The Oilers are an old team

[villacco]

I just visited capfriendly (still up) and noticed, that the Oilers are an very old team, at least at the forward position. Their youngest forwards are pretty much McDavid and Draisaitl, who are in their late twenties.
Beside, they have Dylan Holloway and now Savoie, who both might not play a lot or make an impact yet.
Their best defense D-Man Ekholm is 34 and Nurse is not getting better at 29.
Beside Bouchard and Broberg, all their D-Man are around 30 as well

I was just wondering, with so many forwards way beyond their 30 birthday, if the Oilers are not to old to win the cup.
I always thought a good mix of elite forwards not older than 30 and good players around 25 to 30 are good recipe to win the cup. Maybe one or two older veterans.

I am thinking, they will not be fast enough or run out of gas because of their age.

Looking back, has their ever been a team to win the cup with such an old group?

Click to read more...

 

[Oilslick941611]

Teams of 25 year olds don’t win cups

 

[Coffey]

1. 2001-02 Detroit Red Wings (51-17-10-4, 116 pts.) -
   Average Age: 30 years, 5 months, 1 days
   Notable Player(s): Brett Hull (37), Nicklas Lidstrom (31)
2. 2007-08 Detroit Red Wings (54-21-7, 115 pts.) -
   Average Age: 29 years, 9 months, 23 days
   Notable Player(s): Nicklas Lidstrom (37), Pavel Datsyuk (29)
3. 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings (44-23-15, 103 pts.) -
   Average Age: 29 years, 6 months, 10 days
   Notable Player(s): Steve Yzerman (32), Nicklas Lidstrom (27)
4. 2002-03 New Jersey Devils (46-20-10-6, 108 pts.) -
   Average Age: 29 years, 0 months, 6 days
   Notable Player(s): Martin Broduer (30), Patrik Elias (26)
5. 1966-67 Toronto Maple Leafs (32-27-11, 75 pts.) -
   Average Age: 28 years, 11 months, 26 days
   Notable Player(s): Terry Sawchuk (37), Frank Mahovlich (28)
6. 1998-99 Dallas Stars (51-19-12, 114 pts.) -
   Average Age: 28 years, 10 months, 29 days
   Notable Player(s): Brett Hull (34), Mike Modano (28)
7. 1963-64 Toronto Maple Leafs (33-25-12, 78 pts.) -
   Average Age: 28 years, 10 months, 2 days
   Notable Player(s): Frank Mahovlich (25)
8. 2005-06 Carolina Hurricanes (52-22-8, 112 pts.) -
   Average Age: 28 years, 5 months, 6 days
   Notable Player(s): Rod Brind'Amour (35), Eric Staal (21)
9. 1996-97 Detroit Red Wings (38-26-18, 94 pts.) -
   Average Age: 28 years, 4 months, 20 days
   Notable Player(s): Steve Yzerman (31), Nicklas Lidstrom (26)
10. 1968-69 Montreal Canadians (46-19-11, 103 pts.) -
    Average Age: 28 years, 3 months, 13 days
    Notable Player(s): Jean Beliveau (37)

 

[Three On Zero]

Teams of 25 year olds don’t win cups

No, but 26 year olds do

 

[Oilslick941611]

No, but 26 year olds do

View attachment 892781

A lot them round up to 27 except for 09-10 blackhawks.

 

[thaman8765678]

Their age will go up in a year as well, when Draisatl leaves to go to a contender.

 

[Old Boys Club]

Their age will go up in a year as well, when Draisatl leaves to go to a contender.

Say it again thaman8765678, say the line again.

 

[Soundwave]

Their age will go up in a year as well, when Draisatl leaves to go to a contender.

Leon Draisaitl’s agent is ‘very confident’ in a new deal with the Edmonton Oilers

No matter how many big free agent signings the Oilers made in free age...

oilersnation.com

Earlier this week, one of Draisaitl's agents, Jiri Poner, spoke with German outlet Eishockey NEWS, where he said “very confident that there will be an agreement with Edmonton in the end that both sides will be happy with.”

I wouldn't bet your Gaudreau jersey on that.

 

[thaman8765678]

Leon Draisaitl’s agent is ‘very confident’ in a new deal with the Edmonton Oilers

No matter how many big free agent signings the Oilers made in free age...

oilersnation.com

Earlier this week, one of Draisaitl's agents, Jiri Poner, spoke with German outlet Eishockey NEWS, where he said “very confident that there will be an agreement with Edmonton in the end that both sides will be happy with.”

I wouldn't bet your Gaudreau jersey on that.

We heard the same thing from Gaudreau. It's just a matter of time.

Star players do not want to play for a Canadian team. When they could just go play somewhere warm and with less aggressive media.

 

[Soundwave]

Perry and Ryan drag the age down quite a bit, but I'm not really sure if either will be on the full time roster when the playoffs start.

 

[Soundwave]

We heard the same thing from Gaudreau. It's just a matter of time.

Star players do not want to play for a Canadian team. When they could just go play somewhere warm and with less aggressive media.

If Gaudreau had a McDavid to play with he'd still be in Canada, or if the Flames had made a Cup Final, which obviously they didn't come close to doing.

His factor was his US born wife too, not an issue for Connor or Leon.

 

[villacco]

1. 2001-02 Detroit Red Wings (51-17-10-4, 116 pts.) -
   Average Age: 30 years, 5 months, 1 days
   Notable Player(s): Brett Hull (37), Nicklas Lidstrom (31)
2. 2007-08 Detroit Red Wings (54-21-7, 115 pts.) -
   Average Age: 29 years, 9 months, 23 days
   Notable Player(s): Nicklas Lidstrom (37), Pavel Datsyuk (29)
3. 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings (44-23-15, 103 pts.) -
   Average Age: 29 years, 6 months, 10 days
   Notable Player(s): Steve Yzerman (32), Nicklas Lidstrom (27)
4. 2002-03 New Jersey Devils (46-20-10-6, 108 pts.) -
   Average Age: 29 years, 0 months, 6 days
   Notable Player(s): Martin Broduer (30), Patrik Elias (26)
5. 1966-67 Toronto Maple Leafs (32-27-11, 75 pts.) -
   Average Age: 28 years, 11 months, 26 days
   Notable Player(s): Terry Sawchuk (37), Frank Mahovlich (28)
6. 1998-99 Dallas Stars (51-19-12, 114 pts.) -
   Average Age: 28 years, 10 months, 29 days
   Notable Player(s): Brett Hull (34), Mike Modano (28)
7. 1963-64 Toronto Maple Leafs (33-25-12, 78 pts.) -
   Average Age: 28 years, 10 months, 2 days
   Notable Player(s): Frank Mahovlich (25)
8. 2005-06 Carolina Hurricanes (52-22-8, 112 pts.) -
   Average Age: 28 years, 5 months, 6 days
   Notable Player(s): Rod Brind'Amour (35), Eric Staal (21)
9. 1996-97 Detroit Red Wings (38-26-18, 94 pts.) -
   Average Age: 28 years, 4 months, 20 days
   Notable Player(s): Steve Yzerman (31), Nicklas Lidstrom (26)
10. 1968-69 Montreal Canadians (46-19-11, 103 pts.) -
    Average Age: 28 years, 3 months, 13 days
    Notable Player(s): Jean Beliveau (37)

So, basically no team since the lock out 2005. The game is much faster now. It is a younger guys game now.

 

[villacco]

No, but 26 year olds do

View attachment 892781

Thanks, that is exactly what I meant.
The same reason, why I think Tampa Bay is not a contender anymore. They are too old, too slow.

 

[Sanderson]

I just visited capfriendly (still up) and noticed, that the Oilers are an very old team, at least at the forward position. Their youngest forwards are pretty much McDavid and Draisaitl, who are in their late twenties.
Beside, they have Dylan Holloway and now Savoie, who both might not play a lot or make an impact yet.
Their best defense D-Man Ekholm is 34 and Nurse is not getting better at 29.
Beside Bouchard and Broberg, all their D-Man are around 30 as well

I was just wondering, with so many forwards way beyond their 30 birthday, if the Oilers are not to old to win the cup.
I always thought a good mix of elite forwards not older than 30 and good players around 25 to 30 are good recipe to win the cup. Maybe one or two older veterans.

I am thinking, they will not be fast enough or run out of gas because of their age.

Looking back, has their ever been a team to win the cup with such an old group?

What's your definition of "way beyond 30"? because looking at the Oilers roster there sure as heck aren't many forwards I would consider way beyond 30. Perry and Ryan, sure, Henrique as well, and that's it. The first two are 4th line players or extra forwards, so hardly essential.

Edmonton's roster as a whole is certainly anything but young, but outside of Ekholm no core player is reaching an age where age could become an issue (yet). The average age of the whole team is rather irrelevant, what matters is your core and whether your depth is still doing well enough.

Seeing how they just made it to game 7 of the finals with a similar roster to the one they have now, there is zero reason to assume that such a team could not win the Cup.
There is no formula to winning the Cup, plenty of different paths lead to that goal. What it takes is peak shape and few injuries at just the right moment, quite a bit of luck, and not running into a team that is a really bad fit for you. Plenty of times people have looked at a champion, declared that's the path to win, only for an entirely different concept to win the next time around. Whatever approach you take, it needs to work for your team. It doesn't matter one bit whether that concept has worked for anyone else, what matters is that you build to your strengths.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Blow em’ up!!!

 

[forever1922]

Seeing how they just made it to game 7 of the finals with a similar roster to the one they have now, there is zero reason to assume that such a team could not win the Cup.
There is no formula to winning the Cup, plenty of different paths lead to that goal. What it takes is peak shape and few injuries at just the right moment, quite a bit of luck, and not running into a team that is a really bad fit for you. Plenty of times people have looked at a champion, declared that's the path to win, only for an entirely different concept to win the next time around. Whatever approach you take, it needs to work for your team. It doesn't matter one bit whether that concept has worked for anyone else, what matters is that you build to your strengths.

While that's true. Oilers average age was already past 30 this year (30,6 yrs at the time of cup finals) and obviously, bar changes, 31,6 next year.

That 31,6 yrs is about 4 years older than past cup winners for at least 16 years as another post showed in this thread, and in fact would make them by far the oldest cup winner since 1927(per reddit) by over a year.

Shaving the oldest players Perry and Ryan reduces the average age from 30,8 currently to 30,1 so there goes that argument.

It is a completely valid concern. Oilers should look to get younger but they will need to burn up any futures at this point as there will be lofty expectations going forward.

 

[SML2]

I just visited capfriendly (still up) and noticed, that the Oilers are an very old team, at least at the forward position. Their youngest forwards are pretty much McDavid and Draisaitl, who are in their late twenties.
Beside, they have Dylan Holloway and now Savoie, who both might not play a lot or make an impact yet.
Their best defense D-Man Ekholm is 34 and Nurse is not getting better at 29.
Beside Bouchard and Broberg, all their D-Man are around 30 as well

I was just wondering, with so many forwards way beyond their 30 birthday, if the Oilers are not to old to win the cup.
I always thought a good mix of elite forwards not older than 30 and good players around 25 to 30 are good recipe to win the cup. Maybe one or two older veterans.

I am thinking, they will not be fast enough or run out of gas because of their age.

Looking back, has their ever been a team to win the cup with such an old group?

Have you ever seen the teams from the 50s and 60s? Every team had at least 4 guys on it who looked like Howard Cosell and at least a couple who played wearing Glasses. Those dudes came out at birth looking like they had responsibilities and a family of their own to support.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

They'll not be fast enough? ... The Oilers?

 

[MNRube]

Can’t stand the Oils, but they have had a tremendous offseason. I’ve always hated their forward depth and they pretty much fixed that overnight. Blueline could use a facelift still though IMO

 

[JPT]

So, basically no team since the lock out 2005. The game is much faster now. It is a younger guys game now.

It could also be salary cap related. Teams who spend big on vets end up having to fill out their rosters with younger, cheaper players which brings the average age down.

 

[CashMash]

I don't think they have to worry so long as McDavid and Draisaitl aren't themselves up there in age. Evan Bouchard is also still 24. Ekholm is the only key piece that is getting up there, I think. Statistics aren't set in stone.

 

[DieSendungmitderMaus]

While that's true. Oilers average age was already past 30 this year (30,6 yrs at the time of cup finals) and obviously, bar changes, 31,6 next year.

That 31,6 yrs is about 4 years older than past cup winners for at least 16 years as another post showed in this thread, and in fact would make them by far the oldest cup winner since 1927(per reddit) by over a year.

Shaving the oldest players Perry and Ryan reduces the average age from 30,8 currently to 30,1 so there goes that argument.

It is a completely valid concern. Oilers should look to get younger but they will need to burn up any futures at this point as there will be lofty expectations going forward.

I really think the fact that cup teams skew younger is mostly because it's much easier building elite teams with contributions from good-great players on ELCs (and until recently bridge deals). So Edmonton has kind of built a contender the hard way with lots of veterans, but given that they do have a contending team, I don't expect age to do them in. Not saying it's not a concern at all, but they'll feel the downside of having an older team much more strongly off the ice when Leon and McDavid need new deals and they'll feel the cap squeeze.

While that's true. Oilers average age was already past 30 this year (30,6 yrs at the time of cup finals) and obviously, bar changes, 31,6 next year.

That 31,6 yrs is about 4 years older than past cup winners for at least 16 years as another post showed in this thread, and in fact would make them by far the oldest cup winner since 1927(per reddit) by over a year.

Shaving the oldest players Perry and Ryan reduces the average age from 30,8 currently to 30,1 so there goes that argument.

It is a completely valid concern. Oilers should look to get younger but they will need to burn up any futures at this point as there will be lofty expectations going forward.

I really think the fact that cup teams skew younger is mostly because it's much easier building elite teams with contributions from good-great players on ELCs (and until recently bridge deals). So Edmonton has kind of built a contender the hard way with lots of veterans, but given that they do have a contending team, I don't expect age to do them in. Not saying it's not a concern at all, but they'll feel the downside of having an older team much more strongly off the ice when Leon and McDavid need new deals and they'll feel the cap squeeze.

 

[McJesusSaves97]

Ah crap, I knew we shouldn't have resigned Perry. He increased our average age too much. Window has closed

 

[Pucklington]

I just visited capfriendly (still up) and noticed, that the Oilers are an very old team, at least at the forward position. Their youngest forwards are pretty much McDavid and Draisaitl, who are in their late twenties.
Beside, they have Dylan Holloway and now Savoie, who both might not play a lot or make an impact yet.
Their best defense D-Man Ekholm is 34 and Nurse is not getting better at 29.
Beside Bouchard and Broberg, all their D-Man are around 30 as well

I was just wondering, with so many forwards way beyond their 30 birthday, if the Oilers are not to old to win the cup.
I always thought a good mix of elite forwards not older than 30 and good players around 25 to 30 are good recipe to win the cup. Maybe one or two older veterans.

I am thinking, they will not be fast enough or run out of gas because of their age.

Looking back, has their ever been a team to win the cup with such an old group?

Oilers are one of the fastest teams in the league, and their best players aside from Ekholm are under 30

 

[Shark Finn]

Their age will go up in a year as well, when Draisatl leaves to go to a contender.

Kind of stretch to call the Kings a contender.