Not the Marincin that was suppose to be in the NHL this year?
- Lahey

Who other than Cloutier said that?

Who other than Cloutier said that?
- Ihatebrianburke

Cloutier, that's the point. How you guys take anything serious that he says is beyond me, especially when it comes to prospects.

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 you are not the one to define it, but you will define it.

So by your own definition, H Sedin is barely elite, while D Sedin is not even close.

I don't think you have a clue.

Hossa, Datsyuk, OV. More guys you are saying are not elite.

So question, what are the Oilers defining as success this year? is it in the playoffs?
- geta02it

Many Oilers FANS would say yes. Oilers management is secretive enough that few people really know what they're thinking. I think management defines success as showing improvement in all categories while figuring out which players/prospects are likely to be on the team for the next 2-10 years and I worry that they may be about to embark on another "drafting for positional need" crusade.


If I was the GM I would be looking to ship out guys who aren't going to be part of the roster in 2-6 years for draft picks in this year's draft, with emphasis on top 60 picks. I'll try to turn my 2014 1st rounder and another minor asset, say a 5th rounder this year or a "project" prospect, into a top 10 pick. Also expendable would be my 2015 3-7th rounders. I must draft 2 candidates to be our next Moose, I must get a goalie with upside in the 2nd or 3rd round*, and other than that I will tell Stu to put the goddamn crystal ball away and take the BPA! If we end up with a surplus of talent and an unbalanced roster, we can afford to (moderately) overpay to fill one or two roster spots! Instead of taking a guy at #31 who will probably go at like #59, you should try offering a 3rd and a 6th to the team that drafts him! We ended up overpaying for the privilege of chasing an inside straight, and in the second round of the draft, Stu and/or Tambi were the only ones in the room who didn't know who the suckers were!

...oops, I got sidetracked. I define Oilers success as preparing to be The Team To Beat starting two seasons from now, ending ten seasons from now. In the NHL, first you get the draft picks. Then you get the power. Then you get the wimmen!!!!!

*Bunz and Roy are both... credible longshots...? to be NHL starters. I'd like another prospect in there.

Cloutier, that's the point. How you guys take anything serious that he says is beyond me, especially when it comes to prospects.
- Lahey

I really don't take anything he says too seriously. Especially when he's talking about all of our can't miss prospects. I don't see Marincin or Klefbom making the team next year. I think our AHL defense is gonna be one of the most promising young groups out there next year. But they're all still just prospects at this point in time. Klefbom's future is much more in question now after missing a season with injury.

Many Oilers FANS would say yes. Oilers management is secretive enough that few people really know what they're thinking. I think management defines success as showing improvement in all categories while figuring out which players/prospects are likely to be on the team for the next 2-10 years and I worry that they may be about to embark on another "drafting for positional need" crusade.


If I was the GM I would be looking to ship out guys who aren't going to be part of the roster in 2-6 years for draft picks in this year's draft, with emphasis on top 60 picks. I'll try to turn my 2014 1st rounder and another minor asset, say a 5th rounder this year or a "project" prospect, into a top 10 pick. Also expendable would be my 2015 3-7th rounders. I must draft 2 candidates to be our next Moose, I must get a goalie with upside in the 2nd or 3rd round*, and other than that I will tell Stu to put the goddamn crystal ball away and take the BPA! If we end up with a surplus of talent and an unbalanced roster, we can afford to (moderately) overpay to fill one or two roster spots! Instead of taking a guy at #31 who will probably go at like #59, you should try offering a 3rd and a 6th to the team that drafts him! We ended up overpaying for the privilege of chasing an inside straight, and in the second round of the draft, Stu and/or Tambi were the only ones in the room who didn't know who the suckers were!

...oops, I got sidetracked. I define Oilers success as preparing to be The Team To Beat starting two seasons from now, ending ten seasons from now. In the NHL, first you get the draft picks. Then you get the power. Then you get the wimmen!!!!!

*Bunz and Roy are both... credible longshots...? to be NHL starters. I'd like another prospect in there.
- thefullnelson

Hoiven or whatever the (frank) his name is that we picked up on waivers. Club likes what he has, need to work with him a bit more.

But he hasn't gotten 2 yet. Hartsi was Pendergrast's last contribution to this team.

Eberle sure was a solid pick, but Pendergrast sure had a knack for picking smaller players as well, so I don't know that we wouldn't have gotten Eberle anyway.

Hall, RNH, Yak. Not sure I can give credit for any of those picks.

Only thing Stu has done outside of the easy picks is draft guys that do well in Junior after being drafted. Not surprising that bigger players like Pitlick, Martindale, Hamilton etc.. can dominant in Junior though. They matured a lot earlier than most and had that edge.

Like you said few years from really knowing anything about how good our scouting is.
- Lahey

Oops - I checked and saw that Stu was head coach after the stinker 2007 draft, but not that Kevin was assistant GM until 2010.

Still, do you actually know that Pendergast was calling the shots and not Stu?

Hoiven or whatever the (frank) his name is that we picked up on waivers. Club likes what he has, need to work with him a bit more.
- Lahey

Yeah, I checked him out. He's 6"7 and had a couple of great seasons in the SEL so he also seems like a credible longshot. I just have trouble getting too excited about a keeper we got off waivers from Philly, y'know? lol

So you are not the one to define it, but you will define it.

So by your own definition, H Sedin is barely elite, while D Sedin is not even close.

I don't think you have a clue.

Hossa, Datsyuk, OV. More guys you are saying are not elite.
- OilHorse

Oops - I checked and saw that Stu was head coach after the stinker 2007 draft, but not that Kevin was assistant GM until 2010.

Still, do you actually know that Pendergast was calling the shots and not Stu?
- thefullnelson

Stu was calling the shots, but KP pretty much took the bull by the horns with Hartsi when they were up in the 6th. Pipeline show had a blog on this.

Many Oilers FANS would say yes. Oilers management is secretive enough that few people really know what they're thinking. I think management defines success as showing improvement in all categories while figuring out which players/prospects are likely to be on the team for the next 2-10 years and I worry that they may be about to embark on another "drafting for positional need" crusade.


If I was the GM I would be looking to ship out guys who aren't going to be part of the roster in 2-6 years for draft picks in this year's draft, with emphasis on top 60 picks. I'll try to turn my 2014 1st rounder and another minor asset, say a 5th rounder this year or a "project" prospect, into a top 10 pick. Also expendable would be my 2015 3-7th rounders. I must draft 2 candidates to be our next Moose, I must get a goalie with upside in the 2nd or 3rd round*, and other than that I will tell Stu to put the goddamn crystal ball away and take the BPA! If we end up with a surplus of talent and an unbalanced roster, we can afford to (moderately) overpay to fill one or two roster spots! Instead of taking a guy at #31 who will probably go at like #59, you should try offering a 3rd and a 6th to the team that drafts him! We ended up overpaying for the privilege of chasing an inside straight, and in the second round of the draft, Stu and/or Tambi were the only ones in the room who didn't know who the suckers were!

...oops, I got sidetracked. I define Oilers success as preparing to be The Team To Beat starting two seasons from now, ending ten seasons from now. In the NHL, first you get the draft picks. Then you get the power. Then you get the wimmen!!!!!

*Bunz and Roy are both... credible longshots...? to be NHL starters. I'd like another prospect in there.
- thefullnelson

This isn't NHL2013. No gm in their right mind is going to take a 3rd and a 6th rounder for the #31 overall pick in the draft. They would immediately be fired from any and all teams in the league.

- docmorgan

that is what I did to you...

Yeah, I checked him out. He's 6"7 and had a couple of great seasons in the SEL so he also seems like a credible longshot. I just have trouble getting too excited about a keeper we got off waivers from Philly, y'know? lol
- thefullnelson

PHI is (frank)ed. First off they have to have Boucher take one AHL spot because they don't trust Bryzgalov-Leighton. Then Hoivenen struggled when he came over and got put in the ECHL. After getting Richarded around he wanted out and back to Europe, but we picked him up of waivers.

By Richarded around, it sounds like he just about got evicted from his apartment as the ECHL didn't pay his rent.

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

While were at it why don't we put rules in place to make sure every team gets a turn at making the playoffs. They could take turns winning the Stanley cup and stop keeping score during the games.

Someone was asking about him the other day:

Brian Huddle ‏@BrianHuddle
For those who have asked -- Yes, I have left the hockey writing/scouting world for the time being to focus on other priorities.

Someone was asking about him the other day:

Brian Huddle ‏@BrianHuddle
For those who have asked -- Yes, I have left the hockey writing/scouting world for the time being to focus on other priorities.
- OilHorse

(frank)er bought a Wendy's.

Someone was asking about him the other day:

Brian Huddle ‏@BrianHuddle
For those who have asked -- Yes, I have left the hockey writing/scouting world for the time being to focus on other priorities.
- OilHorse

damn it.... I like B-Hud's blogs.

damn it.... I like B-Hud's blogs.
- Reveen

RIP Cuddle Bear.

(frank)er bought a Wendy's.
- Lahey

Did he already get married? Or is that still coming up?

I guess Cloutier is a little bitter about being fired by the Hockey Writers after only one Blog as the new Flames Blogger.

Lesson learned D!ck, not all websites hire Trolls as their bloggers, just Ek and his desperate quest for hits.

Hollingdrake obviously has a lot more integrity, honestly surprised he would even hire you to begin with.

http://thehockeywriters.c...m/what-me-flames-blogger/
- scoot174

- Reveen

Did he already get married? Or is that still coming up?
- OilHorse

Thought it was 2014 or some (frank)ing thing. Maybe he took my advice and isn't going to be locked into one vagina for life and is pounding a lot of strange.

RIP Cuddle Bear.
- Lahey

I guess we're stuck with French and Yost...

I guess we're stuck with French and Yost...
- Reveen

French quit or some (frank)ing thing. Yost will probably commit suicide within the next month.

French quit or some (frank)ing thing. Yost will probably commit suicide within the next month.
- Lahey

1st part -

2nd part -