Season predictions

[Smartguy]

Haven't seen a thread like this yet and usually I think we have one every year, always fun to read at the end. Anyways curious to see some predictions based off training camp, either roster or management, or standings based, and before the season starts.
I'll start

1. Slepyshev gets off to a good start sticks for most of the year probably even after eberle returns
2. Mcdavid shows he is a solid player but not to the 100 point expectations, I'll say somewhere in the 60 point range, causes many leaf fans to call bust
3. Justin Schultz is a stand out d man on our blue line, in a good way for once
4. Klefbom takes another step forward, shows he's the real deal
5. Lander plays good puts up 45+ points
6. Pouliont has a disappointing year 15 goals at most, 30 points
7. Nugent hopkins doesn't break out but has another solid year
8. Hall starts slow but goes on a tear later in the year, manages to stay healthy for 70+ games
9. Anders Nilsson is the starter by december
10. We're out of the playoffs by January 1st

A little optimism and pessimistic approach

Have at it

Click to read more...

 

[McTrashBoat]

Purcell is disappointing and is replaced by Draisaitl on the RNH line within 2 weeks.

 

[McOvechking]

1. McDavid was trolling in preseason. Opens the season with 10pts in his first 3 games.
2. Justin Schultz established as our #1D.
3. Lander is just not cut out for NHL. Cya later, welcome to Oilers Leon Draisaitl
4. Taylor Hall struggles to start. Questions about character, chemistry, etc. arise.
5. Talbot isn't that good. Nilsson established as starter.

 

[McShogun99]

1. Oilers make the playoffs, finishing 4th in the conference.

2. Mcdavid wins Calder.

3. Talbot signed to a 4 year deal in February.

4. Yakupov leads team in goals.

5. RNH traded for top pairing RD right around the trade deadline.

6. Hall stays healthy.

7. Nurse called up 30 games into season and stays up.

8. Oilers make it to 2nd round and get swept by the Blues.

 

[McTrashBoat]

1. Oilers make the playoffs, finishing 4th in the conference.

2. Mcdavid wins Calder.

3. Talbot signed to a 4 year deal in February.

4. Yakupov leads team in goals.

5. RNH traded for top pairing RD right around the trade deadline.

6. Hall stays healthy.

7. Nurse called up 30 games into season and stays up.

8. Oilers make it to 2nd round and get swept by the Blues.

I don't know what's crazier, Oilers making the second round or the Blues winning 2 playoff series

 

[djdub]

Phaneuf will be on Oiler by seasons end.

Not saying I want it to happen, just got that feeling.

 

[MCDAVIDISH]

Hall clips McDavid by accident knee on knee at the blue line, they both injure themselves for the year and Oilers come last again but lose the lottery this time. RNH has his best season yet establishing himself as a true superstar and requests a trade by year end.

 

[guymez]

TSN with a little dose of reality....

Oilers Season Preview

Tough to find fault with any of this.

 

[nexttothemoon]

1 Talbot is the real deal and plays lights out... firmly placing himself as a top 10 goalie in the NHL.

2 Nilsson is an adequate, legitimate backup. Not spectacular numbers... but does ok in a backup role which is fine as Talbot starts 55+ games.

3 The team D blows initially (not even really a prediction.. more of an observation right now )... but gradually gets some chemistry and improves as the season wears on. Could be a trade very early on to add another dman into the mix as the Oilers may get rid of a little of their marginal talent in a trade with another team looking to do the same.

4 Hall starts slow and becomes dominant as the season progresses. Puts up good numbers... but not career best as the offense is more spread out on the roster this season... probably high 60's/low 70's pointswise for Hall.

5 McDavid comes as advertised and only gets better as the season progresses. His selflessness eases gradually and he starts sniping more often as he takes more shots and opportunities of his own. Leads the team in scoring by season's end... low 70's.

6 Eberle comes back from injury and gels almost instantly with his linemates again. Tears it up and goes near PPG the rest of the season.

7 Sekera disappoints some in that he isn't as good of a 2-way dman as many expected. Has a 35 pt season and looks "average" defensively. Still deemed to be a solid addition... but overpaid will be the consensus opinion.

8 Schultz rebounds somewhat and posts career highs... 40+ pts and while he's not solid defensively... he's adequate which is an improvement from mediocre/horribad from previous seasons.

9 Yak is streaky all season but has some very hot stretches... pots 25 by the end of the season. Many will say sell high while he has value. Others will say he's ready for a big breakout next season. Tune in the following season to find out who was correct in their assessment.

10 Slepyshev impresses everyone and develops into a solid top 9 forward. Pots 20+ goals and plays all season long. Oilers deem him as one of their best additions and their only real power forward. It isn't lost on anyone that Slepyshev and Yak have both hit 20+ goals this season and a healthy chemistry/competition between the two is all part of both their successes this year.

11 Gryba is suspended for 5 games for a "dirty" hit vs the Canucks. The board here doesn't agree the hit was that dirty but love that a player on the Oilers can dish out some filth instead of the other way around for a change.

12 Fayne, Klefbom, Reinhart all have average seasons (Reainhart spends some time in the AHL as well). Many expected more from Klefbom especially... but slow progression is better than regression.

13 Davidson outplays Ference and makes him redundant. Hey this one has already happened and the season hasn't even started.

14 Purcell hits 35 pts by the trade deadline... is still soft and still slow and still being called out by 90% of the board to be dumped... but is a decent periphery/complimentary player and a playoff bound team picks him up in a deal for a 4th round pick.

15 Two of Korpikoski, Klinkhammer, Letestu pot 10+ goals. The Oilers 4th line is considered one of the best in the NHL and is regularly of of the more consistent lines for the team.

16 The team fails to make the playoffs for the 10th straight season... missing out by 7 pts. The majority agree big strides were made though and next season looks more promising... especially when a solid top 2 dman is brought into the team in the off-season.

 

[Aceboogie]

Oilers finish 9th last. Out of playoffs by Dec 12th

Mcdavid struggles mightily to start. Finishes last 20 ppg. 55 points total

Schultz goes back to old ways. Traded at tdl for 2nd + fringe nhler

Hall injured by game 30. 45 points in 55 games

 

[thadd]

1: Nikitin never plays for the Oilers again
2: Purcell sticks to the third line after Eberle comes back
3: Edmonton is still in playoff contention in February.
4: Talbot and Nilson do a good job of pushing each other and there's no clear starting goalie even by the end of the season.
5: Mcdavid flirts with 80 points.
6: Hopkins tops 70 points.
7: One of Hall or Yakupov get traded.
8: Klefbom scores 10 goals.
9: Justin Schultz gets a 5 year extension for his improved play.
10: Edmonton is 20th in the standings but gets a top 3 pick via lottery.

 

[McOilers97]

Optimism (because I don't want to predict bad things right now)
1) RNH approaches 70 points.
2) Yakupov has first 20 goal season.
3) Klefbom emerges as team's best d-man and puts up 35 points.
4) Schultz finally looks like a top 4 D (but still only takes wristers on the PP) .
5) Pouliot has another career year, gets over 20 goals.
6) Reinhart looks like long-term 2nd pairing D.
7) Hall and McDavid gel instantly, become one of highest scoring duos in the league.
8) Sekera adequately handles 23 minutes per game.
9) Nurse busts into the lineup permanently in the final 30 games.
10) Lander removes any doubt about his ability as a 3C.

 

[thadd]

Optimism (because I don't want to predict bad things right now)
1) RNH approaches 70 points.
2) Yakupov has first 20 goal season.
3) Klefbom emerges as team's best d-man and puts up 35 points.
4) Schultz finally looks like a top 4 D (but still only takes wristers on the PP) .
5) Pouliot has another career year, gets over 20 goals.
6) Reinhart looks like long-term 2nd pairing D.
7) Hall and McDavid gel instantly, become one of highest scoring duos in the league.
8) Sekera adequately handles 23 minutes per game.
9) Nurse busts into the lineup permanently in the final 30 games.
10) Lander removes any doubt about his ability as a 3C.

#1 - Some people might say that Hopkins MUST pull this off, but Hopkins is going to start a lot of shifts in the defensive zone. If he doesn't top 65 points I'll be a disappointed. But yes, 70+ would be nice. If Mcdavid learns how to play well enough both ways that he can also take defensive zone faceoffs, 70 points shouldn't be too hard for Hopkins.

#2 - If he doesn't I'm going to be sad. I'm really crazy. I was hoping for 25+ goals a few weeks ago, but now that I see the way that the lines are written up I'd agree that 20 goals would be nice.

#3 - YES. Very possible unless his improving stats have somehow been padded in the past.

#4 - Not holding my breath. Waiting for him to crack and show us that he's the same guy from last year, but on many occasions I've thought about how well our coaching staff has done in the past with young d-men. So again, not in the realm of impossible.

#5 - That doesn't sound too hard if Eberle comes back sooner. He was looking like a legit scoring line winger last year with Ebs and Hopkins and I don't expect that to change.

#6 - By long term to you mean it looks like he WILL BE a top 4 d-man somewhere down the line or that he establishes himself as a guy who can be a top 4 d for a sustained period of time? If it's the former I think this is realistic, but the latter might be a we bit too much to ask for. There are some things that he does very well but at the same time he's very raw in other aspects of the game and that's why he spent last season in the AHL.

#7 - This would be an awesome fate but I don't see it happening unless Hall wakes up and decides to play with his team instead of expecting his teammates learn to play with him.

#8 - He'd better otherwise we're gonna have a field day.

#9 - Yup. That sounds pretty status quo IMO. I think we could possibly say the same for Leon. They're both great players but they both need to learn different aspects of the game. Nurse needs to learn to be more patient in the defensive zone, while Leon needs to learn how to use his massive body. When either of them have proven to the Oilers that they've mastered this I'm sure I'll be up right away. In Leon's case all we need to do is place Purcell on waivers. With Nurse's case it's a bit more complicated, though. Ference has a NMC and I don't think we paid those assets for Gryba just so that we couldlet him go to free agency. The possibility of Edmonton trading Fayne shouldn't be totally ignored, but that only makes sense if Reinhart proves that he's ready to be one of our go to stay at home guys now. Pretty complicated equation.

#10 - I kinda thought that he did that last year and I was under the impression that he's continued to do that throughout this pre-season. I think Lander is now at the point where he's trying to prove that he's a 2nd/3rd line tweener.


If all of these things happen we're making it into the playoffs for sure, but I'm really worried about #7, which is a big one.

 

[IAGTTAYM]

• EDM finishes 13th in the West, 24th in the league.
• Oilers with < 86 points
• Talbot with < .912
• McDavid with < 68 points
• Yakupov with < 42 points
• PP < 20%
• PK < 80%
• Draisaitl < 1 ppg in the AHL
• Nurse plays > 20 NHL games for EDM
• Scrivens plays > 5 NHL games for EDM
• Pouliot with < 22 goals
• RNH with > 60 points
• Purcell with > 42 points
• Ference plays < 41 games
• Lander with < 30 points
• Hall with > 28 goals

 

[The Human Torch]

Oilers win the Stanley Cup so convincingly that the league just gives them the next two as well, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons subsequently cancelled. Calgary finishes out of the playoffs. I go on a date with Scarlett Johansson and high five you all so hard that the universe explodes.

 

[Bastulon]

I predict that 5 guys will skate on an ice surface 82 times in a year and try not to have the other 5 guys put the disc in the net, but ultimately fail.. a lot.

 

[McClelland]

If we run over the nucks and the shames the season is saved! And then we win the lottery again!

 

[thadd]

• EDM finishes 13th in the West, 24th in the league.
• Oilers with < 86 points
• Talbot with < .912
• McDavid with < 68 points
• Yakupov with < 42 points
• PP < 20%
• PK < 80%
• Draisaitl < 1 ppg in the AHL
• Nurse plays > 20 NHL games for EDM
• Scrivens plays > 5 NHL games for EDM
• Pouliot with < 22 goals
• RNH with > 60 points
• Purcell with > 42 points
• Ference plays < 41 games
• Lander with < 30 points
• Hall with > 28 goals

Holy cow.... that's incredibly pessimistic.
If you're cool with that... hey...OK... fine...
But if this is Edmonton's season I think the fan base is going to expect PC to tear things aparet.

 

[McOilers97]

#6 - By long term to you mean it looks like he WILL BE a top 4 d-man somewhere down the line or that he establishes himself as a guy who can be a top 4 d for a sustained period of time? If it's the former I think this is realistic, but the latter might be a we bit too much to ask for. There are some things that he does very well but at the same time he's very raw in other aspects of the game and that's why he spent last season in the AHL.

The first one: looks like a guy that will grow into a strong 2nd pairing D long-term. I think he'll do ok on the 3rd pair this year, but in a few years will be able to comfortably play 20 minutes as a 3/4.

 

[HeavyHitter99]

-Hall starts very slow, later gets injured and misses at least 10 games. Finishes the season with a .8 ppg

- Eberle plays like he has the past couple seasons and seems unmotivated at times. 60-65 points

-Nuge fails to take the next step forward offensively. 60-65 points but with a great defensive game.

-Mcdavid shows flashes of brilliance 65-70 points

- Yakupov disappoints many but takes a baby step forward with ~45 points and the ability to backcheck

-Pouliot shows that his goals per was a fluke last year. 37-44 points and under 22 goals.

- Slepyshev proves to be another player that has isn't as good during regular season as he is during preseason. If he plays 82 games then ~25 points.

-Lander has a decent year but not as good as preseason ~37 points

- Purcell plays like Purcell. Everyone wants him gone.

-Letestu plays great as a 4th line center but his offensive numbers from the past don't follow him here. ~25 points.

-Schultz proves not to be a liability defensively and gets ~45 points. Big step forward in play overall.

-Klefbom shows great ability overall but struggles to put up offensive numbers ~25 points.

- Fayne shows small signs of showing down but overall is still his solid self.

- Sekera plays like a #2 dman with occasional defensive errors. 30-35 points.

-Gryba is our new whipping boy on D and is as slow as molasses.

-Reinhart shows glimpses of being a 2nd pair dman but fills his #5 role very very well.

-Talbot has some rocky games getting used to his much worse defense. 2.50-2.60 gaa, .910-.915 sv%

- Nilssen plays very well in his ~25 games. 2.40-2.50 gaa and ~.915 sv%

- Drasaitl has a decent first AHL year (with some NHL call up games) but is under ppg down there.

- Nurse's offensive numbers disappoint in the AHL. 25-30 points.

-Christoffer shows everybody that he really isn't that good.

-Laleggia puts up very nice offensive numbers in the AHL 40+ points

 

[PaPaDee]

My predictions:

1. The Oilers are playing meaningful hockey games in March.

2. They start slowly with only 3 wins in their first 10.

3. Yakupov is traded before the deadline.

4. Schultz steps up in a big way and demands big $ for his next contract.

5. RNH nets 65-70 points barring injury.

6. The team gets the best goaltending they've had in recent years.

 

[ponokanocker]

McDavid wins the Calder, but doesn't hit 70 points.

Our goaltending is better, but still in the bottom half of the league. We will have a goalie controversy as none of our 3 goalies establish themselves as a #1. Scrivens bounces back after an injury to 1 of Talbot or Neilsen, and puts up solid numbers.

Our D is still a weak point and people start to wonder if Sekera was the answer over Petry.

Nurse and Drai finish the season as Oilers regulars. Slep finishes in the AHL.

Ference plays less than 50 games as he is passed over by the youth.

Yakupov has a solid year and hits over 25 goals and 50 points this year. He is more of a PP specialist though.

Reinhart is the centre of Oilers hfboards members arguments as he plays a very modest stay at home style but lacks foot speed. Some posters want him in the minors, some want him on the top pairing.

Hall plays over 80 games. BOLD! And gets the most points as an Oiler.

Eberle comes back from injury, but is off all year and needs offseason shoulder surgery.

The Oilers struggle early, then mount an impressive comeback but finish short of the playoffs.

 

[IAGTTAYM]

Holy cow.... that's incredibly pessimistic.

Compared to most, I suppose so. But when I look at our roster and compare it with other teams in the conference, I don't think we stack up well. Other then Arizona I don't see another team that we are clearly better then. We might beat out Vancouver and Colorado, but that's about it as far as I'm concerned.

If you're cool with that... hey...OK... fine...

I'm making predictions, not outling what I would be "cool with".

But if this is Edmonton's season I think the fan base is going to expect PC to tear things aparet.

What is a fair and realistic expectation for the team? Some are talking about playoffs, to me that is far fetched. In my book the team is still full of maybes and question marks, and I don't expect everything to be straightened out during the season. Chiarelli and McLellan will need more time then that to clean up the mess left behind.

 

[CornKicker]

1. Oilers make the playoffs, finishing 4th in the conference.

2. Mcdavid wins Calder.

3. Talbot signed to a 4 year deal in February.

4. Yakupov leads team in goals.

5. RNH traded for top pairing RD right around the trade deadline.

6. Hall stays healthy.

7. Nurse called up 30 games into season and stays up.

8. Oilers make it to 2nd round and get swept by the Blues.

i was with you till this LOLOL the blues getting out of the first round.

 

[LTIR]

20 games in predictions:

1. McDavid gets moved to RNH's wing

2. Nilsson takes over the starting role

3. Chiarelli trades for a top pairing RD

4. Klefbom becomes Oilers' #1D