An NHL defenseman should know not to pinch there.

Hunt is not (yet) an NHL defenseman (may never be).
- Morris

Its actually not the worst pinch to make, but its the fact that he makes his pinch be leaning and waving his stick, versus pressuring Richards on the body that makes it so bad. If that weak side forward pressures hard back then nothing bad really happens.

He actually looks to have well enough support at the time of going for the pinch, but a stick waving pinch isn't going to accomplish anything.

That video basically sums up something I brought up last night on how easily the Oilers get carved by a strong side break out.

Also shows another point where since the Oilers don't play well in the neutral zone it usually leaves the back defenceman in "i'm (frank)ed land"

Although that gap by Ference was well beyond "i'm (frank)ed land"
- DTF69

That was pretty brutal all around, clearly it's not all Eakins and a lot of these players are just in over their heads.

Great breakdown of how the Oilers just aren't equipped/prepared to deal with good breakouts.
- DTF69

Eakins take notes..

Or Mact hire this guy (im joking)

Its actually not the worst pinch to make, but its the fact that he makes his pinch be leaning and waving his stick, versus pressuring Richards on the body that makes it so bad.

He actually looks to have well enough support at the time of going for the pinch, but a stick waving pinch isn't going to accomplish anything.
- DTF69

Pretty amazing how little things like that make the difference between being capable in the AHL versus the NHL. I suspect Eakins is pulling his hair out because he sees it happening constantly, but then again he did scratch Petry in favour of Hunt/Nurse.

That was pretty brutal all around, clearly it's not all Eakins and a lot of these players are just in over their heads.
- Nucker101

Yes and no. A coach can't play and physically position players, but while you can say "he didn't coach that awful coverage" you're left to wonder "Well, what is he coaching since it happens every game?"

Yes and no. A coach can't play and physically position players, but while you can say "he didn't coach that awful coverage" you're left to wonder "Well, what is he coaching since it happens every game?"
- DTF69

True.

You know who would actually have a lot of fun coachingn this team? Marc Crawford, that guy loves to run n' gun. Not sure it would be actually bring results though.

You know who would actually have a lot of fun coachingn this team? Marc Crawford, that guy loves to run n' gun. Not sure it would be actually bring results though.
- Nucker101

Only if he brings bertuzzi with him to "protect/retaliate."

Pretty amazing how little things like that make the difference between being capable in the AHL versus the NHL. I suspect Eakins is pulling his hair out because he sees it happening constantly, but then again he did scratch Petry in favour of Hunt/Nurse.
- Nucker101

I have a feeling that Hunt is going to be a career AHL+/AAAA style player.

Cory Murphy. Darren Haydar. Jason Krog.

How quickly the optimism goes... give the Oilers two games. Against Arizona and the Canucks the Oilers could get two wins. Suddenly that puts the team 2-2-1. Let's put down the pitchforks for now
- freelancer

No putting the pitchforks down. For now we sharpen them and wait...

You know who would actually have a lot of fun coachingn this team? Marc Crawford, that guy loves to run n' gun. Not sure it would be actually bring results though.
- Nucker101

Defence was optional under Crow. Perfect recipe for Jovanovksi for all those years.

There are two ways to think of the problem: on one hand, you need to rightly perceive when a big change needs to be made. Maybe this is one of those times.

On the other hand, if you keep concentrating on how doomed you are and the big picture instead of taking it a shift, a period, a game at a time, you totally play right into the negative self-destructiveness that has had them in a funk for the past couple of seasons.
- Morris

I think you hit the nail right on the head right here Morris.

Only one isles fan allowed in these parks
- mighty13duck

Yep so beat it.

Defence was optional under Crow. Perfect recipe for Jovanovksi for all those years.
- DTF69

I was pretty young back during the prime WCE days, but I used to love when Jovo would literally take off and go to the front of the net.

Ray Ferraro taking a bite of the Oilers on the radio. God I miss Ferraro doing colour

Its actually not the worst pinch to make, but its the fact that he makes his pinch be leaning and waving his stick, versus pressuring Richards on the body that makes it so bad. If that weak side forward pressures hard back then nothing bad really happens.

He actually looks to have well enough support at the time of going for the pinch, but a stick waving pinch isn't going to accomplish anything.
- DTF69

The weak side forward (Joensuu, #6) is definitely writing writing cheques his feet can't cash on this play. He turns to hold the blueline at :55 seconds when at that point not only has Hunt failed to put much pressure on Richards, but Matt Greene already has the puck going North-South. Yakimov doesn't do anything on that play either.

I guess for me it comes down to cost-benefit for both Joensuu and Hunt. Hunt is neither faster than Richards, nor particularly close to Richards (nor able to outmuscle him) so the commitment to pinching there seems entirely perfunctory. Perhaps an NHLer could successfully pinch there, but I don't think Hunt ever could.

I was pretty young back during the prime WCE days, but I used to love when Jovo would literally take off and go to the front of the net.
- Nucker101

He was such a good skater he could do it though. A lot like Karlsson in Ottawa where he'll lead the rush, play on the cycle and still make it back to turn a 2on1 into a 2on2.

The weak side forward (Joensuu, #6) is definitely writing writing cheques his feet can't cash on this play. He turns to hold the blueline at :55 seconds when at that point not only has Hunt failed to put much pressure on Richards, but Matt Greene already has the puck going North-South. Yakimov doesn't do anything on that play either.

I guess for me it comes down to cost-benefit for both Joensuu and Hunt. Hunt is neither faster than Richards, nor particularly close to Richards (nor able to outmuscle him) so the commitment to pinching there seems entirely perfunctory.
- Morris

True. I wasn't quite sure which forwards those were on the ice but Hunt should know in that situation that if it is Joensuu and Yakimov that you can't make that pinch.

I think another issue with Hunt is that in the AHL, the guy in Richards spot is going to just bang that up the boards 95% of the time, and that play he makes probably works out of habit. but in the NHL guys are able to make that adjustment that Richards made to open up a 3 on 2 out of the zone.

I don't want to slight the Oilers too too much for aggressive forechecking though, since that's been a missing piece of the puzzle both at a team and individual level. I actually believe some guys like Yakupov and Gagner were probably learning to effectively forecheck for the first time, and lapses of judgement certainly come from that.

I'd like to see a much tighter neutral zone game. Ference does essentially ceded the 2 on 1 and I think he's gesturing for Yakimov/Joensuu to take the shooter, but obviously it's too little too late.

Ray Ferraro taking a bite of the Oilers on the radio. God I miss Ferraro doing colour
- DTF69

Remenda has been pretty good about point flaws so far. As good as you can get when you have to ride the plane with the guys

Petry for B Schenn

True. I wasn't quite sure which forwards those were on the ice but Hunt should know in that situation that if it is Joensuu and Yakimov that you can't make that pinch.

I think another issue with Hunt is that in the AHL, the guy in Richards spot is going to just bang that up the boards 95% of the time, and that play he makes probably works out of habit. but in the NHL guys are able to make that adjustment that Richards made to open up a 3 on 2 out of the zone.
- DTF69

Yeah, credit where credit is due especially for Richards' play 'dissipating the pressure' as the video says - it's the kind of poise that's missing with our in-zone play.

There's a version of that play where everything with Martinez, Richards, and Hunt happens the way it does but there's more presence of mind in the neutral zone from Ference and Co. where we maybe give up the zone but not a goal.

Eric and Jordan Staal for Eberle, Gordon, Petry, and a 1st.

I really think we should trade someone. Possibly someone from the "core". It'd open up the eyes of the other members.

Has anyone ever thought about giving uo Hall? :/

Yeah, credit where credit is due especially for Richards' play 'dissipating the pressure' as the video says - it's the kind of poise that's missing with our in-zone play.

There's a version of that play where everything with Martinez, Richards, and Hunt happens the way it does but there's more presence of mind in the neutral zone from Ference and Co. where we maybe give up the zone but not a goal.
- Morris

You probably give up the zone, but Kopitar just takes it low and wide and it becomes a regular entry if Yakimov or Joensuu identify Williams better.

Also, I think its Joensuu that makes just a poop teir play at the LA line that costs him any and all positioning.