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Proposal: Predictions for the Oilers lines, come playoffs.

What I think Knoblauch will do to start (certainly not my choices):

RNH-McDavid-Hyman
Pods-Drai-Arvy
Janmark-Henrique-Brown
Kane-Fredrick-Kapanen (at least to get the two injured players up to speed)

Ekholm-Bouch
Nurse-Walman
Kulak-Emberson

Out: J. Skinner (coach hates him), Jones (hits too much for the coach's liking), Perry (unless Kane or Frederick aren't ready)

Stu Skinner starting in net of course.
 
Skinner - McDavid - Hyman
Podkolzin - Draisaitl - Kane
Frederic - Nuge - Arvdisson
Janmark - Henrique - Brown
Extra - Perry, Kapanen, Jones


Ekholm - Bouchard
Nurse - Walman
Kulak - Stecher
Extra - Emberson/Klingberg

Skinner/Pickard

I keep Pod with Drai but he and Frederic can swap if size and skill necessitate. Stecher in as 6th D because of his veteran experience over Emberson and Klingberg just needs to be sheltered in ways it might not be possible in playoffs. Skinner gets the series start but it’s a game by game leash for him. However, I’m definitely not opposed to starting Pickard.
 
Game 1:
RNH-Mcdavid-Hyman
Podz-Drai-Arv
Janmark-Rico-Brown
Kane-Fred-Perry

Then the blender happens about 10 minutes into the first.

What I'd go with:
Kane-Mcdavid-Hyman
Fred-Draisaitl-Arv
Skinner-RNH-Podz
Janmark-Rico-Brown

It's probably risky putting Kane and Frederick in the top 6 but the Kings play a tough game and will be all over Mcdavid and Draisaitl.
 
McFlash97 said:
Not going to matter. I dont think we’re getting past round 1. Law of averages tend to even out. This is our weakest roster(age)vs Kings best. Sorry to sound like a downer.
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Law of averages doesn’t apply here. All events are mutually exclusive if we are being statistically accurate. None of the past series has an impact on this one.
 
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McShogun99 said:
Game 1:
RNH-Mcdavid-Hyman
Podz-Drai-Arv
Janmark-Rico-Brown
Kane-Fred-Perry

Then the blender happens about 10 minutes into the first.

What I'd go with:
Kane-Mcdavid-Hyman
Fred-Draisaitl-Arv
Skinner-RNH-Podz
Janmark-Rico-Brown

It's probably risky putting Kane and Frederick in the top 6 but the Kings play a tough game and will be all over Mcdavid and Draisaitl.
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Actually playing them 3rd line might be even more of a benefit so they can get after guys like Kempe, Fiala, etc. if the Kings choose not to match best on best and go more traditional.
 
jukon said:
I remember them saying that their struggles on the PP last playoffs were because they were so heavily scouted during the regular season.

I wonder how much team strategy played a part in an early surge so they could coast into a playoff spot and ramp up with a couple of games left. They are clearly prioritizing health over home ice, and I'm fine with that. McDavid can win 15 Art Ross trophies but without a cup there will always be that hanging over his legacy.

I hope that our goalies have also been trying to deceive the pre-scout and they actually perform much better when it really counts.
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The old rope a dope! I like it
 
CycloneSweep said:
Draisaitl - McDavid - Hyman
Podkolzin - Nuge - Arvidsson
Kane - Janmark - Brown
Frederic - Henrique - Perry
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Surprised that this is the first combo with the McDrai line. I think there's a very real chance that they stack the top line against L.A., even Rishaug made a mention of this as well, especially with Nuge showing some small sample success driving a Podkolzin-Arvidsson line.
I also agree that Skinner will be a rotational player at best, there's no chance he starts the playoffs in the top 6 IMO.

I also expect these lines to be thrown in a blender a bunch of times because that's what Knoblauch does.
 
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I think the lines will be like:

Kane - McDavid - Hyman
Frederic - Draisaitl - Arviddson
Podkolzin - RNH - Perry
Janmark - Henrique - Brown

I could see Kane/Frederic/Podkolzin rotating through the top 3 lines. Podkolzin will get some time with Draisaitl.

I could see Kapanen and JSkinner flipping with Perry depending on Knoblauchs mood.

I don’t see Knoblauch getting away from the Janmark-Henrique-Brown line.

I could see McDrai together and RNH and Frederic as the 2C/3C as well.

Not going to go into the dcore because its pretty self explanatory assuming players are healthy. I don’t see Emberson playing much. I still don’t know what’s going on with Klingberg. But he better look good in the final games if he wants to play over Stetcher.

I think we all know Skinner is their guy. Will see how short his leash is.

This is what I think they will do. Not what I would do.
 
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SupremeTeam16 said:
Watch Edmonton come out of the gate with a fully healthy lineup game 1 and look completely different competitively from the team that ended the regular season, get on the Kings early at home and put them off kilter early and get them chasing the series.
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I'm holding out hope for this. They're playing possum right now.

I'll say this. If the first line is
Leon - McDavid - whomever

This team is f***ed and done imo.
 
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SupremeTeam16 said:
I have a sneaking suspicion that the Oilers will continue to just hold it together while the Kings finish strong and get that 2 seed and everyone will make a big deal about the Kings on home ice. Watch Edmonton come out of the gate with a fully healthy lineup game 1 and look completely different competitively from the team that ended the regular season, get on the Kings early at home and put them off kilter early and get them chasing the series.
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Will be interesting to see how they come out.

The last couple of years this team has went into the playoffs playing pretty well. And it generally hasn’t translated that well to start the playoffs. Its generally a bit of a rollercoaster before they settle in.

So not really worried about them stumbling into the playoffs this year. Still not convinced though they will just be able to flip the switch. I think its going to be a rollercoaster. And with the way the goaltending has been particularly Skinner, I fully expect it in the first round.
 
I've liked Arvidsson's game with Drai and Nuge lately. Feels like there's been some nice ozone cycle chemistry building there.

I'd go
Kane-McDavid-Hyman
Frederic-Draisaitl-Arvidsson
Skinner-Nuge-Podkolzin
Perry-Henrique-Brown
Janmark/Jones first sub in if you want PK help and more speed. Perry has just been too good for me this year to sit, but if he's struggling with the speed in playoffs like he did last year then he becomes an injury fill in.

Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Walman
Kulak-Stetcher
 
The Nuge said:
Nuge - McDavid - Hyman
Arvidsson - Drai - Podkolzin
Kane - Frederic - Skinner
Brown - Henrique - Perry
Janmark/Jones

Ekholm - Bouchard
Nurse - Walman
Kulak - Klingberg
Emberson/Stecher

Skinner
Pickard

We know Knob likes both of those top 6 lines. Kane and Frederic could create havoc while Skinner adds more skill. The 4th line is basically a rotation of guys who were on our 3rd line last year and were killing it.
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I'd prefer Nuge at centre tbh. He's looked a lot better this year at centre than he has on the wing, and I think Frederic is more effective as a winger. That 3rd line to me is just lacking too much having no playmaker.
 
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CupofOil said:
Surprised that this is the first combo with the McDrai line. I think there's a very real chance that they stack the top line against L.A., even Rishaug made a mention of this as well, especially with Nuge showing some small sample success driving a Podkolzin-Arvidsson line.
I also agree that Skinner will be a rotational player at best, there's no chance he starts the playoffs in the top 6 IMO.

I also expect these lines to be thrown in a blender a bunch of times because that's what Knoblauch does.
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I don’t even like the lineup but I know what Knoblauch likes. If Skinner can sit he will sit him. Kapanen will get more minutes in the playoffs.
 
On the defence, how do we see the lower two pairings shaping up?

I think Stecher's run away with the #6 spot, but I'm still curious about Walman and Kulak. Namely I think Walman has looked more comfortable on the left side, while think Kulak has struggled a bit covering for the lack of size between Emberson and Stecher.
Imo the peak of Nurse-Kulak pairing has still looked better than Nurse-Walman has, while Walman has the size (218lb) to cover for Stecher's shortcoming. (ba-dum-tish)

So with that in mind, I'd like to see... (if everyone is healthy)

Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Kulak
Walman-Stecher

Walman gets a few extra minutes playing next to Ekholm on the PK and the occasional shift next to Nurse to give Kulak a break.
 
Lacaar said:
I'm holding out hope for this. They're playing possum right now.

I'll say this. If the first line is
Leon - McDavid - whomever

This team is f***ed and done imo.
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Is that because McD and Drai are a disaster together defensively?
Or because we don't have the depth to stack em on the same line?

I think we have enough depth up front to go with any line combos but we are screwed if Walman-Bouchard is still a pairing in playoffs.
 
Well since McDrai will be out...

Skinner-RNH-Hyman
Podkolzin-Henrique-Arvidsson
Kane-Frederic-Perry
Jones-Janmark-Brown

Contenders baby!
 
This is what i think they'll run to start against LA, then maybe as Frederic and Kane get their legs under them they can move them around and run a more balanced lineup

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

Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Walman
Kulak-Stecher
 
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