Edmonton is No Good VIII: There's Still Something in the Water!

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by the-rasta-masta

The Oilers really benefited last year with the 5-0 start, in which they came from behind in each of those wins. That can give any team some great momentum to build off, and probably changed the course of their season last year. Without that start this year and the false confidence that came with it, they are going to be bottom two teams in the division for sure.

Fall behind, get a late PP, hopefully tie up, try to win in OT

Last year that strategy held up fairly well for them, due to the PP. They were +21 in PP vs PK differential, which is worth a lot of Ws. The chances of them doing that again are very low. And they are the same crappy 5 on 5 team they were last year, except with an even worse defense (and a very old and crappy goaltending duo)

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

How did they get McDavid to pose for the middle and the right ones?

[Reggie Dunlop]

Game 1 and E=NG is back to being Comedy Central! Oh, how glorious!

Some things never change.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Locke

How did they get McDavid to pose for the middle and the right ones?

The middle one is a fan who just threw his jersey.

[chemgear]

Wasting the years.




https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/h...captain-is-24/

“Yeah, it’s definitely going by quick,” said McDavid, who showed up at Oilers camp in 2015 as an NHL newbie with, as we all recall, little need to shave. “Twenty-four is still young but it certainly isn’t 18. I miss those days.

“I did play the one game in Vegas on my birthday and that was pretty cool. Doesn’t feel quite so much like a birthday this year, opening night trumps everything.”

Oiler coach Dave Tippett laughed at McDavid turning 24.

[Flamesm]

“I think we had a shift in the culture in regular season last year and became a winning team but when we came back and into the bubble, it was no good. It was a Tale of Two Seasons.”

I'm pretty sure Mcdavid has been reading this thread so often it is coming out in his speech to the media

[Enoch Root]

McDavid had 469 points before his 24th birthday. Which is pretty darned impressive.

But for those younguns who think there is a debate about whether or not he is in the conversation for the GOAT, Gretzky breached 1,000 pts before his 24th birthday and had already hoisted the cup (he would get his 2nd as a 24 YO)

Also of note, Gretzky's peak production came in the years where he was 20/21 through 24/25. After that, his point totals dropped a fair bit. This is not particularly unusual, though point production tends to peak between 23 and 27 on average. What that means for McDavid, I will leave you to judge on your own.

One has to wonder though, if the Oilers miss the playoffs again this year, what is the mindset for McDavid who must realize that a good chunk of his peak years are already behind him.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Well done Reggie.
Well done.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Flamesm

“I think we had a shift in the culture in regular season last year and became a winning team but when we came back and into the bubble, it was no good. It was a Tale of Two Seasons.”

I'm pretty sure Mcdavid has been reading this thread so often it is coming out in his speech to the media

I keep hearing this narrative that they were a good team through the regular season. But they were regularly outshot, out-chanced, and outplayed, relying on a crazy-hot PP and career shooting percentages all over the lineup.

[TheIronMaiden]

What is considered prime for a forward? 23 - 27?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

McDavid had 469 points before his 24th birthday. Which is pretty darned impressive.

But for those younguns who think there is a debate about whether or not he is in the conversation for the GOAT, Gretzky breached 1,000 pts before his 24th birthday and had already hoisted the cup (he would get his 2nd as a 24 YO)

Also of note, Gretzky's peak production came in the years where he was 20/21 through 24/25. After that, his point totals dropped a fair bit. This is not particularly unusual, though point production tends to peak between 23 and 27 on average. What that means for McDavid, I will leave you to judge on your own.

One has to wonder though, if the Oilers miss the playoffs again this year, what is the mindset for McDavid who must realize that a good chunk of his peak years are already behind him.

There is going to come a time where McDavid will be looking at his legacy and not having playoff success will haunt him. It will be that time he will ask for a trade and I could see it happening this year. He will be 25 next season and I could see him no longer being patient. Maybe he waits until he has trade protection in his deal so he can control where he goes?

I can’t see a player who has the chance to be remembered as one of the best continuing to spin his tires on a horribly managed team.

Nuge could leave this summer and that takes away one of their 3 proven top 6 forwards.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

What is considered prime for a forward? 23 - 27?

Typically, yes. Defensemen and goalies a little older.

But for high-end point producers, the peak tends to be before 27.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

McDavid had 469 points before his 24th birthday. Which is pretty darned impressive.

But for those younguns who think there is a debate about whether or not he is in the conversation for the GOAT, Gretzky breached 1,000 pts before his 24th birthday and had already hoisted the cup (he would get his 2nd as a 24 YO)

Also of note, Gretzky's peak production came in the years where he was 20/21 through 24/25. After that, his point totals dropped a fair bit. This is not particularly unusual, though point production tends to peak between 23 and 27 on average. What that means for McDavid, I will leave you to judge on your own.

One has to wonder though, if the Oilers miss the playoffs again this year, what is the mindset for McDavid who must realize that a good chunk of his peak years are already behind him.

Okay, interesting points.

I would also point out that Gretzky also had a supporting cast.

Look at McDavid. The guy is being ridden hard and put away wet. Hes got photos where he looks like a methed out zombie.

I dont think I'd be comfortable placing any long bets on his longevity.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

What is considered prime for a forward? 23 - 27?

Most star forwards peak in terms of production from 20-24.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

McDavid had 469 points before his 24th birthday. Which is pretty darned impressive.

But for those younguns who think there is a debate about whether or not he is in the conversation for the GOAT, Gretzky breached 1,000 pts before his 24th birthday and had already hoisted the cup (he would get his 2nd as a 24 YO)

Also of note, Gretzky's peak production came in the years where he was 20/21 through 24/25. After that, his point totals dropped a fair bit. This is not particularly unusual, though point production tends to peak between 23 and 27 on average. What that means for McDavid, I will leave you to judge on your own.

One has to wonder though, if the Oilers miss the playoffs again this year, what is the mindset for McDavid who must realize that a good chunk of his peak years are already behind him.

Gretzky also went to the finals as a 22 year old.
Crosby went to the finals as a 20 year old & won it when he was 21.

In other words before they won they learned how to win.

So far, the only thing McDavid has learned is how to lose.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Typically, yes. Defensemen and goalies a little older.

But for high-end point producers, the peak tends to be before 27.

Though the elite players tend to plateau at a high level and stay that way for a lot of years.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Though the elite players tend to plateau at a high level and stay that way for a lot of years.

For everything except elite point production. That tends to fall off before anything else does.

Not saying the players digress - they typically improve in other areas. But point production is a young man's game.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Though the elite players tend to plateau at a high level and stay that way for a lot of years.

Also while they may peak points wise in their early 20’s they typically are more complete players in their late 20’s.

McDavid is still not a 200ft player but I do think he will be eventually

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Locke

Okay, interesting points.

I would also point out that Gretzky also had a supporting cast.

Look at McDavid. The guy is being ridden hard and put away wet. Hes got photos where he looks like a methed out zombie.

I dont think I'd be comfortable placing any long bets on his longevity.

He did, but I would argue that he had a huge hand in that. Great players make the players around them better. Is Kurri the same player if he is drafted by another team? Messier was a 3rd round pick, not sure he becomes one of the greatest of all time if he is playing anywhere else. And on it goes down the roster.

Sather offered Coffie for Babych, straight-up, after their rookie seasons. Wpg said no.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Also while they may peak points wise in their early 29’s they typically are more complete players in their late 20’s.

McDavid is still not a 200ft player but I do think he will be eventually

Exactly. I am not saying his days of being elite are over - he will undoubtedly continue to round out his game.

I am suggesting however, that point production may already be what it is, or at least close to it.