I hope you're right but I don't see it unfortunately.
San Jose, Vegas, and Calgary remain much better than us on paper.
St, Louis, Colorado, Nashville and Dallas should be locks in the other conference.
The last playoff spot should be a toss up between Winnipeg (who I think will be significantly worse and is seeing their window slam shut) Minnesota, Chicago, Arizona, Vancouver, and us. The only "no hope at all" team I see is LA.
Chicago will be really interesting. They've got a nice mix of vets and youth and played some really good hockey down the stretch... but that said, it was only after they were miles out of it and they'll give up a ton more chances than the Isles did. Curious to see how Lehner holds up in a more "trade chances" style defence.
Must be just about September. The board has optimism again! It’s been the same thing for about 12 out of the last 13 seasons.
I got crucified last year about this time saying there was no way we had a playoff team because we had no offensive depth. One guy offered to bet me real money in one of the threads.
This year though I think our depth has improved, but we still don’t have the players up front outside of our big 3 to put us in, to me we are 2 45-55 point wingers away from being a playoff team. I don’t think your getting that from Kassian, Neal, or Chiasson this year so we will again be searching for top 6 players that can actually offensively impact a game.
Goal scoring was a bit of an issue last season but it wasnt the worst problem. They were 4th in the Pacific for GF and thats with a bottom 6 that was so bad it will likely never be repeated. So I expect them to be 3rd in the Pacific this season in GF.
Their biggest problem is GA and its funny because every single poster that predicts another underwhelming season never accounts for that.
A system makes a world of difference in terms of GA and I see that being a massive turnaround next season.
To be fair, pretty much every team above us has a bonafide starting goaltender and we're stuck with two goalies that had a worse SV% than more goalies than there are teams in the league.
Many teams above us also have #1Ds. Which teams in the West can you name have a worse goalie and a worse top defenceman than us?
Systems definitely help, but they only work well if you have the personnel to execute.
I hear you my dude. Schwartz is a goalie-killer. Would love to have Mitch Korn and Piero Greco here instead.It’s more about returning his glove hand to pre-Schwartz levels. Every goalie that comes in here gradually has their glove hand coached into oblivion by Schwartz.
Scrivens, Talbot, Koskinen.
It’s like clockwork.
I dont agree with that. Smith was ultimately the better goalie in Calgary which is why he was the starter in the playoffs.
With Smith gone I dont see how they improved their goaltending and the Oilers got worse getting Smith.
Regarding the #1 D...how did that help Calgary in the playoffs?
A strong system can make an average team good and a weak system can make a good team average.
A strong system isnt supplemental as you are suggesting...its critical.
That #1 defenceman helped them get the top seed in the division while ours has his annual injury while we finished 2nd last. Their defence and system wasnt why they got bounced early, it's because Gaudreau isn't a big game player and their offensive guys ran dry.
Smith wasn't the goalie that got them in the playoffs.
If EDM can stay healthy and the young players can actually step up and contribute consistently, I think so. But if any one of those two don't end up happening, I don't think so.My first ever thread guys so don't judge me, I joined this great board last year and I love it so I am going to make a contribution, even if it is dumb.
Okay guys... I will make a prediction right now... If I am wrong, ban me for whatever you guys think is appropriate. I believe that the Edmonton Oilers will make the playoffs next year
Actually Smith was the goalie that got them into the playoffs...and kept them in the series.
When the heat got turned up...Riitich wilted.
Its fine if you have your own reasons for not liking Smith but dont try to invent things.
Secondly...the reason Calgary lost wasnt due to 1 player...thats a ridiculous over simplification.
It sounds to me like you didnt even watch the series.
In what way did Smith get them into the playoffs? I'm not denying that he looked great in the Avs series. I'm not sure what you think I invented?
I didn't say it was due to one player, perhaps you missed the part where I said their offensive players ran dry. Gaudreau had one assist in 5 games. Do you really want to argue that he can't be blamed?
I watched 3 series in the first round, and that was one of them. I saw Gaudreau smashing his stick in frustration in the elimination game when the Flames were forcing him the puck and he couldn't do a thing with it.
If you watched the series then you know that Colorado badly outskated the Flames. Puck possession was also a factor. Smith was the only reason that series wasnt a sweep for Colorado.
Also...if you watched the Flames in the last 20 games of the season then you know that Smith was clearly the better goalie. Thats why he started in the playoffs.
As I said...Ritcih wilted when the games became tougher.
So again...I dont understand why you would claim Calgarys goaltending improved with Smiths departure and Talbots arrival.
Ok, I guess I didn't watch the series? Even though I hadn't denied any of that?.
Smith won 10 of his last 20 games. Sure, that 0.500 was what squeaked them into the playoffs. If you say so. And I didn't say Calgary improved their goaltending, you're now the one inventing things.
You claimed it was primarily Gaudreau and offense. Hard to score when you dont have the puck.
You said....Which teams in the West can you name have a worse goalie?
Calgary was my example and yet you choose to push back on that.
Compare Smiths save percentage to Ritich in the last part of the season. That will give you an idea of who the better goalie was when the games tightened up.
You're acting as if Calgary losing the series can be pinpointed to one thing. Isn't it possible that we can both be right?
And I also said to name a team with a worse goalie and worse top defenceman.
Rittich/Giordano > Smith or Koskinen/Klefbom
Do you disagree?
Rittich played and won more games than Smith last season. In my books, I'd consider him the Flames starter last season. And yes, I think he's better than Smith and Koskinen.
I am simply suggesting to you that the system is a bigger deal than you are portraying. Its not an add on...its the core.
A strong system can compensate for deficiencies. Thats been proven time and time again.
As for goaltending....Rittich is unproven when the games get tough. Smith isnt.
Regarding the playoff series. When you dont have the puck you are going to struggle on offense. So the reason for the struggling offence was a lack of puck possession and opportunities.
Colorado skated the Flames and their defence into the ice.
Jets and Hawks are the only thing I’d switch up here.I admire the belief. I hope it happens.
Pessimistic though I am, I promise I'd be just as happy as the optimists.
As it is, I predict we miss again unfortunately.
How I see it shaking out prediction-wise with one line reasons...
Central
Preds - 1st Place - IN - Topped the division last year. GA did not suffer without Subban. GF and league worst PP addressed with Duchene.
Blues - 2nd Place - IN - They've found a cup-winning playing style, identity and a goalie. Out to prove it's no fluke
Stars - 3rd Place - IN - Unreal goaltending, top 5 defense in the league. Tangible, productive veteran top 6 help added with Pavelski.
Avs - 4th Place - IN - Easily league best off-season, effortlessly added a 2nd line. Squeaked in last year, but primed to play today's fast NHL.
Hawks - 5th Place - IN - Played excellent hockey down the stretch post coaching change and Lehner is going steal them a playoff spot.
Jets - 6th Place - OUT - Their D-core just got nuked. Lost key players everywhere (Tanev/Lemieux/Hayes/Myers/Trouba). Can they afford both RFA's?
Wild - 7th Place - OUT - Just too much going in the wrong direction from a poor, short, damaging GM run.
Pacific
Sharks - 1st Place - IN - Arguably the 2 best producing defensemen in the league to go with a long history of successful, consistent top 9 efforts.
Vegas - 2nd Place - IN - Like the Blues, they have a well coached identity/style that they play with to perfection. Shafted by zebras last year in round 1.
Flames - 3rd Place - IN - No key changes to a 1st place team last year. Top 9 solid, and Giordano's the real deal (puked typing that).
Yotes - 4th Place - OUT - Team has literally one problem (scoring). A team with no firepower added Kessel and can repeat that GA w/o blinking.
Nucks - 5th Place - OUT - Kids on ELC's actually contributing. Myers. Hughes/Pettersson 2 of the most exciting kids at their positions in the league.
Oilers - 6th Place - OUT - Another off-season (yes handcuffed) w/o proven, substantial additions to our top 6 F or top 4 D. Relying on lots of "ifs" again.
Ducks - 7th Place - OUT - Did literally nothing. Old core getting older still. No kids capable of replacing prime Getzlaf/Perry/Kesler. And Eakins.
Kings - 8th Place - OUT - Just an aged out core. The vets will string together some wins, but this team needs to rebuild hard.
Lol... you really ARE an HFOiler fan then. At least you've admitted it. lol
This is exactly what I mean. It's one thing to just say 'I think we'll be a playoff team' but I'd love for these posters to explain which teams we're better than and why.
We're nowhere near The top-3 seeds lasts year, so we're competing for 2 spots with
2 of Stars (improved with Pavelski and a year older defensive core), Blues (just won the cup), Avalanche (an emerging division favorite in the Central) and Jets & Preds who are in the same category as CGY/SJ/VGK.
Then you have Chicago and Arizona who finished ahead of us last season with their starting goalies out virtually the entire season, and the Yotes acquired Kessel and Schmaltz I'm the process.
On paper we're arguably worse than last year's roster. I can't see the logic.