Post-Game Talk: Preseason Game #9 wasn’t a very good one
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Lay Z Boy GM
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Next year play the top guys every single preseason game. Feels like they’re never ready for the season until we’re a dozen games in. Get over that hump before points are on the line.
Still can’t believe we didn’t change ANYTHING on defense or goaltending. Some people here thought those of us with valid concerns were being negative, but this team didn’t improve enough or fix the obvious glaring holes that even casual fans see. I got a buddy into hockey during the playoffs and he saw the same things, a new fan with fresh eyes can clearly see the same issues. FFS get serious
Still can’t believe we didn’t change ANYTHING on defense or goaltending. Some people here thought those of us with valid concerns were being negative, but this team didn’t improve enough or fix the obvious glaring holes that even casual fans see. I got a buddy into hockey during the playoffs and he saw the same things, a new fan with fresh eyes can clearly see the same issues. FFS get serious
RipsADrive
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Probably beating a dead horse here but this is exactly what happened coming out of training camp last year.
Team looks unprepared for the pace of real play and has obviously not drilled their systems enough. Vancouver came in with a running start and knocked the Oilers right out of the building. Oilers were on their heels from the very start. Sure the goaltending was bad, but the Oilers had 0 chance of winning this game even if it had been average.
Woodcroft needs to get his head out of his ass. Why was yesterday's morning skate optional? Get the team prepared and ready to play. I know he wants the dressing room and leadership to do it themselves but obviously that isn't working.
Team looks unprepared for the pace of real play and has obviously not drilled their systems enough. Vancouver came in with a running start and knocked the Oilers right out of the building. Oilers were on their heels from the very start. Sure the goaltending was bad, but the Oilers had 0 chance of winning this game even if it had been average.
Woodcroft needs to get his head out of his ass. Why was yesterday's morning skate optional? Get the team prepared and ready to play. I know he wants the dressing room and leadership to do it themselves but obviously that isn't working.
I know that the coaching mantra is you only get so many opportunities in a year to rip/bag skate your team and generally you don't want to do that too early in the season, but I'm wondering if now isn't the time.
This can't go on a single extra game.
It isn't their fault solely, but it was also obvious that Demko even half dead is a real no.1 and Campbell/Skinner look like pretenders by comparison.
There's a clear as day difference between an actual no.1 and the guys we have.
brentashton
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- Jan 21, 2018
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You’re gonna hurt some people’s feelings talking like that. It’s a tad bit too old school.
Actually, I love though that they have to be at WEM today for the fan autograph session. For players after that lack of effort last night, it might be a worse thing to have to face face than a bucket skate.
VainGretzky
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- Jun 4, 2015
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Deharnais was the only defender making smart plays with the puck last night and taking out/, tying up players in the crease the rest of the dmen were chasing players in the corner or swatting at pucks in front of the net or totally out of position it's like they all were trying to play zone and man to man what a disaster
He was also the only one not completely blowing up transition plays out of his own end. Somehow.
guymez
The Seldom Seen Kid
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Probably some truth to this but when you are one of the oldest teams in the League the 'learning lessons' phase should be in the rear view mirror.
Some of this could have been a systems issue where there is still some doubt as to what their assignments are. I could get behind that if I didnt see such a lack of try. Starts at the top too...McDavid and Draisaitl are the biggest culprits.
At this point in the teams development that fact that they still need to learn lessons is a major problem.
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TopShelfGloveSide
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- Dec 10, 2018
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Yep. I don’t think Woody should be fired but sometimes his soft coaching method really burns us. I’m not saying go full Torts but some emotion would have been nice.
I know he knows he’s part to blame but he was pretty calm considering his whole squad decided not to show up and made him look like a dummy.
TheNumber4
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- Nov 11, 2011
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They'll continue to "learn lessons" the hard way as long as they commit to icing a piss poor d-corps and goaltending that isn't good enough to bail them out.
They need McDavid/Drai to go supernova to win them games, and the thing is they can do that. But you'll also have nights like last night where their mediocre D and goaltending (less the goalie's fault last night, but there will definitely be nights where they shit the bed too) get exposed.
It also would be nice if this team had any kind of creativity or spark when McDavid is not on the ice outside of like Foegele's third line having the occassional "gee they cycled the puck around real good for a while there but failed to finish!" type shift.
Kane? RNH? Can these guys do anything when they're not paired with McDavid or Draisaitl? Hyman is the closest thing to a guy who makes something happen out there when the big 2 are not on the ice.
joestevens29
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- Apr 30, 2009
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They hyped themselves the players themselves have been talking since we lost to Vegas that they think they are cup contenders. They didn't the media to put it into their heads, they've had it in their heads for 4 months.
TheNumber4
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- Nov 11, 2011
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Can’t change goaltender. Committed long term to a sieve.
I know it’s game 1 and there is a long season ahead but this team is notorious for not showing up on time, blowing leads, and just generally being inconsistent.
Until this changes we will never be successful
Until this changes we will never be successful
They can be successful to a point, but in the long term, mediocre defence and mediocre goaltending as a combination never works for anyone as much there are some on this board that want to desperately push that it can (Colorado had bad goaltending in 2021! Yes ... but they also had one of the best overall bluelines of the last 20 years that season, when the Oilers can claim the same then they can have the same benefit of the doubt, otherwise -- no).
That said I would expect a better effort on Saturday. There better be, or they're going to need a police escort out of Rogers, lol.
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lol, Klefbom's last game with us was three years ago and his injury issues were well known even before that. That's also no excuse to stake the future of his defense on Brett Kulak and Cody Ceci (to say nothing of the disastrous Nurse contract). Yet another mess Jeff Jackson will need the rest of McDrai's tenure to fix, and by then it will much too late.
Ibanez
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I generally assume most elite players have the ear of mgmt. I would tend to believe in Pitts that mgmt does listen to what Crosby wants and has to say. I don’t think Connor is alone in this.
On paper I liked the brown signing but he sure showed nothing last night. I’ll give it first game jitters?
My larger concern was on no show Kane. I don’t want him taking cheap shots but when you are down 4-0 I expect he is the guy to get the fire going. Big hit. Chirping. Something.
joestevens29
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LA series 2022 game 1 (loss)
Calgary series game 1 (loss)
Colorado series game 1 (loss)
LA series 2023 game 1 (loss)
Vegas series game 1 (loss)
Woodcroft can't get this team ready. Last year they were down 0-3 to the Canucks in game 1 and should have lost, needed a McMiracle to come back and win.
This year, without the home crowd boost, they got what they deserved for a 2nd year with a 0-3 game 1 start in a row. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Jimmi McJenkins
Sometimes miracles
Drivesaitl
Finding Hemingway
I don't think its the same though. Connor isn't Sid. As brilliant as McD is in so many aspects of hockey, on ice play and creating and producing theres this feeling I have that some facets he isn't on top of. Sidney is a Mr. Hockey type generalist. Does everything fairly well. A better version of Kopitar when in prime.
McD is more the offensive force that has never really been stellar in 200ft player. so that Connors notion of what constitutes a fine or perfect linemate may be limited.
One of the interesting things is we haven't seen Connor on a lot of other teams, we don't know what it looks like. With Crosby he was the same win first guy on a team whether it be Pens or Team Canada's.
With McD, as much as he states he wants to win it all his actual play often resembles wanting to blow the doors off the league in the scoring race. I'd take less pts and more 200ft play from both McDrai.
Yeah I have some concerns with Kane now. -4 wasn't a good showing for sure. But he didn't do much at either end of the ice.
