Walter Sobchak
Registered User
- Dec 30, 2015
- 322
- 306
Anyone else think JP's stick is too long? (thats what she said) but seriously.
Anyone else think JP's stick is too long? (thats what she said) but seriously.
Nuge with Connor. Put JP on Drai's line. No way in hell JP will do anything when he has 1 goal in 40 games aka Lucic on his line.
This isn't to compare RNH and Drai as IMO Drai is the clear cut #2 guy on this team. This thread is to wonder what kind of production the RNH/McDavid duo has had vs. the Draisaitl/McDavid duo. Now I know that RNH has played less with Connor than Leon has but IMO it's fair to say that both players have chemistry with Connor because they can think the game and are highly skilled.
Ultimately I think that it makes the most sense to have Nuge on Connor's wing so that Drai can face the bigger centers of the league, but is the Connor line as dominant, more dominant or less dominant with Nuge on the LW vs. Drai on the right?
It's funny because I always thought the same thing about Magnus Paajarvi.
As for Puljujarvi, I'm actually in favor of keeping him away from McDavid until his ELC is up; the last thing we need is him going into RFA status with inflated numbers. In fact, we should have a rule that you aren't allowed to play with McDavid in a contract year (unless we are planning on trading you).
We need Drai to carry his own line @ 8.5m
RNH and McDavid look great together. Keep them as a duo until they show otherwise
Call me stupid but I am 90% sure Lucic comes back next year to his former self and slots nicely in the 2nd LW spot. His positioning this year has still been great and that of a top 6 forward. If he works on getting lighter I'm sure he gets a step back the rest of his game will follow. Full confidence in him he is a smart guy it's one bad year we can't write him off yet as much as we are upset with his play. I'm a firm believer that because so much went wrong for him this year and the fact that the coach seemingly just kept trying to force him through it by keeping him on that first line effected him. He's still signed for a while so the Oilers really need to help him figure something out because you can't have a 6 million dollar guy underperforming throughout the rest of his contract.that being said there has to be a backup plan if he doesn't figure it out.RNH and McDavid should stay together next year with Draisaitl centering the #2 line.
I would like to see Puljujärvi and Yamamoto fill out the top 6...... just need a LW to play on Leon's line that it's named Lucic.
I think it was more the issue of Maroon not signing for 3.5. If youre Maroon why not try for a $4 mil contract at UFA. I think if Chia could have signed Maroon for $3.5 for 2 or 3 years he would still be on the team.As I've stated in other threads its hard to judge how well the actually pairing is doing because a lot of the current results is McD just temporally elevating his offensive play to the stratosphere. Also that McD has quite clearly been cheating up for points.
McD was on fire later last season to bag lots of points and is doing the same this year.
Kudos to Nuge who has adapted very well to the McD game and considerably better than say Lucic and Eberle. But we don't know how long such a line would click, what opponents would do to slow it down etc. I tend to think physical play against this line is a more effective strategy for opponents than it would be if any of Maroon, Drai, or Lucic is on the line.
I wish we had more time to assess.
The other thought is that Chia is just pumping Nuges tires for trade in.
Really as good as Nuge has been in there I vastly prefer Maroon in there at a much cheaper contract and bringing more intangibles and punching donkeys. It is odd that we see no concern with slotting 6M buck winger in there on a regular basis and yet people felt that paying Maroon 3.5M for same complimenting winger role was untenable. Again as good as Nuge has been in there, and he has been, if you're shifting Nuge in there to be just 2nd wheel, and winger, on a McD line then you aren't getting full value of the player. Same thing obviously applies with Draisaitl who should be, and is, running his own line.
Finally, the success of Rattie on the line means that Mcd is of course pretty flexible and can elevate pts for a wide range of players that happen to have the requisite skill tools. But still Maroon has unique attributes and McD takes less physical punishment when Maroon is on the ice. This is of course a very salient thing to point out.
I think it was more the issue of Maroon not signing for 3.5. If youre Maroon why not try for a $4 mil contract at UFA. I think if Chia could have signed Maroon for $3.5 for 2 or 3 years he would still be on the team.
Yea its just me speculating but I can picture his agent telling him its his one chance to set him and his kid up long term for life.The terms and offer has not been on record afairc so we're all just guessing. In anycase I'm stating it hypothetically. It its 4 or more for Maroon then it makes more sense to retain Nuge for his flexibility and ability to play Center.
Call me stupid but I am 90% sure Lucic comes back next year to his former self and slots nicely in the 2nd LW spot. His positioning this year has still been great and that of a top 6 forward. If he works on getting lighter I'm sure he gets a step back the rest of his game will follow. Full confidence in him he is a smart guy it's one bad year we can't write him off yet as much as we are upset with his play. I'm a firm believer that because so much went wrong for him this year and the fact that the coach seemingly just kept trying to force him through it by keeping him on that first line effected him. He's still signed for a while so the Oilers really need to help him figure something out because you can't have a 6 million dollar guy underperforming throughout the rest of his contract.that being said there has to be a backup plan if he doesn't figure it out.
Also I would prefer seeing Yamamoto in the AHL all of next season along with Benson
Why not put Nuge with Drai? Connor has proven he can drive his own line, while Drai may require some additional help
Definitely keep RNH there . When Draisaitl signed his contract, he was signing up to carry his own line.
Even big RNH fans must be surprised to see him playing this well. Its not just the points either.
Its like playing with McDavid has rejuvenated some atrophied part of his hockey brain and it works again.
He's making plays these days that he hasn't even bothered trying for four, five years.
Looks faster, looks feistier. Making some sick passes too.
Not a chance Chiarelli can trade him now.
I don't get this either.
Its the Drai needs to carry his own line and play with lightweight dolts like Cagg and Aberg all day who look like swatted flies in own zone, but we can load up top line with 18.5M in two players. Meanwhile Drai gets to see the same tough sledding opponents while carrying tweener NHLers around the ice.
Any Quality Center needs one Winger that is at least capable of playing 200 ft hockey and has requisite skill for puck possession. You can't have both wingers that can't hack it.
I don't get this either.
Its the Drai needs to carry his own line and play with lightweight dolts like Cagg and Aberg all day who look like swatted flies in own zone, but we can load up top line with 18.5M in two players. Meanwhile Drai gets to see the same tough sledding opponents while carrying tweener NHLers around the ice.
Any Quality Center needs one Winger that is at least capable of playing 200 ft hockey and has requisite skill for puck possession. You can't have both wingers that can't hack it.
They should try Puljujarvi on Drai's line. They put up really good numbers in the limited amount of time they've played together. Then have a speedy guy like Aberg that also has a good shot. Need speed on Drai's wings for games he doesn't feel like skating.