Sean Maloughney: GD36: Oilers @ Leafs - Yeah But...

Glendening is coming to da Oil!! Kenny loves this guy!

Glendening is coming to da Oil!! Kenny loves this guy!
- HenryHockey

If he can kill penalties, win faceoffs and play 8-12 minutes a night adequately and be had for next to nothing I'm ok with it. Our bottom 6 is probably the best it's been in a whole lot of years, but there's still lots of room for improvement.

If he can kill penalties, win faceoffs and play 8-12 minutes a night adequately and be had for next to nothing I'm ok with it. Our bottom 6 is probably the best it's been in a whole lot of years, but there's still lots of room for improvement.
- abware

To answer these questions in order:
1. Can he kill penalties? No. AT 71.72% the Wings are the worst in the league and Glendining is a key contributor.
2. Can he win face-offs. Absolutely. He has a career rate of 55% and a seasonal rate near 65%.
3. Can he play 8-12 minutes per night? Yes and No. Detroit uses him far more than this, but it shows in his play. He is a fourth liner and should be utilized far more sparingly.

On a competitive team like the Oilers, Tippet would likely relegate Glendening to being a short-shifted defensive zone face-off specialist. He could be a useful addition, much more so than the Staal acquisition in Montreal, but equally unsatisfying. More desirable and fitting players will be available.

Let’s go for mantha instead

Let’s go for mantha instead
- OilHead1989

Haha, wouldn't that be great.

McDavid is actually the best hockey player to ever play.

Just miles above the competition.

McDavid is actually the best hockey player to ever play.

Just miles above the competition.
- Oilers4Life14

There was another guy who was even better than everyone he played against. He was pretty great. Pretty sure he has a few records still.

Honestly I dont think anyone has or ever will see the game like Gretz did. Yes McDavid is a better player, but Waynes vision on the ice was unparalleled. He was so far ahead of his peers in his youth and prime it was unreal. I was really young but, man he was truly something else.

McDavid is actually the best hockey player to ever play.

Just miles above the competition.
- Oilers4Life14

He’s got no one around him tho. Sweet comeback by the Leafs tonight! They outplayed EDM start to finish

you're some kind of special aren't you?

He’s got no one around him tho. Sweet comeback by the Leafs tonight! They outplayed EDM start to finish
- AxlRose91

Classic HomerRose91

Really Smith? You can make two fu*cking saves to salvage my pick 3 ticket??

Un-Fu*cking-real...

Classic HomerRose91
- Not_Yan

But, I mean....they did outplay them significantly

McDavid is ridiculous, but Leafs are a considerably stronger team

There was another guy who was even better than everyone he played against. He was pretty great. Pretty sure he has a few records still.

Honestly I dont think anyone has or ever will see the game like Gretz did. Yes McDavid is a better player, but Waynes vision on the ice was unparalleled. He was so far ahead of his peers in his youth and prime it was unreal. I was really young but, man he was truly something else.
- abware

Gretzky will always hold those records, but you play Gretzky in today's era, while he'd still be a great player, he wouldn't be able to do what McDavid is doing.

McDavid in Gretzky's high scoring era, holy poop would he ever just destroy.

I never saw Gretzky play, I was a year old when he retired, but to think McDavid hasn't even reach his full potential is terrifying.

But, I mean....they did outplay them significantly

McDavid is ridiculous, but Leafs are a considerably stronger team
- AxlRose91

Maybe in the third. The second was Edmonton's period.

While Toronto had more shots in the first, Edmonton had the better chances.

In all honesty though, Marner interfering with Kassian should have been called, along with Kassian's hit and McDavid's cross check.

Game management is a joke.

There was another guy who was even better than everyone he played against. He was pretty great. Pretty sure he has a few records still.

Honestly I dont think anyone has or ever will see the game like Gretz did. Yes McDavid is a better player, but Waynes vision on the ice was unparalleled. He was so far ahead of his peers in his youth and prime it was unreal. I was really young but, man he was truly something else.
- abware

It's hard to measure players from different eras. I am in my late 60s and have played, coached and watched a LOT of hockey.
The best player I ever saw, and it's not really that close, is Bobby Orr before his knee injuries.
He led the league in scoring from defense. He dominated games from start to finish. His skating was not as fast as McDavid but better edges and power, saw the ice like Gretzky, could shoot it, didn't mind if it got a little rough, etc.
Would love to see all the greats in their primes at the same time, but that's only possible in a game I guess.

Gretzky will always hold those records, but you play Gretzky in today's era, while he'd still be a great player, he wouldn't be able to do what McDavid is doing.

McDavid in Gretzky's high scoring era, holy poop would he ever just destroy.

I never saw Gretzky play, I was a year old when he retired, but to think McDavid hasn't even reach his full potential is terrifying.
- Oilers4Life14

Obviously dropping Gretzky into today's game or McDavid in the 80's Connor would be undeniably better, but give Wayne today's training, diet, equipment etc and I'd give it to Gretz. He was so far ahead of everyone in the league until Mario came along. But that's just my opinion, and being fortunate to watch both of those guys wearing the Jersey of the team I've been a fan of since birth is an absolute honor.

Obviously dropping Gretzky into today's game or McDavid in the 80's Connor would be undeniably better, but give Wayne today's training, diet, equipment etc and I'd give it to Gretz. He was so far ahead of everyone in the league until Mario came along. But that's just my opinion, and being fortunate to watch both of those guys wearing the Jersey of the team I've been a fan of since birth is an absolute honor.
- abware

Well McDavid looks like the best player in the game right now, certainly the best skater .
However , through no fault of his own, we haven't seen how he would handle the pressure of playing in a Stanley Cup final.
Can he still dominate when it tightens up like Crosby, Gretzky, Lemieux , Orr and the other all time greats have proven they can?
Hopefully we will see (but not this year) since I am hoping it's the Leafs in the final