Montreal a small team...Edmonton must be miniscule then

[Aerchon]

There have been many comments throughout the hockey community about whether the Oilers are too small. To me, last night, the Oilers looked like they got pushed around by a bigger team. And Montreal is supposed to be one of the smallest teams in the league.

Some say size does not matter and skill easily trumps it. I think that is bull. This isn't Europe. The NHL average player is a beast.

Oilers management has completely dropped the ball putting together this team. Many teams have a couple small players to inject some speed and skill into thier line up but only Edmonton goes out and fills there whole roster with average to below average sized hockey players.

Edmonton IS an easy team to play against. It will always be an easy team to play against untill the size with skill problem is addressed.

Hall is just starting to throw his weight around a bit but is truely an off the rush player.

Hopkins looks like a wet noodle out there.

Eberle's back check can be ignored like a nat most times.

The line of Omark, Gagner, and Hemsky was two hobbits and an elf.

Jones, Smyth, Horcoff, Belanger, Petrell, all average sized at best, and hell even Hord is small for an "enforcer"

MP looks like he is scared of his own shadow out there.

Eager is our only truely big forward.

I am praying some of our bigger prospects reach or exceed expectations.

[joestevens29]

MTL size really isn't as big as an issue as it once was. Cole and Patches really have helped them out.

Subban, Emelin and Gorges have really helped on the back end too.

[Jepprey]

I've said this multiple times the last few seasons. The top 6 is small. Penner was our biggest player. For how soft he was sometimes, he still created space that PF's usually do. Then we decided to trade him away. (don't worry I loved the trade. lol.)

You can say Detroit has a 'smaller' average size in their top 6 all you want. But they have two towers on each side of Datsyuk.

Look, size/height isn't everything, but sometimes it's not about that. Nobody really plays a big game in the top 6. Nobody brings a powerforward mentality on the top 6, which I really think can really help the Oilers.

The Oilers ARE easy to play against. The results are in the standings. The Oilers have many of holes, and I say this is one of them.

[Soundwave]

The Oilers tend to play pretty well against Montreal in the past though. I'll chalk it up to being a sloppy game.

It's been a long season, and with really nothing to play for I think some of the guys are tuning out.

[Master Lok]

Originally Posted by Aerchon

There have been many comments throughout the hockey community about whether the Oilers are too small. To me, last night, the Oilers looked like they got pushed around by a bigger team. And Montreal is supposed to be one of the smallest teams in the league.

Oilers management has completely dropped the ball putting together this team. Many teams have a couple small players to inject some speed and skill into thier line up but only Edmonton goes out and fills there whole roster with average to below average sized hockey players.

Edmonton IS an easy team to play against. It will always be an easy team to play against untill the size with skill problem is addressed.

Instead of just yelling out your opinion, perhaps you might raise the level of the thread by introducing some facts into the discussion? For example - what is the average height, weight of the average NHL team? Where does Edmonton and Montreal rank in there? How about throwing some numbers and facts?

[Koto]

biggest reason why we dont have a spot for Omark IMO.


pray to god prv, hamilton, pitlick, lander turn out as good big top-9 players.



and hall needs to turn on beast mode more often.

[AHF]

Montreal is no longer a small team and they are starting to play a more physical style of game. Of our 16 forwards, only 5 are under 6' (Desharnais, Gomez, Gionta, Palushaj and Plekanec).

[Rawg]

The above is correct, The game wasnt even physical, We were just really flat

[Aerchon]

Originally Posted by RobBrownHero

The above is correct, The game wasnt even physical, We were just really flat

30th place finish, 30th place finish, looking like 29th place finish, teams don't just play "flat" every now and then. They simply do not compete against even the average NHL team.

Size and grit is an issue. The Oilers have left this unadressed in thier line up for too long.

It is very easy to see our teams passing, shooting, special teams, and overall speed as being top level NHL caliber...Our top 6 could well be the most "skilled" in the NHL. But with no grit, size, or ability to win battles we will never succeed.

This is only my opinion. I have no stats to back this up but i think it is very obvious.

The last time the Oilers had decent regular season success players like Arnott and Guerin were on the team complimenting a guy like Weight.

[Nailor Hopberle]

We desperately need a Clowe or Hartnell type in our top 6. We should be looking to move Paajarvi + to acquire a guy like this.