Connor McDavid has 150 EVP (and counting) over these past 2 seasons, 30 more than 2nd place Kane.

[Filthy Dangles]

Can we just have one all purpose " McDavid isn't leading in scoring because other players unfairly load up on PP points" thread?

When I create the Connor McDavid is your 2017/18 Art Ross Champion (and EVP point leader ) I will make sure to let you know right away with HF's shoutout feature.

 

[SullivanT]

NHL reffing is not about calling the actual calls. It's about "game management". Refs believe they've reffed a "good game" when they don't interfere too much in it.

The problem for them with a player like McDavid is he draws so many probable penalties due to his speed and unrelenting attack style that it puts NHL refs into a dilemma where they can't (or more accurately don't want to) call clear penalties continually so he's reffed at a different standard.

Not that this is really IMO even the main issue with the Oilers this year, but I definitely think something is up when the Oilers are on pace for the least penalties drawn in something like 30+ years yet you have McDavid who plays big minutes and basically is attack, attack, attack, every shift.

To me though McLellan/Woodcroft's inept PP is more of a problem though.

If this is the case why is there so many game changing soft calls against the Oilers while they struggle to get a call on brutally blatant ones. I really would like to understand what Edmonton did to piss off the officials so much. I know us fans are wired to complain a out officiating and getting into the game alitbof it is undeserved towards the officials. That being said since the playoffs last season the Oilers haven't been treated equal to their opposition. It has cone to the point that even the media is starting to question wtf is going on.

 

[Soundwave]

If this is the case why is there so many game changing soft calls against the Oilers while they struggle to get a call on brutally blatant ones. I really would like to understand what Edmonton did to piss off the officials so much. I know us fans are wired to complain a out officiating and getting into the game alitbof it is undeserved towards the officials. That being said since the playoffs last season the Oilers haven't been treated equal to their opposition. It has cone to the point that even the media is starting to question wtf is going on.

It's not an intentional bias IMO, but McLellan does not complain or stick up for his team either, which is a horrendous trait for a head coach.

Cam Talbot had to blow up in the media about the video reviews going against the Oilers, once he did that, lo and behold the Oilers win three video reviews in a row.

That should be the coach's job to do that, it's embarrassing the goalie had to risk getting fined to stand up for the team while the coach sits there silent.

Refs don't want to call penalties, you have to stand up for your team, it's part of being a good coach, IMO McLellan doesn't do that. Tortorella would lose his damn mind on the refs if this was happening on his team lol.

 

[daver]

Not just that, if a player kills it on the pp one year and his team had lots of opportunities and the next season their team ends up with the least amount of pp's, it would affect their point totals.

Do you have any examples of players like this? All of this "ES points rules!" stuff is hypothetical. It's same as "A player who does well at ES is better in the playoffs than a PP specialist" We have no idea if this is true in McDavid's case, it wasn't last year. Kucherov was great at ES in the playoffs in 15 and 16 but now he is only ahead of McDavid because his team's PP is better.

 

[Fourier]

For much of the year the Oilers pp seemed to be designed to do one thing...get Letestu a chance for a one timer. The whole first unit was almost completely static in the offensive zone. McDavid on the RH wall Lucic somewhere near the net, Draisaitl down by the goal line or in the bump position and Letestu at the edge of the left hand circle. With Klefbom and Sekera both hurt there was no legitimate threat from the point so the Oilers pp was about as easy to defend as you could possibly imagine a unit with Connor McDavid on it could be.

The current set-up is very different. Lucic and Letestu out and Nuge and Strome in with Bear on the point. This unit is far more dynamic. Both Nuge and Strome move the puck very well and Bear has excellent instincts and a big shot even though he is very raw.

 

[Dondini]

Conair mcohlascage is da best

 

[Tweed]

Even Strength Points = ESP