In case you missed it, the lockout was a financial disaster to the league, especially to the poorer owners in soft markets. Nashville, who won't see the playoffs this season unless Trotz works another miracle, is going to be in worse shape financially this summer than they were last. The cap is too high for them; the floor is not low enough. Do people not understand that the league itself has been keeping franchises like Phoenix and Nashville alive for the last few years? Nashville is so close to being relocated it isn't funny.
- Maxbone

again, care to back up this wild garbage with anything outher than your gaping buttocks??

The Preds are financially stable with a local ownership group, were one of the top 4 teams in the west last year, and yet now they need a miracle to make the playoffs and are on the verge of relocation?? really??

why do you keep saying this?

please try to support your thesis so I can refute it instead of just stating it like fact
- PredsVold82

The Preds were in tough financially in the lockout to the extend that they required constant help from the NHL. The lockout killed profits for next season, and may damage kick sales in soft markets like Nashville for years to come. The Preds roster lost Suter and there's noone like Radulov with decent offensive skill. Prospect depth is bad, and revenue sharing isn't going to be enough to make this team earn money. Playoff revenue isn't going to happen for a while.

Sooner or later something needs to give financially. In Weber, the Preds have a way of acquiring numerous pieces as a way of speeding up the rebuild.

again, care to back up this wild garbage with anything outher than your gaping buttocks??

The Preds are financially stable with a local ownership group, were one of the top 4 teams in the west last year, and yet now they need a miracle to make the playoffs and are on the verge of relocation?? really??
- PredsVold82

Yes. While all the teams around them got better in the off-season, the Preds did nothing and lost one of their three best players.

Yes. While all the teams around them got better in the off-season, the Preds did nothing and lost one of their three best players.
- Maxbone

Maybe two of their best 3 players. Is Radulov coming back any time soon?

As lopsided as this trade is in favour of the oilers, it actually is similar to the gretzky deal except the oil come out on the winning end this time. Though i dont think the preds make the same mistake of moving out a franchise player for small pieces. They'd need real value as well as a reason to say good bye to the huge bonus already paid, Hall, kelfbom and two firsts will get them listening.

Ummm, yeah...Where you been? Did you see Team Canada at the worlds? The CHL doesn't think outside of the OHL at all.
- Maxbone

Klefbom top 3 in the world prospect is just as much Alberta bias. In fact, one particular basement in Alberta.

I'm pretty sure that voting is equal weighted between the three leagues by the way.

Or, are you suggesting the WHL is Ontario biased too?

Ummm, yeah...Where you been? Did you see Team Canada at the worlds? The CHL doesn't think outside of the OHL at all.
- Maxbone

Which is why Nuge was ranked #1 the year we drafted him. Those bastards.

Sooner or later something needs to give financially. In Weber, the Preds have a way of acquiring numerous pieces as a way of speeding up the rebuild.
- Maxbone

I've heard this logic a whole lot through the offer sheet thing, and both then and now it sounds like wishful thinking. The Preds (who, whether you consider them financially stable or not, aren't typically included among the 'have' franchises) have made a $13 million downpayment on Weber's everlasting service. I expect they intend to squeeze every last drop of hockey out of him.

I'd also disagree with the idea that they need to rebuild.

this is silly

this is silly
- Barx

250+ comments in 2 hours. I guess that was the point.

250+ comments in 2 hours. I guess that was the point.
- NickTheKid87

Yeah, post a foolish blog for hits.

Horrible blog. There is no way Nashville trades him after eating the huge first year of his contract. Weber is in Nashville 4life or until he demands a trade to a contender, which isn't likely either. This monster trade you think is gonna happen isn't. We'll just keep doing minor tweeks each year to the core we have built through the draft. If Klefbom and J. Shultz can turn into a #1 pairing down the road for us, why trade them when they're on cheap ELC's?

Horrible blog. There is no way Nashville trades him after eating the huge first year of his contract. Weber is in Nashville 4life or until he demands a trade to a contender, which isn't likely either. This monster trade you think is gonna happen isn't. We'll just keep doing minor tweeks each year to the core we have built through the draft. If Klefbom and J. Shultz can turn into a #1 pairing down the road for us, why trade them when they're on cheap ELC's?
- Ihatebrianburke

See two posts above yours. Gotta hand it to Clouts, he knows how to draw hits.

Oh dear...

Yeah, post a foolish blog for hits.
- prock

Which reminds me, I miss Sam Woo.

As for you folks suggesting Klefbom isn't a blue chip prospect (even with the shoulder injury), I suggest doing some research. He's considered one of the top two or three best defensive prospects in the world.
- Cloutier

You're completely delusional. Only way to explain why you think he's a 'superstar prospect'.

via dobbersports:
1 Justin Schultz EDM d 73.5 1 1
2 Ryan Ellis NSH d 72.5 2 2
3 Stefan Elliott COL d 68.3 3 3
4 Brendan Smith DET d 67.8 4 4
5 Roman Josi NSH d 62.9 5 6
6 Dougie Hamilton BOS d 62.4 8 8
7 Morgan Rielly TOR d 61.5 7 10
8 Ryan Murphy CAR d 60.3 6 7
9 Ryan Murray CBJ d 59.4 9 5
10 Vyacheslav Voynov LA d 59.2 10 9
11 Brandon Gormley PHO d 58.1 11 11
12 Joe Morrow PIT d 57.9 12 12
13 Matt Dumba MIN d 57.4 13 13
14 Tyson Barrie COL d 55.8 22 23
15 Dmitri Orlov WAS d 55.6 15 15
16 Jonathan Blum NSH d 54.8 14 14
17 Jonas Brodin MIN d 54.6 16 16
18 David Rundblad PHO d 54.5 17 17
19 Griffin Reinhart NYI d 53.6 18 18
20 Mark Barberio TB d 53.2 19 19
21 Philip Larsen DAL d 53.2 20 20
22 Tim Erixon CBJ d 52.8 21 21
23 Cody Ceci OTT d 52.3 23 22
24 Jacob Trouba WPG d 52.0 48 49
25 Nathan Beaulieu MTL d 51.9 24 24
26 Alex Petrovic FLA d 51.7 25 25
27 Simon Despres PIT d 50.4 27 27
28 T.J. Brodie CGY d 50.2 28 28
29 Sami Vatanen ANA d 50.1 33 59
30 Paul Postma WPG d 50.1 30 30
31 John Moore CBJ d 50.1 26 26
32 TJ Brennan BUF d 50.0 40 40
33 Slater Koekkoek TB d 49.4 31 32
34 Oscar Klefbom EDM d 48.9 32 31

I wouldn't put Gardiner in the same conversation as Klefbom at all
- Cloutier

That's like saying..."I wouldn't put Matt Read in the same category as...Cody Eakin".
Bottom line is this:
Gardiner:
GP G A P
75 7 23 30
Klefbom:
No stats available.

Are you high?
Gardiner/Rielly are way better than Klefbom...
Kadri vs Hemsky...Hemsky may be better, but he has a big cap hit and is injury prone and much older...
And the two 1st rounders, probably lower picks with the Leafs.

So again, tell me how I am over pricing (notice the correct spelling) the Leaf players?
- BoBBeR56

Comparing kadri and hemsky??

I think its you thats high...

Comparing kadri and hemsky??

I think its you thats high...
- hugefemale dog77

He didn't compare the two really, just said Hemsky is better but has a large cap hit and injury prone. Obviously Hemsky is better.

Which reminds me, I miss Sam Woo.
- NickTheKid87

No, he really isn't. He's good, don't get me wrong.
- Maxbone

Just throwing this out there.. but hockeysfuture has Klefblom as the 29th best prospect.... not 2nd or 3rd

You're completely delusional. Only way to explain why you think he's a 'superstar prospect'.

via dobbersports:
1 Justin Schultz EDM d 73.5 1 1
2 Ryan Ellis NSH d 72.5 2 2
3 Stefan Elliott COL d 68.3 3 3
4 Brendan Smith DET d 67.8 4 4
5 Roman Josi NSH d 62.9 5 6
6 Dougie Hamilton BOS d 62.4 8 8
7 Morgan Rielly TOR d 61.5 7 10
8 Ryan Murphy CAR d 60.3 6 7
9 Ryan Murray CBJ d 59.4 9 5
10 Vyacheslav Voynov LA d 59.2 10 9
11 Brandon Gormley PHO d 58.1 11 11
12 Joe Morrow PIT d 57.9 12 12
13 Matt Dumba MIN d 57.4 13 13
14 Tyson Barrie COL d 55.8 22 23
15 Dmitri Orlov WAS d 55.6 15 15
16 Jonathan Blum NSH d 54.8 14 14
17 Jonas Brodin MIN d 54.6 16 16
18 David Rundblad PHO d 54.5 17 17
19 Griffin Reinhart NYI d 53.6 18 18
20 Mark Barberio TB d 53.2 19 19
21 Philip Larsen DAL d 53.2 20 20
22 Tim Erixon CBJ d 52.8 21 21
23 Cody Ceci OTT d 52.3 23 22
24 Jacob Trouba WPG d 52.0 48 49
25 Nathan Beaulieu MTL d 51.9 24 24
26 Alex Petrovic FLA d 51.7 25 25
27 Simon Despres PIT d 50.4 27 27
28 T.J. Brodie CGY d 50.2 28 28
29 Sami Vatanen ANA d 50.1 33 59
30 Paul Postma WPG d 50.1 30 30
31 John Moore CBJ d 50.1 26 26
32 TJ Brennan BUF d 50.0 40 40
33 Slater Koekkoek TB d 49.4 31 32
34 Oscar Klefbom EDM d 48.9 32 31



That's like saying..."I wouldn't put Matt Read in the same category as...Cody Eakin".
Bottom line is this:
Gardiner:
GP G A P
75 7 23 30
Klefbom:
No stats available.
- BestRapperAlive

and to all who keep posting these foolish lists, tell me where Shea Weber, the subject of this idiotic blog, was drafted? What was his ranking back then? D prospects are only surpassed by goalies in sheer unpredictability.

D prospect rated higher than Klefbom according to Hockey's Future

Dougie Hamilton - BOS
Ryan Murray - CLB
Brendan Smith - DET
Brandon Gormley - PHX
Morgan Rielly - TOR
Griffin Reinhart - NYI
Mathew Dumba - MIN
Justin Schultz - EDM
Joe Morrow - PITTS
Nathan Beaulieu - MTL
Jonas Brodin - MIN

So essentially what you're saying is that all of these teams can offer a better package than the Oilers can with Klefbom?

Just throwing this out there.. but hockeysfuture has Klefblom as the 29th best prospect.... not 2nd or 3rd
- jak521

and many of those were drafted a year or two or more before Klefbom.

Comparing kadri and hemsky??

I think its you thats high...
- hugefemale dog77

You simple bugger...all I was saying was that Leafs or any other NHL team could easily offer up something that would match or beat this offer by Cloutier. And yes, at this point I would say Kadri has more trade value than Hemsky.

and to all who keep posting these foolish lists, tell me where Shea Weber, the subject of this idiotic blog, was drafted? What was his ranking back then? D prospects are only surpassed by goalies in sheer unpredictability.
- sanfordnson

Yes they are unpredictable. Doesn't change the fact that right now most of those players are seen as better prospects though things can change quickly.