Richard Cloutier: Oilers in 12-Team Race for 3rd
- Maxbone

Also, just because we understand and the smart even-money is on the Oilers to finish anywhere from 17-23 in the league doesn't mean the "goal" ISN'T to make the playoffs.

I'm not sure why you continually phrase this as such.
Bullocks.

To start with, think of the 1 or 2 teams every year or two that are supposed to be bottom feeders and make the playoffs. Management and coaching staff had to be approaching this year with the goal being the playoffs. I mean, why not?

the past posts... is has been agreed on.... don;t try and argue nail is a better defensive then gally.. we've been through this already.
- derm10

who agreed? You argued that Gally's +- made him better defensively and we all laughed and asked you to keep eating poutine on your tire swing

Although I hate that whiny lil (frank)er Cindy Crosby, he is the best player in the world but why do people always call the oilers forwards small, then talk about crosby in comparison when he is only 5'11" 200lbs, not exactly a giant compared to the oilers small draft pics, kane- 5'11" 181lbs, Toews-6'2" 208lbs. is it so hard to check stats or facts before saying all the oilers forwards are small little midgets when compared to the leagues top elite talent?
- ruttager17

the oilers play small thought... sure kane plays small... but toews and crosby get into those dirty areas and work for the puck. and if u look at these teams they do have big bodies around them... they aren;t 3 guys on a line that all play small.

who agreed? You argued that Gally's +- made him better defensively and we all laughed and asked you to keep eating poutine on your tire swing
- TheNugeIsHuge

whats a poutine?

Commendable photo of Feaster on the main page for Ek's blog.

Fantastic.

well someone need to share this witht he rest of the fanbase.... they think the rebuild just started 2-3 years ago.
- derm10

Um dude, it was sarcasm. But answer me this. How is a team rebuilding for that long when 2 out of the 3 seasons after the 06 cup run, they were in the playoff hunt up until the last couple games of the season, missing by 3pts in 08, and 6 in 09. It wasn't until the 10 season where they finished dead last and started the string of 3 straight 1st overall pics. Now please tell me, using logic and facts if you can, how they were rebuilding since immediately after the 06 season???

the oiler bottom 6 is terrible and its not completely illogical to think thst letting go of one or 2 of thecoveted 6 to bring in a great goalie and some help on d is a good idea. plus I think krueger is a mistake, if boucher is let go in tampa edm would be fu ck ing stupid to not hire him.
- munky123

Two points: our bottom six would look much better if the top 6 weren't in a slump, which i'll admit they are. Further, I wouldn't touch the bottom six or the goaltending until they fix the defense.

Coaching: I really don't think 5 coaches in 6 years would be good for the development of the team and the system. If Boucher wants to come on as an associate coach he'd probably be welcome. I feel like Krueger has brought good things to the club. Indeed, it's a bit rich to say that the teams is flawed in its construction and then turn around and blame the coach for not going from basement to contender.

Hey we all know it is fact that the oil have been on the rebuild since the moment after Carolina won the cup in 2006, anyone with half a brain knows that.
- ruttager17

the oilers need to make moves for vet help and seconday scoring. like the hawks did. i think they do that, and theyre in a different echelon than they are now.

and macgregors doen a fine job at drafting past the first overalls too. cant blame him for having high picks though. hes restocked a completely bare cupboard with lower picks since taking over.
ebs was at 22 btw.
dont get into that debate, ull only end up looking foolish

and the oilers are turning around. theyre a wayy better team than they were 2 seasons ago when the rebuild started
- hugefemale dog77

i'm confused... when did the rebuild start?

never wrote off ebs.... never even brought him up... just said the oilers lottery picks are on the same level as toes kane crosby or malkin.
- derm10

Well I'd take tavares over kane, and Hall's PPG has been nearly the exact same as JTs in his rookie, sophomore, and 3rd season. RNH had a .84PPG at 18 and while that's not as impressive as Kane's rookie season. RNH has a much more developed 2-way game as of this year. Don't get me wrong. Kane is my favourite non-oiler, not dissing him in any way. RNH, Hall, Yak on par with the average 1st overall

whats a poutine?
- derm10

your province's delicacy

the oilers play small thought... sure kane plays small... but toews and crosby get into those dirty areas and work for the puck. and if u look at these teams they do have big bodies around them... they aren;t 3 guys on a line that all play small.
- derm10

(frank) are you ever obsessed with the Oilers.

Markov was great in his prime, and so was Ryan Whitney. After several season-ending surgeries, both have lost most lateral movement ability and are now both pylons. Markov gets his points by standing still at the blueline. I would really not want that on my team for 5.75M as I wouldn't want Ryan Whitney losing all speed-related puck battles at 4M
- TheNugeIsHuge

Although last night was just further affirmation that Whitney is muuuch better than Potter. WHY DO WE KEEP PLAYING POTTER OVER WHITNEY?

Well I'd take tavares over kane, and Hall's PPG has been nearly the exact same as JTs in his rookie, sophomore, and 3rd season. RNH had a .84PPG at 18 and while that's not as impressive as Kane's rookie season. RNH has a much more developed 2-way game as of this year. Don't get me wrong. Kane is my favourite non-oiler, not dissing him in any way. RNH, Hall, Yak on par with the average 1st overall
- TheNugeIsHuge

sure but kane and crosby aren;t ur average 1st overall pick.

this derm guy went from reasonable arguments to just trolling. Good bye all, until the next thread.

(frank) are you ever obsessed with the Oilers.
- robin_steele264

just hockey in general.

and all u guys can say is montreal sucks as bad as the oilers did last year... great arguement.
- derm10

Montreal doesn't suck, the Habs are perpetually mediocre.

the oilers play small thought... sure kane plays small... but toews and crosby get into those dirty areas and work for the puck. and if u look at these teams they do have big bodies around them... they aren;t 3 guys on a line that all play small.
- derm10

Hey don't back pedal, you said the oilers draft pics are all small and suggested kane, toews, crosby and malkin were all huge. Malkin granted out of the bunch is a giant. but kane and crosby are not any bigger than the oilers young players and toews is roughly the same size as hall, minus an inch and roughly ten lbs. If you watch any oilers hockey, hall does absolutely not play small. Granted Ebs does and the nuge but they are not grinders. Kane does not get in and grind for the puck, he uses his speed and agility to move around defenders, much like RNH.

Richard Cloutier: Oilers in 12-Team Race for 3rd
- Maxbone

They keep giving Paajarvi the short straw because of your comment just a sentence above.

That's what happens when you sign Ryan Smyth.

Not totally against the decision at the time but that's the reality.

the oilers play small thought... sure kane plays small... but toews and crosby get into those dirty areas and work for the puck. and if u look at these teams they do have big bodies around them... they aren;t 3 guys on a line that all play small.
- derm10

Ebs is like Kane in that respect, but it's tough to argue that Hall doesn't go into dirty areas or play big.

i'm confused... when did the rebuild start?
- derm10

holy poop dude, can you not pick up on sarcasm??? Once again, please explain using facts and logic, how the rebuild started at the end of the 06 season???

just hockey in general.
- derm10

You mean trolling Oilers threads.



All day.

Hey don't back pedal, you said the oilers draft pics are all small and suggested kane, toews, crosby and malkin were all huge. Malkin granted out of the bunch is a giant. but kane and crosby are not any bigger than the oilers young players and toews is roughly the same size as hall, minus an inch and roughly ten lbs. If you watch any oilers hockey, hall does absolutely not play small. Granted Ebs does and the nuge but they are not grinders. Kane does not get in and grind for the puck, he uses his speed and agility to move around defenders, much like RNH.
- ruttager17

i think we are on the same page ... i never said kane or crosby were bigger or big at all in fact... i said the hawks and pens have big bodies playing with these guys.... what are the oilers top two lines? who on those top two lines plays big and get into the corner.... hall?? sure i'll give u that one.. but other then that no one.. and even hall would not compare to toews or malkin.

this statement make me question ur hockey iq.... at no point in time was kovalev big, size, or hard on the boards
- derm10

no, this is where we question YOUR hockey iq. Have you ever SEEN Kovalev? I've actually been on the ice with him...he is a monster. He does not hit, true, but he wins the puck on the boards and he has sick hands...I don't see Galy hard on the boards either (kind of bad choice of comparison). But I can see the Galy and Kovy comparison.

In all honesty though, I have NEVER seen anyone with skill like Kovalev. Maaaaybe Gretzky. Yes, I'm serious, you have to see Kovalev up close. He takes nights/shifts/months off, true, but his skill is undeniable.

chicago.....bickell, david bolland, marcus kruger, brandon saad ,adrew shaw,hjalmarsson, keithand cory crawford... all drafted by chicago after the first round.
- derm10

i see. uve changed the argument to ur convienence. of course u did.

u mentioned building a team. since our teardown of 2010 was the debate i thought.

u just meant players that play for the oilers full or part time that theyve drafted??
ok then
petry, hartakainen, lander, horcoff, peckham

even hemsky, smyth, dubnyk, prv were drafted by the oil..albeit in the first, if that somehow reflects poorly on them.

hopefully soon marincin, gernat, musil, rieder etc. and all drafted since 2010

Commendable photo of Feaster on the main page for Ek's blog.

Fantastic.
- Salvo

Yes, love it. Clearly he has eaten one too many poutine's for breakfast, lunch and supper.