Salary Cap: Oilers line combos for the 18/19 season your predictions

[Soundwave]

Biggest thing that annoyed me about the coach. Not trying things when we were out of it anyways. Just pure idiotic.

McLellan is without a doubt a moron when it comes to adjustments. The MEDIA had to pressure him into putting RNH + McDavid together, if that hadn't happened we still would have no idea to this day if those two could click together.

 

[McIce Whole]

I think Lucic - Drai - Rieder is almost a lock to be our second line. Lucic will be given a chance to bounce back and Rieder will start the year off with Drai based off past history.

If we sign Upshall and Puju shows up ready to play top 6 mins, I think we see this line up, at least to start...

Nuge - Mcdavid - Puju
Lucic - Drai - Rieder
Khaira - Strome - Caggiula
Upshall - Brodziak - Kassian
Aberg

Klefbom - Larsson
Nurse - Benning
Jerabek - Russell
Gravel

Talbot
Koskinen

Wouldn’t be surprised one bit if that is what the opening night roster looks like. Only wild card for me is Bouchard. He might start in top 6 if we give him 9 games, which I think we will unless he blows it in training camp.

 

[oilcountry17]

Nuge - Mcdavid - Yam/Aberg/ Rattie (The worst in camp goes to AHL)
Rieder - Drai - Pul
Lucic - Strome - Khaira ( I think ths would be a good e/s line)
Upshall - Brodziak - Kassian
Caggiula

Klefbom - Larsson
Nurse - Russel
Jerabek - Benning
Gravel

 

[bobbythebrain]

Nuge-McD-Caggiula
Looch-Drai-Reider
JJ-Strome-JP
Upshall-Brodz-Kass

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Nuge-McD-Caggiula
Looch-Drai-Reider
JJ-Strome-JP
Upshall-Brodz-Kass

 

[ghostnights]

I just have a gut feeling that Marody makes the team.

 

[shoop]

I just have a gut feeling that Marody makes the team.

Maybe. There is going to be a lot of competition for the 13/14 forward spots.

Nuge - McDavid - Puljujarvi
Looch - Drai - Rieder
Khaira-Strome-Kassian
Upshall-Brodziak-Rattie

13/14 forwards? Aberg/Caggiula/Yamamoto/Marody who knows?

 

[Aerchon]

I just have a gut feeling that Marody makes the team.

Marody is a guy I think could make it.

The real dark horse guy that my gut keeps saying could make it is McLeod.

With the game being so speed based and his all around talent combined... He could steal a job and keep it through the year.

 

[Nordiques1979]

RNH-McDavid-Yamamoto/Marody/Rattie
Lucic-Draisaitl-Pulju
Rieder-Strome-Cagiulla
Kaihra-Brodziak-Kassian

Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Bouchard/Russell
Russell-Benning/Bouchard/Jerabek/Bear

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

What I want:
RNH-McDavid-Rattie
Khaira-Draisaitl-Reider
Lucic-Strome-Puljujarvi/Aberg
Upshall-Brodziak-Kassian

What I expect:
RNH-McDavid-Rattie
Lucic-Draisaitl-Reider
Khaira-Strome-Puljujarvi
Caggiula-Brodziak-Kassian

Want and expect
Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Benning
Russell-Bouchard
(If Bouchard is clearly out of his depth by the start of the first regular season game, I'd prefer whoever is better in Jerabek/Bear/Gravel)

 

[Oilers in NS]

Rieder is much more comfortable on RW.

Nuge-McDavid-Puljujarvi
Lucic-Draisaitl-Rieder
Caggiula-Strome-Yamamoto
Khaira-Brodziak-Kassian

Rattie/Aberg

That would be an ideal forward group. Needs people to step up on each of the first three lines.

Will Puljujarvi's work this off-season allow him to make the jump to a first line role? Can Lucic return to top 6 form? Is Yamamoto ready to play in the league full time?

I haven’t heard much about Puju in the off-season. Has he been working hard ? I really wanna see a line of Reider-Drai-Puju. Is it too far fetched to say Puju will score 27 goals?

What does everyone thing of Aberg? For a few games last year, he reminded me of Nylander. Aberg can shoot and skate.

 

[Oilers in NS]

I think we'll probably see Yamamoto start in the AHL just like Draisaitl and Puljujarvi and eventually get the call. Especially considering Rattie finished well. I think he'd have to really struggle in pre-season to not make this team.

RNH - McDavid - Rattie
Khaira - Draisaitl - Puljujarvi
Lucic - Strome - Rieder
Upshall - Brodziak - Kassian
Caggiula/Aberg

That's how I'd have it.

As for predictions.. McDavid and RNH kickstart Rattie's career and he scores in the range of 40 points. He'll go on to play a few years in the NHL because of it. Situation reminds me a bit of Tyler Kennedy with the Penguins. I'll also predict that Rieder is a flop and Yamamoto takes his spot after 10-15 games but I'd love to be proven wrong.

I was actually pretty stoked we got Reider. I predict a good year with Drai

 

[Oilers in NS]

I just have a gut feeling that Marody makes the team.

Starting to sound like this fella might be a version of John Leclair. Not overly fast but a good power forward with some hands and hard to knock off the puck. This might turn into a great signing

 

[shoop]

I haven’t heard much about Puju in the off-season. Has he been working hard ? I really wanna see a line of Reider-Drai-Puju. Is it too far fetched to say Puju will score 27 goals?

There was a picture of Puljujarvi floating around where he looked in really good shape. His face looked like he was cut.

27 goals would be a jump. But if he earns a spot on McDavid's wing I would think it is definitely a possibility.

 

[Oilers in NS]

There was a picture of Puljujarvi floating around where he looked in really good shape. His face looked like he was cut.

27 goals would be a jump. But if he earns a spot on McDavid's wing I would think it is definitely a possibility.

One thing you cant teach is size and he has that. The year Finland won the World Jr, they had Puju, Aho, Laine as 1,2,3 in scoring. Puju was a beast out there. He was unreal. Hopefully he can get a one-timer working because the Oilers desperately need that guy on the PP and in our top 2 lines.

Another guy that interests me is Marody. Anxious to see him in camp. After years of neglect, our cupboards are looking good

 

[Oilers in NS]

There was a picture of Puljujarvi floating around where he looked in really good shape. His face looked like he was cut.

27 goals would be a jump. But if he earns a spot on McDavid's wing I would think it is definitely a possibility.

Geez, looking back at that Finland team, it was pretty impressive. They also had Rantanen and Kapanen as forwards to go with a great D

http://stats.worldjunior2016.com/Hydra/419/IHM419131_74_5_0.pdf

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I'm not a massive Caggiula fan, but I don't mind him in that spot. He's shown that he's willing to do the dirty work, and that's a trait that could help McNuge.

It's when Caggiula gets put in a role where he needs to make plays with the puck is when the s**t hits the fan.

In short, I like the idea of...
Caggiula-McDavid-Draisaitl
RNH-McDavid-Caggiula

And hate the idea of...
Maroon-McDavid-Caggiula
Lucic-Draisaitl-Caggiula



As for the lines, I want...

RNH-McDavid-Caggiula
Rieder-Draisaitl-Puljujarvi
Lucic-Strome-Kassian
Khaira-Brodziak-Upshall/Aberg

Focus having a speedy top 6, a big and physical 3rd line, that slows the pace; and a defensive 4th line.

 

[BoldNewLettuce]

I'm not a massive Caggiula fan, but I don't mind him in that spot. He's shown that he's willing to do the dirty work, and that's a trait that could help McNuge.

It's when Caggiula gets put in a role where he needs to make plays with the puck is when the s**t hits the fan.

In short, I like the idea of...
Caggiula-McDavid-Draisaitl
RNH-McDavid-Caggiula

And hate the idea of...
Maroon-McDavid-Caggiula
Lucic-Draisaitl-Caggiula



As for the lines, I want...

RNH-McDavid-Caggiula
Rieder-Draisaitl-Puljujarvi
Lucic-Strome-Kassian
Khaira-Brodziak-Upshall/Aberg

Focus having a speedy top 6, a big and physical 3rd line, that slows the pace; and a defensive 4th line.

 

[bobbythebrain]

I'm not a massive Caggiula fan, but I don't mind him in that spot. He's shown that he's willing to do the dirty work, and that's a trait that could help McNuge.

It's when Caggiula gets put in a role where he needs to make plays with the puck is when the s**t hits the fan.

In short, I like the idea of...
Caggiula-McDavid-Draisaitl
RNH-McDavid-Caggiula

And hate the idea of...
Maroon-McDavid-Caggiula
Lucic-Draisaitl-Caggiula



As for the lines, I want...

RNH-McDavid-Caggiula
Rieder-Draisaitl-Puljujarvi
Lucic-Strome-Kassian
Khaira-Brodziak-Upshall/Aberg

Focus having a speedy top 6, a big and physical 3rd line, that slows the pace; and a defensive 4th line.

I'm one of the few who likes DC. But you said it. That line needs someone who can go to the net and be hard on a forecheck. Waaaay to much is being focused on a RW for McD. Nuge and McD are more than enough skill for that line. That line doesn't need a world beater at RW imo, just a tenacious player...which I think the Drake is

Another reason I would love to see him there is to get his stock up. He had good pedigree and hype when we got him. If he can turn into a 25/25 player there, that helps the team moving forward with another trade chip

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

I'm not a massive Caggiula fan, but I don't mind him in that spot. He's shown that he's willing to do the dirty work, and that's a trait that could help McNuge.

It's when Caggiula gets put in a role where he needs to make plays with the puck is when the s**t hits the fan.

In short, I like the idea of...
Caggiula-McDavid-Draisaitl
RNH-McDavid-Caggiula

And hate the idea of...
Maroon-McDavid-Caggiula
Lucic-Draisaitl-Caggiula



As for the lines, I want...

RNH-McDavid-Caggiula
Rieder-Draisaitl-Puljujarvi
Lucic-Strome-Kassian
Khaira-Brodziak-Upshall/Aberg

Focus having a speedy top 6, a big and physical 3rd line, that slows the pace; and a defensive 4th line.

That's true. As long as Cagguila isn't the main offensive winger on the line and isn't expected to carry any offence, then it isn't too bad. The main thing is that I'd much rather have other players like Puljujarvi, Yamamoto, Aberg, Rattie, Khaira, and even Kassian be given the opportunity before Cagguila because we already know what he's capable of in the top 6.

 

[LMFAO]

Those who don't have Yamamoto in their starting line up are obsolutely kidding themselves.

 

[BowDangles]

I got a strong feeling Rattie regresses and doesn't start on the top line after preseason opening the door for Puj.
Yamo will most likely be given the Draisaitl treatment and sent down to AHL even if he looks ready.

RNH-McD-Puj
Lucic-Drai-Reider
Caggullia-Strome-Kassian
Khaira-Brodziak-Upshall
Rattie/Aberg

Klefbom-Larson
Nurse-Benning
Russel-Jerabek
Gravel

Man this defence is going to get eaten alive! So bad...
After Klef/Lars everyone of those guys should be 1-2 spots lower than they are going to be...
Banning should be our #6D not our #4...

 

[LMFAO]

I got a strong feeling Rattie regresses and doesn't start on the top line after preseason opening the door for Puj.
Yamo will most likely be given the Draisaitl treatment and sent down to AHL even if he looks ready.

RNH-McD-Puj
Lucic-Drai-Reider
Caggullia-Strome-Kassian
Khaira-Brodziak-Upshall
Rattie/Aberg

Klefbom-Larson
Nurse-Benning
Russel-Jerabek
Gravel

Man this defence is going to get eaten alive! So bad...
After Klef/Lars everyone of those guys should be 1-2 spots lower than they are going to be...
Banning should be our #6D not our #4...

So you think Nurse isnt an adequate number 3 defenseman? Lol

Nurse is much closer to a number 2 dman than a number 4.

 

[BowDangles]

So you think Nurse isnt an adequate number 3 defenseman? Lol

Nurse is much closer to a number 2 dman than a number 4.

I think Nurse still needs to be paired with a very good d man and shouldn't be relied on to carry the pairing just yet..
This is a "prove it to me" year for him. He is still going to make mistakes and doesn't need to be constantly covering for his partner's mistakes.
I was perfectly happy with a Nurse-Sekera pairing but Nurse and Benning are both still too inexperienced and need a solid D man paired with them or limited minutes (Benning's case)

Nurse could be a #2D if he was paired with a elite #1D.
Hopefully by the end of this season he can carry the 2nd pairing and this shouldn't matter but right now it does...

 

[Smartguy]

I got a strong feeling Rattie regresses and doesn't start on the top line after preseason opening the door for Puj.
Yamo will most likely be given the Draisaitl treatment and sent down to AHL even if he looks ready.

RNH-McD-Puj
Lucic-Drai-Reider
Caggullia-Strome-Kassian
Khaira-Brodziak-Upshall
Rattie/Aberg

Klefbom-Larson
Nurse-Benning
Russel-Jerabek
Gravel

Man this defence is going to get eaten alive! So bad...
After Klef/Lars everyone of those guys should be 1-2 spots lower than they are going to be...
Banning should be our #6D not our #4...

Even Klef should be starting as a 3-4 to see if he could bounce back, argument could be made for Larsson too. It absolutely baffles me people are surprised we can’t turn the team around inside of the last decade. We haven’t had a legit proven top pairing dman since Pronger, ( HM to Souray when he first joined Edmonton though), is there a team in the league that has had that much trouble getting defenseman in the last decade? I doubt it

That forward group is full of question marks outside of Drai/Nuge/Mcdavid too.

Could be a recipe for another disaster this season