Post-Game Talk: Playoff spot engaged

Arrogance permeates throughout the org. "We know what's best" has been the motto since the Shane Doan draft. Whenever one of the big dogs f***s up big time (Lowe, Nicholson, et al), they're simply shuffled elsewhere in the org and collect a paycheque. If this season ends up without a Cup they'll find an easy scapegoat (probably the goalie or coach).
"We're gonna do a top to bottom forensic analysis, nothing will be overlooked, we're dedicated and promising to get it right this time. "

I didn't believe it for a day.

Theres like hall of shame quotes with this org.

Can't imagine if this org was launching rockets as their business. That could be dangerous. Acme Rocket company....
 
"We're gonna do a top to bottom forensic analysis, nothing will be overlooked, we're dedicated and promising to get it right this time. "

I didn't believe it for a day.

Theres like hall of shame quotes with this org.

Can't imagine if this org was launching rockets as their business. That could be dangerous. Acme Rocket company....
Another one to be added, is the behind scene analytics show that Skinner’s play isn’t indicative of the results. Who came up with that bullshit around the deadline?

Poor skating ability, puck handling, rebound control, glove hand, puck tracking, second effort and other deficiencies are just fallacies. His “inconsistency” is merely due to his insufficient skills.

There have been players of other teams laughing about goals he has given up. I can’t ever remember that happening in the past to our team.
 
"We're gonna do a top to bottom forensic analysis, nothing will be overlooked, we're dedicated and promising to get it right this time. "

I didn't believe it for a day.

Theres like hall of shame quotes with this org.

Can't imagine if this org was launching rockets as their business. That could be dangerous. Acme Rocket company....
I think "Can't squeeze GMs" is my "favourite" of the bunch. A refusal to do everything to win. It's like the team has had the same useless GM for nearly 20 years.
 
"We're gonna do a top to bottom forensic analysis, nothing will be overlooked, we're dedicated and promising to get it right this time. "

I didn't believe it for a day.

Theres like hall of shame quotes with this org.

Can't imagine if this org was launching rockets as their business. That could be dangerous. Acme Rocket company....
Give it a rest.
 
I believe that if Ekholm is out for good, that's the end of the Oilers' chances to advance anywhere in the playoffs. The defence core simply isn't deep or strong enough to eliminate top clubs.

(The only hope that is that, so far, Rishaug seems to be the only journo reporting this, and he's basically clueless most of the time, so it could be incorrect.)

Remember last time the team was in the playoffs without Ekholm? Game 1 vs. Calgary, loss 9 - 6. Game one vs. Colorado, loss 8 - 6.

The forward group, I think, is quite good right now, and the benefit of having added some skilled wingers will show in the playoffs, maybe. But without Ekholm we're back to c.2021-2022 playoff defencemen-level.

I do hope I'm wrong. But usually, I'm not.
 
Free agency is a fools way to build team. You’re paying premium prices for players that are about to start their decline. It’s only good to fill depth roles. Players also won’t come here once our window is closed. For a city like Edmonton we have to depend on great drafting and development.
You can also put out offer sheets that the other team might have screwed themselves out of being able to or are unwilling to match.
 
Losing Ekholm would suck, but at least they got Wahlman and Kulak who can fill in the top 4. But overall, I feel this is not the Oilers' year. Too much turmoil this year with poor play and injuries.
Who knows, this might be a good thing. We slowly keep adding injured players to give the squad a jolt after every loss.
Our depth players are getting higher TOI to get ready for the big show and our core players are getting rest. LA can't possibly scout our squad with what we are icing.
 
Who knows, this might be a good thing. We slowly keep adding injured players to give the squad a jolt after every loss.
Our depth players are getting higher TOI to get ready for the big show and our core players are getting rest. LA can't possibly scout our squad with what we are icing.
A Vegas loss tonight and things get really interesting in terms of who we might play.
 
Honestly they should be resting McDavid, Bouchard and Nurse too. Forfeit the games, they don’t matter.
Can’t get on board with that. I’ve waited 9 years to watch McDavid play live. Taking my 4 yr old daughter to her first Jets game tomorrow
 
I believe that if Ekholm is out for good, that's the end of the Oilers' chances to advance anywhere in the playoffs. The defence core simply isn't deep or strong enough to eliminate top clubs.

(The only hope that is that, so far, Rishaug seems to be the only journo reporting this, and he's basically clueless most of the time, so it could be incorrect.)

Remember last time the team was in the playoffs without Ekholm? Game 1 vs. Calgary, loss 9 - 6. Game one vs. Colorado, loss 8 - 6.

The forward group, I think, is quite good right now, and the benefit of having added some skilled wingers will show in the playoffs, maybe. But without Ekholm we're back to c.2021-2022 playoff defencemen-level.

I do hope I'm wrong. But usually, I'm not.

Only silver lining is that 21-22 d-core did beat a similar LA team. But yeah, I don't like their odds without Ekholm.


The one thing that has me concerned is it seems like his injured has seemingly gotten worse with time vs. better.

He was outstanding in his return vs, Utah, looked fine vs. WIN and SEA, and then had a rough game vs. Dallas where he looked a little weak on his skates. but nothing particularly standing out. 1 month later and he's suddenly falling all over the ice without contact? What gives?
 
  • Like
Reactions: MessierII
Another one to be added, is the behind scene analytics show that Skinner’s play isn’t indicative of the results. Who came up with that bullshit around the deadline?

Poor skating ability, puck handling, rebound control, glove hand, puck tracking, second effort and other deficiencies are just fallacies. His “inconsistency” is merely due to his insufficient skills.

There have been players of other teams laughing about goals he has given up. I can’t ever remember that happening in the past to our team.
What blew me away was Valiquette pointing out that Skinner is terrible in rush chances against. He has issues judging the speed, timing, and space. You know- the things a coach would coach
 
Because why? The core is intact and even if we lose Bouchard due to cap we will remain a contender as long as McDavid re-ups.

This is actually the least likely year for us to win the cup factoring in our goaltending, right side of defense, top 6 wingers and injuries.
Have you seen the age of our supporting cast players?

Also after age 33 Mcdavid and Leon won't be the players they are today. It's a young mans league
 
No, the pronger trade year was worse, by a lot
That 2006-2007 season was one of the low points in franchise history. Coming off a finals appearance where so much hope had finally been pumped back into the team only to have it taken away so quickly when it was leaked that Pronger wanted out. Ryan Smyth dealt at the deadline and the team proceeded to lose something like 19 out of its final 20 games of the season.

The only season I think that might have been worse was the 92-93 season where we missed the playoffs for the first time in team history and the reality of the dynasty era teams really being over was starting to set in. That was gut-wrenching. The decade of darkness was what it was but nobody had any expectations for those teams. Those years just pissed us off, they didn’t break your heart.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jimmi McJenkins
Kevin Lowe was a better GM than what we've seen the past few years. He actually worked his ass off to build that 2006 team. He may be a pompous ass but give him McDavid and Draisaitl to start with and he'd probably have won a Cup with that to work with already.
Kevin Lowe had oodles of cap space to work with when nobody else had any in 2006. That’s why he was able to build that team and it had all fallen apart by the next season once everyone else was back on even footing. He was a terrible GM and likely would have been fired if Katz hadn’t bought the team from EIG. Tambellini being brought in was to take the heat off Lowe for a disastrous run as GM.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TB12

Users who are viewing this thread

Ad

Ad