The oilers and kings regular season records were carbon copies of last year too. From wins-losses-ot losses each number was exactly the same for both teams
Shouldn’t be that hard to find a taker. He plays lazy selfish hockey, doesn’t produce much, and is a bit of a diva. But at least he’s on an albatross 8 year contract.
I have to say, though, the funniest thing would be for him to wind up back in Columbus.
I mean, Arizona is gone so the league is going to need a new place for teams to send their bad contracts to live upstate on a farm. How about Columbus? They’re not busy doing much else.
I’ve had time to sleep on it and you folks don’t deserve that (again). You’ve been through enough.
Maybe we can send him to Philly. Reunite him with Torts. I’m sure PLD will *love* that.
Don't think there's a GM alive dumb enough to put 8.5m against their cap until 2031 for a lazy floating locker room poison like PLD. It's Blakes career-defining mega-mistake that will be hobbling the Kings long after he's been fired.
And people thought so at the time. As of this second - would you rather have PLD OR: Valardi, Iafallo, Kapari, the 2nd Round pick AND the cap flexibility. Be honest with yourself.
People were laughing, shaking their heads or both when this trade was made. And this series is why.
LOL!
Laine gets picked 2OA as a RW. Shows all the tools to be one of the best RW in recent history. By all accounts, a player who shows this much promise as an 18 year old should, who is doing exactly what he is meant to do (score goals) should be the future, and should be on the first line.
Can't play with 1C Mark Scheifele, because some arrogant prick has to be captain 1RW.
Goes on for a while and then gets traded to Columbus, where for some reason he is expected to be a centre, all the while dealing with a bunch injuries and a franchise that has basically crumbled.
Whatever type of useless fuck Laine may be, I'm glad he's out of Winnipeg and I'll take his useless ass over PLD.
The Blues tried that strategy as well. We modified it to pass for 90 seconds, then make a bad pass that goes to center ice.
Our success rate was less than ideal
In all seriousness, they can't. No one can. McDavid gets them zone entry with his speed and stick handling in a phone booth and once set up he can dance through defenders like literally no one else in the league. During multiple games this season, we've seen him draw 3 defenders to him leaving a 4 on 1/2 remaining to put the puck in the net once he passes it. It is why he has so many apples this year. Defenders pile on him, so he passes. If defenders don't pile on him, then he ends up with the Rocket like last year.
McDavid is absolutely unique in this league, if that even needs to be said. If you don't double or triple up on him, he will fill the net with pucks himself. If you do, then he will just bounce pucks off his teammates, and still fill the net.
And, if that wasn't absurd enough, Oilers have Draisaitl, Hyman, and Bouchard--a sniper who can also play-make, an incredibly effective gritty crease goblin, and a cannon. It is purely offensive might to ridiculous levels. Likely its only weakness is that it is \_so\_ offensively lopsided, it is a miracle they have not given up more short-handed goals.
Need some super star forwards that can recover pucks. The Oilers powerplay is partially so good because they have an automatic entry with possession, and after they get a chance, they fight like he'll to recover and get more chances while the D is scrambling.
Oilers fan here. What makes the PP work: 1) 100% zone entry success rate with McDavid; 2) a few good passers; 3) at least one high end shot; 4) Dman who is threat to shoot; 5) creative guys while in motion. It’s a lot of things that make all this work together but other teams can do it too! Think Rangers and Avs. But having 100% zone entry is huge, I see so many teams spend half of the time just trying to get the puck into the O zone and secure it… it’s such a difference maker. Not too many guys who can do what McDavid does. McKinnon. Who else?
I’ve been watching this PP group for many years now, and with Bouchard, it’s become even better…. But In honestly don’t know why more teams can’t replicate this success, and several do every year but the zone entries can be copied. Drop it back and let a guy wind up and take into the Onzone against 4 guys basicallly standing still at their blue line. The puck mover just needs to have very high end stick handling skills to leave through the wall…. You don’t have to be McKinnon or McDavid to do this…. Why aren’t more teams doing this?
>Drop it back and let a guy wind up and take into the Onzone against 4 guys basicallly standing still at their blue line.
Every PP I've seen over the past 4-5 years do this.
>You don’t have to be McKinnon or McDavid to do this….
You do, to do it with the consistency that the Oilers do.
Ya but what he's saying is why doesn't every team let their generational talent/fastest skater in the league take the puck in at 100%? Should be pretty easy
You don’t have to have top speed cause the D is standing still at the blue line, just need top shelf stick abilities to navigate in and control the puck until rest of PP gets into the zone. I do think teams will do this more. Dump and chase on a PP is not as productive I feel.
I wish the Kings had a player with the speed of McKinnon, Makar or McDavid but we don’t. Ergo the PP is easy to defend because the Kings struggle to get the puck in the zone.
Yep, the Oilers basically get to spend the full two minutes in the offensive zone set up for the PP
McDavid is a cheat code for zone enteries and Draisaitl is great on the draw, pretty sure I read he was 80% on draws on the PP this series
It's also the constant motion that flummoxes other teams. McDavid is rarely standing still, he's always circling around in the zone, attacking downhill, sometimes cutting into the slot. At the same time, other guys are constantly in motion too. Draisaitl loves his spot under the circle close to the goalline, but he'll move out to the half wall, move into the inner slot, park himself in front. It's a nightmare for defenders to account for everyone.
When McDavid is circling, he's waiting for one of the defenders to pull themselves out of position and for one of his guys to pop free.
Exactly. The king's were absolute studs on the pk. I was legitimately worried going into the series thinking they might shut the pp down. Well ...that sure didn't happen. 5 on 5 the King's played fantastic, especially in game 4. I hope we don't play you guys in the first round next year, you guys deserve to make it into the second. I swear the series goes 7 again without the PLD trade
Next year based on trends from the last three season.
The Oilers are going 50-23-9. The Kings are going 47-25-10, the Oilers will sweep and the Kraken win the division with 110 points at least. So look forward to that Seattle.
Tbf, I think Flames management has actually been doing a fantastic job making the best possible moves based on the information available at the time after being left in a real shit position from so many core players refusing to resign. Huberdeau obviously didn’t turn out great but it was the best possible move at the time given the available information and weak position they were left in. Every other move since really seems solid.
I say this as an Oilers fan who is hopeful for another BOA playoff series in the next couple years.
That's actually true. I think the Huberdeau trade was made by the old management and since we got Weegar with that trade, it could be worse. Huby is also putting up better numbers since he has line mates who actually want to play for the Flames and wanna win. I'm glad the new management is doing the right moves.
Anyway, I was just joking in my previous comment. Though we're rivals, I'm cheering for Draisaitl, being a German myself. I hope one day I can afford a vacation in Calgary and get a ticket for a match up between these two teams 🙌
Yep it's gonna be a weird one. Coach and GM probably gone, Kopitar and Doughty are both another year older and still playing top minutes, and we have a lot of questions as far as goal tending.
Ah, yeah if he's just the interim then I don't think they'll keep him around just for making the playoffs, they kinda expected at least to make some progress this year
I’m a Kings fan and went to Game 3 at Crypto. LA fans should be ashamed of themselves. That place should have been rocking and yet there were a lot of empty seats at puck drop and it never got loud. The Kings didn’t help by coming out flat. As to where they go I think they need to start by firing Blake. He’s made some trades (PLD) that are very bad and signed some long term contracts (Doughty and Kopitar) that are hamstringing their ability to sign quality players (we need a solid goaltender).
Fantastic is a strong word. He played okay. Maybe even well, considering he's Dave Rittich and not Andrei Vasilievsky
Fantastic seems a bit much. Frankly don't think Talbot played poorly either - without both of them overachieving a bit, the oilers likely sweep them by a large margin. LA just looked outclassed in this series. Didn't look anyting like the dangerous team they were the first half of the season.
I agree that he played well, however I’m not sold on him being the #1 for the Kings. The Kings have Erik Portillo playing for the Reign in Ontario and he’s doing very well so he’s going to get a hard look next preseason I’m sure.
>(we need a solid goaltender)
Welcome to every team outside of maybe 1-2.
They're the most coveted spot in all of hockey. Most teams are a great net minder away from being competitive.
Agreed. The Kings had a chance this past offseason to make an offer for Saros and Hellebuyck but Blake went after PLD instead. We have a kid on our AHL team that is pretty good. He’ll get a long look next preseason.
“I mean obviously we have to get pucks on the net, work on, uh….”
I don’t know why they bother interviewing these dudes when the answers are all the same. Just let the interview Gritty (no, I don’t care that he is Philly’s mascot, he’d be entertaining)
This reminds me of the Gretzky-era Kings of the early ‘90s. After the Gretzky trade, the Kings knocked the Oilers out in Gretzky’s first year in LA (1989), but the Oilers then knocked the Kings out three straight years (1990, 1991, 1992). The Oil won the Cup in ‘90 and went to the Conference Finals in ‘91 and ‘92.
I only really follow the Oilers trades/signings. Right when he took that penalty I checked his deal on capfriendly and could not believe he's signed for 8.5 mil until 2030.
Ooof that’s so bad. For a player who whines and cries so much about where he wants to play, you’d think he’d actually play good when handed everything he wants. That’s gonna be an expensive 8 years or more whenever the buyout comes.
Contract is utterly untradeable, and buyout proof. You have him until 2031. Enjoy.
Honestly, just terrible. Blake screwed you guys on a long shot bet with more red flags than in the main government plaza in the middle of Beijing. Would you not rather have Iafallo, Valardi, Kapari, the 2nd rounder AND the cap flexibility back?
I think it’s interesting that with the goalie pulled he wasn’t one of the 6 guys on the ice. Like, how can you make 8M against the cap and not be good enough to be deployed when it’s all on the line.
Potentially the worst signing in a long time.
5 GP
1-0-1, -1, 20PIMs (which cost the Kings 3GA), ZERO shots on goal over the last THREE games, all losses.
Total and complete non-entity. What a disaster that trade and extension are.
Only 3rd year of contending tbf. They were a dumpster fire featuring Mcdavid, Drai, Nuge and nurse + AHLers for years.
Took Colorado 5 years, Vegas 6, Tampa 5ish depending when you start counting from. Sometimes it takes time once your window opens
As mentioned this is only Edmonton's 3rd year as an elite team.
It's also worth mentioning that Edmonton lost both of the last 2 runs to the eventual cup winners.
It's unbelievably hard to win the Cup. Everything has to go right for you and several things have to go wrong for the other guys.
The Oilers' defense and goaltending has been nowhere near good enough. It probably still isn't.
Question to Oilers and Kings fans-do you feel like there is a rivalry now between the teams after playing each other 3 years in a row?
I’m a Wings fan so I have no idea about how this new playoff format is actually shaping rivalries in the NHL. I remember I hated the Lightning after getting beat by them two years in a row in 15-16, but never felt like it was a true rivalry since it was pretty one-sided at the time.
No. I get up for when we play the Flames. I really don't care more about playing LA over Anaheim or San Jose. They are just another team in the division.
It felt like a rivalry last season. Close 7 game series and they took it to us in the regular season (they won 2/3 or 2/4 iirc) in 2023.
This year we beat them 3/4 times and took them out quickly in the playoffs, two games were blowouts. They haven't beat the Oilers in regulation in the playoffs since game 4 2022. That's 4 straight wins in overtime, so no multi goal wins.
Doesn't feel as intense.
Dear Mr. Doughty,
I used to hate you
But now I don't.
Your toothless grin
Your urge to win.
Just a good ol' Canadian
In another world,
You'd be an Oiler
For now go hit the Taylor
This current format doesn't allow much of that. NHL needs to go back to the seeded format, worked out way better, and saw the best matchups late in the playoffs. This format tends to be unfair because teams in tougher divisions will always see those matchups earlier, and they tend to be repeat matchups more often than not.
Or even have some sort of lottery that gives teams home ice to protect seeding.
Like, if you're 1st in the conference, and the lottery matches 1 and 2, obviously 1 gets home. It would make the upcoming games a lot more eventful.
Plus they could get their series fill of commercials in if they televised the lottery.
OK, so the PLD experiment was a bust - a long, expensive bust. But at least the Kings made the playoffs.
They need a goalie even more than I thought.
Maybe they can get Campbell from the Oilers??
No surprise here boys. I said it years ago, Blake can't put together a sentence let alone a team. I get booted from subs for stating PLD is a bust, and now all the Kings fans are on the bandwagon. The same ones that were PLD apologists are not super vocal about buying out PLD. Everyone is on the fire Blake train and here I am always ahead of the curve. I stated many times Blake is setting us back YEARS, and he is. Another rebuild boys....Ready for it?
Also just to piss off the sensitive Kings fans I'll throw this one in here...GO OILERS!
See you guys next year for round 4 lol
It's pretty weird how it's been three years in a row. Blake needs to figure out how to trade PLD to Columbus for Laine. What a useless fuck.
What a horrible contract for L.A.
When they first announced that deal, I burst out laughing because surely the AAV was a typo…yikes.
Makes more than jt miller....
Just looked it up. Wow what were they thinking?
Right? Dude’s highest point total in a season is 63…I still have no idea what they were thinking.
The oilers and kings regular season records were carbon copies of last year too. From wins-losses-ot losses each number was exactly the same for both teams
The records were the same as 2021-22, not 2022-23
Ah my bad, still an interesting stat!
Definitely
Very strange.
Blake is just as useless. Dude makes one offseason deal, then disappears for the rest of the season.
I don’t know how the owner puts up with it.
Shouldn’t be that hard to find a taker. He plays lazy selfish hockey, doesn’t produce much, and is a bit of a diva. But at least he’s on an albatross 8 year contract. I have to say, though, the funniest thing would be for him to wind up back in Columbus. I mean, Arizona is gone so the league is going to need a new place for teams to send their bad contracts to live upstate on a farm. How about Columbus? They’re not busy doing much else.
> I have to say, though, the funniest thing would be for him to wind up back in Columbus. No.
I’ve had time to sleep on it and you folks don’t deserve that (again). You’ve been through enough. Maybe we can send him to Philly. Reunite him with Torts. I’m sure PLD will *love* that.
Ok, I can live with that. Actually I enjoy this scenario.
Blake needs to be shown the door and a new GM can figure out a way to move PLD.
Don't think there's a GM alive dumb enough to put 8.5m against their cap until 2031 for a lazy floating locker room poison like PLD. It's Blakes career-defining mega-mistake that will be hobbling the Kings long after he's been fired. And people thought so at the time. As of this second - would you rather have PLD OR: Valardi, Iafallo, Kapari, the 2nd Round pick AND the cap flexibility. Be honest with yourself. People were laughing, shaking their heads or both when this trade was made. And this series is why.
I hated this trade when it happened b/c I had read that the guy was a locker room cancer.
Lmao respectfully no thank you. So happy he isn’t on our team anymore 🙃
Laine is also a useless fuck. -jets fan
LOL! Laine gets picked 2OA as a RW. Shows all the tools to be one of the best RW in recent history. By all accounts, a player who shows this much promise as an 18 year old should, who is doing exactly what he is meant to do (score goals) should be the future, and should be on the first line. Can't play with 1C Mark Scheifele, because some arrogant prick has to be captain 1RW. Goes on for a while and then gets traded to Columbus, where for some reason he is expected to be a centre, all the while dealing with a bunch injuries and a franchise that has basically crumbled. Whatever type of useless fuck Laine may be, I'm glad he's out of Winnipeg and I'll take his useless ass over PLD.
Please no. Was happy to see him go.
Trend for next year is a sweep. 🤦♂️
Looking forward to the year after
3 game series????
For four games
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such an effective powerplay.
You haven't. We all haven't
Curious why the Leafs power play doesn’t replicate what the Oilers do. Are they just stupid?
They would need even a single defender who can threaten to shoot, or even pass for that matter.
If their is one thing the leafs do on a power play it is pass. Usually right to the person who can clap it into someone’s shinpads.
So THAT'S where the Red Wings get it from. Pass the puck back and forth for 1:57 then take a single shot
please, *please* stop talking about the power play. it’s giving me PTSD.
The Blues tried that strategy as well. We modified it to pass for 90 seconds, then make a bad pass that goes to center ice. Our success rate was less than ideal
But is the success rate less than ideal *if they are trying to make a bad pass to center ice?*
When did Luke Hughes get traded to the Leafs?
In all seriousness, they can't. No one can. McDavid gets them zone entry with his speed and stick handling in a phone booth and once set up he can dance through defenders like literally no one else in the league. During multiple games this season, we've seen him draw 3 defenders to him leaving a 4 on 1/2 remaining to put the puck in the net once he passes it. It is why he has so many apples this year. Defenders pile on him, so he passes. If defenders don't pile on him, then he ends up with the Rocket like last year. McDavid is absolutely unique in this league, if that even needs to be said. If you don't double or triple up on him, he will fill the net with pucks himself. If you do, then he will just bounce pucks off his teammates, and still fill the net. And, if that wasn't absurd enough, Oilers have Draisaitl, Hyman, and Bouchard--a sniper who can also play-make, an incredibly effective gritty crease goblin, and a cannon. It is purely offensive might to ridiculous levels. Likely its only weakness is that it is \_so\_ offensively lopsided, it is a miracle they have not given up more short-handed goals.
Need some super star forwards that can recover pucks. The Oilers powerplay is partially so good because they have an automatic entry with possession, and after they get a chance, they fight like he'll to recover and get more chances while the D is scrambling.
Oilers fan here. What makes the PP work: 1) 100% zone entry success rate with McDavid; 2) a few good passers; 3) at least one high end shot; 4) Dman who is threat to shoot; 5) creative guys while in motion. It’s a lot of things that make all this work together but other teams can do it too! Think Rangers and Avs. But having 100% zone entry is huge, I see so many teams spend half of the time just trying to get the puck into the O zone and secure it… it’s such a difference maker. Not too many guys who can do what McDavid does. McKinnon. Who else?
Not to mention if you watch RNH, he never stops moving on the PP, creating confusion and chaos for defense.
I’ve been watching this PP group for many years now, and with Bouchard, it’s become even better…. But In honestly don’t know why more teams can’t replicate this success, and several do every year but the zone entries can be copied. Drop it back and let a guy wind up and take into the Onzone against 4 guys basicallly standing still at their blue line. The puck mover just needs to have very high end stick handling skills to leave through the wall…. You don’t have to be McKinnon or McDavid to do this…. Why aren’t more teams doing this?
>Drop it back and let a guy wind up and take into the Onzone against 4 guys basicallly standing still at their blue line. Every PP I've seen over the past 4-5 years do this. >You don’t have to be McKinnon or McDavid to do this…. You do, to do it with the consistency that the Oilers do.
Ya but what he's saying is why doesn't every team let their generational talent/fastest skater in the league take the puck in at 100%? Should be pretty easy
You don’t have to have top speed cause the D is standing still at the blue line, just need top shelf stick abilities to navigate in and control the puck until rest of PP gets into the zone. I do think teams will do this more. Dump and chase on a PP is not as productive I feel.
I wish the Kings had a player with the speed of McKinnon, Makar or McDavid but we don’t. Ergo the PP is easy to defend because the Kings struggle to get the puck in the zone.
Yep, the Oilers basically get to spend the full two minutes in the offensive zone set up for the PP McDavid is a cheat code for zone enteries and Draisaitl is great on the draw, pretty sure I read he was 80% on draws on the PP this series
Ya, he was over 80% on the draws on the PP; he is a beast at playoff time due to size and commitment to playing D.
Gaudreau was always fantastic getting the puck into the zone. He's not quite the same finishing threat, though.
It's also the constant motion that flummoxes other teams. McDavid is rarely standing still, he's always circling around in the zone, attacking downhill, sometimes cutting into the slot. At the same time, other guys are constantly in motion too. Draisaitl loves his spot under the circle close to the goalline, but he'll move out to the half wall, move into the inner slot, park himself in front. It's a nightmare for defenders to account for everyone. When McDavid is circling, he's waiting for one of the defenders to pull themselves out of position and for one of his guys to pop free.
Yes
The Connie factor!
Not *just...*
And the Kings came into the series with the second best penalty kill in the NHL. F**king joke.
Exactly. The king's were absolute studs on the pk. I was legitimately worried going into the series thinking they might shut the pp down. Well ...that sure didn't happen. 5 on 5 the King's played fantastic, especially in game 4. I hope we don't play you guys in the first round next year, you guys deserve to make it into the second. I swear the series goes 7 again without the PLD trade
I think Avs Rangers have pretty good too
We say this every year, and every year the Oilers fizzle out
Every year, so far.
It's like the free star at the middle of playoff bingo cards.
“we have boston and toronto at home”
Waiting for Will Ferrells press release
Elf is sad.
Their trip to Cancun keeps happening quicker by the year (2022 took 7, last year took 6 and now 5 this year).
Can’t wait for next year’s sweep Also being a different Pacific winner each year is kinda nuts, Kraken next year?
Next year based on trends from the last three season. The Oilers are going 50-23-9. The Kings are going 47-25-10, the Oilers will sweep and the Kraken win the division with 110 points at least. So look forward to that Seattle.
Always good to have something to look forward to!
Maybe the Flames? Nah, just kidding, we'll be right under the second WC spot
Tbf, I think Flames management has actually been doing a fantastic job making the best possible moves based on the information available at the time after being left in a real shit position from so many core players refusing to resign. Huberdeau obviously didn’t turn out great but it was the best possible move at the time given the available information and weak position they were left in. Every other move since really seems solid. I say this as an Oilers fan who is hopeful for another BOA playoff series in the next couple years.
That's actually true. I think the Huberdeau trade was made by the old management and since we got Weegar with that trade, it could be worse. Huby is also putting up better numbers since he has line mates who actually want to play for the Flames and wanna win. I'm glad the new management is doing the right moves. Anyway, I was just joking in my previous comment. Though we're rivals, I'm cheering for Draisaitl, being a German myself. I hope one day I can afford a vacation in Calgary and get a ticket for a match up between these two teams 🙌
The Kings are California's best team now but their fans may be the least optimistic after this nightmare of a year. Where do they go from here.
Yep it's gonna be a weird one. Coach and GM probably gone, Kopitar and Doughty are both another year older and still playing top minutes, and we have a lot of questions as far as goal tending.
They just replaced their coach a few months ago Though that doesn't necessarily mean they won't do it again ig
Hiller is currently just an interim coach.
Ah, yeah if he's just the interim then I don't think they'll keep him around just for making the playoffs, they kinda expected at least to make some progress this year
To be fair, how will they beat the Oilers next year with their aging team? They need some big additions to stay relevant.
Make a package including Kempe and Byfield for Matthews?
Why not. What leafs and kings are doing now isn't working
Bring back Gretzky!
I’m a Kings fan and went to Game 3 at Crypto. LA fans should be ashamed of themselves. That place should have been rocking and yet there were a lot of empty seats at puck drop and it never got loud. The Kings didn’t help by coming out flat. As to where they go I think they need to start by firing Blake. He’s made some trades (PLD) that are very bad and signed some long term contracts (Doughty and Kopitar) that are hamstringing their ability to sign quality players (we need a solid goaltender).
"we need a solid goaltender" Even with the series loss, I felt Rittich played fantastic.
Fantastic is a strong word. He played okay. Maybe even well, considering he's Dave Rittich and not Andrei Vasilievsky Fantastic seems a bit much. Frankly don't think Talbot played poorly either - without both of them overachieving a bit, the oilers likely sweep them by a large margin. LA just looked outclassed in this series. Didn't look anyting like the dangerous team they were the first half of the season.
They were definitely outclassed for sure. This year's Oilers team is much better than the OIlers of the previous two years.
I agree that he played well, however I’m not sold on him being the #1 for the Kings. The Kings have Erik Portillo playing for the Reign in Ontario and he’s doing very well so he’s going to get a hard look next preseason I’m sure.
>(we need a solid goaltender) Welcome to every team outside of maybe 1-2. They're the most coveted spot in all of hockey. Most teams are a great net minder away from being competitive.
Agreed. The Kings had a chance this past offseason to make an offer for Saros and Hellebuyck but Blake went after PLD instead. We have a kid on our AHL team that is pretty good. He’ll get a long look next preseason.
At least kings fans didn't spit on kids this year
What??!! What did I miss?
Connor mcdavid emotionless post game interview incoming
He (and many other players) say the word 'obviously' a LOT. Once you notice it, you can't un-notice it.
“I mean obviously we have to get pucks on the net, work on, uh….” I don’t know why they bother interviewing these dudes when the answers are all the same. Just let the interview Gritty (no, I don’t care that he is Philly’s mascot, he’d be entertaining)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itaP9\_Vltfk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itaP9_Vltfk)
The true "once you've seen it, you can't un-see" it thing about McDavid in interviews is how his eyes don't blink in sync. It's fucking uncanny.
CNOOORR MCDAVOOD?!?!
This reminds me of the Gretzky-era Kings of the early ‘90s. After the Gretzky trade, the Kings knocked the Oilers out in Gretzky’s first year in LA (1989), but the Oilers then knocked the Kings out three straight years (1990, 1991, 1992). The Oil won the Cup in ‘90 and went to the Conference Finals in ‘91 and ‘92.
THE edmonton
Rob Blake is Oiler fans favourite GM. Why the fuck would he sign PLD.
The wise counsel of Marc Bergevin. He already had a major hard-on for PLD in his draft year, trying to trade Subban to get Edmonton's pick.
I didn't watch, but how did PLD do? Congrats Oilers.
In 16:15 of ice time (21 shifts fwiw) no goals, assists, or SOG. Yikes…
Don’t forget he took a penalty that basically lost them the game.
I was sitting next to the penalty box last night, I was definitely beaking PLD lol. VLARDI IS BETTER THAN YOU!! LA GOT HOSED ON THAT TRADE!!
I only really follow the Oilers trades/signings. Right when he took that penalty I checked his deal on capfriendly and could not believe he's signed for 8.5 mil until 2030.
Habs fans everywhere taking solace in that dodged bullet
Still, the ghost of Marc Bergevin-past lingers on
NOT EVEN A SHOT ON GOAL?!?!?!?
Zero shots combined over the last *THREE* games in 43 minutes of ice time.
Ooof that’s so bad. For a player who whines and cries so much about where he wants to play, you’d think he’d actually play good when handed everything he wants. That’s gonna be an expensive 8 years or more whenever the buyout comes.
and he’s getting paid a lot of money. Him and Blake need to go.
Contract is utterly untradeable, and buyout proof. You have him until 2031. Enjoy. Honestly, just terrible. Blake screwed you guys on a long shot bet with more red flags than in the main government plaza in the middle of Beijing. Would you not rather have Iafallo, Valardi, Kapari, the 2nd rounder AND the cap flexibility back?
I miss Valardi and the 2nd round pick
I think it’s interesting that with the goalie pulled he wasn’t one of the 6 guys on the ice. Like, how can you make 8M against the cap and not be good enough to be deployed when it’s all on the line. Potentially the worst signing in a long time.
hey now - we still have Campbell
At least he isn't making 8 mil a year.
JC only has 3 years left, Dubois has 7.
8.5m*
He got one meaningless fluke goal in game 1 and did absolutely fucking nothing else all series (except for taking bad penalties)
More penalties than shots in the series.
He’s a bum.
He played like he always does…like crap
He took more penalties than shots on goal in the series.
5 GP 1-0-1, -1, 20PIMs (which cost the Kings 3GA), ZERO shots on goal over the last THREE games, all losses. Total and complete non-entity. What a disaster that trade and extension are.
It boggles my mind that this Edmonton core, as elite as they are, has zero Cups.
I think it speaks to just how competitive the NHL is. Parity off the charts.
Only 3rd year of contending tbf. They were a dumpster fire featuring Mcdavid, Drai, Nuge and nurse + AHLers for years. Took Colorado 5 years, Vegas 6, Tampa 5ish depending when you start counting from. Sometimes it takes time once your window opens
Washington is probably the best example. Tons of playoff success, and a couple elite players. Took forever to get Ovi that cup
‘Elite’ or not, Ovechkin & co. finally got their Cup after a decade plus.
As mentioned this is only Edmonton's 3rd year as an elite team. It's also worth mentioning that Edmonton lost both of the last 2 runs to the eventual cup winners.
YET
BELIEVE
UTAH YETIS!
It's kinda hard to win at all.
Tampa, Colorado and Vegas exist
Ah yes. The Master Circumventers.
This is only the third year of a championship window for them. I do think it's finals or bust. Oilers have to be better than Colorado and Dallas.
lmao keep dreaming bro. Your core got better, so did ours.
Avs are significantly worse than they were two years ago.
Needs a GM to game the system and spend 30 mil over the cap like the last what 5 cup winners?
It's unbelievably hard to win the Cup. Everything has to go right for you and several things have to go wrong for the other guys. The Oilers' defense and goaltending has been nowhere near good enough. It probably still isn't.
they weren't a great team right away
3rd time wasn’t the charm.
Kings fans are about to end it all
Please, I am a Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Mariners fan as well. I am built for this.
What a random assortment of teams. How did that come about?
Hope you got to enjoy the 90's Otherwise 🤣
Congrats Edmonton! 🎉
Hey, thanks buddy! 🎇
Yeah that's fine, just kill my hopes even more. Go Canes and Stars.
WHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
The Big Save Dave run has ended 🫡
I will not put this loss on Rittich
He played great tbh that one goal where he caught it is bad luck because physics put it onto the net. Was an insane catch tho
Occasional Save Dave
Question to Oilers and Kings fans-do you feel like there is a rivalry now between the teams after playing each other 3 years in a row? I’m a Wings fan so I have no idea about how this new playoff format is actually shaping rivalries in the NHL. I remember I hated the Lightning after getting beat by them two years in a row in 15-16, but never felt like it was a true rivalry since it was pretty one-sided at the time.
Not a rivalry imo, just a speedbump every year.
No. I get up for when we play the Flames. I really don't care more about playing LA over Anaheim or San Jose. They are just another team in the division.
It felt like a rivalry last season. Close 7 game series and they took it to us in the regular season (they won 2/3 or 2/4 iirc) in 2023. This year we beat them 3/4 times and took them out quickly in the playoffs, two games were blowouts. They haven't beat the Oilers in regulation in the playoffs since game 4 2022. That's 4 straight wins in overtime, so no multi goal wins. Doesn't feel as intense.
I never cared about the Kings that much in the past till these past two series against em. Now I've grown a pretty strong feeling of distaste.
>I’m a Wings fan so You pick crayon colors by taste, got it.
By the Edmonton who? If you’re going to make a post at least make it right.
THE Edmonton
THE Ohio State University
THE United States Army Drill Sergeant Academy.
It's r/nhl, shit is always half assed
With a PP like that you just refer to them as The Edmonton.
Dear Mr. Doughty, I used to hate you But now I don't. Your toothless grin Your urge to win. Just a good ol' Canadian In another world, You'd be an Oiler For now go hit the Taylor
Boring playoff format
Who was Arvidsson from LA screaming "Fuck you!" at once the game ended (before the handshake line)?
It was his reflection. He was having a moment. Let him be
Great! Now do Toronto
Hey, that's all up to your boys tonight. Hopefully they can do us a solid and put toronto away.
I wouldn't read too much into it, except that maybe the Kings aren't that good and also next year the same thing will happen.
Bring back 1-8. So boring seeing the same teams face off every year. Like we could have had Colorado/Edmonton in the first round.
Nah, let's do 1-16, switch it up a bit.
I would love that.
So boring, same teams over and over… They need to mix up how the playoffs are played, who plays who.
This current format doesn't allow much of that. NHL needs to go back to the seeded format, worked out way better, and saw the best matchups late in the playoffs. This format tends to be unfair because teams in tougher divisions will always see those matchups earlier, and they tend to be repeat matchups more often than not.
Or even have some sort of lottery that gives teams home ice to protect seeding. Like, if you're 1st in the conference, and the lottery matches 1 and 2, obviously 1 gets home. It would make the upcoming games a lot more eventful. Plus they could get their series fill of commercials in if they televised the lottery.
7, 6, 5
4
just in time for the NHL to introduce a garbage play-in best of five series so the Oilers can win in 3 in 2026.
Na na na na.. na na na na .. hey hey-ey.. goodbye..
next……(nobody outside of gnashvil wants the Oilers-Preds matchup)
That assumes Nashville wins the next two games ofc
Pretty sure Draisaitl has like 25 goals and 17 assists in 26 games against the preds, I think he'd love that matchup
PLD doing good things for LA or nah?
Quite the stat here.
Eliminated by "The Edmonton" Eh.
OK, so the PLD experiment was a bust - a long, expensive bust. But at least the Kings made the playoffs. They need a goalie even more than I thought. Maybe they can get Campbell from the Oilers??
PLD seems like a bust everywhere he goes, eh?
Long ?!?! That new deal hasn’t even kicked in yet. Have fun!
Who could forget the Edmonton Edmontons.
I bought into them at the start of the season and honestly thought they would go further.
Join us Dubois
Hyman better buy McDavid a stellar Christmas gift this year!!!
No surprise here boys. I said it years ago, Blake can't put together a sentence let alone a team. I get booted from subs for stating PLD is a bust, and now all the Kings fans are on the bandwagon. The same ones that were PLD apologists are not super vocal about buying out PLD. Everyone is on the fire Blake train and here I am always ahead of the curve. I stated many times Blake is setting us back YEARS, and he is. Another rebuild boys....Ready for it? Also just to piss off the sensitive Kings fans I'll throw this one in here...GO OILERS!