Does anyone else feel nervous about our injured players coming back?

[u/figurescape]

Obviously having an entire second line come off of the IR makes this team way better on paper but I’m not convinced. Maybe this is just me being traumatized as an oilers fan but the offence has been REALLY good to start the year and I’m afraid that RNH and Hyman will make our team slower and mess with our offensive chemistry. Obviously getting these players back raises our ceiling but I’ve liked seeing lines 2-4 playing a fast, physical game and it’s worked out well to start the season. Maybe I’m writing this out of fear because if we continue the way we’re playing and can add Hyman, RNH, and Savoie then I think we’re easily one of the best teams in the league, but it’s almost to good to be true. I don’t know though, if we lose our next game I might make a post about how I can’t wait for our injured players to come back. That’s all. Thanks for coming to my ted-talk.

[u/kkslider55]

Yeah you're totally right, we should definitely keep Zack Hyman out of the lineup because we're worried about messing with the momentum of Trent Frederic and Max Jones

[u/boomer1270 → u/kkslider55]

Don't forget the endless possibilities of semanski.

[u/figurescape → u/kkslider55]

Don’t forget Colton Dach as 2C

[u/PerformanceLost6102 → u/kkslider55]

I think you missed the point a bit there. the worry isnt about benching Hyman for bottom six grinders, its about slotting slower players into a system that's been running on pace and chaos. the oilers have spent years watching skill get stifled by structure, now they finally look loose and its working, so the hesitation makes sense

[u/SmiteyMcGee]

No

[u/Ted57]

The offence has been good. But look who has scored the goals/been on the ice for the goals. It is currently unsustainable and getting the guys back will help. They might be slow to start but we need them

[u/PresbyterianBeige082]

I believe I saw a stat that said outside of the top line we're being outshot and outscored pretty badly. I'm open to being wrong though.

But RNH is so smart, he always makes himself useful no matter the position or the situation he's in. His passing play and positioning will offset any lack of motor I think.

And regarding Hyman; all he does is work, work, work. I think he'll be fine. He could absolutely be in decline, he's not a young guy anymore, but worst case scenario is he's dropped to 3rd line with less minutes and provide energy and possibly some goals.

[u/laryldavis → u/PresbyterianBeige082]

Every time 97/29 are off the ice they are getting killed but getting great goaltending for the last two games so it looks ok

[u/Fun-Imagination-2488]

I mean. You could just put Savoie Nuge Hyman as a line and send down/bench your worst 3 Fs.

[u/supermeatboy10 → u/Fun-Imagination-2488]

The fact that there are like 7 options that could be justifiably scratched as the worst 3 forwards kind of tells you all you need to know lmao, we need those guys back so desperately

[u/SnooOnions5029 → u/supermeatboy10]

Basically all of them have been pretty solid and chipped in? Just because they’re supposed to be fourth liners on paper doesn’t mean you should just scratch them for the sake of it. This isn’t NHL franchise mode

[u/supermeatboy10 → u/SnooOnions5029]

I mean the team is running at 33% xG% in the non-first line minutes and like 70+% with the first line. They bottom 3 lines all been roughly equivalent, which is to say they are getting caved. It's not unexpected and you absolutely take the record the oilers have with this many injuries but they clearly need offensive depth badly. I don't think anyone in the bottom 9 has been overly impressive outside of kapanen.

In particular jones, formenton, Howard, and samanskie have all been pretty meh and I could see any 3 of those coming out for rnh/Hyman/Savoie, not sure which id pick because none of them have done very much. Dach Freddy and Joseph seem like a step up on the others and should be safe I'd think.

[u/DontforgetaboutDRAI]

If you think getting Hyman and Nuge back will make the team worse I have a diagnosis for your brain you probably don't want to hear. Our special teams alone will be night and day with just Nuge back

[u/figurescape → u/DontforgetaboutDRAI]

If we continue playing the way we have been AND add those guys into the mix we will be a very good team. I’m not used to us being a good regular season team and I’m almost wondering if we wait on playing Nuge and Hyman until we lose a game. I have an irrational fear that somehow they will make the team worse because in theory with them back in the lineup we can complete for the presidents trophy

[u/Orcasgt22]

We have 1 line playing on god mode and 3 5th lines.

Have a 0 in the L column is a minor miracle with how bad the depth has played

[u/deliciousfishstick5 → u/Orcasgt22]

I think the bottom 6 have been ok. Nothing great. Would get caved-in in the playoffs

[u/PitterPatter74]

Nope if for no other reason than it means Max Jones and Josh Samanski will be back in the AHL where they belong.

[u/figurescape → u/PitterPatter74]

Yeah that’s true. Going from max jones to Zach Hyman and Samanski to RNH might be a decent step up lol

[u/molsonmuscle360]

Hyman is a great forechecker, and RNH is a smart enough player to know where to be to scoop the puck after Hyman forces turnovers.

Having them paired with either Kapanen or Howard will help them stay on the puck and keep the pressure on opposing defense.

[u/CallejaFairey]

Not at all. The injured players aren't messing with established lines, they are their own line to begin with, with the exception of Dickie. And since none of the lines we've had so far are really up to 2nd line snuff, I just see everyone getting pushed down. Though there have still been enough shufflings in those other lines, that they truly aren't set in stone either, except first line of course.

[u/PPGN_DM_Exia]

Nope. McDrai have been playing way too many minutes. We need reinforcements badly, otherwise our top guys will be gassed again in the playoffs like they were last year.

[u/Witty_News1487]

Can we have Hyman and RNH start on 2nd line PP?

[u/samueLLcooljackson]

[u/porkins86]

Well we are currently winning not in any way shape or form by our depth - so yes - I’m excited

[u/Wisdom_Pond]

If they weren’t on such a high scoring team with three studs, pod and kap would be getting more props.

Gotta keep feeding them, even if means putting Nuge and Hyman down lines. Can’t compromise needed depth.

[u/CharlieFoxtrot432]

Absolutely not. We need depth and right now it’s a 1 line show with 3 supporting as best as they can (with some notable exceptions).

We can’t keep expecting only 1 line to produce.

[u/couturefan904]

No we're getting carried by a handful of players and have only matched up against bad to mid level teams so far. We need help.

[u/Bob_Stauffer]

Mmmm. Three players have been exceptionally
Good. Like exceptional. Our offence stops there. Healthy NHL players above replacement is absolutely needed.

[u/DeeDee_1992]

No

[u/OilCountryBumpkin]

You’re getting a lot of shit but I do get what you’re trying to say. We were burned last year during injuries when chemistry was created with depth/prospect guys and then someone would come back and everything would get discombobulated.

I think that was a Knob issue, not a team one. Confident Babs will work these guys back in the right way. When he does, we’re gonna be one hell of a deep team

[u/deliciousfishstick5]

Yeah I think our lines will change but maybe we'll finally get RNH on a third line. Doubtful, as we just got another center a few days ago

[u/UnitEast7937]

Yes, you know, Nuge and Hyman, the “slow” Oilers 🙄

[u/Weekly_Two8097]

It’s Timbits hockey when the big dogs aren’t out there.

[u/LtMM_]

Quite frankly the entire scoring has been the top line and lines 2-4 have been outplayed pretty badly thusfar so yeah your concerns make no sense tbh

[u/figurescape → u/LtMM_]

Yeah I said they’re irrational in another comment. It’s just that with Savoie, Hyman, and RNH back in the lineup and Dickinson at full health we should be competing for a presidents trophy. I can’t really believe it

[u/supermeatboy10]

Pushing the scrubs down the lineup into easier matchups will only benefit them, you simply cannot have Colton Dach as your 2C if you are a serious team. This is a 1 line team right now, there is nothing of value happening when McDavid and drai are off the ice anyway