2020-2021 NHL Thread

[L K]

So Vegas did their 5 defensemen.  They won 5-2 against a not-very good Anaheim team.

Theodore played the least ice time at 22:05.

They had a forward Keegan Kolesar play 4:36.   He managed to put up a -2 in those minutes.

I'm not sure I understand having 13 forwards over 6 defensemen even when you have a really strong group of players. 

[CarltonTheBear]

So Vegas did their 5 defensemen.  They won 5-2 against a not-very good Anaheim team.

Theodore played the least ice time at 22:05.

They had a forward Keegan Kolesar play 4:36.   He managed to put up a -2 in those minutes.

I'm not sure I understand having 13 forwards over 6 defensemen even when you have a really strong group of players. 

Yeah, that's the thing. Even if you want to play your big defenders the top minutes you're way better off having that 6th defenceman in the line-up to ride the bench than a 13th forward who doesn't even seem that good. What the heck are they going to do when one of them gets injured or booted in a game?

[OldTimeHockey]

So Vegas did their 5 defensemen.  They won 5-2 against a not-very good Anaheim team.

Theodore played the least ice time at 22:05.

They had a forward Keegan Kolesar play 4:36.   He managed to put up a -2 in those minutes.

I'm not sure I understand having 13 forwards over 6 defensemen even when you have a really strong group of players.

I've always found that operating a bench is easier with an odd number of Defense than operating a bench with a uneven amount of forwards.
That being said, if I had the choice between 6 D and 5 D, I'd go with 6 D

[Heroic Shrimp]

Smith is out a few weeks (I'm told), but to bring in any goalie who isn't in Canada, means he wouldn't be available until the 24th (at earliest) and then would have to have a few skates with team. So likely 28th at earliest. Only benefit for #Oilers is their next BTB Jan 30/31.

— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) January 15, 2021

[CarltonTheBear]

Smith is out a few weeks (I'm told), but to bring in any goalie who isn't in Canada, means he wouldn't be available until the 24th (at earliest) and then would have to have a few skates with team. So likely 28th at earliest. Only benefit for #Oilers is their next BTB Jan 30/31.

— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) January 15, 2021

So the Oilers are in a bit of a pickle. They signed goalie Anton Forsberg to be their #3 goalie this offseason behind Koskinen and Smith. Instead of keeping Forsberg on their main roster like the Leafs did with Dell they waived him at the end of camp and he was claimed by Carolina (Carolina re-waived him yesterday and he was plucked up by Winnipeg before Edmonton could grab him again). Unlike the Leafs though, it wouldn't have really been a big deal for the Oilers to keep Forsberg on their roster. They currently have 13 forward and 8 defenceman up, so there was roster and cap space available.

Now Smith is "unfit to play" and is expected to miss multiple weeks so the Oilers are turning to 22-year old Stuart Skinner to be their back-up. Skinner had a 0.892 Sv% in 41 games in the AHL last season.

[Bullfrog]

So what you're saying, if I'm understanding correctly, is the Leafs might have an asterisk beside "Stanley Cup Champions"