Post-Game Talk: That win was like pulling teeth

[Drivesaitl]

This was the Florida game? I’m still not sold this was directed at Skinner. Skinner was behind him and Draisaitl looked like he was directing his movement towards the seats and said something to a fan.

Several people here and some hockey pundits saw it the same way, directed at Skinner who was following Drai off ice. Since then people had pointed out that Drais push of the Bench resembled the Skinner pushing the goal thing. I hadn't detected that at first but in watching seemed like it. In anycase I do mention this is not the first time Drai has thrown some shade. He has in postgame comments as well.

Drai is also not above making side comments to demonstrate something. For instance being effusive with praise for Pickard last night and saying the whole team loves playing for him. The timing is interesting. Drai is no dope. He would know the comment would have another side and that perhaps the other goalie thats really struggling also hears the comment. Drai is usually thoughtful with that stuff and careful not to single out praise for one and not the other. He would be fully aware how his comments could be interpreted.

 

[Messrules11]

You're simply wrong on this one. Under Knobs what you say is more accurate, Drai is used far less on the pk now but in his career he's been there. Like I said usually used to win own zone faceoff and start pk on a good note.

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So he doesn’t play in all situations then, it’s like I’ve been saying that all along.

 

[BlackDogg]

 

[Drivesaitl]

You’re not wrong. And that’s why it pisses me off. (Not the fact you are correct, but that your comment is. Wanted to clarify ).


Love that big German.

It’s not even that subtle.

Its his way of saying “check”, your move Coach Kris.

We're talking as well about the same goalie that had specific pads designed in offseason for the Heritage Classic that was here that year. I kind of detect things like that and wonder about what kind of favoritism/machination was going on back then under woodcroft. You'll remember this being Jack Campbell vs Skinner as starter except that I don't think it was ever really going to be one or the other. It was always going to be Skinner and I suspect he was told as much. Its usually the starter that gets the Classic game. Always struck me as odd it was preordained for Skinner.

Really his whole time here its been charmed life and when Knobs came on here the acolytes were singing Skinner praises to keep the ball rolling. Skinner really milks praise from around the org. He's that kind of guy that manufactures some sob story so people are always in his camp. Manipulative in his own way. This starting out years ago and in Junior and AHL. Several backstories of coaches and others saying "I really wanted Skinner to succeed" He's somebody that wins people over. He sells himself. But not well enough on the ice.

To this day the org and its pressers figure Skins is some kind of fan favorite. Clearly they don't read anything the fans have to say. Bugs me the broadcast are so pro Skinner. Never seen anything quite like it and not even Fuhr got that kind of grace from the broadcasts.

In the Holloway thread I'd pointed out that Holloway has more G/min than McDavid and has more actual EVG than McDavid this season. Nice goals too. Kid is playing with some kind of verve. Holloway will be a star player in this league and already a fan favorite in STL.

Just a side comment but I've seen Seth Jarvis now around 10X this season and I still don't know what he does. Holloway is noticeable almost every game and at the worst rushing the puck effectively and getting shots off, using screens, beating contain etc. Kid has really found his game. Myself I would've picked guys like Tom Wilson over some of the scrubs we had on Team Canada that did nothing.

Anyway it was gutting to lose Holloway and I felt that in real time in offseason.

 

[guymez]

I mean sure, that's fair, but at least they won those games as opposed to get a giant pile of loser points. The team is flawed, they have to make some changes or risk pissing it all away.

I am not complaining that they won in O/T.
Just pointing out that its a bit of a tell in terms of how good this team really is.
Really good teams dont need 3x3 to win games.
Especially when 2 of the 3 players they put on the ice are McDavid and Draisaitl.
IMO this team (as its constructed right now) is a bit of a mirage in terms of being a contender.

 

[Drivesaitl]

For around a month the Oilers website was having Stu Skinner as the flash add for "stretch packs" I always thought that was ironic. Skinner and stretch, haha. Also that the org was specifically marketing Skinner as if ANYBODY is buying tickets or packs specifically to see Skinner. In anycase those adds are now down. Not to make too much of it but got a chuckle at that.

I wonder though if for a longtime the org really misread the support of Skinner here fanbase or otherwise. The media and broadcasts love him so much. Really I don't know why.

 

[Cloned]

Several people here and some hockey pundits saw it the same way, directed at Skinner who was following Drai off ice. Since then people had pointed out that Drais push of the Bench resembled the Skinner pushing the goal thing. I hadn't detected that at first but in watching seemed like it. In anycase I do mention this is not the first time Drai has thrown some shade. He has in postgame comments as well.

Drai is also not above making side comments to demonstrate something. For instance being effusive with praise for Pickard last night and saying the whole team loves playing for him. The timing is interesting. Drai is no dope. He would know the comment would have another side and that perhaps the other goalie thats really struggling also hears the comment. Drai is usually thoughtful with that stuff and careful not to single out praise for one and not the other. He would be fully aware how his comments could be interpreted.

I think Skinner has probably lost the support of the room implicitly. Nobody is going to say it to his face but they probably all feel more comfy when Pickard starts.

We’ve seen it before with Koskinen/Smith and it’s happening again.

 

[TB12]

Can we keep the Holloway stuff to the whining Holloway/Broberg thread? Cranking off to pictures of your ex using your tears as lube isn't a productive use of your time.

 

[Cloned]

Can we keep the Holloway stuff to the whining Holloway/Broberg thread? Cranking off to pictures of your ex using your tears as lube isn't a productive use of your time.

So that’s what I’ve been doing wrong…

 

[guymez]

Yup...major League fail on the part of Oilers management. No other way to frame this.
Jackson and company made this team worse with that decision. They created a problem that didnt previously exist.

It reminds me of the management decsions that used to happen when this team wasnt very good.
1/2 a step forward...full step backwards.

Its hard to have confidence in Jackson and company to correct a problem they created...but yet here we are.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I think Skinner has probably lost the support of the room implicitly. Nobody is going to say it to his face but they probably all feel more comfy when Pickard starts.

We’ve seen it before with Koskinen/Smith and it’s happening again.

The strange thing though in this is it was Smith being the populist, the personality. He had the team not just due to his play on the ice but what he was like in the room. Smith sold that aspect of himself and was a similar salesman. Koskinen probably was shocked at some of what transpired. He didn't seem to be extroverted at ll. He had to kind of find how to fit in.

The interesting thing now is people are sniffing up (finally) what Skinner is despite Skinner being ever the populist and working the room and developing ties.

tbh I didn't like the aspect in either Smith or Skinner. Who's in net should be based on merit. But in pro sports and team sports something else often takes place. Skinner is a Skinner salesman. A large part of why he's always been the starter wherever he is. It isn't based on play.

But in this instance, in the turning away from Skinner, its fully earned. Its real interesting to see.

I love Drai even more now if thats even possible. Drai is on it. lol

 

[BlackDogg]

Yup...major League fail on the part of Oilers management. No other way to frame this.
Jackson and company made this team worse with that decision. They created a problem that didnt previously exist.

It reminds me of the management decsions that used to happen when this team wasnt very good.
1/2 a step forward...full step backwards.

Its hard to have confidence in Jackson and company to correct a problem they created...but yet here we are.

I don't have much confidence in the management. They are always the last to make any moves. And the obvious ones, they don't even make.

 

[Drivesaitl]

So he doesn’t play in all situations then, it’s like I’ve been saying that all along.

You said he isn't ever on pk period. 500mins suggests you're wrong. Anyway.

Drai during Tippett era was over a minute a night on pk. Sometimes two minutes a night. He's been used less in that capacity now and as well earlier in career when the Oilers had some specific pk players.

But to falsely say he's never been on the pk is inaccurate.

I would compare and contrast stats but NHL didn't do TOI stats back then. I do remember Mess being on pk at times but I don't know for sure if it was a lot of it. The Oilers had fantastic pk players and defensive forwards back then.

The Oilers would work Mess or Anderson or Gretz or Kurri in pk at times due to how dangerous they were on breakouts.

hey watch the 82 Kings series and tell me how good that Oilers team was at defending and its top players. Worse than anything you see now. Even with Fuhr in net giving 5 goals back in one third period.

 

[Drivesaitl]

So that’s what I’ve been doing wrong…

All these years and the same crush. heh

Reminds me of this one that I had as Avatar back in the day.

Of course everybody noting it was the best thing about my posting...

Hey, fwiw I called the W and that Pickard was going to have a great game between the pipes. Could see that coming so way. I was wrong on Nuge waking up and Arvid hitting the net with anything.

 

[Cloned]

The strange thing though in this is it was Smith being the populist, the personality. He had the team not just due to his play on the ice but what he was like in the room. Smith sold that aspect of himself and was a similar salesman. Koskinen probably was shocked at some of what transpired. He didn't seem to be extroverted at ll. He had to kind of find how to fit in.

The interesting thing now is people are sniffing up (finally) what Skinner is despite Skinner being ever the populist and working the room and developing ties.

tbh I didn't like the aspect in either Smith or Skinner. Who's in net should be based on merit. But in pro sports and team sports something else often takes place. Skinner is a Skinner salesman. A large part of why he's always been the starter wherever he is. It isn't based on play.

But in this instance, in the turning away from Skinner, its fully earned. Its real interesting to see.

I love Drai even more now if thats even possible. Drai is on it. lol

Good thing you don’t live south of the border.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I don't have much confidence in the management. They are always the last to make any moves. And the obvious ones, they don't even make.

Not exactly Santa's toy shop or Amazon, this org. Whatever you want they don't deliver. Proudly not serving customers since the Steve Kelly pick.

Good thing you don’t live south of the border.

I could go innuendo here but its a family show this board. heh

 

[guymez]

I don't have much confidence in the management. They are always the last to make any moves. And the obvious ones, they don't even make.

That makes 2 of us.
I dont even have confidence in management to determine what the teams needs really are.

 

[Messrules11]

You said he isn't ever on pk period. 500mins suggests you're wrong. Anyway.

Drai during Tippett era was over a minute a night on pk. Sometimes two minutes a night. He's been used less in that capacity now and as well earlier in career when the Oilers had some specific pk players.

But to falsely say he's never been on the pk is inaccurate.

I would compare and contrast stats but NHL didn't do TOI stats back then. I do remember Mess being on pk at times but I don't know for sure if it was a lot of it. The Oilers had fantastic pk players and defensive forwards back then.

The Oilers would work Mess or Anderson or Gretz or Kurri in pk at times due to how dangerous they were on breakouts.

hey watch the 82 Kings series and tell me how good that Oilers team was at defending and its top players. Worse than anything you see now. Even with Fuhr in net giving 5 goals back in one third period.

You want to go back to ‘82 now? So those guys had what 3 years in the league at that point.
For the record Mess was still killing penalties with Graves in NY

 

[Ritchie Valens]

Can we keep the Holloway stuff to the whining Holloway/Broberg thread? Cranking off to pictures of your ex using your tears as lube isn't a productive use of your time.

Absolutely savage way of putting it.

 

[Ritchie Valens]

Several people here and some hockey pundits saw it the same way, directed at Skinner who was following Drai off ice. Since then people had pointed out that Drais push of the Bench resembled the Skinner pushing the goal thing. I hadn't detected that at first but in watching seemed like it. In anycase I do mention this is not the first time Drai has thrown some shade. He has in postgame comments as well.

Drai is also not above making side comments to demonstrate something. For instance being effusive with praise for Pickard last night and saying the whole team loves playing for him. The timing is interesting. Drai is no dope. He would know the comment would have another side and that perhaps the other goalie thats really struggling also hears the comment. Drai is usually thoughtful with that stuff and careful not to single out praise for one and not the other. He would be fully aware how his comments could be interpreted.

I’ll have to go back and rewatch it again. If it was directed at Skinner, it’s bit out of character to do it where the cameras would pick it up.

 

[frag2]

For around a month the Oilers website was having Stu Skinner as the flash add for "stretch packs" I always thought that was ironic. Skinner and stretch, haha. Also that the org was specifically marketing Skinner as if ANYBODY is buying tickets or packs specifically to see Skinner. In anycase those adds are now down. Not to make too much of it but got a chuckle at that.

I wonder though if for a longtime the org really misread the support of Skinner here fanbase or otherwise. The media and broadcasts love him so much. Really I don't know why.

The stupid hometown boy takes his team to the cup narrative. Media dgaf as long as theres a story to be told.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Drais death stare at Skinner reminded me of the Avs players and Georgiev.

 

[Cloned]

Drais death stare at Skinner reminded me of the Avs players and Georgiev.

It was 100% because Skinner didn’t even attempt to go to the bench. I think Drai can forgive bad goals as mistakes and simply getting beat, it happens. But when you don’t even put in an effort or you aren’t aware of the situation that probably pissed him off.

To be fair that stuff would piss me off too if I was a teammate.

 

[Stoneman89]

lol this organization. People wonder what’s going on with McDavid, I think year after year of the above takes a toll.

And yet Leon keeps chugging along.

 

[LeonDraisaitl29]

Start pickard going forward

Or you