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

[guymez]

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.

I mean Kulak, Ekholm and Nurse (for the last 7 games) have been good.
IMO Emberson is not as good as Deharnais defensively. Emberson is eaiser to play against.
Brown and Dermott are borderline NHL players...definitly not as good as Ceci.

Stecher and Broberg...I would take Broberg in a second over Stecher. No comparison IMO.

None of Brown, Dermott, Emberson or Stecher can fill the #4 role (or even the #5 role) which is why Kulak (an elite #5 dman IMO) has to play the #4 position on his off wing with Nurse.
Stecher wasnt even good enough to crack last seasons defence much at all.

Lastly I understand that the goaltending hasnt been good enough but when this team breaks down defensively its a spectacular breakdown. That involves the forwards as well so the commitment to consistent defence hasnt been where it needs to be.

Then you throw in the fact that this team (built for offence) sits at 23rd in the NHL for scoring and thats a major problem.
They are now a soft team and (without Broberg, Foegele, Holloway and McLeod) they are now a slow team.

If they arent scoring what the hell is their identity?
They dont have an identity and that is another problem.

Right now we have a soft, slow, older team that cant score.

I do think that some of that has to involve this teams lack of urgency. They just dont seem all that interested/motivated to give the level of effort required to win consistently especially around the net.
The permimeter game (lots of shots/low percentage passes and very little 2nd and 3rd chances) was on display last night for sure.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

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.

What coach would want to come here if he's going to get fired in a year?

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

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.

nah those are clear downgrades from last year...and part of the reason the PK has stunk most of the year

we got older, smaller and less physical

 

[Soundwave]

I mean Kulak, Ekholm and Nurse (for the last 7 games) have been good.
IMO Emberson is not as good as Deharnais defensively. Emberson is eaiser to play against.
Brown and Dermott are borderline NHL players...definitly not as good as Ceci.

Stecher and Broberg...I would take Broberg in a second over Stecher. No comparison IMO.

None of Brown, Dermott, Emberson or Stecher can fill the #4 role (or even the #5 role) which is why Kulak (an elite #5 dman IMO) has to play the #4 position on his off wing with Nurse.
Stecher wasnt even good enough to crack last seasons defence much at all.

Lastly I understand that the goaltending hasnt been good enough but when this team breaks down defensively its a spectacular breakdown. That involves the forwards as well so the commitment to consistent defence hasnt been where it needs to be.

Then you throw in the fact that this team (built for offence) sits at 23rd in the NHL for scoring and thats a major problem.
They arent a gittey team and (without Broberg, Foegele, Holloway and McLeod) they are no longer a fast team.

If they arent scoring what the hell is their identity?
They dont have an identity and that is another problem.

You can have Desharnais back for free right now. Vancouver will give him back for literally nothing.

He got taken to the cleaners in the Oilers Canucks game by Connor Brown.

Kulak is the no.4 on this team. (Ekholm no.1, Bouch no.2, Nurse no.3, Kulak no.4). I don't see the point in replacing any of those players.

What coach would want to come here if he's going to get fired in a year?

Quenville. Every coach has a bloated sense of ego anyway, they all think they are different and can fix the situation, just like a girl who thinks she can tame the bad boy.

 

[MessierII]

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?

I actually agree with a lot of what you’re saying the main difference for me is goaltending isn’t expected to be a strength. The goaltending has been putrid but it shouldn’t need to be high level for this team to succeed. There is no scenario where it is acceptable for this team to score as much as the celebini-less sharks through 1/4 of the season.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

You can have Desharnais back for free right now. Vancouver will give him back for literally nothing.

He got taken to the cleaners in the Oilers Canucks game by Connor Brown.



Quenville. Every coach has a bloated sense of ego anyway, they all think they are different and can fix the situation, just like a girl who thinks she can tame the bad boy.

Quenville hasn't won a playoff series since 2015 despite some pretty good teams. Florida doesn't win the Cup if he's not replaced with Maurice. He's just another Ken Hitchcock.

 

[Soundwave]

Quenville hasn't won a playoff series since 2015 despite some pretty good teams. Florida doesn't win the Cup if he's not replaced with Maurice. He's just another Ken Hitchcock.

It doesn't matter, if Knob doesn't know how to make offensive adjustments, he is going to get himself fired.

He either shows some ability to changes things on the offense or he's going to be cooked here sooner or later.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

It doesn't matter, if Knob doesn't know how to make offensive adjustments, he is going to get himself fired.

He either shows some ability to changes things on the offense or he's going to be cooked here sooner or later.

Again, you can't just keep firing the coach over and over again and expect to win the Cup, especially not for a dinosaur like Quennville.

 

[Soundwave]

I actually agree with a lot of what you’re saying the main difference for me is goaltending isn’t expected to be a strength. The goaltending has been putrid but it shouldn’t need to be high level for this team to succeed. There is no scenario where it is acceptable for this team to score as much as the celebini-less sharks through 1/4 of the season.

People want to talk about "old and slow" the Sharks leading scorer is Tyler Toffoli, lmao. They have as many goals as we do. Completely unacceptable.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

You can have Desharnais back for free right now. Vancouver will give him back for literally nothing.

He got taken to the cleaners in the Oilers Canucks game by Connor Brown.

Kulak is the no.4 on this team. (Ekholm no.1, Bouch no.2, Nurse no.3, Kulak no.4). I don't see the point in replacing any of those players.



Quenville. Every coach has a bloated sense of ego anyway, they all think they are different and can fix the situation, just like a girl who thinks she can tame the bad boy.

I'd take Vinny D back at a million bucks...can PK at least...maybe he can re-ignite his best bud Skinner

and f*** Quennville...this isn't on coaching

 

[Drivesaitl]

I actually agree with a lot of what you’re saying the main difference for me is goaltending isn’t expected to be a strength. The goaltending has been putrid but it shouldn’t need to be high level for this team to succeed. There is no scenario where it is acceptable for this team to score as much as the celebini-less sharks through 1/4 of the season.

You've watched hockey for a long time. One of the aspects this org didn't consider that I've talked about a lot is that there are no roster enforcers here. As you know what this means is our star players are eating constant punishment and much more than they would if we even had a Maroon or somebody around. The bench knows that they are open game in open season anytime they go out there. This is underlined when the team has to see Nurse maimed on the ice. I know you and others were saying there should have been pushback for that but we just don't have any enforcers or anybody that consistently answers bell or can even fight. Nurse was our fighter. The team has been even more uncertain I think since Nurse went down. You can't play hockey and not think sometimes that you're gonna be next. that was pretty horrific. Theres no protection here, the team knows it. Can be a distracting element. Storied Oilers teams and their stars never had to worry if anybody had their back. This team does have to worry about that. I don't think you'll disagree.

 

[Soundwave]

I'd take Vinny D back at a million bucks...can PK at least...maybe he can re-ignite his best bud Skinner

and f*** Quennville...this isn't on coaching

When the team is scoring at the same rate as the Sharks, who's offense is led by cement boots Toffoli ... and the coach here is making zero adjustments offensively ... yes there could be a coaching issue.

Knob has to show he has some ability to make offensive adjustments, otherwise he is going to get himself fired. Sorry but that's part of the gig, you can't just coach one side of the ice ("low event hockey").

I'd take Vinny D back at a million bucks...can PK at least...maybe he can re-ignite his best bud Skinner

and f*** Quennville...this isn't on coaching

Vinny and Stuey may reunited sooner than they think, if both don't pick up their play they're going to be on a bus together in the AHL or KHL in a year or two.

I hear Moscow is pretty this time of year.

 

[MessierII]

People want to talk about "old and slow" the Sharks leading scorer is Tyler Toffoli, lmao. They have as many goals as we do. Completely unacceptable.

100% and to me that’s by far the biggest problem. T

You've watched hockey for a long time. One of the aspects this org didn't consider that I've talked about a lot is that there are no roster enforcers here. As you know what this means is our star players are eating constant punishment and much more than they would if we even had a Maroon or somebody around. The bench knows that they are open game in open season anytime they go out there. This is underlined when the team has to see Nurse maimed on the ice. I know you and others were saying there should have been pushback for that but we just don't have any enforcers or anybody that consistently answers bell or can even fight. Nurse was our fighter. The team has been even more uncertain I think since Nurse went down. You can't play hockey and not think sometimes that you're gonna be next. that was pretty horrific. Theres no protection here, the team knows it. Can be a distracting element. Storied Oilers teams and their stars never had to worry if anybody had their back. This team does have to worry about that. I don't think you'll disagree.

I agree with you here and that is likely at least a part of the problem. Hopefully this is a good lesson to yourself and others as to how valuable Kane is. A lot of people were dumping on him last year.

 

[Drivesaitl]

100% and to me that’s by far the biggest problem. T

I agree with you here and that is likely at least a part of the problem. Hopefully this is a good lesson to yourself and others as to how valuable Kane is. A lot of people were dumping on him last year.

I've been saying a lot this season we're missing Kane. Sometimes we were missing Kane last season even when he was in lineup because he was playing through injury. Tragic what has happened with him injury wise. Things you can't control. I like the player when healthy. Always have. I feel what he brings when he can is huge to lineup.

 

[Oilslick941611]

When the team is scoring at the same rate as the Sharks, who's offense is led by cement boots Toffoli ... and the coach here is making zero adjustments offensively ... yes there could be a coaching issue.

Knob has to show he has some ability to make offensive adjustments, otherwise he is going to get himself fired. Sorry but that's part of the gig, you can't just coach one side of the ice ("low event hockey").



Vinny and Stuey may reunited sooner than they think, if both don't pick up their play they're going to be on a bus together in the AHL or KHL in a year or two.

I hear Moscow is pretty this time of year.

Its not the coach. the players shouldnt need a coach to tell them to get in the open and shoot the puck from high danger areas.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Its not the coach. the players shouldnt need a coach to tell them to get in the open and shoot the puck from high danger areas.

Connor McDavid scored 60 friggin goals two years ago. I often wonder where that went.

This team isn't scoring because they're not playing hockey conducive to scoring.

 

[syz]

Connor McDavid scored 60 friggin goals two years ago. I often wonder where that went.

This team isn't scoring because they're not playing hockey conducive to scoring.

He's had "nagging injuries" since like a week after he scored his 60th. That guy is gone.

Its not the coach. the players shouldnt need a coach to tell them to get in the open and shoot the puck from high danger areas.

They do. They just shoot it at the goalie, usually.

 

[Soundwave]

Its not the coach. the players shouldnt need a coach to tell them to get in the open and shoot the puck from high danger areas.

Well if the players know everything they shouldn't need a coach.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Well if the players know everything they shouldn't need a coach.

I really don't understand this anti-Knoblauch crusade you're going on.

 

[Soundwave]

I really don't understand this anti-Knoblauch crusade you're going on.

It's not anti-Knob, it's just a matter of fact. If you can't make offensive adjustments in this league as a coach you will get yourself fired.

Todd McLellan basically has made a career of that, dude never met an offensive adjustment in his life.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

It's not anti-Knob, it's just a matter of fact. If you can't make offensive adjustments in this league as a coach you will get yourself fired.

Todd McLellan basically has made a career of that, dude never met an offensive adjustment in his life.

No amount of adjustments in the world will overcome a lack of effort.

 

[Soundwave]

No amount of adjustments in the world will overcome a lack of effort.

I'm not really seeing a lack of effort. I see teams reading the McDavid to Hyman plays and Knob is not countering with anything.

Our PP is doing the same exact thing from 15 games ago as it is now.

We're losing games because of this.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

I'm not really seeing a lack of effort. I see teams reading the McDavid to Hyman plays and Knob is not countering with anything.

Our PP is doing the same exact thing from 15 games ago as it is now.

We're losing games because of this.

This game was a total lack of effort. So was the last game. It wasn't until the 6 on 5 in Toronto that the Oilers actually acted like they gave a shit. Unsurprisingly they scored when they did.

 

[Soundwave]

This game was a total lack of effort. So was the last game. It wasn't until the 6 on 5 in Toronto that the Oilers actually acted like they gave a shit. Unsurprisingly they scored when they did.

They lost in Toronto last year (6-3 thumping) and barely eeked out a win in Montreal, 2-1 in OT needing a 4 on 3 PP to get it done.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

They lost in Toronto last year (6-3 thumping) and barely eeked out a win in Montreal, 2-1 in OT needing a 4 on 3 PP to get it done.

Okay? Does that somehow excuse the lousy efforts?