Oh of course, Tampa was a stronger matchup than LA. And as Fake mentioned, Matthews and Marner played much better this year than last year vs Montreal.

Calgary kinda imploded but they remain a good team and McDavid and Draisatl kept scoring at a ridiculous pace against them.

Even vs Colorado, how many points did they get despite not winning a game? A quick research gave me this:

McDavid had 7 in 4.
Draisatl had 6 in 4.

Sure they didn't face Vasilevsky or Carey Price in net but they still found a way to contribute significantly and give their team a chance to win.

So yeah, maybe it's most about opposition, but even as a hockey fan not cheering for Toronto specifically, you kinda wish you'd see Matthews have the same kind of performance in a playoffs series.

It's not a knock on him at all, just so we're clear.
- Scabeh

A. I definitely would have loved to have seen Matthews, Marner, JT or Willy or a combo of any of those take over a game like McJesus & Dry Saddle did in spurts.

B. The Flames goalie who was hot all year pooped the bed - to me that was the biggest factor in the series. Smith was m'eh but Marky was bleh

C. I will just agree that the Oilers haven't faced a top notch goalie yet - Quick was for periods of time but LA was so bad defensively it didn't matter.

D. Anyone else here wondering where the *&$! the 2022 playoff Zac Hyman we saw was during his time here? He played with the top line and was never as much of a factor as he was this year in Edmonton - that frustrates me but I still think the Oilers way overpaid for him and the last couple years of that contract (or more) will really sting. IT wont matter though because by then Matthews and McJesus will both be Leafs.

- Scabeh

Ok that's fair but you can't say that without factoring in when the Oilers star players were able to "take over" and when they were not.

They took over games vs LA, less vs Calagary and none when they faced the Avs, one of if not the best team in the league (sorry Panthers). The Leafs played Tampa the 2 time defending champs - big difference between them and the LA Kings.
- Cush29

In 4 games against the avs
McDavid had 7pts - 1.75ppg
Draisaitl had 6pts - 1.5ppg
Vs Calgary
Mcdavid had 12pts in 5 games - 2.4ppg
Draisailt had 17pts in games - 3.4 ppg
Vs LA
Mcd had 15pts in 7 games - 2.14 ppg
Draisaitl had 9pts in 7 games - 1.28ppg

So their best series was againts the flames
Matthews had 9pts in 7 games - 1.28 ppg.
So he equalled leons worse ppg against the worse team. Leo got better against better competition.

Just saying

A. I definitely would have loved to have seen Matthews, Marner, JT or Willy or a combo of any of those take over a game like McJesus & Dry Saddle did in spurts.

B. The Flames goalie who was hot all year pooped the bed - to me that was the biggest factor in the series. Smith was m'eh but Marky was bleh

C. I will just agree that the Oilers haven't faced a top notch goalie yet - Quick was for periods of time but LA was so bad defensively it didn't matter.

D. Anyone else here wondering where the *&$! the 2022 playoff Zac Hyman we saw was during his time here? He played with the top line and was never as much of a factor as he was this year in Edmonton - that frustrates me but I still think the Oilers way overpaid for him and the last couple years of that contract (or more) will really sting. IT wont matter though because by then Matthews and McJesus will both be Leafs.


- Cush29

??

That’s not fair. Maillaux only goes after young girls, not grown women.
- Canada Cup

If by young girls you mean girls older than him than sure.

A. I definitely would have loved to have seen Matthews, Marner, JT or Willy or a combo of any of those take over a game like McJesus & Dry Saddle did in spurts.

B. The Flames goalie who was hot all year pooped the bed - to me that was the biggest factor in the series. Smith was m'eh but Marky was bleh

C. I will just agree that the Oilers haven't faced a top notch goalie yet - Quick was for periods of time but LA was so bad defensively it didn't matter.

D. Anyone else here wondering where the *&$! the 2022 playoff Zac Hyman we saw was during his time here? He played with the top line and was never as much of a factor as he was this year in Edmonton - that frustrates me but I still think the Oilers way overpaid for him and the last couple years of that contract (or more) will really sting. IT wont matter though because by then Matthews and McJesus will both be Leafs.


- Cush29

To be fair to Hyman. He was poop last year because he was playing on one leg and before that year he was pretty much a 20g-35-40p guy who just happened to be on the top line.

Best goalie...not a hard choice - Shesterkin
- senstroll

Yup. Build from the net out.

If by young girls you mean girls older than him than sure.
- Scabeh

My only issue was with Bergevin drafting him against his wishes.

Yup. Build from the net out.
- Fakepartofme

By making a smart 118th pick

Yup!

Shesty .943 vs Vasi .880 in this series.
- 21peter

This and the way Vasi was in the Leaf series shows just how deep Tampa is.....and I'm jealous.

What about a 3, 4, or arguably 5 headed monster? Asking for some friends.....

- Cush29

My only issue was with Bergevin drafting him against his wishes.
- Canada Cup

Yeah.

I get that.

If anything, for Mailloux, it blew his whole situation out of proportion.

I'm hoping he can focus on hockey and people will let it go at some point as far worse stuff have happened with way less backlash.

By making a smart 118th pick
- Canada Cup

In the original question by spatso, it was who out of those players would you pick first not who should have been drafted first.

#Smart@sscommentfail.

To be fair to Hyman. He was poop last year because he was playing on one leg and before that year he was pretty much a 20g-35-40p guy who just happened to be on the top line.
- AdamFrench

Edmonton will be hard pressed to make the playoffs next year. If they do, they likely will not face a poopbag team like LA. Pass on Hyman at $5.5M x 7. Wonder how much of a fan favorite he is when McDavid is gone and he is making $5.5M at ages 34 and 35.

Edmonton will be hard pressed to make the playoffs next year. If they do, they likely will not face a poopbag team like LA. Pass on Hyman at $5.5M x 7. Wonder how much of a fan favorite he is when McDavid is gone and he is making $5.5M at ages 34 and 35.
- winsix

Pretty sure they'll burn down the city if/when McDavid leaves.

In 4 games against the avs
McDavid had 7pts - 1.75ppg
Draisaitl had 6pts - 1.5ppg
Vs Calgary
Mcdavid had 12pts in 5 games - 2.4ppg
Draisailt had 17pts in games - 3.4 ppg
Vs LA
Mcd had 15pts in 7 games - 2.14 ppg
Draisaitl had 9pts in 7 games - 1.28ppg

So their best series was againts the flames
Matthews had 9pts in 7 games - 1.28 ppg.
So he equalled leons worse ppg against the worse team. Leo got better against better competition.

Just saying
- Fakepartofme

And as I said LA and Calgary as nowhere near the teams the Avs or Tampa are and let's not pretend the Avs/Oilers series was a good defensive series- it was at times pure pond hockey.

Once the 2 big guns from Edmonton got feeling good in their LA series I would think that helped them vs a Tampa series where Matthews was tightly checked and still produced.

I have no real problem with how the Leafs big stars played this post season and if we are going to start playing the 'why couldn't Leaf players play as well as player X who is still in the playoffs" start with the Rangers and goaltending and flat out stealing games (plural) vs Campbell, McKinnon and his dominance vs who Mik? Willy? Marner?, Makar vs Reilly.....the list goes on and one.

To me the Leafs didn't lose because their top players didn't show up unlike previous years and that's progress.

I couldnt watch 5mins of golf on tv even if you paid me to.
But this Saudi league looks fun.

But I still wont watch.
- Fakepartofme

A bunch of over the hill golfers licking the boots of murderous sportswashers?

No thanks.

Lol, just learned that Marchand will serve a 3 game suspension after returning from double hip surgery. That really is adding insult to injury

I couldnt watch 5mins of golf on tv even if you paid me to.
But this Saudi league looks fun.

But I still wont watch.
- Fakepartofme

https://twitter.com/shoot...&t=mh4GypNDA2VMkqmGYfE40A

This is great

And as I said LA and Calgary as nowhere near the teams the Avs or Tampa are and let's not pretend the Avs/Oilers series was a good defensive series- it was at times pure pond hockey.

Once the 2 big guns from Edmonton got feeling good in their LA series I would think that helped them vs a Tampa series where Matthews was tightly checked and still produced.

I have no real problem with how the Leafs big stars played this post season and if we are going to start playing the 'why couldn't Leaf players play as well as player X who is still in the playoffs" start with the Rangers and goaltending and flat out stealing games (plural) vs Campbell, McKinnon and his dominance vs who Mik? Willy? Marner?, Makar vs Reilly.....the list goes on and one.

To me the Leafs didn't lose because their top players didn't show up unlike previous years and that's progress.
- Cush29

This playoff, the Leafs were lacking secondary scoring.. Miheyev had 2 goals, but both were EN. Engvall didn't score, Bunting only had 1.. The only guys that were scoring were Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares and Rielly.

If the Leafs just had some calls go their way, the series would have been over in 6.

??


- 21peter

I bet you're the guy who corrects people's use of your vs you're aren't you?

I bet you're the guy who corrects people's use of your vs you're aren't you?

- Cush29

Only for a selected few

This playoff, the Leafs were lacking secondary scoring.. Miheyev had 2 goals, but both were EN. Engvall didn't score, Bunting only had 1.. The only guys that were scoring were Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares and Rielly.

If the Leafs just had some calls go their way, the series would have been over in 6.
- PatC80

Through their seven game playoff stretch, the Leafs were averaging a league high 6.1 penalties per game. Their total penalties per game increased the most from the regular season – jumping up by a full 2.5 penalties per game.

I bet you're the guy who corrects people's use of your vs you're aren't you?

- Cush29

yore*

This playoff, the Leafs were lacking secondary scoring.. Miheyev had 2 goals, but both were EN. Engvall didn't score, Bunting only had 1.. The only guys that were scoring were Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares and Rielly.

If the Leafs just had some calls go their way, the series would have been over in 6.
- PatC80

Maybe on the calls but if they had the secondary scoring they needed the calls may not have made any difference. So 2 years ago the big boys couldn't score, this year they fixed that and the secondary scoring dried up - next year both should be fixed then and they win right?

Or is it a 'lack of production from the blueline" that is year 3 problem and they fix that and win in year 4?


I am looking forward to a full season of Gio on the point letting that bomb of a shot go. #GIO4PP1