Ryan Rishaug

Last year, you know, you would sacrifice some of that speed for the, you know, sage veteran gamesmanship, and they had some of that last year with Corey Perry.

But they were older.

Like, they were older and had different older players.

And this year, there's better legs in the lineup, to my eye.

You know, where there was Skinner and Perry and, you know, King was healthy.

Yeah, now there's Savoy, who's a burner.

right you've got doc who is for his size skates really really well trent frederick is skating as well as he skated in an oiler sweater right now you know you've just got you know ross levick is an exceptionally good skater the way he gets around out there so you've just got more speed and some more youth in your lineup and i think it sets them up a little better to not get bogged down the way they might have a little bit with some older guys is that fair

Careful, Bob.

You get yourself in trouble when you allow the Oilers' defense core too much.

Well, this was a departure for Stan Bowman, right?

Bowman was bringing in puck movers, guys that were primarily puck movers.

maybe smaller in stature stature but guys that were able so this was a departure for me decided to get someone that's a little more stout defensively not quite as skilled um but it's a perfect balance right he's kind of at home light doesn't have the offensive upside but he's not a bad talk we're like a good puck mover but defends really well i think he's brought good energy into the room i think he's brought veteran presence onto that blue line i think that

Somehow, like we have to give Darnell Nurse credit for Darnell Nurse playing better, right?

The credit has to start with Nurse.

He's earned it and he's been better.

So I want to state that clearly.

But it can't help but notice how much it's helped having Connor Murphy next to him.

So for Connor Murphy's game to influence Darnell Nurse in a way where the two of them seem to be taking a lot of pride and trying to shut things down, trying to be that shutdown pairing, right?

Darnell is simplifying.

We're not seeing adventures from Darnell Nurse the way we used to.