Potratz Picks: 2016-17 Oiler Edition

If you’ve been listening to The Oilers Rig podcast, you will know that we have two prominent segments; Rapid Fire, and Potratz Picks.

Rapid fire is just like it sounds. I ask our guest ten questions as fast as possible and await their off-the-top-of-their-head answers.

Potratz Picks is a segment I’ve been doing since I started this hobby/career in sports media. Whether it’s a top ten or top five, I pick a topic and end the podcast with my “Potratz Picks”.

This time around in blog form, I will be doing my 2016-17 Oiler edition of last year’s horrible 2015-16 Oiler edition. First let’s take a look at last season….

HOW BAD WERE POTRATZ’ PICKS LAST YEAR?

In two words: not bad (also not good)

I guessed Lander would score 48 points. He got three. Hence Lander being on waivers today.

I guessed Yakupov would score 27 goals. He got eight. Hence Yakupov being sent to the Blues.

I guessed Draisaitl would score 11 points in only 35 games. He scored 51 last year.

I was impressed with Korpikoski’s speed and was happy with him on the third line. My oh my have the tides turned. Good luck with him Dallas!

I was really high on Andrew Miller. WTF?

I claimed Justin Schultz was half of the future “top pairing”. While I got Klefbom right, I was wrongfully optimistic on Justin Schultz. My the difference a year does.

I was high on Anders Nilsson and cautious on Cam Talbot. Wish I would have switched those two around. I guess that I was looking good on that prediction until December.

THE PROJECTED OPENING LINEUP

Milan Lucic-Connor McDavid-Jordan Eberle
Benoit Pouliot-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Leon Draisaitl
Patrick Maroon-Drake Caggiula-Kris Versteeg
Tyler Pitlick-Mark Letestu-Zack Kassian
ex: Anton Slepyshev, Jesse Puljujarvi
inj: Iiro Pakarinen, Matt Hendricks

Oscar Klefbom-Adam Larsson
Andrej Sekera-Kris Russell
Darnell Nurse-Brandon Davidson
ex:Mark Fayne

Cam Talbot
Jonas Gustavsson

#/Name/Stats/Last year’s prediction
97-Connor McDavid 79GP 32-65-97 (78)
14- Jordan Eberle 81GP 36-30-66 (54)
93- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 76GP 24-36-60 (70)
27- Milan Lucic 82GP 25-31-56 (NR)
29- Leon Draisaitl 81GP 21-32-53 (11)
67- Benoit Pouliot 73GP 20-31-51 (43)
36- Drake Caggiula 71GP 18-24-42 (NR)
77- Oscar Klefbom 76GP 8-31-39 (28)
19- Patrick Maroon 81GP 16-21-37 (NR)
13- Kris Versteeg 65GP 14-21-35 (NR)
2- Andrej Sekera 81GP 6-28-34 (34)
6- Adam Larsson 82GP 5-26-31 (NR)
88- Brandon Davidson 65GP 5-20-25 (10)
55- Mark Letestu 82GP 13-11-24 (19)
4- Kris Russell 70GP 3-17-20 (NR)
15- Tyler Pitlick 68GP 8-11-19 (2)
44- Zack Kassian 77GP 10-7-17 (NR)
25- Darnell Nurse 75GP 5-11-16 (NR)
42- Anton Slepyshev 36GP 4-6-10 (26)
26- Iiro Pakarinen 45GP 7-2-9 (NR)
82- Jordan Oesterle 27GP 1-8-9 (NR)
83- Matt Benning 24GP 1-6-7 (NR)
23- Matt Hendricks 39GP 3-3-6 (15)
8- Griffin Reinhart 37GP 1-4-5 (13)
5- Mark Fayne 26GP 0-3-3 (14)
39- Jesse Puljujarvi 9GP 1-1-2 (NR)
GOALIES
33-Cam Talbot 60GP 33W
50-Jonas Gustavsson 12GP 4W
1- Laurent Brossoit 10GP 5W

FIRST LINE

The top line featuring Connor McDavid, Milan Lucic, and Jordan Eberle was drawn up on paper and looked like an incredible combination. Well, after a rusty start, the top line has developed chemistry and looks ready to take the NHL by storm. Could be one of the best lines in the league.

SECOND LINE

It looks like Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins have developed some immense chemistry and that means Draisaitl will start the season as Nuge’s right winger. Benoit Pouliot has been really good in preseason and throughout his tenure as an Oiler so he’s a great compliment player on this line. Pouliot is primed for a breakout career year and he already has chemistry with his new linemates. They’ll get away from the other team’s top players living under McDavid’s shadow.

THIRD LINE

If Versteeg starts on this line instead of Puljujarvi (which he should), then the line featuring a winger-turned-centre rookie in Drake Caggiula and the ever-improving Patrick Maroon, we could see the league’s top third line. Kris Versteeg is on the verge of signing his deal and he should provide leadership on a line of 30-40 point players.

FOURTH LINE

With Matt Hendricks and Iiro Pakarinen out of the lineup with injuries, Tyler Pitlick seized the opportunity. He saw a job available and he earned it. Pitlick will play the checking role with his linemates Mark Letestu (who looked impressive in camp) and Zack Kassian.

EXTRA FORWARDS

Anton Slepyshev seems to have made the team as a fill-in forward and that is a little strange. Slepyshev made the team out of camp last year and he plays a good two-way game, but he would likely get more out of playing on the top line in Bakersfield. Jesse Puljujarvi likely gets the nine-game audition, but unless he produces six points, he should go down to Bakersfield. Very surprised he made the team out of camp

FIRST PAIRING

Oscar Klefbom is back, healthy, and looking like a bonafide top-pairing defenseman in the making. He’s not perfect by all means, but he moves the puck well and has a good grip on defensive positioning. Pairing Klef with his countryman Adam Larsson allows Klefbom to explore more offensive options while Larsson stays back.

SECOND PAIRING

Andrej Sekera had an amazing World Cup and seems to have an extra step of confidence. Sekera will begin the year paired with the newly acquired Kris Russell. Russell is apparently well-liked by his teammates and fans around the league. Flames fans have told me I would be surprised by him and I’m willing to give him a chance despite the numbers.

THIRD PAIRING

Darnell Nurse is either Dr. Jekell, or Mr. Hyde. When he’s on, he’s great. When he’s not on, he’s terrible. Nurse will use this year to determine what kind of player he is going to be and having the steady sophomore Brandon Davidson with him will go a long ways. Mark Fayne struggled in preseason towards the end and may have lost his job to the impressive Matthew Benning.

GOALTENDING

I have to admit, I’m a little nervous about Cam Talbot. He hasn’t been the best in net this preseason, but it is still early. The thing that worries me the most is that he’s a slow starter. He can’t afford to have a slow start and needs to be the February Cam Talbot and not the November Cam Talbot. Jonas Gustavsson doesn’t inspire confidence as a capable backup, and Laurent Brossoit is still green. I pray that Talbot brings his best right off the bat.

EASTERN CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS

Atlantic Division
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
2. Florida Panthers
3. Montreal Canadiens
4. Boston Bruins*
5. Ottawa Senators
6. Detroit Red Wings
7. Buffalo Sabres
8. Toronto Maple Leafs

Metropolitan Division
1. Washington Capitals
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
3. New York Rangers
4. New York Islanders*
5. Carolina Hurricanes
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Columbus Blue Jackets

If the Carolina Hurricanes can find a better goaltending option (cough Ben Bishop) then they take a playoff spot away from the Bruins or Islanders. The Ranger should regress but GM Gorton brought in some underrated depth forwards to keep them competitive. Tampa Bay and Florida will be fun to watch battling it out for the title.

WESTERN CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS

Central Division
1. Nashville Predators
2. Dallas Stars
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. St.Louis Blues
5. Winnipeg Jets
6. Minnesota Wild
7. Colorado Avalanche

Pacific Division
1. San Jose Sharks
2. Los Angeles Kings
3. Anaheim Ducks
4. Edmonton Oilers
5. Calgary Flames
6. Arizona Coyotes
7. Vancouver Canucks

I think the Oilers make the playoffs this year. I’m extremely optimistic, not cautiously. It will be a race between the Oilers, Jets, Wild and Flames so it will be exciting to watch down the road. The Predators will become big time contender this year like Dallas did last year.

BIG TIME WINNERS

Stanley Cup: Nashville Predators
Runner Up: Florida Panthers
Conn Smythe: Filip Forsberg
Hart Trophy: Connor McDavid
Vezina Trophy: Martin Jones
Norris Trophy: Kris Letang
Lady Byng: Jonathan Toews
Calder Trophy: Auston Matthews
Art Ross: Connor McDavid
Rocket Richard: Alex Ovechkin

Bring it on 2016-17!