Experts say that 20 games is the period where we can begin to trust the math. If you’ve ever poured cement, this is the period where things are set enough to draw conclusions, although a dog or a bird (or a kid!) could change the final aesthetic. So, on the morning after a disappointing loss, the overview of these Edmonton Oilers is decidedly better than one year ago. The Oilers have improved. The sky is not falling. If you say “I never thought Connor McDavid should be captain” you’re saying it because you feel that way. It is an emotional response to a loss, but isn’t a view with legs. Along with the ‘fire Dustin Schwartz’ brigade, logic and reason tell us there’s simply no way to know from the outside.
What do we know after 20 games? These Oilers are better than they were a year ago, within spitting distance of first place in the Pacific Division, and have a coaching staff that is trying to unlock the best version of this team. It’s a fascinating time to be viewing the Oilers.
The Athletic article today is about Jeff Skinner and his skills landing on the fourth line in recent days. It is here.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER
- On the road to: CAL (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: NJD, VEG (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-2-0)
- On the road to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: NYI, NAS (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- On the road to: TOR, MTL, OTT (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 0-1-1)
- At home to: MIN, NYR (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: UTA, COL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 8-5-0, 16 points in 13 games
- November results: 4-3-1, 9 points in 8 games
- Oilers in 2024-25: 9-8-2, 20 points in 19 games
I pay close attention to five-on-five totals. It’s the biggest game state, it’s the most important individual game state, and the numbers get a little shady on both special teams even in a 20-game look. At five-on-five over the first 19 games, Edmonton’s goalies have delivered a .906 save percentage. That’s No. 21 overall. You want that to be better, and it is since October 15 (.916, No. 14 overall) and I do believe things are going in a better direction. The coaching staff is running with Calvin Pickard more in this part of the season, makes complete sense based on performance.
The team’s five-on-five goals-60 (2.27, No. 13 overall) trails expected goals-60 (2.85, No. 6 overall) and we can expect a spike at some point in the season. If Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman cash last night on great chances, then we’re having a different conversation and we aren’t talking about the one Calvin Pickard shot he should have stopped (Pickard has been a fine goalie for Edmonton this season, and many want him replaced. Emotional responses can be understandable and yet ill-advised as an actual plan).
After 19 games, I don’t think the ideas presented daily in the comments section are viable as course changes on the current season. Stripping McDavid of his captaincy, trading Stuart Skinner and benching Evan Bouchard might make you feel better, but are not things Kris Knoblauch should do.
THE NUMBERS
The most encouraging signs last night were Ty Emberson’s continued improvement and good results, Calvin Pickard’s five-for-five in HDSC saved, and good moments from three skill wingers (Nuge, Hyman and Jeff Skinner). I think we can agree that scoring slumps by Edmonton wingers have been a thing in the first 19 games, and those slumps should ease lord willing and the creek don’t rise.
Evan Bouchard is in a terrible funk, but the Oilers have to play him heavy minutes. I wouldn’t take him off the power play, but a tweak to the five-on-four that funnels the puck elsewhere, and a new alignment, wouldn’t go amiss.
Leon Draisaitl had a tough game, running counter to his brilliance through the early part of the season. It happens.
CEILING AND FLOOR
The Oilers ceiling and floor are as wide as any SC contender in memory. G7 SCF wasn’t that long ago, and the SC hangover surely has ended. This team’s lowest ebb is expansion level. Incredibly.
I wrote the words above last night on X, and believe this to be true. I think the Oilers are locked in on the roster construction as things stand, and do not believe that any of Stuart Skinner, Evan Bouchard or Connor McDavid should be traded, benched or stripped of captaincy. These are severe and emotional moves, the kinds of things one would expect from Harold Ballard or a group of fans understandably upset about a 3-0 loss to a lesser team on a Monday night.
The way is clear. For this season.
I wonder about Stan Bowman.
He is not attached to Stuart Skinner, or Evan Bouchard. Come summer, it’s possible Bowman resets the roster with some major moves.
I want to be clear. I believe trading Evan Bouchard would be as dumb as dirt. I believe Stuart Skinner can backstop this team to a Stanley Cup and that he is the best $2.6 million dollar goaltender in captivity.
What I think doesn’t amount to diddly squat. Stan Bowman is the general manager and may not feel this way. What can Stan Bowman get for Evan Bouchard in trade? It would be a famous trade, and not all famous trades are good ones. It’s important to remember Bowman is in no way attached to Evan Bouchard. The rest of this season will be central to how this story turns out.
A busy day on the Lowdown, noon to 2pm on Sports 1440. Daniel Nugent-Bowman at The Athletic will join us from the road and give us the latest on the lineup and the mood of the team. We’ll also chat about possible recalls, Josh Brown’s debut and what comes next. I’m at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section here and on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly. We can be heard at sports1440.ca; iHeartRadio; Radioplayer Canada, we tweet out the show after it’s done and you can catch us on Apple and Spotify.
Kannok-Leipert with a seeing eye shot from the point cut the deficit to 2-1 (now 3-1).
Kemp with a nice pass across the blue for the first assist.
Nice offensive zone battle shift by D’Amato/Philp/Caggiula
May not be a popular opinion but I’d try Stecher at the top of the PP for a few games. They need more movement as they are currently very predictable. Stecher likes to rotate down low.
Bouch does very little but slide across the blue line (by design I’m sure) and the forwards rotate beneath him. It would be a completely different look it the defender also joined the rotation.
What is Derek Ryan bringing these days. I like the player, but his time has passed. He doesn,t pk much anymore, which was the main reason to have him in the line up. Philp is 26 years old. Get him up here and let him play
I felt this way at the start of the season, yet he contributes well when hes not overplayed. He seems to have a great work ethic and calming effect with his consistent careful play.
Yes, he should be overtaken by Philp, but I did not see Philp that well his last couple of games. I heard he has been underwhelming in Bako. Perhaps hes not quite ready?
Philp should be playing. He’s better than at least a player or two on the current roster.
Oilers claim Kapanen off waivers from St Lou????
Yes. I wonder if this is about Arvidsson’s injury.
https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1858948876646203597
That’ll show Doug Armstrong! (?)
STL fans on X are very thankful for the cap space as Robert Thomas is due to return to the lineup shortly.
Kap has no cap implications. Fully buriable contract.
I wonder why STL preferred to get rid of him rather than bury him in the AHL?
Ummmm, the waivers were required in order for him to be buried…….
For all we know they were hopeful he cleared and was a call-up option.
That IS what they were trying to do…he has to go through waivers first. Cmon man, you’re better than that…
lol that’s what they tried to do. He has to pass through waivers.
Kapsalari Kapenen
Crazy bad pdo this year.
He doesn’t go to the net enough for my liking but we need some depth.
Right shot
Really no idea what to think about this.
My impression of him is another “low impact” player as far as aggression, 2-way play, etc. but, really, I don’t know if that is accurate for this player.
$1MM expiring contract.
Oilers are operating in LTIR unless they move someone off the roster.
If they are not planning on moving someone off, they might as well call another player up as well as, if they are going to operate in LTIR, no sense in not.
—————–
A small part of me worries this has something to do with Avrvidsson and his mystery injury that has gone from “maintenance day” to 3 games out.
For me it’s a large part (Arvidsson) no other reason to claim this player unless it’s a little bit of payback
Sounds like the Oilers were playing on the perimeter last night (according to KK, Rishaug, Spector and many here) but that is not their norm. They led the league in 5v5 High Danger CF last season and are 6th this season.
I’ve cheered for so many mediocre teams over the years, and they almost always tell you what they are with their inconsistency. LT calls it ceiling-floor, but high variance is almost never a formula for success, unless you catch lightning in a bottle and go on an amazing run. That is also known as pure, dumb luck.
Always happy to read a measured tone from LT after a bad loss.
I think the “reasonable expectations” series LT ran set a nice tone for coming seasons… this season has exposed the wide aperture of “reasonable”.
Also per Chris Johnston:
Per Seravelli:
What would you rather have? A team that typically struggles in the early part of the season before gelling down the stretch? Or a team that typically lights it up in the regular season and falls flat in the playoffs?
The former is the Oil. The latter is the Leafs.
One thing you see with vet teams is they learn how to pace themselves during the regular season marathon. Could the Oil be selling out more to crash the net or block shots now? Probably. Will that matter in April or May? Doubtful.
Thank you! I don’t know why we have such difficulty accepting that this team finds its way, is a team of high skill and adaptation, something that benefits the series. This is the team several years running now!
CapitalsPR
INJURY UPDATE: Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin sustained an injury to his lower leg during last night’s game in Utah, and is listed as week to week. Ovechkin will have further evaluation with team physicians in DC on Wednesday.
Very unfortunate as he scored another pair last night before the injury.
Video here:
https://x.com/Sportsnet/status/1858728676650614876
Ok, so I’ll admit it. I’d rather see that record stay with the best player to ever play the game than go to the excellent, but sub legendary Ovechkin.
Not a matter of if but when.
Only 27 more to go and he’s played 43 fewer career games than Gretzky.
I expect Ovi will be a first ballot HHOF choice.
Per Chris Johnston, Ovie out week to week.
Blah!
Looked like a knee to me.
It donned on me that Ovechkin is rarely injured, and not only is that the case but Ovie has never missed more than 11 games in a single season.
His average games played works out to ~79 / 82 game season. Incredible durability on the old war horse.
There’s a good clip where Connor is interviewed by his brother. They talk about the fact that Connor is not typically a vocal rah rah guy and prefers to lead by example. The venting incident shown on Amazon is quite likely an outlier event occurring during exceptional circumstances and imo only demonstrates how competitive he is and how much he wants to win. Is that a surprise to anyone?
As a Captain, McDavid sets the tone for work habits and dedication. His teammates see the standards he sets personally and it undoubtedly inspires some of them to elevate their regimens.
What also stood out to me in the Amazon special is Hyman’s speech immediately after the Cup loss. There’s your vocal leader trying to lift the troops in the moment.
That is what a good locker room is imo It’s never just one guy. It’s the collective buyin, your teammates having your back, and everyone pulling on the rope in the same direction. Sometimes it’s the vocal guy leading the charge. Sometimes it’s the team comic releasing the tension. Sometimes it’s the guy who brings quiet excellence 24/7.
The leadership on this team is fine. Players around the league talk. If there was concerns over the Captain, free agents wouldn’t be flocking to sign here.
The 80s dynasty constantly had their leadership and ‘backbone’ questioned until they started winning Cups. It’s the nature of the beast. I actually like it when fans doubt McDavid because that is nothing but motivational fuel for an elite athlete.
Hear Hear!
Hyman having a putrid start to the year is really being missed in terms of the building narrative.
In seasons previous, he would’ve been demoted already and working his way back. It appears his 50-goal-man status is keeping him locked in position.
They need to shake him awake. He’s not ready for passes and should already have 10 based on the chances he’s getting. Instead it is blanks most nights.
There is no universe where Bouche isn’t getting a $10M+ AAV in his next contract. It is folly to think that the Oilers have any sort of leverage. Regardless of his counting stats this season, or his fancies, or his eyetest failures, he is gonna get paid. Why? Some team will pony it up in an offersheet. So, what will the Oilers do? A: Suck it up and pay (likely), B: not match an offersheet and take the compensation (2x 1st, 2nd or 4x 1st depending on AAV), or C: trade him (for at least equivalent to rfa comp). If Stan takes C, let’s hope the return isn’t just Seth Jones and the rights to Taylor Hall before UFA.
An offer sheet would likely require an over pay in the 4 first round pick range, no?
Dont forget, if I’m. LT mistaken, even if the term of the sheet is 7 years, for the purposes of compensation, the total is divided by 5 years max – upping the AAV for comp tier purposes.
I don’t think this is the level of player that is susceptible to an offer sheet – it more at the levels we saw this season where the comp is not commensurate with the AAV.
Also, if Bouch files for arb, he can’t sign and offer sheet.
All it takes is 1 team to feel that Bouchard will be their 1RD for the length of the contract and that will be relayed to the agent, no arb will be filed and offer sheet will be signed.
Sure but anything under 10 mil will be matched and anything over 11.4 mil is 4 first round picks in compensation which I wouldn’t match. That would be a Hershell Walker trade
If the cap jumps to $97 million, the compensation for offer sheets will also be affected.
Currently a team could offer up to $11,452.00 and be required to forfeit 2 firsts. 2 seconds and a third.
That will likely rise to around $13 million if the cap rises as much as now expected.
There are only a few teams with the draft capital and cap space to do that…Calgary being one of them.
If $11.4MM is the threshold for four 1sts (I haven’t checked recently) then, realistically, anything over $8.7MM average would be four 1sts given how the compensation tier is chosen – The compensation limits are the AAV of the offer sheet averaged over the length of the contract to an upper limit of five years.
An offer of $12 million per on a 5 year deal might get it done. especially if it was front loaded with bonuses.
Bouchard trails his draft cohort D by tens of millions already and might find an injection of cash now very appealing.
Can they please try some other player on the power play – Skinner for Nuge or Perry for Hyman and stop trying to pass the puck into the net?
Condors lineup very similar to Saturday with Kannok-Leipert in for Brown (playing with Kemp) and Rodrigue in net.
Still not sure why Delia played last game.
Hamblin, Jarventie, Pederson, Dineen all still out.
Game starts at 1130 this morning.
I would say possibly getting Delia ready for the big club if Skinner&Pickard keep sucking hind tit. This is what I initially thought then I looked at Delia numbers and history. What was the purpose of this signing? There is way better options than Delia. Then I realized Delia had history with Bowman but he was signed July 1st well before Bowman hiring. This Delia signing leads me to believe Bowman had input as far back as July 1st. This is just my opinion Bowman was always getting hired as far back as Tkachuk lifting the Cup.
52games 3.51GAA 0.897Save%
There’s no way in earth this can be an option.
I know it, you know it, we all know it. He’s 30 and again besides being in the Blackhawks organization for years why was he signed? Again he was signed on July 1st well before Bowman’s hiring.
Need to stop watching the puck carrier in the offensive zone. They like to do that especially on the powerplay. Start skating
Trading Bouchard would be dumb. Accept him for what he is with warts and all. Just don’t pay him 11 mil a year
One of the benefits (that’s a strong word for this) of Bouchard’s struggles is that he is costing himself big money in real time.
With the cap going up and the clear dislike around the league for good ship Oilers, Bouchard will sign an offer for 10+ if the Oilers don’t offer one. Columbus will have over 20 million of cap space, Ana and Calgary both likely will too. San Jose may want him, Utah could go shopping for their new fan base.
He’s a 1RD even with the struggles, Oilers have nothing in the pipeline on the RD to replace that as the Draisaitl contract and hopefully a new McDavid one kicks in. It’s a must sign regardless of the burps.
This isn’t a Broberg we offer 1 mil they offer 4.7 mil. Anything under 9 is a steal. Over 11 mil an overpayment.
Agreed. It makes little sense to run our offensive D out of town. Who have we ever had that was perfect? Which offensive D-man in the league today doesn’t have brain cramps from time to time? How many D are out there that can put up near a point per game?
Stan trading Bouchard now would be Chiarelli 2.0. Pick your trade he made it will end that bad.
Depends on what you get for him the Flames received a nice return for Dougie Hamilton who should of been a Oiler. No Oiler is untouchable, its just that we haven’t really won big on a trade since Sather was around. Do I trust Bowman No I don’t I didn’t trust Holland either who had way more ammunition and pissed it into the wind for A.A-Bumsteads etc. Ekholm was a nice hit but it did cost. Anyhow let’s see what Bowman has up his sleeve before tar and feathering him.
Disappointing game last night for sure.
I thought the D played fairly well with Nurse out. The PK continues to be better.
The scoring and PP slump is unbelievable. Maybe more shooting drills, set plays in the O zone, or even a consultant to offer a new voice.
Bouchard had one of the all-time great playoff runs for a defenceman last year. He was playing at a Norris level. Now he is not. The bonehead plays are back.
So the pitchforks are out in Edmonton 5 months and 20 games later it’s “trade Bouchard NOW”. A tale as old as time.
This team’s confidence is truly bizarre. It’s not on the coaching staff, not after McLellan, Hitchcock, Tippett, Woodcroft, and now Knoblauch are seeing the same problems come up.
Rumours out of Columbus has David Jiricek (right shot D) possibly available for trade. He’s young, huge, draft pedigree… interesting opportunity? Very limited experience but an option for sure (maybe top 4), price unknown.
Loads of talent, not sure he helps short term
Think he has issues because they are not playing him and has asked for a trade? Not sure if Bowman is looking for a 20 year old D man right now.
But he is a big Right handed kid 6.4/208 that can pass and skate it out and is putting up very strong #’s in the A right now 7G 19 P in 29 games and last year 6 G and 38 points in 55.
He has played 53 games in Columbus with 1G and 11 points. He has a very hard shot and plays good D.
They should inquire for sure.
I could see a flip with another disappointing prospect like Drysdale.
This the kind of deal that Alvin and Rutherford have done in Vancouver.
They picked up Erik Brannstrom for a song and it has worked out very well.
Things really have not worked out to this point. The Jeff Skinner signing was puzzling for me. We really didn’t need this type of player, Imo. I was hoping for a bang and crash type who could play 2nd or 3rd line minutes. With the knowledge that Kane was gone for a long while, this to me was a huge oversight.
Jeff Skinner was an addition this team shouldn’t have made and that’s a hill that I’m prepared to die on. Not only his player type but his age, his history (zero NHL playoff experience, constantly being on losing teams, etc), and the cap situation his contract put the team in- nothing about it felt right to me at the time. Even the hope of him playing the ‘L3 Kessel’ role seemed to fundamentally misunderstand the core of the RBK phenomenon.
For the sake of the team, I sincerely hope he turns it around and proves me incontrovertibly wrong.
There’s no shame in not being able to put one by the new Team Canada Goalie. They wouldn’t have scored if they were on a 60 minute PP. Teams are Doubling up Leon and Connor because Hyman-Nuge and company are snakebit. Everything is on the perimeter we need a few Ryan Smith-Craig Simpson Goals put Skinner up with Connor.
I would love to see more crease crashing from the Oilers.
The team is really playing peripheral hockey right now. They don’t have anyone crashing the net. Yes Hyman kind of does but he is right out of luck this year. They would be served to get a PF that does crash the net and makes it miserable in front. Perry doesn’t play enough to help and is slower than a slug. The PP is the same. McD skates in circles on the outside and the Pk just shrinks the box to the middle and no passes get through.
Give Pittsburgh a call for starters ( as they seem to be open for business) and try and get big PF 6.4/210 LW Drew O’Connor. It would also add another young body.
As for the D, no clue what to do. They weren’t all that bad last night really. Yes Bouchard is having a terrible stretch of bad mistakes and Nurse out really hurts, but the team D didn’t cost the game last night. The Offense and pp did nothing. This team should be able to win every game that they only give up 2 goals ( not including that empty netter) , so go get a kid like O’Connor. ( Or someone similar).
Last night was the 1st time I have ever witnessed McD that pissed off and discouraged during a game. That is not good.
The team lost and traded away a lot of speed this past summer. They haven’t replaced that.
Hopefully Arvidson and Nurse get back ASAP. Kane as well in the New Year 100% healthy.
As for the Goalies , Pickard needed to stop the 2nd last night and Skinner is inconsistent as well.
I really do not see any goalie fix at this point. Who is available that is really any better? Blackwood?
Be nice to see a few moves , but not sure we do.
Hyman needs to play more like Gallagher. He gets around the net but I don’t see him as that much of a disruption, at least this season. Or that good in tight individually
I was heartened to read that the Oilers are interested in Pettersson. Gives me some hope in Stanny Bow
I think it’s a good idea to not paint everyone with the same brush. How can there be the civil discussion if when folks put up their opinion and it isn’t popular the responses are actually personal criticism and often have no counterpoints?
I am usually not responding emotionally when I comment. I mentioned Connor and captaincy yesterday. I did not say ‘strip him of his captaincy’, nor do I think that it should happen now. Not my words
I said that because of what he’s like. He isn’t an even keeled person, he does a great job of presenting a calm demeanor to the media. But that isn’t his nature, his Mom has told some stories about him so there is some perspective for us, and that is what makes him the player he is – he’s super charged and fierce, driven to an uncommon level
My ‘opinion’ is that an ideal leader knows how to get the group together and following the lead. Being temperamental at times because of intensity, being unable to keep your cool, unsettles people. It’s not something that they can follow. It isn’t inspiring
Maybe there wasn’t a better choice. I am not saying he’s bad. MacKinnon is similar, can be amped up to the point that it might not be helpful for the group. Landeskog is still their captain, even not playing
I wanted to respond as I don’t like how this comment was being framed. But is not something to keep pursuing, it’s an opinion that is not a criticism or attack on the player. Connor is the only player I wouldn’t trade, he’s not replaceable. Connor is my favourite current player, and right up there with Wayne and Mark
Respectfully, you have no idea what Connor is like as a person or a leader. Thinking that you do based on a few interviews is absurd.
The Amazon documentary showed his leadership style pretty clearly.
To an extent. It was a tv show produced for entertainment. What was not shown or what was cut from the doc?
This is exactly why I put up the response today. Maybe you can’t get a feel for things with the mountains of stuff for us to read and watch, but that’s your business. This type of comment is a straw man, and we see a lot of it here when people don’t like something, and also don’t really have a substantive rebuttal. Just the emotional response and an insult, which isn’t respectful by the way
What you are saying is that despite a decade of information and behind the scenes documentaries etc, it’s not valid to form an opinion based on that. That sure narrows the field down about what someone can form an opinion about, doesn’t it? I don’t agree with that line of thinking. You and others don’t have to agree with what I said
See Harpers Hair’s comment
I did not insult you.
I simply said that it is not possible to get a sense for anyone as a person or a leader based on tv interviews or shows.
It is produced entertainment.
I think it’s speculative to form such strong opinions about a person based on such little information. YMMV.
How is my comment a straw man? Your argument was based on the premise that McD is temperamental. That premise is supported by weak evidence IMO.
In your original post you admit that there is evidence that McD is even keeled. Then disregard that evidence because of a few other clips/interviews. It is very possible McD is calm and the explosions we saw are the exception. An equally plausible explanation.
Hemsky has bad body language!
Yes, exactly.
The team is down 0-2 and 0-3 in the Stanley cup finals, if not then when is it acceptable for the captain to lose his shit on his teammates?
The team is severely under performing and Connor is showing frustrations with the group.
In your view it’s Connors job to coddle them?
Is this preschool? Is he teaching elementary? This is a professional sport, with men chasing their dreams under severe pressure. Keeping your “cool” 100% of the time isn’t real, it’s fake and phony.
When I was in sport and our teams were lagging, if the Captain that has everyone’s respect rips into us, we would respond. The Oilers responded with 3 straight wins.
Trust me there wasn’t one player on the team unsettled with Connors response, and if there was they shouldn’t be in the league. In fact they would never make the league.
You don’t make it to the NHL if you become unsettled if the captain of your team loses his shit on the squad in the Stanley cup finals.
Your assessment sounds of that of a grade school teacher coddling children.
And to give Harper’s Hair comment any weight in the situation only furthers proves that. Where was he when the Oilers were killing it? Oh yes he vanished like he always does when the Oilers are rolling because he’s a fake and phony himself.
And unless you’ve met and know Connor, have been in those intense moments, no amount of interviews or produced TV will ever allow anyone to say they know someone and how they operate. I’ll stick to his teammates and coaches on what they say about the man.
Watching Holloway, Broberg and McLeod (and even Foegele) pop on their new teams while the Oilers dabble in mediocrity is also a kick in the nuts. It is making me feel emotions. Like extreme annoyance.
They are all in the new team giver phase. Let’s see how it pans out for the forwards. McLeod has SH% 33. DH has 1G 3A and is 5th in F TOI with SH% 3.03. Foegele has 10 pts and SH% 17.65
Bro it’s hard to say. He’s 4th in 5v5 TOI. He’s got 7 pts in 12 GP but is sporting SH% 20. I think the forwards will regress to what they were on the Oilers
For sure. They are also all getting opportunities they would never get on the Oilers.
Good work Jackson!
I actually think Emberson and Stecher have been improvements over Vinny and Ceci. Emberson started slow but he has been steady. The Oilers forwards need to stop playing this perimeter game that pumps up their fancy stats. This is a problem that goes back years. There is a reason the Oilers get “Goalied” every game. They look for the perfect goal everytime especially on the powerplay. They need more rebound goals. The powerplay is stationary and predictable. They almost need a set play where two players drive to the net after a shot.
They don’t get goalied every game. They were top 5 in goals for each of the previous two seasons.
I think they play at a higher tempo and move the puck better. We will see, hopefully they keep getting better
I think the same can be said of some of the top players. I mean, Drai has been so very good recently, top player in the world good, but last night he was awful to my eye including getting out-battled physically be Cole Caufield TWICE.
McDavid was supernova in the first 10 minutes and damn close to a net negative the rest of the game, to my eye.
There are people out there who think the Oilers should strip McDavid of his captaincy?? Talk about living in completely different realities.
There was one poster here yesterday that doesn’t think he should be captain (and Ekholm should) – never used the word “stripped” mind you).
A respected and hockey smart poster.
Is this team “is what it is” after this 20 game sample size?
Its a quarter of the season and that’s real and that’s substantial.
There has to be a reasonable expectation that so many individual can, and will be, better in the last 3/4 of the season: Nuge, Henrique, Arvidsson, McDavid, J. Skinner, S. Skinner, Bouchard.
All of those players are under-performing established norms. Yup, some of them are older and age-related regression is a real think but, at the same time, the drop of from 6 months ago from some of them is spectacular and can’t be just a cliff.
Both special teams under-performing massively on the season – good signs on the PK recently.
I feel like the head coach is under-performing in deployment and with finding a way to get individuals and the team playing the game a certain way and understanding game management.
At the same time, as UGLY as its been on so many levels, this team is 4 points out of 1st in the division (giving up one game) – that’s crazy.
Prospectich!
The Knights of London get the spotlight tonight.
Winners of 11 in a row, London will solidify, if not improve, their #2 rank in the country. O’Reilly & Nicholl &c will try to make it an even dozen in a row when the puck drops at 5 p.m. Vimy time.
While we may be better than last year’s “20 game team”, I do not feel we are better than last year’s “80 game team”. And that is a problem.
The team has taken a step back in terms of pace and execution. That is a concern.