Post-Game Talk: Steelcroft: (Not) Far From Home

[Juxta Position]

The third goal is on the Kings skaters no? Someone broke their stick and they basically decided not to cover Draisaitl or Yamamoto.

You sound almost upset LA lost. f*** the Kings, lol.

Yep, it was a horrid defensive sequence by the kings to leave both players essentially wide open, especially by the supposed defensive god Kopitar who left Yamo all alone in front.

 

[ManofSteel55]

Keith over Broberg is an improvement. Broberg has been the weak link. But... I can't help but think Broberg will get more out of being in the #7 role than Keith. I think Lags and Niemelainen have been relatively as good as Keith. Better in some worse in others but likely better within Woody systems.

Keith at his best has been our #4. No reason to be paying 5.5 cap hit when it appears Lags and or Niem can replace him.

Not to mention Samorukov might be able to work his way back into the picture as well.

Keith just isn't needed imo. He makes the most mistakes outside of Broberg and really hasn't shown he greatly offsets those mistakes regularly enough. I certainly don't see him helping us make the playoffs or doing anything worth while in them if we make it.

Small sample size. And as others mention maybe Keith works well in Woods systems... But right now imo Keith just isn't needed.

I'm sorry, but what a load. Keith has had some struggles this year like everyone else on our blueline, but to single him out is certainly an odd take. Keith at best has been our 2nd best defenseman, anchoring the 2nd line. Lagesson at his best has been a competent 5/6. Niemelainen at his best has been a bruising, game changing #5. Neither have the appropriate skill set to replace what Keith does out there, nor do they have the experience. Keith's play should have proven the naysayers wrong about him. He's not this awful bottom pairing defeneseman like everyone thought.

The one thing that is great, is the emergence of both Lagesson and Niemelainen as legitimate bottom pair options on the LD. If we're heading into the post season with Nurse-Keith-Niemeilainen as our left side, I'm a lot happier than I was a few months ago when we had Koekoek in there.

 

[iCanada]

Just took a peak at the standings and I see the division is still in play, to my shock.

I hadn't really looked at the standings in a while because I was largely apathetic up until the Woody hiring but as good as the Flames have been, and they've been tearing up the league tbh, they're still only 5 points ahead with 1 game in hand. Vegas only 4 points ahead and the Oilers have a game in hand.
Preds also falling off a bit in the wild card race, didn't realize they were relatively close to Dallas.

Of course, the Oilers are in a dogfight just to get in but I just found it surprising that the division is still well within reach. If only Holland didn't dither for a month about replacing Tippett...

If we keep winning we should make it no problem at like .600 the rest of the way.

 

[Kaptah2]

We just need to get Jesse going a bit offensively. They definitely work well together, kind of like the NHL's Odd Couple.

Jesse leads to attack zone time, which is what we want when McDacid is on the ice. Jesse's personal points are more of a bonus.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Jesse leads to attack zone time, which is what we want when McDacid is on the ice. Jesse's personal points are more of a bonus.

Completely agree, I just love seeing Jesse score goals and set up plays because I know that he has the skill to do both.

 

[elmeroil]

If they are winning I could care less about 97 and 29's points. That's been the focus for far too long. For me it's not fun having 2 guys leading the league in scoring but missing the playoffs or getting wiped out in the 1st round.

 

[CupofOil]

It’s still there. And for the record, it was an inappropriate comment by a usually level headed poster who, for whatever reason, was struggling with the push back he was taking on some ridiculous comments about Kane.

You mean when the poster told me to "go to bed" and I'm the inappropriate one? Come on now.
f*** off was probably a little extreme though and I shouldn't have said it, in retrospect, but it was late and I was getting lambasted with angry responses.

A ridiculous comment that was also shared by a few other posters that committing that the penalty in a tied, tight checking, game late in the 2nd was a bad penalty so yeah, I struggled with being told to "go to bed" just because posters disagreed with me and now you're calling my opinion "ridiculous" just because you disagree with it.

It was a valid opinion. I like Kane showing toughness but that was not the time or place for it IMO. Lemeiux baited him into it and it could have cost the Oilers the game in a game where scoring chances were few and far between.
If Kassian had done that, I bet a bunch of posters would have called him a bonehead etc. because he's on the hated list currently but with Kane being the new guy, perspective is different.

Anyway, lets move on. I have my opinion and you have yours. BTW, you see how I didn't call your opinion "ridiculous". There's a way of having a civil exchange even through disagreement.

 

[LaGu]

Yes, provided that we don't get very poor goaltending. We can win games with average goaltending against lesser teams, the playoffs however are a different animal. It would be interesting for those big into stats to tell us the quality of shots that we've been giving up with Tippett vs. with Woodcroft.

That would be interesting, for me the limit is basically naturalstattrick and high danger chances. In that department it looks the same as before, and possibly a bit worrying that these last 3 games are all in the top 10 when it comes to PDO over this season.

But then again, one of the main resources of the team in Drai looks to have been pretty quiet these games. So if other parts of the game fall off, him picking it his game could cover for that.

 

[Klimando Kostani]

You would have to think that both Drais and Connor will have to adapt their games to the inverted funnel system and it will take some time especially for Drais. It might be another three or four practices before they start working on powerplays and special situations. Its good to win but we will need the big guns too and power plays running at a certain rate. Obviously tic tac toe is history and a more controlled breakout will be the new expectation.
the Rush, the Supreme passing plays, Drais one timers, the creativity....it was fun while it lasted but we all knew other teams would adapt.

The great thing is that all of those plays will still be options when the time is right. Just don't have to live and die by them on a night by night basis.

 

[FlameChampion]

New PP coach???

New shootout coach?

 

[OilynutEsquire]

The Hyman and Ceci signings were so huge for this team, I dont like to think where we would be without them.

GREAT offseason Kenny!

 

[Canovin]

you must not have watched the game and maybe only looking at replays. On the winning goal Peterson goes back of net intercepting the puck instead of just letting it go to his D who was back on the play. Peterson then screws up with the puck, fakes out his D with two pump fakes, then panics, and bounces the puck off his own D. Oilers W the puck, work it back to the point, then To Drai, who spots Yama and they score. It was all on Peterson.

Admittedly I don't dislike the Kings. I respect their club and core. Unlike the Oilers they're a SC winning club. Most people here, through the Oilers being so awful have a fallback club. kings are mine, anybody paying attention knows that.

LA is currently a Stanley cup winning club? I didn’t know

 

[MoontoScott]

He has been solid. I still like Niemelainen's physicality over Lagesson's game. Lagesson maybe takes over Russel's spot as our #7 D next season?

I wonder if the Oilers are toying with the idea of Russel returning under a 1 year contract? I am reasonably certain he is gone but Holland is sometimes prone to rather obtuse reasoning.

 

[russ99]

All our defensemen look better with actual forward support. Keith will too.

 

[FlameChampion]

Just took a peak at the standings and I see the division is still in play, to my shock.

I hadn't really looked at the standings in a while because I was largely apathetic up until the Woody hiring but as good as the Flames have been, and they've been tearing up the league tbh, they're still only 5 points ahead with 1 game in hand. Vegas only 4 points ahead and the Oilers have a game in hand.
Preds also falling off a bit in the wild card race, didn't realize they were relatively close to Dallas.

Of course, the Oilers are in a dogfight just to get in but I just found it surprising that the division is still well within reach. If only Holland didn't dither for a month about replacing Tippett...

It should be Vegas, Oilers and Flames in the top 3 in the pacific. I think they are the best 3 teams in the Pacific. But yeah its closer than it should be, because Holland took too long to replace Tippett.

 

[russ99]

I wonder if the Oilers are toying with the idea of Russel returning under a 1 year contract? I am reasonably certain he is gone but Holland is sometimes prone to rather obtuse reasoning.

Possible, So far Lagesson or Broberg hasn't taken his job, and we could do worse for a #7D that's primarily an injury replacement. The question is more why did we sign Koekkoek to a two year deal?

 

[FlameChampion]

I'm sorry, but what a load. Keith has had some struggles this year like everyone else on our blueline, but to single him out is certainly an odd take. Keith at best has been our 2nd best defenseman, anchoring the 2nd line. Lagesson at his best has been a competent 5/6. Niemelainen at his best has been a bruising, game changing #5. Neither have the appropriate skill set to replace what Keith does out there, nor do they have the experience. Keith's play should have proven the naysayers wrong about him. He's not this awful bottom pairing defeneseman like everyone thought.

The one thing that is great, is the emergence of both Lagesson and Niemelainen as legitimate bottom pair options on the LD. If we're heading into the post season with Nurse-Keith-Niemeilainen as our left side, I'm a lot happier than I was a few months ago when we had Koekoek in there.

I dont really get it with Keith either.

On one hand I dont really like the trade. I think there had to be some retention. And I dont like the second year.

But the player is an upgrade for sure over Jones and a third. I am a bit dissapointed with his defensive play without the puck. I think his defensive play might look better in Woodcrofts system as well. Every other dmans defensive game has pretty much improved because the forwards are helping out too.

 

[MoontoScott]

Possible, So far Lagesson or Broberg hasn't taken his job, and we could do worse for a #7D that's primarily an injury replacement. The question is more why did we sign Koekkoek to a two year deal?

Yes, the 4k contract is an example of some of the obtuse reasoning in the organization. 1 year deals only for guys in this category.

 

[Cloned]

You mean when the poster told me to "go to bed" and I'm the inappropriate one? Come on now.
f*** off was probably a little extreme though and I shouldn't have said it, in retrospect, but it was late and I was getting lambasted with angry responses.

A ridiculous comment that was also shared by a few other posters that committing that the penalty in a tied, tight checking, game late in the 2nd was a bad penalty so yeah, I struggled with being told to "go to bed" just because posters disagreed with me and now you're calling my opinion "ridiculous" just because you disagree with it.

It was a valid opinion. I like Kane showing toughness but that was not the time or place for it IMO. Lemeiux baited him into it and it could have cost the Oilers the game in a game where scoring chances were few and far between.
If Kassian had done that, I bet a bunch of posters would have called him a bonehead etc. because he's on the hated list currently but with Kane being the new guy, perspective is different.

Anyway, lets move on. I have my opinion and you have yours. BTW, you see how I didn't call your opinion "ridiculous". There's a way of having a civil exchange even through disagreement.

If it makes you feel better, I got lambasted too.

 

[xoczar99ox]

It should be Vegas, Oilers and Flames in the top 3 in the pacific. I think they are the best 3 teams in the Pacific. But yeah its closer than it should be, because Holland took too long to replace Tippett.

You know what. Maybe he waited just long enough. Maybe if he pulled the trigger sooner some players on the team maybe thought they were smarter than the the coach. Maybe it was held off just long enough to get the full attention of the team for the new coach. Yah. That’s how I’m going to look at it.

 

[La Bamba]

The question is more why did we sign Koekkoek to a two year deal?

he's a steady #7 NHL D man and his entire cap hit can be buried. he's only 27 and at worst, he can provide some stability in Bakersfield

 

[MessierII]

Keith over Broberg is an improvement. Broberg has been the weak link. But... I can't help but think Broberg will get more out of being in the #7 role than Keith. I think Lags and Niemelainen have been relatively as good as Keith. Better in some worse in others but likely better within Woody systems.

Keith at his best has been our #4. No reason to be paying 5.5 cap hit when it appears Lags and or Niem can replace him.

Not to mention Samorukov might be able to work his way back into the picture as well.

Keith just isn't needed imo. He makes the most mistakes outside of Broberg and really hasn't shown he greatly offsets those mistakes regularly enough. I certainly don't see him helping us make the playoffs or doing anything worth while in them if we make it.

Small sample size. And as others mention maybe Keith works well in Woods systems... But right now imo Keith just isn't needed.

We’ve outscored the opposition 5 on 5 with Keith. Not the case with Ceci who has played similar minutes. If your suggesting playing lagesson or Niem in the top 4 the rest of the season I’m not sure what to say. It’s just a disservice to both the player and the team.

You probably have some vendetta against the trade your clinging too but join us in reality at some point and look at the actual results with Keith on the ice.

 

[CupofOil]

If it makes you feel better, I got lambasted too.

I saw that, but you deserved it

 

[Forgot About Drai]

The gap between Woodcroft and Tipp is so huge it hurts my brain.

 

[Klimando Kostani]

I think Keith will look a lot better with the woodcroft system.

His first step doesn't keep up sometimes but with the center working in the NZ this will help funnel attackers into the dmen more, taking some creativity out of zone entries.