Rumor: Rumors & Proposals Thread | Lavoie Vs. Pederson Vs. Sutter Vs. Gagner Vs. Caggiula

[GOilers88]

Me too, I just think they're the one team in that division that can handle us. Dallas doesn't worry me in the slightest and the rest of the division is poor.

Yeah they're definitely the top dogs and will pose a heavy threat. No argument here.

I think there is a good chance the standings at the end of the year are the same as last year.
What happens if LA gets a good tender even at the deadline and we dont strengthen our goalie situation or our defense?

What happens if Skinner has another good season and Campbell bounces back to serviceable so Skinner can rest more?

People like to play the what ifs with other teams as a means to show we might not be good enough, but it always goes both ways. I think it's almost as good as gold that the team gets an upgrade at some point again, a la Ekholm.

 

[Soundwave]

Every athlete would say it, and nobody has celebrated them getting knocked out the last couple years. I do see people acknowledging and being happy about the annual progress the team has made on a whole though. That's really all you can rightfully ask for, and then hope things go your way once the post season starts. Because whether you want to admit it or not, there's a ton of luck and good fortune that need to accompany the skill to win a championship. In any sport.

Ain't nobody cutting their summer vacation 2 weeks short to come to Edmonton and skate because they're aiming for a 2nd round loss.

McDavid is doing that and setting that up because he expects a Cup Final I would think at minimum.

If you want to say "well losing in the 2nd or 3rd round wouldn't be so bad" fine, I don't think that is the sentiment in the room or even the fanbase. The expectation is high and rightfully so.

Skinner and Campbell better have their shit together from day 1. Simple as that.

There is not going to be much leeway or sympathy for either one this season if they aren't doing their job. The "he's a rookie" and "aw, it's his first season on a new team" excuses are fully gone.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

The team has yet to win more than 8 playoff games in the McDavid era.

Last year was a step back against a team we probably should've beaten. We only get so many kicks at the can.

If Campbell flames out again we already know how the movie ends.

so you believe this team has Stanley Cup potential?

 

[GOilers88]

Ain't nobody cutting their summer vacation 2 weeks short to come to Edmonton and skate because they're aiming for a 2nd round loss.

McDavid is doing that and setting that up because he expects a Cup Final I would think at minimum.

If you want to say "well losing in the 2nd or 3rd round wouldn't be so bad" fine, I don't think that is the sentiment in the room or even the fanbase. The expectation is high and rightfully so.

Skinner and Campbell better have their shit together from day 1. Simple as that.

There is not going to be much leeway or sympathy for either one this season if they aren't doing their job. The "he's a rookie" and "aw, it's his first season on a new team" excuses are fully gone.

You keep putting words in my mouth. I've never said anything of the sort.

 

[belair]

All this bickering isn't going to matter if the goaltending doesn't hold up.

That can be said about any team. Remember how much bickering there was when we missed out on Markstrom? Then Remember how much Calgary's sails sagged when we broke him?

If the team improves at 5v5, the goalies are sufficient.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

That can be said about any team. Remember how much bickering there was when we missed out on Markstrom? Then Remember how much Calgary's sails sagged when we broke him?

If the team improves at 5v5, the goalies are sufficient.

They'll be improved 5v5 by simply having Ekholm over Barrie for the entire season.

 

[Anarchism]

Yeah they're definitely the top dogs and will pose a heavy threat. No argument here.


What happens if Skinner has another good season and Campbell bounces back to serviceable so Skinner can rest more?

People like to play the what ifs with other teams as a means to show we might not be good enough, but it always goes both ways.

This is true. But its all about risk management. If as i posited above happens -- is not a first round exit (with all its subsequent complications) just as likely as moving on to another shot at Vegas?
We can substantially increase our chances with a couple of really small moves.

 

[Soundwave]

That can be said about any team. Remember how much bickering there was when we missed out on Markstrom? Then Remember how much Calgary's sails sagged when we broke him?

If the team improves at 5v5, the goalies are sufficient.

Markstrom got broken by Connor McDavid, maybe the most skilled player to ever step foot on an ice surface.

Skinner got broken by (checks notes) Adrian Kempe.

Jack Campbell got broken on his way to practice overthinking in his head.

The goalies are sufficient. If you're cool with losing in round 1 or 2 sure.

We were closer to losing to LA than we were to beating Vegas. Our chance to beat Vegas basically evaporated once Broissoit left the net. Any lead we got, you just knew our lame duck D and goalie was going to give it right back with interest.

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

Here is your opportunity then Tad. Impress us all with your amazing insight.
Produce a coherent realistic GMing of this team including what you would do, changes you would make, timing of those changes and how it fits with the cap.
I'm sure many are waiting to hear this in its it whole breadth.
How do you make this team a sure top fire contender?

Simple:

Take what you suggested, don’t do it.

I know it’s going to blow your simple mind here, but I don’t believe in knee jerk reactions and doing moves for the sake for doing moves.

Especially at the start of the season. The team is good.

In before your petty name calling. What are you going to pull out this time? Underdeveloped bully? Or trench coat?

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Markstrom got broken by Connor McDavid, maybe the most skilled player to ever step foot on an ice surface.

Skinner got broken by (checks notes) Adrian Kempe.

Jack Campbell got broken on his way to practice overthinking in his head.

The goalies are sufficient. If you're cool with losing in round 1 or 2 sure.

We were closer to losing to LA than we were to beating Vegas. Our chance to beat Vegas basically evaporated once Broissoit left the net. Any lead we got, you just knew our lame duck D and goalie was going to give it right back with interest.

you have no idea...goalies are voodoo

Adin Hill was a 3rd stringer and got hot at the right time

Hellebuyck, a great goalie...cratered in the playoffs..same with "franchise goalie" Oettinger

Bobrovsky looked dead in the regular season and played great in the playoffs....same with Grubauer

 

[Anarchism]

Simple:

Take what you suggested, don’t do it.

I know it’s going to blow your simple mind here, but I don’t believe in knee jerk reactions and doing moves for the sake for doing moves.

Especially at the start of the season. The team is good.

In before your petty name calling. What are you going to pull out this time? Underdeveloped bully? Or trench coat?

What would you do Tad. You would do nothing.
Come on Tad impress us with your boundless logic.
Or would you do nothing because you are unable to think for yourself and all you do here is drag down people.?
Come on Tad what move would you make? How would you improve this team this year?

Sure the team is good...but we have all seen its not good enough. Close but not quite there?
Where would you strengthen? Our weaknesses are so obvious.
What would you do?

 

[K1984]

That can be said about any team. Remember how much bickering there was when we missed out on Markstrom? Then Remember how much Calgary's sails sagged when we broke him?

If the team improves at 5v5, the goalies are sufficient.

I've said this many times, but I perceive the chances of Campbell rising from the ashes and playing strong hockey and Skinner falling off are roughly equivalent to the chances of Skinner maintaining and/or improving and Campbell continuing to suck.

I'm in my mid 30's and I don't think there has been a time in my life where I can remember goaltending being this unpredictable all over the league as it is now. Even in the 80's despite the overall standard of goaltending being lower, you still had the guys that you knew were going to perform every year.

The Oilers need to just control what they can control, which is a team commitment to playing detailed hockey on their own half of the ice. As you said, the goaltending will be much less of a concern even if it's somewhat rocky if everyone else on the roster holds up their end of the bargain. Everyone is pondering whether McDavid could hit 170 points, which would be cool, but I would be much happier with say, 140 because we can salt games away rather than have to score 6 every night to wash away the defensive f*** ups.

 

[Soundwave]

I've said this many times, but I perceive the chances of Campbell rising from the ashes and playing strong hockey and Skinner falling off are roughly equivalent to the chances of Skinner maintaining and/or improving and Campbell continuing to suck.

I'm in my mid 30's and I don't think there has been a time in my life where I can remember goaltending being this unpredictable all over the league as it is now. Even in the 80's despite the overall standard of goaltending being lower, you still had the guys that you knew were going to perform every year.

The Oilers need to just control what they can control, which is a team commitment to playing detailed hockey on their own half of the ice. As you said, the goaltending will be much less of a concern even if it's somewhat rocky if everyone else on the roster holds up their end of the bargain. Everyone is pondering whether McDavid could hit 170 points, which would be cool, but I would be much happier with say, 140 because we can salt games away rather than have to score 6 every night to wash away the defensive f*** ups.

Is Woodcroft magically going to learn how to coach defensive hockey? Because the last two years say "nope".

It's fine to be an offence first team ... Pittsburgh did it, Washington has done it, they just had .920 goalies in net when they won, not f***ing .883 or some dire shit like that.

you have no idea...goalies are voodoo

Adin Hill was a 3rd stringer and got hot at the right time

Hellebuyck, a great goalie...cratered in the playoffs..same with "franchise goalie" Oettinger

Bobrovsky looked dead in the regular season and played great in the playoffs....same with Grubauer

The problem with this thinking is I think the implication is "well everyone gets a turn on the goalie merry go round to get lucky".

That isn't true.

Just because Vegas found maybe a massive diamond in the rough in Hill doesn't mean the hockey gods are entitled to eventually give the Oilers the same luck.

It doesn't work like that.

 

[K1984]

Is Woodcroft magically going to learn how to coach defensive hockey? Because the last two years say "nope".

It's fine to be an offence first team ... Pittsburgh did it, Washington has done it, they just had .920 goalies in net when they won, not f***ing .883 or some dire shit like that.

Better not watch this season then if there is no possible way that team defense can be improved.

 

[Soundwave]

Better not watch this season then if there is no possible way that team defense can be improved.

I watch for McDavid and Draisaitl, not for Ceci and Skinner and Campbell.

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

Say something constructive. Obviously you would do nothing.
Why are you here then?

I already did.

Every team has weaknesses. I would assess and improve later on in the year near the deadline.

You should brush up on your reading skills. There, something constructive.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

The problem with this thinking is I think the implication is "well everyone gets a turn on the goalie merry go round to get lucky".

That isn't true.

Just because Vegas found maybe a massive diamond in the rough in Hill doesn't mean the hockey gods are entitled to eventually give the Oilers the same luck.

It doesn't work like that.

and getting a supposed "great goalie" doesn't guarantee success

outside of Vasilevsky (who stunk against the Leafs, something NO ONE saw) teams don't need "franchise goalies" to win Cups anymore

Hawks won with Corey Crawford FFS, the Pens with Matt Murray and the Avs with Darcy Kuemper
these aren't "world beating goalies"

 

[duul]

They'll be improved 5v5 by simply having Ekholm over Barrie for the entire season.

Nobody cares about the regular season anymore. Ekholm got exposed by Vegas.

 

[K1984]

I watch for McDavid and Draisaitl, not for Ceci and Skinner and Campbell.

And I'll be watching for McDavid and Draisaitl to be examples of responsible hockey for the rest of the team, which to this point they have mostly failed to do in their careers rather than throw my hands up and blame Woodcroft for everything.

 

[Anarchism]

I already did.

Every team has weaknesses. I would assess and improve later on in the year near the deadline.

You should brush up on your reading skills. There, something constructive.

So right now at this moment you would assess. So right now you have no idea what you could improve on or how you would go about doing it. You don't have specific roles or areas you can mention.
You would assess. I see Tad.
You don't think last years playoffs gave you enough to assess? You can't understand what happened or it didn't provide enough information for you to make any conclusions?
Or perhaps your saying were close and you want to see any steps forward from Holloway, Mcleod, Broberg, Lavoie?

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Nobody cares about the regular season anymore. Ekholm got exposed by Vegas.

Then find a more perfect team.

I don't know what kids need to hear this, but making your entire personality "I hate this team because they aren't perfect in the way I require" isn't the flex you believe it to be.

 

[K1984]

Then find a more perfect team.

I don't know what kids need to hear this, but making your entire personality "I hate this team because they aren't perfect in the way I require" isn't the flex you believe it to be.

If only we had Jake Sanderson, who just put up the best season any Oiler D man has had since Pronger....

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

so you believe this team has Stanley Cup potential?

Yes, I fully believed they'd make the Cup Final last year.

They didn't.

That can be said about any team. Remember how much bickering there was when we missed out on Markstrom? Then Remember how much Calgary's sails sagged when we broke him?

If the team improves at 5v5, the goalies are sufficient.

The team has needed improvement at 5v5 since the day Pronger left. Campbell was brought in to be a #1 and he looked like JDD most nights.

Also few teams in the league are in the same situation the Oilers are.

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

So right now at this moment you would assess. So right now you have no idea what you could improve on or how you would go about doing it. You don't have specific roles or areas you can mention.
You would assess. I see Tad.
You don't think last years playoffs gave you enough to assess? You can't understand what happened or it didn't provide enough information for you to make any conclusions?

I don’t know what your problem is.

I already gave you my answer. Go re read them.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Yes, I fully believed they'd make the Cup Final last year.

They didn't.

and this year? do you believe?