Fourier
Registered User
I agree 100% with this post. I am sure that he knows that a buyout is coming but he has not made himself into an issue. It is refreshing to see that in a player these days.
Hawks 4 Oilers 3 in OT
- Thread starter CantHaveTkachev
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I agree 100% with this post. I am sure that he knows that a buyout is coming but he has not made himself into an issue. It is refreshing to see that in a player these days.
Agreed! Unfortunately there really is no way for him to get out of town. It's unreasonable to expect him to retire voluntarily. Not buying Ference out at the start of the season was Chia's biggest mistake this off-season IMO. It looks like one of the young D will have to be sent down when they all have shown they are developing here on the big team.
I guess this means we'll have a little more cap space in 2017-18, but at what cost this season? LTIR seems like the only possibility. Is slow and pylon-like an actual injury?
How would he make himself into an issue? I'm guessing no reporters are asking him questions in the locker room. Does he even have a spot in the locker room anymore? Unfortunately, Ference never played like a true NHLer at any time here in Edmonton. Athletes very quickly lose their bully pulpit when they can't play the game anymore.
I guess he can be commended for not behaving petulantly. Although that should be a given IMO. Perhaps that behaviour was self-interested as it avoided him being bought out before the start of this season?
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Bangers
Registered User
- May 31, 2006
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Agreed! Unfortunately there really is no way for him to get out of town. It's unreasonable to expect him to retire voluntarily. Not buying Ference out at the start of the season was Chia's biggest mistake this off-season IMO. It looks like one of the young D will have to be sent down when they all have shown they are developing here on the big team.
I guess this means we'll have a little more cap space in 2017-18, but at what cost this season? LTIR seems like the only possibility. Is slow and pylon-like an actual injury?
How would he make himself into an issue? I'm guessing no reporters are asking him questions in the locker room. Does he even have a spot in the locker room anymore? Unfortunately, Ference never played like a true NHLer at any time here in Edmonton. Athletes very quickly lose their bully pulpit when they can't play the game anymore.
I guess he can be commended for not behaving petulantly. Although that should be a given IMO. Perhaps that behaviour was self-interested as it avoided him being bought out before the start of this season?
Nikitin should have been bought out this past offseason. Buying out Ference would have hit the cap for 4 years; really, it is better for the team to ride out this year of his contract and buy him out next offseason.
Well then, nice to wake up this morning reading posts about the human qualitys of a hockey player that had absolutely nothing to do with last nights game, or most of the games this season. Very refreshing. 
Anyways, I happened to miss the first 1 1/2 periods last night because of other things. Did the Oilers look as good as they did all game, or was it just the third? It was 1-0 at the point I began to watch.
Anyways, I happened to miss the first 1 1/2 periods last night because of other things. Did the Oilers look as good as they did all game, or was it just the third? It was 1-0 at the point I began to watch.
I like Talbot more as well. I think it's more mental with him right now than physical. He had a very rough start to last season as well.
As you said, he's fundmentally sound and just seems to have a calmness about him that most good goalies have whereas Nilsson seems more jittery. His play has fallen off the rails the last couple of weeks but I wouldn't throw dirt on him just yet. I predict that he'll take over as starter by the new year.
Nikitin's buried though so he's not taking up a roster spot or a cap space. Since Katz doesn't have any issue paying him big bucks in the minors it is in the team's best interest not to have bought him out.
Two weeks ago I would have said F no, but Teddy has played well recently with the top line, I definitely like these three lines.
TheRebuild
Bold as Boognish
The NHL really needs to reconsider some of their hiring policies. I understand that there should definitely be equal employment opportunities provided to people with disabilities.
But they really need to stop hiring all these blind refs.
But they really need to stop hiring all these blind refs.
I am the Liquor
ABK
- Oct 15, 2008
- 40,456
- 5,499
Paralyzer
Hyman >>> Matthews
No, he's a consultant for NHL players. So he has no affiliation with any team.
If I'm reading your "Yodaish" correctly, it may be referring to Teddy Purcell. Yesterday on the Oilers site, his (I think pregame) interview was partly about Purcy changing his game to fit better and that he had Oates as a trainer for it or something like that.
popo
Registered User
- Aug 9, 2005
- 494
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Klefbom looked bad for the first few games after missing pre-season.
Purcell also took a while to find his game after missing pre-season.
So I will give Eberle a bit of leeway to find his game again. He has shown flashes, but I expect him to be much better after a few more games.
Purcell also took a while to find his game after missing pre-season.
So I will give Eberle a bit of leeway to find his game again. He has shown flashes, but I expect him to be much better after a few more games.
Replacement*
Checked out
In the Talbot thread I discuss how he saw too much action between October 1-31 and culminating in the bad Calgary game. Going though that stretch you can see where giving him too much action in a short window of time wasn't the best thing.
McLellan has a temptation (stated) to run with one horse and WANTS to do that. Nillson got parked after the Caps game. mistakes all around.
Also Nillson got some easier games to ease him back in after the Caps debacle. Talbot gets games against the Hawks and Kings. For my money the two best teams in the league.
Frank the Tank
The Godfather
I have watched both Oilers-Blackhawks games in the presence of Hawks fans that I play rec hockey with. They haven't watched the Oilers outside these two games, and they all wonder how the Oilers have a 6-12-1 record because they agree that Crawford stole 4 points for the Hawks.
I take this as a positive sign because these guys are used to watching a good hockey team here in Chicago and this is the first time they admit Edmonton appears to be playing the type of game it takes to win in the Western Conference - meaning the Hawks had a solid game and yet the Oilers were able to hang right there with them and probably deserved a better fate, if it were not for Crawford playing very well.
I take this as a positive sign because these guys are used to watching a good hockey team here in Chicago and this is the first time they admit Edmonton appears to be playing the type of game it takes to win in the Western Conference - meaning the Hawks had a solid game and yet the Oilers were able to hang right there with them and probably deserved a better fate, if it were not for Crawford playing very well.
The Nuge
Some say…
He really is a class act. He said he would accept whatever role he was given, and he has my utmost respect for following through with it.
Replacement*
Checked out
Sometimes theres a very fine line between winning and losing. Crawford was undoubtedly much more help than Nillson but that's an appreciable part of the puzzle. The Oilers still find moments to make mistakes that end up in losing games. For instance what on Earth could two players be thinking, Eberle, and Nuge, lazy skating back to the bench in 3 on 3 play. I don't care if you're dead beat at that point and can hardly feel your legs. There has to be more sense of urgency and the worst thing is you kind of know it was an attention lapse in detail. Players almost forgetting that if they both jump off late theres 1 player left on the ice..
Sometimes I think we lose because this team is just chock full of stupid.
Frank the Tank
The Godfather
Sometimes theres a very fine line between winning and losing. Crawford was undoubtedly much more help than Nillson but that's an appreciable part of the puzzle. The Oilers still find moments to make mistakes that end up in losing games. For instance what on Earth could two players be thinking, Eberle, and Nuge, lazy skating back to the bench in 3 on 3 play. I don't care if you're dead beat at that point and can hardly feel your legs. There has to be more sense of urgency and the worst thing is you kind of know it was an attention lapse in detail. Players almost forgetting that if they both jump off late theres 1 player left on the ice..
Sometimes I think we lose because this team is just chock full of stupid.
I agree (and I think McLellan does as well based on his press conference comments lately). Unlike the Eakins regime, the Oilers now are playing a team game that will allow them to win games; however, key mistakes are still being made that have cost the team numerous points this season. They are painful lessons to learn, and I think the players are finally in the proper environment to learn these lessons without having the spirit beat out of them. Eliminating dumb mistakes while playing the system effectively will be the next step in the evolution of this team and I expect two steps forward, one step back all season.
Completely agreed.
I think this team is going through the last stage of the process. (I know shades of Eakins.) They are learning how to win. There have been many nights this season that the team deserved a better fate than they came out with. I can't recall the last season you could say that about the Oilers.
Many, many players have taken positive steps forward this season. The wins will come.
Sometimes theres a very fine line between winning and losing. Crawford was undoubtedly much more help than Nillson but that's an appreciable part of the puzzle. The Oilers still find moments to make mistakes that end up in losing games. For instance what on Earth could two players be thinking, Eberle, and Nuge, lazy skating back to the bench in 3 on 3 play. I don't care if you're dead beat at that point and can hardly feel your legs. There has to be more sense of urgency and the worst thing is you kind of know it was an attention lapse in detail. Players almost forgetting that if they both jump off late theres 1 player left on the ice..
Sometimes I think we lose because this team is just chock full of stupid.
Combine the Oilers being super skilled at finding ways to lose, with a team that is super skilled at finding ways to win (even when they don't deserve it) and you get last night.
ResilientBeast
Proud Member of the TTSAOA
McPuritania
LucicDestroyedHaley
Well then, nice to wake up this morning reading posts about the human qualitys of a hockey player that had absolutely nothing to do with last nights game, or most of the games this season. Very refreshing.
Anyways, I happened to miss the first 1 1/2 periods last night because of other things. Did the Oilers look as good as they did all game, or was it just the third? It was 1-0 at the point I began to watch.
The Oilers outplayed the Hakws all night. Pretty much the only time the Hawks got any chances were the ones they scored on.
Fourier
Registered User
My mistake. You are right. I forgot the changes in the new CBA.
What is the deal? They save $950K by burying him, but not his entire salary.
It's Nilsson - and he's definitely not a great goalie, but the best option we have right now until Talbot decides to stop letting in 1-2 softies every game.
