Where do the Oilers finish this season?

[Mc5RingsAndABeer]

Last season the Oilers finished 14th with 74 points. 15th was 65 points, 8th was 95 points, and 1st was 111 points.
We've made some significant changes - Krueger, Schultz, Yakupov, etc.
It's a shortened season with a modified schedule (found here: http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=649918 )

Where do you think the Oilers finish in the Western conference this season?

Click to read more...

 

[Lowe in Oil]

Sports Illustrated is bang on!

I say 2nd in West. (SJ 1st)

 

[402]

Lets examine the western conference 8th seed.
L.A took the final west playoff spot last season with 95 points. In 2010-11 season chicago took the 8th seed with 97 points and in 2009-10 colorado was 8th with again 95 points
95x0.59= 56 points 48 games is roughly 59% of a regular 82 game season.
So theoretically the 8th seed will be had at close to 56 points or 28 wins.
Furthermore, the oilers last season had 74 points which when scaled down to 48 games using the same equation is 44 points.

I don't know if we will make the playoffs i want to believe we will but i'm not confident about our defense. I'm not worried about the GF (i think we will be top in GF) i am worried about GA if we are going to make the playoffs GA needs to improve significantly.

I hope this makes some sense.

 

[Asher]

I predicted 15th the last 2 years and was pretty close. Hard to say this year. I'll say above 15th for now.

 

[Bank Shot]

I'll say tenth because I'm an optimist.

We continue to see improvement, but the holes in the roster are still too great to overcome IMO.

 

[GretzkytoKurri9917]

14th.


Columbus 15th

 

[McDrai]

11th. An improvement but our defense is far too weak

 

[TBL256]

My gut says 12th, hope I'm wrong, but that's what I'm going with.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

I voted 12th.

We'll likely get 14th.

 

[Eytinge]

I'll go with 9th

 

[Insta]

I'll go with 10th. Push for playoffs but fall just short.

 

[nexttothemoon]

On paper they should be 13th/14th... the game isn't played on paper... 5th.

 

[PBandJ]

I'll say 10th. We'll push for the playoffs, but the holes will be too great.

 

[Cam98]

12th

 

[The Nuge]

Hoping for 7th, expecting around 10th to 12th

 

[tv14]

Hoping for 7th, expecting around 10th to 12th

Agreed. I suppose, as long as we're in the hunt all year I will be happy.

 

[McDNicks17]

Went with lucky 13.

 

[Billy Barou]

Healthy Whitney - 7th, else 12th.

 

[I am the Liquor]

14th. You dont stand pat, only adding two rookies, click your heels and expect to be in the playoffs. I feel sorry for Krueger. Gonna be a long year for him.

Start out with low expectations, then anything that exceeds them makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

 

[Everlasting]

As an optimist, i have to say 13 - 10. Hopefully Oilers can take a big step this season. Considering how wierd this season will be becuse of how short it is and how many players have not played during this season. Anything can happen. And i think that this is factor everyone should take in consideration. If Oilers magically happens to make it to playoff, remember that they are not a playoff team and it will take even more of a miracle for them to reach the playoffs next season.

 

[BOUNCE]

Went with 10th if everyone is healthy. If not 13th.

 

[Comrade Blunderbore]

We'll miss playoffs narrowly. starting strong as usual, then crapping the bed during the bloody hell of a road trip just in the middle of the season. then we'll have another nice stretch but it won't be enough, and we'll finish 11th, 6-7 pts removed from the 8th place.

 

[402]

Start out with low expectations, then anything that exceeds them makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

You are right about this, i am usually pretty optimistic and i get disappointed alot

 

[Jumptheshark]

I think up front because the oilers had so many players playing they will get off to a flying start--I think the d will be slow at the start because only 2 played during the lockout and for me that could cause some frstrating nights

 

[Hoogaar23]

I'm not worried about the GF (i think we will be top in GF) i am worried about GA if we are going to make the playoffs GA needs to improve significantly.

Our GA doesn't "need to improve significantly". Last year we were 5 goals from being top 10 in GA at even strength. Like 20 from being top 10 in GF.

Our GA last year was fine. Our D will be better, Dubnyk > Khabi - I think we should be able to stay close to the same for GA. The key will be secondary scoring. If we can actually have 2 lines scoring, I think we could do some damage.