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

[McJadeddog]

Put. Skinner. In. The. Top. Six.

Jesus Christ. He's got the sixth most goals on the team and the dude doesn't play. He had a rough start to the year but his defence has been fine since, he's clearly working hard and not pouting, what more do they want from him. It seems so obvious to go McDavid, Draisaitl, Nuge down the middle, especially with Perry playing so well.

I'm not willing to write off either him or Arvidsson. I think Skinner pots 20 if he gets elevated in the lineup, and Arvidsson's S% will bounce back. I think Arvidsson especially will breakout in the playoffs.

It really is strange to not have tried him at all. Like I get that he isn't great defensively, but he's been better lately.

His xGF at evens is 15th on the team (min 200 mins played) at 50.5% for the season. He is 13th (min 40 mins played) at 54.5% since Dec 1st. He is ahead of Perry since Dec 1st, the same Perry who is playing on the top line right now. He is actually only 0.7% behind Perry on the season. His xGA/60 is last on the team for the season at 2.73 (min 200 mins), but 16th since December 1st (min 40 mins) at 2.39. Again, ahead of Perry during the same time frame (Perry is last).

Skinner isn't a defensive stalwart or anything, but he has shown improvement over the season, and is playing better D than a guy currently riding shotgun with McDrai.

I don't think he'll be some revelation in the top-6, but its kind of absurd that they haven't even really tried him there since the very beginning of the season. Especially given his improvements and the lack of scoring from the other people who have been given very long auditions. It would be different if Arvidsson was shooting the lights out, or if Kane was healthy and playing well. But its pretty obvious we don't have winger scoring (again) in our top-6 outside of Drai when he plays with McDavid and Hyman. I suppose you could throw in Nuge as well. The point being is that we need additional help here, and to not try Skinner again seems kind of crazy.

 

[McTonyBrar]

The Oilers do have legit top 6 talent, they choose not to play them to their strengths.

The Oilers have been very successful with McDrai split up and even though the Podz-Draisaitl-Arvidsson line didn't score many goals from wing, they were still heavily a + line. After that line got split up, Podkolzin's game in particular has cratered. Shocking.
The team has hit a bit of a rough patch since McDrai was put together, not too surprisingly tbh.

Knoblauch is a great defensive coach, best of the McDrai era by a significant margin, but he's not so good at piecing together forward lines. The Skinner deployment is baffling, the reliance on Ryan for so long was confusing, his constant line juggling, the now reliance on McDrai etc. Just too much chaos with his decision making.
The Oilers have 4 legit top 6 wingers. Hyman, RNH, Skinner and Arvidsson. Arvidsson hasn't potted the goals but I think they will come and Skinner who has done everything asked of him yet gets very little top 6 opportunity, well I've said my piece on that already. There's top 6 options if they are used correctly.

lol Podkolzin is NOT a top
Six winger

 

[McJadeddog]

the reason why we are constantly on the lookout for second line talent is because we either bring in players that are over the hill (Arvidsson), rejects from other teams (Skinner, Kane) or try to elevate traditionally bottom-6 players (Podkolzin, Foegele).

For once I’d like us to target a 20-something year old who is at the beginning of their career trajectory and has actual top 6 talent.

Could’ve been Holloway but oh well

That could be Savoie as early as next season. I doubt he comes in to help this year in any real way, but I could see him being a 40 point guy next year if they give him top-6 minutes.

 

[Fourier]

I think we too often think a guy making $3M should be expected to produce a lot more than they often do. In fact here are some forwards making $4.45-5.25M

Charolie Coyle 13g 20pts $5.25M
Yani Gourde 6g 16 points $5.166M
J.T. Compher 6g 21 pts $5.1M
Reilly Smith 10g 26 pts $5M
J.G. Pageau 10g 26 pts $5M
Joel Farabee 9g 20 pts $5M
Valdimir Tarasenko 6g 21 points $4.75M
Ilya Mikheyev 9g 15 points $4.75M
Mikael Backlund 10g 22pts $4.5M
Nick Foligno 11g 23 pits $4.5M
Christian Dvorak 5g 16pts $4.45M

Skinner's goal production is actually better than average for his price tag given that he does not get any notable pp time. With his better defensive play of late it is possible we could see a somewhat bigger role for him down the stretch.

 

[McJadeddog]

He has been terrible.
He is such a smart player and yet I see him missing many grade A scoring opportunites, making poor reads and making poor decisions game in and game out.

Its possible that his poor play (and the play of a few others) is actually a symptom of fatigue.
I mean they did play until the end of June last year,

Maybe this 2 week break is just what the doctor ordered. Hopefully Canada gets knocked out of the tournament early and McDavid gets some much needed rest.

Glad I'm not the only one who has been thinking this. I could give a rats ass about this made-up tournament, and I think most other hockey fans feel the same.

 

[VeteranPresence]

Gegor was defending the goaltending to no end today. Most media are. They don't like to talk about record against top teams.

Gregor also went to bat for Schwartz last year. It's one of the great mysteries of life, up there with who shot JFK and what happens at Area 51.

 

[guymez]

No offence to you but this just reinforces my point. Even when he is called out he’s being defended in the same sentence.
He always gets the free pass cuz reasons.

Im not giving him a free pass at all.
I acknowledged that he has been terrible.
What I am also doing is saying that this is not the norm for him. Which is true.
Historically he has been a very valuable player.

So I am not just going to say he is now done and is now a terrible player.

 

[guymez]

I am saying anything can happen. If these two machines can't lift the team up in a game or two b/c the other deadweights cannot bother, easy win for the other team. I don't expect these two together to always produce. They have had bad games together. Putting all of the eggs in one basket.

Knobby boy won't have a regular season sample size to do stuff then.

I heard Gregor say, they need to start putting Skinner by McDavid and see what you got. NO SH** SHERLOCK. Maybe tell the coach this? lol

Deadline is coming and this twat coach can't even throw Skinner there earlier on to see. If he sucks long term, punt him.

I know what Knob is doing. Trying to make him work on "the defensive side". Yes he needs to, but he was brought here to SCORE buddy. SO put him in a position to do it.

Well...its depends what you mean by bad games. They rarely have a bad game offensively when playing together but they have had bad games defensively.

Also...that twat coach (I know your just saying that out of frustration) is actually a very smart coach and he is likely playing Drai and McDavid together because he knows that the team doesnt have the offensive depth to split them up as often as he should be able to.
Regarding Skinner...aside from a few spurts of good play he has been a dismal failure. One of the most useless (and confusing) signings this team had made in years.

I dont undertand the infatuation with this player....I wouldnt be surprised if he gets traded.

All that being said...the 2nd line couldnt be much worse so what the hell.

 

[McFlash97]

Savoie is not Point. Sorry to break it to you.

You guys are overrating him a little bit.

He's been even more Productive than Point PPG wise coming out of juniors. Savoie easily hits 50 plus points if he played on the top 6 this season in the NHL. He is every bit as good as Point was coming out of juniors. Even better. Straight up.

 

[North]

HOPE seems so long ago

I remember how pissy the Lightning were over that move.

 

[McDoused]

I think we too often think a guy making $3M should be expected to produce a lot more than they often do. In fact here are some forwards making $4.45-5.25M

Charolie Coyle 13g 20pts $5.25M
Yani Gourde 6g 16 points $5.166M
J.T. Compher 6g 21 pts $5.1M
Reilly Smith 10g 26 pts $5M
J.G. Pageau 10g 26 pts $5M
Joel Farabee 9g 20 pts $5M
Valdimir Tarasenko 6g 21 points $4.75M
Ilya Mikheyev 9g 15 points $4.75M
Mikael Backlund 10g 22pts $4.5M
Nick Foligno 11g 23 pits $4.5M
Christian Dvorak 5g 16pts $4.45M

Skinner's goal production is actually better than average for his price tag given that he does not get any notable pp time. With his better defensive play of late it is possible we could see a somewhat bigger role for him down the stretch.

I've been. Impressed with Skinner but it's pretty obvious that Knoblauch doesn't like then player. Knob wants his 3rd line to be a shutdown line which isn't skinners game. Knoblauch l wants a big fast wingers like Foegele and Podkolzin to shut other teams top playerd down. He also won't play Skinner in the top 6 in an offensive role so he's probably done here.

Arvidsson looks slow to me as well, which doesn't bode well for a smaller less physical player. If he doesn't start producing i could see them move on from him as well. The biggest appeal was that Arvidsson would be a right shot right winger but honestly I think Draisaitl likes playing on the right side of the ice. I think he would do better with someone who goes to the net. I wonder if Henrique might be better in that spot.

 

[guymez]

It really is strange to not have tried him at all. Like I get that he isn't great defensively, but he's been better lately.

His xGF at evens is 15th on the team (min 200 mins played) at 50.5% for the season. He is 13th (min 40 mins played) at 54.5% since Dec 1st. He is ahead of Perry since Dec 1st, the same Perry who is playing on the top line right now. He is actually only 0.7% behind Perry on the season. His xGA/60 is last on the team for the season at 2.73 (min 200 mins), but 16th since December 1st (min 40 mins) at 2.39. Again, ahead of Perry during the same time frame (Perry is last).

Skinner isn't a defensive stalwart or anything, but he has shown improvement over the season, and is playing better D than a guy currently riding shotgun with McDrai.

I don't think he'll be some revelation in the top-6, but its kind of absurd that they haven't even really tried him there since the very beginning of the season. Especially given his improvements and the lack of scoring from the other people who have been given very long auditions. It would be different if Arvidsson was shooting the lights out, or if Kane was healthy and playing well. But its pretty obvious we don't have winger scoring (again) in our top-6 outside of Drai when he plays with McDavid and Hyman. I suppose you could throw in Nuge as well. The point being is that we need additional help here, and to not try Skinner again seems kind of crazy.

This is a fair perspective.
I dont particularily like the player but the 2nd line cant be much worse than it has been.

Give him a go. Not just for a game or 2...give him a stretch of games.

I am inclined to think that there is something below the suface going on here. Some locker room stuff/practice related or something else that Knoblauch is aware that we arent.
I dont like all of Knoblauchs decisions but the man is no dummy so I do try to give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

He's been even more Productive than Point PPG wise coming out of juniors. Savoie easily hits 50 plus points if he played on the top 6 this season in the NHL. He is every bit as good as Point was coming out of juniors. Even better. Straight up.

It’s not all about stats.


No way Savoie turns out better than Point.

 

[Messrules11]

Im not giving him a free pass at all.
I acknowledged that he has been terrible.
What I am also doing is saying that this is not the norm for him. Which is true.
Historically he has been a very valuable player.

So I am not just going to say he is now done and is now a terrible player.

You’re the one who said he has been terrible, not me, and then you conveniently retract in your final sentence.
Good grief man.

 

[guymez]

You’re the one who said he has been terrible, not me, and then you conveniently retract in your final sentence.
Good grief man.

I dont think you are understanding. I didnt retract anything.
I just qualified it.

RNH has been terrible this season. That doesnt mean he is done as a player.
Make sense?

 

[Messrules11]

I dont think you are undertanding. I dint retract anything.
I just qulaified it.

RNH has been terrible this season. That doesnt mean he is done as a player.
Make sense?

And all I said is he is above criticism, nowhere did I claim he was done as a player. Have another beer.

 

[Ritchie Valens]

Gegor was defending the goaltending to no end today. Most media are. They don't like to talk about record against top teams.

I say grow some balls and try trading both Arvy and Skinner like Allvin would do in Vancouver.

Get some actual scoring wingers if our scouts have any ability to do that. Have to up the shooting % and coach has to make his brain bigger and tell these cucks to start going to the middle or your ice time is cut. Any of them

We ain’t buying what they’re selling. I’ll give Skinner some credit for last night, but the sun will shine on a dog’s ass every once in a while.

 

[guymez]

And all I said is he is above criticism, nowhere did I claim he was done as a player. Have another beer.

WTF is your problem dude....lol

I criticised him and didnt retract anything. What on earth are you going on about?

 

[Messrules11]

WTF is your problem dude....lol

I criticised him and didnt retract anything.

No problem here man, just some friendly fire. Enjoy the game tonight.

 

[McFlash97]

It’s not all about stats.


No way Savoie turns out better than Point.

were talking about coming out of juniors. You claimed, he wasn't in points league. I'm telling you at age 20/21 he's better

 

[Spawn]

were talking about coming out of juniors. You claimed, he wasn't in points league. I'm telling you at age 20/21 he's better

Didn't Point score 40 points in 68 games in the NHL in his 20/21 year old season? Savoie is barely producing better than that in the AHL.

 

[guymez]

were talking about coming out of juniors. You claimed, he wasn't in points league. I'm telling you at age 20/21 he's better

Almost a point a game player as a rookie (31 points in 40 games).
2nd on the team in scoring and 3rd in rookie scoring which is pretty impressive considering that the Condors are one of the lowest scoring teams in the AHL.

Pretty good skater too...

SAVOIE CLAIMS AHL ALL-STAR FASTEST SKATER – BakersfieldCondors.com

I dont think that he will be better than Point (a hell of a player) but Savioe seems to have the potential to be a long term top 6 player.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

I think we too often think a guy making $3M should be expected to produce a lot more than they often do. In fact here are some forwards making $4.45-5.25M

Charolie Coyle 13g 20pts $5.25M
Yani Gourde 6g 16 points $5.166M
J.T. Compher 6g 21 pts $5.1M
Reilly Smith 10g 26 pts $5M
J.G. Pageau 10g 26 pts $5M
Joel Farabee 9g 20 pts $5M
Valdimir Tarasenko 6g 21 points $4.75M
Ilya Mikheyev 9g 15 points $4.75M
Mikael Backlund 10g 22pts $4.5M
Nick Foligno 11g 23 pits $4.5M
Christian Dvorak 5g 16pts $4.45M

Skinner's goal production is actually better than average for his price tag given that he does not get any notable pp time. With his better defensive play of late it is possible we could see a somewhat bigger role for him down the stretch.

Some people think the cap is still 60m.

 

[McFlash97]

Didn't Point score 40 points in 68 games in the NHL in his 20/21 year old season? Savoie is barely producing better than that in the AHL.

.775
vs
.587

Thats not barely. Thats a significant difference. Considering Point played on a team with Kucherov, Hedman, Drouin, Palat, Johnson

Savoie is playing his first pro season after injuries and playing with absolute plugs in the and getting better by the week.

You give Savoie a full season with McDrai, Hyman, Bouchard, he outdoes 40 points in his sleep in the NHL.

 

[K1984]

Imagine putting Patrick Allvin on a pedestal.

Some of the nonsense I read here is astounding.