Toggle sidebar

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

Status
Not open for further replies.

kranuck

Registered User
Mar 11, 2023
1,189
1,164
Three On Zero said:
They’ve yet to win a game beyond the 2nd round, that’s not a true contender. They are in the same tier as Toronto, pretender status.

Carolina also has a much tougher bracket to contend with in the East, but I wouldn’t consider them true contenders either
Click to expand...
I disagree, the ridiculous play fo McDavid and Draisaitl makes them in a different tier than Toronto.

BUT I don't think they go deep. 2 guys don't make a team, and the Oilers aren't built to win when those two are off the ice.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RestlessYoungZero, WetcoastOrca and Pastor Of Muppetz
Nemesis Prime

Nemesis Prime

Registered User
Jun 29, 2010
7,377
6,333
London, ON
Church Hill said:
It would be a damn shame if the Oilers end up winning a cup. Theirs will be a testimony that says that even if you draft poorly, develop talent poorly, and issue bad player contracts, you can still win a cup if you have a McDavid fall into your lap.
Click to expand...
and only nerds on the internet would care about that while the rest of the hockey world witnesses one of the GOATs win.
 
Sky04

Sky04

Registered User
Jan 8, 2009
29,672
18,995
Church Hill said:
It would be a damn shame if the Oilers end up winning a cup. Theirs will be a testimony that says that even if you draft poorly, develop talent poorly, and issue bad player contracts, you can still win a cup if you have a McDavid fall into your lap.
Click to expand...

Except they won't.
 
1989

1989

Registered User
Aug 3, 2010
10,475
4,139
It's kind of insane McDavid has been in the league for 9 seasons and is turning 27 this January.

He's clearly the most talented player on the planet but the Oilers just can't surround him with success or the team just can't find a way to buy in the way that Stanley Cup winners do, even with less talent or worse coaching or goaltending or whatever it might be.

I'm not really talking about this 2 game start so much as it's a microcosm of how they've operated since the McDavid era, really.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Gr8 Dane and The Management
blankall

blankall

Registered User
Jul 4, 2007
15,114
5,521
1989 said:
It's kind of insane McDavid has been in the league for 9 seasons and is turning 27 this January.

He's clearly the most talented player on the planet but the Oilers just can't surround him with success or the team just can't find a way to buy in the way that Stanley Cup winners do, even with less talent or worse coaching or goaltending or whatever it might be.
Click to expand...
Part of it's on McDavid. Great player. Poor leader. Zero personality. He doesn't inspire his teammates. Crosby was able to overcome his issues and mature into a great leader. It's possible mcdavid could do the same, but he hasn't yet.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bh53, Mido, Quinton Byfield and 7 others
1989

1989

Registered User
Aug 3, 2010
10,475
4,139
blankall said:
Part of it's on McDavid. Great player. Poor leader. Zero personality. He doesn't inspire his teammates. Crosby was able to overcome his issues and mature into a great leader. It's possible mcdavid could do the same, but he hasn't yet.
Click to expand...
I mean, I don't know if I can attribute it to him as I have no insight behind the scenes, only on the ice.

McDavid doesn't play in goal. He doesn't make the coaching decisions to overload the line with Draisaitl. He doesn't make Darnell Nurse do Nurse things. And yeah, he very likely has input on many decisions but there's a lot of moving pieces.

I have watched some of his pressers and stuff and I think, "yeah, not the best-sounding captain I've ever heard" but it's not on McDavid to be the captain in a sense, either.
I firmly believe the best player does not have to be the captain on a team.
Leadership isn't natural to everyone even if it is a coachable skill.

The fact that we, the fans, haven't had the chance to watch McDavid really succeed (Olympics, even!) kind of sucks.
 
Last edited:
Video Nasty

Video Nasty

Registered User
Mar 12, 2017
5,654
9,872
blankall said:
Part of it's on McDavid. Great player. Poor leader. Zero personality. He doesn't inspire his teammates. Crosby was able to overcome his issues and mature into a great leader. It's possible mcdavid could do the same, but he hasn't yet.
Click to expand...

What is he supposed to do when his goalie faces just 16 shots and gets caved in 4 times? Perceived lack of personality and inspiration isn’t the reason why Edmonton netminders can’t make even one big save it seems.

I understand the criticism at times, but it’s the same issue as before. If management could provide a remotely stable goalie, this team would have won already.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Gr8 Dane
Devonator

Devonator

Registered User
Jan 5, 2003
4,842
2,682
Hilarious...people never learn...never ever ever judge a Hockey team by early season results....especially after 2 measly games.....
 
  • Like
Reactions: Filthy Dangles
Edgelord

Edgelord

All I have is substantially vapid opinions
Sponsor
May 3, 2016
9,150
5,549
1989 said:
I mean, I don't know if I can attribute it to him as I have no insight behind the scenes, only on the ice.

McDavid doesn't play in goal. He doesn't make the coaching decisions to overload the line with Draisaitl. He doesn't make Darnell Nurse do Nurse things. And yeah, he very likely has input on many decisions but there's a lot of moving pieces.

I have watched some of his pressers and stuff and I think, "yeah, not the best-sounding captain I've ever heard" but it's not on McDavid to be the captain in a sense, either.
I firmly believe the best player does not have to be the captain on a team.
Leadership isn't natural to everyone even if it is a coachable skill.
Click to expand...
1 aspect of McDavid's speed that never gets mentioned is his ice mates also have to try and move up ice at a pace beyond their ability to correct if possession is lost, for years I have seen the McDavid line gain posession>bolt through the neutral zone, usually gain entry but when they lose possession on the blue line the 5 guys are damn near the goal line by the time they realize it.
If I were an Oiler fan, I would want to see some more lateral movement in the neutral zone to allow all 5 to set up. Then attack entry, that way if entry fails the D men are not going mach 2 in the wrong direction.
Hell, having L.D and McDavid switch off in the neutral zone would open the middle of the ice up.
Fear of McDavids speed on the outside will force the center to play a lil more to McDavids side leaving more room for Drai down the middle.
 
Last edited:
1989

1989

Registered User
Aug 3, 2010
10,475
4,139
Deadly Dogma said:
1 aspect of McDavid's speed that never gets mentioned is his wingers also have to try and move up ice at a pace beyond their ability to correct if possession is lost, for years I have seen the McDavid line gain posession>bolt through the neutral zone, usually gain entry but when they lose possession on the blue line the wingers are damn near the goal line by the time they realize it.
Click to expand...
I think this point is more common than you think - it's usually hidden as a McDavid vs Crosby debate in how Crosby's skillset is "the gifted grinder" even though he has above average footspeed and could put on the burners a bit early in his career, and McDavid is only perceived as Bure 2.0 with speed that leaves everyone, including teammates, behind.

It's probably fair to a certain extent.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ad

Latest posts

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad

Top Bottom
X