What do you change for game 3?

[bone]

I think Walman is a solid 2nd pair guy but he's looked bad since coming back, he's clearly injured IMO
Foegele absolutely torched him on the opening goal yesterday

The problem is that with Ekholm being out, the team has had to miscast him into being a defensive first d-man which isn't what suits him best. He's doing his best impression of it, but with Ekholm in the lineup, he's probably not killing penalties and taking on as many defensive assignments.

He was brought here to be the platoon 4/5 guy swapping out with Kulak as required (Kulak to 4 in defensive times, Walman to 4 in offensive times) and supported by a competent number 6 in Emberson or Stetcher when playing as a 5.

Unfortunately now he's playing a 3/4 role where he needs to absorb a lot of Ekholm's defensive minutes as Kulak can't cover it all. Further compounding things is that Nurse has gone into his mindset of thinking he's an offensive defenseman first instead of recognizing that in Ekholms absence he needs to be their best defensive d-man. So this is just putting more of the defensive requirements onto Kulak and Walman. Kulak can generally handle it, but Walman is struggling with particularly while dealing with an injury himself.

 

[Gnome17]

I put Skinner and the 2 Connors back together.

I play Pickard.

I play Bouchard - Walman and Nurse - Kulak.

I bring up Philp, unclear on who I take out. Maybe Frederic, maybe Henrique.

I take RNH out of the PP and give Skinner a shot, and tell the guys to play more simple, as soon as you have a decent chance at a shot, take it.

 

[Arpeggio]

Henrique can't play centre. Nuge also can't play centre. Tough spot for the team to be in.

Henrique/Nuge McDavid Hyman
Kane Drai Arvidsson
Janmark Nuge/Henrique Brown
Podkolzin Ryan Perry

This is what I think they'll do. Frederic can't play, he can't skate. They're trying to force it because that trade looks so, so bad right now, but he's completely useless.

 

[Pip]

Drastic changes are needed. They desperately need some new energy and different looks and hope they catch lightning in a bottle. No point going back to things that haven’t worked all year.

In: Philp, Savoie, J Skinner
Out: Frederic, Henrique, Arvidsson
Demote Kane

Skinner-McDavid-Brown
Savoie-Draisaitl-Hyman
Podkolzin-RNH-Kane
Kapanen/Janmark- Philp-Perry

Bouchard-Kulak
Walman-Klingberg
Nurse-Stecher (if healthy, if not Emberson).

Pickard

 

[Pip]

Henrique can't play centre. Nuge also can't play centre. Tough spot for the team to be in.

Henrique/Nuge McDavid Hyman
Kane Drai Arvidsson
Janmark Nuge/Henrique Brown
Podkolzin Ryan Perry

This is what I think they'll do. Frederic can't play, he can't skate. They're trying to force it because that trade looks so, so bad right now, but he's completely useless.

Just wait until they re-sign him to save face

 

[russ99]

Walman will be a solid 2nd pair guy once we have a head coach/defensive assistant that prioritizes coverage. He's surely capable of it with how he played a pair above his head in San Jose.

But that's been coached out of him to always serve pushing the puck up ice.

 

[bone]

Henrique can't play centre. Nuge also can't play centre. Tough spot for the team to be in.

Henrique/Nuge McDavid Hyman
Kane Drai Arvidsson
Janmark Nuge/Henrique Brown
Podkolzin Ryan Perry

This is what I think they'll do. Frederic can't play, he can't skate. They're trying to force it because that trade looks so, so bad right now, but he's completely useless.

Bruins fans would have told you the same even before the injury.

It is a trade so bad it makes some of Chiarelli's trades look good by comparison. Might supplant the Athanasiou trade as the worst deadline trade of the decade for Edmonton. Holland at least had the excuse of the unplanned Covid shutdown, and cap situation changing drastically that summer turning AA from RFA to UFA for cap reasons, but Bowman knew there was a reasonable chance of this being an outcome when he made the trade.

 

[OiledUp]

Wrote this in the pgt.

"They should truly consider sitting one or both of Nuge and Hyman game 3 to make a statement. The only way this team turns this series around is via a proper f***ing wake up call. And that might be it. Problem is there are too many guys who deserves to sit. Frederic, Henrique, Brown, Nuge, Hyman as a start. Arvidsson had a major mistake and was terrible game one but overall in this game he at least showed some life. Janmark is playing well. Perry is doing his thing but can't handle too many minutes. Kane looks rusty and his hands are stiff as hell but he's trying and should be better next game. McDrai deliver.

The D group are what they are, not a lot of options until Ekholm and Stecher return. Ekholm can't heal fast enough. The main positive from this game was how good Klingberg looked, exceptional with the puck on his stick and while he certainly can't move like in his prime which makes him a liability against the rush he was positionally sound and had good awareness defensively all game, if he can keep this play up he's quality.

The goalies are uhm...an issue. Can they play Samuel Jonsson? Only goalie in the system having a good season...
But seriously Pickard has to start next game. Right? RIGHT?"

What I think they will do is take out Frederic, even the coaches must notice that he just isn't fit to play, and probably insert Kapanen. And give Pickard the net. Maybe tweak some lines. That's it.

Save us McDrai you're our only hope

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Just wait until they re-sign him to save face

If he's healthy and a lot better skater than he is now I'd be fine with that as long as its not an overpay. Right now though he needs to sit.

 

[russ99]

Just wait until they re-sign him to save face

I'd sit Kane too, he was very raw, don't push him out there and have him overdo it after a year out. He wasn't even close to scoring yesterday, so I don't know what you'd give up, and the icetime to a healthy capable player would be advantage enough.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

I think Walman is a solid 2nd pair guy but he's looked bad since coming back, he's clearly injured IMO
Foegele absolutely torched him on the opening goal yesterday

The Oilers have the anti-Midas touch. Everything gold gets turned into shit. We thought Savoie, Emberson, and Walman were all amazing acquisitions and all three have been a big disappointment so far.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Skinner-McDavid-Brown
Kane-Draisaitl-Savoie
Hyman-RNH-Kapanen
Jones-Henrique-Perry

Walman-Bouchard
Nurse-Kulak
Dineen-Klingberg

Pickard
Delia

 

[bone]

If he's healthy and a lot better skater than he is now I'd be fine with that as long as its not an overpay. Right now though he needs to sit.

The question is why would he sign at this point. He's a UFA possibly as soon as 4 days from now and he can see what teams are willing to offer in what will be by far the biggest offseason since the cap was introduced in terms of money available for GMs to spend.

 

[FlameChampion]

I would start Pickard obviously.

The team has a lot of issues though. Not getting enough from anyone not named McDrai, goaltending, special teams, defensive coverage, no line chemistry etc. these were all problems throughout the season which were not adequately addressed. Unfortunately I don’t think any changes now are going to be enough.

 

[PuckG]

Probably stop watching (would be best for my sanity, but Lord knows I will watch).

This does not feel like the same team from last year that could fight back from any deficit. There are too many flaws.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

The question is why would he sign at this point. He's a UFA possibly as soon as 4 days from now and he can see what teams are willing to offer in what will be by far the biggest offseason since the cap was introduced in terms of money available for GMs to spend.

Cross that bridge when the time comes. We have bigger fish to fry on this team than a 3rd line winger.

 

[bone]

I'd sit Kane too, he was very raw, don't push him out there and have him overdo it after a year out. He wasn't even close to scoring yesterday, so I don't know what you'd give up, and the icetime to a healthy capable player would be advantage enough.

Kane was fine. His issue was moreso rust and timing which improves rapidly game by game for guys like that particularly since he's played with most of these guys before. Physically he looked fine.

Frederic on the other hand doesn't look physically there plus he has no history with anyone to build on timing and such. I'm not suggesting he never plays again, but a night off won't hurt.

 

[bone]

Cross that bridge when the time comes. We have bigger fish to fry on this team than a 3rd line winger.

Precisely. We simply cannot afford to focus on the wrong areas again this summer. Bowman needs to very intentionally target the areas of weakness and improve it. I'm not minding his signings on overseas and college guys so far, but those guys likely help Bakersfield moreso than the Oilers. We need guys that address our problems and that should even include a few changes in the coaching staff. KK never got to pick any of his staff, so give him free reign to look at other options.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Kane was fine. His issue was moreso rust and timing which improves rapidly game by game for guys like that particularly since he's played with most of these guys before. Physically he looked fine.

Frederic on the other hand doesn't look physically there plus he has no history with anyone to build on timing and such. I'm not suggesting he never plays again, but a night off won't hurt.

Kane threw some really big hits as well. Frederic was trying but he clearly doesn't look healthy. Drai, Hyman, Walman and Frederic all look like they aren't close to 100% right now.

 

[Seth92]

Kane out, we dont need penalties
Frederic out, what does he even do?
Bouchard out, he is a liability
Nurse bottom pairing, play less then 15 minutes to negate his damage to our own team
Stu Skinner scratched and in the press box for the rest of the playoffs. Pickard Rodrigue do their thing.

Nothing to lose so lets just stop pretending this team is good and let the McDavid and Draisaitl show work its magic.

 

[bobbythebrain]

Skinner McDavid Kane
Freddy Drai Hyman
Arvy RNH Brown
Perry Janmark Podz

Kulak Nurse
Walman Bouchard
Emby Klingy

Picks

 

[McAsuno]

Insert Pickard and send Fat ass 74 watching the game from the locker room so no oilers player has to deal with his hippie guru attempts on the bench.

Call up Savoie and Philp to play to inject some much needed speed and youth (which I doubt they do because the organization is so f***ing stupid on how they handle young players). I would play Philp over Henrique and take Frederic out to insert Savoie. Henrique has been old and slow and Frederic simply doesn’t look healthy enough to engage the way he’s accustomed to.

Keep McDavid and Draisaitl on separate lines and only play them during the PP or after a successful PK.

 

[bone]

Kane out, we dont need penalties
Frederic out, what does he even do?
Bouchard out, he is a liability
Nurse bottom pairing, play less then 15 minutes to negate his damage to our own team
Stu Skinner scratched and in the press box for the rest of the playoffs. Pickard Rodrigue do their thing.

Nothing to lose so lets just stop pretending this team is good and let the McDavid and Draisaitl show work its magic.

This is so f***ing dumb. Kane's penalty first of all was a BS call invented because Clarke doesn't know how to stand up. Frederic sure. Pickard for Stu sure.

But taking Bouchard out means replacing him with Brown and elevating Emberson and Klingberg's minutes well into the 20s. Moving Nurse to 10-15 minutes territory means pushing Kulak and an injured Walman into 25 minute plus territory.

I appreciate Nurse has been dogshit, and Bouchard's mistakes can be frustrating but the alternatives will not be better.

I will say that Nurse does need a serious talking to as right now he needs to focus on being the best defensive d-man on the team instead of pushing for offense, particularly because he sucks at offense.

On the 2nd goal. we were only down one with more than half a game to go and a no point in that entire shift was he on the defensive side of his man and pretty much abandoned his assignments putting Draisaitl into a defensive position in that he needed to cover for him. I take Draisaitl's offense over Nurse's every day of the week and twice on Sunday, and Nurse needs to know that.

Up to that point, I'd argue Edmonton was the better team, but that goal pushed a lot of momentum onto LA and Edmonton started taking on water leading to the penalty and PP goal shortly after and then the hole was too deep to dig out of without a hot goaltender.

 

[tardigrade81]

Skinner McDavid Hyman
Savoie Draisaitl Perry
Kane RNH Arvidsson
PodK Janmark Brown

Frederic has 1 good ankle. Can’t play. Kane isn’t up to speed yet for top 6. He’s full of rust and it shows. Henrique is slow as f*** to be an C anymore and can’t take that penalty. Send a message, he sits.

Nurse Klingberg
Kulak Bouchard
Walman Emberson

Picard
Splits guy @tardigrade81

Looks good to me! Pic better be on a short leash too. Because I haven't given up a playoff goal ever in my life. So....

 

[Seth92]

This is so f***ing dumb. Kane's penalty first of all was a BS call invented because Clarke doesn't know how to stand up. Frederic sure. Pickard for Stu sure.

But taking Bouchard out means replacing him with Brown and elevating Emberson and Klingberg's minutes well into the 20s. Moving Nurse to 10-15 minutes territory means pushing Kulak and an injured Walman into 25 minute plus territory.

I appreciate Nurse has been dogshit, and Bouchard's mistakes can be frustrating but the alternatives will not be better.

I will say that Nurse does need a serious talking to as right now he needs to focus on being the best defensive d-man on the team instead of pushing for offense, particularly because he sucks at offense.

On the 2nd goal. we were only down one with more than half a game to go and a no point in that entire shift was he on the defensive side of his man and pretty much abandoned his assignments putting Draisaitl into a defensive position in that he needed to cover for him. I take Draisaitl's offense over Nurse's every day of the week and twice on Sunday, and Nurse needs to know that.

Up to that point, I'd argue Edmonton was the better team, but that goal pushed a lot of momentum onto LA and Edmonton started taking on water leading to the penalty and PP goal shortly after and then the hole was too deep to dig out of without a hot goaltender.

Refs literally hate us and will not be easier on us on home ice so therefore if we were smart we wouldn't even be considering Kane if the rest of the team actually carried their weight. He is as good as hurting our players as the other team and there are many instances of him running over McDavid or being in his way or last night just being careless and punching Nuge in a scrum. We never needed him or his drama and I stand by that.