NHL 2019-20: Will the Oilers actually make the playoffs?

Let’s make a new thread for the new season.

Is this the year the Oilers stop wasting the Mike Trout of hockey and actually make some noise? Will the Lightning avenge their playoff capitulation? Will the new look Devils and Rangers look significantly improved?

 

I didn't predict the Oilers to make the playoffs, but if they do, that's good for the league. They really need players like McDavid to be on the big national stage.

Sharks didn't get off to a great start last night, but I figured Vegas would win. I hope tomorrow night is a little more even playing the home opener. It also didn't help that Erik Karlsson didn't play due to a personal matter. Oh well, on to game 2.

 

tomalak, yes I'm a Leafs fan and yes I want to believe your prediction of a Leafs cup win, but what makes you think this is the year?

 

thier Star power, especially Marner and Matthews. Both are a year older and already Matthews looks like a beast. That snipe he had in the game last night was a think of beauty. Also, maybe the Raptors winning is motivation for the Leafs to finally get it done.

 

It's early days still but the Oilers are doing very well so far. It's times like these that you remember it's not just McDavid; Draisaitl is an excellent player, too. Still plenty of time for the wheels to fall off, but I'd love to see an Oilers/Flames playoff series.

 

You'd like to hope the Oilers are on the right track finally. Those fans have suffered through piss poor management since their Stanley Cup run 15 years ago.

 

Babcock out in Toronto. Are you relieved, or disappointed?

 

He was a good coach when the team was trying to find its identity. He took the brunt of the criticism and the media attention, but once the team had come into its own, it was clear the system he ran was not going to fit the players Dubas and Shanahan were bringing in. He's a coach that wants to have grinders out there and could never deviate from his strategies. He had reached his shelf life and rightly or wrongly, the players had stopped playing for him.

If he lands in a place like Minnesota or the Rangers, a place where they need to turn it around and get them back to the playoffs or even in Seattle to get them off the ground, he'd be alright. He needs to be with an experienced GM who can be on the same page as him with it comes to roster construction.

It is frustrating to see a lot of Leafs fans dumping on Dubas. In my opinion, he did screw up with the contracts to Marner and Nylander, but he was in an untenable position with both. Shanahan seems to be on board with his plan, but we'll be waiting to see if it works.

 

Oilers and Devils were a snooze fest in the 1st period. They come out in the wnd and New York damn near scores in the first 20 seconds and then have a goal disallowed at 40 seconds for goalie interference. Hopping first minute of the 2nd period.

 

The most exciting hockey I've been watching doesn't involve my team. I'm shocked on how bad the Sharks are. They are having a decent game tonight against the Pens but they got shut out by Detroit. That's awful.

I watched the Winter Classic yesterday and what a great atmosphere that was. So happy 2 new teams got to participate in the event and the fans delivered. Now I'm looking forward to the Trade Deadline and if Doug Wilson will start selling. Hate the fact that the Sharks don't have a first round pick because of the Karlsson trade, which has kind of blown up in Wilson's face.

 

^^ I don't see many Sharks games, but what does the team need? I've heard Martin Jones was having a rough year.

 

What they need is kind of irrelevant. They need to shed salary. They sacrificed depth at forward for these long term deals and it's biting them in the ass.

 

I’m not a big hockey fan and don’t follow unless Bruins are in the playoffs, but making me feel good that they both have the most points and are the worst shootout team in the league.

No shootouts in playoffs.

 

Blues' Jay Bouwmeester collapsed on the bench with what is being called a "heart episode" with the game tied. He is apparently conscious and alert at the hospital. Game stopped. They will replay at a later date.

 

that is so scary when that happens. I remember when a Detroit player collapsed and then there was the Winnipeg goalie that collapsed before the game on (I believe) opening night. Glad Bouwmeester is going to be ok.

 

Alex Ovechkin just scored his 700th goal in New Jersey. What an accomplishment and now that the pressure is kinda off, he can work on the next 100 and go get Gretzky's record.

 

Hurricanes @ Leafs

With both of their goalies knocked out of the game in Toronto, the Hurricanes are forced to use a Leafs affiliated employee - 42-year-old Zamboni driver David Ayres - as their emergency goaltender for the majority of the game. And they win! Incredible stuff, while the Leafs are a laughing stock.

 

Evidently the Leafs are self destructing. I've been watching a lot of Panther games hoping they make it, but both teams are playing to lose now it feels like. It's just when the leafs do it, it feels like the end of the world is upon us, at least from a Canadian perspective.

 

I'd love a universe where both the Leafs and Panthers make it and the Penguins and Bruins are out, but I digress.

It's hard not to root for Ayres, but they should've run him out of the building. I was yelling at the TV for them to just shoot the puck. They fire shots at 80-100 miles an hour. Hammering a couple on net were bound to go in, but they chose to try and play cute while also playing with no drive, no heart. Between that game and last week in Pittsburgh, it's been frustrating to be a Leafs fan.

 

When the NHL come back would you like go right to play off or flash the season? Would it be ok if the playoff go into Aug!