Player Discussion Ryan and Kane's post-game comments and the psyche of the team

[gordonhught]

Tippett was just a disaster after COVID hit. Seemed to lose all motivation to actually coach.

You are too kind. I just think he was coaching badly and it finally caught up with him. But maybe you are right.

 

[Cloned]

You are too kind. I just think he was coaching badly and it finally caught up with him. But maybe you are right.

He was pretty good the first 40% of the first season here. Then pretty average for about the next 20% before COVID hit, and then disastrous after that.

 

[gordonhught]

Woodcroft has cut the even strength and 5-on-5 minutes for McDavid and Draisaitl so far.

EV TOI/game with Tippett
McDavid: 18:44
Draisaitl: 18:16

EV TOI/game with Woodcroft
McDavid: 16:05
Draisaitl: 16:10

5-on-5 TOI/game with Tippett
McDavid: 17:04
Draisaitl: 16:44

5-on-5 TOI/game with Woodcroft
McDavid: 14:53
Draisaitl: 14:32

Their overall minutes are still probably a little too high, but that would be due to PP time. Their unit isn't scoring right now, so they are out for longer shifts. Under Woodcroft their PP time/game is about 35 seconds more than it was under Tippett.

Draisaitl has also gone from 0:45/game on the PK for Tippett to 1:45/game for Woodcroft.

Yea, not a big fan of Drai on the PK.

 

[snipes]

Add Foegele comments as well from a few days ago.

It's a novel concept in Edmonton that you need a TEAM to win. Glad we have Woody here who seems to know that and manage his bench accordingly.

Look what he was able to do with AHL teams that lacked the talent of some of the other teams in the AHL, he got the absolute most out of his teams.

 

[Snipes45]

Let’s see if we can get you another vacation.
Hmm. Which buttons to push …

Even on lurking mode, I never ever visit the mains. Cesspool. I just stay here.

 

[gordonhught]

Even on lurking mode, I never ever visit the mains. Cesspool. I just stay here.

Stay safe

 

[Snipes45]

Stay safe

Thanks. Man I get such a laugh from that signature picture you have lol

 

[SwedishFire]

Another highly revisionist thread. The moment Tippett had Kane on the roster he went to the 3 line format. Given a healty lineup that was going to result in some minutes sharing and already was. Was just a matter of sorting out what configs worked and RNH was already being dropped into 3rd line roles.

As far as Kane he's known nothing other than the 3 scoring line format here.

Now if people want to give credit, take a look more at the 11forward 7D lineup. That is a bit more of a change, but also was tried out at times under Tippett.

Nemo was also in the lineup prior, and playing well prior. Mcleod was also in the topsix prior, and playing well prior.

As much as people wnat to make the changes all about the new coaching staff, some of the changes were already occurring.

Finally we haven't played any top rank team yet under Woodcroft, and 3 of the teams we've played are weaksauce. Next week we are about to see how some of the new format and minutes sharing works. Everything that people think is crystal clear today, it may not be so clear in a weeks time. Several vet coaches in a row loaded McDrai/Nurse minutes because they are great playres with great conditioning who can be double shifted.

Yes, amd all Woodcrofts new management of lines and such is a psycological move, doing those things that realeses energy kn the team.
He saw that some players felt closed and locked in the former system, so he did the moves what realesed their mojo - playing a moee even, distrubuted way.
I like that, that he has the brain for those changes.

Now, Oilers also has the depth to play three lines ( and had whome season), and hence why its a smart move to distribute icetime like this. Former years, they hadnt this depth.

This was Tippets big miss, and what got him fired. The poor playerhandling.

Decreasing bottom6 icetime, treat them poorly with heavy defensive roles, and then let them get a lot of heat.

 

[SwedishFire]

Woodcroft has cut the even strength and 5-on-5 minutes for McDavid and Draisaitl so far.

EV TOI/game with Tippett
McDavid: 18:44
Draisaitl: 18:16

EV TOI/game with Woodcroft
McDavid: 16:05
Draisaitl: 16:10

5-on-5 TOI/game with Tippett
McDavid: 17:04
Draisaitl: 16:44

5-on-5 TOI/game with Woodcroft
McDavid: 14:53
Draisaitl: 14:32

Their overall minutes are still probably a little too high, but that would be due to PP time. Their unit isn't scoring right now, so they are out for longer shifts. Under Woodcroft their PP time/game is about 35 seconds more than it was under Tippett.

Draisaitl has also gone from 0:45/game on the PK for Tippett to 1:45/game for Woodcroft.

The PP and PK was one of the big reaoms for the loosing streak. If the change is to triple up Draisaitls Pk time to stop it bleeding, aint bode well.
Isnr Ryan bought in to be a major PK specialist? Now, no hate on the guy, but we cant really have the best goalscorer in the league as a top Pk. If he isnt is a goalscoring killer in that format?

While PP also suck, I think woodcraft just could soreas PP time 50/50. All regulars are NHLers, and NHLers are good players, so why not make a competition between the lines.

PP1 McDraisaitl, Kane, Nuge Bouchard.
PP2 MacLeod, Hyman, Pulj, Nurse, Barrie

 

[Jumptheshark]

Oilers have more backbone now to not give up when they are down

 

[Stoneman89]

Both Ryan and Kane in their post game comments eluded to the fact that the NHL is not like the NBA and having two great players is not going to lead to success.

Under previous coaches, it was easy to feel like that the bottom six were never doing enough. I think a huge part of that was when you have players like McDrai, and the coach is relying so heavily on them, the other players start doing the same thing. It doesn't help that you know you're never getting a PP chance, and your minutes will always be limited. There would be no accountability, as far as they're concerned, to contribute to the success of the team, just be plugs and take up time when McDrai are resting.

I can't think of another coach who has distributed ice time like Woodcroft is doing right now. Going to PP2 to start a powerplay was huge, and that's a normal thing to happen on an NHL team, whereas it came as a shock to anyone who watches the Oilers regularly.

I get that it's a small sample size, but I can't recall any other coaching change resulting in meaningful changes like this beyond the Xs and Os.

Let's hope they can keep it rolling.

This was the biggest downfall of Tipp, IMO. Went with the big guns far too much, which ultimately cost him too things. Tiring them out, and rendering the rest of the roster useless and underappreciated. The very definition of "not a team". Ryan, likely more than any other player, is now benefiting from increased ice time, and really becoming a valuable piece. And to a lesser extent, this new value runs through the entire lineup now.