So.. Edmonton has to be the favorites coming out of the west, right?

[John Eichel da GOAT]

Weird you use your reason as defense wins championships and then choose Vancouver, a worse defensive team than Edmonton over them.

Im just saying Vancouver is a better overall team that the Oilers.

Avs
Blues
Stars
Vegas
Canucks

All better than the Oilers

Could easily see any of the Jets, Preds, or Yotes figuring it out and leap frogging them as well.

Their only hope is getting WC1 and having two rounds against the Pacific then getting smashed by whoever wins the Central.

 

[John Eichel da GOAT]

Years ago an HF Oiler fan pulled out every stat imaginable in an attempt to argue that Shawn Horcoff was a superior player to Sydney Crosby.

His reputation died in that thread.

RIP @JoeThorntonsRooster credibility.

Im too lazy to read every page. Is this guy really arguing that Stone is a better player than McDavid?

 

[TheOtherOne]

I would laugh if Holland, Athanasiou, and Green win the Cup. 3 guys Wings fans all loved to hate.

 

[snipes]

Im too lazy to read every page. Is this guy really arguing that Stone is a better player than McDavid?

Yes. And unironically so.

 

[Makar Goes Fast]

AA is not the missing piece that is going to push the oilers over the top.

 

[solidaritypucks]

STL, COL, DAL, VGK, EDM all have what it takes from what I've seen, and honestly they all seem very close and difficult to seperate in terms of size/talent/desire. I would be shocked if a team outside of this group made a run and came out of the west.

 

[LevelingSolo]

Their absolutely better then they were a year ago and have the two best forwards in the league so anything can happen. At the same time the defence and goaltending is still shaky imo

 

[TK 421]

STL, COL, DAL, VGK, EDM all have what it takes from what I've seen, and honestly they all seem very close and difficult to seperate in terms of size/talent/desire. I would be shocked if a team outside of this group made a run and came out of the west.

Vancouver may not be on everyone's radar right now with the teams you mentioned but I thought they had a great TDL getting Toffoli and then snagging Domingue when Markstrom went down. Thatcher Demko is kind of a hidden gem and because of that they're not necessarily screwed with Markstrom gone. If between he and Domingue they can lock some quality starts down I could see them go streaking a bit down the stretch. Idk, could be off base but I just get that feeling in the limited viewings I do get of them.

 

[Frank the Tank]

Are there any Oilers fans supporting this theory of the Oilers being the best in the West (they aren't) or just the usual jimmy rustler of an OP stoking a needless debate about the Oilers?

 

[JasonRoseEh]

Not with that goaltending. The West is definitely up for grabs but the Avalanche and Blues are superior teams come playoff time and I'd take Vegas over them as well.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

Blues aside who get that title due to being the recent champs I guess, but Edmonton looks legit now, and I think there are a few factors.

- Weak pacific division means in theory, they should have one of the easiest 1st and maybe 2nd rounds out of the entire league aside from whoever facing the 3rd spot in the Atlantic.

- Draisatl has come alive and is legit. Yammo has fit like a glove with him, and they have two legit superstars better than any two currently playing (yes better than Sido and Geno in their current form).

- McDavid is back and healthy and finally has wingers. This is the first time the Oilers have a legit top 6 in a decade.

- 1st PP in the league and 2nd best PK. In general, being top 5 in both is an indicator of playoff success.

- Then you look at what Draisatl produces the last time they made the playoffs, and realize McDavid is in his prime now.

I'm not sure there is a team out west that can stop the Oilers. Have to imagine that they should be a lock for at least the WCF, and if they do not make the finals, it will be in a hard fought series deep in the playoffs.

I personally, don't think there is a better team out west and they are likely one of the favorites if they played in the east. Maybe they are only stopped by a more experienced team from the east if they make the finals like Tampa or the Pens.

They might win a round, but I’d be shocked if they made it to WCF. The 3 times they played the wild they looked bad. Sometimes really bad. Goaltending is a question mark. Defense is a question mark. Depth is a question mark. They’re a bubble team to me. Even in games I’ve seen that weren’t against the wild they weren’t impressive.

 

[Jumptheshark]

nope

why

1) Gotta see how the team now gells
2) Waiting to see how the players who come back from injury play
3) Goaltending is still a question
4) Last game we went with 3 rookies on the back end

 

[syz]

They can win a round if they stay healthy. I wouldn't like them over Vegas in the 2nd round and I wouldn't like them over St Louis or Colorado in the finals.

Though they'd be less likely to waste it like Calgary did if Smith goes super saiyan in the playoffs again for whatever reason.

 

[GOilers88]

I am not comparing them at the career level, where McDavid has been much better. I am comparing them right now.

Since you’re confused, let me try to help you. This “points” stat...it doesn’t measure defense. At all. Out-scoring the other team is influenced by offense...and defense. Comparing these players solely by their offense is like comparing one team’s home record to another team’s road record. You are missing half of the equation and it’s the less flattering half.

So, if McDavids offense is far and above Stones, and Stones defense is better than McDavids, how is one guy even better at all? Technically speaking they should be exactly equal and arguing for one over the other would make absolutely no sense.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I'd say the kid with multiple scoring titles and a Hart Trophy by 23 is probably the better player.

 

[McDavidCrushedLarkin]

I still can't believe the Leafs lost to their zamboni driver.

 

[deca guard]

just nick named the new mcd and aa line the ' blue angels'

 

[JoeThorntonsRooster]

Years ago an HF Oiler fan pulled out every stat imaginable in an attempt to argue that Shawn Horcoff was a superior player to Sydney Crosby.

His reputation died in that thread.

RIP @JoeThorntonsRooster credibility.

You do realize that I’m arguing against my favorite player in the discussion, don’t you?

 

[boopronger]

They are not going anywhere with that defense.

 

[DingDongCharlie]

The west is wide open this year. Avs, Blues, Stars, Knights, Oilers all have a chance at a good run. Canucks might if Markstrom and Boeser come back 100%. I don’t see a clear favourite although I suppose if you had to peg one club the Avs would probably be #1

 

[3074326]

I think Edmonton is finally building an identity, but they aren't there yet. Really looking forward to watching them when they're healthy, though.

 

[Pietrangelo]

I wouldn’t say the blues get the vote just because they previously won the cup. They get it because they’re a more overall complete team than the oilers. They have the depth to have another good run this year. But who knows anything can happen right.

 

[snipes]

I think Edmonton is finally building an identity, but they aren't there yet. Really looking forward to watching them when they're healthy, though.

Tippett has these guys battling hard every night. One of the under estimated parts of the Oilers game is how physical and tough they are when they play that brand of hockey. There are not that many teams, if any that can physically push around the Oilers.

Now Holland has added some much needed speed up front. The Oilers will not be an easy team to play against in the playoffs.

We need to improve our 5 v 5 play though. We’ve had elite special teams all year (#1 PP and #2 PK) and as we all know the whistles get put away in the playoffs.

 

[ZenOil]

Cups follow greatness. McDavid and Drai=greatness. Oilers fans should stay humble but hopeful.

 

[McDNicks17]

Years ago an HF Oiler fan pulled out every stat imaginable in an attempt to argue that Shawn Horcoff was a superior player to Sydney Crosby.

His reputation died in that thread.

RIP @JoeThorntonsRooster credibility.

oilerbear still lives on and is magnificent as ever.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Weirder things have happened. I don't get the hype but the results will speak for themselves, if and when they materialize.