Sure the 4th line has looked great but if you’re running ROR at 3C the 4th line is hardly gonna see the light of day. I’m fine messing with it in that instance.

I’d like another forward too though

If we add, I’d really like:,


Bunting Matthews Marner
Player X Tavares Jarnkrok
McMann O’Rielly Nylander
Engvall Kampf Acciari

Edit:
Player X being Niederreiter, Garland, Labanc

You'd have to add someone significant to keep that second line moving, which means young assets out the door. Don't see Dubas doing it.

I'm not really understanding this new obsession over McMann. He's 26 and just finally putting together a decent stretch of games in the AHL. He has no professional playoff experience outside of the ECHL, has only played 8 NHL games total, and now all of a sudden I'm seeing so many people wanting to slot him into a shutdown role in the playoffs? Is he supposed to hold up against Tampa or Boston? It doesn't make any sense. The only reason people seem to want to do it is to move Kerfoot's money out, but the truth is that he is far more valuable to the team come playoff time that McMann will ever be.

Very valid points.

For me, he is too good for the AHL and did not look out of place in the NHL. But completely valid putting him into the lineup against TBL and potentially BOS could expose him

Edit:

As for Tavares, he has worked well with your typical ‘grinder’ type player. I personally don’t believe Niederreiter, Garland, or Labanc would be slow especially with Jarnkrok on the line. This would also give O’Rielly playing with Nylander which I like a lot.

But a lot of times things on paper don’t look good, just a guess

I liked McMann while he was up here, he did some good things and didn't look too out of place. At this point it's just a small sample size. If he had stuck with the big club up until this point and continued to progress, it would be a different story. Keefe deciding to play Anderson over him consistently should tell us all we need to know for now.

I truly believe that JT needs Marner or Nylander on his wing. If you take both guys away, his production will drop. He might as well be your 3C at that point. JT is the grinder, but he's got the shot to go with it. He needs a guy who can get him the puck when he's in the slot. I don't think a grinder in place of that playmaker will benefit JT at all. Just my opinion though.

This sucks but expected

But when healthy this dude was a beauty. Really need to find a replacement in the 2nd pairing

The only person id move Sandin for is chychrun. It fits too...

Come on Kyle, trade for another captain

I'd still look to move Sandin (even if for a FWD) I realize I'm alone here but I don't see how he fits into this roster.

Chycrun would be my go to as well but there's just one problem

Physicality

Sandin has been a physical presence on our blue line with 113 hits vs. 43 for Chycrun and yes I know the desparity.

I just honestly feel we should be looking for a proper shutdown partner to play with Gio

Like rn this is what I see

Rielly-Brodie
Gio-?
Sandin-Liligren

To expensive now. Before the ROR trade I screamed for it. Now nah go find a RD

That is asking a lot of 39 year old Giordano to play every other night in a heavy shutdown role going up against the likes of TBL, BOS, CAR potentially. And having an all kid line in the bottom pair is not ideal either.

Really think they need to look at:
Rielly Brodie
Player X Holl
Gio Liljegren

I mean hes been doing fine the issue is the other guy. Dont like saying it but pls CGY continue to struggle I want Tanev

As with that the possibilities are endless

As u can either go Gio-Tanev or Gio-Brodie which I think its safe to say is much better than Gio-Holl


Or

And this is a big OR

If CGY is serious on moving on from Weegar have a discussion with them

But in general Sandin had his struggles but when we look at him hes growing intto something special and if we can get him the right partner maybe he can be the shutdown guy in unison with Gio.

Hopefully back with the marlies but another contract spot wouldnt be the worst

Man idk what Acciari did but he sparked something in ZAR. Those two are on a mission together and make our 4th line a piece of **** to play against. Still not sure of Kerfoot as idk he just doesnt fit rn

Like even if we put him with O'Rielly and Jarnkrok I just dont feel confident as ROR's issue was linemates who couldnt finish and rn Kerfoot + Finish 2 words that dont mix

Dear Keefe put this man on the PK

we have so many forwards capable of killing penalties why add yet another task to his plate and further risk injury? Maybe if its a season on the line PK scenario.

Because as Dangle puts it

"WHY NOT"

Like if Matthews learns to PK and hones his skills not saying Bergeron level but could be a serious Selke challanger. A 2-way 1c who can make u pay 5 on 5, PP, and PK

As if Oilers arent afraid of having both McDavid and Draisaitl PK, Matthews Pking should not be an over the top concern

well I just said why not, it adds more workload and injury risk for no reason when we are a team with an incredibly deep group of strong defensive forwards. On that train of thought I still think Marner should be taken off the PK except for crucial moments, why risk the drivers of this team when we could have our depth defensive forwards blocking those shots

dangle also knows jack about hockey

https://twitter.com/LeafsUpdates21/status/1628534210918027274?s=20

Obviously this is true, but I almost wonder if another move is more imminent than people think after the Anderson waiver placement. Murray still seems like he is ~1 week out and we had a 23 man roster while being no where near the cap ceiling. Obviously it could also just be a move to bolster the Marlies given the loss of Gaudette instead of just having Anderson sit as the 13th forward, but risking him to waivers seems weird

In general if Boston isnt worried about Bergeron, Oilers arent afraid of McDavid and Draisaitl, Florida with Barkov, Pittsburgh with Crosby and so on I dont see why we should be concerned with Matthews lul. As hes already risking it blocking shots

I would risk it to see his game continue to grow and develop as having a 1c who can be on your PP, PK and score 50-60 goals would be a massive bonus.

Even if u bring Murray back if Kerfoot's moved they got around 4mill in cap. And when u look at this team rn man its hard to justify keeping him especially if u want to upgrade 2nd pair RD

Praying for Tanev every day lul

Really need another D

bergeron is a first and foremost defensive center, Oilers have nobody good enough outside of McDavid, Drai, RNH, Hyman to be trusted with any responsibility, etc etc

and we already know he CAN be that. If we needed it, he could be used on PK but we don't need it so why do that? I'd rather use him more at 5v5 and let our bottom 6 which has more defensive specialists than most teams, take on PK minutes