Gene Principe ‏@GenePrincipe
Could Shawn Horcoff play tonight?R. Krueger likes 4 natural centremen.C. VandeVelde sent down and captain was expected to play late in trip

This would help in that theory.
- Lahey

Smyth / Horcoff / Yak ???

Need to be sheltered to gain confidence back.
- Lahey

and no one to shelter anymore... he better soul search himself and get it straight soon!

I don't think the problem is the bottom half of the roster.

I think the problem is the top half has either not reached their potential or maybe they are not as good as their draft positions.

Time will tell in the meantime if you get another first overall there should be an official inquiry.

Smyth / Horcoff / Yak ???
- Reveen

Smyth/Horcoff/Hemsky
Hall-Gagner-Eberle
Jones-RNH-Yak
Eager-Smyth-Brown

Although I'd be tempted to give Jones the shutdown role with double H's, I just don't know that Smyth could do (frank) all to help RNH and Yak.

Midgets would be (frank)ed

I don't think the problem is the bottom half of the roster.

I think the problem is the top half has either not reached their potential or maybe they are not as good as their draft positions.

Time will tell in the meantime if you get another first overall there should be an official inquiry.
- Rang

The problem is the entire (frank)ing team. But, bottom half:

Belanger, Smyth, Jones, Eager, Petrell, VDV, N Shultz, Whitney, Potter.

Thats a pretty big (frank)ing problem.

Midgets would be (frank)ed
- Lahey

Not as bad as this though

Not like Eberle is a scrub.
- Lahey

No he's good. Just he's massively overrated. As many people pointed out his shooting percentage last year was unsubstainable. He's way better than Kulemin, don't get me wrong. But the same thing happened with him too.

Smyth/Horcoff/Hemsky
Hall-Gagner-Eberle
Jones-RNH-Yak
Eager-Smyth-Brown

Although I'd be tempted to give Jones the shutdown role with double H's, I just don't know that Smyth could do (frank) all to help RNH and Yak.
- Lahey

Interesting idea... I wouldn't be opposed to something like that.

The problem is the entire (frank)ing team. But, bottom half:

Belanger, Smyth, Jones, Eager, Petrell, VDV, N Shultz, Whitney, Potter.

Thats a pretty big (frank)ing problem.
- kingbrehm

Agreed but look at the bottom half for my team:

Orr, Mclaren, Holzer, Kostka, Fraser, Kulemin etc. They should all be in the AHL.

No he's good. Just he's massively overrated. As many people pointed out his shooting percentage last year was unsubstainable. He's way better than Kulemin, don't get me wrong. But the same thing happened with him too.
- Jimmy_Tea

Eberle is missing open nets though, he's getting chances at least.

The other thing is 5 points in last 5 games and is on pace for a 60 point year in 82 games.

So for as bad as he has looked, it's not the end of the world.

RNH was runner up for the ROY last year... he was totally rushed.
- Reveen

There is no logic in what you are saying. Just because you have a small amount of success doesn't mean it was the right descision.

Look, I get that most teams play their first overall picks and that marketing and attempting to make losing more paletable are huge factors in rushing the kids, but if you are objective, you know that more junior and then the AHL can't hurt him, plus he doesnt play in a toxic enviroment of constant losing, he isnt getting hurt playing against men and finally, his contract lasts longer which is huge considering that one way to get an edge in the salery cap world is to have a bunch of young kids on cheap contracts thus allowing you to temperarilly spend more on vets. This kind of logic seems lost on the Oilers management team and i guess you too.

But yeah, he was second in Calder voting and had a decent year so I get how you can easily ignore all the other evidence.

Interesting idea... I wouldn't be opposed to something like that.
- Reveen

Of course not

See you completely misunderstand. First of all, I am glad that you corrected my spelling because that is really what the internet needs, more spelling police. However, I am not saying Hall and Eberele arent NHL players, I am saying that this should be their rookie years instead of having rushed them and teaching them how to lose. You think a team capable of being last for five years would have more patience, but they have rushed each of their picks to the NHL the second they were eligable. NOt smart, in my opinion.
- Jimmy_Tea

Eberle was drafted in 08 rookie year 2010, wouldn't have helped hall or RNH to have them in juniors another year they were both clearly ready for the show

Anthony SanFilippo ‏@AnthonySan37
Now Hartnell playing linesman and dropping pucks for Giroux/B. Schenn. Honestly, most noticeable practice for one guy I've seen in ages.

Why don't we every hear about poop like this? All we hear is how we can't win draws and how unless they do it on the road Gregor doesn't see them work on the draws.

Jason Gregor ‏@JasonGregor
Vande Velde sent down. Is Horcoff coming off IR? Unless they move Petrell to C, he did play there in Finland, and activate Hartikainen???

Simply put, Petrell to center makes a lot of sense if he has experience there. He is a big body and I'd try him out regardless. There isn't much room for him going forward as a winger, but if he can play center well then you have room for him.

There is no logic in what you are saying. Just because you have a small amount of success doesn't mean it was the right descision.

Look, I get that most teams play their first overall picks and that marketing and attempting to make losing more paletable are huge factors in rushing the kids, but if you are objective, you know that more junior and then the AHL can't hurt him, plus he doesnt play in a toxic enviroment of constant losing, he isnt getting hurt playing against men and finally, his contract lasts longer which is huge considering that one way to get an edge in the salery cap world is to have a bunch of young kids on cheap contracts thus allowing you to temperarilly spend more on vets. This kind of logic seems lost on the Oilers management team and i guess you too.

But yeah, he was second in Calder voting and had a decent year so I get how you can easily ignore all the other evidence.
- Jimmy_Tea

Good point... I'll concede that he may have been rushed.

Jack Michaels ‏@EdmontonJack
Contrary to popular belief, Mike Brown has never played a game at center in his life.

Jack Michaels ‏@EdmontonJack
In talking with Brown, he once suggested to the Leafs that he center a line with Colton Orr and Fraser McLaren.."They thought I was joking."

Derek Van Diest ‏@SUNdvandiest
Hemsky not talking to media today, must have hurt feelings to go with sore foot. #Oilers

Jack Michaels ‏@EdmontonJack
Contrary to popular belief, Mike Brown has never played a game at center in his life.

Jack Michaels ‏@EdmontonJack
In talking with Brown, he once suggested to the Leafs that he center a line with Colton Orr and Fraser McLaren.."They thought I was joking."

Derek Van Diest ‏@SUNdvandiest
Hemsky not talking to media today, must have hurt feelings to go with sore foot. #Oilers
- Lahey

Hemsky is butthurt again.... Who does he think he is Ryan Whitney?

Hemsky is butthurt again.... Who does he think he is Ryan Whitney?
- Reveen

Wonder if it's Hemsky or the team pulled him as they want to keep things top secret with yet another day to day injury.

Wonder if it's Hemsky or the team pulled him as they want to keep things top secret with yet another day to day injury.
- Lahey

Why does Hemsky always get hurt around trade deadline time

Well kiss Getzlaf goodbye

Midgets would be (frank)ed
- Lahey

thats a long reach just for some sh*t tickets

Well kiss Getzlaf goodbye
- Lahey

We could always sub Hemsky for Omark.

But the vets...Hemsky, Belanger, Horcoff, Whitney...those guys...are the guys who allowed this to become a last-place team in the first place
- Cloutier

Two of those guys weren't available for much of the Oilers last place seasons. One of them missed half of one, and was the Oilers only real legitimate healthy NHL center in those seasons. Belanger never played on a last place Oilers team. Get your head out of your azz.