This is Ziggy, in the backseat of our car giving me the “I have some real issues with the state of things” look she throws my way from time to time. She growls when I do outrageous things like move my feet, or insist she comes in the house when she’s playing in the backyard and it’s late. Ziggy doesn’t have much really to complain about, but when things aren’t hunky dory she speaks up. That’s kind of how Oilers fans feel this morning.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Where can the Edmonton Oilers improve their draft strategy in 2024?
- Lowetide: What are the Edmonton Oilers’ 5 biggest trade deadlines ever?
- DNB: Philip Broberg is showing his promise: Will NHL opportunity come with the Oilers or elsewhere?
- Lowetide: Breaking down the Oilers’ 50-man list at the trade deadline
- DNB: Oilers trade deadline notebook: Potential chips, fits — and will Edmonton acquire a goalie?
- Lowetide: What’s Oilers prospect defenceman Max Wanner’s NHL ETA?
- DNB: Kris Knoblauch’s lineup decisions just pan out as Oilers get back to winning ways
- Lowetide: Oilers’ right wing makeover nearing completion after years of tinkering
- DNB: Jack Campbell is regaining confidence in the minors, but an Oilers return doesn’t appear imminent
- Lowetide: The Oilers’ winning streak is over but they’re finally a 5-on-5 wagon
- DNB: Oilers come up 1 game short of NHL win-streak record. What went wrong?
- Lowetide: 7 reasons the Oilers should be all-in at the NHL trade deadline
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers top 20 prospects ranking, winter 2023
WHAT TO EXPECT IN FEBRUARY
- On the road to: VEG, ANA, LAK (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 1-2-0)
- At home to: DET (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- On the road to: STL, DAL, ARI (Expected 1-1-1) (Actual 0-1-0)
- At home to: BOS, MIN, CAL, LAK, STL (Expected 3-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 7-4-1, 15 points in 12 games
- Actual February results: 2-3-0, 4 points in 5 games
- Oilers in 2023-24: 31-18-1, 63 points in 50 games
I remember some push back when I posted my February predictions, but this team is closer to a 4-7-1 trajectory than 7-4-1. Call it regression, call it failure to execute, call it getting too comfortable, but I don’t think you can call this luck. The Oilers haven’t played well enough during February for luck to enter the chat. This club has been poor. The penalty kill can go to hell, let’s start with that. Seven goals against in the last four games. Holy hell, Batman. (source: Natural Stat Trick)
THE NUMBERS
The Oilers had a tough assignment last night, the Blues are playing well and the penalties were not reflective of the penalties earned. It happens, and teams have to push through. The Oilers penalty kill is a tragedy right now, made especially difficult to digest because the entire fourth line is devoted to it. I’ve never been a fan of fourth lines that are basically scrapped for parts, but feel the team is heading that way.
The No. 1line was poor last night, top pairing too. I don’t think we’ll see a shuffle of lines but the pressure will be on in Dallas tomorrow for the top unit (and top pairing).
Stuart Skinner had some good moments but you’d like a two more stops. I don’t fault him on the PK GA, there’s simply no chastising the goalie when the defense is swimming to the stand up bar in the slot for refreshments. I thought all the PK guys were strong and Kris Knoblauch was a genius? I’m just being salty, but the penalty kill right now is so bad I’d like to see something change for the next game. I don’t know what that might be, but this ‘chicken with your head cut off’ approach isn’t getting it done. Skinner is a good one, he is one of four top drawer picks from the late ‘teens for Edmonton. I know Oilers fans like to hammer the goalie into submission verbally, but I think Skinner is emerging as one of the foundation pieces to keep on this roster.
Connor Brown had a good night. I know you’ll respond with all of the things he didn’t do and hasn’t done, but this was a solid performance. Four HDSC, 4-1 on ice shots at five-on-five when he was playing wing and five minutes of PK time without being scored on. The Janmark-Ryan-Brown line was effective together. I know some of you will consider that garbage. Brown should be in the lineup tomorrow on merit. In fact, if he gets four HDSC again on Sunday, I might move him up the depth chart. Seriously.
If the coaching staff does shuffle the lines, I would start with McDavid-Hyman and Draisaitl-Foegele, and then try to place Nuge with Leon and find the right winger for McDavid-Hyman. I don’t think it happens soon, but the group may need a reset. Holloway on McDavid’s line, at least for a test run, might be worth a look. He might be the last very good forward coming down the pipe in the McDavid era.
A busy Friday on the Lowdown as we will absolutely read your texts to the station on a day you’ll want to vent. We’re at noon, Sports 1440, and Tyler Yaremchuk will chime in about a night where nothing rhymed in St. Louis. You can reach me at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section or on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly.
Who sampled Love Rollercoaster?
Digable Planets. Yummy.
https://www.whosampled.com/Ohio-Players/Love-Rollercoaster/sampled/
Summarizing!
Day picked up another W, turning away 22 of 24 SOG.
Copponi procured a pair of apples.
Määttä was held soupless, though he did kick buttocks on draws (12-of-16, 75.0%).
Münzenberger, Stonehouse, Mazura and Lachance were similarly denied soup.
I’ve seen enough. If he scores tomorrow, I shall call him Al Copponi.
Oilers Nation has the Oilers in on a Chris Tanev trade.
Nurse Tanev? What does that look like as a pairing?
He would be a good addition. PUCKIQ has him playing 43 percent of his five-on-five minutes versus elites, 45 percent DFF% and below average rel.
That said, he would be playing far less versus elites in Edmonton, and one suspects the numbers would correct (he had fine numbers last season).
https://puckiq.com/players/8475690?player=8475690&season=all&tier=Elite&group_by=player_season_team
Tanev would be a nice addition.
A good chunk of the PuckIQ difference in elites is probably that Calgary has to play the Oilers and visa versa (Calgary’s top 4 is between 38.5 and 44.0% vs elites while the Oilers top 4 is between 29.5 and 31.5% – sheesh).
And I’d be hesitant to move Ceci to fit Tanev in, but Ceci out and Tanev in with 50% retained would save the Oilers $1M on the cap.
Sutter’s coaching has a massive
impact on on-ice stats. They should be called Darryls, Not Corsis. This is my brother Darryl, and my other brother…
Last season Tanev was partnered more with Weegar. This season, Hanifin.
Under Sutter, even Zadorov had a very impressive Darryl For percentage and an impressive Dangerous Darryl For percentage. The High Danger Darryls were also in his favour. Sutter boosted his Darryls with deployment. It was just a shot away and now he’s gonna fade away.
Very good as long as Ceci isn’t going in the trade (or concurrent trade) for the cap room as he’ll need to cover – too much risk to swap Ceci + for Tanev given age and injury history – its tough to see that that guy get through a long playoff grind.
Chaulk mentioned today (on with Gregor) that Tulio will be up with Pederson/Caggiula again tomorrow night.
Why does the NHL hate Friday games?
because they love Saturday games?
Ok? But why have only one game tonight. It’s a long weekend so you can still play a few teams Friday Sunday Monday and play 3 games over the weekend for max profits
Connor is within striking distance of hitting 1,000 career points this season. Will he do it?
I just want to see if Sam Gagner (327) can pass Taylor Hall (328) and Craig MacTavish (331) on the all-time Oilers scoring leaderboard.
(Todd Marchant might be out of reach at 343.)
I think he will pass Taylor but it may only be temporary…
Strange times for Hall to make a comeback it would be.
I would love to be able to have an honest conversation with Knoblauch about what he sees and thinks
And I’m sure he’d love to have an honest conversation with you Slushy.
Unless they can get their hands on a real difference maker at the trade deadline I would rather have them use assets to dump salary like Campbell to absorb Browns stupid contract to get another good run next year than blow a bunch of futures for a meh player.
Either they get their heads out of their backsides during playoffs or they don’t. I don’t see many difference makers available
I’m not sure one player could make enough difference that is realistic to get
I guess 16 wins gets you a Cup, they might be able to hold it together long enough, but they sure still know how to drop a big turd
For me it’s not that they do as much as when. They traditional Oiler way is do that against lesser teams and show up to beat the good ones or games you really want to win IIRC
Crosby would
Guentzel maybe
Thats about it and who knows if guentzel is actually available
Stamkos, this season at the deadline. Crosby next season, at the deadline.
Great article at Daily Faceoff with costs for salary retention.
Good read, thanks for the link.
What do you do when you are a winger playing with Leon and Conner?
Basically you work the corner and end up standing net front.
Yamamoto used to have that job. Obviously he was not right for the role. Hyman is excellent. But I can understand why coach puts Corey in that spot. Yes he’s slow but he is good in that spot.
I wouldn’t expect him to hold that job but swapping him in there when he’s having a good game is just good coaching.
Perry is one of the smartest players in the NHL. It’s obvious to anyone who watches the game.
@EdmontonJack
Practice today in STL with the lines as they finished Thursday night…
Draisaitl-McDavid-Perry
Kane-RNH-Hyman
Holloway-McLeod-Foegele
Janmark-Ryan-Brow
Hard no
Perry will accomplish more than Yamamoto did there.
Line 3 should start the opening faceoff. These guys will use the walls, cycle, and wait for openings without trying to constantly force low percentage passes and shots off the rush.
Time to get back to the system
3rd line is something that shoudl work, in theory but they’ve been terrible together so far this year.
Foegele’s production over the last 80 plus games (legit 1st line production) leads me to want to put back that 2nd line that rolled for 5-7 games:
Kane/McDavid/Hyman
McLeod/Drai/Foegele
Holloway/Nuge/Perry
Janmark/Ryan/Brown
Switch Nuge and Kane is desired.
I agree completely and was going to post the same suggestion. That line was the pulse of the transformation imo. I know I sound like a broken record lately, but I can’t say enough about how important the team playing with a puck possession mentality was to the turnaround. It puts so many of our weaker links, in position to succeed. It benefits the forwards, the D and especially Skinner who seems to excel when the team in front of him are predictable and keeping the opponents attack simple.
I’ve definitely been hoping for that exact lineup order without loading top line.
Mcdavid Hyman seems like a (if it ain’t broke don’t fix it) pair. Highlander drai mclovin line is pretty ideal, if it can even marginally outscore 5×5, as it leaves a stronger mix of mentors on a line with Holloway.
Has the coach lost the plot?
The Triple-Hart Line!
It’s important for the Oilers to have multiple configurations or looks. It makes it harder for the opposition to scout, and prepares the team for necessary adaptations over a playoff series.
The Hearty Trinity.
If Woody was doing things like this there would be numerous comments about smartest guy in the room and McBlender. If the Flames or Canucks were doing this there would be laughter on this forum.
Hilarious for all the wrong reasons if Knoblauch ends up mesmerised by McDraisaitl – just like all of the others.
Well next loss will be on the coaches if those are the lines.
Will the win be on the coaches if those are the lines?
Oilers players win games, while Oilers coaches lose them.
St. Louis are in a unique spot. They make for an interesting trade partner.
The Blues are solidly in the 8th spot in the WC after last night’s win … a couple games back of 7th, but miles back of Edm in 6th. There is no hope beyond a Cinderella run.
Their roster construction is mid-way through a tear down of their 2019 cup-winning team. Guys like Schenn, Faulk, Krug, Saad, Leddy, and Hayes are all over 30 and slowly trending down, while Kyrou (25), Thomas (24), and Neighbours (21) are the new core. They are especially bare on D prospects.
In the middle of it all is Pavol Buchnevic (28). A bona fide top-6 talent. He’s in between the old and young on the Blues, maybe but not probably considered a core piece for the future. He’s on a nice contract ($5.8M for a near ppg-scorer) and will cash in as a UFA in summer ’25.
I doubt Guentzel or Konecny, or guys like Tuch are legit trade targets for us. Buchnevic could be … he is the highest-end talent of the available pool of suitable wingers (Eberle, Tarasenko, Mantha, etc)
A trade might look like: Broberg, Foegele, a 1st for Buchnevic (50% ret) and 6’3″ 220 RC Sundqvist.
That’s a very high cost but gives the Oilers a very potent lineup for two playoff runs.
Worth it?
You lost me at Broberg. Buffalo had to go 10D deep in the 2006 playoffs.
As soon as you trade Broberg, one of the super sexy six will get hurt.
The Oilers are making a massive mistake not playing Broberg 60 games this year.
Are other top teams doing this?
Do the Oilers have cap space for this?
I was trumpeting the Broberg deployment in October but the team started so badly coaching and management went with veterans. I don’t think it was ideal, but do understand playing vets when jobs are in question.
Actually, yes, they do have cap room to carry a 7D but they are looking to accrue the extra cap space (could waive and send Gagner down if they wanted – yes, he would be the guy).
Pickard the confirmed starter tomorrow in Dallas (per Jack Michaels).
Boone isn’t going anywhere and Boone doesn’t want to go anywhere”
https://twitter.com/FAN590/status/1758551466761949368
Prospectacious!
The full complement of healthy NA amateurs see the ice this night.
When we last checked in with Day, he fashioned a 2nd-star performance in a shootout win. He still has work to do to reach the .500 plateau again though.
Can Määttä score for a third straight game? His Vermonters oppose Copponi and the Merrimackians of Merrimack.
All games begin at 5 p.m. Harmon Valley time, which is also 8:30 p.m. Goulds time.
Mail-It-In Friday, baby!
Fire the coach!
Fire the mall!
I must admit; I preferred the 16 game win streak so much better.
By April we should see who this team is.
Really? I don’t think we’ll know any more until May/June.
If every team you play looks like one of the best, it’s not them
“If you run into an asshole in the morning, you ran into an asshole. If you run into assholes all day, you’re the asshole.”
Raylan Givens Justified
👌🏻
For me it’s the roster construction. They shouldn’t need any more ‘lessons’ the core are vets and have loads of disappointments under their belts
They are bigger and meaner than they were, and also slower and old in the top 6. I don’t feel Holland has found the best wingers for the duo: good players yes, best fits?
Hyman had two open nets and couldn’t score. Most finishers get those. Perry is the one feeding the slot and going in front, the other’s rarely do and that’s how it’s done. And Perry is wayyyyyy to slow to be the top 6 answer
They’re a good team, I don’t know if they are cup good at this point. And Stu is off again even if it wasn’t his fault. He’s young and maybe can’t handle this many games even with adequate time between games
I also feel there are too many nice guys that aren’t particularly aggressive and they got fed last night by players who were
“They shouldn’t need any more lessons”
Exactly. People have been saying this for 3 years. Saying this through multiple coaches. This is not a young team. This is not a team with a bunch of new players.
I feel you are being much too tough. What does the roster have to do to qualify in your mind?
After all the recent roster construction they are still not good enough? With little in the pipeline it’s either boost what you have or start over. Do you feel they should sell assets and start over?
maybe I am just feeling your venting.
Having all NHL quality players is good and the basis, but there is also getting the right mix. Having a bunch of good players doesn’t mean you are a strong team, or built to succeed when it counts most
I think having Connor makes them hard to read. Sometimes they can go on runs and play well enough that win. But even last year’s end of the season run had a lot of luck and wins that could have easily been losses
I worry that we have the best player in the world and they haven’t yet gotten to being as dominant as I think they should be. Holland came into this core and they weren’t kids anymore
Nobody wins every game, perhaps the 80’s team spoiled me, but it’s been a while since they seemed able to turn on their best game and pull away from teams. Teams with HOF and GOAT players usually have that ability
In a chaotic team sport lessons are continually being learned. The final lesson isn’t learned until they feel the weight of Stanley over their head.
I suppose
and why does every downturn have to be a function of lessons having not be learnt or new lessons needing to be learned?
How about it simply being a function of a 6 month/82 game grind of a season where EVERY team, even the President’s Trophy winner will end up having 3-5 game stretches of poor/lazy/uncommitted play that is not representative of their true game a few times in the season.
It’s not me saying lessons to learn I think they’ve had enough lessons
Please – those two were not a function of poor finishing – that was outstanding goaltending on both.
Its not like Hyman shot that one back in to the goalie, Hyman found the open net and the goalie made a hero save.
It happens.
He had time on both to elevate the puck, into the gaping net. Gregor said so as well so it must be true!
The 2-3 in their last 5 or the 18-3 in their last 21?
Watching that game, I left feeling Seabrooked – circa February 17th, 2013. No Haiku for the Oilers.
So what do we do with a 4th line that is doing their Belanger triangle thing and pk work is falling apart
4th line was actually 100% expected goals in apx 4 minutes at evens yesterday – they were effective but, damn, close to score needs to transition in to an actual goal soon.
Ryan coulda had two.
82 games is too many. Nobody really thought this team is as good as the 16 win streak, right? Or as bad as last night? Somewhere in between.
I’ve seen this script too many times to be overly concerned at this point, but if the bad habits continue and a losing streak occurs, maybe time to worry then.
Putrid and stinky
Like a pie in a pasture
Sun will shine, flowers will grow
Well there goes the theory that the refs manage the game, unfortunately it gives ammunition to the “Bettman hates the Oilers” conspirators.
Not surprising to see Oilers experience a low, after such a big high. Not sure we should panic after a 2 for 5 segment, that follows a 16-0. That follows an 0-3. That follows an 8-0. What a weird season.
Knoblauch is what 27-8 or something? We’re good. Except when we are bad.
I thought Desharnais played terrible last night and took really lazy dumb penalties as did others . Very dissapointing loss.
Someone mentioned on another site that Joaquin Gage thought Skinner looked tired in the last 2 games. I like Guage and his analysis all the time. This to me is a bit worrisome.
Tough loss and this team needs to kick it in and will have a very tough game Saturday afternoon in Dallas.
Lets see if they are up for the task.
Time to give Bromberg a test run???
Who is Bromberg?
Might be time to give Lavoice another look, too. 🙂
He’s an undrafted 32 year old defenseman that’s having a hell of a season in the flemmish top league.
Cousin Vinny was better than Bouchard last night.
Bouchard played almost 4 minutes on the PK, clean minutes, as Deharnais was in the box almost as much as he was on the ice.
Bouchard was on the ice for 3 EV goals against, and could have prevented all three with a modicum of effort or awareness.
He was also on the ice for three goals for (two at 5 on 5) and many Oilers could have prevented each of the three goals against.
It was notable when you singled out Bouchard last night on the 1st goal with no mention of both Nuge and Ekholm standing within a foot of the goal scorer on the back door – both able to have prevented the goal with a modicum of effort or awareness.
Evan Bouchard is going to cost a lot of money in a couple of years, and I’m still waiting for him to show he’s worth it.
He’s a gifted offensive player, and because of this I’m willing to overlook the odd turnover or bad pinch. Offensive players take risks, and sometimes they get caught cheating for offense. I get that.
What I can’t accept, is a defenseman who doesn’t defend in his own end. A defenseman who has ZERO compete in his game when he doesn’t have the puck.
We’ve all seen it numerous times, Bouchard just standing around watching, covering no one in the dzone. Even when he does identify his check, it seems like Bouchards idea of defense is to stand beside his man. He never engages physically. He never ties up their stick, or battles for a 50/50 puck. He just basically stands there.
He’s going to put up 70 points this year and next. How much is that going to cost? 8 million? 9 million? 10 million?
It’s going to be a lot of money for a 1 trick pony.
That’s not entirely true. I’ve seen Bouch make plenty of great defensive plays. Maybe you choose to only see the bad ones.
I’ve seen him make good defensive plays. He made one last night when he broke up a 2 on 1.
However, his refusal to compete occurs far more often than the odd good defensive play.
What who said!
who said what?
My buddy sees Drai this way. He was a good hockey player, I was trying to be fair and saying that Drai isn’t skating he might be hurt
He says he can skate just fine if he thinks it’s a scoring chance
The difference is that Draisaitl competes for pucks when he’s in the area.
He might not backcheck hard all the time, and he might cheat out of the dzone early at times, but if there’s a 50/50 puck, he’s battling for it.
Bouchards refusal to even engage is what frustrates me.
Truth
Draisaitl is top five in points per game in the playoffs, I think, behind only all time greats, and I believe ahead of McDavid.
He’s Uber talented. Points fall off of players like him and Connor. His line got outscored in the losing series though. Thats what I care about. Other points have less value, only needed to get to the playoffs. Be better than the other guys when it’s on
This who he is. He can be passable in his own end when there’s proper support around him.
When the forwards are late to support and staring at pucks and your partner is getting beat he’s not going to give you that desperation effort to stop a scoring chance.
So when the team is not committed to their own zone he’s very noticeable for single bad events – love the also in photo LTism
This is part of the learning curve for this team. They ascended by doing some very repeatable things. Structure, cycle, support.
The success has dropped their guard and the erosion of that mindset and attention to detail.
The identity of February Oilers is not the identity of the January Oilers.
They are learning the repercussions in real time and will be a better team for it down the stretch and into the playoffs.
They might not want to peak too soon.
What makes you believe this to be true? They didn’t learn from their terrible start. They didn’t learn from their HC being fired.
I think you misunderstand my post. Or you don’t consider a 16 game winning streak learning from their start / firing their coach?
I hope so. I think they would benefit from having a better rush game outside of Connor
It’s easier to score. That is predicated on D that can get and move the puck quickly and to the right place
Vegas broke ’em again. Woody couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty back together. Let us see if Knoblauch can.
Play it again Sam.
Wow.
I am not use a 5 game running record to judge the team. However, it seems like Oilers do at times get caught in quicksand.
Skinner wasn’t bad, Binnington didn’t “steal the game”, the Oilers didn’t get “goalied” but lets be clear, the Oilers had the 2nd best goaltender on the night and that was a BIG reason the game ended up like it did.
The Blues were the better team on the night, clearly. Pretty much for the entire game except the back half of the first where the Oilers took over. At the same time, Binnington made two MASSIVE 10-bell, play of the month, type saves on Hyman in the first and, if one of those go in, given the Oilere were rolling at the time, the game very well may have turned out differently.
kudos to the Blues goalie.
That 5-man unit, that has been soooo dominant at times, got absolutely killed last night. There were a couple back to back shifts in the 2nd that was men against boys, the wrong way.
What was going on in the faceoff dot last night? Oilers were getting tossed all night!
Please also can we have a Dowd and a Tomasino!
I think Leon gets tossed more often than not…..
Yes, I know, Foegele is struggling and McLeod has been meh but I’m looking to put that 2nd line back together because, well, it worked and, truth be told, Foegele/Leon always seems to work and Foegele has put up legit 1st line production at 5 on 5 over 80 plus games.
Kane/McDavid/Hyman
McLeod/Drai/Foegele
Holloway/Nuge/Perry
Janmark/Ryan/Brown
OR (given Nuge has 3 goals at 5 on 5 in the last 2 games):
Nuge/McDavid/Hyman
McLeod/Drai/Foegele
Kane/Holloway/Perry
The fourth line sucks, I know.
Brown is NOT the one to come out based on the last 20 games – its Derek Ryan by any objective look at the numbers (both PK and 5 on 5).
At the same time, Gagner leaks goals against at 5 on 5 which is why he hasn’t been playing
I think LT is suggesting Holloway up with McDavid & Hyman, Nuge with Leon & Foegele. That would leave Kane with Macleod & Perry and the fourth line stays the same, sadly Derek Ryan is the only option at 4c. I would suggest that is an area of concern and should have already been rectified.
It seems that every time Holloway gets moved up to the top 6, it doesn’t really mesh – at least to this point.
I definitely see Holloway in the top 6 going forward but, at this point, I think he’s best served on the 3rd line.
I think it would be great if he just gets locked in to a position – he’s played all three forward positions (even within one game) and on all four lines since he’s come back from injury. They are putting him all over the place and he’s not getting a chance to get comfortable in any position role.
I say lock him in to 3LW and watch him soar.
These forward lines really highlight the need for one more top 6 forward. Foegele had a good run but he’s better slotted as a third line winger.
The constant parade of Oilers to the penalty box really exposed the team last night. RNH-Ryan were terrible last night. Another PKer who’s better at faceoffs would be a huge get, if a top 6 forward can’t be acquired.
McLeod drai Foegle did work. But then you have the politics of it. High profile players dont want to play on third line and Kane wont be happy. Maybe the goal is to find a 3c for kane and perry.
Put Kane with McDavid and Nuge as 3C.
Also, Kane will (should) do as he’s told and I don’t think a passive aggressive quip by Kaner will deter the coach.
On the surface, I agree on Foegele but, then again, that run has lasted for over a season’s worth of games.
By pure points at 5 on 5, Foegele is tied with the likes of JT Miller, N. Ehlers, E. Malkin and a few others over the course of the last 80 plus games (and this is not a function of more games played) and many of those games were NOT in the top 6.
Foegele has had a long stretch of legit first line production. Its actually shocking to see the company he’s keeping through a season’s worth of games.
Nuge/McDavid/Drai
Kane/Jenner/Hyman
Holloway/Mcleod/Perry
Maroon/Pederson/Lavoie
Time for changes
You might be on to something. Call up Pederson to play 4c, for a test run. I don’t know about Patrick Maroon. But yes, to Boone Jenner.
Not sure on the 4th line but I have time for this. I’m not usually for loading up Drai and McD, but if Jenner was here that second line would be a real second line.
4th line I’d maybe rather see a move to get someone like a Bjugstad rather than Maroon.
Janmark-Bjugstad-Ryan is how I’d run that one.
I have wanted to see this (nuge mcdavid drai) since I can’t remember. And Jenner would be my number 1 target. Unfortunately it sounds like he is unavailable… but finding a 2c that could free up the big three would be crazy
Deleted because the quotes were used incorrectly.
So people should stop complaining about Ryan and Janmark not scoring with Brown. Brown has zeroed the offensive production of everyone he has played with this season.
But he is a pretty good PK’er, so one may have to live with Janmark and Ryan not scoring. McDavid couldn’t either.
Janmark and Ryan used to be good PKer’s too. What’s happened? It must be Brown’s fault. LOL
Janmark and Brown have both been on the ice for one PK goal against in the last 4 games (Janmark only played 3 of them) and Ryan 3 goals against.
Both Brown and Janmark have positive goal shares in the last 20 plus games (shit, Janmark hasn’t been scored on in like 22 games) and Ryan is a negative.
Ryan is a good soldier but the grind of the season catches up with a player of that age (and he’s taken a beating on the ice for the last 6-8 weeks).
Ryan has the ability to get hot offensively for 3-4 games and that will happen again but, outside of that, he’s as much of a black hole as Janmark and Brown, right?
The Stu mood is the team mood and you can see a bit of jitters defensively, too much standing around trying to defend. I think the game is different if Hyman cashes on that PP. We’re looking at 3-1 then. I know I know, but sometimes you get a game like this one, reminded me somewhat of L.A. last early Jan., or the Red Wings on Tuesday. There isn’t anything wrong wrong, just a little off. Hopefully the parade to the box blew off some steam.
McDavid and Nuge have started this half like they started the first. Defense optional. Not ideal. The Kane-Drai-Holloway line had all sorts of potential but I saw a turnover each from Kane and Hollywood that Drai needed to bailout on the backcheck. The coach probably swore but that’s the price for getting Holloway up top speed in the top six. I’d run it again. Holloway is developing a nose for the net that will pay off in spades if Drai ever decides to shoot the damn puck again.
On the PK they need someone, anyone, to win a draw. All of McD, Nuge, Ryan and McLeod having been getting smoked since the Ducks game on draws. Hammer away on draw drills cause that is what is leading to the zone time. Small sample sizes apply here.
The 4th line hasn’t been the problem and too many pixels are being wasted on it.
Had Brown gone bar down
We would sing his praise today
Instead *ding* and sigh
Well sometimes that bar gets in the way. LOL. The most important part of the goaltender’s equipment.
I had him as a Tim Hortons scorer again (I pick him every time the app makes him available to me). I would have been so happy as I had Leon already scoring.
Have you given up on Lavoie? Shouldn’t he get a test run with a quality centre?
I have not, but he’s not getting the call this year.
He’s too young by half for KH