What a luxury to have Hall et al... We are truly blessed with such passionate young players that lead by example...IMO Hall is would rank 2nd BEST on this team... and by next year with the way Schultz is showing and progressing Hall may end up 3rd best on this team... Much like Hall and his aspirations Eberle also carries this team on his back and scores the timely goals not to mention is not a turnover machine... Hall is skill and braun... Ebs has the skill and smarts... which is why he is the future leader of this team... But what a luxury to have is all I have to say... If I were to rank the youth in a top 5 with 5 games played thus far it would be:

Eberle
Hall
RNH
Gags
J Schultz
- saskoil21

I don't know about anyone else, but the reason I would say that RNH is more important to the team then hall is simply based on position, and not talent.

RNH is the only legit top line center that edm has (no offense to gagner, but i don't think he's at that level), while they have atleast 3 wingers who can play on the top line and not miss a beat.

it's WAAAAAYYYYY harder in this league to find a premier center, then a premier winger, so IMO the center is more valuable.

They lost by one goal and the Flames first goal shouldnt have counted according to almost everyone in the hockey world...

- Iggysbff

I was gonna bring that up but didn't wanna seem like the whiny fan but it did seem to be kicked in. Plus that whole crease rule, especially after they got (frank)ed against LA the previous game. Glad Im not the only one that saw this.

Compare the situation to Teows and Kane in Chicago...

I know Kane is a douche but ignore that for a second.

Eberle (is Kane like) and Hall (is Teows like). Which one has more value to the Hawks?
- Iggysbff

You did not just do that....

Compare the situation to Teows and Kane in Chicago...

I know Kane is a douche but ignore that for a second.

Eberle (is Kane like) and Hall (is Teows like). Which one has more value to the Hawks?
- Iggysbff

i would have thought it was the other way around.

i think eberle and toews are cut from the same mold, players that are flat out good at EVERYTHING, including in a leadership roll.

i would say that hall and kane are the same, both incredible offensive talents, but not players i could see being captains of a team, or who i would view as "best overall players" on their team

They lost by one goal and the Flames first goal shouldnt have counted according to almost everyone in the hockey world...

- Iggysbff

That game wasn't as close as the score indicates, not to mention the Oilers scored with 0.3 left. An empty netter and that female dog could have been 5-2, but either way it doesn't matter. The Oilers were outplayed badly.

You did not just do that....
- The-O-G

Hate to agree with a Flames fan but yeah that comparison was maybe just a little off. But you and your team still suck and can all die in hell.

You did not just do that....
- The-O-G

Oh yes I did....Just blew your mind didnt I.

Watch and see grasshopper....

That game wasn't as close as the score indicates, not to mention the Oilers scored with 0.3 left. An empty netter and that female dog could have been 5-2, but either way it doesn't matter. The Oilers were outplayed badly.
- The-O-G

Hey. We are going with the final score bumhole and that is final. Looks much better for us that way.

I don't know about anyone else, but the reason I would say that RNH is more important to the team then hall is simply based on position, and not talent.

RNH is the only legit top line center that edm has (no offense to gagner, but i don't think he's at that level), while they have atleast 3 wingers who can play on the top line and not miss a beat.

it's WAAAAAYYYYY harder in this league to find a premier center, then a premier winger, so IMO the center is more valuable.
- sensarmy_11

I think Hall has so much more determination and drive vs Nuge. It's like a pride or ego hit for him when EDM looses. Even though Eberle has the capabilities of being a captain, I prefer to see Hall with the C in the future.

i would have thought it was the other way around.

i think eberle and toews are cut from the same mold, players that are flat out good at EVERYTHING, including in a leadership roll.

i would say that hall and kane are the same, both incredible offensive talents, but not players i could see being captains of a team, or who i would view as "best overall players" on their team
- sensarmy_11

Everyone outside of Oilerville seems to miss how much Hall does. Who did they take to pitch to Schultz? I'm not saying anything bad about Ebs, but they are different styles. Ebs is slick well mannered poster boy while Hall is the fuel the team runs on.

Hall is a meat-stick. He also lacks hockey sense. There...I said it.

Everyone outside of Oilerville seems to miss how much Hall does. Who did they take to pitch to Schultz? I'm not saying anything bad about Ebs, but they are different styles. Ebs is slick well mannered poster boy while Hall is the fuel the team runs on.
- Iggysbff

fair enough. i don't get to see them play nearly as much as you do, and obviously don't see any of the off ice stuff.

honestly, i think my perception of eberle is seriously affected by his world jr career, which might explain why i feel he's better than hall.

Everyone outside of Oilerville seems to miss how much Hall does. Who did they take to pitch to Schultz? I'm not saying anything bad about Ebs, but they are different styles. Ebs is slick well mannered poster boy while Hall is the fuel the team runs on.
- Iggysbff

I see Hall and Yakupov to be very emotional when it comes to loosing or winning...hence the LA goal celebration of Yak and hacking a stick on top of the cross bar of Hall...Nuge and Eberle be the ones to tell those two to take a chill pill and they'll do the media scrums.

fair enough. i don't get to see them play nearly as much as you do, and obviously don't see any of the off ice stuff.

honestly, i think my perception of eberle is seriously affected by his world jr career, which might explain why i feel he's better than hall.
- sensarmy_11

It is not just junior. Ebs scores clutch goals and has that ability to do it all himself. I agree with you in his value being higher to the oil, but what iggysbff is saying is what hall brings to the team is just as valuable. Still on a value scale of 1-10 i think ebs is a 10 and hall is an 8.75

It is not just junior. Ebs scores clutch goals and has that ability to do it all himself. I agree with you in his value being higher to the oil, but what iggysbff is saying is what hall brings to the team is just as valuable. Still on a value scale of 1-10 i think ebs is a 10 and hall is an 8.75
- ruttager17

i think, strictly speaking in terms of demeanor not hockey ability, hall reminds me of an ovechkin type player, and eberle reminds me of a crosby or toews.

the ovechkin type player is exciting as poop, super talented, and fills the building every night.........but the crosby/toews type players are the "do everything" type guys that teams need to win championships

just my opinion.

obviously i'd LOVE to have both of those guys, but if i'm a GM, and can only pick one, i'm taking eberle.

I was gonna bring that up but didn't wanna seem like the whiny fan but it did seem to be kicked in. Plus that whole crease rule, especially after they got (frank)ed against LA the previous game. Glad Im not the only one that saw this.
- ruttager17

here... this should clear things up:

http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/kerry_fraser/?id=414688

Everyone outside of Oilerville seems to miss how much Hall does. Who did they take to pitch to Schultz? I'm not saying anything bad about Ebs, but they are different styles. Ebs is slick well mannered poster boy while Hall is the fuel the team runs on.
- Iggysbff

That Schultz pitch involved Hall as he is the poster boy for the Oiler rebuild... 1st overall draft choice etc... Not because he is the best oiler...

here... this should clear things up:

http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/kerry_fraser/?id=414688
- saskoil21

Oh I already read that. The refs had to call it based on what they saw. It just seems to me that quick twisted and got his pad caught on Gagner, then pulled him back into the crease. Hard to fault him on that but we have the benefit of TSN and the refs can't video review that situation. Doesnt matter anyways, still think Nuge is burying that puck anyways even if quick doesnt get tied up with gags.

i think, strictly speaking in terms of demeanor not hockey ability, hall reminds me of an ovechkin type player, and eberle reminds me of a crosby or toews.

the ovechkin type player is exciting as poop, super talented, and fills the building every night.........but the crosby/toews type players are the "do everything" type guys that teams need to win championships

just my opinion.

obviously i'd LOVE to have both of those guys, but if i'm a GM, and can only pick one, i'm taking eberle.
- sensarmy_11

Agreed. However, I am not calling Hall Ovechkin till he learns to shoot the puck like Ovechkin

Oh I already read that. The refs had to call it based on what they saw. It just seems to me that quick twisted and got his pad caught on Gagner, then pulled him back into the crease. Hard to fault him on that but we have the benefit of TSN and the refs can't video review that situation. Doesnt matter anyways, still think Nuge is burying that puck anyways even if quick doesnt get tied up with gags.
- ruttager17

The play is now under review! Devan Dubnyk made the initial save as Backlund then crashed the net without any assistance from Oiler Ryan Smyth, who followed in close pursuit. As Backlund drove hard into the crease he made significant contact with Dubnyk which pushed the goalie backward and deep into his crease. This action dislodged the puck from Dunyk following the initial save and propelled the puck across the goal line in clear violation of Rule 69.6.

The play went to video review only to determine if Backlund had kicked the puck into the net. This replay should have been a moot point if the other three officials were able to provide a clear determination of goalie interference from their vantage point as had been the case in the previous game on Thursday night.

On the Backlund play the referee in the end zone, primarily responsible for making this call, was positioned behind the goal line near the end boards. From this deficient position his sight line went through the net and the back of the Oiler goalie. Had he moved his feet and adjusted his position along the goal line (or preferably a half step in front of the line) he would have had an unobstructed view to see Backlund initiate contact with Dubnyk, ultimately knocking the Oiler goalie off the puck and back into his crease. Had this been the case I am confident the goal would have been immediately disallowed by the referee.Until the referees have the ability to utilize video review to determine legitimate goals following any contact with the goalkeeper, we will continue to see incorrect decisions made that impact games and ultimately the final standings.

The play is now under review! Devan Dubnyk made the initial save as Backlund then crashed the net without any assistance from Oiler Ryan Smyth, who followed in close pursuit. As Backlund drove hard into the crease he made significant contact with Dubnyk which pushed the goalie backward and deep into his crease. This action dislodged the puck from Dunyk following the initial save and propelled the puck across the goal line in clear violation of Rule 69.6.

The play went to video review only to determine if Backlund had kicked the puck into the net. This replay should have been a moot point if the other three officials were able to provide a clear determination of goalie interference from their vantage point as had been the case in the previous game on Thursday night.

On the Backlund play the referee in the end zone, primarily responsible for making this call, was positioned behind the goal line near the end boards. From this deficient position his sight line went through the net and the back of the Oiler goalie. Had he moved his feet and adjusted his position along the goal line (or preferably a half step in front of the line) he would have had an unobstructed view to see Backlund initiate contact with Dubnyk, ultimately knocking the Oiler goalie off the puck and back into his crease. Had this been the case I am confident the goal would have been immediately disallowed by the referee.Until the referees have the ability to utilize video review to determine legitimate goals following any contact with the goalkeeper, we will continue to see incorrect decisions made that impact games and ultimately the final standings.
- saskoil21

Sh!te, sorry dawg. I didn't read that far down, i thought the link was the same as the one I read on friday about the thursday night goal. Thanks for the heads up. Now I am in my rights to complain.
However, the Oil being outshot 35-20 that night, I will not complain too loudly.

Agreed. However, I am not calling Hall Ovechkin till he learns to shoot the puck like Ovechkin
- ruttager17

And until he gets his own Mr Big commercial...

And until he gets his own Mr Big commercial...

- geta02it

Don't think I have seen that one yet. It is made even funnier because he don't speak english too good.

when did Hall's trade value just magically drop below RNH's and Eberle's?
- Jack-artist

I dunno. I just feel like he might be the least desirable in a trade.
Nothing concrete. Just a feeling

Stauffer guessing same lineups as last game. Hope he is wrong, would really like to see Fistric in alot more.