Ryan Garner: Separating First-Day Fact from Fiction

Ryan Garner: Separating First-Day Fact from Fiction
- Ryan Garner

Good read. Do you think if things don't go quite as planned they move one of the core guys or will it be the newer additions that get moved if anyone does ?

Ryan Garner: Separating First-Day Fact from Fiction
- Ryan Garner

Good read Ryan.

I’m a little concerned about this division that continues to exist in the team...that division seems to have shifted into new additions vs. longtime Oilers...Purcell already deflecting some of the blame away from himself and others if things don’t go smoothly...Why can’t the Oilers just be a team
- Purcell

easier said than done with a mix of new faces.
- Garner

There is no division created by the team, it is created by the media.

All summer both new additions and returning players have had the media asking about how much of an impact these new guys will bring.

I think Purcell is right in his statement, and it goes for both new and old. No one player is saving this team. These new guys are coming in and will help provide depth, and that will help in the long run.

You are right in calling it fact, though I think you are inferring tone where there is none.

You are right in calling it fact, though I think you are inferring tone where there is none.
- OilHorse

Well. a statement like “We’re not going to come in and save the day, but we’re going to come in and provide some good depth", sounds like tone to me.

I just want them to be playing meaningul hockey in April. If they make the playoffs, that's awesome, but as long as they are challenging for that final spot, then it shows we have finally turned that corner.

There is no division created by the team, it is created by the media.

All summer both new additions and returning players have had the media asking about how much of an impact these new guys will bring.

I think Purcell is right in his statement, and it goes for both new and old. No one player is saving this team. These new guys are coming in and will help provide depth, and that will help in the long run.

You are right in calling it fact, though I think you are inferring tone where there is none.
- OilHorse

I think there is a bit, but for the most part it's overblown.

As for Purcell he is bang on. They didn't bring one superstar in this off-season. It's all depth players to support the current roster. Hopefully it's enough.

I think there is a bit, but for the most part it's overblown.

As for Purcell he is bang on. They didn't bring one superstar in this off-season. It's all depth players to support the current roster. Hopefully it's enough.
- Lahey

The depth players are much better than what has been brought in in the past. Will it be enough? probably not, but all depends on how the younger guys in their second/third season step up. Goaltending is the biggest question mark in my opinion.

Mackenzie was on 1260 this morning and basically said the only thing that will keep Draisaitl off the team or limit his effectiveness this year is his first step acceleration which lots of guys lack at 18-19 years old. Many scouts were saying after Penticton that his top end speed is NHL ready just that first step.

That first step is key down low for separating from defenders in the offensive zone, keeping up in the dzone as well.

I hope they monitor this appropriately and make sure he is okay after 9 games

Mackenzie was on 1260 this morning and basically said the only thing that will keep Draisaitl off the team or limit his effectiveness this year is his first step acceleration which lots of guys lack at 18-19 years old. Many scouts were saying after Penticton that his top end speed is NHL ready just that first step.

That first step is key down low for separating from defenders in the offensive zone, keeping up in the dzone as well.

I hope they monitor this appropriately and make sure he is okay after 9 games
- ystoil

The Oil did bring in that skating coach. I'm sure there are a few key guys that will be spending lots of time with him.

The Oil did bring in that skating coach. I'm sure there are a few key guys that will be spending lots of time with him.
- ChetManly

Yep but I think skating isn't an overnight thing, I'd hate for him to have to learn and adapt against the best talent if it's not there already.

I'd be okay with the SEL if they can guarantee him 18min a night, his skating will definitely improve on a bigger ice surface

The Oil did bring in that skating coach. I'm sure there are a few key guys that will be spending lots of time with him.
- ChetManly

And much of the mass LD has adding this off-season has been in his lower body. Just going to be a matter of tweaking things now.

Here's the question. Is he really any slower than Gagner was in acceleration?

Here's the question. Is he really any slower than Gagner was in acceleration?
- Lahey

Well we saw how Gagner's defensive game was exposed due to his lack of acceleration, do we want the same to occur for Leon?

Well we saw how Gagner's defensive game was exposed due to his lack of acceleration, do we want the same to occur for Leon?
- ystoil

Gagner was also a (frank)ing idiot defensively that didn't have the smarts that Leon does.

Pronger was one of our slowest skaters and yet he was the best defender this team has had in 25 years.

And much of the mass LD has adding this off-season has been in his lower body. Just going to be a matter of tweaking things now.
- Lahey

Hope so

Gagner was also a (frank)ing idiot defensively that didn't have the smarts that Leon does.
- Lahey

Fair point. Scouts raved about his hockey sense

But part of it was his inability to "get there" to cover his assignments

And much of the mass LD has adding this off-season has been in his lower body. Just going to be a matter of tweaking things now.
- Lahey

and that relates to pretty much all guys at some point and time. I'm sure guys that have been playing for 20 years can always use some tweaking and reminders.

and that relates to pretty much all guys at some point and time. I'm sure guys that have been playing for 20 years can always use some tweaking and reminders.
- ChetManly

Struds actually talked about how dancing with the stars( or whatever the (frank) he was on) has made him realize that figure skating should be a must for anyone that wants to be a NHLer. At whatever age he was on the show he said it's made him a much better skater. All about using your edges, something he never learned until after his career.

And how much time did it take Struds to really learn?

Struds actually talked about how dancing with the stars( or whatever the (frank) he was on) has made him realize that figure skating should be a must for anyone that wants to be a NHLer. At whatever age he was on the show he said it's made him a much better skater. All about using your edges, something he never learned until after his career.

And how much time did it take Struds to really learn?
- Lahey

At the same pace he is losing his hair

At the same pace he is losing his hair
- ystoil

You know of all the ex-oilers that we hire I sure hope one day he is hired somewhere in this organization.

You know of all the ex-oilers that we hire I sure hope one day he is hired somewhere in this organization.
- Lahey

Yep. He tells it like it is. He's also pretty adamant on sending Leon back to junior (even if he said he wont go to the dub). I like his way of thinking.

Also says he wouldn't trade any of Klefbom, Nurse, or Marincin

Good read. Do you think if things don't go quite as planned they move one of the core guys or will it be the newer additions that get moved if anyone does ?
- blizzzard

depends on what's available and coming back, not going to make a trade just to make a trade

depends on what's available and coming back, not going to make a trade just to make a trade
- SpoiledByOil

At some point it's going to come to that if they don't start winning

Yakupov, Eberle, Petry are probably the top three "tradeable" pieces.