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

Oilers Biggest Roster Need?

  • 2nd Pairing RD

    Votes: 81 39.7%
  • Starting Goalie

    Votes: 116 56.9%
  • Top 6 LW (RNH, Podkolzin and Jeff Skinner Aren't Getting it Done)

    Votes: 3 1.5%
  • Top 6 RW (Arvidsson and Hyman Aren't Getting it Done)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 3C

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Physical Bottom 6 Wingers

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • Other (Post Your Opinion)

    Votes: 3 1.5%

  • Total voters
    204

Scrapin Ice

Registered User
Oct 25, 2024
153
49
While I got so excited about Jiricek my brain stopped functioning someone here kicked in the voice of reason. Yeah if they will take an Akey and a wanner go ahead--dont think they will. But i think we should keep Savoie and O'Really. We have places already lined up for these guys.
 
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Mr Positive

Cap Crunch Incoming
Nov 20, 2013
38,103
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You played some right. Skating sort of takes over and becomes a part of what makes you as a player. Hold it back and hide it ...not very likely lol.
Nah I haven't really played enough to have a real feel for it. But I'm reminded of Yakupov who could skate, but the problem with just putting on the jets whenever you can is that you more often end up way out of position. There are also Dmen like Larsson who may be one of the better raw D skaters out there but it becomes more subtle because he chooses to hang back more

I'd like to see Jiricek in action to really say
 

Scrapin Ice

Registered User
Oct 25, 2024
153
49
Nah I haven't really played enough to have a real feel for it. But I'm reminded of Yakupov who could skate, but the problem with just putting on the jets whenever you can is that you more often end up way out of position. There are also Dmen like Larsson who may be one of the better raw D skaters out there but it becomes more subtle because he chooses to hang back more

I'd like to see Jiricek in action to really say
Not sure you have time here to see 4 or 5 games of his. Well you could spend the next twelve hours on it and hope Nashville doesn't go crazy.
Or you know Buffalo and Byram. Or....whatever.
 

Mr Positive

Cap Crunch Incoming
Nov 20, 2013
38,103
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Not sure you have time here to see 4 or 5 games of his. Well you could spend the next twelve hours on it and hope Nashville doesn't go crazy.
Or you know Buffalo and Byram. Or....whatever.
You need that much time to know how good a Dman is but skating should be pretty obvious. Like with Broberg you could just tell almost instantly that it was a strength just by seeing him move around the ice.

I've watched his highlights but they don't do much good. He looks like a better skater than Bouchard, and more physical but there's just too much highlights of him cycling and on the PP, which doesn't show much for skating. Highlights mostly give me the impression that he's maybe too similar to Bouchard, with just some adjustments here and there
 

Mr Positive

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Nov 20, 2013
38,103
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Another thing you could instantly tell with Broberg is that he's injury prone.
Maybe his skating made him lose track of danger. He did open himself to bad hits. Kulak did too though, and he's also a great skater.

BTW I don't mean to shoehorn Broberg in this discussion. It's just that I see someone like Jiricek as a great way to replace what we lost there, and perhaps even better since he is RD. They are comparable because it's about a youth movement. To me that's worth sacrificing a little established greatness
 

CanadasTeam99

Registered User
Jul 22, 2024
2,079
2,214
At full boat, totally, but he's probably ALOT better then most realize. Again, Dallas Eakins coached that team for several years
Just remember, most people here just look at box scores. Nothing else. I would go for BlackWood and see if a deal can be be made, but I bet maybe 1% here have watched 10 games of Gibson outside of Oiler-ANA games in the past 5 years....
 
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foshizzle

Registered User
Feb 1, 2007
5,683
5,123
I don't buy that. Whole team started flat this year. Can't blame it all on the goalie.

It's not up to the goalie to make sure everyone is ready to go after camp, and while I agree he wasn't helping things, I refuse to lay the blame at the feet of one player. It happened when Smitty was here too. It's been happening going back to Talbot. Quick first shot goals that set the team back right from the hop. This has been a thing for so long I've lost track of how many years.

It's meme worthy how poor the Oilers are after any sort of extended breaks, and that seems to include the offseason.
Skinner is dead last in goals saved above expected in the league while the team is 3rd in least amount of scoring chances given up. Even if he was average- the Oilers would have a many more wins (they are still undefeated when they get slightly below average goaltending - .900 sv%)
 

jukon

NHL Point Leader
Mar 17, 2011
3,566
2,231
Just remember, most people here just look at box scores. Nothing else. I would go for BlackWood and see if a deal can be be made, but I bet maybe 1% here have watched 10 games of Gibson outside of Oiler-ANA games in the past 5 years....

Gibson, Binnington or Blackwood would all be upgrades on the current situation. If management doesn't want to "give up" on Skinner, fine. Trade or waive Pickard.

As for Jiricek, I don't see him as being the answer here, but if we can get him for a reasonable cost, sure go for it.
 
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Mr Positive

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Nov 20, 2013
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Gibson, Binnington or Blackwood would all be upgrades on the current situation. If management doesn't want to "give up" on Skinner, fine. Trade or waive Pickard.

As for Jiricek, I don't see him as being the answer here, but if we can get him for a reasonable cost, sure go for it.
I agree. I thought maybe we would see Pickard get more starts. The fact he hasn't while Skinner has collapsed means that the team only likes Pickard because he's cheap. If that's the case, then Pickard must go. We need a back up goalie who can turn Skinner into the back up. Maybe a true tandem will force Skinner to rise to the occasion. With how Skinner has played, he must have no fear that Pickard can take his job and he can just take his sweet time to figure this out
 

Sheikyerbouti

ShakeyerMcBooty
Nov 4, 2006
1,589
1,706
Van isle
Skinner is dead last in goals saved above expected in the league while the team is 3rd in least amount of scoring chances given up. Even if he was average- the Oilers would have a many more wins (they are still undefeated when they get slightly below average goaltending - .900 sv%)
Stats like this like do lack some context though. The Oilers might be not allowing a lot of high danger shots, but they are definitely leading the league in colossal breakdown freebie goals.

They are in a different class than the rest of the league in "what the hell just happened" and Bouchard, who plays the most minutes on D, is elite class in head scratching decisions

Some of these breakdowns don't even count as high danger chances but they are the most dangerous chances because it's unexpected.
 
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CanadasTeam99

Registered User
Jul 22, 2024
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Stats like this like do lack some context though. The Oilers might be not allowing a lot of high danger shots, but they are definitely leading the league in colossal breakdown freebie goals.

They are in a different class than the rest of the league in "what the hell just happened" and Bouchard, who plays the most minutes on D, is elite class in head scratching decisions

Some of these breakdowns don't even count as high danger chances but they are the most dangerous chances because it's unexpected.
Oh common man. You would have to watch every single game in the NHL, every single day since the opener, track them all, to say something so matter of fact lol.

This is the worst take I have read in a while.
 
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Mr Positive

Cap Crunch Incoming
Nov 20, 2013
38,103
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I agree. I thought maybe we would see Pickard get more starts. The fact he hasn't while Skinner has collapsed means that the team only likes Pickard because he's cheap. If that's the case, then Pickard must go. We need a back up goalie who can turn Skinner into the back up. Maybe a true tandem will force Skinner to rise to the occasion. With how Skinner has played, he must have no fear that Pickard can take his job and he can just take his sweet time to figure this out
I see other teams having huge breakdowns as well, at bad times too. Bad line changes and odd man breaks are common.
 

McShogun99

Registered User
Aug 30, 2009
18,850
15,538
Edmonton
Wow... you win the prize.

Now I know WTF Kulak was doing!

I'd honestly never noticed that... now that I have seen it... you can even see Reinhart looking pass (hard-sell) and then on the overhead view it's pretty telling that Kulak was taking that pass away... ugh... you kinda just wish he jammed the breaks on a bit earlier to allow Skinner to stop at the top of the blue, but it's a fast game.

Thanks for that. Very solid.



Wow... are you really doubling down?

The dump in by Draisaitl is the same xGoal as the Reinhart goal and you are ok with that?

lol....
For the longest time I blamed Kulak and a little bit of Skinner until I watched that YouTube video and could see the play develop from the Panthers end. If Foegele stayed above his man, Reinhart probably takes the puck to the outside or Kulak stands him up at the blue line. Instead you have to worry about an uncovered player for an easy tap in or let a 57 goal scorer pick his spot.
 

TheGingaNinja

Edmonton Ex-Pat who still loves his hometown team.
Sep 26, 2019
181
499
Ottawa
I think Jiricek is too risky for what it will take to get him. If the acquisition cost was reasonable, he'd be a wonderful depth/future player for us, but all signs point to that not being the case. We need to spend those assets on an established top 4D. We just don't have the assets to do both imo.

It makes a lot more sense, imo, for a mid-range or rebuilding team to take the flyer on him hoping for the homerun.

Will be tough to even get a top 4D and a 1b goaltender with the assets we have.
 

Scrapin Ice

Registered User
Oct 25, 2024
153
49
I think Jiricek is too risky for what it will take to get him. If the acquisition cost was reasonable, he'd be a wonderful depth/future player for us, but all signs point to that not being the case. We need to spend those assets on an established top 4D. We just don't have the assets to do both imo.

It makes a lot more sense, imo, for a mid-range or rebuilding team to take the flyer on him hoping for the homerun.

Will be tough to even get a top 4D and a 1b goaltender with the assets we have.
Depends on what your looking for???? But yes some other team should/can offer more than we should at this point.
 

McFlash97

Registered User
Oct 10, 2017
7,746
6,912
I think Jiricek is too risky for what it will take to get him. If the acquisition cost was reasonable, he'd be a wonderful depth/future player for us, but all signs point to that not being the case. We need to spend those assets on an established top 4D. We just don't have the assets to do both imo.

It makes a lot more sense, imo, for a mid-range or rebuilding team to take the flyer on him hoping for the homerun.

Will be tough to even get a top 4D and a 1b goaltender with the assets we have.
What "Established" right hand d are you looking for ? Another old slow skating, cast off from a rebuilding team to play with Nurse and increasing our average age ? Being set in his ways? At some point you need another young stud who pushes the older guys. Someone with tons of potential who learns from guys like Coffey, Ekholm. Broberg gave this team a jolt when he came in, during the playoffs. Team played with more tempo, pace, seemed more mobile. Jiricek isn't as fast, but he is every bit as capable and more highly touted than Broberg.
 

TheGingaNinja

Edmonton Ex-Pat who still loves his hometown team.
Sep 26, 2019
181
499
Ottawa
What "Established" right hand d are you looking for ? Another old slow skating, cast off from a rebuilding team to play with Nurse and increasing our average age ? Being set in his ways? At some point you need another young stud who pushes the older guys. Someone with tons of potential who learns from guys like Coffey, Ekholm. Broberg gave this team a jolt when he came in, during the playoffs. Team played with more tempo, pace, seemed more mobile. Jiricek isn't as fast, but he is every bit as capable and more highly touted than Broberg.
Maybe an Alex Carrier/Conner Murphy type would make those most sense. I admit, Jiricek might have a higher ceiling than those two, but you know what you're getting with players like them...a solid, experienced NHLer that's proven themselves able to take regular reps in the top 4.. Jiricek hasn't been able to establish himself on a much worse team, and you could be getting anything from a bust to a breakout with him.

I don't disagree that Coffey may be able to fix him up, but you're blowing your assets on a big maybe imo. Maybe it's just me being too risk averse, but that's how I see it.
 

Tobias Kahun

Registered User
Oct 3, 2017
45,133
56,571
I don't know a ton about Jiricek, but speed wouldn't be an issue if he is lacking wheels but makes up for it in other areas. He'd play with either Nurse or Kulak, both are great skaters.

If we get Jiricek and he looks like a good fit come deadline, I'd be content with the D and absolutely stoked if we could get a mid range vet RHD (Even Ceci) for if he implodes in the playoffs. Maybe Emberson goes out, don't really care about him, run something like

Ek-Bouch
Nurse-Jiricek
Kulak-Ceci
Stecher
Dermott
Brown

Obviously if Jiricek doesn't look like he can handle that role, you don't go for Ceci and maybe try for one of the other big names.
We’ve seen ceci be so good in the playoffs.

Let’s trade for him to run it back.

Thats the definition of insanity
 

Soundwave

Registered User
Mar 1, 2007
74,426
30,675
I don't buy that. Whole team started flat this year. Can't blame it all on the goalie.

It's not up to the goalie to make sure everyone is ready to go after camp, and while I agree he wasn't helping things, I refuse to lay the blame at the feet of one player. It happened when Smitty was here too. It's been happening going back to Talbot. Quick first shot goals that set the team back right from the hop. This has been a thing for so long I've lost track of how many years.

It's meme worthy how poor the Oilers are after any sort of extended breaks, and that seems to include the offseason.

You can simply look at the goals against average.

Pickard is 2.44 GAA .... that means when he's in net the Oilers play like a top 4-5 defensive team in the league for goals allowed. The Wild are the 4th best defence (well according to GA) in the league at 54 GA in 21 games. That's a 2.53 GAA, we do better than that with Pickard in net.

Stuart Skinner is 3.23 GAA ... that's about bottom 10 team in the league (this ticked up from about 3.33 because of last game so it was worse not so recently).

Same team, same defence, same forwards, different goalie. Figure that one out.
 

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