Rumor: Rumors & Proposals Thread | With Klingberg in the Mix Who Are Our 7D After the Deadline?

[Fourier]

It just seems backwards to me how defensemen who are more like a 4th forward are more coveted or sought after. The job description is right there in the position’s name…defenseman.

In the fine print, there’ll be clause which states this rule does not apply to players under contract for the Edmonton Oilers.

In the NHL today a skilled defenseman can be a key to your offense. If you don't have one they are not so easy to find.

 

[K1984]

Kovaceivic was traded in the off season when the OS for Broberg had yet to happen.

Carrier was part of the discussions last year I expect but he re-signed for $3.75M. Assuming Kane was going to be back at the end of January or early February, which was the assumption when he was traded. how would you have fit in his $3.75M cap hit. The choice would have been Skinner (not happening with his nmc) or probably Kulak.

Fabbro has a $2.75M contract. With some manipulation it could possibly have been fit in. It would have meant playing with a short roster (probably 20 guys) While he may well have been an improvement over Strecher he's not exactly a high impact guy historically. Had they brought him in that would have potentially been the most significant move that they could have made.

I have commented several times on Blackwood. He has been more inconsistent than Skinner over his career and this was true even when he was in Barrie and when he was in the AHL. After a great start in Colorado his last 4 games have all been sub .900.

For a group of people that constantly refer to the full season stats and inconsistency as a reason Skinner is underperforming (mostly in an attempt to discredit the good play November onward), it is perplexing to me that only this year's stats seem to matter when judging anything to do with Blackwood.

Until this year he's basically almost always been a sub .900 backup goalie that has been wildly inconsistent. He started hot in Colorado, and now has had 4 games in a row sub-.900. He's basically what all of the obsessive anti-Skinner folks think Skinner is.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

It just seems backwards to me how defensemen who are more like a 4th forward are more coveted or sought after. The job description is right there in the position’s name…defenseman.

In the fine print, there’ll be clause which states this rule does not apply to players under contract for the Edmonton Oilers.

having a defenseman that’s a possession monster and helps drive offense makes up even if he’s not great defensively in his own zone.

It’s a lot easier to prevent goals when your team has the puck, rather than playing defense

 

[North]

For a group of people that constantly refer to the full season stats and inconsistency as a reason Skinner is underperforming (mostly in an attempt to discredit the good play November onward), it is perplexing to me that only this year's stats seem to matter when judging anything to do with Blackwood.

Until this year he's basically almost always been a sub .900 backup goalie that has been wildly inconsistent. He started hot in Colorado, and now has had 4 games in a row sub-.900. He's basically what all of the obsessive anti-Skinner folks think Skinner is.

Colorado signing him to that extension was ill advised.

 

[McTonyBrar]

This was so poorly planned you want to see what you have in the player before the deadline and yet he doesn't play until the end of January and 10 days of February is dedicated to a farse tournament than you have like less than three weeks till the deadline.

I hope this doesn't mean that we are sticking with Klingberg even if he sucks (although I think its very likely he's the guy we need for the top 4)

 

[Oilslick941611]

This was so poorly planned you want to see what you have in the player before the deadline and yet he doesn't play until the end of January and 10 days of February is dedicated to a farse tournament than you have like less than three weeks till the deadline.

man, people will complain about anything wont they?

 

[foshizzle]

It just seems backwards to me how defensemen who are more like a 4th forward are more coveted or sought after. The job description is right there in the position’s name…defenseman.

In the fine print, there’ll be clause which states this rule does not apply to players under contract for the Edmonton Oilers.

Because teams have figured hockey is a 3 zone game and defence can be played all over the ice. They have also figured out that if you’re good at moving the puck out of your own zone- you get scored on less. In today’s NHL- you need to be a good 2 way defenceman. You can’t be a “defensive” d man and only allow 3 goals against while scoring none. You’re a net negative. If you score 6 and allow 4- you’re a +2 and overall more impactful

 

[Tobias Kahun]

man, people will complain about anything wont they?

Yes.

 

[Canovin]

In the NHL today a skilled defenseman can be a key to your offense. If you don't have one they are not so easy to find.

The Oilers just got one in Klingberg for free and there's one in Pitts for 10M(most likely 5M if traded).

I'm sure Rasmus Andersson would be an Oiler already if it wasn't for the rivalry

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

The Oilers just got one in Klingberg for free and there's one in Pitts for 10M(most likely 5M if traded).

I'm sure Rasmus Andersson would be an Oiler already if it wasn't for the rivalry

You say that, but Conroy is going to f*** his nose right up to spite that smart assed face.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

Yes.

Like you every gdt

 

[CanadasTeam99]

Van kicking the blues. Funny

 

[foshizzle]

delete

 

[Fourier]

Because teams have figured hockey is a 3 zone game and defence can be played all over the ice. They have also figured out that if you’re good at moving the puck out of your own zone- you get scored on less. In today’s NHL- you need to be a good 2 way defenceman. You can’t be a “defensive” d man and only allow 3 goals against while scoring none. You’re a net negative. If you score 6 and allow 4- you’re a +2 and overall more impactful

I suspect that a lot of people here would have disliked a prime Paul Coffey.

 

[foshizzle]

I suspect that a lot of people here would have disliked a prime Paul Coffey.

Yep- just like they did back then. People on here hated Pronger too until the playoffs.

 

[Fourier]

Yep- just like they did back then. People on here hated Pronger too until the playoffs.

When Bouchard is on the ice at even strength the puck is in the opposition end 47.7% of the time and in his own end 34.5% of the time. That is actually quite remarkable. Now that is not all about him. Ekholm's numbers are similar as are McDavid's. And he does get more OZ starts. But what it shows is that he is not the tire fire defensively that people often accuse him of being. If he was teams would exploit it much more than they are able to do so.

As a comparator Nurse is at 41.2% and 41.1% respectively. Cale Makar is at 44.7% and 37.0% respectively.

We all see the mistakes Bouchard makes. If he was as good defensively as he is offensively he'd be a sure fire Hall of Famer. But the reality is that there is way more good that happens on the ice with him than bad. And that has been true for several years with a variety of teammates. Going back to 2022-24 in 617 minutes 5 vs 5 away from all of Ekholm, McDavid and Draisaitl his xGF% is 59.81%. Without any of the 4 the teams xGF% over that time is 50.28. He has to have something to do with that difference.

 

[foshizzle]

When Bouchard is on the ice at even strength the puck is in the opposition end 47.7% of the time and in his own end 34.5% of the time. That is actually quite remarkable. Now that is not all about him. Ekholm's numbers are similar as are McDavid's. And he does get more OZ starts. But what it shows is that he is not the tire fire defensively that people often accuse him of being. If he was teams would exploit it much more than they are able to do so.

As a comparator Nurse is at 41.2% and 41.1% respectively. Cale Makar is at 44.7% and 37.0% respectively.

We all see the mistakes Bouchard makes. If he was as good defensively as he is offensively he'd be a sure fire Hall of Famer. But the reality is that there is way more good that happens on the ice with him than bad. And that has been true for several years with a variety of teammates. Going back to 2022-24 in 617 minutes 5 vs 5 away from all of Ekholm, McDavid and Draisaitl his xGF% is 59.81%. Without any of the 4 the teams xGF% over that time is 50.28. He has to have something to do with that difference.

You nailed it. I’ll also add that he is still only 24 years old. He hasn’t even hit his prime as a d man.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

If the Oilers are considered running McDrai together, the should go pay alot for Ryan O'Reilly at 2C

 

[Canovin]

If the Oilers are considered running McDrai together, the should go pay alot for Ryan O'Reilly at 2C

I've been saying this for awhile. The Oilers might be better off acquiring a 2C who can also playing wing if we are playing McDrai more often. Neither RNH and Henrique are good enough for 2C in the playoffs. They are also holding back McDavid too much when they're on his line.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

He's not a rookie though. They should have a lot of info on him and I suspect that they could get a decent enough picture of how his recovery has gone from practices and 8-9 games. They should get a feel for his mobility which is probably the biggest question mark.

No he's a guy coming off major surgery that basically missed a full season. Look how long it took brown to look competent again they don't have the luxury of half a season for klingberg they need to make decisions a little over a month from now

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

If the Oilers are considered running McDrai together, the should go pay alot for Ryan O'Reilly at 2C

History has shown us that this is not a sustainable method to victory. They really need to break away from this.

 

[K1984]

History has shown us that this is not a sustainable method to victory. They really need to break away from this.

It hasn't been a sustainable road to victory because the 2C has always been Nuge. If they got a player like O'Reilly or Nelson that wouldn't be a concern anymore.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

It hasn't been a sustainable road to victory because the 2C has always been Nuge. If they got a player like O'Reilly or Nelson that wouldn't be a concern anymore.

I would rather them target cheap depth forwards. McDavid/Draisatl/Nuge/Whoever down the middle gives us multiple scoring lines instead of one. Our wingers are too weak to stack one line.

 

[Arpeggio]

I would rather them target cheap depth forwards. McDavid/Draisatl/Nuge/Whoever down the middle gives us multiple scoring lines instead of one. Our wingers are too weak to stack one line.

They have so many cheap depth forwards as it is. I feel like one impact player to push everyone down would make a bigger difference.

 

[K1984]

I would rather them target cheap depth forwards. McDavid/Draisatl/Nuge/Whoever down the middle gives us multiple scoring lines instead of one. Our wingers are too weak to stack one line.

I think an impact forward, whether it's at C or wing should be the target. We already have a slew of players in the class of cheap depth, I don't think getting more makes any difference.

Add a legit player to the top 6, everyone moves down a few rungs in the ladder, and we have 4 lines that can bury you.

Draisaitl - McDavid - Hyman
Kane - O'Reilly - Arvidsson
Podkolzin - RNH - Henrique
Janmark - Philp - Brown
Perry

OR

RNH - McDavid - Hyman
Podkolzin - Draisaitl - Arvidsson
Kane - O'Reilly - Perry
Janmark - Henrique - Brown
Philp

Either way, you have 4 lines that could theoretically win matchups against almost anyone. The bottom lineup with them on separate lines is especially enticing. That 3rd line would be fantastic to watch in the playoffs.