Monday Mailbag – Can Cam Talbot rebound?

My friends, it’s that wonderful time of the week where we answer all of the questions you’ve always wanted to know about the NHL, and about life, answered by our panel of bloggers life coaches. Feel free to think of us as a much cheaper alternative to a college education. As always, this feature depends on you guys so I need you to submit your questions. If you have something you’d like to know you can always email me, or DM me on Twitter. With that out of the way, it’s time to learn something. Enjoy.

I’m fine with him being the starter. He had a tough start, lost his confidence and like the rest of the team struggled for the first 60 games. In the final 20 games he was back to around his career average sv%, hovering at .919. I expect he will be more like the Talbot of the first two years, than the first 60 games this season.

Broad question, but if I had to narrow it down to one thing it would be all the early goals Talbot allowed and how his confidence waned at times.  Nothing good comes from having to dig the puck out of your net on the first couple of shots before you’re even settled in. I think we’ll see him bounce back next season.

I’d be comfortable with him as the starter next year because his play did pick up over the last 20 games. I would try to bring in a back up that could push him a bit and possibly reduce the workload.

I think he had baby twins and his entire life was probably upended. No focus. No sleep. Life in a constant state of panic. As the year went on and his life began to normalize, so did his save percentage. I’m confident in him, but that doesn’t mean the team shouldn’t always be looking for the next goalie of the future.

I’d agree with that. Truthfully, I don’t think anyone knows. Did he play too much last season? Is he fatigued? Are the Oilers allowing higher quality chances? I’d be fine with Talbot as the starter but I don’t think you can go into 2018-19 with Al Montoya as the backup. They need a better backup that can challenge Talbot and possibly play 30 games if needed.

The last quarter of Talbot’s year saw him getting back to the kind of numbers we expect from him and I’m not overly concerned about him going into next year. The home PK will be better which will help his numbers too. I’d bet that he’ll be closer to .919-.920 next year rather than the .908 we saw this year.

I’d say Leon Draisaitl. He had 70 points, including 55 at even strength. He still has room to improve, but I’d go with him.

Leon Draisaitl.

This is a great question because I honestly have no idea who the answer should be. I’ll go with Nugent-Hopkins. He had a pretty nice season going before the injury and did a very nice job once he got back as well.

I’m going with Nuge. Until he cracked his ribs he was on pace for a career year — and that was before McLellan gave him a chance on Connor’s wing. He’s my guy.

The Oilers without McDavid on the ice are really bad. I think there are some players you could argue, but I’d go with the fans. They supported another losing product during arguably the most disappointing season in the last decade. There’s no one sans McDavid that stands out to me.

Easy. Nuge. He was the most consistent forward all season, tied a career-high in goals, and had it not been for those cracked ribs he would have passed 60 points.

McLellan will be back. He has two years remaining on his deal that pays him $3 mill/season. I could see all three assistants not being renewed. Ian Herbers never really got a chance to do much coaching, being the fourth guy, but Jim Johnson oversaw a bad PK for two years and I’m not if he is a great communicator on defence. I think those two are gone for sure. Jay Woodcroft might stick. I’d say it is 50/50 on him. I also see them hiring a new head coach in Bakersfield.

My guess is that McLellan stays, but I’d bet the farm there will a change, maybe two, with the assistant coaches. A team can’t have a PK that bad and that falls to Jim Johnson. Is Ian Herbers under-utilized as the fourth guy? I’m thinking Ian might opt to return to the U of A.

Todd McLellan makes it back for another season. We know he is loyal to his assistant coaches, so I’d guess they might return as well. When Ian Herbers left the Bears he had an option to return in three years, I wonder if he goes back to the Bears and they get a fresh face in that spot. I know that really doesn’t change much but it could be a minor move that they make.

I think IF Todd is coaching next year, he’s going to need to axe his assistants. At least, that’s what should happen.

I bet Todd McLellan returns with some changes to his assistant coaches. I doubt he’s going to let go of guys he’s coached with for a decade, but I can see a new assistant added to the staff. The organization seems to be preaching continuity for better or worse.

Honestly, with this team, you never know what’s going to happen so I wouldn’t be surprised if the same coaching staff is back or if they all get let go. Firing McLellan would be Chiarelli’s last move to save his job so I can see that being the case.

He needs to read the play better. Just needs more experience. Learn not to crowd McDavid is one thing. But I’d rather focus more on his 5×5 play. I’m not down on Puljujarvi at all. I think he will be a solid NHL player, but he has an immature game at this point, and I think he would have been better served not being in the NHL the past two years (or 1.5 years).

He needs to be a pro, gather experience, continue to develop his game and make the most of the opportunity when it comes. Everything else is out of his control. There was a lot more wrong with the power play this season than Puljujarvi not being on it.

From what I’ve been told the coaching staff isn’t overly impressed with his shot. So I’m assuming they will tell him in the exit meetings that if works on his shot he will get a look in the one-timer spot on the second unit PP to start next season.

Not be foreign.

He’s right-handed, which should make him an attractive option for either unit. The Oilers seriously lack skilled right-handed players for the power play. I don’t know why he was up here if he was playing a third-line role with minimal power play time. I’d rather see him getting huge minutes in Bakersfield instead.

The kid is 19-years-old and should have been playing in the AHL all year so I’m not sure why anyone is surprised that he struggled a little bit. The Oilers need to support him and give him the time he needs because not every prospect develops at the same rate. As for the power play, who knows why he wasn’t on it but I’d guess it has something to do with those damned sideburns.

Not at all.

Lack of pushback through the media? Whining after the fact through the media isn’t pushback, it’s grandstanding that often draws the opposite reaction than what you are seeking. So, no, it doesn’t show the players they don’t have their backs.

I don’t think the players would change their opinion’s of a coach or GM based on them voicing their frustration with officiating in the media. It would nice for us in the media to see it because it would be a hot topic for discussion but you just don’t see it very often.

I think the Oilers needed their coach to show the team he had their back and was going to take the fine in November. Nobody in the organization stepped up. You’d have to find Chiarelli before you can get a quote from him.

I don’t think we know how much was said behind the scenes.

The refs were horrible regardless of which team you cheer for so I’m not sure how much of a difference it would have made in the end. It would have been nice to see one of them go balistic about it but meh. What are you gonna do?

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