Edmonton is No Good VI: Chia•den•freu•de

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

Derek Wills yesterday in the afternoon said that the Oilers have one player that's definitely better than any Flame, and another (Drai) that is also arguably better than any Flame when he is motivated. that was a little jarring coming from the home station. I wonder if a broader media survey would agree with that, cause I'd probably slot the German McLeech behind Johnny and Matty, i.e. two guys that clearly drive their own line.

It's not the greatest endorsement of Draisatl though, "arguably" but only when he's "motivated". Might add "when he's on McPoopyPant's wing". I agree with your take, different types of players too. Also when Johnny was injured Monahan still drove his own line, which is something Drai hasn't really shown an ability to do yet.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I think the question is going to get asked around how much longer does McDavid stay around this gong show?

Unless the guy scores 2+ PPG they can't win.

10 wins - McDavid has 21 points
11 losses - McDavid has 10 points

When McDavid is a PPG player the Oilers lose, McDavid has to be a 2 PPG player for them to have a shot at winning the game.

It's actually ridiculous how poor of a team they built around that guy, and how he still puts up those numbers.

In summary - Edmonton is no good.

You can understand what McDavid could do for a contending cup team which is why IMO he should have waited for an offer sheet rather than sign with the Oilers. I get that the Oilers were the only team that could give him the 8th year but I think he could have got more money per season and a much better chance at winning a cup on pretty well any team that would have been interested (which would be almost every team). I just don't understand why he locked himself into that organization for so long knowing their history.

[Red]

Originally Posted by the2bears

It's not the greatest endorsement of Draisatl though, "arguably" but only when he's "motivated". Might add "when he's on McPoopyPant's wing". I agree with your take, different types of players too. Also when Johnny was injured Monahan still drove his own line, which is something Drai hasn't really shown an ability to do yet.

In a game 7 I will take Gio, Johnny and Tkachuk before Drai any day. He is great with McDavid, but quite average without.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

Derek Wills yesterday in the afternoon said that the Oilers have one player that's definitely better than any Flame, and another (Drai) that is also arguably better than any Flame when he is motivated. that was a little jarring coming from the home station. I wonder if a broader media survey would agree with that, cause I'd probably slot the German McLeech behind Johnny and Matty, i.e. two guys that clearly drive their own line.

He heavily qualified the statement about Drai. He essentially said he didn't agree personally but some people would say that.

Frankly, even if you think Monahan is just a finisher dependent on Gaudreau, he's much more consistent. And Lindholm's 200 foot game is much better.

If we're talking whole team, Draisaitl is also behind Gio as a hockey player.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

Derek Wills yesterday in the afternoon said that the Oilers have one player that's definitely better than any Flame, and another (Drai) that is also arguably better than any Flame when he is motivated. that was a little jarring coming from the home station. I wonder if a broader media survey would agree with that, cause I'd probably slot the German McLeech behind Johnny and Matty, i.e. two guys that clearly drive their own line.

I think Admiral Vanilla Derek Wills is just trying his best to be controversial. Rob Kerr would make the same comment from time to time.

I think its a load of crap.

The whole Draisatl conversation is the same garbage they used to pump with Hall and Hopkins.

The only way the conservation even has any validity is if the players were't in Edmonton where players constantly have smoke blow up their but until they're demonized as an excuse for failure.

Look at Hall once he left.
Dubnyk, Schultz,

Watch Hopkins once he's moved, although as the cap goes up his contract looks better, but by no means a bargain.

Draisatl is in Edmonton... and he makes more money than his play dictates, especially while mainly playing with McDavid.

Until he leaves it's a moot point.

He will never achieve his potential until he is away from the organization that believes has immaculate hockey knowledge despite reality repeatedly slapping them in the face.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

You can understand what McDavid could do for a contending cup team which is why IMO he should have waited for an offer sheet rather than sign with the Oilers. I get that the Oilers were the only team that could give him the 8th year but I think he could have got more money per season and a much better chance at winning a cup on pretty well any team that would have been interested (which would be almost every team). I just don't understand why he locked himself into that organization for so long knowing their history.

It was always crazy for him to take an 8 year deal anyways. He could have got $12M on a 3 year deal, then signed a 7 or 8 year deal 3 years from now for $15M probably. He had all the leverage and Oilers pretty much just had to pay him what he asked since they screwed up the rest of the roster trading Hall/Eberle.

And the other thing is he probably would have been worth even more on a true contender with other strong offensive pieces to play with. For example imagine if you say switched him with Stamkos in Tampa Bay.

I really like Stamkos but I still feel like the Oilers are immediately 5 wins or so worse, and Tampa Bay becomes instant cup favorites.

McDavid would go from playing with the mismash cast of the Oilers to playing with Kucherov, Hedman, Sergachev, Point, Gourde, Miller etc. and would actually be on a strong PP. He probably put up closer to 150 points on that team.

[Sutter_in_law]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

Derek Wills yesterday in the afternoon said that the Oilers have one player that's definitely better than any Flame, and another (Drai) that is also arguably better than any Flame when he is motivated. that was a little jarring coming from the home station. I wonder if a broader media survey would agree with that, cause I'd probably slot the German McLeech behind Johnny and Matty, i.e. two guys that clearly drive their own line.

Wills is terrible. He typically just parrots what he hears elsewhere, so he likely heard this from an Edmonton media member on Saturday and regurgitated it.

I would take all of Johnny, Tkachuk, Monahan, Lindholm and Gio over Draisatl, and I truly think Bennett will eventually be a more valuable piece (at a much cheaper contract) too.

If McDavid gets injured Draisatl is basically a very good 2nd line WINGER or good top line WINGER. He has proven that he can't do it on his own

[Resolute 14]

Leah Hextall's rant is still best rant.

[GioforPM]

Tkachuk-McDavid-Eberle
Hall-Barzal-Draisaitl
Caggiula-RNH-Yamamoto
X-X-X

Klefbom-Schultz
Nurse-someone worth Lucic's salary
X-X

Dubnyk
Koskinen

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by inglewood jack

derek wills yesterday in the afternoon said that the oilers have one player that's definitely better than any flame, and another (drai) that is also arguably better than any flame when he is motivated. That was a little jarring coming from the home station. I wonder if a broader media survey would agree with that, cause i'd probably slot the german mcleech behind johnny and matty, i.e. Two guys that clearly drive their own line.

dw = ng

[GioforPM]

Did any of you actually listen to Wills or are you just reacting to the post? Because I heard it and, like I said above, he didn't say that was his opinion - he said it like it was something other say.

[FlamesFanTrev]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Tkachuk-McDavid-Eberle
Hall-Barzal-Draisaitl
Caggiula-RNH-Yamamoto
X-X-X

Klefbom-Schultz
Nurse-someone worth Lucic's salary
X-X

Dubnyk
Koskinen

The funny thing is, you are showing what a good lineup they could have had, but all I see is a bunch of shattered dreams, failed careers, and wasted potential.

E-NG

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by nobles_point

I think Admiral Vanilla Derek Wills is just trying his best to be controversial.

Admiral Vanilla.

His fake enthusiasm and play call style during games drives me insane.

Maher was on the other morning for a catch up and listening to him was like a massage for my ears.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Leah Hextall's rant is still best rant.

Whatever happened to Leah? She was really good.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Did any of you actually listen to Wills or are you just reacting to the post? Because I heard it and, like I said above, he didn't say that was his opinion - he said it like it was something other say.

strange, I remember it as him saying specifically that it was his personal belief, and that not everyone would agree with it. we'd probably have to pull the audio to be sure, cause I don't think it would have stuck with me if he put in a disclaimer saying it wasn't his opinion.

either way, I'm just used to Wills and Loubo always being in default super homer mode, so to hear even slight hints of Oiler superiority coming out of them was odd. I probably would have accepted if he said that Drai would be in the mix for a top Flames forward, without specifying the order.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

either way, I'm just used to Wills and Loubo always being in default super homer mode, so to hear even slight hints of Oiler superiority coming out of them was odd. I probably would have accepted if he said that Drai would be in the mix for a top Flames forward, without specifying the order.

Hrudey lays it on pretty thick about the Flames when he is on the HNIC panel. Last week he suggested Gio was the best d-man in the league and that Lindholm should win the Selke.

[SportsJunky]

Yeah, Hrudey gets a little cringey sometimes when talking about the Flames. I must say, I liked that DeBrusk was hard on Drai after the slew foot.

[DionTheDman]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Leah Hextall's rant is still best rant.

For reference.

[Jethro Choicebro]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Yeah, Hrudey gets a little cringey sometimes when talking about the Flames. I must say, I liked that DeBrusk was hard on Drai after the slew foot.

To be fair Hrudey may feel like he has to given how little love the Flames seem to get on HNIC etc.

His constantly defending Smith/goalies in general does get little tiresome though

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Did any of you actually listen to Wills or are you just reacting to the post? Because I heard it and, like I said above, he didn't say that was his opinion - he said it like it was something other say.

That's a very Derek Wills thing to do. Fence sitting 101.