Player Discussion Zack Kassian

[Zihuatanejo]

Which is curious, because TM said earlier this week that that was the very reason they weren't playing Yak yet.

If you are referring to the conditioning I think it would be two different types of conditioning. Not being 100% ready after injury is a little different than just being a little out of shape still.

But that's just my opinion. I think Kassian is being brought up as a bit of a spark. And as long as he doesn't completely lose his mind I can see him being a benefit to this team. He does have skill.

 

[Arpeggio]

picking up Connauton would have shaken things up as well considering the play of Hunt\Fayne\Schultz etc. No idea what Chia and co are thinking right now.

Yeah I thought they were going to pick him up too. No idea what they're saving contract space for, unless they're going to deal one of the big guys for quantity, which is not exactly the kind of move this team should be making.

I don't understand why the Oilers have consistently ignored the waiver wire over the years. Every year there are guys made available that end up sticking on their new team. And considering the strength of this team, they should be more willing to give outsiders a shot with a bigger role.

A guy like Paul Byron would've been great for the Oilers, and personally I think they should've taken a shot at Rundblad and Connauton(sp?).

Edit: And I'm not even mentioning all the late free agent pick-ups that the Oilers continue to ignore. This roster is not full, if any team should be taking shots in the dark its the Oilers.

 

[subnet]

even if his conditioning isn't where it needs to be, i.e. Flemming's comments, he won't need to play big minutes like he would in Bakersfield since he won't be on the top two lines. Maybe he can't play 18+ minutes of effective hockey yet, but has the conditioning to play 10 no problem.

 

[Stoneman89]

If you are referring to the conditioning I think it would be two different types of conditioning. Not being 100% ready after injury is a little different than just being a little out of shape still.

But that's just my opinion. I think Kassian is being brought up as a bit of a spark. And as long as he doesn't completely lose his mind I can see him being a benefit to this team. He does have skill.

Nope, same conditioning issues. Yak was completely healed and really wanted to get in. But he failed the coaches conditioning test for endurance, as TM said he didn't want a "liability" on the ice due to running out of gas. Gerry Fleming said earlier that Kassians conditioning level wasn't yet up to NHL standards.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

They've got ~5 (6) games left before the allstar break spread over 10 days.

They're likely going to roll with him on the 4th line to get him up to the speed of the NHL, then hope he can hit the ground running after the break.

This likely allows allow you to keep Yak to the sidelines until February too and get him fully healthy along with McDavid.



You know more bad news is going to happen, but the idea of replacing Lander, Letestu, and Pakarinen(until Purcell is trded) with Yakupov, McDavid, and Kassian; and Klefbom in for Schultz gives me some hope this team can go on a bit of a run come February.

Hall-Draisaitl-Purcell
Pouliot-RNH-Eberle
Yakupov-McDavid-Kassian
Klinkhammer-Hendricks-Korpikoski

Sekera-Fayne
Nurse-Klefbom
Davidson-Gyrba

Talbot
Nilsson


I'm not saying playoff's, but even like Columbus down the stretch last year.

 

[Tw0Shoes]

They've got ~5 (6) games left before the allstar break spread over 10 days.

They're likely going to roll with him on the 4th line to get him up to the speed of the NHL, then hope he can hit the ground running after the break.

This likely allows allow you to keep Yak to the sidelines until February too and get him fully healthy along with McDavid.



You know more bad news is going to happen, but the idea of replacing Lander, Letestu, and Pakarinen(until Purcell is trded) with Yakupov, McDavid, and Kassian; and Klefbom in for Schultz gives me some hope this team can go on a bit of a run come February.

Hall-Draisaitl-Purcell
Pouliot-RNH-Eberle
Yakupov-McDavid-Kassian
Klinkhammer-Hendricks-Korpikoski

Sekera-Fayne
Nurse-Klefbom
Davidson-Gyrba

Talbot
Nilsson


I'm not saying playoff's, but even like Columbus down the stretch last year.

I get that everyone hates schultz here, but why take the guy out when he's actually played well in the last few games?

 

[Mr Positive]

I get that everyone hates schultz here, but why take the guy out when he's actually played well in the last few games?

because or else he will do to well and they might have to start liking him *shudder*

 

[Stoneman89]

They've got ~5 (6) games left before the allstar break spread over 10 days.

They're likely going to roll with him on the 4th line to get him up to the speed of the NHL, then hope he can hit the ground running after the break.

This likely allows allow you to keep Yak to the sidelines until February too and get him fully healthy along with McDavid.



You know more bad news is going to happen, but the idea of replacing Lander, Letestu, and Pakarinen(until Purcell is trded) with Yakupov, McDavid, and Kassian; and Klefbom in for Schultz gives me some hope this team can go on a bit of a run come February.

Hall-Draisaitl-Purcell
Pouliot-RNH-Eberle
Yakupov-McDavid-Kassian
Klinkhammer-Hendricks-Korpikoski

Sekera-Fayne
Nurse-Klefbom
Davidson-Gyrba

Talbot
Nilsson


I'm not saying playoff's, but even like Columbus down the stretch last year.

Do you know for sure if Klefbom is even coming back in February?

 

[McTrashBoat]

Do you know for sure if Klefbom is even coming back in February?

Pretty sure nobody outside the organization knows, plus it's not easy to put a date on an injection

 

[oobga]

This better be one of the best games of Kassian's life. Dude has so much redemption left to earn. When Kassian is playing his best, he can be a beast out there, but he just only did it once every at least 5 games in the past. Better be at least 1 every 3 now after all the crap he's been through.

 

[Stoneman89]

I get that everyone hates schultz here, but why take the guy out when he's actually played well in the last few games?

Depends what you're definition of "playing well" is I guess. He was absolutely hot garbage for most of this year, so if it is a step up from that to warm garbage, I guess it looks better on the resume. But at the end of the day, it's still garbage.

 

[McTrashBoat]

Depends what you're definition of "playing well" is I guess. He was absolutely hot garbage for most of this year, so if it is a step up from that to warm garbage, I guess it looks better on the resume. But at the end of the day, it's still garbage.

Yeah he scored a goal, but he also got walked around for at least one against

 

[Stoneman89]

This better be one of the best games of Kassian's life. Dude has so much redemption left to earn. When Kassian is playing his best, he can be a beast out there, but he just only did it once every at least 5 games in the past. Better be at least 1 every 3 now after all the crap he's been through.

So, you're saying he can be good once out of every 3, but this particular game has to be that one?

 

[oobga]

So, you're saying he can be good once out of every 3, but this particular game has to be that one?

Yeah, he should do 1 of them tonight, then he can take 2 nights off

Only 2 nights off would be a big improvement for him still

 

[Stoneman89]

Pretty sure nobody outside the organization knows, plus it's not easy to put a date on an injection

True, which is why I question why some people pencil him in their lineups.

 

[Stoneman89]

Yeah, he should do 1 of them tonight, then he can take 2 nights off

Only 2 nights off would be a big improvement for him still

I think he'll come out with a bang, and then as the adrenaline wears off, he'll slow down. It's going to take him a while to get up to speed. I hope people don't expect too much.

 

[K1984]

I get that everyone hates schultz here, but why take the guy out when he's actually played well in the last few games?

He played well in the Arizona game, but that's about it.

Even when he plays relatively well, he always will have the shift where he loses himself in his own end which leads to goals against or extended D zone time.

Take the Tampa game for example. Scores a goal, plays pretty well, then with 4 mins left in the game we win a D zone draw, he limp wrists a pass/clear (not really sure what he was trying to do) up the wall to a Tampa player, then the puck ends up in the back of the net and game over.

Everyone chalked that up to bad luck, but all he had to do was not piss away an easy possession to not cost us the game. I was at that one and he was looking at the sky after it went in, he knew it was his fault.

 

[Stoneman89]

He played well in the Arizona game, but that's about it.

Even when he plays relatively well, he always will have the shift where he loses himself in his own end which leads to goals against or extended D zone time.

Take the Tampa game for example. Scores a goal, plays pretty well, then with 4 mins left in the game we win a D zone draw, he limp wrists a pass/clear (not really sure what he was trying to do) up the wall to a Tampa player, then the puck ends up in the back of the net and game over.

Everyone chalked that up to bad luck, but all he had to do was not piss away an easy possession to not cost us the game. I was at that one and he was looking at the sky after it went in, he knew it was his fault.

Yup, still far too many daily brain cramps to be called playing well. And still no balls.

 

[oobga]

He played well in the Arizona game, but that's about it.

Even when he plays relatively well, he always will have the shift where he loses himself in his own end which leads to goals against or extended D zone time.

Take the Tampa game for example. Scores a goal, plays pretty well, then with 4 mins left in the game we win a D zone draw, he limp wrists a pass/clear (not really sure what he was trying to do) up the wall to a Tampa player, then the puck ends up in the back of the net and game over.

Everyone chalked that up to bad luck, but all he had to do was not piss away an easy possession to not cost us the game. I was at that one and he was looking at the sky after it went in, he knew it was his fault.

Schultz had potential to be a really good 3rd pairing + PP specialist Dman. It's a damn shame that MacT gave him that 2nd contract. Schultz's qualifying offer was under 1M, but we just fork over near 4M, just because he managed to go full river boat gambler in the last part of his first 2 seasons disregarding all defensive responsibilities to get the last points he needed for his max bonuses. As soon as he wasn't motivated by bonuses anymore, that was it.

Needed a bridge deal around 2M, and he would still be a 2M guy today and he would probably be a much better player. Less responsibility 5 on 5, less pressure to live up what he's being paid, more money to get real defenders to keep him on the 3rd pairing at ES.

Just another one of MacT's epic failures.

 

[Mr Positive]

Yup, still far too many daily brain cramps to be called playing well. And still no balls.

I don't think the brain cramps have been an issue the last handful of games or so. He made mistakes but not moreso than other Dmen on the team. Even Sekera has had rough gaffes. Nurse has been far worse than Schultz in this regard lately.

He's still been bad overall for the season, that's no doubt. He does have no balls still, but that's just not the type of Dman he is. He has been producing offense lately, and that's enough.

 

[Tw0Shoes]

I don't think the brain cramps have been an issue the last handful of games or so. He made mistakes but not moreso than other Dmen on the team. Even Sekera has had rough gaffes. Nurse has been far worse than Schultz in this regard lately.

He's still been bad overall for the season, that's no doubt. He does have no balls still, but that's just not the type of Dman he is. He has been producing offense lately, and that's enough.

Yep, no reason to expect that Tom Gilbert or Jeff Petry will play like Darnell Nurse, and yet people want to run them out of town because they can't. Schultz is actually starting to do the things that make him successful again, and people start talking about having no balls.

 

[Fightman]

Damn, I hope for you guys that he will be able to handle his problems..... but look at his eyes after last night game.....
https://vine.co/v/iObbX0q5PZn

 

[Jeff Lebowski]

Damn, I hope for you guys that he will be able to handle his problems..... but look at his eyes after last night game.....
https://vine.co/v/iObbX0q5PZn

What wrong with them?

 

[Psychoil]

What wrong with them?

they're just dilated. Withdrawal symptoms from alcohol are the worst out of any drug, so I guess dilated pupils are something we are gonna have to take, because it could be much worse lol

 

[OneMoreAstronaut]

What wrong with them?

He's using them... to SEE