Post-Game Talk: Oilers die on the Hill

[Soundwave]

I'm not even a Foegele fan but he outscored Arvid away from PP over several seasons. He will continue to. If you're surmising Arvid is going to suddenly start scoring gobs here he's not even off the injured list. The Oilers never haven released what nature of injury is, and the duration going from cited "game to game" to now being 4 weeks out, and still no disclosure suggests to me it could be another back injury and the org too embarassed at this point to even disclose.

Arvid for sure isn't getting anywhere near 20 goals. lol the last time Arvid even hit 20EV goals he was 25, healthy, prime of life and before multiple back surgeries. This contract is so indescribably stupid. Oilers just bought out the Jack Campbell contract to have money to waste it on the latest clusterf*** signing.

I mean the logic would be that Draisaitl would surely increase or at least maintain that production in the same way that Hyman came here and saw a big increase in his production with McDavid.

Problem is Leon doesn't really seem to be like a "plug n play" center that a lot of guys instantly score through the roof with.

It's hardly just Arvidsson that's come here and struggled to score.

It probably doesn't help that Knoblaugh seems clueless as a coach offensively. Other coaches are making adjustments towards our play style, doesn't look like Knob has any adjustments for that side of the rink.

 

[TheNumber4]

1GAA = Good goaltending, you would take that every f***in night if you could.

0GF = Bad Offense, we lose every f***in night if that happens

Simple as that for last nights game story.

Does this mean that Skinner is an elite goalie. No. Does it mean he’s had a good year. No. Does it mean that McDrai are to blame for this years failures. No.

Vegas’s defence clowned the Oilers offence last night. WPG and Floridas defence on a good night can and will do the same unless the Oilers figure out their shit offensively.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Seriously. It's as simple as that, not sure why some posters are having a hard time grasping this.

It's ok to not criticize Skinner when he doesn't deserve it but also acknowledge that he's been mostly poor this season ffs haha


But you can also criticize his play for most of this season while also not blaming him for a 1-0 loss. It's not so hard to understand.
Just because he's been shit most of the season doesn't automatically make every loss his fault when it's not his fault. He's actually had 3 solid games in a row, about time but it should be acknowledged just his many poor games this season should also be acknowledged.

I already said it’s mostly the forwards fault but Skinner let in a softie and we were chasing the whole game. After that he was basically on coffee break while his counterpart Hill made big save after big save. It’s just another game where if we switched goalies we probably win. Is it Skinners fault we lost? No. Is he completely free of all blame? Also no… but it’s way down the list.

The forwards are supposed to be carrying this team and they aren’t and that’s a huge problem. I don’t debate that.

Forgive me for not rolling the red carpet out for skinner because he’s been good for 1 week this season. If he gets out of the bottom 70 goalies I might give him some praise.

 

[GOilers88]

And we gave away Brossoit for peanuts thanks to this impatient fan base.

If I had a nickel for everytime I've seen this board rip on players and want them gone, then turn around a year or two later and actually try to talk about bringing them back I'd be filthy rich.

You know what, if you were a fairly good lock for Team Canada and having the spot taken by someone else is something you don't care about ... shame on you.

What kind of competitor are you with a lame f*** attitude like that.

The players should care. They should care a lot, playing for Team Canada still means something. Anyone who is has a mind set of "well I don't care, whatever man" has no fire.

For Bouchard it's going to likely impact his pocket book for the next 2-8 years (whatever length his extension comes in at). He f***ed that up and can look in the mirror if he wants anyone to blame. He hasn't played well enough to start both of the last two years, this year it's going to cost him.

f*** around and find out, as they say.

The tournament is a complete joke. I'd be more concerned if they actually did give a shit about some random thing thrown together without the vast majority of players being eligible.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I mean the logic would be that Draisaitl would surely increase or at least maintain that production in the same way that Hyman came here and saw a big increase in his production with McDavid.

Problem is Leon doesn't really seem to be like a "plug n play" center that a lot of guys instantly score through the roof with.

It's hardly just Arvidsson that's come here and struggled to score.

It probably doesn't help that Knoblaugh seems clueless as a coach offensively. Other coaches are making adjustments towards our play style, doesn't look like Knob has any adjustments for that side of the rink.

lol Drai elevated even Foegele and McLeod most of the times they were put up with him. They scored mroe goals just in brief stints with Drai last season than any of the guys here with Drai every game have scored.

Its not Knobs fault Arvid can' stay on his feet, is weak as mollases and gets pushed off pucks if somebody breathes on him and can't score in a barn. The player is hampered, might never be 100% again and is past prime. Like I said the last time Arvid even hit for 20 goals was several years ago and thats WITH topsix play. The Kings, they don't miss him.

I would laugh if Calgary had signed he Arvid contract. unfortuntely the Oilers did. hooboy

 

[Soundwave]

If I had a nickel for everytime I've seen this board rip on players and want them gone, then turn around a year or two later and actually try to talk about bringing them back I'd be filthy rich.


The tournament is a complete joke. I'd be more concerned if they actually did give a shit about some random thing thrown together without the vast majority of players being eligible.

Playing for Team Canada shouldn't be a joke ever IMO. If your attitude is to treat it as a joke, then I'm inclined to believe you are also one of those "aw shucks, we got eliminated from the playoffs, time to go chill at the cabin" types (cough*Huberdeau*cough).

I get some fans are not enthused, but the players themselves shouldn't have that attitude, that's bullshit.

If Skinner, Hyman, and Bouchard don't make the team when they were locks basically 2 months ago, they should feel bad about it and I hope they do. I'm sorry but sometimes you need a kick in the ass.

 

[GOilers88]

It's not like .890 is a high bar to clear on a team that doesn't allow a whole lot. There's a lot of guys who would have better numbers in Skinner's role on the Oilers.

There's a reason why Skinner basically flushed down the toilet what should have been a locked spot on Team Canada, which is weak in net. It's because he's not very good.

Who cares about team Canada in some rinky dink tournament that means absolutely nothing at all? You keep pointing to this like it's some massive thing.

It isn't. Most people don't give a rats ass it seems. It's a total gimmick, much like the last tournament they held, only worse.

 

[Lacaar]

good post but not complete as part of what the Oilers did invest in the goaltending file was the expenditure, now bought out, but still existing, of Jack Campbell. Pretty clear here too that Mr Popularity Stu Skinner that is somehow god to the org here and the press was gong to get the nod no matter what happened with Campbell. Skinner wanted this starter role badly, and has had 3 seasons now to improve to it or acclimate to it. The "he was never supposed to be starter" arguments are null and void.

Agreed that the Oilers have went for the fence on a lot of stupid forward additions that haven't panned out. Only one that did was Hyman.

But lastly the dynamic you don't mention is that this club has to play such airtight defense to limit GA that it also takes a potential chunk out of their GF. Typically when teams are into positional play, NZ play, shot and chance suppression its going to impact their offense as well. Look at Vegas last night. They invested everything in prevent D and had two scoring chances all night. Scoring one and hitting a post on another. lol

Multiple things are true. Oilers goaltending is weak and their offensive forward support is weak too.

Yup great point about Campbell. They haven't under invested in goaltending, they've blown the investments.

I'm not sure I buy the fact the forwards are trying to compensate for the defense and Skinner. They still get chances. As far as I'm aware of they're on pace to generate their usual amount of chances? or close to. A team compensating would see a reduction in chances and their expected goals would go down as well?

How do you identify reasons for a team that can't put the puck in the Ocean so many nights? We can't.. so we call it luck. Bull shit. It's will.. and they don't have the will right now consistently.

I don't think the forwards are hungry right now but I'm confident they will get hungry.
I hope Stuart Skinner isn't hungry enough but honestly.. it may be a skill issue and that really sucks unfortunately.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The offense will figure its shit out. Knob is just being a dumb ass and not making any adjustments whatsoever and investing nothing in getting Jeff Skinner (a guy who has scored 40+ in this league) going and he's paying the price for being outcoached like that with multiple shutout losses. Well deserved on his part, you don't like it, well then make a freaking adjustment and may don't play Connor Brown in your top 6 over Jeff Skinner.

They will probably get shut out a few more times this year. Knob is being stupid and other coach's want their teams to play at playoff intensity against us (as they should).

The goaltending is not going to figure its shit out. They just suck (for a contender's standards).

Honestly, I think they're going to stay inconsistent AF offensively until Kane is back.

They've got some decent skill upfront, but not a lot of guys that can win via size or speed. And while skill is nice, it alone doesn't get you far if you've got no one to open up ice and break down the defence.


RNH, Henrique, Skinner, Ryan, Brown are all smart players, but they don't force defences to sweat or grab an icepack once they come off the ice. Arvidsson can at least make defences work, but at the end of the day he's still a waterbug.
Plus while they're better than the group above, it's not like Hyman, Perry, and Podz are particularly big and imposing. They don't have many guys that can overpower or even just physically tax the opposition.


It's why a waiver wire pick up in Kapanen can stand out here, he at least brings something noticeable to the table.

The good news is adding Kane helps the top 9, Philp in for Ryan would also go a long way.

 

[Soundwave]

lol Drai elevated even Foegele and McLeod most of the times they were put up with him. They scored mroe goals just in brief stints with Drai last season than any of the guys here with Drai every game have scored.

Its not Knobs fault Arvid can' stay on his feet, is weak as mollases and gets pushed off pucks if somebody breathes on him and can't score in a barn. The player is hampered, might never be 100% again and is past prime. Like I said the last time Arvid even hit for 20 goals was several years ago and thats WITH topsix play. The Kings, they don't miss him.

I would laugh if Calgary had signed he Arvid contract. unfortuntely the Oilers did. hooboy

6 goals in 18 games is a 27 goal pace, as I'm sure you might be aware since you're also trying to claim 6 goals in 25 games for Foegele and McLeod is impressive production.

 

[TheNumber4]

It’s almost like him being the worst goalie in the league this year has made his rope with most fans very short.

Give us better than 75th ranked goaltending and you won’t get blasted for 1 goal games.

Still says nothing about a single game analysis though.

If you are going off about his season performance, go off. You won’t find anyone saying Skinner has been good during the YEAR. But when talking about 1 game, you are talking about 1 game.

Still makes no sense in a 1 game context. And GDTs are for evaluating 1 game.

 

[GOilers88]

Playing for Team Canada shouldn't be a joke ever IMO. If your attitude is to treat it as a joke, then I'm inclined to believe you are also one of those "aw shucks, we got eliminated from the playoffs, time to go chill at the cabin" types (cough*Huberdeau*cough).

I get some fans are not enthused, but the players themselves shouldn't have that attitude, that's bullshit.

If Skinner, Hyman, and Bouchard don't make the team when they were locks basically 2 months ago, they should feel bad about it and I hope they do. I'm sorry but sometimes you need a kick in the ass.

It is a joke though. It means absolutely nothing. It's not a best on best. It's missing a ton of talent from across the league and world.

It's a total gimmick and I couldn't care less if players feel the same way. I'd much rather see them all pull their socks up and focus on the Oilers.

 

[Soundwave]

Honestly, I think they're going to stay inconsistent AF offensively until Kane is back.

They've got some decent skill upfront, but not a lot of guys that can win via size or speed. And while skill is nice, it alone doesn't get you far if you've got no one to open up ice and break down the defence.


RNH, Henrique, Skinner, Ryan, Brown are all smart players, but they don't force defences to sweat or grab an icepack once they come off the ice. Arvidsson can at least make defences work, but at the end of the day he's still a waterbug.
Plus while they're better than the group above, it's not like Hyman, Perry, and Podz are particularly big and imposing. They don't have many guys that can overpower or even just physically tax the opposition.


It's why a waiver wire pick up in Kapanen can stand out here, he at least brings something noticeable to the table.

The good news is adding Kane helps the top 9, Philp in for Ryan would also go a long way.

Disagree on the Podkolzin bit, he's one of the strongest players in the league IMO. Trouba tried to flatten him and the guy barely moved an inch, Trouba did a double take like wtf. On the Colorado goal, the Avs defender couldn't get Podz to budge an inch from net front. He murdered the Nashville enforcer in a fight clean. He routinely outmuscles people for the puck on the boards.

Dude is a freaking tank out there, he needs more experience to better understand how to utilize all that.

A lot of the rest is teams are scouting us much more tightly and picking up on pet plays (ie: McDavid to Hyman tap in). Knob isn't adjusting.

 

[K1984]

Honestly, I think they're going to stay inconsistent AF offensively until Kane is back.

They've got some decent skill upfront, but not a lot of guys that can win via size or speed. And while skill is nice, it alone doesn't get you far if you've got no one to open up ice and break down the defence.


RNH, Henrique, Skinner, Ryan, Brown are all smart players, but they don't force defences to sweat or grab an icepack once they come off the ice. Arvidsson can at least make defences work, but at the end of the day he's still a waterbug.

Plus they're better than the group above, it's not like Hyman, Perry, and Podz are particularly big and imposing. They don't have many guys that can or overpower or even just physically tax the opposition.


It's why a waiver wire pick up in Kapanen can stand out here, he at least brings something noticeable to the table.

The good news is adding Kane helps the top 9, Philp in for Ryan would also go a long way.

I think we just have to wait for the calendar to turn like every season.

Scoring and general performance of the top players has been up and down to start seasons over the past 5 or so years, but the bottom 6 and support players have pretty much constantly not started their seasons until January 1. It's just what happens every season.

Every season we sit here around this time and laugh/get laughed at because "McDavid and Draisaitl have scored X points while the whole rest of the roster only scored Y." Everybody scoffs at how "top heavy" and not deep the Oilers are, then every year these players get going in January, and every year we finish strong and look great going into the playoffs.

I have no idea why this is, it just is what it is. Another thing in a long line of things with the organization that makes so sense, but is basically law just because.

 

[Soundwave]

It is a joke though. It means absolutely nothing. It's not a best on best. It's missing a ton of talent from across the league and world.

It's a total gimmick and I couldn't care less if players feel the same way. I'd much rather see them all pull their socks up and focus on the Oilers.

The best players from Canada, USA, Sweden, etc. will be there, that's significant enough to take seriously. Yeah it's a shame Russia won't be there, but there's obviously things beyond the NHL's control there (they probably wouldn't win anyway).

Anyone who doesn't take that seriously as a player doesn't have the desire to be great anyway.

 

[Drivesaitl]

6 goals in 18 games is a 27 goal pace, as I'm sure you might be aware since you're also trying to claim 6 goals in 25 games for Foegele and McLeod is impressive production.

Its absolutely asinine t count it at a prorated place when the injured player only played 18 games and no plausible possibility he will ever play many games, or complete seasons again.

In the case of Holloway I prorated a young stud player that will have a lot of seasons remaining in tank.

This may escape your reckoning but Foegele and McLeod are playing almost all their time in bottomsix. Arvid spent all his time here, and most of it in LA in topsix and on PP, lol. You're raining apples and oranges.

 

[Soundwave]

Its absolutely asinine t count it at a prorated place when the injured player only played 18 games and no plausible possibility he will ever play many games, or complete seasons again.

In the case of Holloway I prorated a young stud player that will have a lot of seasons remaining in tank.

This may escape your reckoning but Foegele and McLeod are playing almost all their time in bottomsix. Arvid spent all his time here, and most of it in LA in topsix and on PP, lol. You're raining apples and oranges.

He had 1 PP goal of the 6 last year, so that doesn't look like majority PP time there.

Arvidsson is the same age as RNH and younger than Hyman, Draisaitl is only 2 whopping years younger, it's not like he's a 36 year old James Neal coming in here.

Unfortunately for him he came into a team where everyone on the team decided to start the season ice cold, and yes that includes McDavid and Draisaitl who were terrible the first 5-6 games of the season. That's a difficult situation to come into as a new player and it threw the whole team into a weird sync.

I don't think Knoblaugh does any coaching on the offensive end, he just leaves the players to their own devices.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Disagree on the Podkolzin bit, he's one of the strongest players in the league IMO. Trouba tried to flatten him and the guy barely moved an inch, Trouba did a double take like wtf. On the Colorado goal, the Avs defender couldn't get Podz to budge an inch from net front. He murdered the Nashville enforcer in a fight clean. He routinely outmuscles people for the puck on the boards.

Dude is a freaking tank out there, he needs more experience to better understand how to utilize all that.

A lot of the rest is teams are scouting us much more tightly and picking up on pet plays (ie: McDavid to Hyman tap in). Knob isn't adjusting.

Podz is definitely strong and can win his fair share of puck battles. but you toss him in the corner vs. another tank like Ekholm or even Nurse, and he's giving up 15 to 30lb. That's more so the point I'm making.

Contrast that to Kane, who likely has near 30lb on Podkolzin. Podz can surprise people, but Kane has the size to go with the strength to make most anyone his b***h, even if they're ready for the battle.

 

[Drivesaitl]

He had 1 PP goal of the 6 last year, so that doesn't look like majority PP time there.

Arvidsson is the same age as RNH and younger than Hyman, Draisaitl is only 2 whopping years younger, it's not like he's a 36 year old James Neal coming in here.

Unfortunately for him he came into a team where everyone on the team decided to start the season ice cold, and yes that includes McDavid and Draisaitl who were terrible the first 5-6 games of the season. That's a difficult situation to come into as a new player and it threw the whole team into a weird sync.

I don't think Knoblaugh does any coaching on the offensive end, he just leaves the players to their own devices.

Collectively Arvid on average his whole stint in LA has had over 2.5mins PP time per game, certainly not crumbs and far more than he was going to be getting here. Indeed there would be zero reason to put Arvid on a PP here.

The unfortunate thing, perhaps, is that Arvid is injured longterm again. I'm not convinced the team is better with him in, or out of the lineup. This is how little the player brings at this point.

Last I checked the players you mentioned haven't had multiple serious back conditions and multiple surgeries. More apples and oranges. What is it about Arvid not being healthy you don't get? The Oilers, idiots they are even bought in high on an injured and likely to be injured player. Playing 8M for him. Like I say if any other org was dumb enough to sign this deal I'd be laughing. The only ones happy are Arvid and his paid agent.

 

[Soundwave]

Collectively Arvid on average his whole stint in LA has had over 2.5mins PP time per game, certainly not crumbs and far more than he was going to be getting here. Indeed there would be zero reason to put Arvid on a PP here.

Why? Because the PP here is so perfect no one else can be given a chance?

I'm frankly glad Knob's stupid ass is probably scratching his head wondering how he keeps getting shut out.

This ain't the AHL buddy, you have to have some flexibility and creativity in your offensive zone coaching. There are two ends to the rink at this level.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Why? Because the PP here is so perfect no one else can be given a chance?

I'm frankly glad Knob's stupid ass is probably scratching his head wondering how he keeps getting shut out.

This ain't the AHL buddy, you have to have some flexibility and creativity in your offensive zone coaching. There are two ends to the rink at this level.

Because our PP woes would be solved in an instant by putting non available, injured arvid on the first unit PP. lol. He's been on the 2nd unit, for the life of me I don't know why. He's the easiest forward on the entire team to just push off the puck. Touch him and he falls down Hilariously bad. So much so even he Oilers homer broadcasts were talking about it. "Oh Arvids down again, whoops"

 

[Soundwave]

Because our PP woes would be solved in an instant by putting non available, injured arvid on the first unit PP. lol. He's been on the 2nd unit, for the life of me I don't know why. He's the easiest forward on the entire team to just push off the puck. Touch him and he falls down Hilariously bad. So much so even he Oilers homer broadcasts were talking about it. "Oh Arvids down again, whoops"

Again the double standard is so hilarious, Arvidsson only scores 20 goals because of PP time, but also Arvidsson should never be on a PP.

Like which is it?

You have a ridiculous bias against certain players from the get go, especially smaller players, just admit it.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

They were shut out on October 9th against Winnipeg.
Leon Draisaitl scored with 153 seconds remaining in Dallas to avoid a shutout on October 19th.
Ekholm’s goal with 33 seconds remaining occurred on October 28th.
New Jersey shut them out on November 4th.
They were blanked by Montreal on November 18th.
And last night it happened for a fourth time

The Oilers Need Their Offence to be Greasier

Sorry, but I'm not buying the overused "They got Goalie'd" phrase peop...

oilersnation.com

absolutely hilarious they've almost been shutout SIX TIMES in 25 games...that's almost once every 4 games!

their forward group is ranked 28th in the NHL for goals scored...that was supposed to be their strength lol

 

[Drivesaitl]

Again the double standard is so hilarious, Arvidsson only scores 20 goals because of PP time, but also Arvidsson should never be on a PP.

Like which is it?

You have a ridiculous bias against certain players from the get go, especially smaller players, just admit it.

I have a bias against players that are small that add very little to a lineup and that don't make their team one iota better. Its quite arguable that the Oilers have been a better team without Arvid even in the lineup. I mean what would even be missed.

I'll wait for the answer on anything that Arvid is bringing here of value for a 8M price tag of more wasted money. A 12yr old could make better roster decisions.

Arvid is EASY to play against, so weak its simple to knock him off pucks and the play ends constantly with Arvid on his ass. Even in limited gameplay happened something like 50X already. I would rather not even have this guy on a team at this point. This is not to say that Arvid has not been useful in past. Just that this version of Arvid, who isn't healthy at all, is not worth much of anything.

 

[KCC]

It's wild just how much this team is struggling to score. I get a drop off was inevitable after player's like Hyman had a career year but man, the hockey Gods work in mysterious ways. lol. At the end of the day as long as they make the playoffs and everything clicks when it matters, that's all I care about.