Respectfully disagree. You don’t need more players to dig pucks out as PJ & Yamo are highly effective at that already. Or do you want players like Lucic back? Or Kassian back on the top line?
Last I checked McDavid finished so far ahead of the league he’s in a different time zone. Draisaitl was a very comfortable 2nd in points.
Drai doesn’t kill penalties as a first 4 forward option. He hasn’t for 2 years unless it’s a 5 on 3 or he’s out for a critical face off and he gets off as soon as the zone is cleared. Draisaitl is reserved for the post power play shift with McDavid and PJ.
You’ll give the 2 big boys far more help by getting stronger 3rd and 4th lines.
Far far more help that way. The team will play with the lead more often and the Oilers are usually lethal when playing with the lead.
Your spreading out the scoring options as well therefore the checking options by strengthening the bottom 6. Look at how hard it is to contain Tampa and Vegas. They are strong on all lines.
Or if you want to go the Boston Colorado route you load up 29 97 13 into your power line and strengthen your bottom 9.
With a stronger bottom 6 or 9 it helps 97 and 29 way beyond getting them a Maroon Lucic or Kassian.
We’ve a much stronger D. Now the problem is strengthen the bottom 6 or 9.
I don't think the whole bottom six needs to be replaced like people are saying. Archie, Haas, Chiasson, McLeod. These are decent depth guys.
I know Chiasson takes shit here but if he's good enough to have a spot on a cup winning roster with Ovechkin you can't tell me he isn't good enough to be here. He's not some dude pushing 40.
People expect way too much out of the bottom six because the top six production is reliant on two players imo. Upgrade the top six and the emphasis on bottom six players driving offense lessens.
I could see Yamo still having a bright future. There needs to be more balance on his lines though, he can’t be playing with RNH or Kahun. Put a power forward LW with him and Drai and that line could be deadly, Yamo works hard but he just can’t beat some of these dmen, he needs a little breathing room.The way the league is moving Yamo has a very limited future in this league.
Our 2nd line, or lack there of is why we struggle.
It’s not just about fight, Yamo is fighting for pucks out there but he’s half the size of these dmen. It’s just not enough. We need size. Just look at Vegas, they’ve got big boys who are just flying out there, playoff hockey looks like nothing to them, they’re not getting pushed around.
we need to identify those types of players before they’re established and ridiculously expensive. Maroon is the only slight victory we’ve had in that respect and it didn’t last long sadly. Actually Pulju is another and hopefully he stays for a long time, he’s almost perfect.
I’d love a Nick Ritchie, Tuch, someone like that. Pro scouts need to come up big here. Roy in Vegas looks like he could be one of those guys, probably playing behind a few guys in that mold already and might shake loose at some point, I don’t know his contract status but that’s the type we should be looking at.
Yamamoto’s struggles this playoffs makes me think it might be worth exploring trade scenarios with him. He is having a hard time with the size and physicality the Jets are playing on him. I know he’s a sophomore so you don’t want to overreact but for the right player you have to consider it.
I am not sure what the team statistics are (Oilers versus Jets) regarding physical size but in watching the first few games of the series I am reminded somewhat of the World Junior Championships where Team Russia always seems to be bigger than Team Canada (fake birth certificates usually help mind you).
Someone probably has the stats in front of them. Are the Jets really bigger or do they just "play bigger"?
Certainly their defensive core is bigger. Outside of DeMelo and Morrisey they are all over 6'4.
I can agree with this however Lavoie remains a question mark for me. I wouldn’t mind Evander Kane there, guys like Bonino and Kuraly would fill out the bottom 6 nicelyWith Holloway and Lavoie we might have our answers internally.
Lavoie McDavid PJ
Holloway Draisaitl Yamo
The issue for me is lines 3 and 4. They need a complete overhaul.
McLoed at C sure. Archie for another year.
The rest all need to be replaced.
I am not sure what the team statistics are (Oilers versus Jets) regarding physical size but in watching the first few games of the series I am reminded somewhat of the World Junior Championships where Team Russia always seems to be bigger than Team Canada (fake birth certificates usually help mind you).
Someone probably has the stats in front of them. Are the Jets really bigger than the Oilers or do they just "play bigger"?
When (if) the Preds are eliminated, I would look into Forsberg/Arvidsson as top-6 options and Jarnkrok as a fall-back guy.
Jets are a bigger team compared to us.I am not sure what the team statistics are (Oilers versus Jets) regarding physical size but in watching the first few games of the series I am reminded somewhat of the World Junior Championships where Team Russia always seems to be bigger than Team Canada (fake birth certificates usually help mind you).
Someone probably has the stats in front of them. Are the Jets really bigger than the Oilers or do they just "play bigger"?
Exactly.
Ideally you build this team in a way that other teams don't want to turn the game into a rugby match because the thought terrifies them. Make them want to run in gun with us or get the ever loving shit kicked out of them.
With McDrai we're never going to be the Broad Street bullies, but the 80s Oilers are a pretty damn good template. Obviously we'll never have the talent those clubs did because of the salary cap...
But certainly we can be truculent enough that teams really don't want to play rugby on ice with us for 7 games.
I think you need a similar complexion to the team though, but you’re right it’s different these days. I want more size in the lineup but they can’t be goons, they need size and speed or it won’t work, ideally they have some good hands too.I might be missing something in your post/philosophy. I'm not sure making this team physically tougher necessarily makes it better. Chiarelli tried that to some extent. As currently constructed after three GM this team has a generational player whose in on about 60% of the team's goals. They have a second elite whose sublime skill set straddles him between elite goal scoring winger and power 2C with lesser talent and less consistent results. This team needs bigger skill top six forwards who give this team greater scoring balance to compete with playoff team. And one addition needs to be a goal scorer with ability to pot 25+ goals who can supplement winger Draisaitl when this team chooses to stack its two best players.
The 80's template foundation was a top six forward group comprised of what became four Hall of Famers rolling out lethal pairings of Gretzky/Kurri and balanced by Messier/Anderson. They smartly complemented this top six firepower with hard edged support players.
Today's game is so different. I think it's less rugby style intimidation (which I don't think is a viable winning formula) and more balanced, bigger skilled top six talent that gives viable options when opposition want to play a trapping, collapse game against McDavid and little viable options for scoring when Draisailt is neutralized too through it. Still been a coin flip series despite McDavid and Draisaitl being shut down. Need more talent around them including a volume shooter/goal scoring option.
NO need to buy drugs ...just listen to few ideas here....mind bending.
Kevin Labanc does have the brain and the wheels and can pass fairly well....not great defensively and is somewhat inconsistent but might work for a couple of years ...he is one of the two styles of players that we know can work with McDavid....not an ideal choice..... is slightly overpaid for what he brings....
What do you think San Jose would want for him...likely futures but how much?
According to this site, Jets on average 6'2" and 200 pounds while Oilers average 6'1" and 196 pounds: Elite Prospects - Team Comparison in NHL.
Now if you take out two tall and heavy goalies wonder what that looks like. Jets are clearly bigger down the middle and with their depth of skill players.
I think you need a similar complexion to the team though, but you’re right it’s different these days. I want more size in the lineup but they can’t be goons, they need size and speed or it won’t work, ideally they have some good hands too.
I want some big bodies who can carry the puck into the zone and shrug off defenders, I want guys who push through and get on loose pucks around the net.