Fourier
Registered User
I think it is an exaggeration to say that beyond the three centers the forwards are AHL calibre. If this team had one more high impact winger and a solid #3C there would be nothing wrong with the forwards. The problem is that like the defense in the past missing those two individuals means too many people have to play above their pay grade and that has a real domino effect.I don't really expect them to score that much more than last year unless they add a significant proven NHL forward or two.
Past the three centers, this is basically an AHL caliber group of forwards pretending to be an NHL team.
That doesn't work in the NHL. You can't pretend your way through 82 NHL games, eventually (probably sooner than later) you will get exposed.
Your best bet is maybe that Tippett plays some kind of trap system, but that probably goes down the tubes real quick if Klefbom suffers his annual injury.
If anything too I think the book is fully out on the Oilers too, every team scouts us hard because of McDavid, and every team knows exactly how to play us ... you pick on/shut down lines 2/3/4 and forecheck the heck out of the D group until they start making mistakes and then go to town on the goalie.
Benson McDavid Draisaitl
Hall Nuge Chiasson
Nygard/Granlund Kadri Gagner
Khaira Cave/Haas/Brodziak Kassian
gives you a line-up with players in positions that they can be successful in. Of course adding a Hall or Kadri is not happening this year but you can certainly fill out the rest of the roster with players that belong in the NHL.