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

[TK 421]

from who? a Leaf fan that started this thread?

Well there goes that narrative. I'm sure there's still a way to spin it as Oiler fan hubris though, HFBoards will find a way.

 

[McDavidCrushedLarkin]

Draisaitl was the best player this season just like Jarri Kurri is the greatest goal scorer of all time.

Or Gaudreau > McDavid amiright?

 

[ChaoticOrange]

Draisaitl definitely proved he was better than people thought this year. There's also no doubt that having pp time with McDavid and having McDavid take many of the tough matchups helped his numbers though.

The "tough matchups" thing is much overblown, it's a virtual saw-off. (data from PuckIQ), CTOI is % of TOI vs elites

 

[blankall]

The "tough matchups" thing is much overblown, it's a virtual saw-off. (data from PuckIQ), CTOI is % of TOI vs elites

And having that "virtual saw-off" is a benefit, as opposed to just having all the focus on the 1st line centre, which is typical of most teams.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

And having that "virtual saw-off" is a benefit, as opposed to just having all the focus on the 1st line centre, which is typical of most teams.

Not notably, no.

By the same measures on the same site, Gaudreau/Monahan spend significantly less time against elites than McDavid/Draisaitl do, even though the Flames duo is on the same line and the Oilers duo are on different lines.

Lindholm was actually the Flames vs elites workhorse.

 

[blankall]

Not notably, no.

By the same measures on the same site, Gaudreau/Monahan spend significantly less time against elites than McDavid/Draisaitl do, even though the Flames duo is on the same line and the Oilers duo are on different lines.

Lindholm was actually the Flames vs elites workhorse.

Great....you're not even looking at the issue. Draisaitl has fewer tough matchups, because McDavid is also on the ice. Facts. What's going with other teams is not relevant.

 

[Rejean31]

Oilers would wipe the floor with Calgary and Vancouver. Relax

Sure, they looked really good beating the Flames once out of the four times they played them. LOL

 

[HarryLime]

Sure, they looked really good beating the Flames once out of the four times they played them. LOL

He was referring to beating both in lotteries and I agree. 2010s it was 4 to 0 (combined). Oil wanna start of the the new decade with the first chip as well.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

Great....you're not even looking at the issue. Draisaitl has fewer tough matchups, because McDavid is also on the ice. Facts. What's going with other teams is not relevant.

Yes, it is, because it's not like Draisaitl faced notably easier matchups compared to virtually any other top 6 forward out there. His % of time on ice vs elites compared to the other two Hart finalists is virtually in lockstep, and even when McDavid was out of the lineup entirely his production increased instead of stagnating.

 

[ACC1224]

from who? a Leaf fan that started this thread?

A thread made in February by a Leafs fan somehow equals hubris?

Thread starter isn't a Leaf fan.

 

[McDNicks17]

Thread starter isn't a Leaf fan.

They had a Leafs and Canes avatar when this was posted and they sure spend a lot of time talking about the Leafs.

Either way, the point is this thread wasn't created by an Oilers fan.

 

[ACC1224]

They had a Leafs and Canes avatar when this was posted and they sure spend a lot of time talking about the Leafs.

Either way, the point is this thread wasn't created by an Oilers fan.

Many spend time talking about the Leafs that aren't fans.

 

[blankall]

Yes, it is, because it's not like Draisaitl faced notably easier matchups compared to virtually any other top 6 forward out there. His % of time on ice vs elites compared to the other two Hart finalists is virtually in lockstep, and even when McDavid was out of the lineup entirely his production increased instead of stagnating.

So you're saying that McDavid faced the easier time? Every team has their best defenders, even if they have lots of great defenders. Those defenders can only be on the ice for max 25 or so minutes a night. If both McDavid and Draisaitl are on the ice for 20+ minutes, and not always on the ice together, teams are going to have to make choices about who to defend. You can put up all the fancy stats you want, but nothing changes this reality.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

So you're saying that McDavid faced the easier time? Every team has their best defenders, even if they have lots of great defenders. Those defenders can only be on the ice for max 25 or so minutes a night. If both McDavid and Draisaitl are on the ice for 20+ minutes, and not always on the ice together, teams are going to have to make choices about who to defend. You can put up all the fancy stats you want, but nothing changes this reality.

The reality is other teams put their top guys out against McDavid and Draisaitl at about the same rate.

Almost like Edmonton has two elite players and other teams recognize that.

 

[blankall]

The reality is other teams put their top guys out against McDavid and Draisaitl at about the same rate.

So you agree that McDavid is getting half of the time with top defenders?

 

[ChaoticOrange]

So you agree that McDavid is getting half of the time with top defenders?

Each saw about 36.5%. vs elites

MacKinnon saw about 38%, Panarin about 37%.

Crosby saw 40%. Kucherov 31%. Gaudreau 34%.

All the top players in the league see approximately the same % of icetime vs other team's top defenders, give or take 5%. It's certainly not the big deal you're making it out to be.

 

[Todd Parchment]

Each saw about 36.5%. vs elites

MacKinnon saw about 38%, Panarin about 37%.

Crosby saw 40%. Kucherov 31%. Gaudreau 34%.

All the top players in the league see approximately the same % of icetime vs other team's top defenders, give or take 5%. It's certainly not the big deal you're making it out to be.

What are numbers and percentages bro???? McDavid soaked up half or more of Drais hard minutes Because that’s what I learned in elementary so idk what you’re talki about he played vs f***ing 4th liners according to the eye test.

 

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

StL
Nsh/VGK
EDM/COL/CGY/WPG
VAN

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Sure, they looked really good beating the Flames once out of the four times they played them. LOL

And what a beating it was. A f***ing snowman was built in the Saddledome.

 

[NeverForget06]

StL
Nsh/VGK
EDM/COL/CGY/WPG
VAN

I'd way rather play Nashville than Vancouver.... their goaltending ain't what it used to be and their forwards are junk. Josi and Ellis can only do so much

 

[KINGS17]

If I had to pick a team winning the Western Conference, I think I would put my money on Colorado.

 

[blankall]

StL
Nsh/VGK
EDM/COL/CGY/WPG
VAN

Switch Colorado and Nashville and you might be on to something.

You also might as well take into account the entire top 12.

 

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

Switch Colorado and Nashville and you might be on to something.

You also might as well take into account the entire top 12.

I was really just trying to show where the tiers are imo. Each team could win on a given night. Whereas the others like Minn,Chi,Az, I could see going 0-2 after the prelims, if they get there.

Col is surging, but this may not be their Cup year, yet. Possible WC, but STL, even NSH/VGK over Col for me.

Nobody is even talking about EDM, decent Top 6/Top4. #1PP, #2PK, added Athansiou, who if he gets skating/hot, look out he can be PPG.

 

[blankall]

I was really just trying to show where the tiers are imo. Each team could win on a given night. Whereas the others like Minn,Chi,Az, I could see going 0-2 after the prelims, if they get there.

Col is surging, but this may not be their Cup year, yet. Possible WC, but STL, even NSH/VGK over Col for me.

Nobody is even talking about EDM, decent Top 6/Top4. #1PP, #2PK, added Athansiou, who if he gets skating/hot, look out he can be PPG.

AA had one year at 54 points and other than that has been a .5 PPG guy. He seems to have somehow fallen down the Edmonton depth chart and had 2 points in 9 games, all coming in his first game.

 

[FlyingPhi]

This is fun.