The early portion of the season was always about the rookies. In 1970, we knew early days Gilbert Perreault was going to be a special player. We also knew the Montreal Canadiens had a bumper crop, with names like Guy Lapointe, Marc Tardif, Rejean Houle, Bobby Sheehan, Phil Myre and (late in the season) Ken Dryden.
I loved watching the rookies, first via The Hockey News and then, eventually, through Hockey Night in Canada appearances. My Dad and Grandpa used to complain (“too many names I’ve never heard of!”) but for me it meant renewal, fresh faces, and, hopefully, expansion teams beating the old timers. In that time, 1971, the Boston Bruins represented new and exciting, the Toronto Maple Leafs old and worn, in a way I can’t describe adequately to you from this side of 1970 fall. It was a fact though, I can assure you of it.
My Dad and Grandpa weren’t wrong. In 1960-61, 15 rookie skaters dressed and played in 30 or more games. Most of them (Dave Keon, JC Tremblay, Bob Nevin, Dallas Smith, Jerry Toppazzini, Reg Fleming, Gilles Tremblay, Willie O’Ree) were known to me as a child or would become known to me in the years after I became acquainted with the league population.
By 1970-71, the total number of rookie skaters who appeared in 30 or more games counted 51 (more teams, more players) and my Dad and Grandpa had no time for Fran Huck or Greg Polis or Ernie Hicke. If Darryl Sittler showed up in enough Saturday night games for the Leafs, they might say something like “that Sittler kid is coming along” late in the regular season. I didn’t care. Rookies meant renewal, promise and hope.
Today, the song remains the same. So, we celebrate Evan Bouchard and Kailer Yamamoto and Ethan Bear on this Saturday, for they are the future. It’s opening day for our beautiful game. It’s time to welcome all the freshman and see how they shine.
THE ATHLETIC!
The Athletic Edmonton is going to bring it all season long. Proud to be part of a lineup that is ready to cover the coming year. Outstanding coverage from a large group, including Daniel Nugent-Bowman and Jonathan Willis, Lowetide, Minnia Feng and Pat McLean. If you haven’t subscribed yet, now’s your chance. Special offer is here, less than $3 a month!
- New Jonathan Willis: On AHL opening night, Caleb Jones and friends make it clear they want NHL jobs.
- New Lowetide: Orange, white and blue October: In 1979, the Oilers rocked the NHL.
- New Daniel Nugent-Bowman: After the death of his father, Sweden trip holds special significance for Adam Larsson, and one of his opponents.
- New Scott Wheeler: How the eye test fails to properly evaluate Evan Bouchard.
- New Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Why the Nuge-McDavid-Rattie line has been so successful.
- Lowetide: The 2018-19 Oilers are in a period of transition.
- Jonathan Willis: How worried should the Oilers be about the preseason struggles of Milan Lucic and Leon Draisaitl?
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers bet on Ty Rattie paying off and other lessons learned from training camp.
- Lowetide: A transaction flurry as Oilers finalize 2018-19 roster
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Leon’s time to shine. This is an amazing piece, exceptional.
- Lowetide: Oilers waive Aberg, release Jerabek and stand at 25.
- Lowetide: Oilers prospects Berglund, Maksimov off to fine starts
- Lowetide: Is this the year an Edmonton Oilers player wins the Calder Trophy?
PROJECTED LINEUP
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins—Connor McDavid—Ty Rattie
- Milan Lucic—Leon Draisaitl—Kailer Yamamoto
- Jujhar Khaira—Ryan Strome—Jesse Puljujarvi
- Tobias Rieder—Kyle Brodziak—Zack Kassian
- Oscar Klefbom—Adam Larsson
- Darnell Nurse—Matt Benning
- Kris Russell—Evan Bouchard
- Cam Talbot (Mikko Koskinen)
Evan Bouchard plays in his first NHL game, Kailer Yamamoto beats the odds two years in a row. It’s still a McDavid/Talbot ‘key to the game’ but the big thing to watch is what happens when 97 is off the ice. Can this team close the gap?
- McDavid on-ice 5-on-5 2017-18: 81-61 (57.04 percent goal share)
- McDavid of-ice 5-on-5 2017-18: 82-115 (41.60 percent goal share)
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM OCTOBER
- On the road to: Sweden to play NJD (Expected: 0-0-1) (Actual: 0-0-0)
- On the road to: Boston, NYR, Winnipeg (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: Boston, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Washington (Expected 1-3-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: Nashville, Chicago (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: Minnesota (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 3-6-2, 8 points in 11 games
- Current results: 0-0-0, 0 points after no games
I’m not necessarily down on the Oilers team but the first month of the schedule is very difficult. Washington won Stanley a year ago, Winnipeg could win it this coming season (they are my pick). Boston twice, Nashville twice, and Pittsburgh thrown in for good measure. You could absolutely argue I’m being too kind to Edmonton here.
THE OPENING NIGHT ROSTER
- G Cam Talbot. He came in and established himself with fine play, Todd McLellan is comfortable with his starter entering the season.
- G Mikko Koskinen. Both Peter Chiarelli and the coaching staff were heading for the Pepto early and often during the first few minutes of his Oilers career but he settled in and we’ll see if he can establish himself over the season.
- LD Oscar Klefbom. A key player, he has been mostly good through the preseason. His shot has the usual power and I haven’t seen him go walkabout defensively too many times. He’s always going to be the lesser defender on his pairing, that’s not the same as saying he isn’t a quality player.
- RD Adam Larsson. Fine shutdown defender looked a little off later in preseason, he’ll need to play big, effective minutes for 82+ and looks capable. A very important player on this team, because you have to defend. He helps his partner, be it Klefbom or Nurse, in the defensive zone.
- LD Darnell Nurse. Needs to keep improving his defending and cut down on the penalties, but arrows are headed in a good direction. His ability to skate the puck out of danger is effective and underrated by many.
- RD Matt Benning. I believe he can successfully cover the No. 2 RD job but it’s a bet for sure and the Oilers may want to have a backup plan. Benning has his detractors, I’m a fan.
- LD Kris Russell. Looks like he’ll play No. 3 LHD this season. I’m not sure any of the hopeful lefties on the farm will push this year but they are coming and it might mean a changing of the guard next summer.
- RD Evan Bouchard. He is exactly as advertised, sublime passer with intelligence and the calm feet required to weigh options before committing. Defensively he’s raw, I’d fall short of calling him a project. How quickly can he learn at the NHL level? Suspect we’re about to find out.
- LD Jason Garrison. PTO invite won the day over a pedestrian group of hopefuls, not certain how long he’ll hold on to the position. Speed is the concern, he can hammer the puck.
- RD Ethan Bear. Bear might benefit from another 35 games in Bakersfield, not sure the organization will afford him the chance. He can pass the puck and shoot it, and his boots are better this year.
- LD Andrej Sekera. Injured.
- LC Connor McDavid. He can still part the waters and is faster than a speeding bullet, plus the organization appears to have found him new solid linemates. I have him scoring 50-70-120 this season, and have seen many projections beyond.
- LC Leon Draisaitl. A massive season for the big man, he’ll be asked to drive his own line, push the river, and score 70+ points. Can he do it? That will be a major question answered by April.
- RC Ryan Strome. He was what he was on the day the Oilers traded for him but the organization seems to be disappointed any way. He is solid in the No. 3 center role and the team appears to have settled for that outcome.
- RC Kyle Brodziak. He looks solid on the penalty kill and maybe he can chip in 8-10 goals over the season. Faster than Letestu and that is key.
- L Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. He played well during preseason, the line was very hot and outscored opponents 7-2 at 5-on-5 while Nuge was on the ice. He’ll need to be the responsible winger on the line.
- L Milan Lucic. I’m interested to see what might happen if the big man struggles alongside Draisaitl. The smart play would be to move Lucic down, don’t know if the organization will have the stomach for it.
- L Jujhar Khaira. He looks strong and effective again, the offense was a bit of a surprise one year ago, you’ll want to see him do it again.
- L Tobias Rieder. He started slowly in preseason but came on as time moved along. I can see him on any of the lines 2-4, and he’ll be vital to the penalty kill this season.
- L Drake Caggiula. Caggiula played up the lineup consistently last year, he’s stapled to the No. 4 line now. There is some urgency here, although he is fighting some issues physically.
- R Ty Rattie. He was exceptional during preseason, passing, shooting, scoring and keeping up with the McDavid. He has locked down the No. 1 RW job.
- R Kailer Yamamoto. He wasn’t promised a job coming in but once again forced his way onto the roster. Looks like Yamamoto isn’t secured onto a specific line, and with little 5-on-4 time, it will be vital to find a way to deliver offense.
- R Jesse Puljujarvi. The big winger was brilliant early, faded a little (after taking an elbow against Winnipeg) and we’ll see if he can deliver offense on what should be a soft parade third line.
- R Zack Kassian. He needs to be consistent and aggressive, while staying out of the penalty box as much as possible. You could make the case he is losing his hold on the 4R job but a strong performance early will re-establish him.
- R Alex Chiasson. Based on quality of play, he earned the contract and NHL job. I’ll be interested to see how much he plays and who he replaces when drawing in.
CONDORS 8, HEAT 1
I watched the game and can confirm the final score. Al Montoya was splendid in the game, especially early, and stopped 21 of 22 (.955). Tyler Benson had a goal, an assist and four shots on goal in his pro debut. Caleb Jones (1-1-2) is an NHL player, just not all the time, and when he’s more consistent he will be recalled. Cooper Marody is smooth with 12 o’s, my goodness he can finesse his way into good scoring situations. I also liked William Lagesson plenty. That was the best game I’ve ever seen a Condors team play.
SATURDAY SPORTS EXTRA
At noon today, we’ll run until the end of the Oilers game (Dean Millard will have the post-game show) with guests Todd Cordell (Hockeybuzz) and Andrew Peard (Oil Kings PBP). Cordell will be by after the second period to discuss the game in progress and Peard will talk about a fantastic start for the OK. Tune in starting at noon, TSN1260.
Seems to me that the Oilers try to make the safest play possible, and in doing so make horrid mistakes, excepting McDavid.
Not sure if this is coaching, execution, systems, nerves, etc.
One thing that would help is McLellan not flipping out when we don’t execute. Puts everyone on the defensive.
If we can take a lesson from today’s Arsenal game, players need confidence and trust that they can execute, and when they do, it’s much easier to click as a team.
If we’re firing McLellan, it’s for that, not for systems play that every team runs, if fans are clamoring for defensemen who can make a play, think ahead to anticipate mismatches, clear the crease, and make perfect passes to forwards streaking out of the zone where the opposition lets them waltz into the crease and score, they’re going to be sorely disappointed. No matter the situation, forwards need to help on D and get in good places to exit, and no matter what breakout and entry system used, you’re going to have to cycle to keep possession and cycle to create space and good scoring chances.
Back a few years ago an Oiler player convinced the staff to let the vet players not practice and train instead to maintain strength which is lost in season apparently.
It seemed to help, they made the final unexpectedly that year.
It’s so oilers to have the newest shiniest things and be out of date on methods. To not be on top of overtraining, mental fatigue, and off season targeted training with the best coaches available, not just your in house option because they’re there.
To hire three new experienced coaches, two of whom have high level reps in their area of specialty, and for the team to start the season exactly as it finished the last, poorly.
Really it’s hard to fathom such blandness.
Just about everybody had bad checking angles. This allows the opposition to cut back. Problem is you need to be fast enough to not get left behind. Hardly saw anyone separated from the puck but this is the direction of this team.
Got to give credit to Jerseys fore check.
That’s very fair.
The F’s were losing every puck battle on the boards in the dzone.
All flat-footed.
Don’t know how much of the flat-footedness is coached.
My issue wasn’t just the F’s losing the battle, it was the D putting the puck back into those same spots over and over with no structure for a break out up the middle.
Its like the D are scared to be creative.
Either that or NJD’s forecheck pressured them into using the “release valve” option (chip up the boards) much more often than they expected to.
Kinger_Oil.redux,
– I thought Talbot sucked.
– I have not read one poster say that
No one is saying that because he didn’t suck.
He didn’t steal the game, but he didn’t lose it either.
So what changes do we think we see for the next game?
Trade? I hope not as I think we will just swap one hole for another.
Changes? I’d like to see Jesse playing more than 13 mins a night and Leon can handle a few extra minutes as well. Why not throw Leon on for a few more minutes between Jesse and Khaira. Take that time from the 4th line, who were brutal.
Guessing Caggiula comes in for Kassian but I’d prefer Chiasson.
I don’t necessarily disagree with this post and its correct on the math, however, the game is more than math.
I don’t really care what the “numbers” show with respect to momentum but, to me, momentum is a real thing in sport and in hockey and for the Oilers and those numbers don’t take in to account the deflating effect that goal early in the 2nd followed shortly by the giveaway goal has on a team (and the inflating effect it has on the opposition) – that is tough to recover from.
Yes, its up to the team to get that momentum back – a big play by an offensive player, a bit hit by Kassian, Lucic, Khaira, etc., something. They didn’t do that and that’s on the team, however, a big save by the goalie, or just not letting in a shitty goal followed by a miscommunication goal, changes everything.
Talbot wasn’t good enough yesterday – that level of goaltending is not good enough, not for this team.
I don’t think McClellan is the right coach. I don’t like his ‘systems’ for the forecheck, for zone entries or for zone exits. Outdated.
I also don’t see why PC is still GM. He is bad at trading, bad at negotiating contracts and he, or his group, are bad at evaluating players.
If we ran a poll on, say, ‘PC trades RNH – Does he:
A – do well
B – do badly
C – neutral
I suspect the results would be 80% + for ‘do badly’.
How can we have a GM going forward that we all think, more often than not, will lose big trades, make bets on the wrong players and negotiate terrible contracts?!?!
Maybe he had to stay with his hands tied this year for continuity. I would put money on him not being GM next season. I’d also put money on TMac being gone by Xmas.
So much this.
It is the problem, imo.
Our D cannot make a breakout pass. Full stop.
THERE IS A TEENAGER ON THE TEAM WHO IS THE BEST AT MAKING A BREAKOUT PASS!!!
This has got to be mostly coached, though… these are skilled athletes… it’s just SO difficult to watch. No poise, just sheer panic and no crispness. They need to think faster and get the puck up the ice so the F’s can use their speed…
need more track to do good video but philosophically
– if the rumour’s true and the fish the GM landed this summer doesn’t get to pick his guys, I’d be furious if I was the GM.
– 5L should probably stay up the sleeve until a conventional unit fails, they mentioned the possibility of a 5L way back in the summer which suggests the opposite ordering
– it’s not automatically bad, but this is a HC that believes in PP shot volume
– if you’re gonna have Bouchard up, give him that job, the thought process seems to be (with him and 98) that giving a raw player PP time is overwhelming, when in other towns it’s used as a form of shelter and a way to get kids more ice-time in a low-GA setting, build confidence in their puck skills
– the personnel is there for a WPG/WSH style unit, and anyone who says Yamamoto isn’t Schiefele or Pulujarvi isn’t Ovechkin misses the point
– I watched Johnny Gaudreau turn around a lost game tonight on consecutive PP’s where he carried the puck in and later made a royal road pass, McDavid does both of these things at an even higher level than Gaudreau
– they could have their 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 first round picks all on the same PP1 on merit and ability
25 to 12 scoring chances, 10 to 2 high danger.
For Jersey.
One of Talbot’s 5v5 GA came outside the high danger area.
The score was 4-2 without the empty netter.
If Talbot didn’t give up the goals that “everyone knew he should save”, they’d be even in goals despite being heavily outplayed.
It doesn’t matter if the goal he lets in is soft, if he saved enough shots that were dangerous enough to have resulted in a goal on average.
If he makes five saves that, added up, are a goal on average goaltending, then he lets in a soft goal after – that’s still average and acceptable goaltending.
If he lets in the first shot, then makes enough saves to have prevented a second goals’ worth given average goaltending, that’s the same thing in reverse order.
10-2 high danger chances and people aren’t talking about Talbot because they shouldn’t.
If Talbot /outplays/ the opposition goaltending, the Oilers lose 3/4-2 instead of 4/5-2.
Wilde,
What do you think about the PP?
Woodguy v2.0,
terrific post hitting head on what I was talking about wrt ‘role players’ and how over half the team plays like a Lemaire team up 5-0
The totality of the deficiencies of the system can be broken down as this general rule: valuable resources (time and space with the puck) is compulsively exchanged for the bare minimum output – dump outs and dump ins.
They’re basically playing the same ‘no-risk’ breakout game except with less resets, which I guess is technically playing with a faster pace, so the soundbite works.
The goals of the system are the most easily defendable and attackable results in the NHL game.
It’s really easy to defend against endless dump-ins that have a best case scenario of resulting in a low-cycle (every NHL team defends this at a high level at all times) going low-to-high for a point shot coming from the same side of the ice.
It’s really easy to attack a breakout structure that never goes through the middle by running down the wall every time (every NHL team forechecks dump-outs at a high level at all times).
I’m not even sure I can evaluate the puck skill of over half of this team right now because at no point are most of them allowed to try to beat the first man with a plus-possession play.
Get Evan Bouchard the fuck away. Now. He’s too talented, too valuable, too much of the future to expose him to this.
If he starts chipping pucks without looking, I’m legitimately putting together a video package of his pre and post-McLellan passing style, whoring it out on every social media site and emailing it to everyone I can find who’s connected to OEG.
…
I, too, am not reacting to this first game been talking about it since preseason and after the Germany game
(and during the Aberg saga)
This team has a magnificent cluster of youthful talent that can not and should not be exposed to this style of hockey for much longer.
+1000
Woodguy v2.0,
This is the thing…we can spot that a bunch of these issues are coached-in. That’s obvious…it’s why that is allowed to happen that’s up for debate.
I think the org doesn’t give a damn about winning…but that’s just my read.They know the franchise value is going up due to Connor and that people will keep showing up.
He won nothing.
With that group, that is rather disgraceful.
I fear this will be the case far too often
Either that or they just aren’t that good and can’t always make plays under pressure.
The Oilers aren’t talented enough to win games if they aren’t outworking the other team, and they surely weren’t outworking the Devils.
For the shawshank lovers out there this is gold Jerry!
https://www.facebook.com/BBCOne/videos/1950018191685256/
Watching Mike Smith give up 4 on 12 shots is making me feel better about Talbot.
Go Van!
Leon plays for opportunity, always has.
So he is trying to steal the puck as he thinks it’s going to be chipped up to the d man. If he does he then creates offence, and he puts up points.
We have another guy. Nuge would have been on the other side and likely that goal never would have happened. By the same token, an offensive steal would not happen either, Nuge puts up less than 50
Points and everyone complains.
Perhaps we have it reversed.
The best season was when Nuge was rolled out against the toughs – as much as possable. Drai is the winger.
I don’t chime in much these days, but it’s awfully easy to bring up the “definition of insanity” thing.
I understand that standing pat was the best of bad options.
But, FFS, when your consensus best summer move is signing a guy not qualified by his former team and your plan is to…hope.
Whelp….
Would love to be wrong!
Evan Bouchard shouldn’t need to be here. Kailer Yamamoto shouldn’t need to be here. But here we are.
Hey. McLellan looked like a really bright guy when he was behind the Sharks bench.
The beautiful set plays, structure, power play dominance, Marleau Thornton Heatley….
I used to revere in the genius of Mclellan when he coached the Sharks against us.
Now, not so much.
Beauty one on one move by Joe G. to go in all alone shorthanded – stopped on the breakaway (for the 2nd time this period).
Woodguy v2.0,
Woodguy awesomeness. +1000
Benson can sure stickhandle in small spaces.
Caleb Jones with another wonderful pass – in the offensive zone this time.
If training fasted once will shed muscle unless using some sort of fasted training supplement. BCAAs are standard in this regard but research shows they aren’t as effective as HMB for anti-catabolic effects.
Its really tough to ever know if a supplement is working but I will say this, when I originally found Muscle for Life and Legion and shredded down from 15% body fat to 7-8% body fat, I always trained fasted with Forge and, tests show I lost zero muscle (tested via the one “bod pod analyzer” in western Canada – used at NFL combine).
Mid-bulk a number of months ago, I started taking the following HMB supplement (acid form). Again, who knows if it worked but I seemed to get a pretty decent muscle building spike in the weeks after I started taking it.
https://ca.bodybuilding.com/store/muscletech/performance-series-clear-muscle.html?skuId=MT2440018
I was actually most impressed with Bouchard’s D-zone coverage, which would be one of the positives I took from the mostly disappointing effort. I was very impressed how he knocked down Boyle twice in the same sequence and later in the game pinned Hall to the boards, also knocking him to the ice.
Rattie and Lucic also had decent games.
Also, other than the shot by Lucic resulting in the PP goal, they had a total of 0 shots during the other 3 PP chances. Benning did record 2 shots a few seconds after 2 of the PP chances had expired.
Caleb Jones looks very good once again – quick and effective moving the puck in transition and all over the ice.
Wells with the start tonight.
Funnily, by the end of the game I was looking forward to seeing 75 on the ice because he was the only one who could make a smart pass forward. He has the appearance of a low-effort, slow to close the gap style, but in reality he is just calm and patient. Russell, Russells the puck around the boards, Nurse and Benning are high and out and Klef and Lars are never not reverse or D-to-Ding it.
The GM doesn’t set the line-up. The GM is not responsible of assuring the team is ready to play! This team is far better than they show under the current coach. This is the same coach that said last season that the orange team didn’t show up or some such comment! This team is predictable and other teams that are well coached take advantage of same. Doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. Players need to be deployed in a manner that is best for the team and not according to their contract! I keep saying the coach has more info than the fan re the team, player health etc. The second line needs more speed on the left wing giving the center two options on the rush. Khaira would give the line the speed plus corner man required. Lucic is a class act and has value but the team would be better served with him on the third line. Bear should have been the 3rd pairing right D. He earned it in preseason! This team never played their opening roster in preseason! The final preseason game should have been their game one roster. The first game of the season is not the time to audition your final lineup. The management team as a whole not just Chia gave McLellan a vote of confidence after last year. Is he the right man for the job only time will tell!He is aggod man but is he the right man?
Go Condors – game is free on AHL TV for anyone interested.
Woodguy v2.0,
Sh*t. I thought that was Bakersfield playing Sweden.
Long season. BUT. This D is clearly not capable. Murse is considered one of our best D and still makes many questionable plays.
It’s not Benning’s fault the org / coach hashim in over his head. He has never been a 2RHD and never will be.
Russell is Russell.
I like Bouch, but he’s wet behind the ears.
Klef and Larsson are our #1 / #2 but could very well be 3 / 4’s on The Top contneders.
The problem is if Todd gets canned , I dont want Gulitzan. Org has to aim higher
Palmeri came from the opposite side boards – while Lucic was coming down from the point towards the slot area, he might be the last skater responsible for that goal
It’s one thing to lose, playing well, because of inexperience. Or getting beat on on a great play.
It’s another to lose because you can’t play the system and keep crapping the bed.
The first two could be considered softies, the 3rd one was on him, the fourth was on Benning.
They had 3 shot s on goal in the 2nd, the first coming with 25 seconds left in the period. Brutal period for them, hopefully not a trend.
*correction 4 shots, they had one with 3:12 left in the period a few seconds after their PP ended.
Also the vaunted PP showed nothing other than 1 brilliant rush by McDavid to set up Lucic.
Everyone needs to be better, but I also think a trade happens by Tuesday. Chia cannot afford to sit on his hands.
Hi OP, I arrived home and started reading up on Legion FORGE supplements. Now I’m starting to read more into the ingredients of the product. I’m super slow (I like to think i’m thorough, but probably just slow) at adopting anything new into my life, so I don’t have any questions right now, but you’ve given me a really good starting point. Thanks again!
+1
Agree with everything you’ve said.
We are seeing the same repetitive mistakes in the d-zone wrt to the breakout, that we’ve seen far too often in the past.
The Oilers look like an Atom team with the wingers stationary on the boards, close to the blue line, waiting for a pass, with no support from the center. This is the type of play that minor hockey coaches try to correct with their players, not promote. If the d-men are continually pinching down on the wingers, then the puck needs to be either carried out of the zone or flipped out to safety. This isn’t rocket science!
Hopefully Yawney can turn this around. We wait…..
Jeff Petry doing a good job of impersonating a 1st pairing D so far this season.
Oilers had 2 shot attempts from the slot during 5 on 5.
Devils had 10.
Devils were clearly the better team.
First game of the year AND across the pond. While it was a night game in Sweden, it was a day game in Edmonton. We shouldn’t be surprised Oilers lost. We rarely win during the day.
I did like Lucics game. Physical and some nice passing by the big guy.
Letting the days go by, let Oilers hold me down
Letting the days go by, Oilers going underground
Into the blue again after playoffs the playoffs gone
Once in a lifetime Oilers going overground
We complain about tough schedules all the time. If you don’t see an easy game, you’re it. Every team in the NHL has been steadily improving. There are not a lot of weaklings left.
Jersey had 3 close on their breakout and the Oil had 2 forecheckers at most. The jersey forward always stayed high to prevent pinching.
Way better execution.
Talbot needs to be sharp, period. We have been making way too many excuses for him. He’a either overworked, or had too much time off. Guess what? He is not a starting calibre goaltender. He is a good backup who had a streaky year. He’s a dime a dozen, and it is time to start looking for a starting goalie.
– our use of different adjectives might be giving different takes.
– teams don’t win when the goalie is sub .850. How much of that you want to put on the goalie or the players or the coach or the gm may vary.
– your more accurate than I am.
– all’s I know is that the team knows the goalie wasn’t good. The team knows it could also play better
– but a better goalie and we win that game imo.
– team recovers from another Talbot special then he lets the team down more than the teams systems let Talbot down. That is for certain.
– he didn’t look like he’s the eye of the tiger. He just can’t show up and only make the saves that aren’t the result of team breakdowns.
The 3rd anniversary of “#ThoroughlyMediocreCoach” is about a month from now.
Agreed. Leon has to be a door not a window.