Edmonton is No Good X: Up and Down Like a Toilet Seat

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Only Edmontonians think this.

I've seen a lot of sports writers from all parts put them in the conversation...supposedly they are one of the most improved teams because they added...Cambell? and.....lost Keith

[Roof-Daddy]

I don't get the media and their infatuation with the "mighty oilers"

Ever since that team started drafting 1st overall year after year it's like a huge chunk of the hockey media has been secretly (or not so secretly in some cases) rooting for them to become some sort of juggernaut. Then they got gifted arguably the most dynamic offensive player of our generation and that just stoked the fires even more.

For like 15 years that franchise has been an embarrassing tire fire, yet every off season it was the same crap. Now that they actually made the conference finals the morons are out in full force.

You knew their first taste of any actual success was going to make them even more unbearable.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I've seen a lot of sports writers from all parts put them in the conversation...supposedly they are one of the most improved teams because they added...Cambell? and.....lost Keith

I need someone to walk me through where the Oilers improved.

I don't see it. From any angle.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I don't get the media and their infatuation with the "mighty oilers"

It's pretty simple. Broadcast and print media are old industries now, and they don't attract a lot of young talent unless that talent is using them as a stepping-stone to better things. So a lot of sportswriters and commentators are old enough to be nostalgic for the 1980s, and if they're Canadian, that usually means they're nostalgic for the mighty Oilers. For a lot of them, the Oilers are destined to be champions again and restore the balance of the universe.

Similar things happen in music, movies, and even in games, where executives try to force the public to be interested in the stuff they thought was cool when they were young. It's like they're getting a do-over on adolescence, only this time they have money and power and believe they can dictate the outcome they wanted the first time.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

You knew their first taste of any actual success was going to make them even more unbearable.

They weren't even that successful last year. Sure, they got past the Flames, which we all know is their Stanley Cup. So yay for them I guess? But then they were immediately destroyed by Colorado in embarrassing fashion. Nobody gives a crap about teams that got swept. And yet for some reason the Canadian sports media still thinks they're legit contenders because McDavid.


They're basically the exact same team as last year...except they got worse on D and their goaltending is still questionable at best. Cup parade back on!

[Stampede2TheCup]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

I need someone to walk me through where the Oilers improved.

I don't see it. From any angle.

Don’t you get it? They won two playoff rounds after being so terribly unlucky and oppressed by the league for so long. Forget silly details like rosters and salaries, they are of a different status now. They deserve it!! Gretzkty won cups. Crosby won cups. It’s a pure and simple fact McDrai will win cups for the Oilers, absolutely no way around it.

Ok, ok… you wanna talk details? They finally got rid of all those pesky experienced winning coaches and got the rookie coach they need to win it all! Losing Keith or “blah-dee-blah depth” this and “salary cap that” don’t mean squat when Connor and Leon just had their best seasons ever.

Their ancient goaltender definitely didn’t help them get lucky last year! In fact, he used the last gasps of breath he could take on skates to impart magical fairy dust on the team, imparting the them permanently with both his goaltending prowess and great knowledge of winning cups. Such a selfless man! He is apparently still in dire medical condition ever since but thankfully expected to make a full off-ice recovery.

Another improvement will be the effects of world-relnowned bio-hacker Duncan Keith. He himself feels so damn young now to play the last year of his contract, but he has graciously imprinted his great wisdom on the team. Unfortunately Smitty was too late in his career, but look no further than the age-defying off-season pics of McDavid for a better example of the team’s exponentially increased youthfulness this coming season.

Plus, did I mention they have McDrai?! Because I shouldn’t even l have to say any more than that!!

How is this all not super-obvious to everyone?!?!

[Dragomir]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Nurse - Ceci
Kulak - Bouchard
Broberg - Barrie

That's it
That's the D.

This same D core took the Oilers to the conference finals though(minus Keith) Bouch is only getting better, Broberg is projected to be at least a top 4D and Campbell is a huge upgrade over Smith. Now couple that with having the best top 6 in the league with a full season of Kane and things are looking real good.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by Dragomir

full season of Kane and things are looking real good.

Unless Kane decides to be Kane now that he got paid again

[SaskyFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Dragomir

This same D core took the Oilers to the conference finals though(minus Keith) Bouch is only getting better, Broberg is projected to be at least a top 4D and Campbell is a huge upgrade over Smith. Now couple that with having the best top 6 in the league with a full season of Kane and things are looking real good.

Explain how Campbell is a huge upgrade over Smith? He has been a career backup except for last season. Smith’s ability to play the puck made their D better. They might be able to absorb the loss of Keith but teams will be able to forecheck more agressively because they don’t have to worry about Smith playing the puck.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Dragomir

This same D core took the Oilers to the conference finals though(minus Keith) Bouch is only getting better, Broberg is projected to be at least a top 4D and Campbell is a huge upgrade over Smith. Now couple that with having the best top 6 in the league with a full season of Kane and things are looking real good.

Yeah, okay.

You're only overrating half these players a liiiiiittle bit.

Pass me what you're smoking.

[SaskyFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Dragomir

This same D core took the Oilers to the conference finals though(minus Keith) Bouch is only getting better, Broberg is projected to be at least a top 4D and Campbell is a huge upgrade over Smith. Now couple that with having the best top 6 in the league with a full season of Kane and things are looking real good.

I also like how everyone has forgotten who Evander Kane is. Its only a mattet of time until the real Evander Kane stands up. It will be great theatre to watch from afar.

[djsFlames]

Dramgomir also seems triggered by me calling out the undeniably AHL caliber defence.

Shoots back with a series of subjective pom pom waiving leaps in logic.

Broberg hasn't proven #### and neither has Campbell, as Smith had better numbers despite physically breaking down in his advanced age.

Dismissing Keith's departure like it wasn't an integral part of that defence holding it together just well enough to river hockey through two rounds is laughable.

Broberg coming in and being a Keith's-worth better for their D is a pipe dream and every Kool Aid guzzler up their knows it.

Once again Oilers fans hopes are riding on projections and best case scenarios. Never change.

Amazing that that best top 6 in the league could only get them 7 points within the division winning Flames last season. What happened?

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Dragomir

This same D core took the Oilers to the conference finals though(minus Keith) Bouch is only getting better, Broberg is projected to be at least a top 4D and Campbell is a huge upgrade over Smith. Now couple that with having the best top 6 in the league with a full season of Kane and things are looking real good.

Dude's in love with his team. We gotta give him that! Especially since we can't give him the respect earned by forming objective thoughts.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Dramgomir also seems triggered by me calling out the undeniably AHL caliber defence.

Shoots back with a series of subjective pom pom waiving leaps in logic.

Broberg hasn't proven #### and neither has Campbell, as Smith had better numbers despite physically breaking down in his advanced age.

Dismissing Keith's departure like it wasn't an integral part of that defence holding it together just well enough to river hockey through two rounds is laughable.

Broberg coming in and being a Keith's-worth better for their D is a pipe dream and every Kool Aid guzzler up their knows it.

Once again Oilers fans hopes are riding on projections and best case scenario assumptions. Never change.

Amazing that that best top 6 in the league could only get them 7 points within the division winning Flames last season. What happened?

The cap is pretty tight for them. I could see Broberg starting the year in the AHL and Koekkoek being a regular. Imo that isn’t going to go well. He’s not good at all

Even though Kassian and Archibald are useless they were 2 physical players they had. Imo the Oilers are going to be as soft as any team in the league now

They are only as good or better if Campbell out performs smith. He could play well and we never know it though with that D.

Similar to the Flames the Oilers also haven’t been challenged with real injuries the last couple seasons. Their depth is so bad one key injury could derail their season

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Broberg's stock has plummeted since being drafted. Here he is in a redraft done last October going 30th overall:

https://theathletic.com/2811497/2021...the-no-1-pick/

... And things have only gotten worse since then relative to the rest of his draft class. I suspect that at this point he's not even a first rounder in a redraft of that year. Defensemen obviously do take longer to develop in a lot of cases and he could still be a top 4 guy but it's looking less and less likely all the time.

I honestly think that of any team in the NHL with playoff aspirations, Edmonton has easily the worst blue line, and it's really pretty questionable how Jack Campbell will perform behind them.

[Robbob]

I would say his progression is similar to Juolevi. Broberg just hasn't been lived up to his billing as a top ten pick.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Broberg's stock has plummeted since being drafted. Here he is in a redraft done last October going 30th overall:

https://theathletic.com/2811497/2021...the-no-1-pick/

... And things have only gotten worse since then relative to the rest of his draft class. I suspect that at this point he's not even a first rounder in a redraft of that year. Defensemen obviously do take longer to develop in a lot of cases and he could still be a top 4 guy but it's looking less and less likely all the time.

I honestly think that of any team in the NHL with playoff aspirations, Edmonton has easily the worst blue line, and it's really pretty questionable how Jack Campbell will perform behind them.

Edmonton Journal had an article as Broberg has slipped out of some of the top 50 prospects list. He’s kind of in Valimaki territory. Might be ok still but there is risk if your depending on him to be a regular and step up to the top 4 with injuries

Kulak also is not a top 4 guy. Ok 3rd pairing player

[Scary Eloranta]

How on earth can anyone cheer for a team that has a POS like kane on it?? Give your head a shake.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Nah, I think Kulak is quite underrated. In a vacuum he might be their 2nd best defenseman. Kulak next to either Bouchard or Barrie is quite a weak 2nd pairing but it's not nearly as bad as having Nurse / Ceci as your 1/2.

That Bear for Foegele trade was incredibly shortsighted. They'd be so much better with Bear.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Dragomir

This same D core took the Oilers to the conference finals though(minus Keith) Bouch is only getting better, Broberg is projected to be at least a top 4D and Campbell is a huge upgrade over Smith. Now couple that with having the best top 6 in the league with a full season of Kane and things are looking real good.

Keith was the glue on that blueline in the playoffs.

Bouch is good offensively buy he's still hard to trust without the puck, Broberg might HAVE been projected as a top 4, but he's nowhere near that point, and is on a slight downhill slope.

Campbell is in no way whatsoever a huge upgrade on Smith. If anything he might be equivalent to Smith in saves and nowhere near Smith in puck handling which was huge for a bad in their own zone defense.

Oh and what happens now that the shiny new motivation coach factor goes away and Woodcroft comes in and demands better more defensive play from McDavid and Draisaitl for a whole season. How long until those two's innate nature of quitting on coaches that demand from them kicks in and the Oilers are searching for another new coach bounce.

As well the Oilers are over the cap, they'd best hope that the league approves Smith's phony injury status.

Oh and in the Pacific points might be harder to come by, LA and Anaheim should improve and possibly LV. Vancouver might be better as well.

And lets not pretend that the Oilers roared to the Division finals. The Flames should and I expect will be embarrassed about losing to a dreadful and unbalanced team like the Oilers.

But it was enjoyable watching the Avs kick the Oilers so hard in the teeth that those teeth came out of the back of their collective skulls.

And do you really want to bank on Kane on a long term contract? In a dressing room of fragile ego's like McDavid and Draisaitl. That should be a news story on its own.

The Oilers are a badly balanced team with a expansion team level blueline. Their goaltending might be really suspect.

He was a 2.64 and .914 goalie in 49 games behind a far better blueline in Toronto. Compared to Smiths 2.81 and .915 in 28 games.

The Oilers with their "Best top 6" that got badly exposed by the Avs might be in tough to make the playoffs next year.

And Their GM has done a horrible job of managing the cap, so their window is slamming shut on their fingers as we speak.

I get it Drai and McDavid are great players. But they won't be enough this year.

And its going to be glorious.