| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Cyclonis |
Posted - 04/16/2013 : 11:26:19
Suggestions and thoughts how MacT will, would, or should rebuild the Edmonton Oilers NOW?
Trade for young/top D?
Select D or a G in 2013 in draft?
Trade for a blue chip goalie or prospect?
Free Agent Big names?
Sit tight and give the kids time to mature - should it even be NOW? |
| 24 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| JOSHUACANADA |
Posted - 04/27/2013 : 12:14:47
The six goals marked a rare offensive outburst for a team that had scored two in its previous three contests and averaged 1.4 during a 1-9-0 skid.
Edmonton has been outscored 22-7 during a six-game home losing streak, but is 1-0-1 there against Vancouver this season.
Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 38 shots Friday, but likely will give way to Devan Dubnyk for the season finale. Dubnyk has lost his last four home starts, posting a 3.62 goals-against average.
I want you to look at this article from CBC.ca and see if you can spot the differences between the 2 goalies. This is all I was trying to say with regards to Edmonton's goalie situtation. When the pressure mounts, Dubnyk is not the goalie I would want to play in tight games. His last 4 home starts when playoffs were on the line 3.62 GAA.
Pressure is off this team next game and they throw Habby on the ice, boom 6 goal outburst in a meaninless game, when the boys could have some fun and be creative, while Habby is solid with a team fighting for a playoff position letting in 1 goal on 38 shots. This team has the offense, but does not have the confidence in front of Dubnyk. I may have taken a blip on his career and use it to show a point, but I have been saying it for months while watching the team play in front of Dubnyk. I just hope the Oilers get some goalie depth and let him earn the position. If he can't, which is my belief, I hope they find a decent replacement and put him in the role I believe he was meant to fill as backup. He isn't the only problem for this team, I agree, but he is part of the problem.
"I now realise that the Toronto Maple Leafs, Canada's finest hockey team, is better than the Ottawa Senators - and always will be. PS - LOVE that Dion Phaneuf! " |
| JOSHUACANADA |
Posted - 04/22/2013 : 12:20:23
Wishing the Oilers were playing for 8th! Glad they showed improvements year over year in some area's, but to be honest, this season is a let down. They should have tried to add a few pieces to compete now for the playoffs, even to get spanked in the first round of the playoffs by teams which are commited to the now. The let down happened on trade deadline day, when all the serious teams made an effort to put there team in playoff contention and the Oilers did nothing. Hell, even with Dallas and Calgary unloading aging stars they did more than the Oilers to improve for next season. In Calgary's case, they actually are still competing like a playoff team, Dallas looks like they can surprise for a playoff spot after the selloff, while the Oilers look defeated outside of the top line. I'd say the future looks less than bright today, than it did at the beginning of the season. Hey at least they didn't bottom dwell for the majority of the season like they have in the past, so the sky isn't all dark. |
| n/a |
Posted - 04/22/2013 : 10:54:02
quote:
Originally posted by Beans15
quote:
Originally posted by slozo
Bottom line . . . all of the bluster and hot air out of Oiler land at how they were building it "the rigth way" and the Leafs weren't (remember that argument folks? Remember how I wasn't sold on the Oiler "tank and play the kids" method?) . . . seems like just that - a lot of hot air.
And don't tell me Beans - or you too FER - that you expected this team to miss the playoffs again this year. You have been extending your playoff predictions each year to cover your failures . . . I seem to remember last year both of you saying this should be a team bucking for a playoff spot.
And realistically, this was a team that fell well short of that.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug
A couple of things. Firstly, the verdict is still out on the rebuild and the comparison of the Leafs to the Oilers. Sure, the Leafs are winning the war today but a lot can change in the future. If the Leafs get punted in the first round and then miss the playoffs for the next two seasons while the Oilers make the playoffs for the next two seasons and make the conference final, who is winning then??
It's a marathon, not a sprint. Teams who sprint to success have short lived success.
Secondly, I will not disagree that I wanted for the Oilers to make the playoffs and I was cheering for that to happen. But I think I have been pretty clear from the start of this season that I would have called this season a success if the Oilers were playing meaningful games at the end of the season. With 12 games left in the season the Oilers were in a playoff spot and they were not techinically elimiated until their final 3 games. I am pretty sure that is the definition of meaningful games.
Regardless, I don't have to prove or defend my opinion to you or anyone else. But, for the record, I fully expect the Oilers to no only make the playoffs next year but to compete for the NW division. Missing the playoffs next year will be a complete and utter failure of this hockey team.
Judging a half season using full season standards Beans?
3 games this year, is about 2 weeks in a regular season. That is NOT a team that was on the bubble and played meaningful games up until the end . . . sorry, it just isn't.
With 4 games remaining, the Oilers are ten points out of a playoff spot. In a regular season . . . yeah, it'd be over 16 points out. All I am pointing out is the obvious - that a 5 game winning streak on April 3rd that had you thinking you had a chance at the playoffs . . . doesn't mean you were really close.
Please don't make me bring up similar Leaf examples of this exact same scenario unfolding! I'm in playoff mode! 
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 04/22/2013 : 10:08:20
quote:
Originally posted by slozo
Bottom line . . . all of the bluster and hot air out of Oiler land at how they were building it "the rigth way" and the Leafs weren't (remember that argument folks? Remember how I wasn't sold on the Oiler "tank and play the kids" method?) . . . seems like just that - a lot of hot air.
And don't tell me Beans - or you too FER - that you expected this team to miss the playoffs again this year. You have been extending your playoff predictions each year to cover your failures . . . I seem to remember last year both of you saying this should be a team bucking for a playoff spot.
And realistically, this was a team that fell well short of that.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug
A couple of things. Firstly, the verdict is still out on the rebuild and the comparison of the Leafs to the Oilers. Sure, the Leafs are winning the war today but a lot can change in the future. If the Leafs get punted in the first round and then miss the playoffs for the next two seasons while the Oilers make the playoffs for the next two seasons and make the conference final, who is winning then??
It's a marathon, not a sprint. Teams who sprint to success have short lived success.
Secondly, I will not disagree that I wanted for the Oilers to make the playoffs and I was cheering for that to happen. But I think I have been pretty clear from the start of this season that I would have called this season a success if the Oilers were playing meaningful games at the end of the season. With 12 games left in the season the Oilers were in a playoff spot and they were not techinically elimiated until their final 3 games. I am pretty sure that is the definition of meaningful games.
Regardless, I don't have to prove or defend my opinion to you or anyone else. But, for the record, I fully expect the Oilers to no only make the playoffs next year but to compete for the NW division. Missing the playoffs next year will be a complete and utter failure of this hockey team. |
| Guest4125 |
Posted - 04/19/2013 : 07:35:13
From what I have noticed about Paajarvi is he is bigger, faster, he drives the net and goes to the corners more. I don't think he is fully there yet but he has made a huge improvement from when he was drafted.
As for Smyth I think the bashing is unfair. He's gone from a top 6 guy to playing 4th line center. I'm not sure how that makes sense. I don't believe he is a good faceoff man nor do I think he is a 4th line type of player. He should probaly not be top 6 anymore but still should be 3rd line winger. His specialty is in front of the net and behind the net. Yet Krueger plays him 4th center. For a coach who talks about specialist a lot he certainly doesn't seem to know anyone's specialtys... |
| Alex116 |
Posted - 04/18/2013 : 12:49:41
Slozo, fair enough, i see your points. Don't totally agree or disagree in fact. Some things it's hard to know all the factors on. I know with the Smyth thing, i did hear he was being singled out and criticized for poor play. However, i don't know exactly what they expected of him either, nor do i know ice time, linemates, pp time, etc he was getting and whether or these things warrant the criticism.
4315.....Is Paarjarvi a "gritty" player as such? I've seen him play, though he isn't all that noticable really. He seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle of young talent in Edmonton, at least until this season? I think a smart GM out there would be inquiring about this kid. He may be a late bloomer, and coupled with what i mentioned about him being lost in the shuffle of young talent, he may just be a potential breakout star in another year or two? The talent is there, the speed is there and he's not exactly small at 6' and over 200lbs!
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| JOSHUACANADA |
Posted - 04/18/2013 : 12:02:40
Wow Emery, is he gonna be available. That would be a good fit for the Oilers and certainly someone who could push Dubnyk for the top spot. I think his salary will be higher than what I was projecting Bishop to come in at, but he has 7-8 years experience, some playoff experience and if he were a forward, has the grit the Oilers lack. Likely not gonna happen but an interesting thought. |
| Guest4315 |
Posted - 04/18/2013 : 11:56:52
In reply to Pasty:
I am not at all sold on Horton. Mostly because he is too injury prone. I'm pretty sure Paajarvi takes the 2nd line grit role. Unless he gets traded I would say he has earned it.
Belanger is likely to not get resigned let alone move up from 4th line to 3rd line. He was sent down recently and replaced with Smithson (recently of Florida).
The other thing to remember is Klefbom. He was likely to make the team this year except for an early season injury and the fact he was going to honor his full contract overseas. Sure he is still an unproven D but he has lots of upside. At least thats what I have been lead to believe. |
| n/a |
Posted - 04/18/2013 : 11:56:51
quote:
I think we've argued this enough on these forums, but no one has come up with a reasonable argument for why the Oilers failed this year due to goalie depth.
This is a point I agree with you on, and don't agree with JOSHUACANADA on - I think the Oilers had a reasonable goalie situation coming into this season, nothing to fault management on too much there.
quote:
This part drips of so much sarcasm, i'm not sure how to take it. I get the whole point about how they seem to like to hire from within, but other than that, it's a little confusing. As funny as it is, no one plans on making mistakes as far as i'm concerned. 
It's not confusing to me, and I think it's spot on: you hire from within - essentially, someone who worked under the old guy - and after a period of time not long enough to judge their achievements by, you fire them, essentially punishing them for the mistakes of their predecessors. It would be like if the Leafs had Nonis now, didn't make the playoffs this year and next, then fired him. Thing is, as unfair as it is, that is the way the cookie crumbles quite often!
quote:
Ah, Shawn Horcoff. Overpaid? Yes, of course. But he's still an effective player, just that he cashed in on a good year or two at a time when money was being tossed around like peanuts. How dare the Oilers make this signing! No other team would consider such a move! Cough, cough, ahem......Drury, Gomez, cough, cough Redden, cough, Dipietro, cough, cough, Komisarek, cough, cough.....
It may be a common mistake, but it's still a mistake. And the GMs who signed Drury, Gomez, Redden, Dipietro, and Komisarek all got ripped for it. As they should have.
quote:
Um, i'm not even sure who this is about? Whitney? Smyth? Whitney was very good for them, when healthy, up until this season when he struggled. Even through his struggles, there were apparently multiple teams interested in him at the deadline. If he's so bad, wouldn't the Oilers have just given him away??? If it's got to do with Smyth, i think it's obvious the reason they brought him back and it's much like Linden's last years here in Vancouver. Also, keep in mind that players haven't exactly been jumping at the chance to go to Edmonton, so thier prospective pool of guys to pursue may be a little smaller than other teams.
It was about Smyth, I believe - and the point is a good one. They expected more out of a guy like that, when he should really just be a depth and leadership guy at this point. Instead, they rip him . . . the one guy in the world who WANTED DESPERATELY to return to the Oil. Yeah, that's not too cool.
quote:
This is the NHL. Last time i checked, 99.9% of the time, teams draft the best player available. They do not draft for needs. Sure, after a couple of 1st overall's and some other high picks, this past year they could have traded down and picked a dman and got a prospect as well? I'd agree with that. But i don't think it's any sort of huge mistake on their part. If they feel they screwed up, they could easily trade Yakupov for a dman or two now.
Agreed. This was the second point I disagreed on with JOSHUACANADA.
quote:
As far as throwing rookies on the top line, it seemed to work for RNH last year. Sure, he's struggling this season, but he's not the first to have a tough 2nd year in the league. It's often called a sophmore slump if i recall correctly. Many players have gone through one only to become stars in the years which followed.
But management's role is to make sure you have the proper support players who can assist these young rising stars (Hall, RNH) into their hockey adulthood. It's why you don't see lineups that have lines consisting of three guys who are all in their first three years in the NHL . . . they have no one to learn from, guide them, on the defence and nuances of the game, things to be learned in the NHL. The offensive part of the game will come on it's own with those star-quality guys . . . but the rest of it, has to be taught by someone, or at least, observed close-up.
Sorry, no time for the rest of this, maybe later - but you get the gist of it I hope.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| Pasty7 |
Posted - 04/18/2013 : 11:31:14
Just for fun I used Capgeek's Cap Calculator option to make adjustments to the Oilers roster for 2013-2014, Living on the east coast i don't see nearly enough Oiler games to be the best person to do this and could be way out in left field on this one but i think this team i have put together is very competative and quite plausible to put together,
This team has 25 players on it's NHL roster and roughly 2 million in capspace and all UFA's i signed i tried to overpay to create a sort of worst case scenario,
RHN- Hall - Eberle
N. Horton- Horcoff- Yakupov
Paajarvi - Belange - Clarkson
Smith - Steckl- Jones
Lander- Brown
j. Schultz - K Yandle
N Schultz- Smid
Fistric- Petry
Teubert - Potter
Emery
Dubnyk
To me this address the needs I see for the Oilers squad, Yandle is a young proven top tier D man who would compliment well Schultz , Horton Clarkson and Steckle all add size to the Oilers crew Clarkson and Horton adding considerable grit to the Oil's top 6. I think this ices a very very competative team. I also think Emery adds stability in goal if Dubnyk were to be hurt he is good enough to carry a team for stretchs.
Granted Horton Clarkson will be very saught after players this offseason and i did not make room for the kid from Yale the Oil has just signed
Hello, 911? It's an emergency, my teddy bear's been kidnapped!
[pause] Hello? Hello?
|
| Alex116 |
Posted - 04/18/2013 : 08:51:16
Slozo.....please share what parts of this sarcastic rant were "spot on".
quote:
Originally posted by JOSHUACANADA
Based on other Edmonton fans comments, dont ever ever go for goalie depth. Its bad in a way that makes fans of your team argue for weeks and months about. Goalie depth is never an issue when you have a goal differential of -17 or so, your young energetic offensively talent stars can't score 5 on 5 and are bottled up in the own end trying to make a save your goalie can seem to give you during tight games.
I think we've argued this enough on these forums, but no one has come up with a reasonable argument for why the Oilers failed this year due to goalie depth. Dubnyk has played adequately and beyond, agreed? Now look at Khabibulin and his numbers. They're pretty much the same, just over 9 starts which is what some backups goalies can expect in a shortened season. How is it that goalie depth is hurting this team? This whole "goalie depth" crap was revolving around the Oilers not getting Bishop yet the apparently did offer on him and were one of the teams who didn't get him. Bottom line is, goalie was not a problem for this teams lack of success this season.
quote:
Originally posted by JOSHUACANADA
When looking for someone to blame create a new position at the top promote someone from within to fill your position give it a few years and fire them for all you mistakes. Make sure to look at prior failed employees you have fired for positions to fill, should you not want to take the blame for future mistakes you havent yet made but are planning on making.
This part drips of so much sarcasm, i'm not sure how to take it. I get the whole point about how they seem to like to hire from within, but other than that, it's a little confusing. As funny as it is, no one plans on making mistakes as far as i'm concerned.
quote:
Originally posted by JOSHUACANADA
Pay 1 year performance players 3 time there value for twice as long as they deserve to make sure, should they regress you are screwed, thus blaming the player for not living up to expectations nobody, but you set for them. Oh and name them captain.
Ah, Shawn Horcoff. Overpaid? Yes, of course. But he's still an effective player, just that he cashed in on a good year or two at a time when money was being tossed around like peanuts. How dare the Oilers make this signing! No other team would consider such a move! Cough, cough, ahem......Drury, Gomez, cough, cough Redden, cough, Dipietro, cough, cough, Komisarek, cough, cough.....
quote:
Originally posted by JOSHUACANADA
When looking for depth players always look for players on the decline who wish to play for your team. Bench them regularly while bashing there play to motivate them into playing like they did before, in there prime 10 some odd years ago when they were relevent.
Um, i'm not even sure who this is about? Whitney? Smyth? Whitney was very good for them, when healthy, up until this season when he struggled. Even through his struggles, there were apparently multiple teams interested in him at the deadline. If he's so bad, wouldn't the Oilers have just given him away??? If it's got to do with Smyth, i think it's obvious the reason they brought him back and it's much like Linden's last years here in Vancouver. Also, keep in mind that players haven't exactly been jumping at the chance to go to Edmonton, so thier prospective pool of guys to pursue may be a little smaller than other teams.
quote:
Originally posted by JOSHUACANADA
Forget about teaching defense first and throw your rookies on the top line, so that when they dont succeed you can always say your system of development is the most supportive. Dont draft for your weakness's always overload on player which your team has depth of.
This is the NHL. Last time i checked, 99.9% of the time, teams draft the best player available. They do not draft for needs. Sure, after a couple of 1st overall's and some other high picks, this past year they could have traded down and picked a dman and got a prospect as well? I'd agree with that. But i don't think it's any sort of huge mistake on their part. If they feel they screwed up, they could easily trade Yakupov for a dman or two now. As far as throwing rookies on the top line, it seemed to work for RNH last year. Sure, he's struggling this season, but he's not the first to have a tough 2nd year in the league. It's often called a sophmore slump if i recall correctly. Many players have gone through one only to become stars in the years which followed.
quote:
Originally posted by JOSHUACANADA
Defenseman should always be treated like forwards, if they can't score at better than .5 points a game they are slumping and should be subject to trade rumours. These trade rumours will turn out to be false, because management doesn't know how to promote the strength of there roster to other teams and the players offered in return will not wish to play for you, thus creating the best case scenerio of disgruntled employees/players holding out and demanding a trade. When a player is injured, tell him to suck it up unless duck tape will not hold the limb together for the remainder of the period, game and season. Should you be forced to IR a player make sure to rush them back into the lineup before a full recovery.
This part is really ridiculously sarcastic and again, i'm not sure of the exact player(s) it refers to but if any of this is actually true, Joshua must have a front office job with the Oil. This is purely speculation. To say a trade was just a rumour all along is silly. What, just because a deal wasn't made, that player was never really considered in a deal??? WTF?
Joshua, with all due respect, i didn't comment on this before because i know it was intended somewhat sarcastically. However, with Slozo thinking it's "spot on" in places, i felt the need to comment.
Slozo, i do agree that most Oilers fans likely expected a playoff spot this season. However, in fairness, up until this recent 6 game skid, they were very close. As far as the "building it the right way" thing when comparing the Leafs and Oilers, let's be realistic. It's very easy for you to support what the Leafs did, now that they are finally seeing hockey in the postseason, but it sure did look bleak for a long time. Also, keep in mind, they do have a high draft pick in Kadri helping out in a big way. They also traded a high draft pick in Schenn for a forward who's been a big help as well. So, as much as they did build some parts through trades, they also needed the high draft picks they got from sucking like the Oilers did to do so. That whole argument was regarding the Oilers building through the draft vs the Leafs (and other teams like Calgary) trying for the quick fix. FTR, just because the Leafs are in the post season this year doesn't make the Kessel deal any less ridiculously one sided. It just means they might have been there sooner had the Leafs not made that deal.
ETA....Sheesh, after re-reading this, it sounds like i'm an Oilers fan! Don't get excited Beans, it's far from the truth!  |
| JOSHUACANADA |
Posted - 04/18/2013 : 07:49:19
To be honest I cheer for both teams, unless Ottawa plays Edmonton I proudly cheer for the Oilers and I live in Edmonton now. I have also cheered for the Flames when I lived in Calgary. Its why I am more disappointed in the status quo they had this year. They seemed to have the parts and pieces. The Coach had made good improvements early. Habby played strong at the start and Dubnyk was proving he can start games. The Horcoff went down, Habby got injured, Ryan Whitney slumped, Nugent Hopkins couldn't find his game and the wheels fell off. I think if management, like every other hockey fan who acknowledged where the team was struggling, early and made a few moves to address it, this team would have been closer to a playoff position. The trade deadline was a let down because of a lack of moves, but an answer to the players they they had faith in them, knowing this team has weakness's. If instead of rolling with the roster that was flirting with a playoff position at that time, they had made changes to strengthen these weakness, they could have, should have locked down a playoff spot. They are better than 12th in the west and this 6 game losing streak could have been 3-3 with better management decisions. |
| n/a |
Posted - 04/18/2013 : 04:53:35
I think JOSHUACANADA's sarcastic rant was pretty spot on in places, myself. I find it amusing that many of the Oiler fans don't see the truth in what he is saying.
I still think that for a Western team, they don't have the size and sandpaper up front, and I think to have ONLY young guys up front is a bit dangerous.
And like the Leafs last year and the year before . . . on paper defense and what the defense actually IS are two different things. Sometimes it's coaching; sometimes it's a combination of that and the system; sometimes it's just expectations being lowered for certain players who may not be all that.
Bottom line . . . all of the bluster and hot air out of Oiler land at how they were building it "the rigth way" and the Leafs weren't (remember that argument folks? Remember how I wasn't sold on the Oiler "tank and play the kids" method?) . . . seems like just that - a lot of hot air.
And don't tell me Beans - or you too FER - that you expected this team to miss the playoffs again this year. You have been extending your playoff predictions each year to cover your failures . . . I seem to remember last year both of you saying this should be a team bucking for a playoff spot.
And realistically, this was a team that fell well short of that.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| Guest4315 |
Posted - 04/17/2013 : 17:20:12
Goaltending:
Pick up a back-up goalie via free agent market or sign Bulin to a 1 year deal.
Players:
Trade Gagner and Hemsky for a solid defensemen (one who is 26-30 eg. Yandle) and a prospect/pick. Grab a good faceoff man that is a 2nd/3rd liner (basically another Horcoff), this guy will be a band aid until a BIG center is ready after being drafted this year (Possibly Monahan). Likely he might play right away knowing the Oilers and the previously mentioned band aid might not even be required.
Top 6:
Hall - Nuge - Ebs
Paajarvi - Monahan/Band-aid - Yakupov
D:
Smid & New Solid D
Justin & Nick
Fistric & Klefbom
|
| OILINONTARIO |
Posted - 04/17/2013 : 16:17:43
Realistically, coaching the Oiler's powerplay would be as difficult as being the Canucks third goalie. So that brings the C+ down to a D+. Once again, could be wrong, but I haven't heard from anyone out West on the matter. Was Kruger voted in simply 'cause his name is Ralph? Popular name out there Y'know. 
The Oil WILL make the playoffs in 2014. |
| JOSHUACANADA |
Posted - 04/17/2013 : 15:43:46
5 and 5 scoring is low but special teams are in the top 10. Hard to fault only the coach for that. What I have seen of Kruger to this point shows me an improvement over the last coach. Could it be chemistry? Lack of veteran presence? Aggresive, physical play not there? Either way what grades would you give him to this point.
A - Power Play
B - Penalty Kill
D - 5 on 5 scoring
C - Team Defense
Overall he is a B- to a C+. Not bad for a 1st year coach on a rebuilding team who was last in the NHL last 3 or 4 years. |
| OILINONTARIO |
Posted - 04/17/2013 : 14:03:52
As I mentioned earlier, I cannot give an informed opinion of Kruger. Living in the East, and working early mornings, I, unfortunately, cannot see a whole lot of Western games. I had never heard of him before, and he is rarely mentioned in the sports pages. Is he the right guy for this young group? As my signature facetiously says, I expect the Oilers to always make the playoffs, but this year, I honestly did. I know, fire the coach is a big cop-out, but there should be results by now. Beans points to the 5 on 5 being the problem. Why? They have the talent, do they not? Is it line combinations, or execution? Either way, whose responsibility is it? I could be wrong. Just throwing it out there.
The Oil WILL make the playoffs in 2014. |
| JOSHUACANADA |
Posted - 04/17/2013 : 13:02:03
I liked that response as well. I didnt expect a lot of love for my shot at humour against the Oilers management decisions. That being said if they can avoid the pitfalls / poor decisions of the past and build smartly for the future the Oilers can improve with a few small pieces, as suggested.
I dont know if I agree that Edmonton has quality depth shutdown defenseman. If they do I havent seen them act like premier shut down D in the games I have watched, except Smid. Its one of those things that looks good on paper, but execution isn't going according to potential. I dont even think its the coaches fault, maybe all it is is chemistry. Its like goaltending. On paper Dubnyk looks like a quality Goalie with his GAA, but win loss record of 12w - 14l - 6 sol and being 18th in goals against while being 21st in goals for havent helped. All some want to point out is the lack of 5 on 5 scoring, but being 18th in goals against is still not ideal and does not highlight goaltending or shutdown defenseman depth. This team is struggling in every area except special teams.
quote:
Originally posted by Alex116
quote:
Originally posted by fat_elvis_rocked
Oh Boy, where are the wet naps and the time out corner?
Why is there not an LMAO emoticon??? This  just doesn't suffice for such comments.......
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| Guest2389 |
Posted - 04/17/2013 : 10:41:40
PK Subban for Yakupov. |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 04/17/2013 : 09:21:34
I think the name of this thread is incorrect as nothing needs to get rebuilt. They need some key piece but not a tear down.
Goaltending - They will need a legit backup in the offseason. Unless they can sign Khabibulin to a 1 yr deal for very little money. Dubnyk is fine and has prove so this year.
Defense - Shutdown guys are fine. In fact, there may be too many. N. Schultz, Smid, Fistric, Peckham(might be gone) and a pile of similar players on the farm are more than adequate. Offensive puck movers are slim. J. Schultz will be one of those players but with Whitney likely leaving he will need to be replaced. Hopefully with a more productive and consistent player. Whitney from 2 yrs ago would have worked great but he is not that guy anymore.
Forwards - As stated, young skilled offensive players are fine. I think dropping a vet or two from the top 6 would be a great plan (ehem, Ales Hemsky). If the top two lines include a combination of Yakupov, Gagner, RNH, Eberle, and Hall is awesome. They do need a skill guy with size up front and maybe two. I think Gagner is still the most expendable of the group but would have to be replaced by a centre with size. Next on the list is legit 3rd line role players. The Oilers have tried (and failed) this season to fill the 3rd line with guys former 1st and 2nd line guys. Smyth and Horcoff are not the right guys for those roles. Jones is the right kind of guy for that role. The 4th line is pretty solid with guys like Brown, Hartikenan, and Petrell.
So, in short, the Oilers would be smart to add a offensive puckmoving defensemen, 1-2 top 6 forwards with size, and 2 legit shutdown/role playing forwards.
The problem is twofold. Firstly, are those guys available who want to come to Edmonton. And secondly, what do the OIlers have to give up to get those pieces.
To echo Fat Elvis's comments to a certain degree, I am not suprised nor did I fully expect the Oilers to make the playoffs. I am disappointed that they are missing the playoffs for inconsistent play and lack of offensive scoring. They should have that in spades!! I think most every fan would take a 7 position improvement in the standings any year. Sadly, their points and wins (extrapolated to an 82 game season) didn't improve. Their competition took a step backwards more than they moved forward. |
| Alex116 |
Posted - 04/16/2013 : 17:44:44
quote:
Originally posted by fat_elvis_rocked
Oh Boy, where are the wet naps and the time out corner?
Why is there not an LMAO emoticon??? This just doesn't suffice for such comments.......
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| fat_elvis_rocked |
Posted - 04/16/2013 : 17:12:53
Oh Boy, where are the wet naps and the time out corner?
Anyways, I agree wholeheartedly with what Nuxfan pointed to, the Oilers have some good D talent, but not that proven steady, make the smart play to start the offense from their zone Pronger type defenceman. Justin Schultz may turn out to be that guy, but as of yet, he's a 1st year NHLer, and could use one of those steady proven guys to take some of that pressure off and develop more.
I am probably one of the very few Oiler fans who aren't disappointed they aren't making the playoffs this year, and to be honest didn't expect them to. As good as the young 1st overalls are, they aren't Crosbys, Ovechkins or Toews, they are good, could be great, could be just good. Hall is showing what a difference a couple years makes this year.
They have improved this year, not playoff bound, but certainly a more competitive team than last year, and the 2 years before that. As an Oiler fan, that's all I'm looking for, improvement. Next year they will make the playoff in my opinion and improve more. If they aren't competing for a deep run in the playoffs in 3 or 4 years, I'll save my disappointment until then, when it would have validity.
They are rebuilt as far as I am concerned, some tweaks amongst the role players, replace Horcoff and Hemsky with cheaper, younger replacements, get that solid puck moving defenceman, and sit back and enjoy. |
| nuxfan |
Posted - 04/16/2013 : 15:08:27
...and now that Joshua has gotten his rant out of the way, we can get on to more serious discussion about what EDM can do to improve.
It is clear that EDM needs help on defense. They have a good young group in Shultz/Shultz/Smid/Potter, but none of these guys are legit top-2 (yet). I think EDM should look at getting a legit top-2 dman, either via trade or free agency (not sure who is available next year). If they can, a top-2 and another top-4 would be very helpful.
They will also need another goalie, with Khabibulin's contract up. Either they're going to go with Dubnyk and a backup, or they'll go big-name replacement. I can't say which way is better right now.
Forwards - they need more of everything except young promising snipers - 7 of your 12 forwards on EL deals is not going to work. They have a good young group in Eberle/RHN/Hall/Yakupov, and they have limited supporting cast with Jones, Gagner. The other 6 forwards should be a good mix of veterans that can contribute - players like Smyth and Eager, but not Smyth and Eager.
EDM will have 16M for 7 players in the offseason, which is a pretty good chunk of change. I also think they should consider dangling one of their young forwards out there in exchange for a top-2 dman - it might be the only way to get one.
My 5c |
| JOSHUACANADA |
Posted - 04/16/2013 : 13:56:45
Based on other Edmonton fans comments, dont ever ever go for goalie depth. Its bad in a way that makes fans of your team argue for weeks and months about. Goalie depth is never an issue when you have a goal differential of -17 or so, your young energetic offensively talent stars can't score 5 on 5 and are bottled up in the own end trying to make a save your goalie can seem to give you during tight games.
When looking for someone to blame create a new position at the top promote someone from within to fill your position give it a few years and fire them for all you mistakes. Make sure to look at prior failed employees you have fired for positions to fill, should you not want to take the blame for future mistakes you havent yet made but are planning on making.
Pay 1 year performance players 3 time there value for twice as long as they deserve to make sure, should they regress you are screwed, thus blaming the player for not living up to expectations nobody, but you set for them. Oh and name them captain.
When looking for depth players always look for players on the decline who wish to play for your team. Bench them regularly while bashing there play to motivate them into playing like they did before, in there prime 10 some odd years ago when they were relevent.
Forget about teaching defense first and throw your rookies on the top line, so that when they dont succeed you can always say your system of development is the most supportive. Dont draft for your weakness's always overload on player which your team has depth of.
Defenseman should always be treated like forwards, if they can't score at better than .5 points a game they are slumping and should be subject to trade rumours. These trade rumours will turn out to be false, because management doesn't know how to promote the strength of there roster to other teams and the players offered in return will not wish to play for you, thus creating the best case scenerio of disgruntled employees/players holding out and demanding a trade. When a player is injured, tell him to suck it up unless duck tape will not hold the limb together for the remainder of the period, game and season. Should you be forced to IR a player make sure to rush them back into the lineup before a full recovery. |
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