Post-Game Talk: The milquetoast regular season ends … are better things ahead?

[Jimmi McJenkins]

In my viewing of the game, and past couple on some of the guys we don't see a lot of:

Quinn Hutson - looked like a boy among men out there. At the NHL level, his speed and quickness look subpar. Decision making at NHL game speed was also a step behind. Strength with puck was poor, threw a few weak pucks up the ice that were easily intercepted. Having said all that, this wasn't a warranted NHL look, just the cost of doing business. A bad situation for a rookie to be expected to succeed in. He also showed a lot of hustle, and wasn't that far off game speed. I think he can build himself up in the AHL next year and has a lot of potential.

He looked like a rookie right out of college, he showed good defensive instincts and there looks to be player there.

Josh Brown - offseason addition that seemed like the Vinny D replacement. Honestly he is a better skater - faster- than Vinny D. He hits harder and is meaner. He moves with the puck on his stick better than Vinny. But overall ends up a worse player. It is all decision making. He runs around a bit more and gets out of position and makes poor decisions constantly with the puck.

He was taller than Vinny, he was worse at EVERYTHING else. No he didn't skate better, you and I probably Skate better than Josh Brown, he's just awful at hockey. Now they put liked 4 or 5 guys in front of him, so it's only when the worst case happens that he plays. Josh Brown is terrible and NOT an NHL player at all.

Ben Gleason - Good skater. Lanky defender who doesn't look like he can physically handle opponents in the D zone. Didn't impress me with any of his puck decisions. I'm not a fan of his; and his ceiling is at the AHL level. Definitely wouldn't dress him ahead of Stetcher, Klingberg, or even Emberson for the playoffs.

Ben Gleason plays for Philly's farm team so I have no idea what you're talking about, unless you wanted give a scouting report about some Phantoms games you watched.

Cam Dineen played, he's a smallish guy who plays smart, skates well and can move the puck. Strength is going to be a concern, but if he's 7/8/9 guy, he can do a decent job in a pinch.

I know he didn't play, but has Klingberg ever missed a big opportunity this season. I thought his game and skating would get better and better with more games played as he shook off the rust. Instead he gets hurt (and or infected?) dropped to LTIR and we probably never see him again. Does nothing for his future earning potential or solidifying another NHL job for him personally.
This could have been a astute move by management, instead it's another example of the Anti-Midas touch they've had all year. Every decision they make turns to crap.

Klingberg's game looked like it was coming around until he got hurt, he would have made an excellent fit as 3RD with all the bodies healthy. Maybe he comes back, but who knows.

A rotation of Klingberg, Stetcher and Emberson would have great to have.

 

[Duke74]

Also Leon has missed the most games in the season to be leading goal scorer at the end of the year

He probably would've had 60 if not for the stupid injury. The same dumb injury that will cost him the Hart Ugh.

 

[Drivesaitl]

3 pt games mean you tire out your team more so that makes it a longer season.

Its quite clear, and easy to figure out. If this season results are put into 2pt/game alotted then the Oilers had 12 Extra time wins wherein they got 2pts and which they would only have 1pt in former NHL pts awarded. So 12 less pts brings us to only 89pt season. Its an appreciable difference. For those not familiar in the past you got 2pts for a W 1pt to each club for tie games, and zero pts for a loss.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

I think Kulak deserves a lot of credit for how he played this year and the fact he played all 82.

What a horse!

He's, according the broadcast last night, has never missed a game as an Oilers, that's just incredible frankly. He's also done nothing but out perform his contract year after year being an Oilers. Unsung hero.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

He probably would've had 60 if not for the stupid injury. The same dumb injury that will cost him the Hart Ugh.

Leon hits, sincerely, 60-60 if he doesn't get hurt, I'm personally certain of this.

 

[MessierThanThou]

He looked like a rookie right out of college, he showed good defensive instincts and there looks to be player there.


He was taller than Vinny, he was worse at EVERYTHING else. No he didn't skate better, you and I probably Skate better than Josh Brown, he's just awful at hockey. Now they put liked 4 or 5 guys in front of him, so it's only when the worst case happens that he plays. Josh Brown is terrible and NOT an NHL player at all.

Vinny is actually taller by two inches, so there is literally nothing Brown has over Vinny except being a million dollars cheaper. Brown has easily been the worst Oiler in every single game I've seen him in this season. Someone on here said that he was recently playing on Bakersfield's third pair... Either way, Brown should be kept far, far away from the playoffs, especially when it seemed like every Kings goal from the last game was with Brown on the ice.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Vinny is actually taller by two inches, so there is literally nothing Brown has over Vinny except being a million dollars cheaper. Brown has easily been the worst Oiler in every single game I've seen him in this season. Someone on here said that he was recently playing on Bakersfield's third pair... Either way, Brown should be kept far, far away from the playoffs, especially when it seemed like every Kings goal from the last game was with Brown on the ice.

I mean if Brown is dressing in the playoffs, that blueline is REALLY banged up, it's the only reason he played the last couple of games.

I forgot Vinny was taller too lol. I don't believe Vinny is $2M player, but I believe he's more of $2M NHL player than Josh Brown is an NHL player at all.

 

[GreeningOil]

He's, according the broadcast last night, has never missed a game as an Oilers, that's just incredible frankly. He's also done nothing but out perform his contract year after year being an Oilers. Unsung hero.

100%. He’s such a good #3/4/5 that is consistently paired with different players and does nothing but play hard.

 

[MessierThanThou]

I mean if Brown is dressing in the playoffs, that blueline is REALLY banged up, it's the only reason he played the last couple of games.

I forgot Vinny was taller too lol. I don't believe Vinny is $2M player, but I believe he's more of $2M NHL player than Josh Brown is an NHL player at all.

I have more faith in Connor Carrick on our blueline than Josh Brown and I say that having never seen Carrick play a second of NHL hockey. I just can't believe he could possibly be worse.

 

[RegDunlop]

His interview after the game was something, he ended by saying “I thought I played well’. Fuhr won 4 cups here, I don’t think I ever heard him say that. Skinner beats a last place club in game 82 and here we are.

Fuhr? No doubt.
Remember Messier on cbc interview blasting (maybe Dave Hodge?) after being asked a hundred times what's wrong with Fuhr. He was pissed and said nothings wrong with him greatest goalie rough patch...all that not in those words but...
I'll always remember that.

 

[RegDunlop]

You get a like for spelling milquetoast correctly. I have seen way too much "milk toast" on the internet. People are stupid.

No there not

 

[Drivesaitl]

There was a spell where Emberson was dead last on these...now he's first. Cam Dineen in second! If Stecher isn't ready for Game one, he should definitely get in over Josh Brown...who is predictably last on this, big hits and all.

Emberson also finished first in the last game (Brown was only second last).

Trouble with doing these game specific stats is theres far too much limited sample skew for it to be meaningful in anyway. These are in effect one game snapshots of stats that are not meant to delineate in such limited samples. Its a lot of distortion. Not much I'd take from it really. What matters is where players are cumulatively in a season.

 

[MessierThanThou]

Trouble with doing these game specific stats is theres far too much limited sample skew for it to be meaningful in anyway. These are in effect one game snapshots of stats that are not meant to delineate in such limited samples. Its a lot of distortion. Not much I'd take from it really. What matters is where players are cumulatively in a season.

I don't disagree with that at all, I was just suggesting that Emberson has been playing much better as of late after being scratch-worthy for a spell.

 

[Drivesaitl]

His interview after the game was something, he ended by saying “I thought I played well’. Fuhr won 4 cups here, I don’t think I ever heard him say that. Skinner beats a last place club in game 82 and here we are.

Yeah. Skinner was beaming. Look at me I'm a star! See, see how good I am. lol.

Man post some playoff shutouts and get back to me. 3 of Skinners donuts have been against SJ.

Skinner could've been playing MarioKart through most of this game.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I don't disagree with that at all, it was more suggesting that Emberson is playing much better as of late.

Yeah. With our D I don't go too extreme on the views of them from one game or one week to the next. For instance at times people have been saying Kulak bad or Emberson bad or Booch bad. I like to keep sights on this being our best D in the whole McDrai arc and with no obvious weaknesses.

We don't have turnstile D anymore even bottom pairing. Thats big news. We also have guys like Stecher or Dineen at the ready. Its amazing really that Ekholm, Walman, Nurse out and the D still pulling.

D in total have been such a huge part of our game this season. So much of our offense is generated from D getting pucks, pucks up fast, supporting offense and scoring goals or pt shots that are creating goals.

I salute our D!

 

[MessierThanThou]

Yeah. With our D I don't go too extreme on the views of them from one game or one week to the next. For instance at times people have been saying Kulak bad or Emberson bad or Booch bad. I like to keep sights on this being our best D in the whole McDrai arc and with no obvious weaknesses.

We don't have turnstile D anymore even bottom pairing. Thats big news. We also have guys like Stecher or Dineen at the ready. Its amazing really that Ekholm, Walman, Nurse out and the D still pulling.

D in total have been such a huge part of our game this season. So much of our offense is generated from D getting pucks, pucks up fast, supporting offense and scoring goals or pt shots that are creating goals.

I salute our D!

I don't care how bad the Sharks are, the fact that we had Josh Brown, three NHL defensemen, and Cam Dineen, who looked like an NHL defenseman, and only allowed 18 shots on net, is impressive.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Trouble with doing these game specific stats is theres far too much limited sample skew for it to be meaningful in anyway. These are in effect one game snapshots of stats that are not meant to delineate in such limited samples. It’s a lot of distortion. Not much I'd take from it really. What matters is where players are cumulatively in a season.

I’d argue I would look at how a guy is playing the last 30-40 games compared to the first 30-40 or the whole season. Especially for younger guys or guys on new teams. For example Jeff Skinners last 40 games is a much better representation of who he is right now compared to the whole season. But a couple game sample is mostly meaningless for sure

 

[Drivesaitl]

I don't care how bad the Sharks are, the fact that we had Josh Brown, three NHL defensemen, and Cam Dineen, who looked like an NHL defenseman, and only allowed 18 shots on net, is impressive.

Sure. Wasn't discounting the contributions. I thought Dineen particularly did so much considering hes had no game experience here. That the guy took that on to the degree of a show me assignment means so much about his drive and resolve. Impressive.

But for me fans will see me criticize forwards a lot that aren't doing enough. I'm very positive on our D overall. D has been strong this season and Nurse best season in ages.

The last D that I was dissing here was Desharnais, and for ample reason.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I’d argue I would look at how a guy is playing the last 30-40 games compared to the first 30-40 or the whole season. Especially for younger guys or guys on new teams. For example Jeff Skinners last 40 games is a much better representation of who he is right now compared to the whole season. But a couple game sample is mostly meaningless for sure

Yeah, through the decades most of the analytics guys I've talked to say you need at least 15-20games sample for it not be random noise. Limited sample is just that. Limited. Half season evaluation sounds completely reasonable. I think for D particularly you need more sample to suss out game. Takes longer to assess D. Takes longer as well typically for them to acclimate to being in NHL.

 

[MessierThanThou]

Sure. Wasn't discounting the contributions. I thought Dineen particularly did so much considering hes had no game experience here. That the guy took that on to the degree of a show me assignment means so much about his drive and resolve. Impressive.

But for me fans will see me criticize forwards a lot that aren't doing enough. I'm very positive on our D overall. D has been strong this season and Nurse best season in ages.

Dineen was second in ice time with 23 minutes, was a plus player, and looked like a top four defender. Only asterix is it was against the Sharks, but he was also solid against LA the other night. I hope he gets considered over Josh Brown if an opening arises. I really hope it doesn't get to that though.

 

[russ99]

Maybe not, but we can turn the page on a pretty difficult season and get to work in the playoffs.

Good ole Bettman strikes again with the playoff schedule, there’s no reason to start a Sunday night game at 10PM eastern.

 

[russ99]

Al

He looked like a rookie right out of college, he showed good defensive instincts and there looks to be player there.


He was taller than Vinny, he was worse at EVERYTHING else. No he didn't skate better, you and I probably Skate better than Josh Brown, he's just awful at hockey. Now they put liked 4 or 5 guys in front of him, so it's only when the worst case happens that he plays. Josh Brown is terrible and NOT an NHL player at all.


Ben Gleason plays for Philly's farm team so I have no idea what you're talking about, unless you wanted give a scouting report about some Phantoms games you watched.

Cam Dineen played, he's a smallish guy who plays smart, skates well and can move the puck. Strength is going to be a concern, but if he's 7/8/9 guy, he can do a decent job in a pinch.



Klingberg's game looked like it was coming around until he got hurt, he would have made an excellent fit as 3RD with all the bodies healthy. Maybe he comes back, but who knows.

A rotation of Klingberg, Stetcher and Emberson would have great to have.

All three of these guys are a sieve in front of our net, along with Dermott.

I just worry how many more minutes the other defensemen are going to have to carry to shelter these subpar options.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Al

All three of these guys are a sieve in front of our net, along with Dermott.

I just worry how many more minutes the other defensemen are going to have to carry to shelter these subpar options.

I guess, it's why they're bottom of the roster guys. Also Brown was finally physical last game. I don't care that he's tall, he's useless. If Vinny would have taken less he would be great fit for that.

 

[Canovin]

I guess, it's why they're bottom of the roster guys. Also Brown was finally physical last game. I don't care that he's tall, he's useless. If Vinny would have taken less he would be great fit for that.

Oilers could have gotten 75% off on Vinny if they really wanted him back

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Oilers could have gotten 75% off on Vinny if they really wanted him back

Not really, and the situation was very different by that point.