Oilers were overwhelmingly #1 cup favorites going into the season. Are they still #1 today?

[KCC]

We need another top four defender and a goalie who can hopefully push S. Skinner into a backup role by the time the playoffs arrive. Bonus points for an experienced 4C who can skate and win draws:

RNH-McDavid-Hyman
Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Arvidsson
Skinner-Henrique-Kapanen
Janmark-xxxxx-Brown
Perry, Ryan

Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-xxxxx
Kulak-Emberson
Stecher

xxxxx
Skinner

I would feel very good about that roster with some combo of Pettersson/Provorov/Murphy/Jensen and a goalie who is top 30 in most categories as opposed to top 75, and that's even without Kane who probably slots in for one of J. Skinner or Kapanen as he gets up to game speed late in the year.

Management is hell bent on sticking with Skinner unfortunately. But, he has been better lately. The problem is he's prone to bad goals, bad rebounds especially being put back into the slot and can look 3 feet in net at times. He's at his best when he's battling not just sitting there letting the puck bounce off him like a ping pong ball. We will see what happens I guess. Just have to hope he can put it all together when it matters because if he can't stop the puck, they aren't getting far these playoffs.

 

[Laus723]

no one said he's worth his cap hit...doesn't change the fact his ES goal differential is 4th on the team at +11 and has been on the ice for only 15 ES goals against all season (less than any regular Panther d-man, for example)...and that's playing almost 19 mins/night

top 10 last year in goals against, top 10 in goals against this year, excellent fancy stats...all with "poor goaltending", "bad defense" "soft forwards"....make that make sense

Good luck. I stand by the team needing upgrades, but I also said the Panthers do as well. Ekblad is still slow af, we need a stronger guy on the right side, could use a 3RW. Guys have been better, Mackie plays well and Balinskis is coming into his own, but upgrades are needed. Again, by both teams.

 

[Jumptheshark]

I am an fan and I never had them as the favourites. Top 10 yes

 

[koyvoo]

Been saying it for years.

The best player in the world can go on runs that’ll carry all the way, but it’s ridiculous to gamble the possibility of that on sub par goaltending.

 

[Jetcetera]

Teams I'd put ahead of the oilers based on this season.

Panthers
Devils
Capitals
Hurricanes
Jets
Golden Knights

They're on par with Wild, Avalanche, Kings and leafs in a tier below

 

[Mr Positive]

One thing in favor of the Oilers is that they have an obvious hole at 2nd pair RD. We are doing a great job filling it by committee, which is fine in the season but will be exploited in the playoffs.

It's a pretty safe bet that the Oilers will be significantly upgraded. We will find that RD and it won't be a marginal boost like other the deadline deals will be

 

[Regal]

One thing in favor of the Oilers is that they have an obvious hole at 2nd pair RD. We are doing a great job filling it by committee, which is fine in the season but will be exploited in the playoffs.

It's a pretty safe bet that the Oilers will be significantly upgraded. We will find that RD and it won't be a marginal boost like other the deadline deals will be

I’d be a big add if they do it, but I’m not sure how many clear second pair RDs are going to be on the market

 

[CanadienShark]

I still have them as a top 3 threat. Regular season means very little once in the playoffs.

In no order whatsoever, the three scariest teams are: Florida, Edmonton, Vegas.

 

[CanadienShark]

Lotsa words for…ya still have Nurse, Bouchard isn’t great defensively…but ok.

You used few words to convey a ridiculous point. Well done. Simple communication for a simply bad take.

 

[Mr Positive]

I’d be a big add if they do it, but I’m not sure how many clear second pair RDs are going to be on the market

finding a second pairing Dman is an order of magnitude easier than a first pairing one.

For context, Nurse has been unlocked this season by getting to play with a pucking moving Dman that can skate in Troy Stecher. Nurse has also got to play with Kulak more, who is better than Stecher but suffers from having to play his off side.

So the bar here is to find a right shot Kulak here, the upgrade on Stecher, and anything better than that we can swing is just gravy.

 

[Laus723]

You used few words to convey a ridiculous point. Well done. Simple communication for a simply bad take.

Nope. Pretty spot on, not varying from it. Oil want to move forward with team as is…good luck. I can see where the Panthers need attention, glad Nurse has looked better the first half of the season and everyone feels they go the distance. I don’t, and honestly hope they don’t do anything.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Skinner makes their defense seem worse than it actually is. Bad company for the starting goalie of a contender to keep. Either backup goalies and/or bad teams.

 

[SillyRabbit]

Idk how you can have the Oilers out of the top 3 with the way McDavid and Draisaitl are playing over the past year.

They already proved what they can do last season.

 

[sensfan4lifee]

No t here not top 3, they lost too much speed last season

the D is too weak beyond the first pair