On paper are the Oilers better or worse than they were last season?

[Three On Zero]

But how impactful is that loss? He wasn't a core piece. The difference between Ceci and Stecher/Emberson isn't going to as big as the upgrades at forward

For better or worse, Ceci averaged the 3rd most minutes for Edmonton’s blue line and the 3rd most minutes out on the pk. Lofty expectations to expect Stetcher/Emberson to jump in and average over 19 minutes a game

 

[Monsieur Miz]

Stuart is going to play for 0,880 at best with that defense. They're cooked.

 

[archangel2]

While they have 8 d. Only 2 are actual nhl d men. Oilers arebin for a very long season. All goalie and D? I don't see Leon and Mcdavid hanging around much longer

 

[sepHF]

So they got him Arvidsson and Skinner? I assume RNH-McD-Hyman won't be broken up. Kane and Draisaitl I don't think have ever looked good together, too slow. Draisaitl centering those two seems good on paper but in practice I'm not so sure. They're both small players, so even more of what is usually the bulk of the puck protection, net front, board play, and defensive physicality falls on Leon. He plays insane minutes for a guy with his frame. He was really wearing down those last two rounds of the postseason.

I mean they're good players, sure they'll score some goals. Skinner is horrible defensively and that's not something that Draisaitl excels at really either but the guy can finish. Arvidsson nice player for sure but that grit and tenacity are probably diminished being a ten year vet that missed most of last year. Mostly would be concerned with how that line would perform on the boards. Lots of games are won and lost on board battles.

Yea it's hard to say, I'm sure they'll try all sorts of combinations. Skinner will get looks with McDavid, RNH could be flipped to the second line or even 3c with Henrique or Brown moving up. Arvidsson has always been tenancious on the puck and a prick to play against when the Oilers faced the Kings / Preds

Admittedly havent watched a lot of Skinner over the years, but if McDavid can turn Hyman into a 50 goal scorer he might be able to work some magic with Skinner too

Draisaitl is good on the wall, he just needs someone who can find open ice and convert his passes consistently which none of those other guys were able to. I agree Skinner-Draisaitl-Arvidsson might be a bit of an adventure defensively, especially with Ekholm and Bouchard essentially being stapled to McDavids line under Knoblauch

 

[CanadienShark]

Worse. The defence looks very rough. Offence improved, but not enough to offset the defence. Of course the game is played on ice, not on paper though.

 

[FinlandPanther]

Oh, I see that this dumb narrative still exists.

Skinner is terrible lol.

 

[CupofOil]

Skinner is terrible lol.

You have no clue what you're talking about.

 

[ottawah]

Better but still concerned for them. They were winning based more on defense last year, not offense, and they just lost 2/3 of the RHD and their best PKer.

 

[DingerMcSlapshot]

Easily worse. D blows and upfront a bunch of softies.

 

[Idiot Stick]

depends on what a full offseason of the Knob can do

I thought EDMs defense was a trainwreck even before they lost those players, but they all played very stout in the playoffs with his system

 

[Mr Positive]

For better or worse, Ceci averaged the 3rd most minutes for Edmonton’s blue line and the 3rd most minutes out on the pk. Lofty expectations to expect Stetcher/Emberson to jump in and average over 19 minutes a game

Ceci did okay but in a very conservative role. The newcomers might not be as good but as long as they fit into the system they should be fine.

Besides this was by design because we wanted to replace Ceci for a long time, because he's not top 4 quality on a contender. It's not really a downgrade if it will be fixed before the playoffs.

 

[Coffey]

but they all played very stout in the playoffs with his system

Do you know there are people that don't believe this happened?

 

[missionAvs]

Edmonton will cruise in the running for the top of the Western Conference for most of the season. Whether or not that translates to the post season will depend on what they do at the TDL. If they go into the playoffs with the current D, I don't like their chances but make a splash for a top 4 guy then I have them as the favorites.

 

[Skolman]

Apparently people are Ceci fans now..

Funny how that works.. This place man

 

[CupofOil]

Apparently people are Ceci fans now..

Funny how that works.. This place man

Yeah, apparently it's "lofty expectations" for somebody to replace Cody Ceci who was universally mocked by those same posters over and over again as an Oiler. Funny how that works.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Forwards are better, defense is worse, goaltending is the same.

Unless that defense gets an upgrade I don't know that I would call them better than last year.

 

[Lacaar]

They cannot find their best game until they are down. This is a team that CANNOT take the bull by the horns out of the hopper. They have to be down to find their game. It's a recipe for inevitable failure. As seen this year and in years past. They start seasons poorly and cost themselves home playoff dates. They start series poorly. the only series they have won and never been down at all is against L.A this year. In the Last 3 playoffs! EVERY series they have won in the last 3 years.. they've been down in.

We talk about personal and what not but that's not the Oilers number 1 issue. This team is average at best when on even terms with other teams. They're one of if not the best team in the league when their chips are down. Start season like ass.. omg miss playoffs.. miracle winning streak... we're back baby! Go down 0-3 in Cup final.. rattle off 3 wins.. we're back baby!

We can talk about that one or two players that change out like it matters much. But I don't agree. The Oilers problem is they dip their toes into everything and never take the initiative.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

So the ceci that everyone thought was so bad that needed a first attached is now the linchpin for the oilers defense color me surprised

They cannot find their best game until they are down. This is a team that CANNOT take the bull by the horns out of the hopper. They have to be down to find their game. It's a recipe for inevitable failure. As seen this year and in years past. They start seasons poorly and cost themselves home playoff dates. They start series poorly. the only series they have won and never been down at all is against L.A this year. In the Last 3 playoffs! EVERY series they have won in the last 3 years.. they've been down in.

We talk about personal and what not but that's not the Oilers number 1 issue. This team is average at best when on even terms with other teams. They're one of if not the best team in the league when their chips are down. Start season like ass.. omg miss playoffs.. miracle winning streak... we're back baby! Go down 0-3 in Cup final.. rattle off 3 wins.. we're back baby!

We can talk about that one or two players that change out like it matters much. But I don't agree. The Oilers problem is they dip their toes into everything and never take the initiative.

Lol what out of the last three seasons they've only had last year where they didn't have a great start but thanks for sharing you don't actually pay attention to the team and just vomit out your feelings instead

 

[McShogun99]

Based on players that played most of last season the Oilers lost Mcleod, Foegele, Ceci and Desharnais and replaced them with Skinner, Arvidsson, Stecher and Brown. Holloway was supposed to be the Foegele replacement and Broberg was the Ceci replacement but now those spots are potentially going to Podkolzin and Emerton.

Like everyone else has said the forwards are better and the defence is worse but they will probably make a trade during the season to fill that #2 RD spot. As long as the team can follow the system they should be fine during the regular season. I think they still finish around 110 points during the season.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I’d say they’re the same .

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Surprised by how many people are taking the Ceci loss as a blow to the oilers when I’ve seen them comment about how bad he sucks.

At least be consistent.

But who do they have to replace him? Emberson?

 

[FinlandPanther]

You have no clue what you're talking about.

I watched him lose in the finals. He sucks. But enjoy him. You’ll never win with him

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Pretty much every fanbase except for a couple of tanking teams think that their team is better than last year. Usually it’s based on overly optimistic predictions of players added and ignores players lost plus other issues.
For me the Oilers look worse. Kane is a big question mark and he’s their fourth best forward. You have to wonder if at age 33 he comes back from his injury at the same level. Eckholm holds the D together and he’s now 34. They lost their two best young players and their D looks weaker with the loss of depth and while Ceci might not be a world beater he was an important part of the PK and played second pairing minutes.
He hasn’t been replaced.

 

[bucks_oil]

Savoie is far from NHL ready. Oilers would be worse with him in the lineup. He's not strong enough/ good enough at winning battles to be a role player, he's not developed enough to play an offensive role, and he won't crack the PP to be a specialty player.

He won't make the Oilers better for at least a couple years. Overall though, Oilers fans should temper their expectations for him, he doesn'tatch the hype he once had.

Fair... but he's a minor consideration. Our starting forwards last year were:

Nuge McD Hyman
Kane Drai Brown
Foegele McLeod Holloway
Janmark Ryan Gagner

This year it is:
Nuge McD Hyman
Skinner Drai Arvidsson
Kane Henrique Brown
Janmark Ryan Perry
With Podkolzin having a chance to slot in

The defense is certainly weaker because Ceci > Stecher and Desharnais > Emberson/J.Brown, but we also have Wanner and Kemp pushing for ice time from the AHL.

More importantly, we have a projected $4.5M to $9.5M (depending on how we manage our 21 or 22 person roster) in cap space to use at the deadline.

That's going to be huge.

 

[bucks_oil]

Pretty much every fanbase except for a couple of tanking teams think that their team is better than last year. Usually it’s based on overly optimistic predictions of players added and ignores players lost plus other issues.
For me the Oilers look worse. Kane is a big question mark and he’s their fourth best forward. You have to wonder if at age 33 he comes back from his injury at the same level. Eckholm holds the D together and he’s now 34. They lost their two best young players and their D looks weaker with the loss of depth and while Ceci might not be a world beater he was an important part of the PK and played second pairing minutes.
He hasn’t been replaced.

Kane was not our 4th best forward even last season and far from it this season. We were also fine without him in the playoffs.

McD
Drai
Nuge
Hyman
Insert: Skinner
Insert: Arvidsson
Insert: Henrique
Kane