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

[Soundwave]

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

Says who? The RNH-Hyman line didn't do jack shit even in pre-season games.

 

[Nostradumbass]

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.

So instead of having McDavid or Draisaitl on the ice for 40 minutes a game, you have them on for 20 minutes a game instead. Genius move.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Says who? The RNH-Hyman line didn't do jack shit even in pre-season games.

They played together for 1 preseason game.

Chill.

 

[Soundwave]

That's it Tipp. Keep doing stupid things, only a matter of time till Kenny comes a calling ol' Babcock.

 

[Soundwave]

They played together for 1 preseason game.

Chill.

Did they even generate like 3 scoring chances that game? RNH cannot push a line, how many times do the Oilers need to smash their head up against a wall to realize that.

 

[CycloneSweep]

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 creating many high danger chances.

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.

The Nuge line will just be like the Ryan line. Decent at generating chances and keeping the puck in the o zone but will absolutely not produce much. But all that does is put just as much pressure on McDrai.

If they just wants McDrai to play together fine, at least try and create a second line that has a chance to do things. Some will say “well give it a try see what happens”. The issue is we know the players and how they play, and common sense says it won’t be effective/not using the players well

 

[RipsADrive]

Having them apart keeps the ice tilted against the opposition for the majority of the game which means more powerplays which means McDrai.

Tippett can have his cake and eat it too.

 

[Garbo Man]

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

Do we though?

 

[McAsuno]

They played together for 1 preseason game.

Chill.

RNH can't carry a line. That's been evident enough.
You spread out McDrai on separate lines as they're both able to single-handily carry a line by themselves. Overloading them just makes it easy for opponents to shut them down rather than focus on two lines. If that wasn't evident enough, the damn jet series made it obvious. Especially in that long OT when Tippett refused to separate McDrai eventually gassing their stars while players that had fresh legs rode the bench.
Its not smart coaching and its unbelievable Tippett can't get that through his thick skull. f***ing dinosaur coaching like McLellan.

 

[CycloneSweep]

That's it Tipp. Keep doing stupid things, only a matter of time till Kenny comes a calling ol' Babcock.

Nah, Tippett will go and Holland will do what he does. Bring up the AHL coach. Woodcroft seems like he can do well.

 

[MessierII]

RNH can't carry a line. That's been evident enough.
You spread out McDrai on separate lines as they're both able to single-handily carry a line by themselves. Overloading them just makes it easy for opponents to shut them down rather than focus on two lines. If that wasn't evident enough, the damn jet series made it obvious. Especially in that long OT when Tippett refused to separate McDrai eventually gassing their stars while players that had fresh legs rode the bench.
Its not smart coaching and its unbelievable Tippett can't get that through his thick skull. f***ing dinosaur coaching like McLellan.

Even TMac split them in the playoffs.

 

[Soundwave]

Nah, Tippett will go and Holland will do what he does. Bring up the AHL coach. Woodcroft seems like he can do well.

They did that in Detroit only because the team was rebuilding, no chance of that here because if Tippett f***s up again in the playoffs, then Holland's ass is next on the chopping block. He will need an immediately experienced coach that can give them a chance to win immediately.

 

[xoczar99ox]

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?

Maybe that’s his way of telling the other lines they need to perform.

 

[CupofOil]

So instead of having McDavid or Draisaitl on the ice for 40 minutes a game, you have them on for 20 minutes a game instead. Genius move.

That's the other thing. You have arguably two of the best three players in the game. You have these major weapons yet choose to reduce their overall ice time at even strength individually by keeping them on the ice at the same time and on top of that, put the most dangerous winger on the stacked top line instead of having him drive the 2nd line.

I bet the Canucks are breathing a bit of a sigh of relief now that their secondary defenders don't have to face Draisaitl or McDavid anymore, the game plan just got easier for them.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Did they even generate like 3 scoring chances that game? RNH cannot push a line, how many times do the Oilers need to smash their head up against a wall to realize that.

Well let’s see what happens over a couple games shall we?

 

[Soundwave]

Tippett's forward roster decisions since the COVID break have been baffling.

He breaks up the highest scoring line in the league (DRY) which leads to getting blown out by the Hawks in the play-in series.

In the playoffs he overloads one line and the Jets take advantage by shutting down the rest of the roster and causing the Oilers offense to grind to a halt costing them that series.

You better get this shit right, Dave, because you're not going to be here much longer if you don't.

 

[CycloneSweep]

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

I’m going to respectfully lol.
Foegele and Ryan are not a scoring 3rd line. What they excel at is keeping the puck in the ozone and not allowing goals against. The 4th line will score some goals here or there but that second line isn’t a good offensive line either

The benefit of adding Ryan and Foegele was to have a 3rd line that would chip in occasionally and keep momentum in the ozone.

Keeping Nuge and adding Hyman was to give us 2 scoring lines as McDrai can finally be seperate but instead Tippett thinks it means they can be permanently together?

It’s baffling and will cause issues.

 

[xoczar99ox]

Who did Turris outplay?

 

[Soundwave]

Well let’s see what happens over a couple games shall we?

I mean we've seen the "Can RNH drive his own line?" movie like 50 times already, but sure, lets go watch the same movie for the 51st time.

The whole *point* of Hyman was that he plays well with really high end talents like Matthews and Marner, and now we're not even using him in that role either. Genius Tippett, genius.

 

[SK13]

As much as I would prefer a lengthy attempt at splitting up McDrai, it's not worth getting upset about.

The results will determine what the lines are in time.

 

[SK13]

Who did Turris outplay?

Benson, McLeod and Scevior?

I thought Turris was decent in preseason tbh. Was a little surprised they waived him.

 

[MessierII]

Who did Turris outplay?

Benson, McLeod, Sceviour.

 

[CycloneSweep]

They did that in Detroit only because the team was rebuilding, no chance of that here because if Tippett f***s up again in the playoffs, then Holland's ass is next on the chopping block. He will need an immediately experienced coach that can give them a chance to win immediately.

Recent NHL history has when a team is struggling, letting go your coach and bringing in a young coach actually improves the team more than an old experienced guy.

 

[Soundwave]

Recent NHL history has when a team is struggling, letting go your coach and bringing in a young coach actually improves the team more than an old experienced guy.

I doubt that happens here, every time post Eakins they've had a chance to go with a younger coach or GM, they've gone in the exact opposite direction.

If Tippett can't win a round this year, there's a very, very good chance you're talking about Oilers coach Babcock here this time next year.

 

[xoczar99ox]

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?

No shit! If we start the season 0-3 start bitching. Just chill and enjoy the cool vibe people. The vibes…