They just took advantage of the relatively low quality of competition and maybe just had a linemate or two that just 'clicked' with their game.
But then you consider that elevating them to a top six role allows them to see more of the puck, get more confidence and play with better players, which are all factors that would lead you to think that their scoring rates should actually improve!
It's hockey, it's a bit of a crapshoot. You never know how for sure someone is going to respond to an increased role, but for the most part it's actually a pretty good predictor once you factor in WOWY (to take into account who's really driving the bus) and QualComp. There are tools to analyze almost any potential caveat you can think of. None of them are perfect, but you can get a pretty decent idea, enough to at least make an educated guess.
The general view, reading / listening to the "sleeper free agent" talk over the summer, was that Marchessault was undervalued and someone was going to get a good pick up. Obviously no one expected quite this level of production, but it's also not a huge shocker, as he always clearly had the skill to convert if you put him with good players, if you look back to his AHL track record.
__________________ "The great promise of the Internet was that more information would automatically yield better decisions. The great disappointment is that more information actually yields more possibilities to confirm what you already believed anyway." - Brian Eno
I'd say the Oilers chances are good tonight against an inexperienced Toronto team with struggling goaltending. But I'd give some AHL squads an edge against that team.
HOWEVER in the games to follow.....
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Maybe just because I'm so frustrated with the flames loss, but I'm going to quite enjoy going to work and bugging my buddies that Kadri absolutely schooled McDavid in the ot tonight. From the face off to the battle to the net and the nice deke. I hate Kadri, but damn that was awesome to see during the intermission of the flames game. Seeing Mcdavid crying after too. Perfect.
Before any oiler fans get butt hurt over this yes I'm in a bad mood so get over it. E=NG
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McDavid played 4+ mins more than any other forward (Hopkins being next).
Kind of strange for a coach to comment on opposing team ice time no??
Yeah kind of odd. I don't know if there's a back story between Babcock and McLellan but it appears he went out of his way to suggest that the other coach isn't managing ice time very well for his players.
Yeah kind of odd. I don't know if there's a back story between Babcock and McLellan but it appears he went out of his way to suggest that the other coach isn't managing ice time very well for his players.
They worked together for years. They're friends. Just throwing a tongue-in-cheek barb after the game is my guess.
McDavid played 4+ mins more than any other forward (Hopkins being next).
Kind of strange for a coach to comment on opposing team ice time no??
He gets asked, he answers. It's not like he just stood up there and decided on his own free will to chat about Mcdavid and his ice-time. Some lame reporter brought up the issue.
He gets asked, he answers. It's not like he just stood up there and decided on his own free will to chat about Mcdavid and his ice-time. Some lame reporter brought up the issue.
I wonder if it was also a subtle jab going back to the WCH? McLellan was letting players take like 8 minute shifts, and it showed. Meanwhile, Canada steamrolled to the championship and their players consistently were taking 30 second shifts.
I wonder if it was also a subtle jab going back to the WCH? McLellan was letting players take like 8 minute shifts, and it showed. Meanwhile, Canada steamrolled to the championship and their players consistently were taking 30 second shifts.
Probably...like when Matthews played the 8 of the last 12 minutes or something, on a team with top NHL scorers and multi cup champs
Yeah, the World Cup, McLellan got eliminated first and Babcock won the thing.
Why do people still think McLellan is a good coach? What has he ever done that was ever any good?
Well he's accomplished a hell of a lot more than Gulutzan has. I feel he's a little overrated but I don't think those Presidents Trophies in San Jose were accidents. At least he's somewhat proven while the Flames have gone the wonder kid approach.
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Well he's accomplished a hell of a lot more than Gulutzan has. I feel he's a little overrated but I don't think those Presidents Trophies in San Jose were accidents. At least he's somewhat proven while the Flames have gone the wonder kid approach.
Well, I'm not comparing him to Gulutzan, why did that even come up? This is about McLellan and Babcock.
And no, those Presidents Trophies werent accidents, he was running a stacked team. If you go back and look at the rosters he coached the fact that he never won a cup with them is kind of astonishing.
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Well, I'm not comparing him to Gulutzan, why did that even come up? This is about McLellan and Babcock.
And no, those Presidents Trophies werent accidents, he was running a stacked team. If you go back and look at the rosters he coached the fact that he never won a cup with them is kind of astonishing.
yeah no kidding, the whole point was that he is over rated...Gulutzan isn't even rated yet
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