WCR1: Edmonton Oilers (P3) vs Los Angeles Kings (P2) - Oilers win 4-2

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

And it also shows why drafting is tough.

I would have said you were crazy if you took Stutzle over Byfield in that draft at the time - Byfield looked to be that unicorn combination of size, speed, and skill.

Even the Turcotte pick...IIRC the prevailing sentiment at the time was how lucky the Kings were to have a center of Turcotte's calibre fall to them at 5.

I think for the Kings the issue has been more the post-drafting development. Guys like Turcotte, Byfield, Clarke, Vilardi, Kaliyev, all seemed to stall out development wise in that system. Sometimes it's more the development than it is the drafting.

Agreed though I would say that
- The compelling part of Byfield was always his physical attributes but Stutzle was on the rise because of the pure skill. Byfield had been talked about for a few years for that draft, but Stutzle was the rising one.
- Turcotte the concern was, at the time, that he was a high floor, low ceiling player.

Easy with 20/20 of course.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by EDMONTONisNG

Kopitar is a loser and should be ashamed. The team crumbled with no leadership.

Hey, you know what Kopitar has 2 of that McDavid doesn't have?

I'll give you a guess.

He's also like 37.

[McG]

It’s like knobby the house elf stole one of Jim Hiller’s socks between the second and third periods in Game 3.

[CroCop]

2 Easy if Gm decisions for LA
Fire Coach. Trade Byfield.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by CroCop

2 Easy if Gm decisions for LA
Fire Coach. Trade Byfield.

Fire Blake as well. Heads need to roll. Unacceptable what they have done to that franchise and the country of Canada.

[nieuwy-89]

Kings were clearly rattled by those Oilers comebacks and I think the Game 4 collapse and OT loss broke their spirit. At the same time it gave the Oilers confidence and momentum. That third period and OT in Game 4 ended up being the series.

[Mathgod]

language

NSFW!

[CroCop]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Agreed though I would say that
- The compelling part of Byfield was always his physical attributes but Stutzle was on the rise because of the pure skill. Byfield had been talked about for a few years for that draft, but Stutzle was the rising one.
- Turcotte the concern was, at the time, that he was a high floor, low ceiling player.

Easy with 20/20 of course.

You can never win building around a player like Byfield
Big -yes
Talented-yes
Smart- hell no
He’s missing the most important attribute

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by CroCop

You can never win building around a player like Byfield
Big -yes
Talented-yes
Smart- hell no
He’s missing the most important attribute

Ottawa had already drafted their big, talented but “less than smart” player a couple years before anyway.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Looking back, what was worse the Byfield failed clear in Game 4 or the coach's challenge in Game 3?

Some Kings fans comments:

"Byfield’s chip would not have mattered if the refs called the tripping penalty that so obviously took Edmundson down. I still contend the NHL will do everything in their power to allow Edmonton past round 1 every year. It is so obvious."

"Nether it was that tripping call on gavi when mcdavid ran into him, that’s the point that gave the oilers life".

"The coaches challenge in game three change the whole series I wouldn’t have even challenge that! How does he not get fired for being so stupid?"

Whatever happens going forward, the Oilers had a TON of luck to even make it out of round 1 and bandwagon Oiler fans need to remember that.

[Enoch Root]

The coach's challenge was awful, but they might have lost that game regardless.

And you can't blame refs - there are lots of bad calls every night.

Byfield has a simple play THAT HE HAS TO MAKE. About a minute left, up by one, just get the puck out.

Even with the coach's challenge screwup, if Byfield makes that play, the Kings are up 3-1 heading home. By blowing it, they gave EDM life, and momentum.

There is no question that the Byfield play was the series.

[Voodooman]

EDIT: Deleted post, wrong thread.