Pre-Game Talk: Lets Light This Candle. Edmonton v Winnipeg, Wednesday 8 PM.

[Spawn]

Did 32 new teams arrive into the NHL? Because yeah, a line with McDavid (best player since Mario) + 50 goal scoring Hyman is automatically one of the best lines in hockey. Third player could be a rented mule and that would still be true.

Fair enough.

Point is that McDavid-Hyman are the engine that drives that line. RNH doesn’t contribute much there. In fact, the duo of McDavid and Hyman did better away from RNH than they did with him (offensively and defensively).

Nuge would be better suited elsewhere imo.

Like for example on a line with Drai and Arvidsson while Skinner plays with McDavid-Hyman.

It’s an absolute farce Janmark is in the top 6.

 

[Duke74]

Did 32 new teams arrive into the NHL? Because yeah, a line with McDavid (best player since Mario) + 50 goal scoring Hyman is automatically one of the best lines in hockey. Third player could be a rented mule and that would still be true.

Which is exactly why Nuge would be of more service on the second line.

 

[rboomercat90]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843337156556927052

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843338711087673494

Honestly I do not mind this setup once Kane gets back to health. We need some punch in that 3rd line and spreads the offence out a bit.

I wish Mark was a regular poster on these boards. That way I could just put him on ignore.

 

[Heavy Dee]

For all the shit they take, Ryan was good in the preseason, Perry scored a couple of goals too. If those young guys want guaranteed spots, play better. Plain and simple. Treading water and making the odd good play here and there doesn't get you a NHL spot over proven vets, you are there in preseason to knock people's socks off, so do it.

You should be playing those games like you've been shot out of a canon if you're one of those guys on the bubble.

Lavoie and Philp outplayed those two. It didn't matter.

 

[Spawn]

For all the shit they take, Ryan was good in the preseason, Perry scored a couple of goals too. If those young guys want guaranteed spots, play better. Plain and simple. Treading water and making the odd good play here and there doesn't get you a NHL spot over proven vets, you are there in preseason to knock people's socks off, so do it.

You should be playing those games like you've been shot out of a canon if you're one of those guys on the bubble.

Only one player on the team scored more than a single goal in the preseason. And it wasn’t Perry (whose only goal came while being gifted a spot next to McDavid surprise surprise).

Take a guess who that player that scored two goals was. Also happened to lead the team in shots despite only playing 3 preseason games.

Lavoie earned a spot on this team. The organization is more concerned with giving Perry yet another kick at trying to win a cup while he’s got one foot in the grave.

Ryan and Perry proved they were done once the games ramped up in the playoffs. And now they’re a year older. It’s an absolute joke we’ve lost a prospect out of loyalty to these two.

 

[Senor Catface]

Hopefully Podkolzin knows CPR with those linemates.

 

[VainGretzky]

Jeff Skinner and Arvidsson are both on new teams with new systems give them 10 games before panicking , they will both come around Arvidsson had 5 points in his 1st 10 games with LA then had 44 in his last 56 games

 

[Thomas Tatar]

Jeff Skinner and Arvidsson are both on new teams with new systems give them 10 games before panicking , they will both come around Arvidsson had 5 points in his 1st 10 games with LA then had 44 in his last 56 games

Agreed, sure Skinner looked rough in pre-season but it takes guys time to gel and learn new systems. We need to give them a little leash before lighting the torches

 

[Jumptheshark]

I wish Mark was a regular poster on these boards. That way I could just put him on ignore.

He might be. You never know

 

[Oilhawks]

He might be. You never know

 

[Spawn]

Jeff Skinner and Arvidsson are both on new teams with new systems give them 10 games before panicking , they will both come around Arvidsson had 5 points in his 1st 10 games with LA then had 44 in his last 56 games

Bigger issue is that apparently our next option if someone slides out of the top 6 is Janmark. Thats as big brain as Pat Quinn starting JFJ on the first line.

 

[Spawn]

What our starting forward lineup should have been:

Skinner-McDavid-Hyman
RNH-Drai-Arvidsson
Janmark-Henrique-Lavoie
Podkolzin-Philp-Brown

 

[unicornBLOOD]

Fair enough.

Point is that McDavid-Hyman are the engine that drives that line. RNH doesn’t contribute much there. In fact, the duo of McDavid and Hyman did better away from RNH than they did with him (offensively and defensively).

Nuge would be better suited elsewhere imo.

Like for example on a line with Drai and Arvidsson while Skinner plays with McDavid-Hyman.

It’s an absolute farce Janmark is in the top 6.

agreed. hopefully it isn't for long. Janmark is what he is, a good defensively responsible bootom 6 winger. He's not a scorer or an offensive player. It's an odd choice, not sure what Knob is thinking.

 

[VainGretzky]

What our starting forward lineup should have been:

Skinner-McDavid-Hyman
RNH-Drai-Arvidsson
Janmark-Henrique-Lavoie
Podkolzin-Philp-Brown

Yeah I like this elite playmaker and goal scorer between 2 goal scorers 2nd line 2 playmakers and 2 goal scorers Too bad they gave away Lavoie to protect 2 slow skating forwards with diminished skill , does not matter how much experience you have if you no longer have the skills to compete

 

[nexttothemoon]

Henrique was on an island in terms of having finishers on his line. Both Brown and Janmark had 4 goals each last season with Henrique potting 24 between the Oilers and Ducks... so I can see why the Oilers want to spread the offense around a bit.

Although now you donate 4 goal Janmark to the 2nd line to to go along with 6 goal Arvidsson to play with Drai... one of the best passers in the NHL. That will make Drai happy with some true offensive firepower to play with.

I'm being a little facetious obviously because Arvidsson only played 18 games so he would have likely had 25+ in a full year.

On paper though better balance is potentially a positive as you now have a couple 24 goal scorers on that 3rd line who might be able to make some hay against weaker matchups.

Current 4th line players had 17 goals combined last season... but hopefully Podkolzin can pot more than the zero he had last season. He at least brings some youth to that 4th line and some physicality that the lineup is missing as well.

I like that they are going up against a solid team right off the hop... playing against the team that gave up the fewest goals in the NHL last season so they should get a pretty good idea very early whether their offense as structured can produce or not against a good lineup.

 

[GrumpyKoala]

Tbh if Skinner can't carve a spot on the top 6 then he should be gone sooner than later.

It's not a great recipe to have semi-unidimentional sharp shooter anchored to the third.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Tbh if Skinner can't carve a spot on the top 6 then he should be gone sooner than later.

It's not a great recipe to have semi-unidimentional sharp shooter anchored to the third.

Edit: Wrong Skinner.

Jeff Skinner will be fine, he's not some kid, it's an adjustment. From no system in Buffalo to the firm system in Edmonton.

 

[dssource]

Agreed, sure Skinner looked rough in pre-season but it takes guys time to gel and learn new systems. We need to give them a little leash before lighting the torches

This. He needs a bit of time to learn the systems and he can practice with Drai outside of real games to gain some chemistry. They were horrible together in preseason. Putting him on the 3rd line gives him a chance without the pressure and is the right move. Swapping him with RNH is the wrong move and I'm glad Knob was smart enough not to do that.

I just saw that Oilers tried to send Lavoie down and lost him to Vegas FFS. Stupid stupid stupid! Keep him up as your extra forward.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Can we keep it under 8 this time?

Delivering a solid beating to the Jets would do wonders for us and might hinder them. It doesn't really get talked about but that shellacking Vancouver gave us last opening game springboarded them into the season they had.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Can we keep it under 8 this time?

Delivering a solid beating to the Jets would do wonders for us and might hinder them. It doesn't really get talked about but that shellacking Vancouver gave us last opening game springboarded them into the season they had.

I mean maybe? I want as many McPoints as possible, only 18 away from 1000.

 

[tardigrade81]

one more day!

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

I mean maybe? I want as many McPoints as possible, only 18 away from 1000.

I'm sure this will come back to haunt me but I've never really worried about the Jets as a team. They're fine but will only go as far as their goalie will take them.

That absolute smackdown the Avs laid on them last year was hilarious.

 

[CupofOil]

Janmark being forced into the top 6 due to lack of performance from a top 6 winger is one of several reasons why it was dumb to waive Lavoie. Still trying to understand the rationale behind that move.
Those are only practice lines so who knows if it translates to opening night but my point remains.

I'm usually a Glass Half Full fan and I'm bullish on the long term outlook for this season but I have real concerns that it will be another slow start to the season and that they'll be playing catch up again for what seems like the bajillionth straight season.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Janmark being forced into the top 6 due to lack of performance from a top 6 winger is one of several reasons why it was dumb to waive Lavoie. Still trying to understand the rationale behind that move.
Those are only practice lines so who knows if it translates to opening night but my point remains.

I'm usually a Glass Half Full fan and I'm bullish on the long term outlook for this season but I have real concerns that it will be another slow start to the season and that they'll be playing catch up again for what seems like the bajillionth straight season.

Playing from behind was definitely the overarching lesson of last season. When you fall behind in the standings it is so, so hard to catch up. Same thing with a series and even within a game itself. Hopefully they explode out of the gate and leave the rest of the division in the dust.

 

[94 Oil Drops]

I'm sure this will come back to haunt me but I've never really worried about the Jets as a team. They're fine but will only go as far as their goalie will take them.

That absolute smackdown the Avs laid on them last year was hilarious.

It also pleased me greatly when they got swept by the Canadiens after they swept us.