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

[Stoneman89]

Yeah, you're right - Kane needs a facilitator. Does well on the rush or on the cycle sliding into the slot, so McD is the best player to match him with.

Looking at our forward group going into the play-offs:

Kane - McD - Hyman
Pod - Draisaitl - Arvidsson
Skinner - RNH - Kapanen
Perry - Henrique - Frederic
Jones/Ryan

Just jumbled all of them in, Frederic likely up the chart and Kapanen down. Try the Pod/Arvidsson match up with Drai again?

Pod needs to be down on the third line with Nuge and Arvy, no way should he be top 6. Been there, tried that, and it was a failure, and a big sample size too.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Precisely, Knob is pulling the same shit that Tippett did except with more talent to work with now. Let McDrai carry the offense and everybody else play a checking role, also while refusing to give young guys any real opportunity. Even if Holloway was here, I'm convinced that he'd get a 3rd line checking role with Henrique and Brown.

You might want to take another look at the kind of lineup Tippett had. It was miraculous he got that club to the playoffs every year and if you remember he took over a club that had missed playoffs two years in a row. By the time Tippett has been here Chiarelli scorched Earth had already done significant damage.

 

[Pip]

I’m envisioning the lines for Game 1 as:

Skinner - McDavid - Hyman
Kane - Draisaitl - Frederic
Podkolzin - RNH - Arvidsson
Janmark - Henrique - Brown

Ekholm - Bouchard
Nurse - Walman
Kulak - Emberson

Skinner

This might be my favourite combination on paper assuming that Kane is anywhere near his prior level. He’s missed so much time though I’m nervous slotting him into the top 6.

If Kane needs more easing in I wonder about moving Henrique with Draisaitl and Frederic. You’d have to either shift Janmark over or bring in Kapanen to play centre though.

 

[Heavy Dee]

If Holloway were here he’d have to earn his spot.

That is a good thing.

And that's why he left.

 

[foshizzle]

This might be my favourite combination on paper assuming that Kane is anywhere near his prior level. He’s missed so much time though I’m nervous slotting him into the top 6.

If Kane needs more easing in I wonder about moving Henrique with Draisaitl and Frederic. You’d have to either shift Janmark over or bring in Kapanen to play centre though.

Perry is a coach’s favourite. I’m guessing Skinner would be scratched which would be a horrendous plan. I like Perry- but he won’t be able to play back to back and will struggle with the pace

 

[Pip]

Perry is a coach’s favourite. I’m guessing Skinner would be scratched which would be a horrendous plan. I like Perry- but he won’t be able to play back to back and will struggle with the pace

I agree. Despite having an impressive season I would have him as the 13 playing in select games. He’s still got some juice but seems to be fading at the worst time like last year.

 

[aggressive forecheck]

I agree. Despite having an impressive season I would have him as the 13 playing in select games. He’s still got some juice but seems to be fading at the worst time like last year.

Perry shows all our players where goals have to be scored from in the playoffs. He's a greasy Oiler through and through. Can you imagine if Lowe didn't have a temper tantrum and we traded Mike Comrie for Corey Perry? Sure, that's another narrative they told fans to keep them miserable during the decade of darkness.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I’m envisioning the lines for Game 1 as:

Skinner - McDavid - Hyman
Kane - Draisaitl - Frederic
Podkolzin - RNH - Arvidsson
Janmark - Henrique - Brown

Ekholm - Bouchard
Nurse - Walman
Kulak - Emberson

Skinner

This is more or less what I'm leaning towards.

The RNH and Draisaitl lines are the tone setters, either pestering you with a relentless speedy forecheck or wearing you down on a heavy cycle, and those two set the stage for McDavid to dominate a worn down defence.

I'd probably prefer Kapanen or Perry over Brown, but I don't mind giving last year's 3rd line crack to try to rekindle their magic from last year.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The #6 spot is an interesting one. I like Emberson and I know there's always the size argument, but can anyone actually argue Stecher hasn't been far more effective of recent?

Plus for all of Stecher's size concerns, his actual playoff statline is damn fine: 21GP, 4-3-7, +13. Hell, we saw it back in 2022, when he was one of LA's more effective defeceman against the Oil. Imo this is one of those don't look at the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog situations.

Even Klingberg I could see surprising. I thought he held his head above water during his first 10 games here while playing mostly 2nd pairing minutes with Nurse all things considered. Give him another few months of practice to continue shaking off the rust and building his strength, and I could see him doing very well in a #6 role. Though with Walman here, he's not as needed.

Imo Emberson is the play if you just want safe, neutral minutes, Klingberg has the most upside to drive the play, and Stecher's the guy if you want someone to help set the tone for the team. Personally I'd with Stecher to start.


Though if I'm allowed to go full mad scientist, I'd go back to Nurse-Kulak, which I still think is more steady than Nurse-Walman, and play Walman-Klingberg on an offensive 3rd pairing, or have the Swedes together...

Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Kulak
Walman-Klingberg

Nurse-Kulak
Walman-Bouchard
Ekholm-Klingberg

Pesonally I really like the latter. We've seen Nurse-Kulak and Walman-Bouchard put up decent fancies in tough minutes, and you'd have your shakiest defender your biggest rock.

 

[MessierThanThou]

The #6 spot is an interesting one. I like Emberson and I know there's always the size argument, but can anyone actually argue Stecher hasn't been far more effective of recent?

Plus for all of Stecher's size concerns, his actual playoff statline is damn fine: 21GP, 4-3-7, +13. Hell, we saw it back in 2022, when he was one of LA's more effective defeceman against the Oil. Imo this is one of those don't look at the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog situations.

Even Klingberg I could see surprising. I thought he held his head above water during his first 10 games here while playing mostly 2nd pairing minutes with Nurse all things considered. Give him another few months of practice to continue shaking off the rust and building his strength, and I could see him doing very well in a #6 role. Though with Walman here, he's not as needed.

Imo Emberson is the play if you just want safe, neutral minutes, Klingberg has the most upside to drive the play, and Stecher's the guy if you want someone to help set the tone for the team. Personally I'd with Stecher to start.


Though if I'm allowed to go full mad scientist, I'd go back to Nurse-Kulak, which I still think is more steady than Nurse-Walman, and play Walman-Klingberg on an offensive 3rd pairing, or have the Swedes together...

Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Kulak
Walman-Klingberg

Nurse-Kulak
Walman-Bouchard
Ekholm-Klingberg

Pesonally I really like the latter. We've seen Nurse-Kulak and Walman-Bouchard put up decent fancies in tough minutes, and you'd have your shakiest defender your biggest rock.

Stecher is beyond underrated. Yeah, it's a little embarrassing for the team to see him get pushed off the puck, but he's a consistently better player than Emberson and Klingberg.

 

[Lay Z Boy GM]

I’m envisioning the lines for Game 1 as:

Skinner - McDavid - Hyman
Kane - Draisaitl - Frederic
Podkolzin - RNH - Arvidsson
Janmark - Henrique - Brown

Ekholm - Bouchard
Nurse - Walman
Kulak - Emberson

Skinner

If Kane doesn’t work with Drai (wasn’t great in the past) I’d go with Frederic - Draisaitl - Perry

That line would drive teams insane

Kane or Skinner play with either McDavid or Nuge

Hopefully everyone is healthy for a few games before the playoffs. The depth is exciting and I think the lines are gelling nicely lately

 

[foshizzle]

Stecher is beyond underrated. Yeah, it's a little embarrassing for the team to see him get pushed off the puck, but he's a consistently better player than Emberson and Klingberg.

I agree 100%. His metrics are actually pretty good the last 3 years. He’s got a good first pass and doesn’t back down from anyone. His transitional defence is also good

 

[foshizzle]

If Kane doesn’t work with Drai (wasn’t great in the past) I’d go with Frederic - Draisaitl - Perry

That line would drive teams insane

Kane or Skinner play with either McDavid or Nuge

Hopefully everyone is healthy for a few games before the playoffs. The depth is exciting and I think the lines are gelling nicely lately

Perry can play spot duty- but he can’t play those minutes at that intensity anymore- especially against faster teams.

 

[GreeningOil]

Idk why, but I feel like we win on wednesday even though its irrational

Our team without McDrai is still better than many of the cellar dwellers. And teams lose to them all the time.

It’s the NHL!

 

[K1984]

I agree. Despite having an impressive season I would have him as the 13 playing in select games. He’s still got some juice but seems to be fading at the worst time like last year.

At pretty much the exact moment I started thinking "you know, Perry might be able to hack out a top 6 role the rest of the year" his game cratered. The puck decisions he's been making the past few games have been flabbergasting to say the least.

I think it would make sense to sit him, at least to start the playoffs. If things go well, then whatever we don't need him. If they don't, he's fresh to come in and potentially have enough in the tank to contribute.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

Nuge and J Skinner silencing alot of their critics lately. Strong game by Rico as well. Good for our depth to get these big minutes and gain confidence without the big 2

Jeff Skinner has more even strength goals than McDavid since Jan 1.