Here my thing, our biggest weakness right now is probably on defense. Now I haven't been able to watch much hockey this year thus far but if things are anything like the last few years, our biggest problem on defense is that we can't retrieve the puck in our own zone and then get it out. The retrieving the puck being the biggest problem.

If you look at the defense on the Oilers who's the worst player at retrieving the puck in our own zone? My mind points to Shultz, hence why I think having him out might not be a bad thing.

Perhaps i'm wrong, really exited to see how Nurse does, unfortunately I won't be able to watch much if any of the game.
- rathagor

Schultz has been our best defencemen.

all of fayne, klefbom, sekera have struggled at times with the forecheck. Schultz certainly isn't alone in that capacity.


but yeah-hopefully nurse can fill in well and we can have both him and schult in our top 4-moving fayne where he belongs on the 3rd pair

The only problem with that is the fact that nuge and ebs are amazing together. And you know that hall will be one bitter piece of poop if he goes to the 3rd. However. That being said your experiment wouldn't hurt to try
- Forsberg4Prez

are they though?

the best weve had doesn't necessarily equal amazing. just sayin.
nuge had just under 60 last year. solid-but not amazing. and i also think eberle is capable of creating his own chances more often than not.

I think putting some size and grit alongside nuge might be just as good for him as talent. ie; pouliot or even the little weve seen from Hendricks/klink

certainly not saying they shouldn't be together-just maybe keeping things as they are now and trying to elevate another line couldn't hurt as u mentioned

Here my thing, our biggest weakness right now is probably on defense. Now I haven't been able to watch much hockey this year thus far but if things are anything like the last few years, our biggest problem on defense is that we can't retrieve the puck in our own zone and then get it out. The retrieving the puck being the biggest problem.

If you look at the defense on the Oilers who's the worst player at retrieving the puck in our own zone? My mind points to Shultz, hence why I think having him out might not be a bad thing.

Perhaps i'm wrong, really exited to see how Nurse does, unfortunately I won't be able to watch much if any of the game.
- rathagor

Pretty easy to be hating on Shultz, and putting the blame solely on the defense when you haven't watched them play much this year. The Oil have been in some close games that the forwards have failed to capitalize on chances, as well as turned the puck over right across the blueline, or in the neutral zone, that have come back the other way and resulted in a goal against. Far more than just bad D in there own end this year.

Pretty easy to be hating on Shultz, and putting the blame solely on the defense when you haven't watched them play much this year. The Oil have been in some close games that the forwards have failed to capitalize on chances, as well as turned the puck over right across the blueline, or in the neutral zone, that have come back the other way and resulted in a goal against. Far more than just bad D in there own end this year.
- leonkennedy

Well that would be a nice change, from watching the Oilers being hemmed in their own zone for 5 minutes not being able to get the puck out. The last couple years I would watch most of the first 15 games, and see the the same thing over and over again, after which we were out of the playoffs and I would stop caring.

are they though?

the best weve had doesn't necessarily equal amazing. just sayin.
nuge had just under 60 last year. solid-but not amazing. and i also think eberle is capable of creating his own chances more often than not.

I think putting some size and grit alongside nuge might be just as good for him as talent. ie; pouliot or even the little weve seen from Hendricks/klink

certainly not saying they shouldn't be together-just maybe keeping things as they are now and trying to elevate another line couldn't hurt as u mentioned
- Ihateallofu

Yes they actually are pretty good, and why would you wanna break Pouliot away from the success he and his current linemates have been having?
Not a bad Idea having that grit with the top line, but the players the Oil have to put with Nuge and RNH, aren't 1st line players, and most likely will not be staying there once Ebs is back. Nuge was under 60 last year, but that trio did not play together for a large part of the year. They have shown in the past that those three when together, can produce offense.

Well that would be a nice change, from watching the Oilers being hemmed in their own zone for 5 minutes not being able to get the puck out. The last couple years I would watch most of the first 15 games, and see the the same thing over and over again, after which we were out of the playoffs and I would stop caring.
- rathagor

Oh don't get me wrong, not saying the D has been stellar this season, and what you have mentioned has happened a few times this season already. Just saying the D has taken strides, and so has Shultz as compared to last season. Part of having good D though, is having an offense that can get pucks deep, and sustain pressure in the opposing end too. The sense I get from watching all the games this year are the ones that seem boring, with a slow pace and tempo, are the ones the Oil win or are close in, and the wide open, run and gun, tons of scoring chances, are the ones the Oil have been getting killed in. Basically due to the other teams such as Dallas, and Washington which come to mind, seem to bury those chances far more often than the Oilers seem to have the ability to do right now.

It would be ice to get three puck movers on each pairing eventually.

I wouldn't mind

Nurse-Klefbom
Sekera-fayne
Reinhart-Schultz as our healthy top six.

While there is no true top pairing we could spread the wealth pretty thin and match ups be based on who is playing well.

Just a thought. Doubt we will see it though if and when Schultz is healthy

Yes they actually are pretty good, and why would you wanna break Pouliot away from the success he and his current linemates have been having?
Not a bad Idea having that grit with the top line, but the players the Oil have to put with Nuge and RNH, aren't 1st line players, and most likely will not be staying there once Ebs is back. Nuge was under 60 last year, but that trio did not play together for a large part of the year. They have shown in the past that those three when together, can produce offense.
- leonkennedy

I cant tell if youre agreeing with me or not. or just being obtuse for the sake of it.

1. pretty good is not the same as amazing. I also never said they weren't any good together.
2. I never suggested moving pouliot off the 2nd line
3. nuge and rnh are the same person
4. what trio? nuge, pouliot and ebs? so YOURE suggesting moving BP off the 2nd line???

I cant tell if youre agreeing with me or not. or just being obtuse for the sake of it.

1. pretty good is not the same as amazing. I also never said they weren't any good together.
2. I never suggested moving pouliot off the 2nd line
3. nuge and rnh are the same person
4. what trio? nuge, pouliot and ebs? so YOURE suggesting moving BP off the 2nd line???
- Ihateallofu

in your face Sluttager.....

I cant tell if youre agreeing with me or not. or just being obtuse for the sake of it.

1. pretty good is not the same as amazing. I also never said they weren't any good together.
2. I never suggested moving pouliot off the 2nd line
3. nuge and rnh are the same person
4. what trio? nuge, pouliot and ebs? so YOURE suggesting moving BP off the 2nd line???
- Ihateallofu

Um no. You suggested Pouliot as a guy that added grit to Hall and RNH. Hence breaking up the 2nd line. The trio I speak of is Hall-RNH-Ebs, and that they would be the best option, as the top line upon Ebs return. Was agreeing that grit is good on the top line, but that we don't have the right guy to fit that role.

Um no. You suggested Pouliot as a guy that added grit to Hall and RNH. Hence breaking up the 2nd line. The trio I speak of is Hall-RNH-Ebs, and that they would be the best option, as the top line upon Ebs return. Was agreeing that grit is good on the top line, but that we don't have the right guy to fit that role.
- leonkennedy

um yeah.

you misunderstood pretty much from start to finish.
but I don't feel like going around in circles with you.
so we'll just leave it

Well, this can't be good...... Todd McLellan mentioned this morning that Oilers Medical Chief of Staff Dr.Naidu returning from Europe to examine Justin Schultz.
- stiches187

He's not just a spinal specialist its much broader. He's a Physiatrist specializing in sports, spine, acute and chronic musculoskeletal injury.

are they though?

the best weve had doesn't necessarily equal amazing. just sayin.
nuge had just under 60 last year. solid-but not amazing. and i also think eberle is capable of creating his own chances more often than not.

I think putting some size and grit alongside nuge might be just as good for him as talent. ie; pouliot or even the little weve seen from Hendricks/klink

certainly not saying they shouldn't be together-just maybe keeping things as they are now and trying to elevate another line couldn't hurt as u mentioned
- Ihateallofu

True. But hall was a bandaid this year. I'd give em a look for sure if things don't pan out for ebs playing on the 3rd line. It might be best to limit his minutes when.he gets back to shake some rust anyways.

True. But hall was a bandaid this year. I'd give em a look for sure if things don't pan out for ebs playing on the 3rd line. It might be best to limit his minutes when.he gets back to shake some rust anyways.
- Forsberg4Prez

oh totally.

and they've certainly had success. I just think we might be able to make ourselves far tougher to match up with spreading high end skill around. and all the while possibly not even lose any offence.


but its nice that we have that second line clicking and the possibility of that top line in our back pocket. regardless if todd initially goes with ebs on the 3rd and Hendricks back to the first (as hes mentioned himself that he likes some size/physicality up there)-you just know we're going to see nuge, hall, ebs at some points

oh totally.

and they've certainly had success. I just think we might be able to make ourselves far tougher to match up with spreading high end skill around. and all the while possibly not even lose any offence.


but its nice that we have that second line clicking and the possibility of that top line in our back pocket. regardless if todd initially goes with ebs on the 3rd and Hendricks back to the first (as hes mentioned himself that he likes some size/physicality up there)-you just know we're going to see nuge, hall, ebs at some points
- Ihateallofu

Yeah I'm totally down to experiment! More threats = more scoring

um yeah.

you misunderstood pretty much from start to finish.
but I don't feel like going around in circles with you.
so we'll just leave it
- Ihateallofu

Shocker that someone else doesn't share your same logic/viewpoint when it comes to the Oilers. I will try to adopt the pessimistic, "we suck and I'm so hard done by as an Oilers fan" attitude, then perhaps what you post will make more sense. Thus saving you from having to go in circles when points in your post are questioned. I sure hope the Oil win tonight so you are in one of your manic highs again.

Shocker that someone else doesn't share your same logic/viewpoint when it comes to the Oilers. I will try to adopt the pessimistic, "we suck and I'm so hard done by as an Oilers fan" attitude, then perhaps what you post will make more sense. Thus saving you from having to go in circles when points in your post are questioned. I sure hope the Oil win tonight so you are in one of your manic highs again.
- leonkennedy

youre so fuking boring.
its always the same obtuse nitpicking with you.

seriously man, I could give a fuk if you don't like that im pessimistic. and I could give a fuk if you don't like my attitude. i apologize If I ever gave you the impression that your opinion meant anything to me. and I have zero interest in getting you to adopt any of the same qualities. youre more than welcome to deepthroat the oilers after years of bottom feeding. more power to you. ive never cared one way or another


lets just leave it at that shall we

youre so fuking boring.
its always the same obtuse nitpicking with you.

seriously man, I could give a fuk if you don't like that im pessimistic. and I could give a fuk if you don't like my attitude. i apologize I ever gave you the impression that your opinion meant anything to me. and I have zero interest in getting you to adopt any of the same qualities. youre more than welcome to deepthroat the oilers after years of bottom feeding. more power to you. ive never cared one way or another


lets just leave it at that shall we
- Ihateallofu

It's rutts, he live to nitpick and annoy.....

It's rutts, he live to nitpick and annoy.....
- stiches187

undoubtedly true


and ive always appreciated that I was rarely involved in those discussions.
and id like that to continue.
all Im sayin

undoubtedly true


and ive always appreciated that I was rarely involved in those discussions.
and id like that to continue.
all Im sayin
- Ihateallofu

We all would. But alas it's not in the cards......

We all would. But alas it's not in the cards......
- stiches187

Game time female doges......

Game time female doges......
- stiches187

Anyone wanna smoke a duby?????

Anyone wanna smoke a duby?????
- Forsberg4Prez

YES!!!

Nice 2 on 1 lol!!!!