Post-Game Talk: Maddening Matinee

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Bouch hasn't been great but Bouch will win you games while Skinner will lose you games. Any talk of getting rid of Bouch is insane talk. I'm not suggesting we get rid of Skinner but he is NOT a starting goalie that will win you a championship.

Bouchard hasn’t won us a single game this year. He has at least a half dozen pizzas up the middle to his name this year.

 

[Soundwave]

is anyone defending him?

I see people, myself included talking about the piss poor defensive play more than anything, i dont see anyone saying Skinner was anywhere close to good today. I do see people ignoring the way the team played in front him though and just spitting out his SV% like it exists in a vacuum.

Like this was the worst game the Oilers played in the post covid era bar none.

I mean it's the first game back after 2 weeks off for this group with an 11 AM Mountain start time with a tired McDavid.

We know how this team plays after long breaks, nothing too suprising here.

Would be nice if a goalie could hold the fort once in a while on these kinds of games, but we don't have a legit starter that can do that.

 

[brentashton]

Caps sticks are hot today. Let’s hope they cool off a bit before tomorrow.

 

[Jumptheshark]

happy I missed the game

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

Bouch hasn't been great but Bouch will win you games while Skinner will lose you games. Any talk of getting rid of Bouch is insane talk. I'm not suggesting we get rid of Skinner but he is NOT a starting goalie that will win you a championship.

Bouchard had two turnovers that ended up in the back of the net and lost us the game. Bouchard can win you games, but he can lose just as many.

Skinner isn't a good starting goalie and Bouchard isn't a top defensemen. Both are true.

 

[brentashton]

And I agree with that. But that's good news for us on the aggregate - means we get a discount.

I’d be happy if he played like an 8mil player.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

Solid debut by Savoie. But man, having all four of RNH, Arvidsson, Skinner, and him has this team wayyyy too small at wing.

Its tough to sustain pressure shift after shift when half your wingers struggle on the cycle.


Also movment-wise, that was by far the best Klingberg has looks so far.

Great post. Bang on.

Also playoff hockey is heavier and small wingers don't fare well.

Big top 6 winger who can score needs to be our top priority.

 

[Soundwave]

Bouchard had two turnovers that ended up in the back of the net and lost us the game. Bouchard can win you games, but he can lose just as many.

Skinner isn't a good starting goalie and Bouchard isn't a top defensemen. Both are true.

Bouchard is a top pairing D who turns the puck over and isn't improving there because the coaching staff won't hold him to account and cut back in his ice time/PP time.

Skinner is just a back up/1B goalie full stop.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Are there any forwards we aren’t done with? Apart from the obvious it’s a very unimpressive bunch. Hyman looked absolutely cooked this game.

First thing that I'd do is move RNH back to center. He is better there than on the wing.

Skinner-McDavid-Hyman
?-Draisaitl-Savoie
Janmark-RNH-Brown
Podkolzin-Henrique-Perry

Send Arvidsson on his merry way.

 

[Dirty Mind]

And Skinners defenders need to stop calling him a “kid”, he’s 26 ffs. Time for the Oilers to call it a day with him and let him ride off the into the AHL sunset.

I’ll never forget this sieves 2023 playoffs, I actually hate him and it’s a disgrace that this talentless loser is a starting goalie on a Cup-contending team. Yes, he’s a loser! He massively sucks and he never takes responsibility for it. Always somebody elses fault when he lets in a harmless slapper from the point, right?

The Oilers actually WANT to win the Cup, right? Because I will seriously question their will to win if they go into the playoffs with him.

He is NOT an NHL goaltender. He is not a goaltender, period.

 

[CROTT]

Is McDavid playing through an injury right now? When he took his turn raising the 4 Nations Cup, he barely lifted it up high, his left hand grip looked like he was using one finger and thumb (rather than a full grip), and when he handed it off to Makar, it was pretty awkward.

Seams okay, other than he barely lifted it above eye level (19;50)

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

Seams okay, other than he barely lifted it above eye level

I don't think he hurt is shoulder because he's been shooting.

I think he doesn't care about that and ONLY wants a cup

 

[iCanada]

Bouchard hasn’t won us a single game this year. He has at least a half dozen pizzas up the middle to his name this year.

?

Sorry but that's just absurd.

He single handedly gave us a win over Ottawa in November. We had nothing going until he went coast to coast for Christ sakes, then had the primary assist on the 2-1 goal and the 3-1 goal. We won 5-2 with an ENG, and we didn't give up a single GA while he was in the ice. He played 28 minutes.

I'm sure I could cherry pick and find atleast 5 other games where he was absolutely unreal and the difference between us winning instead of losing. Probably 10.

 

[Zerotonine]

In typical fashion Skinner turns into to a decent goalie AFTER the game is out of reach to try to pad his horrible save percentage from the first 2 periods. Fml don't be surprised after a first round exit IF nothing is done about goaltending in the next week or so

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

First thing that I'd do is move RNH back to center. He is better there than on the wing.

Skinner-McDavid-Hyman
?-Draisaitl-Savoie
Janmark-RNH-Brown
Podkolzin-Henrique-Perry

Send Arvidsson on his merry way.

Jeff Skinner is done. We just have to come to that reality. Mcdavid's wing will never happen.

Nuge is also cooked and does need to be moved to the 3C

 

[CROTT]

I don't think he hurt is shoulder because he's been shooting.

I think he doesn't care about that and ONLY wants a cup

My thoughts aswell, winning the tournament was the reason he was there. He could probably care less about a one off trophy.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Always love hearing the truth speaker's thoughts. Ekholm never blows smoke - straight and to the point.

What would defenceman Mattias Eklholm say to those who pinned this loss on the goalie?

“They should probably rewatch the game and see where the problem started,” Ekholm replied. “I don't think there's a goalie in the league that would have saved many of those.
“That's certainly not the biggest part of the problem right now.”

This team has had a systemic issue of slipping on the banana peel defensively each and every season through multiple coaches. Happened to start this season and their play has been slipping recently. 19 turnovers today with repeating high danger self induced terrible puck management decisions.

 

[russ99]

I strongly believe this team has less of a chance of winning the cup than last year

We’ll see, some teams think they can turn it on in the postseason and a February matinee poor effort doesn’t mean much, but who knows, and this does increase doubt.

 

[brentashton]

Skinner is 33rd overall in SVP, Pickard is 28th. That is awful for a supposed contender. Yet the GM, coach, and reporters close to the team continue to defend the goaltending and are perfectly fine with McDrai having this tandem going into the playoffs this year.

Unfortunately for us I think it’s going to take a devastating 1st round exit with Skinner shitting the bed for this organization to finally prioritize the goaltending.

I wholeheartedly agree with your statement Barry.

But its also dereliction on the part of Jackson at the same time if he even needs another post season.

He has already seen Skinner in one post season(ya ya he played in a SCF game7) where he had to be rescued by CP otherwise they wouldn’t have made it even that far.

Not to mention the year before (and don’t tell me he wasn’t watching, as 97s agent) and Campbell, yes that Campbell having to save his bacon too.

I’m really questioning how many times can he can stumble in the play offs and now this entire regular season to be see for the joke goalie that he is. To me the book has been written. He’s inconsistent and fundamentally lacking. Next!

 

[russ99]

Always love hearing the truth speaker's thoughts. Ekholm never blows smoke - straight and to the point.

What would defenceman Mattias Eklholm say to those who pinned this loss on the goalie?

“They should probably rewatch the game and see where the problem started,” Ekholm replied. “I don't think there's a goalie in the league that would have saved many of those.
“That's certainly not the biggest part of the problem right now.”

This team has had a systemic issue of slipping on the banana peel defensively each and every season through multiple coaches. Happened to start this season and their play has been slipping recently. 19 turnovers today with repeating high danger self induced terrible puck management decisions.

All year the odd man breaks and wide open looks in the crease have been there, but they’re playing to Corsi and xG and those mistakes obviously don’t show up large in those metrics.

Will be interesting if Knoblauch and Coffey realize this is going to be a postseason issue and adapt things down the stretch.

 

[MoontoScott]

And I agree with that. But that's good news for us on the aggregate - means we get a discount.

Or he walks but I can't see anybody else paying him $80M. These contracts are getting so big now. Oh well, at least its not $60M per year like NFL quarterbacks.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Great post. Bang on.

Also playoff hockey is heavier and small wingers don't fare well.

Big top 6 winger who can score needs to be our top priority.

A healthy Kane would be a god-send. But yeah, they desperately need someone north of 220lbs to open up ice for others. Their current go-to grinders of Podz, Henrique, Perry just aren't heavy enough to lean on and tire out opponents.

You don't even need to aim high, a replacement level guy like Nick Ritchie would already be be a massive help to open up ice for the smaller guys.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

A healthy Kane would be a god-send. But yeah, they desperately need someone north of 220lbs to open up ice for others. Their current go-to grinders of Podz, Henrique, Perry just aren't heavy enough to lean on and tire out opponents.

You don't even need to aim high, a replacement level guy like Nick Ritchie would already be be a massive help to open up ice for the smaller guys.

Alex Tuch plz

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

?

Sorry but that's just absurd.

He single handedly gave us a win over Ottawa in November. We had nothing going until he went coast to coast for Christ sakes, then had the primary assist on the 2-1 goal and the 3-1 goal. We won 5-2 with an ENG, and we didn't give up a single GA while he was in the ice. He played 28 minutes.

I'm sure I could cherry pick and find atleast 5 other games where he was absolutely unreal and the difference between us winning instead of losing. Probably 10.

Go for it. I’m done with Bouchards pizzeria. Dummy up or trade him.

 

[MoontoScott]

First thing that I'd do is move RNH back to center. He is better there than on the wing.

Skinner-McDavid-Hyman
?-Draisaitl-Savoie
Janmark-RNH-Brown
Podkolzin-Henrique-Perry

Send Arvidsson on his merry way.

Agreed but who is going to pick him up at $4M per year?

It might work if you throw in a draft pick(s) but the Oiler's prospect cupboard already looks like the 3 bears' shelves after goldilocks pigged out and had a snooze. Sooner or later they have to draft some decent prospects.