Baggedmilk talks Podkolzin\u2019s success in Edmonton, Oilers\u2019 issues, and more: Canucks Conversation<\/p>\n
On Friday\u2019s episode of Canucks Conversation<\/a>, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal were joined by OilersNation\u2019s<\/a> Baggedmilk to discuss Vasily Podkolzin\u2019s resurgence in Edmonton, the Oilers\u2019 current issues, and where the team stands down the stretch.<\/p>\n Baggedmilk started with Podkolzin, who has quietly carved out a role for himself and become a fan favourite in Edmonton.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I watch Podz, I don\u2019t understand how he was given up on for a fourth-round pick<\/a>,\u201d Baggedmilk said. \u201cHis work rate is excellent, he just set a career high in goals this year, and even last year when he had eight goals and 24 points, Edmonton fell in love with him very quickly because even if he\u2019s not scoring goals, you never question his work on the ice. That\u2019s been a godsend in a town like Edmonton because we love our blue-collar players. We often hear stories about Podz being first at the rink, last to leave, and this year he\u2019s getting some success scoring. Edmonton fell in love pretty quick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a complete gut punch when you find out he\u2019s missing the rest of the regular season,\u201d Baggedmilk said. \u201cWhen he got hurt, it was a pretty nothing play \u2013 a clean hit where the guy was finishing his check and he went into the boards awkwardly. Ultimately it\u2019s a massive blow for the Oilers in terms of him not only being the second-best player on the roster, but all the situations he plays in.\u201d<\/p>\n The impact has already been noticeable.<\/p>\n \u201cThe power play over the last two games hasn\u2019t been the same without Draisaitl. It\u2019s disappointing, and when the coaching staff and GM say they expect him back for the playoffs, none of us believe them either. Their injury timelines have been more suggestions than actual news.\u201d<\/p>\n That uncertainty has created tension around the team, especially given Draisaitl\u2019s reputation.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of people feeling tense in Edmonton. Draisaitl is also known for playing hurt, a lot. When I think of him missing the remaining twelve games of the season, how hurt is he really? This guy doesn\u2019t miss games even when he is hurt, so I\u2019m not sure exactly what\u2019s going on and the Oilers aren\u2019t going to tell us.\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond injuries, Baggedmilk was blunt about the team\u2019s defensive struggles.<\/p>\n \u201cNot currently as it is right now,\u201d he said when asked if the Oilers\u2019 defence is good enough for another Cup run. \u201cAnd not just the defence \u2013 the forwards in their own zone are a disaster. Nobody is worried about the offence, they\u2019re scoring goals, but in the defensive zone their coverage is so poor. I\u2019m not sure if it\u2019s a system change and that\u2019s why they brought Paul Coffey back hoping he can change things, but the coverage from everyone is awful.\u201d<\/p>\n Goaltending has been another major concern.<\/p>\n \u201cThe other glaring elephant in the room is the goaltending is disastrous. The Tristan Jarry trade is going to go down as one of the all-time bad trades for the Oilers<\/a> and it only happened two months ago. It\u2019s stunning how bad Tristan Jarry has been.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite all of that, the Oilers remain firmly in the playoff picture \u2013 largely thanks to a weak Pacific Division.<\/p>\n \u201cA positive for the Oilers is the Pacific is so bad, they\u2019re still only a point out of being in the lead for the division,\u201d Baggedmilk said. \u201cDespite all the problems with goaltending and inconsistencies and ups and downs, they\u2019re still in the mix to hang a division banner. If ever there was a season for them to stumble through the first 75\u201380 percent of the year, why not do it during a year when the Pacific Division is historically awful?\u201d<\/p>\n Even with the flaws, there are still a few positives- including but not limited to Podkolzin\u2019s emergence.<\/p>\n