Hypothetical - does McDavid win the Conn Smythe even if Oilers lose the cup? Assuming he has an above average finals

[pb1300]

But is far, far worse defensively.

But but, that wouldn’t be the case if Bob wasn’t saving Barkov’s ass…duh.

 

[Hint1k]

It's possible Oilers could make it again next year, but very likely it's not going to happen. If they want to win a cup - the time to do it is now, not next year.

It is highly unlikely Oilers gonna make it next year.

There were 3 lucky things that helped Edmonton to reach the finals this year:
1) Vegas ended up in another division bracket and faced Dallas
2) Vancouver had no experience this year and had 4th goalie in the net
3) Dallas was dead tired after beating two previous SC winners in a row.

It does not mean Oilers is a bad team and does not deserve to play in the finals. It means exactly what I said - they were lucky.

Even Montreal were lucky recently and also reached the finals.

Luck is a factor in playoffs.

But that combination of luck is rarely happened with the same team year after year. So I seriously doubt that Oilers gonna beat for example Canucks next year with their full roster.

 

[bobholly39]

It is highly unlikely Oilers gonna make it next year.

There were 3 lucky things that helped Edmonton to reach the finals this year:
1) Vegas ended up in another division bracket and faced Dallas
2) Vancouver had no experience this year and had 4th goalie in the net
3) Dallas was dead tired after beating two previous SC winners in a row.

It does not mean Oilers is a bad team and does not deserve to play in the finals. It means exactly what I said - they were lucky.

Even Montreal were lucky recently and also reached the finals.

Luck is a factor in playoffs.

But that combination of luck is rarely happened with the same team year after year. So I seriously doubt that Oilers gonna beat for example Canucks next year with their full roster.

Sure you always need luck. Don't know how much I agree with some of your breakdown though.

Montreal lucky? They beat Toronto (division leaders) when down 3-1, and swept Jets (who everyone always goes gaga over for some reason, even though I never considred them a good team), and beat a super strong Vegas team. Maybe it wasn't the absolute strongest playoff matchups ever for them, but it was still a pretty difficult path. Some luck sure - all teams need it, but not that much.

Oilers? I agree on Vancouver goalies yes....but to be fair the backups played great. I don't think goaltending was an issue in that series. But sure, having a #1 goalie can change a dynamic of a team, so who knows.

Vegas in a different bracket....ok but by all accounts all of HF said all year/playoffs that Dallas is the true beast of the west, above Vegas or Colorado. And that's who Edmonton faced, and beat.

I think Edmonton did a fine job making the finals. Just because they haven't yet found a way to match up to Florida, doesn't mean they didn't fully deserve to be here.

As for next year - who knows? But if Oilers want to win the cup - they need to find a way to do it now. Making the finals is incredibly hard - I agree with you that it's quite unlikely that Oilers, or any team, makes the finals 2x in a row.

 

[catnip]

I would've never guessed that one of the best offensive players ever having only 1 less point (in this series) than his direct competition, some Russian-sounding dude on the other team, would be seen as laudable. Not having a go at McDavid; just think it's hilarious that Barkov, who is usually accused of being offensively too limited to be grouped among the upper echelon of first-line centers, is suddenly considered a worthy yardstick for offensive production.

 

[T REX]

No. Barkov's calling is his defensive game, imagine what the narrative would be if Bobrovksy wasn't giving them superstar goaltending every night.

we're discussing reality not "what if's"

 

[2for1PizzaPastuh]

we're discussing reality not "what if's"

agreed, and the reality is that Bob has made Barkov look much better than he is this series

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Sure you always need luck. Don't know how much I agree with some of your breakdown though.

Montreal lucky? They beat Toronto (division leaders) when down 3-1, and swept Jets (who everyone always goes gaga over for some reason, even though I never considred them a good team), and beat a super strong Vegas team. Maybe it wasn't the absolute strongest playoff matchups ever for them, but it was still a pretty difficult path. Some luck sure - all teams need it, but not that much.

Oilers? I agree on Vancouver goalies yes....but to be fair the backups played great. I don't think goaltending was an issue in that series. But sure, having a #1 goalie can change a dynamic of a team, so who knows.

Vegas in a different bracket....ok but by all accounts all of HF said all year/playoffs that Dallas is the true beast of the west, above Vegas or Colorado. And that's who Edmonton faced, and beat.

I think Edmonton did a fine job making the finals. Just because they haven't yet found a way to match up to Florida, doesn't mean they didn't fully deserve to be here.

As for next year - who knows? But if Oilers want to win the cup - they need to find a way to do it now. Making the finals is incredibly hard - I agree with you that it's quite unlikely that Oilers, or any team, makes the finals 2x in a row.

The Vancouver backup did not play great. His stats well below average with a .882 save percentage against the Oilers and a .898 all playoffs. Just above expectations for a goalie who came straight from the AHL into the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Oilers did catch a lot of breaks on the road to the SCF. I doubt that it’s replicable again next year as the matchups will likely be tougher.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It's easier to come back from 0-3 and beat Florida 4x straight - hell it'd be easier to come down from 0-6 against Florida and win 7 straight - then it would be to make the finals all over agian next year.

I don’t know about the 7 straight part, but your point about coming back from 0-3 being easier than making the Finals again is well taken. This was a big opportunity for McDavid and it’s completely thinkable that he may not get another (see: career of Jaromir Jagr).

 

[WestCoast CyberG]

I don’t know about the 7 straight part, but your point about coming back from 0-3 being easier than making the Finals again is well taken. This was a big opportunity for McDavid and it’s completely thinkable that he may not get another (see: career of Jaromir Jagr).

The difference being Jagr won B2B cups and then went cup less (to your point). He is also a triple gold club member.

 

[tarheelhockey]

The difference being Jagr won B2B cups and then went cup less (to your point). He is also a triple gold club member.

Yes, I was pointing more to the way he came into the league as a two-time Cup winner by age 20, and being arguably the best young forward coming into the league at the time (and certainly that proved to be the case in the long run) it could easily have been assumed that he’d have many more chances to add rings to his collection. It took him 21 years to get back to the Finals again, long after his prime ended.

Iginla is another one. He was about McDavid’s age when the Flames made their Finals run. He never won another game past the second round.

 

[RMF5630]

Didn't age well...

 

[cowboy82nd]

agreed, and the reality is that Bob has made Barkov look much better than he is this series

Keep on telling yourself that.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Lol. 2 of his 3 points have been a routine point pass n a 2 foot pass in his own zone to a guy who went coast to coast n oilers fans trying to say hes playing good. Lmfao

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

I don’t know about the 7 straight part, but your point about coming back from 0-3 being easier than making the Finals again is well taken. This was a big opportunity for McDavid and it’s completely thinkable that he may not get another (see: career of Jaromir Jagr).

It's kind of crazy to watch someone who's infinitely talented like McDavid look so thoroughly average this series. On the whole, he really hasn't had a great playoffs despite still amassing 34 points. Which kind of says everything, doesn't it? Even average McDavid is still incredibly talented but the problem the Oilers always seem to have is without McDavid and Draisaitl playing otherworldly, they fizzle out.

 

[BB88]

It's kind of crazy to watch someone who's infinitely talented like McDavid look so thoroughly average this series. On the whole, he really hasn't had a great playoffs despite still amassing 34 points. Which kind of says everything, doesn't it? Even average McDavid is still incredibly talented but the problem the Oilers always seem to have is without McDavid and Draisaitl playing otherworldly, they fizzle out.

He’s in desperation mode. Just trying to do everything himself

& like was brought up no Panther average more than 45 seconds of icetime per shift meanwhile big guns in Edmonton are well past minute. That’s not a great recipe against relentless Panthers team, they were you down and those last 15-20 seconds are just useless and draining out the tank

 

[SharksCyclops]

agreed, and the reality is that Bob has made Barkov look much better than he is this series

There's copium, there's delusion, and then there is pure and utter nonsense like this.

 

[GreatGonzo]

Lol. 2 of his 3 points have been a routine point pass n a 2 foot pass in his own zone to a guy who went coast to coast n oilers fans trying to say hes playing good. Lmfao

Just say your a hater

It’s going to be ok, just breathe….

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Just say your a hater

It’s going to be ok, just breathe….

How's that secondary scoring?

 

[GreatGonzo]

How's that secondary scoring?

Was that a little wannabe “gotcha!” Moment?

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Was that a little wannabe “gotcha!” Moment?

It was you calling somebody out, and me returning the favor. I thought it was pretty straightforward.

 

[hamzarocks]

Lol. 2 of his 3 points have been a routine point pass n a 2 foot pass in his own zone to a guy who went coast to coast n oilers fans trying to say hes playing good. Lmfao

Mcdavids finals > any crosby finals ever

Its over. Mcdavid has nothing left againsr him now besides a cup

He has the peak, prime, playoffs now to be a top 3 player ever.

Just needs a cup

 

[Video Nasty]

Lol. 2 of his 3 points have been a routine point pass n a 2 foot pass in his own zone to a guy who went coast to coast n oilers fans trying to say hes playing good. Lmfao

McDavid now has as many points in a Finals as Crosby ever had.

It only took him four games.

Crosby had one three point game in his twenty five SCF games and never achieved a four point game.

P.S. Also has more assists in a playoff run than Crosby ever had total points.

 

[GreatGonzo]

It was you calling somebody out, and me returning the favor. I thought it was pretty straightforward.

Absolutely I called him out, because he’s simply coming from a place of hate and jealousy, like many Crosby jock riders. Instead of feeling the need to defend such a stupid opinion, think for yourself? Just a thought…

McDavid now has as many points in a Finals as Crosby ever had.

It only took him four games.

Crosby had one three point game in his twenty five SCF games and never achieved a four point game.

P.S. Also has more assists in a playoff run than Crosby ever had total points.

Shhhh you can’t glorify McDavids play because certain Crosby fans can’t handle it and get in their feelings.

We should be more sensitive to their needs.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Absolutely I called him out, because he’s simply coming from a place of hate and jealousy, like many Crosby jock riders. Instead of feeling the need to defend such a stupid opinion, think for yourself? Just a thought…

I was calling you out for saying Edmonton isn't getting secondary scoring. Just own it and move on.

 

[66-30-33]

3 cups >>> 0 cups