Monday Mailbag – Early thoughts on the Hitchcock era?

Whether you’re killing company time or reacquainting yourself with your couch because you’re playing hooky from life, the mailbag is here to help you make it through another Monday. As always, I’ve taken your questions that need answers from our panel of heroes and experts, drawing from them the answers that you need to better live your lives. This feature depends on you and if you have a question you can email it to me at baggedmilk@oilersnation.com or hit me up on Twitter at @jsbmbaggedmilk. Without further adieu – the mailbag.

It’s not really a first impression as I’ve known Hitchcock for almost 35 years, dating back to when he coached the Kamloops Blazers. He is exactly what I expected him to be. Ken makes his expectations clear. He explains how he wants the game played and why he wants it played that way. He will find a way to get everything out of this line-up there is to get. It’s about time fans around here got that from their coach.

Pretty much what I expected. He gives people a role and expects them to play role. Nothing more.

He says all the right things. I mean, all of them. I think he has the stats guys as happy as the traditionalists. I think I see a stronger commitment to protecting the front of the net and he’s willing to use his timeouts. I have very few complaints.

Their record speaks for itself. I think the coaching change has definitely sparked this team. Hitchcock has a history of coming in and finding ways to get the most out of teams and I think that’s exactly what we’re seeing here. I also love the fact that he isn’t afraid to run up the minutes of the Oilers big guns. He’s fully embracing the fact that this is a top-heavy team and right now, it’s getting them wins. Can’t ask for more than that.

He’s new and clearly a favourite of the media. He says a lot of the right things and is on a good run so far. So far so good.

I mean, you can’t argue with the winning record he’s given the Oilers so far. I’m not sure if it’s exactly the system he’s implemented that’s doing the trick so far, but the boys have definitely rallied around the new coach which is good to see. If Hitch can keep up the winning for the remainder of the season and make sure the team doesn’t faullter then we’ll be giving him a key to the city by the end of it.

Obviously, there’s the defensive approach to hockey that we’re all seeing but one thing that I’ve really noticed since Hitchcock has been around is the endless positivity that comes out during his media availabilities. Even when the team plays poorly he seems to look for the positives and I think that’s the exact approach that the team needed.

Ken has always relied on his best players this way. It is a sound long-term strategy — one only needs to look at his career record — as long as there is a proper supporting cast in place. That end of things needs some work right now.

Playing your best players the most gives you the best chance to win. McDavid is still averaging under 23 minutes a game. He is playing 10 seconds/game more than Mark Schiefele and he is on a deeper Jets team. I don’t see McDavid’s minutes being an issue at all, especially since they aren’t PK minutes.

I have never liked playing the fourth line for the sake of playing the fourth line. Great players in peak physical condition can handle a little extra cardio. Until the depth scoring shows up, I’m all for it.

I’m not sure if it’s a sustainable long-term strategy simply because, at some point, you would imagine Connor McDavid will hit a wall. He seems super-human at times, but you would think at some point fatigue will set in. With that being said, the lack of depth isn’t a Ken Hitchcock problem, it’s a Peter Chiarelli problem. Hitchcock’s job is to get wins and get this team into the playoffs, if he needs to play McDavid and Draisaitl 25 minutes a night to accomplish that, then all the power to him.

Nope. They need more than one line and three players, especially when two of them almost always play together.

This question makes my blood boil based on the current situation the team is in. Obviously, we need to bring in more depth, but this is a coach doing the best that he can do with limited skill given to him from the GM. If he has to play those three centres 35 minutes every night in order to drag the team to the playoffs then so be it. This is all on Chia anyways.

I mean, it’s certainly not ideal. I’m sure Hitchcock would like to be able to spread the minutes around a little bit more if he could. That said, the team is winning so I’m not going to argue.

I have not seen Zykov enough to have a firm opinion about him. I know what the stats say. I know what the scouting reports are. Beyond that, I’m in a wait-and-see position.

He would have to score and he has two weeks to do something or he will be the easy guy to take out of lineup when Tobias Rieder and Drake Caggiula return. I don’t think he skates well enough to make a difference in NHL right now.

He hasn’t played much yet but his line has controlled the puck in both games. If he’s a competent fourth liner that’s a win. He’s a waiver pick up. I have almost no expectations despite his offensive ability at the AHL level.

If he can find a way to spark the Oilers third line and give this team a little offence from their bottom six, then this pickup will look very good. He clearly has good offensive instincts and that is something this team needs more of. He looked good on the third line, but I’d be interested to see what he can do in the top six as well. Give him a chance with a skilled centre and really see if he can reach his offensive potential.

The Oilers have 53 games left. I think 15-20 points would be a successful run for a player who is supposed to bring offence.

Currently, if he can get on the scoresheet every other game that would be great. When Tobias Rieder and Drake Caggiula returns, it will be interesting. If he plays well, he’ll provide some good competition between our bottom six guys, which can only be a good thing.

It’s only been a couple of games so far but I like what Zykov brings to the table. You can tell that the guy is skilled and it will be interesting to see if a change of venue will help him get established at the NHL level. He could be found money for the Oilers.

Crosby has nothing to do with McDavid. For starters, Pittsburgh has been a better, deeper team than the Oilers. Opposing coaches have had different and more difficult choices to make when facing Pittsburgh. My thoughts? I think there is more second-guessing about everything, including linemates, when a team has had as little success as the Oilers have. As for RNH and Draisaitl, both are on pace for their best offensive seasons, so I don’t share your concern or questions about how they’re being deployed.

Why would you weaken your best weapon by not giving him at least one legit, proven winger? If the Oilers had another legit top line winger then I could see 29-93 together, but until then one should play with McDavid.

I’m going to assume from the phrase “drive a line”, you mean can produce offensively and control play. Perhaps it’s a bit like the way Stu MacGregor said that Nuge was the straw that stirred the drink in Red Deer. I’d agree that McDavid can likely produce with players who don’t have well rounded ability. I’m all for seeing Nuge and Drai together on the second line. Even if just for a couple games. Drai might not be capable of picking up 70+ points without great linemates but being a complimentary player isn’t a crime.

I agree with your point. I think RNH and Draisaitl could be a really solid duo, but at the same time, McDavid and Draisaitl work so well together and I’m not sure it’s smart to split them up right now. You also have to consider the fact that Connor and Leon love playing together. You need to consider what Connor McDavid wants as well. In short, I think Nugent-Hopkins and Draisaitl could work on a line, but I don’t think this is the right time to try it. Find McDavid a legit scoring winger and then you can justify it.

I agree. McDavid scores with whoever and the stats back it up. McDavid and Draisaitl are a nice luxury, but it leaves lines 2-4 with almost no one. Daily Faceoff ranks lines and pairings through Corsica, and well it’s not pretty when McDavid and Draisaitl are together. Might as well try Nugent-Hopkins-Draisaitl. They need to do better when McDavid’s on the bench. Adding Draisaitl to McDavid’s line doesn’t help that at all.

“drive a line” – everybody drink! Although you’re correct, I’m surprised we’ve never seen the two of them together, I still love to see one of them (either Drai or Nuge) play with McDavid. This is probably an unpopular opinion, but if I’m Connor McDavid, the best player in the world, I would be pissed if I was forced to play with two AHL/bottom-six calibre players all the time.

I’d love to see Draisaitl and Nuge together because I think it would do a good job of spreading the offence around a little bit. Connor will always be Connor but the depth chart isn’t deep enough to have consistent scoring from everywhere else.

Chabot is a talented offensive blueliner who produces points, but I’m not trading Draisaitl for a player with less than 100 games on his NHL resume. Now, if we’re talking down the road, like this off-season, and Chabot has finished this season the prolific way that he’s started it, that might be a call worth making. I’m not hung up on the 300 games some people use for judging D-men, but less than 100 games is a bit early for me.

Trading Draisaitl for a top pair Dman just opens up another hole on your team. Also right now the Oilers best prospects are Dmen: Bouchard, Jones and Bear. They don’t have any forwards who could step in and fill Draisaitl void on McDavid’s wing. If the Oilers had other legit top line wingers then I could see exploring this trade scenario, but today I don’t see it.

I don’t think Ottawa is interested in trading a stud young defender.

Oh, I love a little armchair GM action! I actually think the value is pretty much bang on when it comes to this offer. If Duchene leaves, Ottawa would no doubt be looking to add a #1 centre and Draisaitl has that potential. The Oilers would LOVE to have a guy like Chabot in their lineup as well. I don’t see this trade ever happening, but it’s a very interesting proposal!

I think the Oilers have lacked a real puck-moving defenceman for basically the last decade. Chabot’s on an unreal start to the season but that’s an interesting idea. I’d consider it, but the Oilers probably wouldn’t. If they didn’t move Leon Draisaitl for a Seth Jones/P.K Subban when they had the chance and could have kept Taylor Hall, they won’t do when they have even less depth up front.

The Sens would definitely be interested in that trade, yes. My first impression of the deal would be a no. I’m so defensive when thinking of trade options for Draisaitl, cause he’s such a valuable tool for us. Chabot is having a great ELC and I”m curious as to what he would sign for after it’s done in a year and a half. For me to agree to that trade, the Sens would have to throw in something else to the pot. It Can’t be one for one.

Obviously, the Oilers need an offensive minded defenceman but are you really wanting to give up a guy that’s on pace for 90 points for someone with so few career games? If Chabot is as good as he looks right now, would the Senators really be interested in giving him up? Tough one.

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