Oil Spill
Net Detective
- Jan 21, 2013
- 1,795
- 654
Speculation: What do the Oilers need to do to take the next step?
- Thread starter McSuper
- Start date
I think Adam Larsson is being underrated. I think under-25 he is one the best defensive d-men in the league and he has room to grow offensively with a very good outlet pass that's finally going to have an offence to work with.
Davidson doesn't need to be a no.4, they have Mark Fayne who's an adequate no.4 if need be, Davidson can be a 5 or 6 next year, he simply did play like a 3/4 last year though.
They could use a PP QB on the back end absolutely, but every team makes due with some deficiency in some area and not every PP has Connor freaking McDavid on it either. They have enough pure talent to be better on the PP than they were last year. That's an execution issue, not entirely a roster issue.
They need to be healthy next year that's the main thing. This is probably the most balanced roster they have had in about a decade and McDavid going to be even better next year. They can't have Connor miss 1/2 the season and Klefbom miss 2/3 of the year again though. Normal injuries happen, but to lose your best forward for half the year and your best D for 2/3rds of the year would devastate even a playoff team.
Davidson doesn't need to be a no.4, they have Mark Fayne who's an adequate no.4 if need be, Davidson can be a 5 or 6 next year, he simply did play like a 3/4 last year though.
They could use a PP QB on the back end absolutely, but every team makes due with some deficiency in some area and not every PP has Connor freaking McDavid on it either. They have enough pure talent to be better on the PP than they were last year. That's an execution issue, not entirely a roster issue.
They need to be healthy next year that's the main thing. This is probably the most balanced roster they have had in about a decade and McDavid going to be even better next year. They can't have Connor miss 1/2 the season and Klefbom miss 2/3 of the year again though. Normal injuries happen, but to lose your best forward for half the year and your best D for 2/3rds of the year would devastate even a playoff team.
Larsson is leaving a team with 2-30g scores to go to a bottom feeder that had zero 30g scorers last season. No one is underrating Larsson . Larsson has a lot to prove this season, I suspect even if Larsson has a career year the result will be just like the last many years, a bottom 3 finish for the Oil.
Depends entirely on how McDavid and Larsson/Klefbom develop I think.
There is no set time line, many teams do go from being real bad to suddenly good in a rapid time frame.
If Adam Larsson takes the next step in his development I think they could contend for the playoffs as soon as next year because Connor McDavid is going to be better no matter what.
But that's still an *if*. They cannot have the same number of injuries as last year though, not even close to that. I don't expect playoffs, but I expect them to be competitive for a wild card/lower seed at least if healthy.
I do think the difference in size is no pun intended huge. In a short time frame they've gone from a small/weak team to one that's actually fairly big and bulky with the additions of Lucic, Maroon, Kassian, Puljujarvi, Larsson, and then you'll have another year of development for Nurse too. They're now actually one of the bigger teams in the Western Conference.
There is no set time line, many teams do go from being real bad to suddenly good in a rapid time frame.
If Adam Larsson takes the next step in his development I think they could contend for the playoffs as soon as next year because Connor McDavid is going to be better no matter what.
But that's still an *if*. They cannot have the same number of injuries as last year though, not even close to that. I don't expect playoffs, but I expect them to be competitive for a wild card/lower seed at least if healthy.
I do think the difference in size is no pun intended huge. In a short time frame they've gone from a small/weak team to one that's actually fairly big and bulky with the additions of Lucic, Maroon, Kassian, Puljujarvi, Larsson, and then you'll have another year of development for Nurse too. They're now actually one of the bigger teams in the Western Conference.
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So like trading Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson? I already pointed out trading the 2017 pick
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Peanut
Alzner is SOLID
- Oct 28, 2015
- 2,617
- 1,902
Didn't the Avs get an insane amount of luck that season. Every advanced stats showed they would degress. Load the behold next year they were bad again haha
Just like the Flames did two seasons ago.
Maybe since the Oilers luck finally changed in the lottery it will now payoff in the standings
Just like the Flames did two seasons ago.
Maybe since the Oilers luck finally changed in the lottery it will now payoff in the standings
Luck is the only way the Oil make the playoffs, at least you've realized that. Fair to say the entire Oil roster also realizes that if they want to get out of the bottom 5 in the league they will need copious amounts of luck. Now grab that rabbits foot and hold on tight.
I like their chances this year, but would still look to add a vet backup like Enroth and some more quality bottom six forwards on the cheap. Adding a player like Kruger in that 4C spot would give them a really reliable centre option who can fill in at 3C when injuries hit. Not a fan of Letestu.
That's ignoring the obvious hole on the backend.
That's ignoring the obvious hole on the backend.
the oilers have not played a 2 way game in years and it about drove there coach crazy last year. thats why they traded hall and signed lucic. there top 6 has been softer than any team in the league, suprised they didnt dump rnh and eberle. they are going in the right dirrection with there signings now we will see if the young players want to sacrifice stats and there bodies to be a good team or if there gonna continue to be soft 1 way losing players.
bestmyfeeling
Registered User
- Oct 22, 2010
- 1,489
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go4hockey
Registered User
Wrong!!!!! Luck could help get you into the playoffs but then you need to be GOOD or your going out in round one.
yababy
Registered User
- Jun 26, 2015
- 3,443
- 828
Come on buddy, if healthy, the 2015-16 Oilers have 3-4 30g goal scorers: Hall, McDavid, Eberle, RNH
Of all 4 players you mentioned bud, one of them has hit 30g, once in his nhl career. Pro rating a 30g season doesn't mean a player had a 30g season fyi. Wouldn't be surprised if the oil had 0 (1 at best 30g scorer this season).
hohosaregood
Banned
- Sep 1, 2011
- 33,163
- 13,816
The Oilers are probably gonna take the division next year. Their center depth is arguably the best in the pacific and their top 3 defensemen are just as competitive as any other team's in the west. And if Martin Jones can carry a team to the finals then so can Cam Talbot who is just as good if not better. Not to mention McLellan who is generally lauded as a top 10 coach in the NHL
DudeWhereIsMakar
Bergevin sent me an offer sheet
I think they just need a 4th line guy who has a bit of skill but mostly fights and they're good. But the chances is if they have the right guy in the AHL and give him the right development they're all set.
Khaira in my opinion would look great on the 4th line. That is if they are struggling
yababy
Registered User
- Jun 26, 2015
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I'd rather put Khaira on the top line in the AHL and let him play a ton of minutes. That would probably be better for his development than getting minimal minutes in the NHL.
KidLine93
Registered User
- May 15, 2012
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