Do the Edmonton Oilers make the playoffs this season?

[Young Lions*]

I figure they finish the season around the 80 point mark and improve their goal differential by 20 or so goals.

 

[nabob]

I think the point is that Hall vs Lucic is basically a wash defensively/offensively. One is better at offense... the other is better at defense.

Looking at their advanced stats (GF vs GA) over the past 3 seasons 5 on 5... Hall was better than his teammates by 8.6% and Lucic was better than his teammates by 7.9%... and Hall actually faced slightly tougher competition than Lucic... by 1%... so the spread between Hall and Lucic compared to their respective teammates actually favours Hall slightly.

You can argue Hall played with poorer linemates so the bar was slightly lower for Hall to exceed that of his teammates... so that gap may close up a bit... but basically it's a wash between Hall and Lucic and the only difference is "intangibles"... whether that translates to an actually difference in goals for/against and wins remains to be seen.

The real difference is Larsson who is one of the best young, defensively sound dmen in the league and his addition should definitely help move the arrow of improvement in the right direction.. BUT that is adding just a net effect of 1 player (so far) and I don't think it's enough to make the playoffs a reality... unless Charelli has more coming which is a possibility.

A healthy Klefbom will be another top 4 Dman. Subtracting Schultz is another huge positive, Puljujarvi could surprise a lot of people the kid is a legit 5star talent, McDavid and Drai are a year older as well, Maroon will have a full season to provide solid 3rd line play, Poo is healthy and was a very effective 2nd liner since signing before getting hurt, Kassian has had a full summer to be clean and train. Lots of reasons to be optimistic at the start of the season this year, but theres always that dark cloud over the team because the Oilers always seem to find a way to Oiler.

Hopefully Chia can add a guy with a shot for the PP from the point.

 

[Gone]

We are definitely making the playoffs, with about 100 points. I also think we finish atop the Pacific Division.

McDavid will lead the league in scoring with Draisatl not far behind.

Two biggest disappointments will be RNH and Eberle.

 

[Alawishis]

We are definitely making the playoffs, with about 100 points. I also think we finish atop the Pacific Division.

McDavid will lead the league in scoring with Draisatl not far behind.

Two biggest disappointments will be RNH and Eberle.

Bold prediction there Nostradamus.

 

[oljimmy]

Bold prediction there Nostradamus.

 

[Jumptheshark]

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=2101075&page=4&highlight=

still sy yes

oops--thought I said oilers would just be on the outside

 

[JohnnyBerts]

I always liked Chiarelli and McLellan so it was a matter of time that the Oil turned it around. The thing is that while they are a better team, it's all McDavid with a sprinkle of Draisatl and a pinch of Talbot. Although finally seeing how poor Hall-RNH-Eberle (insert Yakupov) were, it's hard to fault the old management when top rated picks just don't pan out.

 

[rboomercat90]

I always liked Chiarelli and McLellan so it was a matter of time that the Oil turned it around. The thing is that while they are a better team, it's all McDavid with a sprinkle of Draisatl and a pinch of Talbot. Although finally seeing how poor Hall-RNH-Eberle (insert Yakupov) were, it's hard to fault the old management when top rated picks just don't pan out.

One of the many disappointing things with the old management group was their refusal to see that core of players wasn't going to work. For me, there were red flags with that group going back as far as the lockout season when they couldn't win in the AHL.

 

[ujju2]

I always liked Chiarelli and McLellan so it was a matter of time that the Oil turned it around. The thing is that while they are a better team, it's all McDavid with a sprinkle of Draisatl and a pinch of Talbot. Although finally seeing how poor Hall-RNH-Eberle (insert Yakupov) were, it's hard to fault the old management when top rated picks just don't pan out.

Development is a real thing, you know.

 

[BlowbyBlow]

Bold prediction there Nostradamus.

I also said 25-30 point increase (95-100) points I cited that Hall cost them about 10+ games and then having Klefbom would help.

 

[Gone]

Bold prediction there Nostradamus.

I am glad someone noticed!

 

[Arpeggio]

I also said 25-30 point increase (95-100) points I cited that Hall cost them about 10+ games and then having Klefbom would help.

Solid prediction, awful logic.

 

[McShogun99]

One of the many disappointing things with the old management group was their refusal to see that core of players wasn't going to work. For me, there were red flags with that group going back as far as the lockout season when they couldn't win in the AHL.

It's it that the core players are bad players, they were just a collection of soft players with similar skill sets. You need a variety of players to win. That's why Maroon does so well with Mcdavid.

 

[CornKicker]

0ilerman, 2ndGenIslander, 6ix, 87Oiler, AddyTheWrath, Aerrol, Avenger*, Bcsw721, Beetle, BlackMcDog, bolobow, Broilers, Buffalo In A Carwash, CantHaveTkachev, Canucks1096, Danny__K, Dempsey, Draw Me a McElephant, drewshoo, dss97, Faryn, Flamesjustwin, Gone, Gord, Halibut, HermMunster, Hoodaha, Hugo McStiglitz, I am Lorde, I am the Liquor, Ill Woods, J4M13M, Jephman, JJTopper, JohnnyBadNews, JonathanK, Kodiak64, korqeldroma, Krnage, Logical McNonsense, Lowball, Lucbourdon, Mach97, mapletank, McJadeddog, McMatty, Mcnotloilersfan, McPoolParty, MisterD, MK9, MoneyGuy, NegativeNelly, NoTradeClause, Nugey McNugeson, oilblue, OilDrop37, Oilers93, OilerTyler, OneMoreAstronaut, ORR2Sanderson2ORR, Proko88, Quality McOil, Quokka, Redbarchettayyz, Replacement*, ResilientBeast, RoboNerdOK, Robotdanceparty, rockinghockey, RowdyMcPfeifer, royboi, ScrillaVilla, Senor Catface, Sniper99, Spawn, Stud Muffin, Tarus, thadd, The Bored Man, TKB21, Tyrolean, Weitz, Xelebes

all wrong

 

[Kodiak64]

all wrong

I think I speak for everyone on that list when I say that in this case I'm incredibly happy to be wrong.

 

[Tw0Shoes]

I think I speak for everyone on that list when I say that in this case I'm incredibly happy to be wrong.

I think "Flamesjustwin" disagrees with you.

 

[MoneyGuy]

all wrong

Yes!!! I made the list.

Unlike Replacement I stuck around for the ire and humiliation.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Yes!!! I made the list.

Unlike Replacement I stuck around for the ire and humiliation.

Well, you know he was... removed, right?

 

[oilwave]

Shocked to see I voted yes at the beginning of the season. Normally I'm much more pessimistic than that, must've been a good day!

 

[Faelko]

I think I speak for everyone on that list when I say that in this case I'm incredibly happy to be wrong.

Yup, you do!

 

[ujju2]

Well, you know he was... removed, right?

He was assassina.... mghph... (cue silence)

 

[OneMoreAstronaut]

Years of embarrassment kept me cautiously pessimistic to start the season, what can I say.

 

[MoneyGuy]

Well, you know he was... removed, right?

Nope, didn't know that.

Well, I did because I checked his profile and it's gone.No idea why.

 

[The Batman]

Nope, didn't know that.

Well, I did because I checked his profile and it's gone.No idea why.

I miss reading his posts.

 

[MoneyGuy]

I miss reading his posts.

Maybe he died and Mrs. Replacement had those words engraved on his tombstone.