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

[mkatcherin00]

Describes the 16/17 Penguins and 17/18 Caps pretty well.

They both won the Cup.

There is obviously different paths to winning.

The Oilers were a top 10 ES scoring team lol (The guy you were responding to)

I wonder how some guys use their brains when talking about teams lol. Gotta keep moving them posts

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Describes the 16/17 Penguins and 17/18 Caps pretty well.

They both won the Cup.

There is obviously different paths to winning.

Those two teams were extremely committed defensively in the playoffs, something we've never seen from the McDavid Oilers

 

[Bank Shot]

Those two teams were extremely committed defensively in the playoffs, something we've never seen from the McDavid Oilers

Or they got the saves, and most people don't recognize the difference.

Just like every dumb fan on HFBoards was calling Ovechkin a loser until he won. And then everyone creates a braindead narrative about how so and so changed their game to break through.

 

[TheRumble]

The Oilers were a top 10 ES scoring team lol (The guy you were responding to)

I wonder how some guys use their brains when talking about teams lol. Gotta keep moving them posts

The Oilers relied on their powerplay for 30% of their offense in the regular season and 45% of their offense in the playoffs. That's not a winning combo. How many playoff series have you seen the Oilers in now? They've been eliminated in 4 of them because they were outplayed 5v5. The team that most recently eliminated them was the least penalized team in the league and only relied on their PP for 20% of their offense on their way to the Cup.

 

[mkatcherin00]

The Oilers relied on their powerplay for 30% of their offense in the regular season and 45% of their offense in the playoffs. That's not a winning combo. How many playoff series have you seen the Oilers in now? They've been eliminated in 4 of them because they were outplayed 5v5. The team that most recently eliminated them was the least penalized team in the league and only relied on their PP for 20% of their offense on their way to the Cup.

The Oilers were a top 10% ES scoring team. How does this pass everybody's brains lol. They out chanced the team that beat them. With a goalie who went nuts. Feels like I'm talking to a wall

 

[daver]

I am talking about the regular season. What happened in the playoffs? COL won 4 games by a goal. Oilers were up on Vegas every game. Coach did what I said he does. He combined them.

The OP is about the playoffs, not the RS, Why should anyone think the coach won't combine them again and reduce their offensive depth?

Oilers out chanced Vegas and were up every game. Look at the goaltending. Are you serious? At least research.

So it was goaltending as they out chanced Vegas. Does this mean we should downgrade McDrai's 2021 playoffs because they were out chanced at ES?

Line Combinations - Frozen Tools

NHL line combinations, NHL lineups from dobberhockey.com

frozenpool.dobbersports.com

 

[daver]

Man, Crosby is a legend, but fanboys like you do everything you can to discredit others lol.

Crosby's claim to fame is making players better around him and producing league best offense with any quality of linemate while playing responsible defense. He and Malkin took a team that was arguably less talented than the 2022 and 2023 Oilers to the Cup as both players put up era best playoff numbers while playing on separate lines with below average wingers..

McDavid is an offensive weapon and is used accordingly. The Oilers strategy is "Three goals from McDrai or we die".

 

[JTeller97]

They will lose as soon as they come up against a team that forces them to defend. That's been the story with this team and I don't think Holland and co have done enough to change that.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

It's just fake hype. Publications putting Canadian teams high gets people to buy subscriptions or views or social media engagement. Edmonton is not winning anything with Skinner/Campbell. Edmonton has not shown any ability to get over the hump. It's just like the Leafs, they'll be ranked in top 5 Cup odds every year the next decade even though we all know the Coyotes probably have better odds at winning a Cup than that core.

Difference between Leafs and Oilers is Leafs have probably the best team in the league and just choke year after year, Oilers have McJesus and Drai but honestly the team around them is just bad. They can only do so much. McDavid is turning 27 this year. At 27 Gretzky had won 3 Cups and was traded to LA that off-season. It's criminal he hasn't even won a game past the 2nd round yet. Huge waste.

yeah sure...

 

[KevinRedkey]

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

The "recipe" to win changes every year.

 

[PaulD]

I don't think they are built very well for cup purposes.

They seem to be one of those teams that can beat good teams in the playoffs (assuming mcdrai are not injured) but when it comes to cup caliber teams, thats where their runs stop.

Sometimes, a path opens up regardless due to upsets and whatnot, but it's rare to have such fortunate events happen for 4 rounds in a row.

The West has 4 maybe 5 teams that are quite capable of beating any team in the east in a series.
Will be tough for Oilers to get to finals.

They will lose as soon as they come up against a team that forces them to defend. That's been the story with this team and I don't think Holland and co have done enough to change that.

Leave the leafs out if this.

 

[Frank the Tank]

As an Oilers fan...

 

[Voight]

Nuge is like a 7 million man right now. Before the 100 point season. Plays C in all roles. Will play wing and he is a great power play player

Just my opinion.

Kane was making 7 mill and I think he also is around that.

Huge for them getting UFAs taking discounts makes up for Nurse. Imo neutral.

Disagree... before last year he had never evens cored 70 points, so his 5.125 cap hit was pretty fair.

Kane "took less" because he had no choice. He was very close to being persona non grata in the league. Fortunately for him he clicked with McDavid and the Oilers were willing to keep him around. He arguably wasn't even worth 7 million/year even before the Sharks terminated him.

 

[banks]

I'll buy in when I see depth that doesn't just wait for McDrai to do everything.

 

[Voight]

Scheifele just signed for 8.5 mil per season, money he will recieve from 31 years old to 38 years old. RNH signed his 8 year deal at 28 years old if I'm not mistaken, which will take him to 36 years old.

Scheifele is better than RNH obviously, but not as much as their salaries suggest.

Scheifele also has/had a much better track record than RNH.

RNH's contract is fair for what he brings. If he puts up multiple 80+ point seasons going forward, then I'll agree its a steal. But as of now, one season isn't going to change that.

 

[Shane Diesel]

As long as Nurse, Skinner and Campbell are seeing regular ice time there's no reason to consider Edmonton a Cup contender.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Disagree... before last year he had never evens cored 70 points, so his 5.125 cap hit was pretty fair.

Kane "took less" because he had no choice. He was very close to being persona non grata in the league. Fortunately for him he clicked with McDavid and the Oilers were willing to keep him around. He arguably wasn't even worth 7 million/year even before the Sharks terminated him.

We will just have to agree to disagree on what players are worth.

Kane was the best player the year before and was 100% worth his contract.

Nuge signed at a discount. Believe it or not the cap has been going up and he signed a sweetheart deal.

 

[Ugene Magic]

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

The "recipe" to win changes every year.

The recipe to winning never changes. It's very on point that only one team can win it all but more than one can have the "depth" to win it.

 

[Coffey]

Mostly talking to my Edmontonian friends.

Don’t talk to normies about hockey. The homerism is too strong.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Not even slightly... They're coming in as essentially the same team as last year, the team that actually regressed from 2021/22. Didn't address the goaltending, or the terrible team defense.

Highly unlikely that PP rides the same absurd 40% success rate this year and so I expect them to be worse.


They'll probably look great at times during the regular season but I expect another early playoff exit when the game tightens up for everyone else in the league but the Oilers.

 

[Voight]

We will just have to agree to disagree on what players are worth.

Kane was the best player the year before and was 100% worth his contract.

Nuge signed at a discount. Believe it or not the cap has been going up and he signed a sweetheart deal.

Kane had a great half season and playoffs but his options were limited. He didn't have exactly have a sterling rep and I dont believe teams were lining up to sign the guy. Last year he came down to earth, we'll see how he does this year.

RNH didn't really sign for a discount. His cap number was fair for what he had accomplished up to that point. I'd agree with you if he signed that deal this summer, but he didn't.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Vegas won the cup last year because for one, their blueline was rock solid 1-6. All 6 guys were big, mobile and can clear the front of the net. Two #1 defenseman, and the rest of the d-core was solid defensively and smart with the puck.

Ironically, what do you know, it’s very similar to how the Avs won the cup the previous year. Again Having two #1 defensemen, and just rock solid 1-6. All 6 guys could move the puck and clear the front of the net.

The Oilers are nothing like the last two cup winners bluelines. Cody Ceci wouldn’t even crack either the Vegas or the Avs bluelines.

Vegas also missed the Playoffs in 2022 with the exact same blueline

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Not even slightly... They're coming in as essentially the same team as last year, the team that actually regressed from 2021/22. Didn't address the goaltending, or the terrible team defense.

Oilers were 9th in the league in Goals Against after acquiring Ekholm...try and keep up

Highly unlikely that PP rides the same absurd 40% success rate this year and so I expect them to be worse.

that's fine, Oilers are a Top 10 scoring team at ES

They'll probably look great at times during the regular season but I expect another early playoff exit when the game tightens up for everyone else in the league but the Oilers.

why? they haven't had one in 2 years

 

[WetcoastOrca]

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

The "recipe" to win changes every year.

Somewhat true. But generally the recipe in the cap world is to have lots of depth at every position, to have a strong D and to be able to play multiple styles of hockey including locking it down when you have a one goal lead. The Oilers have not shown an ability to do that. Run and gun offense generally only takes you so far in the playoffs.

 

[BlueBaron]

I feel like they are a deeply flawed team that is still a threat to win the West every year. When they will win it all remains to be seen but I think the East can present some serious challenges. They could win a Cup any time now.