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

[Three On Zero]

You have thousands of posts on here. Why did you wait so long to post something that makes sense?

Majority of them make sense to the sensible masses

 

[Dotter]

I don't know.

But I said it before, and I'll say it again... Edmonton will be the next Canadian team to win a cup. And when they do win the cup, they will prove to be Canada's dynasty team year-over-year.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

It's crazy to me that Holland thinks the team is good enough. Ekholm should've been the first of multiple upgrades. Instead, that was his "cherry on top."

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

Should be the best team in the Pacific but need a really good goalie run to do any meaningful playoff damage. They should wipe the floor with the Nucks first two games to open the season.

 

[Bobby9]

I think most hockey fans are now looking at the Oilers and saying "We will believe when we see it".

McDrai have been great the last few years and they couldn't pull it off.
Supporting cast was great the last few years and they couldn't pull it off.
PP was insane and they couldn't pull it off.

Most hockey fans are kind of just saying "we aren't getting excited until you can pull it off".

I don't think thats insulting.

 

[rynryn]

i feel like every year is oiler hype. the second i stop buying it, it'll actually hit for them.

 

[333359]

When you haven't won anything in almost 40 years I guess you'll grasp at anything.

 

[SupremeTeam16]

I think you’ll find most Oilers fans are extremely jaded and even the most optimistic fans are reluctant to declare the team a legitimate contender let alone Stanley Cup favourite.

It’s mostly media and sports betting types that are firing up the hype train and honestly, what do they know?

 

[Vikingstad]

Do you really think Hill was the reason Vegas won the cup? Or are you conveniently ignoring the defensive depth in front of him? Defensive depth that Edmonton does not have.

Well let me list the following goalies that have won the cup recently.

2017 - Matt Murray - 1.70GAA 0.937SV%
2018 - Braden Holtby - 2.16GAA 0.922SV%
2019 - Jordan Bennington - 2.46GAA 0.914SV%
2020 - Andrei Vasilevskiy - 1.90GAA 0.927SV%
2021 - Andrei Vasilevskiy - 1.90GAA 0.937SV%
2022 - Darcy Kuemper - 2.57GAA 0.902SV%
2023 - Adan Hill - 2.17 GAA 0.932SV%

From the stats, all goalies on cup winning teams played well, with Kuemper being the exception.

Now which of those goalies got hot and which played behind strong defense that boosted their numbers? To be fair I think all cup winners had good defense, so how much better was Vegas than the others that Adan Hills stats got boosted so much? Unless you think he is in the same tier as vasilevskiy, then it makes sense.

Frankly I don't think Vegas defense was anything crazy special. They had great depth and support from their forwards, especially during forechecking. Add in a hot goalie and that's a recipe for success. Cup winners don't have to be perfect, you can catch lightning in a bottle, a little luck and go far with that.

 

[Three On Zero]

I think most hockey fans are now looking at the Oilers and saying "We will believe when we see it".

McDrai have been great the last few years and they couldn't pull it off.
Supporting cast was great the last few years and they couldn't pull it off.
PP was insane and they couldn't pull it off.

Most hockey fans are kind of just saying "we aren't getting excited until you can pull it off".

I don't think thats insulting.

It’s the “show me” what you can do and not the “tell me” what you think you can do phase.

They’ve had some fantastic regular seasons but also crumpled under pressure. It’s hard to consider someone a contender when they can’t win a game beyond the 2nd round

 

[snag]

When you haven't won anything in almost 40 years I guess you'll grasp at anything.

33....40....nice rounding. Coulda said 35 but I get it....doesn't pull the same punch

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

It's crazy to me that Holland thinks the team is good enough. Ekholm should've been the first of multiple upgrades. Instead, that was his "cherry on top."

you think he won't add at the deadline? or perhaps during the season?

 

[PuckG]

It's crazy to me that Holland thinks the team is good enough. Ekholm should've been the first of multiple upgrades. Instead, that was his "cherry on top."

I don’t think any team or GM thinks their team is truly “good enough.”

I think they think it’s the best they can possible do under cap constraints.

 

[94 Oil Drops]

I love our forward group and Top 6.

It's our Defenders and Goalies that scare the shit out of me. They're not awful by any stretch but I'm not sure if Campbell and Skinner are capable of being good at the same time for instance. Ceci playing 20 minutes a night in Top 4? I don't know. He's a great 4/5 to me but a middling 3/4.

We will score a lot. Our PP will be elite again IMO. Our forwards could even sustain a few injuries and still be good. Our D? Not really... one injury to Nurse or Ek and it falls apart fast.

But defending leads and winning close 2-1 games is something I didn't see much of. 5-4 wins.. oh yeah, we are good at that.lol

Our division is getting very tough too! LA hates us and they're improving. Colorado is healthy this season and could be a real problem. Knight's look great to me. Seattle is deep. I'd argue those teams have better D and G than us.

I would be very uncomfortable with a 3rd straight meeting with LA actually. They are stubborn as hell and a huge pain in the bum. If the Oilers keep having to play them in a series, our fortune will eventually run out.

 

[Cup or Bust]

I will see how the team looks after the trade deadline before deciding if they are a Cup contender or not.

 

[94 Oil Drops]

The Oilers have been the laughing stock of the nhl since 2007 lol

Check your calendar. It isn't 2013.

 

[RegDunlop]

When you haven't won anything in almost 40 years I guess you'll grasp at anything.

40 years??

 

[eviohh26]

Yes are a contender.
No they are not the #1 to win it all for me .

 

[McVespa99]

Majority of them make sense to the sensible masses

Thinking the masses are sensible is the last straw.......

 

[Garbageyuk]

Nope. For the same old reason; defense and goaltending.

 

[Gnome17]

We'll see man. I think their forwards are fine, top 6 is obviously nuts and bottom 6 should be able to get it done. They need Broberg and Holloway to take steps. They need Campbell and Skinner to be above average, and Campbell has looked good in preseason but we'll see how things go for him when there is something to play for and the nerves kick in.

I think if things click for them they have a good shot at it, but theres a looot of good teams around right now...

 

[GrumpyKoala]

I lived through the great 1983 Dynasty and through the decade of darkness,
I was hopeful and believed my own hype in 1992 when Ted green coached McTavish and Shane Corson as our ''superstars'' to a 26-50-8 record
I was stoke then tearful when we played and lost game 7 in 2006 when we had no business there.

Call me grumpily hopeful, but there is always a reason to believe.

 

[Bank Shot]

I think most hockey fans are now looking at the Oilers and saying "We will believe when we see it".

McDrai have been great the last few years and they couldn't pull it off.
Supporting cast was great the last few years and they couldn't pull it off.
PP was insane and they couldn't pull it off.

Most hockey fans are kind of just saying "we aren't getting excited until you can pull it off".

I don't think thats insulting.

Oilers have only had a decent supporting cast for the last 2 seasons. Kane, Hyman, Bouchard, and Ekholm are all high level players they have added.

They have since started to get some series wins.

Seems like this is just the beginning.

 

[Putt Pirate]

I never buy the oiler hype. Ever..

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

they have been my pick before all the media jumped on.