Post-Game Talk: Oilers lose late to Vegas

[Drivesaitl]

He’s way way off this year. Doesn’t have that magic 4th gear, bobbling the puck like it’s a grenade, not shooting, his otherworldly anticipation on the PP is broken. I think he’s playing tight and frustrated too.

I also think teams just know how to defend him now too and they make him skate through a gauntlet and it must be exhausting.

Maybe they need to send him off to a tropical island for a month of rest. Without Lauren.

I know everybody was busy celebrating McD being back in. Myself I think it was a dogshit idea to come back at the ever loving pounding and hacking Vegas Golden Hacks. Seems like asking for trouble.

My suspicion is what McD had to sit for was an aggravated injury thats been with him for sometime that is just going to continue. So McD says hey put me in. Medical staff approves and team desperate for an answer so they let him play. Did he really look top shelf tonight? Probably could've used the rest and frankly we got zero pts out of him coming back early and he got banged several times too. What a plan.

Yeah, we all know the plan here. Play McDrai as much as possible, squeeze as much as possible, every drop from them every year and expect it the next.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

It's quite simple, he's a friend to the OBC. Easy hire, no effort.

f*** me, we were looking at Bill Zito before we hired Holland.


What excuse? Skinner was thrust into a role he wasn't ready for because the guy our awesome GM signed was pathetic.

So years later he’s excused from acceptable goaltending?

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

I know everybody was busy celebrating McD being back in. Myself I think it was a dogshit idea to come back at the ever loving pounding and hacking Vegas Golden Hacks. Seems like asking for trouble.

My suspicion is what McD had to sit for was an aggravated injury thats been with him for sometime that is just going to continue. So McD says hey put me in. Medical staff approves and team desperate for an answer so they let him play. Did he really look top shelf tonight? Probably could've used the rest and frankly we got zero pts out of him coming back early and he got banged several times too. What a plan.

Yeah, we all know the plan here. Play McDrai as much as possible, squeeze as much as possible, every drop from them every year and expect it the next.

Back to Plan 9 From Outer Space for the Oilers.

Ride McDrai till they implode.

 

[russ99]

Ekholm’s postgame comments really cheese me off, I’m so sick about every other game talking about how to “clean things up”. If you’re a competitor you have to loathe losing a game like that. Do something about it, not lax lip service in the media.

 

[Oilers333]

Old and slow. Team has taken a couple steps back from last year

 

[Soundwave]

Yeah but this happens every year with every supporting cast we’ve ever gave them. McLeod had what one goal in the first 14 games or something last year? Remember Ryan Strome? We literally traded him over this exact scenario. We’ve changed out the top 6 wingers and bottom 6 forwards and it’s the same result virtually every year.

I think honestly I can count on one hand the amount of times the Oilers have genuinely had a secondary line that was hot post 2006 run.

The Kid Line (Gagner + Cogs + Nilsson) and the Glencross + Brodziak line at the end of the 2006 season.

RNH-Draisaitl-Yamamoto going supernova in the year shut down by COVID.

Foegele-Drai-McLeod had it going for a bit around Christmas last year.

Any one remember any others? lol?

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

So years later he’s excused from acceptable goaltending?

Is he also responsible for the extremely underwhelming offense? The 30th rank offense? If this team was scoring goals like nobody’s business then set up the cross, but when you’re scoring less than teams that are trying to lose?

 

[russ99]

I think honestly I can count on one hand the amount of times the Oilers have genuinely had a secondary line that was hot post 2006 run.

The Kid Line (Gagner + Cogs + Nilsson) and the Glencross + Brodziak line at the end of the 2006 season.

RNH-Draisaitl-Yamamoto going supernova in the year shut down by COVID.

Foegele-Drai-McLeod had it going for a bit around Christmas last year.

Any one remember any others? lol?

Skinner - Henrique - Brown had a nice roll there for a few games, but nope, McDrai and the line blender.

 

[Soundwave]

Is he also responsible for the extremely underwhelming offense? The 30th rank offense? If this team was scoring goals like nobody’s business then set up the cross, but when you’re scoring less than teams that are trying to lose?

Maybe it's good to realize our goalies are simple back ups, because if the offense kept covering for them, this team would totally drink the kool-aid that goaltending is a settled matter here.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Maybe it's good to realize our goalies are simple back ups, because if the offense kept covering for them, this team would totally drink the kool-aid that goaltending is a settled matter here.

Or they could just do their job and score goals like they should be. Maybe we can trade for the Wilds goalie for some offensive pointers.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Yeah but this happens every year with every supporting cast we’ve ever gave them. McLeod had what one goal in the first 14 games or something last year? Remember Ryan Strome? We literally traded him over this exact scenario. We’ve changed out the top 6 wingers and bottom 6 forwards and it’s the same result virtually every year.

We've never given McDrai a deep supporting cast, we've never given them quality goaltending outside of Talbot in his peak season.

Vegas pry an Eichel they win a cup. Florida had a real deep club, they win a cup. Colorado real deep club, win a cup, in a team sport. We have 10 players on this club I wouldn't even have. Given my posting you know this to be my honest opinion. heh

We're seldom even getting players here on the cusp of something. In one decade the Oilers have brought in 3 helpful players. Ekholm, Hyman, Kane. Kane has been injured most of the time... Thats one decade of McDrai and those are the only core horses we've added. J Skinner and Arviddson. They ain't much. This doesn't look like a SC reload roster to me it looks like one slapped together with bondo.

I can still see the rust.

Ryan Strome could've been one we should've kept. A diff version of this org realized the importance of some transition guys with wheels like Stoll, Peca, Pisani, Torres. Those were all decent counter players that could score. Brown, Ryan Arvid have legend furrowed eyebrows each time they botch the latest attempt but not much for goals.

 

[Soundwave]

Skinner - Henrique - Brown had a nice roll there for a few games, but nope, McDrai and the line blender.

Even 2016-17, I remember the whole f***ing year was non-stop "don't worry RNH + Eberle's line will get it going ... any minute now ... any minute ... ok definitely in the playoffs ...".

Nope.

There is some weird juju here about secondary scoring, it never pans out no matter what it looks like on paper.

The last time I really think we had a team with multiple lines that actually scored for an entire season was 2006, Horcoff-Hemsky-Smyth line did their thing, but Pisani-Stoll-Torres did too which offset Peca being a regular season dud.

 

[Oilhawks]

Back to Plan 9 From Outer Space for the Oilers.

Ride McDrai till they implode.

Those two don't seem to have it this year anyhow. Won't even break the sound barrier.

 

[MessierII]

Even 2016-17, I remember the whole f***ing year was non-stop "don't worry RNH + Eberle's line will get it going ... any minute now ... any minute ... ok definitely in the playoffs ...".

Nope.

There is some weird juju here about secondary scoring, it never pans out no matter what it looks like on paper.

The last time I really think we had a team with multiple lines that actually scored for an entire season was 2006, Horcoff-Hemsky-Smyth line did their thing, but Pisani-Stoll-Torres did too which offset Peca being a regular season dud.

In 2022-23 we had the most 10+ goal scores in the nhl

 

[Soundwave]

In 2022-23 we had the most 10+ goal scores in the nhl

Yeah but it was more just a mishmash of players kinda thrown into a blender together past the McDavid line, a bunch of them just happened to hit in part because Woodcroft played full run n' gun hockey with no attention to defense.

There hasn't really been a reliable "2nd scoring line" here in like forever (as in a reliable, steady combination of 3 players that produces steady offense).

I'm all for bringing Kostin back though.

 

[MessierII]

We've never given McDrai a deep supporting cast, we've never given them quality goaltending outside of Talbot in his peak season.

Vegas pry an Eichel they win a cup. Florida had a real deep club, they win a cup. Colorado real deep club, win a cup, in a team sport. We have 10 players on this club I wouldn't even have. Given my posting you know this to be my honest opinion. heh

We're seldom even getting players here on the cusp of something. In one decade the Oilers have brought in 3 helpful players. Ekholm, Hyman, Kane. Kane has been injured most of the time... Thats one decade of McDrai and those are the only core horses we've added. J Skinner and Arviddson. They ain't much. This doesn't look like a SC reload roster to me it looks like one slapped together with bondo.

I can still see the rust.

Not necessarily true though. In 2022-23 we had the most 10+ goal scorers in the NHL. We’ve had depth scoring the past couple of years it’s just for whatever reason it doesn’t start until about game 20.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

The oilers have scored more than 2 goals in 6 out of 14 games this year. They have won every one of those games.

 

[BarDownBobo]

In all seriousness, they need to shake up the lines yesterday, and more than shuffling around wingers

So…I’m gonna go the opposite way on this and say they need some continuity on the lines instead of the insane line shuffling they do, especially in game. There was a sequence early in the second period in particular that I thought was really poorly managed when it came to lines and is kind of indicative of why they’re having so many issues with depth players. McDavid’s line was out for a minute long shift of back and forth hockey with both teams going up and down the ice. At the end of the shift they were able to get an offensive zone change in and maintain possession while the third line came on. However after about 15 seconds Vegas got control and iced the puck. Instead of leaving a fresh third line on who had only been out for 10-15 seconds they decided to load up by putting McDavid back out who was still catching his breath on the bench, along with Drai and Perry. So now they’ve taken a piece from three different lines and completely thrown off the rotation of the lines. Pulling Henrique/RNH/Brown for the offensive zone face off that quickly into the shift only to toss out an already tired McDavid does nothing to help their confidence and furthers the way this team seems to sit around waiting for the big guys to do something. I firmly believe the constant loading up of the same 6/7 guys for every offensive opportunity, after a PK etc is a big reason why depth scoring is always an issue. Coach has to show some degree of belief that the other guys can get the job done too.

This whole sequence I’m talking about takes place right after the first commercial break in the second period, with around 13 minutes left on the clock. Icing occurs with 12:29 remaining if anyone wants to go back or check the TOI sheet to see what I’m talking about.

 

[Soundwave]

The other funny one was RNH-Drai-Yamamoto went from the hottest line in the league to looking like they never played with each other before after the COVID break. And then never, ever got it going again.

Like how does that even happen? lol.

I get the feeling we could somehow acquire Nathan MacKinnon and somehow we'd end with a 2nd line not functioning and the coach being forced to ice a MacKinnon McDavid Draisaitl line just to get some goals.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Not necessarily true though. In 2022-23 we had the most 10+ goal scorers in the NHL. We’ve had depth scoring the past couple of years it’s just for whatever reason it doesn’t start until about game 20.

We gave up some double digit scorers and this season we don't have Kane. Kane being so much to this lineup.

Has to be factored in that Hyman isn't a 50 goal scorer. Typically 20something. That dropoff was going to be severe regardless. Nuge as well. He had a super year a couple seasons ago but one could see him landing back to earth last year and playoffs. This being another Ryan Nothing Happens season.

I'll say it too. Brown, Janmark, Ryan, Perry. you can't re-up every one of those guys and expect too much. Podz has worked hard but you can't even be expecting goals from him. Arvid needs a dozen picture perfect setups to get one goal. We got Drai playing mostly with two wingers that have lol one goal despite getting setup by wonderful plays by Drai every freaking game. I mean what are we trying to do putting one of the best pure passers in the world with two guys that have trouble finishing? Seems like a problem.

I did expect Henrique to be producing more so thats a surprise.

 

[Soundwave]

We gave up some double digit scorers and this season we don't have Kane. Kane being so much to this lineup.

Has to be factored in that Hyman isn't a 50 goal scorer. Typically 20something. That dropoff was going to be severe regardless. Nuge as well. He had a super year a couple seasons ago but one could see him landing back to earth last year and playoffs. This being another Ryan Nothing Happens season.

I'll say it too. Brown, Janmark, Ryan, Perry. you can't re-up every one of those guys and expect too much. Podz has worked hard but you can't even be expecting goals from him. Arvid needs a dozen picture perfect setups to get one goal. We got Drai playing mostly with two wingers that have lol one goal despite getting setup by wonderful plays by Drai every freaking game. I mean what are we trying to do putting one of the best pure passers in the world with two guys that have trouble finishing? Seems like a problem.

Vegas lost an actual 40 goal scorer, their leading scorer, and a very good role player in Stephenson who's as good as anyone the Oilers gave up on top of that.

How come they're not in a corner crying?

They may not be perfect players, but there are talented guys added into this group.

It's just nothing ever works for reliable secondary scoring in terms of an actual line you can point to and say "yeah those three guys have reliable chemistry". It just isn't.

At best we get some Gagner-Cogs-Nilsson, RNH-Drai-Yamamoto stretch of 20 games maybe and then it just goes to shit some how anyway.

We win the McDavid lottery and you got "cool, so we should have scoring from a McDavid line and then Hall-RNH-Eberle can score on a second line at worst ... right?" but even that couldn't materialize even though those three had reliable offense for several seasons prior, lol.

 

[NotAVacuumSalesman]

Should’ve fought someone.

They are still 5-0 when there’s a fight. Just putting it out there.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Vegas lost an actual 40 goal scorer, their leading scorer, and a very good role player in Stephenson who's as good as anyone the Oilers gave up on top of that.

How come they're not in a corner crying?

They may not be perfect players, but there are talented guys added into this group.

It's just nothing ever works for reliable secondary scoring in terms of an actual line you can point to and say "yeah those three guys have reliable chemistry". It just isn't.

At best we get some Gagner-Cogs-Nilsson, RNH-Drai-Yamamoto stretch of 20 games maybe and then it just goes to shit some how anyway.

Vegas had 2 more months of rest last season than the Oilers did. Not like they're slim at forward either. Unlike the Oilers they grow some guys and stick with them. They got Hertyl last year too at TDL and decided to retain him.

They added Dorefeyev, Pearson, Holtz and guys like Howden are coming.

They have a D corps we can only dream of and a roster that were hand selected to play 200ft hockey and forwards back to play levels of D. Vegas were started ground up with the concept of every player buy in, and that was a plan. They planned out every aspect of what that club would play like and acquired only players that would and could play within that system.

Conversely the Oilers add the dogs breakfast every offseason of random signings and PTO/waiver level fill. Never even remotely a plan or filling a need.

The only junk I spotted in vegas lineup was Cole Schwindt. We have ten players I wouldn't even have.

 

[Soundwave]

Like I'm not even talking like 2-3 years ago, literally one year ago

Jeff Skinner scored at a 27 goal rate

Adam Henrique scored at a 24 goal rate

Victor Arvidsson at a 27 goal rate

Now one would expect that at least one of these guys would also get like a McDavid or Draisaitl boost. I mean none of them played with anyone as good as McDavid or Draisaitl.

No top 6 winger we acquire ever does really well here it seems like aside from two guys basically -- Zack Hyman (way above expected) and Patrick Maroon who we traded away.

There's a long laundry list of guys who were supposed to work that washed even starting with incumbent players like remember when we thought Taylor Hall + McDavid would be awesome, or McDavid + Eberle? Lucic barely eeked out one OK season here before his entire offense evaporated to nothing. Ryan Strome? Never even got a look in the top 6, but couldn't buy a goal.

Athansiou experiment? lol. James Neal? Worked for about 20 games and then totally out of gas. Evander Kane? That actually did pay dividends for 2022, and then of course right after we sign him to a sizable extension he gets a freak skate cut injury and he's never quite had the same chemistry with McDavid or Draisaitl and frequently finds himself on the 3rd line.

Like we get enough offense (and then some) most of the time to get by because McDavid/Drai are nuclear weapons at the top of the lineup, but we've never really had a 2nd line in the entire McDavid era and it's been like 20 different players tried there and even a fair bit spent on that for no real suitable fit.

 

[Cloned]

He’s way way off this year. Doesn’t have that magic 4th gear, bobbling the puck like it’s a grenade, not shooting, his otherworldly anticipation on the PP is broken. I think he’s playing tight and frustrated too.

I also think teams just know how to defend him now too and they make him skate through a gauntlet and it must be exhausting.

Maybe they need to send him off to a tropical island for a month of rest. Without Lauren.

I’m worried. Legitimately.