Pre-Game Talk: Return of the Rat - Stanley Cup Finals '24: Edmonton vs. Florida

[frag2]

Who's better though. TNT has jumped the shark and is already shit. Snet is the devil we know. Toronto Sports Network is vile to me. If they had our contract we'd be downloaded tiers and importance to anything from golf to Raptors, Blue Jays and Frisbee tournaments. TSN makes "joined in progress" an art form. Careful what we wish for.


At least McLeod scored a goal and played well since being scratched the one game and is also very good at pk and one of our better defensive forwards.

Jumper cables wouldn't get Foegele moving.

Amazon/Prime Video already carries NHL rights for Mondays. I'd rather just move to a streaming platform but I guess there are a lot of super old people that havent adopted streaming

 

[foshizzle]

Hope Ryan is right..

https://x.com/i/web/status/1799125659517853879

Mcleod, Foegele, Perry as a line does not work. Nurse and Ceci back together…it’ll work this time…right? RIGHT?

My guess is Knob is worried about the forecheck and Kulak being on his wrong side. We know Ceci and Nurse have zero ability to move the puck or deny the zone (let’s not forget perma-pinching Ceci) That pair will be targeted just like Vegas did, Just like Colorado did

 

[Mr Positive]

Foegele and the word motivated are not naturally occurring in a sentence. He's never been anything in playoffs, its an odd and unfortunate attribute to have, and its inexplicable he tends to disappear. he has the size, attributes, physicality to play this game. Its interesting as well that Marchment targeted Foegele in the Dallas series with abuse and foegele was never spotted again. For all the talk of Mcleod being cowardly on the board I'd wonder more about Foegele. Something is off with this guy every playoffs.

Yes but the guy was scratched by Knob, and for good reason and I bet this has to be a pivot point for his whole career. Just like how Knob went back to Skinner, I could see how he'd go back to Foegele. It's all about the state of mind when it comes to him because he's got the tools. This is the Finals. He hasn't been there before. The coach has had time with him. He's fresh and 100%

 

[NeverForget06]

He’s not.

Nurse and Ceci back together ??? oh lord

 

[Drivesaitl]

Amazon/Prime Video already carries NHL rights for Mondays. I'd rather just move to a streaming platform but I guess there are a lot of super old people that havent adopted streaming

Hey, I have Roku, Firestick and Chromecast. harrumph.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Nurse and Ceci back together ??? oh lord

Yah wtf. Knob is pretty calculated though I wonder what his reasoning is.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

It's essentially the same team on paper is the point.

Last year Tkachuk, Ekblad, Montour were badly injured in the finals. This year Lundell has really come on strengthening the middle of their ice.

They are built for the playoffs and will be our toughest test yet.

The positives?
- I'm really loving Brown and Janmark with Rico. It improves our depth a TON.
- Mcdavid seems to be more like himself now. He was kinda ass for a while.
- We have the PP advantage, but will the refs call penalties??

For us to win we will need Mcdavid and Drai to be even better and I believe they will be. Don't hesitate to load em up for a few more shifts.

 

[brentashton]

Who's better though. TNT has jumped the shark and is already shit. Snet is the devil we know. Toronto Sports Network is vile to me. If they had our contract we'd be downloaded tiers and importance to anything from golf to Raptors, Blue Jays and Frisbee tournaments. TSN makes "joined in progress" an art form. Careful what we wish for.

Sorry Drive, I disagree.

I watch a lot of the Winnipeg and Ottawa regional games on TSN and they are produced to a higher level of quality in terms of their camera work, graphics and in studio work. Their panels may have some of the same types of individuals looking for their “hey look at me moments” approach as SN talking heads do, but I just find less of it on these broadcasts. Perhaps because the audience is regional and team specific versus national audiences and broadcasts.

And TSN world junior coverage is always better than any SportNet hockey property, in my view.

I guess I hoped that after the past 10 years of absolute crap delivery by SN, that the team would have looked to a change in hopes of improving the product for the viewer, but I suspect they chose to chase dollars instead knowing that people would watch the broadcast even if they used a super8 handheld camera to film it and used me and you as a studio hosts.

Edit - but damn, we’d be awesome intermission hosts!

 

[Mr Positive]

Yah wtf. Knob is pretty calculated though I wonder what his reasoning is.

Maybe it is to put Kulak back on his proper side. That puts Broberg on his off side though. But maybe after that great goal by Broberg he's thinking to have him on his off side as it is more of a shooting position

And the other half of it is that maybe Nurse-Broberg is worse than Nurse-Ceci.

But yes I have no clue. But no one else knows either. Knoblauch is in charge and he's got his reasons

 

[Drivesaitl]

Has he? He looks like pre-scratch McLeod to me. Love the PK squad though.

His play in game 4 was huge. Got the critical goal to get the party started and had other scoring chances and dynamic game.

Game 5 and 6 brought similar energy and was one of the reasons the Oilers were not giving up much. Dallas essentially had zero scoring success in last 3 games of series.

Now I'm not tying the two together, just saying, the game McLeod missed was the Oilers worst game in the Dallas series and givng up 5 goals. McLeod isn't the reason for that but the team play more airtight with him available in the lineup. Defensively especially his role is underappreciated. RNH and McLeod and Janmark are huge parts of our pk.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

….and there goes the Cup…..

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

This is the deepest we've been!!!! I dig it

Don't love Mcleod at center but if Foegele is coming back in either Perry or Ryan gets scratched.

Give Mcleod 4th line mins and it won't be so bad.

 

[Mr Positive]

This is the deepest we've been!!!! I dig it

Don't love Mcleod at center but if Foegele is coming back in either Perry or Ryan gets scratched.

Give Mcleod 4th line mins and it won't be so bad.

To me that line with McLeod and Perry is the 4th line. Henrique on the other line there makes it obvious imho. Plus Brown and Janmark have been heating up.

 

[K1984]

Yes but the guy was scratched by Knob, and for good reason and I bet this has to be a pivot point for his whole career. Just like how Knob went back to Skinner, I could see how he'd go back to Foegele. It's all about the state of mind when it comes to him because he's got the tools. This is the Finals. He hasn't been there before. The coach has had time with him. He's fresh and 100%

If literally all Foegele changes in his game is not attempting to make any sort of East/West play that isn't basically guaranteed to connect and shooting for the crest and not trying to pick corners he would be highly effective.

Can't count the number of times where he's been playing well, but deep 6's it with an airhead pass, a botched breakout, mishandle of the puck, missed shot by a mile, etc. If he just lugs the puck out and in, and actually finds a way to simply just get shots on goal he'll be very good. He always seems to want to dangle around though despite the fact that he has among the worst hands I've ever seen from a non-pugilist forward.

Can't help but think of the clip from Snapshot when someone winds up with a clapper and hits the organ player in the head most of the time when Foegele shoots the puck. Wildly inaccurate to say the least, but that doesn't stop him from trying to pick corners.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Sorry Drive, I disagree.

I watch a lot of the Winnipeg and Ottawa regional games on TSN and they are produced to a higher level of quality in terms of their camera work, graphics and in studio work. Their panels may have some of the same types of individuals looking for their “hey look at me moments” approach as SN talking heads do, but I just find less of it on these broadcasts. Perhaps because the audience is regional and team specific versus national audiences and broadcasts.

And TSN world junior coverage is always better than any SportNet hockey property, in my view.

I guess I hoped that after the past 10 years of absolute crap delivery by SN, that the team would have looked to a change in hopes of improving the product for the viewer, but I suspect they chose to chase dollars instead knowing that people would watch the broadcast even if they used a super8 handheld camera to film it and used me and you as a studio hosts.

All I ever get from TSN is regional blackouts really so I'm not seeing those games, and tbh don't care to. I dont' watch a lot of EC hockey, I'm the opposite of Woodcroft. haha

I have previewed and studied both Snet and TSN dedication to 4K and neither are jumping on this despite dedicated 4K tiers that are that in name only. For both broadcasters their 4K isn't that, its just 1080 with some upgrading.

My concern with TSN same as always. The Oilers would be 10th tier in importance and would we even be getting all the games, and in entirety?

In anycase none of the Canadian broadcasters has really arrived at 2024 broadcast possibilities. They've both been guilty of "this is good enough" broadcasts.

A full 14yrs ago we were promised ability to select audio feeds, to select camera preferences etc and all this technology exists. As per usual it was false leader promises with no intent to ever deliver on them.

2024 and I still don't get what I consider adequate surround sound feeds from any sports channel broadcaster.

 

[TheNumber4]

One more day until glory. Should be an awesome series!

 

[Skar]

Amazon/Prime Video already carries NHL rights for Mondays. I'd rather just move to a streaming platform but I guess there are a lot of super old people that havent adopted streaming

One of the really nice things about Amazon sports streams are the super low latency. At least for the NFL you would be getting streams that were only seconds delayed from live. Whereas with SportsNet the delay can be like 2 minute which is a travesty

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

This is the deepest we've been!!!! I dig it

Don't love Mcleod at center but if Foegele is coming back in either Perry or Ryan gets scratched.

Give Mcleod 4th line mins and it won't be so bad.

I will agree with the depth is impressive. Players good enough to be playing, not being able to find the ice because the team is good. It's delightful.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Any vet player that has to be repeatedly HS during playoffs to try to get motivated during playoffs isn't worth retaining. Foegele has been our one passenger in 2024 playoffs. Unfortunately he has been every other playoffs as well.

In 40 playoff games with the Oilers Foegele has a meager 7pts, high GA, and is -15 collectively. He's worse than a blackhole. He costs the team every playoffs and is basically to the point of being unplayable.

I've never been an advocate of Foegele. Way too much inconsistency with a pilot light that sputters out too much. However he can be a solid player in short duration when motivated. Having an NHL 20 goal scorer with size and speed at 4LW can be an asset.

This is real team depth with ability to move in Carrick or Ryan if either Foegele or McLeod can't manage fourth line responsibilities against a physical opponent.

Calculated bet with strong potential upside and minimal risk at end of roster deployment.

 

[Drivesaitl]

One of the really nice things about Amazon sports streams are the super low latency. At least for the NFL you would be getting streams that were only seconds delayed from live. Whereas with SportsNet the delay can be like 2 minute which is a travesty

Where are you seeing a 2min delay? Its more along the lines of seconds. For NHL that is. Not sure about NFL as I never watch.

Also I've had radio, Cable broadcast, and streamed projector broadcast of games on at same time. Theres been about a 3sec delay from radio to either lagging behind and maybe 1-2 sec differential of stream vs Cable.

 

[Mr Positive]

If literally all Foegele changes in his game is not attempting to make any sort of East/West play that isn't basically guaranteed to connect and shooting for the crest and not trying to pick corners he would be highly effective.

Can't count the number of times where he's been playing well, but deep 6's it with an airhead pass, a botched breakout, mishandle of the puck, missed shot by a mile, etc. If he just lugs the puck out and in, and actually finds a way to simply just get shots on goal he'll be very good. He always seems to want to dangle around though despite the fact that he has among the worst hands I've ever seen from a non-pugilist forward.

Can't help but think of the clip from Snapshot when someone winds up with a clapper and hits the organ player in the head most of the time when Foegele shoots the puck. Wildly inaccurate to say the least, but that doesn't stop him from trying to pick corners.

Foegele has moments and hot streaks where everything goes right. I don't believe it just shuts off because of playoffs. Skinner had even more people saying he was done for, and couldnt do it the playoffs, but he found his game. I resisted hard to engage with the trade threads about Skinner. Foegele coming in as depth winger on the bottom six is not nearly the same stakes

 

[brentashton]

Amazon/Prime Video already carries NHL rights for Mondays. I'd rather just move to a streaming platform but I guess there are a lot of super old people that havent adopted streaming

I cut the cord over a year ago and exclusively stream all my viewing TV consumption - 80% live sports, 10% docs, 5% news and 5% sitcom/dramas. I have zero love for cable conglomerates and telcos. You do however still need a robust ISP (I use Starlink in Canada and when I’m in the USA) to go this route, which not everyone has in Canada in 2024, go figure.

The downside of streaming is having to have subscriptions to so many platforms to get all the content you want (unless you go with alternate approaches, wink wink). I’m not super old, just average old .

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Sorry Drive, I disagree.

I watch a lot of the Winnipeg and Ottawa regional games on TSN and they are produced to a higher level of quality in terms of their camera work, graphics and in studio work. Their panels may have some of the same types of individuals looking for their “hey look at me moments” approach as SN talking heads do, but I just find less of it on these broadcasts. Perhaps because the audience is regional and team specific versus national audiences and broadcasts.

And TSN world junior coverage is always better than any SportNet hockey property, in my view.

I guess I hoped that after the past 10 years of absolute crap delivery by SN, that the team would have looked to a change in hopes of improving the product for the viewer, but I suspect they chose to chase dollars instead knowing that people would watch the broadcast even if they used a super8 handheld camera to film it and used me and you as a studio hosts.

Edit - but damn, we’d be awesome intermission hosts!

Night and Day. Sportsnet production is amateur hour with wildly erratic camera switches mid-play aka scoring chances that are discombobulating in their clumsiness. That this poor producer work is happening at all in the playoffs is stunning. Yet the frequency of poor switches is a constant every game.

Sportsnet on-air talent is brutal including a way overexposed Friedmann. TSN runs circles around them with their high quality production and on-air talent.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Night and Day. Sportsnet production is amateur hour with wildly erratic camera switches mid-play aka scoring chances that are discombobulating in their clumsiness. That this poor producer work is happening at all in the playoffs is stunning. Yet the frequency of poor switches is a constant every game.

Sportsnet on-air talent is brutal including a way overexposed Friedmann. TSN runs circles around them with their high quality production and on-air talent.

Part of me always assumed that Sportsnet would catch up, and they looked like they were going to, then clearly there was someone who got into upper management who thought the amateurish non-sense was like their brand and here we are.

 

[K1984]

Foegele has moments and hot streaks where everything goes right. I don't believe it just shuts off because of playoffs. Skinner had even more people saying he was done for, and couldnt do it the playoffs, but he found his game. I resisted hard to engage with the trade threads about Skinner. Foegele coming in as depth winger on the bottom six is not nearly the same stakes

To me hit "hot streaks" basically come down to his wild shot hitting the target more often. He's the type of shooter where I don't think the puck almost ever goes where he's actually aiming for, but sometimes it finds a way in and sometimes it doesn't.