GDT: Panthers@Oilers - 8PM - Nice kitty…

[Drivesaitl]

He was in beast mode when Connor was hurting, that's what we need, guys like Hyman, Nuge and Kane taking turns getting hot while we hopefully get otherworldly play by Connor and Leon. Leon doesn't look himself so we need more out of these guys and Bouch at the moment.

Leon has been snakebit and still has a dozen goals. He has been taking it to the house as well, just getting stoned silly by goalies lately. That and now he's with Janmark and Foegele so not really a topsix config. Oilers going with top nine attempts somewhat.

Our topline has been bread and water but its really loaded up.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Leon has been snakebit and still has a dozen goals. He has been taking it to the house as well, just getting stoned silly by goalies lately. That and now he's with Janmark and Foegele so not really a topsix config. Oilers going with top nine attempts somewhat.

Our topline has been bread and water but its really loaded up.

He just doesn't seem as strong on the puck or as explosive as he has in the past. I'm thinking LBI.

 

[elmeroil]

There was no doubt in my mind Knob was starting Pickard after that train wreck vs Tampa. They know what they have in Skinner, it's time to see what they have in Pickard. I hope they can pick up where they left off offensively and defensively during the streak.

 

[BlackDogg]

So guys I get being upset, but lets stop this nonsense. We're better than this.

What's the trophy for that.

 

[guymez]

He just doesn't seem as strong on the puck or as explosive as he has in the past. I'm thinking LBI.

I dont know...Draisaitl looked pretty damn good against Tampa.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

I dont know...Draisaitl looked pretty damn good against Tampa.

I don't think that he's playing at his best right now but maybe that's just me?

 

[guymez]

I don't think that he's playing at his best right now but maybe that's just me?

I just recall quite a few moments in the Tampa game where Draisaitl really caught my eye with his skating. There were a couple fo times where his speed through the neutral zone made me do a double take. I just havent seen that from him much at all this season which may speak to your point about him dealing with an LBI.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

I just recall quite a few moments in the Tampa game where Draisaitl really caught my eye with his skating. There were a couple fo times where his speed through the neutral zone made me do a double take. I jjust havent seen that from him much at all this season which may speak to your point about him dealing with an LBI.

He did put his head down and try to force his way to the net a number of times, I 100% agree with that.

 

[TheNumber4]

Pickard confirmed in?

 

[Drivesaitl]

He just doesn't seem as strong on the puck or as explosive as he has in the past. I'm thinking LBI.

Been saying it for awhile Bryan. Drai is starting to age and he has a ton of mileage and past injury. Theres lots of bullwork on that odometer and he survives a lot of hits and double teams. it adds up.

I'm not convinced Drai is a Malkin in regards to longevity. Drai has already had so simplify his game and cut some corners. We've seen the best of Drai at this point. Its now about retaining it. The EV goals particularly have been dropping off for awhile, not just this season. The PP prowess kind of disguised that there has already been Drai drop off.

We've leaned far too heavily on McDrai. McD is superhuman, Drai isn't.

 

[Mr Positive]

Pickard confirmed in?

Yes

 

[Wreckus]

The fact that Knoblauch has Pickard in tonight sends a message to Holland to get a Goalie ASAP.

 

[orangewinter]

The fact that Knoblauch has Pickard in tonight sends a message to Holland to get a Goalie ASAP.

Holland should have got a Goalie when Campbell was sent down.

 

[guymez]

Been saying it for awhile Bryan. Drai is starting to age and he has a ton of mileage and past injury. Theres lots of bullwork on that odometer and he survives a lot of hits and double teams. it adds up.

I'm not convinced Drai is a Malkin in regards to longevity. Drai has already had so simplify his game and cut some corners. We've seen the best of Drai at this point. Its now about retaining it. The EV goals particularly have been dropping off for awhile, not just this season. The PP prowess kind of disguised that there has already been Drai drop off.

We've leaned far too heavily on McDrai. McD is superhuman, Drai isn't.

I agree with this and I think that because Drai plays a more physcial game than McDavid that adds to the toll as well.
Drai actually looks for and expects contact when he has the puck on his stick in the O zone in the corners and along the side boards. He then uses that to his advantage.
To do that repeatedly has to be hard on the body.
My hope is that Knoblauch will continue to use both McDavid and Drai in a more balanced way than his predecessors.

 

[TheNumber4]

Pickard’s Binnington run starts tonight!

 

[Wreckus]

Holland should have got a Goalie when Campbell was sent down.

No arguments here.

 

[ZJuice]

I agree with this and I think that because Drai plays a more physcial game than McDavid that adds to the toll as well.
Drai actually looks for and expects contact when he has the puck on his stick in the O zone in the corners and along the side boards. He then uses that to his advantage.
To do that repeatedly has to be hard on the body.
My hope is that Knoblauch will continue to use both McDavid and Drai in a more balanced way than his predecessors.

Drai’s ginormous ass protects the rest of the body. It’d probably protect him from a truck bumper going 60km/h as long as he flexed those cheeks in time.. and landed on them

 

[SupremeTeam16]

The fact that Knoblauch has Pickard in tonight sends a message to Holland to get a Goalie ASAP.

I think it’s pretty clear that Holland is essentially a day to day face until his contract runs out. Coffey and Katz were clearly scheming to bring Jackson on board for awhile and if you look at what’s happened since the end of last season, it seems clear that things are mostly out of Hollands hands. We’ve seen Mcdavid advocate for players in the past and on the other side of the Connor Brown signing? The guy who took over the organization just weeks later. Then a few weeks into the season coach replaced with the new bosses guy. The building out of the analytics department with the parkatti hiring.

Everything points to Holland being under direction from Jackson so I’m sure any move he makes for a goalie is going to be green lit if not outright directed by Jackson. So I doubt Knob is sending a message, likely the message (which Holland delivered in the Brar interview) is likely coming from above all of them.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I agree with this and I think that because Drai plays a more physcial game than McDavid that adds to the toll as well.
Drai actually looks for and expects contact when he has the puck on his stick in the O zone in the corners and along the side boards. He then uses that to his advantage.
To do that repeatedly has to be hard on the body.
My hope is that Knoblauch will continue to use both McDavid and Drai in a more balanced way than his predecessors.

Gretz as you know used to entice and draw players into him, and out of position, before murdering them with pinpoint passes. With Gretz he was very mobile and not touched nearly as much. With Drai he doesn't evade contact, really at all, and so he's absorbing contact, being strong on puck, and surviving it. But the way Drai plays is hard. He eats a lot of punishment. Half the time he's making that pass he's on his back as the goal is scored.

Yeah I like that Knoblauch has stretched out the minutes. You have to make everybody feel part of team.

 

[mkatcherin00]

No idea what to expect. FLA is not going 3 full games being shutout....

Play 80% of how they played against Tampa and it is a blowout for Edmonton

 

[Drivesaitl]

I think it’s pretty clear that Holland is essentially a day to day face until his contract runs out. Coffey and Katz were clearly scheming to bring Jackson on board for awhile and if you look at what’s happened since the end of last season, it seems clear that things are mostly out of Hollands hands. We’ve seen Mcdavid advocate for players in the past and on the other side of the Connor Brown signing? The guy who took over the organization just weeks later. Then a few weeks into the season coach replaced with the new bosses guy. The building out of the analytics department with the parkatti hiring.

Everything points to Holland being under direction from Jackson so I’m sure any move he makes for a goalie is going to be green lit if not outright directed by Jackson. So I doubt Knob is sending a message, likely the message (which Holland delivered in the Brar interview) is likely coming from above all of them.

I think Hollands official remaining role is to be the figurative next fall guy if anything goes wrong. heh. I'm being a bit tongue and cheek but not totally. I agree that Holland doesn't seem to be calling shots anymore but he did enough times to do some harm here.

Knob is in a difficult spot as well. He came into a listing titanic. The prognosis wasn't great and he knew could hurt his NHL aspirations if things didn't work out. Knob gambled and so far won. But this is a hard first assignment for him and Coffey. I dare say as well they took the job knowing that with the cap situation there wouldn't be much or any player help incoming. That the solutions would have to be in the room. This hamstrings them somewhat.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Holy crap. That’s blunt

Blunt is good.

 

[TheNumber4]

Blunt is good.

True. These are pros, and this is exactly what’s expected of you. I’m fine with it.

 

[tardigrade81]

Will be really interesting to see how they bounce back?

Will they come out hard and strong, or slow lazy and disinterested?

At least Pickard is starting.

Glad Pickard is starting. Hopefully has another nice game

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

The fact that Knoblauch has Pickard in tonight sends a message to Holland to get a Goalie ASAP.

I actually think it’s more a message to Skinner that games like his last one won’t be tolerated. Much like Coffey said to the D about making plays or they will get replaced, I think the message to Skinner is make the saves or you’ll be replaced.

Woody would have spoken about the loss to TB as a team loss, blah blah blah and had Zero accountability, and would have went back with Skinner.

Instead KK sits him for Picard whose played well in limited action. KK also has demoted an offensively ineffective Brown and struggling (injured?) Kane to the 3rd line.

KK doesn’t f*** around but he also doesn’t blender the entire forward group because one or two guys aren’t going like Woody. Just subtle changes.