Post-Game Talk: I’m so Drai right now

[MoontoScott]

I thought that it was a good goal because the stick was below his shoulders on contact. Looked like it was definitely above the cross bar on impact and like every NHL rule it seems very open to interpretation when game management is on the line.

Interesting how "rules" become "an artistic interpretation" rather than a fact.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Gotta love being in a Wildcard spot at the start of November.


Half the Conference was sleepwalking through October. The only teams that got the memo were the Wild Knights and Jets.


Everyone else was like.. wuahhh?? uhhh season started?? what day is it??

 

[The Nuge]

Sportsnet is a national disgrace and Kelly Hrudy picking Mantha as player of the game in a loss where 29 gets 3 points including a goal is puke worthy.

Kelly Hrudey is a clueless moron who’s opinion should mean no more than some random fan on the street, and when you combine that with the fact he’s hands down the biggest homer in broadcasting, there’s simply no point giving anything he says any thought.

 

[Video Nasty]

Leafs game seems "about right" is they were saying a 2-3 week return, as the Leafs game would be 19 days after the injury happened. The nice thing about winning a couple with McDavid gone though, is that there won't be as much pressure for McDavid to return.

Knoblauch mentioned it might be closer to two weeks than three, so the Toronto game does seem like the ideal midpoint.

You’ve got to appreciate sitting at 6-5-1 with two big wins without McDavid, instead of 4-7-1 with a potential three rough losses in a row.

If they can pull off two wins out of three against New Jersey, Vegas, and Vancouver, they’ll be in excellent shape. Ideally, this gives McDavid a chance to come back fully ready—maybe even go as far as easing him in with light minutes against the Wild on the 21st and the Rangers on the 23rd—then head into Thanksgiving feeling confident, but that’s just me being overly sensitive about how quickly he was rushed back early last season.

However it turns out, plenty of reason for optimism these last few days.

 

[McTonyBrar]

Hrudey was somehow more enjoyable to listen to than Louie.

Ugh.

Hahahah what? Hrudey sounded like he needed to push when on the toilet during every replay analysis he did. Sounded like he was in pain

 

[iCanada]

Interesting how "rules" become "an artistic interpretation" rather than a fact.

It's kind of the way the rule book is written unfortunately.

 

[LevelingSolo]

I'm 26 days away from my 20th anniversary

20 years on HF today!

Go Drai! 2 points. Skinner much better this game. Players are sniffing. Want to see Hyman, RV and Skinner get hot and score some goals

What was this site like back in the day?

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Kelly Hrudey is a clueless moron who’s opinion should mean no more than some random fan on the street, and when you combine that with the fact he’s hands down the biggest homer in broadcasting, there’s simply no point giving anything he says any thought.

If SN is going to force me to listen to that assclown for 3 hours then I need to cleanse my brain by bitching about him here. It’s like a tonic.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

What was this site like back in the day?

the layout hasn't changed much at all

although it was more "prospect-based" than it is today (hence "Hockey's future")

Lowetide used to post here...Tyler Dellow aka Mudcrutch79....who works for the Canes now...was one of the earliest adopters of analytics and a huge Oiler fan posted here all the time

 

[K1984]

So is Calgary cancelling the parade now? After having gone from the best start in franchise history (the best start ever of all the teams in any sport according to Francis) to now just at around .500?

lol that’s the first time I’ve heard that Francis take.

I don’t know what it is about their fixation on self proclaiming themselves the best at everything (defense/team/centre depth/“balance”/start/whatever), but it’s definitely a thing.

 

[CornKicker]

What was this site like back in the day?

almost exactly like it is now, terrible trade proposals and extreme reactions positive and negative

 

[Dieseloil]

Kelly Hrudey is a clueless moron who’s opinion should mean no more than some random fan on the street, and when you combine that with the fact he’s hands down the biggest homer in broadcasting, there’s simply no point giving anything he says any thought.

Yup, only one worse is Cassie Campbell.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Yup, only one worse is Cassie Campbell.

Leah Hextall says hi.

 

[nally]

What was this site like back in the day?

I honestly can't remember a huge difference. I've always been more of a lurker then someone who comments. I came here to get information on prospects for every team. I stayed for the Oiler fan comradery. If I can't watch a game, I find getting the best info is reading the post game thread. You have to take things with a grain of salt, but you get to understand who thinks what on a daily basis.

I don't recall anyone giving away 2 playoff tickets in Vegas on this forum before, though. : P

 

[VeteranPresence]

Podkolzin played a whale of a game, he was all over it and made some very high IQ plays with the cherry on top being that pass to Drai. As he starts to get more reps in the top six I think we'll see that more and more out of him. Confidence is a beautiful thing and he's definitely got it right now.

 

[Da McBomb]

20 years on HF today!

Go Drai! 2 points. Skinner much better this game. Players are sniffing. Want to see Hyman, RV and Skinner get hot and score some goals

Just noticed I'm only one month away from my 20 year anniversary too. Damn we old lol

 

[K1984]

Podkolzin played a whale of a game, he was all over it and made some very high IQ plays with the cherry on top being that pass to Drai. As he starts to get more reps in the top six I think we'll see that more and more out of him. Confidence is a beautiful thing and he's definitely got it right now.

What I like about that line is the template is simple and repeatable. Podkolzin/Arvidsson work the puck low, win battles, find Leon who has already found soft ice in the slot.

Leon and Leon run lines get into trouble when they play the puck too high, and rip east/west passes around the blue line. This takes that all away.

 

[CupofOil]

Watching the extended highlights and man Podkolzin looks like a big steal for a 4th rounder. Guy is always winning puck battles, which is huge on a skilled line to have a guy like that, but some of the passes he's made on these Drai goals are displays of the skill that got him drafted 10th overall. He actually has a pretty big shot, if he ever regains confidence in that shot he could be a long term top 6 fixture.

Putting the cart before the horse with a guy that hasn't scored an NHL goal since 2 years ago but there's a lot of good stuff in his game, he just needs to pot a few and the confidence might grow.
Even if he only ends up as a good bottom 6 forwards, his contract is a steal (signed next season too).

 

[BudBundy]

SIUTBOHC <—— ???

I believe the late, great Robin Brownlee came up with that one some years ago:

Sticking It Up The Butts Of His Critics.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

What was this site like back in the day?

Was in black and white way back then.

 

[K1984]

Watching the extended highlights and man Podkolzin looks like a big steal for a 4th rounder. Guy is always winning puck battles, which is huge on a skilled line to have a guy like that, but some of the passes he's made on these Drai goals are displays of the skill that got him drafted 10th overall. He actually has a pretty big shot, if he ever regains confidence in that shot he could be a long term top 6 fixture.

Putting the cart before the horse with a guy that hasn't scored an NHL goal since 2 years ago but there's a lot of good stuff in his game, he just needs to pot a few and the confidence might grow.
Even if he only ends up as a good bottom 6 forwards, his contract is a steal (signed next season too).

You can definitely see the pedigree. If I remember right he was even rated higher than 10th, but it was pretty much assured he wouldn't be coming over right away so it scared teams off.

I really, really hope he can build on this. Would be massive to have a real contributor for $1M or whatever it is this year and next.

 

[guymez]

Well, since he came to the Oilers he is the #1 player in the NHL in even strength results.

Wow.
Where would this dfefence be without Ekholm?

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Was in black and white way back then.

Like when the Leafs last won a cup.

 

[PULSATING]

almost exactly like it is now, terrible trade proposals and extreme reactions positive and negative

Ryder, Halak, and a 2nd

I was just a kid and lurked, I remember a lot of ya'll.

This was me when people would reply to my posts... or when I'd annoy Replacement just joking buddy.

 

[The Nuge]

Mattias Ekholm has 2 goals and 7 assists in 12 games and is 3rd on the team in scoring behind Draisaitl and McDavid.
The Viking is having a very good start to the season.

I wanted Chychrun… I don’t think I’ve ever been more wrong about an NHL move. You literally couldn’t have picked a better fit in the entire league for the type of dman we needed