travel_dude

Wolf starts. Kylington out, Solo in. Mangiapane back in\ Hunt sits

I think they should keep him at C as well. I don't think it's the right time to pair him with the other rookie without a top player. With Pospisil he had Kadri, to both handle the C spot and to balance out the skills. Honestly, I can't tell you what the lines were through the entire game, but it appeared that it was Huberdeau-Zary-Sharky. That allowed them to play Backlund against McD (and Draibaby?), and at least get sawed off results with Zary at C. Kylington is day to day after the friendly fire hit at the blueline. Solo should draw in, but it's anyone's guess who gets rewarded with games. I doubt they play Kylington again if it's concussion related, but I think it was mostly upper body (shoulder/arm).

Wallstedt - 2 NHL games 3.52 GAA and .879 SA % Not exactly "howling" to be in the NHL.

We haven't been great after road trips. The SJS games looks like the most likely to win. And maybe game 82, because that's what we do. We probably have the same bad luck as the Tkachuk drat. Win one too many or one too few and miss two lotto draws. This time there is only one, but I doubt we win no matter where we place.

Give them a few years. Some players take longer, especially when they were injured most of the year.

Zona is winning a lot. MTL the only ones to not be able to win. We are likely to win a few (I keep saying that). Still don't have a feel how we will do against the remaining teams. Ducks taking STL to a shootout. Yotes killing the Sharks.

Some days Connie says the right things, then some days I hear the thoughts about looking to rebuild quickly. Maybe it's just concern on my part, but I feel that they might just try to getting back to compete. Decisions like keeping Markstrom even if the offers are there. Or go big on UFA's thinking they can get back to top 16. It may all be needless worry on my part.

Even if Kylington is back, that doesn't give us the stability we need next season, unless you are looking to finish bottom 10. Kylington is best paired with a Tanev like defensive D. Pachal is okay, but has a lot of growing to do to get there. He has less games than Kylington. When I look at who we have signed or likely to extend, I don't get a warm fuzzy feeling: Andersson Weegar Miromanov Pachal (signed - waivers) Hanley (signed - waivers) Okhotiuk (RFA - waivers) Kylington (UFA) That's too many 4-7 guys. I would be reluctant to put Pachal on waivers. Okhotiuk has about the same number of games as Pachal and also requires waivers. I can't really come up with pairings that leave me confident, seing as we have seen Ras paired with most of the top 4-ish guys we have. Bringing in a top 2 LD might help, but I think that only solves one issue.

I seem to remember that we traded away three "core" pieces of the lineup just prior to TDL. His value will be whatever teams are interested in a goalie, not so much his season finish. I'm more concerned that they decide they need to keep him during the re-tool so we don't finish last.

I'm cutting Shilly some slack, since he displaying a lot of good things. He went from a man on man defense last time he player 2 seasons ago to zone, without a single pre-season game or camp. Sharky and Kuz are both players that make this team look better than they are most nights. I found it funny that Zary was tasked with playing C, going up against the McD or Nuge. Unfortunately, though the GM recognizes the need to rebuild, I suspect he will be looking to make the playoffs this coming season. He will sign a top 4 D if one is available and less than 30. He will no doubt be looking for a top 6 C. I just hope that whatever he is planning on adding, it's recognizes the need for them to be long term plans not immediate.

The safe player option is so mundane for us to consider. They might be a good player long term and have a good NHL career, but is that enough? Monahan was a safe pick and could have been a great pick if injuries hadn't derailed his career. Tkachuk was a strong pick, but we managed a top 5 pick that year. Unless we have a shot at a top pairing D potential this year, I would lean towards a risky F. More towards a C or C/RW than anything on LW. Iggy Jr is a sentimental pick and probably a safe one. Would the name alone make fans question the logic of it?

I was referring to a loss in the earlier part of the season can have some positives. Like your young goalie got reps and didn't crap the bed. Or you developed a young winger become a NHL full timer. We didn't bother with those two scenarios in this meaningless game. The negatives? We didn't shut up the Oiler fans in the building. We had to listen to Louie call another Douche-bomb goal. Even though it was deflected off Rooney's head.

Yikes, a top 10 featuring 5 F, not to mention the top 20 consising of 14 F. Isn't this considered a D heavy draft? Anyway, what do I know.

It was a game I wanted, but whatevs. At this point there is no real reason to look at the positives.

Okay Huska, DO NOT PULL THE GOALIE. No way we want to be the team McLotto gets his 100th assist against. You know he won't try to score, he will pass it.

You would think no Oiler player has ever hacked a player.

Sit down and shut up Draibaby

Scott Oake should retire. Who panned the Sharky trade?

If it's late enough, they should be out in 4. Actually if it's any time after the first 8 days of playoffs, you should be ok.

Wasn't a Douche-bomb. It went off Rooney's helmet. Changed direction. You blind Louie?

What are you doing, ttying to jinx it?

Coronato was really good in the game but is getting zero minutes. less than 6 minutes so far. Refs calling make up calls so McBaby won't sulk.

That was offside at the Oilers line. Good thing we didn't score. 2nd obvious missed call this game. Come on guys.

There it is. Sharky rules. Kadri gets the actual last touch.

Get Kuz near the net