HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Are The Edmonton Oilers A Playoff Team Next Season?

but the coyotes play the pacific too...Kings, Oilers, Ducks, Flames, and Yotes are all playoff bound according to one blogger that should be named nameless

Doubtful unless they upgrade their defense. It's gonna be weak yet again and no one knows how Talbot will be.

HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Are The Edmonton Oilers A Playoff Team Next Season?
- ToddCordellVAN

A resounding no.

Doubtful unless they upgrade their defense. It's gonna be weak yet again and no one knows how Talbot will be.
- jfkst1

We got all summer to do that.

Edmonton is like us.. I think both teams contend for 7th/8th place. Really is going to depend on the start of the season; have to get going quick out of the gate.

We got all summer to do that.
- Niesner

If they sign Franson they've at least got a capable top pairing out of Sekera-Franson. I though trading Marincin was idiotic given the return they got.

A resounding no.
- Emcee27

Flames were a fluke last year.... there the next Toronto.

Easily?! Really?!

If they sign Franson they've at least got a capable top pairing out of Sekera-Franson. I though trading Marincin was idiot given the return they got.
- jfkst1

Yes yes and yes.

Easily?! Really?!
- jl639s

Dude... sweet dragonball!!!

Ohhh Tanner... this is why I love reading your blogs

As of today, no.

If question was would the yotes/kings/ducks/flames/canucks/sharks make the playoffs I'm sure Tanner would have said easily.
I'm gonna predict that every team makes the playoffs so at the end of the year I can say I predicted all 16 playoff teams...

They'll probably just miss....and win the (frank)ing draft lottery again.

Flames were a fluke last year.... there the next Toronto.
- Niesner

I would have agreed before they got Hamilton. Sigh.

I can't believe everyone is being so cautious. Tempering expectations is not what I am here for. Just look at that roster and tell me who in the NHL has comparable offensive talent to McDavid, Hall, Eberle, RNH, Draisaitl, Yakupov, Schultz and Sekara?

This team will be all about exploiting matchups. Not many teams can put a Yakupov one timer on the second PP unit, or Draisaitl on the third line (if they go that way) or even a RNH passing to Eberle and playing against secondary defenses.

If this was any other team than the one people unanimously picked to breakout year after year only to look like idiots, people would be calling this the best roster ever assembled under the salary cap.

A bubble team? Are you kidding me? McDavid alone makes every single team in the NHL a bubble team were he added to their roster.

Last year, lets not forget that the Oilers were eliminated from the Playoffs very early in the season almost exclusively because of terrible luck - injuries + playing a decent to very good possession game that was not getting the results it probably should have.

Lets not forget that Hall's injury was a huge part of their not recovering. That RNH had a pretty amazing year, all things considered. And they'll be icing a team with a real defense and goalie.

The question shouldn't be "will the Oilers make the Playoffs" but how long until the Oilers make the Western Conference their female dog?

They'll probably just miss....and win the (frank)ing draft lottery again.
- magmoo

They will have a chance to win #1, #2 and #3 this year.

I'll believe that the Oilers can be a respectable team when I see that they're still in the playoff hunt in December.

If question was would the yotes/kings/ducks/flames/canucks/sharks make the playoffs I'm sure Tanner would have said easily.
I'm gonna predict that every team makes the playoffs so at the end of the year I can say I predicted all 16 playoff teams...
- kessellover69

The irony of this is that from day one I have mocked the value of predictions and clearly overrated the team I blog for so that it's actually fun.

But I am dead-serious here. The Oilers are going to be a smokeshow. Without McDavid they were still likely a Playoff team, with him they are going to be the shock of the NHL.

Doubtful unless they upgrade their defense. It's gonna be weak yet again and no one knows how Talbot will be.
- jfkst1

Didn't they already do a little of this?

I'll believe that the Oilers can be a respectable team when I see that they're still in the playoff hunt in December.
- GOODPLAYA20

But then come Jan. 5th we are allowed to suck again?

I can't believe everyone is being so cautious. Tempering expectations is not what I am here for. Just look at that roster and tell me who in the NHL has comparable offensive talent to McDavid, Hall, Eberle, RNH, Draisaitl, Yakupov, Schultz and Sekara?

This team will be all about exploiting matchups. Not many teams can put a Yakupov one timer on the second PP unit, or Draisaitl on the third line (if they go that way) or even a RNH passing to Eberle and playing against secondary defenses.

If this was any other team than the one people unanimously picked to breakout year after year only to look like idiots, people would be calling this the best roster ever assembled under the salary cap.

A bubble team? Are you kidding me? McDavid alone makes every single team in the NHL a bubble team were he added to their roster.

Last year, lets not forget that the Oilers were eliminated from the Playoffs very early in the season almost exclusively because of terrible luck - injuries + playing a decent to very good possession game that was not getting the results it probably should have.

Lets not forget that Hall's injury was a huge part of their not recovering. That RNH had a pretty amazing year, all things considered. And they'll be icing a team with a real defense and goalie.

The question shouldn't be "will the Oilers make the Playoffs" but how long until the Oilers make the Western Conference their female dog?
- James_Tanner

Because everyone else can clearly observe that this isn't the NBA where one or two superstars can completely alter the course of a franchise. Teams like CHI and LAK are winning cups because of depth- not a few superstars.

Didn't they already do a little of this?
- LamontSanford

Some overall by adding Sekera. Moving out Marincin was a step in the wrong direction IMO.

I can't believe everyone is being so cautious. Tempering expectations is not what I am here for. Just look at that roster and tell me who in the NHL has comparable offensive talent to McDavid, Hall, Eberle, RNH, Draisaitl, Yakupov, Schultz and Sekara?

This team will be all about exploiting matchups. Not many teams can put a Yakupov one timer on the second PP unit, or Draisaitl on the third line (if they go that way) or even a RNH passing to Eberle and playing against secondary defenses.

If this was any other team than the one people unanimously picked to breakout year after year only to look like idiots, people would be calling this the best roster ever assembled under the salary cap.

A bubble team? Are you kidding me? McDavid alone makes every single team in the NHL a bubble team were he added to their roster.

Last year, lets not forget that the Oilers were eliminated from the Playoffs very early in the season almost exclusively because of terrible luck - injuries + playing a decent to very good possession game that was not getting the results it probably should have.

Lets not forget that Hall's injury was a huge part of their not recovering. That RNH had a pretty amazing year, all things considered. And they'll be icing a team with a real defense and goalie.

The question shouldn't be "will the Oilers make the Playoffs" but how long until the Oilers make the Western Conference their female dog?
- James_Tanner

a real defense?? All their top forwards play great offense but are questionable on D, which you have to play in order to get the puck...