Re: Oilers aren't making the playoffs, right?
The Oilers problems are deeper than "guys are getting paid a bit too much for their role".
It's team defense starting with McDavid and Draisaitl. Then guys are on the roster that aren't exactly defensive stars in Kane, RNH, and Hyman (this yr). That's $36.75m in forwards who aren't good at defense, or 44% of the cap.
Now the issue why the team hasn't progressed the way we would have thought is (in my eyes), they keep giving guys that bit too much to keep what they think is working, instead of saving a few bucks and trying something new. Or they try to address an issue with the top FA. Need a player to play with talent? Oh there's Hyman, he can 100% play with talent sign him. Oh we need a goalie? Campbell is the best FA goalie this yr. Oh our defenseman is up? Better sign him ASAP. Oh Kane worked for a bit? Extend him for a lot.
To me the problem of cap utilization, and lazy roster construction is why the team hasn't grown over the last few years. But that's not why they are the way they are this yr. It's team defense has just finally fully broken down and players are emotionally done. This roster isn't this bad (never as bad as your worst), and this roster can be a playoff team, but the lack of team defense is insane. No one helps the other player group (forwards helping D/D helping forwards). And they are so far gone, team defense is just scramble until the puck gets cleared.
I however could be talking out of my butt right now, as I'm running on like 4hrs of sleep.
12 Team, H2H, Keep 6 (in Bold)
G, A, Pts, PPP, FW, SOG, Hits, Blocks
W, Saves, S%, GAA, Game Started
2C, 2LW, 2RW, 4D, 1Util, 2G, 5BN, 2IR, 1IR+, 1NA
C: Horvat, Trocheck
LW: J. Robertson, Byfield (C), Guenther
RW: Pavelski (C), Giroux (C), Svechnikov (LW)
D: Fox, Makar, Bouchard, Morrissey, Gudas
Util: Meier (LW, RW)
G: Oettinger, Georgiev, Samsonov, Woll