News and Blog Report: Training camp & Preseason News & Notes

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

He played one game and was solid in it, no? In no particular order: Hyman, Ekholm, Skinner, Arvidsson, Janmark, Henrique, C. Brown, and Ryan (when he wasn't over the hill) all solid pro scouting adds.

I think there should be a little more patience and lee-way on these boards, the writing off the bottom 6 and RD based on some nothing pre-season games is a bit premature, even for this place.

Oh I’m not writing them off. Just prefacing my concern for them on paper. Could be all good and my concerns be for naught.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1838650267467686156

I like this and I hope it works, giving Nuge some time off the PK will only make him fresher.

 

[VeteranPresence]

So you don't like the one of the best PPs in the history of the league is using it's best players the most instead of spreading them out? I mean no, they're doing it right.

The best PP means nothing if it doesn't lend itself to a Cup. Putting that unit together in another Game 7? Sure, why not. Trotting them out March 10th against Buffalo? No thanks. We're a better team if we play like... a team.

 

[McDNicks17]

The only thing I don't like about loading up PP1 once again is that it leaves the second unit without a standout center... yes they could double-shift one of Drai/McD/RNH, but the goal in 24-25 should be to conserve the core's energy so they can go deep again in the spring, not have them worn down by the time the playoffs start.

We now have the weapons to try new things, so why not at least explore running Hyman/McD/Skinner/Drai/Bouch and Hoffman/RNH/RV/Nurse/Whoever? If it doesn't work you know the nuclear option is there, but this season is a new challenge for this group and they won't have ever played so much hockey in one calendar year.

The thing is if McDavid sits on the bench while the 2nd unit is out on the PP, he's going to be the first guy out there after the PP is over, so you aren't really resting him.

If anything, you're forcing him to take an extra even strength shift instead of an extra PP shift which is probably more taxing.

 

[McAsuno]

The best PP means nothing if it doesn't lend itself to a Cup. Putting that unit together in another Game 7? Sure, why not. Trotting them out March 10th against Buffalo? No thanks. We're a better team if we play like... a team.

I mean if you have a team that has the best PP in the league, then you get them out there as the 1st unit has a higher % of scoring than the 2nd unit. It's pretty much simple. They score the goals? They play more.

 

[Oilslick941611]

Any word on Akey, has he even been on the ice for drills?

If he wasn't in for the split-squad games last night, I'm not sure when you get him into the lineup.

Pretty sure it was stated his still injured

 

[VeteranPresence]

The thing is if McDavid sits on the bench while the 2nd unit is out on the PP, he's going to be the first guy out there after the PP is over, so you aren't really resting him.

If anything, you're forcing him to take an extra even strength shift instead of an extra PP shift which is probably more taxing.

You can always throw the Janmark-Brown duo out after powerplays, which Knoblauch did to great effect several times during the playoffs alone. It helps keep those guys in the game plus alleviates any momentum swings by neutralizing the other team's best offensive players after they have been resting for two minutes.

I mean if you have a team that has the best PP in the league, then you get them out there as the 1st unit has a higher % of scoring than the 2nd unit. It's pretty much simple. They score the goals? They play more.

But if the net impact is it wears your best players down over 82 games (really 107 games by the time next spring comes along) and makes them unable to play to their full potential for another 20-game slog in the playoffs, it doesn't matter a lick if the first unit scores more than the second.

Again, I am not saying don't use that unit ever. All I am suggesting is we keep the bigger picture in mind here and realize the goal is not to have the #1 PP in the regular season, but to be the #1 team period in the post-season. I think a more balanced powerplay helps us get there, that's it.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1838699888781201473

KK mentions the need for more speed. That is a huge concern I have.

 

[McAsuno]

You can always throw the Janmark-Brown duo out after powerplays, which Knoblauch did to great effect several times during the playoffs alone. It helps keep those guys in the game plus alleviates any momentum swings by neutralizing the other team's best offensive players after they have been resting for two minutes.



But if the net impact is it wears your best players down over 82 games (really 107 games by the time next spring comes along) and makes them unable to play to their full potential for another 20-game slog in the playoffs, it doesn't matter a lick if the first unit scores more than the second.

Again, I am not saying don't use that unit ever. All I am suggesting is we keep the bigger picture in mind here and realize the goal is not to have the #1 PP in the regular season, but to be the #1 team period in the post-season. I think a more balanced powerplay helps us get there, that's it.

I don't think the PP in a 82 game span would wear them down. If anything, McDavid himself said a couple weeks ago that he took this previous off season pretty much relaxing often as he felt that years past getting ready earlier for the season would end up taking a toll on his body due to the long season that's ahead.

 

[FlameChampion]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1838699888781201473

KK mentions the need for more speed. That is a huge concern I have.

Sir, can I interest you in a gently used Perry and Ryan?

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1838694410198163850

https://x.com/i/web/status/1838707861096124816

 

[McAsuno]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1838694410198163850

Got nothing but love for Rico. Got offered more from other teams like Winnipeg but decided to stay here.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1838707402201534764

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1838711171140194341

 

[McAsuno]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1838707402201534764

Me hearing Bob saying Josh Brown with (poor) Kulak

 

[FlameChampion]

Me hearing Bob saying Josh Brown with (poor) Kulak

Stauffer just doing it on purpose to grind CycloneSweeps bones

 

[McAsuno]

Stauffer just doing it on purpose to grind CycloneSweeps bones

I've seen my fair share of comments regarding Oiler players throughout preseason thus far, but I have yet to find any positive comment regarding Josh Brown. It's a collective WTF when it comes to him which I think is also warranted. Luckily, his contract is buriable but that guy should not be a regular on this blue line.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1838644742919459024

Example: responses under Tony Brar's tweet.

 

[Oilhawks]

Oh I’m not writing them off. Just prefacing my concern for them on paper. Could be all good and my concerns be for naught.

Yeah, I'm not exactly thrilled to see the depth guys and prospects (aside from Lavoie, Savoie and SOR - though he's going back to jr of course) look mediocre so far, but I think it's far too early to say still

https://x.com/i/web/status/1838694410198163850

https://x.com/i/web/status/1838707861096124816

If they needed to keep overpaid McLeod and Foegele just for the PK, and lose Henrique, Janmark and likely one of Skinner / Arvidsson, it wouldn't have been worth it at all. I wish Matty would retire, dude is lost

 

[Spawn]

RNH-McDavid-Hyman
Skinner-Drai-Arvidsson
Janmark-Henrique-Savoie
Podkolzin-Philp-Brown
Perry

Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Emberson
Kulak-Stetcher
Brown

Skinner
Pickard

Kane on IR
Ryan waived to minors

Lets get a little bit of extra size down the middle and some more speed/youth in the bottom 6. Perry can fill in where needed.

 

[McAsuno]

RNH-McDavid-Hyman
Skinner-Drai-Arvidsson
Janmark-Henrique-Savoie
Podkolzin-Philp-Brown
Perry

Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Emberson
Kulak-Stetcher
Brown

Skinner
Pickard

Kane on IR
Ryan waived to minors

Lets get a little bit of extra size down the middle and some more speed/youth in the bottom 6. Perry can fill in where needed.

I personally think Savoie will be in the minors, but other than that, I like the lineup.