Pre-Game Talk: Week to Get Back (To Where You Once Belong) [@VAN; @CGY; @EDM]

[5280]

Doesn't matter, championship or playoffs, it's the expectation that they can will themselves there.

Sorry to jump on your back, but how else are they supposed to get there?

 

[tigervixxxen]

Sorry to jump on your back, but how else are they supposed to get there?

Building a team, experience, learning to win together. Can the Oilers just wake up one day and will themselves there? They have more talent than we do.

 

[5280]

Building a team, experience, learning to win together. Can the Oilers just wake up one day and will themselves there? They have more talent than we do.

I just can't figure out what your argument is exactly.

We lack winning experience and we are severely behind the curve on learning how to win. Some way some how, we need to get over the hump and actually start winning some of these games.

How do you get experience if you can't win/aren't learning how to win to get that experience? It's a chicken vs, egg argument, sometimes you just have to say screw it and put everything on the line and go win some hockey games.

One day the Oilers will have to do that, too.

 

[tigervixxxen]

It's fine, I'll drop it. It's not worth it.

This roster isn't good enough, period. I'll leave it at that.

 

[klozge]

Building a team, experience, learning to win together. Can the Oilers just wake up one day and will themselves there? They have more talent than we do.

I don't think they do. They have two special players (Hall although he's dumb as a rock and McDavid) and a few good ones. Avs have Duchene, MacKinnon, Landeskog, Varlamov, Jones, Bigras, Barrie, Boedker, Grigorenko, Iginla, Beauchemin and Soderberg. Then there are Zadorov and Rantanen waiting in the pipeline. Avs have a lot of talent imo.

Edit: I forgot Pickard.

 

[UncleRisto]

EJ Jones.

 

[Jarey Curry]

Building a team, experience, learning to win together. Can the Oilers just wake up one day and will themselves there? They have more talent than we do.

What do you do with talent when you cant put it in good use? Hall, McJacob and Draisaitl are playing like they are expected and the next three most talented players there, I always get the feeling RNH could be a lot better but imo is underachieving same goes with Yakupov and Eberle
Our talent have their buns in the oven so to speak whereas rnh is trying to turn it on

 

[StayAtHomeAv]

It's fine, I'll drop it. It's not worth it.

This roster isn't good enough, period. I'll leave it at that.

This roster is most definitely good enough. Especially with the new additions. We are talking playoffs. You don't even have to be in the top half of the this conference to make them.

 

[Ararana]

IMO, if this team ever learns to start the damn season on time we'd be consistently in a comfortable playoff spot by this point in the year.

 

[AvsGuy]

It's fine, I give up. Yes our young players need to progress but just to expect them to carry a team to a championship out of thin air is a bit too much for me. I guess that's why I'm not an optimist. They get no free pass and then what? Doesn't matter what's around them, they should make up the difference? A team will just get mental fortitude because someone says so? I'll hope for the day when they wake up and say, yep we are mentally stronger now, let's win a championship!

I'm still honestly extremely surprised that Roy and Sakic haven't had a better influence as a management team. I really thought after the first game and the first season as a whole that we had that intangible winning attitude in the locker room that comes from guys who've worked their ***** off for multiple championships, and its just withered away. Perhaps that has something to do with the lack of development in our top guys, they just don't play with any commitment or desperation at the right times.

 

[tigervixxxen]

The first year they rode that incredible start the whole season. They had zero expectations and pressure and just went out and played. When it came to crunch time they were never in a do or die game. St. Louis gave us the division and then when it came time for real adversity we saw what happened. Nothing changed. You can't just "give" a team a winning attitude. They have to build it and earn it themselves.

The roster is good enough to be a playoff bubble team....which we are.

 

[cody275]

We're unbeaten so far this year when Cody does the GDT's.


Time to keep the streak going!

The fact that it's only been 2 games means nothing.

The Streak Continues!!!

 

[5280]

The first year they rode that incredible start the whole season. They had zero expectations and pressure and just went out and played. When it came to crunch time they were never in a do or die game. St. Louis gave us the division and then when it came time for real adversity we saw what happened. Nothing changed. You can't just "give" a team a winning attitude. They have to build it and earn it themselves.

The roster is good enough to be a playoff bubble team....which we are.

That's where the Kane / Toews argument comes into play. They were able to get over the hump. Also it brings into play people questioning our core. Will they ever get over the hump?

 

[AvsGuy]

That's where the Kane / Toews argument comes into play. They were able to get over the hump. Also it brings into play people questioning our core. Will they ever get over the hump?

And I guess that leads to the question, is our core good enough, or is it our supporting cast that's lacking? Personally I'm at the point where I start to question our core and their drive, but you can't exactly say they've been surrounded by the ideal talent either. Maybe we're closer with some of our upcoming prospects than we think.

 

[5280]

And I guess that leads to the question, is our core good enough, or is it our supporting cast that's lacking? Personally I'm at the point where I start to question our core and their drive, but you can't exactly say they've been surrounded by the ideal talent either. Maybe we're closer with some of our upcoming prospects than we think.

Yeah exactly, maybe the old saying it gets darkest right before the dawn applies here. The team has been frustrating this year for sure, ups downs and all arounds.... I think this is a playoff team as is, not before all of the acquisitions, but we are now.

I guess it boils down to the fact that I don't have a problem with Roy trying to drag us kicking and screaming into the playoffs as it seems like he is trying to do.

 

[InjuredChoker]

Wes Gilbertson ‏@WesGilbertson 30m30 minutes ago
#Flames C Sam Bennett and D TJ Brodie are "very doubtful" to face Avalanche. G Niklas Backstrom will make Flames debut in Montreal.

 

[tigervixxxen]

I don't know if it was mentioned by Roy said Bigras will be reevaluated in Calgary. I guess he will try to pass the last test again.

Maybe a general interest, Berra was injured yesterday and Martin was called back up to San Antonio.

 

[Gigantor The Goalie]

Wes Gilbertson ‏@WesGilbertson 30m30 minutes ago
#Flames C Sam Bennett and D TJ Brodie are "very doubtful" to face Avalanche. G Niklas Backstrom will make Flames debut in Montreal.

Not having to face Bennett and Brodie would be great. Isn't this Backstrom's NHL debut this season?

 

[RockLobster]

Anyone want to provide a run-down of what this article contains?

 

[Bubba Thudd]

I want to. But I can't. Hope someone can and will.



*I'm looking at YOU, reader*

 

[tigervixxxen]

I have a subscription. Not sure I can get it open on my phone so give me a bit.

 

[Former Ladder]

Anyone want to provide a run-down of what this article contains?

Stolen from someone on Twitter about what other GM's/scouts think of us.

 

[cgf]

Strange how our goalie has already had a number of hiccups this season, yet we're still not dead yet...

 

[ASmileyFace]

I don't know if it was mentioned by Roy said Bigras will be reevaluated in Calgary. I guess he will try to pass the last test again.

Maybe a general interest, Berra was injured yesterday and Martin was called back up to San Antonio.

This is Berra's third injury of the season right? Gotta feel bad for the guy. He looked like he was finally figuring it out early on.

 

[Foppa2118]

Strange how our goalie has already had a number of hiccups this season, yet we're still not dead yet...

Yea, funny how Varly had the hiccups through all of October, then again after the All Star break, yet we have a better record than 13 other teams.