How are you feeling going into the new season?

[Jumptheshark]

Preseason is over, roster is more or less set

Line are in flux but they could look like this

Nuge-McDavid-Hyman
Skinner-Leon-Arvidsson
Janmark-Henrique-Brown
Podkolzin-Ryan-Perry

D
Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Emberson
Kulak-Stretcher-Dermott

G
S.Skinner
Pickard

I am going in with a postive attitude but I do have concerns. Speed and toughness. With Kane out till maybe March?

But I think having Henrick for the full year will settle down the 3rd line and Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner adds more fire power--if they say healthy

While I have concerns overall I am in a positive mind set

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[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

How many points / finish will they wind up with?

Pre-Game Talk: - 2024-25 Season Predictions Pole

Preseason is over thank God. The team has struggled to put it together over 8 meaningless games and only 12 weeks removed from a crushing defeat in Game 7 of the Finals. The second line can’t seem to find any chemistry. Third line appears to be a 4th line (which is what I suspected it...

forums.hfboards.com

 

[La Bamba]

Very good. This is the best team on paper to start a season since the dynasty days

I’m excited to see how the new pick ups look. I really want Emberson and Podz to outplay Broberg and Holloway

 

[jukon]

I don't doubt that they'll be a good team, but I'd like to see a GAA below 2.5 and I'm not sure this is the group to do it.

 

[Niten Ichi Ryu]

Learned from last season. Temper expectations, one game at a time. Not thinking about game 83 or even game 2. Winnipeg in a few, and just like the players, that's all Im thinking about

So many new faces, its going to take time before they all start connecting into a synchronized tune.

My only concern is goaltending. Skinner is unpredictable, and we don't have any NHL ready goalies in the pipeline. Its the most important position, and I hope to god Stuart Skinner has evolved from that run

 

[Gunnersaurus Rex]

Very nervous.
Defence is concerning. Nowhere near as good as last year.
Older and slower up front could be an issue as well.
So far, on paper, I don't think they are as good as where they ended last season.

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

A bit nervous because my expectations are so high.

If we start off strong and hover around the division lead all season I'll have expected it. There's almost nothing they could do that would exceed my expectations.

If we don't, I'll be disappointed.

I'm excited to see how Arvidsson and J. Skinner perform and if Emberson can be a top-4. I'm terrified if we run into significant injuries.

 

[Mr Positive]

We will be great. The one question mark to me is Emberson but he is defense-first, which is the smart style to go for a place holder.

I'm not concerned about the poor preseason performances of the vets. Skinner, Henrique etc will be fine

 

[ohheyhemsky]

I said last year, we could make a run at it if our goaltending held out. This year, it's goaltending and defense. Less optimistic about this season, but you never know.

The one player I'm already assuming will be a let down is Jeff Skinner, but I very much hope he proves me wrong.

 

[Oilhawks]

I said last year, we could make a run at it if our goaltending held out. This year, it's goaltending and defense. Less optimistic about this season, but you never know.

The one player I'm already assuming will be a let down is Jeff Skinner, but I very much hope he proves me wrong.

Not to nitpick, but were more you confident in this group's defense corps at the beginning of last season? I can't say that I was

 

[ohheyhemsky]

Not to nitpick, but were more you confident in this group's defense corps at the beginning of last season? I can't say that I was

Than I am this year? 100%
But, the emergence of Bouchard after the Barrie trade and obviously the return of Ekholm for his first full season within that trade, I was excited to see what our D would look like, yes.

 

[Mr Kot]

emberson will be good, we got our young guy playing top 4. Skinner will be his usual meh self, but it should be enough. McDavid has another Hart and Ross in him. The concern is the bottom 6, they don't scream excellent, but who knows what it looks like later in the year.

 

[GOilers88]

Same as I do every year.

This is the year, boys!

 

[Sheikyerbouti]

Emberson needs to break out, big time. That's my thoughts on this season.

The bottom 4 looks woof. Last year I said if we went out and signed a bunch of forwards I would quit, but during the offseason it seemed OK for some reason. Reality is setting in.

The one question mark to me is Emberson but he is defense-first, which is the smart style to go for a place holder.

Sure, but that means Nurse has the puck! Emberson could be best-in-class-defense-first guy, and Nurse will still sail waist high outlet passes down the rink, and skate into danger, all season long.

 

[Aerchon]

I feel the Oilers success last year was a bit lucky. I think the team succeeded in spite of management rather than because of it. That trend will have to continue for another successful season.

Which... I don't see happening. Every year moving forward will be tougher to manage the cap and our management is terrible at doing so.

Losing so many great young players from last year is going to be on full display.

Arvidson is the only new face I am excited for.

Skinner... is likely a net loss due to slow and terrible 2 way.

No Desharnais, McLeod, Holloway. Some potential for Broberg gone. Lavoie likely gone. And Ceci is very hard to replace at his cap hit.

Henrique, a solid player but old... Perry... Brown...

To my mind a much worse team and that last team struggled hard out of the gate...

The Oilers "need" a good start this year. "Need" chemistry. Need a lot to go right just to get where they were.