NHL 2023-2024: Conference Finals. Stars/Oilers and Rangers/Panthers

[jingle.boy]

The Bs would have to throw in a few 1st round draft picks for that to make sense. I’m Leary of any team going after Ullmark, lest they get “Sabres” Ullmark. I’m still not sure if he’s really as good as he’s been in a Boston uniform.

[TAC]

The Bs would have to throw in a few 1st round draft picks for that to make sense. I’m Leary of any team going after Ullmark, lest they get “Sabres” Ullmark. I’m still not sure if he’s really as good as he’s been in a Boston uniform.

I thought Sabres Ullmark was still a pretty good goalie. The problem was the Sabres part.
At least that’s what we were sold.

Not for nothing but he’s been outstanding in his three years here including last year’s Vezina.

[romdrums]

For that trade to make sense for GM Ken Holland, Boston could offer Ullmark, Jake DeBrusk, and a first for Draisaitl, and Holland would sign that faster than you can say, "hey, aren't the Red Wings still paying off that 7-year deal he gave Justin Abdelkader?"

[Anguyen92]

I think this season is Ken Holland's last season with the Oilers and I think, behind the scenes, there's been a bit of a power shift in Oilers management, so I don't think Holland gets to be the one that makes the desperate trade for a more proven goalie if the Oilers can't get over the hump and win the cup.

[SchecterShredder]

Holland is done this summer, and plans to allegedly retire. No way executive mgmt lets him make any big deals.

Any trade for a goalie is going to include Campbell going the other way. Or dumped to a team looking to get to the cap floor, if there's even any of those left with Arizona moving to Utah. Boston can't afford to take salary dump contracts. Also, they don't have the rights to Jake DeBrusk. If the Oil want him, they'll just sign him in July which i sure fucking hope they don't. He's going to get a contract he can't possibly live up to.

[TAC]

Boston can't afford to take salary dump contracts.

Well, they'll $21m open, plus another $5m if the can move Ullmark, but no way they're taking Goalie money back.

Also, they don't have the rights to Jake DeBrusk. If the Oil want him, they'll just sign him in July which i sure fucking hope they don't. He's going to get a contract he can't possibly live up to.

He's a streaky player, and I do like him, but you're right. How I feel about him will come down to the contract. I think he's gone because someone will take the cheese on him. To be fair, he played the last half season with a broken hand, and played pretty decent in the playoffs.

[jingle.boy]

I’m seeing some ridiculously ludicrous suggestions of a Marner trade. It’s all conjecture at this point, but some of the shit YT “influencers” / hockey channels / sports beat writers toss out there is beyond laughable.

[King Postwhore]

I’m seeing some ridiculously ludicrous suggestions of a Marner trade. It’s all conjecture at this point, but some of the shit YT “influencers” / hockey channels / sports beat writers toss out there is beyond laughable.

Ah the interwebs. 

[jingle.boy]

Glad the Oilers took that game. Both CF’s are looking to be really good.

[billboy73]

Agreed, these will both be very interesting series.  Hoping for an Oilers Panthers Cup final, with the Oilers taking it.

[SchecterShredder]

The last 8 or 9 minutes of that game last night were some of the most tense I've watched as an Oilers fan. Vancouver started pressing, and it looked like the Oil were content just trying to hold the lead versus counterattacking. They were on their heels for that entire stretch despite absolutely dominating the Canucks through the first 50 minutes of the game.

WCF will be a tough go, but I'm confident in the Oil.

[gmillerdrake]

Glad the Oilers took that game. Both CF’s are looking to be really good.

East for sure…..that’s going 7 games.

Oilers will be lucky to win two games against Dallas, the soon to be Stanley Cup Champs.

[SchecterShredder]

East for sure…..that’s going 7 games.

Oilers will be lucky to win two games against Dallas, the soon to be Stanley Cup Champs.

Based on what?

Dallas has an overall goaltending edge, but that's about it. Oilers have better 5v5 stats (including save %). Better PP. Dallas has a better PK, but that's not against the Oilers PP (which is humming around 40% during the playoffs). I don't see Dallas as any more challenging than Vancouver. Had the Oilers not played like absolute garbage for the first 20 games, this wouldn't even be a conversation. They had the best record by a huge margin for the final 60 games of the season. I don't expect a blowout series, but suggesting the Oilers will be lucky to win 2 games is a pretty big stretch.

Oilers in 6 games 

[gmillerdrake]

Based on what?

Dallas has an overall goaltending edge, but that's about it. Oilers have better 5v5 stats (including save %). Better PP. Dallas has a better PK, but that's not against the Oilers PP (which is humming around 40% during the playoffs). I don't see Dallas as any more challenging than Vancouver. Had the Oilers not played like absolute garbage for the first 20 games, this wouldn't even be a conversation. They had the best record by a huge margin for the final 60 games of the season. I don't expect a blowout series, but suggesting the Oilers will be lucky to win 2 games is a pretty big stretch.

Oilers in 6 games 

Obviously anything can happen. I just personally think as we enter the Finals the Oils best weapon….the PP is going to be neutralized by the whistles going silent.

Dallas is a bigger and heavier team…..they have a better Coach and the most important thing is their goalie is better. Having watched probably 90% of all these playoff games I just personally believe Dallas is the best team left out there with NY a close second. I don’t think the Oilers have the grit or heart to outplay Dallas in a 7 game series. And I’ll stick to my prediction of them being lucky to win two games.


Would love to be proven wrong though. I have zero affinity for Dallas and especially their douche bag…..whiny ass coach. And would love for McDavid to at minimum play fora chance at the cup. Just don’t see it happening.

[Nick]

Dallas looks better than the Oilers right now, that said all the Oilers need is slightly better defense and goaltending and all of a sudden they can't easily be beat.

And when it comes to coaches, Florida deserves a cup just for their post game pressers this postseason.

[Stadler]

Dallas looks better than the Oilers right now, that said all the Oilers need is slightly better defense and goaltending and all of a sudden they can't easily be beat.

And when it comes to coaches, Florida deserves a cup just for their post game pressers this postseason.

I mean, Jim Montgomery is my coach, but Paul Maurice is probably my favorite non-Bruin coach in the league and he has been since his stint with the Whalers.

"I just felt my team needed some profanity in their lives and I gave it to them.  I don't excel at too many things, but fuck me I'm good at that. See what I did there?"

[Anguyen92]

I think if you are in Camp Oilers, you should be liking these circumstances around you.  Sure, out of the four teams, you might be like 3rd or 4th if anyone is going to give a power ranking of the remaining four teams.  That being said, the two teams that beat the Oilers on their road to the cup (Avs and Golden knights) and probably would be the bigger threats than the other three teams left if they are still around are out, so for the Oilers, this is the time to make their move to a cup finals.  Stars will give them a very good challenge.  I like the looks of their forward lines, their veteran players still got some life, they got great young guys, a good enough D core, and Jake Oettinger has rebounded nicely in the net in this playoff run after an up and down season.