Here we are folks.... 2013 and we are still going with the "lets continue to lose for draft picks blog" and lets trade away the only players with sandpaper at the deadline for draft picks.... draft picks.....draft picks....draft picks.....

Oil Change season 7 coming to the Giant tiger discount bin near you....

Signed,

A hockey fan
- jetsfan6

"Hi, I'm a fan of a team that's not the Edmonton Oilers. I like saying Steve Tambellini has done a terrible job because it's a decent distraction from the half-assed roster management of my own team. Oilers fans are stupid because no matter how many 1st overall picks the team gets, they will always be a bad team. NHL history shows this clearly to be true."

"Hi, I'm a fan of a team that's not the Edmonton Oilers. I like saying Steve Tambellini has done a terrible job because it's a decent distraction from the half-assed roster management of my own team. Oilers fans are stupid because no matter how many 1st overall picks the team gets, they will always be a bad team. NHL history shows this clearly to be true."
- Maxbone

I also agree Boner. I also agree. As well what is your twitter name so I can follow. Hve you achieved your dream of 2,000 yet?

I would argue they are 2 good drafts away from re-stocking .
In the meantime, Karri Ramo is a 'prospect' acquired on the cheap, killing it in the KHL and appears to be Kipper's successor in a year or two. So, can trade Irving for another pick or prospect needed.
Also, going the unconventional route (Cervenka) and signing a 25-goal scorer (Hudler) allows the kids to come up one at a time (Baert, Backlund, Horak, Brodie) while playing in a competitive environment for several years. Unlike the Oilers.
Flames are re-tooling, but people don't seem to understand this much. The future is much better than ppl think.
- FLflames34

Well you can say every team is two good drafts away from have a good prospect pool. I'm just saying with some of your best players are in the twilight of their career and i don't see that good of prospect depth to replace them. I'm just arguing that I dont think their future is all that good. In a very strong West, they havent made the playoffs for the last few years with what I would argue stronger teams (but then again I don't follow Calgary that closely) and I find it hard to believe they make it the next couple. You never know though, short season and the Flames are always knocking on the door. Best of luck to you guys.

Tambellini steers the S.S. Oil Tanker.

He is steering it so far South for so long that it will eventually come out on top of the world!
- Coburns_Nose

Thats a great analogy! Do you take literature or something?

Richard Cloutier: Steve Tambellini: A Model, Idiot
- Maxbone

As I stated in another thread, dumping Horcoff (if it indeed happens) leaves a hole in the bottom 6. How about filling his role with a russian that can a)Mentor Yaks better because he's never been to prison and b)actually help the team on the ice?

Fist! Now that the lockout is over, let us all enjoy the absence of MJL and mourn the death of laughs, who has perished in the great snowstorm to hit newfieland.
- ruttager17

grow up....

secondly. clouts, ill say this first that i too am stoked to see the oil light it up. But one thing that makes me nervous is a lack of leadership. You mentioned in your blog that the team has chemistry, i dont see it. On the pp, sure they lit it up, but when the cards were against them they rarely showed any push back. The teams is build with a bunch of potential stars but no filler. It took crosby and co how long to win the cup? They had less potential stars, but a poopton of leadership in the room. (players and alum) history has shown that talented teams, sometime get crushed by teams that have better leaders. mind over matter kinda deal. While im not necessarily questioning some of the leadership qualities in your 6 studs, none of them really scream bonified leader(s) to me.

Im actually shocked that you think that a team with all the skill you claim they have is going to finish last or barely make the playoffs... by now with talent alone they should be better than they are. to me that's showing some glaring issues that need to be addressed. What do you suppose they do about it? Im sorry but smith and horcoff bring nothing to the table compared to what recci or guerin etc brought.

I agree with your assessment pbrsimps.

Here is my thought. I understand that Eberle, RNH, Hall, Schultz and virtually half the Oiler team has been playing but when you look at the AHL standing they are just on the cusp of a playoff spot. Edmonton's issue is goals against and defensive hockey. Has that been solved? Can that be solved in a short training camp and little time to tinker with line ups.
- bcoop

Ya theres no doubt that their offense will be just fine (it was last year and with the youths progression I would expect even better this year) but goaltending and defense is still a big question. Maybe dubyks the answer but the defense is weak and more importantly the team is very questionable.

I also agree Boner. I also agree. As well what is your twitter name so I can follow. Hve you achieved your dream of 2,000 yet?
- al3535

Actually I'm over 3,000 now.

Actually I'm over 3,000 now.
- Maxbone

so you finally hit your number. what is your twitter name? Good job Bone!

grow up....

secondly. clouts, ill say this first that i too am stoked to see the oil light it up. But one thing that makes me nervous is a lack of leadership. You mentioned in your blog that the team has chemistry, i dont see it. On the pp, sure they lit it up, but when the cards were against them they rarely showed any push back. The teams is build with a bunch of potential stars but no filler. It took crosby and co how long to win the cup? They had less potential stars, but a poopton of leadership in the room. (players and alum) history has shown that talented teams, sometime get crushed by teams that have better leaders. mind over matter kinda deal. While im not necessarily questioning some of the leadership qualities in your 6 studs, none of them really scream bonified leader(s) to me.

Im actually shocked that you think that a team with all the skill you claim they have is going to finish last or barely make the playoffs... by now with talent alone they should be better than they are. to me that's showing some glaring issues that need to be addressed. What do you suppose they do about it? Im sorry but smith and horcoff bring nothing to the table compared to what recci or guerin etc brought.
- munky123

Eager, Belanger, and Hordichuk seem to be decent enough prospects to show leadership. And I would fully anticipate Hall starting to fill this void, if he stays on the ice.
Edit: Bulin seems to be a good guy in this too for at least Nail.

Tambelini does what he's told, end of story! Lowe runs that mess still and nothing will change till he's gone.
- Bullot

So you think that Lowe is pulling the strings?

Then why have the Oilers gone in a completely different direction than the Lowe era (of offer sheets, huge trades, no picks/scouting, older teams, gunning for 8th every year)?

Really the Oilers management from 2000 (and especially post-lockout) - 08 couldn't be more different than the Tambs era.

Oilers suck oilers suck don't mind me just trolling on through

Tambellini will be gone by the time the team starts winning.

They hit the ground running last year, how did that work out?
- Coburns_Nose

It was an 82 game season, that was his point, it's only 48 games this year. It's not that hard to comprehend what he was saying troll.

so you finally hit your number. what is your twitter name? Good job Bone!
- al3535

@rdcloutier

Tambellini will be gone by the time the team starts winning.
- Drij

No.

Oilers suck oilers suck don't mind me just trolling on through
- Yeti1181

At least you're honest.

That would be UNREAL to see that result! I hope you are right. God I HATE Vancouver.
- al3535

Hugs

So you think that Lowe is pulling the strings?

Then why have the Oilers gone in a completely different direction than the Lowe era (of offer sheets, huge trades, no picks/scouting, older teams, gunning for 8th every year)?

Really the Oilers management from 2000 (and especially post-lockout) - 08 couldn't be more different than the Tambs era.
- Morris

I think Tambellini and his team do a bunch of foot work trying to negotiate, construct trades, etc. Once they have a concept developed and researched, they bring it to Lowe...and if required, Katz himself. The Oilers use a team approach to development.

It was an 82 game season, that was his point, it's only 48 games this year. It's not that hard to comprehend what he was saying troll.
- ruttager17

Ya can't teach stupid. But it is sure fun to watch. Eg - Leafs rebuild and handling of Brian Burke especially the time line on him being relieved of his duties. UNREAL!!!

No.
- Maxbone

maybe. But I don't care who's on the 'General Manager' slot of the cup so long as an Oiler is hoisting it

At least you're honest.
- Maxbone

Honesty is the best policy unless your wife asks why u smell like perfume then you lie like a mother franker

Eager, Belanger, and Hordichuk seem to be decent enough prospects to show leadership. And I would fully anticipate Hall starting to fill this void, if he stays on the ice.
- FLflames34

disagree, eager has wona cup, but even toews was a better leader than him b4 he won his own cup...

they are missing a few x factors... I would say they need to add a vet or 2 with the "it" factor. Hard to explain on a keyboard. The team looks lost. Hall i could see having the potential, but even then im not sure. While he lost (frank)ing pissed after the loss, it takes someone to be pissed b4 the loss.

It makes me think back to 07 or 08. the habs were down 5 nothing to the rangers after 1. the habs won 6-5. it was voted the best comeback in the last decade, and it was because of pure leadership. a koivu coupled with kovalev might not be a bad thing in edm.

@rdcloutier
- Maxbone

tks Bone. I am new to this so I am trying to figure out how to follow the most entertaining writer on HB.

I think Tambellini and his team do a bunch of foot work trying to negotiate, construct trades, etc. Once they have a concept developed and researched, they bring it to Lowe...and if required, Katz himself. The Oilers use a team approach to development.
- Maxbone

I don't doubt Lowe is involved. If it had been a "fired upstairs" situation he would have been gone like Quinn went and like Burke's going to as soon as the contract is up.

I think you'd have to believe the Oilers were some kind of family channel movie in which Lowe got conked on his head and completely changed personalities to claim that Lowe has run the show continuously since 2008.