Welcome back to the BLH Sunday Night Pint! It’s our 14th installment and we’re going to talk Anton Lander, Connor McDavid, Roster moves, and HUGE mistakes! But before all of that… What in Sam’s hell went on last week?… The reffing has been atrocious and not only the refs on the ice, the bloody guys in Toronto working with the NHL making that calls on not one but TWO goals that cost the Edmonton Oilers points in the standings… Unbelievable! Let’s hope everything returns to normal sooner than later!
Anyways, crack your beer! It’s time to get this party started!! Today’s myself (BLH) and Lindsay Ryall (@lindsman77)
What is Going to Happen to Anton Lander?
LR: Nothing immediate will happen with Lander, I believe Mclellan will do everything to help Lander get his game back . If he is still wallowing come the trade deadline and a team is placing high value on a face-off man, Chia may trade him. In all likelihood he will round back into form.
BLH: I don’t think he’ll be long for Edmonton if he can’t provide any help while he’s on the ice. As you can see from Montreal’s third line, getting production from your bottom 6 is nearly as important as getting it from your top. If Leon Draisaitl is a better option there, then maybe Lander will get packaged up and dealt to pick up a defenceman.
Will Connor McDavid Break 100 Points This Season?
LR: Unfortunately, I think a 100 point season will be next year, not this one. He’s remarkably elusive but it will be hard to dodge the injury bug as an 18-year old. Doesn’t have the best line mates on the team either.
BLH: Boy he’s looking like he might eh? I’m going to say yes despite my prediction on the Oilers Rig’s first podcast of the year where I said Hall would win the Oilers’ scoring title. That was before McDavid was setting the league afire. He’s a point-per-game player at this point and top ten in league scoring. I think he’ll definitely get very close if not over 100 points. The realy question might be, can he score 50?
What Will the Oilers First Move Be After Jordan Eberle is Take Off the Injured Reserve?
LR: Move Yak to the third line and see how he (Eberle) does with McDavid.
BLH: How about this conundrum? If Draisaitl is meshing with Nuge and Hall and Yakupov is clicking with McDavid and Pouliot, you can’t mess with that. Plus you have a young Swedish pivot that is in dire need of a kick in the arse, what better kick than playing with the best RW on the team?
The talk is starting though. If the Oilers want to make a move to stitch up the defence, they’re going to have to move an important piece. Personally I believe that Eberle is that piece. Could he be part of the elusive Lowetide special, the 3 for 1 deal? Well it got the team a Chris Pronger before… It might bring another.
What’s the Biggest Mistake the Oilers Have Made This Season?
LR: This was more of an off season move, but signing Sekara to such a long-term deal when he is not a top pairing d-man.
BLH: The biggest mistake the team has made is not getting rid of some of the useless veterans. To me guys like Purcell, Fayne, Ference, Nikitin, and Scrivens are holding the team back. Now yes I do know that their contracts are burdensome and Ference does have a NMC in his deal. My suggestion then would be to make it worth Mr.Ference’s time to move, bury contracts, healthy scratch players or eat money in deals. Those veterans are holding back the younger more capable players looking to break into the team. If this is a year where the team is evaluated and not expected to make the playoffs, then surely eating some dollars wouldn’t be a problem.
Thanks for reading and let us know in the comments below your thoughts on this week’s BLH Sunday Night Pint! It’s gonna get chilly folks (single digits temp-wise?!!) so head on over to the Beer League Heroes Merch Shop and pick up a sweet Oilers themed hoodie or a 16-bit Superstar sweater! They’re priced very reasonably and from all accounts they’re the most comfortable way to keep yourself warm! Click the pic below to check out all our designs!
We’re back for another SaWEET Sunday Night Pint! Crazy week for the Edmonton Oilers eh? A little bit of winning, a little bit of getting their asses handed to them; and the formation of a new unstoppable force… The ConYak Connection!
But as we do with the end of every week, it’s time for the SNP and joining us today are Madison “Mad Dog” Moroz (@madi39) and “Crazy” Kris Hansen (@wildcardKH). I’m going to tag in as well to complete this trifecta of terror!
Topics today are as follows:
Favorite hockey quotes.
Biggest surprise/disappointment this season so far.
THE franchise player you’d build your team around (all-time).
Dirtiest hockey play ever!
Let’s get this party started!
WHO’S THE BIGGEST SURPRISE/DISAPPOINTMENT ON THE OILERS SO FAR?
MM: The biggest surprise to me this season is Justin Schultz. It’s been pleasant, coming into this season, I didn’t know what to expect from this kid anymore because he has been such a roller coaster of a player, hope was beginning to be lost. Then he showed up to camp and the coaching staff immediately commented on his I’m improved play. He has shown a huge boost in confidence and sprinkled in a pinch of aggressiveness to his game.
KH: It’s a great question. I do not have really any huge surprises right now. McDavid and Talbot are living up to expectations for sure. I’ll say that Gryba has been a pleasant surprise. He is constantly rotating partners and has been the most consistent defender.
However, Sekera and Fayne both need to step up and badly. I still think Sekera has looked better these last few games and is getting adjusted to a new team, but still, I expect a lot more from him.
BLH: I’ll tell you what, Yakupov has been the biggest surprise for me. He had chance after chance in the last few seasons to play with the elites on the team like Hall and Nuge, I never thought he’d start producing like he is now.
As for a disappointment, I’m going to go with the Oilers defence as a whole. I thought they’d be a bit better to be honest. Adding Sekera, Reinhart, and Gryba was supposed to shore up the Oilers leaky defence. It has not.
WHICH PLAYER WOULD YOU BUILD YOUR TEAM AROUND IF YOU COULD PICK FROM ANYBODY IN HISTORY?
MM: Sidney Crosby, it wasn’t an easy choice cause my heart is telling me to say McDavid lol. But Crosby is just on a whole other level with his game, his speed, his shot, his vision, his hockey IQ, his passion and hunger to win. He is a great leader on and the off ice and tends to stay rather humble. I still consider him the best player in the NHL and still has a chance to go down as arguably the greatest to play the game. Not sure what else you can say about the guy, his play speaks for itself. He’s started the year off a bit rough, but there isn’t any else I’d rather choose to have the puck on his stick in the final minute of game 7 of the cup finals.
KH: Obviously, it would be Gretzky, Lemieux or Orr, but where’s the fun in that?
For past players, I’d go back to say Gordie Howe. Could you imagine a Prime Gordie Howe on the Edmonton Oilers? That would not even be fair. He could do it all: score and had that nasty element that demanded respect. Plus that durability and longevity. Just golden.
For present players, it’s a bit more tough. I think McDavid is a great answer because he is that good but if we’re looking around the NHL….I’ll go with Doughty. Sure, could say Crosby or Ovechkin and they are fine picks, but again going against the grain with Doughty. He’s still young, has so much under his belt and is still missing that elusive Norris Trophy.
BLH: If I had to start franchise with any player in the history of hockey I’d go with… It’s hard not to say Gretzky, Orr, or Plante but I’m going to go off the board and say Dominik Hasek. A career .922 Sv% and two consecutive league MVPs is nothing to shake a stick at and I just remember him being unbeatable in a time when Gretzky, Bure, Lemieux, Jagr, Forsberg, Selanne, etc. quite possibly the greatest collection of goal scorers in the history of the NHL were playing.
And as we know a good goalie can make a mediocre team look great but a mediocre goalie can make a great team look shat.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE HOCKEY QUOTE?
MM: “You just have to say ‘Screw it’, to losing and get the mentality that we can win games here.” – Connor McDavid
KH: Conn Smythe’s “If you can’t beat ’em in the alley, you can’t beat ’em on the ice.” It just screams the slugfest hockey can become.
BLH: “We know that hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death. Life is just a place where we spend time between games.” – Fred Shero, Coach of the Philadelphia Flyers
WHAT’S THE DIRTIEST PLAY YOU’VE EVER SEEN IN HOCKEY?
MM: The dirtiest play I have ever seen, probably has to be the Todd Bertuzzi cheap shot from behind on Steve Moore. He ended someones career, all because he took a run at your captain. It was just reckless, stupid and disgusting. A close second is the Dale Hunter hit on Pierre Turgeon which I believed happened in the playoffs and was the latest hit I’ve ever witnessed after scoring a goal.
KH: Yep. It’s the Claude Lemieux on Kris Draper hit. Absolutely gutless and horrendous . Lemieux literally broke Draper’s face. That Avs-Wings Rivalry which I grew up with was downright nasty and that was the boiling point for sure.
BLH: dirrrrrttttaaaaayyyy!
Well thanks for being with us today, I hope you enjoyed our Sunday Night Pint and feel free to let us know in the comments below your thoughts on today’s topics!
Oh! Before you go, head on over to the Beer League Heroes Merch Shop and grab the NEW “97 Drops of Hope” shirt! It’s on sale for 30% off and I heard it was a bit crisp today back home! Maybe a hoodie would treat you a bit better. Either way, click on the pic below and it will take you right to the shop!
Helluva roller coaster we’ve been on eh folks! First losing 4 in a row and then winning two on the trot whilst beating the two teams that feel the greatest to beat! I mean really, beating Calgary and Vancouver is damn near orgasmic, especially after losing the way we did to the Stars…
Well this week’s Sunday Night Pint is a beaut! We’ve got Zach Laing, Madison Moroz, Corey Mitchell and myself; BLH, to serenade you with our whimsical tones which are akin to that of a capella group comprised of cats in heat. Too much? Well we’re no Jethro Tull if that makes it any clearer. Cue Laing’s flute solo!
We’re going to be touching on the Oilers PP, the search for the Oilers’ new goal song, and roster changes or potential roster moves. So as my father used to say, “Get your hands out of your pants and let’s get going!”
The Oilers Power Play… Woes or WHOA!!!
ZL: Well, the power play seemed to click against the Flames the other night as the Oilers were finally able to connect on one of our chances. I think the thing is that these groups just need to gel. McDavid should be on the point IMO. His speed will allow him to get back and make defensive plays. Patience folks.
CM: Same way everyone else is suggesting. Split that first unit up. Hall, Nuge, and Ebs (when he’s back) with Klefbom and Schultz on the back. 2nd unit is McDavid, Yak, and Pouliot, with Sekera and Reinhart. Keep your forward lines together on the PP to keep the chemistry there
MM: Id fix the PP by slowing things down, and working it more down low, use the speed and skill and open up the point shot more. Having the penalty killers gravitate lower in the zone, opening up that point and just going hard to the net, getting some garbage goals and boosting this power play’s confidence. Especially when working down low, I’d like to see the d-man or 4th forward slide into the slot for a one timer or at least a diversion.
BLH: Well I was crying for the team to spread out the offence a bit between the two PP unites and what did they do? Spread it out. And what happened? Goals! I just couldn’t stand seeing Lander, Yakupov, Purcell, Sekera and Letestu trying to work a man advantage… Like nails on a blackboard… If only they had a player with a cannon from the point… (Too bad Brad Hunt isn’t an NHL defender… Or is he?)
Do the Oilers Need to Make a Roster Change?
ZL: No I don’t think so. I would love to see Draisaitl and Nurse up with the big club, I think we are better off holding where we are and seeing where we progress to. That’s a decision we could make in November.
CM: I would send Slepyshev to the AHL. He’s outclassed at the NHL level at this stage. Yes, he’s played pro hockey in the KHL, but it’s a different game here, and he needs to learn the nuisances. Also, with Chara rumours flying around right now, I would make that trade. A huge shot, plays mean, and has a massive veteran presence on the blue line. Those are all things we all say Edmonton needs. Chara would be a massive benefit to this team.
MM: No roster changes for me right now, after these two wins it appears like the team has some great chemistry and some real balance within the lineup, I’m not ready to hit the panic button quite yet, if they can continue to do what they are doing now, they wont need to make any changes. Every line is doing something out there, especially with a nice 1-2 punch with our top lines, you can tell teams are finding it difficult to decide which line they want to much up with, and the third line has been effective at keeping up the momentum in their favor. Everyone is firing on all cylinders.
BLH: Guess who’s value is going up as we speak? Said player also has a very VERY affordable contract for the next two seasons… If you said Matt Hendricks you’re wrong. It’s Nail Yakupov. Look folks, let’s have some real talk here. The team has just rang off two wins, what if they go the rest of the month without a win? Will all this hoopla mean anything? The defence is still having trouble. It still needs an upgrade and playing Fayne higher than no.4 is going to bite the team in the ass more often than not.
Eberle is going to come back and then what? Hendricks and Klinkhammer have serviced Nuge and Hall with an element they haven’t seen yet and it’s working wonders for them. And not only that but coaches are all about pairs not trios when it comes to making up lines.
Would you deal an Eberle or a Yakupov if it got you a top pairing dman? I might… And the names that tickle my fancy are Ryan Ellis, Seth Jones, and Jared Spurgeon. All puck moving dmen stuck behind veteran NHLers on their respective squads.
A New Goal Song!
ZL: Classic Metallica!! (BLH NOTE: Zach picked the lyrics youtube clip but this sweet comp of hits and fights fits the bill perfectly.)
CM: If you follow me and Twitter, you know I’ve been very vocal in the need for a new goal celebration song. Stadium Love is absolutely brutal, and does nothing to engage the crowd when a goal is scored. Song 2 by Blur is an obvious choice, but if it were me, I would have the PA system cut straight into the chorus of Get Free by the Vines. High energy rock song to really get Rexall shaking after the Oilers score. Stadium Love? No wonder there’s a lack of offence from this team
MM: Its an oldie but always a goodie!!
BLH: My goal song would be “Beer” by the Reel Big Fish. It’s got the woos and the whoas to get that eve so important crowd participation (think the Anaheim Ducks goal song “Bro Hymn” by Pennywise) and the uptick in tempo that would keep the team from coming down from that goal scoring high. Plus come on, Beer… Beer League Heroes… It makes sense. Check it out:
That’s it for today boys and girls! Thanks for reading and leave your thoughts in the comments section below. The ugly lights are coming on and I don’t care where you go but you can’t stay here!
She be getting cold right quick here! Click on the picture to pick up a hoodie or a shirt and stay warm this winter!
I’ll leave you with Ryan Robinson’s latest Oilers vlog! Take care and see you next time!
Welcome back to the Beer League Heroes Sunday Night Pint! Now, if you’ve never experienced the SNP then you’re in for a treat tonight. It’s Ladies Night and we’re talking puck with three of the brightest and best female bloggers in the the whole Oilogosphere! Jackie Dawson (@jackiedee16) and Meg Fowler (@mig14) from The Oilers Rig as well as Oil On Whyte‘s Sammi Silber (@sammisilber)!
So without further adieu, let’s get this SNP Ladies Night Edition started!
WHICH TEAMS WILL MAKE THE STANLEY CUP FINAL AND WHO’LL WIN IT ALL?
JD: First off…anyone who says the Oilers are going there is nuts. I’m an Oilers fan, and I’d love to see it but I’m also a realist. They’ll improve but they’re still going to have growing pains so don’t expect the world from them this year.
From the West, I think you’ll see Chicago in the mix again…they’re just a well oiled machine. St. Louis had such a great season last year it will be hard to count them out as well. However, I think we might see Anaheim pull it all together this year so I’m predicting the Ducks to come out of the West.
In the East…the Rangers and the Habs will likely be contenders, but never count out a team like Detroit… They somehow manage to make the impossible possible every now and then. In saying that though, I think this year belongs to Tampa Bay.
So I’m going to go out on a limb and predict a Ducks/Lightning final with Tampa taking home the Cup.
SS: The Capitals and the Blackhawks will be in the finals. I think the Caps can win it in seven games. Their team looks ready to take it all this year.
MF: SInce I can’t even jokingly say the Oilers without running the risk of being booed off the internet, I’m going to say that we’ll see a SCF between Montreal and *shudder* Anaheim. the Ducks have made some moves this offseason, and have long been competitive in a very competitive Western Conference. There’s only so long a team with a goalie like Price and a pretty strong D can go without winning it all; changes they’ve made up front will also help take them over the hump and into the finals.
I’m taking Montreal in 6.
WHO’LL BE THE FINALISTS FOR THE CALDER TROPHY FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR?
JD: There’s a very good rookie class this year, and I’d be crazy not to think Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel will be candidates…I mean, it kind of goes without saying.
Although I don’t think they’ll have these kinds of numbers, I hope it’s similar to the Crosby/Ovechkin battle of the rookies. When it comes to throwing in a 3rd choice…I’m going to go with Arizona’s Max Domi. The kid was a superstar at the World Juniors and I think he will have a seamless transition into the NHL.
SS: For the Calder trophy, it’ll be Eichel, McDavid and I’m going to throw Domi’s name in there.
MF: At the risk of coming across like a total homer, I’m going to guess McDavid, Eichel and some other guy. Honestly, unless one of those two has a season-ending injury early in the year, I can’t see the conversation going beyond them. Obviously, I’d like to think that McDavid will win, not necessarily because he’s the best rookie (even though he clearly will be) but because he will add the most to the team. (Apparently that’s how things are decided… remember the 2011-12 season, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins not winning the Calder despite being the better player AND doing more in 20 fewer games? I do too.)
WHAT DOES THIS YEAR’S BATTLE OF ALBERTA HAVE IN STORE FOR OILERS FANS?
JD: It may be safe to say that the Battle of Alberta will be an actual battle this season. The Oilers have made so many changes in coaching and lineup and have looked like they fixed their give-a-damn, which means an actual work ethic!
The Flames are a relentless hard working team that has a compete level that took them to the playoffs last year, so I think we’ll see an all out war between the two teams.
SS: The Oilers are going to SLAY the Flames in every game in this year’s Battle(s) of Alberta. In fact, Oilers will win em all, but not by a dominant score. Two games to overtime. The rest? Regulation wins.
MF: Hopefully more wins. they’ve been woefully outplayed for the last hundred or so games against the Flames. I’m hoping they take their split squad preseason results to heart when they play the Flames this year. I think the teams are markedly different from years past, with a ton more talent on the ice. I’m expecting fast-paced, hopefully high-scoring games that will all end with Oilers Ws. There’s not much I enjoy more than watching the Flames get beat by the Oilers, so hopefully I’ll get to see that at least once. Or twice.
MUSICAL GUILTY PLEASURES
JD: I’m fairly eclectic but hands down Maroon 5 is my favorite band and has been for years. I will literally listen to anything by them!
I’m also a big fan of CCR, Metallica, Def Leppard, Daughtry and Bon Jovi when I need to rock out.
When it’s time to dance, Katy Perry, 80’s Madonna (not new Madonna) and Michael Jackson always get me on my feet. Basically any 80’s tune will do that really.
SS: I love Florence + The Machine. I can’t name a time when I’m NOT listening to them.
MF: I have Ace of Base – The Sign on my phone. I listen to it once in a while, totally shame free. I also REALLY love Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue” because it’s the most singable country song ever (besides Chattahoochee by Alan Jackson), even if the subject matter is horrifyingly, well, horrifying.
Thanks for joining us this week! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below on today’s topics! And if you’re not following Jackie, Meg, or Sammi on Twitter then you’re a fool! Just kidding but I highly recommend giving them a follow, as you can see; they know their puck!
One more thing before I let you go though. This February on the 26th there’ll be the bestest Oilers shindig of the month at least. It’s The Oilers Rig’s 3rd Annual OilersRig Live4MS Charity Auction! The swag they get at these charity auctions is UNREAL! Not only that but you get to hang out with fine folks from the Rig and watch a hockey game together, maybe get on their live podcast and contribute to a worthy cause. Keep an eye over at The Oilers Rig’s website or their Twitter for more info as there should be some more on this by the end of the month!
Welcome to the TENTH edition of the BLH Sunday Night Pint! This evening we have Zach Laing (@loweded), Rob Cooke (@Just Oil78), and Corey Mitchel (@corn_cwm) with us to talk about what is now old news, specifically what was the 3-headed monster in net. We’re also going to touch on how the boys would make the team “heavier” in the words of Peter Chiarelli and our final thoughts as the preseason closes out. So let’s get started shall we?
1. What Will Come of This Three-Headed Monster In Net?
ZL: Yikes. This is a extremely tough call. All three of the goaltenders have played very well up until this point in the preseason. Jeff Marek of Sportsnet has been saying for sometime now that he feels Ben Scrivens will end up being the starting goaltender for Edmonton. Marek is uncertain of Talbot, and thinks Scrivens has enough fight to earn that starter spot. Given that Anders Nilsson doesn’t need to clear waivers in order to be sent down, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him get sent down. Talbot and Scrivens will be able to push each other moving forward, and Nilsson could be called up if an injury occurs.
CM: Oh, the three headed goalie monster. Remember the classic Conklin-Morrison-Markannen conflict? We don’t need another one of those. Looking at things, my guess is that it’s going to be between Scrivens and Nilsson in regards to a goalie move. Looking at what Chiarelli was willing to give up for Talbot, he didn’t make that move just to put Talbot on waivers. Talbot will be on the team to start the season. There’s a very real chance that, as ideal as it may not be, the Oilers start the year with three goalies. Hopefully that isn’t the case. If you aren’t starting the year with a bonafide starter, then you start the year with two guys capable of battling it out for the job. I expect that at some point before the season starts, we see one of Scrivens or Nilsson on waivers. If it’s me, I move away from Scrivens, simply because he was here prior to Chiarelli, who added two guys for his net.
RC: Obviously the choice comes down to Nilsson or Scrivens. No chance that Peter Chiarelli brought in Talbot to only send him to the minors. He is the starter and won’t be going anywhere this season. This should be an open and shut case of which netminder has performed better to this point in the season. If that is the case, then Anders Nilsson is our back-up goalie and we can say good-bye to the Professor now.
Unfortunately play this fall isn’t the only thing to consider when McLellan and Chiarelli are deciding between the two. There are a couple things that bear consideration before a decision is reached. Experience in the NHL will definitely be a factor. Between Talbot and Nilsson the Oilers would have 80 games of NHL experience. Scrivens has over 100 games by himself. Another item to note is the waiver requirements for the two. Scrivens will require to clear waivers before he could be reassigned and Nilsson would not. Not that I see any team claiming Ben even if he is waived but you get the point. If I have to guess, which is the point of the question it would appear, I would say that Chiarelli is trying to move out Scrivens and his 2.3 million dollar cap but barring a trade I think we see Scrivens as the back-up in hopes that his play rebounds and teams come calling.
BLH: Well I have the distinct advantage of answering this question after the news came out about Ben Scrivens’ demotion. But had you asked me before hand I would’ve said the would keep Scrivens because it would’ve cost to much to move him AND Nikitin to the minors but that’s exactly what they’ve done. What will they do with all that cash tied up in Bakersfield? It’s definitely Chia’s and McLellan’s team now and the die has been cast. It’s their way or the highway.
2. How Would You Make the Oilers a “Heavier” Team?
ZL: In order for the Oilers to become “heavier”, the team needs to play a tougher style of game. When I think of heavy teams to play against, I think of teams like the LA Kings when they recently won their Stanley Cups. They play a game driven by strong fore-checking and lots of physical play which forces other teams off of the puck, allowing them to get good scoring chances. The Oilers need to play a game that is driven by the strong fore-check in order to create better scoring opportunities. I think at this point in the preseason, we have seen under McLellan’s system a much stronger fore-check and thus the Oilers have had greater scoring opportunities.
CM: As many people have talked about, it looks like the “enforcer” role is all but done with. So how does this team get heavier? Well, you aren’t about to go out and add a guy to your roster that’s going to play 4-6 minutes a game, and really have little effect on things. The Oilers have Luke Gazdic still, although he may not get too many games this year. The addition of Eric Gryba address things a bit as well, although he could see limited time, much like Gazdic. That being said, you don’t need to be “heavy” to play “heavy”. At this point, it’s going to take another slight culture change. This team has gone from blue collar, hard working, to high skill and speed. Now they need to add that heavy aspect as well. In short, what I’m trying to say is, the players the Oilers have need to learn to play heavy, even if that means taking a bad penalty here or there to establish that the Oilers aren’t going to get pushed around this season.
RC: This is a little bit of a misleading question. You would have had to watched the MacKenzie interview to understand what Peter really means by heaviness. He doesn’t mean heavier players necessarily. What he means is that he wants the team to play a more physical style. He wants his team to be dogged in their pursuit of the puck and to be willing to go into the dirty areas and come out with the puck. I for one do not see the Oilers as being able to play that style of game. The bottom six may be able to and with Pouliot and potentially Slepyshev on the top two lines it would give some of what Chiarelli is asking for. The skilled guys in the top six have never played that style and I don’t know that they ever will be really effective at it. Adding some grit and toughness to the top six is the only route I can see the team going at this stage.
BLH: Well personally I think Chiarelli will take a shot at either Milan Lucic or Kyle Okposo over the course of the season. They would add an element that the Oilers do not have. A guy who can score, hit, and open up the ice for the skillers. I read that Jordan Staal has been linked to the Oilers too. Not sure how reliable that is though. Surely the Canes would like to hold on to the younger Staal, what about the older one though?
With that said, the Oilers have been planning on this for some time. The additions of Anton Slepyshev and Leon Draisaitl, Lauri Korpikoski, and Mark Letestu show us the kind of forward the Oilers are looking to gravitate to. Griffin Reinhart and Eric Gryba on defence are also some big boys who can play a mean game but the sacrifice being how bad they’re going to get caught out on the road when the other team has last change.
3. Your Thoughts on the Oilers 2015/16 Preseason.
ZL: So far, I’m impressed. Our training camp has been much improved under McLellan and granted this is just preseason, the players seem to be responding well to his coaching. I mean, we are 6-1 in the 7 games we have played leading up to the season opener on Thursday. All of the comments have been very positive from the players and from McLellan himself. It will be interesting to see how the team performs through the first 20 games, and then the last 60. Everyone remembers how last season started, so let’s hope this year is much different.
CM: I think the Oilers are exactly what I thought they would be after the offseason. High skill on the front, big questions on the back. McDavid has been an absolute joy, and I can’t wait to watch him as the season starts. Draisaitl has been a very pleasant surprise for me personally., I had him pegged to start the year in the AHL, but he has totally earned the right to start the year on that top line with Hall and McDavid. Reinhart has also been a nice story, and I hope the preseason helped to show everyone who thought the Oilers paid too much for him, that they were mistaken. But the preseason is what it is, and means zero in the grand scheme of things. Let’s drop the puck on this season, and go from there.
RC: I like what I have seen from most of the players so far this season with some very obvious exceptions. McDavid appears as advertised, his speed off the wing is truly amazing to behold. Leon is showing that he is ready for full-time NHL action this season. Slepyshev has been a very nice surprise this fall. We knew he had some offensive ability but I don’t think anyone could have predicted just how good this young man was going to be coming from the bigger ice of the KHL. Anders Nilsson has been perfect so far in 120 minutes of game action and appears poised for a decent NHL career. Justin Schultz has been far superior to his previous seasons and on most nights has been the best defenseman on the team. Andrej Sekera seems to come as advertised. Aside from a couple defensive lapses against the Canucks on Thursday he has played fairly well in a very small sample size. Those are some of the positives.
The negatives are just as obvious as the positives. Andrew Ference has shown that he does not have enough left in the tank to compete with the younger faster players in the NHL. Captain or not, it is time for Andy to hang up the skates in my opinion. The other player that has proven to be a really bad choice for the opening night roster is Nikita Nikitin. Last season he was apparently injured for the majority of the year and that supposedly affected his performance greatly. Well then the guy must still be injured because I have seen no improvement what so ever from last year. He is too slow, can’t seem to make a pass exiting the defensive zone and more often than not his bomb from the point is finding the end boards instead of the net.
BLH: I’ll tell you what. Every year I am stoked because there’s a new crop of players and a new season is upon us but as we can all tell this isn’t just any season coming up. The new players have come to play this year and there’s no doubt in any of them. But the story of the preseason for me is what looks like the re-emergence of Nail Yakupov and, from my eye at least, the failing experiment that is Taylor Hall and Connor McDavid.
Yakupov looks to have his swagger back. He’s working hard, he’s shooting again, and it just looks like he’s loving hockey like he used to. As for Hall, he’s my whipping boy, so anything he does wrong gets magnified and anything he does right goes unnoticed because that’s what should be happening. But he looks way behind McDavid in terms of on-ice thought processes. Draisaitl looked better on 97’s wing to be honest. So we’ll have to keep an eye on this one.
BONUS: Who’s Your Favorite Captain of All-Time?
ZL: I am a big fan of Mark Messier. After Wayne Gretzky left, Moose stepped in and took the team to a Stanley Cup Championship. He helped prove to everyone that the Oilers could do it without Wayne, and they did just that. Considering he has an NHL award named after him – the Mark Messier Leadership Award – as well as the fact that he is the only player to Captain two teams to a Stanley Cup Champion.
CM: Do I get crucified if I don’t say Messier? Because I’m going totally bias here, and I’m saying Mario Lemieux. The sexy picks might be a Mark Messier or a Jonathan Toews, but the question is “favorite captain”. I can’t help it if my all time favorite player was a captain. Also, second best player of all time, and lead the Pens to back to back Cups. Just saying.
RC: How anyone could say anyone other than Mark Messier is beyond me. I mean come on the guy has an award named after him! The Mark Messier leadership award is named that way because of the respect that anyone that has ever played against or watched the man play the game. He led the right way. He was a fierce competitor and demanded the same from all his teammates. If you gave less than your all then you had Moose to deal with in the locker room! There hasn’t been many players in the league that were as widely respected and feared as Mess. He earned and deserves the award that bears his name and there should be no question as to who is the greatest NHL captain of all-time!
BLH: My Favorite captain of all-time (which is basically code for the time I’ve been alive) would be Wendel Clark. About the time I started following hockey more closely was when the Leafs were having those runs in the 90s. He played that old brand of Canadian hockey. Tough and fearless and a wrist shot that hasn’t been matched by many. And how could you not respect the handlebar mustache? Mario Lemieux was my favorite player but I’m not sure he was my favorite captain. Maybe in the 2002 Olympics is when he really shone as a captain. I think Steve Yzerman could be nominated too for how he went from highly skilled 100pt per season player to elite defensive center after numerous knee surgeries.
Thanks for reading and feel free to comment below with your thoughts on this week’s SNP topics!
Oh and don’t forget to catch up with is on the Socials!
