Speculation: We have issues - POLE

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Pole after seeing that shitshow of a weekend.

Serious issues on this team showing all month culminating in back to back zero effort zero intensity zero urgency games.

Click to read more...

 

[bellagiobob]

I don’t know if we have enough assets to acquire even a portion of what we need. Heck, I’m not even sure if we have enough assets available to give up for teams to take on some of our bad contracts.

 

[Jumptheshark]

I don’t know if we have enough assets to acquire even a portion of what we need. Heck, I’m not even sure if we have enough assets available to give up for teams to take on some of our bad contracts.

this and cap space. We have problem and if Kane is back before the playoffs? IF we can keep Kane out till game one of the playoffs we can use his cap space--but if he comes back early? WE wont be able to use all that money some of us want to spend

 

[FlameChampion]

They need to do something about the goaltending.

Spending assets on rentals would be stupid:

I’d personally like to see some retooling. Get rid of some of the vets who aren’t doing much.

Get some younger players with speed. Getting some extra size would be good as well.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

I don't know, but probably stand pat or sell probably.

 

[ManOfSteelI]

An impact trade akin to the impact Ekholm had on the team when he was first brought in is essential.

This is a cold streak that will pass regardless of what moves are made, but that level of impact is absolutely needed for them to have a chance in the playoffs this year.

 

[Tarus]

Oilers need a goaltender. They needed one last year, they needed one at the start of the year when Skinner bombed again, and they'll need one going into the playoffs. Skinner seems like a nice guy, but he's a backup being force fed the starter role.

Klingberg looks more like a bottom pairing D as well, which leaves a pretty significant hole(that's been there all year) in the top 4 for a team with cup aspirations. Defense market is pretty barren this year though.

Forward group feels like the wrong mix, and could use more size and forechecking strength, hopefully Kane can help with that. Could just be a chemistry issue though, Mcdavid looks like a shadow of his former self, Knoblauch seems pretty ass as putting together lines, and there was a decent amount of turnover from last year and not everyone has found their niche yet.

I hope the Oilers can manage to fix either the goaltending or defense problem, but I suspect they'll probably just make a move for a 3rd or 4th line grinder and take on the significant risk of going into the playoffs with some major question marks in critical roles. Hope I'm wrong though.

 

[Lay Z Boy GM]

You have to do something. Remember McDavids contract. He just hung out with the best of the best, don’t give him a reason to jump ship.

If they really can’t do anything I think maybe it is time to move some dead weight and retool. I’m only really attached to McDrai and Hyman, maybe we shed some cap and go for a big impact player with all the extra space.

Oh and a goalie sometime in McDavids career would be wise, just saying. 10 years is plenty of time, I think we can all agree on that.

 

[Trafalgar Sadge Law]

Major surgery or stand pat and give up. This team isn't good enough to just make small tweaks. Goaltending is an abomination. Depth forwards are an absolute joke and even some of the top 6 guys are underperforming. Defense isn't as dire as previous seasons but we still need another top 4 dman. The Jack Campbell signing, the Adam Henrique trade and re-signing, and the loss of Holloway/Broberg might've already prematurely ended our Cup window to be honest. We were able to ride our horses like McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, Ekholm, Hyman etc last playoffs but a number of them aren't playing as well this season/starting to slow down. Doubt we get the same penalty kill results we did this playoffs too.

 

[unicornBLOOD]

this team has some major needs, not sure if they are realistic to be filled all by the trade deadline, especially with our cap situation, and our lack of trade assets. I guess I'd go out looking for the moves, but if they aren't the right moves, it makes no sense to get half pregnant. So if you can't make all the moves needed, or at least most of them, then don't do any of them.

 

[Oilhawks]

Goalie should be an option on its own, IMO

I think people are overreacting. Team sucks right now, which is good and bad approaching the TDL. Good because it might make management do a bit more than they might have, and bad because they might do too much (if they panic as much as the fanbase does)

 

[Soundwave]

Skinner/Pickard is clearly a tandem that is two backups and that isn’t good enough. I say you take your swing on Gibson now.

Who is even available in the off season? They missed the bus on Blackwood and Askarov. Saros will more expensive, Gibson with a Fowler level of retention is as affordable as it’s going to get.

 

[brentashton]

If you look at what is needed just at the TDL to stem the tide, and look at what would remain on the roster and their ages and relative value, beyond 29 and 97, this is a team in full rebuild mode.

And what they are building around in 29 and 97 are basically at their apex and are only going to regress.

Is what it is.

 

[unicornBLOOD]

You have to do something. Remember McDavids contract. He just hung out with the best of the best, don’t give him a reason to jump ship.

If they really can’t do anything I think maybe it is time to move some dead weight and retool. I’m only really attached to McDrai and Hyman, maybe we shed some cap and go for a big impact player with all the extra space.

Oh and a goalie sometime in McDavids career would be wise, just saying. 10 years is plenty of time, I think we can all agree on that.

that is definitely a scary outcome of that tourney. He was around an entire team of stars, none with any connection of ties to the Oilers. Most of his teammates on that Team Canada have won the Stanley Cup, if you don't think that some of them were in his ear about coming to their team, then I don't think you're being honest with yourself.


Crosby, MacKinnon, Makar, Toews, Marchand, Point, Chirelli, Hagel, Stone, Parayko, Binnington, Hill, Reinhart, Doughty... All these guys have won. McDavid would of gotten lots of reccommendations on how to win, and where to win.

That does scare me a bit, especially when the Oilers play and look like they did over the weekend.

 

[Soundwave]

this team has some major needs, not sure if they are realistic to be filled all by the trade deadline, especially with our cap situation, and our lack of trade assets. I guess I'd go out looking for the moves, but if they aren't the right moves, it makes no sense to get half pregnant. So if you can't make all the moves needed, or at least most of them, then don't do any of them.

They don’t even have the luxury of doing that, doing nothing major sends a message to McDavid that he should be in no hurry to extend and maybe should start looking at other options.

 

[unicornBLOOD]

They don’t even have the luxury of doing that, doing nothing major sends a message to McDavid that he should be in no hurry to extend.

it's a bad spot to be in right now.

 

[McDrai]

I voted to stand pat. Too many holes and if the team is playing like trash leading up to the deadline then I don’t see the point in moving any assets we have left for marginal improvements. I would do major surgery in the offseason.

 

[Soundwave]

it's a bad spot to be in right now.

Management deserves it. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. They’ve put themselves in a tough spot especially after that shit off season.

 

[unicornBLOOD]

I voted to stand pat. Too many holes and if the team is playing like trash leading up to the deadline then I don’t see the point in moving any assets we have left for marginal improvements. I would do major surgery in the offseason.

like Soundwave said, if you do that. What message are you sending to McDavid? Will it discourage him enough to not resign this summer? to wait and see what happens next year? will it prevent him from resigning with Oilers at all? Is there anything they can do that will make him ok with the direction and management of this team? Somehow, the last month or so, the team's struggles, all through out the line up, 97's play and success in the 4 Nations, and then the struggles of the team right after that tourney, has left this team with a whole lot of questions, especially when it comes to 97's future with the Oilers. What a major fall from how i felt when 97 scored the OT/tourney winner on Thursday night, to how I feel at this moment.

Management deserves it. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. They’ve put themselves in a tough spot especially after that shit off season.

but, it's the fans who pay for it, and deal with the fall out, and that's what really stinks.

 

[brentashton]

but, it's the fans who pay for it, and deal with the fall out, and that's what really stinks.

I actually think it’s the players that are most impacted. This is their livelihoods and passion.

Not fulfilling their dreams(regardless of the paycheque) is probably harder on them than some fans’ delusions that the home club owes them a championship.

 

[McDrai]

like Soundwave said, if you do that. What message are you sending to McDavid? Will it discourage him enough to not resign this summer? to wait and see what happens next year? will it prevent him from resigning with Oilers at all? Is there anything they can do that will make him ok with the direction and management of this team? Somehow, the last month or so, the team's struggles, all through out the line up, 97's play and success in the 4 Nations, and then the struggles of the team right after that tourney, has left this team with a whole lot of questions, especially when it comes to 97's future with the Oilers. What a major fall from how i felt when 97 scored the OT/tourney winner on Thursday night, to how I feel at this moment.


but, it's the fans who pay for it, and deal with the fall out, and that's what really stinks.

It’s a good point but I feel like management should do what is best for the team in terms of sustainable long term success. If they can manage to pull off a trade for an impactful player with term (ala Ekholm) then I would be for it but most of the deadline deals will be for pure rentals. I don’t think that would be the right play if the team continues to look like complete garbage leading up to the deadline.

 

[unicornBLOOD]

I actually think it’s the players that are most impacted. This is their livelihoods and passion.

Not fulfilling their dreams(regardless of the paycheque) is probably harder on them than some fans’ delusions that the home club owes them a championship.

most players don't win the cup each year, only 1 out of 32 teams. If the only way they are happy of satisfied each year is with a Cup, then most players (over 97% of the league), would be upset each season.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

we need at least a middle pairing D/starting goalie/top 6 forward
isn't that why they chose not to match Holloway and Broberg and not put Kane on LTIR? to accrue cap space during the year to get a bigger fish at the TDL?

they better not back out now

 

[brentashton]

most players don't win the cup each year, only 1 out of 32 teams. If the only way they are happy of satisfied each year is with a Cup, then most players (over 97% of the league), would be upset each season.

Knowing a number of NHL players since the early 1980s, yes, they are disappointed when they don't win a championship. It’s why they then work harder in the off season to improve and try and get there until their body finally says no more.

I believe it’s indicative of how winners and elite minded achievers are wired whether it be sports, or otherwise.

 

[unicornBLOOD]

Knowing a number of NHL players since the early 1980s, yes, they are disappointed when they don't win a championship. It’s why they then work harder in the off season to improve and try and get there until their body finally says no more.

I believe it’s indicative of how winners and elite minded achievers are wired whether it be sports, or otherwise.

i don't doubt that for sure, but, I also feel that there is probably quite the spectrum out there of the range of passion, of motivation, of disappointment when you go through all the players in the NHL.