We’re back for another SaWEET Sunday Night Pint! Crazy week for the Edmonton Oilers eh? A little bit of winning, a little bit of getting their asses handed to them; and the formation of a new unstoppable force… The ConYak Connection!
But as we do with the end of every week, it’s time for the SNP and joining us today are Madison “Mad Dog” Moroz (@madi39) and “Crazy” Kris Hansen (@wildcardKH). I’m going to tag in as well to complete this trifecta of terror!
Topics today are as follows:
- Favorite hockey quotes.
- Biggest surprise/disappointment this season so far.
- THE franchise player you’d build your team around (all-time).
- Dirtiest hockey play ever!
Let’s get this party started!
WHO’S THE BIGGEST SURPRISE/DISAPPOINTMENT ON THE OILERS SO FAR?
MM: The biggest surprise to me this season is Justin Schultz. It’s been pleasant, coming into this season, I didn’t know what to expect from this kid anymore because he has been such a roller coaster of a player, hope was beginning to be lost. Then he showed up to camp and the coaching staff immediately commented on his I’m improved play. He has shown a huge boost in confidence and sprinkled in a pinch of aggressiveness to his game.
KH: It’s a great question. I do not have really any huge surprises right now. McDavid and Talbot are living up to expectations for sure. I’ll say that Gryba has been a pleasant surprise. He is constantly rotating partners and has been the most consistent defender.
However, Sekera and Fayne both need to step up and badly. I still think Sekera has looked better these last few games and is getting adjusted to a new team, but still, I expect a lot more from him.
BLH: I’ll tell you what, Yakupov has been the biggest surprise for me. He had chance after chance in the last few seasons to play with the elites on the team like Hall and Nuge, I never thought he’d start producing like he is now.
As for a disappointment, I’m going to go with the Oilers defence as a whole. I thought they’d be a bit better to be honest. Adding Sekera, Reinhart, and Gryba was supposed to shore up the Oilers leaky defence. It has not.
WHICH PLAYER WOULD YOU BUILD YOUR TEAM AROUND IF YOU COULD PICK FROM ANYBODY IN HISTORY?
MM: Sidney Crosby, it wasn’t an easy choice cause my heart is telling me to say McDavid lol. But Crosby is just on a whole other level with his game, his speed, his shot, his vision, his hockey IQ, his passion and hunger to win. He is a great leader on and the off ice and tends to stay rather humble. I still consider him the best player in the NHL and still has a chance to go down as arguably the greatest to play the game. Not sure what else you can say about the guy, his play speaks for itself. He’s started the year off a bit rough, but there isn’t any else I’d rather choose to have the puck on his stick in the final minute of game 7 of the cup finals.
KH: Obviously, it would be Gretzky, Lemieux or Orr, but where’s the fun in that?
For past players, I’d go back to say Gordie Howe. Could you imagine a Prime Gordie Howe on the Edmonton Oilers? That would not even be fair. He could do it all: score and had that nasty element that demanded respect. Plus that durability and longevity. Just golden.
For present players, it’s a bit more tough. I think McDavid is a great answer because he is that good but if we’re looking around the NHL….I’ll go with Doughty. Sure, could say Crosby or Ovechkin and they are fine picks, but again going against the grain with Doughty. He’s still young, has so much under his belt and is still missing that elusive Norris Trophy.
BLH: If I had to start franchise with any player in the history of hockey I’d go with… It’s hard not to say Gretzky, Orr, or Plante but I’m going to go off the board and say Dominik Hasek. A career .922 Sv% and two consecutive league MVPs is nothing to shake a stick at and I just remember him being unbeatable in a time when Gretzky, Bure, Lemieux, Jagr, Forsberg, Selanne, etc. quite possibly the greatest collection of goal scorers in the history of the NHL were playing.
And as we know a good goalie can make a mediocre team look great but a mediocre goalie can make a great team look shat.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE HOCKEY QUOTE?
MM: “You just have to say ‘Screw it’, to losing and get the mentality that we can win games here.” – Connor McDavid
KH: Conn Smythe’s “If you can’t beat ’em in the alley, you can’t beat ’em on the ice.” It just screams the slugfest hockey can become.
BLH: “We know that hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death. Life is just a place where we spend time between games.” – Fred Shero, Coach of the Philadelphia Flyers
WHAT’S THE DIRTIEST PLAY YOU’VE EVER SEEN IN HOCKEY?
MM: The dirtiest play I have ever seen, probably has to be the Todd Bertuzzi cheap shot from behind on Steve Moore. He ended someones career, all because he took a run at your captain. It was just reckless, stupid and disgusting. A close second is the Dale Hunter hit on Pierre Turgeon which I believed happened in the playoffs and was the latest hit I’ve ever witnessed after scoring a goal.
KH: Yep. It’s the Claude Lemieux on Kris Draper hit. Absolutely gutless and horrendous . Lemieux literally broke Draper’s face. That Avs-Wings Rivalry which I grew up with was downright nasty and that was the boiling point for sure.
BLH: dirrrrrttttaaaaayyyy!
Well thanks for being with us today, I hope you enjoyed our Sunday Night Pint and feel free to let us know in the comments below your thoughts on today’s topics!
Oh! Before you go, head on over to the Beer League Heroes Merch Shop and grab the NEW “97 Drops of Hope” shirt! It’s on sale for 30% off and I heard it was a bit crisp today back home! Maybe a hoodie would treat you a bit better. Either way, click on the pic below and it will take you right to the shop!
Take Care!
BLH
