The Pacific Division Thread

[Clif]

I don't think the Oilers like their new Dance partner. That was a heck of a game tonight.

I will admit it was a lot of fun and the Ducks offensive skill is impressive. Even with Connor getting a couple points they are under his skin and frustrating him.

I love seeing the Oilers lose.

 

[orpheus]

After their last game.

 

[DryKing]

I will admit it was a lot of fun and the Ducks offensive skill is impressive. Even with Connor getting a couple points they are under his skin and frustrating him.

I love seeing the Oilers lose.

Gotta wonder if a first round exit would lead to Connor seeking a trade deal or simply not resigning in after the 27/28 season.

Edmonton really seems to be on a downward trajectory, but they could potentially turn that around by acquiring a standout goalie.

 

[VCRW]

The quacks if their d holds up have a shot at the wcf

I would love to see Ducks vs Mammoth in the WCF!

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Gotta wonder if a first round exit would lead to Connor seeking a trade deal or simply not resigning in after the 27/28 season.

Edmonton really seems to be on a downward trajectory, but they could potentially turn that around by acquiring a standout goalie.

Seriously though, what team could afford to trade for him? Just think about what the Kings would have to give up…

Great, we’d have McDavid and absolutely nothing else.

 

[Clif]

Gotta wonder if a first round exit would lead to Connor seeking a trade deal or simply not resigning in after the 27/28 season.

Edmonton really seems to be on a downward trajectory, but they could potentially turn that around by acquiring a standout goalie.

If they don’t win he’ll leave but I can’t see him asking for a trade. Extending for two years at his current salary was an explicit direction to management to use that cap space and build him a winner. He wants to win in Edmonton.

I said at the start of the season this would be off year for Edmonton, fatigue being part of that, but look out the next two years as the cap goes up. That said, Hyman and Ekholm are only getting older and more injury prone and drop offs from those two will really hurt the team.

Ingraham is playing well enough for them to win. Oilers win by outscoring everyone but the Panthers. It’s why Eliotte Friedman said to win a series against them you have to engage in the track meet and win at least one game and likely two at like 6-5. Ducks are meeting their track meet and they have a shot because of it.

EDM gave up so many 2-on-1’s last night. That’s on their playing style. Other goals against were because yes it looked like Ingrahm was out of position but really he was playing the shooter who then passed to teammates that were simply unmarked.

 

[05/29/93]

Gotta wonder if a first round exit would lead to Connor seeking a trade deal or simply not resigning in after the 27/28 season.

Edmonton really seems to be on a downward trajectory, but they could potentially turn that around by acquiring a standout goalie.

Remember though about the Oilers (lest anyone forget), they trailed the Kings 3-2 in 2022, 2-1 in 2023, and 2-0 in 2025 and won all three series. They also came within one goal of pulling off the greatest series comeback of all time in the 2024 SCF. The Ducks are also inexperienced. This series is not over yet by any means.

 

[DryKing]

If they don’t win he’ll leave but I can’t see him asking for a trade. Extending for two years at his current salary was an explicit direction to management to use that cap space and build him a winner. He wants to win in Edmonton.

I said at the start of the season this would be off year for Edmonton, fatigue being part of that, but look out the next two years as the cap goes up. That said, Hyman and Ekholm are only getting older and more injury prone and drop offs from those two will really hurt the team.

Ingraham is playing well enough for them to win. Oilers win by outscoring everyone but the Panthers. It’s why Eliotte Friedman said to win a series against them you have to engage in the track meet and win at least one game and likely two at like 6-5. Ducks are meeting their track meet and they have a shot because of it.

EDM gave up so many 2-on-1’s last night. That’s on their playing style. Other goals against were because yes it looked like Ingrahm was out of position but really he was playing the shooter who then passed to teammates that were simply unmarked.

Excellent callouts. I really think the short-term turning point for the franchise was losing Broberg and Holloway due to short-sighted actions.

How much better would Edmonton look right now with those two on the roster? Holloway scored at nearly a point per game pace this season and Broberg would be the perfect slot in for their roster.

Remember though about the Oilers (lest anyone forget), they trailed the Kings 3-2 in 2022, 2-1 in 2023, and 2-0 in 2025 and won all three series. They also came within one goal of pulling off the greatest series comeback of all time in the 2024 SCF. The Ducks are also inexperienced. This series is not over yet by any means.

I wasn't counting them out by any means, just speculating what a 1st round loss would do to McDavid's future plans to remain with Edmonton. McDavid has been low in scoring this series which will not last, when he breaks though, which he will, it will be a whole new series. That said, Edmonton looks nothing like they did last season between injuries, age and overall skill. They still had a good roster, but it has taken a step back from previous seasons.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

Not sure where to post this as I don’t see a general playoff thread going anywhere, but are any of you watching the Carolina/Ottawa game right now? Ridley greig just threw two egregious cheap shot punches against Shawn Walker while he was already tied up with Warren Foegele, and crazily, the Sens came out of the wild full line ruckus with a PP.

 

[kingnut]

I would love to see Ducks vs Mammoth in the WCF!

Me too. That would facilitate a faster teardown of thr oil imp. The drawback, the quacks get much needed experience. Been saying from day 1, sennecke is going to be a beast. They have a strong core. Just need a goalie and they have a backbone like rhe kings had w Carlson sennecke and lacombe.

 

[kingnut]

Washe won draws against mcd and was able to shut him down for 3 games. And he is young too.

 

[Clif]

Excellent callouts. I really think the short-term turning point for the franchise was losing Broberg and Holloway due to short-sighted actions.

How much better would Edmonton look right now with those two on the roster? Holloway scored at nearly a point per game pace this season and Broberg would be the perfect slot in for their roster.

Thanks! Losing those two was unforgivable. And that FO has continued to mess up. Signing Frederic to a massive extension was carless and counterproductive based on a limited playoff run. The Swayman trade was desperate. For as obnoxious and entitled as the Oiler fanbase is, deep down it’s gotta be really uncomfortable to be a fan of that team these last few years.

 

[Statue4Deano]

Hopefully whoever is in charge of the Kings next season is watching the playoffs and understands it’s not a 3-2 league anymore.

 

[DryKing]

Me too. That would facilitate a faster teardown of thr oil imp. The drawback, the quacks get much needed experience. Been saying from day 1, sennecke is going to be a beast. They have a strong core. Just need a goalie and they have a backbone like rhe kings had w Carlson sennecke and lacombe.

If McQueen develops like they hope he will, that core gets even stronger. It's crazy to think that he Ducks have really only hit on the first round picks since 2020 (Zelleweger being the lone exception) yet they have sitll been able to build a monster core.

Think of what the Kings could have done had they not traded away 2 (3 including Greentree) out of 6 of those since 2020.

 

[hokiecat]

If McQueen develops like they hope he will, that core gets even stronger. It's crazy to think that he Ducks have really only hit on the first round picks since 2020 (Zelleweger being the lone exception) yet they have sitll been able to build a monster core.

Think of what the Kings could have done had they not traded away 2 (3 including Greentree) out of 6 of those since 2020.

Yeah, they would have drafted and then failed to develop 3 more prospects.

Think of where this team was 4 years ago and where we are now. The other prospects would join Bjornot, JAD, Kaliyev, Turc, Kupari, Akil Thomas, Pinelli, and more as players who never lived up to their promise.

 

[DryKing]

Yeah, they would have drafted and then failed to develop 3 more prospects.

Think of where this team was 4 years ago and where we are now. The other prospects would join Bjornot, JAD, Kaliyev, Turc, Kupari, Akil Thomas, Pinelli, and more as players who never lived up to their promise.
View attachment 14427

Possibly true (though out of those mentioned only 3 are 1st rounders), but as Wayne said "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."

Chances are they would have gotten lucky on at least one of those 1st rounders they traded.

Interestingly, here is who was drafted with those 3 picks (apologies, turns out the Kings traded 3 1st round picks as well as Greentree, but acquired one in 2025):

William Horcoff - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of William Horcoff, 2007-01-23 Birmingham, MI, USA USA. Most recently in the NCAA with Univ. of Michigan. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Oliver Bonk - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Oliver Bonk, 2005-01-09 Ottawa, ON, CAN Canada. Most recently in the AHL with Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Liam Öhgren - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Liam Öhgren, 2004-01-28 Stockholm, SWE Sweden. Most recently in the NHL with Vancouver Canucks. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com