Post-Game Talk: Time to cut the moustache

[bobbythebrain]

The Oilers will never win a Stanley Cup with the player personal and systems arrangement they currently use.

They are built to lose to teams that are built to play a better brand of hockey.

If stomping on teams that probably shouldn't even be in the league is good enough for you then that's that.

They made the finals, lost in game 7 by a goal.... and Bouchard was closer than McDavid and Drai that game in scoring.

But sure, whatever you say

You've already proved you'll make up your own truth to satisfy your need to bashing the player.

I like to use something called....facts

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Game has changed. Coaching has changed too. You won't see much of that sort of thing in 2025 under Knob. That said the knock on Skinner wasn't dirty, and thus little response. There was some response on the Pickard run but also considering the Oilers needed PP's and getting the goals than getting the revenge.

The Oilers haven't afforded themselves any runway for taking liberties. They still need some wins.

It's not like they were going to win the game anyway. Might as well take a pound of flesh. Show that you care.

 

[RegDunlop]

I find the team plays more loose with Pickard in net. There's no way they almost come back during yesterdays game with Skinner in net. It's like they hold their sticks tighter when he's in net out of fear that every mistake is going in.

Sure looks like it to me.
A bit surprised that a lot of posters echoing this. I actually thought I was mistaken

 

[Drivesaitl]

It's not like they were going to win the game anyway. Might as well take a pound of flesh. Show that you care.

Its interesting that over 70 games in and something still feels wrong with this team. Like its not really a team that way that would fight for each other. Its one problem with so much player turnover. The Leadership on this club is basically just been McD, Drai, Ekholm for a longtime. Take any out and its a gutpunch.

My worry with specifically so many old players here is that they're just on last contracts getting paid. I don't see the fire here in the lineup.

I'm worried about Calgary game in view of that. I'd seldom be worried about a Calgary game. But this Oilers team isn't bonded. hasn't been all year from my view. Something off, and I suspect a lot of it is around goaltending.

 

[aggressive forecheck]

He's a punching bag at his current salary

It really can't get any worse for the guy

It can and will get worse. You know that. It's the same old song. You know we're going to get screwed again. I know we can't do anything but endure the same bullshit we've been fed over the last 3 decades.

They made the finals, lost in game 7 by a goal.... and Bouchard was closer than McDavid and Drai that game in scoring.

But sure, whatever you say

You've already proved you'll make up your own truth to satisfy your need to bashing the player.

I like to use something called....facts

I didn't think the Oilers were all that competitive against Florida.

The Panthers took their foot off the gas. It was good for tv. It was good for bet365.

It would have been better if they finished us off in 4 or 5 games. It would cut down on the delusion.

Just like making a late push in last evening's game built up a shitload of delusion when the game was another comedy hour.

A rerun of a show folks force themselves to enjoy for some absurd reason. The same people like using Larry David's face as a meme, like they're being clever.

I think the Oil beat one good team in the playoffs. Dallas. That will not happen again.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Its interesting that over 70 games in and something still feels wrong with this team. Like its not really a team that way that would fight for each other. Its one problem with so much player turnover. The Leadership on this club is basically just been McD, Drai, Ekholm for a longtime. Take any out and its a gutpunch.

My worry with specifically so many old players here is that they're just on last contracts getting paid. I don't see the fire here in the lineup.

I'm worried about Calgary game in view of that. I'd seldom be worried about a Calgary game. But this Oilers team isn't bonded. hasn't been all year from my view. Something off, and I suspect a lot of it is around goaltending.

The older players are probably worried about getting hurt. Understandable for sure, but yeah this team feels much different than last year's. And I really don't think having Kane and Frederic back is going to change as much of that as we'd like.

 

[K1984]

Its interesting that over 70 games in and something still feels wrong with this team. Like its not really a team that way that would fight for each other. Its one problem with so much player turnover. The Leadership on this club is basically just been McD, Drai, Ekholm for a longtime. Take any out and its a gutpunch.

My worry with specifically so many old players here is that they're just on last contracts getting paid. I don't see the fire here in the lineup.

I'm worried about Calgary game in view of that. I'd seldom be worried about a Calgary game. But this Oilers team isn't bonded. hasn't been all year from my view. Something off, and I suspect a lot of it is around goaltending.

Ironically, it's been the opposite of that so far in this experience. 4 lines are all playing with energy and effectiveness, meanwhile Ekholm is wearing horns a lot lately including last night. Energy and effort level have been issues up front especially all year - not the case whatsoever the last 7 periods.

I see a group of players energized and motivated to prove they aren't the bums they're made out to be, and so far they've done that in spades. It's just too bad that this is being mitigated by a consortium of 14, 2, 25, 96 (to a lesser degree than the others), and especially 74.

 

[RegDunlop]

Game has changed. Coaching has changed too. You won't see much of that sort of thing in 2025 under Knob. That said the knock on Skinner wasn't dirty, and thus little response. There was some response on the Pickard run but also considering the Oilers needed PP's and getting the goals than getting the revenge.

The Oilers haven't afforded themselves any runway for taking liberties. They still need some wins.

But Drive, other teams have a pulse and respond. Even the shit under our feet down south. They would've responded.

Just disappoints me that the only Oiler to understand how this works is almost 40 years old. 3 runs on golie(s) - whether purposely done or not - warrants at least getting into Ots grill. Not us

 

[Trafalgar Sadge Law]

Its interesting that over 70 games in and something still feels wrong with this team. Like its not really a team that way that would fight for each other. Its one problem with so much player turnover. The Leadership on this club is basically just been McD, Drai, Ekholm for a longtime. Take any out and its a gutpunch.

My worry with specifically so many old players here is that they're just on last contracts getting paid. I don't see the fire here in the lineup.

I'm worried about Calgary game in view of that. I'd seldom be worried about a Calgary game. But this Oilers team isn't bonded. hasn't been all year from my view. Something off, and I suspect a lot of it is around goaltending.

Yup, lots of players here just coasting and stealing paychecks, while praying McDavid, Draisaitl, and Bouchard carry their useless asses on another run. Complete losers. Like you said, you need young players trying to establish/prove themselves or reclamation projects/players on cheap contracts. These are the guys fighting to make/stay in the NHL and they're the ones who play with the most fire/urgency, and are most likely to outperform their contracts. There's no desperation in players like Arvidsson, Henrique, and Skinner. You can see it in the way they play and it shows up in their lack of production too.

Veteran teams don't win Cups. They just don't. That's just simple reality. It's a leftover, outdated narrative from pre-salary cap and the fact that no team with an average age over 28.15 has won a Cup since 2006 is no coincidence. You win Cups with reliable star players in their prime years, young players who outperform their ELC/bridge contract, and cheaper depth options who are playing for their next meal ticket. Having dinosaur managers who gaslight the fanbase with garbage like "greybeards win Cups" and "experience trumps all" like Chiarelli, Holland, and Bowman as well as Jeff Jackson as shown by his actions during his short reign of terror, are why this team still has many of the same issues it had in 2015.

 

[Drivesaitl]

But Drive, other teams have a pulse and respond. Even the shit under our feet down south. They would've responded.

Just disappoints me that the only Oiler to understand how this works is almost 40 years old. 3 runs on golie(s) - whether purposely done or not - warrants at least getting into Ots grill. Not us

This isn't a team in that sense if you saw my other post. Something has been wrong with this team from game 1 and I think it was the offseason. The glue, young, energy players on a team got axed or lost in the offseason. This now is the oldest team in the league. There is virtually no fire on it and more efident when you remove the big guns from the lineup.

I view guys like Hyman as Canaries in the Coalmine. He hasn't looked happy like before. Something has been off. We probably never hear what it is. I think it possible some players on this team disliked how much they lost in offseason.

 

[RegDunlop]

This isn't a team in that sense if you saw my other post. Something has been wrong with this team from game 1 and I think it was the offseason.

With you on that. Dysfunctional.

Need only to look at last 2 games for a sample of how a 'team' looks. Ice time balanced to proper placement and... oh look... players respond. So.. so much off with us right now.

 

[Drivesaitl]

With you on that. Dysfunctional.

Need only to look at last 2 games for a sample of how a 'team' looks. Ice time balanced to proper placement and... oh look... players respond. So.. so much off with us right now.

Its short term response. I don't buy that these guys all suddenly stepping up. The reality of this team, this season, is Drai and McD hauling carcasses around.
Without Drais season particularly and his best career scoring pace this team is in trouble. Without 11 3 on 3 W's this season the team is in trouble.

80% of this club have just been there watching, for the most part, and some of them so old they can't do much more than they are.

From the word go in September I was saying this dog won't hunt. Good for a playoff spot and winning a first round. its a flawed lineup with no youthful energy. None really.

harken back to 90 and that team doesn't win a cup without the kid line and jump, without Ranford, without Tikk etc.

 

[aggressive forecheck]

With you on that. Dysfunctional.

Need only to look at last 2 games for a sample of how a 'team' looks. Ice time balanced to proper placement and... oh look... players respond. So.. so much off with us right now.

Dysfunctional or incompetent? With the latter the harder the team works the worse things get for the Oil when facing a quality club with a game plan.

Dallas sits back watching ineffectual perimeter play and waits for an Oiler mistake. Good teams do that. It was clear as day against Vegas in the postseason.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Ironically, it's been the opposite of that so far in this experience. 4 lines are all playing with energy and effectiveness, meanwhile Ekholm is wearing horns a lot lately including last night. Energy and effort level have been issues up front especially all year - not the case whatsoever the last 7 periods.

I see a group of players energized and motivated to prove they aren't the bums they're made out to be, and so far they've done that in spades. It's just too bad that this is being mitigated by a consortium of 14, 2, 25, 96 (to a lesser degree than the others), and especially 74.

Remove ANY of Ekholm, Drai, or McD from this team and its not even a playoff club this season. maybe WC.

The press this week are selling a story of step up. The flaw in the story is that the vast majority of players now said to be stepping up have been laying down much of the season.

Hear me out. This week every wag talking about Nuges elite leadership, how huge he is, how he's such an excellent Assistant Captain. Because he stepped up 3 games in a row in March of all things. Prior to that Nuge wasn't giving his all at least offensively. Almost all the board wanted him off the PP, and several people had been pretty down on his play. I question that a guy that was so little of a factor for 5mths is suddenly a guy that is prepared to get us to next level. I see a lot of watchers in this roster.

Even Henrique who I'd previously been keen on. What a nothing season from him. He's just prettying it up with a few late season goals. He's among several players on the club that haven't pissed a drop all season.

 

[Canovin]

Remove ANY of Ekholm, Drai, or McD from this team and its not even a playoff club this season. maybe WC.

The press this week are selling a story of step up. The flaw in the story is that the vast majority of players now said to be stepping up have been laying down much of the season.

Hear me out. This week every wag talking about Nuges elite leadership, how huge he is, how he's such an excellent Assistant Captain. Because he stepped up 3 games in a row in March of all things. Prior to that Nuge wasn't giving his all at least offensively. Almost all the board wanted him off the PP, and several people had been pretty down on his play. I question that a guy that was so little of a factor for 5mths is suddenly a guy that is prepared to get us to next level. I see a lot of watchers in this roster.

Even Henrique who I'd previously been keen on. What a nothing season from him. He's just prettying it up with a few late season goals. He's among several players on the club that haven't pissed a drop all season.

Would you prefer RNH and Henrique not try these passed 3 games? lol

 

[Drivesaitl]

Would you prefer RNH and Henrique not try these passed 3 games? lol

Obviously I'd prefer if the players had made more substantive contributions through the season. We'd be in a much different position had all the players on the club contributed with a bit more consistency.

 

[Stoneman89]

But Drive, other teams have a pulse and respond. Even the shit under our feet down south. They would've responded.

Just disappoints me that the only Oiler to understand how this works is almost 40 years old. 3 runs on golie(s) - whether purposely done or not - warrants at least getting into Ots grill. Not us

Maybe no one responded because they thought it was for the betterment of the team and the only way to force a change.

 

[Canovin]

Obviously I'd prefer if the players had made more substantive contributions through the season. We'd be in a much different position had all the players on the club contributed with a bit more consistency.

With what we seen from them, it looks like they're saving for the playoffs. I would not be against that as we've seen from the finals. A championship if the guys weren't burned out.

 

[syz]

But Drive, other teams have a pulse and respond. Even the shit under our feet down south. They would've responded.

Just disappoints me that the only Oiler to understand how this works is almost 40 years old. 3 runs on golie(s) - whether purposely done or not - warrants at least getting into Ots grill. Not us

The Oilers blew up Rantanen twice last time these two teams played and nobody on the Stars even gave them an angry look. And they were losing like 5-1 at that point iirc.

 

[aggressive forecheck]

With what we seen from them, it looks like they're saving for the playoffs. I would not be against that as we've seen from the finals. A championship if the guys weren't burned out.

Not that I believe they'll catch the mighty Oil for a single... how far back is St. Louis in the standings? What was it you said Holloway and Broberg were passing around?

 

[TB12]

But Drive, other teams have a pulse and respond. Even the shit under our feet down south. They would've responded.

Just disappoints me that the only Oiler to understand how this works is almost 40 years old. 3 runs on golie(s) - whether purposely done or not - warrants at least getting into Ots grill. Not us

I'm with you on this. I have a buddy that plays in the NHL and him and their teammates were dropping the mitts all preseason. We were kinda laughing about fighting in preseason and he was like "this team will die for one another and we are going into the season with that mentality and it starts right from preseason". They are a young team in the playoff mix and I think that mentality helped them this year. They knew someone always had their back, regardless of situation.

I know the Oilers are different in that they are an older, more mature group. But I think there is something to knowing other guys have your back. Especially when goalies are getting run twice in one game. I don't care the circumstances or how intentional it was, you're going to see a bigger response at Tipton arena on Tuesday night at 11 pm in beer league than what the Oilers did last night.

 

[K1984]

Remove ANY of Ekholm, Drai, or McD from this team and its not even a playoff club this season. maybe WC.

The press this week are selling a story of step up. The flaw in the story is that the vast majority of players now said to be stepping up have been laying down much of the season.

Hear me out. This week every wag talking about Nuges elite leadership, how huge he is, how he's such an excellent Assistant Captain. Because he stepped up 3 games in a row in March of all things. Prior to that Nuge wasn't giving his all at least offensively. Almost all the board wanted him off the PP, and several people had been pretty down on his play. I question that a guy that was so little of a factor for 5mths is suddenly a guy that is prepared to get us to next level. I see a lot of watchers in this roster.

Even Henrique who I'd previously been keen on. What a nothing season from him. He's just prettying it up with a few late season goals. He's among several players on the club that haven't pissed a drop all season.

Tough to score when you’re playing mostly PK and ~10 mins 5v5 most nights. Shouldn’t be surprising at all that players like Henrique and Skinner are scoring with more minutes and more minutes in a scoring role. These aren’t bad players. A guy like Henrique has been on the top 2 lines and the power play his whole life, it isn’t as easy as snapping your fingers and excelling in a brand new role like he’s been given this year.

Nuge and McDavid were both having terrible individual years and they both feed into each other’s worst habits when that’s the case. Over handling, over passing, not shooting, not attentive defensively. It was a coaching failure that they weren’t split up much earlier than they were. I’m also not surprised that minutes away from McDavid with easier matchups and a position that forces assertiveness did him well too.

McDavid and Draisaitl dominate everything about the team, and their presence inherently means less opportunity for others that they may have had their entire career. Then the moment they’re put back into their traditional roles they look a lot closer to what we expect.

 

[RegDunlop]

The Oilers blew up Rantanen twice last time these two teams played and nobody on the Stars even gave them an angry look. And they were losing like 5-1 at that point iirc.

This... is very true. A rare occurrence but true.

 

[RegDunlop]

I'm with you on this. I have a buddy that plays in the NHL and him and their teammates were dropping the mitts all preseason. We were kinda laughing about fighting in preseason and he was like "this team will die for one another and we are going into the season with that mentality and it starts right from preseason". They are a young team in the playoff mix and I think that mentality helped them this year. They knew someone always had their back, regardless of situation.

I know the Oilers are different in that they are an older, more mature group. But I think there is something to knowing other guys have your back. Especially when goalies are getting run twice in one game. I don't care the circumstances or how intentional it was, you're going to see a bigger response at Tipton arena on Tuesday night at 11 pm in beer league than what the Oilers did last night.

Agreed. I know we'll never see the violence of 60s 70s 80s hockey ever again rightly so. But there are a few fundamentals about the sport that are a given. About a team actually... in any sport.