McDavid injury - Upper Body, expected to miss 1-2 weeks.

[AvsGuy]

That's a shame.

Hockey is better when its stars are healthy. Hope he bounces back quickly.

I agree with those who suggested this might be an opportunity for Edmonton, in the sense that it's a chance for some of these other guys to carry the water and rally around their injured captain. If they falter, though, it might further the narrative (rightly or wrongly) that it's a two-person show.

How would that further the narrative wrongly

 

[Sniper99]

RNH just had 100 points.

and whooped Justin Holl's ass. Not bad for a "babyface"

The Oilers are the LA Angels of the NHL. Two superstars and nothing else. Down to one now. Let's see if Leon can pad his stats all by himself now.

pretty shitty comparison. Angels dont make the playoffs McDavid and his team DO. Try again.

#FreeMikeTrout

 

[The Management]

How would that further the narrative wrongly

I didn't say it would, I just said we shouldn't be surprised if that criticism gains more steam if the next couple of weeks go poorly.

 

[authentic]

Nah the peanut gallery will tell you it's just 5 games so the sample is nothing. Unless he does poorly in which case it'll be the gospel.

Exactly lol

 

[AvsGuy]

I didn't say it would, I just said we shouldn't be surprised if that criticism gains more steam if the next couple of weeks go poorly.

I got that - I'm wondering what would be wrong about that criticism if the next few weeks go poorly

 

[Three On Zero]

12 points in 6 games is more than 82 points over a full season. Maybe math isn't your strong suit.

He has a career 49 points in 49 games without McDavid

 

[The Management]

I got that - I'm wondering what would be wrong about that criticism if the next few weeks go poorly

Yeah, I'm not sure to be quite honest with you. I'm speculating as to what others might say, because as we know, people will argue over just about anything.

The common refrain that has followed the Oilers around is that they're a two man operation and not much else. If they look lifeless without McDavid, it stokes the flames of that argument.

There are fans of the team who would probably disagree with that criticism, and they may perceive it to be unfair. Maybe they see as just an issue of unlucky goaltending, a coaching issue, a typically slow start, or something else entirely. Maybe they write off the next week or two as a small sample size. My point is that whatever the case, if they do poorly, it's another birch log for the wood stove.

 

[Duke74]

He has a career 49 points in 49 games without McDavid

That includes his 50-point rookie season and 70-point sophomore season before he broke out. I think people here are talking about his Hart Trophy winning season when he got 12 points in 6 games in McDavid's absence. I know you'll say that's a small sample size, but it's more indicative of the player he is now.

 

[Three On Zero]

That includes his 50-point rookie season and 70-point sophomore season before he broke out. I think people here are talking about his Hart Trophy winning season when he got 12 points in 6 games in McDavid's absence. I know you'll say that's a small sample size, but it's more indicative of the player he is now.

We don’t know the player he is now when the sample size is 6 games.

Debrincat and Larkin are currently #1/#2 in the league for points, so do we take that sample size as the players they are now? Or look at where they usually finish career wise.

Draisaitl isn’t bad, but he’s not the same player without McDavid

 

[Enga Olly]

Gets hurt, Oilers miss the playoffs, win the lottery, draft 1st overall to get themselves some depth

Rinse and repeat four or 5 more times and they'll have a decent core - a passed-peak McDavid will still be a damn good player

 

[Dust]

The Oilers are the LA Angels of the NHL. Two superstars and nothing else. Down to one now. Let's see if Leon can pad his stats all by himself now.

You might need to brush up on how bad the LA Angels are. Swing and a miss.

 

[Oleksiak]

You might need to brush up on how bad the LA Angels are. Swing and a miss.

And you might need to brush up on how bad the Oilers are.

 

[bobholly39]

It is certainly questionable that Draisaitl is not as good as his numbers would indicate based on his inability to produce at ES; a thorn in the side of the Oilers come playoff time.

That being said, I don't think many believe he is the clear cut 2nd best player in the league so the other poster is throwing out a straw man.

It will be interesting to see how Drai, and the Oilers, fare if McDavid is out for a longer spell.

Since 2021 - Draisaitl has 35 even strength points in 32 playoff games. That's 2nd in the whole NHL - only player ahead of him is Palat but with 26 more games played (1 more point, 36).

Just because Draisaitl scores a lot of points in the power play doesn't mean he can't score at ES. In the playoffs - Draisaitl has scored more per game than just about anyone else in the league (him and McDavid) over the past 2 playoff runs. So saying "well, he relies on pp, so come playoff time he won't be able to produce" is such a stupid statement when he's literally proven that he does produce in the playoffs, whether it's on the power play or not.

 

[snag]

We don’t know the player he is now when the sample size is 6 games.

Debrincat and Larson are currently #1/#2 in the league for points, so do we take that sample size as the players they are now? Or look at where they usually finish career wise.

Draisaitl isn’t bad, but he’s not the same player without McDavid

Yet if he was on your team he would be the best player....go figure.

 

[Dust]

And you might need to brush up on how bad the Oilers are.

The Angels haven't made the playoffs since 2014 and they haven't finished above .500 since 2015. Another swing and a miss.

 

[DingerMcSlapshot]

You might need to brush up on how bad the LA Angels are. Swing and a miss.

And you might need to brush up on how bad the Oilers are.

Fight....
Fight....
Fight....lunchtime at Rumble Park.

 

[McFlash97]

He's 27. The body is not gonna be what it was at 22 with injuries

He is 26. Man you have no clue.

 

[Ugene Magic]

I don't wish this kind of pearl on anyone, hope he recovers quickly.

I've experienced enough between Mario, Sid and even Malkin to time lost.

The league loses so much when the stars and in particular its generational talent when they are not on the ice..

 

[authentic]

We don’t know the player he is now when the sample size is 6 games.

Debrincat and Larson are currently #1/#2 in the league for points, so do we take that sample size as the players they are now? Or look at where they usually finish career wise.

Draisaitl isn’t bad, but he’s not the same player without McDavid

Hard to imagine he's too much worse when he's scored even more goals and points than McDavid in the playoffs though

I don't wish this kind of pearl on anyone, hope he recovers quickly.

I've experienced enough between Mario, Sid and even Malkin to time lost.

The league loses so much when the stars and in particular its generational talent when they are not on the ice..

He's only supposed to be out for 2 weeks tops. Doesn't sound serious

 

[Hank Plank]

I think this is good for Edmonton.

A competent team that is capable of challenging for the Cup can't just rely on one or two guys.

Time for the rest of them to get their shit together with a little adversity.

Except now they will rely on one guy instead of two.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

We don’t know the player he is now when the sample size is 6 games.

Debrincat and Larson are currently #1/#2 in the league for points, so do we take that sample size as the players they are now? Or look at where they usually finish career wise.

Draisaitl isn’t bad, but he’s not the same player without McDavid

Who is Larson?

 

[Zalos]

Who is Larson?

He meant Larkin.

I'm sure the Oilers will right the ship while he's gone. This team is too good to remain at the bottom of the standings.

 

[Three On Zero]

Who is Larson?

Don’t question my autocorrect

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Don’t question my autocorrect

Lol, its why I try to stick to players #.

 

[Czechboy]

I say Drai kills it! A lot of people keep saying he's not McDavid... if that is his big flaw then I'd like to point out no one is. He'd be on the top line on every team in the NHL. He's Jagr to McDavid's Lemieux. He's not Scott Stevens to Lemieux.

This wakes up Brown and Kane (who have stunk).

Not at all what I wanted but we're back to being a 1 dimensional 2 star team and this could be a good thing. Spread out the minutes, more opportunity for some very talented forwards.

Winning streak coming in
Followed by an HF post saying McDavid is not a leader and is selfish which is why the Oil suck.lol