I also agree that Horcoff is not that huge of a concern. He has trade value with teams needing to make the floor. Plus he is one of the best face off men in the league and that is something that RNH and Hall if he makes the move to Center will need help with.

Toronto is stronger on d than on forward and could part with a dman to make room for their prospects coming up. To be realistic, neither team is a cup contender this year but both teams could benefit from a trade.

Edmonton has a surplus of forwards in the system. Maybe not NHL ready but freeing space does allow flexibility in the off season as well. Players like Pajarvii or Omark who Edmonton are not playing but could turn out to be solid players, might be the type of assets TO would look at for one of their dmen they are not certain about.

Regardless the two teams need to do something and they have opposite strengths so a trade would make sense despite what fans think. I don't however think they will fix our goalie situation.

I think they should rent Dan Ellis for this season while Habby is a maybe unless someone knows anyone better out there and try to get someone like Backstrom in the offseason. I like Dubnyk but if you can't get dmen, get two good goalies to compete against each other.
- bsteinley

No they cant.

Their D is incredibly thin.

Why do people keep thinking this?

I keep seeing MSM listing the Oilers lines like this....

Hall - RNH - Eberle
Yak - Gagner - Hemsky
Smyth - Horcoff - Hartikainen
Eager - Belanger - Jones

Petrell & Hordi

Smid - Petry
J.Schultz - N.Schultz
Whitney - Potter

I have to admit that lineup looks like it could work....
- RichardHertz

Dam thats actually a great top 9

I see your new year's resolution was to continue totally ridiculous trade ideas that benefit Edmonton only and throw subpar talent with little value going the other way. 90% of the names you mention don't capture more than a fourth round pick at best.
- Oneonta Penguin

LOL. You haven't got a clue. I am most certainly certain 29 other teams in the NHL would offer a 4th round pick or more for Paajarvi, or Lander, or Rieder, or Pitlick, or Marincin.

Dam thats actually a great top 9
- LEAFSfan28191

same one that finished 29th last year except Yak, top line was 7th in the west in the AHL before they left one point up on ninth

put up or shut up time for the Oilers

LOL. You haven't got a clue. I am most certainly certain 29 other teams in the NHL would offer a 4th round pick or more for Paajarvi, or Lander, or Rieder, or Pitlick, or Marincin.
- Maxbone

He's obviously east of Winnipeg.

same one that finished 29th last year except Yak, top line was 7th in the west in the AHL before they left one point up on ninth

put up or shut up time for the Oilers
- flashfire

Yeah, we all know that none of the young players will improve... Upon entering the league, each of those players' abilities were maxed out... It's all downhill from here.

No one and mean no one takes a puck out of the back of his own net better than Neon Dion Phaneuf!
- scoot174

He is also a master of trying to act tough while not actually wanting to fight.
I do sometimes miss the sad Dion face going fishing though. It looks a lot like mad dion. Or peaceful Dion. It's almost like he's happiest when not actually missing nets, but, being stationary and watching the jumbotron.

And, whomever said the Oil have a chance to be one of the best teams ever assembled,

An impossible task in the salary cap age. What is it, 2 yrs, and you can start trying to decide who to keep between Nuge, Nail and Schultz. While buying a goalie. While paying for the rest of the team. With a fixed cap.
The Montreal Canadians of the 70s you are not. You will be lucky to pull off a Penguins type run of finalist-champ-2nd rd ect.

Dam thats actually a great top 9
- LEAFSfan28191

It's not terrible. The Oilers should be able to crack the playoffs this year.

I also agree that Horcoff is not that huge of a concern. He has trade value with teams needing to make the floor. Plus he is one of the best face off men in the league and that is something that RNH and Hall if he makes the move to Center will need help with.

Toronto is stronger on d than on forward and could part with a dman to make room for their prospects coming up. To be realistic, neither team is a cup contender this year but both teams could benefit from a trade.

Edmonton has a surplus of forwards in the system. Maybe not NHL ready but freeing space does allow flexibility in the off season as well. Players like Pajarvii or Omark who Edmonton are not playing but could turn out to be solid players, might be the type of assets TO would look at for one of their dmen they are not certain about.

Regardless the two teams need to do something and they have opposite strengths so a trade would make sense despite what fans think. I don't however think they will fix our goalie situation.

I think they should rent Dan Ellis for this season while Habby is a maybe unless someone knows anyone better out there and try to get someone like Backstrom in the offseason. I like Dubnyk but if you can't get dmen, get two good goalies to compete against each other.
- bsteinley

don't be fooled. luongo has more trade value than horcoff. so does cory cross

He is also a master of trying to act tough while not actually wanting to fight.
I do sometimes miss the sad Dion face going fishing though. It looks a lot like mad dion. Or peaceful Dion. It's almost like he's happiest when not actually missing nets, but, being stationary and watching the jumbotron.

And, whomever said the Oil have a chance to be one of the best teams ever assembled,

An impossible task in the salary cap age. What is it, 2 yrs, and you can start trying to decide who to keep between Nuge, Nail and Schultz. While buying a goalie. While paying for the rest of the team. With a fixed cap.
The Montreal Canadians of the 70s you are not. You will be lucky to pull off a Penguins type run of finalist-champ-2nd rd ect.
- FLflames34

That remains to be seen.

He is also a master of trying to act tough while not actually wanting to fight.
I do sometimes miss the sad Dion face going fishing though. It looks a lot like mad dion. Or peaceful Dion. It's almost like he's happiest when not actually missing nets, but, being stationary and watching the jumbotron.

And, whomever said the Oil have a chance to be one of the best teams ever assembled,

An impossible task in the salary cap age. What is it, 2 yrs, and you can start trying to decide who to keep between Nuge, Nail and Schultz. While buying a goalie. While paying for the rest of the team. With a fixed cap.
The Montreal Canadians of the 70s you are not. You will be lucky to pull off a Penguins type run of finalist-champ-2nd rd ect.
- FLflames34

Not worried.

They already have 3.75mill cap hits.

Plenty of room.

Either way, Dont need the best team alltime.. just the best for a season or two.

No they cant.

Their D is incredibly thin.

Why do people keep thinking this?
- robin_steele264

no it's not. they have 8 guys who could be nhl regulars. which is why schenn went for help up front.

they're not a fringe championship team. their defensive depth is solid.

no it's not. they have 8 guys who could be nhl regulars. which is why schenn went for help up front.

they're not a fringe championship team. their defensive depth is solid.
- joel878

8 NHL regulars?


name them

no it's not. they have 8 guys who could be nhl regulars. which is why schenn went for help up front.

they're not a fringe championship team. their defensive depth is solid.
- joel878

Their defense was fantastic last year.

8 NHL regulars?


name them
- robin_steele264

phaneuf, gardiner, gunnarsson, liles, franson, komisarek, fraser.

holzer has been ready for a couple years now.

kostka, ranger and gysbers would probably be regulars given the opportunity to.

rielly, blacker, percy, finn, and nilsson all look to be bright prospects on the blueline as well.

thin? pass the bong.

Their defense was fantastic last year.
- laughs2907

cool.. thanks for the input.

no one said they we're fabulous. they're certainly not thin though.

if you're gonna whip out the sarcasm, at least aim it at the proper topic.

phaneuf, gardiner, gunnarsson, liles, franson, komisarek, fraser.

holzer has been ready for a couple years now.

kostka, ranger and gysbers would probably be regulars given the opportunity to.

rielly, blacker, percy, finn, and nilsson all look to be bright prospects on the blueline as well.

thin? pass the bong.
- joel878

Franson has no contract and is playing in europe.

Who is Fraser?

The rest havent played a game.

Yeah... pass the Bong.

phaneuf, gardiner, gunnarsson, liles, franson, komisarek, fraser.

holzer has been ready for a couple years now.

kostka, ranger and gysbers would probably be regulars given the opportunity to.

rielly, blacker, percy, finn, and nilsson all look to be bright prospects on the blueline as well.

thin? pass the bong.
- joel878

Komisarek was a healthy scratch multiple time last season as was Franson.

cool.. thanks for the input.

no one said they we're fabulous. they're certainly not thin though.

if you're gonna whip out the sarcasm, at least aim it at the proper topic.
- joel878

Yeah, they are thin... if you think having a bunch of prospects makes you deep... then please pass the bong again.

but they're alot further ahead than most franchises. as soon as they find that balance, they could be one of the most dominating teams ever assembled.
- joel878

Not worried.

They already have 3.75mill cap hits.

Plenty of room.

Either way, Dont need the best team alltime.. just the best for a season or two.


- robin_steele264

And again, you have 2 yrs max before you have to break it up with at least one of them. And you can't be one of the most dominating without a Dryden...or, even, a Fuhr. At least the Penguins drafted Fleury. DD was/is a reach and there is a lot on the table hoping he pans out this yr and next. And by panning out, i mean, top 12 goalie.

cool.. thanks for the input.

no one said they we're fabulous. they're certainly not thin though.

if you're gonna whip out the sarcasm, at least aim it at the proper topic.
- joel878

Thanks for the tips. I'll be sure to follow those from now on. Anything else I should know?

Scrivens?

please.

make a try for Ottawa's Robin Lehner, not one of the Leaf 'tenders.

Thanks for the tips. I'll be sure to follow those from now on. Anything else I should know?
- laughs2907

Don't listen to him, he sounds like he's from West of Winnipeg.

Scrivens?

please.

make a try for Ottawa's Robin Lehner, not one of the Leaf 'tenders.
- wrdbird

Exactly... why make a play for a goaltender from an organization plagued with goaltender issues.

Franson has no contract and is playing in europe.

Who is Fraser?

The rest havent played a game.

Yeah... pass the Bong.
- robin_steele264

franson is an RFA. he is a member of the toronto maple leafs with or without a contract.

fraser? played some playoff games with the eastern conference champions last season? could be a regular on alot of clubs.

ranger hasn't played a game? holzer? should do some research.

having not played an nhl games doesn't translate 4-5 quality prospects at the position into a "thin" blueline