| Let's have a real talk moment here... [message #818344] |
Mon, 20 February 2023 16:32  |
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 HamBlaster
Messages: 797
Registered: June 2007
No Cups
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I think we can all acknowledge that there are recurring deficiencies on this team, and some new ones that have emerged over the last couple of seasons.
We know the typical culprits... and let's identify the ones that remain versus are solved / are being solved.
A. Goaltending lets the team down, almost every year (STILL AN ISSUE)
B. D is suspect, seems like continual rotation of a ragtag group that the squad chooses to run with, and overpays for below-grade talent (respective to where talent should be in the lineup... #3 is playing as a #1, #4 as a #2, etc) (STILL AN ISSUE)
C. Commitment to details is almost always a total toss-up. (STILL AN ISSUE)
D. Wingers to complement McDavid, Drai and Nuge (FIXED)
E. A lack of secondary scoring (I BELEIVE THIS IS FIXED AS WELL)
A, B, and C alone make this team a very weak contender for a Cup.
Now, for emerging issues with this squad.
F. McDavid, but more evidently Draisaitl, are focused on getting points, not on playing winning hockey
G. Offense-first mentality is drawing players out of position, and resulting in total neglect of a team-wide commitment to proper D
H. The Oilers have virtually no physical presence. No team is walking out of the Rogers barn with any real bumps or bruises.
I. Lack of leadership fails to right the ship when things start to fall apart
J. Blasè attitude seems to be permeating every facet of the squad
These additional five issues almost completely ensure that this team is a non-entity as a contender. D wins championships, and the above five do not fit in that model at all.
So, from a "real talk" perspective... what do you do to change this squad from a bi-polar "also ran" into a legitimate contender. Here's my suggestion...
So much of this team's personality comes from the way Connor and Leon choose to play the game. They need to see significant TOI reduction, regardless of whether they complain about it or not. Leon (in particular) is a bit of a spoiled brat that burns himself out almost every game and becomes a huge defensive liability in the final period. Connor fades too often if the game appears like it's getting away from them, however is the far better two-way player when the team is still fighting for a win. I would say a reduction in TOI and possibly a benching of Drai is in order to help show the rest of the team that they are going to play a defensive-minded game... and in all honesty, I think that's ALL they have to do. Connor and Leon might complain, but let them! The team WILL NOT win playing the way they have, and if those two (again, more so Drai) will not commit to playing a more defensive game on their own accord... maybe it's time to force it upon them.
Sure, an additional piece on the back end to shore up the D might be nice, but a more committed team effort to D should fix a lot of what ails the goaltending situation, and better forward support to the D core should go a long way towards fixing that situation as well. From a physical standpoint, having players in appropriate positioning should give them better opportunities to engage physically, as opposed to chasing the play and just using sticks to disrupt.
Just my opinion... but so much of what ails this team can be fixed from Connor and Drai committing to playing a winning, two-way style of hockey. Foegele called them out (without specifically calling them out) in the post-game after the Colorado game... and he's right. Show the rest of the team that you're going to play a style that they know can win games, instead of just accumulating points.
[Updated on: Mon, 20 February 2023 16:43]
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