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

Oilers Biggest Roster Need?

  • 2nd Pairing RD

    Votes: 86 39.8%
  • Starting Goalie

    Votes: 121 56.0%
  • Top 6 LW (RNH, Podkolzin and Jeff Skinner Aren't Getting it Done)

    Votes: 3 1.4%
  • Top 6 RW (Arvidsson and Hyman Aren't Getting it Done)

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • 3C

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Physical Bottom 6 Wingers

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

    Votes: 4 1.9%

  • Total voters
    216

TopShelfGloveSide

Registered User
Dec 10, 2018
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Mrzaek put up better numbers on a worse team as recently as last year.
Fair that’s one. I think he’s a great goalie. He played unbelievable last year and still finished with only a 908. That Mrazek behind our team finishes with some of the best numbers in the league imo.

How was he the year before?

Give Mrazek another 3 years on a terrible team and I bet if we look at his numbers at the end of it most of them won’t be great.
 
Apr 12, 2010
75,495
34,684
Calgary
Yes last year last placed goalie is better than current last placed goalie
Yes.

Also one guy plays on one of the worst defensive teams in the league, one guy plays on one of the best defensive teams in the league.

How do you have terrible numbers in that situation when you have fairly good defensive structure in front of you? Pickard is .915 outside of the one Chicago game. Skinner is still freaking .890 even with his Winnipeg game erased, that means Pickard has outplayed the shit out of Skinner past game 2.
Again, I would love to know what you're basing this on other than just feelings. Take a trip through the thread on him in the Ducks board and take a shot for every instance of the words "buyout" or "underperforming". I found this post of particular interest:

1732816507255.png
 

Soundwave

Registered User
Mar 1, 2007
74,460
30,722
Fair that’s one. I think he’s a great goalie. He played unbelievable last year and still finished with only a 908. That Mrazek behind our team finishes with some of the best numbers in the league imo.

How was he the year before?

Give Mrazek another 3 years on a terrible team and I bet if we look at his numbers at the end of it most of them won’t be great.

Pretty much exactly, the mental/physical toll of being a goalie on a terrible team for years in immense.

Can you imagine Mike Smith on the Eakins era Oilers? He'd melt down and choke one of his teammates en route to a .885 season after a couple of years of that, here with us he had .915 and .923 seasons.

It makes a huge difference to be on a team that actually tries to win.

Again, I would love to know what you're basing this on other than just feelings. Take a trip through the thread on him in the Ducks board and take a shot for every instance of the words "buyout" or "underperforming". I found this post of particular interest:

View attachment 937065

I mean no shit, you've iced shit teams for years, let the guy get shelled with shots for YEARS, and what do you expect? This dude faced three 50+ shot games in ONE MONTH. How is that even possible?

Every player on that team should be paying for this guy's lunch and dinner on the road out of shame, same with the coaching staff.

Can you imagine Mike Smith in that situation? He'd murder someone on the ice.
 
Apr 12, 2010
75,495
34,684
Calgary
Fair that’s one. I think he’s a great goalie. He played unbelievable last year and still finished with only a 908. That Mrazek behind our team finishes with some of the best numbers in the league imo.

How was he the year before?

Give Mrazek another 3 years on a terrible team and I bet if we look at his numbers at the end of it most of them won’t be great.
You're probably right, but I don't think the notion of "Well he's on a good team now so surely he'll be better and try" is accurate. After all, we're seeing it up close and personal with Jeff Skinner.
 

Soundwave

Registered User
Mar 1, 2007
74,460
30,722
Gibson should be considered but there are literally tons of optoins because Skinner's play is so shit.

He's currently getting outplayed by Calvin Pickard badly this year.

Cam Talbot, Vejelmeka, Blackwood, even taking a shot on guys like Blomqvist or Soderblom should be options.

We were stupid to not take a chance on Thompson too ... look at the dividends that move is paying for Washington, their GM is easily probably going to win GM of the year, what a pair of off-seasons they've had there. Got Strome for nothing, Chychrun for an aging Nick Jensen, Thompson for nothing, wowza. That's how you do it.
 

Whoshattenkirkshoes

Registered User
Aug 11, 2014
4,559
2,075
Based on the fact we're not even in a playoff spot currently and I don't think they're ripping off any 16 game win streaks anytime soon.

And again, almost doesn't cut it. And we've lost some pieces since the Cup run that haven't been adequately replaced.

Ideally we don't start slow every single year then have to play catchup.
On the flip side we are not that far off from the division lead. Luckily no team has run away with it.
 
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TheNumber4

Registered User
Nov 11, 2011
44,719
55,712
It’s interesting when it’s written out like this. But I would argue while some of these guys may be successful after leaving, not many of them really turned out to be amazing. Byram for example has been fine.

McDonaugh probably turned into a top pairing guy. The other are middling to bottom pairing guys. Still useful but not amazing.

Sergachev I think is too old/established compared to the rest to be considered.
I would say that “Success” in the case of this list means they ended up atleast a Top 4 Dman for the acquiring team. Varied levels of success for sure, but it’s just a quick and dirty list to show that your more likely then not going to atleast get a player out of it.
 

Whoshattenkirkshoes

Registered User
Aug 11, 2014
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a 7 point deficit isn't easy to overcome, especially since we've had trouble stringing together wins so far this year. And this is without the usual death march through the eastern conference that plagues us every year.
If we win the next game in hand we are 5 points back.

with 3/4 of a season left I think we have a legit shot at the division.
 
Apr 12, 2010
75,495
34,684
Calgary
If we win the next game in hand we are 5 points back.

with 3/4 of a season left I think we have a legit shot at the division.
For a good idea of how hard it is to overcome, the Oilers were 19 points behind the Canucks on Dec 20th, the day before the start of the 16 game win streak with 4 games in hand on Vancouver. Fast forward to January 28th, the day after the Oilers had won their 16th game in a row. They still sat 12 points behind the Canucks with those same 4 games in hand. Granted, the Canucks were on a little run of their own at the time so they didn't make up much ground. Vegas, who was 20 points ahead at the start of the win streak (also had four games in hand on), had seen their lead shrink to 5 points (and the Oilers still had five games in hand).

The Oilers would eventually pass Vegas, but they never passed Vancouver and finished the season 5 points behind them. The team went on an insane 46-18-5 run when the coaching change was made but we still never really got close to Vancouver.

It's not just about the Oilers having to win games, it's also about the teams ahead of them losing. What also hurts the Oilers in this case is that they have no tiebreakers and have already lost one matchup to the Knights. To win the division, the Oilers would have to pass 4 teams of which they only have a single game in hand on. I'm not saying it can't happen but we need to start stringing together some wins.

In general, the teams that are far ahead tend to stay ahead. Calgary will likely eventually fall off but I don't think the Canucks, Kings, and especially the Knights are going to tumble.
 

CanadasTeam99

Registered User
Jul 22, 2024
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For a good idea of how hard it is to overcome, the Oilers were 19 points behind the Canucks on Dec 20th, the day before the start of the 16 game win streak with 4 games in hand on Vancouver. Fast forward to January 28th, the day after the Oilers had won their 16th game in a row. They still sat 12 points behind the Canucks with those same 4 games in hand. Granted, the Canucks were on a little run of their own at the time so they didn't make up much ground. Vegas, who was 20 points ahead at the start of the win streak (also had four games in hand on), had seen their lead shrink to 5 points (and the Oilers still had five games in hand).

The Oilers would eventually pass Vegas, but they never passed Vancouver and finished the season 5 points behind them. The team went on an insane 46-18-5 run when the coaching change was made but we still never really got close to Vancouver.

It's not just about the Oilers having to win games, it's also about the teams ahead of them losing. What also hurts the Oilers in this case is that they have no tiebreakers and have already lost one matchup to the Knights. To win the division, the Oilers would have to pass 4 teams of which they only have a single game in hand on. I'm not saying it can't happen but we need to start stringing together some wins.

In general, the teams that are far ahead tend to stay ahead. Calgary will likely eventually fall off but I don't think the Canucks, Kings, and especially the Knights are going to tumble.
You are talking about a cinderella crazy shooting % team. That is not the norm lol. Look at them now.

Up until today, Canucks have had the 3rd easiest schedule in the NHL. Lets see the rest

Edmonton - 23rd hardest
Vegas - 14th hardest
Canucks - 30th hardest

Strength of schedule remaining

Edmonton - 25th hardest schedule left
Vegas - 27th hardest
Canucks - 12th hardest

Looks like Vegas will be tough to catch honestly.
 

Whoshattenkirkshoes

Registered User
Aug 11, 2014
4,559
2,075
For a good idea of how hard it is to overcome, the Oilers were 19 points behind the Canucks on Dec 20th, the day before the start of the 16 game win streak with 4 games in hand on Vancouver. Fast forward to January 28th, the day after the Oilers had won their 16th game in a row. They still sat 12 points behind the Canucks with those same 4 games in hand. Granted, the Canucks were on a little run of their own at the time so they didn't make up much ground. Vegas, who was 20 points ahead at the start of the win streak (also had four games in hand on), had seen their lead shrink to 5 points (and the Oilers still had five games in hand).

The Oilers would eventually pass Vegas, but they never passed Vancouver and finished the season 5 points behind them. The team went on an insane 46-18-5 run when the coaching change was made but we still never really got close to Vancouver.

It's not just about the Oilers having to win games, it's also about the teams ahead of them losing. What also hurts the Oilers in this case is that they have no tiebreakers and have already lost one matchup to the Knights. To win the division, the Oilers would have to pass 4 teams of which they only have a single game in hand on. I'm not saying it can't happen but we need to start stringing together some wins.

In general, the teams that are far ahead tend to stay ahead. Calgary will likely eventually fall off but I don't think the Canucks, Kings, and especially the Knights are going to tumble.
You make good points, but what I am saying is Vancouver isn't the same team as last year and Vegas isn't Vancouver of last year.

7 or 5 points back with 3/4 of a season left is totally possible and I think likely.

We know the Oilers are going to play much much better going forward.
 

TopShelfGloveSide

Registered User
Dec 10, 2018
20,188
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You're probably right, but I don't think the notion of "Well he's on a good team now so surely he'll be better and try" is accurate. After all, we're seeing it up close and personal with Jeff Skinner.
Skinner will figure it out. He’s struggling just like every other forward not named McDrai.

You play for a team that’s gives up hundreds less HD scoring chances and way less shots your numbers are almost inevitably going to improve. At least you would think haha.
 
Apr 12, 2010
75,495
34,684
Calgary
You make good points, but what I am saying is Vancouver isn't the same team as last year and Vegas isn't Vancouver of last year.

7 or 5 points back with 3/4 of a season left is totally possible and I think likely.

We know the Oilers are going to play much much better going forward.
It's possible but we still have to have a few things go our way.

You are talking about a cinderella crazy shooting % team. That is not the norm lol. Look at them now.

Up until today, Canucks have had the 3rd easiest schedule in the NHL. Lets see the rest

Edmonton - 23rd hardest
Vegas - 14th hardest
Canucks - 30th hardest

Strength of schedule remaining

Edmonton - 25th hardest schedule left
Vegas - 27th hardest
Canucks - 12th hardest

Looks like Vegas will be tough to catch honestly.
It's not about shooting percentages or anything like that. It's about having to be on a better pace than the teams in front of you for the remainder of the season. Vegas is without a doubt the best team in the division right now, and my big worry is that the Oilers still have go out East into Tampa Bay, Florida, and Carolina. Those teams typically don't treat us very kindly in their barns. The Oilers have had an extremely light November schedule where we didn't even leave the country and still have only managed a 6-4-1 record with games in Utah and Colorado left, the latter of which could be extremely troublesome.

One way or another the road to a Stanley Cup for this team goes through Vegas. They HAVE to finish ahead of that team.
 

TheNumber4

Registered User
Nov 11, 2011
44,719
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Skinner will figure it out. He’s struggling just like every other forward not named McDrai.

You play for a team that’s gives up hundreds less HD scoring chances and way less shots your numbers are almost inevitably going to improve. At least you would think haha.
He needs to be stapled to the Top 6. He’s a Top 6 or nothing player and we need to do what we can to make him work here. Can’t have 3M of dead cap if we want to contend. When we signed Skinner with all his warts and all, we knew what we were getting. Knob was in the room when the decision was made, he knew what he was getting. JJ and the scouts in the room were like us on HFboards, “he’s never been on a winning team, think of his goal scoring alongside Draisaitl”.

It’s tough to get acclimated to a new city and new team. To take on a role as a complimentary forward when you’ve always been an alpha forward. Knob and the team need to give him some leeway. He started the year off hot, cooled down a bit, made some mistakes and he was demoted. We need to give him much more leash than that, and just give him the oppurtunity to succeed in the role we envisioned when we signed him.
 

TheNumber4

Registered User
Nov 11, 2011
44,719
55,712
You are talking about a cinderella crazy shooting % team. That is not the norm lol. Look at them now.

Up until today, Canucks have had the 3rd easiest schedule in the NHL. Lets see the rest

Edmonton - 23rd hardest
Vegas - 14th hardest
Canucks - 30th hardest

Strength of schedule remaining

Edmonton - 25th hardest schedule left
Vegas - 27th hardest
Canucks - 12th hardest

Looks like Vegas will be tough to catch honestly.
Your telling me the NHL gave the Oilers a 24th on average hardest schedule this year?
 

TopShelfGloveSide

Registered User
Dec 10, 2018
20,188
29,323
He needs to be stapled to the Top 6. He’s a Top 6 or nothing player and we need to do what we can to make him work here. Can’t have 3M of dead cap if we want to contend. When we signed Skinner with all his warts and all, we knew what we were getting. Knob was in the room when the decision was made, he knew what he was getting. JJ and the scouts in the room were like us on HFboards, “he’s never been on a winning team, think of his goal scoring alongside Draisaitl”.

It’s tough to get acclimated to a new city and new team. To take on a role as a complimentary forward when you’ve always been an alpha forward. Knob and the team need to give him some leeway. He started the year off hot, cooled down a bit, made some mistakes and he was demoted. We need to give him much more leash than that, and just give him the oppurtunity to succeed in the role we envisioned when we signed him.
I 100% agree. His skill set is being terribly used. He played on the same team for a decade no kidding it takes some time to adjust.

I get accountability but the only player knob seems to hold accountable is Skinner. Nuge has been taking bad penalties, playing poor defence and has been a waste of ice on the PP all season.

Our team has been struggling to finish and score meanwhile we have a player who scored 24, 35 and 33 goals the past 3 seasons buried in the bottom 6 and not getting a sniff of PP time. Skinner has proven to have great hands in tight. Throw him out with McDavid a time or 2 when we have an offensive zone face off. Throw him on the PP once in awhile. He’s not going to learn to be a complimentary player to our stars if he never plays with them.
 

TheNumber4

Registered User
Nov 11, 2011
44,719
55,712
I 100% agree. His skill set is being terribly used. He played on the same team for a decade no kidding it takes some time to adjust.

I get accountability but the only player knob seems to hold accountable is Skinner. Nuge has been taking bad penalties, playing poor defence and has been a waste of ice on the PP all season.

Our team has been struggling to finish and score meanwhile we have a player who scored 24, 35 and 33 goals the past 3 seasons buried in the bottom 6 and not getting a sniff of PP time. Skinner has proven to have great hands in tight. Throw him out with McDavid a time or 2 when we have an offensive zone face off. Throw him on the PP once in awhile. He’s not going to learn to be a complimentary player to our stars if he never plays with them.
Yeh we really just need to ride or die with this guy. 3M isn’t just 3M. 3M is the loss of decent players like Holloway. This is the experiment we chose and we have to see it through and make it work.

I HOPING that Knobs demotion of him is just a small message that he needs to play a different style here, and that once the message is delivered his oppurtunity comes back.
 
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Drivesaitl

Finding Hemingway
Oct 8, 2017
49,981
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Islands in the stream.
You are talking about a cinderella crazy shooting % team. That is not the norm lol. Look at them now.

Up until today, Canucks have had the 3rd easiest schedule in the NHL. Lets see the rest

Edmonton - 23rd hardest
Vegas - 14th hardest
Canucks - 30th hardest

Strength of schedule remaining

Edmonton - 25th hardest schedule left
Vegas - 27th hardest
Canucks - 12th hardest

Looks like Vegas will be tough to catch honestly.
Not sure how the current version of these hardest schedule metrics is devised. Would prefer a simpler games against playoff vs non playoff teams. For instance we played Nashville 3X I had them pegged to miss playoffs even though most figured they could be a contender. I'd wonder how they are being considered in the metric of hard vs easy. For the Oilers certainly its easy.

The other day I was looking through results and we have losses against Jets, Knights, Stars, Canes, Wild, The first W that came against a team in a solid spot in standings was against Rangers. We've played far more non playoff clubs than playoff clubs thus far. I see harder games coming up in coming months. I don't know how they tabulate "25th hardest schedule left" Our schedule upcoming is on a glance harder than the games we've had.
 

TheNumber4

Registered User
Nov 11, 2011
44,719
55,712
The Oilers have had a remarkably soft schedule so far that they haven't taken advantage of. Thank god for the Preds I suppose.
Yes I’d agree with that. But usually that balances out at the year end. That stat seems to indicate we’ve been given a soft schedule to start and end the year.
 

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