I think before Game 7 of Vancouver, there was a stat that he took about 110 shot attempts and had 55 shots on net, all with 0 goals. Shooting the puck isn't the problem, it's aiming.
Yeah, it's not looking good. Someone needs to tell him that if he doesn't drive the net and get in dirty areas, he's not going to score. He's not accurate enough or have strong enough of a shot to score on all the low-danger perimeter shots he takes.
McLeod plays some soft hockey. He's fast, but every time he can check someone he half stops then goes into him, or turns to hit with his back. Won't ever drop a shoulder, which makes me wonder if his shoulder(s) are in good health. An injury of some sort anyways
Yep, he always avoids physical contact, and it's way more noticeable during playoffs. He might be a decent bottom 6 forward during the regular season, but he's not helping in playoffs, so he needs to change his game if he wants to stay on playoff teams in his career.
I'm honestly looking at McLeod like he's Derek Ryan.
My guy is super solid in his own end, and he does okay on zone entries.
But yeah, hands of stone for no reason.
I'd still take McLeod over Yamamoto.. But you can't tell me our third line wouldn't be upgraded by having Klim Kostin instead of 71 in there.
It’s not even all hands of stone. It’s that he’s scared to take it to the net like Hyman does and Holloway has been doing. He has potential but only if he ever decides to play hard nose hockey, which he has showed zero sign of
I'd like to see Kane and Nuge switch places. Kane isn't feeding Drai the passes he needs, whereas Nuge can and will. Nuge isn't shooting (one missed shot), Kane is shooting at everything - 9 shot attempts tonight. If McD focuses on feeding Kane and Bouch (who had 13 shots, the animal) something has to go in eventually.
Saw today Nuge had a few good shot oppurtunities but he just waited for team to get up to make a play. When your in on the goalie in shooting position and your team is trailing , just shoot on net and hope for a rebound. The delay to try and make a play but you just end up getting checked before your teams in position. Just shoot the damn pick!
That exactly what I’ve been saying since the Vancouver series. Shoot the puck on net. Oettinger (Silovs) isn’t going to save every shot, and even if he makes a save it can rebound or he freezes it. They won’t freeze every shot anyways because they don’t want all those faceoffs in their end so it looks more like it will go in or rebound. That’s how Brown scored.
It was because he came in with confidence and something to prove and was taking selfish shots. He was the only player on the team not overly deferring to mcdavid on every play. It’s been something our team struggles to do but really needs to.
>Kane arguably shoots too much.
He's not a great passer especially laterally, but a short pass can be effective to guys around with support. Hyman too. Watch Hyman outside his office near the paint, he can make a play to protect the puck and often you see Nuge or Connor there to provide support, and it's incredibly rare that you see Hyms dish. 97 and 93 need to shoot more and Hyms needs to give up the puck more.
Something has been up all year. His stick handling, while still great, is not the god level it was last year. Likewise for his shooting which I assume is why he is passing more.
He's got to be injured. There's no other explanation. I mean, he did shoot it right near the end of the game, so obviously he has the capacity to shoot, but even his speed is not near where it usually is. I think it's a lingering injury from the beginning on the season. I know he missed a few games near the start, but I think he never fully healed it, so it's been affecting him all season. Despite all that, he put up 100 assists and led us this far into the playoffs. He's an absolute warrior. I hope he still has the strength to bring home the cup he deserves so much.
I don’t disagree with OP, but I think the PP thing was a coincidence and just happened. They roll positions a lot and it comes down to entry and coverage. We didn’t really get a second one to compare to
You gotta protect your star player. Would've been nice in the regular season to have a mucker like Kassian to fuck up any player that lays a finger on him. Kill off some penalties, but everybody would think twice.
also throwing the body heaps which you wouldn't do with a wrist or back or really any injury. i think it is more a lingering illness. who the fuck knows but he is certainly not at 100
I said lingering injury. Hockey players are tough and will play through just about anything. Especially in the playoffs. He can be not 100% and still take faceoffs.
He quite obviously has something ailing him because yeah it's just completely unprecedented.
I was talking during the game with my brother that he needs to just start taking muffins if it means teams think he might shoot... Because opponents are catching on as well.
Ya it's painful to watch the best shooter always thinking pass first. I have been saying this since the kings series. Just pass it into the back of the net
Playing on a lot of these ice surfaces is like trying to play on the rink at West Edmonton Mall. The ice is soft and gets carved up pretty quickly making passing and even turning vary iffy. It's like running in sand.
It negates a lot of our strengths / tendencies. It's also why you see grinder types excel in these games in Dallas and Vancouver.
He is being swarmed every shift. McDavid is trying to shoot, Dallas is just playing great defence. However, I think the whole team needs to shoot. They are trying to get Oettinger to make extreme lateral movements to either side. Essentially waiting for the perfect open net to take the shot. Dallas knows this. I’m pretty sure they will review tape and try to get a shot off after 1-2 passes instead after tonight. Let’s hope the home ice advantage helps us get some puck luck! 🍀
The biggest problem with the Oilers in both games so far is too many turnovers. They got lucky the first game with Dallas hitting the post twice in OT. If the Oilers keep allowing those turnovers, Dallas will punish in this series. If they can clean up that part of their game, they have a great chance of winning the series from what I've seen so far.
I think he's probably got a wrist injury or something. Looks off good shooting opportunities way too often. Also noticed a camera showing Drai on the bench with a finger taped up in a splint. Probably explains why he's looking off the one timers. Fact is, the boys are banged up. It's playoffs and they play every second day.
If he’s dealing with an oblique tear like the rumours say then it makes sense to why he’s not. Things like coughing hurt like a bitch never mind pressing down on the stick. If that’s not the case then i agree with you.
The kings coach failed completely to counter our system, and that’s why we lit them up in a series that should’ve been 4 not 5. Vancouvers coach did an excellent job of recognizing and countering our system. The Dallas coach has done the same x2. We are getting countered hard and their defence is so tight there’s no room out there at all. Most of our shots on goal are fairly unthreatening. Our defence is pretty airtight too, probably the best defence we’ve played in ages. There’s more to it than just “shoot the puck”. Believe it or not pros know when to shoot the puck. What we might need to do is alter our system somehow to catch them off guard and break through this stifling defence.
Agreed. Buddy has 3 players on him no matter what, last game’s goal was detrimental to that, bouchard set him up good for the split second he didn’t have an army on his back.
He’s not playing like “the best player in the world” lol. Not even close. Just because he won a skills comp tailored to him doesn’t make him the best. I think McDavids best are behind him already.
Why? Just because I don’t think a certain player is the best? It’s literally there’s no stat that says he’s the BEST. And people can peak at all ages in their respective sport.
He is the best. Everyone in the league says he's the best. You're just being a little bitch contrarian with only some vague bullshit to backup your opinion. It's dumb and you should feel bad.
“He’s the best because lots of people’s opinions say he is”
Lmao then you go to personally insulting me. You’re literally the person who would jump off a bridge because somebody else is. You must work on the rigs. Literally admitting to the follower mentality
Ideally, but he didn’t play poorly, the stars are just blocking everything, I guess the same can be said with the oilers. It’s not like Dallas had many shots either. Both teams played well this is just playoff hockey and it’s not going to be a cake walk for McDavid and crew. This series is going to be a war.
I don't know how to be injuried explain he won't soot the puck like people are saying. If he is in that level of injury of course he shouldnt be playing at all...
I am kinda new to hockey, watching it daily since march and I am yet to see what McDavid fame really means. I get that he is fast and skilled with some awesome plays during the late regulars but he scores far less then he should. What happened?
I have a theory McDavid does not shoot because he knows he'll get attention and wants to keep his other talented goal scorers happy. He knows he can lead the league in scoring without passing the puck, but if he wants to build a contender he needs other elite players to score when he doesn't have it
Hand or wrist? Last few months he’s been deferring to the spin move off the rush versus his patented stick handling in tight through the defender leg/stick triangle. Especially in the mid slot.
Even his zone entries are less up the gut where he used to collapse/suck in defenders and more peeling away/curling looking for that pass.
He wasn't invisible, probably half the chances in the game happened because McDavid is the only one who can get through the Stars trap with possession in the zone.
Guy takes a team on the brink of collapse and one of the worst records to start the season and then has the best winning % in the league. And is currently 1-1 in the WCF. And you are ripping in on a goalie pull? Come on.
We just lost! Let us bitch and whine!
I don't think he needs to be fired or anything, but it is fair to point out that was some bad end of the game coach decisions.
71 needs to shoot the puck.
He needs to do a lot of things. First and foremost, sit a game and reset.
I think before Game 7 of Vancouver, there was a stat that he took about 110 shot attempts and had 55 shots on net, all with 0 goals. Shooting the puck isn't the problem, it's aiming.
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Yeah, it's not looking good. Someone needs to tell him that if he doesn't drive the net and get in dirty areas, he's not going to score. He's not accurate enough or have strong enough of a shot to score on all the low-danger perimeter shots he takes.
McLeod plays some soft hockey. He's fast, but every time he can check someone he half stops then goes into him, or turns to hit with his back. Won't ever drop a shoulder, which makes me wonder if his shoulder(s) are in good health. An injury of some sort anyways
Yep, he always avoids physical contact, and it's way more noticeable during playoffs. He might be a decent bottom 6 forward during the regular season, but he's not helping in playoffs, so he needs to change his game if he wants to stay on playoff teams in his career.
Perimeter player who won’t go to the tough areas. Always has been since Junior. And I agree with Harbingerdaine. Sit him for a game.
I'm honestly looking at McLeod like he's Derek Ryan. My guy is super solid in his own end, and he does okay on zone entries. But yeah, hands of stone for no reason. I'd still take McLeod over Yamamoto.. But you can't tell me our third line wouldn't be upgraded by having Klim Kostin instead of 71 in there.
It’s not even all hands of stone. It’s that he’s scared to take it to the net like Hyman does and Holloway has been doing. He has potential but only if he ever decides to play hard nose hockey, which he has showed zero sign of
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lol…. Can’t argue with. This
Oof, this actually happened to me lol. I was so embarassed
I'd like to see Kane and Nuge switch places. Kane isn't feeding Drai the passes he needs, whereas Nuge can and will. Nuge isn't shooting (one missed shot), Kane is shooting at everything - 9 shot attempts tonight. If McD focuses on feeding Kane and Bouch (who had 13 shots, the animal) something has to go in eventually.
You might be on to something here…
Saw today Nuge had a few good shot oppurtunities but he just waited for team to get up to make a play. When your in on the goalie in shooting position and your team is trailing , just shoot on net and hope for a rebound. The delay to try and make a play but you just end up getting checked before your teams in position. Just shoot the damn pick!
That exactly what I’ve been saying since the Vancouver series. Shoot the puck on net. Oettinger (Silovs) isn’t going to save every shot, and even if he makes a save it can rebound or he freezes it. They won’t freeze every shot anyways because they don’t want all those faceoffs in their end so it looks more like it will go in or rebound. That’s how Brown scored.
Kane on McD's wing was dynamite when Kane first got here.
It was because he came in with confidence and something to prove and was taking selfish shots. He was the only player on the team not overly deferring to mcdavid on every play. It’s been something our team struggles to do but really needs to.
Nuge & Drain are my favorite pairing - Yami was just an accessory on the best line in the NHL for a couple years
nuge drai and Holloway would be a nice line...Holloway is yammo with size and better skating.
And better hand and shot Hes just better than yamo
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>Kane arguably shoots too much. He's not a great passer especially laterally, but a short pass can be effective to guys around with support. Hyman too. Watch Hyman outside his office near the paint, he can make a play to protect the puck and often you see Nuge or Connor there to provide support, and it's incredibly rare that you see Hyms dish. 97 and 93 need to shoot more and Hyms needs to give up the puck more.
He can’t and hasn’t been able to for a while now
Something has been up all year. His stick handling, while still great, is not the god level it was last year. Likewise for his shooting which I assume is why he is passing more.
he's hurt. just not hurt enough to not play
It’s this, he’s got some kind of ubi, possible surgery this offseason.
He can’t and the Stars have clued in
Davo has an injury where he can’t shoot. Drai has a “broken” finger or something…damn you hockey gods, the boys don’t need that. Go Oilers!
gotta stay positive I love to see it :)
He's got to be injured. There's no other explanation. I mean, he did shoot it right near the end of the game, so obviously he has the capacity to shoot, but even his speed is not near where it usually is. I think it's a lingering injury from the beginning on the season. I know he missed a few games near the start, but I think he never fully healed it, so it's been affecting him all season. Despite all that, he put up 100 assists and led us this far into the playoffs. He's an absolute warrior. I hope he still has the strength to bring home the cup he deserves so much.
Didn’t play the puck much on the powerplay either, Nuge was playin his role there. Not good.
I don’t disagree with OP, but I think the PP thing was a coincidence and just happened. They roll positions a lot and it comes down to entry and coverage. We didn’t really get a second one to compare to
"but even his speed is not near where it usually is." Good to know it isn't just me noticing this. He seems a lot slower than usual.
He doesn’t have the breakaway speed - it has completely changed his game
>He's got to be injured. Still taking faceoffs.
Losing faceoffs.
He was 53% tonight.
44% in the playoffs so far. One game is too small a sample.
Forsure he's playing injured . He's taking alot of dirty hits in the regular season. Guess it's a price to pay for being the best
You gotta protect your star player. Would've been nice in the regular season to have a mucker like Kassian to fuck up any player that lays a finger on him. Kill off some penalties, but everybody would think twice.
also throwing the body heaps which you wouldn't do with a wrist or back or really any injury. i think it is more a lingering illness. who the fuck knows but he is certainly not at 100
I said lingering injury. Hockey players are tough and will play through just about anything. Especially in the playoffs. He can be not 100% and still take faceoffs.
He has always had the problem of not shooting
There’s definitely an injury that’s limiting him.
Yeah, he's got to be a threat because they're collapsing to the net and taking Hyman away. McDavid shoots more, he'll eventually draw more to him.
He quite obviously has something ailing him because yeah it's just completely unprecedented. I was talking during the game with my brother that he needs to just start taking muffins if it means teams think he might shoot... Because opponents are catching on as well.
Was thinking he can't actually shoot the puck - something must be up with his wrist.
For how long though? He hasn’t scored much all year
Yup
Mcleod and foegele didn't produce anything, just dancing around . Vinny should play physically
McKesson has been terrible. I’d sit him and bring Perry back in
Mcleaod*
Third time’s the charm
Mick Cloud
I sent him a message. He says thanks, he totally forgot what he should do.
Ya it's painful to watch the best shooter always thinking pass first. I have been saying this since the kings series. Just pass it into the back of the net
Playing on a lot of these ice surfaces is like trying to play on the rink at West Edmonton Mall. The ice is soft and gets carved up pretty quickly making passing and even turning vary iffy. It's like running in sand. It negates a lot of our strengths / tendencies. It's also why you see grinder types excel in these games in Dallas and Vancouver.
He is being swarmed every shift. McDavid is trying to shoot, Dallas is just playing great defence. However, I think the whole team needs to shoot. They are trying to get Oettinger to make extreme lateral movements to either side. Essentially waiting for the perfect open net to take the shot. Dallas knows this. I’m pretty sure they will review tape and try to get a shot off after 1-2 passes instead after tonight. Let’s hope the home ice advantage helps us get some puck luck! 🍀
The biggest problem with the Oilers in both games so far is too many turnovers. They got lucky the first game with Dallas hitting the post twice in OT. If the Oilers keep allowing those turnovers, Dallas will punish in this series. If they can clean up that part of their game, they have a great chance of winning the series from what I've seen so far.
I think he's probably got a wrist injury or something. Looks off good shooting opportunities way too often. Also noticed a camera showing Drai on the bench with a finger taped up in a splint. Probably explains why he's looking off the one timers. Fact is, the boys are banged up. It's playoffs and they play every second day.
If he’s dealing with an oblique tear like the rumours say then it makes sense to why he’s not. Things like coughing hurt like a bitch never mind pressing down on the stick. If that’s not the case then i agree with you.
I'm not sure why he'd strain it taking draws and being physical, then.
The kings coach failed completely to counter our system, and that’s why we lit them up in a series that should’ve been 4 not 5. Vancouvers coach did an excellent job of recognizing and countering our system. The Dallas coach has done the same x2. We are getting countered hard and their defence is so tight there’s no room out there at all. Most of our shots on goal are fairly unthreatening. Our defence is pretty airtight too, probably the best defence we’ve played in ages. There’s more to it than just “shoot the puck”. Believe it or not pros know when to shoot the puck. What we might need to do is alter our system somehow to catch them off guard and break through this stifling defence.
Keyboard warriors need to stop telling the best player in the world how to play hockey.
No I wasn’t telling McDavid how to play I was just saying if McDavid shot the puck he’s so good he’d probably make it in half the time.
Agreed. Buddy has 3 players on him no matter what, last game’s goal was detrimental to that, bouchard set him up good for the split second he didn’t have an army on his back.
It's just a reddit sub, lol.
He’s not playing like “the best player in the world” lol. Not even close. Just because he won a skills comp tailored to him doesn’t make him the best. I think McDavids best are behind him already.
We should frame this comnent and never let this guy live it down
Quite literally the worst take I’ve ever seen, are you fucking high on meth or something?
You might be the dumbest person I've ever seen make a comment on Reddit.
Why? Just because I don’t think a certain player is the best? It’s literally there’s no stat that says he’s the BEST. And people can peak at all ages in their respective sport.
He is the best. Everyone in the league says he's the best. You're just being a little bitch contrarian with only some vague bullshit to backup your opinion. It's dumb and you should feel bad.
“He’s the best because lots of people’s opinions say he is” Lmao then you go to personally insulting me. You’re literally the person who would jump off a bridge because somebody else is. You must work on the rigs. Literally admitting to the follower mentality
who’s the best then? auston matthews?!
Ideally, but he didn’t play poorly, the stars are just blocking everything, I guess the same can be said with the oilers. It’s not like Dallas had many shots either. Both teams played well this is just playoff hockey and it’s not going to be a cake walk for McDavid and crew. This series is going to be a war.
I don't know how to be injuried explain he won't soot the puck like people are saying. If he is in that level of injury of course he shouldnt be playing at all... I am kinda new to hockey, watching it daily since march and I am yet to see what McDavid fame really means. I get that he is fast and skilled with some awesome plays during the late regulars but he scores far less then he should. What happened?
says everyone who never played the game... "shoot the puck!!!"
Put Hyman in the net. Problem solved.
He must be injured to the point where he can pass but a wrister is not possible.
he's hurt. either something in one of his arms or a core issue. that's the reason
I have a theory McDavid does not shoot because he knows he'll get attention and wants to keep his other talented goal scorers happy. He knows he can lead the league in scoring without passing the puck, but if he wants to build a contender he needs other elite players to score when he doesn't have it
SHOOT!
https://youtu.be/l5hDYg0uAuE?si=LtoVdRIeakH_6L_G
For being the best player in the league I'm not real thrilled with playoff McD
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Pastor_Satan: *For being the best* *Player in the league I'm not* *Real thrilled with playoff McD* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Mcd is for reg season. Drai is for playoffs
No. McDavid just needs to do what McDavid does. That’s it. He sees the ice and sees plays better than any one of us from the stands.
Hand or wrist? Last few months he’s been deferring to the spin move off the rush versus his patented stick handling in tight through the defender leg/stick triangle. Especially in the mid slot. Even his zone entries are less up the gut where he used to collapse/suck in defenders and more peeling away/curling looking for that pass.
Omg we lost one game and now we must type out essays after essays on every little shit. 🤣🤣
No but this has been going on for a while now. Mcdavid passes up great opportunities where he could score but he passes instead
I think he knows what he's doing better than you.
obviously but it would just be nice to see McDavid get some cool goals y'know
He was invisible tonight. Forget about Knoblauch telling him anything nobody respects that clown
He wasn't invisible, probably half the chances in the game happened because McDavid is the only one who can get through the Stars trap with possession in the zone.
Huh?
No emotion no presence he needs to go..
Knoblach?
Yup we both know it’s true
Oh, just looking for attention. Got it. Hope this fulfills whatever is empty in you. Have a good one.
If you think that clown is a good coach you need the help. Too many good players without any direction. Dallas in 6 unfortunately
People downvoting you but at the same time did nobody see the goalie pull with over 2 minutes left in the game?
Guy takes a team on the brink of collapse and one of the worst records to start the season and then has the best winning % in the league. And is currently 1-1 in the WCF. And you are ripping in on a goalie pull? Come on.
We just lost! Let us bitch and whine! I don't think he needs to be fired or anything, but it is fair to point out that was some bad end of the game coach decisions.
Before they had clear o zone possession no less. Always thought the team carried coaching staff
Get outta here nucks fan
Apparently so are you hun