Welp...that could've been worse.
The Oilers started their 2018-19 campaign with a stumble and fall. It was an embarrasing effort to say the least. Every single thing that happened last year in a loss, happened in this game. Let's recap.
Stop me if you've heard this one before. The Oilers allowed the goal of the game, on the first shot of the game. Yup. Kyle Palmieri made it 1-0 Devils just 58 seconds into the game. Thankfully the Oilers would tie it a few minutes later. Hands up if you had Milan Lucic scoring the first goal of the Oilers season? Nobody? Didn't think so. On their 1st PP of the season, Connor McDavid decided to ignore the PP strategies and just took the puck into the offensive zone himself. He was flying, skating behind the net, and passed out front where Lucic burried his 1st of the season. So yeah, that must be a confidence boost for #27. Sadly, that's was as close to "being in this thing" as the Oilers would be. Period 1 ends with the scored knotted at 1 a piece.
Period 2 was the worst period of Oilers hockey I've seen in my 12 years of being a fan. Outscored 2-0 and outshot 10-3, the Oilers didn't register a shot on goal until the 17 minute mark of the 2nd. 17 minutes and they never had 1 shot on net. Even when the score was 3-1, Talbot was the only reason it was kept to that score at the end of the 2nd. Kyle Palmieri got his 2nd of the game, making it 2-1 and that was followed up by Travis Zajac making it 3-1.
Period 3 wasn't a whole lot better. Zajac potted his 2nd of the game making it 4-1 and that's where I shut it off. I followed on Twitter, catching a bit about where Leon Draisitl potted his 1st of the season off a feed from Milan Lucic and McDavid. I don't care who scored the empty netter for the Devils.
Positives:
1. McDavid - gets 2 points tonight and looked as good as he always does. Not much to complain about.
2. Lucic - After how last season ended, Lucic was looking for anything to get him going this season. He had a decent preseason with 3 points in 4 games, and he followed that up with 2 points tonight. He was physical, he was making smart passes, and he was engaged. Probably the best Oilers player on the ice bar-none.
3. It's over - nothing more to say here
4. It's only 1 game - 81 left to go, there is time to iron out a few things. But not much.
Negatives:
1. The effort - This team was garbage. I'm tired of making excuses. There is 0 excuse for how they played tonight. Getting 0 shots on net for the first 17 minutes of a period? Inexcusable. Not have having a decent looking PP? Inexcusable. Getting beat to every puck and losing every puck battle? Inexcusable.
2. Defence - Complete and utter shit. Nurse and Benning especially.
3. PP - What are they thinking? The PP looked like shit. Utter crap. No actual strategy, no actual purpose. The only reason they scored once was because McDavid decided to skate the puck in himself.
Let's hope they turn things around, fast.
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Thursday, September 13, 2018
Pacific Division Preview
It's the most wonderful time of the year. When the coaches are coaching and everyone telling you, your team will suck. It's the most wonderful time of the year!
Yes my friends, it's that time of year again. Training camp opened today and holy crap, what a day it was, highlighted by the trade of Erik Karlsson to the fucking Sharks (because NHL). With the preseason set to get underway here in the next few days, and only 23 days until Regular season puck drop, I'm here to do my preview of the pacific division. Go through each team, give my thoughts on them, and then make my picks for the playoffs. We'll be doing this in alphabetical order, so let's get to it.
1. Anaheim Ducks:
Those damn dirty Ducks. Most fans in the NHL can stand this team. Come playoff time, they're one of the dirtiest teams in the league, constantly hacking and slashing the opposition with little to no consequences. That being said, their still a good team who can never be counted out. Sure Getzlaf and Perry are older, Bieksa and Kesler probably won't play for a while, but their young guys of Ritchie and Rakell, Montour and Manson, along with star goalie John Gibson, give the Ducks a team to respect.
2. Arizona Coyotes:
At this point, it's practically a cliche to make fun of the Coyotes. A team that was forcefully dragged out into the desert, gone through multiple problems with ownership, and even had a bad situation with Shane Doan 2 seasons ago. However, the Coyotes are starting to turn heads, at least my head. They have a few young players to be excited about. Clayton Keller is a gem, Dylan Strome is still improving, and Anti Raanta is starting to come into his own as a starter. I still think Barret Hayton is a bit of a stretch, but watch out for the Desert Dogs in a season or 2.
3. Calgary Flames:
As an Oilers fan, it'd be easy for me to dump on them...so I will. Calgary is going to not have a good season. While their forward lines did indeed improve, they've brought in too many ex-hurricanes, in Peters, Lindholm, Hannifin, and Ryan. Yes because nothing says success like bringing in players and coaches from a team that hasn't made the playoffs since 2009. On top of that, their defence is weaker now (though Hannifin will get better) and they're once again relying on Mike Smith to be a brick wall, praying to the hockey gods that he doesn't get injured.
4. Edmonton Oilers:
No preview needed, because this is an Oilers blog. All I'lll say is that Oilers make the playoffs.
5. LA Kings:
The Kings always baffle me season in and season out. They have some horrible contracts, but the players aren't that bad. They sneak into the playoffs, then win the Stanley Cup. Their biggest off-season acquisition was Ilya Kovalchuk, but Kovalchuk hasn't played in the NHL since 2012 (ironically losing to the Kings in that Cup Final). Still, the Kings have the likes of Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, and Jonathan Quick who always keep the Kings competitive.
6. San Jose Sharks:
I expect them to win the Pacific, if not the for the fact that they have Marc-Edward Vlasic, Brent Burns and now ERIK KARLSSON. On top of that, the Sharks seemed to have reformed Evander Kane and have a wealth of prospects and depth to help them should an injury occur. Their moves suggest their going for the prize, trying to win one for Pavelski and Thorton.
7. Vancouver Canucks:
Most Canucks fans are entering new territory. For the first time in, what, 18, 19 years, Henrik and Daniel Sedin will not be suiting up for an NHL season. Both announced their retirement last season and so the Canucks are forced to start anew without their superstar Sedin twins. Brock Boeser was a nice surprise for them this year, but their still a few years off from playoff contention sadly.
8. Vegas Golden Knights:
How do you decide the path of a team that makes the Cup Finals in their inaugural season? The answer is, you don't. The Knights defied all the odds, broke all the rules, and set the standard for expansion teams. The addition of Max Paciorety and Paul Statsny keep their scoring up, and Marc-Andre Fleury is still a god in net. It'll be interesting to see how they do in their second season.
So with all of that said and done, who do I think makes the playoffs? Well here is my top 3 for the pacific.
1. San Jose - They've got too much talent to not win the pacific.
2. Edmonton - McDavid and company will rebound. They did it two seasons ago, I see them doing it again.
3. LA or Vegas: Honestly, the 3rd spot is up for grabs. Vegas was riding an emotional high last season, so they'll come back down to earth slightly, and the Kings are well, the Kings.
Wildcard. Anaheim: While the Ducks will drop off, they'll still be a good team. If a pacific team makes it into the wildcard slot, it'll be Anaheim.
So yeah, that's my pacific preview. Nothing too complicated, but it's not supposed to be lol. Now let's get this hockey season underway already!
Yes my friends, it's that time of year again. Training camp opened today and holy crap, what a day it was, highlighted by the trade of Erik Karlsson to the fucking Sharks (because NHL). With the preseason set to get underway here in the next few days, and only 23 days until Regular season puck drop, I'm here to do my preview of the pacific division. Go through each team, give my thoughts on them, and then make my picks for the playoffs. We'll be doing this in alphabetical order, so let's get to it.
1. Anaheim Ducks:
Those damn dirty Ducks. Most fans in the NHL can stand this team. Come playoff time, they're one of the dirtiest teams in the league, constantly hacking and slashing the opposition with little to no consequences. That being said, their still a good team who can never be counted out. Sure Getzlaf and Perry are older, Bieksa and Kesler probably won't play for a while, but their young guys of Ritchie and Rakell, Montour and Manson, along with star goalie John Gibson, give the Ducks a team to respect.
2. Arizona Coyotes:
At this point, it's practically a cliche to make fun of the Coyotes. A team that was forcefully dragged out into the desert, gone through multiple problems with ownership, and even had a bad situation with Shane Doan 2 seasons ago. However, the Coyotes are starting to turn heads, at least my head. They have a few young players to be excited about. Clayton Keller is a gem, Dylan Strome is still improving, and Anti Raanta is starting to come into his own as a starter. I still think Barret Hayton is a bit of a stretch, but watch out for the Desert Dogs in a season or 2.
3. Calgary Flames:
As an Oilers fan, it'd be easy for me to dump on them...so I will. Calgary is going to not have a good season. While their forward lines did indeed improve, they've brought in too many ex-hurricanes, in Peters, Lindholm, Hannifin, and Ryan. Yes because nothing says success like bringing in players and coaches from a team that hasn't made the playoffs since 2009. On top of that, their defence is weaker now (though Hannifin will get better) and they're once again relying on Mike Smith to be a brick wall, praying to the hockey gods that he doesn't get injured.
4. Edmonton Oilers:
No preview needed, because this is an Oilers blog. All I'lll say is that Oilers make the playoffs.
5. LA Kings:
The Kings always baffle me season in and season out. They have some horrible contracts, but the players aren't that bad. They sneak into the playoffs, then win the Stanley Cup. Their biggest off-season acquisition was Ilya Kovalchuk, but Kovalchuk hasn't played in the NHL since 2012 (ironically losing to the Kings in that Cup Final). Still, the Kings have the likes of Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, and Jonathan Quick who always keep the Kings competitive.
6. San Jose Sharks:
I expect them to win the Pacific, if not the for the fact that they have Marc-Edward Vlasic, Brent Burns and now ERIK KARLSSON. On top of that, the Sharks seemed to have reformed Evander Kane and have a wealth of prospects and depth to help them should an injury occur. Their moves suggest their going for the prize, trying to win one for Pavelski and Thorton.
7. Vancouver Canucks:
Most Canucks fans are entering new territory. For the first time in, what, 18, 19 years, Henrik and Daniel Sedin will not be suiting up for an NHL season. Both announced their retirement last season and so the Canucks are forced to start anew without their superstar Sedin twins. Brock Boeser was a nice surprise for them this year, but their still a few years off from playoff contention sadly.
8. Vegas Golden Knights:
How do you decide the path of a team that makes the Cup Finals in their inaugural season? The answer is, you don't. The Knights defied all the odds, broke all the rules, and set the standard for expansion teams. The addition of Max Paciorety and Paul Statsny keep their scoring up, and Marc-Andre Fleury is still a god in net. It'll be interesting to see how they do in their second season.
So with all of that said and done, who do I think makes the playoffs? Well here is my top 3 for the pacific.
1. San Jose - They've got too much talent to not win the pacific.
2. Edmonton - McDavid and company will rebound. They did it two seasons ago, I see them doing it again.
3. LA or Vegas: Honestly, the 3rd spot is up for grabs. Vegas was riding an emotional high last season, so they'll come back down to earth slightly, and the Kings are well, the Kings.
Wildcard. Anaheim: While the Ducks will drop off, they'll still be a good team. If a pacific team makes it into the wildcard slot, it'll be Anaheim.
So yeah, that's my pacific preview. Nothing too complicated, but it's not supposed to be lol. Now let's get this hockey season underway already!
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Cam Talbot
Welp folks, it's here. The dog days of summer. The most boring time to be a hockey fan. Most of the NHL action is over with. The off-season has ground to a halt, with only some signings and stuff being announced. However two recent articles over at OilersNation have got me wanting to write something. The first, was about Evan Bounchard's defensive "deficiencies". My response to that article?
Thursday, July 5, 2018
Grading Chiarelli's Off-season
Welp we've reached the worst part of the NHL off-season folks. The "deadzone" as I like to call it. The time between now the and the start of training camp is one of the most boring times for hockey fans, because the madness of the draft, development camp, and free-agency is now over. Sure, there are plenty of free-agents left, but the good times have come to an end, at least until September. So with this "deadzone" now in effect, we hockey fans, bloggers, writers, and insiders have to keep busy somehow.
So today, I'm going to be doing a grading of Peter Chiarelli's off-season so far with Edmonton. An off-season that I feel, has been very profitable for Peter. In this grading, I'm going to be looking at 6 "categories" for the various events Peter has had a hand in. They are, coaching changes, trades, the draft, the re-sign phase, and free agency. Now of course, Chiarelli could still make a signing or a trade. Which is fine. I'm only grading him up until July 5th at 9:43 am ET. I will be giving grades out of 5, because a number grading is easier than doing A+, A, A-, etc. Let's get started.
Coaching Changes:
Grade: 5/5
Reason: Peter's first order of business this off-season was improving the coaching staff behind the Oilers bench. He and most of the fans (myself included), seem to give a vote of confidence to Todd McLellan, but not the assistants that failed miserably with special teams. Jim Johnson was fired, Ian Herbers went back to UoA, and Jay Woodcroft was depromoted (I use this term, because I don't know if going from NHL assistant coach to AHL head coach is a promotion or a demotion) to the head coach of Bakersfield. In their stead, the Oilers hired ex-Flames head coach Glen Gulutzen (recieved with mixed reviews), Manny Viveiros (who coached a good Swift Current Broncos club), and Trent Yawney (who has a track record of running a good PK and developing defencemen). While it is unclear what the actual strategy for these four is (the feeling is that all 4 will work on the special teams equally), this makes up for a strong bench...at least on paper. Hopefully it will lead to NHL sucess.
Trades:
Grade: 5/5
Reason: Peter Chiarelli has made 3 trades since the end of the regular season. On June 8th, Chiarelli sent a conditional 7th round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Nolan Vesey. Nothing more than a depth move really. Then on the 2nd day of the draft, the Oilers moved up in the draft, acquiring the 61st overall pick from Montreal. In exchange, Edmonton sent the Habs the 71st and 133rd picks. They used the 61st pick to select goaltender Olivier Rodrigue. Mere hours later, the Oilers once again made a deal with Montreal, acquiring goalie Hayden Hawkey in exchange for a 5th round pick in the 2019 draft. All three of these trades are small, depth moves that make sense for the organization, the most important being in selecting the #1 ranked goalie in this years draft (Rodrigue).
Draft:
Grade: 5/5
Reason: Really just for the Bouchard pick. While almost all Oilers fan dislike Peter Chiarelli for his trading resume, they don't generally complain about his drafting. That's because, Peter Chiarelli is usually pretty good at a draft table and this year was no exception. Granted there was some tension in Oil Country in regards to the Oilers 10th overall selection, and the fear it might be moved. But Peter waited and waited and waited, and was rewarded with the chance to select one of Evan Bouchard, Noah Dobson, or Oliver Wahlstrom. While some fans would've liked Edmonton to select Dobson or Wahlstrom, they really can't go wrong with the Bouchard pick. The Oilers would continue their solid draft by selecting Ryan McCleod at 40th and moving up in the draft to select Olivier Rodrigue.
Re-Sign Phase:
Grade: 4/5
Reason: This one is hard for me to do because of my own views on Chiarelli vs the rest of fans views on him. Yes I am aware that Strome and Nurse still need new contracts, but Peter Chiarelli has signed three players. Mikko Koskinen, Drake Caggiula, Matt Benning. The Koskinen signing was met with, understandable, hesitance. Koskinen hasn't played in the NHL, his stats aren't spectacular, and his contract is a bit pricey. It's one of these moves that could either work out and be OK, or burn out and be bad. Only next season will tell. Caggiula was met with A LOT of hate from Oilers twitter. The big problem with this signing was a mix of both the contract value and Caggiula himself. My personally? I like it. Yes Caggiula isn't a top 6 player, but it's not his fault McLellan and Co. kept putting him there. Benning's contract extension was more well received, but there were still some critics. Again, I don't mind this deal. He's still young, he's still developing, plus he'll be seeing more minutes when Bouchard gets sent back to London.
Free-Agency:
Grade: 5/5
Reason: Peter Chiarelli didn't have much money to work with heading into this years free agency. As such, signing a big fish free agent like JVR, Tavares, or Neal was impossible. So instead, Chiarelli focused on players who could help his team. And he struck gold with two former Oilers draft picks, Kyle Brodziak and Tobias Reider. Both players were signed to reasonable, team friendly contracts, both can help the Oilers improve their PK, and both can contribute offensively. Again, smart solid signings.
Summary:
Total Grade:24/25
Reason: Peter Chiarelli had a few goals coming into this off-season, and I think he accomplished them all. He wanted to improve the Oilers special teams and he did that with the assistant coach hires as well as the additions of Brodziak and Reider. He wanted to get a RHD who could quarterback a powerplay, and he did that in nabbing Bouchard at the draft. And he wanted to contribute to the depth scoring of the team as well as bring players back who he thinks can help them. Of course, this is something we as Oilers fans have seen before. They make moves in the off-season, pitch them as smart solid moves, and it generally blows up in their faces come hockey season. This year though, I believe it. The moves that Chiarelli has made are smart, solid moves that can pay dividends (at least on paper).Hopefully these will pay off. Because if they do, Peter might be loved in Oil Country again.
So today, I'm going to be doing a grading of Peter Chiarelli's off-season so far with Edmonton. An off-season that I feel, has been very profitable for Peter. In this grading, I'm going to be looking at 6 "categories" for the various events Peter has had a hand in. They are, coaching changes, trades, the draft, the re-sign phase, and free agency. Now of course, Chiarelli could still make a signing or a trade. Which is fine. I'm only grading him up until July 5th at 9:43 am ET. I will be giving grades out of 5, because a number grading is easier than doing A+, A, A-, etc. Let's get started.
Coaching Changes:
Grade: 5/5
Reason: Peter's first order of business this off-season was improving the coaching staff behind the Oilers bench. He and most of the fans (myself included), seem to give a vote of confidence to Todd McLellan, but not the assistants that failed miserably with special teams. Jim Johnson was fired, Ian Herbers went back to UoA, and Jay Woodcroft was depromoted (I use this term, because I don't know if going from NHL assistant coach to AHL head coach is a promotion or a demotion) to the head coach of Bakersfield. In their stead, the Oilers hired ex-Flames head coach Glen Gulutzen (recieved with mixed reviews), Manny Viveiros (who coached a good Swift Current Broncos club), and Trent Yawney (who has a track record of running a good PK and developing defencemen). While it is unclear what the actual strategy for these four is (the feeling is that all 4 will work on the special teams equally), this makes up for a strong bench...at least on paper. Hopefully it will lead to NHL sucess.
Trades:
Grade: 5/5
Reason: Peter Chiarelli has made 3 trades since the end of the regular season. On June 8th, Chiarelli sent a conditional 7th round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Nolan Vesey. Nothing more than a depth move really. Then on the 2nd day of the draft, the Oilers moved up in the draft, acquiring the 61st overall pick from Montreal. In exchange, Edmonton sent the Habs the 71st and 133rd picks. They used the 61st pick to select goaltender Olivier Rodrigue. Mere hours later, the Oilers once again made a deal with Montreal, acquiring goalie Hayden Hawkey in exchange for a 5th round pick in the 2019 draft. All three of these trades are small, depth moves that make sense for the organization, the most important being in selecting the #1 ranked goalie in this years draft (Rodrigue).
Draft:
Grade: 5/5
Reason: Really just for the Bouchard pick. While almost all Oilers fan dislike Peter Chiarelli for his trading resume, they don't generally complain about his drafting. That's because, Peter Chiarelli is usually pretty good at a draft table and this year was no exception. Granted there was some tension in Oil Country in regards to the Oilers 10th overall selection, and the fear it might be moved. But Peter waited and waited and waited, and was rewarded with the chance to select one of Evan Bouchard, Noah Dobson, or Oliver Wahlstrom. While some fans would've liked Edmonton to select Dobson or Wahlstrom, they really can't go wrong with the Bouchard pick. The Oilers would continue their solid draft by selecting Ryan McCleod at 40th and moving up in the draft to select Olivier Rodrigue.
Re-Sign Phase:
Grade: 4/5
Reason: This one is hard for me to do because of my own views on Chiarelli vs the rest of fans views on him. Yes I am aware that Strome and Nurse still need new contracts, but Peter Chiarelli has signed three players. Mikko Koskinen, Drake Caggiula, Matt Benning. The Koskinen signing was met with, understandable, hesitance. Koskinen hasn't played in the NHL, his stats aren't spectacular, and his contract is a bit pricey. It's one of these moves that could either work out and be OK, or burn out and be bad. Only next season will tell. Caggiula was met with A LOT of hate from Oilers twitter. The big problem with this signing was a mix of both the contract value and Caggiula himself. My personally? I like it. Yes Caggiula isn't a top 6 player, but it's not his fault McLellan and Co. kept putting him there. Benning's contract extension was more well received, but there were still some critics. Again, I don't mind this deal. He's still young, he's still developing, plus he'll be seeing more minutes when Bouchard gets sent back to London.
Free-Agency:
Grade: 5/5
Reason: Peter Chiarelli didn't have much money to work with heading into this years free agency. As such, signing a big fish free agent like JVR, Tavares, or Neal was impossible. So instead, Chiarelli focused on players who could help his team. And he struck gold with two former Oilers draft picks, Kyle Brodziak and Tobias Reider. Both players were signed to reasonable, team friendly contracts, both can help the Oilers improve their PK, and both can contribute offensively. Again, smart solid signings.
Summary:
Total Grade:24/25
Reason: Peter Chiarelli had a few goals coming into this off-season, and I think he accomplished them all. He wanted to improve the Oilers special teams and he did that with the assistant coach hires as well as the additions of Brodziak and Reider. He wanted to get a RHD who could quarterback a powerplay, and he did that in nabbing Bouchard at the draft. And he wanted to contribute to the depth scoring of the team as well as bring players back who he thinks can help them. Of course, this is something we as Oilers fans have seen before. They make moves in the off-season, pitch them as smart solid moves, and it generally blows up in their faces come hockey season. This year though, I believe it. The moves that Chiarelli has made are smart, solid moves that can pay dividends (at least on paper).Hopefully these will pay off. Because if they do, Peter might be loved in Oil Country again.
Monday, July 2, 2018
Defending my choices
So a couple of days ago, @TheOilKnight & @DirtbagDonny on Twitter, had asked us Oilers fans about our top 3 pet peeves in today's NHL. Naturally I
replied with this
"Jeez there's so many things. Here's my 3.
1. Officiating. It's been beaten to death, so I'll leave it at that.
2. Pre-game stuff...particularly with Vegas' being so damn long. It's a hockey game, not a friggin talent show!
3. Social media and how it impacts players and coaches."
And this is a decent list that they went through in Episode 7 of their show, "Late Night with the Oil Knight". And they agreed with me on 2/3 of these, which I don't mind. However, I feel the need to now go more in-depth on them.
1. Officiating:
Originally, I meant how the officiating has become a joke. How the coaches challenges have taken the "flow" out of the game, as well as how they enrage fan-bases because of a) how they're done, b) how long they take; and c) how they seem to get it wrong 75% of the time. This past weekend I was talking with my uncle on Canada Day about officiating and I mentioned how it seems kind of unfair to the refs when it comes to making a mistake. It's like the league won't allow them to go back on a decision or admit they messed up. A good example of this would be Game 5 between Toronto and Boston these past playoffs. On the play, Boston recieved a delay-of-game penalty because the puck went out of play. In real-time speed, it does look like it didn't hit anything going into the stands. However upon review, it was shown that the puck hit the glass before it exited the rink, therefore nullifying the penalty to Boston. However the refs didn't change their mind, even though the evidence was quite clear. I maybe in the minority on this, but how come a ref can't go on the PA and say "I made a mistake"? If the NHL thinks it'll make the game go longer, keep in mind that the coaches challenges already do that. If the NHL thinks it'll make the officials look incompetent, again, the coaches challenges already do that. Again, it would be nicer for them to a) get calls right and b) admit to making a mistake when things are clearly shown to them.
2. Pre-game stuff:
This one I take issues with heartedly. As I stated above, it's a hockey game not a talent show, although you could argue that the"talent show" is the actual game itself. No what I meant by this was two things. Anybody who follows me on twitter, knows I was pretty pissed at all of Vegas' pre-playoff game shenanigans. The actual presentation itself wasn't bad, but it just took too long, to the point where I would tune in at the time the puck is supposed to be dropped, and yet I'm sitting there watching a GOLDEN KNIGHT SLICE A CF-18 HORNET IN HALF! The second thing I meant by this was that some teams, *cough Oilers cough* don't do much for the pre-game show. Some teams *cough Oilers cough* come out onto the ice, PA guy announces the starting lineups, they sing the anthems and then drop the puck and game on. Yes it's short, but it's not sweet and it's quite dull. I mean what happened to the flaming oil derrick? Bring that shit back! Do SOMETHING to make it better. I like simplicity, I like quick and easy, but when you make it too quick and easy, it's not fun and quite boring.
3. Social media and how it impacts players and coaches:
Okay this one I'm going to have to explain, big time. Social media has made our lives better. We can connect with people easier, get news updates as they happen, and follow along with current events easily. But at the same time, it's also allowed for more cyber-bullying, more people to spread their hate and nastiness, as well as the posting of incriminating photo's, videos and e-mails. When I wrote down this as a pet peeve, I was thinking about that picture of Gerard Gallant after he was fired by Florida. I hate seeing that because it's so embarassing for him to see. That picture is never going to go away. And yes he absolutely redeemed himself with how Vegas performed, but for the few months he was without a job, that picture probably haunted him. A picture that would've NEVER have surfaced 12 years ago. Social media has made it easier for people to spew hate towards a player (just look at the amount of people who said f*** you to John Tavares yesterday). Yes social media probably helps teams, coaches and players. But it also makes it easier for those coaches and players to receive hate online. Something that I can't personally stand.
"Jeez there's so many things. Here's my 3.
1. Officiating. It's been beaten to death, so I'll leave it at that.
2. Pre-game stuff...particularly with Vegas' being so damn long. It's a hockey game, not a friggin talent show!
3. Social media and how it impacts players and coaches."
And this is a decent list that they went through in Episode 7 of their show, "Late Night with the Oil Knight". And they agreed with me on 2/3 of these, which I don't mind. However, I feel the need to now go more in-depth on them.
1. Officiating:
Originally, I meant how the officiating has become a joke. How the coaches challenges have taken the "flow" out of the game, as well as how they enrage fan-bases because of a) how they're done, b) how long they take; and c) how they seem to get it wrong 75% of the time. This past weekend I was talking with my uncle on Canada Day about officiating and I mentioned how it seems kind of unfair to the refs when it comes to making a mistake. It's like the league won't allow them to go back on a decision or admit they messed up. A good example of this would be Game 5 between Toronto and Boston these past playoffs. On the play, Boston recieved a delay-of-game penalty because the puck went out of play. In real-time speed, it does look like it didn't hit anything going into the stands. However upon review, it was shown that the puck hit the glass before it exited the rink, therefore nullifying the penalty to Boston. However the refs didn't change their mind, even though the evidence was quite clear. I maybe in the minority on this, but how come a ref can't go on the PA and say "I made a mistake"? If the NHL thinks it'll make the game go longer, keep in mind that the coaches challenges already do that. If the NHL thinks it'll make the officials look incompetent, again, the coaches challenges already do that. Again, it would be nicer for them to a) get calls right and b) admit to making a mistake when things are clearly shown to them.
2. Pre-game stuff:
This one I take issues with heartedly. As I stated above, it's a hockey game not a talent show, although you could argue that the"talent show" is the actual game itself. No what I meant by this was two things. Anybody who follows me on twitter, knows I was pretty pissed at all of Vegas' pre-playoff game shenanigans. The actual presentation itself wasn't bad, but it just took too long, to the point where I would tune in at the time the puck is supposed to be dropped, and yet I'm sitting there watching a GOLDEN KNIGHT SLICE A CF-18 HORNET IN HALF! The second thing I meant by this was that some teams, *cough Oilers cough* don't do much for the pre-game show. Some teams *cough Oilers cough* come out onto the ice, PA guy announces the starting lineups, they sing the anthems and then drop the puck and game on. Yes it's short, but it's not sweet and it's quite dull. I mean what happened to the flaming oil derrick? Bring that shit back! Do SOMETHING to make it better. I like simplicity, I like quick and easy, but when you make it too quick and easy, it's not fun and quite boring.
3. Social media and how it impacts players and coaches:
Okay this one I'm going to have to explain, big time. Social media has made our lives better. We can connect with people easier, get news updates as they happen, and follow along with current events easily. But at the same time, it's also allowed for more cyber-bullying, more people to spread their hate and nastiness, as well as the posting of incriminating photo's, videos and e-mails. When I wrote down this as a pet peeve, I was thinking about that picture of Gerard Gallant after he was fired by Florida. I hate seeing that because it's so embarassing for him to see. That picture is never going to go away. And yes he absolutely redeemed himself with how Vegas performed, but for the few months he was without a job, that picture probably haunted him. A picture that would've NEVER have surfaced 12 years ago. Social media has made it easier for people to spew hate towards a player (just look at the amount of people who said f*** you to John Tavares yesterday). Yes social media probably helps teams, coaches and players. But it also makes it easier for those coaches and players to receive hate online. Something that I can't personally stand.
Saturday, June 30, 2018
The Crowded Crease
So tomorrow is July 1st, which means two things. One, we in Canada celebrate the country's 151st birthday, and two, ITS FREE AGENT FRENZY DAY! One of the many days hockey fans look forward too is the craziness of free agent day. Where teams pay through the roof to have some high profile free agent come and play for them. This year, the big fish target is John Tavares. But enough about that, let's talk goalies.
I mention free agency day because there are several goalies available on the market. Craig Andersson apparently wants out of Ottawa, Buffalo didn't qualify Robin Lehner while also reportedly going after Carter Hutton, and several quality backups can be found in Petr Mrazek, Jonathan Bernier, and Cam Ward. Now I know what you're thinking dear reader, "don't the Oilers already have a starter in Cam Talbot and a backup in Al Montoya?", and yes, you would be correct. And more.
See the Oilers actually have 3 goalies signed for next year. ALL of them in the final year of their deals. Talbot (who will be making $4,166,667), Montoya ($1,062,500), and newly signed KHL goalie Mikko Koskinen ($2,500,000). Now that is one crowded and expensive ($7,729,167) goal crease. So why would I mention UFA goalies, and then go and tell you about the 3 goalies Edmonton has under contract? Because I'm here to point out, what I believe to be, Chiarelli's plan for his goalies as well as mention something I would've done if I was in Peter's position. Let's start with the plan. I call it...
...
Operation: Goal Mouth
Based on my own analysis of the situation, as well as a similar situation having been played out before, here is what I believe Operation Goal Mouth is going to be. Heading to the training camp for the 2015-2016 season, the Oilers had 3 goalies that could make the roster. Cam Talbot (acquired from the New York Rangers), Anders Nilsson (signed after playing in the KHL), and Ben Scrivens (acquired from the LA Kings). That year, Talbot was slated to be the Oilers starter with Scrivens and Nilsson battling for the backup job. Nilsson won the job and backed up Cam Talbot...for about a month. For some odd reason, probably due to being a starter for the first time in his career, Talbot faltered early on in the season, and Nilsson temporarily took on the starting job for Edmonton. And he did good too. He helped the Oilers actually creep into the playoff conversation, but for whatever reason HIS play died out too, allowing Talbot to retake the job as the Oilers starting goalie. A job he has yet to relinquish.
And while some might view that as just the ups and downs of a goalie during a season, a quote from a Steve Dangle video got me thinking.
"And while Talbot has taken the starting job from Anders Nilsson, Nilsson has played his fair chunk of the games, and it's been to Talbot's benefit".
I believe it. Nilsson played 26 games in 2015-2016 with Edmonton, going 10-12-2 with a 3.14 GAA and a .901sv%. Admittedly, they're not the best stats for a goalie to have but, again, his best stretches of play was when he was in the starting job for a month and a half. When Talbot retook the crease, he had a stellar second half. In the last 17 games of that season, Talbot had a 9-6-2 record with 2 shutouts and a .930 save percentage. In fact, following the All-Star break, Talbot was #1 in the NHL with a .920 save percentage.
And that's how I see this situation playing out. I am fully on board with the idea of re-signing Cam Talbot REGARDLESS of how next season plays out. The Oilers have some good goaltending prospects in Dylan Well, Stuart Skinner, and now Oliver Rodrigue. But I also think that Koskinen will do fine and push Talbot to be better.
Now in terms of the thing I would've done...I would've waited. I don't mind the Koskinen deal, but considering there are guys who are proven to be quality NHL goalies, I can't see why Chiarelli didn't wait. If it was a question about money, I can't Chiarelli dealing out more than the $2.5M he gave to Koskinen. If it was an issue about playing for Edmonton, then I can see why. With the rumors of Lucic's family being harassed, the actual documented video of McDavid's family getting harassed, I can see why nobody would want to play here. Or maybe Chiarelli didn't wany any of them. Whatever the reason is, I'm sure Chiarelli knows what he's doing. Lord knows he's the best GM this team has had in 10 years.
I mention free agency day because there are several goalies available on the market. Craig Andersson apparently wants out of Ottawa, Buffalo didn't qualify Robin Lehner while also reportedly going after Carter Hutton, and several quality backups can be found in Petr Mrazek, Jonathan Bernier, and Cam Ward. Now I know what you're thinking dear reader, "don't the Oilers already have a starter in Cam Talbot and a backup in Al Montoya?", and yes, you would be correct. And more.
See the Oilers actually have 3 goalies signed for next year. ALL of them in the final year of their deals. Talbot (who will be making $4,166,667), Montoya ($1,062,500), and newly signed KHL goalie Mikko Koskinen ($2,500,000). Now that is one crowded and expensive ($7,729,167) goal crease. So why would I mention UFA goalies, and then go and tell you about the 3 goalies Edmonton has under contract? Because I'm here to point out, what I believe to be, Chiarelli's plan for his goalies as well as mention something I would've done if I was in Peter's position. Let's start with the plan. I call it...
...
Operation: Goal Mouth
Based on my own analysis of the situation, as well as a similar situation having been played out before, here is what I believe Operation Goal Mouth is going to be. Heading to the training camp for the 2015-2016 season, the Oilers had 3 goalies that could make the roster. Cam Talbot (acquired from the New York Rangers), Anders Nilsson (signed after playing in the KHL), and Ben Scrivens (acquired from the LA Kings). That year, Talbot was slated to be the Oilers starter with Scrivens and Nilsson battling for the backup job. Nilsson won the job and backed up Cam Talbot...for about a month. For some odd reason, probably due to being a starter for the first time in his career, Talbot faltered early on in the season, and Nilsson temporarily took on the starting job for Edmonton. And he did good too. He helped the Oilers actually creep into the playoff conversation, but for whatever reason HIS play died out too, allowing Talbot to retake the job as the Oilers starting goalie. A job he has yet to relinquish.
And while some might view that as just the ups and downs of a goalie during a season, a quote from a Steve Dangle video got me thinking.
"And while Talbot has taken the starting job from Anders Nilsson, Nilsson has played his fair chunk of the games, and it's been to Talbot's benefit".
I believe it. Nilsson played 26 games in 2015-2016 with Edmonton, going 10-12-2 with a 3.14 GAA and a .901sv%. Admittedly, they're not the best stats for a goalie to have but, again, his best stretches of play was when he was in the starting job for a month and a half. When Talbot retook the crease, he had a stellar second half. In the last 17 games of that season, Talbot had a 9-6-2 record with 2 shutouts and a .930 save percentage. In fact, following the All-Star break, Talbot was #1 in the NHL with a .920 save percentage.
And that's how I see this situation playing out. I am fully on board with the idea of re-signing Cam Talbot REGARDLESS of how next season plays out. The Oilers have some good goaltending prospects in Dylan Well, Stuart Skinner, and now Oliver Rodrigue. But I also think that Koskinen will do fine and push Talbot to be better.
Now in terms of the thing I would've done...I would've waited. I don't mind the Koskinen deal, but considering there are guys who are proven to be quality NHL goalies, I can't see why Chiarelli didn't wait. If it was a question about money, I can't Chiarelli dealing out more than the $2.5M he gave to Koskinen. If it was an issue about playing for Edmonton, then I can see why. With the rumors of Lucic's family being harassed, the actual documented video of McDavid's family getting harassed, I can see why nobody would want to play here. Or maybe Chiarelli didn't wany any of them. Whatever the reason is, I'm sure Chiarelli knows what he's doing. Lord knows he's the best GM this team has had in 10 years.
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Pre-Draft - Who does Edmonton take?
Tonight is the NHL Awards in Vegas. On Friday, Peter Chiarelli and Co. will be at the draft table in Dallas, Texas, taking part in the 2018 NHL entry draft. The Oilers currently have 6 picks to be used in this year's draft. A first (10th overall), second (40th overall), third (71st overall), fifth (133rd overall), sixth (164th overall), and a seventh (195th overall). As with every draft year, some crazy trade goes down and I'm expecting nothing less from this year's draft. However my focus is on the Oilers selecting 10th overall and using that pick on a good prospect.
Going into this draft, I was of the opinion that the Oilers should draft either Adam Boqvist or Noah Dobson. At this time, both were equally rated, both could easily help Edmonton, and both were opposites. When the draft rankings first came out, the scouting report on Adam Boqvist was that he was a good puck mover, offensively minded, could quarterback a powerplay, though his defensive game needed work. Noah Dobson was rated as a guy who was a good puck mover, defensively minded, could quarterback a powerplay, though his offensive game needed work. Then the memorial cup happened and Dobson's performance caused his stock to rise. All of a sudden, a guy who could go 10th overall to Edmonton, is now seen as a guy who WILL be gone by the time Edmonton gets to podium.
Alas, all hope is not lost. There are still some great players to be had. Now Oilers fans are in a tizzy about who Edmonton should draft. Some want Boqvist, some want Bode Wilde, others want Ty Smith, other want Oliver Walhstrom. Point is, there are tons of prospects fans want the Oilers to pick. Of course, the question now is, who is Edmonton going to pick? Who's name do they call when it's their turn to select? Or do they package the 10th pick in a deal?
Let me start by saying, I don't think Edmonton should trade the 10th pick and I don't think they're even considering it. When the draft lottery results came out, I'm sure Chiarelli had a plan in mind to package their pick in a deal to get an immediate roster player. However with the way the market is right now, combined with the highly ranked defencemen, I feel Peter will keep the pick, unless some kind of slam-dunk deal falls into his lap. So that partially eliminates the trade theory (I say that because lots can change between 1123 ET on June 20th to 2000 ET on Friday June 22). So that leaves the drafting option.
Mock drafts have been put out over the past week and most of them have the Oilers drafting Adam Boqvist at 10th overall. This makes sense to me. Boqvist is a right-handed shot defenceman who is offensively minded, can move the puck well, and can quarterback a powerplay. The Oilers sorely need a guy who is a right-handed shot defenceman, who can move the puck well, and one who can quarterback a powerply. Boqvist checks off all of the boxes for Edmonton. Yes his defensive game needs work, but that's why you develop a player in the AHL. And with Boqvist being a 10th overall selection, there is no pressure on him or Edmonton to have him in the opening night lineup.
I did read somewhere that Boqvist is dyslexic and therefore Edmonton shouldn't draft him, due to Edmonton not being able to competently accommodate Jesse Puljujarvi. To which I say...I can't comment. I don't know if this was a lazy rumour or not, but if Boqvist fills a need for Edmonton, then they should draft him. Unless one of Erik Karlsson, John Carlson, or PK Subban are somehow coming to Edmonton in a deal, I don't see how Edmonton doesn't pick Adam Boqvist on Friday.
So to conclude, I expect to hear "With the 10th overall pick in the 2018 entry draft, the Oilers are happy to select, Adam Boqvist" on Friday night.
Going into this draft, I was of the opinion that the Oilers should draft either Adam Boqvist or Noah Dobson. At this time, both were equally rated, both could easily help Edmonton, and both were opposites. When the draft rankings first came out, the scouting report on Adam Boqvist was that he was a good puck mover, offensively minded, could quarterback a powerplay, though his defensive game needed work. Noah Dobson was rated as a guy who was a good puck mover, defensively minded, could quarterback a powerplay, though his offensive game needed work. Then the memorial cup happened and Dobson's performance caused his stock to rise. All of a sudden, a guy who could go 10th overall to Edmonton, is now seen as a guy who WILL be gone by the time Edmonton gets to podium.
Alas, all hope is not lost. There are still some great players to be had. Now Oilers fans are in a tizzy about who Edmonton should draft. Some want Boqvist, some want Bode Wilde, others want Ty Smith, other want Oliver Walhstrom. Point is, there are tons of prospects fans want the Oilers to pick. Of course, the question now is, who is Edmonton going to pick? Who's name do they call when it's their turn to select? Or do they package the 10th pick in a deal?
Let me start by saying, I don't think Edmonton should trade the 10th pick and I don't think they're even considering it. When the draft lottery results came out, I'm sure Chiarelli had a plan in mind to package their pick in a deal to get an immediate roster player. However with the way the market is right now, combined with the highly ranked defencemen, I feel Peter will keep the pick, unless some kind of slam-dunk deal falls into his lap. So that partially eliminates the trade theory (I say that because lots can change between 1123 ET on June 20th to 2000 ET on Friday June 22). So that leaves the drafting option.
Mock drafts have been put out over the past week and most of them have the Oilers drafting Adam Boqvist at 10th overall. This makes sense to me. Boqvist is a right-handed shot defenceman who is offensively minded, can move the puck well, and can quarterback a powerplay. The Oilers sorely need a guy who is a right-handed shot defenceman, who can move the puck well, and one who can quarterback a powerply. Boqvist checks off all of the boxes for Edmonton. Yes his defensive game needs work, but that's why you develop a player in the AHL. And with Boqvist being a 10th overall selection, there is no pressure on him or Edmonton to have him in the opening night lineup.
I did read somewhere that Boqvist is dyslexic and therefore Edmonton shouldn't draft him, due to Edmonton not being able to competently accommodate Jesse Puljujarvi. To which I say...I can't comment. I don't know if this was a lazy rumour or not, but if Boqvist fills a need for Edmonton, then they should draft him. Unless one of Erik Karlsson, John Carlson, or PK Subban are somehow coming to Edmonton in a deal, I don't see how Edmonton doesn't pick Adam Boqvist on Friday.
So to conclude, I expect to hear "With the 10th overall pick in the 2018 entry draft, the Oilers are happy to select, Adam Boqvist" on Friday night.
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Surving Taylor Hall
On June 29th 2016, the Edmonton Oilers stunned the hockey world by
trading Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Adam
Larsson. Fans in Edmonton were immediately perplexed as the Oilers
traded one of the best left wingers in the game for a guy most people in
Edmonton had never heard of. 2 days later, the Oilers signed winger
Milan Lucic to a deal, seemingly putting the trade into perspective. That next season, the Oilers rocketed up the league standings, and made the playoffs, breaking their 10-year playoff drought. Taylor's absence from the team was rarely brought up that year as the Devils faltered down the standings and Larsson's defensive play was well recieved by the fansbase. A year later, the script was reversed. While Larsson's play was consistent (though he did deal with an injury and the passing of his father), Hall's Devils went on a tear. Hall provided much of the offence for the Devils, riding a long point streak and earning a spot on the Hart trophy ballot. With the Oilers struggling to score at times this season (being shut out 9 times this past season), fans were once again perplexed at the trade and also a little pissed, saying that having Hall on the Oilers would've helped the team either score a goal or make the playoffs. While I am supportive of the idea that Hall would've helped the Oilers more last season, I am also making the argument that the Oilers are doing fine without him. Here's why.
With that in mind, I decided to take a look at the goals for and against the Oilers from Hall's draft year to now. This is what I found:
Taylor Hall's rookie season was in the 2010-11 season. That year, the Oilers finished 30th overall in the NHL with a record of 25-45-12. In 82 games, the Oilers potted 193 goals, and surrendered 269. The 2011-12 season was slightly better. The Oilers finished 29th with a record of 32-40-10. They scored 212 goals, giving up 239. In the shortened, 2012-13 season, Edmonton finished 24th overall with a record of 19-22-7. They scored 125 goals and surrendered 134. In 2013-14 they went 29-44-9 scoring 203 goals and giving up 270. In the 2014-15 season, they went 24-44-14 scoring 198 and giving up 283. In McDavid's rookie year, Edmonton went 31-43-8 whilst scoring 203 goals and giving up 247. In the Oilers first year without Hall, Edmonton went 47-26-9. They scored 247 goals and surrendered 212. Last season, Edmonton went 36-40-6 whilst scoring 234 goals and giving up 263.
In the past two seasons WITHOUT Taylor Hall, the Oilers scored 247 and 234 goals respectively. The Oilers WITH Hall never even came close to those numbers, the closest being 212 in 2010-11. Now, much of this has to do with McDavid potting 208 points in those two years, but the Oilers, so far, have managed to survive without Taylor Hall offensively. His departure didn't create a massive hole in the Oilers offense. It created a hole that hasn't be adequately filled yet, but his departure hasn't crippled the team offensively. Sure, last year Taylor Hall would've helped pop one or two more goals in a game. But offensively, the Oilers are doing just fine without him.
With that in mind, I decided to take a look at the goals for and against the Oilers from Hall's draft year to now. This is what I found:
Taylor Hall's rookie season was in the 2010-11 season. That year, the Oilers finished 30th overall in the NHL with a record of 25-45-12. In 82 games, the Oilers potted 193 goals, and surrendered 269. The 2011-12 season was slightly better. The Oilers finished 29th with a record of 32-40-10. They scored 212 goals, giving up 239. In the shortened, 2012-13 season, Edmonton finished 24th overall with a record of 19-22-7. They scored 125 goals and surrendered 134. In 2013-14 they went 29-44-9 scoring 203 goals and giving up 270. In the 2014-15 season, they went 24-44-14 scoring 198 and giving up 283. In McDavid's rookie year, Edmonton went 31-43-8 whilst scoring 203 goals and giving up 247. In the Oilers first year without Hall, Edmonton went 47-26-9. They scored 247 goals and surrendered 212. Last season, Edmonton went 36-40-6 whilst scoring 234 goals and giving up 263.
In the past two seasons WITHOUT Taylor Hall, the Oilers scored 247 and 234 goals respectively. The Oilers WITH Hall never even came close to those numbers, the closest being 212 in 2010-11. Now, much of this has to do with McDavid potting 208 points in those two years, but the Oilers, so far, have managed to survive without Taylor Hall offensively. His departure didn't create a massive hole in the Oilers offense. It created a hole that hasn't be adequately filled yet, but his departure hasn't crippled the team offensively. Sure, last year Taylor Hall would've helped pop one or two more goals in a game. But offensively, the Oilers are doing just fine without him.
Friday, June 8, 2018
Do players want out of Edmonton?
So while rummaging through Twitter yesterday, I saw a couple of tweets that caught my eyes. The first was a tweet from Bob Stauffer, who tweeted that while he doesn't think the Oilers would trade their 10th overall pick or chase after any significant UFA's, they would trade a player with term to get another player who provides a different skill-set. Immediately, Oil Country started the speculation wheel, with many coming to the conclusion that Oscar Klefbom was on his way out of town. Then I saw a few more tweets saying that the Oilers were adding Milan Lucic to a supposed deal to "sweeten the pot", as well as tweets saying that Lucic was open to a trade out of Edmonton. While I do agree that Lucic had a bad season last year, his career numbers, as well as how the overall 2017-2018 Oilers performed suggested to me that Lucic will rebound. However with everything that's happened, it does make me wonder. Do players want out of Edmonton? Well, here's my take.
Playing for a Canadian team in the NHL must be a pain in the butt. Along with higher tax rates in Canada, the media and fan attention the Canadian teams receive is through the roof, especially in markets where no other pro sports teams exist. Edmonton is no exception. Due to the lack of other pro-sports teams, coupled with the success of the organization in the 80's, the Oilers are the go-to team for most sports fans living in the city. As someone pointed out on Twitter, when the Oilers are succeeding, players and coaches feel like they're on top of the world. But when the team is failing (as it has done for so many years), the city feels small and depressing. Forget about Edmonton for a second, when Phil Kessel was traded to the Penguins, he commented how the media pressure in Pittsburgh was so much less than it was in Toronto. Even Taylor Hall has said he enjoyed the ability to walk around New Jersey without worrying about people recognizing him or bad-mouthing him.
One of the more shocking stories to come out of Edmonton last season was a report that a group of "Oilers fans" were bad-mouthing Connor McDavid and his family at a restaurant. Let me say that again. Some "fans" were bad-mouthing the captain of the team, and the guy who would go on to save the Oilers from all kinds of humility by finishing the season with 108 points. One of the problems I have with social media is that people image can get tarnished by incriminating photos and bad tweets (as Roseanne Barr found out). Social media also allows people to heavily criticize others, and sports athletes are no exception. Sure, when someone does a blunder in the sports world, it's funny to see how people react. But social media outlets, give people a chance to easily bad-mouth people, behind a key-board.
So do players want out of Edmonton? Yes. With the combination of fan outrage over what transpired this past season along with the past dozen years, topped with the media pressure of a Canadian team winning the Stanley Cup again, I'm not surprised at players requesting trades out of the city. And that's not including any potential locker room issues that might be present.
Playing for a Canadian team in the NHL must be a pain in the butt. Along with higher tax rates in Canada, the media and fan attention the Canadian teams receive is through the roof, especially in markets where no other pro sports teams exist. Edmonton is no exception. Due to the lack of other pro-sports teams, coupled with the success of the organization in the 80's, the Oilers are the go-to team for most sports fans living in the city. As someone pointed out on Twitter, when the Oilers are succeeding, players and coaches feel like they're on top of the world. But when the team is failing (as it has done for so many years), the city feels small and depressing. Forget about Edmonton for a second, when Phil Kessel was traded to the Penguins, he commented how the media pressure in Pittsburgh was so much less than it was in Toronto. Even Taylor Hall has said he enjoyed the ability to walk around New Jersey without worrying about people recognizing him or bad-mouthing him.
One of the more shocking stories to come out of Edmonton last season was a report that a group of "Oilers fans" were bad-mouthing Connor McDavid and his family at a restaurant. Let me say that again. Some "fans" were bad-mouthing the captain of the team, and the guy who would go on to save the Oilers from all kinds of humility by finishing the season with 108 points. One of the problems I have with social media is that people image can get tarnished by incriminating photos and bad tweets (as Roseanne Barr found out). Social media also allows people to heavily criticize others, and sports athletes are no exception. Sure, when someone does a blunder in the sports world, it's funny to see how people react. But social media outlets, give people a chance to easily bad-mouth people, behind a key-board.
So do players want out of Edmonton? Yes. With the combination of fan outrage over what transpired this past season along with the past dozen years, topped with the media pressure of a Canadian team winning the Stanley Cup again, I'm not surprised at players requesting trades out of the city. And that's not including any potential locker room issues that might be present.
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I fucking quit.
Not even a new season and some of the people have already turned on him. This is a new low even for you assholes!"
Needless to say, I was pretty ticked off. But that's not what this post is about. No, no, no, no. Today I'm writing about an article on ON, posted 2 hours ago; titled High/Low: The Goalies.
Now I HATE when someone writes an article about a goalie, especially on ON, for three reasons.
1. They complain about how Talbot plays:
As a former goalie myself, I get infuriated when goalies make stupid mistakes. Whether it be making a ill-advised trip out of their crease to grab a loose puck behind the net, or trying to catch a center ice dump-in from center ice in their glove, resulting in the puck ending up in the back of the net. However, aside from a few hiccups, I saw no issue with Talbot's play last season.
2. They try to argue that Talbot is a career backup goalie:
Now I'm not going to post what I wrote on OilersNation about Talbot's stats. It'd be long, and quite frankly, it'd be tedious (copy and paste I know, but I'm lazy). So I'm just going to post my totals for him. Keep in mind, MY stat tracking went back to the 2009-10 season when he was playing at the U of Alabama. Over an 8 year career of playing goalie at the CHA, AHL, ECHL, and NHL levls, Cam Talbot has played a total of 403 games. In that span, he has won 194 games, lost 165 regulation games, and lost 30 Overtime games. In that entire time, he has a 2.50 GAA, and a .918 SV%. If you're still unconvinced that Talbot is a starter, let's take a look at some comparables.
Cam Talbot - 2.50 GAA, .918 sv%
Frederik Anderson - 2.54 GAA, .918 sv%
Brayden Holtby - 2.41 GAA, .919 sv%
Tuuka Rask - 2.26 GAA, .922 sv%
Sergei Bobrovksy - 2.44 GAA, .920 sv%
So if Cam Talbot "isn't a starting goaltender", then none of these other guys are.
3. Goalies, as a whole, are hard to pin down from season to season (more on this below).
When I was listening to the Steve Dangle Podcast, talking about that crazy day on June 29th 2016, special guest, Andrew Berkshire, said something interesting. That goalies are hard to track because their stats are massively impacted by the team in front of them. He used Tuuka Rask as an example. For reference, Rask had a 2.56 GAA and .915 sv% in the 2015-16 season. A downgrade from the 2.11 GAA and .927 sv% he had put up the previous 3 seasons.
So no, I don't think Edmonton should get rid of Cam Talbot. His career speaks for itself and last year was a down year for him. Plain and simple. He hasn't lost his touch, he hasn't suddenly forgotten how to play goalie. He had 1 bad year. Cam is a wonderful goalie, and he has put together good stretches of play for us before. I'm happy to have Cam back between the pipes and I look forward to him shutting the naysayers up. And I'll happily wear my Cam Talbot jersey, loud and proud!