Adam wrote on Thu, 05 February 2026 12:57

Kr55 wrote on Tue, 03 February 2026 21:50 Skookum Jim wrote on Tue, 03 February 2026 21:42 After seeing McMann I don't see him as a needle mover.. no better than a Kapanen.. If they get him it better be for cheap. Price just pumped up tonight. And value of the Mangy boy even lower. Sigh. He's having his best ever season, but at his age, is it a one-off? Is it because he's playing up roster in a depleted Toronto lineup? He's big and he hits, and that's always something we're excited about here - I mean, that's why we said we were going to get Frederic. I'd prefer something a little more high impact, but I guess it's something.

I think the difference with Fred and McMann is speed.. fred is a slow train.. McMann is quicker.. speed is everything.. unless you have skill and are on the PP where you retain possession.. biggest part of NHL is getting in the play.. carrying the puck, existing the zone, gaining the zone, forechecking, backchecking, PK'ing ..

With today's stats that are available its not just a eyeball thing anymore.. you can actually determine a guys relative speed to to the NHL peer group to a certain degree .. you can measure his speed(s) and compare to the NHL's different percentile's, and you can place him accordingly.. don't need to be a statistician..

Mangi and Fred are examples where they failed.. especially Fred.

That being said.. I don't know McMann's speed and his comparables.. but he didn't stand out to me last game.. although I did do a lot of FF'ing that game :)
At least Mcmann's cap is the right price.

UPDATE:

I checked McMann's speed to rest of the league.. I take it back.. he's No.3 behind McDavid at 24.25!
So maybe something IS there..

Here is the Oilers team ranked by top speed..
(all speeds in MPH)

League median speed is 22.13 mph

I cut off at 22 mph.. explains some of our problems with getting an effective forecheck, and PK pressure.. and even carrying the puck out of the zone..

Kapanen is a firewagon!

Fred is like in 20% of NHL

.. just to make you feel bad.. Broberg is 19th at 23.46 mph

And these stats explain the eyeball test on Walman this year.. he's a total slug.



Here is last year for comparison.. 20 mph cutoff..
some of the Oilers have very small sample sizes.. like 15 games for Walman.. 1 game for Fred.

[Updated on: Fri, 06 February 2026 15:53]

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