Loungo to Columbus, you heard it here first.

Let me go on record as saying I am loving the comments in this blog section. Wow. I can't tell the trolls from the people who just read a third of the blog and assumed the rest.

Allow me to summarize my opinions here, because most of you missed it:

- The Luongo to Edmonton rumor comes from Josh Rimer and Bill Waters, not me.

- Luongo is a better goalie RIGHT NOW than Dubnyk. That being said, his contract sucks.

- Sam Gagner is a polarizing player. People either love him or hate him. I don't feel either. I think Gagner is a decent player, but he's not the big mean #2 center the Oilers need. The Oilers are too small up front, and too small at center.

- If the rumor Gagner for Luongo rumor is true, the Oilers will need to deal Dubnyk to acquire a #2 center to replace him.

- My preference would be for the Oilers to keep Gagner and Dubnyk for now, and to instead go out to get someone like Ben Bishop from Ottawa so the Oilers have two viable options in net for the next few seasons.

The Columbus scenario is ridiculous.

Hey Sanford.....



- The-O-G

I deserved that.

I've yet to see Kadri make a defensive zone miscue, he's had one bad giveaway in the offensive zone on a PP, but that's it....yet all I ever hear on hockey central is how bad he is defensively. I tend to tune them out.....calling Lupul a third liner, and at best a 2nd liner on a bad team is another great anecdote from the talking heads, despite the fact he had the second highest PPG in the league for LW's last year, or that Grabo is a 3rd line centre on most teams, even though he's in the top 30 centres in points over the last two seasons. Now I'm not saying to base it on stats, but if Grabo is in the top 30, yet plays on our 2nd line, would it not stand to reason that he just might be a solid 2nd line centre since he ranks in the top 30, which statistically means he's a 1st line centre? This is what we deal with in Toronto, no logic. Anyways, the Leafs suck I know, but there are some good pieces here that go unnoticed.
- mykokes

Ya i think Kadri will be a solid player. The guy gets tossed under the bus all the time by the media its just garbage. Lets not forget hes like 20 years old. Not everyone is ready to jump right in.

I deserved that.
- sanfordnson

Haha.....at least you have a sense of humour


Saturday it`s all business

Let me go on record as saying I am loving the comments in this blog section. Wow. I can't tell the trolls from the people who just read a third of the blog and assumed the rest.

Allow me to summarize my opinions here, because most of you missed it:

- The Luongo to Edmonton rumor comes from Josh Rimer and Bill Waters, not me.

- Luongo is a better goalie RIGHT NOW than Dubnyk. That being said, his contract sucks.

- Sam Gagner is a polarizing player. People either love him or hate him. I don't feel either. I think Gagner is a decent player, but he's not the big mean #2 center the Oilers need. The Oilers are too small up front, and too small at center.

- If the rumor Gagner for Luongo rumor is true, the Oilers will need to deal Dubnyk to acquire a #2 center to replace him.

- My preference would be for the Oilers to keep Gagner and Dubnyk for now, and to instead go out to get someone like Ben Bishop from Ottawa so the Oilers have two viable options in net for the next few seasons.
- Maxbone

y would you trade your allstar goalie??????????? funny u pump the guys tires like hes an allstar like everyday

Let me go on record as saying I am loving the comments in this blog section. Wow. I can't tell the trolls from the people who just read a third of the blog and assumed the rest.

Allow me to summarize my opinions here, because most of you missed it:

- The Luongo to Edmonton rumor comes from Josh Rimer and Bill Waters, not me.

- Luongo is a better goalie RIGHT NOW than Dubnyk. That being said, his contract sucks.

- Sam Gagner is a polarizing player. People either love him or hate him. I don't feel either. I think Gagner is a decent player, but he's not the big mean #2 center the Oilers need. The Oilers are too small up front, and too small at center.

- If the rumor Gagner for Luongo rumor is true, the Oilers will need to deal Dubnyk to acquire a #2 center with size.

- My preference would be for the Oilers to keep Gagner and Dubnyk for now, and to instead go out to get someone like Ben Bishop from Ottawa so the Oilers have two viable options in net for the next few seasons.
- Maxbone

I dunno if many people actually LOVE Gagner. I love his potential and I'm a big defender of giving him more time because:

a) we haven't given him any time to be a support player his entire career/development path
b) he is genuinely smart, and you can't teach hockey smarts (also for truly smart players like Datsyuk, smart makes up for physical tools)
c) Though he's small, he's tough. He needs to learn the art of checking as an effective tool to win pucks. He's never going to be a devastating hitter, but I think there's potential for him to become craftier in dirty areas and win pucks without having to add 50 pounds of muscle (much like the player Stephen Weiss has become).

...but I wouldn't say I love him.

My preference is to make no changes and to bag skate the hell out of the existing oilers first chance they get.

If there is any truth to the Lu to Ed rumor I kind of think it would be a 3 way deal. I dont see gagner being a long term solution in Van unless they get him just til Kessler is back and then deal him at the deadline or off season. Last thing van needs is another soft small forward.

Blown coverage or not, the good goalies in the league step up and make saves for their team. None of the goals were anything special other than the Sharks shooting the puck on net in areas that you can beat a goalie.
- Lahey

I agree. Dubnyk hasn't done anything amazing yet, and (STAR)ting goalies are supposed to bail your team out.

Just in the context of this blog (cloutier's opinion or not), and it's assertion that Dubnyk is in over his head and it's time to trade for Luongo and his big old contract, I was pointing out that that was a team 6-1 loss, where Dubnyk was one of many that didn't step up.

My preference is to make no changes and to bag skate the hell out of the existing oilers first chance they get.
- Morris

This is a man who understands hockey and the Oilers. Learn from him.

Pajaarvi had a section of nice forecheking on the PK. He looked like he was working for it.

Hearing from a good source (one of PK's family) that the Redwings are pushing hard for PK and have a 72 hour window to talk extension with him. beginning at noon today
- Lindross_88

Well there is no window because any team can talk to him. He's a RFA and open to offer sheets.

y would you trade your allstar goalie??????????? funny u pump the guys tires like hes an allstar like everyday
- Leafs107

In case the rest of you wondered how you could tell the difference between a troll and someone who didn't actually read the blog...This would be a troll.

Pajaarvi had a section of nice forecheking on the PK. He looked like he was working for it.
- Morris

It's Paajarvi's useless muffin wrist-shot from 45ft away that gets to me. Why oh why haven't Oilers coaches beaten that out of his game yet?

In case the rest of you wondered how you could tell the difference between a troll and someone who didn't actually read the blog...This would be a troll.
- Maxbone

He's definitely focused on you. Appreciate that you reply to the comments on your blog.

Let me go on record as saying I am loving the comments in this blog section. Wow. I can't tell the trolls from the people who just read a third of the blog and assumed the rest.

Allow me to summarize my opinions here, because most of you missed it:

- The Luongo to Edmonton rumor comes from Josh Rimer and Bill Waters, not me.

- Luongo is a better goalie RIGHT NOW than Dubnyk. That being said, his contract sucks.

- Sam Gagner is a polarizing player. People either love him or hate him. I don't feel either. I think Gagner is a decent player, but he's not the big mean #2 center the Oilers need. The Oilers are too small up front, and too small at center.

- If the rumor Gagner for Luongo rumor is true, the Oilers will need to deal Dubnyk to acquire a #2 center to replace him.

- My preference would be for the Oilers to keep Gagner and Dubnyk for now, and to instead go out to get someone like Ben Bishop from Ottawa so the Oilers have two viable options in net for the next few seasons.
- Maxbone

What if Gagner was on a line with PRV and Clowe? Everyone wants those big centers, but they aren't exactly out there. Maybe big wingers is the answer?

It's Paajarvi's useless muffin wrist-shot from 45ft away that gets to me. Why oh why haven't Oilers coaches beaten that out of his game yet?
- Maxbone

His wrist shot looked not bad yesterday.

He's definitely focused on you. Appreciate that you reply to the comments on your blog.
- mykokes

its crazy. ive never seen him responding this far into a blog.

hey Clouts.

In case the rest of you wondered how you could tell the difference between a troll and someone who didn't actually read the blog...This would be a troll.
- Maxbone

how many blogs have had saying how good dubynk #futureallstar vezina and heart contender. And your now saying after one bad game the guy needs to go or needs help....

It's Paajarvi's useless muffin wrist-shot from 45ft away that gets to me. Why oh why haven't Oilers coaches beaten that out of his game yet?
- Maxbone

He's only 21 Rich, give him some time. This is just a question, do you guys have any veteran swedes on your team? Someone that might be able to act like a mentor to him?

Well there is no window because any team can talk to him. He's a RFA and open to offer sheets.
- Lahey

By window i mean he is flying to Detroit today to check out the team complex's and meet the team.. hearing Zetterberg will be present

I agree. Dubnyk hasn't done anything amazing yet, and (STAR)ting goalies are supposed to bail your team out.

Just in the context of this blog (cloutier's opinion or not), and it's assertion that Dubnyk is in over his head and it's time to trade for Luongo and his big old contract, I was pointing out that that was a team 6-1 loss, where Dubnyk was one of many that didn't step up.
- Morris

gotcha

Can anyone tell me the NHL team the furthest geographical location away from Florida?

Edmonton?

Lu has an NMC.
- R-SAL

rumours abound that he would like to play for the Oilers. but that's different from wanting to live in Edmonton and if his family wants to live here.

By window i mean he is flying to Detroit today to check out the team complex's and meet the team.. hearing Zetterberg will be present
- Lindross_88

Is it really a window then? Isn't it just a trip. He could live in Detroit and talk to the team everyday if he wanted to. Only thing Montreal can do is match an offer sheet or trade him, other than that they really have nothing that no other team doesn't with him.