The Oilers players that mention - Hall, Eberle, Nuge, Yakupov, Schultz - are not elite. You have to put up elite numbers in order to be elite. They haven't. They might be one day but calling them elite now is just plain wrong.
- docmorgan

u are mistaken... that is how u evaluate the other 29 teams.... the oilers are evaluated on potential and how sick the goals they score are. nothin else.

The trade down netted jankowski AND Sieloff... If you all think the flames lack so many prospects then why bash them for trading down and getting a little depth? Hahaha silly oiler fans.... You pretend that the oilers are draft wizards when outside of the automatic picks in the first round your drafting past that hasn't been great at all. Any good second round picks made lately outside of petry? The oilers in 5 years will be a top heavy, injury prone team with no depth. The flames won't be any better trying to re tool on the fly like they are.
- cmpdave

Nobody pretends that you nardwuar.

Eberle.

What is elite? Point wise? Ppg? 90/season? 100+?

~60 is solid first line numbers. So to be the best of the best don't you think 70+ start the elite section?
- OilHorse

I think Eberle can be classified as elite given his body of work so far, the others have elite qualities that need growth. I also think gagner should be placed in the same category and eberle, nuge, hall, yakupov... Not sure if he is at this point but I think he should be.

u are mistaken... that is how u evaluate the other 29 teams.... the oilers are evaluated on potential and how sick the goals they score are. nothin else.
- derm10

Nobody pretends that you nardwuar.

Eberle.
- Salvo

Yeah but Ebs was drafted 22nd, where many superstars are drafted.

Yeah but Ebs was drafted 22nd, where many superstars are drafted.
- sanfordnson

Eberle pick was a great pick there for sure. My point was after the first round, oilers drafting has been no better than the flames.

Eberle pick was a great pick there for sure. My point was after the first round, oilers drafting has been no better than the flames.
- cmpdave

Yep. And...

I sense just a wasteland of derp from you.

Solid yes - elite no. Of course I'm not the one who defines elite but I'm thinking you would have to be top 10 in numbers to be in that convo. And even at that I think you would have to do that consistently.
- docmorgan

Personally I think if you take the top 20-30 scorers in the league out of what 400+ players in the league that would have to be considered Elite that year.

Eberle pick was a great pick there for sure. My point was after the first round, oilers drafting has been no better than the flames.
- cmpdave

Hartikainen was a 6th rounder.

Wasnt long ago that they revamped the entire scouting staff. It will take time to see how various later round picks since then pan out. Marincin, Musil, Gernat, Pitlick, etc.

Eberle pick was a great pick there for sure. My point was after the first round, oilers drafting has been no better than the flames.
- cmpdave

That's like saying if the Flames didn't have Kipprusoff, Iginla, and Camelleri they would have been worse than the Oilers. Or if the Pens didn't draft Malkin, Crosby, and Fleury they would suck. The fact is we do have dynamite first round draft choices regardless of how we got them. And since the Magnificent Bastard took over as the head scout they have made some excellent late round selections. Hartikainen being the most succesful to date. There are a bunch of others coming up but it takes a lot longer for the late rounders to develope. Personally I think the Oilers are top 5 in the NHL in terms of scouting post 2008.

on the issue of rebuilds... what i don't like is how it's even possible for a team to secure 3 straight first overall picks. i think there needs to be a rule instituted there, saying you can't draft first overall 2 years in a row and more than twice in a 5-year span (pushing it?)

what's done is done and Edmonton has a great future ahead of it, but i believe there should be some form of punishment for being consistently awul.

on the issue of rebuilds... what i don't like is how it's even possible for a team to secure 3 straight first overall picks. i think there needs to be a rule instituted there, saying you can't draft first overall 2 years in a row and more than twice in a 5-year span (pushing it?)

what's done is done and Edmonton has a great future ahead of it, but i believe there should be some form of punishment for being consistently awul.
- scotch_tape

Not being a wiener here but how do you punish injuries? The reason the Oilers drafted first over-all the first time was they led the league in man games lost and the cupboards were empty from pushing for the play-offs for over 10-15 years.

on the issue of rebuilds... what i don't like is how it's even possible for a team to secure 3 straight first overall picks. i think there needs to be a rule instituted there, saying you can't draft first overall 2 years in a row and more than twice in a 5-year span (pushing it?)

what's done is done and Edmonton has a great future ahead of it, but i believe there should be some form of punishment for being consistently awul.
- scotch_tape

Generally speaking the team loses money when they are consistently awful.

on the issue of rebuilds... what i don't like is how it's even possible for a team to secure 3 straight first overall picks. i think there needs to be a rule instituted there, saying you can't draft first overall 2 years in a row and more than twice in a 5-year span (pushing it?)

what's done is done and Edmonton has a great future ahead of it, but i believe there should be some form of punishment for being consistently awul.
- scotch_tape

and if a team keeps having problems because of key injuries or contract holdouts or other extraneous problems?

Pretty tired of hearing this. What exactly do people want the NHL to do? Step in and say "sry guys. we know the draft lottery rules but we're dropping you 3 spots and letting Team A pick 1st overall." Not gonna happen. and remember, Oilers didnt finish 30th last year. Their ball got picked. Should have punished thrm for their luck. Bastards. So tired of this stupid topic.

on the issue of rebuilds... what i don't like is how it's even possible for a team to secure 3 straight first overall picks. i think there needs to be a rule instituted there, saying you can't draft first overall 2 years in a row and more than twice in a 5-year span (pushing it?)

what's done is done and Edmonton has a great future ahead of it, but i believe there should be some form of punishment for being consistently awul.
- scotch_tape

I would agree with this. I actually felt terrible for Columbus last year. There should be a rule enacted that prevents that kind of thing from happening. In all reality you are still getting franchise guys in the top 5. From a marketing stand point it makes even more sense to spread out the fanfare of recieving the first overall pick. Oiler fans still would have been happy with guys like Landeskog, Tyler Seguin, and Ryan Murray.

Solid yes - elite no. Of course I'm not the one who defines elite but I'm thinking you would have to be top 10 in numbers to be in that convo. And even at that I think you would have to do that consistently.
- docmorgan

So how many years would be consistently and does consistently mean year after year, or say 4 times over 8 years. Because if it's 4 times over 8 years then there is only 4 elite players in the league since the 2004 lockout. Kovalchuck, Ovechkin, Crosby and Thorton. Only 1 has done it 5 times, Ovechkin. If it's year after year in the top 10, then the list gets shorter.

Generally speaking the team loses money when they are consistently awful.
- Lahey

Blows my mind how people think its on purpose and theyre so happy to lose every year and that it makes the fanbase so happy too.

On the flames I'm of the opinion that they missed the boat to trade iggy/kipper last year. Production from either player obviously isn't what was hoped for so far. Saying that the cupboards arent as dry ad clouts states. Hudler and cervenka were great puck ups, sven is one of my favorite outside oilers prospects and seeing glencross in a flames jersey still hurts.

I'm just curious to know if this team misses playoffs again what are the fans hoping for?

and if a team keeps having problems because of key injuries or contract holdouts or other extraneous problems?

Pretty tired of hearing this. What exactly do people want the NHL to do? Step in and say "sry guys. we know the draft lottery rules but we're dropping you 3 spots and letting Team A pick 1st overall." Not gonna happen. and remember, Oilers didnt finish 30th last year. Their ball got picked. Should have punished thrm for their luck. Bastards. So tired of this stupid topic.
- sanfordnson

Its fine, odds are only 25% now for 30th place team to win the draft lotto. So whomever wins the draft lotto, we will have to make sure to constantly remind them how they finished 30th for 8 years straight and how much they suck.

I would agree with this. I actually felt terrible for Columbus last year. There should be a rule enacted that prevents that kind of thing from happening. In all reality you are still getting franchise guys in the top 5. From a marketing stand point it makes even more sense to spread out the fanfare of recieving the first overall pick. Oiler fans still would have been happy with guys like Landeskog, Tyler Seguin, and Ryan Murray.
- Oilersforlife

The thing is there is a rule so that teams don't just poop the bed finish 30th and get #1 picks.

Maybe what they need to do is a lottery of all non-playoff teams. Pull balls until you get your order.

Its fine, odds are only 25% now for 30th place team to win the draft lotto. So whomever wins the draft lotto, we will have to make sure to constantly remind them how they finished 30th for 8 years straight and how much they suck.
- heh49314

And with these numbers it doesn't actually take a lot of luck to snag the first overall when in range

18.8% - 29th
14.2% - 28th
10.7% - 27th

As for your draft choices, they are insane. You want a gritty center and yet you are looking down the list and going to draft Oil Kings Lazar 5'11 no pounds who has 41 points in 54 games and is the third center on his team over fellow Canadian Frédérik Gauthier who is 6'5 210lbs and has 52 points in 45 games (TSN Feb rankings). He is ranked higher by almost every scouting agency. I believe that a center can be gritty at 5'11 but you always seem caught up in size. How do you not want a giant that has better offensive ability ranked high enough that he should still be around when Edmonton picks but low enough to be better than Lazar? Did I mention he is a Giant? Neither are from Alberta so no home town deals happening either way.

Plus a goalie is a tough thing to judge. Edmonton has Bunz, why add another prospect. Unless that goalie Zachary Fucale (from Quebec where most all star goalies come from), I say pick one late and gamble. The first round is WAY to deep with forwards and defense to grab a goalie. They are almost never predictable. Let Roy be our example. Team Canada Juniors and now not even starting for the farm team.

For example, ranked 31 in one of them is Nicolas Petan. Petan has 93 points in 53 games and is +55. He is small but that is more points than anyone else in the top 30 and he is only 31 because of his size. This is one example of MANY forwards and dmen that fill the last 15 of the top 30 and really the whole second round. Picking a goalie that hasn't faced NHL players is just throwing away a first round pick.

Its fine, odds are only 25% now for 30th place team to win the draft lotto. So whomever wins the draft lotto, we will have to make sure to constantly remind them how they finished 30th for 8 years straight and how much they suck.
- heh49314

Odds aren't changing this year. It won't take effect till next year. TSN has the article this morning. Only thing changing is the winning team gets first. The weighing will stay the same for 1 more year.

The thing is there is a rule so that teams don't just poop the bed finish 30th and get #1 picks.

Maybe what they need to do is a lottery of all non-playoff teams. Pull balls until you get your order.
- Lahey

I am pretty sure they have made it as rule in the new CBA that all non playoff teams have a shot at the lottery pick, albeit a very small one. My concern is more for the failing franchises like Columbus that could really use the marketing and talent level of a first overall pick and you have a team like Edmonton land 3 in a row. Awesome for us don't get me wrong. But if the roles were reveresed, I would be choked.

As for your draft choices, they are insane. You want a gritty center and yet you are looking down the list and going to draft Oil Kings Lazar 5'11 no pounds who has 41 points in 54 games and is the third center on his team over fellow Canadian Frédérik Gauthier who is 6'5 210lbs and has 52 points in 45 games (TSN Feb rankings). He is ranked higher by almost every scouting agency. I believe that a center can be gritty at 5'11 but you always seem caught up in size. How do you not want a giant that has better offensive ability ranked high enough that he should still be around when Edmonton picks but low enough to be better than Lazar? Did I mention he is a Giant? Neither are from Alberta so no home town deals happening either way.

Plus a goalie is a tough thing to judge. Edmonton has Bunz, why add another prospect. Unless that goalie Zachary Fucale (from Quebec where most all star goalies come from), I say pick one late and gamble. The first round is WAY to deep with forwards and defense to grab a goalie. They are almost never predictable. Let Roy be our example. Team Canada Juniors and now not even starting for the farm team.

For example, ranked 31 in one of them is Nicolas Petan. Petan has 93 points in 53 games and is +55. He is small but that is more points than anyone else in the top 30 and he is only 31 because of his size. This is one example of MANY forwards and dmen that fill the last 15 of the top 30 and really the whole second round. Picking a goalie that hasn't faced NHL players is just throwing away a first round pick.
- bsteinley

No chance they take a goalie first round.