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

[McTonyBrar]

Also Derek Ryan looks like a different player under woodcroft, not a world beater, but just so much more effective and useful. They really should have made this change before Xmas

Another big difference is he's playing RW. He's better at wing

 

[frag2]

I know it's a small sample size, but one slightly concerning trend is Draisaitl's play under Woodcroft's system. I wonder if he's the type of player that dislikes structure or that takes longer to adjust because many of his plays seem automatic or habitual, such as the one-timer on the PP or the backhanded passes. Now that he has to take the time to adjust his play style, think critically, and develop new habits, it may mean a relatively longer learning curve.

I know its been mentioned that personal player points don't matter as long as the team's winning and I largely agree; however, 1) McDavid has started to show signs of accelerating his point production, which means that the same effect SHOULD happen to Draisaitl and 2) the team needs Draisaitl to contribute offensively in order to have sustained success. It's been great to win without one of your major stars contributing, but at some point, they'll need him to step up his production again, especially to make and have some success in the playoffs.

Again, I can't say if he's just taking an extra long time to adjust to Woody's system or if this is just a continuation of the prolonged doldrums he's been experiencing since December. Last year, when he went through this same problem, it only lasted 1 month to 6 weeks at the most, but now it's going on 3 months, which, at this point, is a bit of a concern. Hopefully these concerns are premature but something to keep an eye on. Woodcroft seems like a great communicator, so perhaps he'll make some headway with this issue.

IMO, I think Drai's just not accustomed to doing a lot of the skating himself. Woodcrofts system makes players skate a shit ton, lots of hustling. Drai could get by coasting and slowing down the play previously but it would also hurt the team at times as well. Now, its a lot of go go go almost entire game.

He'll figure it out [I hope]. It's always been one of Drai's biggest criticisms by numerous past coaches [except Tipp...he just lets him do wtf he wants].

 

[joestevens29]

Heard a lot of weird stats and such past couple days, but with 50 goals Nurse is 4th all time in goals scored by a d-man for the Oilers.

 

[frag2]

Tippett seems to be good enough to come up with a strategy for the club. The problem was once teams adjusted to us he didn't adjust. Which is weird for a guy that spent so much time watching film during the off-season. Then again if he wasn't spending as much time during the year doing this, then it makes sense to why he didn't adjust. Not like McLellan was any different. Not sure why some coaches just refuse to change up, is it because they are afraid to tell their players that their plan was wrong?

The PP is one that I hope Woodcroft can fix quickly. It's been talked about a ton, they need to get more shots from the point. Until they start doing this those cross ice one-time passes that were working so well early on won't be there.

maybe it was black and white film

 

[Drivesaitl]

Yeah, that's probably it right there. It feels like a pulled muscle (I feel it sometimes when I pull my arm back) but it only flares up occasionally so I don't treat it and still do my daily workout routine but maybe I should switch it up a bit to give it a rest for a while. I'm barely in my 40s but I'm now learning that I need to pace myself more than I used to. Still adjusting to that.
Thanks for the advice though about the magnesium. I'll look into it.

So, how about that Woodcroft?

I think he's pushing the pounds up there and possibly headed to Hitchcock territory. Oh, you mean his coaching? lol

jk aside he's a good guy. Seems a real positivity sort and remembers the importance of approaching the world with a big smile and confidence. Its very effective. I mean you can even confront people better with a smile. Except the people that say. "why you saying that shit to me and smiling, you're strange" heh

 

[joestevens29]

One thing I didn't like last night was some of this soft zone entries where they are just pushing the puck into the zone with no one around. Just fire it in the corner and hope for a mistake or for someone to force a mistake.

There were a couple times we made a line change, but by the time we had our backs going to the bench LA was in full control. We just seem to give up control of the puck with zero chance of there being a benefit. Make the other team work. Heck haven't we seen our own goalie fumble the puck and make a bad play and he's one of the best in the league at playing the puck? Start forcing teams to make a play instead of giving them a play.

 

[Gordian Knot]

I wonder if Holland realizes he made a huge mistake not firing Tippett sooner.

Imagine we keep Tippett whole season and some other team signs Woodcroft after firing their head coach and it leaves us with another dinosaur in off season. How that would feel?

 

[McTonyBrar]

One thing that had been perplexing me under Tippet is the time Bouchard got on the PK. Ceci has been a pretty good PK player for a lot of years, I found it odd that you would put out someone so young whose game is more aligned to an offensive D man on the PK before the veteran that is a known PK commodity. And this reduces Bouchards offensive chances. Ceci was on his way to his lowest PK time since his rookie year. It is almost like Tippet just sent out whomever was paired with Nurse. No rule says you have to do that the last tow seasons Ceci's PK time was not with his regular partner. It just seemed so odd.

Last night Ceci saw ~ 7minutes, Bouchard none on the PK. This would seem to be the proper deployment based on the players strengths.

Honestly was Tippett just plain stupid? He has Ceci who is defensive and he could've used him so much on the PK. Instead, the fool puts out a rookie offensive Dman lmao

 

[McTonyBrar]

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.

Broberg is not a weak link lol. The only weak link I've seen is Shore

 

[McTonyBrar]

What a load of shit.

Glad I wasn't the only one who shook his head

 

[PulYou]

What did he say?

 

[McTonyBrar]

Lagesson has been a pleasant surprise of late.

I'd let Broberg get some more AHL time. Keep Lagesson as our 7th Dman. Niemo has earned to be a #6. My D pairs are

Nurse Barrie
Keith Ceci
Niemo Bouchard
Lagesson

11 F 7 D

 

[McTonyBrar]

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.

Agreed except I can see Niemo, eventually when he has his puck skills up to par, he can be maybe a top 4

 

[Drivesaitl]

That he didn't have a clue what he was doing out there. I kind of agree.

 

[ManofSteel55]

Agreed except I can see Niemo, eventually when he has his puck skills up to par, he can be maybe a top 4

Maybe eventually. But he isn't a 2nd pair guy right now, so he hasn't made Keith expendable.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Agreed except I can see Niemo, eventually when he has his puck skills up to par, he can be maybe a top 4

He's doing plenty good already and physicality like that can make a lot of players defer on coming up your side. His mobility, and cover, partly because of his size and span is underrated. He's a rare lanky D that actually has some decent reaction size. He can get beat around the corner, if his guy manages to get there before getting creamed.

he's a pleasure to watch. A constant joy.

 

[Kepler 186f]

Feel for your pain. I've been waiting a year and a half for my hip replacement surgery and it looks like it's going to happen next month, thank Krist. But in the meantime, I've been eating pain killers like candy, just to be able to function every day. Would love to just go out for a little walk, but have difficulty just walking 10 steps at this point. As a result of the pain killers, my blood is very thin, and I bruise easily. My arms look like those old people in the assisted living homes with all the red blotches.
Sorry to move the thread, back to your regular viewing now.

I have had both hips done (quite a while back) and what a life changer!

But you will need to exercise and stretch ongoing forever.

 

[McTonyBrar]

Re all the Koekkoek negativity I'm wondering how Koekkoek might do with this new system. So far all our d have looked better. Maybe Tippett system was either too complex or not realy a system at all.

Gross. Keep him away. Niemo is 100000000000x better than him

 

[McTonyBrar]

Holy man you're quickly heading to the ignore list... What hockey player are you watching??? Hyman PKs amd is by far our best winger at winning battles and getting pucks out.

Mangiapane is also about to get PAID and has a crazy sh%.

I don't know why he's so upset that we are winning lmao

 

[K1984]

He had a bit of a bad stretch playing through that shoulder injury before we were shut down from covid. Outside of that Hyman has been excellent. He forechecks like crazy, backchecks like crazy, can play both special teams, both wings and will score 25+ goals this year. He’s exactly what I expected.

100% this.

Other than the 10ish games where he was part hurt, part COVID where he was a 0 he has been fantastic. Was great before the injury, has been great since he got past the injury.

 

[Stoneman89]

Final score

Oilers 5

Mandalorians 2

 

[WaitingForUser]

Not really talked about all that much, but quite the statement for the Kings to play Pederson after a two week layoff. Quick has been their start this year and seemed a bit odd.

That was TMac knowing the oilers have major troubles against back up goalies IMO

 

[Drivesaitl]

I have had both hips done (quite a while back) and what a life changer!

But you will need to exercise and stretch ongoing forever.

Good to hear.
We could start a support group for this kind of thing. I feel like 1-2hrs of rehab and making sure to be mobile every day is a constant but it was before. my big thing that started everthing going off kilter was knee injuries. Body adjusts and compensates and then that leads to other stuff. Don't we know. Somehow I've managed to avoid knee or hip replacements. The Osteo specialist said I would need knee replacements by age 40. I've gotten 20more years still on the real knees and still being able. I find that keeping moving in ways you can is key.

haha, we need a thread for this stuff.

 

[Drivesaitl]

He had a bit of a bad stretch playing through that shoulder injury before we were shut down from covid. Outside of that Hyman has been excellent. He forechecks like crazy, backchecks like crazy, can play both special teams, both wings and will score 25+ goals this year. He’s exactly what I expected.

Just being honest I forgot about the injury. We've had so many players with covid or injuries or and out of lineup to keep track. Thanks. I'll adjust my views like I said.

 

[Broberg Speed]

I know it's a small sample size, but one slightly concerning trend is Draisaitl's play under Woodcroft's system. I wonder if he's the type of player that dislikes structure or that takes longer to adjust because many of his plays seem automatic or habitual, such as the one-timer on the PP or the backhanded passes. Now that he has to take the time to adjust his play style, think critically, and develop new habits, it may mean a relatively longer learning curve.

I know its been mentioned that personal player points don't matter as long as the team's winning and I largely agree; however, 1) McDavid has started to show signs of accelerating his point production, which means that the same effect SHOULD happen to Draisaitl and 2) the team needs Draisaitl to contribute offensively in order to have sustained success. It's been great to win without one of your major stars contributing, but at some point, they'll need him to step up his production again, especially to make and have some success in the playoffs.

Again, I can't say if he's just taking an extra long time to adjust to Woody's system or if this is just a continuation of the prolonged doldrums he's been experiencing since December. Last year, when he went through this same problem, it only lasted 1 month to 6 weeks at the most, but now it's going on 3 months, which, at this point, is a bit of a concern. Hopefully these concerns are premature but something to keep an eye on. Woodcroft seems like a great communicator, so perhaps he'll make some headway with this issue.

Draisaitl probably played his best game of the season against the New York Islanders.