Suspicious Minds was a major hit by Elvis Presley 57 years ago. It was written by a man named Francis Zambon. He had recorded it under the name Mark James in 1968, same arrangement and impressive female backup vocals, but it wasn’t a hit. Elvis took it straight to number one one year later. Zambon also co-wrote Always on my Mind, won a Grammy for it in 1980 (Willie Nelson version).
Moman’s version of Suspicious Minds is good. Elvis had a distinct voice, was one of the most famous people on the planet, and of course Moman received royalties for the song. Still, he was a talented singer as well as a brilliant songwriter. If Suspicious Minds had been even a minor hit, maybe Always On My Mind by Mark James is the song we remember.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER
On the road: NYR, NJD (Expected 1-1-0) 1-0-1
At home to: ANA, VAN, NYR, PHI (Expected 3-1-0) 3-1-0
On the road to: TOR, PHI, FLA, TBAY, CAR, STL (2-3-1)
At home to: VEG, SEA (1-0-1)
On the road to: SEA (1-0-0)
Expected Record: 8-5-2, 18 points in 15 games (actual 4-1-1)
Actual Record: 14-3-3, 31 points in 20 games
SAME AS IT EVER WAS
The Oilers current problem is the same as the Todd McLellan problem in 2016-17: what to do when Connor McDavid is off the ice. Last night at five-on-five, the club outshot the Flyers 11-6 with McDavid on the ice (64 percent) but were 8-21 (28 percent) with the captain at rest.
The thing is, McLellan did a better job in 2016-17 than Mike Babcock is doing now. Natural Stat Trick has the 2016-17 McDavid Oilers (five-on-five) with a 53 percent shot share, and the team was 48 percent without the captain. It is 59 with and 40 without this year.
I mention this because we have reached a pressure point in the season. Allow me to post the numbers delivered by the four lines last evening against a non-playoff team:
Podkolzin-McDavid-Draisaitl 16:28, 11-6 shots, 73 pct expected goals Hyman-Nuge-Dach 7:06, 4-2 shots, 1-0 goals, 86X
Both lines delivered well enough to win the day, even with lesser goaltending than provided by Tristan Jarry (26-27 five-on-five, 30-32 overall) last night. The top line didn’t score, and seemed a little disinterested at times, but it’s a long season. I thought the second line, specifically Zach Hyman, played a great game.
You can see what Mike Babcock is doing. He is building the team brick by briak. However, with the team heading out on the road, we have arrived at a point where the coach has to make a decision: is he going to keep the third and fourth lines as is, or is there a tweak required. Let’s look at the numbers from last night.
Dach-Dickinson-Frederic 5:00, 2-3 shots, 59X plus Formenton-Michaels-Joseph 4:46, 0-6 shots, 0-1 goals, 10X
I think we’ll see Dach on the Dickinson line and Kasperi Kapanen on the Nuge line during the road trip, but Hyman-Nuge-Kapanen (6:31, 1-4 shots, 17X) did not have a good evening.
Babcock has to make a decision on Owen Michaels. He is getting shredded now. He has a 30 percent shot share five-on-five, 29 percent goal share and 27 percent expected goal share. To give those numbers some historical perspective, the famously overwhelmed Lennart Petrell delivered a 44 percent shot share, 32 percent goal share and 39 percent expected goal share during a stunningly difficult 2011-12 season.
If Babcock continues his Michaels deployment, he is looking past a competitive road trip, turning his back on the numbers and the eye test, and generally being a stubborn ass. If you have any arguments against this, please let me know. Michaels is a good young player. Get him to Bakersfield, have the game slow down a little, and then bring him back in the new year. I don’t know what they’ll do with Formenton, he’s as soft as Downy on plays great and small.
Bouchard with Ekholm 18:51, 11-8 shots, 1-0 goals, 50X; Shea-Murphy 16:00, 4-9 shots, 18X; Mukhamadullin-Emberson 9:19, 0-6 shots, 0-1 goals, 11X
Emberson and Mukhamadullin were 0-5 with the Michaels line, and they can give Formenton credit for the dash-1. I like the duo, even after a tough night. Shea-Murphy were 0-3 with the Michaels line, and 4-6 shots does look better. Ekholm-Bouchard spent last than a minute on the ice with the Michaels line.
The tough road trip lies ahead and it’s up to Babcock. I have the team going 2-3-1, but it could get worse. The fourth line is terrible. I don’t think Babcock is convinced about Dickinson’s wingers no matter who plays there. How bad could it get? Well, the goalies are doing fine, the system is helping suppress chances and the Glimmer Twins with Bouchard is a hockey cheat code. The team will probably go 6-0 so they can shut up guys like me. I’m worried, though.
On the Lowdown today, we’ll be joined by Bagged Milk from Daily Faceoff Edmonton, look ahead to the Grey Cup and NFL weekend, and talk about Cy Young winners Jacob Misiorowski and Cam Schlittler. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Summarizing!
Robinson and Fischer each had an assist, the latter on an OT winner.
Harvey was held soupless.
It’s obvious that 2RD and 4C are weak spots that need to be addressed. The 4C slot could be addressed by breaking up the glimmer twins and moving everyone down a slot, but until they cool, it makes no sense to break them up.
If you look around the league there is no abundance of the type of 4C we need (cheap, RH, bigger, able to break-even or better against other 4th lines). Maudite has suggested Accari but he’s been bad this year. There’s a reason they tried Dach. Sam O’Reilly would have looked good developing in that slot wouldn’t he? Not a fan of that trade. Maybe Ross Colton from Nashville? Over-paid but UFA next year and he has shown he can score in both regular season and playoffs.
2RD is another issue. Walman could be flipped I believe as the biggest problem is his relationship with the coach and he has performed very well recently. So swapping 2LD for 2RD might be do-able. I would love a Walman, Emberson, Janmark swap for Doughty to push Murphy down to 3RD for the playoffs.
Next four moths are key for Bowman. The holes are well known and plugging them could produce a Stanley.
To fix 4C, Bowman might have to trade Michaels, ala Brad Pitt in Moneyball. May be the only way to get him out of the lineup. How’s Samanski doing down in the Bake?
Is acciari bad this year. Like philly is brutal.
Still crushing on the dot 55% 5v5 & 50% pk (huge)
Pk
2:40 min/60 pk (1st unit)
GA/60: 7.67 (7.5 ish is top end IMO)
XGA/60: 7.79 (like right in line consistent on the better end under 8 all but 3 seasons in career.)
0.860 sv% not freak of nature due for correction magic goalie memory correct 0.880-0.890 like best of great year goalies for PK sv%
5v5
10:28 min/60 (where i would lime a 4th line effectively play
0.82/0.82 equal penalties drawn to taken
12 hits/60 & 4.8 hit taken/60 12 is solidly bodying people
3.82 blocks/60 again solid
Cf% 41% losing 45+% is solid (48-50% is ideal…especially when you take his pk accumen benefit into equation)
Gf/60 1.64 GA/60 2.73 (have you seen oilers numbers yeah this isn’t great but:
XGF/60 2.41 xGA/60 2.81 -> i’m betting PDO of career mark to bad here
Key on for me for a center in more shutdown bottom 6
HDCF/60 11.5 HDCA/60 12 (this is higher mark range of carrer for CA but it’s solid
HDGF 50% (he’s not a tutnstile he’s a smart brick in middle)
PDO 0.970 (worse end range of career)
OZS 31% (last 3 seasons 11 ish%)
OZFO 30%
He’s not much off any other year different and on a team with shit defense with 3rd worst negative goal differential.
Goalies don’t seem to be problem.
Pretty sure that defense is hot garbage
Team stats only things that don’t seen lottery ranking
Pk -> 78% 12th in league.
FoW-> 51% 12th
Main problem seems like top 6 are getting heads kicked in. When that happens likely chasing most games.
Not many 4th lines in league going to not take a hit when you are trailing games i bet comes out pretty clear
Not sure or certain as i just looked at his pk work, hits, blocks, HD stuff and FO%
I get that GF% 5v5 is lower end off just didn’t seem like anything on that team us rhyming and looked more like a PP and goal scoring problem which is top of lineup related.
Ah there as well.
He’s playing increased minutes higher comp.
Like he’s winning his bottom vs bottom but looks to be playing a lot more in dzone draws vs higher comp.
They must be sheltering a top 6 line trying to baby it.
https://puckiq.com/players/8478569
See if that shows yo7.
Same buried as ever vs step up to carrer highest levels of harder in comp.
Likely while trailing.
Not a 4C problem.
Maybe get him cheaper if people aren’t looking too deep.
Ryan McLeod – he’s miscast as a 2nd line centre in Buffalo, but he’d be perfect on a forth line with Howard, and would fit like a glove on the aggressive PK that the Oilers are trying to build for playoff time.
Looks like MacKinnon and Makar got injured within 30 seconds of each other. Sounds like it’s one of those “can they play through it? Maybe? Should they? Probably not.” kinds of injuries.
Update: Avs player Parker Kelly skewered himself with his own stick.
— I saw some photos of the oilers getting on the plane today for the road trip.
— I’d love to get some insight into the choices they make and why : to me I’d prefer another night in my own bed then fly out Friday for the game Saturday. Especially for a long road trip
— or is it “let’s light up in the six tonight with massive dinner and club and recover Friday”
👆🏻
Travelling west to east is the worst – the jet lag sucks, and with the time change you lose half a day. I take the red eye out of Vancouver to go to Toronto now, so that I can have an extra half day to get over the jet lag.
Alan, surprised you didn’t use the Suspicious Minds/Bakersfield connection. Buck Owens, famous for the Bakersfield Sound, did a duet with fellow Bakersfield stylist,Dwight Yoakam; Streets of Bakersfield. Dwight Yoakam does the best cover of Suspicious Minds since Elvis, imho. Knowing LT, he probably used that connection already.
Prospectovision!
A trio of NAmateurs are about to hockey.
The House of Windsor is on solid ground with both Harvey and Robinson enjoying fine campaigns. They were each named 2nd star yesterweekend.
Paul Fischer and his Cantakerous Celts (a punk-folk group of bygone days) feature in rare midweek NCAA action.
Notre Dame (Fischer) @ 6 p.m.
Windsor (Robinson, Harvey) @ 6 p.m.
Both times are the same time and are also St. Lina time.
1) I was not a fan of the Babcock hire but overall he’s been a strong positive for the team. That being said, he clearly has his favorites (Formenton, Michaels) and is stubborn about them. He also seems “old time hockey” enough that he won’t make major changes to a winning lineup, even if the team is winning games they probably lose 4/7 times and there are players on the ice that hurt the teams chances of winning compared to internal alternatives. I won’t actively hope for a losing streak, but at this point I think he won’t demote Formenton or Michaels unless they drop 4+ in a row and Formenton/Michaels are on-ice for multiple goals against in that span.
2) I don’t want to see any goalie moves before Andersen gets back and the team sees what they have in him before the deadline. Levi is playing well but hasn’t played more than 50 NHL games. Andersen is a complete wildcard given his age/injury. The only exception might be if one of the 12 teams Jarry would accept a trade to is desperate for help and would take on his contract with 0 retention and provide a useful, NHL ready player in return.
3) Assuming McDrai are linemates for the year, I think the Oilers biggest needs as the roster is currently constructed are, in order: 1) middle-six forward, ideally a RH C or a C who can play the wing, 2) middle pairing D, 3) bottom-6 depth checking/PKing winger (if Janmark is sailing on/ineffective)
4) I’d be fine if Michaels (for the time being), Formenton, and Frederic were sent down (Michaels), waived, or designated the 13F/14F. I think Hallander might be a useful piece (and have him higher up the depth chart than the 3 above). Let Michaels develop and potentially play his way back on to the NHL roster later this year.
5) With everyone healthy (and assuming McDrai are an item), head into G1 of the playoffs with something like:
92-97-29
34-93-18
53-Copp-22
42-16-21
PB/traded: 19, 10, 13
14-2
6-Fabbro
96/86-5
PB/traded: 86/96, 49
Two of 27-35-30 (can’t see them running 3G through the playoffs)
That’s $9.75M in cap added, $4.875M w/ 50% retention and $2.4375 with double-retention. Obviously need to move $ out and I’d prefer they don’t bleed assets to drive down the cap hit. Assuming Levi continues playing well enough to be a 1A/1B, ideally you’d offload the loser of the Jarry/Andersen battle at the deadline. Emberson (impending UFA without any trade protection) is a decent piece to move (maybe Columbus takes him and extends him as part of a Fabbro trade if they’re out of it?)
I’m probably optimistic that Howard is still on the roster past the deadline, he’s most likely going to be the center of a package for the Copp or Fabbro addition in my lineup. If he’s not on the team, 42 slides up and 19 draws in.
6) The roster construction just gets so much easier though if they just split up McDrai and I think they “solve” their holes up front:
92-97-18
34-29-22
53-93-34
42-16-21
Those are 4 lines you can roll
Partially agree on Babcock being stubborn but he has pulled players out of the lineup regularly (e.g. Freddy, Wally). And he doesn’t have many options available on the farm. No one is really pushing.
So, as you said, play them until something gives.
Barring a trade think you have no choice but to keep playing Fred in hopes you can instill a few repeatable, executable functions, shave off some rough edges.
Fred’s large-ish, he’s not slow, and he will punch faces on demand (someone has to?). I don’t think anyone’s taking him off your hands, but if you can minimize the pain points he’s at least an NHL player with specialist qualities.
Jarry has a 77.8% quality start rate.
He and Levi (66.7%) have collectively given the team 72% QS (where historically, team wins 78% of the time). That is a big story at nearly the quarter point for any goalie to be sitting above 70% – the Levi injury turned the workload into a tandem, which may also be a blessing in disguise.
In Ullmark & Swayman peak tandem, they collectively were 65% in 23-24, and 78% in 22-23 (89% Ullmark, 61% Swayman)
It is rare for any goalie to sustain 70%+ QS, especially with starter workload
Some examples (all Vezina winners)
Was just at MSG this summer when Phish busted out Suspicious Minds for the first time in over 1000 shows https://youtu.be/S9HuOcFdm9k?is=HRpzeOrlZY5Ijdna
And then integrated it into this Crosseyed and Painless jam: https://youtu.be/jJ1rEepxbdE?is=B-STDv2juaCyF_Cd
But, yeah, Samanski call-up for C?
Maybe have Michaels stay as a winger and to take draws? Problem is the PK is already a work in progress and taking any regular PK out will affect the slight gains made.
I have always wanted to see them but they never play western Canada. I think the closest they’ve ever come to my neck of the woods is Bozeman, MT.
I would loooooove to see their Mayan Riviera shows if circumstances ever allow…
Super talent covers for a lot and that’s what is winning. Yet the biggest acquisition of the summer was Babcock. You gotta believe he has a plan and if we take him at his word, he’s been straight forward, he’s still executing his plan to build an entire team.
His nuclear option is that he can split McDavid and Draisaitl anytime he wants. To do so instantly spreads out the talent and makes multiple players better. Hes not going there yet.
Rest of the roster is exposing itself. In his words “show me” Win or lose, players are showing what they can bring. Im okay with it.
Im observing and showing concern. Im pretty confident the bottom 6 will be reshaped with best available, including trades. Do this, then split top 2 centers and that will be strong, strong, strong.
Good post.
But, all of this presupposes Babcock will actually pivot to breaking up his best two players if results degarde over time.
We shall see.
If he and Bowman can build a 4 line team, I’m not sure he breaks up the Duo, unless they go stale which has happened before. Perhaps become too predictable is a better way to put it. Or he goes to splitting them on the road to create match up issues
Which would be another win right? He should not have to, and hes working on it but coming up short so far. But ultimately the potential answer is sitting in house if you want to improve your goal share across 4 lines in one move.
Depending on what Bowman can do that may be. I agree with you that they are assessing what they have. One benefit of a coach of Babs experience and rep (non monkey business) is that he I imagine is frank with Bowman, is doing exactly what he wants to with no worries about what anyone thinks. Even if that’s run the top guys hard and let the others founder, giving everyone a chance to earn their spot
I also like how he is ahead of the media and blunt, and demands so much attention that the leaders get less of it
McCurdy Numbers Games 11-20
Team record 6-2-2
With lasts night’s win the Oilers have now 4(!) win streaks of 3-or-more games in their first twenty. It took them most of last season to earn their first 3-game’r.
The Big 3:
McDavid 3-15-18 +7 (31P and +18 in G1-10)
Draisaitl 8-8-16 +6 (21P in G1-10)
Bouchard 4-10-14 +11 (19P in G1-10)
McDavid trends from over 3 ppg to just under 2 in the second segment, Draisaitl slips from 10G to 8G, and Bouchard is merely a 115 point player. Let the good times roll!
The Cavalry
Ekholm 2-5-7 +10 (3P and +15 in G1-10)
Nuge 3-6-9
Kapanen 2-4-6 -1 (3-1-4 -4 in G1-10)
A Little Off The Mark
Podkolzin 2-1-3 +4 (7-5-12 and +10 in G1-10)
Shea 0-2-2 -3 (1-2-3 +2 in G1-10)
Joseph 1-2-3 EV (2-3-5 -2 in G1-10)
Back from IR
Hyman 2G in G20 to power the 2nd line
Dickinson 2-2-4 EV
Turnaround Performace
Dach 3-2-5 +4 in 8GP (6 0-0-0 and -5 in G1-10)
Mukhamudullin 10GP 0-0-0 EV
Regression to the Meat
Shea 0-2-2 -3 (1-2-3 +2 in G1-10)
Michaels 0-0-0 -4 (2-2-4 -2 in G1-10)
Goalie Voodoo
Jarry 3-1-2 .916 SV% (2-0-1 .873 in G1-10)
Levi 2-0-0 .941SV% (6-1 .887 in G1-10)
Tomkins 1-1 .880
The Team Perspective:
6 Wins out of 10 and 14 of a possible 20 points to once again sit 2nd in pts% just behind Carolina, and just in front of Boston and Minnesota.
The powerplay clicked down to 33.9% from 35.3% and now sits 3rd in the league.
The PK on the other hand has gone from 72.4% (23rd) up to 76.9% (18th).
PDO still running hot at 105.3, down from 106.6 a fortnite ago.
GF was 34 across the latest 10 games, down from an incredible 47 in the opening segment.
GA on the other hand went from 32 to just 26, meaning a margin of victory / game reducing from 1.5 to 0.8 / GP.
Better defense, better structure on the PK, and better goaltending allowed the Oilers to harvest points and remain among the league’s elite.
Will Hyman, RNH, and Podkolzin, and Kapanen be able to sustain secondary scoring? Will Dach, Joseph Dickinson or anyone else be contribute meaningfully to depth scoring without sacrificing attention to detail defensively?
As the blog’s author leads with today, the team is building in layers. When Matt Savoie is back – watch out!
A telling stat for success is goaltender quality starts, where a best-case scenario has emerged: 67% Jarry, 55% Levi. Even the th- fourth-string goaltender Tomkins chipped in a QS and a win. Manna from heaven!
The stars continue to march over a road of bones at 5v5, on the powerplay, and in 3v3 Overtime. It is the ultimate luxury, the driver of team success, and entertaining as hell!
Boy, 97’s game is really falling off, what a bum.
Just looked at this road trip. Well if that ain’t a helluva thing. Dang. Can they go 2 – 2 – 2 with 2 back to backs and 2 games in Fla over 9 days?
Re: Formenton and the rope he is being given. I wonder if a certain amount of committed runway was part of the agreement with the Oilers. IIRC there were multiple teams who were interested in signing him. Also, Bob has mentioned repeatedly that Formenton needs some number of games or period of time (don’t recall the number/period) to get his NHL feet under him, which could align with/provide cover for a player who is clearly not getting it done. Any takers? If not, I’ll return the foil hat to the storage closet.
Give him the first 42 games to climatize and see how the next 42 games go.
He’s got to harden up after playing the last three years in the Swiss league.
One thing a player always has control of is effort and intensity.
I loved the Formenton signing as it represented potential. After 20 games, the team has a pretty good idea of what he is today and what he needs to do.
If they think he can get there, keep up the development in AHL. If they don’t think he’ll get there, there will be interest from other teams.
Blame his lack of production on the rookie center and move him along to a team who feels he still has 20 goal seasons in him. It was worth looking at him, time to make a decision to develop him or move on.
.
I agree that Formenton needs until Christmas. That said, when everyone is healthy (plus I see them picking up a top 9 rental), it should be him, Joseph, Hallander, Janmark, Kapanen, Frederick and Jones competing for the two fourth line wing positions. That type of internal competition would lead to solid results. If they’re to compete for the Cup, Dickinson should be the 4th line pivot, and Michaels should be in the minors working on dominating 200 feet of the ice.
Devon Levi has played 48 total NHL games. He’s played over 10 NHL games in a season once when he played 23. He just spent 2.5 weeks on IR.
Frederik Andersen has been on IR nine out of thirteen seasons he’s played and looks like he’ll miss half the season or more.
I understand the enthusiasm for Levi and the start is fantasmic. But my goodness if you’re already trading Jarry cause Levi has a good 9 games and we “might” get Andersen back by January you’re playing with matches next to an illegal fireworks market next to a sawmill which is next to a puppy training centre and it’s full of 8 week old puppies.
Tap the breaks fellas and gals. Our goalers are finding their way and I’d much rather have one too many than not enough come
playoff time.
This is absolutely the right call. Keeping three tenders might seem crazy but the reduced load management on all three once Freddy is healthy will likely extend the health of all three as well.
This has been such a sore spot for so long and it’s nice to finally not have as much to think about on our end of the ice.
Yea trading Jarry when that would mean Tompkins is playing regularly would be a bad idea. It’s great that Jarry has looked good we still need someone to play net.
Slow clap. Very well stated.
Babcock is not trying to hide the limitations in the roster. He is trying to reveal them.
No bandaids. The system is all. Let the problems reveal themselves.
The time for compensating for the flaws that remain is in the playoffs, not the regular season.
Play the system better prevails over excessive line and pair tinkering.
We might see McDavid and Draisaitl play together all season, just to be split in the playoffs. Babcock might take a look at them apart after the trade deadline, when he begins playoffs preparations. Right now, he just wants the team to focus on playing the system, come hell or high water.
This right here. And it’s why Jake is riding the pine at $83,000 per game while Stan basks in the glory of the 7 year NMC.
To be clear I want this player to work out, I really do. But I watched him drag ass and play like a goofball last year and he immediately reverted back to it this year.
We saw this before with James Neal and Marc Pouliot. Keep these kinda guys away from the dressing room unless they want to work as hard as everyone else.
Totally agree. though I do have concern; I can foresee weakness. But I can also foresee this group making the needed changes.
I find this statement so interesting. Reveal to whom? To players? As in help is not on the way, it’s on you to learn the system, no one will bail you out?
Or to Bowman, as in look at our 4th line. Can’t you improve on this?
Interesting query. Just on natural stat looking at league pk minutes (as close as i can get to 1 min/60 minimum used). For the 120 defenseman that fit my guess at 25 min TOI
Connor murphy:
2:44 min/gm @ 41st most
7.66:GA/60 @ 63rd best
9.62 XGA/60 @ 78th
33.91 HDCA/60 @98th
Ekholm:
2:41 min/gm @ 42nd
9.88 GA/60 @ 82nd
12 xGA/60 @ 115
38.3 HDCA/60 @ 111
Nurse is bottom of bunch but just eating minutes like they literally shoved him into same uber shutdown D man role…
3:32 min/gm (tied with sanheim for 6th most)
11 GA/60
14.4 xGA/60
49.8 HDCA/60
Vinny D *9 GP*
3:34 min/gm
3.73 GA/60
3.68 XGA/60
20.7 HDCA/60
Stretcher
2:56 min/gm
4.08 GA/60
7.17 xGA/60
22.6 HDCA/60
That’s an impressive 20 gm’s of pk.
Broberg
2:45 min/gm
4.84 GA/60
9.65 xGA/60
31 45 HDCA/60
Might try to go through centers. Figure out who heavy hitters are and who might be available.
Because to me:
The team they had the 1st time they played florida was closest they have ever built to imperfectly good enough.
The pk efficiency was key. Like i don’t want top 6 blocking shots with their faces heavy pk usage come playoffs. These aren’t value minutes in compressed gladiator combat style run. A lot of people seem to undervalue where value adds the most for reducing super group minutes and “sawing off those minutes when they aren’t on ice as effective as possible” what value some players like murphy can bring.
You need a bottom 6 that can plug and play pk top 10 preferably top 5. Then without a doubt you have a clear game 1+ goal differential in playoffs almost.
Not shiney or sexy but cost of a 4C that can anchor a gritty low event 10 min 5v5 game in and game out, be trusted on draws and can hammer some wear on opposing dcore is value.
We don’t have that. Not hardest thing to fix at a lower ssset cost.
As far as the whole mcdavid playing most minutes -> yeah but it’s different. He isn’t playing the 3 1/2 of the last 5 minutes in the 2nd period because we are down a goal. He is taking more shifts but they are shorter. Not pushing beyond elastic fatigue near as much.
Like any of you who have played competitive surely understand balls out beyond limits to fatigue wear compared to rest recovery push not beyond easy rebound rest recovery push.
Like less injury wearingnot just from cycle difference less exhausted near flat flooted easy to comtact or just haywire higher risk of injury panic scrambling vulnerable positions with much higher injury risk.
Like we notice the few times mcdavid has gone awkwardly into the net or end boards this year right??
Yeah that’s different.
Yes! McDavid is playing more overall, but Babcock seems to be the first coach to get McD and Drai to consistently shorten their shifts, so less load and stress overall. I suspect Drai’s shift length comparison to past years would show the same.
I took all natural stat data and money puck regarding lines and shifts
They are both down over 7 seconds per shift on average.
Number of short, long or extra long were similar as last 2 full knoblauchs but that’s relative to average shift length so in actuality if processed using last 2 seasons averages
They woukd massively be showing majority of shifts as short shifts relatively.
Like you can see the difference. I’ve never before seen mcdavid ripping back to make a change while in offensive zone. There is barely any endless multiple him carrying puck in posession near full ozone skated laps.
Like shaved off the all defense set with trap ready to spring that best bet hedges deceeasing his chances.
Also hugely rewarding with quick higher frequency shift on and off surely opposing line mismatches as it’s far less predictable to shadow him like anahiem did last year.
I haven’t checked just seems like there is more noticable on the fly swaps where he just catches guys a bit more unprepared.
That split second more process of “oh shat that’s mcdavid fack shat he’s gone already”
Like windups from own blue, with wingers standing flat footed at ozone blue, per 60 minutes is down a half dozen i swear.
tabarnak! I agree with this take Maudite. A few times I have seen Drai and McD looking a little frustrated on the bench after coming back ‘early’ (for them). And maybe a little look of “I guess we are getting what we asked for, this is good for us”. The look kids give you when they are tasked with the unpleasant task. You will thank me for this later is the proper parental reply.
They are being asked to play responsible two way hockey. It does make this season a little less exciting though. Not so many turnovers at the blueline.
McDavid is playing the most minutes he’s ever played.
I think it was Woodguy who years ago went through the Cup winning teams, and found every single Cup winner had a GF% over 50% when the superstar players were off the ice.
The Oilers would be spitting in the face of history and math if they won the Cup as currently constructed.
Here is a link to that excellent post by Woodguy – i reference it often https://becauseoilers.blogspot.com/2021/12/all-nhl-teams-bottom-6-goal-share-since.html?m=1
Thank you for sending this link, i found it a good read.
You do not have to be at 50% in November. You have to be at 50% in April.
The Oilers are a moving target, a work-in-progress.
As is every team right? To be not working to get better would be negligent unless shooting for the bottom.
Or a prerequisite to being GM of the Leafs and Hawks 😉
I think the kind of work the Oilers have is different than what others have. Like what Kelly said the Panthers went through. It’s a total transformation in how an already good team plays. A complete culture change. How many teams are trying to do that? Perhaps a few, but certainly no teams that have had coaching continuity.
It’s nice to get the W, but if you play that game 7 times, I don’t see 4Ws.
They were outshot and out-chanced and the ice was tilted when the glimmer twins were not on it. I’m not sure if there is a solution while Savoie and Howard are out. I’ll add Janmark for good measure. Maybe it comes via trade later.
They played the same game against the Rangers and won The Rangers are a better team than the Flyers. I think it’s quite possible against teams like Flyers the Oilers probably could win every time. Last night the top line didn’t play a great game, mostly seemed disinterested, it was the second line that won them the game plus the play of Jarry.
I think the most obvious move we can make would be sitting Formenton as he’s been bad. Put Hallander in and get Howard back in when available
So far all i am fairly certain of as far as bottom 6 wingers:
Joesph is a guy i hope to see there come playoffs.
Hallander by eye i think might be decent enough low event not easiest to play against.
Kapanen with a good heavy winger on other side seemd like a sum greater than parts easy built answer. So far podz and dach with him seem good chance to carry a center or boost them in an outscoring fashion.
Frederic dickinson kapanen
-> might be worth a solid look if dach is up a line with nuge and hyman.
Simplify game frederic is playing and give him some touches there might still be a player there might as well give him runway to sieze if with a bit of grace before savoie in mix and howard reappears.
Like goal is a cup. Investing in him given roster at present deserves some patience and accepting mistakes to get him back going with consistent linemates…or at least try to.
That’s the top nine right there you’ve nailed it.
Podz-McDavid-Leon
Dach-Nuge-Hyman
Freddy-Dickinson-Kapanen
For me either they acquire a third or fourth line center. IMO Dickinson can easily continue on in the 3c role, but if they can find somebody better he can alway slide down to 4c. Or they can just find a 4c. Because Mike or Sam aren’t there yet and Freddy or Mattias never will.
When Savoie returns in time he will replace Freddy on the third line.
That fourth line needs a good center if they don’t want the split up Connor & Leon.
I’d be ok with the return of Ryan MacLeod to play 3c & Dickinson 4c.
Dach-MacLeod-Savoie
???-Dickinson-Joseph
Good thing there are plenty of options to play with Dick & Matt.
But Mark Kastelic still has my vote for 4c.
Agree. Don’t understand why Babcock hates Hallander. Games he’s been in, it appears he is working hard and staying low event. Should get a run of games imo to get his feet under him and really see what he can do.
IMO we’ve seen enough of Formenton to know he’s not going to help in late May/June.
If Coach is building brick by brick, he appears to have started on his 1st line and is working his way down to the 4th. Until he gets there, Formenton is getting a full look for Oilers and rest of NHL. Come ‘27 perhaps Stan picks up a late pick or Bako gets some help
How bad is Hollander that he’s being at in favour of Formenton.
Maybe they consider Hollander a known quantity and Forementon unknown considering he’s been out of the league for four years?
Zeesh not everything has to be the most negative read and reason possible.
It’s wild to me that there are so many Dr. Pangloss impersonators here.
The Oilers are currently getting the results, but they don’t award Stanley at the quarter pole. One need only look at the 2006 and 2026 Cup winning franchise to see what sustained, repeatable winning hockey looks like.
All is for the best. 🙂
This, 100%. Repeatable results is what wins the SCF, and right now the only repeatable result is that Formenton-Michaels-Joseph play while other guys who make lesser mistakes get benched/HS’d. I’d add Murphy being out there for doing the same stuff that Walman is missing games for doing.
There are creative solutions, there are options, but why this coaching staff is ignoring both the eye test and the numbers to run something that will get caved against Carolina, Florida and Tampa is beyond perplexing.
* looks up Dr Pangloss
** appreciates the Voltaire reference …
I wonder if you would have the same opinion if the Oilers were losing with the same underlying stats?
My opinion would be different because the results would be different.
Thanks for the honesty, but what does that mean? Be concerned about the underlying stats when it’s too late?
I think it’s the opposite. Panglass, ever the optimist believes it is all good, despite the evidence to the contrary. I think
The fact that this is wild to LL suggests she believes we look at the numbers now.
Are the panglass impersonators the ones who think everything is perfect because of our record? Is this this a warning that something is amiss? (Ie the way we are playing?)
I believe we need to look at more than shot/attempt shares or expected goal shares in order to conclude whether or not a coach is doing a good job.
There is much more to the quality of chances than is revealed in those numbers, and even expected goals and scoring chances do not adequately describe the quality of play.
The last two games, the Oilers have not executed Babcock’s systems well.
Nevertheless, what he is trying to accomplish is well described by Mike Kelly: who is an analytics expert. Under Babcock we will continue to see poor shares for some time. But we will also see stability in goaltending.
Posted yesterday:
Mike Kelly, Director of Analytics and Insights for Sportlogiq – explaining (again) how Mike Babcock is getting the Oilers on track for Stanley.
https://x.com/MikeKellyNHL/status/2120527969949200490?a=QNncCDI1TRg9iYgBWps&s=20
I am not arguing that the system is bad, I am arguing that there are personnel issues that will cost this team now and in the future. Owen Michaels is a drag on results, including last night’s results. Much of what Babcock has done is good, we can see it in any number of ways. Dach is an example. The increased success of the goalies another, and the demon forecheck still further evidence.
I would like Babcock to be impatient about players who cannot execute the system at this time. My guess is 40 games in the AHL will make Michaels a better player.
As the Oilers get healthy, Michaels will get better wingers on the 4th line.
Who’s left to get healthy, Savoie? Who else? Your post make it sound like Hyman and Dach are still out.
Which 2 4th line wingers are you talking about? Then we can debate whether they are enough to make Michael a better 4C.
“Lennart Petrell isn’t the problem, he just needs to get a better center”
Michaels is getting caved at below-replacement level right now. Let him play in the AHL and develop.
I can’t recall ever seeing anything close to this good on spurtznet. Thanks!
They haven’t executed Babcock’s system to perfection yet. But they’re only 20 games into the season and seeing good results. They’re only going to get better and they still haven’t got their roster sorted out yet.
What is the dealio with Janmark again? Not that he’s the be all and end all, but he was a pretty effective PK option previously. Having him slide in for Formenton on the 4th line would be mighty useful if he ever returns to health.
Babcock said yesterday Janmark told him that his shoulder is healing better than expected and he thinks he can play this year. It sounds like they were thinking he might be done. Good news – i like healthy Janmark.
Janmark might replace Walman on the roster soon. LOL.
If Hyman gets going, along with the bigs firing on all cylinders, they’re really cooking with gas.
Send Michaels, Formenton and Jones down. They need to see some offensive success to be helpful (or tradeable) later.
Whose plyaying 4C if Michaels is sent down
Probably Freddy, unless they split up Connor & Leon. Then Connor 1c, Leon 2c, Nuge might play 3c & Dickinson 4c. Do you think that would make sense?
I believe Micheals is holding a spot for someone?
Godot believes Mike just needs better wingers, but I figure the wingers need a more experienced center while Mike continues to develop.
Wake up this morning and Babcocks Oilers are 1st in the entire league.
No one has scored more goals.
Coach says he wants the lead and boring hockey, Coach gets the lead and boring hockey.
Crowd stamps their feet because its not how they would do it.
Jarry has turned himself into a nice little trade piece.
Excited for some healthy bodies to come back and see what this awful team can really do.
Jarry isnt going anywhere. Not sure why
people keep saying trade bait considering Andersen is deep on the IR and we just had to dress the EBUG for an actual roster spot for the first time in like 4 years (NHL wide not just Oilers).
This is a franchise of 2nd chances and given Jarry’s record from game one this is a guy fans will fall deeply for if he maintains the pace.
Anderson will eventually be healthy and playing.
Levi is the starter, they’re not going to go past the trade deadline with all 3 goalies imo.
Jarry’s cap hit being moved out will easier allow holes to be filled.
I think if Jarry’s moving out, I would rather it be an off-season move. We won’t see Andersen until likely the New Year and even then, he hasn’t been healthy for long stretches for some time. Last year’s 35 regular season games was his most since 2022, and he wasn’t able to finish the playoffs. He’s also 37, so it’s possible even after he comes back, he could be done. As good as Levi has been, I don’t think they I’d want to go all in on a goalie with less than 50 games played.
Jarry for Binnington would get Jarry’s salary off the cap next year. Binnington is on an expiring contract.
St. Louis might do Jarry for Binnington and Jonsson.
The talk was that they want to go with the three goalie rotation. I don’t think that’s changed. Has it?
Carolina did it last year and both the coach and GM said that is the plan so far this year.
Fair enough to doubt but it’s quite the contrarian take.
Literally no one is suggesting the team is awful.
I think everyone has expressed how fun the season has been so far.
Fans are also concerned about how to strengthen the bottom half of the roster before the playoffs because what is currently being trotted out will get hammered in the playoffs.
Babcock said he would give the non-McD lines an identity. So far that identity can be summed up in one word: survive.
Obviously health will help but there is no guarantee this team gets healthy.
Its November 12th, obviously this isnt going to be the bottom 6 configuration they roll out come the end of April.
“Its a one line team” “once the 3 stars slow down” “they wont keep this up”
No, not everyone has expressed how much fun theyre having. That’s false.
Every team has warts, not every team is first with warts. That’s the Oilers as of November 12th 2026.
Been a long time since the Fans have been able to celebrate such an accomplishment.
I feel like its been McDavid’s entire career fans have been complaining about the 4th line, while never being anywhere close to 1st.
Where are the historical comparisons as to what the top guys are doing? Where are the historical comparisons to what the team has done? Why are all of the comparisons simply those of the negative variety?
The coach and players have been playing in a manner that’s resulted in the Oilers save % being in a realm we haven’t seen in ages, the bottom 6 is part of that. They’re surviving.
The Oilers are 14-3-3 through 20 games, where does that rank in Oilers history? What does that look like against the cup winning teams and their starts?
Only the 83/84 Oilers have had a better start to the season for this franchise.
16-3-1 for 35pts. Cup
84/85 Oilers had an identical record and also won the cup.
83/84 Oilers on Dec 5th trade for Kevin McClelland who proceeded to solify the 4th line and win 4 cups.
84/85 Oilers on Jan 25 traded for Mark Napier who added secondary scoring as the Oilers went on to win the cup.
Couple of slick moves by Bowman and this team has all the makings for a cup.
Fun.
Couple of injuries to certain players and its suddenly not fun.
This team has unbelievable top end talent that hide or overcome all kinds of shortcomings. Thats what you are seeing.
They need to solve some problems, and discussing this when wining is the best time to do it.
This site has always focused on discussing the underlying stats, win or lose, and what that could mean. Always.
This season some posters are telling us that we shouldn’t discuss them because the team is winning.
Liking the snarkly positive energy.
However: Why get tied in knots over a goaleur problem that’s solved itself?
If moving Jarry’s cap, as part of a package, is the only way to land a big add at the deadline, then you can roll those dice I guess. But man light a candle for every puck stopper in the org straight afterwards.
This team is almost fully healthy now.
Yes, it will.be nice to have Savoie back. And Andersen too.
Very few people take any issue with the results, or the goal suppression.
The larger concern is whether the “good defensive play” will be enough against stiffer competition and when the current top line is neutralized. For example, that line had its lunch served against Minnesota.
This road trip will be very interesting and a great test. I would say .500 would be a good outcome.
Not only the players are still adjusting to Babcock’s system, but so are the fans.
What I saw last night was that the dump in wasn’t working as well, because Vladar often anticipated and intercepted it and made quick short passes to his defense and they were out of their zone in a heartbeat. Time and time again he did this and made the Flyers exits very effective.
I was at the game last night and the Oiler’s dumped the puck in a lot, but hardly got any turnovers out if it. Flyers easily moved the puck out of their zone. Meanwhile, when the Oilers had to retrieve the puck in their own zone, they struggled to get out of their end, other than Bouchard and Ekholm.
Jarry won the game, the 3rd and 4th lines and 2nd and 3rd pair D were caved in. Murphy was a disaster.
On the bright side, it’s easy to improve when you know the issues and have time to get better. The Oilers after the trade deadline will have a much more talented line-up (assuming they stay healthy). There are some obvious fixes right now- getting Savoie and Howard back. Getting Formenton and Michaels out. Get a functioning Walman back in the lineup.
Boots aside, right now I’d rather have Hutson taking his shot than Formenton out there. Maybe Samsky helps the fancies. Send Alex and Michaels down together.
When Savoie returns, Michaels will have better wingers.
Patience.
Podkolzin McDavid Draisaitl
Dach Nugent-Hopkins Hyman
Joseph Dickenson Savoie
Howard Michaels Kapanen
Janmark Frederic
Michaels is not an NHL player, he is a weak link and thats understandable. He may get there, but hes won’t get there playing over his head every night.
Babs should let him rest and learn, and then Babs needs to put full push behind Howard and then Savoie to get them up to speed.
We are a tough crowd. The question isn’t ’why can’t we have nice things?. It seems to now be ‘why can’t we enjoy nice things?’
Because Oilers.
I can’t enjoy a beautiful drive through the mountains when my engine is smoking.
The ride looks pristine from a distance & under the hood is a major concern.
DoD ptsd.
i haven’t seen one post where someone has said they are not enjoying things.
Fall is a wonderful season. You could enjoy it blindly, or you can enjoy it and still get your winter tires on. Recognizing what’s coming is good management.
Many a poster has complained for a decade that the Oilers do not give chances to their youngins.
Babcock gives a youngins a chance for twenty games whilst injuries have played a role and the same posters are suggesting it’s idiotic and will cost them playoff games.
Cant win no matter what even when they’re winning.
Tough crowd tough crowd.
Many people put their winter tires on WAY too early. much unnecessary wear on those winters dues to too-warm temperatures. Chillax.
I didn’t get to watch the past few games as I am back in Saudi but I listened to some and watched highlights. So nice to have solid to excellent (and consistent) goaltending. Although we worry about these games our goalies ‘steal’ How many games have Minny’s goalies stolen with a 17gsax?? Even top teams get excellent goaltending stealing them games they may not otherwise win. We are just not used to it… yet.
I really wonder why Babcock is so reluctant to remove Michaels and Formenton, specifically? Is it their role on the pk? Obviously taking right side draws for Michaels, but he’s not nearly as successful as he once was.
I’d try:
Podz Drai Davo
Dach Nuge Hyman
Kap Dickenson Freddy
Joseph Hallander Michaels (personally I’d bring Samanski back but not happening with Babcock for whatever reason)
On D, I am at a loss. I’m only confident about Ekholm, Bouch and Shea. I thought Bouch and Shak actually had a great game when they played together- I’d try that again and put Ekholm with Walman for a game to see if that could work. Then Shea and Murphy. They really need at least one puck mover on each pairing and this may work to solve that.
Is the PK DJ’s responsibility? I’d wager to guess you are right that Michael’s and Formenton are still in the game roster because they are needed for the PK.
When Savoie is ready to roll, Formenton likely goes to the PB or to the minors. I’d love to see them somehow figure a way to bring McLeod back. On this team, he’d be the perfect 4th line centre/PK wizard.
Not to minimize how bad the 4th has been … but as others have already said, if that’s the most glaring issue the Oilers have, it’s also the easiest one to fix (at the trade deadline).
Just to add…. as per this link, the oilers have had the easiest schedule in the entire league to date.
https://powerrankingsguru.com/nhl/strength-of-schedule
As a Bengals fan I keep hearing about having the easiest schedule in the league to date there too. I get it, but you still have to win the games that you’re booked to play, the Oilers are doing that, the Bengals are for the most part doing that.
True enough, you still have to win, and they have been, which is awesome. I’m merely pointing out that if you thnk it’s all sunshine and rainbows because of their record, tehre might be some regression when the competition ramps up.
— thanks for this. Of course the caveat is if team beats opponents they become “easy” and team become “hard”.
— In terms of spacing and home stretches and 2 days off it has been a nice schedule: even the last road trip all in NY/NJ not onerous
— I believe LT and others have the team covered : and this next 3 weeks has 3 B2B and a bunch of 3 in 4s.
— it’s pretty obvious that McDrai is awesome and whether the rest of team can get coached up / traded up / traded injury recovery up: well that’s why we all wash.
— no way anyone had them as most points I. NHL at this time especially with the injuries
— it’s worth repeating: this is mostly McD doing a gretz impersonation and Drai on his scoring pace.
— A big start and full marks.
They actually have the easiest schedule for the entire season. I read that before the season started though.
Yip it is a factor. Like good they got through it and nuclear option look like best seasons ever but competition tide rising and they are barely escaping games against bottom dwellers
Like we didn’t beat anahiem or look much better really. There are issues and luckily we aren’t out of playoffs by american thanksgiving but cup is goal there needs to be some minutes given to building a team that can win.
They did good getting through injuries nut we need some non nuclear solutions starting to develop.
The strength of schedule point comes up every year and every year, it never really seems to amount to much though.
Even this year, the Panthers had the 2nd easiest schedule to date and they are barely clinging to a playoff spot.
This is a 1 (glorious) line team that has benefitted from new coach bounce (ie committment to playing D that all team get when a new coach comes in, espeically Babs); and a softer-than-Formenton Schedule so far.
I also can’t get on board with bad numbers for 2nd and 3rd pairs of D, because the lines they’re playing with are not quality either.
In any case, the next 6 games are the true test of this team. If he doesn’t split them on the road, the matchups are going to be brutal.
Also, 97 on PK is just wasting gas.
I guess that came off as very negative..must be all the years of frustration….they’re still finding ways to win…which is great, and there’s tonnes of positives invidiually with players..it just seems that we have all seen this playout before….97/29/Bouch are covering a lot of warts..and icetime is through the roof…so hpoefully he has a plan to not run these guys into the ground, AND get more out of rest of team..because you can’t possibly think this is a sustainable way to play as it is right now……Or maybe me and LT are totally wrong!
I think he’s doing things a different way. We’ve seen this before doesn’t mean it’s the same.
Is it new coach bounce or are the quality chances down? Is the team getting out chanced or is it mostly the 3rd line and 2 or 3 suspects getting nailed. Is it all score effects?
I think Babs is doing something other coaches genuinely haven’t done and that’s team building. Knobs used the regular season to tinker but was always chasing games. Those are ‘harder’ minutes according to actual players.
He’s trying to build identity and thankfully has the best player in the world to help kick out the jams.
Your opinion is fair, we all see the warning signs. Let him cook and enjoy the ride imo.
A beautiful season emerging IMO. The Top Flight are scoring at rates unseen in 40 years.
Two goalies just kicking out the jams with a Cup winner healing (slowly) as a 3rd option. Seriously what kind of fresh Heaven is this?????
3rd line rounding into form. Two youngish scorers healing (slowly).
But we cuss out the coach for his (checks notes) 4th line deployment. I dunno I think this is a good bad problem for have.
The team is leading the west and has a better goal differential than the two teams (Minny and the Avs) many coveted the last two years.
Not sure Tbay is the toughest of outs anymore. Not a rollover but older and many miles on the stars. FLA has not found their groove yet, not at all with some very curious fancies if you go looking (past Peak “might” be a thing.) Toronto is closer to rebuild than contender a lot closer. And Philly fans might be in jersey tossing mode should the Oils get up quickly.
I think the fellas probably find an extra gear for one or two of these. Me thinks a return spanking to TO could be in the works, and maybe a demonic exercising of playoffs past in sunrise. Maybe Connor has a chat with Nikita at a Faceoff about what could be? Or maybe he has a chat with his training buddy Auston about a 2nd line centre role next season?
The team is in an excellent position, but I’ve been with you LT, since the cracks were forming. This roster clearly has massive hole, which need to addressed, otherwise any playoff run will be very short…
It is getting to a point in the season where deals can be made, but what GM’s are ready to pull the trigger and do they have the parts needed, while taking on the players who need to leave Edmonton.
I’d like to hear a few takes on what teams might be ready to make a deal that would significantly improve this roster.
I was looking at philly last night and they seem interesting, to me,
UFA’s
Ristolainen (31,RD) 5ish mill
Bunting (31,LW) 1.2 mill
Simon benoit (28,LD)1.35 mill
Grundstrom (28,RW) 1 mill
And of course i want Acciari (34, RHC) yr 1 of 2 @2.5
Benoit suprised me looking at him honestly. 6’4″ 210 pounds by edge well above average skating speed and shot power.
And bunting seems like maybe a great cheap contract buy low on it asset wise.
Like he is outchance decent underlyings in up to being dealt by nashville to dallas at last years deadline.
There are a lot of not the shiniest pieces but all seem to have above average NHL speed and outside bunting are all pretty tankish.
I’d have some pro scouting and analytics taking solid look at options here. They could use another bottom 6 center.
Podz drai mcd
Dach nuge kap
Bunting/savoie dickinson hyman
Bunting/hallander acciari joesph
Ekholm bouchard
Shea ristolainen
Muk murphy
emberson
Joesph i keep IMO
Frederic, formenton -> i fire to sun anyway if possible but likely frederic is your 13F and you waive hallander
Walman, howard -> are pieces that i push at them. Walman might waive as he will be top 4 and likely PP time. Like good shot to be solidly playing top minutes
Either rasmus other way or take benoit as depth defense.
Walman 7 mill, formenton 875k frederic 3.5 mill, howard, 1st
Rasmus, acciari, bunting, grundstrom?
Maybe bowman can sneak another dach or podz from depths of them as lots of parts.
It gives philly guys with contracts that could be buy lows. Like even frederic might just need a change of scenery be something that might factor. Walman for sure is far from no value.
It takes less deltaV to exit the solar system than it does to hit the sun. If efficiency is king of the cap era, the Oilers would be better off jettisoning them out of the solar system entirely.
I accept your star trek gobbily gook as factually accurate
Thank you.
For -1 tell me why?
Like what is your opinion faulty about mine?
Or misguided. Like what valie in or out or whatever is terrible. This is the point of us collectively spitballing.
Like absolutely might be wrong it happens -> make something worthwhile by providing different opinion.
I’m not HH or the legal right to tilt sometimes and persecute beyond need obsessed. Or bruce mcullough playing a drunk uncle leafs fan who is bipolar as all hell here… Just trying to find some interesting options.
Constructive thought experiments require more than button pushers.
Get in the pool.
Agreed. The ‘nah’ folks drive me up the wall. It’s improv, yes and or don’t bother.