My post was obviously about 2017 and especially 2016.
Pittsburgh arguably would've been the DE FACTO team of the 2010s if injuries didn't heavily play a factor and Fleury wasn't so dogshit.
thats what a lot of people in here fail to realize. Its a TEAM sport. Also they say its the hardest trophy to win in sports for a reason. I understand Skinner is shitty. #1 goalies dont exactly grow on trees lately. Not everyone gets to draft a Shesterkin Vasy type of goalie and teams dont have spare #1's to trade for.
The fact that some Avs fans in here, some of whom are presumably old enough to remember Ray Bourque lifting the cup in his last game before retiring after 22 seasons, pretend that they are unaware that it's entirely possible for a generational player to just not win it is a bit silly, IMO.
No he put up 2 points in the series clinching game. If McDavid did the same, he'd have a ring right now.
Not with that defense and goaltender they don't. McDavid could have Barkov level defensive capabilities and they'd still be hooped because of that back end.
I quite literally posted proof of having Barkov's jock on would have won game 1 for the Oilers. But if your two top centers play zero D, any defense will get caved in. Theyve chosen as a team to go top heavy with offense, now they have to live with those decisions and this entire thread is selling McDavid on why he should leave next offseason.
Do you disagree? Or does anyone? Its pretty objective via footage to say yay or nay to good defense.
I agree that in hindsight if McDavid had made different defensive reads game 1 they could have won. I do not think they would win game 2 since McDavid wasn't even on the ice for enough goals against to make a difference to the outcome. I also think that making defensive adjustments as an individual player to win against LA is one thing, but to win the Cup is something that requires a full team of hard working and smart (not necessarily talented) players, paired with clutch goaltending, which the Oilers don't have.
No one is saying that, but maybe give up a few goals for and focus on the goals against could do some wonders in EDM.
I didnt watch game 2 sadly. Was watching the Avs shit the bed, but youre onto something. As a team, theyve committed to funnel everything through McDaris, win or lose. Changing the whole team mentality to commit to defense first and win 2-1 games instead of 6-5 could be what they need.
If Gretzky couldn't win a cup from age 27-33 in LA, without a team that had 5 HHOFers, then I'm really not sure that's true.
This is true, but this year's team looks slow, has had about 10 different injuries in the past 2 months, and is missing their best Dman. Not to mention Kane hasn't played in a year and is coming off a complicated surgery, and Frederic looks like he can't skate and will likely not be back up to game form until next season.
