I’m not sure which version of the Edmonton Oilers we’ll see today versus the San Jose Sharks. I do know that the team is now back to using those astute passes that use the middle of the ice effectively (high slot). The ridiculous gapping between forwards and defensemen has eased, and the club is no longer predictable. From the Florida final last spring through the Olympic break, the Oilers kept trying to make things work while telegraphing the game plan.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN FEBRUARY
- At home to: TOR (Expected 1-0-0) 0-1-0
- On the road to: CGY (Expected 1-0-0) 0-1-0
- On the road to: ANA, LAK, SJS (Expected 2-1-0) 1-1-0
- Expected Record: 3-2-0, six points in five games
- Actual Record: 1-3-0, two points in four games
- Season Record: 29-23-8, 66 points in 60 games
This run we’ve seen in February was ghastly, but maybe necessary. Kris Knoblauch is a highly successful coach, but the staff lost Glen Gulutzan over the summer and didn’t bring back Paul Coffey until recently. Paul McFarland was the Gulutzan replacement and not responsible (I don’t think so, anyway) for the gapping, because the gapping helped cost the Oilers Game 6 of the SCF (first GA was a jailbreak before an errant pass by Mattias Ekholm began the sequence of bewilderment). Maybe it’s a new dawn, a new day. Or an old dawn, on a different day.
I don’t believe this team is headed back to the SCF. There’s just too much work to do. I do believe there are good things happening. The improved breakouts, the new originals third line, Trent Frederic looking more like Trent Frederic, and Connor Ingram delivering handsomely on a small bet.
This entire blog, my whole outlook on sports, is through the lens of ‘team building’ and I do think the Oilers have done some addled things during the Connor McDavid era. Part of that may be due to McDavid himself impacting roster decisions. I don’t know for sure, but if the captain has a hand in procurement, or even lineups, that could be harmful to the overall good of the team. McDavid is the most talented hockey player on the planet, but that doesn’t mean he is a coach or general manager. Could that be a problem that needs to be addressed? Don’t know.
Another area of concern: Ownership stepping in, as I believe happened with the Paul Coffey re-hire. I’m all for it, because those damnable stretch passes were going to be the death of me. However, as a rule, meddling by ownership is the single biggest cause of ruination for sports organizations. It doesn’t work. Pay the bills, cheer for the team, let the managers manage, the coaches coach and the players play. I thought the Oilers were beyond the meddling stage, but the Coffey re-hire (again, I’m loving the results) suggests this is not an advanced organziation in this way.
I like to ‘follow along at home’ in terms of team construction, and am pleased in some areas with Stan Bowman’s work. I don’t think the Tristan Jarry deal looks good, but you have to give that one time. He basically just got here. The acquisition of Connor Ingram appears to be a strong move, and we’ll see how things work out. The last time I felt secure about goaltending, Cam Talbot was 10 years younger than he is today.
There was a time not so long ago that Evan Bouchard, now 26, represented the young end of the roster. Since then, the team has acquired Ty Emberson (25), Vasily Podkolzin (24), Quinn Hutson (24), Josh Samanski (23), Matt Savoie (22), Ike Howard (21) and Connor Clattenburg (20). All of those players have played in an NHL game this season. Names like Roby Jarventie and Viljami Marjala (both 23) are pushing from Bakersfield. The Oilers spent several years eschewing the college and Euro free-agent route at the top end. It’s good to see they’re back.
I would say Bowman has done a fine job of restocking the ‘role player’ shelves, and believe there’s a nice department of youth building behind the foundation pieces. I would keep my powder dry at the deadline. No chance Bowman stands still.
This team reminds me of the 2020-2021 team, good, nowhere good enough.
Oilers have serious decisions to make and where do you find CAP space to remain competitive for McDavid to stay and be a cup contender.
personally, I have huge doubts Bowman can do that.
He can’t do it. All he can do is add years of futility to the upcoming crash landing, and he probably will.
Posting to late for anyone to care but MacD should play wing in the DZone so his jail breals are less offensive. Get Nuge to cover in front of the net FFS just do it.
I care
Hockey was funny today. Hilarious Oilers game (but most in Oilerville are not laughing). I just don’t know what else to do except laugh at some of their antics. The Ingram wandering goal – comical! The on-ice leaders bobbling pucks and playing silly.
On the other hand, Habs won decisively against Tom Wilson, Ovechkin, PLD – one of the few teams I really don’t like.
So, as on Thursday, one of my teams wins well, while the other loses a stinker. C’est la guerre 🏒🥅
ps. I know many fans think Oilers have cornered the market on defensive lapses/poor goalie play, but it’s quite common across the league. That’s why “keep your powder dry” is always the right action. Until it isn’t.
Seattle’s in the process of beating the Dys. Eberle having a game … man I miss that guy; such great hands.
Summarizing!
Nicholl scored his 10th goal of the season.
Lafreniere had a helper and was money on the dot, going 21-for-29 (72.4%).
Berry (now promoted to 1LD) and Fischer were denied soup.
Lewandowski did not dress.
Howard gets the puck high, drives, changes the angle, rips one, Samanski kicks the rebound out to the point, the shot/pass by Stilman is tipped home by Howard to tie the game early in the 3rd.
Hutson takes the transition pass, enters the zone, little pass to Hamblin who buries it from the top of the circles to cut the lead to 2-1.
For those interested, Connor Ungar allowed 5 goals on 16 shots in just over 27 minutes today for Orlando. He has allowed 8 goals in about 86 minutes in 2 games he’s played.
For context, Orlando is on a 7 game losing streak and have scored 5 goals in their last 6 games.
So, do the Oilers really value him?
He was already really struggling in Bakersfield, so probably not the best place to demote a low-confidence goaltender.
Hopefully he is enjoying the weather, at least…
The big move if it’s out there is on D.
bringing up Desharnais helped save a playoff drive. Trading for Ek got McD to his first final. Bringing in Walman and Klinger got them back there.
This is the script. Get a RHD to steady things and then pedal to the metal. Again.
Toronto is going into sell mode starting tonight after getting waxed by Ottawa – right team to trade with, but OEL is the wrong target.
Give me Brandon Carlo; big, mean, right handed, more mobile than OEL, and knows how to defend the front of his net. Was the first guy over the boards on the kill for Toronto and had the highest SHTOI on the entire team; OEL didn’t spend a second killing penalties BTW. In a game when Toronto got beat all over the ice, Carlo managed to finish the night +1.
3.5 million this year and next; 29 years old.
Can trade Mangiapane, Akey and a first straight up for him without needing Toronto to retain.
I’d offer the same deal to NYR for Braden Schneider first mind you.
Brandon Carlo is not mean. He has been Toronto’s Trent Frederic.
Sweeney suckered both Bowman and Trelieving. Coyle is the only Boston dump that worked out fairly well for the receiving team.
He’s not a big hitter; that doesn’t mean he’s not mean – lots of sneaky dirt shots after the whistles. Was not shying away from contact despite the rest of the Leafs putting up a stinker. Him and Benoit were the only ones engaging physically all the way to the end of the game.
He’s what Nurse used to be.
Grant Fuhr does in-period analysis for Coachella Valley…..
Walman needs to play LD. The RD experiment is over. And Nurse is not an effective Dmen no matter who he plays with. So why not try Nurse on LW? He rushes up the ice well enough he might even be a good fit with McD or Drai. He’d essentially be Kane 2.0
Play Walman with Emberson and Stastney with Regula.
Tomkins stops 2 breakaways but then leaks one over the shoulder from a bad angle.
2-0.
Condor trying emulate the Oilers with cycle pass after cycle pass after cycle pass, followed by giveaway and odd-man rush against.
Since Nurse is the better skater, why doesn’t the coach move him to the right side. Can he be any worse…? He might even keep his game simpler playing on his off side as he’s not used to it.
…Could move him to the right side of the press box.
Coachella Valley snipes the 1-0 21 second in….
Throwing this out there because I was debating with the player stat card enthusiasts on Twitter who insist that Faulk is horrible.
Broberg and Parayko from 2024-25 to now: 885 mins; 52% goals, 50% xGF
Broberg and Faulk from 2024-25 to now: 991 mins; 55% goals, 52% xGF
– this year only: 182 mins; 54% goals, 55% xGF
I do wonder why Montgomery elects to use Broberg-Parayko as their top pairing when the results seem to favour Broberg-Faulk. Faulk is primarily with Fowler on the second pair.
Anyways, I think Faulk could be good with Walman. Or even Ekholm-Faulk and Walman – Bouchard. If they could get St Louis to retain and somehow not give up a 1st or Howard/Samanski/Savoie I would be very into it.
Like the target … but Faulk’s cap hit is 6.5 million.
I doubt Armstrong is going to do Bowman any favours (e.g. taking Mangiapane + retention) without asking for multiple first round picks in return.
Yeah I can’t really see Edm and St Louis doing business amicably either but it’s out there. And I don’t think a 33 year old defenseman with a not stellar reputation gets a first but who knows. And I think we package Mangi with a pick and send him somewhere else.
You have to consider that the coach who is considered tops may be trying to balance pairs. Not an Oilers thing under current coaching
Yeah that’s what I was thinking. Can’t believe they haven’t tried splitting up Ekholm Bouchard with all the struggles, yet they change the forward lines constantly.
I try to be thoughtful and whatever, but my gut instinct is a control issue with coaches and a lack of balls, instead of creativity and courage
Not the Oiler way to success, when you have the pirates they have on the team. Like before
Gulitzan would not have bailed to a team he was involved in taking down regularly if he didn’t have doubts. Because his payday as a Champ would have been better if he’s interested in money. Dallas is not as likely to win a Cup the Oilers
Gully “bailed” because he got a head coaching job on a good team – seems easy to see why he left and it likely had nothing to do with the Oilers but for lack of opportunity.
I watched that game but not exactly sure i saw it congnitively enough to say anything.
I don’t get it. Lots of different things.
Like scoring enough not sure line tweeking too much needed from previous games?
Drai was oddly broadcasting pass clearly in way that seemed odd to me. No one time or rocket shots really as well seems maybe hand is a thing.
The mcdavid around the net goal in LA and a bunch of other tiny ways also has gut leaning same thing on his hands maybe.
And i just have no idea what he’s up to defensively. Seems frantic.
Lots of bobbles by talented hands is one thing I noticed. Bobbles that cost chances and/or led to chances (& goals) against. I was wondering about ice. But maybe it’s injury? Or just that old Oiler-killer, impatience?
While nurse is an incredibly poor player. Knobby and his “don’t hit for the sake of hitting” has effectively neutered this player.
Only time Nurse ever has looked good is when he has his swagger from playing physically. We need to tell nurse to go out there and knock some bodies around. Take some liberties with the other teams best players. Knobby turned him into an active stick defender which he is absolutely not. He’s a Trouba type defender.
This is such a great point about the coach reading his players. I think Knobby might be too invested in a Borg mentality. The team does have to play in the system, but human NHL players aren’t the Borg, especially once established and have an opinion
It seems like AHL coaching to me, teaching coaching. Teaching always is necessary, but winning is more important at the highest level. Not winning coaching
Many say here that they went to two Cup finals, this that and the other thing, but I say the best coaches say that their success hangs on the guys in front getting on the bus. The Oilers’ guys don’t suck, and they have three of the best players in the world. Not 7 or 8 like the Glory Days, but more than most, no every other team
Need a RDman to move wallman over. The biggest problem has been inconsistence accountability, many vets make the same crappy mistakes over and over and never make them sit but young players never get a break from the staff
OEL on the ice for two against already. First one, he backed into his goalie just like Nurse does. Second one, he was chasing a forward all the way to his own blue line. He’s soft as pudding, and doesn’t play with much pace.
Carlo on the other hand I have time for; the only guy on the Leaf’s D corps that knows how to defend the front of his net, and stand his ground against the rush.
Offense is not the problem for the Oilers; defending is … the target should be Carlo.
OEL now -3; completely out of position on the last goal against.
Also – OEL’s wife is expecting a baby apparently.
There are just so many reasons to stay far, far away from OEL.
If Bowman trades a first for this guy, I might hand in my Oiler fan-for-life card.
OEL defends like a matador; doesn’t want to engage physically or get in the way of oncoming attackers.
Doesn’t spend much time on the PK.
Lots of empty points for a bottom feeder team.
Whoever offered the Leafs a first round pick should take it back fast.
Unfortunately this team has gone from Chiarelli to Holland to Chiarelli again. I for one am very nervous what Chiarelli v2.0 is gonna do at the trade deadline
That how you feel, there is no evidence to suggest that. In fact the opposite. Fred and Mangi didn’t lose this game, or the goalie
There’s some truth to that. Ingram maid a huge blunder on the first goal; the McDavid line was on the ice for the last three goals.
Hard to win when your top line has that kind of night in their own end.
Ingram screwed up, but not the problem
For sure – the first line getting scored on three times in a row was.
Can we discuss the coach being moved on now? Bring on Doeber.
267% of SC, EC, WC winning teams 4 wins 1.50 (6) – .75 (3) gaa.
it as clear as sun rising.
last 11 2W -7L – 2OTW = 4.36 GAA/gm.
2 W 7 L & 2 5×5 contd in playoffs.
Can afford 1 – 2.00+ 5×5 GA/60 def pairs max worst
lasr 11 gm 121 40+ 5×5 min Dpairs
#22 McCabe/Stetcher 1.32
#39 Larsoin/Dunn 1.65
#40 Emberson/Statsny 1.68
#69 Desharnais/Dixon 2.67
#71 Ceci/Anderson2.81
#72 Ceci/Dumolin 2.83
#93 Nurse/Wallman 3.59
#101 Ekholm/Bouchard 4.66
So by your logic our best pair is actually our worst pair? Alrighty then
Hey ricki. Glad to see you posting something again. Hope doing well, all things considered.
If I’m not mistaken:
Your stuff before about defensive pairings had a tendency of being at clear risk of over valuing defensive pairings that were effective enough but doing that vs lower end of quality comp and possibly missing zone shift sheltering or burying.
Like missing context while presenting a bit too definitively, or at least being mistaken as such.
I know people are counting down the days that Nurse trade protection wears off but I can’t imagine anyone stupid enough to trade for him. Just hope they fix the buyout proof contracts
We prob could not gloss over Stauff saying to expect some internal movement in the org tomorrow.
After the game against Ottawa (which BTW is no gimme), the 4 games immediately after that could very well put the nails in the coffin for this season. Carolina, Vegas, Colorado and Dallas.
Not trying to be our resident troll, but the season is on the line.
In an odd quirk in the schedule, Seattle plays 8 of their next 9 games at home starting with tonight’s game against the Vancouver Sad Sacks.
Seattle has a solid 14-9-5 record at home so could solidify a Pacific Division playoff spot and then hang on for dear life as they finish March with 6 straight on the road.
As it is, they are currently in 3rd in the Pacific (by points percentage) and have 3 games in hand on the Oilers.
The Oilers have zero room for error.
If the oilers miss the playoffs is your curse finally lifted?
(Half joking but half that is joking contains no malice just how can i not say that?)
Do those who believe in curses also believe in Big Foot and the Tooth Fairy?
I’m moreso referring to you cursimg under your bresth in silence when they do good and just lighting up like s christmas tree at any sign of negative angle being cursed upon us inccessantly kimd of curse.
Like will they have finally paid for whatever wrong they have done to you?
“See i told you they suck bwahhahaha” poof ninj smoke gone lol.
Ottawa is just crushing Toronto right now; shots are 31-8 with 2 minutes left in the 2nd period!
I have no confidence that the Oilers will beat the Sens.
Looking at the upcoming schedule, they could lose 6 in a row.
Do you think they meant callups or organizational changes (i.e., coaching or management)?
It was in the context of the trade deadline so I took it as players but that’s a guess.
I wasn’t thinking player personnel but maybe?
I don’t think its a head coach firing – Stauff wouldn’t be at liberty to imply that I don’t think – in particular mid-game
Maybe a dboer for Stuart switch
Maybe, though for me to see him taking an assistant coaching job with the Oilers – who just hired a new coach fort he d-men (and Stuart is really just running the PK now).
Player movement to create cap space
Walman is mostly responsible for the first four goals against and people are teeing off on Nurse lol.
I don’t blame Walman or Nurse for all the giveaways and bad passes.
The whole team had their heads up their arses in the D-zone today
First of all he’s playing on his off side.
Secondly I don’t think he’s a perfect player but he should play his natural side with a defensive responsible playe
thirdly Nurse should not play another game
Not playing well either, play your offside is a real thing. Back some years ago some of the math posters quantified it. If you are playing with someone who is not predictable mskes it this even worse. The talk of having nurse whisperer suggested that nurse is highly unpredictable
Personally, I think should play Nurse on LW. He already plays like he’s a forward, let him line rush with McD and crash and bang in the Offensive zone. Play Walman at 2LD (where he should be playing) paired with Emberson.
I remember all the arguments I had with you guys when everyone was arguing Nurse was a number 1d and I was saying he’d be washed when he hit his 30s.
Just not good enough in so many areas today. As they say, you are what your record says you are.
Just not good enough in so many areas too many times this season.
My hot takes.
Nurse is brutal, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again with the hope that I am wrong but I can’t see this team winning a cup with his cap hit/effectiveness ratio, it just handcuffs the rest of the roster balance far too much. I feel like many of his team members are realizing this and it’s gotta be awkward. Add in all of the other lesser overpays (Mangi/Henrique/Frederic) and it feels gloomier.
Coaching has been terrible and slow to adapt or not adapt at all, additionally this teams give a efffyouseekay meter before the last 5 minutes in games is also brutal. McD and Drai need to be held more accountable for brutal and egregious giveaways. Also, I see a lot of people making claims that we’re faster than last year and if that’s the case it certainly doesn’t feel that way to me, we can look like all world champs against older and slower teams but younger faster teams with food forecheck gives us the fits.
Can we bottle Savoie’s effort level? Can we get E. Kane to give Frederic a lesson on swagger and actually bringing physicality?
Cup team? Is it even a playoff team?
Before the break I really wanted Bowman to add but now I’m in agreement with LT, cout whatever fat we can of possible before the deadline, get as many of Howard/Samanski/Jarventie/Hutson/Clattenburg and Jones up here as possible, go full on Vegas and be relentless by press boxing or sending down anyone not named McD/Drai/Nuge/Bouch/Hymen/Ekholm/Podz/Roslovic or Kapanen. Anyone else can eat popcorn or rice the bus if they don’t want to waive or can’t improve their play.
Savoie McD Hymen
Howard Drai Roslovic
Jarventie Nuge Kapanen
Clattenburg Samanski Hutson
Jones Lazar
Ekholm Bouch
Walman Emberson
Stastney Regula
Leppanen Akey
Ingram
Jarry
Let the chips fall where they may for this season, might even still make the playoffs if the influx of youth gives this team a kick in the ass. Or not, can’t beer much worse than what we’ve been seeing.
Maybe that gives Nurse and Henrique motivation to waive for whatever we can get for them in the offseason, same with Frederic, although I do have some hope that his game is coming still. Use the offseason and cap inflation to fill in the holes as needed.
/rant over.
Completely agree with you; though Frederic does seem to be playing more effectively now.
wheres podz?
Meant to have him in there!
Clattenburg is not a good hockey player today I hope one he will be but the numbers suggest no. podz needs to be in there
Yeah, I meant to have Podz in there, totally agree!
How are you planning to get the likes of Henrique, Nurse and Federic off the roster?
I guess you didn’t read everything I said…or lack comprehension. Weird.
“eat popcorn or ride the bus” – well, the three I mentioned aren’t riding any buses without their consent due to their NMCs and eating popcorn doesn’t create the cap space to get any of the players up – I don’t think it was my response that was weird.
Thanks for fact checking a post titled with “Hot Take” and ends with “Rant over”…🤣🤣🤣
Also, as many have rumored that Mangi is on the way out, and if in some way Bowman could clear his cap with a livable payment for a team to take him and a Lazar demotion frees up enough cap to do exactly what I suggested in my hot take rant. It’s not impossible.
That being said, obviously it’s highly improbable and would never happen because that’s not how old school GM’s role in the NHL. Vegas found a way to rid themselves of HOFer and beloved teammate/fan favorite by being ruthless and it helped them to a cup. Also many other GMs seem to find other creative ways to work around similar problems if the have the fortitude to do so. But again, it was a hot take rant.
Lastly, is it exhausting always being the smartest man in the room? I bet you’re fun at party’s, one upping everyone, and just generally being a funsucker. Do you wear really tight shirts and talk about your 3am workouts and plot out your future travel plans ad nauseum in real life too or is that just your online flex? 🤣 🤣 🤣
Go eat a carb, it might make you a happier guy.🤗🤗🤗
Just when the Sharks were in danger of falling out of the race…the Oilers let them back in.
Now 3 points out of wildcard with a game in hand and 6 points behind the Oilers with 4 games in hand.
That must mean Jarry will be back between the pipes next game.
Its disappointing that Ingram was unable to shut it down in the third, he was very good up and until then (stopping pucks) but Tuesday is now an opportunity for Jarry to help this team win – he’s a better tender than he’s shown recently, in particular last game.
Not sure it really matters who is in net with this team. Team incapable of any type of defensive structure. So many breakdowns by both D and forwards. Not sure how you don’t change out the coaching staff in the offseason.
^^^^ this
Win and you’re in.
Ingram let in a couple of softies today (that first goal was just a bone headed one).
Jarry gets a chance to redeem himself.
Neither goalie has taken played well for an extended stretch.
Very displeasing game.
Knobs last games I think.
I doubt it. They have had ample reasons and opportunities to do so and they haven’t. Furthermore, his assistant coaching crew is poor, and there are too few games left in the season now to bring in a completely new team. The best time was the Olympic break where there were several practices. They chose Coffey coming back instead.
Agreed. If they didn’t fire KK after the 8-1 loss earlier, they won’t do it now. But, miss the playoffs and change will come in the off-season.
Very highly doubt it.
Possible, but not likely? Depends on why the owner inserted Coffey?
Fire KK and promote Coffey to head coach?
This maybe
No – god no.
In the last four losses, the game has been tied with 10 to go. To come away with no points is unacceptable.
A poor game all around, but that first goal was a gift, and the GWG was a nothing shot from the point.
A February from hockey hell.
17 goals scored in Cali and win just 1 of 3. Yikes.
Now they have to scoreboard-watch and hope the irrelevant Canucks can somehow win in Seattle tonight.
All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey.
An extremely winnable game lost from:
-No dzone plan at all
-Poor goaltending
-Missed call at a crucial time
-Unlucky post
The last 2 points didn’t go their way cause they put themselves in a position to not get breaks.
Flawed. Very watchable on highlights, unwatchable during games.
Thank god Coffeys there to tell Walman to take slapshots instead of covering anyone.
The Sharks are not a good team. The Oilers are a good team that forgot they have to work hard to win.
Coffee looks to have had an effect boosting defence involvement in moving puck and offence.
But to a man, they refuse to play proper defence.
This was the 3 game evaluation.
Change out every dman who won’t play thier position properly. That might mean Josh Brown is covering the front of the net. Which is fine as they are not going to win the way they stand today.
No. The current Oilers have strong players but are not what anyone should be calling a good team. They have been mediocre to bad outside of December, when they were strong against mostly mediocre competition.
No, they have top end talent and can beat any team with talent on talent. Average out, they still have plenty on the roster.
It’s different from not having talent, to not utilizing and underperforming. They lack commitment, battle, and effort without the puck.
If this team could actually play the right way, instant turnaround.
You can’t say the Sharks aren’t
a good young team.
I believe they are riding the Celebrini pop. They have little on defence, mostly placeholders. They are over performing, good for them. But I see them average at best for a few more years.
You are vastly under rating what they have and will get.
Celebrini is generational.
Michael Misa is going to be elite.
Will Smith and Wllliam Eklund are bonafide top 6 players.
Colin Graf and Zack Ostapchuk are significant young depth forwards.
Their D does need some work but Sam Dickinson and Shakir Mukhamadullin are two very promising young players.
They have two first round picks in the upcoming draft as well as almost $55 million in cap space in the offseason to start plugging holes.
They’re very close.
Its almost as impressive as the generational list of prospects the Kings had just a few seasons ago…..
But they could go trade for Gavrikov and Hamilton.
I’d have to say the Sharks deserved to win that game. As much as I hate to say it.
Wasting draft picks to get rid of Mangiapane or acquire OEL when this team is unable to defend for 3 consecutive minutes with any combination of players is a huge mistake. Not the year to be buyers
And the Sharks are going to get a pretty decent first round pick from Edmonton this year
i am already resigned to dealing with the fact that Bowman is going to do something stupid
So much O and so little D make for very exciting games.
Bad loss – they lose 2 of 3 on the California trip. Can’t defend at all. Can’t get saves when they need them from either goalie.
Bubble playoff team due entirely to being in a weak conference.
It’s a shame to waste a big goal from Frederic like that.
Is the mall’s job in jeopardy again?
Nurses torn hip flexor from 2022 has absolutely changed his trajectory.
I don’t think his 100% has ever been true since then. His defending reflects an injury that will never return back to normal, imo.
Did he injure his brain? Cause his problems defending are entirely due to what’s between his ears.
Same as it ever was. We knew this when we signed him to that crazy contract.
No, his decline was very predictable. Once his physical skills started to decline he was going to be a boat anchor
I agree, but this means he needs to play smarter and it doesn’t seem that he can.
6 on 4?
75 passes in front of the net and no shots
Frustrating to watch all this perimeter play in the o-zone
Incredibly, the young team notorious for their poor defensive play defend the home plate much better than Edmonton does.
Leon is fighting the puck
Puck was a hand grenade for guys all afternoon
Knoblock on the bench brushing up his resume.
Does he know how poor his coaching is after every goal for? His metrics must be the worst in the league by a country mile. Every instinct he has had has been wrong. He could flip a coin and likely get a better result. So awful.
Maurice stole all of his aura.
To the post about Nurse and the new arrival at 3 am. And McD for that matter.
I used to be less forgiving by arguing that they’re professional athletes in peak condition. Also because I do overnight call and I’m > 40 and I soldier on.
But the effects are real and replicated across many sports. Endurance, concentration, peak speeds, all down.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11246080/
I can tell you right now I absolutely suck in the gym when I don’t get proper rest these days. I’ll soldier on too, but I’m definitely not peak when I’m tired. Oh for my 20s when I used to be able to be unstoppable even with no sleep 🙂
I actually find that I tend to have great works when I’m on 3-5 hours sleep – working late and then needing to be up early for work. I think much of it has to do with my mind kind of being distracted and I’m not focused on how tired I am or how heavy the weights are.
Top line on for 3 against?
We haven’t been great but we really could have used a save there.