2015-2016 NHL Discussion Thread

Welp, your Sharks are now 1-5-1 in their past 7. They absolutely dominated 5v5 just about the entire 3rd and 2nd period, though. Oilers' 2nd and 3rd goals were pretty freaking lucky all things considered.

However, in OT the Oil put on a clinic on how to play in 3v3. That Draisaitl guy is okay...

 

that overtime though...Draisaitl's patience shows he has hockey intelligence beyond his age, but everyone knew that already
man am i glad the league switched to 3 on 3, shit is so exciting to watch.

Leafs are now not in sole posession of last in the East!! With the way the schedules are matching up I feel as if there's a good chance to climb out soon (though idk if that makes me happy or not, Auston Matthews hnnnng)

 

He's done real well in his first stint in the NHL. Seems like he stepped into the rookie role that Connor McDavid was, before his injury.

 

I think Buffalo is still going to give the Leafs a run for their money as far as getting Auston Matthews. I'll admit it: I don't like the Leafs, but I'd rather see Buffalo continue to suck rather than another Canadian team.

Yeah, funny how things worked out now for Draisaitl. He didn't really make any sort of splash when in the NHL last year (9 points in 37 games), and then in the AHL at the beginning of this year where he was supposed to be "developing", he had 2 points in 6 games. Suddenly McDavid gets injured, Oilers recall Draisaitl to fill in his place, and he starts lighting up the best hockey league in the world like it's nothing to him. Not only that, but a lot of his points have been in really clutch moments, either in late 3rd period or in OT.

Whether he is/will be better than McDavid is tough to compare, sort of like Crosby vs Ovechkin. When McDavid is back come late January, Oilers will have 3 #1 centers in McDavid, Drai and Nuge, which is ironic because last year they were lacking center depth big time. Once their entire second line is back from injuries, Oilers will have 3 dangerous scoring lines, however I'm just waiting for another big injury to come about any day now.

 

I wouldn't consider any of them #1 centers yet. A couple years time and I can easily see McDavid centering their top line, with Drai centering the second line. Nuge is great and all, but if Drai keeps it up, he has more step and skill in his game.

They definitely need some defense though. They can surely be the stars, with an insanely overpowered offense with a weak defense and win games that way, but if they're offense starts to get injured, they're done.

 

Nuge has kept up against other no 1 centers so far his entire career in the NHL. His only downsides are his lack of size and shitty face off percentage, otherwise he's no question a no 1 center. Calling Drai a no 1 may be a little early, but he's been playing like one besides struggling with some defensive assignments, but he'll learn that as he progresses.

Defense is leaps and bounds ahead of what it was previous years. Still bad and in dire need of a guy like Brent Burns who will play a rock solid 25+ minutes a night, but we've got a lot of bright spots in Sekera, Klef, Nurse, and Davidson to name a few.

 

Burns is the last thing they need. With an soon to be op offense, they need solid defensemen. Check Burns +/- rating. Watch some of his games. While he is a powerhouse, he makes CONSTANT mistakes. If you're familiar with Sharks defensemen, you'd want someone like Vlasic or Martin, both defensemen who are very steady and have great +/- ratings. They're responsible and will make it tough on the opposing offense to make good plays.

 

Fortunately (unfortunately??) I see the leafs doing pretty well from now on out - the advanced stats alwyas looked good for them through their slump early on, and now it looks like it's coming together. I'm sort of the same stance - fuck the Habs and Sens, but if it comes down to the playoffs I'll grudgingly cheer for them instead of an American team.

Draisaitl this season sort of reminds me of 2011-2012 Knicks in the NBA (-->Jeremy Lin) - a sort of fluke that he was given a chance this season, combined with mediocre previous seasons, and then a huge outbreak. Hope he's able to continue the production, he's filling in quite nicely for McDavid and a few months down the line when they are both there, the Oilers can make a serious run for the playoffs - they're already starting to pick up the W's right now.

although sending down Fayne for Nikitin???????? wtf

 

Fayne playing like poo. Supposedly Nikitin has completely changed his game while in the minors. Who knows. We'll see.

 

Even if they do make the playoffs (which I don't see happening) they'll get stomped. There defense is deplorable, at best haha. The inexperience also doesn't help them. I know nothing about Fayne nor Nikitin, so >.<

 

Oilers beat Rangers 7-5 tonight. Won 4-3 on Wednesday. This must be why I think there's more scoring happening this year lol.

Anywho, Oilers 1 point out of playoffs. 5 game winning streak. What is really going on here? I don't know what to do with these feels!!

 

What goes up must come down. They'll eventually lose and catch up; however, if they are still in the playoff picture by the time McDavid comes back, they may find themselves a place in the 2016 Playoffs (that is so weird to say for the oilers)..

 

Absolutely they'll come down, not like they're going to win every game from here on out, but what I was mainly implying is that this team is playing WAY different hockey than what they have for the past 10 years, it's not even really about the win streak... guys are sticking up for each other, not giving up when momentum starts heading in the other teams direction, playing physical pushback hockey, bottom 6 forwards offensively contributing, defense actually putting in some work, goaltending above par...

I know the Sharks just went on a 5 game win streak and also went on a 5 game losing streak (it's totally probable this happens to the Oil too), but you've also got to realize for the Oilers, a 5 game winning streak is like the Sharks going on a 10 game winning streak.

I feel sorta shitty because all of my posts in this thread are about the Oilers, but I don't think anyone aside from the Blackhawks are playing this exciting of hockey lately. Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl both had 4 points last night, and are literally one of the most dangerous duos in hockey as of this moment.

All of these were scored in the 20 games Draisaitl has played this year...













There's a bunch more out there too that I don't care to embed, Drai and Hall are doin it big right now......

 

You're interested in the Oilers, no reason to apologize for wanting to talk about them

And no one aside from the Blackhawks? The Stars have finally got the record they've been pursuing for years. Seguin and Benn are both tied for 2nd on the pointleader board. Klingberg is an allstar defensemen. They're excited for sure.

The kings have finally got their momentum to propel them to a very comfortable lead in the Pacific.

The Capitals are sitting atop the Metropolitan atm, and it seems signing Holtby was one of the best things they could have ever done. While Ovechkin may not be scoring the highest amount of goals, Kuznetsov is coming into his own to become a legitimate and dangerous center. Trotz has really brought that team together.

The Devils are legitimately in the playoff race. Who would have even guessed?

Plenty of teams are doing well, just look around

 

I forgot to mention the Stars (as an Oiler fan, I have a lifelong pledge to hate the Stars for as long as I live after they beat us in the payoffs first round 5 times in a row). Benn and Seguin are basically the only hotter duo besides Hall and Drai from what I've seen (the Seguin vs Hall comparisons will honestly forever be a thing).

The Kings are just returning to normal form from the shitshow they ran for a bit last year, not overly exciting imo.

Kuznetsov is awesome, and same with Holtby, and they're still my pegged SC champs for this year.

 

I don't think you'll see them in the finals, but we'll see

 

I got faith. Ovie is going to turn up the dial this year

 

What I've noticed is Ovechkin is consistently inconsistent. Like he'll go through a period of like 6-7 games where he won't score, then go through a period of like 10 games where he'll get 10 goals. But he won't get like 10 goals in a 3 game period, it's always well spread out.

 

http://worldjuniors.usahockey.com/news_article/show/586552

You guys know why Jeremy Bracco didn't get an invitation to camp? I know I'm a Leafs homer but he really seems like he deserves one.
American roster seems strong this year, maybe that was the reason. I dunno though.

Canadian one fyi:
http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/Team-Canada/Men/Junior/2015-16/Selection-Camp/Roster

Chychrun is obviously gonna be the guy to watch with us not having seen much of him other than at an OHL level, but a few of the vets returning makes me happy that we have a decent shot at winning (like always). Also wonder how easy the ride to gold would be if Mcdavid was in this tournament

 

Don't really know much about draft prospects other than Auston Matthews is pretty good haha. Who specifically on that list is notable and someone I should watch ?