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 Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779059]
Wed, 10 March 2021 02:00 Go to next message
OilFans  is currently offline OilFans
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2020-21 Regular Season
Sunday, January 31, 2021Ottawa 5 @ Edmonton 8Win
Tuesday, February 2, 2021Ottawa 2 @ Edmonton 4Win
Monday, February 8, 2021Edmonton 3 @ Ottawa 1Win
Tuesday, February 9, 2021Edmonton 3 @ Ottawa 2Win
Monday, March 8, 2021Ottawa 2 @ Edmonton 3Win
Wednesday, March 10, 2021Ottawa 1 @ Edmonton 7Win
Friday, March 12, 2021Ottawa 2 @ Edmonton 6Win
Wednesday, April 7, 2021Edmonton 4 @ Ottawa 2Win
Thursday, April 8, 2021Edmonton 3 @ Ottawa 1Win
Home Record: 5-0-0       Road Record: 4-0-0       Overall Record: 9-0-0
Home / Road Goals For: 28/13 Total: 41
Home / Road Goals Against: 12/6 Total: 18

2019-20 Regular Season
Wednesday, December 4, 2019Ottawa 5 @ Edmonton 2Loss
Wednesday, March 18, 2020Edmonton @ Ottawa
Home Record: 0-1-0       Road Record: 0-0-0       Overall Record: 0-1-0
Home / Road Goals For: 2/0 Total: 2
Home / Road Goals Against: 5/0 Total: 5




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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779061 is a reply to message #779059 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 06:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Oscargasm  is currently offline Oscargasm
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Just. Win.


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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779066 is a reply to message #779061 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 08:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RDOilerfan  is currently offline RDOilerfan
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Oscargasm wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 06:50

Just. Win.

100%.
I saw fans on other sites complaining the Oilers didn't win by enough. Sens are pros, they are paid to win too. They play very hard. Their goalie stood on his head. I don't care by how many you win by, just win.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779070 is a reply to message #779061 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 09:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Adam  is currently offline Adam
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I saw something on twitter today that said that Oilers are .500 today against the rest of the division (11-11). The dominance over the Senators is really important in holding their spot. 5-0 so far, and have to keep going.


"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779073 is a reply to message #779066 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 09:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
K.McC#24  is currently offline K.McC#24
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RDOilerfan wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 08:44

Oscargasm wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 06:50

Just. Win.

100%.
I saw fans on other sites complaining the Oilers didn't win by enough. Sens are pros, they are paid to win too. They play very hard. Their goalie stood on his head. I don't care by how many you win by, just win.

Yep, if the Oilers played trap hockey and ground out wins night after night, I'd take that in a heartbeat even over superstar fancy hockey and all the individual hardware.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779074 is a reply to message #779070 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 09:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 10:26

I saw something on twitter today that said that Oilers are .500 today against the rest of the division (11-11). The dominance over the Senators is really important in holding their spot. 5-0 so far, and have to keep going.


*takes out calculator*

Oilers are 16-11... they’ve played the Sens 5 times, subtract 5 wins.. oh, 11-11.

Math checks out.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779079 is a reply to message #779074 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 10:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
CrudeRemarks  is currently offline CrudeRemarks
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Oscargasm wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 09:53

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 10:26

I saw something on twitter today that said that Oilers are .500 today against the rest of the division (11-11). The dominance over the Senators is really important in holding their spot. 5-0 so far, and have to keep going.


*takes out calculator*

Oilers are 16-11... they’ve played the Sens 5 times, subtract 5 wins.. oh, 11-11.

Math checks out.

This is the highend analysis I come here for. Casual fans don't know this stuff.



You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you can get a lottery pick.


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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779080 is a reply to message #779079 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 10:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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CrudeRemarks wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 10:19

Oscargasm wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 09:53

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 10:26

I saw something on twitter today that said that Oilers are .500 today against the rest of the division (11-11). The dominance over the Senators is really important in holding their spot. 5-0 so far, and have to keep going.


*takes out calculator*

Oilers are 16-11... they’ve played the Sens 5 times, subtract 5 wins.. oh, 11-11.

Math checks out.

This is the highend analysis I come here for. Casual fans don't know this stuff.

Pfft....fancy stats and analysis.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779085 is a reply to message #779070 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 10:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 09:26

I saw something on twitter today that said that Oilers are .500 today against the rest of the division (11-11). The dominance over the Senators is really important in holding their spot. 5-0 so far, and have to keep going.

No taking anything for granted, just squeeze the Sens for every point they can give, particularly before facing the Dys on Saturday.



"There's no greater springboard to development than failure." - Craig MacTavish, April 13/15.

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"Sabres think the suck is their ally? They merely adopted the suck. The Oilers were born in it...molded by it."

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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779086 is a reply to message #779079 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 10:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Oscargasm  is currently offline Oscargasm
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CrudeRemarks wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 11:19

Oscargasm wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 09:53

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 10:26

I saw something on twitter today that said that Oilers are .500 today against the rest of the division (11-11). The dominance over the Senators is really important in holding their spot. 5-0 so far, and have to keep going.


*takes out calculator*

Oilers are 16-11... they’ve played the Sens 5 times, subtract 5 wins.. oh, 11-11.

Math checks out.

This is the highend analysis I come here for. Casual fans don't know this stuff.


Oscargasm is here, for the people and the people are here, for Oscargasm.



Survivor CHAMP S52 | S66
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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779087 is a reply to message #779059 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 10:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Oscargasm  is currently offline Oscargasm
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Schmiddy gets the net tonight.

Turris and Archie out.

Willy likely back in the lineup.

Just. Win.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779088 is a reply to message #779087 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 10:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RDOilerfan  is currently offline RDOilerfan
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Oscargasm wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 10:53

Schmiddy gets the net tonight.

Turris and Archie out.

Willy likely back in the lineup.

Just. Win.

I assume Jones is out. I have thought he was OK but not great.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779089 is a reply to message #779088 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 10:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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RDOilerfan wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 11:56

Oscargasm wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 10:53

Schmiddy gets the net tonight.

Turris and Archie out.

Willy likely back in the lineup.

Just. Win.

I assume Jones is out. I have thought he was OK but not great.


Reports are he was out late with Bouchard, Kassian, Kahun and Nygard.

Which likely provides Patrick Russell (shudder) an opportunity to continue his nothingness streak.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779105 is a reply to message #779089 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779114 is a reply to message #779105 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 15:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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inverno76 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03

I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


Nah! Draisaitl is due for a breakout performance.

Nuge too. (Who I think it totally capable of carrying a top-2 C role, since he's done it his entire career).



"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779115 is a reply to message #779114 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 15:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:04

inverno76 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03

I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


Nah! Draisaitl is due for a breakout performance.

Nuge too. (Who I think it totally capable of carrying a top-2 C role, since he's done it his entire career).


Life has been hard for the Nuge without McDrai.

Since the start of 2015/16:

CF%: 47.4%
FF%: 47.3%
SF%: 47%
GF%: 44.75%
xGF%: 45.6%
OZ faceoff%: 49.11%

Most likely just another line McDrai need to make up for with spectacular play. Nuge off to a rough start with a -2 last game, so many he's due for a goal tonight.

I like the Nuge, out of principle largely. Still think he's a winger. And...maybe his money is better spent on an actual elite winger so we don't have to keep going back to McDrai. Pretty disappointed in Tippett here to be honest. 3 bad games and he just panics and goes full McLellan, and I guess all kinds of conclusions of what can work long term can be made from 3 games vs Ottawa?

[Updated on: Wed, 10 March 2021 15:16]


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- Lowe, 2013

"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015

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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779116 is a reply to message #779115 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 15:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Adam  is currently offline Adam
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Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:12

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:04

inverno76 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03

I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


Nah! Draisaitl is due for a breakout performance.

Nuge too. (Who I think it totally capable of carrying a top-2 C role, since he's done it his entire career).


Life has been hard for the Nuge without McDrai.

Since the start of 2015/16:

CF%: 47.4%
FF%: 47.3%
SF%: 47%
GF%: 44.75%
xGF%: 45.6%
OZ faceoff%: 49.11%

Most likely just another line McDrai need to make up for with spectacular play. Nuge off to a rough start with a -2 last game, so many he's due for a goal tonight.

I like the Nuge, out of principle largely. Still think he's a winger. And...maybe his money is better spent on an actual elite winger so we don't have to keep going back to McDrai. Pretty disappointed in Tippett here to be honest. 3 bad games and he just panics and goes full McLellan, and I guess all kinds of conclusions of what can work long term can be made from 3 games vs Ottawa?


McDavid/Draisaitl are absolutely dominant on the ice though. I don't hate seeing it - even if just for a short stretch.

I don't think you can blame Nugent-Hopkins or his line for the -2 last game. First shot should just never go in. No mistakes from anyone but the goalie there...it was a weak shot from far out at a bad angle.

Second one, it's another long shot, and one that tips off Barrie's stick to go in on the far side. Both of those are low percentage plays that just worked out well for Ottawa.

Sucks for the line out there, but those aren't hard-earned minuses.



"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779117 is a reply to message #779116 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 15:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kr55  is currently offline Kr55
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Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:27

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:12

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:04

inverno76 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03

I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


Nah! Draisaitl is due for a breakout performance.

Nuge too. (Who I think it totally capable of carrying a top-2 C role, since he's done it his entire career).


Life has been hard for the Nuge without McDrai.

Since the start of 2015/16:

CF%: 47.4%
FF%: 47.3%
SF%: 47%
GF%: 44.75%
xGF%: 45.6%
OZ faceoff%: 49.11%

Most likely just another line McDrai need to make up for with spectacular play. Nuge off to a rough start with a -2 last game, so many he's due for a goal tonight.

I like the Nuge, out of principle largely. Still think he's a winger. And...maybe his money is better spent on an actual elite winger so we don't have to keep going back to McDrai. Pretty disappointed in Tippett here to be honest. 3 bad games and he just panics and goes full McLellan, and I guess all kinds of conclusions of what can work long term can be made from 3 games vs Ottawa?


McDavid/Draisaitl are absolutely dominant on the ice though. I don't hate seeing it - even if just for a short stretch.

I don't think you can blame Nugent-Hopkins or his line for the -2 last game. First shot should just never go in. No mistakes from anyone but the goalie there...it was a weak shot from far out at a bad angle.

Second one, it's another long shot, and one that tips off Barrie's stick to go in on the far side. Both of those are low percentage plays that just worked out well for Ottawa.

Sucks for the line out there, but those aren't hard-earned minuses.


Yeah hard to blame Nuge in isolation last game. Generally though, he's just not a player that drives much of the play. Has always needed a linemate better than him to consistently make things happen. That responsibility lays with Pulju I guess.

McDrai is definitely fun, but we've seen a lot of it over the year, and it rarely has led to consistent success.



"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013

"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015

5 x $5,000,000

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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779118 is a reply to message #779117 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 15:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RDOilerfan  is currently offline RDOilerfan
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Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:30

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:27

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:12

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:04

inverno76 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03

I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


Nah! Draisaitl is due for a breakout performance.

Nuge too. (Who I think it totally capable of carrying a top-2 C role, since he's done it his entire career).


Life has been hard for the Nuge without McDrai.

Since the start of 2015/16:

CF%: 47.4%
FF%: 47.3%
SF%: 47%
GF%: 44.75%
xGF%: 45.6%
OZ faceoff%: 49.11%

Most likely just another line McDrai need to make up for with spectacular play. Nuge off to a rough start with a -2 last game, so many he's due for a goal tonight.

I like the Nuge, out of principle largely. Still think he's a winger. And...maybe his money is better spent on an actual elite winger so we don't have to keep going back to McDrai. Pretty disappointed in Tippett here to be honest. 3 bad games and he just panics and goes full McLellan, and I guess all kinds of conclusions of what can work long term can be made from 3 games vs Ottawa?


McDavid/Draisaitl are absolutely dominant on the ice though. I don't hate seeing it - even if just for a short stretch.

I don't think you can blame Nugent-Hopkins or his line for the -2 last game. First shot should just never go in. No mistakes from anyone but the goalie there...it was a weak shot from far out at a bad angle.

Second one, it's another long shot, and one that tips off Barrie's stick to go in on the far side. Both of those are low percentage plays that just worked out well for Ottawa.

Sucks for the line out there, but those aren't hard-earned minuses.


Yeah hard to blame Nuge in isolation last game. Generally though, he's just not a player that drives much of the play. Has always needed a linemate better than him to consistently make things happen. That responsibility lays with Pulju I guess.

McDrai is definitely fun, but we've seen a lot of it over the year, and it rarely has led to consistent success.

Nuge can not drive a line. It's pretty well established he's a complimentary player. He's got 20 pts and 14 have been on the PP so a pretty sad 6 pts 5 on 5. The only way that line will score is if JP drives the line.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779119 is a reply to message #779118 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 16:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RDOilerfan  is currently offline RDOilerfan
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I wish I could go to an Oilers practice so I can watch P. Russel in action. He must look unbelievable in practice to keep getting looks. It's only been 4 games so far but he doesn't score, not overly physical, he's not tough, for a big guy he doesn't play big, he's not on any special teams. He doesn't have a big shot. In 4 games, he's got 5 shots so it's not like the guy is snake bitten and due for a goal. You have to actually shoot pucks to score usually. He doesn't generate a lot of scoring chances. Haas doesn't score much and doesn't shoot a lot but he's easily good for a decent chance or 2 a game where he misses the net. So at least that is something.

I guess when he is on the ice, he usually doesn't do anything really bad but it's pretty rare something good happens when he is on the ice. He is literally a guy who is just out there to give guys a breather. I don't get it.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779120 is a reply to message #779117 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 17:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Adam  is currently offline Adam
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Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:30

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:27

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:12

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:04

inverno76 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03

I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


Nah! Draisaitl is due for a breakout performance.

Nuge too. (Who I think it totally capable of carrying a top-2 C role, since he's done it his entire career).


Life has been hard for the Nuge without McDrai.

Since the start of 2015/16:

CF%: 47.4%
FF%: 47.3%
SF%: 47%
GF%: 44.75%
xGF%: 45.6%
OZ faceoff%: 49.11%

Most likely just another line McDrai need to make up for with spectacular play. Nuge off to a rough start with a -2 last game, so many he's due for a goal tonight.

I like the Nuge, out of principle largely. Still think he's a winger. And...maybe his money is better spent on an actual elite winger so we don't have to keep going back to McDrai. Pretty disappointed in Tippett here to be honest. 3 bad games and he just panics and goes full McLellan, and I guess all kinds of conclusions of what can work long term can be made from 3 games vs Ottawa?


McDavid/Draisaitl are absolutely dominant on the ice though. I don't hate seeing it - even if just for a short stretch.

I don't think you can blame Nugent-Hopkins or his line for the -2 last game. First shot should just never go in. No mistakes from anyone but the goalie there...it was a weak shot from far out at a bad angle.

Second one, it's another long shot, and one that tips off Barrie's stick to go in on the far side. Both of those are low percentage plays that just worked out well for Ottawa.

Sucks for the line out there, but those aren't hard-earned minuses.


Yeah hard to blame Nuge in isolation last game. Generally though, he's just not a player that drives much of the play. Has always needed a linemate better than him to consistently make things happen. That responsibility lays with Pulju I guess.

McDrai is definitely fun, but we've seen a lot of it over the year, and it rarely has led to consistent success.


I think Nuge can be fine. Eberle/Pouliot and him were a really solid line other than the final season here. He has been overshadowed a bit by playing with Hall, Draisaitl and McDavid a lot of his career, and I think sometimes he plays a little too conservatively without those others out there (although I think that was by design in the McLellan days - I think only the first line ever had the green light to push).

It would be nice if we had one more high end forward. We've got two elite forwards, and one in that second tier in Nuge. After that, Yamamoto and Puljujarvi are on the next tier down and it's a ways down to the next guy.

One more on the Nuge level would leave a really strong top six.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779121 is a reply to message #779120 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 17:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Oscargasm  is currently offline Oscargasm
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Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 18:19


One more on the Nuge level would leave a really strong top six.


*cough* Dylan *cough* Holloway *cough*



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779122 is a reply to message #779059 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 17:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Oscargasm  is currently offline Oscargasm
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National game... so we get Cassie in some form tonight. Sigh.

FTR: I am all for a female voice on the panel. But can it be a non Flame bias opinion?



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779136 is a reply to message #779120 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 18:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kr55  is currently offline Kr55
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Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 17:19

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:30

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:27

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:12

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:04

inverno76 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03

I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


Nah! Draisaitl is due for a breakout performance.

Nuge too. (Who I think it totally capable of carrying a top-2 C role, since he's done it his entire career).


Life has been hard for the Nuge without McDrai.

Since the start of 2015/16:

CF%: 47.4%
FF%: 47.3%
SF%: 47%
GF%: 44.75%
xGF%: 45.6%
OZ faceoff%: 49.11%

Most likely just another line McDrai need to make up for with spectacular play. Nuge off to a rough start with a -2 last game, so many he's due for a goal tonight.

I like the Nuge, out of principle largely. Still think he's a winger. And...maybe his money is better spent on an actual elite winger so we don't have to keep going back to McDrai. Pretty disappointed in Tippett here to be honest. 3 bad games and he just panics and goes full McLellan, and I guess all kinds of conclusions of what can work long term can be made from 3 games vs Ottawa?


McDavid/Draisaitl are absolutely dominant on the ice though. I don't hate seeing it - even if just for a short stretch.

I don't think you can blame Nugent-Hopkins or his line for the -2 last game. First shot should just never go in. No mistakes from anyone but the goalie there...it was a weak shot from far out at a bad angle.

Second one, it's another long shot, and one that tips off Barrie's stick to go in on the far side. Both of those are low percentage plays that just worked out well for Ottawa.

Sucks for the line out there, but those aren't hard-earned minuses.


Yeah hard to blame Nuge in isolation last game. Generally though, he's just not a player that drives much of the play. Has always needed a linemate better than him to consistently make things happen. That responsibility lays with Pulju I guess.

McDrai is definitely fun, but we've seen a lot of it over the year, and it rarely has led to consistent success.


I think Nuge can be fine. Eberle/Pouliot and him were a really solid line other than the final season here. He has been overshadowed a bit by playing with Hall, Draisaitl and McDavid a lot of his career, and I think sometimes he plays a little too conservatively without those others out there (although I think that was by design in the McLellan days - I think only the first line ever had the green light to push).

It would be nice if we had one more high end forward. We've got two elite forwards, and one in that second tier in Nuge. After that, Yamamoto and Puljujarvi are on the next tier down and it's a ways down to the next guy.

One more on the Nuge level would leave a really strong top six.


Eberle could drive play. Nuge...just never has, like, ever. Probably sounds like I'm hating on the Nuge as he's close to leaving, but I've had the same complaint about him for a long time. Nuge is a winger. Best asset is his shot 5v5 ;)



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- Lowe, 2013

"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015

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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779184 is a reply to message #779121 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 20:49 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Adam  is currently offline Adam
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Oscargasm wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 17:29

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 18:19


One more on the Nuge level would leave a really strong top six.


*cough* Dylan *cough* Holloway *cough*


I won't put that kind of pressure on the kid. I still think if people expect no better than 3rd liner for Holloway, they're less likely to be disappointed.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779185 is a reply to message #779184 ]
Wed, 10 March 2021 20:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Oscargasm  is currently offline Oscargasm
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Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 21:49

Oscargasm wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 17:29

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 18:19


One more on the Nuge level would leave a really strong top six.


*cough* Dylan *cough* Holloway *cough*


I won't put that kind of pressure on the kid. I still think if people expect no better than 3rd liner for Holloway, they're less likely to be disappointed.


Fair. Sorry I have a tickle in my throat;

*cough* Jake *cough* Debrusk *cough*



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779218 is a reply to message #779136 ]
Thu, 11 March 2021 10:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
K.McC#24  is currently offline K.McC#24
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Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 18:27

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 17:19

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:30

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:27

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:12

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:04

inverno76 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03

I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


Nah! Draisaitl is due for a breakout performance.

Nuge too. (Who I think it totally capable of carrying a top-2 C role, since he's done it his entire career).


Life has been hard for the Nuge without McDrai.

Since the start of 2015/16:

CF%: 47.4%
FF%: 47.3%
SF%: 47%
GF%: 44.75%
xGF%: 45.6%
OZ faceoff%: 49.11%

Most likely just another line McDrai need to make up for with spectacular play. Nuge off to a rough start with a -2 last game, so many he's due for a goal tonight.

I like the Nuge, out of principle largely. Still think he's a winger. And...maybe his money is better spent on an actual elite winger so we don't have to keep going back to McDrai. Pretty disappointed in Tippett here to be honest. 3 bad games and he just panics and goes full McLellan, and I guess all kinds of conclusions of what can work long term can be made from 3 games vs Ottawa?


McDavid/Draisaitl are absolutely dominant on the ice though. I don't hate seeing it - even if just for a short stretch.

I don't think you can blame Nugent-Hopkins or his line for the -2 last game. First shot should just never go in. No mistakes from anyone but the goalie there...it was a weak shot from far out at a bad angle.

Second one, it's another long shot, and one that tips off Barrie's stick to go in on the far side. Both of those are low percentage plays that just worked out well for Ottawa.

Sucks for the line out there, but those aren't hard-earned minuses.


Yeah hard to blame Nuge in isolation last game. Generally though, he's just not a player that drives much of the play. Has always needed a linemate better than him to consistently make things happen. That responsibility lays with Pulju I guess.

McDrai is definitely fun, but we've seen a lot of it over the year, and it rarely has led to consistent success.


I think Nuge can be fine. Eberle/Pouliot and him were a really solid line other than the final season here. He has been overshadowed a bit by playing with Hall, Draisaitl and McDavid a lot of his career, and I think sometimes he plays a little too conservatively without those others out there (although I think that was by design in the McLellan days - I think only the first line ever had the green light to push).

It would be nice if we had one more high end forward. We've got two elite forwards, and one in that second tier in Nuge. After that, Yamamoto and Puljujarvi are on the next tier down and it's a ways down to the next guy.

One more on the Nuge level would leave a really strong top six.


Eberle could drive play. Nuge...just never has, like, ever. Probably sounds like I'm hating on the Nuge as he's close to leaving, but I've had the same complaint about him for a long time. Nuge is a winger. Best asset is his shot 5v5 ;)


Sorry, almost lost ya after the first sentence, there. Eberle a driver of play, really?

RNH will score more points as a wing on the 1st or 2nd line than as a 2nd line center, and clearly he's not in the same category at center as the Hart recipients. I think the team is better if LD is the 2nd center, but Nuge afforded them the ability to throw LD on the top line to get him going again....mission accomplished I'd say. The 2nd line had 3 or 4 excellent chances last night but didnt score 5v5. I'd be concerned if they were getting no chances and owned, wasn't the case.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779222 is a reply to message #779218 ]
Thu, 11 March 2021 10:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kr55  is currently offline Kr55
Messages: 10778
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K.McC#24 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 10:30

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 18:27

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 17:19

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:30

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:27

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:12

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:04

inverno76 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03

I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


Nah! Draisaitl is due for a breakout performance.

Nuge too. (Who I think it totally capable of carrying a top-2 C role, since he's done it his entire career).


Life has been hard for the Nuge without McDrai.

Since the start of 2015/16:

CF%: 47.4%
FF%: 47.3%
SF%: 47%
GF%: 44.75%
xGF%: 45.6%
OZ faceoff%: 49.11%

Most likely just another line McDrai need to make up for with spectacular play. Nuge off to a rough start with a -2 last game, so many he's due for a goal tonight.

I like the Nuge, out of principle largely. Still think he's a winger. And...maybe his money is better spent on an actual elite winger so we don't have to keep going back to McDrai. Pretty disappointed in Tippett here to be honest. 3 bad games and he just panics and goes full McLellan, and I guess all kinds of conclusions of what can work long term can be made from 3 games vs Ottawa?


McDavid/Draisaitl are absolutely dominant on the ice though. I don't hate seeing it - even if just for a short stretch.

I don't think you can blame Nugent-Hopkins or his line for the -2 last game. First shot should just never go in. No mistakes from anyone but the goalie there...it was a weak shot from far out at a bad angle.

Second one, it's another long shot, and one that tips off Barrie's stick to go in on the far side. Both of those are low percentage plays that just worked out well for Ottawa.

Sucks for the line out there, but those aren't hard-earned minuses.


Yeah hard to blame Nuge in isolation last game. Generally though, he's just not a player that drives much of the play. Has always needed a linemate better than him to consistently make things happen. That responsibility lays with Pulju I guess.

McDrai is definitely fun, but we've seen a lot of it over the year, and it rarely has led to consistent success.


I think Nuge can be fine. Eberle/Pouliot and him were a really solid line other than the final season here. He has been overshadowed a bit by playing with Hall, Draisaitl and McDavid a lot of his career, and I think sometimes he plays a little too conservatively without those others out there (although I think that was by design in the McLellan days - I think only the first line ever had the green light to push).

It would be nice if we had one more high end forward. We've got two elite forwards, and one in that second tier in Nuge. After that, Yamamoto and Puljujarvi are on the next tier down and it's a ways down to the next guy.

One more on the Nuge level would leave a really strong top six.


Eberle could drive play. Nuge...just never has, like, ever. Probably sounds like I'm hating on the Nuge as he's close to leaving, but I've had the same complaint about him for a long time. Nuge is a winger. Best asset is his shot 5v5 ;)


Sorry, almost lost ya after the first sentence, there. Eberle a driver of play, really?

RNH will score more points as a wing on the 1st or 2nd line than as a 2nd line center, and clearly he's not in the same category at center as the Hart recipients. I think the team is better if LD is the 2nd center, but Nuge afforded them the ability to throw LD on the top line to get him going again....mission accomplished I'd say. The 2nd line had 3 or 4 excellent chances last night but didnt score 5v5. I'd be concerned if they were getting no chances and owned, wasn't the case.


Eberle was no defensive dynamo, but he was a smart player that on the scoreboard and looking at scoring chances was able to keep things going in the right direction. Even without playing with someone better than him offensively. He helped Nuge a lot over the years. I don't think it was the other way around. Nuge is a pretty timid offensive player 5v5, he really needs his linemates to create things.

Things are certainly going good vs Ottawa :) But, we've done this all before, for extended periods of time. McDrai are magic together, no doubt. We've had a lot of crap seasons though with McDrai on the top line and hoping the rest of the lineup, with Nuge as the 2nd line C, could not bleed goals when they are resting.

And hey, maybe it's even good enough on average that we still do well in the North Division as a 1 line team. I'm just thinking to ever win it all we will need McDavid and Drai on their own lines, and the longer we go not trying to figure out how to make that work, the harder going back to it will be when we realize a quality opponent is able to shut our team down by stopping 1 line.



"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013

"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015

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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779227 is a reply to message #779222 ]
Thu, 11 March 2021 12:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
K.McC#24  is currently offline K.McC#24
Messages: 2834
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Location: ALBERTA

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Kr55 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 10:47

K.McC#24 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 10:30

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 18:27

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 17:19

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:30

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:27

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:12

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:04

inverno76 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03

I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


Nah! Draisaitl is due for a breakout performance.

Nuge too. (Who I think it totally capable of carrying a top-2 C role, since he's done it his entire career).


Life has been hard for the Nuge without McDrai.

Since the start of 2015/16:

CF%: 47.4%
FF%: 47.3%
SF%: 47%
GF%: 44.75%
xGF%: 45.6%
OZ faceoff%: 49.11%

Most likely just another line McDrai need to make up for with spectacular play. Nuge off to a rough start with a -2 last game, so many he's due for a goal tonight.

I like the Nuge, out of principle largely. Still think he's a winger. And...maybe his money is better spent on an actual elite winger so we don't have to keep going back to McDrai. Pretty disappointed in Tippett here to be honest. 3 bad games and he just panics and goes full McLellan, and I guess all kinds of conclusions of what can work long term can be made from 3 games vs Ottawa?


McDavid/Draisaitl are absolutely dominant on the ice though. I don't hate seeing it - even if just for a short stretch.

I don't think you can blame Nugent-Hopkins or his line for the -2 last game. First shot should just never go in. No mistakes from anyone but the goalie there...it was a weak shot from far out at a bad angle.

Second one, it's another long shot, and one that tips off Barrie's stick to go in on the far side. Both of those are low percentage plays that just worked out well for Ottawa.

Sucks for the line out there, but those aren't hard-earned minuses.


Yeah hard to blame Nuge in isolation last game. Generally though, he's just not a player that drives much of the play. Has always needed a linemate better than him to consistently make things happen. That responsibility lays with Pulju I guess.

McDrai is definitely fun, but we've seen a lot of it over the year, and it rarely has led to consistent success.


I think Nuge can be fine. Eberle/Pouliot and him were a really solid line other than the final season here. He has been overshadowed a bit by playing with Hall, Draisaitl and McDavid a lot of his career, and I think sometimes he plays a little too conservatively without those others out there (although I think that was by design in the McLellan days - I think only the first line ever had the green light to push).

It would be nice if we had one more high end forward. We've got two elite forwards, and one in that second tier in Nuge. After that, Yamamoto and Puljujarvi are on the next tier down and it's a ways down to the next guy.

One more on the Nuge level would leave a really strong top six.


Eberle could drive play. Nuge...just never has, like, ever. Probably sounds like I'm hating on the Nuge as he's close to leaving, but I've had the same complaint about him for a long time. Nuge is a winger. Best asset is his shot 5v5 ;)


Sorry, almost lost ya after the first sentence, there. Eberle a driver of play, really?

RNH will score more points as a wing on the 1st or 2nd line than as a 2nd line center, and clearly he's not in the same category at center as the Hart recipients. I think the team is better if LD is the 2nd center, but Nuge afforded them the ability to throw LD on the top line to get him going again....mission accomplished I'd say. The 2nd line had 3 or 4 excellent chances last night but didnt score 5v5. I'd be concerned if they were getting no chances and owned, wasn't the case.


Eberle was no defensive dynamo, but he was a smart player that on the scoreboard and looking at scoring chances was able to keep things going in the right direction. Even without playing with someone better than him offensively. He helped Nuge a lot over the years. I don't think it was the other way around. Nuge is a pretty timid offensive player 5v5, he really needs his linemates to create things.

Things are certainly going good vs Ottawa :) But, we've done this all before, for extended periods of time. McDrai are magic together, no doubt. We've had a lot of crap seasons though with McDrai on the top line and hoping the rest of the lineup, with Nuge as the 2nd line C, could not bleed goals when they are resting.

And hey, maybe it's even good enough on average that we still do well in the North Division as a 1 line team. I'm just thinking to ever win it all we will need McDavid and Drai on their own lines, and the longer we go not trying to figure out how to make that work, the harder going back to it will be when we realize a quality opponent is able to shut our team down by stopping 1 line.


I think you're seriously overrating Eberle as a 'driver' of a line and I don't really remember him making lesser players better. To me he was a much more frustrating player to watch than RNH as an Oiler.

I actually don't mind Nuge deferring to playing defensively, and I think that's a condition of having that beaten into him through 3 or 4 coaches. I would agree that I would rather see RNH as the best W on the team with the other 2 playing C, than him at 2C.
confused2

[Updated on: Thu, 11 March 2021 16:15]


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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779229 is a reply to message #779227 ]
Thu, 11 March 2021 13:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jds308  is currently offline jds308
Messages: 119
Registered: September 2007
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K.McC#24 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 11:52

Kr55 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 10:47

K.McC#24 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 10:30

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 18:27

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 17:19

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:30

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:27

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:12

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:04

inverno76 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03

I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


Nah! Draisaitl is due for a breakout performance.

Nuge too. (Who I think it totally capable of carrying a top-2 C role, since he's done it his entire career).


Life has been hard for the Nuge without McDrai.

Since the start of 2015/16:

CF%: 47.4%
FF%: 47.3%
SF%: 47%
GF%: 44.75%
xGF%: 45.6%
OZ faceoff%: 49.11%

Most likely just another line McDrai need to make up for with spectacular play. Nuge off to a rough start with a -2 last game, so many he's due for a goal tonight.

I like the Nuge, out of principle largely. Still think he's a winger. And...maybe his money is better spent on an actual elite winger so we don't have to keep going back to McDrai. Pretty disappointed in Tippett here to be honest. 3 bad games and he just panics and goes full McLellan, and I guess all kinds of conclusions of what can work long term can be made from 3 games vs Ottawa?


McDavid/Draisaitl are absolutely dominant on the ice though. I don't hate seeing it - even if just for a short stretch.

I don't think you can blame Nugent-Hopkins or his line for the -2 last game. First shot should just never go in. No mistakes from anyone but the goalie there...it was a weak shot from far out at a bad angle.

Second one, it's another long shot, and one that tips off Barrie's stick to go in on the far side. Both of those are low percentage plays that just worked out well for Ottawa.

Sucks for the line out there, but those aren't hard-earned minuses.


Yeah hard to blame Nuge in isolation last game. Generally though, he's just not a player that drives much of the play. Has always needed a linemate better than him to consistently make things happen. That responsibility lays with Pulju I guess.

McDrai is definitely fun, but we've seen a lot of it over the year, and it rarely has led to consistent success.


I think Nuge can be fine. Eberle/Pouliot and him were a really solid line other than the final season here. He has been overshadowed a bit by playing with Hall, Draisaitl and McDavid a lot of his career, and I think sometimes he plays a little too conservatively without those others out there (although I think that was by design in the McLellan days - I think only the first line ever had the green light to push).

It would be nice if we had one more high end forward. We've got two elite forwards, and one in that second tier in Nuge. After that, Yamamoto and Puljujarvi are on the next tier down and it's a ways down to the next guy.

One more on the Nuge level would leave a really strong top six.


Eberle could drive play. Nuge...just never has, like, ever. Probably sounds like I'm hating on the Nuge as he's close to leaving, but I've had the same complaint about him for a long time. Nuge is a winger. Best asset is his shot 5v5 ;)


Sorry, almost lost ya after the first sentence, there. Eberle a driver of play, really?

RNH will score more points as a wing on the 1st or 2nd line than as a 2nd line center, and clearly he's not in the same category at center as the Hart recipients. I think the team is better if LD is the 2nd center, but Nuge afforded them the ability to throw LD on the top line to get him going again....mission accomplished I'd say. The 2nd line had 3 or 4 excellent chances last night but didnt score 5v5. I'd be concerned if they were getting no chances and owned, wasn't the case.


Eberle was no defensive dynamo, but he was a smart player that on the scoreboard and looking at scoring chances was able to keep things going in the right direction. Even without playing with someone better than him offensively. He helped Nuge a lot over the years. I don't think it was the other way around. Nuge is a pretty timid offensive player 5v5, he really needs his linemates to create things.

Things are certainly going good vs Ottawa :) But, we've done this all before, for extended periods of time. McDrai are magic together, no doubt. We've had a lot of crap seasons though with McDrai on the top line and hoping the rest of the lineup, with Nuge as the 2nd line C, could not bleed goals when they are resting.

And hey, maybe it's even good enough on average that we still do well in the North Division as a 1 line team. I'm just thinking to ever win it all we will need McDavid and Drai on their own lines, and the longer we go not trying to figure out how to make that work, the harder going back to it will be when we realize a quality opponent is able to shut our team down by stopping 1 line.


I think you're seriously overrating Eberle as a 'driver' of s line and I don't really remember him making lesser players better. To me he was a much more frustrating player to watch than RNH ad an Oiler.

I actually don't mind Nuge deferring to playing defensively, anf I think that's a condition of having that beaten into him through 3 or 4 coaches. I would agree that I would rather see RNH as the best W on the team with the other 2 playing C, than him at 2C.
confused2


I've got a solution for you. Go get Eichel for #2C.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779230 is a reply to message #779227 ]
Thu, 11 March 2021 13:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kr55  is currently offline Kr55
Messages: 10778
Registered: May 2002
Location: Edmonton

6 Cups

K.McC#24 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 12:52

Kr55 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 10:47

K.McC#24 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 10:30

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 18:27

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 17:19

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:30

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:27

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:12

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:04

inverno76 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03

I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


Nah! Draisaitl is due for a breakout performance.

Nuge too. (Who I think it totally capable of carrying a top-2 C role, since he's done it his entire career).


Life has been hard for the Nuge without McDrai.

Since the start of 2015/16:

CF%: 47.4%
FF%: 47.3%
SF%: 47%
GF%: 44.75%
xGF%: 45.6%
OZ faceoff%: 49.11%

Most likely just another line McDrai need to make up for with spectacular play. Nuge off to a rough start with a -2 last game, so many he's due for a goal tonight.

I like the Nuge, out of principle largely. Still think he's a winger. And...maybe his money is better spent on an actual elite winger so we don't have to keep going back to McDrai. Pretty disappointed in Tippett here to be honest. 3 bad games and he just panics and goes full McLellan, and I guess all kinds of conclusions of what can work long term can be made from 3 games vs Ottawa?


McDavid/Draisaitl are absolutely dominant on the ice though. I don't hate seeing it - even if just for a short stretch.

I don't think you can blame Nugent-Hopkins or his line for the -2 last game. First shot should just never go in. No mistakes from anyone but the goalie there...it was a weak shot from far out at a bad angle.

Second one, it's another long shot, and one that tips off Barrie's stick to go in on the far side. Both of those are low percentage plays that just worked out well for Ottawa.

Sucks for the line out there, but those aren't hard-earned minuses.


Yeah hard to blame Nuge in isolation last game. Generally though, he's just not a player that drives much of the play. Has always needed a linemate better than him to consistently make things happen. That responsibility lays with Pulju I guess.

McDrai is definitely fun, but we've seen a lot of it over the year, and it rarely has led to consistent success.


I think Nuge can be fine. Eberle/Pouliot and him were a really solid line other than the final season here. He has been overshadowed a bit by playing with Hall, Draisaitl and McDavid a lot of his career, and I think sometimes he plays a little too conservatively without those others out there (although I think that was by design in the McLellan days - I think only the first line ever had the green light to push).

It would be nice if we had one more high end forward. We've got two elite forwards, and one in that second tier in Nuge. After that, Yamamoto and Puljujarvi are on the next tier down and it's a ways down to the next guy.

One more on the Nuge level would leave a really strong top six.


Eberle could drive play. Nuge...just never has, like, ever. Probably sounds like I'm hating on the Nuge as he's close to leaving, but I've had the same complaint about him for a long time. Nuge is a winger. Best asset is his shot 5v5 ;)


Sorry, almost lost ya after the first sentence, there. Eberle a driver of play, really?

RNH will score more points as a wing on the 1st or 2nd line than as a 2nd line center, and clearly he's not in the same category at center as the Hart recipients. I think the team is better if LD is the 2nd center, but Nuge afforded them the ability to throw LD on the top line to get him going again....mission accomplished I'd say. The 2nd line had 3 or 4 excellent chances last night but didnt score 5v5. I'd be concerned if they were getting no chances and owned, wasn't the case.


Eberle was no defensive dynamo, but he was a smart player that on the scoreboard and looking at scoring chances was able to keep things going in the right direction. Even without playing with someone better than him offensively. He helped Nuge a lot over the years. I don't think it was the other way around. Nuge is a pretty timid offensive player 5v5, he really needs his linemates to create things.

Things are certainly going good vs Ottawa :) But, we've done this all before, for extended periods of time. McDrai are magic together, no doubt. We've had a lot of crap seasons though with McDrai on the top line and hoping the rest of the lineup, with Nuge as the 2nd line C, could not bleed goals when they are resting.

And hey, maybe it's even good enough on average that we still do well in the North Division as a 1 line team. I'm just thinking to ever win it all we will need McDavid and Drai on their own lines, and the longer we go not trying to figure out how to make that work, the harder going back to it will be when we realize a quality opponent is able to shut our team down by stopping 1 line.


I think you're seriously overrating Eberle as a 'driver' of s line and I don't really remember him making lesser players better. To me he was a much more frustrating player to watch than RNH ad an Oiler.

I actually don't mind Nuge deferring to playing defensively, anf I think that's a condition of having that beaten into him through 3 or 4 coaches. I would agree that I would rather see RNH as the best W on the team with the other 2 playing C, than him at 2C.
confused2


Mainly just going by results. Ebs was the guy that was actually able to still keep the ice tilted in our favour away from McDrai until he was traded. Nuge was always needing to be put on a line with someone that could drive offensive play for him. I do appreciate Nuge's effort to be a good defensive player. Still a work in progress, but I think he's still improving. But it still comes at a cost. He's always lagging the play when he played with McDavid. His offense is 1 and done usually 5v5, which is why I think he needs to play with skilled passers that can slow things down in the offensive end. That 1 and done is best off being a Nuge shot from a soft area he's snuck into.

Regardless, I fully expect the McDrai top line to dominate again next game. And never know, maybe Pulju can evolve into a guy that can consistent get the puck moving into the offensive zone and we find a trio that works with Nuge. Still not that confident it's a recipe to be a cup contender though.



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- Lowe, 2013

"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015

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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779238 is a reply to message #779229 ]
Thu, 11 March 2021 14:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Adam  is currently offline Adam
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jds308 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 13:25



I've got a solution for you. Go get Eichel for #2C.


I think Eichel is a little too expensive for us to chase. Both in terms of salary and acquisition cost. It's hard to see how he'd fit under the cap.

I'm all for picking the carcass of the Buffalo Sabres, but I'm not sure Eichel is someone it's reasonable to think we could get.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779242 is a reply to message #779238 ]
Thu, 11 March 2021 14:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kr55  is currently offline Kr55
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Adam wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 14:29

jds308 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 13:25



I've got a solution for you. Go get Eichel for #2C.


I think Eichel is a little too expensive for us to chase. Both in terms of salary and acquisition cost. It's hard to see how he'd fit under the cap.

I'm all for picking the carcass of the Buffalo Sabres, but I'm not sure Eichel is someone it's reasonable to think we could get.


Can we convince Adams to retain salary? :) So curious to see what Adams does if he gets the green light to make huge moves. See no indication that Buffalo's owners have the first clue about player value either.



"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013

"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015

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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779259 is a reply to message #779230 ]
Thu, 11 March 2021 18:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Gator21  is currently offline Gator21
Messages: 175
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Kr55 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 13:27

K.McC#24 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 12:52

Kr55 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 10:47

K.McC#24 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 10:30

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 18:27

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 17:19

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:30

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:27

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:12

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:04

inverno76 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03

I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


Nah! Draisaitl is due for a breakout performance.

Nuge too. (Who I think it totally capable of carrying a top-2 C role, since he's done it his entire career).


Life has been hard for the Nuge without McDrai.

Since the start of 2015/16:

CF%: 47.4%
FF%: 47.3%
SF%: 47%
GF%: 44.75%
xGF%: 45.6%
OZ faceoff%: 49.11%

Most likely just another line McDrai need to make up for with spectacular play. Nuge off to a rough start with a -2 last game, so many he's due for a goal tonight.

I like the Nuge, out of principle largely. Still think he's a winger. And...maybe his money is better spent on an actual elite winger so we don't have to keep going back to McDrai. Pretty disappointed in Tippett here to be honest. 3 bad games and he just panics and goes full McLellan, and I guess all kinds of conclusions of what can work long term can be made from 3 games vs Ottawa?


McDavid/Draisaitl are absolutely dominant on the ice though. I don't hate seeing it - even if just for a short stretch.

I don't think you can blame Nugent-Hopkins or his line for the -2 last game. First shot should just never go in. No mistakes from anyone but the goalie there...it was a weak shot from far out at a bad angle.

Second one, it's another long shot, and one that tips off Barrie's stick to go in on the far side. Both of those are low percentage plays that just worked out well for Ottawa.

Sucks for the line out there, but those aren't hard-earned minuses.


Yeah hard to blame Nuge in isolation last game. Generally though, he's just not a player that drives much of the play. Has always needed a linemate better than him to consistently make things happen. That responsibility lays with Pulju I guess.

McDrai is definitely fun, but we've seen a lot of it over the year, and it rarely has led to consistent success.


I think Nuge can be fine. Eberle/Pouliot and him were a really solid line other than the final season here. He has been overshadowed a bit by playing with Hall, Draisaitl and McDavid a lot of his career, and I think sometimes he plays a little too conservatively without those others out there (although I think that was by design in the McLellan days - I think only the first line ever had the green light to push).

It would be nice if we had one more high end forward. We've got two elite forwards, and one in that second tier in Nuge. After that, Yamamoto and Puljujarvi are on the next tier down and it's a ways down to the next guy.

One more on the Nuge level would leave a really strong top six.


Eberle could drive play. Nuge...just never has, like, ever. Probably sounds like I'm hating on the Nuge as he's close to leaving, but I've had the same complaint about him for a long time. Nuge is a winger. Best asset is his shot 5v5 ;)


Sorry, almost lost ya after the first sentence, there. Eberle a driver of play, really?

RNH will score more points as a wing on the 1st or 2nd line than as a 2nd line center, and clearly he's not in the same category at center as the Hart recipients. I think the team is better if LD is the 2nd center, but Nuge afforded them the ability to throw LD on the top line to get him going again....mission accomplished I'd say. The 2nd line had 3 or 4 excellent chances last night but didnt score 5v5. I'd be concerned if they were getting no chances and owned, wasn't the case.


Eberle was no defensive dynamo, but he was a smart player that on the scoreboard and looking at scoring chances was able to keep things going in the right direction. Even without playing with someone better than him offensively. He helped Nuge a lot over the years. I don't think it was the other way around. Nuge is a pretty timid offensive player 5v5, he really needs his linemates to create things.

Things are certainly going good vs Ottawa :) But, we've done this all before, for extended periods of time. McDrai are magic together, no doubt. We've had a lot of crap seasons though with McDrai on the top line and hoping the rest of the lineup, with Nuge as the 2nd line C, could not bleed goals when they are resting.

And hey, maybe it's even good enough on average that we still do well in the North Division as a 1 line team. I'm just thinking to ever win it all we will need McDavid and Drai on their own lines, and the longer we go not trying to figure out how to make that work, the harder going back to it will be when we realize a quality opponent is able to shut our team down by stopping 1 line.


I think you're seriously overrating Eberle as a 'driver' of s line and I don't really remember him making lesser players better. To me he was a much more frustrating player to watch than RNH ad an Oiler.

I actually don't mind Nuge deferring to playing defensively, anf I think that's a condition of having that beaten into him through 3 or 4 coaches. I would agree that I would rather see RNH as the best W on the team with the other 2 playing C, than him at 2C.
confused2


Mainly just going by results. Ebs was the guy that was actually able to still keep the ice tilted in our favour away from McDrai until he was traded. Nuge was always needing to be put on a line with someone that could drive offensive play for him. I do appreciate Nuge's effort to be a good defensive player. Still a work in progress, but I think he's still improving. But it still comes at a cost. He's always lagging the play when he played with McDavid. His offense is 1 and done usually 5v5, which is why I think he needs to play with skilled passers that can slow things down in the offensive end. That 1 and done is best off being a Nuge shot from a soft area he's snuck into.

Regardless, I fully expect the McDrai top line to dominate again next game. And never know, maybe Pulju can evolve into a guy that can consistent get the puck moving into the offensive zone and we find a trio that works with Nuge. Still not that confident it's a recipe to be a cup contender though.


Eberle was not a driver, he was passenger...plain and simple



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779262 is a reply to message #779122 ]
Thu, 11 March 2021 20:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
inverno76  is currently offline inverno76
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Location: Prince Albert, Saskatchew...

2 Cups

Oscargasm wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 17:37

National game... so we get Cassie in some form tonight. Sigh.

FTR: I am all for a female voice on the panel. But can it be a non Flame bias opinion?


I am with you. I feel bad saying something terrible about her, but she is epically hard to listen to talk.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779263 is a reply to message #779259 ]
Thu, 11 March 2021 20:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kr55  is currently offline Kr55
Messages: 10778
Registered: May 2002
Location: Edmonton

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Gator21 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 18:34

Kr55 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 13:27

K.McC#24 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 12:52

Kr55 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 10:47

K.McC#24 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 10:30

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 18:27

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 17:19

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:30

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:27

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:12

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:04

inverno76 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03

I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


Nah! Draisaitl is due for a breakout performance.

Nuge too. (Who I think it totally capable of carrying a top-2 C role, since he's done it his entire career).


Life has been hard for the Nuge without McDrai.

Since the start of 2015/16:

CF%: 47.4%
FF%: 47.3%
SF%: 47%
GF%: 44.75%
xGF%: 45.6%
OZ faceoff%: 49.11%

Most likely just another line McDrai need to make up for with spectacular play. Nuge off to a rough start with a -2 last game, so many he's due for a goal tonight.

I like the Nuge, out of principle largely. Still think he's a winger. And...maybe his money is better spent on an actual elite winger so we don't have to keep going back to McDrai. Pretty disappointed in Tippett here to be honest. 3 bad games and he just panics and goes full McLellan, and I guess all kinds of conclusions of what can work long term can be made from 3 games vs Ottawa?


McDavid/Draisaitl are absolutely dominant on the ice though. I don't hate seeing it - even if just for a short stretch.

I don't think you can blame Nugent-Hopkins or his line for the -2 last game. First shot should just never go in. No mistakes from anyone but the goalie there...it was a weak shot from far out at a bad angle.

Second one, it's another long shot, and one that tips off Barrie's stick to go in on the far side. Both of those are low percentage plays that just worked out well for Ottawa.

Sucks for the line out there, but those aren't hard-earned minuses.


Yeah hard to blame Nuge in isolation last game. Generally though, he's just not a player that drives much of the play. Has always needed a linemate better than him to consistently make things happen. That responsibility lays with Pulju I guess.

McDrai is definitely fun, but we've seen a lot of it over the year, and it rarely has led to consistent success.


I think Nuge can be fine. Eberle/Pouliot and him were a really solid line other than the final season here. He has been overshadowed a bit by playing with Hall, Draisaitl and McDavid a lot of his career, and I think sometimes he plays a little too conservatively without those others out there (although I think that was by design in the McLellan days - I think only the first line ever had the green light to push).

It would be nice if we had one more high end forward. We've got two elite forwards, and one in that second tier in Nuge. After that, Yamamoto and Puljujarvi are on the next tier down and it's a ways down to the next guy.

One more on the Nuge level would leave a really strong top six.


Eberle could drive play. Nuge...just never has, like, ever. Probably sounds like I'm hating on the Nuge as he's close to leaving, but I've had the same complaint about him for a long time. Nuge is a winger. Best asset is his shot 5v5 ;)


Sorry, almost lost ya after the first sentence, there. Eberle a driver of play, really?

RNH will score more points as a wing on the 1st or 2nd line than as a 2nd line center, and clearly he's not in the same category at center as the Hart recipients. I think the team is better if LD is the 2nd center, but Nuge afforded them the ability to throw LD on the top line to get him going again....mission accomplished I'd say. The 2nd line had 3 or 4 excellent chances last night but didnt score 5v5. I'd be concerned if they were getting no chances and owned, wasn't the case.


Eberle was no defensive dynamo, but he was a smart player that on the scoreboard and looking at scoring chances was able to keep things going in the right direction. Even without playing with someone better than him offensively. He helped Nuge a lot over the years. I don't think it was the other way around. Nuge is a pretty timid offensive player 5v5, he really needs his linemates to create things.

Things are certainly going good vs Ottawa :) But, we've done this all before, for extended periods of time. McDrai are magic together, no doubt. We've had a lot of crap seasons though with McDrai on the top line and hoping the rest of the lineup, with Nuge as the 2nd line C, could not bleed goals when they are resting.

And hey, maybe it's even good enough on average that we still do well in the North Division as a 1 line team. I'm just thinking to ever win it all we will need McDavid and Drai on their own lines, and the longer we go not trying to figure out how to make that work, the harder going back to it will be when we realize a quality opponent is able to shut our team down by stopping 1 line.


I think you're seriously overrating Eberle as a 'driver' of s line and I don't really remember him making lesser players better. To me he was a much more frustrating player to watch than RNH ad an Oiler.

I actually don't mind Nuge deferring to playing defensively, anf I think that's a condition of having that beaten into him through 3 or 4 coaches. I would agree that I would rather see RNH as the best W on the team with the other 2 playing C, than him at 2C.
confused2


Mainly just going by results. Ebs was the guy that was actually able to still keep the ice tilted in our favour away from McDrai until he was traded. Nuge was always needing to be put on a line with someone that could drive offensive play for him. I do appreciate Nuge's effort to be a good defensive player. Still a work in progress, but I think he's still improving. But it still comes at a cost. He's always lagging the play when he played with McDavid. His offense is 1 and done usually 5v5, which is why I think he needs to play with skilled passers that can slow things down in the offensive end. That 1 and done is best off being a Nuge shot from a soft area he's snuck into.

Regardless, I fully expect the McDrai top line to dominate again next game. And never know, maybe Pulju can evolve into a guy that can consistent get the puck moving into the offensive zone and we find a trio that works with Nuge. Still not that confident it's a recipe to be a cup contender though.


Eberle was not a driver, he was passenger...plain and simple



Just don't think that's true in terms of generating offense. Athletically he was certainly not spectacular, but he has always been a smart and talented player that plays an efficient game. He knows how to do things that lead to offensive chances. Nuge is far less able to create offense 5v5, and there is a whole career of his stats that back that up. Nuge needs 1 less opposing player on the ice to look like a self sufficient competent playmaker.

[Updated on: Thu, 11 March 2021 20:43]


"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013

"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015

5 x $5,000,000

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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779277 is a reply to message #779263 ]
Fri, 12 March 2021 09:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
K.McC#24  is currently offline K.McC#24
Messages: 2834
Registered: March 2004
Location: ALBERTA

2 Cups

Kr55 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 20:41

Gator21 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 18:34

Kr55 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 13:27

K.McC#24 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 12:52

Kr55 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 10:47

K.McC#24 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 10:30

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 18:27

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 17:19

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:30

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:27

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:12

Adam wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 15:04

inverno76 wrote on Wed, 10 March 2021 14:03

I feel like we are giving up two pints tonight. Just a gut feeling. I’m keeping my Oilers 4-1 score prediction.


Nah! Draisaitl is due for a breakout performance.

Nuge too. (Who I think it totally capable of carrying a top-2 C role, since he's done it his entire career).


Life has been hard for the Nuge without McDrai.

Since the start of 2015/16:

CF%: 47.4%
FF%: 47.3%
SF%: 47%
GF%: 44.75%
xGF%: 45.6%
OZ faceoff%: 49.11%

Most likely just another line McDrai need to make up for with spectacular play. Nuge off to a rough start with a -2 last game, so many he's due for a goal tonight.

I like the Nuge, out of principle largely. Still think he's a winger. And...maybe his money is better spent on an actual elite winger so we don't have to keep going back to McDrai. Pretty disappointed in Tippett here to be honest. 3 bad games and he just panics and goes full McLellan, and I guess all kinds of conclusions of what can work long term can be made from 3 games vs Ottawa?


McDavid/Draisaitl are absolutely dominant on the ice though. I don't hate seeing it - even if just for a short stretch.

I don't think you can blame Nugent-Hopkins or his line for the -2 last game. First shot should just never go in. No mistakes from anyone but the goalie there...it was a weak shot from far out at a bad angle.

Second one, it's another long shot, and one that tips off Barrie's stick to go in on the far side. Both of those are low percentage plays that just worked out well for Ottawa.

Sucks for the line out there, but those aren't hard-earned minuses.


Yeah hard to blame Nuge in isolation last game. Generally though, he's just not a player that drives much of the play. Has always needed a linemate better than him to consistently make things happen. That responsibility lays with Pulju I guess.

McDrai is definitely fun, but we've seen a lot of it over the year, and it rarely has led to consistent success.


I think Nuge can be fine. Eberle/Pouliot and him were a really solid line other than the final season here. He has been overshadowed a bit by playing with Hall, Draisaitl and McDavid a lot of his career, and I think sometimes he plays a little too conservatively without those others out there (although I think that was by design in the McLellan days - I think only the first line ever had the green light to push).

It would be nice if we had one more high end forward. We've got two elite forwards, and one in that second tier in Nuge. After that, Yamamoto and Puljujarvi are on the next tier down and it's a ways down to the next guy.

One more on the Nuge level would leave a really strong top six.


Eberle could drive play. Nuge...just never has, like, ever. Probably sounds like I'm hating on the Nuge as he's close to leaving, but I've had the same complaint about him for a long time. Nuge is a winger. Best asset is his shot 5v5 ;)


Sorry, almost lost ya after the first sentence, there. Eberle a driver of play, really?

RNH will score more points as a wing on the 1st or 2nd line than as a 2nd line center, and clearly he's not in the same category at center as the Hart recipients. I think the team is better if LD is the 2nd center, but Nuge afforded them the ability to throw LD on the top line to get him going again....mission accomplished I'd say. The 2nd line had 3 or 4 excellent chances last night but didnt score 5v5. I'd be concerned if they were getting no chances and owned, wasn't the case.


Eberle was no defensive dynamo, but he was a smart player that on the scoreboard and looking at scoring chances was able to keep things going in the right direction. Even without playing with someone better than him offensively. He helped Nuge a lot over the years. I don't think it was the other way around. Nuge is a pretty timid offensive player 5v5, he really needs his linemates to create things.

Things are certainly going good vs Ottawa :) But, we've done this all before, for extended periods of time. McDrai are magic together, no doubt. We've had a lot of crap seasons though with McDrai on the top line and hoping the rest of the lineup, with Nuge as the 2nd line C, could not bleed goals when they are resting.

And hey, maybe it's even good enough on average that we still do well in the North Division as a 1 line team. I'm just thinking to ever win it all we will need McDavid and Drai on their own lines, and the longer we go not trying to figure out how to make that work, the harder going back to it will be when we realize a quality opponent is able to shut our team down by stopping 1 line.


I think you're seriously overrating Eberle as a 'driver' of s line and I don't really remember him making lesser players better. To me he was a much more frustrating player to watch than RNH ad an Oiler.

I actually don't mind Nuge deferring to playing defensively, anf I think that's a condition of having that beaten into him through 3 or 4 coaches. I would agree that I would rather see RNH as the best W on the team with the other 2 playing C, than him at 2C.
confused2


Mainly just going by results. Ebs was the guy that was actually able to still keep the ice tilted in our favour away from McDrai until he was traded. Nuge was always needing to be put on a line with someone that could drive offensive play for him. I do appreciate Nuge's effort to be a good defensive player. Still a work in progress, but I think he's still improving. But it still comes at a cost. He's always lagging the play when he played with McDavid. His offense is 1 and done usually 5v5, which is why I think he needs to play with skilled passers that can slow things down in the offensive end. That 1 and done is best off being a Nuge shot from a soft area he's snuck into.

Regardless, I fully expect the McDrai top line to dominate again next game. And never know, maybe Pulju can evolve into a guy that can consistent get the puck moving into the offensive zone and we find a trio that works with Nuge. Still not that confident it's a recipe to be a cup contender though.


Eberle was not a driver, he was passenger...plain and simple



Just don't think that's true in terms of generating offense. Athletically he was certainly not spectacular, but he has always been a smart and talented player that plays an efficient game. He knows how to do things that lead to offensive chances. Nuge is far less able to create offense 5v5, and there is a whole career of his stats that back that up. Nuge needs 1 less opposing player on the ice to look like a self sufficient competent playmaker.


Jaysus Kr, you have to be trolling here. Who would trade RNH for Eberle straight up even at Eberle's lower AAV and if Eberle were younger? I wouldn't.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779279 is a reply to message #779277 ]
Fri, 12 March 2021 10:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kr55  is currently offline Kr55
Messages: 10778
Registered: May 2002
Location: Edmonton

6 Cups

K.McC#24 wrote on Fri, 12 March 2021 09:41

Kr55 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 20:41


Just don't think that's true in terms of generating offense. Athletically he was certainly not spectacular, but he has always been a smart and talented player that plays an efficient game. He knows how to do things that lead to offensive chances. Nuge is far less able to create offense 5v5, and there is a whole career of his stats that back that up. Nuge needs 1 less opposing player on the ice to look like a self sufficient competent playmaker.


Jaysus Kr, you have to be trolling here. Who would trade RNH for Eberle straight up even at Eberle's lower AAV and if Eberle were younger? I wouldn't.



Hard to say. Look at where the islanders are in the standings. Their best expected goals for player is...Eberle, by a few % (62.81%. Barzal is 58.88%).

If we want to have McDrai each playing C, I certainly would be open to an upgrade on the wing. Eberle is a better winger than Nuge, without a doubt. Gotta consider age and versatility of course, if McDavid or Drai are injured, Nuge is more useful then. Eberle likely starts falling off before Nuge. But right now, Eberle continues to be a better offensive hockey player and up in the air on the defensive side. Not much has been happening against with Eberle on the ice for the Islanders. Maybe that's Trotz and the system, but Eberle still stands out compared to his teammates.

Back when we were looking at trading one of Nuge/Hall/Ebs to try to improve the team, I think I was pretty honest about it here that Nuge was the guy that should go. We did the other 2, and many pathetic seasons followed as we just kept having to do McDrai on the same line to see any offense and with coaches scared to put the effort into figuring out how to get 2 lines going. Hard to blame them maybe because of how pitiful our winger situation was. And here we are again, full circle...bleh. Thank goodness for the north division at least.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779282 is a reply to message #779279 ]
Fri, 12 March 2021 11:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Adam  is currently offline Adam
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Kr55 wrote on Fri, 12 March 2021 10:14

K.McC#24 wrote on Fri, 12 March 2021 09:41

Kr55 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 20:41


Just don't think that's true in terms of generating offense. Athletically he was certainly not spectacular, but he has always been a smart and talented player that plays an efficient game. He knows how to do things that lead to offensive chances. Nuge is far less able to create offense 5v5, and there is a whole career of his stats that back that up. Nuge needs 1 less opposing player on the ice to look like a self sufficient competent playmaker.


Jaysus Kr, you have to be trolling here. Who would trade RNH for Eberle straight up even at Eberle's lower AAV and if Eberle were younger? I wouldn't.



Hard to say. Look at where the islanders are in the standings. Their best expected goals for player is...Eberle, by a few % (62.81%. Barzal is 58.88%).

If we want to have McDrai each playing C, I certainly would be open to an upgrade on the wing. Eberle is a better winger than Nuge, without a doubt. Gotta consider age and versatility of course, if McDavid or Drai are injured, Nuge is more useful then. Eberle likely starts falling off before Nuge. But right now, Eberle continues to be a better offensive hockey player and up in the air on the defensive side. Not much has been happening against with Eberle on the ice for the Islanders. Maybe that's Trotz and the system, but Eberle still stands out compared to his teammates.

Back when we were looking at trading one of Nuge/Hall/Ebs to try to improve the team, I think I was pretty honest about it here that Nuge was the guy that should go. We did the other 2, and many pathetic seasons followed as we just kept having to do McDrai on the same line to see any offense and with coaches scared to put the effort into figuring out how to get 2 lines going. Hard to blame them maybe because of how pitiful our winger situation was. And here we are again, full circle...bleh. Thank goodness for the north division at least.


I don't think I'd have traded Nugent-Hopkins for Eberle at any point in their careers, but I do think Eberle is badly underrated by Oilers fans. I think people have a hard time separating the results of bad teams with the good players on those teams. It doesn't help Eberle that he had a down season in his final year here and didn't have a huge production in the 2017 playoffs. He's shown since then that the narrative that he's not a playoff performer is total bunk. Is he a perfect player? No - but then who is? He's a very helpful player and while he's getting a little longer in the tooth now, he is still probably better than any right wing on our roster - at least at putting up points. Maybe Puljujarvi or Yamamoto can get there at some point, but at their age, Eberle was a more effective and impactful player.



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 Re: Pregame: Ottawa @ Edmonton (Game #28) [message #779290 is a reply to message #779282 ]
Fri, 12 March 2021 12:13 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Kr55  is currently offline Kr55
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Adam wrote on Fri, 12 March 2021 11:05

Kr55 wrote on Fri, 12 March 2021 10:14

K.McC#24 wrote on Fri, 12 March 2021 09:41

Kr55 wrote on Thu, 11 March 2021 20:41


Just don't think that's true in terms of generating offense. Athletically he was certainly not spectacular, but he has always been a smart and talented player that plays an efficient game. He knows how to do things that lead to offensive chances. Nuge is far less able to create offense 5v5, and there is a whole career of his stats that back that up. Nuge needs 1 less opposing player on the ice to look like a self sufficient competent playmaker.


Jaysus Kr, you have to be trolling here. Who would trade RNH for Eberle straight up even at Eberle's lower AAV and if Eberle were younger? I wouldn't.



Hard to say. Look at where the islanders are in the standings. Their best expected goals for player is...Eberle, by a few % (62.81%. Barzal is 58.88%).

If we want to have McDrai each playing C, I certainly would be open to an upgrade on the wing. Eberle is a better winger than Nuge, without a doubt. Gotta consider age and versatility of course, if McDavid or Drai are injured, Nuge is more useful then. Eberle likely starts falling off before Nuge. But right now, Eberle continues to be a better offensive hockey player and up in the air on the defensive side. Not much has been happening against with Eberle on the ice for the Islanders. Maybe that's Trotz and the system, but Eberle still stands out compared to his teammates.

Back when we were looking at trading one of Nuge/Hall/Ebs to try to improve the team, I think I was pretty honest about it here that Nuge was the guy that should go. We did the other 2, and many pathetic seasons followed as we just kept having to do McDrai on the same line to see any offense and with coaches scared to put the effort into figuring out how to get 2 lines going. Hard to blame them maybe because of how pitiful our winger situation was. And here we are again, full circle...bleh. Thank goodness for the north division at least.


I don't think I'd have traded Nugent-Hopkins for Eberle at any point in their careers, but I do think Eberle is badly underrated by Oilers fans. I think people have a hard time separating the results of bad teams with the good players on those teams. It doesn't help Eberle that he had a down season in his final year here and didn't have a huge production in the 2017 playoffs. He's shown since then that the narrative that he's not a playoff performer is total bunk. Is he a perfect player? No - but then who is? He's a very helpful player and while he's getting a little longer in the tooth now, he is still probably better than any right wing on our roster - at least at putting up points. Maybe Puljujarvi or Yamamoto can get there at some point, but at their age, Eberle was a more effective and impactful player.


Nuge is more valuable because he plays C for sure. With our current roster though, if you just swap Nuge and Eberle in our lineup, I think you could argue it could lead to more wins. Nuge hasn't really found his place on this roster this year, aside from being on the left wall on the PP which Eberle would do just as well at.



"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013

"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015

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