- Reveen

Yup. The potential is there, but it certainly hasnt come together.
- sanfordnson

They haven't figured out who plays well with whom yet, except for sparse moments when Nuge looks good with Eberle.

Not one D pairing, or forward line has looked truly comfortable for more than 4 minutes all season.

we're just not that good. more or less overhyped since the lockout ended.
- Jack-artist

in some people eyes this is a troll comment.

apparently much better to close ur eyes and praise your beloved oilers at all times. no matter what reality says.

they say ignorance is bliss

Yup. The potential is there, but it certainly hasnt come together.
- sanfordnson

we need to come together like butt cheeks

They haven't figured out who plays well with whom yet, except for sparse moments when Nuge looks good with Eberle.

Not one D pairing, or forward line has looked truly comfortable for more than 4 minutes all season.
- Morris

Ya the only two I'll give that to is Shultz squared - they've had good periods.

Ya the only two I'll give that to is Shultz squared - they've had good periods.
- Salvo

true they have looked good from time to time. I'd like to see the Smid-Petry pairing return to form.

I really think the future top 6 has
???-Nuge-Ebs
Hall-???-Yakupov

Tough to say who those guys are yet.

5 game home-stand starts Tuesday. We're getting healthier. And we're facing a lot of middle of the road teams we'll need to beat to make the playoffs. Now's our chance to surprise LA, whose lost 4 of 5. It's not overly realistic, but matchup by matchup we should be able to get points in each of these games.

They haven't figured out who plays well with whom yet, except for sparse moments when Nuge looks good with Eberle.

Not one D pairing, or forward line has looked truly comfortable for more than 4 minutes all season.
- Morris

Does this truly shock and really even worry anyone though, considering no training camp, no preseason, and we are 12 games in it is tough to expect 100% cohesion considering the circumstances. Hitting the panic button now is like hitting it after the first 3 games of an actual season with a full training camp and 7 preseason games. Sitting at 15th in the NHL after 12 games isn't exactly a bad thing.

in some people eyes this is a troll comment.

apparently much better to close ur eyes and praise your beloved oilers at all times. no matter what reality says.

they say ignorance is bliss
- hugefemale dog77

Lb is that one side of the spectrum for sure. Then there's members of my family...my dad or brother get so discouraged or angry they shut the game off against Detroit.

Talkin to people away from these boards tonight, I can't think of a more sour win in the last couple years then this one.

The silver lining is hopefully Big EZ cementing himself as a top ten goalie going forward. Like any other part of this so called developing team - this must continue.

The problem with Edmonton is there is just too much "potential" and not enough "proven". Edmonton has the ability to make a couple trades and be really good right now by moving top young "potential" stud(s).
Hopefully the "potential" works out or the Oilers could be a mediocre team for the next decade. The risk is that there are too many "potentials" at the same time and if only a couple work out - it won't be good enough.

in some people eyes this is a troll comment.

apparently much better to close ur eyes and praise your beloved oilers at all times. no matter what reality says.

they say ignorance is bliss
- hugefemale dog77

Closing ones eyes to the negative, is no different than you closing your eyes to the positive.

The thing that gets me is everyone thought we would be scoring enough so Dubs just had to be OK. The opposite has happened.

Does this truly shock and really even worry anyone though, considering no training camp, no preseason, and we are 12 games in it is tough to expect 100% cohesion considering the circumstances. Hitting the panic button now is like hitting it after the first 3 games of an actual season with a full training camp and 7 preseason games. Sitting at 15th in the NHL after 12 games isn't exactly a bad thing.
- ruttager17

Not at all, but I'd like to see them lock down some of these combos as the season goes on. Long-term it looks like we have 4 top line calibre players and so far it's totally up in the air as to who will fit with whom. That's exciting, but it's also scary to think about trying to build around those players. No need to hit the panic button, but a definite realization that we don't have the advantage of having a go-to configuration like Burrows-Sedin-Sedin or Keith-Seabrook.

They haven't figured out who plays well with whom yet, except for sparse moments when Nuge looks good with Eberle.

Not one D pairing, or forward line has looked truly comfortable for more than 4 minutes all season.
- Morris

Actually the Yak-Gags-Hemmer line was playing well.

true they have looked good from time to time. I'd like to see the Smid-Petry pairing return to form.

I really think the future top 6 has
???-Nuge-Ebs
Hall-???-Yakupov

Tough to say who those guys are yet.
- Morris

Clowe/Nuge/Ebs
Hall/Gagner/Yakupov

true they have looked good from time to time. I'd like to see the Smid-Petry pairing return to form.

I really think the future top 6 has
???-Nuge-Ebs
Hall-???-Yakupov

Tough to say who those guys are yet.
- Morris

I know...man, I'm always dreaming up methods that see the top six with Gagner in it; the bottom six as the toughest and savviest checkers who chip in on the score sheet and a little more toughness on the back end. All to offset that lack of grind up top.

Detroit has done it - not so sure the Oilers will.

Lots of eat-crow jokes regarding Gagner - for good bloody reason but does management go looking for that size with him as a piece...

How long do you let this whole thing develop esp. with Hall and Yaks, I do think they can play a grittier game in the future.
Will RNH be that Selke guy? That's just as good as grit on most nights.

EDIT: I'm not so sure you were even addressing grit in your post. lol.

Actually the Yak-Gags-Hemmer line was playing well.
- sanfordnson

I think Gags-Yak was playing well, and moreso Gags-Hemmer, but Yak-Hemmer was not clicking and the whole line wasn't really a meshed unit. Can't argue with their production though.

Not at all, but I'd like to see them lock down some of these combos as the season goes on. Long-term it looks like we have 4 top line calibre players and so far it's totally up in the air as to who will fit with whom. That's exciting, but it's also scary to think about trying to build around those players. No need to hit the panic button, but a definite realization that we don't have the advantage of having a go-to configuration like Burrows-Sedin-Sedin or Keith-Seabrook.
- Morris

I really thought we did have a lock with hall-nuge-ebs, not sure why he (frank)ed with them but hopefully they end up back together.

I think Hall / Yak will be a future pair - though we don't typically think of pairs as flanked wingers.

I just see them dominating together.

And there it is. Hall at center in two years.

I think Hall / Yak will be a future pair - though we don't typically think of pairs as flanked wingers.

I just see them dominating together.

And there it is. Hall at center in two years.
- Salvo

I dunno if I see it. He hasnt played C in a lonnnnnnng time.

I think Hall / Yak will be a future pair - though we don't typically think of pairs as flanked wingers.

I just see them dominating each other.

And there it is. Hall at center in two years.
- Salvo

Fixed!

I dunno if I see it. He hasnt played C in a lonnnnnnng time.
- sanfordnson

Ya I know - I get stuck on "fixing" our center issues - can't argue with Gags right now.

Man alive, if the kid was 25 pounds heavier and 2/3 inches taller....I'd be able to stop using words like if and would.

Sammy playin with a lot of heart right now. Had trouble on the goal against tonight and still redeemed himself.

What an ugly win. Glad to see Smyth is so old and slow he can only draw penalties rather than keep up with other guys. At least our goaltending is looking good! Gotta think positive. Technically, if Dubnyk stops every shot he ever faces from now on we'll never lose again! GO OILERS!

I'll make an honest effort here.

The Good
Dubnyk- has played like some of us always thought he could.
Schultz - as advertised. offensive instincts to spare and surprisingly composed defensively.
Hemsky - still hate him sometimes, but resurgent.
Gagner - suck it prock.
Yak - finding his way, but this guy can score and loves the game.
Petry/Smid - asides from a few rusty gaffes, still a solid pairing.
Fistric - tough and responsible.
Winning some close games and getting at least loser points.
PK solid.

The Bad
Nuge - love him but hes off to a rocky start. dece two way play but needs to be much better offensively.
Potter - horribly inconsistent and at times just horrible.
Hartikainen - still like him a lot, but needs to stick to his role and wreak havoc every time hes out there and make the goalies life hell.
The PP - an early season mirage. scouted, adjusted to and now all but impotent. actually seems to generate chances the other way.

The Ugly
Smyth - its over.
Whitney - ugh.
Injuries - as usual. leading us to...
Depth - Horcoff and Belanger should not deep six our FO% so horrifically. Nuge and Gags NEED to be better on the dot.
Cohesiveness - none.
longbottom and that other guy

Any players not mentioned are ones that are performing as they should.

Wonder if Kreugs will blend a bit again - to Morris' point, perhaps put Gagner up with Eberle, see if they strike a little magic.

RNH with Yakupov, see if they have the good gods

At first glance, it seems like straight heresy to split up RNH/ Eberle but I think we get too bogged down in that line of thinking.

Maybe RNH can help out that second line defensively as well.