Los Angeles Kings coach Todd McLellan played his old team like a Stradivarius last night in Edmonton, as the Oilers were unable to overcome a slow start against a team obsessed with blocking shots. McLellan has a right to be proud of his team’s performance this morning, although it won’t make up for the disappointment of last spring’s epic seven-game series loss. It felt like a playoff game last night. Things for the home team to work on? Not giving up a breakaway to Anze Kopitar in the first minute of the game, not giving up the first goal, showing up on time to push early instead of scramble late. The Oilers are always crashing in the same car.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Why the Oilers need to trade for an established defenceman
- Lowetide: Five curious Oilers trends that may or may not regress
- Lowetide: What’s Xavier Bourgault’s NHL ETA? Does he get a look this season?
- DNB: Stuart Skinner’s 40 saves lift Oilers over Panthers
- Lowetide: What should the Edmonton Oilers expect from Klim Kostin?
- DNB: Oilers must learn how to cope without Evander Kane
- Lowetide: How close to balanced are the 2022-23 Edmonton Oilers?
- DNB: Oilers’ Evander Kane hospitalized after skate blade cuts his arm
- Lowetide: Oilers top prospect is unclear for the first time in a dozen years
- DNB: Why Oilers’ latest ‘pathetic’ performance from Jack Campbell is a growing issue
- Lowetide: Oilers rookie Stuart Skinner is chasing history
- DNB: Ryan Smyth on Oilers memories, keepsakes and the current team: Q&A
- Lowetide: Making room for Dylan Holloway
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers start October slow but finish month strong
- DNB: The Oilers have a third line that’s settling in
- Jonathan Willis: Jakob Chychrun would look good on the Oilers, but is there a deal to be had?
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers reasonable expectations for every player in 2022-23
- Lowetide: Oilers top-20 prospects, summer 2022
WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER
- At home to: NAS, NJD, DAL (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 1-2-0)
- On the road to: WAS, TBY, CAR, FLA (Expected 1-2-1) (Actual 2-2-0)
- At home to: LAK, VEG (Expected 1-0-1) (Actual 0-1-0)
- On the road to: NJD, NYI, NYR (Expected (1-1-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: FLA (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: CHI (Expected (1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- November expected result: 7-4-3, 17 points in 14 games
- Actual November results: 3-5-0, 6 points in 8 games
- October results: 6-3-0, 12 points in 9 games
- Oilers in 2022-23: 9-8-0, 18 points in 17 games
The Oilers are a percentage points behind the Calgary Flames in the wild card race, meaning the team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl sits fifth in the division and owns the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Through 17 games this season, the Edmonton Oilers are a dull team.
SUMMARY
- Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci gave up a breakaway to Anze Kopitar right at the end of the anthem. This is a fixable issue, the tandem needs to tighten up and play closer to the center of the ice. Way too much of a gap. That said, the pairing was effective during the game.
- Stuart Skinner played well again, now owns a .951 five-on-five save percentage. That ranks No. 2 in the NHL in the game state. Jack Campbell (.882) ranks 45 of 46 qualifying goaltenders.
- Connor McDavid took a knee-on-knee hit, Darnell Nurse answered. The referees evened it up. I have no quarrel with the player or the official on the play. Edler should get a hearing.
- McDavid almost scored early in the game, but for a Viktor Arvidsson goalmouth play. He was checked closely by the Anderson-Doughty pairing (1-0 goals in over 12 minutes) with Edmonton winning the Corsi battle while LAK were on the right side of the shot share (4,000 blocked shots).
- Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman aren’t working. In 128 minutes together five-on-five this season, the two men have a 33 percent goal share (5-10) and a 44 percent expected-goal share. Leon is 8-5 goals away from Hyman, and the winger is 10-8 goals away from Draisaitl. So, yeah.
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a quiet game.
- Jesse Puljujarvi was physical and effective while being physical. He needs to post crooked offensive numbers if he is to stay on the No. 1 line.
- Evan Bouchard and Brett Kulak were effective again. You’ll read much about Bouchard not getting pucks through, and that is normally a strength, but the view from 10,000 feet on this pairing (6-6 goals and 51 percent expected goals five-on-five) is positive.
- Ryan Murray had his best game.
- HDSC’s via NST: Klim Kostin (2), Mattias Janmark (2), Warren Foegele (2), Zach Hyman (2), Connor McDavid (1), Ryan McLeod (1).
- Zach Hyman was rock solid on the night, despite the puck dancing off his stick constantly. Fine goal, he gives this team a unique look every shift.
- Mattias Janmark and Klim Kostin played very well. Not a chance they come out of the lineup playing this way.
- Dylan Holloway played well, but not enough (8:06) and with Janmark-Kostin here now the No. 4 line seems more likely moving forward.
- The Oilers have to stop taking penalties. The Nurse penalty was going to happen, if not 25 then someone else. However, the hit clearly got under the skin of the Oilers and the club’s lingering rage cost them a goal. That was the difference.
- Los Angeles is a better team than Edmonton. In the Pacific division, there are several teams who can make the same claim.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
Lots of time spent talking Oilers after last night’s loss. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter.
Flames got whooped in Tampa
Laughs crap the bed against the Devils
Colorado pulls the rabbit out despite being outshot 48-15
Such an interesting November across the league.
I’ve been thinking this for a long time. Strong buy alert here. Finally read that Stauffer suggested it. Katz, make it so!
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=175199
Gotta say this guy comes across as a less skilled Kassian. Does he have any skills beyond being tough? Now I love heavy players but they need to have more to be effective. Something like years of solid PK work or shot suppression or face off skills. Maybe even a good one timer or passing skills.
Basically just a sh*t disturber who doesn’t get killed too badly.
What do you pay for that sort of thing though?
Houston Oilers win in Lambeau on the shoulders of the modern day Earl Campbell.
People that insist on calling Aaron Rodgers the GOAT can probably stop now.
Of note Valeri Nichuskhin was more Jesse Pulujarvi than Valeri Nichushkin until he was 25-26…..
Is Holland offering Jesse a contract next year if not best to package him up and get a shutdown D that can skate.
Yeah, Nichushkin came a long way, but he is the exception, not the norm. Would be great if Jesse can follow suit, but I don’t see it as likely. However, Jesse does have the physical gifts, just needs to put it together and heighten his hockey IQ.
That’s kind of the point, Why VN was Jesse’s age, no-one was seeing it either, he was being bought out by Dallas.
Isn’t that his point as well? VN is such a famous example because it’s so rare.
funny all the people piling up on JP right now as an argument against analytics… when the same analytics that said he was a strong complementary player the last two seasons show he’s struggled this year.
Narrative building is just so fun
I would go back to Hyman with McDavid.
@NHL_SID wrote about the struggles of Hyman/Draisaitl.
Amazingly, Draisaitl has run 60%gf away from both McDavid and Hyman. I honestly don’t know what to make of Draisaitl sometimes.
Summarizing!
Petrov finished with the two assists along with 3 SOG, now 9-16-25 in 18 games.
A late first-period helper extends Petrov’s point streak to 15:
https://mobile.twitter.com/OHLBattalion/status/1593405115918176256?cxt=HHwWgMC-2dfg9JwsAAAA
Not content with one apple, he procures another in period 2.
Would link the video, but his assist (secondary, natch) was edited out.
Incidentally, Petrov’s Battalion joins Schaefer’s T-Birds in the most recent CHL:Top 10 rankings.
Oilers were top ten-ish in most advanced stats last season.
After almost a quarter season this year they are bottom ten in everything.
Only significant change is Kulak in, Keith out.
Does Kulak just blow that hard at playing a top four role? He is lagging the field in advanced stats.
One player shouldn’t have that much of an effect. Why are the Oilers doing so poorly in possession this year compared to last?
Losing a past his prime yet still 100% clear thinking Norris winning defenceman just might, possibly have got something to do with this mess.
Cue any stats fan to “prove” this wrong…
*Luddite*
This is quite an exaggeration.
There’s a gap year over year for sure, but it’s not as stark as top 10 for all => bottom 10 for all.
SF%
11th to 24th (ie – 9th worst)
SCF%
14th to 16th (ie – 17th worst)
HDCF%
10th to 13th (ie – 20th worst)
xGF%
8th to 19th (ie – 14th worst)
The reason, I obviously don’t know for sure. No question Duncan Keith is being missed, but I don’t think it’s as simple as that.
what stands out most to me is the drop off from Woodcroft’s hiring forward to what we are seeing right now. It’s a concern for sure.
The advanced stats under Woodcroft weren’t that different than the ones above.
SF% 9th
SCF% 14th
HDCF% 7th
xGF% 9th
But yes, the team isn’t playing well in their last 10 or so games, and it’s a concern for sure.
Benson to Bakersfield on a conditioning sting will count against the Oilers cap (which is fine, tons of room right now) but avoids having to waive him.
It’s starting to dawn on me once more that this is a team has no hope of ever winning anything.
No character. Entitled and collectively dumb as a rock. No idea whether one game is important over another game. Massively over rates the production of Two players, right up to the coaching.
Sleepwalks into one game after another and ends up with a bottom end Wild card place.
I probably stopped caring before today, which really helps to make it easier lol
This team has $82.5 million reasons to play 60 minutes.
a little EXTRA cranky today…
Ha ha yeah!
This team badly needs a 5 game winning streak are else will be sucking hind tit all season.
Hold on, it’s coming.
I was encouraged by the bottom 6 last night. Kostin was a breath of fresh air out there, too bad one of those lines couldn’t have popped one in.
I still think the Oilers go for the slam dunk goals way too often. They can pull them off for sure, but establish the shot first then start looking back door.
If Sportlogic has a stat on rebounds generated, or rebound goals, I’d hazard to guess the Oilers are near the bottom of the league. It’s that baseline, reliable offence that they seem to consistently ignore in favour of high skill. I love the high skill stuff as much as the next fan, but maybe don’t go for it every single time.
McDavid and Draisaitl are so stubborn. Crosby will adjust his tactics based on what the other team is doing.
The Oilers beat LA last year by dumping the puck in on LA’s weak defense, and retrieving the puck.
Against 1-3-1 teams one has to dump and chase and punish at least occasionally.
But McDavid and Draisaitl have to lead in throwing the change-up some of the time for everyone else to do it. Plastering D against the boards is also a good antidote for frustration.
I’m also disappointed in the lack of commitment to the backtrack this year, which was key to the turnaround last year.
This is a very good point.
As per forever since the incredible “Oil Change” days, this team has entitlement issues that among other things leave them to feel free to stink and get away with it on a consistent basis.
You can switch this season with any 10 of the past 15 seasons and hardly notice any difference.
Holland, Woodcock should all be feeling their exit strategies should this continue. Unlike Crosby this team has won ziltch other than personal accolades. Despairing as the fans are, fans be damned etc.
What’s Barry Trotz doing?
I agree. Connor could use Jesse better by dumping it in. Jesse is pretty good at retrieving and forechecking.
Trap is beat by short precise passing and supporting passing lanes. The point is to isolate the puck carrier with the d zone strat to collapse to the net so you have to provide as much support as possible. 97 can beat the trap himself but it is very hard.
Dumping in is the hardest way to beat the trap. You have to perfectly place the puck in the corner otherwise a good goalie will just outlet it. That’s why they made the trapezoid. Too soft and the dman will likely win the race with time because of forecheckers having to navigate a crowded blue. Plus it puts alot of pressure on the person dumping it in because if you hit anybody clogging the blue your forecheckers are hooped and you’re caught on an automatic odd man. Exactly what the trap wants.
To expand on this, changing speed and sides of the ice help. Go back and watch the second goal Florida scored against Edmonton, think it was Bennett maybe? Great blue to blue pass diagonally across the ice, have a player supporting that pass with speed. The 3 oilers back are then on their heels and it opens them up.
JP and Barrie played it poorly, but it was a well executed play by Florida
The only way Kostin could have had a better game would have been to ragdoll Fiala away from the puck after the Edler knee. The refs are going to protect Edler. Kostin endearing himself to teammates, coaches, and fans would have all but guaranteed an NHL roster spot through to the end of the season. Channel some inner Sean Avery, “I didn’t want to have to f$^&ing kill Fiala tonight, but Edler left me no choice.”
Edler simply shouldn’t be in the league anymore, at some point the NHLPA needs to step in and put an end to this clown being a member.
Oilers do not need a defender like Edler as some have suggested, there’s no good sporting time watching knee hunters. Edler only has intent to injure on his mind when he consistently does such things imo.
Oilers need to defend themselves like they used to with Kassian and Kane in the lineup.
Fans talked about Kassian like he was a spent force but not to the opposition who generally left the Oilers skill players alone, including that mouthguard chewer from Calgary who was as meek as a mouse.
You cannot teach crazy like Kassian used this attribute against the opposition to good effect right up until he was traded.
Seriously – Tkachuk essentially won two games by the flames by goading Kassian in to multiple penalties.
Kassian deterred nothing.
Okay smartass – what exactly is your take on Oilers appalling start to what was supposed to be a triumphant season?
*crickets*
I’m sorry hunter1909, I buried my father on Tuesday and am Sitting Shiva – I’ll try better to respond to your posts call me names and asking question in real time going forward.
Sorry to hear OP, I didn’t realize what sitting shiva meant.
Sorry for your loss, OP.
How many Goals does 3 million dollar man who bragged that the teams passing him in the draft would regret it. A big fat Zero at least Kassian has one.
Kassian sucks though. Had to trade assets to get rid of him.
Kassian’s gone if it makes you feel better slagging him have at it. All I care about is the Oilers winning a Cup and you can’t win with only 2-3 players carrying the team on their back unless your name is Hasek.
“Leaky Mikko”…..
*feels better* *continues to have at it*
#doublestandard.
What is this straw man. I’m not sure the relevance of bringing Yamamoto in to a conversation about Kassian’s effectiveness.
Yamamoto has not been effective this year, that doesn’t change Kassian’s impact on a game.
I do feel Tkachuk was neutralized from the post-turtle fight onward. That doesn’t apply to most situations or players, but I think it does here.
One thing that annoys me about how suspensions happen right now, is that the team that was on the receiving end of the dirty/dangerous play, gets no benefit from that player being suspended the next game or two unless it’s in the playoffs. So a team like LA could play dirty like last game, beat the Oilers, who they are in direct competition for a playoff spot, and the “punishment” for said dirty play will be against the next team.
What if that dirty play caused an mid-long term injury to an Oilers player for example?
Oilers lose out in all situations.
Weak kids also get bullied at school for their lunch money.
Weak kids bully other kids at school for their lunch money.
You know who used to get bullied at school?
Georges St. Pierre.
One day he met his high school bully in a chance encounter at an intersection. The bully was homeless and begging for money. GSP helped him out, and later, the guy went to his parent’s place to offer his sincere gratitude and provide an update that he’d turned his life around as a direct result of the kindness offered to him.
True story.
Great story inspirational and all…however Oilers are grown men and when you bully grown men there really isn’t a hell of a lot to do other than insert protection at some point.
Thinking about this game in the extraordinarily fresh air of a new day, I don’t think this game is as bad as some are saying. IMO this was one of those 20 games a season we were going to lose no matter what. First game after a road trip and LAK with a chip on their shoulder. Arvidsson saved a sure goal with an incredible play and LAK was in front of everything all game. Part of it was boneheaded shot placement, but a lot of it was plain (bad) luck.
The interesting this is that Oilers generally controlled flow of play, but LAK were really opportunistic. Shot attempts were about 59% to 41% in Oilers favour, but actual chances were fairly even. All that to say, most of our team played like s**t and that was still a 1 goal game until the very end. Them’s the bounces.
The reffing was awful, that horse is a pancake at this point, but the Oilers discipline was worse. I get that Connor was frustrated (and Edler is 100% feeling that cross check this morning), but your best player can’t lead like that. It negated our only powerplay. The leadership from both 97 and 29 has been really lacking at times this season, whether it’s failure to launch on time or offensive blue line turnovers.
It was mentioned on the broadcast last night that the team takes note when the top players are involved physically, because leadership. Well, what does it say when you see Leon turning the puck over off low% passes at the blue line multiple times a period? Connor taking two penalties in one period? The reffing bias is real and it’s bulls**t, but gooning it down to their level is not the way to success. Beating the trap and making them pay on the powerplay is.
That being said, where is the coaching staff to help make adjustments when we can’t break out of our zone? Why is the trap still something we struggle with to such an insane degree? We can complain about lack of support scoring all we want, but the bottom 6 was decent. This loss was on the top players and the coaching staff not making adjustments. The consistent thing in this season so far is the complete inconsistency from game-to-game and indeed even period-to-period. That is a more insidious issue that pre-dates this coach IMO…
As an aside, I don’t think LAK can sustain that style of play over 82 games, but we’ll see. I really believe they were lucky to win that game in the end, and wouldn’t have had the Oilers made adjustments and played smart when it mattered (including starting on time FFS)
Wow, LT with a callback to the 1955 NHL Playoffs on the radio program.
Modern analytics and old timey anecdotes from the fender fins era. Is there anything this man can’t do?
Is LT actually Bill Brasky? They were both in sales.
https://youtu.be/_QIlbwXe1WY
Missed the ‘55 reference. Who/what in particular?
Started with a Gordie Howe quote then segued into a 55 playoff series anecdote on functional toughness. Sorry, don’t have more specifics than that. Was distracted by that damn day job!
Love the Bill Brasky bit.
He was a son of a bitch.
Prospectagile!
Matvey Petrov is the owner of a 14-game point streak, much better than the owner of a broken heart. They play at home tonight, which means the drama on ice will be close to the edge of Lake Nipissing. Will he run the streak to 15? Hold on until 5 p.m. Hay Lakes time.
I’m starting to worry that JP might not be Nichuschkin
He’s a couple of bees short of Yakupov
every decision with the puck is very rushed. His release is very rushed too. Instead of trying to pick a spot he’s just happy to get it directed towards the net
There’s something to be said for the importance that the second opinion seemed to play in the Nichushkin story. While it would be nice if we could skip that step, it might be time to admit that, whether he has that in him or not, he isn’t going to find it here. Perhaps the best thing for both the player and the team is to move on.
The problem lies in the fact that at this rate there will be many more second opinions from this roster….Yamo, Bouchard, Broberg, and possibly McLeod…
Same. Its been a long stretch…..
I’m going to stay positive and look for the silver linings.
In a game where the Oil could only generate 1 goal, I really enjoyed watching Jesse Puljujarvi make the McDavid line so much better. So much playmaking. So many chances.
JP is a driver and the fancies prove it! I know he’s already been in the league for 5 years but what a bright future this kid has. The best days are ahead. Go JP!!!
Wow at this HH level of sarcasm.
I’m living out my Puljujarvi fanboy dream.
He’s fyre and fuego. The king of expected goals and the undisputed 3rd assist champion. They need to lock him up on a 7 year deal yesterday!!!
7 years at 2 million per and I am all for it.
If I run the team I offer ELC players long term deals then withdraw them once rejected then from time to time I jettison a prospect into the sun to make an example of him etc.
Anybody else watch the TNT broadcast? They had a three person crew with Kenny Albert doing play-by-play and Keith Jones and Eddy Olcyzk doing colour. All three on their own are pretty good, but the problem was the two colour guys were talking to each other a lot during the play – mostly about how many shots LA was blocking or analyzing what the Oilers were doing wrong – but that is what the intermission is for. I found it very annoying. Had to turn the sound off for a while.
I agree. I also found it annoying how much they ragged on the Oilers bottom 6, Jesse, etc. Seemed gratuitously mean at points.
That’s the job of Oil blog commenters, dag gum it.
The days of good play by play and the color being added, only in breaks of the play, are long gone and I miss it.
Danny Gallivan and Dick Irvin made the game sound magical now all you mostly here from the Color Men in Edmonton Vancouver and Calgary is verbal diarrhea. Used to like Louie but he goes out of his way to sound impartial which makes his thoughts sound bunk.
Honestly, Louie really has way overdone the impartiality.
Danny Gallivan was the GOAT 🐐 of play-by-play callers.
Louie is over. No real opinions. Five phrases total.
Bring back Harry Neale at least he made sense and spoke his mind.
I miss the punch drunk color commentators.
With all this grumble about Edler, the Oiler’s could probably use a defender like him on their blueline.
They had one but he retired.
Duncan Keith was a first class dink.
Huge fan of Nurse, but his inability to detect, deter or break up the Royal road pass on the PK goal against, and instead wipe himself out. was pretty bush league.
His defensive awareness is the early story of the year.
A guy his size, speed, and reach should be a nightmare in the defensive zone for the opposition and not his own team
Our D standing one foot on the blue line while we are cycling the puck just doesn’t work. They are not a threat to score and passing the puck back to D in that position is exactly what the other team wants you to do defensively
He’s probably just feeling guilty about getting all of that cap money.
I really thought Holloway would come flying out the gate like Caulfield. He made a mistake in the first game on the first Goal by Van that took the wind out of his sails. If Woody’s not going to play him send him down and get this Kid some playing time.
Caufield got sent down in his true rookie season early in the year then came back and scored 23 goals. This on a last place team with ample PP time.
Caufield has also historically been a vastly superior scorer. Top 3 pick if not for size, he was breaking Matthews records. Good for CC, not a comparable to Holloway imo.
I’m talking more as a impact player the Habs lose in 5 against the Leafs without Caulfield. He was probably the biggest reason they made it to the final. I myself do not agree with how they are handling Holloway they need to let him play his game instead he’s scared shitless of making a mistake. Bouchard in my opinion was also handled incorrectly when he was sat in a Motel 6 without a porn channel and only CBC to watch 2 years ago.
Is he scared shitless of making a mistake? It doesn’t seem that way because, every time he’s moved up, he makes “the same” type of mistakes over again.
Making mistakes is fine – it happens and its part of the process – but the player needs to actually learn from them and that process has been very slow…
Also, perhaps, there could have been different development tactics taken with both these players but, perhaps:
1) given Bouchard remains inconsistent after a full year in the NHL and 3 playoff rounds, insetting him in to the playoffs against the Hawks as you suggested wouldn’t have change the entire outcome of that series as you suggested…
2) given Holloways is arguably hurting more than he’s helping (in particular every time he’s given opportunities up the lineup) and this is after an AHL seasons and an NHL playoff game, inserting him in the playoffs as you hope a year and a half ago, wouldn’t have made the impact you suggest……
Yeah, even with the injuries he’s generally not getting to 10 minutes a game. And he’s not having much of an impact when he is out there. I agree it’s time to get him some reps in Bakersfield.
IIRC Holloway took a couple of months to get comfortable in NCAA and came on strong in the second half. Something similar happened in the AHL. Pretty sure he’ll surprise in the new year.
Getting your clock cleaned is arguably more than a “mistake” for a rookie. Holloway has proved absolutely nothing. If anything he’s currently shaping up as yet another bust.
I said “yet another” adding him to a list that contains names like Anton “future captain of the Oilers” Lander etc.
The kid turned 21 less than 2 months ago, missed almost an entire calendar year with an injury that required two surgeries and has played less than 50 pro games and you are talking bust?
There are some expedited expectations of a 16th overall pick….
Not a bust per se, but certainly no longer a guaranteed let’s watch him excel type.
More like let’s wait and see how he deals with getting hammered at NHL level…
You know, the same people defending Holloway are the same as those calling Quinton Byfield a bust….except….
Byfield is one year younger, suffered a broken ankle last season, then caught Covid, then had a viral infection this season that cost him 6 games and 20 pounds.
Despite all this, Holloway has managed only 2 points in 13 games while Byfield has scored 14 points in 54 NHL games.
Double standard.
No one here would ever mention Byfield if not for your continual bleating on about the Los Angeles Kings generational prospect pool. This is on you.
A certain poster slags him all the time to pump up the Oilers prospects.
Yes. It’s a response to you doing same to most/all Oiler prospects. No one would be talking about Byfield if not for you.
I am a Byfield fan, have seen him good in Ontario games.
I have cited Byfield as a potential top 5 center in the NHL. This very well still could happen but there is no doubt he hasn’t arrived nearly as soon as anticipated and his post-draft development and impact has been far below expectations.
To this point, he has been passed by a large portion of his draft cohort…..
How on earth did we get talking about Byfield anyway?
I had him No. 2 in his draft year.
I have no idea whether Holloway turns out or not.
Unfortunately the rap sheet of this 9-8 casual about losing team tells another story.
You previous post opined that he’s shaping up to be a bust so I’m not sure this response jives with that….. seems you do have an idea of I’m not turning out.
While I naturally want him to turn out to be an impact player the indications so far show a different story.
Having suffered through the Jani Rita(2nd best prospect in the world) through Magnus Pajaarvi Svenson, through M.A. Pouliot, through Anton Lander plus assorted goalies and defencemen all of whom busted…
Colour me cynically hopeful.
No, given where he was drafted, mid-first round, his age, the amount of pro games, his impact at the AHL level as a rookie, missing a year due to injury, I would say he’s pretty much right on track and his ceiling about where it was when drafted
Blah blah blah sooner or later these prospects have to produce or else they need to have rich uncles who run companies so they can get a nice day job.
This team has been underwhelming to start the season and need to fix these painfully slow starts to games. I’m perplexed as to why there is such an intensity drop off this season after Woody turned them around last season. Maybe this team will just be content with middling success? I hope they figure it out soon and start to get the gritty, do whatever it takes to win attitude.
In the grand scheme of things all that matters is the Playoffs. Personally I would rather see them start on the road in the Playoffs against Calgary like last year. No pressure all you need is a split but if they keep playing this uninspired Hockey they might not even make it.
Sure its cool for a random series. Eventually they meet a Colorado team that’s rested and prepared to do anything to beat them and gets 3 out of the first 5 games at home.
Lost in all this woe was how impressive Janmark and Kostin looked.
I am not going to get carried away with 1 game…but even Debrusk noted that Janmark looked fast out there. And he did.
These guys look like guys that can – in a depth role- comfortably play playoff ground and pound hockey.
Two guys fighting for their careers, and looking like it!
Exactly. Well stated.
They look hungry and desperate. Too many players on the team are either not feeling that hunger or the room is lacking a presence to ‘motivate’ them to be hungry. Maybe it’s a generational thing…not sure.
Janmark turns 30 in less than a month, and Kostin is 23.
Probably not a generational thing since the large majority of the team falls between those two numbers.
When players are called up they usually get a dead cat bounce for a few games. Anyhow Kostin physicality is much needed with Kane gone and you can see how the ice opens up for his linemate Janmark whose a wise player. Someone said last night give him the Maroon treatment and see if he has chemistry with Connor or Leon.
Why not give every new to the lineup player at bats with the captain? They cannot be less useless that Puljujarvi ffs lol
I don’t think dead cat bounce means what you think it means…
Both of them looked really good last night, brought elements the Oilers have been missing. I can’t remember if it was Kostin or Janmark who crushed Drzi behind the LAK net but he steamrolled the guy even though the LAK player was bracing for the hit. More please
Exactly….need more of it.
Kostin crushed Doughty (among others).
The Oilers are a percentage points behind the Calgary Flames in the wild card race, meaning the team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl sits fifth in the division and owns the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Through 17 games this season, the Edmonton Oilers are a dull team.
************************************************************************
So good and so true…and we saw yet another back up last night.
Seen so many back ups here in November.
If there’s no soft spots on the schedule, maybe you are the soft spot 🤔
It all started with the blown 3-1 lead in the 3rd against Jersey just like Hunter mentioned a must win. The team is 2-5 since can’t score, lost Kane for the Regular season. Who would of thought us having the top 2 scorers in the league also Nuge Hyman and Kane at a point a game average after 17 games and the real kicker is one of our Goalies batting 933 sv which is 3rd in the league. No way anyone thinks we’re a 500 team looking at those stats.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Until that game they were looking like a top 5 NHL team.
Ha!
Good morning all! Quick question for you. I know there are a lot of differences in opinion about Jesse Puljujarvi. In the article today I read, “was effective”. I want to cheer for Jesse. He seems like a great guy. When I watch him play I feel like he would be a tough, tough guy to play with and while I see him forecheck well, I also watch play after play after play die on his stick. What do you think? Do the numbers tell the story and Jesse is a top line player in this league and we’re lucky to have him? Or, if you were completely honest, if you were Connor or Leon would you quietly admit you’d prefer someone on your line with the ability to make smarter plays?
I think JP is not the player he was touted to be in his draft. The play does die on his stick and it’s been years and years of this.
Having said that, he forechecks like a demon and good things come from it. Just not from his stick, which is ultimately why he was drafted 3rd overall. Aside from a few bottom feeder teams, I doubt very much JP would figure into any team’s top 6 fwd group.
If I were McD or Drai I wouldn’t be quiet about this, I would be pretty adamant about needing someone who has a higher hockey IQ.
I think that is a really well balanced way to put it. Physically, Yamo doesn’t have the tools of JP, but I think he has the IQ.
I have said this too many times, I am not a Puljujarvi fan. But I do like that he is trying to ramp it up physically. However, I believe he is only going through the motions. It takes him out of his comfort zone. I wonder how much longer he can play that style before he just craps out.
I like Pulju the person and some elements of his game, but his lack of scoring is hurting this team (among many other team-related issues). He has looked good at times, and I like his newfound physicality which opens up some room and almost led to a goal yesterday, but the bottom line is that he has scored 1G, 2A, 3 Pts in 17 games.
He is currently playing on a line (and has in the past) with the best player in the entire world. That is not acceptable. He is also 24 years old, so I don’t think any more significant development is realistically coming.
Relative to his draft position and expectations, Jesse is a disappointment. He needs to at least be a threat to score. To answer your question, Connor and Leon should be, and deserve to have, a better player on their line. To do otherwise is not fully utilizing these elite players.
I am also in the camp that thinks he’s not a top 6 NHLer. A decent bottom 6 grinder but doesn’t have the hands or offensive IQ to play with McDavid or Draisaitl. For $3M per season, he should be able to score 30+ points in a season and he’s on pace for half of that, while mostly playing with two offensively gifted superstars. That’s completely unacceptable.
He’s more Magnus Paajarvi than Valerie Nichushkin. He doesn’t process the game fast enough to make use of his fantastic toolset in the NHL. And he’s not truculent or dirty enough to be a really high end defensive forward either. Doesn’t even kill penalties. All he does is ‘forecheck like a demon’. Because of his size and speed, he’s more useful than Nail Yakupov, but like Nail he hasn’t developed enough to be the top end scorer that he was in junior. What he is in an ideal world with his toolset is a good third to forth line tweener making 1.5 million per season. but he’s overpaid for what he can contribute this year.
I don’t think he gets another qualifying offer from Edmonton next summer, and he won’t find the deal that his agent is pining for on the open market. He’ll be back in Finland within 1-2 more seasons.
I’m not as enamored with Puljujarvi as some, but this is a bit much.
Clearly in an ideal world Puljujarvi is at least the player he’s been the previous 2 seasons. That’s a ~40 point player and someone clearly better than he has been in his 17 games this year. Also a player that’s at least in range of being worth $3M.
If you think the most recent 17 games are more representative than the previous 130, well then yes, $1.5M is a much more appropriate salary. I don’t think that’s a reasonable take on what to expect going forward though (even while acknowledging his production at the end of last season and in the playoffs was also wanting).
so someone who contributes to 5v5 defense is not considered a defensive player because they dont pk?
have u heard of a concept called pdo?
Please teach me all the stats because I get numbers and the alphabet mixed up.
If you think his lack of production is explained exclusively by a low on-ice shooting percentage, we will have to agree to disagree.
To the thread – I have been a Puljujarvi supporter and have thought he’s a very good option on the McDavid’s wing. I felt the he contributed to that line last year even when not producing himself.
Now 17 games in to this season, I have to agree that his play has not been good enough at all the keep that spot as he’s simply nowhere near the level he was even in the back half of last season let alone the first half. Not finishing chances is one thing but he’s killing plays consistently. Its rare for him to make anything more than a “meh” play with the puck these days and, further, he has made defensive mistakes and isn’t that tenacious forechecker and chaos creator to the level he has been in the past.
Now, I KNOW he can be a much more impactful and positive player, I’ve seen it, but he hasn’t been the player since like the first week of the season and is struggling big time.
This is very true.
He has more to offer. But it is just not happening for him.
Painful truth, really.
The same could be said for many other Oilers in the same age group.
How many more times are we going to see the opposing team split our the defence like that? What is going on there? It’s happened far too many times 20 games into the season
That’s just shitty defending. Nurse-Ceci early on, then Kulak got walked around later in the game. Completely unacceptable for that to happen.
This team misses Kane big time, he adds dimensions no one else has in this line up. Only 3-4 more months with out him….yikes
I was shouted down for just asking the question….
.500 in October at home. Now lost 3 of last 4- at home -in November.
How is Wood doing tactically at home with last change?
Again, still like him – just asking the question.
Since seeing our 7th dman out against Jesper Bratt earlier in the month for the gwg.
I assume Woody and Manson have consumed all the Champagne and Strawberries.
Honeymoon should be over.
Nine Stages of Oiler fandom in LTs corner of the webverse
1) Alright CUP BABY CUP!
2) Presidents Trophy will Do!
3) Division?
4) Nurse sucks at defense (omnipresent through stages 1-3 but kept reasonable)
5) Trade everyone not named McDavid! (with weird sideward glances at Draisaitl)
6) Fire the Coach!
7) McDavid Doesn’t Deserve this
8) Oh god he’s going to divorce us
9) Hey anyone else think Darryl Sutter is sexy in red? Look I’m not cheering for the Flames I just appreciate a good coach when I see a good coach who gets his team to play the right way!
This. Is. Awesome!
🤣
I have to say what the Oilers lacked most last night was discipline. Especially after the Edler hit on McDavid. That’s when they say, thank you very much, take the PP opportunity and score a goal, then take the game in hand. That is this Oiler team’s modus operatus. Instead, the game was gathered up in the Kings hands.
How many more hits can McDavid knees take before they explode like Bobby Orr 5-10-15 the whole team should of been running Elder. This is game 17 of a 82 game schedule not game 7 of a playoff series. I would much rather take the calls with a message sent loud and clear to Edler. Why do you think Kadri didn’t pull any crap in the 2 games against Edmonton because he’s scared shitless of Kane. We have way to many nice folks on our team it’s time to trade a few for some assholes, this is called Balance.
I would have rather seen McDavid exact his revenge with a power play goal. They squandered that one and they only had one more opportunity the rest of the game.
Interesting how that works.
Funny you say discipline. Last night I watched the LA broadcast and in the first intermission the panel broke down exactly what LA was doing to shut the Oilers down and what the Oilers needed to do to beat it. It was a basic 1-3-1 formation. They showed example after example of what LA was doing to disrupt Edm getting out of their zone. They said to expect the Oilers to make adjustments starting in the second period. They did not. This is on the coaching…..
It’s the players that play the game, not the coaches.
You don’t think a team takes on the identity of a Coach?
No . What does that have to do with anything?
The breakout structure isn’t good and that has to be coaching. Last season, they focused on breaking out as a tighter 5 man group. This season? They have a 4 man breakout and one guy playing high in the neutral zone. It’s not working but they keep doing it. Need to go back to the tighter 5 man formation.
And this is exactly what the TNT panel was saying. The Oiler breakout is all about hitting McD or Drai when they have speed either just inside our blue line or in the neutral zone. Using the 1-3-1, LA shut down that pass. The panel said the solution is to gain center and fire it in and forecheck like crazy (1-3-1 there is only one defender back, forecheck him). The Oilers never did that. And by the way Cowboy, the players do play the game but the coaches dictate the structure.
They don’t breakout through the middle in their own end anymore either. I don’t hate the spread out breakout off a broken up o zone play, creates a bit of space, but off a controlled breakout it’s not working with the personnel we have.
Interesting use of the words vanilla…dull…to describe this team.
Given the pedigree of McDavid/Drai, I’d be curious to know if those same words were ever used to describe the Cup winning teams that had Kane/Teows, Crosby/Malkin, Stamkos/Kucherov, McKinnon/Makar, etc..
Hmmm…not sure but if I were to tell any fan of any other team that a team with McD and Drai more often than not play a vanilla or dull game they would laugh their asses off. Yet here we are.
Injuries are a fact of life for every NHL team so Edmonton can’t hang their hat on that one. There is a laziness (by my eye) to this team and they’ve gone through three coaches —with obvious player turnover —trying to address it. I realize the goaltending hasn’t been sound. I realize we as fans have high expectations and likely rank some of these guys higher than what the rest of the league does, but something isn’t clicking. And it’s not the coaches IMO.
It has been well established that it is something in the water.
I think the coaching and the players share some blame here. Whatever they are trying to do tactically isn’t working. Plenty of instances where there is zero pressure at the Oilers blueline. We seem to be content with letting the opposing team gain the blueline and set up in our own end.
that was one of the two areas where there was a big change with Woodcroft coming in. That and the 3-2 in the offensive zone. Haven’t seen much of either this year
A few people from outside Edmonton and LA tuned into to see the fate of Mikey Anderson….I mean a truly, viscously, dirty play on one of the leagues Superstars in the playoffs.
Game 17 – middle of November Game.
What happened to Anderson?
Nothing.
Alex Edler enters the stage…..with not an *ounce* of fear to do what he did.
I assume Kenny is penning a strongly worded letter to Bettman.
It’s not like having a Zack Kassian type prevented that play in the playoffs.
Enforcers are not deterrents no matter how many times Bob Stauffer keeps saying they need one.
Not enforcers per se…someone – very sparingly- has to step up and say a harsh word
to the odd player that tries to hurt a star player.
Relying on the NHL or the refs is Hubris.
To be fair, the role expected of Kassian post-concussion and injury was no longer achievable for that player, not necessarily that ‘type’ of player.
Oilers missed E.Kane last night, full stop.
Agreed. They miss him every night. Warren Foegele in the top 6 doesn’t feel like the answer to me.
As I’ve been saying, Foegele can fill in for a couple of games here or there but there is plenty of evidence, including from last season, that this isn’t a solution for anything over a week or two. Next middle six tweener up…….. maybe Kostin or Janmark or Yamamoto.
I don’t really disagree with you, it didn’t go well for Foegele with either Draisaitl or McDavid last season.
I would note though that in Carolina he played about 460 minutes with Svechnikov on the other wing (his 2nd most common forward linemate over the 3 years). Foegele scored 2.49 P/60 and they had a 56.5% GF%. It’s not like he has never shown an ability to be productive with skill.
That’s good information, thank you.
I query the QoC in those minutes – was it legit top 6 or was it 3rd line stuff given Svech hadn’t broken out yet?
I thought that was likely, but 3/4 of their TOI was with Jordan Staal, and he led the team in TOI vs. elites 2 of the 3 years. Looks like those probably weren’t depth minutes.
Thank you.
I agree with GMB3 – Kassian deterred nothing, Lucic deterred nothing, etc., etc.
I also agree with Bruce – last night is a game where Kane likely makes an impact.
There is a good chance his presence in that game could have swung momentum at some point or led to McDavid not taking two minor penalties or something similar.
He also could have added a couple extra minors along the way that didn’t help the team, so he could have impacted the game either way, but I think his footprint would have been all over it.
True. Zack checked out….
So when exactly did he check out?
After the concussion he sustained October 8, 2021 fighting Zack MacEwan – He was fighting the hulking Logan Stanley a month after being cleared from that concussion.
After the lower body injuries he sustained April 21, 2021 and Nov 9, 2021 delivering body checks (he lead all Oiler regular forwards last season in hits per 60).
After he broke his jaw Feb 9, 2022 from a deflected puck. He got into a fight with Matt Geertsen less than 10 days after being cleared to play from that injury.
In the playoffs last season, he was 3rd among all NHL forwards who went beyond 1 round in hits per 60 at 24.
Not much to say about the cheap shot on McDavid that hasn’t been said many times before. The NHL will stay a niche league in pro sports for many reasons, but their lack of interest in protecting their superstar players is one of the main ones.
The league has never changed and it never will. One game is nothing but ticky tacky penalties all over the place next game all-out trench warfare. The Av’s can now play both styles St.loo, Capitals, Kings and Hawks all could play dirty if they had too. The Broad Street Bullies were created by the Owner and G.M not because they were assholes but because they were fed up with St.loo and many other teams kicking the shit out of them on a nightly basis. No one is stopping Holland from getting turbulence into the line-up.
The league’s response is let the players police themselves & when they try to, give the policing team the extra penalty to even out the original grievous foul. Outrageous that Oil didn’t gt so much as a powerplay out of that.
Having discussed with a number of friends/fans over the last week or so, is it fair to wonder if this is a personnel issue?
Remember just before tippet was fired?
We dont start on time.
The forwards are cheating for offense.
Why is there so many giveaways?
Too many stupid penaltys.
The team is not playing as a 5 man unit.
MCD and Drat are playing way to many minutes.
The goals against needs to come down.
Why are we always drowing in the shot clock.
The shots against needs to come down etc.
It seems that the same things could be said of todays team and coach.
I feel like there needs to be a moment when this team sits down and says that goals and assists DO NOT MATTER, the main priority needs to be keeping the puck out of your own end especially when we have campbell as the guy currently cannot stop a beach ball.
This team goes wherever mcdavid goes, unless he prioritizes not leaking chances against then the rest of the team will also decide this is not a priority. I think what we saw early last year under woodcroft was a passion for defensive detail that we hadnt seen from mcdavid and draisaitl before. Being the first man back, focussing on the defensive game and allowing the offensive opportunities to come from that.
The problem is that this organization is trying to run and gun and be the second coming of the 80s oilers which really doesnt work in todays NHL.
My little rant is over.
mcdavid is a 50% goal share 5v5. 13 for and 13 against.
Draisaitl is a 46% goal share 5v5. 13 for and 15 against.
This needs to improve and leadership starts at the top.
when 5 of your top 6 players are losing the goal share 5v5 that is a large problem.
100% agree. The entire advantage having a weapon like McDavid gives you is gone at 5v5 this year.
it’s not like he’s being flanked by Chiasson/Rattie/kassian/caggiula anymore.
As much as I like RNH, Hyman, Kane individually, I wonder if the team would be better off with one of those guys and a bit more money spent on a difference maker at forward to help the Draisaitl line
Tell me Drisaitle has the flu….man, that was the worst showing by 29 ever. seemingly not interested in any aspect of the game other than maybe breaking the D zone early.
Here we go again
Lol
Danault and Kopitar are elite players in their own right going against McDavid and Drai.
Need other forwards to step up on occasion. Hyman did.
I’m a huge Drai fan & I thought he was flat out terrible last night. A couple of flashes of his immense talent but so many bobbles, brutal on the dot, caused a couple of offsides, passed the puck out of the zone, lost a few physical battles… I too wondered if he had the flu.
When Drai is something like 23% in the circle, well, that’s an indication that he’s off and likely battling an injury or illness of some sort.
He also does frequently have bad nights where nothing rhymes.
I don’t mean that in a bad way, but he’s a turnover machine when he’s ‘off’.
The ‘he was so bad, he must be injured’ observation happens with Drai multiple times a year, every year. Then shortly after the observation all is right again and he posts a 3 point night.
Very possible.
What I find most troubling this season is that most of the young players who needed to take a step forward have failed to come through. Most of us thought Bouch would take a step forward, but he hasn’t. He’s treading water. Jesse cannot generate offense; perhaps this is who he is. Yamo is injured and not contributing when healthy; perhaps last year was his career peak. Holloway shows flashes but makes some mistakes that wind up in the back of the net and doesn’t seem likely to get more than 8 minutes ice time a night to become a difference maker at this time. Broberg hasn’t gotten any traction yet and comparisons to Klefbom ring true so far only in terms of his injury history.
So, the bets on an top-4D offensive driver; an emerging top-4 D-man; two solid top-6 forwards; and a top-9 contributor have all failed to pay off so far. Thank God for Skinner, but he’s not going to maintain a .951 ESP the rest of the year.
At this point, the boys need to hang around long enough for some of the young players to regress upward; for Campbell to figure it out; and for Kane to get back. And also match the opposition’s defensive awareness and commitment. Oh – and no more serious injuries. Not feeling super confident this morning.
Woodcroft was supposed to be the Youth Whisperer. Feels like they’ve all either been treading water or taken a step back.
I’m half convinced Bouchard was better under Tippett.
If I had to put my finger on the biggest problem for the oil its not starting games with the proper intensity. I put that on the feet of the leadership in the locker room.
You’re saying young players aren’t taking a step forward, then say Skinner’s start is unsustainable.
Bro is fine. Watch his AHL highlights, he’s a driver and his skating is breathtaking. Lots of time for a callup but injuries happen.
How are you to know what expectations were in place by the team? You may want to have Bouch be a top 4 offensive driver or Holloway to be an outscorer 15 games into his career but the org may see it differently. I was jazzed Holloway even made the team and was healthy. Bouch is taking on more responsibility and offence has suffered to a degree. He’s also a true sophomore. Other than that stint with Murray he’s been fine.
Injuries are fluke.
If you want to see the negative you will.
And there have been so many positives this year, haven’t there?
Oilers apologist is not an actual job, so stop trying to weasel your way in.
You okay there bud?
Glad I’m not the only one who thinks Edler needs a hearing. It’s mind boggling to me that most on-ice penalties are based on the degree of injury occurred. If McDavid is carried off the ice then maybe a double minor or major is called, but in reality if it’s something that doesn’t belong in the game like a hit from behind into the boards a more severe penalty should be called regardless.
Well played by the Kings last night. They knew what they could get away with (especially in regards to hooking, holding and interference) and they got the Oilers thinking about revenge instead of hockey. Hopefully it’s a lesson learned but so far it seems like the lessons are taking a while to stick.
Los Angeles is not a better team than Edmonton. Playing in the shell for 40 minutes and putting life and limb on the line for 2 points is unsustainable imo. The ice packs are well earned for a Wednesday but I bet they are in rough shape today. We had quality looks, including one foiled by Arvidsson channeling Mason Mctavish. They only play like this against us, we have more talent throughout the lineup.
Side note I wouldn’t be surprised if Manson told Bouch to fire away. He has a cannon and if I had to stop 1 Bouch bomb from the point I wouldn’t be thrilled let alone the 10-20 he kept slapping off. Didn’t work today but it’s a long season.
Side side note: 1 powerplay, yep definitely a playoff game
If the object of the game is to win, and Los Angeles won the goal and shot share, I’m not certain what’s left. Edmonton SHOULD be the better team, but you’re only as strong as the weakest link in the chain.
I would disagree that single games make absolutes. They were the better team last night after an incredibly hard nosed game and a bit of luck as hockey is want to have. Their shot quality was of the ‘play 200 feet from our net’ variety imo. I don’t think they could keep that effort up over a playoff series as shown last year when it matters. Even if they suplex our best players.
This may turn into a definition of MVP type debate though regarding ‘better team’ (were the 06 Oilers a better team than the Wings?) so I’ll just say I don’t like the Kings and miss Keith and Kane for their matching levels of filthy.
I never comment on analytics because I don’t follow it, agree with it or care to. It is a team game based on health, chemistry, ice conditions and a host of other things that are impossible to measure. No one knows who’s eaten a bad shrimp, is going through tough times at home, can’t stand their teammate, has the flu or a cold or an injury on any given night, But I can tell you some old school analytics that do matter. LA scored 3 goals, Edmonton 1. LA has 23 pts in the standings and Edmonton has 18. The Kings ARE the better team right now. So is Seattle and so is Vegas. Now if you want to talk about who should be or has the potential to be better, different conversation. I don’t need to be an analytics expert to tell you what is wrong with this team and it is the same problem it has been through multiple coaches and GM’s. The give a shit meter is broken for many of these guys. 30 percent of this team puts the work boots on any given night. I have no issue getting beat by the better teams but I hate being outworked by any of them. Rant over!
You can not value analytics all you want. I don’t believe we will agree on much. I gave LA their due and said they were the better team last night. I don’t think they’re the better team overall and I made that clear. I don’t ‘want’ to talk about it, I was always talking about it.
If saying a teams give a rip/60 is off is your way of being a fan, have at it. I think hockey at the highest level is more nuanced than ‘try harder’.
Is there anything more worthless than excuses?
Looked like 60 minutes of shell game to me. They blocked 16 shots in the first & were defending a lead for pretty much the whole game. Oilers couldn’t find any “clean air” as our host likes to say, & the refs wouldn’t provide any powerplays that might have given them some.
Kings were literally trapping 5 minutes into the first period, I was sitting in the upper bowl behind Petersen’s net & there was a frigging wall in front of him all night.
Heresy Idea Incoming
Mcd/Drai/Not JP or Hyman
Hyman/Nuge/JP
Foegele/Mcleod/Ryan-Yams
Janmark/Kostin/Holloway
Hyman is a difficult player to play with for McD and Drai – he’s a driver, but he’s a bit pig headed. JP is useless offensively with McD cause he doesn’t read the ice correctly and then gets in the damn way. Helluva forechecker though. Turn him loose with the Human Wrecking Ball, let Nuge find the soft underbelly and all three should be able to cover the spread offensively.
Give the Big Two a run together and rotate whoever is playing well as their 3rd winger I nominate – Yams, Foegele, McLeod or Holloway in no particular order.
This is temporary of course but things aren’t rhyming at the top of the order now so lets shake it up.
I’m on board with putting two wrecking balls together.
There are times that this team needs a greasy goal.
Every team needs a greasy goal here and there.
A this team as it stands doesn’t do that
Janmark and Kostin might have been our better forwards last night…..
interesting way to reward that. ( light years ahead of McLeod and Ryan)
Janmark and Kostin were cooking last night. Kostin is a load out there if he wants to be. Could be Kane-lite. As has been the issue in his career to date it has more to do with consistency than anything else
What I’d like to see is Janmark & Kostin injected into the top six. Janmark as a defensive conscience and Koskin as a physical entity similar to what Kane brings. With the quartet of McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman and the Nuge they might have something. Here is my heresy idea.
Nuge-McDavid-Hyman
Janmark-Leon-Kostin
Holloway-MacLeod-Foegele
Shore-Ryan-Yamamoto/JP
As LT says – DULL. Team looks Vanilla. Imagine this team with no McDavid? They would be in the Bedard sweepstakes.
I saw LEON as a giveaway machine in the last 10 mins. ???
JP where are you?
How many turnovers did Edmonton make within 10 ft of the L.A blueline? A LOT. THats just poor puck management.
At some poimt the coaching staff has to own some of the sloppy play, slow starts and poor execution.
THIS IS US
Seems weird how Holland sits on his hands for most of the time, while the team’s defence obviously blows like not in a fair while.
Ditto the underperforming bottom six players, and Yamamoto/Puljujarvi who both are basically useless to the team so far this season.
Unfortunately its starting to look like this team will never get it together to win anything, which when it becomes time for Draisaitl/McDavid to renew they will both be off to try their fortunes with some other, properly run NHL franchise.
Of course I understand little about the finer points of the game. I just see one team scared of the other team like last night and then, shaking my head turn off the game to look for alternative entertainment.
The teams offense was the issue more than the defense last night.
I also didn’t see the team scared at all. I saw lots of talk about it last night too, but I dunno. Maybe I’m blind, but they didn’t look at all intimidated or scared to me.
1) Odd timing for these points given last night the defensive group was pretty good overall and the bottom six were arguably better than the top 6.
2) I’m highly confident that Holland isn’t “sitting on his hands”. Acquiring a legit top 4 d-man in-season is not the easiest of tasks and I know, for a fact, that Holland has been in contact with many many managers regarding transactions (well, unless he’s lying with his words).
How do you this for a fact?
As per my post, per Holland (i.e. implied from the “Unless he’s lying with his words”.
Somebody was raging? internally maybe.
??? Were you watching?
Did you see Edler get his cumuppance?
Nope – the refs prevented Nurse from filling in Edler after the whistle blew. They then later protected the precious flower from McDavid while the Oilers were on a PP, by putting the games best player in the penalty box.
There was plenty of opportunity to get at Edler if the Oil were raging. Don’t use the precious 2 points which they didn’t get anyways, as an excuse. You want to stop cheap shots, you take the matter into your own hands, not let the league take care of it.
Like when McDavid hammered him from behind with a cross check?
The Oilers also scored on a PP after taking a few runs at guys and it lead to a turnover.
don’t let your personal feelings cloud what actually happened on the ice.
They need to target the Kings’ top offensive players, rather than Edler. Take a run at Arvidsson or Fiala as redemption for the dirty play on McDavid.
Agree with this