Post-Game Talk: Montreal - where the people are beautiful and Oilers hockey is ugly

[Soundwave]

They weren't dominating. They were just throwing pucks at net and hoping they went in. We've seen this crap so many times. That was an extremely passive game by the team.


Can we please can the coach firing talk? They would be insane to do that.

If the offense doesn't turn, KK will be fired, just a question of when, not if.

There's 50 people in the hockey world that would be happy to take a job coaching McDavid, one of them is probably Quennville.

 

[Drivesaitl]

You're obsessed with appreciation, as if it does anything in pro sports, lol. Who gives a f***.

We need to get the PP going and it needs to get going now, 1 goal from Hyman and RNH in almost 50 PP attempts is a monstrous waste of McDavid/Draisaitl's abilities on 5 on 4, we are throwing games down the toilet right now running RNH and Hyman on the PP when every team is easily able to neutralize them on the PP.

Make some freaking changes Knob or you're going to be headed to Woody's Unemployment Land.

"I'm obsessed with appreciation" is something hardly anybody would say about my posting. lol. I just appreciate players that have played great and contributed immensely to the team. That shouldn't be hard to understand. Conversely I do piss on players that do next to nothing for a team.

I think you might be too panicked about the season. Team will make the playoffs unless they implode. Would be hard not to in Pacific. Hopefully we get the help we need in goal at TDL.

 

[Soundwave]

"I'm obsessed with appreciation" is something hardly anybody would say about my posting. lol. I just appreciate players that have played great and contributed immensely to the team. That shouldn't be hard to understand. Conversely I do piss on players that do next to nothing for a team.

I think you might be too panicked about the season. Team will make the playoffs unless they implode. Would be hard not to in Pacific. Hopefully we get the help we need in goal at TDL.

You're the one saying "this roster won't hunt" and wanting to throw the towel in, lol, you're all over the place.

 

[syz]

There is no doubt that this team isnt as good as last years team.
The players that exited have not been properly replaced. that is especially true on defence. Deharnais and Ceci have not been adequately replaced.

Same for McLeod and Foegele and to a lesser degree Holloway (who only got 5x5 minutes).
They are not only missed on the PK but at even strength too.
Foegele gave the team speed and heaviness and an ability to score. He is really missed IMO.
Much more of a 2nd line player than Podkolzin.
As much as I like Podkolzin he might not score a goal this season...he has terrible feel around the net.

All that being said the team also doesnt seem to be doing enough to help itself. Too many players are sleepwalking their way through the early part of the season so far.
Its almost like they just dont have a big enough sense of urgency in these games.

An example of that...in last nights game there were multiple very low percentage passes which not only give away possession but they also provide opportunites on the rush for the opposition team.
Just look at McDavids low percentage pass which causes the empty net goal.
Perfect example. The game is on the line and he throws up a lazy half assed pass.
That kind of stuff has to stop.

Its not just him either.
Hyman isnt even close to the player he was last season. Same with RNH.
Bouchard has sucked so far this season.
Not nearly effective enough on offence and on defence he is a disaster waiting to happen.

Go down the list...is any player on this team playing up to their potential so far?
On defence aside from Ekholm and Kulak I am not seeing it.
Nurse has been fine the last 7 games before he got injured.

At forward McDavid and Draisaitl have been fine offensively but their defensive games and puck management has been inconsisten at best.
When you look at the point stats the Oilers have 3 Dmen in the top 5 in scoring.
That tells you everything you need to know about how offensively challnged the forwards have been.


The team has to play with a higher sense of urgency and a bigger commitment to winning.
They are doing the minimum on both counts and the results so far reflect that.

Foegele, McLeod, and Holloway had a combined 4 goals after 19 games last season.

Foegele 3, Holloway 1, McLeod 0.

 

[Soundwave]

Foegele, McLeod, and Holloway had a combined 4 goals after 19 games last season.

Yeah so basically Brown + Perry (6 goals this year) have more than those three and Kulak also has 4 goals this year (lol).

The main difference is 17 PP goals this time last year versus only 8 PP goals this year. That's a 9 goal deficet, which doesn't sound like so many until you consider if you pro-rate that for a full season, it's like a 45-goal drop in goals if it continues.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

If the offense doesn't turn, KK will be fired, just a question of when, not if.

There's 50 people in the hockey world that would be happy to take a job coaching McDavid, one of them is probably Quennville.

There's no reason to hire him.

But I'm sure the... what, 8th coach in the McDavid era will figure it out?

 

[Soundwave]

There's no reason to hire him.

But I'm sure the... what, 8th coach in the McDavid era will figure it out?

There's nothing to figure out, the GMs keep building rosters with a bunch of holes in them, no goaltending stability, and one of the best ways to counteract that is a new coach bump. There is no salary cap for coaches either, Oilers can mismanage this team aspect to their hearts content.

 

[guymez]

Foegele, McLeod, and Holloway had a combined 4 goals after 19 games last season.

Foegele 3, Holloway 1, McLeod 0.

Podkolzin (Foegeles replacment on the 2nd line) has zero goals.

Its not just about goals either.
There is a definitive drop in team speed without those players and that is very noticable.
Holloway and Foegeles departure also made the team softer.

Look at the defence...instead of Deharnais, Ceci and Broberg the team now has Dermott, Brown, Emberson and Stecher.

That is not an upgrade.

 

[syz]

They're scoring at an abysmal rate in a year where goaltending is worse across the board. We're about a quarter into the season and the offense ranks 24th.

Goaltending numbers don't look any different this season, tbh. At this point last season there were only 12 teams who had above a .900 SV%. This year there's only 11.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

There's nothing to figure out, the GMs keep building rosters with a bunch of holes in them, no goaltending stability, and one of the best ways to counteract that is a new coach bump.

If you have to keep doing a new coach bump every single year then there's something deeply wrong with the team. Plus if the coach knows they're going to be fired in a year anyway why would they sign up?

There's a reason why the most successful teams in the league keep their coaches for a while even through less than ideal times. Teams like the Oilers just use them as scapegoats for their overall gross organizational incompetence.

 

[Soundwave]

Podkolzin (Foegeles replacment on the 2nd line) has zero goals.

Its not just about goals either.
There is a definitive drop in team speed without those players and that is very noticable.

Did you miss the part where Foegele's scoring was included above? Foegele + McLeod + Holloway had a total of 4 goals combined this time last year through 19 games.

That's as many as Brett Kulak has.

The main drop in offense is the PP ... plain and simple, primarily Hyman and RNH specifically.

The team has 50 goals for this year versus 58 from a year ago, we have 9 fewer PP goals this year. There's your entire difference and then some. Even Scooby Doo can figure this one out.

 

[syz]

Yeah so basically Brown + Perry (6 goals this year) have more than those three and Kulak also has 4 goals this year (lol).

The main difference is 17 PP goals this time last year versus only 8 PP goals this year. That's a 9 goal deficet, which doesn't sound like so many until you consider if you pro-rate that for a full season, it's like a 45-goal drop in goals if it continues.

And Drai and McDavid both have more goals than they did last year, along with some minor increases throughout the lineup.

The drops are the obvious ones: Hyman has gone from 10 to 3. RNH has one from 4 to 1. Kane has gone from 9 to NA. Those first two are likely predominantly the PP, as you say. I don't recall Kane getting much time there so that's just 9 goals gone to the ether.

 

[Oilslick941611]

Podkolzin (Foegeles replacment on the 2nd line) has zero goals.

Its not just about goals either.
There is a definitive drop in team speed without those players and that is very noticable.
Holloway and Foegeles departure also made the team softer.

Look at the defence...instead of Deharnais, Ceci and Broberg the team now has Dermott, Brown, Emberson and Stecher.

That is not an upgrade.

and yet the defence is holding. Broberg or Ceci won't make this team better. This team has all it needs, it needs to watch film and change tactics up and start working hard.

 

[Drivesaitl]

You're the one saying "this roster won't hunt" and wanting to throw the towel in, lol, you're all over the place.

I've been crystal clear in several posts saying this lineup probably exits playoffs in 2nd round or conference final. When I say this dog won't hunt I mean its not a contender. Not a serious contender this season. If we got appreciable help at TDL I'd maybe revise that. But I've been very clear.

As far as all over the place two weeks ago you were saying this team is turning corner and everything going well. Now you're the one poster screaming for a coaching change and that we have to have it pronto. Its like you're panicking.

 

[syz]

Did you miss the part where Foegele's scoring was included above? Foegele + McLeod + Holloway had a total of 4 goals combined this time last year through 19 games.

That's as many as Brett Kulak has.

The main drop in offense is the PP ... plain and simple, primarily Hyman and RNH specifically.

The team has 50 goals for this year versus 58 from a year ago, we have 9 fewer PP goals this year. There's your entire difference and then some. Even Scooby Doo can figure this one out.

Also Jeff Skinner probably scored his 3 goals when he was on the 2nd line anyways. So even still a "Foegele replacement" is at least drawing even.

 

[Soundwave]

I've been crystal clear in several posts saying this lineup probably exits playoffs in 2nd round or conference final. When I say this dog won't hunt I mean its not a contender. Not a serious contender this season. If we got appreciable help at TDL I'd maybe revise that. But I've been very clear.

As far as all over the place two weeks ago you were saying this team is turning corner and everything going well. Now you're the one poster screaming for a coaching change and that we have to have it pronto. Its like you're panicking.

I'm stating the truth, a coach who is coaching a roster like this to a bottom 8 offence in the league and not making any adjustments over 19 games (our PP set is still exactly the same, the lines are basically remaining static) is begging to get himself fired.

Again, we have 50 goals for the season, that's as many as the San Jose Sharks who don't even have Celebrini in the roster. If that continues, he is going to get himself fired for being a dumb ass.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

I'm stating the truth, a coach who is coaching a roster like this to a bottom 8 offence in the league and not making any adjustments over 19 games (our PP set is still exactly the same, the lines are basically remaining static) is begging to get himself fired.

Again, we have 50 goals for the season, that's as many as the San Jose Sharks who don't even have Celebrini in the roster. If that continues, he is going to get himself fired for being a dumb ass.

Maybe hire Jay Woodcroft back so he can re-unlock 60 goal Connor McDavid.

 

[powerserge]

Foegele, McLeod, and Holloway had a combined 4 goals after 19 games last season.

Foegele 3, Holloway 1, McLeod 0.

And Arv, Pod and Skinner have 5 goals. We are older, less speed, less youthful energy. It's just not good. You can look great and pass the puck around the perimeter all day long, too many Oilers are behind the play. 4 fast players gone, the loss of speed is an issue whether they produce or not. Do you want teams chasing us or us chasing them? This is the difference and no one listens.

Told you all since this off season, you don't pay top guys all this money while entering their 30's. Seen it time and time again and we are not even there yet. Should be good enough for playoffs, the vets just going through the motions just isn't good enough though. This is what this team is built on.

 

[Soundwave]

And Arv, Pod and Skinner have 5 goals. We are older, less speed, less youthful energy. It's just not good. You can look great and pass the puck around the perimeter all day long, too many Oilers are behind the play. 4 fast players gone, the loss of speed is an issue whether they produce or not. Do you want teams chasing us or us chasing them? This is the difference and no one listens.

Told you all since this off season, you don't pay top guys all this money while entering their 30's. Seen it time and time again and we are not even there yet. Should be good enough for playoffs, the vets just going through the motions just isn't good enough though. This is what this team is built on.

Put 2/3 (Arvidsson, Skinner, or Podz) on the PP already. At least get someone going and playing with confidence.

RNH and Hyman should come off, they're not getting it done on the PP and it's killing the team.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Sam Montembeault against Oilers. 3yrs ago put up .926save % against us in a game for Florida

Last season has two very good games against us at .906 and .951. The latter game he stopped 41 of 43 shots and was spectacular in many of the stops. So that in the last two times he's played us he's faced 73 shots and only allowed 2 goals. When do we ever see this kind of goaltending? Oh, in the opposition net. This player was available. I've loved him for years.

 

[Duke74]

Imagine his goal total if our PP was clicking. He would start running away with the rocket

And if he had a decent playmaker on his wing.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I'm stating the truth, a coach who is coaching a roster like this to a bottom 8 offence in the league and not making any adjustments over 19 games (our PP set is still exactly the same, the lines are basically remaining static) is begging to get himself fired.

Again, we have 50 goals for the season, that's as many as the San Jose Sharks who don't even have Celebrini in the roster. If that continues, he is going to get himself fired for being a dumb ass.

Truth according to you. KK coaches low event hockey. The same system resulted in a 16game win streak last season and relied on possession, shot, and chance suppression. Team was owning once it got rolling. But we've lost a lot of the speed and legs of that team which is obvious to most here. Becoming more obvious every day. The thing that was atypical in a KK scheme and came more from our PP, is how much we scored. We shouldn't have scored as much 50n5 last season, maybe got a bit lucky.

My concern is if the team looks at its goaltending and just starts to lose faith. That could occur conceivably. It takes a ton of adherence for this team to limit GA given the ordinary goaltending they have. A game like last night is a kick in the pants anytime.

 

[MessierII]

Yeah Hyman deserves a ton of grace. He scored 70 goals for us last season on 6M contract. Was the best deal in the entire league. Really this guy continues to work hard and I'll give him as long a leash as he needs. Hard to perform magic in consecutive seasons. Even for guys like Smyth who were the same junkyard dogs around the net there would be seasons where it was going and those where it wasn't. You eat a ton of punishment being these players living around the net. He's playing through injury. Do fans actually fold on players this quickly after amazing seasons? Hyman deserves some respect. I can't say that for every player and particularly players that have done zilch for the Oil.


In my view we had incredible over performance over what could be expected from several players last season. Most notably Hyman and Booch. There was no way either was getting anywhere near the totals this season. Pretty easy to see high water marks when they occur. The uncanny thing is both Booch and Hyman continued their torrid pace even in playoffs. We can be thankful for it while not necessarily expecting it.

Again it’s not last season. Having accountability isn’t folding the tent on players. What worked last year isn’t working so we need to change it. You can’t keep trotting out that same top line and top PP unit and have Nuge and Hyman combine for 4 goals in almost 20 games.

 

[Soundwave]

Truth according to you. KK coaches low event hockey. The same system resulted in a 16game win streak last season and relied on possession, shot, and chance suppression. Team was owning once it got rolling. But we've lost a lot of the speed and legs of that team which is obvious to most here. Becoming more obvious every day. The thing that was atypical in a KK scheme and came more from our PP, is how much we scored. We shouldn't have scored as much 50n5 last season, maybe got a bit lucky.

My concern is if the team looks at its goaltending and just starts to lose faith. That could occur conceivably. It takes a ton of adherence for this team to limit GA given the ordinary goaltending they have. A game like last night is a kick in the pants anytime.

If "low event hockey" means being tied with the San Jose Sharks in goals for then Knob is headed towards a low event firing, lol.

I'm just saying, if this team is not scoring, then it's his job to come up with answer as to why and fix it. It's called making adjustments. It's part of coaching, if KK has no offensive adjustments up his sleeve then he's not long for the world of NHL coaching.

He is going to get himself fired if he doesn't figure this out.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Again it’s not last season. Having accountability isn’t folding the tent on players. What worked last year isn’t working so we need to change it. You can’t keep trotting out that same top line and top PP unit and have Nuge and Hyman combine for 4 goals in almost 20 games.

Changes likely occur. If changes had occurred too early people would be critical of changing up what was a legend PP. Thankfully we can make some changes and I trust that it happens. But I do think it goes back to the present config at some later points. Typically its too good not to. The sample size of where this unit has been gold is immense. The sample where they haven't fired is short term. Sure, change it up, I"m not saying different. But the coaching fire howls I think are premature. This team despite record is doing a lot of things well in games but is limited, and our results are, by goaltending.

Wheres the accountability for that?