The Oilers have no doubt the best forward group in the league

[CantHaveTkachev]

We know that, it has been repeated about 1000 times since last Monday. We know Draisatl was injured.

My point was just Tkachuk and Bennett had significant injuries too. Vancouver almost beat Edmonton with a 3rd string goalie. The Stars had their best defensive dman playing through an injury and their best forward.

And Vegas won the Cup because they got to play an injury-riddled Panthers team in 2023
Injuries happen

 

[Kahvi]

They are $2,5M over the cap with Broberg and Holloway to sign. If they can get rid of Kane, that would solve the problem. Oilers fans. what's your feeling, what is gonna happen with Kane? or are there other options to get cap space.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

As long as that forward group stays healthy you can absolutely make that argument

 

[Soundwave]

Edmonton played with plenty of injuries too. Drai had a broken finger and a broken rib and was questionable to even play some games but he’s a stubborn mule.

You'd have to shoot this guy to have him miss a playoff game. In that Calgary series in game 1 ... I thought he was toast, playing on one leg, then goes on to score 17 points in a 5 game series, lol.

 

[ru4reals]

RNH - McD - Hyman
Skinner - Drai - Arvidsson
Holloway - Henrique - Kane
Janmark - McLeod - Perry

that's an impressive set of forwards.

RNH - - Hyman
Skinner - - Arvidsson
Holloway - Henrigue - Kane
Janmark - McLeod - Perry

Picking 4th overall in the 2025 NHL draft


RNH - McD - Hyman
Skinner - Drai - Arvidsson
Holloway - Henrigue - Kane
Janmark - McLeod - Perry

Very good indeed.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

We know that, it has been repeated about 1000 times since last Monday. We know Draisatl was injured.

My point was just Tkachuk and Bennett had significant injuries too. Vancouver almost beat Edmonton with a 3rd string goalie. The Stars had their best defensive dman playing through an injury and their best forward.

It’s and buts and maybes go both ways. McDavid wasn’t healthy, Draisaitl wasn’t healthy, Ekholm was banged up, Nurse was banged up. Even one of those things is different and maybe we win. Takes a lot going right to win a Cup.

 

[thaman8765678]

And Vegas won the Cup because they got to play an injury-riddled Panthers team in 2023
Injuries happen

And the Oilers had the easiest path to the cup finals we have seen in years. And they lost.

Maybe they will be back in the finals next year, but it is highly unlikely. There are a group of good teams in the west who are very close to each other. And most of them have good goaltending.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

They are $2,5M over the cap with Broberg and Holloway to sign. If they can get rid of Kane, that would solve the problem. Oilers fans. what's your feeling, what is gonna happen with Kane? or are there other options to get cap space.

Sounds strongly like he will miss most of the year if not all of it. LTIR with hip and hernia problems.

 

[Soundwave]

McDavid was injured since like the 4th game of the regular season, lol. Abdominal tear.

You don't randomly just go from 64 goals to 30 something without an injury.

It's actually a bit weird that last year was the year they made the Final,

 

[ChaoticOrange]

You'd have to shoot this guy to have him miss a playoff game. In that Calgary series in game 1 ... I thought he was toast, playing on one leg, then goes on to score 17 points in a 5 game series, lol.

Zombie Draisaitl would just rise from the dead.

The rib issue really affected him though. He couldn’t raise the puck, which took a lot off his corner shots on the powerplay.

 

[Soundwave]

And the Oilers had the easiest path to the cup finals we have seen in years. And they lost.

Maybe they will be back in the finals next year, but it is highly unlikely. There are a group of good teams in the west who are very close to each other. And most of them have good goaltending.

They played Florida to a game 7 that was decided by one goal, sorry but that narrative holds no water. There is no NHL team better than Florida unless you think the Monstars from Space Jam are forming an NHL team, that's as good of an opponent as you're going to get.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

And the Oilers had the easiest path to the cup finals we have seen in years. And they lost.

Maybe they will be back in the finals next year, but it is highly unlikely. There are a group of good teams in the west who are very close to each other. And most of them have good goaltending.

Oh yes, the “easiest path” excuse..Oilers fault Petey and Hughes refused to show up lol
Oh, and the Stars with their legendary depth was gonna run over the Oilers..then it turned to, “well they were just tired!”

Guess what? The Pacific division didn’t really improve so far

 

[Pucklington]

Just thought he played really well in the playoffs. No huge explanation

He was scratched half the time. He played well for a few games in the playoffs but he also was largely invisible for the rest.

 

[McFlyingV]

Henrique was/is meh and Skinner doesn’t exactly strike fear in the heart of the opposition but go off.

Yeah I hate guys who regularly score 30 goals playing with my elite playmaking centres, and I certainly hate having a 40-50 point two way forward as my 3rd line centre. Just miserable to have these guys in the line up.

 

[thaman8765678]

Oh yes, the “easiest path” excuse..Oilers fault Petey and Hughes refused to show up lol
Oh, and the Stars with their legendary depth was gonna run over the Oilers..then it turned to, “well they were just tired!”

Guess what? The Pacific division didn’t really improve so far

Well, I think there is a group of 5 teams or so who are pretty equal in the west. I don't think the Oilers really stand out above the others.

They have one year to go all in though. Because next year Draisatl is gone or commands $16 million. And Bouchard will likely be getting $12 million.

 

[Soundwave]

Yeah I hate guys who regularly score 30 goals playing with my elite playmaking centres, and I certainly hate having a 40-50 point two way forward as my 3rd line centre. Just miserable to have these guys in the line up.

Jeff Skinner is top 10 in the NHL for highest goal scoring rate 5 on 5 the last three years ... lol, yeah no potential there with the best playmakers of this generation for a sniper.

 

[AlbOilFAN]

Yeah I hate guys who regularly score 30 goals playing with my elite playmaking centres, and I certainly hate having a 40-50 point two way forward as my 3rd line centre. Just miserable to have these guys in the line up.

Trolling from Toronto fan, what do you expect. His team did great today.

 

[The Panther]

And the Oilers had the easiest path to the cup finals we have seen in years.

(At least) twice now in this thread, you have made the argument that the Oilers had an "easy" path to the Cup Finals. How on earth do you justify this bizarre argument?

 

[Senor Catface]

Henrique was/is meh and Skinner doesn’t exactly strike fear in the heart of the opposition but go off.

Tell us what star your team signed. Oh wait.

 

[North Cole]

Is this our version of the quietly Vancouver thread? Dear God

Yeah adding soft one dimensional Jeff Skinner and often injured Arvidsson doesn’t really do much for them. I mean I guess Mcdavid can carry them to the finals and then no show the important games at best.

What an odd take. Without mcdavid there's no game 6 or 7 for him to no show. Like one of those weird Colorado fans, where the team beats us and then we live rent free in their heads for no reason lmfao.

 

[Artemi Panarin]

Tell us what star your team signed. Oh wait.

Senor Catface Plz

You have 2 stars and you certainly didn’t sign any today.

 

[TheNumber4]

And the Oilers had the easiest path to the cup finals we have seen in years. And they lost.

Maybe they will be back in the finals next year, but it is highly unlikely. There are a group of good teams in the west who are very close to each other. And most of them have good goaltending.

Easy according to who? Trolls and haters? By points percentage which is an OBJECTIVE measure of team quality, they had a tough path. Beat the Pacific and Central division champs.

 

[Senor Catface]

Senor Catface Plz

You have 2 stars and you certainly didn’t sign any today.

Please explain in great detail how your team did.

 

[Soundwave]

Cup Final is just a massive benefit in recruiting players, the Oilers got basically 5 guys today (Skinner, Arvidsson, Henrique, Brown, Janmark) all at some level of discount. All of those guys could have gotten more money elsewhere.

 

[Old Boys Club]

Names don't mean shit on paper until they perform. Happy JJ brought in some guys that should do well, but until they do I'm not going to say anything.