Roster Moves & Training Camp Discussion

[Draiskull]

If you rotate the 6 180 degrees it's just a 99 again, so better to go with 95. Plus NHL 95 was a pretty good game with some auto-goal dekes which would be good juju for Pulju...Puljuju if you will.

180 degrees is technically going the opposite way so based on the play in NHL so far 96 could make sense for Puljujarvi.
Happy New Year all... I see that not much has changed here in terms of random discussions.

 

[McJadeddog]

Tippett made the decision to break up the RNH-Draisaitl-Yamamoto line before the playin's began. He had made the change in the last game of the regular season and decided to stick with it.

If I had to guess I think he will keep Nuge with McDavid.

Yeah, I think it's pretty obvious that 93 starts with 97 this year, at least to begin with. The fact that 97 apparently asked for more skill on his line and Kahun has experience playing with 29, are more reasons why I expect this to occur. It makes sense really. If Kahun can replace 60-70% of what 93 brought to 29's line, then the improvement to the 97 line is worth it. It would mean we really have 2 "top lines", allowing for favorable defensive match-ups for almost every team in the league.

 

[Draiskull]

Yeah, I think it's pretty obvious that 93 starts with 97 this year, at least to begin with. The fact that 97 apparently asked for more skill on his line and Kahun has experience playing with 29, are more reasons why I expect this to occur. It makes sense really. If Kahun can replace 60-70% of what 93 brought to 29's line, then the improvement to the 97 line is worth it. It would mean we really have 2 "top lines", allowing for favorable defensive match-ups for almost every team in the league.

I am sure line juggling will be a normal occurrence just like all other years and Nuge will get a look with Drai within a month or 2 even if he starts with McDavid.
Puljujarvi is another player to watch out for.
I see RNH-McD-Yama as our top line and Kahun-Drai-Pulju as 2nd in near future.

 

[Klimando Kostani]

If I had to guess I think he will keep Nuge with McDavid.

If he does it is a huge mistake. It is literally just continuing with a mistake which contributed to us not making the playoffs.

It would be on par with Dallas Eakins level coaching. (K, not that bad I'm just passionate about this)

 

[Paralyzer008]

Neal, Kahun, Shore and Haas are "unfit to play" to start camp.

Speculate away. We know Haas is dealing with Covid/Travel issues.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Neal, Kahun, Shore and Haas are "unfit to play" to start camp.

Speculate away. We know Haas is dealing with Covid/Travel issues.

Could be various things. Could be something as simple as a cough a they are getting a test to be safe.
Unfortunate that Kahun isn't ready

 

[North]

If he does it is a huge mistake. It is literally just continuing with a mistake which contributed to us not making the playoffs.

It would be on par with Dallas Eakins level coaching. (K, not that bad I'm just passionate about this)

I get it but they want someone with skill to play with McDavid as well. You can’t keep putting him with plugs.

A lot of coaches prefer pairs as well. So I think Tippett sees Drai and Yamamoto as a pair and want Connor and Nuge to be another pair.

 

[McJadeddog]

Neal, Kahun, Shore and Haas are "unfit to play" to start camp.

Speculate away. We know Haas is dealing with Covid/Travel issues.

This is going to be the reality of the NHL this year. Lots of player turnover/missed GP. The taxi squad guys are all going to get significant GP you would think.

 

[CycloneSweep]

I'm thinking when Kahun is in he pushes Ennis and Archibald down a line. Neal for sure pushes Chiasson down, maybe Pulju too who knows.

 

[AsparaGus]

One of the biggest issues the Oilers had last year was the faceoff circle. Leon had to be double-shifted at times in order to have a chance at winning draws.

Leon: Good at faceoffs
RNH: Wildly inconsistent and not dependable
McDavid: Still not a strong suit
Turris: Was decent before last year. He was 47%. Probably close to RNH: inconsistent.
Khaira: Can’t be counted on to do anything, never mind Faceoffs

Was it not a huge mistake to not target a faceoff specialist for the 4th line this year? This is going to crater the Oilers possession stats again going into the season if they’re constantly chasing the puck back.

 

[CycloneSweep]

One of the biggest issues the Oilers had last year was the faceoff circle. Leon had to be double-shifted at times in order to have a chance at winning draws.

Leon: Good at faceoffs
RNH: Wildly inconsistent and not dependable
McDavid: Still not a strong suit
Turris: Was decent before last year. He was 47%. Probably close to RNH: inconsistent.
Khaira: Can’t be counted on to do anything, never mind Faceoffs

Was it not a huge mistake to not target a faceoff specialist for the 4th line this year? This is going to crater the Oilers possession stats again going into the season if they’re constantly chasing the puck back.

A 4th line faceoff specialist is massively overrated. Draisaitl was good last year. And any crucial offensive faceoffs he can take (why would you want a 4th liner doing that anyways).

Also Turris inconsistent? Last year was the first time in 7 years he was below 50 percent. Turris is good at faceoffs.

So we have a good guy in the top 6 and a good guy in the bottom 6.

Ps: Above 50% is decent? Above 50% is very good. There is on average only 60 players in the league who regularly take faceoffs that hit 50% and maybe 5 of those are 4th liners?

 

[Tobias Kahun]

If he does it is a huge mistake. It is literally just continuing with a mistake which contributed to us not making the playoffs.

It would be on par with Dallas Eakins level coaching. (K, not that bad I'm just passionate about this)

People need to get over thinking that line will be together all year.

lines interchange all the time.

 

[LTIR]

I'm thinking when Kahun is in he pushes Ennis and Archibald down a line. Neal for sure pushes Chiasson down, maybe Pulju too who knows.

Hoping against hope that Puljujarvi pushes Kassian down.

 

[McDNicks17]

One of the biggest issues the Oilers had last year was the faceoff circle. Leon had to be double-shifted at times in order to have a chance at winning draws.

Leon: Good at faceoffs
RNH: Wildly inconsistent and not dependable
McDavid: Still not a strong suit
Turris: Was decent before last year. He was 47%. Probably close to RNH: inconsistent.
Khaira: Can’t be counted on to do anything, never mind Faceoffs

Was it not a huge mistake to not target a faceoff specialist for the 4th line this year? This is going to crater the Oilers possession stats again going into the season if they’re constantly chasing the puck back.

The thing about faceoff specialists is they're usually worse than other options for the other 99% of the shift.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Hoping against hope that Puljujarvi pushes Kassian down.

I think that could happen but wont in camp

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Well this isn’t a good start. 4 guys either failed fitness testing, are hurt already or have Covid.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Well this isn’t a good start. 4 guys either failed fitness testing, are hurt already or have Covid.

Or with Kahun he could not have got back quite in time so is still in quarantine. He was playing in Germany, or maybe the have a little cough and are waiting results, or had a close contact and are legally required to quarantine. It could be a million things. I wouldn't focus to hard on that.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Or with Kahun he could not have got back quite in time so is still in quarantine. He was playing in Germany, or maybe the have a little cough and are waiting results, or had a close contact and are legally required to quarantine. It could be a million things. I wouldn't focus to hard on that.

True. Haas is in quarantine still maybe that’s the case with Shore and Neal as well. Still with such a short camp and no exhibition games every second a player is out now hurts.

 

[CycloneSweep]

True. Haas is in quarantine still maybe that’s the case with Shore and Neal as well. Still with such a short camp and no exhibition games every second a player is out now hurts.

Absolutely. This is the worst for Shore as he is on a PTO and has limited time to see if he can sneak his way on the team. The team knows what Neal brings at least. Kahun I hope gets in quick, I'm really hoping he can click in the top 6 cause I don't see Ennis as a good option outside of injury fill in

 

[LTIR]

The mystery player who may not be ready for season opener is likely Kahun or Neal.

 

[alphahelix]

Neal must have COVID tho right?

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

"unfit to play" can mean anything
hopefully some of the local media "insiders" can figure it out

 

[CupofOil]

I get it but they want someone with skill to play with McDavid as well. You can’t keep putting him with plugs.

A lot of coaches prefer pairs as well. So I think Tippett sees Drai and Yamamoto as a pair and want Connor and Nuge to be another pair.

The problem is that Nuge and McDavid never seem to click. I know they had high point totals in the play in but it's a pair that never had much symmetry IMO.
Also, Drai and Yamamoto without Nuge have never shown any signs of real chemistry.

Essentially, what Tippett did and seems to be continuing is breaking up the one line that actually worked (a line that was arguably the best in the league mind you) and instead, creating two lines that MIGHT work but haven't proven to and will be question marks until proven otherwise.

When you have one of the best lines in hockey and the other line is driven by the best offensive player in the league, that's a huge weapon. Now it's more of a question mark. Tippett is trying to over think it and there's no need to.
With that said, I'm intrigued to see what Kahun and Draisaitl can do together.

 

[Oilers in NS]

Close to 99 is a thing now?
98 is as uncommon as 56.
Sergachev and Puljujarvi were atleast born in 98 so they have a good enough reason. Yama wearing 56 is stranger.

Can u imagine playing for the HABS . All the lower numbers are retired

 

[Klimando Kostani]

People need to get over thinking that line will be together all year.

lines interchange all the time.

Ha, Ya fair enough. Why on earth would a team keep together the best line they've iced in years, which seemingly single-handedly pushed the team into undeniable playoff contention, which when broken up saw the flow of the whole team fall apart and eventual contribution to them not making the playoffs.

Yea, get over that thinking. Get on with the let's try this losing strategy again.

Also, we do have more options for that spot this year than we did last year. It is silly not to try those options first.