NHL season 2017/2018

[Jammon]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

I think the deal already blew up in their face, we did nothing at the trade deadline while the teams we are all chasing made improvements. There will have to be a couple big trades this summer if we do end up missing the playoffs, though I don't know who we can move. Fortunately we will have some cap space to work with, especially if the cap goes up like it's supposed to.


We wouldn't trade anyone away if we aren't able to draft them in the first place.

This is the risk in hockey, on paper the Flames have a very competitive team, but in reality it didn't work out. Only a few teams are able to make trades that make them a legitimate contender the next season. Chicago picked Saad back up and thought that would keep them competitive, but they are going to be out of the playoffs this year. The Canucks picked up Erikkson in hopes of keeping competitive while they undergo a rebuild, but that didn't work out at all, and they are on the outside again. I'm thrilled that the league is so competitive and equal now, but it makes it really hard to find that exact fit that takes you to the next level.

On paper, Calgary has a lot of talent. I'm not sure why they haven't been able to make it work this year.

[ExcaliburKid]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

^^^

Taylor Hall sez hi!

If you're suggesting he's somehow sticking it to the Oilers for trading him with his ridiculous point streak, I'd say that's a far reach

Great player, had his best years as an Oiler, wish him well in NJ

Too bad the Devils wasted his point streak and are in danger of missing the playoffs just like his ex-team. Looks like yet another year of futility and early golf for Hallsy (and the Oilers, for that matter)

[ExcaliburKid]

Originally Posted by Jammon

On paper, Calgary has a lot of talent. I'm not sure why they haven't been able to make it work this year.

It's fallen apart since Smith went out with injury. Rittich and Gillies are having poor outings since that time

[Jammon]

Originally Posted by ExcaliburKid

If you're suggesting he's somehow sticking it to the Oilers for trading him with his ridiculous point streak, I'd say that's a far reach

Great player, had his best years as an Oiler, wish him well in NJ

Too bad the Devils wasted his point streak and are in danger of missing the playoffs just like his ex-team. Looks like yet another year of futility and early golf for Hallsy (and the Oilers, for that matter)

The Oilers are the biggest mystery to me. I can't figure them out. Huge playoff run last year- everyone was saying that this was the Canadian team that could win the Stanley Cup. This year, practically basement dwellers again. So much talent.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by ExcaliburKid

It's fallen apart since Smith went out with injury. Rittich and Gillies are having poor outings since that time

We were still allowing far too many goals with Smith in net, this just made the problem that much more obvious.

Originally Posted by Jammon

The Oilers are the biggest mystery to me. I can't figure them out. Huge playoff run last year- everyone was saying that this was the Canadian team that could win the Stanley Cup. This year, practically basement dwellers again. So much talent.

The Oilers overacheived last year, their defense still has a lot of holes and Talbot isn't as good as he was last year. The Oilers show the importance of the mental side of the game, they were riding high last year and believed in themselves. This year they were mentally weak when the season didn't start well and fell into old habits.

[Jammon]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

We were still allowing far too many goals with Smith in net, this just made the problem that much more obvious.



The Oilers overacheived last year, their defense still has a lot of holes and Talbot isn't as good as he was last year. The Oilers show the importance of the mental side of the game, they were riding high last year and believed in themselves. This year they were mentally weak when the season didn't start well and fell into old habits.

There's no doubt that the Oilers organization hasn't ever really focused on drafting the defensive side of their game which has cost them dearly in the now. The biggest bust was Yakupov. In 2012, they went for more scoring talent when they had so many good defensemen available in that draft year. And you're right, it has come back to bite them in the $ss.

But all that aside, I still think this team should be in the playoff hunt rather than looking at a top 10 pick in this year's draft.

[suburbanite]

Apparently Laine has scored as many goals as the entire Blues roster over the past ten games.

[Calgarian]

Edmonton should have tradedd some of those picks IMO, but all they could see what Chicago and Pittsburgh winning cups with their draft picks, so they decided that was the way to do it. I agree that they should be a bubble team though, that's where I had them pegged at the start of the year.

[ExcaliburKid]

Oilers have some good defence prospects right now (Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones, Ryan Mantha) so if just one of those three can overachieve and become a regular NHL'er, that will be a big win. Oilers are overloaded with left-shot defencemen, they might try to flip one for a PP running, right shot D-man in the off season (or at least I think they should)

I agree that the Oilers were mentally overwhelmed and unprepared for this season. Winning is hard to do. Last year saw 4-5 guys have career years, including Cam Talbot. Expectations were unrealistic and PC did nothing to plug holes that weren't obviously there in 16-17. The team started to get bigger/heavier when the league was trending to quickness and speed. Gambling on unproven players to take prominent roles in the top 9 (Caggiula, Strome, Maroon, Slepyshev, etc.) that fell totally flat. Injuries to key players...absolutely nothing has gone right for the Oilers this season, with an exclamation being #31 on the PK and #31 on the PP

[ExcaliburKid]

That Laine vs. St. Louis stat is crazy

Blues are in a free-fall, I don't know if they can get back into a playoff spot the way they're going

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by ExcaliburKid

Blues are in a free-fall, I don't know if they can get back into a playoff spot the way they're going

Four points out with 15 games left. Their next three are ANA/LA/COL, all teams they're competing with for playoffs. If they don't get anything from those games they're likely out.

Three of their last 11 games are against Chicago, for what that's worth.

[SpongeG]

Vancouver could get assist from Seattle NHL team

Canucks and hospitality businesses would likely benefit from increased fan spending

By Glen Korstrom | March 9, 2018, 12:53pm

Various ownership groups in Seattle have failed through the decades with attempts to woo the National Hockey League (NHL) and land a professional hockey team, but a current proposal headed by movie mogul Jerry Bruckheimer and billionaire businessman David Bonderman has hockey watchers convinced that this time the stars are likely to align for the Emerald City.

An NHL team in Seattle in time for the 2020-21 season could also provide residual benefits for the Vancouver Canucks, ticket resellers and hospitality industry businesses in Vancouver, particularly on nights when Seattle’s team is in town, so there are many in Vancouver rooting for Seattle to be awarded a team.

...

https://biv.com/article/2018/03/vanc...attle-nhl-team

[Bluenote]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Vancouver could get assist from Seattle NHL team

Canucks and hospitality businesses would likely benefit from increased fan spending

By Glen Korstrom | March 9, 2018, 12:53pm

Various ownership groups in Seattle have failed through the decades with attempts to woo the National Hockey League (NHL) and land a professional hockey team, but a current proposal headed by movie mogul Jerry Bruckheimer and billionaire businessman David Bonderman has hockey watchers convinced that this time the stars are likely to align for the Emerald City.

An NHL team in Seattle in time for the 2020-21 season could also provide residual benefits for the Vancouver Canucks, ticket resellers and hospitality industry businesses in Vancouver, particularly on nights when Seattle’s team is in town, so there are many in Vancouver rooting for Seattle to be awarded a team.

...

https://biv.com/article/2018/03/vanc...attle-nhl-team

Or it may do the opposite. I wonder how many Americans come up to watch hockey in Vancouver. And how many fans might vancouver lose to Seattle since Vancouver is so close. Imagine Seattle is the next Vegas and wins and vancouver keeps losing. You could lose fans. Hope it’s your version though.

[rrskylar]

Should be a good matchup tomorrow night in Wash. with the two best goal scorers in the league going head to head tied at 40 goals each!

[sunsetmountainland]

Call me a tanker, Arizona up 1 nothing on the Canucks. Even though everyone knows Edmonton will win the Rasmus Dahlin lottery!

[Bluenote]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Should be a good matchup tomorrow night in Wash. with the two best goal scorers in the league going head to head tied at 40 goals each!

THat cannot be. There is only one player allowed to be spoken of here. It’s Mathews the fragile

[ExcaliburKid]

Big game for the Flames tomorrow night, should be a good matchup, they need the points and the Oilers need to play the spoiler
Hopefully both teams bring their best, I want blood!

[Bluenote]

Originally Posted by ExcaliburKid

Big game for the Flames tomorrow night, should be a good matchup, they need the points and the Oilers need to play the spoiler
Hopefully both teams bring their best, I want blood!

You guys fighting for draft lottery now lol

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by ExcaliburKid

Big game for the Flames tomorrow night, should be a good matchup, they need the points and the Oilers need to play the spoiler
Hopefully both teams bring their best, I want blood!

So pretty much the Flames vs McDavid then?

[tele75]

Originally Posted by Bluenote

You guys fighting for draft lottery now lol

There's six teams below the Oilers and likely eight by the end of the season. The Oil have zero chance of securing the lottery and if they did wind up with the number one pick the entire league would implode.