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.
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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
Sometimes miracles
I like this and I hope it works, giving Nuge some time off the PK will only make him fresher.
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
Moderator
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.
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
Registered User
Pretty sure it was stated his still injured
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.
KK mentions the need for more speed. That is a huge concern I have.
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
Registered User
- Jul 13, 2011
- 14,684
- 17,268
Sir, can I interest you in a gently used Perry and Ryan?
Got nothing but love for Rico. Got offered more from other teams like Winnipeg but decided to stay here.
FlameChampion
Registered User
- Jul 13, 2011
- 14,684
- 17,268
Me hearing Bob saying Josh Brown with (poor) Kulak
Stauffer just doing it on purpose to grind CycloneSweeps bones
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.
Example: responses under Tony Brar's tweet.
Oilhawks
Over Old Hills
- Nov 24, 2011
- 28,746
- 52,106
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
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
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.
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.
SupremeTeam16
5-14-6-1
If Lavoie can continue to show well into the second half of camp, I’d like to see them get him into a spot in the top 6 at the start of the year. He’s a big body and can shoot the puck, Mcdavid or Draisaitl should be able to do something with him, if you can get some early season production out of him maybe he builds on it and you have a player or maybe you build a little value in him as a trade chip.
Put RNH on the 3rd line with Henrique and either Savoie or Pod, try to spread guys out over 3 lines and keep 5v5 minutes down early in the year. With RNH especially since he’s like going to be pulling a fair amount of special teams double duty.
I think it’s best if Philp starts in Bako and probably Savoie as well but wouldn’t be surprised if one or both finds their way onto the big club at some point this year. Philp in particular is so intriguing, I’ve been saying all summer he could be a dark horse and it’s nice to see a lot of positive talk about him.
Put RNH on the 3rd line with Henrique and either Savoie or Pod, try to spread guys out over 3 lines and keep 5v5 minutes down early in the year. With RNH especially since he’s like going to be pulling a fair amount of special teams double duty.
I think it’s best if Philp starts in Bako and probably Savoie as well but wouldn’t be surprised if one or both finds their way onto the big club at some point this year. Philp in particular is so intriguing, I’ve been saying all summer he could be a dark horse and it’s nice to see a lot of positive talk about him.
I think you’re right. But imo the Oilers could use a bit of creativity and jump on the 3rd line. And who better to learn from for Savoie than Henrique as a linemate and McDavid/Drai at practice.
Burnt Biscuits
Registered User
- May 2, 2010
- 9,280
- 3,413
I agree, last season we had 8 forwards that were fairly aggressive and provided meaningful puck pressure, by my count we presently have 6 (for transparency I included Kane in the 8, but not in the 6 cause of his injury).
I think that meaningfully changes our ability to force errors and create turnovers and teams will find it easier to break the puck out cleanly against us. I'm keenly interested on who is hitting waivers to see if we can get an upgrade on our 4th line FWD spots.
Up front that's definitely a concern but going from McLeod, Holloway and Foegele to Arvidsson, Skinner and Podkolzin isn't a huge downgrade in speed although, yes, the previous 3 were burners and all had size as well that covered more of the ice with their reach but I think they gained speed with Emberson in place of Ceci (Broberg was only inserted very late in the playoffs so can't really include him) so I don't think it's that big a concern tbh but a concern nonetheless.
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