- whipper334

In all seriousness, not many really knew that RNH was even hurt until later on yesterday. If it's a strain or bruise or whatever they want to call it, I'm sure we'll get the old "little sore and stiff, see how it is in the morning".

We need some sandpaper in the line up plain and simple. We need someone who punishes anyone that takes liberties with our skilled guys. Oilers haven't had that since Big George was here. There has to be some greasy goon out there that can still half ass play hockey. Anytime someone smacks around one of our top six, this guy hits the ice and tries to end the offenders career by any means necessary. Sure he will get suspended for a few games here tand there but as long as the team kicks in for fines who cares?

In all seriousness, not many really knew that RNH was even hurt until later on yesterday. If it's a strain or bruise or whatever they want to call it, I'm sure we'll get the old "little sore and stiff, see how it is in the morning".
- Lahey

I just had heard that it was his same shoulder, hopefully its nothing.

Yeah, he got a two day ban for posting a pic of a fake vagina from work/school.


As funny as that sounds, it's true
- laughs2907

And as I recall, one of the photos was kind of a fake vagina on a man.
Oh right that's why, he crossed the code of conduct with a transgender-transvestite medic-mannequin

Kinda random comment?

To be honest I don't mind our bottom 6. I still think or big issue up front is lack of two-way skill in the top 6 and grit.
- Lahey

I guess it was random...

I guess having Ryan Jones back will help.

Yes we will give you Taro Tsujimoto for him.

Meant MPS. Where I got MAP from I will never no.
- ImThatGuy

What would Jordan Leopold cost?

I would start with new medical staff, the whole works of them. You see players all the time that have injuries and then when they move teams they suddenly vanish.
- Dean_Youngblood

Dean, you're onto something here.

I think they're still using leeches to bleed out the bad stuff in players bodies.

Fukkin mountebanks.

Dean, you're onto something here.

I think they're still using leeches to bleed out the bad stuff in players bodies.

Fukkin mountebanks.
- Salvo

Honestly though outside of RNH the medical staff really couldn't do anything to prevent any of those injuries.

I guess it was random...

I guess having Ryan Jones back will help.
- Reveen

When is that going to happen?

What's worse Whitney being beat or Dubnyk letting that goal in?
- Lahey

Equal Lame. But I'll give the edge to Dubnyk for not as bad. It was Jagr shooting the puck.

Equal Lame. But I'll give the edge to Dubnyk for not as bad. It was Jagr shooting the puck.
- Salvo

Wasn't it Jagr that juked Whitney out?

We need some sandpaper in the line up plain and simple. We need someone who punishes anyone that takes liberties with our skilled guys. Oilers haven't had that since Big George was here. There has to be some greasy goon out there that can still half ass play hockey. Anytime someone smacks around one of our top six, this guy hits the ice and tries to end the offenders career by any means necessary. Sure he will get suspended for a few games here tand there but as long as the team kicks in for fines who cares?
- Oilersforlife

Laraque never did anything other than pounding the other teams goon in a pre-scheduled fight. That is the last thing we need. We need Eager to be healthy, he is just enough hockey player, goon, nut job to be effective. He just needs to avoid getting another concussion.

When is that going to happen?
- Lahey

When his vagina heals.

Laraque never did anything other than pounding the other teams goon in a pre-scheduled fight. That is the last thing we need. We need Eager to be healthy, he is just enough hockey player, goon, nut job to be effective. He just needs to avoid getting another concussion.
- Al Hacker

He wasn't bad for roughly 20 points a year though.

I agree we need Eager to be Eager, but how can he be Eager is he gets injured everytime he tries to be Eager?

He wasn't bad for roughly 20 points a year though.

I agree we need Eager to be Eager, but how can he be Eager is he gets injured everytime he tries to be Eager?
- Lahey

Good question. We also need PRV to keep playing like he did last night, Jones and Fistric to come back and play tough, and a few other things as well. But this is a start and not asking for too much.

Wasn't it Jagr that juked Whitney out?
- Lahey

Yep - that was awful.

Dubnyk looked equally frozen.

Yep - that was awful.

Dubnyk looked equally frozen.
- Salvo

I thought he was in good position, he had most of the net covered. It was a good shot by Jagr. Still those are the ones he needs to have, even though the shot should have been prevented.

Wasn't it Jagr that juked Whitney out?
- Lahey

Yea but all he needs to do is keep body position and play the man there.. I definitely put the fault on whitney for that goal!

Good question. We also need PRV to keep playing like he did last night, Jones and Fistric to come back and play tough, and a few other things as well. But this is a start and not asking for too much.
- abware

I'm shocked PRV is hitting. I was fine without it as he was playing quite well, but man is that a bonus.

There's two problems I can see with the Oilers acquiring O'Reilly. First is, the price. The Avs will want a 1st+ and that's lots for a player who's holding out after having only one really good season and wanting $5mil per over a long-term deal.

2nd problem is, what happens when Nuge is back? O'Reilly is a Top 6 center. Nuge is a Top 6 center, and Gagner is the best player on the whole team this season so far. So who plays on the 3rd line? O'Reilly likely doesn't want to be a 3rd line center, and he'd be an awfully expensive guy to have there.
- Maxbone

No really, can we sign Tobias Rieder? He is our asset playing in the OHL. He turned tons of heads last season and in the Juniors. He is in his third season in the minors which to me is pointless if he is doing that good. He seems to be the at least ready for OKC. He is just under 6 foot and around 190, so not huge but he can fill our needs now on the third line. At least better than anyone else WE have in our system.

I am all for upgrading and I am still not convinced that Hemsky can do a whole season without injuries. With that said, I wouldn't pay O'Reilly more than 2 million a year and I would plan on him being on the third line long term. Since that is unrealistic, I think Connolly might be the perfect short term rental if he can stay healthy and has anything left to offer. He was good once. If not, I think Colorado is another place to look for centers still. They have some young ones on their last 3 lines that might fit our need short term that will be bumped when O'Reilly comes back.

With Hall showing us he might be the best face off guy we have, we can also look for a winger.

For those who doubt it still. Gagner might not have the most talent on the team but he is the best player we have this year. He is out there making things happen EVERY night. Can't argue with a point in EVERY game. At least 1. He reminds me of a young Smyth. Not all talent but all heart. You don't trade that because you can't replace it.

Hemsky however has huge value now and might be able to be packaged away for a sturdier, bigger top 6 forward. I am a huge fan but he is fragile and the Oilers can't take many more injuries before they have to call one of us up. I have turned my phone off vibrate in case I get the call because their can't be many people left before they start turning to suiting up random fans.

Laraque never did anything other than pounding the other teams goon in a pre-scheduled fight. That is the last thing we need. We need Eager to be healthy, he is just enough hockey player, goon, nut job to be effective. He just needs to avoid getting another concussion.
- Al Hacker

I loved Eager in Chicago, but since he's come to Edmonton he has done nothing. If he can be that guy awesome. Based on what I've seen here so far, he's trash. I want someone who will literally want to kill anyone that messes with his team. I mean take his skate of and try and stab the other player in the neck crazy. Call your house at night with heavey breathing and creepy statements crazy. Like Lahey but with some hockey skills crazy.

No really, can we sign Tobias Rieder? He is our asset playing in the OHL. He turned tons of heads last season and in the Juniors. He is in his third season in the minors which to me is pointless if he is doing that good. He seems to be the at least ready for OKC. He is just under 6 foot and around 190, so not huge but he can fill our needs now on the third line. At least better than anyone else WE have in our system.

- bsteinley

Send him to OKC sure. He does nothing for our NHL team just yet though.

I loved Eager in Chicago, but since he's come to Edmonton he has done nothing. If he can be that guy awesome. Based on what I've seen here so far, he's trash. I want someone who will literally want to kill anyone that messes with his team. I mean take his skate of and try and stab the other player in the neck crazy. Call your house at night with heavey breathing and creepy statements crazy. Like Lahey but with some hockey skills crazy.
- Oilersforlife

Gilmore, Happy

Send him to OKC sure. He does nothing for our NHL team just yet though.
- Morris

I think people need to look at past prospects and tone their expectations down. We've seen this song and dance before. Guys rip up junior then struggle in the ECHL.

Also Arcobello back to OKC.

For those who doubt it still. Gagner might not have the most talent on the team but he is the best player we have this year. He is out there making things happen EVERY night. Can't argue with a point in EVERY game. At least 1. He reminds me of a young Smyth. Not all talent but all heart. You don't trade that because you can't replace it.

Hemsky however has huge value now and might be able to be packaged away for a sturdier, bigger top 6 forward. I am a huge fan but he is fragile and the Oilers can't take many more injuries before they have to call one of us up. I have turned my phone off vibrate in case I get the call because their can't be many people left before they start turning to suiting up random fans.

Reider isn't what this team is lacking but with all the injuries he may be the best short term solution and that isn't saying much. I love Gagner, I fight his battles all the time on these boards, that being said Hemsky is a huge part of the reason he is playing as well as he is. That line is really the only reason we are not in lottery territory and to split them up would be foolish.