I still think the oilers should have signed zenon konopka. I like the lineup but might be enticed to place horcoff on the 3rd line and place arnott on the 2nd.
- OilerPride15

Arnott wouldn't be able to keep up. That third line is a pretty slow (frank)ing line, but it's 3 players with excellent hockey sense all 200 feet. Gagner creates offense from wing, Arnott and Smyth are the muscle. All guys can score. Arnott helps tremendously with face offs. Puck possession is everything.

I look at line-ups as "how do you make what you have work best" not "how the lines would probably look in NHL 13"

Either way, no Arnott and Jones back just means Gagner centers line 2 and Jones takes his spot. 3rd line just turns into more of a banging line. I even think that's better than the usual lines I see on this board.

Idk if Hartikainen even makes the team. Idk why he's all of a sudden gurranteed a spot, let alone first unit PP time

at the thought of people buying a Petry jersey.

Big tough defenseman you say? We do have this guy Volchensomething who might be available. What might you be willing to deal?

Hall-RNH-Hemsky
Yakupov-Horcoff-Eberle
Smyth-Arnott-Gagner
Eager-Belanger-Pettrell

Signing Arnott means your not giving up anything in a trade, cheap, and will be a fantastic mentor for such a young roster for the 1, max 2 years he'd be here.

Also allows you to have 3 lines of defensively reliable center-ice men, which makes sense when you consider the depth the team has on the wings, as well as being able to roll all 4 lines on any given night. Would be huge in a 48 game season thats a sprint as opposed to an 82 game race.

Just an idea, something to consider as opposed to the same projected line-ups people have been posting since we knew the Oilers were picking first before the draft...
- mochoson

Interesting idea. Ick at the thought of putting Gagner on the wing. He has never had a good time in that position

I feel like I just read an Eklund blog. You're better than this Richard.

I feel like I just read an Eklund blog. You're better than this Richard.
- Tony Montana

This message made the baby Jesus cry.

Hi Richard,

Love your blog. Read it almost daily and tell others about it. Here's a thought: if the NHL, owners, and players really feel bad about what they did (ie. slapping us all in the face with their arguing and greed), donate 100% of the proceeds & earnings from one game to a charity like a children's hospital or minor hockey (players, managers, coaches, etc - not the concession people, parking guys etc. - those guys got screwed already). You're a great writer and I thought I would leave that I idea with you to possibly write on.

Thanks for the entertainment,

Chris

Richard Cloutier: Oilers Update - Jan 11, 2013
- Maxbone

I like MDZ and would love to have the kid on the Isles. He lacks a bit defensively but that part of his game seemed to be improving under Torterella. Moves the puck well, think you guys would be fortunate to get him. Between him and Shultz you'd have a pretty good blue line especially on the PP. Mix in a few stay at home guys and you would be set.

This message made the baby Jesus cry.
- Maxbone

Not baby Jesus

Don't be surprised if they did but we better be getting a big 2nd line centre back.
- OilerPride15

If Yakupov was Canadian not Richard, or any oilers fans would ever put him in a trade proposal..he would be untradeable in the minds of oilers fans the same way that Hall was before he played his first game.

You don't trade Yakupov for a big second line center..stupid..we need a guy who can score 40 goals..I think he will be a 40 goal scorer in the NHL

Eberle for Letang?
- Ben37

Ummm. NO Ebs aint going any where.

Please tell me you don't think player use the same stick as the average person buys at "Sport Chek." You do know that sticks are no longer made of wood (say for 94), and that they are largely custom made, and the player still work on them. I read your blog a lot, but please try not to sound so uninformed, and discredit yourself.
- Heffner

Yes. Thank you. That point was awful.

If Yakupov was Canadian not Richard, or any oilers fans would ever put him in a trade proposal..he would be untradeable in the minds of oilers fans the same way that Hall was before he played his first game.

You don't trade Yakupov for a big second line center..stupid..we need a guy who can score 40 goals..I think he will be a 40 goal scorer in the NHL
- oilers2k14

Yeah, I'm sure it would be stupid to have a centreman like Kessler who can score 40. I think yaks will be a terrific nhl player, but the reality is we are small in our top 6. Especially at centre. Ideally, a big 2nd line centre who has some grit, win face offs, and the ability to score. I have not been impressed with what I've seen with yakupov. I was impressed with Hall at the 2010 juniors, I was impressed with RNH In the couple games I saw him play while with red deer and in Penticton. Yaks did f' all in the subway series, he should've, with his ability, been a bigger force in Russia at the juniors. He played outstanding to start the year in the K but tailed off the last 9 games. Out the 3 first overall picks I think yakupov is the expendable one based on getting the perfect pieces back to fill holes.

Arnott wouldn't be able to keep up. That third line is a pretty slow (frank)ing line, but it's 3 players with excellent hockey sense all 200 feet. Gagner creates offense from wing, Arnott and Smyth are the muscle. All guys can score. Arnott helps tremendously with face offs. Puck possession is everything.

I look at line-ups as "how do you make what you have work best" not "how the lines would probably look in NHL 13"

Either way, no Arnott and Jones back just means Gagner centers line 2 and Jones takes his spot. 3rd line just turns into more of a banging line. I even think that's better than the usual lines I see on this board.

Idk if Hartikainen even makes the team. Idk why he's all of a sudden gurranteed a spot, let alone first unit PP time
- mochoson

First, I'm not looking at the line up thinking nhl 13. I'm looking at the line up with where players will succeed. Horcoff and arnott have the ability to move up and down the 2nd and 3rd lines. The reason I place arnott on the 2nd line is to bring a physical edge to it that might make players think twice about taking liberties with yaks and hemsky.

Second, horcoff doesn't have the hands to be a top 6 player anymore. I understand both players scored 34 PTs last season but arnott did it on a defensive hockey team while playing 9 games less. You place arnott on the oilers he scores 45 PTs in a full season.

Third, our third line with arnott there would be one of the slowest in the league, if they get caught in the offensive zone there is zero chance they will catch up to the play. By placing horcoff on the third line your adding some speed.

Big tough defenseman you say? We do have this guy Volchensomething who might be available. What might you be willing to deal?
- bobert836

Not anything NJ would be happy with. Think a 3rd in 2013

Eberle for Letang?
- Ben37

- sanfordnson

Everybody loves Eberle and Letang is probably going to be to expensive for the Penguins to resign shortly.

Has anybody read this Sports Illustrated article ?

It seemed the oilers are picked to finish 3rd overall.

The writer clearly is missing some details as he states Ryan Kesler's elite play will boost the Canucks and Jeff Skinner is going to be lights out in Carolina this year.

http://sportsillustrated....r-rankings/?sct=uk_t11_a6

- sanfordnson

Ummmmm No

Ummmmm No
- gzatron

was kind of my point. maybe this would have been better.

Has anybody read this Sports Illustrated article ?

It seemed the oilers are picked to finish 3rd overall.

The writer clearly is missing some details as he states Ryan Kesler's elite play will boost the Canucks and Jeff Skinner is going to be lights out in Carolina this year.

http://sportsillustrated....r-rankings/?sct=uk_t11_a6
- gzatron

Take a few minutes to read the article first. The writer didn't predict the Oilers to finish third in the league. He simply expects them to get off to a fast start as our players have been playing this season. That's all that power rankings are. They are a ranking of teams to look out for in the allotted time frame (typically every 1-2 weeks).

Hi Richard,

Love your blog. Read it almost daily and tell others about it. Here's a thought: if the NHL, owners, and players really feel bad about what they did (ie. slapping us all in the face with their arguing and greed), donate 100% of the proceeds & earnings from one game to a charity like a children's hospital or minor hockey (players, managers, coaches, etc - not the concession people, parking guys etc. - those guys got screwed already). You're a great writer and I thought I would leave that I idea with you to possibly write on.

Thanks for the entertainment,

Chris
- boomboom1978

Neat. Clout's has an alternate account where he calls himself Chris.