Rumor: Rumors & Proposals Thread | The Oilers Biggest Roster Need Is?

Oilers Biggest Roster Need?

  • 2nd Pairing RD

    Votes: 95 40.6%
  • Starting Goalie

    Votes: 130 55.6%
  • Top 6 LW (RNH, Podkolzin and Jeff Skinner Aren't Getting it Done)

    Votes: 3 1.3%
  • Top 6 RW (Arvidsson and Hyman Aren't Getting it Done)

    Votes: 1 0.4%
  • 3C

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Physical Bottom 6 Wingers

    Votes: 1 0.4%
  • Other (Post Your Opinion)

    Votes: 4 1.7%

  • Total voters
    234

94 Oil Drops

Admirer of cinema, history, and hockey.
Sep 19, 2019
5,338
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Alberta
To me, goaltending is now the biggest issue with this team and it's clear as day to see. We've been playing a lot better defensively. Defensive mistakes are bound to happen and thanks to bad goaltending, it seems like every single error our defense makes goes into the back of our net.

As I said in a previous thread, it would be wise to find another goalie that would come fairly cheap and run a trio rotation of goalies for the rest of the season. Would Skinner start playing better with rest? Maybe, maybe not.

Also, Schwartz can f*** off. He is absolutely a part of the problem and it's no coincidence our goaltending has been so poor while he's been employed! He can move to Montreal and get a job at Schwartz's Deli for all I care though he probably can't even make a good sandwich either. Who the f*** cares! Yes, I'm very angry this idiot is still employed and I hate his guts.

HOWEVER, I do still think we need a top 4 partner for Nurse. Preferably one whos physical and can kill penalties. The defensive system our coaching staff has is great, don't get me wrong but adding another good piece to the back end would make it rock solid for the playoffs when things get really competitive.
 

Oilers88

Registered User
Jun 19, 2011
853
1,909
Goalie on lottery teams vs goalie sheltered by one of the best teams
(1) I'm including 2022-2023, where he played on the 3rd best team in hockey. He was every bit as atrocious as he has been before and since.

(2) He was pretty consistently outplayed by the other goalies on his team, and it's not exactly an impressive list.

(3) The number cited are goals saved above expected, which to a certain extent takes into account the quality of chances you're going. I'm not going to pretend that being on a bad team doesn't hurt those numbers to some extent, but we're not talking about the margins here. Blackwood has been straight up putrid for multiple teams in multiple situations over several years.
 

Oilers88

Registered User
Jun 19, 2011
853
1,909
I'm not happy with the tandem either, but with his level play and lack of health, Blackwood might not be the best choice.

I think a cheaper more unknown type might work better for the Oilers.
This. Blackwood costs almost as much as Skinner, and very much reminds me of Korpisalo. He has been one of the worst goalies in the NHL for several years, but he seems to somehow maintain this reputation as a good goalie. I'm not arguing that the Oilers shouldn't look for other goalies. My only point is that Blackwood seems like one of the absolute worst options available.

I think they have to fish around teams with too many bodies in goal, and hope they land an unknown who turns into our Kiprusoff.
 

Messrules11

6 Cups, elbows up.
Nov 23, 2018
5,801
6,648
The biggest need for this organization has always been goaltending. This org has always been built on offence going back to the dynasty days, problem is we had Fuhr and then Ranford to bail the boys out.

Skinner isn’t close to that caliber. Last year I said Skinner will never get his name on the Cup, he got close but he’ll never get that close again. We need a legitimate number 1 goalie and if it means trading RNH and some sweeteners then so be it.
 
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Jimmi McJenkins

Sometimes miracles
Jan 12, 2006
78,989
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Alberta
This. Blackwood costs almost as much as Skinner, and very much reminds me of Korpisalo. He has been one of the worst goalies in the NHL for several years, but he seems to somehow maintain this reputation as a good goalie. I'm not arguing that the Oilers shouldn't look for other goalies. My only point is that Blackwood seems like one of the absolute worst options available.

I think they have to fish around teams with too many bodies in goal, and hope they land an unknown who turns into our Kiprusoff.
I didn't want to say out loud to jinx anything (or whatever lol), but yes this.

Edit: Go get Jet Greaves, he's so ready for a look.
 

brentashton

Registered User
Jan 21, 2018
15,779
22,856
The positive Skinner has had on the team is they play much better defence, they are terrified to let any shot against on net.

Imagine a team unafraid of average shots getting behind their goalie.
Yes. Just imagine not having that concern rattle around in 97, 29, Hyman, Nuges brains. Hmmmm.
 

brentashton

Registered User
Jan 21, 2018
15,779
22,856
Maybe this is the year we can pick up Parayko.

And then dumpster dive for a backup that can maybe run with it if given the opportunity.
We already have a goalie we got from the dumpster. Now you want two?
 

Mr Positive

Cap Crunch Incoming
Nov 20, 2013
38,170
19,111
I am posting this again so it is not skipped about Blackwood. Adding in PK

Blackwood is on a bad team (Min 9 games played) 28 goalies on this list

SJ - Sharks allowed 174 hdc, only Pitts is worse. Sharks are also 5th in hd save %, EDM 22nd

EDM is top 10 with 116 HDCA. #1 is Vancouver at 100 allowed


Goals saved above expected - Blackwood 12th / Skinner 27th

Goals Saved Above expected per 60 - Blackwood 11th / Skinner 28th

Save % Above Expected - Blackwood 12th / Skinner 27th

GAA Better Than Expected - Blackwood 12th / Skinner 28th

YUP, Blackwood is no good lol.

4 on 5

Goals saved above expected - Blackwood 13th / Skinner last at 29th

Goals Saved Above expected per 60 - Blackwood 12th / Skinner 29th

Save % Above Expected - Blackwood 11th / Skinner 29th

GAA Better Than Expected - Blackwood 13th / Skinner 29th

Anybody who even remotely thinks Skinner is good here is on acid
I'd say even if people are pro Skinner, they'd have to explain his bad stats as team defense related. That's hard to prove.

Ultimately with a goalie where his quality is so uncertain, why not have a backup like Blackwood, who might challenge for top spot? Pickard was always a solid back up but no threat to be a starter. He should be the kind of back up Shesterkin has. We need to have someone to challenge Skinner for top job. We need to figure that out before we have to decide on Skinner's extension
 
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5 Mins 4 Ftg

Life is better with no expectations.
Sponsor
Apr 3, 2016
52,204
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Edmonton
How many fewer chances can the oilers give up? There defensive play has been fine.

The goaltending has not


Blackwood being better than skinner and being a good goalie are two different discussions

Don’t disagree we could use an upgrade in goal but there aren’t many starting goalies available never mind a cap hit we can afford. Come the playoffs we will need a solid top 6 D corps. Stetcher or Dermott as regulars I don’t believe will cut it.
 

Took a pill in Sbisa

2showToffoliIwascool
Apr 23, 2004
16,790
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Australia
This. Blackwood costs almost as much as Skinner, and very much reminds me of Korpisalo. He has been one of the worst goalies in the NHL for several years, but he seems to somehow maintain this reputation as a good goalie.

Now imagine his caphit is $6.4m, is older, and even worse. Yet people still mention John Gibson
 

Scrapin Ice

Registered User
Oct 25, 2024
259
74
Just finished watching Toronto/Washington.
Man does Ovechkin look like an 80 year old with his helmet off.
Anyways there is a goalie who came back from the dead somewhat. He kept the leafs in the game early.
Lots of interesting shite went on in this game.

Blackwood when he first broke in looked really good. Awesome basics, great east west. For a while looked great. Then i guess teams found his weaknesses.
Doesnt mean his career is over though if he can really work on those parts of his game. But you know....maybe it means his high level of play is over. Hard to know.
Probably has more potential than Skinner but certainly has risk. I would certainly take a flyer but how much do you pay and do you send Pickard with your draft pick?
 

Mr Positive

Cap Crunch Incoming
Nov 20, 2013
38,170
19,111
Just finished watching Toronto/Washington.
Man does Ovechkin look like an 80 year old with his helmet off.
Anyways there is a goalie who came back from the dead somewhat. He kept the leafs in the game early.
Lots of interesting shite went on in this game.

Blackwood when he first broke in looked really good. Awesome basics, great east west. For a while looked great. Then i guess teams found his weaknesses.
Doesnt mean his career is over though if he can really work on those parts of his game. But you know....maybe it means his high level of play is over. Hard to know.
Probably has more potential than Skinner but certainly has risk. I would certainly take a flyer but how much do you pay and do you send Pickard with your draft pick?
With Blackwood the appeal is that he's relatively cheap. Maybe a third team retaining makes it doable. He'd also have reasonable trade cost.

The ultimate find is a goalie on a bad team with good stats compared to other goalies on his team, and with average stats compared to the rest of the league. That's the Ullmark/Roloson logic to finding someone.

So yes I agree with you that maybe Blackwood isn't it. I wonder how he'd do on a contender though. Maybe Dostal is the real guy but he's perhaps too young for Anaheim to part with him, and maybe his stats this year are too good to be affordable
 
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FunkyChicken

Registered User
Jul 24, 2003
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With Blackwood the appeal is that he's relatively cheap. Maybe a third team retaining makes it doable. He'd also have reasonable trade cost.

The ultimate find is a goalie on a bad team with good stats compared to other goalies on his team, and with average stats compared to the rest of the league. That's the Ullmark/Roloson logic to finding someone.

So yes I agree with you that maybe Blackwood isn't it. I wonder how he'd do on a contender though. Maybe Dostal is the real guy but he's perhaps too young for Anaheim to part with him, and maybe his stats this year are too good to be affordable
Would you do Skinner for Blackwood straight up?
 

Scrapin Ice

Registered User
Oct 25, 2024
259
74
Apparently the asking price from Pittsburgh for Marcus Petterson is a 2nd round pick and an NHL ready prospect.

2nd rounder + Roby Jarventie?
Sorry I dont follow the Penguins and know little about Pettersson, Doesn't he shoot left?
If the price is that high why are the Penguins marketing him? We dont have a ready supply of decent quality prospects to throw away either.
Not trying to be critical just kinda trying to get a feel for this D.
 

Scrapin Ice

Registered User
Oct 25, 2024
259
74
Would you do Skinner for Blackwood straight up?
And Funky makes the call. Show us your cards. Lol

I know i wouldn't and with Skinny's start to the year not likely Grier or his pro scout would take that risk either. A couple of nights ago He shut out NJD 44 shots....Hischer 3 , Bratt 8, Jackie H. 8, Dougie 5. All these guys can move the biscuit.
Most i would offer would be a 2nd and Pickard, or Kemp or somebody that level.
 

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