what the team needed because no one else would

And that's what the entire team needs to do. I think Stecher did it because he was the closest, not that nobody else would.

 

[Rubi]

Fighting doesn't happen or need to happen on a nightly basis. As long as we have guys willing to step up when they need to, we don't need a fighter.

Too bad Leon Draisaitl isn't one of those guys willing to step up. Imagine being 6'2" 210 lbs and a coward. Instead you have tiny Troy Stecher carrying water for the team against 6'4" 210 lb Sean Couturier. SMH.

 

[John Mandalorian]

They should give Magnus Ver Magnusson a contract and have him carry milk jugs instead of a hockey stick.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Too bad Leon Draisaitl isn't one of those guys willing to step up. Imagine being 6'2" 210 lbs and a coward. Instead you have tiny Troy Stecher carrying water for the team against 6'4" 210 lb Sean Couturier. SMH.

Truth be told there are times that I am not a fan of his shenanigans because I am a big proponent of if you are going to dish dirt then you should be ready to back it up. That said, in no circumstances do I want to See McDavid, Draisaitl or Bouchard fighting much like you likely didn't want to watch Gaudreau drop them when he was a Flame (RIP Johnny Hockey). They are too valuable to our team. McDavid's last fight led to a broken hand in junior. If that happened now we would be f***ed. The whole point of having guys like Kostin, Deslauriers, etc. is for them to do the majority of the dirty work and fighting.

 

[harpoon]

Too bad Leon Draisaitl isn't one of those guys willing to step up. Imagine being 6'2" 210 lbs and a coward. Instead you have tiny Troy Stecher carrying water for the team against 6'4" 210 lb Sean Couturier. SMH.

To some extent I share your sentiment. Draisaitl is a big boy who has a habit of using his stick in ways that are outside of the rules. The code says that he should either cut those antics out of his game or be willing to drop the gloves when called on. On the other side, I’m sure you can understand that nobody on the team wants Draisaitl taking fights.

I completely agree that it is embarrassing for the team when little Troy Stecher is the one stepping up. And that’s why I think this thread was created. Of course this wouldn’t be an issue if Kane was dressed every night, but he’s on the shelf for who knows how long.

 

[MNRube]

Oilers problem is a lack of speed. They lost Broberg, McLeod, Holloway and replaced them with a bunch of vets. I have no doubt they will figure it out eventually but they won’t be as fast as last year.

 

[TheNumber4]

Oilers problem is a lack of speed. They lost Broberg, McLeod, Holloway and replaced them with a bunch of vets. I have no doubt they will figure it out eventually but they won’t be as fast as last year.

We traded for better and more proven production and shipped out youth and speed. Long term it hurts us no doubt, but for this year, in yet another Cup or Bust year and possibly our last realistic one, it may pay off.