Oilers hype: Is HF buying in on a 2024 run?

[HolyGhost]

Oilers will make the playoffs due to 6 to 4 games. Come playoff time? Maybe 2nd round

 

[Ugene Magic]

McDavid is an amazing phenom on the ice, but I'm not convinced that he's a leader...and therein lies a major weakness with the Oilers.

I don't think that's it at all. He wants to win and he leads by example. There are many leaders on a good team. But even the best need help.

 

[K1984]

So let me preface this by saying I am totally indifferent to Edmonton and in fact, if Florida can't win the Cup, would love to see McDavid lift it because he's insane. But I'm seeing them as a universal top 3 Cup pick (hell the Athletic has them as the highest odds to win) and I'm just not seeing it? This is a team that has not won a 3rd round game with McDrai and added Connor Brown, who is solid but I don't think anyone is calling him a superstar. Meanwhile you have Vegas running it back with essentially the same team, Dallas who was very close added Duchene for pennies on the dollar, and Colorado who are a legit team if healthy. I would have those 3 teams' Cup odds ahead of the Oilers in the west and would probably still put Carolina, Tampa, NJD over them in the East.

I make this thread only because I see all the buzz about this being the year and I'm just wondering if I've missed anything notable. Will be funny to bump this in June after they win the Cup in 18 games I'm sure.

To this point - the Oilers not being healthy in a bunch of key positions was a contributing factor to the loss last year. Hyman, Kane and RNH were all playing injured, some of them very much so. The difference between the performance of those three in the 2022 playoffs compared to 2023 was night and day and a major factor in lack of depth contributions as the playoffs went on.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

To this point - the Oilers not being healthy in a bunch of key positions was a contributing factor to the loss last year. Hyman, Kane and RNH were all playing injured, some of them very much so. The difference between the performance of those three in the 2022 playoffs compared to 2023 was night and day and a major factor in lack of depth contributions as the playoffs went on.

Yep. Both teams had key injuries. That’s how the playoffs work. Many of the Vegas players also played through injuries and they were missing their two starting goalies.

 

[Oleksiak]

McDavid is an amazing phenom on the ice, but I'm not convinced that he's a leader...and therein lies a major weakness with the Oilers.

That's the truth. If he cut out the diving and tantrums, started backchecking and showed that he was willing to play like a man, it would be different. Sadly for Edmonton, you can't win with a gutless coward as a captain.

 

[K1984]

That's the truth. If he cut out the diving and tantrums, started backchecking and showed that he was willing to play like a man, it would be different. Sadly for Edmonton, you can't win with a gutless coward as a captain.

Are you still pretending to be a Kraken fan this year, or are you back on the Nuck bandwagon?

Or will you make the call on Halloween depending on the standings?

 

[McPoyle]

Seems the Oilers continue to live rent free in a healthy majority of HF's heads.

 

[Oleksiak]

Are you still pretending to be a Kraken fan this year, or are you back on the Nuck bandwagon?

Or will you make the call on Halloween depending on the standings?

Go Kraken!

 

[Crabapple]

Depends on goaltending and d. McDrai have proven that they can play in the playoffs, the rest of the team has to elevate as well

 

[Three On Zero]

Seems the Oilers continue to live rent free in a healthy majority of HF's heads.

Seems most of HF lives rent free in Oiler fans heads. People on here are doing exactly what the thread was made to talk about, yet Oiler fans are getting upset about it.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

 

[Little Psycho]

They can, but some of their players have a lot to prove, can’t just rely on their stars. Also they have a lot of dumb hot heads on the roster and that can easily change the game.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

On paper, Vegas wasn't good enough to win the cup last year.

The "recipe" to win changes every year.

IMHO, fantasy sports really skews how some folks view sports in general. They become myopically focused on individual player statistics, instead of how the team as a whole is playing.

Vegas had the most points in the West and then went through the playoffs without facing a single elimination game ... without a single player breaking the Top-70 in regular season scoring.

Two more contrarian statistics are that with the exception of only a couple of games throughout the playoffs, the other team scored first on Vegas, i.e., Vegas routinely was behind in every game, and the Vegas power play was abysmal (we call a PP the "shorty kill"). To win the Cup, you need to score first and you need to have a good power play. Not.

So, yeah, if one starts looking at statistics, Vegas should not have even made the playoffs and should have been an easy knock-out in every round (and the wise HF posters in the polls predicted them out in 6 games in every series, including against the Jets). But statistics are only as good as they are properly placed in an overall context, and with the only statistic that really matters being the final score.

 

[McPoyle]

Seems most of HF lives rent free in Oiler fans heads. People on here are doing exactly what the thread was made to talk about, yet Oiler fans are getting upset about it.

Thread wasn't started by Oilers fans, and discussion is mostly being driven by non Oilers fans. Its easily the busiest thread on this site since it was started. People love talking about the Oilers, ie, rent free.

Yourself included, you are very busy on Oilers topics. Rent free 3-0, rent free.

 

[Three On Zero]

Thread wasn't started by Oilers fans, and discussion is mostly being driven by non Oilers fans. Its easily the busiest thread on this site since it was started. People love talking about the Oilers, ie, rent free.

Yourself included, you are very busy on Oilers topics. Rent free 3-0, rent free.

That’s kind of the point of the thread

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Seems the Oilers continue to live rent free in a healthy majority of HF's heads.

I think a team with a generational forward that hasn’t yet gone on a deep run is always going to draw a fair amount of discussion. In my view they are one of the more interesting teams in the league.
If it bothers fans to read criticisms and contrary views, it’s best to stick to their own board. Although I suspect that there are even some Oiler fans who also have concerns about the team and its structure.

 

[McPoyle]

That’s kind of the point of the thread

Sure, but only an Oilers thread will generate this much discussion from non fans. Hence rent free.

This is a simple concept 3-0, not sure why you are confused.

I think a team with a generational forward that hasn’t yet gone on a deep run is always going to draw a fair amount of discussion. In my view they are one of the more interesting teams in the league.
If it bothers fans to read criticisms and contrary views, it’s best to stick to their own board.

I never said it bothered me, just commenting on how much discussion the Oilers get from non fans.

 

[Three On Zero]

Sure, but only an Oilers thread will generate this much discussion from non fans. Hence rent free.

This is a simple concept 3-0, not sure why you are confused.


I never said it bothered me, just commenting on how much discussion the Oilers get from non fans.

False

 

[Bank Shot]

Seems most of HF lives rent free in Oiler fans heads. People on here are doing exactly what the thread was made to talk about, yet Oiler fans are getting upset about it.

Mostly just jealous fans owning themselves in the offseason again and again. Every year its the same. 2-3 years ago, its:

OMG Holland is making a mess Oilers going to miss the playoffs for sure!

Now its, No way they win the Cup!

The rival fans are running scared haha.

 

[McPoyle]

False

This thread having 11 pages after 1 day shows its true. And you are fairly busy in all manner of Oilers threads shows that is true too.

Rent free 3-0.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Seems the Oilers continue to live rent free in a healthy majority of HF's heads.

Someone made a thread expressly asking what people think of the Oilers, and people are discussing the Oilers. How is this a "rent free" situation? lol

 

[Stealth1616]

That's the truth. If he cut out the diving and tantrums, started backchecking and showed that he was willing to play like a man, it would be different. Sadly for Edmonton, you can't win with a gutless coward as a captain.

Why are things like this consistently being allowed by the same poster on these boards?

Personal and untrue attacks on character doesn’t really make for good hockey conversation.

 

[McPoyle]

Someone made a thread expressly asking what people think of the Oilers, and people are discussing the Oilers. How is this a "rent free" situation? lol

Because its easily the busiest thread on the main page since it was started.

 

[94 Oil Drops]

I wish I had that much confidence. I think any one of Edmonton Colorado or Vegas have an equal chance of getting into the final. If the Oilers can get another top 4 D at the deadline, the goaltending is average or better and team kicks their stupid defensive habits they probably will. Buts that's a lot of ifs.

 

[Three On Zero]

This thread having 11 pages after 1 day shows its true. And you are fairly busy in all manner of Oilers threads shows that is true too.

Rent free 3-0.

It’s no different than the “Montreal top D thread”, it’s the off season and people only find a few things worth talking about. Far from “rent free” for discussing topics on a hockey forum