It won’t be for nothing tho....obviously the goalies are set for this season but he can use this game to build on
- RatedR80

True.

Well that is that. Good game overall.

True.

Well that is that. Good game overall.
- Wildschwein

Anyone notice Hughes besides getting a stick to the face?

Anyone notice Hughes besides getting a stick to the face?
- RatedR80

Missed that. Who gave him said stick?

Missed that. Who gave him said stick?
- Wildschwein

I’m sure it was Ryan McLeod

Was P Russell as involved as is stat line suggests? Cause he's looking more and more like a real viable option. His AHL numbers last year were mighty impressive, too!

I’m sure it was Ryan McLeod
- RatedR80

Well that is quite unfortunate.

Was P Russell as involved as is stat line suggests? Cause he's looking more and more like a real viable option. His AHL numbers last year were mighty impressive, too!
- MaximumBone

I would say he has a good game tonight.....him and Jurco were playing together

Was P Russell as involved as is stat line suggests? Cause he's looking more and more like a real viable option. His AHL numbers last year were mighty impressive, too!
- MaximumBone

He was, though I'd argue that whole line was rocking it.

Well that is quite unfortunate.


- Wildschwein

I guess he also suffered a lower body injury? Hughes vs Bouchard was a bust tonight

I would say he has a good game tonight.....him and Jurco were playing together
- RatedR80

Well that's nice to hear! I wonder if he can keep it up and maybe steal an NHL spot.

I guess he also suffered a lower body injury? Hughes vs Bouchard was a bust tonight
- RatedR80

Oh no...

Well that's nice to hear! I wonder if he can keep it up and maybe steal an NHL spot.
- MaximumBone

Nah. I'm betting on Jurco.

Well that's nice to hear! I wonder if he can keep it up and maybe steal an NHL spot.
- MaximumBone

Forward spots are wide open as far as I can see.....Oilers won 72% of the face offs according to the NHL app

Nah. I'm betting on Jurco.
- Wildschwein

I know it won’t be Currie.....bold prediction there

I know it won’t be Currie.....bold prediction there
- RatedR80

No arguments here.

For a lineup that only had 2 full time NHLers on it they actually played a solid game. The one thing that stood out was how efficient the team played. They seemed to move the puck better and move as a group. Breakouts didn’t die at the boards, they moved through the neutral zone with some speed, which is an odd thing to see because it wasn’t McDavid carrying the puck up. There were also lots of potential odd man rushes that were barely broken up by Vancouver’s defence at the oilers’ blue line.

As mentioned in the ON article about how the new coaches wanted to play the game, it seems to be on the right track. It will be interesting to see in a couple of weeks when rosters become more set.

My question is what happens if Persson and Bouchard are ready to play top 6 minutes... Would that make Benning expendable?

For a lineup that only had 2 full time NHLers on it they actually played a solid game. The one thing that stood out was how efficient the team played. They seemed to move the puck better and move as a group. Breakouts didn’t die at the boards, they moved through the neutral zone with some speed, which is an odd thing to see because it wasn’t McDavid carrying the puck up. There were also lots of potential odd man rushes that were barely broken up by Vancouver’s defence at the oilers’ blue line.

As mentioned in the ON article about how the new coaches wanted to play the game, it seems to be on the right track. It will be interesting to see in a couple of weeks when rosters become more set.

My question is what happens if Persson and Bouchard are ready to play top 6 minutes... Would that make Benning expendable?
- cyeryk

Their 5 man break out looks better then last season already which has helped create some chances.....not 100% sure about Persson yet I need to see more but I’m 95% sure that Bouchard is starting the season on the Oilers unless his game falls off a cliff.....Benning might end up being a 6-7 guy

For a lineup that only had 2 full time NHLers on it they actually played a solid game. The one thing that stood out was how efficient the team played. They seemed to move the puck better and move as a group. Breakouts didn’t die at the boards, they moved through the neutral zone with some speed, which is an odd thing to see because it wasn’t McDavid carrying the puck up. There were also lots of potential odd man rushes that were barely broken up by Vancouver’s defence at the oilers’ blue line.

As mentioned in the ON article about how the new coaches wanted to play the game, it seems to be on the right track. It will be interesting to see in a couple of weeks when rosters become more set.

My question is what happens if Persson and Bouchard are ready to play top 6 minutes... Would that make Benning expendable?
- cyeryk

No, it doesn't. Until they prove capable of producing positive results at 5-on-5 like Benning consistently has, they haven't made him expendable. I get we've got a bunch of shiny new toys on RD but let's not be in a hurry to get rid of one of our few properly-slotted positive contributors.

No, it doesn't. Until they prove capable of producing positive results at 5-on-5 like Benning consistently has, they haven't made him expendable. I get we've got a bunch of shiny new toys on RD but let's not be in a hurry to get rid of one of our few properly-slotted positive contributors.
- MaximumBone

I think to start the season (key being to start certainly not to finish) I see it one of two ways

Nurse-Larsson
Klefbom-Benning
Russell🤮-Bouchard
Persson

Or

Nurse-Larsson
Klefbom-Persson
Russell🤮-Bouchard
Benning

Also seeing some say Bear is making a case for the 7th spot but I think he is more likely to make it next year......then there is Lagesson, Jones and Sammy.....in case I didn’t mention it already I’m stoked for Condors hockey this year

I think to start the season (key being to start certainly not to finish) I see it one of two ways

Nurse-Larsson
Klefbom-Benning
Russell🤮-Bouchard
Persson

Or

Nurse-Larsson
Klefbom-Persson
Russell🤮-Bouchard
Benning

Also seeing some say Bear is making a case for the 7th spot but I think he is more likely to make it next year......then there is Lagesson, Jones and Sammy.....in case I didn’t mention it already I’m stoked for Condors hockey this year
- RatedR80

I'm thinking that if anyone from Bakersfield is gonna take an NHL spot, it's looking like Lagesson seems equipped.

Nurse- Larsson
Klefbom- Benning*
Lagesson- Persson/Bear*
Russell

*switch based on need/performance

WILLY LEEEEGS

I'm thinking that if anyone from Bakersfield is gonna take an NHL spot, it's looking like Lagesson seems equipped.

Nurse- Larsson
Klefbom- Benning*
Lagesson- Persson/Bear*
Russell

*switch based on need/performance

WILLY LEEEEGS
- MaximumBone

Have we seen anything from Lags yet? Anything? Klef has said he expects to start the year with Persson, which means Nurse and King Adam are likely a pair, which leaves 2 guys on one way contracts in Kristine Russell and Matt Benning for 3rd. Which leaves the 7th spot. So maybe Benning goes there, in which case Bouchard takes the 6. Maybe bear or jones so Bouch takes the year in Bako. But IMO, laggs is now trade bait. Just no room left.

Have we seen anything from Lags yet? Anything? Klef has said he expects to start the year with Persson, which means Nurse and King Adam are likely a pair, which leaves 2 guys on one way contracts in Kristine Russell and Matt Benning for 3rd. Which leaves the 7th spot. So maybe Benning goes there, in which case Bouchard takes the 6. Maybe bear or jones so Bouch takes the year in Bako. But IMO, laggs is now trade bait. Just no room left.
- wreckage

There's plenty of room left. Russell can sit for now and will be gone next summer and Legs seems well-suited to being a cheap bottom pairing option long term that could be capable of jumping up.

Bouchard should definitely go the AHL. It'll become more and more clear that his defensive game needs the extra year or two on the farm as preseason goes on. I think of John Carlson's development path as the one we should emulate here.

If the aim is to trade one of the LD for a forward (which I wouldn't be in a rush to do until next summer), I'd feel more inclined to trade the guy that'll get a better return since we've already got a lot of other guys suited to top-4 roles long term (Nurse, Klefbom, Broberg and maybe Samorukov). To me that guy is Jones.