I'd still put the Wings a bit above the Nucks due to Mike Gillis' needlessl slandering of Cody Hodgson, truly spectacular mismanagement of goaltenders, and unwillingness to tell the fan base and media that their delight in undermining their starting goaltender (this goes WAY back before Luongo) is a large factor in their inability to win Cups so far.

That said, it is not an accident that all of Vancouver's best players are signed for less than they could have gotten elsewhere.
- thefullnelson

insult the hodgson trade all you want. I'd kill to have a Kassian type player in EDM's top 6

insult the hodgson trade all you want. I'd kill to have a Kassian type player in EDM's top 6
- TheNugeIsHuge

Yeah, I think that Cody will end up putting up more points, but Kassian has that rare combination of a top 6 skill set with the toughness an physicality to go along with it. Kepe in mind that Hodgson is also getting more ice time right now on the top line and top PP unit as well so his numbers should definitely be better this year. Kassian started off great with the Twins but AV decided to put Burrows back on that line moving Kassian to the second line and second PP unit. I hated that trade at first and still have mixed feelings about it, but Kassian's shown the ability and skill set that gets all Canucks fans pretty excited since we haven't seen that type of ability from a big forward since Bertuzzi.

What credibility?
- spitfire187

We all read it, didn't we? We all spent some of our valuable leisure time seeking out his opinion, instead of someone else's, right?

It's kinda funny - I totally stopped reading everything Eks had to say by the end of the lockout because his optimistic "everything's-gonna-be-OK" sounded a lot more like what it was profitable for him to say than what he actually thought. When he got that big scoop at the end of the lockout... it didn't change how I felt. He's still not relevant to me. Credibility is a funny thing, and once it's gone, it's hard to get it back!

I hope you read this Clouts - you're an entertaining writer, but it really feels like this blog was either written by a man who has no idea what he's talking about or by a man who wanted a whole lotta hits.

If you had entitled that "Why the Oilers COULD Win the Cup This Year!" I'd have accepted this as an entertaining puff-piece and I could have debated the likelihood of us getting each of the breaks we'll need quite happily. Unfortunately, every single halfway rational person in the world is debating if the Oilers can find a way to the playoffs and you're guaranteeing a Cup. Homerism doesn't even come close!

I'm interested in intelligent analysis of my team, not taunting other fanbases or flaunting willful ignorance about other teams. I know you can do an awful lot better than this.

We all read it, didn't we?
- thefullnelson

Speak for yourself. All I needed to see was the blog title.

insult the hodgson trade all you want. I'd kill to have a Kassian type player in EDM's top 6
- TheNugeIsHuge

I didn't mean to insult the trade. I meant to insult the way MG ran him down in the post-season debriefing. It was unnecessary, unproffesional, and hypocritical, and it absolutely reeked of a man trying to save his own job. Which is weird because by all accounts his job is in no danger.

And to clarify, let me say I think overall MG has done a good job... but that I think there have been a few awful decisions on his part.

Didn't read the blog. Please tell me it doesn't say what I think it says.
- sanfordnson

this was the first post. It is now page 10. Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuure you don't care what he says!


EDIT:My mistake - page 11. Wow, this sucker's really moving!

Yeah, I think that Cody will end up putting up more points, but Kassian has that rare combination of a top 6 skill set with the toughness an physicality to go along with it. Kepe in mind that Hodgson is also getting more ice time right now on the top line and top PP unit as well so his numbers should definitely be better this year. Kassian started off great with the Twins but AV decided to put Burrows back on that line moving Kassian to the second line and second PP unit. I hated that trade at first and still have mixed feelings about it, but Kassian's shown the ability and skill set that gets all Canucks fans pretty excited since we haven't seen that type of ability from a big forward since Bertuzzi.
- Nucker101

I think it's going to be 5 years before we can say who won this trade. That said, after the experience the Nucks had against the Bruins, I totally understand them wanting to get bigger and tougher.

We all read it, didn't we? We all spent some of our valuable leisure time seeking out his opinion, instead of someone else's, right?

It's kinda funny - I totally stopped reading everything Eks had to say by the end of the lockout because his optimistic "everything's-gonna-be-OK" sounded a lot more like what it was profitable for him to say than what he actually thought. When he got that big scoop at the end of the lockout... it didn't change how I felt. He's still not relevant to me. Credibility is a funny thing, and once it's gone, it's hard to get it back!

I hope you read this Clouts - you're an entertaining writer, but it really feels like this blog was either written by a man who has no idea what he's talking about or by a man who wanted a whole lotta hits.

If you had entitled that "Why the Oilers COULD Win the Cup This Year!" I'd have accepted this as an entertaining puff-piece and I could have debated the likelihood of us getting each of the breaks we'll need quite happily. Unfortunately, every single halfway rational person in the world is debating if the Oilers can find a way to the playoffs and you're guaranteeing a Cup. Homerism doesn't even come close!

I'm interested in intelligent analysis of my team, not taunting other fanbases or flaunting willful ignorance about other teams. I know you can do an awful lot better than this.
- thefullnelson

I don't come here for his crazy thoughts or opinions, I come here to be entertained, mostly by the posters on the board.

Yeah, I think that Cody will end up putting up more points, but Kassian has that rare combination of a top 6 skill set with the toughness an physicality to go along with it. Kepe in mind that Hodgson is also getting more ice time right now on the top line and top PP unit as well so his numbers should definitely be better this year. Kassian started off great with the Twins but AV decided to put Burrows back on that line moving Kassian to the second line and second PP unit. I hated that trade at first and still have mixed feelings about it, but Kassian's shown the ability and skill set that gets all Canucks fans pretty excited since we haven't seen that type of ability from a big forward since Bertuzzi.
- Nucker101

Kassian reminds me of a poor man's Brad Isbister.

this was the first post. It is now page 10. Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuure you don't care what he says!


EDIT:My mistake - page 11. Wow, this sucker's really moving!
- thefullnelson

Its an Oilers thread. I comment on Oilers things. I almost never read his drivel.

I don't come here for his crazy thoughts or opinions, I come here to be entertained, mostly by the posters on the board.
- spitfire187

yeah, I can see how...

Its an Oilers thread. I comment on Oilers things. I almost never read his drivel.
- sanfordnson

Oh. Well. That's cool then.

...

So, if you're GM, do you make the big trade Clouts has been clamouring for, or do you make a couple of minor ones and hope they get to the playoffs, or do you deal talent for picks one last year?

I'm interested in intelligent analysis of my team, not taunting other fanbases or flaunting willful ignorance about other teams. I know you can do an awful lot better than this.
- thefullnelson

But what if I can't?

I've been doing this...what...over three years now. I think I've sort of peaked, don't you? It's all downhill from here.

And what's wrong with taunting other fanbases? People do it constantly on this site. The bloggers, the readers...everyone. Why should I be excluded from the fun?

Willing ignorance? You're just saying that because you've bought into this "finishing last every season" hype. It's time everyone realizes Oilers management has been playing a game with all of you. This team can turn winning on and off like a tap. You know when they'll win their next cup? When they feel like it.

So there.

Its an Oilers thread. I comment on Oilers things. I almost never read his drivel.
- sanfordnson

Also, which bloggers do you find worth reading?

Oh. Well. That's cool then.

...

So, if you're GM, do you make the big trade Clouts has been clamouring for, or do you make a couple of minor ones and hope they get to the playoffs, or do you deal talent for picks one last year?
- thefullnelson

No more players for picks. unless it is Whitney and there is another move to bring in a top 4 puck mover.

Also, which bloggers do you find worth reading?
- thefullnelson

Yost and Meltzer are solid hockey writers.

I will read Clouts when he does one of his joke blogs. They can actually be pretty funny.

I think it's going to be 5 years before we can say who won this trade. That said, after the experience the Nucks had against the Bruins, I totally understand them wanting to get bigger and tougher.
- thefullnelson

Meh, the toughness thing was overdone by the media and fans. That series turned went Hamhuis(who most Canucks fans consider the team's best and most reliable d-man) went down, that completely threw off all of the D pairing since Bieksa struggles without him as well because he didn't have chemistry with Edler or Salo and after the Rome hit, Ballard was forced to play in the top 4 with Bieksa and that was disaster. Plus Kesler was beaten up pretty bad and Raymond went down so the PP and offence dried up so once the Bruins were able to shut down the Twins there was nobody else left to score at all. Tim Thomas was also playing out of his mind and Luongo was hung out to dry thanks to some awful defence and no goal support.

That being said, a power forward in the top 6 would have been nice and definitely helped. But I don't buy the theory that a 4th line goon would have won the Canucks that series.

Kassian reminds me of a poor man's Brad Isbister.
- Reveen

Yost and Meltzer are solid hockey writers.

I will read Clouts when he does one of his joke blogs. They can actually be pretty funny.
- sanfordnson

What happened to B-Hud ? He was solid.

Yeah, I think that Cody will end up putting up more points, but Kassian has that rare combination of a top 6 skill set with the toughness an physicality to go along with it. Kepe in mind that Hodgson is also getting more ice time right now on the top line and top PP unit as well so his numbers should definitely be better this year. Kassian started off great with the Twins but AV decided to put Burrows back on that line moving Kassian to the second line and second PP unit. I hated that trade at first and still have mixed feelings about it, but Kassian's shown the ability and skill set that gets all Canucks fans pretty excited since we haven't seen that type of ability from a big forward since Bertuzzi.
- Nucker101

When I watch Kassian I have the same reaction as when I watch Lucic (not often) and Dustin Brown play the oilers, I (frank)in hate them. And that's a good thing for LA and Boston. EDM doesn't have a guy that can score a goal and then beat Eager in a fight. Kassian fits the mold of what EDMs missing. Hodgson is 1 dimensional (not saying he's bad, so is Ebs), Kassian has attributes that make him valuable at all times.

No blacks up in Lethbridge to invade the KFC?
- nayefj

Lethbridge is Mormon country

But what if I can't?

I've been doing this...what...over three years now. I think I've sort of peaked, don't you? It's all downhill from here.

And what's wrong with taunting other fanbases? People do it constantly on this site. The bloggers, the readers...everyone. Why should I be excluded from the fun?

Willing ignorance? You're just saying that because you've bought into this "finishing last every season" hype. It's time everyone realizes Oilers management has been playing a game with all of you. This team can turn winning on and off like a tap. You know when they'll win their next cup? When they feel like it.

So there.
- Maxbone

You can add arrogance to the ignorance.

What happened to B-Hud ? He was solid.
- Reveen

Meh. Liked his prospects and all.

Had some pretty wacky ideas on other thoughts though.


You should hear him rave about Dion.


Closest thing to Stevens since Stevens.

- Nucker101

the only trade I'd make would be Whitney for a 3rd or to a desperate team for a 2nd (crossed fingers)(he's horrid). Then trade picks for Mark Streit. Trade roster players for picks when you either won't be able to afford them or are starting to rebuild. EDM not at that stage anymore.