Post-Game Talk: Preseason Game #9 wasn’t a very good one

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

I guess they need to get adjusted to this new system.

You’d think after 5 weeks of working on it they’d have it pretty much nailed down by now given it’s how Woody changed when he got here and it’s a core system that I’m sure all players have played before.

 

[gordonhught]

were you a coach or player? excellent analysis

Oh brother.

 

[guymez]

were you a coach or player? excellent analysis

Are you a Canucks fan? You must be if you liked that.

 

[Tarus]

Woodcroft dumped the remnants of Tippitt's system last year, and the team was the worst defensive team in the NHL for the first 2 - 3 months of the season while adjusting to the system he implemented, I fully expect more growing pains this year as they adjust to yet another new system(though, hopefully not as bad as last year).

They did look confused and hesitant at times in last night's game which is always going to be bad for overall execution and is more than likely a result of the shift, but they aren't winning any games with the overall effort level they played with last night no matter what system they are playing.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Woodcroft dumped the remnants of Tippitt's system last year, and the team was the worst defensive team in the NHL for the first 2 - 3 months of the season while adjusting to the system he implemented, I fully expect more growing pains this year as they adjust to yet another new system(though, hopefully not as bad as last year).

They did look confused and hesitant at times in last night's game which is always going to be bad for overall execution and is more than likely a result of the shift, but they aren't winning any games with the overall effort level they played with last night no matter what system they are playing.

New system the roster that you have already decided on needs to learn? Gotta get Brad Malone playing time and have guys compete for spots that don't actually exist.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Woodcroft dumped the remnants of Tippitt's system last year, and the team was the worst defensive team in the NHL for the first 2 - 3 months of the season while adjusting to the system he implemented, I fully expect more growing pains this year as they adjust to yet another new system(though, hopefully not as bad as last year).

They did look confused and hesitant at times in last night's game which is always going to be bad for overall execution and is more than likely a result of the shift, but they aren't winning any games with the overall effort level they played with last night no matter what system they are playing.

The thing is this isn’t a new system. It’s the same 1-1-3 NZ and zone D they played when Woody got here. It’s also one of the simplest systems that every player starts playing in Bantam AAA. As you said poor effort and lack of preparedness was the paramount reason they got their asses handed to them.

 

[Tarus]

New system the roster that you have already decided on needs to learn? Gotta get Brad Malone playing time and have guys compete for spots that don't actually exist.

When the learning and adjustment time of the roster can be potentially be measured in months, I'm not worried about a future call up getting a few extra reps during training camp and it's low intensity preseason games.

 

[helloconga]

Are you a Canucks fan? You must be if you liked that.

i am but it was a great analysis, best i’ve read even compared to canucks media.

 

[McTonyBrar]

Because it likely is truly day-to-day. I'm guessing he skates on Saturday and they decide from there.

From what's been said I think it's just a pain thing at this point, and if it were playoffs Ekholm is playing, but since it's game 2 of 82, better to let it fully heal up instead of reaggravating it into something worse.

Yeah Stauffer made that tweet so stupid. Woodcroft sonds pretty optimistic about his chances to play tomorrow

 

[Soundwave]

so? is Holland supposed to know his injuries would be career ending?

the defensive corps isn't as bad as it seems....they were 9th in the league in GA after Ekholm arrived

Think that was a mirage. They play balls to the wall in the home stretch of each of the last two seasons but are coddled with a lot of nothing games against the San Joses and Anaheims of the world.

The 2nd half of the season has a lot of teams that are comfortable in a playoff spot so not going 100% or teams that bombed out months ago that will just give up the moment McDrai Express runs over them with a PP goal or two.

They were again the worst goals against in the playoffs for any team past the 1st round for the second straight year.

The defence just isn't good enough, and neither the goaltending or coaching can make up for that.

Ekholm A. Larsson
Nurse C. Tanev
Kulak Bouchard

Is the a D group they need to get to to really contend for something IMO, and even the above isn't a slam dunk, you would still need better goaltending likely than what we have to go with that, as the above still doesn't have a bonafied no.1 D that can take over a game.

 

[Soundwave]

Can you look back and see the last team to win a cup without a superstar defenceman who can be relied upon to carry the rest of the group, and do you think it's Ekholm?

For as good as Ekholm is, he would slot in nicely here back in 2006 on the 2nd or possibly 3rd pair. He's a secondary guy, he isn't carrying anything anywhere. Even playing behind an actual star guy in Josi he could not help that team get over the hump.

Pittsburgh 2017.

But they had all world goaltending that playoffs, both Murray and MAF were great.

.924 - MAF
.937 (!) - Murray

You almost can't lose with two goalies going that hot.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Think that was a mirage. They play balls to the wall in the home stretch of each of the last two seasons but are coddled with a lot of nothing games against the San Joses and Anaheims of the world.

The 2nd half of the season has a lot of teams that are comfortable in a playoff spot so not going 100% or teams that bombed out months ago that will just give up the moment McDrai Express runs over them with a PP goal or two.

They were again the worst goals against in the playoffs for any team past the 1st round for the second straight year.

The defence just isn't good enough, and neither the goaltending or coaching can make up for that.

Ekholm A. Larsson
Nurse C. Tanev
Kulak Bouchard

Is the a D group they need to get to to really contend for something IMO, and even the above isn't a slam dunk, you would still need better goaltending likely than what we have to go with that, as the above still doesn't have a bonafied no.1 D that can take over a game.

good enough for what? a Cup
well no shit, Holland needs to find a top 4 RH defenseman

this group is still good enough to be an elite team IMO

 

[nabob]

Think that was a mirage. They play balls to the wall in the home stretch of each of the last two seasons but are coddled with a lot of nothing games against the San Joses and Anaheims of the world.

The 2nd half of the season has a lot of teams that are comfortable in a playoff spot so not going 100% or teams that bombed out months ago that will just give up the moment McDrai Express runs over them with a PP goal or two.

They were again the worst goals against in the playoffs for any team past the 1st round for the second straight year.

The defence just isn't good enough, and neither the goaltending or coaching can make up for that.

Ekholm A. Larsson
Nurse C. Tanev
Kulak Bouchard

Is the a D group they need to get to to really contend for something IMO, and even the above isn't a slam dunk, you would still need better goaltending likely than what we have to go with that, as the above still doesn't have a bonafied no.1 D that can take over a game.

Riiiiight. In the second half of the season teams just don’t try, but only when they play the Oil.

 

[Soundwave]

Riiiiight. In the second half of the season teams just don’t try, but only when they play the Oil.

It's easier to exert your will in the 2nd half of the season, sure.

You have 1/3 to half the league that already knows they have little/no chance at the playoffs and are already mentally on summer vacation. They've already lost a ton of games and just want to get the season over it.

Then you have the top teams like Colorado, Vegas, etc. but they're not really going HAM either because they are secure in knowing they're going to be in the playoffs so it's like they don't much to prove against us, we have the onus on us to be more motivated to beat them because they knocked us out of the playoffs.

Woody had a chance to show he learned some defensive schemes last playoffs and he failed that test miserably.

Team is the same ol', same ol' by the end of the playoffs, they're always a defensive tire fire with a goalie that looks like swiss cheese.

 

[NotAVacuumSalesman]

Went to bed after Boeser scored to make it 2-0. Woke up in the morning to check the final score and I thought it was all a dream. Sadly, it wasn’t.

 

[BlackDogg]

The equivalent of the entire team all shitting in the toilet tank ahead of the game, and giving it a flush at puck drop.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

 

[94 Oil Drops]

Connor knows one gear. The same Connor that has the team assembled again for preseason skates 5weeks before season is out there jacked, flying like he's shot out of a cannon before gamestart. He's doing laps around other players on the ice. What Connor understands more than anything is harder faster. It often strikes me with him that he doesn't know how to cloak or time his energy rushes in games. He's just like hype energy and it cost the team a couple times last night.

I seriously wonder if rather than gearing up before the season, the boys were actually sitting around eating junk food and playing cards instead. The team just isn't ready to go. I actually kind of expect them to start off slowly the first few games since they needed to get adjusted to the new defensive systems but I didn't expect them to get dummied like that by a much worse hockey team.

I'm honestly not all that upset about yesterday. I've flushed it out of my brain and I'm moving on. Maybe it was good for them. I just hope they are absolutely embarrassed and they turn that shame into blinding rage so that they beat the s*** out of the Canucks on Saturday. Physically and on the score sheet. If they don't learn the lesson from this... well... then the players on this team are both childishly prideful and incredibly stupid. You can't teach stupid. Stupid doesn't win championships.

 

[Mav3rick07]

I feel like last night was a big game for Vancouver. They're a very hungry team that desperately wants to be competitive, it's their home opener and Hughes was just named Captain. Not to mention we're now a team to beat. It was hard for us to match their desperation and I hope that's why we looked so flat. Not to make excuses, but I legit was worried this would happen heading into Vancouver. Our effort Saturday will probably tell us a-lot. If we get smoked again, then I'll start worrying.

 

[CycloneSweep]

I feel like last night was a big game for Vancouver. They're a very hungry team that desperately wants to be competitive, it's their home opener and Hughes was just named Captain. Not to mention we're now a team to beat. It was hard for us to match their desperation last night and I hope that's why we looked so flat. Not to make excuses, but I legit was worried this would happen heading into Vancouver. Our effort Saturday will probably tell us a-lot. If we get smoked again, then I'll start worrying.

It made sense after period 1 but after that where the crap was the team? 2-0 after 1 and the team came out even FLATTER. Against a team battling the flu, with a goal go was in the verge of vomitting. The fact that they just got worse as the game went on was just telling of their care and give a crap.

If the Oilers aren’t flying from puck drop, just how sad for them as a group.

That was the biggest blow out this team had faced since McDavids rookie year. That was the worst game they have played in over 7 years.

A team with cup aspirations couldn’t handle the work ethic and “desperation” of a bubble team? It’s just, so many levels of sad. Like you said game 2 will be telling.

 

[The Panther]

The Fire Woody stuff is laughable.

I usually don't expect rational behavior on HFOil but after Game 1 to call for his firing is ridiculous even for HFOil standards.

You know this and I know this, but seemingly no one else does. Since Woodcroft was hired, the Oilers are the 2nd best team in the NHL (and have three playoff series wins).

The last time they were the 2nd best team over 1.5 seasons was in 1987.

But let's fire him!

 

[gordonhught]

It made sense after period 1 but after that where the crap was the team? 2-0 after 1 and the team came out even FLATTER. Against a team battling the flu, with a goal go was in the verge of vomitting. The fact that they just got worse as the game went on was just telling of their care and give a crap.

If the Oilers aren’t flying from puck drop, just how sad for them as a group.

That was the biggest blow out this team had faced since McDavids rookie year. That was the worst game they have played in over 7 years.

A team with cup aspirations couldn’t handle the work ethic and “desperation” of a bubble team? It’s just, so many levels of sad. Like you said game 2 will be telling.

Not sure I am liking the players body language.

 

[Soundwave]

You know this and I know this, but seemingly no one else does. Since Woodcroft was hired, the Oilers are the 2nd best team in the NHL (and have three playoff series wins).

The last time they were the 2nd best team over 1.5 seasons was in 1987.

But let's fire him!

All he needs is McDavid/Draisaitl scoring at video game levels to win regular season games.

He can coach run n' gun hockey, I'll give him that.

But there's no indication he or Manson have any idea what they are doing defensively at the NHL level.

Worst goals against of any team in the playoffs through round 1 in 2022.

Worst goals against of any team in the playoffs through round 1 again in 2023.

Second worst regular season goals against of the 16 playoff teams last year.

"New defensive system" gives up 8 goals against versus a non-playoff team the first time out.

There's an awful lot of red flags here.

 

[Senor Catface]

Oh brother.

Only former NHL players or coaches are allowed to comment about hockey.

 

[CycloneSweep]

good enough for what? a Cup
well no shit, Holland needs to find a top 4 RH defenseman

this group is still good enough to be an elite team IMO

Define elite team? Top 5 in the league?