Post-Game Talk: Oilers score 5 goals and an ENG without McDrai

[McShogun99]

Skinners only role is scoring goals. Nor is it reasonable to only consider games played. J Skinner is well rested in contrast with players that play and dress every game. The problem with Skinner is he doesn't withstand tight checking very well. In recent games against poor teams or performances he's found some nuts but agains virtually invisible marking. jets were horrible in the GP. I have my doubts Skinner will add very much once games are for real in playoffs. I haven't really seen J Skinner have strong games against good opponent games where checking is close.

I don't follow your basketball examples but any team predicated on generational players is different than those teams that don't have such players. It isn't a matter that coaching gravitates too much to said players its the obvious dynamic that would lead to any coach doing so. In short when you have a couple of the very best players on earth you play them a lot, rely on them a lot. This would be the case in any sport I would imagine.

Skinner is going to be the 2025 version of 1990 Klima.

 

[Soundwave]

Your basketball comparisons hold no water because in Basketball the lineup is very small. So that in that sport a couple of players can move mountains. It isn't the same, of course, in hockey where lineups are much bigger. Phil Jackson coached basketball. It has ZERO relevance to hockey.

That's the whole point though even in basketball, the Bulls learned that you cannot just fixate everything around one player.

For the Oilers to do it around two players is probably even worse given that hockey is a more team wide dependent sport. The coaching here is narrow minded, as long as they win that night or are in a good stetch riding the McDrai Train is all smiles. No real thought process given to the overall team balance.

We run ourselves like a top heavy basketball team, which is even worse to do in hockey. And it's not McDavid or Drai's fault, this is a lack of understanding from our front office and coaching staff (and a dumbo media that holds no one accountable until they are on the verge of being fired).

Toronto is getting double the goal scoring production from Knies, a 2nd round pick, as the Oilers did from Holloway + McLeod *combined* in their tenure's here. Explain that please. McMann who wasn't even drafted has far higher production there than Holloway here. Again ... how? This team just doesn't give a f*** about getting anyone going, if something isn't working and you're not a star player it's basically "well f*** you, you're on your own and you probably suck actually" ... which is a stupid attitude to have in a team sport with a salary cap.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Skinners only role is scoring goals. Nor is it reasonable to only consider games played. J Skinner is well rested in contrast with players that play and dress every game. The problem with Skinner is he doesn't withstand tight checking very well. In recent games against poor teams or performances he's found some nuts but agains virtually invisible marking. jets were horrible in the GP. I have my doubts Skinner will add very much once games are for real in playoffs. I haven't really seen J Skinner have strong games against good opponent games where checking is close.

I don't follow your basketball examples but any team predicated on generational players is different than those teams that don't have such players. It isn't a matter that coaching gravitates too much to said players its the obvious dynamic that would lead to any coach doing so. In short when you have a couple of the very best players on earth you play them a lot, rely on them a lot. This would be the case in any sport I would imagine.

When you don’t like players you just make up things. The well rested excuse is such a joke.

Oh not good against good teams except he just scored 2 against the Jets. Oh wait that game doesn’t count because it doesn’t fit your narrative.

 

[Louis Cypher]

What's even scarier is Bakersfield goalies look average at best. Rodriguez took a step back and Deliah not great numbers. If any injuries on the big club we are done.

 

[Soundwave]

One has to wonder too if Crosby missing almost 30 games in the 07-08 season helped Pittsburgh significantly develop into a Cup winning team as it forced other guys to assume heavier roles for an extended period of time.

The Penguins would make the Finals that year and then win the Cup in 2009 with guys like Max Talbot playing huge roles (outscored Crosby in the Finals, lol).

It's a blessing to have superstar players who are seldom hurt, but I kinda wonder if there is a little bit of a curse that comes with it in that other guys aren't forced to step up and basically atrophy as players.

A really good coach would recognize this and make concrete moves to address it but we don't have a coach that smart. We have basically have "let the good times roll!" coaches who don't want to rock the boat too much so long as enough wins are rolling in and they while they won't admit it basically the only thing they care about is the next game on the schedule.

 

[Mr Positive]

I am concerned for the team minus McDrai. We got 3 out of 4 points, which is great. We play Dallas, Seattle and Calgary next. Then hopefully McDavid or Drai Come back.

Seattle seems like a soft opponent and they had a possession and chances advantage against us. Winnipeg seems like they're at the start of an awful slump for a few games now. It just feels like the team is now in their tier of a plucky non playoff team and might get ugly in the next few games

 

[Soundwave]

I am concerned for the team minus McDrai. We got 3 out of 4 points, which is great. We play Dallas, Seattle and Calgary next. Then hopefully McDavid or Drai Come back.

Seattle seems like a soft opponent and they had a possession and chances advantage against us. Winnipeg seems like they're at the start of an awful slump for a few games now.

They need to learn to play without those guys. RNH and Henrique and Arvidsson have been very good players in this league before having McDavid and Draisaitl and Jeff Skinner too (though he has been playing well for a while despite being sabotaged by his own coach). All of those guys have been top 6 even top line players in this sport and produced in those roles.

It's time for them to wake up and realize that fact again and for the coaching staff to have their security blanket taken away isn't the worst thing in the world.

 

[Mr Positive]

They need to learn to play without those guys.

I definitely agree, but the issue might be that we are just so top heavy with McDavid and Draisaitl that we just don't have the talent beyond them. It looks to me like they are putting up pretty amazing efforts but the results are so thin

I'll be cautiously optimistic about the Dallas game coming up.

 

[Drivesaitl]

When you don’t like players you just make up things. The well rested excuse is such a joke.

Oh not good against good teams except he just scored 2 against the Jets. Oh wait that game doesn’t count because it doesn’t fit your narrative.

No because quite simply the Jets and Hellbuck were awful in tha game. The Jets didn't bring their game on the road trip at all. Was the same sorry performance that led to them getting trounced by the Nucks just the game before. Its easy to spot when opponents are bringing it or not.

its not an opinion that the Jets are playing their worst hockey of the season in this stretch. They're getting trounced today and Buffalo scoring an avalanche against them. They've been shit for the last 10 days. Any Jets fan would tell you that.

lol Ryan McLeod had 4 pts against the Jets today because they stink lately. Not because this is representative. Its easier to get results and pts against teams playing badly. Just as it is in segments where the Oilers are playing badly. Remember the Anaheim game?.

J Skinner needs to find some consistency. Maybe he will.

Real test will come in playoffs in anycase. As it is Skinners goal totals have been underwhelming. This isn't just my opinion.

 

[Drivesaitl]

That's the whole point though even in basketball, the Bulls learned that you cannot just fixate everything around one player.

For the Oilers to do it around two players is probably even worse given that hockey is a more team wide dependent sport. The coaching here is narrow minded, as long as they win that night or are in a good stetch riding the McDrai Train is all smiles. No real thought process given to the overall team balance.

We run ourselves like a top heavy basketball team, which is even worse to do in hockey. And it's not McDavid or Drai's fault, this is a lack of understanding from our front office and coaching staff (and a dumbo media that holds no one accountable until they are on the verge of being fired).

Toronto is getting double the goal scoring production from Knies, a 2nd round pick, as the Oilers did from Holloway + McLeod *combined* in their tenure's here. Explain that please. McMann who wasn't even drafted has far higher production there than Holloway here. Again ... how? This team just doesn't give a f*** about getting anyone going, if something isn't working and you're not a star player it's basically "well f*** you, you're on your own and you probably suck actually" ... which is a stupid attitude to have in a team sport with a salary cap.

But in Basketball you CAN fixate EVERYTHING around 2-3 players. Championships even. Why you keep bringing up Basketball in this board. Don't give a f*** about Basketball. Maybe start a seperate thread with nobody in it if you want..

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

No because quite simply the Jets and Hellbuck were awful in tha game. The Jets didn't bring their game on the road trip at all. Was the same sorry performance that led to them getting trounced by the Nucks just the game before. Its easy to spot when opponents are bringing it or not.

Real test will come in playoffs in anycase. As it is Skinners goal totals have been underwhelming. This isn't just my opinion.

Again… just doesn’t fit your narrative. You are just fishing for excuses.

For sure the real test is coming.

Skinner is 5th on the team in goals per 60 and that’s with getting banished to the bottom 6 most of the season. It’s not underwhelming at all if you look at how he’s been used.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Rob Brown has some stinker takes every once in a while. He said that Savoie can’t get you a top 6 player in a trade, because we only had to give up McLeod for him.

Like ??? Everyone at the time of the trade acknowledged the Sabres were giving up the more valuable piece and top 6 players get moved for first round picks all the time. Savoie is a recent top 10 overall pick

McLeod is an NHL player putting up some pts and Savoie isn't one. Fact of the matter is bird in hand is better until proven otherwise and Savoie happens to be in an org now with a horrible record on prospects and development.

For offensive forwards drafted on production and skills they need to be ready to bring that at this level at somepoint.

Savoie is an example of a time period in which top picks looked off size as even being a factor in players. Such thinking led to such hogwash as Bedard being the next McDavid. Teams like us and the Caps and other clubs continually showing that size matters, and especially usually do in playoffs. But for around a 10yr window and including our mistake drafting Yamamotos there seems to have been a shift to ignoring that size overall does matter.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Again… just doesn’t fit your narrative. You are just fishing for excuses.

For sure the real test is coming.

Skinner is 5th on the team in goals per 60 and that’s with getting banished to the bottom 6 most of the season. It’s not underwhelming at all if you look at how he’s been used.

Curious, honestly, if you would've said the same in say December, Janurary, February. I doubt it. Skinner has been scoring lately. Good, hopefully it continues.

 

[AM]

S. Skinner's play in terms of consistency is tanking fast. At least if the goal is to be consistently good. He use to bounce back after a bad game but now he is just stringing them together. Had the Kraken scored one more and they lost this game in OT I think it would have been demoralizing.

As for J. Skinner, what he has done in the last 20 or so games is offensively play much closer to the guy who put up so many goals over his career. He's always been streaky but now he is consistently getting his chances and without giving up a lot which is the real bonus. Personally, I don't mind him playing down the line-up. It lets him be "the guy" rather than having to defer to McDavid or Draisaitl. In the past he has done well playing away from the team's top line center.

Finally, Nuge looked like the kid who broke into the league. I still say that passive Nuge has a lot to do with what he has been asked to do by many of his coaches. Play safe. Defense first and defer to others.

Being coachable is a huge strength. But it has its limits.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I am concerned for the team minus McDrai. We got 3 out of 4 points, which is great. We play Dallas, Seattle and Calgary next. Then hopefully McDavid or Drai Come back.

Seattle seems like a soft opponent and they had a possession and chances advantage against us. Winnipeg seems like they're at the start of an awful slump for a few games now. It just feels like the team is now in their tier of a plucky non playoff team and might get ugly in the next few games

Yep. Not the only one seeing objectively that the Jets are playing like crap. Last 4 games anyway they've been weak and allowing a lot of chances and GA.

 

[Oilhawks]

Weird panic here. Felt they played a good game without McDrai. Skinner made the game look a lot closer than it was

 

[Arpeggio]

Curious, honestly, if you would've said the same in say December, Janurary, February. I doubt it. Skinner has been scoring lately. Good, hopefully it continues.

Many of us have been saying Skinner should be playing a bigger role for months now. It’s not surprising that he’s doing well at all.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Many of us have been saying Skinner should be playing a bigger role for months now. It’s not surprising that he’s doing well at all.

Its short sample man. Real short sample.

its the thing. Last 2 games the scoring is on so that Skinner has 3G in last 2GP. He also has 3G in last 9GP..

Gonna take a bit more track than this for me to say he's found it. Maybe he has.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Skinner is going to be the 2025 version of 1990 Klima.

Or Tommy Salo. My big fear is with that one..That this is our goaltending heading into playoffs and I know the org as usual will start Skinner almost all the games.

Even last night against an awful club our goaltending was a sieve. Call it myopic focus but its such an important spot in hockey.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Curious, honestly, if you would've said the same in say December, Janurary, February. I doubt it. Skinner has been scoring lately. Good, hopefully it continues.

Yes I would have said that those months. Ever since he tidied up his defensive game.

He’s been completely misused by Knob and that’s really starting to become obvious.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Yes I would have said that those months. Ever since he tidied up his defensive game.

He’s been completely misused by Knob and that’s really starting to become obvious.

Thanks for that answer. Hopefully it plays out the rest of the way. I never been fan of the player obviously so thats me. He has been better both defensively and offensively and I give him credit for that. He saved a potential GA in the Winnipeg game with a solid backcheck. In that respect maybe Knob has FORCED him to attend to those aspects which ultimately makes him a better player leading into the most important part of a year?

 

[McBeastMode]

I liked Knob's new strategy last night..
Take a penalty right before the goalie pull, that way you can shoot at the empty net, with no fear of icing.. Brilliant...

 

[BlackDogg]

Weird panic here. Felt they played a good game without McDrai. Skinner made the game look a lot closer than it was

The playoffs are set up to be a big dissapointment regardless. This team has never really cared about goaltending in the whole period of McDrai.

 

[Lay Z Boy GM]

The people still not sure about Jeff Skinner.. what do you want out of the guy? It’s weird how he’s perceived, like he’s gotta be a perfect player to have any respect.

He’s not bad defensively, nobody ever expected him to be a two way forward either btw.

He scored at a respectable rate even when demoted.

He doesn’t complain.

He’s not getting paid a fortune.

He’s gonna be a loser in a bunch of people’s eyes until he scores the GWG for the Cup lol

 

[CrazyJoeDavola]

The people still not sure about Jeff Skinner.. what do you want out of the guy? It’s weird how he’s perceived, like he’s gotta be a perfect player to have any respect.

He’s not bad defensively, nobody ever expected him to be a two way forward either btw.

He scored at a respectable rate even when demoted.

He doesn’t complain.

He’s not getting paid a fortune.

He’s gonna be a loser in a bunch of people’s eyes until he scores the GWG for the Cup lol

Agreed. He's never made any crazy mistakes that have directly led to goals against all season, and he plays harder and with more effort than 85% of the other forwards. And, now, he's burying as well as keeping play in the other end of the ice.

Too bad he'll be scapegoat and brown/janmark will get a spot over him regardless come playoff time.