I tend to agree about scouting being bad.

All those early round picks and look at our prospects. Look at what a team like Pitt has found with late round picks. How does Pitt have one of the best prospect pools while drafting way after us, and our prospects look suspect?

Is that not bad scouting?
- yaktalksback

Not a fair comparison right now. in 6-7 years comparing the Pens now to Oilers then would be the same.
Everyone can agree scouting was a huge problem, but looks a lot better now. The real test will be in the next few years picking 20-30 (hopefully) and being able to keep the prospects coming. Pittsburg has been able to draft on a positional need and develop those picks properly, hopefully the Oilers can follow suit and take a page from the Pen's book.

Really wasn't trying to troll

I said any moron could have drafted what the oilers have (presently)

And you actually backed me up with your response.
- aeberg

No they couldn't have. You're right about the 1st overalls as you can't really go wrong with those, but some of the other picks have been quite astute. Gernat, Marincin, Reider, Bunz, Hartikainen, Rajala, and Roy have all performed quite well since drafting which, mind you, was still only at most 4.5 years ago (Roy). You can't really start counting out prospects until they're at least 23 and still struggling in the pro ranks and even then, there have been breakout cases. Just because Pitlick and Hamilton haven't produced so far doesn't mean they'll never become solid NHLer's. Like I said earlier, we'll have to wait a few more years before really being able to evaluate our drafting.

he racks disciprin

that was dumb
- BigDre

I think the Oilers need to work on the lower lines, which I wanted (AND FINALLY HAPPENED) with the Leafs. Having guys like Komarov, Frattin, and Kadri are surely an upgrade over Connolly and Lombardi.

Cut the dead weight, go into free agency and sign players that will are cheap but will provide energy every night.

Nystrom? Gordon? Crombeen? Players like that might work.
- LeafsNation91

i dont hate our bottom 6. some youth in prv and harti. some vets in belanger and horcs (healthy) that are decent at faceoffs and defensively. jones and eager provide a little havoc and arent brutal players.

it certainly could be upgraded and could be a little tougher to play against. and i believe it will be. (even with just prv and hartakainen continuing to develop) but i dont think its a huge problem.
we're not letting huge amounts of goals against thats for sure.

i think size in the top 6 is the biggest problem the oilers have at forward.
we struggle mightily in tight checking and physical games. those kids desperately need someone to give them some time and space

more talent and depth at d is also a problem. a top 4 guy would also be a huge help.
potter isnt a top 6 guy in the nhl. n schultz is reasonable but unspectacular. a decent bottom pairing guy on a good team

No they couldn't have. You're right about the 1st overalls as you can't really go wrong with those, but some of the other picks have been quite astute. Gernat, Marincin, Reider, Bunz, Hartikainen, Rajala, and Roy have all performed quite well since drafting which, mind you, was still only at most 4.5 years ago (Roy). You can't really start counting out prospects until they're at least 23 and still struggling in the pro ranks and even then, there have been breakout cases. Just because Pitlick and Hamilton haven't produced so far doesn't mean they'll never become solid NHLer's. Like I said earlier, we'll have to wait a few more years before really being able to evaluate our drafting.
- MaximumBone

So what is the oilers problem then?

- abware

The only problem with the lines right now is Yakupov should be playing RW with Hall and Gagner and Eberle belongs on the LW with Nuge and Hemsky.
- yaktalksback

I really like those lines

he racks disciprin

that was dumb
- BigDre

You would make a tough coach.....

Disciprine

A more extreme form of discipline. Stoping smoking is an example of discipline. Dedicating your life to the complete servitude of an ideal or school of thought is disciprine.
1.To quit smoking is an example of discipline. Dedicating your life to the complete servitude of an ideal or school of thought is disciprine.

2.The ancient samurai, dedicating their very existence to the study and practice of swordsmanship(Hockey) is the ultimate display of disciprine.

Because it's working out great for the Flames?
- Maxbone

You're not allowed to comment on the Flames, you were fired from..........err.......quit that gig ( under protest I am sure)

Stick to planning draft lottery parties and " Who should be the next GM" contests.

So what is the oilers problem then?
- aeberg

Lack of scoring depth (management), lack of scoring from their top line, lack of 5-on-5 scoring (coaching), lack of maturity, and defensive shortcomings.

On another note, Eager played a good game as well. Why, you ask, is he out there if he isn't hitting? Because he forces the play. He's got a similar balls out style to Hall (with 1/8th the skill). He was credited with 5 hits, but played a solid game all around. Had he just knocked that rebound in, we'd have likely won and then you'd be singing him praise. The same goes for Belanger. He was better than Gagner that game and yet you still pick him out as a "problem".
- MaximumBone

Probably the best line tonite was Belanger, Eager and Jones.The thing that stood out with the rest of the lines was that they all seemed to be trying to use there sticks instead of their bodies when chasing down a puck and the end result was Chicago recovering 90% of the pucks.If Hall had been in the game you would have seen alot more puck recovery becase he isn't afraid to bang and crash. What Tambellini should be doing is trying to get Perry from the Ducks. Give them this years first and another players.

So what is the oilers problem then?
- aeberg

They are 3 years in to a 5 year rebuild.
They should be a bit better, but not a lot at this point.
They are only a win or two off of what I expected, and they don't seem to be playing to their potential, so there is still hope they can at least challenge for a play off spot this year.

Lack of scoring depth (management), lack of scoring from their top line, lack of 5-on-5 scoring (coaching), lack of maturity, and defensive shortcomings.
- MaximumBone

... That's a lot of problems.

Probably the best line tonite was Belanger, Eager and Jones.The thing that stood out with the rest of the lines was that they all seemed to be trying to use there sticks instead of their bodies when chasing down a puck and the end result was Chicago recovering 90% of the pucks.If Hall had been in the game you would have seen alot more puck recovery becase he isn't afraid to bang and crash. What Tambellini should be doing is trying to get Perry from the Ducks. Give them this years first and another players.
- hemskyis#1

I don't like his skating. He's great, but not what I want. We have enough RWs as it stands. Adding a guy like Clowe makes more sense.

You're not allowed to comment on the Flames, you were fired from..........err.......quit that gig ( under protest I am sure)

Stick to planning draft lottery parties and " Who should be the next GM" contests.
- scoot174

Really?
You have the dumbest poop to say and laugh at yourself.

... That's a lot of problems.
- aeberg

As should be implied by the 7-7-4 record

But again, time fixes some of those things. With a horde of prospects coming up, some of them are bound to turn into legit NHLers and maturity will come with age the same way faceoff prowess comes with experience. It's only a matter of time before our top line- one of the best in the league- starts scoring more, and give it enough time and the coach and management could be replaced (even though I like a good deal of what Kreuger has done so far).

You would make a tough coach.....

Disciprine

A more extreme form of discipline. Stoping smoking is an example of discipline. Dedicating your life to the complete servitude of an ideal or school of thought is disciprine.
1.To quit smoking is an example of discipline. Dedicating your life to the complete servitude of an ideal or school of thought is disciprine.

2.The ancient samurai, dedicating their very existence to the study and practice of swordsmanship(Hockey) is the ultimate display of disciprine.
- yaktalksback

South Park, not south asia

... That's a lot of problems.
- aeberg

sure is

maturity is just time. and tambs needs to take a gamble to help our defensive shortcomings and scoring depth.
hes gonna have to pay to get someone worth while too. lets hope he gets off his hands at some point.

i dont have faith banking on free agency either. a few big fish that could make a huge impact. a ton of teams will be after them though...and no guarantees theyll come.

we'll see.

Really?
You have the dumbest poop to say and laugh at yourself.
- abware

it's the same stuff every time.
i actually revel in his jealousy. he's soaked in green.

if i was flames fan, i'd be jealous of what the oilers are building too

Were in a better position then you at present time
- pker2theend

Ummm, what? Hall, Eberle, Nuge, Yakupov, J. Schultz, Klefbom vs...Baertschi?

Ummm, what? Hall, Eberle, Nuge, Yakupov, J. Schultz, Klefbom vs...Baertschi?
- Maxbone

i thought he meant standings. wrong on that one too.

he's actually a nucks fan though. seen him there forever. not sure why he's switched his avatar/team... or more importantly, what he thinks is super comical about it

Ummm, what? Hall, Eberle, Nuge, Yakupov, J. Schultz, Klefbom vs...Baertschi?
- Maxbone

I'm pretty sure he's just a Nucks fan that just lost a bet or something.

it's the same stuff every time.
i actually revel in his jealousy. he's soaked in green.

if i was flames fan, i'd be jealous of what the oilers are building too
- hugefemale dog77

But really, 3 laughies at his own really stupid attempt at a joke.
I really should ignore him but I feel kinda sorry for him. I think he just wants to be acknowledged, so I occasionally oblige.

You're not allowed to comment on the Flames, you were fired from..........err.......quit that gig ( under protest I am sure)

Stick to planning draft lottery parties and " Who should be the next GM" contests.
- scoot174

We can ask Bruce Hollingdrake if you want, whether I quit or was fired. Although I will say in fairness to Bruce and The Hockey Writers website that they want a certain type of blog, and I respect that...which is why I left so immediately. He has every right to run his site however he wants, just like I have every right to write blogs the way I do and have sites post them. Did I mention that THW's entire site had 350,000 page views last month, and I alone on HB had 487,000?

But really, 3 laughies at his own really stupid attempt at a joke.
I really should ignore him but I feel kinda sorry for him. I think he just wants to be acknowledged, so I occasionally oblige.
- abware

meh. hes a douche. its funny