G70 Oilers vs Bruins: The Hart of the Oilers
March 16, 2017, 3:42 PM ET [65 Comments]
Matt Henderson
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSS • Archive • CONTACT
McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers are in a dead heat as they make their way to a playoff appearance for the first time in 10 years. McDavid was 9 years old the last time this club made the post-season. That’s scarcely old enough for him to be playing against teenagers and dominating. Now, at 20 years old, he’s the Captain of an NHL team and carrying that club on his shoulders. He’s the best player in the Western Conference and maybe the NHL. No lower than 2nd best and I firmly believe that. Not only is he taking the Oilers to the Playoffs (probably), but he’s leading the league in scoring, or at least co-leading.
With the Bruins in town after playing the Flames (and beating them) last night, one of the other co-leaders in NHL scoring is in the building. Brad Marchand is technically 1st in league scoring because he leads in goals with 70GP, 36-40-76 this season. He’s shooting the lights out this season with a 17.6% shooting percentage. McDavid has the lowest shooting percentage of anyone in the top 5 of NHL scoring. This is actually pretty exciting news for the long run, Oiler fans, because it means this isn’t a mirage at all.
Oiler fans knew that already, but what’s driving his numbers is his raw, unparalleled talent. There are plenty of players who are elite in their talent. Sidney Crosby is the only one I put at McDavid’s level, but they aren’t clones of each other. Crosby doesn’t possess McDavid’s speed and McDavid doesn’t have Crosby’s tree-trunk legs and lower body strength. Same effect but they go about their business a little differently.
It’s been a very long time since the Oilers had someone legitimately make a run at a major award and especially the Hart and Art Ross trophies. I think McDavid has as good a chance as any at winning the NHL’s scoring title with 13 games to play in the season, but I firmly believe he ought to win the Hart trophy as the league’s top player.
Now I always hate the way writers break down the sentence that describes the Hart trophy, which is that it is awarded to “the player judged most valuable to his team”. I think they should reword it to be the most outstanding player in the NHL or some other description because I think the writers get too worked up about their perception of that phrase. Surely the intended meaning was always the best player in the NHL, but I digress. The point I’m going to make about McDavid though is that in the conversation for the Hart trophy, he satisfies both the outstanding “implied” meaning and the value to team “literal” meaning of the Hart description.
I don’t think that it can be overlooked how McDavid, in only his 2nd season, is both leading the NHL in scoring and captaining THE EDMONTON OILERS towards a playoff spot and respectability. I know Oiler fans might not want to hear this, but this team has been the laughing stock of the NHL for a decade. The franchise wasn’t mired in mediocrity, because that would have been an upgrade. They were a joke of a club run by buffoons who had lady luck drop a Get Out Of Suckville Free card right in their lap in the form of a McDavid lottery win.
Everything McDavid touches is gold. All of his linemates experience huge boosts in scoring. He can dance through NHL defenders like they’re standing still. He is a free agent magnet. He is the fastest player I have ever seen in my life. And, he fully understands that he’s going to be the face of the NHL for the next 10-15 years. He’s the guy.
Edmonton has gone from the 2nd worst team in the NHL and a perennial contender for the lottery to having a very real chance at home ice in the playoffs. That *has* to be a consideration when we talk about who should win the Hart trophy. It can be after we take into consideration the other things that McDavid has accomplished on the ice this year, but it has to be in there somewhere.
LINEUP
Hendricks out, Caggiula in
Maroon McDavid Draisaitl
Lucic RNH Eberle
Pouliot Desharnais Kassian
Caggiula Letestu Slepyshev
Klefbom Larsson
Sekera Russell
Nurse Benning
Talbot
Brossoit
OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME
1) 3rd Watch. Edmonton’s 3rd line is heating up. David Desharnais has 3 points in his last 5 games. Kassian has 4 points in his last 5 games. And, Pouliot – YES, POULIOT – has finally scored a goal again (his first in almost 30 games). The Oilers 3rd line might have just found the missing piece with David Desharnais who was apparently used as a winger by the Habs instead of his more natural role at centre. Maybe it’s that, maybe it’s just dumb luck, maybe the pieces just fit together, but if the Oilers keep getting contributions from this line then good thing will happen for them. I don’t know if you can count on Desharnais and Kassian to keep a 60% Goals For percentage while theyre on the ice together, but the 53.5% shot attempt percentage is a nice feather in the cap. Sample size, I know. Still, early returns are positive and unlocking the offense for Kassian and Pouliot could be a huge x-factor down the stretch.
2) Boston’s Finest. The Bruins are 12-3 since they made their coaching change and a few people will quote some obscure changes in the system that their new bench boss has made, but the fact is that the Bruins skaters have been performing great by several metrics for most of the year. They were getting punished by bad bounces for a long stretch. Sometimes hockey people hate hearing that because they want “results” and don’t like to hear about the bounces. The results we can see that have been there all along are their shot attempts and shots for. They are among the very best in the NHL by those metrics, and we knew that these were going to forecast goals eventually. We can see Julien was fired at the lowest. This team has been good for a while. Only now they’re being rewarded for it.
3) Rookie Blue. I will continue to be impressed by former Boston Bruin draft pick, Matthew Benning. The only Oiler rookie defender is handling his first professional season quite well. He looks tired and pale in every picture I ever see him in, and his relatively thin frame LOOKS like it’s about to give way because of the rigors the NHL schedule has put him through. However, on the ice, he is still performing better than I ever anticipated. There is a good case that he ought to be Sekera’s partner on the 2nd pair by next season if the Oilers are unable to find a suitable improvement on Kris Russell. There’s an argument to be made that he should be there RIGHT NOW. That’s how well Benning has performed on the right side of the ice. That said, he’s performing well in the role he has right now and if it aint broke, don’t fix it. He is top on the Oiler blueline in shot attempt percentage and goals for percentage 5v5. How good can this young man get in the right situations?
Puck drops tonight at 7PM Mountain Time on Sportsnet West. Game On!
Today at 6:12 am by Will Cashem
» A female representative explains the government’s ambition to reach the production of 8 million barr
Today at 5:31 am by Rocky
» Next month... a major conference to announce 8 cities as investment opportunities
Today at 5:30 am by Rocky
» The presence movement: Iran urged Barzani to participate in the region’s elections
Today at 5:28 am by Rocky
» In a strange incident, they disowned him because of Al-Halbousi’s anger at him
Today at 5:26 am by Rocky
» Race for the Presidency of Parliament.. The Sunni conflict is worsening
Today at 5:25 am by Rocky
» Responding to the challenge to the constitutionality of the seat distribution system in the provinci
Today at 5:25 am by Rocky
» Demanding an increase in the allocations for two ministries in the current year’s budget
Today at 5:24 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: Employee salaries amounted to 8 and a half trillion
Today at 5:23 am by Rocky
» In the amount of 10 million... an Iraqi government bank begins granting loans to married couples
Today at 5:20 am by Rocky
» Hajj and Umrah Authority: Iraqi banks refrain from receiving pilgrims
Today at 5:19 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Electricity calls for mobilizing energies in preparation for the upcoming summer sea
Today at 5:17 am by Rocky
» The United Nations Development Program approves the electronic payment services system in Iraq
Today at 5:16 am by Rocky
» Iraqi oil exports to America declined within a week
Today at 5:15 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary praise for the government’s plans to implement projects to solve the housing crisis
Today at 5:14 am by Rocky
» In an extraordinary session...the Council of Ministers votes today on the budget schedules
Today at 5:13 am by Rocky
» Has the government succeeded in controlling crowding by changing working hours?
Today at 5:12 am by Rocky
» “Ali is not compensated with money, but I demand my rights.” An Iraqi sues a British oil company for
Today at 5:11 am by Rocky
» Planning: The pilot census will start on the 26th of this month
Today at 5:09 am by Rocky
» An unruly policy or a necessary need? .. Floating the currency between economic benefit and disadvan
Today at 5:08 am by Rocky
» A project to develop a climate investment plan in Iraq
Today at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Parliament awaits “budget schedules”
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Parliament: Infrastructure is the most important challenge of the housing crisis
Today at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Announcing 8 cities as investment opportunities
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Minister of Health: We are proceeding with a project to manage modern hospitals by specialized compa
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» An Iraqi initiative to ban the political exploitation of religions
Today at 5:01 am by Rocky
» 70% completion of the Kompsan Dam in Erbil
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Paying off external debt is a step to promote stability and recovery
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» An economic forum discusses business opportunities with Islamic countries
Today at 4:57 am by Rocky
» More than one billion dollars in sales from the Central Bank of Iraq within a week
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Pakistan and its economic challenges
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Economic researchers emphasize promoting the culture of electronic payment
Today at 4:54 am by Rocky
» The events in Parliament were “intended”... A politician accuses “Taqaddum” of preventing a figure f
Today at 4:51 am by Rocky
» The Federal Court rejects the challenge to the constitutionality of a text in the seat distribution
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Primitive management of waste and medical waste in Baghdad... another danger threatening the populat
Today at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Discrimination in projects and allocations.. The National Union complains of the injustice of Sulaym
Today at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Parliament “claims confusion” despite the clarity of the interpretation of federalism.. What is the
Today at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Khashan demands that Parliament terminate Haibat Al-Halbousi’s membership after he disrupted the pre
Today at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani will visit Doha tomorrow to participate in the World Security Forum
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Al-Halbousi’s fears and ambitions waste the entitlement of the Sunni component: Parliament events ar
Today at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Transition to modern agriculture.. Parliament reveals financial allocations to purchase 11,000 “spri
Today at 4:40 am by Rocky
» Iraq “negotiates” Erbil over the passage of the Al-Faw train and awaits a meeting with Turkey and th
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Türkiye builds the “carrot” and Iran diverts the rivers.. An Iraqi expert discusses “the weakness of
Today at 4:37 am by Rocky
» To facilitate the movement of goods transport.. Al-Dakhil directs the opening of Mosul - Dohuk contr
Today at 4:35 am by Rocky
» “Siemens will keep pace with Iraqi electricity.” The Ambassador: Iraqis requested bribes from German
Today at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Services will enter 13 areas.. Al-Zubair will convert heavy sewage into fertilizers.. and infrastruc
Today at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Representative regarding what happened during today’s session: an insult to the legislative institut
Today at 4:31 am by Rocky
» Parliament is “perplexed” and will take a month with the tables: the budget has increased and the op
Today at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Where has the legal battle between the Iraqi "Jaloud" and the British company "BP" reached?
Today at 4:27 am by Rocky
» A government plan to raise the price of refining oil.. Will the refineries lose, or will the price o
Today at 4:25 am by Rocky
» The Hajj Authority calls on the Central Bank to direct banks to open their doors to pilgrims
Today at 4:24 am by Rocky
» Martyrs Foundation: Thousands of mass graves in Iraq will not be opened yet
Today at 4:21 am by Rocky
» Sadiqoun is betting on resolving the parliamentary presidency issue today...a fourth and fifth round
Today at 4:19 am by Rocky
» The House of Representatives adjourns its session until further notice
Today at 4:18 am by Rocky
» utube 5/18/24 MM&C Iraq Dinar - Iraq Central Bank - IMF - UNAMI - World Bank - Key Votes Tabled -
Yesterday at 5:28 pm by Rocky
» utube 5/16/24 MM&C Al-Sudani - Political Week - Progress Internationally
Yesterday at 7:59 am by Rocky
» Calls to include local oil and electricity sales in the general budget
Yesterday at 7:50 am by Rocky
» Al Rasheed Bank issues instructions to facilitate the issuance of replacement cards for bank card ho
Yesterday at 7:47 am by Rocky
» Internal debt rises to 79 trillion in 2024.. What is the relationship between spending and loans?
Yesterday at 7:44 am by Rocky
» Members of Parliament head to the Great Hall to initiate procedures for electing the president
Yesterday at 7:38 am by Rocky
» The House of Representatives concludes the report and discussion of the draft law on public holidays
Yesterday at 7:37 am by Rocky
» The House of Representatives votes to extend its legislative term for 30 days
Yesterday at 7:36 am by Rocky
» A Canadian company is “unable” to dismiss its director authorized to protect Baghdad Airport: Iraq i
Yesterday at 7:34 am by Rocky
» Economic Institution: The value of China's exports to Iraq increased by 93% in 10 years
Yesterday at 7:31 am by Rocky
» The Presidency of Parliament decided to devote today’s session to electing the president only
Yesterday at 7:29 am by Rocky
» In the presence of 183 deputies...the House of Representatives holds its session
Yesterday at 7:28 am by Rocky
» Al-Kadhimi hints at the possibility of postponing the session to elect the Speaker of Parliament
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» The regional government announces the payment of employees' salaries via “My Account”
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Transport reviews the details of the development road and Al-Faw Grand Port projects
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Istanbul will host expanded Turkish/Arab economic meetings at the beginning of next month
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Customs sets the date for collecting tax amounts electronically and sets a condition
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Sudanese agrees to support pilgrims with an amount of 39 billion dinars to reduce the cost of Hajj
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» The Sudanese advisor clarifies the discussion of budget schedules in the extraordinary session of th
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Most of the framework and the Kurdistan Democratic Party will vote for Al-Mashhadani as Speaker of P
Yesterday at 4:55 am by Rocky
» A deputy considers the movement of Turkish forces inside Iraqi territory an occupation
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Directing the Ministry of Finance to spend drug law implementation budgets
Yesterday at 4:52 am by Rocky
» A parliamentary movement to resolve the fate of holding private wards
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» A member of a legal movement calling for accelerating the amendment of Article 57
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» A parliamentary effort to gain ownership of the trespassers and slum owners
Yesterday at 4:48 am by Rocky
» There is a consensus on deciding the presidency of Parliament today, and the balance is tilted towar
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» The price of the dollar is witnessing a slight increase in Baghdad, Basra and Erbil
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Behind the scenes of electronic blackmail in Iraq... “A good hacker,” “blackmailing spouses,” and se
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» The coordination framework supports Al-Sadr: We will pass the “Eid Al-Ghadir” holiday today
Yesterday at 4:42 am by Rocky
» The session to elect the Speaker of Parliament... intense meetings and fears of its failure due to “
Yesterday at 4:41 am by Rocky
» People with chronic diseases...a government statistic regarding the number of applicants for social
Yesterday at 4:39 am by Rocky
» The Sudanese advisor issues a clarification regarding the discussion of budget schedules in an extra
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Russia is at the top, and this is Iraq's rank... a list of countries that buy most real estate in Tü
Yesterday at 4:37 am by Rocky
» The opening of the first aviation, space and artificial intelligence institution in Baghdad
Yesterday at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Iraq digs 30 meters under the sea and completes the Al-Faw docks in 5 months...a fixed date with the
Yesterday at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Al-Allaq announces the success of the electronic transfer platform in combating money laundering
Yesterday at 4:31 am by Rocky
» Al-Saadawi directs the disbursement of 1.5 million dinars to each private transport employee who con
Yesterday at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Minister of Commerce from Silo Makhmour: The quantities of wheat marketed have reached two million t
Yesterday at 4:28 am by Rocky
» Hours after choosing Al-Halbousi's successor... Al-Mashhadani sends a message to the Iraqis
Yesterday at 4:27 am by Rocky
» How do we wash the “dirty Baghdad dollar”? A clearer picture of 1,000 Iraqi methods for money launde
Yesterday at 4:25 am by Rocky
» Transport is launching a new mechanism to pay bus tickets via phone soon
Yesterday at 4:24 am by Rocky
» Baghdad Summit 2025.. Iraq reunites its brothers around the table of dialogue and common interests
Yesterday at 4:23 am by Rocky
» Bangladesh is ahead of it... Iraq’s classification in the Arab world and internationally by the qual
Yesterday at 4:19 am by Rocky
» Today...the House of Representatives is scheduled for a “fateful” session
Yesterday at 4:17 am by Rocky
» The General Secretariat denies that the Fine platform was exposed to electronic hacking
Yesterday at 4:15 am by Rocky