Post-Game Talk: Oilers depth and hot Soup wins them a game!

[McShogun99]

1 point in a 5 goal game. We should trade this bum Mcdavid while he still has some value around the league. /s

What would we have to add to Mcdavid to get Matthews???

 

[nally]

I know the Coyotes want two 1sts and a prospect but I would try to push Kulak + 2023 1st + JP + Lavoie + 2024 2nd instead. Then you can run:

Nurse - Ceci
Chychrun - Barrie
Broberg - Bouchard
Desharnais

I understand the logic here...but wasn't Kulak a beast for us in the playoffs last year? He and Barrie were great, as I recall

 

[Mez]

I know the Coyotes want two 1sts and a prospect but I would try to push Kulak + 2023 1st + JP + Lavoie + 2024 2nd instead. Then you can run:

Nurse - Ceci
Chychrun - Barrie
Broberg - Bouchard
Desharnais

We desperately need to end the Nurse - Ceci top pairing though. Run Chych as 1RD? I have no idea if hes any good there.

 

[K1984]

We desperately need to end the Nurse - Ceci top pairing though. Run Chych as 1RD? I have no idea if hes any good there.

It's painful. At a minimum stop throwing them out with McDavid and Leon. Neither can make a pass if their life depended on it and it murders the breakout with them on the ice.

The shot metrics are night and day better with Connor and Leon playing with anyone other than Nurse-Ceci than with Nurse-Ceci. Like it isn't even close to the point that it's borderline infuriating that Woodcroft won't go off of it. McDavid and Leon have been getting caved 5v5 for a lot of reasons with the D pair they are saddled with a very big one.

 

[Soundwave]

Barrie stays, Ceci gets traded first.

Barrie, Bouchard, Chychrun is too many offensive players on a blue line I think. Ceci isn't exactly all world defensively but he's better than Barrie and cheaper.

 

[Ibanez]

Broberg looked sublime in the highlight package (missed the game). That first goal play... I haven't seen any of our D do that in a very long time.

Nurse looked... awful. Two near direct GAs.

Nurse is a prime example of why the NHL needs to get away from guaranteed contracts. Dude gets his payday and then regresses exponentially a year later. Tale as old as time in this league. Said it before and I’ll say it again. The league needs something more like the NFL where some of the money is guaranteed.

The league would be better because there would be so much competition for jobs and it’s easier to work with the money. It’s not perfect but how many 8 year boat anchor contracts are handed out in this league every year… Calgary did like 3 in one year…weegar. Huberdont and z Kadri. Yuck.

On the bright side. The nuge contract looks amazing and a rarity. The player takes a decent price and gets better. Keep it going nuge.

It's painful. At a minimum stop throwing them out with McDavid and Leon. Neither can make a pass if their life depended on it and it murders the breakout with them on the ice.

The shot metrics are night and day better with Connor and Leon playing with anyone other than Nurse-Ceci than with Nurse-Ceci. Like it isn't even close to the point that it's borderline infuriating that Woodcroft won't go off of it. McDavid and Leon have been getting caved 5v5 for a lot of reasons with the D pair they are saddled with a very big one.

Yea. This. Them with Leon an McDavid is a disaster.

If woody pairs McDavid and Leon together next game, dude can fist himself…it’s been a disaster for weeks now. And we have balance in our lineup. Frick I hate that man…

 

[Soundwave]

Nurse is a prime example of why the NHL needs to get away from guaranteed contracts. Dude gets his payday and then regresses exponentially a year later. Tale as old as time in this league. Said it before and I’ll say it again. The league needs something more like the NFL where some of the money is guaranteed.

The league would be better because there would be so much competition for jobs and it’s easier to work with the money. It’s not perfect but how many 8 year boat anchor contracts are handed out in this league every year… Calgary did like 3 in one year…weegar. Huberdont and z Kadri. Yuck.

On the bright side. The nuge contract looks amazing and a rarity. The player takes a decent price and gets better. Keep it going nuge.


Yea. This. Them with Leon an McDavid is a disaster.

If woody pairs McDavid and Leon together next game, dude can fist himself…it’s been a disaster for weeks now. And we have balance in our lineup. Frick I hate that man…

The NHLPA would never accept non-guaranteed contracts, it would cause a season+ lock out, but yeah. Maybe there should be less punitive buy out rules or something.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Didn't watch the game yet. Is it a should watch or not bother watching game? Tuned in for a minute in third period and it was a tight 3-2 game and Wings outshooting us. Looked at statline and it was -2 in Drai land. Indicative?

 

[Ibanez]

The NHLPA would never accept non-guaranteed contracts, it would cause a season+ lock out, but yeah. Maybe there should be less punitive buy out rules or something.

Oh for sure. I’m just talking pie in the sky stuff and how to make this league better. Would totally cause a lockout. But this league is a dumpster fire. It’s baaaaad. I personally wouldn’t mind a reset at some point. After McDavid retires

I think there was some stuff going around the other day about how viewership is down? Can anyone else confirm that? Was it legit? If so, the numbers don’t lie Mr Bettman. Your on ice product sucks donkey balls

 

[belair]

But that’s not exciting at all…

The Puljujarvi trade is the least exciting trade that we're going to make. He's moving for cap flexibility.

I doubt that people saw the Samo for Kostin deal as 'fun', too. Didn't take very long to pay dividends.

 

[Ibanez]

Didn't watch the game yet. Is it a should watch or not bother watching game? Tuned in for a minute in third period and it was a tight 3-2 game and Wings outshooting us. Looked at statline and it was -2 in Drai land. Indicative?

I mean I enjoyed it. Wasn’t our best game but it was enjoyable seeing VD Kostin and Kane get under the skin of the other team. Some sublime saves by Campbell too.

I say skip the first period though. It will not make you happy

 

[3IR]

No, he used to be a skill score type, but I think he's bounced around enough where he's trying to find his niche as a skilled agitator.

-----

I want to reiterate the point. Having Desharnais and Kostin (along with Kane and others) being the biggest, meanest guys in any scrum is a delight. This team feels a little bigger when these things happen and they're around to help.

Watching Desharnais in every scrum last night with a guy in each hand was hilarious. Even when he was already engaged with someone, he’d reach out and grab another.

He and Kostin and Kane were exactly what we needed last night.

 

[Oilers in NS]

Nice win by our depth. Huge positive sign going forward.

Evander Kane really brings a different dimension to this team.

I love Vinny Desharnais... he's been a revelation

Campbell is trending upwards for sure.

Agree on everything but I would like to bring light to Broberg. He is playing really good. Our best 2 dman IMO are Broberg and Desharnais

 

[Ibanez]

Watching Desharnais in every scrum last night with a guy in each hand was hilarious. Even when he was already engaged with someone, he’d reach out and grab another.

He and Kostin and Kane were exactly what we needed last night.

I love these three. Such a treat to watch. No one can mess with us. We have the firepower. Nurse is there too (but he’s mostly a teddy bear these days)

And apparently kulak likes to muck it up now lol?

I wish Mclovin was a bit more physical at times. Doesn’t need to fight but he’s a big body. Use it

Agree on everything but I would like to bring light to Broberg. He is playing really good. Our best 2 dman IMO are Broberg and Desharnais

Thank heavens broberg seems to be turning a corner. Was looking like a busy pick by Holland. D men can take so long to find their stride. He looks really smart out there. What’s funny is that he was known for his speed but it’s actually his intelligence with the puck im noticing

 

[Drivesaitl]

I mean I enjoyed it. Wasn’t our best game but it was enjoyable seeing VD Kostin and Kane get under the skin of the other team. Some sublime saves by Campbell too.

I say skip the first period though. It will not make you happy

Thanks. I'll take a look. Probably FF through the dull parts. Just read some comments, seems like the meekest people in all of Detroit must be playing for the Dead things. From what I heard Kostin, Kane and Desharnais were backing them off all game.

How could a team play in Detroit and be this meek? This is mean streets Detroit,

just another look at the statline. Bouch played 11EV minutes. What is he actually for, what does he actually do? If we could move this guy for an actual D with some brains I would drive him to the airport. Dumbest sack of hammers D i've seen here in years. He should be embarassed how easy Desharnais makes D look. Booch has been up for years and he's the worst D option on the club any night going. So bad you can hardly have him on the ice.

 

[K1984]

Thanks. I'll take a look. Probably FF through the dull parts. Just read some comments, seems like the meekest people in all of Detroit must be playing for the Dead things. From what I heard Kostin, Kane and Desharnais were backing them off all game.

How could a team play in Detroit and be this meek? This is mean streets Detroit,

just another look at the statline. Bouch played 11EV minutes. What is he actually for, what does he actually do? If we could move this guy for an actual D with some brains I would drive him to the airport. Dumbest sack of hammers D i've seen here in years. He should be embarassed how easy Desharnais makes D look. Booch has been up for years and he's the worst D option on the club any night going. So bad you can hardly have him on the ice.

The Red Wings got put in their place quite quickly in pretty much all of the scrums. There was one hilarious sequence where Hronek was flailing around the ice until Kostin got a hold of him by the cuff and basically told him to fight or calm down. Instantly stopped haha. Kane didn't do a ton on the ice in this game, but was extremely valuable as a shit disturber/physical presence. Even if he isn't scoring he's always doing something to make an impact.

With respect to Bouchard - I would start giving him opportunities to be on the ice with McDavid and Drai in place of Ceci on the top pair (assuming that Woodcroft won't take Nurse away from them). Short of McDavid and Leon not blowing the zone anymore (won't happen) they need a d man that can get them the puck and Ceci ain't it. Bouchard might help open that up a bit.

 

[Ibanez]

Thanks. I'll take a look. Probably FF through the dull parts. Just read some comments, seems like the meekest people in all of Detroit must be playing for the Dead things. From what I heard Kostin, Kane and Desharnais were backing them off all game.

How could a team play in Detroit and be this meek? This is mean streets Detroit,

just another look at the statline. Bouch played 11EV minutes. What is he actually for, what does he actually do? If we could move this guy for an actual D with some brains I would drive him to the airport. Dumbest sack of hammers D i've seen here in years. He should be embarassed how easy Desharnais makes D look. Booch has been up for years and he's the worst D option on the club any night going. So bad you can hardly have him on the ice.

Detroit was the most fake tough I’ve ever seen a team in awhile. Franzen and Chelios would be sad…

As for bouch. I agree with the post below this. I just don’t think he’s deployed in the right situations. I really fundamentally believe we would regret trading him long term. I really do. But I know he’s frustrating to watch night in and out. He needs the right d partner and the righter forwards. I’m in the camp that really thinks we need to wait it out for him. That said. If there really was the right package im not opposed if it really improves the team. He’s such an enigma

 

[Drivesaitl]

Well those classless mongrels had this to say about Kane:

"He is the one player I wouldn't mind seeing him getting a career ending injury."

"While i was never rooting for any sort of injury prior, must admit getting his hand chopped off would've been karmic justice in a way. I imagine all the casinos and various exes would've done exactly that if given the opportunity. In some countries, for what he's done it would be the price! Just saying."

Pretty gross shit if you ask me.

The low bar keeps getting lowered I see. Shelbyville really has some problems.

Detroit was the most fake tough I’ve ever seen a team in awhile. Franzen and Chelios would be sad…

As for bouch. I agree with the post below this. I just don’t think he’s deployed in the right situations. I really fundamentally believe we would regret trading him long term. I really do. But I know he’s frustrating to watch night in and out. He needs the right d partner and the righter forwards. I’m in the camp that really thinks we need to wait it out for him. That said. If there really was the right package im not opposed if it really improves the team. He’s such an enigma

Good reply. I'm probably just reacting. I get tired of Bouch from time to time but this just seems like a really nothing season from him. Good thing offensively Barrie has been great. There just isn't a noted contribution or niche we get at all for Bouch. I mean even if he honed his game from the point taking shots and finding some goals or shot passes I'd be OK with that. He's not even doing that.

 

[Ibanez]

The low bar keeps getting lowered I see. Shelbyville really has some problems.


Good reply. I'm probably just reacting. I get tired of Bouch from time to time but this just seems like a really nothing season from him. Good thing offensively Barrie has been great. There just isn't a noted contribution or niche we get at all for Bouch. I mean even if he honed his game from the point taking shots and finding some goals or shot passes I'd be OK with that. He's not even doing that.

This was on CP?

 

[Oilers in NS]

I love these three. Such a treat to watch. No one can mess with us. We have the firepower. Nurse is there too (but he’s mostly a teddy bear these days)

And apparently kulak likes to muck it up now lol?

I wish Mclovin was a bit more physical at times. Doesn’t need to fight but he’s a big body. Use it


Thank heavens broberg seems to be turning a corner. Was looking like a busy pick by Holland. D men can take so long to find their stride. He looks really smart out there. What’s funny is that he was known for his speed but it’s actually his intelligence with the puck im noticing

Im really liking him. I read early scouting reports on him early years pre-draft and he drew comparisions to Lidstrom. ANything close to that and Im happy

 

[Ibanez]

The low bar keeps getting lowered I see. Shelbyville really has some problems.


Good reply. I'm probably just reacting. I get tired of Bouch from time to time but this just seems like a really nothing season from him. Good thing offensively Barrie has been great. There just isn't a noted contribution or niche we get at all for Bouch. I mean even if he honed his game from the point taking shots and finding some goals or shot passes I'd be OK with that. He's not even doing that.

It’s a fair reaction. I often think the same but then revert back to patience.

What’s odd is last year he had the point wrist shot nailed down. What happened to that? That was his thing? It’s just a bizarre year. I think it’s just a slump…which could be good when we need to sign him again.

We are lucky barrie has been amazing. And I wanted the guy gone. I was very very very wrong

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

It's painful. At a minimum stop throwing them out with McDavid and Leon. Neither can make a pass if their life depended on it and it murders the breakout with them on the ice.

The shot metrics are night and day better with Connor and Leon playing with anyone other than Nurse-Ceci than with Nurse-Ceci. Like it isn't even close to the point that it's borderline infuriating that Woodcroft won't go off of it. McDavid and Leon have been getting caved 5v5 for a lot of reasons with the D pair they are saddled with a very big one.

I find the own zone work is way more chaotic with the Nurse Ceci pairing on-ice. I'm not clear if they play man-to-man in those situations and that is why Nurse is chasing opposition all over the ice and the breakdowns occur because on-ice teammates get confused in their coverages and bleed chances against or Nurse and Ceci aren't structured enough in their defending and too aggressive. Interesting to see Nurse's ES ice-time was only 12:02 last night and Ceci 10:56 both well behind the Kulak Barrie pairing. But Nurse Ceci were dominant PK minutes on a perfect night killing penalties.

I actually thought Nurse's passing was very good last night as was his puck transporting work. For me, it is the own zone defending chaos at EV which is an issue where Nurse Ceci make significant gaffes. My unicorn scenario would be to add a stabilizing veteran 1RD to pair with wild horse Nurse and to bump Ceci to second pairing minutes. But agree in EV situations I think the top forward line should get more time away from the Nurse Ceci pairing.

 

[K1984]

I find the own zone work is way more chaotic with the Nurse Ceci pairing on-ice. I'm not clear if they play man-to-man in those situations and that is why Nurse is chasing opposition all over the ice and the breakdowns occur because on-ice teammates get confused in their coverages and bleed chances against or Nurse and Ceci aren't structured enough in their defending and too aggressive. Interesting to see Nurse's ES ice-time was only 12:02 last night and Ceci 10:56 both well behind the Kulak Barrie pairing. But Nurse Ceci were dominant PK minutes on a perfect night killing penalties.

I actually thought Nurse's passing was very good last night as was his puck transporting work. For me, it is the own zone defending chaos at EV which is an issue where Nurse Ceci make significant gaffes. My unicorn scenario would be to add a stabilizing veteran 1RD to pair with wild horse Nurse and to bump Ceci to second pairing minutes. But agree in EV situations I think the top forward line should get more time away from the Nurse Ceci pairing.

I agree with this, but the path to get there is difficult if not impossible it seems.

Biggest issue I find with this pair is their work below the hash marks with the puck is terrible 5v5. Both of them have a penchant for the soft rim behind the net or up the wall when they're under pressure that gets frequently turned over. I lumped both of them in together, but I agree that Nurse is much more competent at breaking the puck out than Ceci. Ceci has been fighting the puck HARD all season and is getting destroyed in any situation where he has to make a play under pressure. It's very obvious he needs fewer minutes and mercifully Desharnais has helped with that a bit, but he also needs easier match ups that he isn't and probably won't get.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I agree with this, but the path to get there is difficult if not impossible it seems.

Biggest issue I find with this pair is their work below the hash marks with the puck is terrible 5v5. Both of them have a penchant for the soft rim behind the net or up the wall when they're under pressure that gets frequently turned over. I lumped both of them in together, but I agree that Nurse is much more competent at breaking the puck out than Ceci. Ceci has been fighting the puck HARD all season and is getting destroyed in any situation where he has to make a play under pressure. It's very obvious he needs fewer minutes and mercifully Desharnais has helped with that a bit, but he also needs easier match ups that he isn't and probably won't get.

It's a weird dynamic with the Nurse Ceci pairing. So much chaos at EV specifically below the hashmarks defending yet can pair top minute PK and run a clean slate.

My unicorn scenario is just that. Not likely to happen. But I can just picture a strong, big veteran own zone defender like Parayko (or Ekholm) stabilizing Nurse's chaotic game. If anything, perhaps enable Nurse to deploy his strength as an elite puck transporter and his neutral ice to offensive zone play with a solid safety net to take care of home base. Someone to bring consistent, structured and simple but effective net front defending.

Nurse and Ceci just seem to fight it in their own zone EV defending. Too much chase and chaos.

 

[alanschu]

Maybe the practice time will pay off down the road. But I'm sure the multiple cross continent flights in the last four days played a role in the dynamic duo having an off night.

The thing I love about us being blessed with McDavid is that even in his off night, he still does stuff like undressing opposing Dmen and creating a highlight real out of a shot that wasn't even a goal.

Agreed though it's great to see the depth clicking!