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

[Paralyzer]

Sorry, but I'm not for any plan that requires me to put any confidence in a career backup as a plan B, either spend the required assets to get a legit #1, or roll with what we have

Explain how Blackwood is a career backup, when he's 27 years of Age when Skinner is 1 year younger than him? I read about how Blackwood actually is playing well against other teams competition, but the only issue is the team he plays for. Blackwood is 17th in the NHL out of all goaltenders in Goals Saved Above Expected while Skinner is at the bottom. He would be a better upgrade than what is out there, and I think San Jose would bite on that deal if it meant they can slowly bring up Askaraov.

 

[CanadasTeam99]

Yep 2.6 mill and he’s performing like the worst goalie in the league. Not a huge contract but still not acceptable.

And I also understand to really measure any goalies worth, that you have to see how each goal went in and that some high danger chances are much harder to save than others.

We will see how this plays out as the sample size gets bigger.

I'm curious what skinner did last year in some metrics. Need to take a look

 

[bucks_oil]

Enough of this, you don't have to willfully ignorant.

If the goaltending isn't good enough, look for someone who is. Guys don't enter the league making $8M on the cap. Like, if you assume nothing can be done, then quit.

All this team needs, ALL, is a guy who can make one extra save these guys are not. The Team is already very good, they just need someone who can do a little bit more than the nothing that's here now.

How am I being willfully ignorant?

Re-read my post and you'll see we might be closer to the same side.

I don't think Skinner is the answer as a "true" #1 goalie.

And I don't think the Oilers are doing enough to invest in the goaltending position (either by investing in UFA... as you say expensive) OR in investing in coaching, scouting, drafting and supporting the position.

Where we might differ: how can you guys be so quick to blame Skinner, the individual, when he might be doing as well or better than you would expect a 1B goalie to do playing in an ~everday #1 role with no legit backup?

A normal team that cared about goaltending would have a vet backup like Jake Allen to take some of the pressure off, or another 1B type like Blackwood to push and add some supporting competition.

I'm not going to vilify the guy for being a touch out of his depth. I think he would be fine in a tandem role. The difference between the 1B guys and a true #1 is only i) consistency and ii) the occasional 10-bell desperation save. Skinner not possessing either of those doesn't mean he's a bad guy or that he can't be a part of the solution with what he does bring to the table (which is a pretty tactically sound approach to the position, albeit lacking some athleticism... the former means he doesn't give up too many absolute stinkers, the latter means he doesn't bail you out with too many huge saves either).

 

[North]

Whether the circumstances are relevant or not, skinner hasn’t been stopping pucks enough. Period. He’ll have one good showing followed by a bunch of sub par performances. A lot of people will overlook some of them if we are winning but at the end of the day, if Skinner could just be league average, there would be less hostility towards the guy. Coupled with his attitude regarding his play, not exactly an easy guy to root for.

Like what’s been said for the past few years. He’s not expected to stop all the difficult shots, just some. He can’t even do that consistently

I think the question we have to ask is: when defensive breakdowns inevitably occur, does Skinner place himself in the best position to at least attempt to make a save?

The answer to that is no. He’s often out of position to a concerning degree.

 

[Soundwave]

We should be look at anyone who is a cheap goaltending option (2.5 million or less with salary retained on top of that maybe) who has been in the top 25 in GSAA either this season or last season and a save percentage above .905 this year or last and take a chance.

Blackwood would be a possibility, but there's about 10 or 12 other guys that fit that category too.

Talbot, Thompson, Vejelmeka, Gustavsson, DeSmith, Blomqvist, Dostal (probably high right now), etc. would fit.

 

[Soundwave]

Also I see Skinner has finally done it ... dead last in GSAA on Moneypuck lol.

75th out of 75 ranked goalies, now officially below Georgiev with -9.3 GSAA.

 

[belair]

Taylor Hall is going to end up in Toronto, I'll wager.

 

[timekeep]

You don't have to though right? You have to find someone that can do enough at the price point.

In real life, if you have one, are you a sales manager. Specifically one of mine?

 

[Soundwave]

Vanecek might another option from San Jose. Three seasons of above .905 save percentage one bad year last year, this year is .899 in San Jose, but you kinda have to figure on a better team that would be .905+.

Decent GSAA again considering the team he plays on is the worst team in the NHL. Probably would have to get retention from a third team.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Vanecek might another option from San Jose if you can't any better. Three seasons of above .905 save percentage one bad year last year, this year is .899 in San Jose, but you kinda have to figure on a better team that would be .905+.

Decent GSAA again considering the team he plays on is the worst team in the NHL. Probably would have to get retention from a third team.

He's too expensive for not enough of an upgrade. Again, unknowns for the Oilers are a better option.

 

[Soundwave]

He's too expensive for not enough of an upgrade. Again, unknowns for the Oilers are a better option.

If you can get a 3rd team to retain it wouldn't be so bad, just another option to look at. There's about 10-12 guys that would fit, you can't really do worse than 75th last out of 75 ranked goalies in GSAA that Skinner is now, lol, he's literally bottom in the league.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

If you can get a 3rd team to retain it wouldn't be so bad, just another option to look at. There's about 10-12 guys that would fit, you can't really do worse than 75th last out of 75 ranked goalies in GSAA that Skinner is now, lol, he's literally bottom in the league.

I don't think the Sharks can retain though, again, you're right Skinner just sucks right now, but they have no space.

Plus I don't know that Stan is even looking at that, I frankly don't know what he's looking at, probably being the general contractor for the house he's probably building.

 

[CupofOil]

The team isn't perfect but the meltdown around here is insane, even by HFOil standards, for a team that's 7-3 in their last 10. There are clearly some issues that need to be ironed out especially with the goaltending but, holy f***, tranquilo a bit guys. My goodness.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

The team isn't perfect but the meltdown around here is insane, even by HFOil standards, for a team that's 7-3 in their last 10. There are clearly some issues that need to be ironed out especially with the goaltending but, holy f***, tranquilo a bit guys. My goodness.

That's fair, do you think the goaltending is holding them back? Because that's my major concern.

 

[Slats432]

The team isn't perfect but the meltdown around here is insane, even by HFOil standards, for a team that's 7-3 in their last 10. There are clearly some issues that need to be ironed out especially with the goaltending but, holy f***, tranquilo a bit guys. My goodness.

I feel like this is pretty mild for HF.

 

[VeteranPresence]

If you can get a 3rd team to retain it wouldn't be so bad, just another option to look at. There's about 10-12 guys that would fit, you can't really do worse than 75th last out of 75 ranked goalies in GSAA that Skinner is now, lol, he's literally bottom in the league.

It's really embarrassing how many options are out there that Bowman/JJ just refuse to look at, even when you see teams like Colorado actively trying different things. That's why they have a Cup in modern times and we don't I guess.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

In light of Kane, this his hilarious.

 

[CupofOil]

That's fair, do you think the goaltending is holding them back? Because that's my major concern.

Sure it's a concern but it's always been poor to start seasons and improves as the season wears on just like the team. Smith was a notoriously slow starter as well, this team and the goaltending, seems to be follow the same pattern under every coach. It's kind of just is what it is at this point.

People always hate "the answer is in the room" mantra but it always works itself out, not that some solutions shouldn't be explored but they're few and far between at this point in the season. Maybe give Pickard some more starts or give Rodrigue a look but, by and large, the solution will have to come from within (within Skinner and Bouchard namely) until the deadline approaches. It more than likely won't come from outside the organization for a while.

 

[Soundwave]

I'm been kinda meh on the idea, but I would start to look at Taylor Hall I think, even if its not Jeff Skinner, then maybe (gulp) Arvidsson.

Doesn't look like anyone we signed is working out well, shaking things up and getting out of the extra year of salary may be for the best.

Plus Hall even older would inject more speed so at least there's that.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Sure it's a concern but it's always been poor to start seasons and improves as the season wears on just like the team. Smith was a notoriously slow starter as well, this team and the goaltending, seems to be follow the same pattern under every coach. It's kind of just is what it is at this point.

Smith was in his 40s

People always hate "the answer is in the room" mantra but it always works itself out, not that some solutions shouldn't be explored but they're few and far between at this point in the season. Maybe give Pickard some more starts or give Rodrigue a look but, by and large, the solution will have to come from within (within Skinner and Bouchard namely) until the deadline approaches. It more than likely won't come from outside the organization for a while.

The answer isn't in the room though. How long are you going to "wait" for things to fix itself, until they're battling for the wild card at the deadline?

Also DO NOT put Stuart Skinner and Evan Bouchard in the same boat. Bouchard has his mistakes, Skinner is just not making saves.

 

[CanadasTeam99]

I think the question we have to ask is: when defensive breakdowns inevitably occur, does Skinner place himself in the best position to at least attempt to make a save?

The answer to that is no. He’s often out of position to a concerning degree.

This is a very good point and a good way to explain it.

He just cannot seem to be counted on to make more big stops than not.

I will give him some credit last year. He finished about middle of the pack in these metrics where he is last now. For goalies who played at least 45 games.

 

[CupofOil]

The answer isn't in the room though. How long are you going to "wait" for things to fix itself, until they're battling for the wild card at the deadline?

Also DO NOT put Stuart Skinner and Evan Bouchard in the same boat. Bouchard has his mistakes, Skinner is just not making saves.

As I said, this happens every year when HFOil panics and gets pissed at management for doing nothing then it works out in the regular season. Every....year, same thing.
Not saying that some concern shouldn't be had and that some options shouldn't be explored but this happens all the time, could set the clock by it every year and this is the least of all egregious starts over the years. The Oilers are like 4 points out of the division lead whereas they're usually way further back in past years.

With that said, I'm not disagreeing that Skinner doesn't need to be better. Just look at my one and only post in the post game thread for evidence of what I thought of the goaltending against Toronto.

 

[CanadasTeam99]

We should be look at anyone who is a cheap goaltending option (2.5 million or less with salary retained on top of that maybe) who has been in the top 25 in GSAA either this season or last season and a save percentage above .905 this year or last and take a chance.

Blackwood would be a possibility, but there's about 10 or 12 other guys that fit that category too.

Talbot, Thompson, Vejelmeka, Gustavsson, DeSmith, Blomqvist, Dostal (probably high right now), etc. would fit.

Yup. Toronto probably just looked at last years chart. Stolarz was #3. Nabbed him.

 

[Canovin]

The team isn't perfect but the meltdown around here is insane, even by HFOil standards, for a team that's 7-3 in their last 10. There are clearly some issues that need to be ironed out especially with the goaltending but, holy f***, tranquilo a bit guys. My goodness.

I'm sure most people here are fine with the team. They just think Skinner sucks

 

[Spawn]

Sure it's a concern but it's always been poor to start seasons and improves as the season wears on just like the team. Smith was a notoriously slow starter as well, this team and the goaltending, seems to be follow the same pattern under every coach. It's kind of just is what it is at this point.

People always hate "the answer is in the room" mantra but it always works itself out, not that some solutions shouldn't be explored but they're few and far between at this point in the season. Maybe give Pickard some more starts or give Rodrigue a look but, by and large, the solution will have to come from within (within Skinner and Bouchard namely) until the deadline approaches. It more than likely won't come from outside the organization for a while.

It doesn’t always “work itself out.” In fact, it’s never worked itself out within the dressing room. The team had always needed a big change whether that’s coaching or player related before they’ve been able to turn their seasons around in recent years.

Last season it was firing Woodcroft, season before that it was acquiring Ekholm, year before that it was firing Tippett and signing Kane.

Each respective season was in jeopardy before those moves were made.