Pre-Game Talk: Opening Night Oilers v Canucks Wed WITH FANS!!!

[McShogun99]

Really getting f***ing tired of Tippett. We all know how deadly McDrai are on the same line, but spreading them to two separate lines would make opponents having to work harder rather than being able to focus on a one line team.

How hard is it to simply keep it as
Hyman McDavid Pulujarvi
RNH Draisaitl Yamamoto

McDrai is like crack for Oilers coaches. Everyone knows the team is better when they’re separated but the coaches just can’t get enough of that sweet high when they play together.

We finally have enough top 6 wingers yet we’ll
still see them together for long stretches. The best strategy for winning is to keep them together on the PP, after a PK or late in a game when we need some goals. Other then that they should be running their own lines.

 

[Cerebral]

Ugh, I’m so sick of the Oilers continuing to stack the top line. It doesn’t work, and we have enough depth this year where we really don’t need to do it. Why not at least give Hyman-McDavid-Puljujarvi a few games before breaking it up.

I’m fine with stacking the top line in certain situations but starting the season off that way is idiotic.

 

[OfCorsiDid]

Hmmmm I don't think McLeod and Yamamoto really do much on that 2nd line. Might have to swap Drai and McLeod for now if RNH is sick

Yeah but Tippett has a raging hard on for McDrai.

which simultaneously makes us easier to defend and easier to score on.

 

[Weitz]

The team isn’t going anywhere if McDrai is a thing for long periods of time. Spot duty sure, but they need to establish multiple dangerous lines.

why even sign Hyman to put him on a line that will do absolutely nothing?

 

[OfCorsiDid]

Because the they best duo in hockey? The only guys not named Sedin to do what they do with such ease in the last 30 years?

The Canucks had the depth to consistently do that.

We do not.

When we load up the top line teams just play keep away for 1:30 then feast once McDavid and Draisaitl are off the ice.

It sunk us during the playoffs, it will sink us again.

 

[SupremeTeam16]

Lol not even game 1 and we’re already crying I see.

Whether by situation or injury at some point we’re almost assuredly going to need RNH to step in and play C. They need to work at finding other lines and pairings that can work well together and it’s probably better to do that in pre season/early season. Working on building chemistry in different line configurations is important.

 

[McAsuno]

 

[McDrai]

The team isn’t going anywhere if McDrai is a thing for long periods of time. Spot duty sure, but they need to establish multiple dangerous lines.

why even sign Hyman to put him on a line that will do absolutely nothing?

Agreed. It looks like the strategy is to play McDrai for 1/3 of the game and hope the rest of the lines can tread water for the other 2/3. We've been doing this for the last few years and it may work for short spans but it's not a recipe for long term success imo.

 

[Gordian Knot]

Really getting f***ing tired of Tippett. We all know how deadly McDrai are on the same line, but spreading them to two separate lines would make opponents having to work harder rather than being able to focus on a one line team.

How hard is it to simply keep it as
Hyman McDavid Pulujarvi
RNH Draisaitl Yamamoto

 

[McAsuno]

 

[CycloneSweep]

Yeah but Tippett has a raging hard on for McDrai.

which simultaneously makes us easier to defend and easier to score on.

Loading up the top line means McDrai will be playing far far too many minutes still, Nurse and Barrie will be stapled to them and Keith-Ceci are going to have to do heavy heavy defence lifting.

You are forcing Nuge back to center where he is abysmal at face offs and giving him 2 complimentary wingers.

it almost feels like Tippett is setting the players up to fail. McDrai will get points. The rest of the lineup will suffer and we will be relying on the McDrai for anything.

Hell the message this appears to send to the forwards is “we don’t think any of you are good enough enough to play with McDrai so we are going to put them together, try not to lose us games.

 

[yukoner88]

Just because McDrai are practicing together does it mean those will be the lines for game 1. If they do start together on game 1, that doesn't mean they'll be stuck together all game, nor does it mean they'll be a permanent line for all 82 games.

Let's not make up fears n kill the Good vibes we started out with here, eh?

 

[CycloneSweep]

Lol not even game 1 and we’re already crying I see.

Whether by situation or injury at some point we’re almost assuredly going to need RNH to step in and play C. They need to work at finding other lines and pairings that can work well together and it’s probably better to do that in pre season/early season. Working on building chemistry in different line configurations is important.

Or how about you set your players to succeed and build momentum and keep going. You can screw around with lines when you already have point leads in the season or goal leads in games.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Really getting f***ing tired of Tippett. We all know how deadly McDrai are on the same line, but spreading them to two separate lines would make opponents having to work harder rather than being able to focus on a one line team.

How hard is it to simply keep it as
Hyman McDavid Pulujarvi
RNH Draisaitl Yamamoto

Outside of a 28 game hot streak, that DRY line has accomplished nothing.

 

[CupofOil]

I didn't mind Tippett trying these combos in preseason but after some underwhelming games by the RNH line, I'm baffled and frustrated that he's starting the season off this way.

Also, am I the only one who isn't a fan of the McDrai combo? I feel like they cheat too much for offense leading to way too many chances the other way and they make the 3rd player on the line almost obselete because they constantly look for each other. Why Pulju has to be there is odd to say the least. Let the bison run wild on his own line if you're insisting on putting your two best players on one line.

Also, don't like Sceviour on the 3rd line. Turris for some offensive punch would make more sense IMO.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Outside of a 28 game hot streak, that DRY line has accomplished nothing.

Then try different winger combinations with Draisaitl. If the wingers aren’t good enough for Draisaitl then they sure as hell aren’t good enough for RNH.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Loading up the top line means McDrai will be playing far far too many minutes still, Nurse and Barrie will be stapled to them and Keith-Ceci are going to have to do heavy heavy defence lifting.

You are forcing Nuge back to center where he is abysmal at face offs and giving him 2 complimentary wingers.

it almost feels like Tippett is setting the players up to fail. McDrai will get points. The rest of the lineup will suffer and we will be relying on the McDrai for anything.

Hell the message this appears to send to the forwards is “we don’t think any of you are good enough enough to play with McDrai so we are going to put them together, try not to lose us games.

Most star players play 20+ minutes a game.

Draisaitl and McDavid will still be playing 20+ a game.

This isn't something that only the oilers do.

 

[CupofOil]

Outside of a 28 game hot streak, that DRY line has accomplished nothing.

Well, not much of a sample size to draw from as Kahun got a lot of the reps there last season.

 

[RipsADrive]

Seems like the Oilers coaching staff has certainly learned from their mistakes in the playoffs.

What a novel tactic they've developed this year.

 

[McAsuno]

Outside of a 28 game hot streak, that DRY line has accomplished nothing.

But overloading McDrai as a one line team is a recipe for success? That was evident enough when the jets swept them in the playoffs due to Tippett's inability and stubbornness to spread out the two players on different lines. Even if you don't want the DRY line, overloading McDrai is LAZY coaching.

 

[CycloneSweep]

I didn't mind Tippett trying these combos in preseason but after some underwhelming games by the RNH line, I'm baffled and frustrated that he's starting the season off this way.

Also, am I the only one who isn't a fan of the McDrai combo? I feel like they cheat too much for offense leading to way too many chances the other way and they make the 3rd player on the line almost obselete because they constantly look for each other. Why Pulju has to be there is odd to say the least. Let the bison run wild on his own line if you're insisting on putting your two best players on one line.

Also, don't like Sceviour on the 3rd line. Turris for some offensive punch would make more sense IMO.

You’ve seen that in preseason. Puljujarvi being able to be the second guy to McDavid with Hyman to help clear space, opened up Puljujarvis game entirely and allowed his offensive game to show. With McDrai he plays the third man and just has to try clear space and stay out of the way which is a waste.

If you wanna play McDrai together give them someone like Kassian or Yamamoto that have lesser offensive talents but can clear space.
Hyman - RNH - Yamamoto are all guys who help offensive talents but aren’t that on their own. So the current top line wastes Puljujarvi and the second line is going to produce little for offence. So we will be relying on McDrais line for 99% of our offence.

 

[Soundwave]

Tippett is going to get his stupid ass fired if he keeps riding the same McDavid-Draisaitl line forever. Sure it works but to the detriment of the overall development of the team in the long run which bites you in the ass come playoffs. And if Tippett does not win a round this year, say bye bye to your job.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Most star players play 20+ minutes a game.

Draisaitl and McDavid will still be playing 20+ a game.

This isn't something that only the oilers do.

Last year 19 forwards played 20+ minutes a game
3 were on the Oilers, 2 were the leafs, 8 missed the playoffs. And none of them were on Tampa, the cup champs or The Golden Knights. The presidents trophy winner.

So really, the actual good teams don’t do that.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Based on the practice lines they indeed intend to load up the top line with McD/Drai/Pulju... horrible idea in my opinion, what made Tippett do this?

Because McDrai are unstoppable and we have 3 other lines now that can actually score.

 

[CupofOil]

You’ve seen that in preseason. Puljujarvi being able to be the second guy to McDavid with Hyman to help clear space, opened up Puljujarvis game entirely and allowed his offensive game to show. With McDrai he plays the third man and just has to try clear space and stay out of the way which is a waste.

If you wanna play McDrai together give them someone like Kassian or Yamamoto that have lesser offensive talents but can clear space.
Hyman - RNH - Yamamoto are all guys who help offensive talents but aren’t that on their own. So the current top line wastes Puljujarvi and the second line is going to produce little for offence. So we will be relying on McDrais line for 99% of our offence.

The thing with the RNH-Yamamoto duo as well as that they are low volume shot creators so it negates one of Hyman's biggest strengths cleaning up the garbage in front. At least with Pulju, you know more shots will get to the net.
I can tell right now that this line will cycle a lot and probably do well with possession but not create many high danger chances which would be great for a 3rd line but not a 2nd line. The 3rd line is similar actually, lots of cycling and offensive zone time but not much scoring touch.

These combos wreak of a couple of things. That McDavid and Draisaitl are pushing the coach to play together and/or they are trying to keep the Puljujarvi and Yamamoto contracts down because these combos don't really make sense at least to start a season.

Try it if the split center thing doesn't work for the first 10 or so games but to go to McDrai right off the bat just feels like lazy coaching to me and a formula that clearly hasn't worked in the past in terms of long term success.