Love seeing some new posters scratching their heads at Cloutiers blogs, expecting them to make sense. I wish I could see the expressions on their faces the moment they realize they have been wasting their time reading blogs written by a robust gentlemen wearing a wizard cloak and hat sitting on a park bench with an old style type writer eating chunks of doughnuts that were thrown to the ground by an old man trying to feed pigeons.

I'm fairly new to his blogs, I'm actually trying to learn more about the Oilers, but I am having trouble finding a good source.

I'm fairly new to his blogs, I'm actually trying to learn more about the Oilers, but I am having trouble finding a good source.
- The-O-G

Prock is your man

Prock is your man
- doon

His opinion of Gagner is spot on!

We need Horcoff back !!!
- Reveen

LMAO That's sacralidge.....lol.
I have said this would really show his value......lol

I'm fairly new to his blogs, I'm actually trying to learn more about the Oilers, but I am having trouble finding a good source.
- The-O-G

http://oilersnation.com/authors/gregor
Goes to all home practices and games, when he talks about player movement he is generally right.

http://oilersnation.com/authors/brownlee

Not as informed as Gregor, has pretty unbiased opinion. Don't disagree with him though.

http://oilersnation.com/authors/Strudwick

Former player, very insightful and honest.

http://oilersnation.com/authors/lowetide

Nice guy, uses stats, gives honest opinion.

http://oilersnation.com/authors/willis

Uses stats too much, has no opinion other than what stats tell him

http://oilersnation.com/authors/Wanye

Guy is (frank)ing crazy, big time homer, but brings a different element to the site. Think he runs the thing,.

Some team really needs to hire Ruff so people can stop dreaming of him as Oilers coach. He'll probably catch on somewhere but for the Oilers, he'd be Pat Quinn 2.0. An old-school famous name.

A minor deal for the flames:
Mitch Wahl who is 6.0 and is a ECHL/AHL vet now for
Mike Testwuide who is 6'3 and a college/AHL vet with some promise
as a 3rd/4th liner.
Testwuide would look good in Oak City.

I'm fairly new to his blogs, I'm actually trying to learn more about the Oilers, but I am having trouble finding a good source.
- The-O-G

Copper N Blue, Oilers Nation, Lowetide, even Cult of Hockey, blog frequently, relevant material, wide array of topics etc. There's also mc79hockey, if you're willing to wade through some numbers and stats. Boys on the Bus is another new one that's around, similar to Willis, Lowetide, CnB, mc79, lots of stats.

tonight was proof positive what a star vet like hossa does for a young team and HAS been doing since he was signed. provides more star power and insulates the young kids if they have an off game.
this is exactly the type of big move the oilers should be looking at. i realize waiting for free agency means u dont have to give up assets, but theres no guarantee the guy we want signs here..and players gotta get dropped to make space anyway.

screw the picks. if we finish bottom 5, its a disaster of a year and we're entering islanders territory with forever struggling.
and if we're looking at an 8ish pick, chances are the kid wouldnt make an impact for a year or two anyway. so he wouldnt be helping push this team to the heights its meant to be by next year.

even klefbom might not be part of this team next year. that could take time for sure. and most likely will take time to actually make an impact. cant bank on him right away like clouts seems to be

and what do we have to really gain by selling at the deadline? more picks that are mid to late first and lower? these dont help anytime soon most likely.
teams in the hunt dont generally deal roster player if theyre makin a run. maybe a nhl ready prospect that can step in next year i suppose...

of course its risky to go after an impact player and u certainly gotta pay, but holy fuk, tambs needs to roll the dice at some point. what has he really done that a monkey couldnt do?
sit on his hands and get firsts and fill holes with marginal players.
why wouldnt we be trying to make the playoffs this year? thats ludicrous!
not tryin to make the playoffs?? this is year 3! ur fukin fired.

i say move the pick and an asset if the right deal comes around.
- hugefemale dog77

The team is awful young still, at least all the star power is young. I have to agree though, this team should be pushing for the playoffs. I expect them to be that good by now. They are behind where I think they should be.

http://oilersnation.com/authors/gregor
Goes to all home practices and games, when he talks about player movement he is generally right.

http://oilersnation.com/authors/brownlee

Not as informed as Gregor, has pretty unbiased opinion. Don't disagree with him though.

http://oilersnation.com/authors/Strudwick

Former player, very insightful and honest.

http://oilersnation.com/authors/lowetide

Nice guy, uses stats, gives honest opinion.

http://oilersnation.com/authors/willis

Uses stats too much, has no opinion other than what stats tell him

http://oilersnation.com/authors/Wanye

Guy is (frank)ing crazy, big time homer, but brings a different element to the site. Think he runs the thing,.
- Lahey

Is Wanye related to Kanye?

The team is awful young still, at least all the star power is young. I have to agree though, this team should be pushing for the playoffs. I expect them to be that good by now. They are behind where I think they should be.
- Aetherial

2 points out, so not like we are in 15th.

Not yet anyways.

The team is awful young still, at least all the star power is young. I have to agree though, this team should be pushing for the playoffs. I expect them to be that good by now. They are behind where I think they should be.
- Aetherial

They have improved from last year so far. They are in every game, Im OK with the progress. The One thing that gets me is the lack of offence from the top guys, if they get it going then they should be where you expect them to be.

http://oilersnation.com/authors/gregor
Goes to all home practices and games, when he talks about player movement he is generally right.

http://oilersnation.com/authors/brownlee

Not as informed as Gregor, has pretty unbiased opinion. Don't disagree with him though.

http://oilersnation.com/authors/Strudwick

Former player, very insightful and honest.

http://oilersnation.com/authors/lowetide

Nice guy, uses stats, gives honest opinion.

http://oilersnation.com/authors/willis

Uses stats too much, has no opinion other than what stats tell him

http://oilersnation.com/authors/Wanye

Guy is (frank)ing crazy, big time homer, but brings a different element to the site. Think he runs the thing,.
- Lahey

Thanks you drunk wiener

2 points out, so not like we are in 15th.

Not yet anyways.
- Lahey

safely reserved for us this year...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdZvHHqYjow

Not sure if you all seen this last night... But I thought it was interesting to say the least... what a dippoop Eddy is... (frank) off.. if you want to elude a check that is your right...

The team is awful young still, at least all the star power is young. I have to agree though, this team should be pushing for the playoffs. I expect them to be that good by now. They are behind where I think they should be.
- Aetherial

I cant believe how good you guys are this year... you get rid of Schenn and get JVR and boom playoff bound... Its really too bad that Burke got the ax as it seems its all coming together for leaf nation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdZvHHqYjow

Not sure if you all seen this last night... But I thought it was interesting to say the least... what a dippoop Eddy is... (frank) off.. if you want to elude a check that is your right...
- saskoil21

Two things are pretty clear: 1) Carcillo left his feet big time. 2) Caricillo lead with a flying elbow.

That was a hit with real concussion potential. And I'll bet 100 bucks that if it had landed Eddy would be talking about how for all Edmonton's skill they can't match the toughness of a "good old boy like Carcillo".

A couple? We score a 3-0 win against Dallas with all goals being at even strength and the cup wagon will be back.
- Lahey

More like a 5-3 loss with all goals being at even strength and the cup wagon will be back.

Based on the loose "90 points rule" for making the playoffs, we need 52 in a 48 game season. That means 34 in our next 30. To be on pace for that come April 3rd (so that we can be buyers at the deadline) we need 19 in our next 17. 10 of 17 are on the road. 6 of these 10 are against playoff teams. 4 of 7 home are against playoff teams.

Two things are pretty clear: 1) Carcillo left his feet big time. 2) Caricillo lead with a flying elbow.

That was a hit with real concussion potential. And I'll bet 100 bucks that if it had landed Eddy would be talking about how for all Edmonton's skill they can't match the toughness of a "good old boy like Carcillo".


- Morris

No doubt... which was exactly why I say cudos to Yaks... For all the ridicule he was getting- the last thing we needed is for him to be injured then everyone call him a head case... good hockey sense on his part... oh ya and eddy is a (frank)ing idiot!

Based on the loose "90 points rule" for making the playoffs, we need 52 in a 48 game season. That means 34 in our next 30. To be on pace for that come April 3rd (so that we can be buyers at the deadline) we need 19 in our next 17. 10 of 17 are on the road. 6 of these 10 are against playoff teams. 4 of 7 home are against playoff teams.
- Morris

Holy poop you got it all figured out! doubt we have a chance though...

Richard Cloutier: What's Worse: The Coaching, the Players or the Management?
- Maxbone

3. It seems like the Oilers organization does a terrible job of developing talent, because they constantly give them confused messages. Is Paajarvi being turned into a Top 6 winger or a checker? Is Yakupov a sniper or an extra? Did Ryan Smyth finally find his legs in such a significant way that he should be taking ice time away from the kids we're trying to develop? (Coaching + Management Issues)
Sounds like you guys have the same problems we are having though you certainly have more/better talent IMO. Developing prospects is not our strong suit. You can have all the good to B prospects you wantbut if not developed proerly it's a waste. the elite talents supercede the BS like Eberle, RNH, Tavares, etc. The other ones fall to shat when not developed properly.

Exactly! I don't understand this fascination with bringing in more young, inexperienced, un-proven "talent."

This team has veterans... but not the type that we need at this point in development. To be honest, I had hopes that Smyth might be enough to nurture these kids... foster their development.... build their confidence. But he looks just as lost and just as nervous as they do. He is not a calming influence...

Bring in a player like Iginla, Marleau, Selanne, Alfredson... and I think you would see this team flourish. Easier said then done I know... but this is what we are lacking.
- OilDerek

Should have went after Jagr in the offseason imo

I cant believe how good you guys are this year... you get rid of Schenn and get JVR and boom playoff bound... Its really too bad that Burke got the ax as it seems its all coming together for leaf nation
- saskoil21

Ya it was such a weird time to fire him. after last season would make sense but a right before the season. This team is finally playing how burke wanted it to and it has been successful (so far). I feel bad for him, especially seeing how his last trade has paid off.

On a side note, JVR would have been good for the oilers. Not a psyco who kills people but a big guy who can win battles in the corner. Also Jay Mcclement is amazing vet for the bottom six and teaches the kids how to compete each and every shift.