GM-Blake Appreciation Thread + Oilers Jab.

[Birdman]

I'm not a large fan of celebrating anyone with 71 games left in the season.

They have to play .600 hockey now to make the playoffs. It’s possible, but not without going on an absolute tear and soon. The longer they languish, the better. That said, their schedule is tame for the next month with no back to backs, and they have almost a week off at the end of the month and will get a few days to practice and fix some things.

My fear this season was having to beat both them and the Knights in consecutive series. If they aren’t in the equation, I think we are in a way better position to actually win it all, and this will likely delay my trip to Europe this summer.

 

[Birdman]

Just recently, EDM (2) lost to SJ (3) in regulation. I've noticed that McOverrated hasn't scored a goal in 7 straight games lately. Wow, is he ever getting snakebitten. His struggles are the other opponents' gains. Loving it.

He’s playing hurt. Drai is also laboring.

 

[Clif]

They have to play .600 hockey now to make the playoffs. It’s possible, but not without going on an absolute tear and soon. The longer they languish, the better. That said, their schedule is tame for the next month with no back to backs, and they have almost a week off at the end of the month and will get a few days to practice and fix some things.

My fear this season was having to beat both them and the Knights in consecutive series. If they aren’t in the equation, I think we are in a way better position to actually win it all, and this will likely delay my trip to Europe this summer.

Every western playoff team but WPG finished above .600 in 22-23. (SEA .609 at 100 pts), so it’s not a high percentage for a good team. That EDM has to do it immediately and that playoff teams in SEA and MN are both currently out makes for tough competition. ANH and AZ also made good moves this summer and have a lot to prove that they’re on the right track after being peak laughing stocks last year. This all makes .600 harder to turn it on and keep it on.

Biggest factor other than a goalie trade is how long it takes McDavid to come back to productive health.

 

[hokiecat]

It's not that it was a well orchestrated move, it's more of thinking really big instead of in a series of 1 for 1 moves. When I brought up the early mistakes, it showed how Blake wasn't putting moves together. I mean hiring Willie and adding an outsider like kovalchuk I think it's clear that Blake is now really looking at the ramifications of his moves. Back then it reeked of here's a coach but also we want one timers on the pp so use this guy. Not well thought out.

OK, I definitely agree with this. The Kings were a mess last year having a top 3.5 D, with Durzi playing on his off-hand. Gavrikov was a great fit. So making a move to lock up pairings that can play ~50 minutes a game makes sense, especially after the Gavrikov test drive that we got in the spring. I don't like the overall cost of the deal but the results show a willingness to do what it takes to get a good fit. Edler, Walker, Spence, and Bjornfot had ridiculously sheltered minutes on the 3rd pair.
The Flames are probably a great case study of replacing 2 guys with 3 guys who have equivalent to better performance statistically but the GM failed to get guys who could fill the voided roles.

 

[AngelEyes]

Yeah, I think Blake could held back that 2nd round pick. Although, hindsight and all that jazz.

Not a great film, but an entertaining one. Bob Fosse and his demons.

 

[symbology]

Every western playoff team but WPG finished above .600 in 22-23. (SEA .609 at 100 pts), so it’s not a high percentage for a good team. That EDM has to do it immediately and that playoff teams in SEA and MN are both currently out makes for tough competition. ANH and AZ also made good moves this summer and have a lot to prove that they’re on the right track after being peak laughing stocks last year. This all makes .600 harder to turn it on and keep it on.

Biggest factor other than a goalie trade is how long it takes McDavid to come back to productive health.

Goaltending has not really been their issue though. The have been lazy as all heck in the defensive zone. Low effort on backchecks, no coverage. Especially Draisaitl and Bouchard, they have been horrible.

Campbell was not great, Skinner has played decent.

Is it Goaltending that had them lose to the Sharks and only score 1 goal? That team has been disfunctional. In pressers they do not speak of keeping the puck out of their net, the only focus on doing better in the O zone.

 

[STONE]

Edmonton is a cancer of bad character. It's everywhere, Leon, no personality McWhatever, and then there's the cancer that spreads, Kane. This org is a joke from the inside out. Sorry, it ain't gonna happen this year Oilers, lol.

 

[05/29/93]

Edmonton is a cancer of bad character. It's everywhere, Leon, no personality McWhatever, and then there's the cancer that spreads, Kane. This org is a joke from the inside out. Sorry, it ain't gonna happen this year Oilers, lol.

Still to early to count them out. A long way to go. Teams have turned their season around later than this. See the 2019 Blues.

 

[mugs]

Still too early to count them out. A long way to go. Teams have turned their season around later than this. See the 2019 Blues.

2012 Kings.

 

[STONE]

Still to early to count them out. A long way to go. Teams have turned their season around later than this. See the 2019 Blues.

They're top heavy too. With PB and Yamamoto being gone, their bottom six drop off real far. Their cup or bust motto did them in...

 

[symbology]

Woodcroft is gone. They hired McDavid's junior coach out of the AHL (Rangers) Kris Knoblauch.

 

[Birdman]

Woodcroft is gone. They hired McDavid's junior coach out of the AHL (Rangers) Kris Knoblauch.

Good ole boys making a knee jerk reaction. It’s going to backfire, and they’ll be a lottery team again.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

Good ole boys making a knee jerk reaction. It’s going to backfire, and they’ll be a lottery team again.

That would be wild if the Oilers end up being a bottom feeding lottery team and manage to get yet another high end pick.. at least this upcoming draft is not of the same caliber as the previous draft class.

 

[symbology]

Good ole boys making a knee jerk reaction. It’s going to backfire, and they’ll be a lottery team again.

Paul Coffey is the new assistant coach with zero coaching experience. He has been and I think continues to be an assistant to the owner. I heard that when Gretzky was the coach for the Coyotes he brought Coffey in as a consultant to the PP. Supposedly players were pissed and said he basically showed videos of the old Edmonton PP and just said, do this. This seems like a very strange move.

Also, in pressers McDavid has not looked happy. It seemed to be more than just the losing. Maybe this will make him happy?

 

[DryKing]

Paul Coffey is the new assistant coach with zero coaching experience. He has been and I think continues to be an assistant to the owner. I heard that when Gretzky was the coach for the Coyotes he brought Coffey in as a consultant to the PP. Supposedly players were pissed and said he basically showed videos of the old Edmonton PP and just said, do this. This seems like a very strange move.

Also, in pressers McDavid has not looked happy. It seemed to be more than just the losing. Maybe this will make him happy?

I wouldn't undersell Coffey, but it feels he is more there due to having the owner's trust than anything which indicates this coaching move may have been done to make McDavid happy (and Katz isn't fully onboard yet).

Word is that Coffey initially decline the offer to become assistant coach, but was eventually talked into it while also remaining advisor to the ownership.

 

[ICE24]

They're top heavy too. With PB and Yamamoto being gone, their bottom six drop off real far. Their cup or bust motto did them in...

To be fair, being top heavy is not that bad, unless it’s me.

 

[JETS GARAGE]

It's still early yet. You can't win the Stanley Cup in the first 20 games of the season, but you can lose it.

Color me guardedly optimistic.

 

[Clif]

Goaltending has not really been their issue though. The have been lazy as all heck in the defensive zone. Low effort on backchecks, no coverage. Especially Draisaitl and Bouchard, they have been horrible.

Campbell was not great, Skinner has played decent.

Is it Goaltending that had them lose to the Sharks and only score 1 goal? That team has been disfunctional. In pressers they do not speak of keeping the puck out of their net, the only focus on doing better in the O zone.

Their goal scoring has been way down considering how they rank in shots/high danger chances/expected goals, so I get why it’s their main focus. They’re a true outscore-their-problems kind of team. That said, they signed Campbell to be their guy and he’s not, so I think they’re going to really try and make a move in goal. Like many other teams, something happens to their number 1 in Skinner who’s already not great and then they’re really toast.

 

[F**e_Off]

Sorry for no doubt sounding sanctimonious here for I surely don't delight in pissing people off, but I have to say I feel it's sad that some have to seemingly bolster their feelings of happiness and optimisim about our team's situation and prospects, by rejoicing in the struggles of another.

 

[SaltyPuck]

Sorry for no doubt sounding sanctimonious here for I surely don't delight in pissing people off, but I have to say I feel it's sad that some have to seemingly bolster their feelings of happiness and optimisim about our team's situation and prospects, by rejoicing in the struggles of another.