It's a joke...whenever they have these who is the worst in the league it's designed to get huge hits...clowns like cordely or Tanner rip on the oilers...predictable as ever...anything oilers draws the most crowds...win or lose...
- oil90

I see your mom woke you up from your nap.

I'm just happy that for once Vancouver isn't in the conversation anymore.
- golfingsince

Canucks are looking legit this year. Gonna be fun.

I don't even know what they look like anymore. I know Bobby Ryan is still there. 😂 At least they have Brady Tkachuk.
- gergeswillems

Didn't they finish last? Even with the east being stronger, they were like 7 points behind any other team and they trade 2 of their best forwards at the deadline.

Didn't they finish last? Even with the east being stronger, they were like 7 points behind any other team and they trade 2 of their best forwards at the deadline.
- golfingsince

The Sens could be worse. It's close.

The Sens could be worse. It's close.
- gergeswillems

I don't have a horse in the race, so i'll go Sens.

I don't have a horse in the race, so i'll go Sens.
- golfingsince

Yeah it's the difference between death by electric chair or lethal injection.

Canucks are looking legit this year. Gonna be fun.
- K-man25

We'll see, they look like they could be a playoff team.

I'm still not a huge fan of what Benning did this summer, I think it helps now but a few years down the road I think it could haunt us.

Stand by it all you want. The team with the best player in the world, imo, isnt the weakest. There are teams, like Ottawa without a single star forward or ppg player. Imo that's the weakest.

If you think it's harder for the Oilers to find dime a dozen players like Boedker, Anisimov, Pageau than it is for Ottawa to find a McDavid or Draisaitl well.. good for you.
- systemtool

Maybe I should have elaborated a bit more on what I was thinking. In my mind you don’t include teams that have torn it down and are in the middle of a rebuild. Of course the Oilers aren’t the worst team but they’re up against the cap and are far removed from a rebuild.
They can’t even add dime a dozen players. No cap space.

Yeah it's the difference between death by electric chair or lethal injection.
- gergeswillems

Last year we had Boeser and Horvat to be excited about going into the season at F, among guys that had actually played an NHL game.

Now if nothing else we look deep, even with a few cumbersome contracts.

We'll see, they look like they could be a playoff team.

I'm still not a huge fan of what Benning did this summer, I think it helps now but a few years down the road I think it could haunt us.
- golfingsince

Benning put Vancouver in cap hell over a bunch of supporting guys.

Playing with who?

Oh ya, Crosby, Malkin, Letang, cleaning up on the half wall on PP assists
- RoloTahmasee

But he's already proven himself elite with crappy players.

How old was he?

Because he's 32 now and not the kinda guy thats gonna age well into his mid 30's, nevermind carry a line

(And he was barely a PPG TWICE in 7 years on the Leafs, once barely missed and fell off a cliff his final season before going to the Pens)
- RoloTahmasee

Sorrym you'll have to explain this one. He hasn't missed a single game in 10 years and has had his best staristical seasons in his 30's. He's aging better than almost anyone. He barely has been hit or given any. Very little mileage on him.

The narrative of Phil being so out of shape has been proven wrong. He would have shown signs long ago.

Last year we had Boeser and Horvat to be excited about going into the season at F, among guys that had actually played an NHL game.

Now if nothing else we look deep, even with a few cumbersome contracts.
- golfingsince

The hope is that Zadina and Veleno pan out. Same for Hronek and Seider on defense.

Sorrym you'll have to explain this one. He hasn't missed a single game in 10 years and has had his best staristical seasons in his 30's. He's aging better than almost anyone. He barely has been hit or given any. Very little mileage on him.

The narrative of Phil being so out of shape has been proven wrong. He would have shown signs long ago.
- RogerRoeper

I'm not talking about durability, Kessel is a floater, floaters notoriously don't get hit

He had his best statistical seasons (WHEN HE PLAYED WITH THE LIKES OF MALKIN AND CROSBY PILING UP PP POINTS on the half wall, 42 and 36 in the last 2 seasons)

When Kessel even loses 1/2 a step (which he might have already given his mediocre 5v5 play, even though he was not out against the top defensive lines) he will no longer have the time and/or space to get his wrist shot off (not that he's really been piling up the goals and he also doesn't have a 1 timer) and he won't be getting his assists either without the finishers he's used to playing with

Given that at age 22-25 were his *best* seasons (minus Crosby/Malkin) when he barely hovered at a point per game, and now he's 6 years older and playing with similar mediocre talent again, I highly doubt he'll achieve those former numbers, let alone exceed them and definitely not the kinds of numbers he's been putting up in Pittsburgh

But he's already proven himself elite with crappy players.
- RogerRoeper

He's been under a PPG for his career, and barely a PPG in his statistical prime.. not necessarily elite

He's been under a PPG for his career, and barely a PPG in his statistical prime.. not necessarily elite
- RoloTahmasee

He's going to end up with a HHOF calibre career. Look at his stats. Great chance to hit 900 points this season with no signs of slowing down. He'll hit 400 goals by next season.

He'll be a 500+, 1200-1300 point guy if he continues to not get injuries.

I'm not talking about durability, Kessel is a floater, floaters notoriously don't get hit

He had his best statistical seasons (WHEN HE PLAYED WITH THE LIKES OF MALKIN AND CROSBY PILING UP PP POINTS on the half wall, 42 and 36 in the last 2 seasons)

When Kessel even loses 1/2 a step (which he might have already given his mediocre 5v5 play, even though he was not out against the top defensive lines) he will no longer have the time and/or space to get his wrist shot off (not that he's really been piling up the goals and he also doesn't have a 1 timer) and he won't be getting his assists either without the finishers he's used to playing with

Given that at age 22-25 were his *best* seasons (minus Crosby/Malkin) when he barely hovered at a point per game, and now he's 6 years older and playing with similar mediocre talent again, I highly doubt he'll achieve those former numbers, let alone exceed them and definitely not the kinds of numbers he's been putting up in Pittsburgh
- RoloTahmasee

How many players were PPG when Kessel was 22-25? Guys were winning the scoring title with 88 points.
Getting 80+ points with Bozak was very good.

How many players were PPG when Kessel was 22-25? Guys were winning the scoring title with 88 points.
Getting 80+ points with Bozak was very good.
- RogerRoeper

Phil defies logic. A natural top end talent. He doesn't work out. Or hardly works out. But he's produced on every team he's played on. He's definitely a future hall of famer. Consistent top tier talent and production ever since he came into the league. His regular season and playoff stats back it up.

Phil defies logic. A natural top end talent. He doesn't work out. Or hardly works out. But he's produced on every team he's played on. He's definitely a future hall of famer. Consistent top tier talent and production ever since he came into the league. His regular season and playoff stats back it up.
- gergeswillems

I find it funny on the Leafs he was the NHL posterboy for being "Streaky", his year-to-year stats are uincredibly consistent.

I find it funny on the Leafs he was the NHL posterboy for being "Streaky", his year-to-year stats are uincredibly consistent.
- RogerRoeper

Kessel is a polarizing figure. A convenient scapegoat. He was maligned in Boston, Toronto and Pittsburgh. While he does have his issues, there's no denying his talent. His career kind of reminds me of Sergei Fedorov.

In Detroit, Fedorov was mostly under appreciated for what he did during his career. All world talent but a convenient scapegoat when the team lost. Fedorov is one of my favourite players of all time. I've always been a Phil Kessel fan.

Fedorov is in the hockey hall of fame yet the Red Wings won't retire his #91 because the Ilitch's still hold a grudge. Which is foolish. Kessel will one day be in the hall of fame but won't be appreciated as much as he should be.

Benning put Vancouver in cap hell over a bunch of supporting guys.
- RogerRoeper

Cap hell is trading 1st round picks to move contracts.

We'll see what happens in 2 years, but the potential is there for sure.

Cap hell is trading 1st round picks to move contracts.

We'll see what happens in 2 years, but the potential is there for sure.
- golfingsince

While trading away first round picks to get rid of contracts is never a good thing, I could argue that the Leafs could afford to do this because they stockpiled so many draft picks during their rebuild years. Plus they got a free superstar coupon in Snake.

Dubas has been cleaning up Lou's mess and Marleau's last year was certainly part of that. I can't sit here and say the Leafs are better or worse or the same as they were last season.

But I do think that most fans would believe that Dubas has done a better job reshaping the Leafs than most believed he would going into this summer. It's certainly not the doom and gloom many predicted.

I love their top 2 lines. The third and fourth lines are meh. I still think Nylander should be traded for a good young top 4 defenseman. Who that is? I don't know. To me, Nylander is a luxury and not a necessity.

I believe the Leafs are a top 4 defenseman from winning the Cup. If they can add some quality rentals at the trade deadline. Guys who can compliment the skill guys with some toughness, they have as good of a chance to win it all as any other team.

But when you have the young studs the Leafs have it's always easier to add the depth guys to fill out the third and fourth lines.

We'll see, they look like they could be a playoff team.

I'm still not a huge fan of what Benning did this summer, I think it helps now but a few years down the road I think it could haunt us.
- golfingsince

If he could have kept that 1st in the Miller trade no one complains. Ferkland will be a crowd favourite, and Myers aligns for less than expected.

Cap hell is trading 1st round picks to move contracts.

We'll see what happens in 2 years, but the potential is there for sure.
- golfingsince

Sorry, but that's not cap hell. Leafs have 0 bad contracts. Benning obtained a few just this summer.

Canucks are looking legit this year. Gonna be fun.
- K-man25

Benning will ruin it. He’s already starting to...