Buzzcock10

I can't wait. As a matter of fact, I am just so pumped we are playing meaningful hockey right now tbh. I think it's why I am remaining pretty level headed right now about the team's current swoon. We should just remember the last couple years of absolute mediocrity when we start to get to pessimistic about the team. Furthermore, they are one win away from equalling their total from the whole season last year.

Don't get me wrong, I like Sutter. I especially like Sutter with a TOI under 15 mins. I just worry about the way his game will translate down the stretch here. It will be an incredible benefit if he can get up to the next gear for the last stretch and compete harder.

Agreed. I really don't have much time for Sutter right now tbh. I know he is, for the most part, really responsible. But man he just doesn't seem to have the compete level that Green and Co have talked about. I do feel badly for Roussel though. He seems incredibly frustrated with his lack of explosiveness and power after that horrific knee injury.

I know it's a hockey faux pas to fight on the road late in games when you have the lead. HOWEVER, I think in the case of 2 late PP goals, you can't really put any of that on MacEwan dropping the mitts. The loss can be entirely equated to two really ill-advised penalties, coupled with a new goaltender who has zero experience with this PK.

Oh boy, he's going clean shaven. Getting ready to grow the playoff beard babyyyyyy!

I do get your line of thinking. But at what point does it turn into the Oilers debacle of 2006-2016 y'know? I think a good organization has to take a somewhat fluid approach to building a team. You never know what you will hit on in a draft until 1, 2, 3, or more years down the road. If you are constantly just banking on the draft to build your team, you can get mired in long-a** meaningless seasons which wears on a team and player confidence. Could you imagine the team this year without JT Miller? Furthermore, if Benning feels he can trade away picks, it means they're fairly confident he has some NHL players coming from the previous drafts. With Benning and Co's draft record and successes, they have earned the benefit of the doubt. Anyways, long time lurker on here and excited about this team no matter what. We should all be incredibly pumped about our young talent. Don't get too hung up on finishing atop the division this year. I would say, we aren't even in our window legitimately yet. That's a pretty exciting thought.