Then, as if that weren't enough, the same author just a couple of weeks later came out with yet ANOTHER epic fail take.
In this one, the author is claiming that waiver pickup Alec Regula could've stepped up into Evan Bouchard's role should he be injured for the long term. This is obviously laughable for so many reasons. Let's go through them now.
1. Junior hockey isn't the NHL
Just because the same thing happened in junior hockey, doesn't mean it's going to happen in the NHL. Junior hockey is a big jump from the NHL, which is why most draft picks can't directly do it, except for maybe the top 1-3 picks in any given draft, depending on how deep it is. The list of guys who could excel in junior hockey but flamed out in either the minors or the NHL is very long and will continue to always add body counts because the reality is not every junior player has the talent or the chops to make it in the NHL. It's ridiculously stupid to suggest that just because Regula subbed in for Bouchard in junior hockey that he'd be able to seamlessly do the same thing in the NHL.
2. Regula only has 22 NHL games to his name
He's never even played a full NHL season, and that's the guy you want QB-ing the PP, handling the toughest competition, and thinking he can keep up with NHL speed? Talk about being setup to fail. Regula isn't even close to being able to fulfill Bouchard's role on the Oilers - and considering that Bouchard is a top 10 puck moving d-man in the league makes this even more laughable.
Now if Regula had been a top draft pick marinating in Bakersfield for years and consistently put up great numbers in the AHL then we can talk about a different conversation, but at the NHL level Regula isn't even close to what Bouchard is, to suggest otherwise is just stupid.
This just makes me glad that the writer isn't the head coach of the Oilers.
3. Regula just got here
Usually, you don't want to throw a guy in the deep end when he just gets here, unless he's part of a major trade and that's the role you're asking the guy to play. But otherwise, it's wise to ease the guy in. Right now, Regula doesn't know the city, the team, the systems, or the coaches. But yeah, let's just throw this guy in the deep end if Bouchard gets injured......that's a completely stupid take.
4. This - I shouldn't have to state the obvious or show his complete of common sense
"One of the new defender's strengths is moving the puck."Caleb Kerney
If that's true then why isn't he an NHL regular at the age of 24? Why has he been nothing more than an AHL bubble player his entire career? If his strength is moving the puck why isn't an NHL team paying him to do that more on a regular basis? Talk about a poor take that doesn't jive with reality. I'd even excuse this statement if Regula was at least a regular bottom pairing puck mover, but he isn't.
Sigh.....*facepalm*