Player Discussion Prediction thread for the 17-18 Season

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Yes but the team also benefitted from a very healthy season and the regression of a lot of teams. Can they win the West? Sure, they can. But it's never that simple. The Ducks (and to a lesser extent the Flames) still stand in their way. I don't feel like the Oilers did enough to push them past Anaheim just yet.

Honestly, I'm not concerned with Anaheim, they are just like San Jose, likely not headed in the right direction. Their best player isn't getting young and there's no one in the wings ready to supplant him. Plus there's no way they get as favourable a "situation" as they did this past playoffs again.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Honestly, I'm not concerned with Anaheim, they are just like San Jose, likely not headed in the right direction. Their best player isn't getting young and there's no one in the wings ready to supplant him. Plus there's no way they get as favourable a "situation" as they did this past playoffs again.

You really underestimate the league's incompetence, it was on prime display for the millions thousands watching the SCF.

Anaheim has a really solid group of studs on the back end. Their forwards aren't too impressive but they still get the job done. They did a pretty nice job shutting down basically our entire team in the deciding game.

 

[MessierII]

Everyone has nurse making one of our second pair guys expendable after a year where he struggled to be a consistent #6. How about nurse plays good on the bottom pair? That seems like a more realistic expectation.

I predict Drai plays a lot more centre this year and gets around 70 points doing it.

Nuge stays the same. Struggles to find a role. Finishes with 40 some points and still sucks at faceoffs.

Lucic is more consistent gets closer to 60 points.

Strome bounces back gets around 40 points and looks solid at centre.

Maroon has another good year scores over 25.

Jesse P makes the team gets around 45 points starts to develop chemistry with Connor.

Larsson gets close to 30 points while still being a huge +.

Klefbom cracks 40 points and works a lot of the D zone mistakes out of his game.

Talbot is once again rock solid but Broissoit takes a larger role.

 

[ToeMcDrag83]

Reg Season

- Russell gets the "A"
- Nurse sings long term for 3.75 per
- McDavid will play with no less than 6 different RWs throughout the season (Caggiula, Drai, Strome, Pulju, Slepy, Nuge)
- Jokinen will be our #3C and stapled to Puljujarvi as a linemate
- Trade deadline acquisition will be for a faceoff specialist

Playoffs

- 100 point, second place finish
- Flames take us to 7 in first round
- Revenge on Ducks in second round
- Western Conference Finals loss to Blackhawks

 

[rboomercat90]

Second round exit. We're the new Caps.

Please tell us what you base this prediction on.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Please tell us what you base this prediction on.

Lack of tangible upgrades. People keep crowing that "internal improvements" are coming but it's not so linear. Just because Nurse is supposed to get better doesn't mean he will (and the Ducks made him look silly at times). The defense is still a work in progress and not championship caliber. And before you tell me blah blah blah Penguins, I'll reply with "Where's our Geno?"

I don't think the Oilers are very deep on the wings or on defense right now. Talbot covered up a lot of defensive errors caused by our team (especially the third pairing), and they really can't afford to play him 70+ games again. LB has to be a reliable backup for the team.

My biggest worry about the Oilers is that they'll load up the top line and leave the rest of the lines fairly dry. If they play McDavid/Drai on separate lines and the latter is capable of holding up his own line, the Oilers will do well.

But right now there are too many questions about this team and I don't think they get past the Ducks without a few more upgrades.

 

[oXo Cube]

I could settle for being the new Capitals, baseless as that accusation is.

They're right up there with SJ fans in terms of not realizing how good they've had it.

 

[CupofOil]

Lack of tangible upgrades. People keep crowing that "internal improvements" are coming but it's not so linear. Just because Nurse is supposed to get better doesn't mean he will (and the Ducks made him look silly at times). The defense is still a work in progress and not championship caliber. And before you tell me blah blah blah Penguins, I'll reply with "Where's our Geno?"

I don't think the Oilers are very deep on the wings or on defense right now. Talbot covered up a lot of defensive errors caused by our team (especially the third pairing), and they really can't afford to play him 70+ games again. LB has to be a reliable backup for the team.

My biggest worry about the Oilers is that they'll load up the top line and leave the rest of the lines fairly dry. If they play McDavid/Drai on separate lines and the latter is capable of holding up his own line, the Oilers will do well.

But right now there are too many questions about this team and I don't think they get past the Ducks without a few more upgrades.

Not that I disagree with a lot of your points and to add, the toughest thing to do in sports is to deal with expectations after a breakout season and take the next step so the team could be due for a bit of regression this season before they make a realistic cup run, but you do tend to look at "glass half empty" most of the time.

You're basically condemning them to being the next big playoff choker in the league based on this glass half empty mentality that you constantly have. I'd be extremely surprised if the Oilers don't win a cup during McDavid's 2nd contract. It's just a matter of when at this point IMO but I don't think they are ready yet so I'd agree with you on that.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Not that I disagree with a lot of your points and to add, the toughest thing to do in sports is to deal with expectations after a breakout season and take the next step so the team could be due for a bit of regression this season before they make a realistic cup run, but you do tend to look at "glass half empty" most of the time.

You're basically condemning them to being the next big playoff choker in the league based on this glass half empty mentality that you constantly have. I'd be extremely surprised if the Oilers don't win a cup during McDavid's 2nd contract. It's just a matter of when at this point IMO but I don't think they are ready yet so I'd agree with you on that.

The OP was asking about this year. It's very possible they win it all during the next few years, but I don't think management is doing enough to beef up the team this year when it's likely their best chance to win.

 

[Aerrol]

- McDavid scores 105-110 points with 35-40 goals. All that work on his shot pays off big time.
- Draisaitl hits around 65-70 points, mostly centering his own line. This opens a lot of debate as to whether or not he's worth his contract, but I'd say he is.
- Puljujaarvi makes the team, but only barely and hits around 15-25 points while not really looking like he belongs. Debate rages as to whether or not we're ruining him. (Hope I'm wrong!)
- Strome is stuck as 3C and barely makes 30 points. The trade looks bad but he's more or less earning his contract. He fails to get Letestu's PP1 spot. (Hope I'm wrong here too!)
- Lucic comes to camp in better, lighter shape and plays better this year. Similar point totals but less complaints about his inability to keep up.
- RNH actually gets some time on wing (perhaps swapping with Drai as 1RW and 2C?), and rebounds offensively this year. HFOil is largely pleased until he is promptly traded and we have another collective RNH-meltdown/debate.
- Maroon keeps up his level of play but drops off in goals, registering 20-25 goals. He remains with McDavid as his Kunitz.
- Klefbom and Larsson stay healthy and break out as a dominant top-pairing for us. Klefbom in particular really gets his offense going.
- Russell looks real bad without Sekera and ends up stuck on the bottom pairing with Nurse...where they form a fairly reliable bottom pairing. Also are kept far away from McDavid so can actually get some break-out passes.
- Benning surprises and continues to develop well, remaining a regular defender for us on either the second or third pairing.
- The team limps into the WCF just barely and is eliminated.