Fans have been saying this same thing since HOPE. Potential is just that, potential. Nothing less, nothing more.
2/4 of those guys turned out alright. If we get half the players the OP listed to turn into regular top 6 players we should be happy.
Fans have been saying this same thing since HOPE. Potential is just that, potential. Nothing less, nothing more.
HOPE were can't miss core guys, save for Omark. Now they are all gone. You simply can't list off all the prospects you did as can't miss guys. That almost never happens. Yes it is better than not having them, but they haven't proven anything yet.
they've addressed goaltending and addressed coachingWhat's next for the Oilers?
Fix the wings. Fix the defense. Fix the goaltending. Fix the coaching. Fix the front office. Fix the minor league team. Fix the cap structure.
Well let's see.... They weren't very good last year, and they're not likely to get huge upgrades anywhere in the lineup.they've addressed goaltending and addressed coaching
do you think this team will suck this year? and if so...why?
why can't Talbot recover?Well let's see.... They weren't very good last year, and they're not likely to get huge upgrades anywhere in the lineup.
We "addressed" goaltending by signing a guy who has less NHL games to his credit than fingers.
What's next for the Oilers?
Fix the wings. Fix the defense. Fix the goaltending. Fix the coaching. Fix the front office. Fix the minor league team. Fix the cap structure.
Talbot let in the first shot 14 times which I believe is a record.
If he did manage to save the very first shot, the first 3 shots had an incredibly high rate of going in with him.
I blame 90% of last season on the fact we were playing from behind most games. That's either on coaches not preparing this team properly? or Talbot.
I never said we weren't going to sign anyone. Problem is we have so little room (both cap space and roster wise) to sign anyone of significance.why can't Talbot recover?
do you expect the PK to be bad again?
do you expect the PP to be bad again?
and I had no idea the UFA period is open and we signed no one...
no I'm not...if half the players that sucked last year (Lucic, Klefbom, Talbot, Larsson, Sekera) improve and half the young guys improve (Puljujarvi, Rattie, Caggulia, Yamamoto if he plays), this team is betterI never said we weren't going to sign anyone. Problem is we have so little room (both cap space and roster wise) to sign anyone of significance.
But see you're banking on everything going right for the Oilers. What if Talbot doesn't rebound? That alone sinks the season unless this wonder goalie who's limited NHL stats are suited for an ECHL can steal the show... Which would be ideal, at least until he demands a raise that we likely can't pay him.
McDavid playing even better than last year couldn't prevent this team from losing.
If the Oilers do not make the playoffs and look good doing it with the best player in the world and another very high end forward and after investing heavily on the defense chia, mac and the whole group should be booted to the curb immediately.
The coach has done a poor job running the team, the gm has made things worse by awful moves.
There is not year 3 of a 12 year rebuild. Get off the stick and get results or get out of the way.
You're still relying on the rebound or progression of a good chunk of the roster.no I'm not...if half the players that sucked last year (Lucic, Klefbom, Talbot, Larsson, Sekera) improve and half the young guys improve (Puljujarvi, Rattie, Caggulia, Yamamoto if he plays), this team is better
and we get even average special teams., not DFL..this team is vastly improved
and I'm not even counting the adds in UFAs
Fire Chia!
I kid, kind of.
We're stuck in that no mans land where the patient already had the elective operations and you can't fire the mad doctor in mid treatment without becoming a Frankenstein casualty.
We already had the worst pain ( I sure hope) and maybe the plan will get somewhere from here. At this point we have to see it through and have Chia here this season and probably the one after.
That said there has to be a moratorium on any more blow it up trades. We can't trade away a big name at this point, no more bleeding. Any of that should have to be signed off on by all of the org and Katz.
That said we are 3 years in the Chia/Mcd land. Clock IS ticking. The live body team has to be improved. Its CRITICAL that we find one +20G winger. We HAVE to. Not sure how that is going to take place but without it our topsix is entirely lacking go to depth. We can't start another season in which it is disaster if even one of our topsix forwards goes down with injury.
You're still relying on the rebound or progression of a good chunk of the roster.
And this of course isn't taking inevitable injuries into account. It's not like the Oilers just missed last year. They weren't even close. Most of the playoff teams ran them over. Even some of the bottom feeders did.
This team needs an upgrade. Nobody's going to look past them.
I would walk away from Strome and sign Duclair and Reider with the 3M.We don’t have $5M. Strome got qualified at 3M and may get more in arbitration. Do we pay Nurse less than $4m and risk losing him next year? We spend .750 on a 7D and .750 on a 14th forward. That leaves less than 2M for a 2nd line alternative if 27 and 98 don’t both work out.
It's not going to be like 2016-17. People are aware of what this team can do. And they also know that behind McDavid there aren't many threats. They're one major injury away from a losing season.Exactly. Its like few people even consider this. Completely healthy we don't even have a topsix. With injury to any of the 3 good forwards we have its absolute disaster. I just mentioned the same.
I would walk away from Strome and sign Duclair and Reider with the 3M.
Move Nuge to C or see if Caggiula can handle 3C duties
why won't they rebound?You're still relying on the rebound or progression of a good chunk of the roster.
they weren't close because of the reasons I've said many many many times...unless you disagree with them?And this of course isn't taking inevitable injuries into account. It's not like the Oilers just missed last year. They weren't even close. Most of the playoff teams ran them over. Even some of the bottom feeders did.
of course they need to upgrade...but the Free agency hasn't openedThis team needs an upgrade. Nobody's going to look past them.
McDavid will have atleast 5 different linemates next season. Just because the duo clicked last season means nothing. Its a new season and fresh start for all.I think breaking up RNH + McDavid would be a mistake. It's the only thing from last season that worked for us, lets not touch that. Took Todd to have the media force his arm into doing it too, lol.
We don’t have $5M. Strome got qualified at 3M and may get more in arbitration. Do we pay Nurse less than $4m and risk losing him next year? We spend .750 on a 7D and .750 on a 14th forward. That leaves less than 2M for a 2nd line alternative if 27 and 98 don’t both work out.
I would walk away from Strome and sign Duclair and Reider with the 3M.
Move Nuge to C or see if Caggiula can handle 3C duties
why won't they rebound?
it just as likely they rebound as it is if the "upgrades" we bring in flop
nothing is a sure thing
they weren't close because of the reasons I've said many many many times...unless you disagree with them?
and no team can account for injuries, nor overcome major ones..
And sitting around doing nothing or downgrading the roster doesn't either. This team wasn't good enough even when it was healthy to win. If this team gets off to another 3 win October they aren't coming back. And unlike last season, this season's October isn't friendly in the slightest. All but two games are against playoff teams and even then they still struggled against the Rangers and Hawks last year. Never mind the Caps, Preds, Pens...of course they need to upgrade...but the Free agency hasn't opened
and it doesn't guarantee success