Richard Cloutier: Tyler Bunz Will Prove to Be the Starter of the Future
- Maxbone

Thanks for the shout out.

Mostly agree with the blog. I think a lot of people have the idea that simply getting rid of unwanted players will improve the team automatically. As we saw while Horc was out, unless you have a better replacement lined up, it won't be pretty.

Ideally you move hemmer for some defensive help, but dubinsky is a good return for us. Gives us a future #1 centre in Nuge, and two 2/3 options that bring different things to the table in gags and dubinsky

don't see ott needing a guy like whitney tho. u think he can regain 1 round worth?
- munky123

Oh God no. More because of his health history than anything else.

Whitney will get the Oilers a mid-to-late 2nd round pick, with the deal happening almost at the last minute of the deadline on April 3. Tambellini will milk it for all it's worth, but it ain't worth much. In predicting a 2nd, I'm being very generous.

Gagner to the wing. Keep Horcoff. Keep yakupov on the third line with 2nd line PP.
- Thesource

gagner isnt near the player on the wing. been there done that.
i was all over trying to move him, but im starting to think hemmer instead. moves hemmer, keep gags in that spot.

plus, dubinsky doesnt come cheap. salary would undoubtedly need to be moved. ie; horcoff. i dont think we could carry both. especially if we wanna move for size in the top 6 and a quality top 4 dman AND the nuge, yaks, schultz all want raises at some point.

Gagner to the wing has been tried. He stunk.
- Maxbone

I dont think the sample size is big enough to say he's forever bad at playing on the wing. He's got great hockey sense IMO and nose for the net. Without his hockey IQ he wouldn't be the player he is today. He slow and small yet he has 23 points... I think he would work well on the wing and it would shelter his size a little bit. It's at least worth another try, especially if we move for Dubinsky.

Thanks for the shout out.

Mostly agree with the blog. I think a lot of people have the idea that simply getting rid of unwanted players will improve the team automatically. As we saw while Horc was out, unless you have a better replacement lined up, it won't be pretty.

Ideally you move hemmer for some defensive help, but dubinsky is a good return for us. Gives us a future #1 centre in Nuge, and two 2/3 options that bring different things to the table in gags and dubinsky
- Morris

I'm not sure if I'd call that a "shout out", but if you're happy, I'm happy.

Problem with trying to move Hemsky for defensive help is, the Oilers have plenty of 5/6 guys. I don't know if Hemsky brings you a 1/2 guy or even a 3/4 guy. Price point of decent defensemen is higher than forwards.

gagner isnt near the player on the wing. been there done that.
i was all over trying to move him, but im starting to think hemmer instead. moves hemmer, keep gags in that spot.

plus, dubinsky doesnt come cheap. salary would undoubtedly need to be moved. ie; horcoff. i dont think we could carry both. especially if we wanna move for size in the top 6 and a quality top 4 dman AND the nuge, yaks, schultz all want raises at some point.
- hugefemale dog77

Nuge, Yaks, and schultz are really only getting a max 2 million dollar raise. Their cap hit is already 3.75. We in no way have Cap issues even with Neverscorecoff on the books.

I'm not sure if I'd call that a "shout out", but if you're happy, I'm happy.

Problem with trying to move Hemsky for defensive help is, the Oilers have plenty of 5/6 guys. I don't know if Hemsky brings you a 1/2 guy or even a 3/4 guy. Price point of decent defensemen is higher than forwards.
- Maxbone

it'd have to be a package along with hemsky. no way he brings a top pairing dman by himself

Oh God no. More because of his health history than anything else.

Whitney will get the Oilers a mid-to-late 2nd round pick, with the deal happening almost at the last minute of the deadline on April 3. Tambellini will milk it for all it's worth, but it ain't worth much. In predicting a 2nd, I'm being very generous.
- Maxbone

if a team like pitts were to pick up iggy and then came knocking on edms ddoor for a luttle vet help on d, I'd be asking for their 2nd for sure. but I agree a 2nd may be asking for a lot. he could be better suited in a package deal. as much as you want to keep the coveted group of guys together I think if one or 2 could be dealt, add whitney the oil could become real contenders.

I'd play Whitney 10 more games and hope he keeps playing this way. He's turning from a 3rd rounder to a 2nd rounder...At this pace he might be a late 1st rounder by next May.
- Maxbone

I've been saying hold onto him and he could turn into a 2nd rounder as GM's panic every trade deadline. (Ex. Kyle Quincey for a 1st) But there is no way Whitney lands us that much. Him and Anaheim's 2nd for Bishop seems fair. Even when Dubby gets healthy I would let the two of them fight it out for #1.

if a team like pitts were to pick up iggy and then came knocking on edms ddoor for a luttle vet help on d, I'd be asking for their 2nd for sure. but I agree a 2nd may be asking for a lot. he could be better suited in a package deal. as much as you want to keep the coveted group of guys together I think if one or 2 could be dealt, add whitney the oil could become real contenders.
- munky123

Which guy do you see being traded?

Nuge? Our 1C? Nope, won't happen.

Ebs? Our best 1RW? CAnnot see it.

Hall? Considered the future Captain. Not a chance.

JSchultz? We finally get a slick puck moving Top Dman, not gonna be him moved.

Yak? I see him as teh most likely to get moved out of all these guys...and it still wont happen.

Nuge, Yaks, and schultz are really only getting a max 2 million dollar raise. Their cap hit is already 3.75. We in no way have Cap issues even with Neverscorecoff on the books.
- JShack

we might need another goalie. good ones arent cheap. $ or if dubs starts killing it. he wants a raise. another top 4 dman? not cheap. another top 6 winger with size? $$.
raises for the kids. $ gagner? raise for sure.

our 2nd and third line centers (horcs and dubs) worth 10 + mil?? not wise.
i understand horcs value regardless of being overpaid. but if we got a younger, better offensive player that can fill his role completely, why in gods name would we keep horcs on the books? this is the reason that horcs is valuable to us regardless of is cap hit; cause we have no one else that can fill the role he does.

im not one of the haters talking we cant afford all of the kids, but if we're gonna upgrade our team which we need to do, the pocketbook will need to be watched.

Has anyone else noticed that Justin Shultz would be on pace for 49 points in a full season. Calder trophy, I think so

Bunz has been real solid since Brandon Davidson's return in the ECHL which also coincided with the team's change to a more conservative and defensive style. Speaking of Davidson, he's been stupendous since returning!

Gagner to the wing has been tried. He stunk.
- Maxbone

It would just be short term this year until 1) gags is traded 2) Horcoff is bought out 3) yaks is ready for 2nd line duty. Etc etc. I'm a believer that we hold onto Horcoff as long as we can afford him

Which guy do you see being traded?

Nuge? Our 1C? Nope, won't happen.

Ebs? Our best 1RW? CAnnot see it.

Hall? Considered the future Captain. Not a chance.

JSchultz? We finally get a slick puck moving Top Dman, not gonna be him moved.

Yak? I see him as teh most likely to get moved out of all these guys...and it still wont happen.
- OilHorse

thats just it I dunno. could be you move the #1 pick if the oil hover around the basement. but its a tough call. hall eberle and shultz for me are the real untouchables. the rest could be let go imo and they cpuld bring some solid returns.

I know its still a little early but are you completely sold on nuge being a future #1 c? justa q

Which guy do you see being traded?

Nuge? Our 1C? Nope, won't happen.

Ebs? Our best 1RW? CAnnot see it.

Hall? Considered the future Captain. Not a chance.

JSchultz? We finally get a slick puck moving Top Dman, not gonna be him moved.

Yak? I see him as teh most likely to get moved out of all these guys...and it still wont happen.
- OilHorse

I feel so bad for your org. If you look at successful 1st overall picks, a lot of them have vets to guide them, Edm has the worst ones to do so. Crosby had them, Stamkos too. Tavares didn't but he has been exceptional. Nuge. Hall. Yak, who teaches these guys what it takes? Horcoff? Smyth? Hemsky? Lol.

In the end, Edm will never be a good team til they get new management and a new coach who isn't a former assistant or Edm alumni.
I honestly fear you could be spinning your tires for a long Time. Hope I'm wrong....

I've been saying hold onto him and he could turn into a 2nd rounder as GM's panic every trade deadline. (Ex. Kyle Quincey for a 1st) But there is no way Whitney lands us that much. Him and Anaheim's 2nd for Bishop seems fair. Even when Dubby gets healthy I would let the two of them fight it out for #1.
- Ihatebrianburke

ill take a 2nd but no thanks on whitney

thats just it I dunno. could be you move the #1 pick if the oil hover around the basement. but its a tough call. hall eberle and shultz for me are the real untouchables. the rest could be let go imo and they cpuld bring some solid returns.

I know its still a little early but are you completely sold on nuge being a future #1 c? justa q
- munky123

i kinda figured that's what u were getting at....

and yes. i believe he's a true number 1 center. he's 19 and struggling abit right now. last year at this time no one wouldve even asked this question.
he'll be fine

thats just it I dunno. could be you move the #1 pick if the oil hover around the basement. but its a tough call. hall eberle and shultz for me are the real untouchables. the rest could be let go imo and they cpuld bring some solid returns.

I know its still a little early but are you completely sold on nuge being a future #1 c? justa q
- munky123

Yes completely sold 100%. Amazing 2 way centre with great hands, blazing speed, and a good shot. He's a 19 year old kid that needs time to grow physically and there is no way you ever give up on a #1 overall pick at that young of an age. The guy is gonna be a cross between Sakic and Datsyuk. So many people are so quick to give up on 18 and 19 year old kids. Him and Yaks are both only 19 and a lot of rookies don't come into the league until they're 21-22. I jizz in my pants thinking of how good this team will be when they're all in their prime 25-29 years old instead of 19-23 year olds

I know I'm going to get my ass ripped for this... but Dubnyk is garbage.

There... I said it. I wanted him to suceed so much... to prove me wrong, but I have little to no confidence in him and I think his team mates feel the same way.

ill take a 2nd but no thanks on whitney
- 6Karlsson5

Sweet deal. We keep Whitney and replace the 2nd rounder when we get rid of him at the deadline. Win win.

Well played Clouts.

dumby

Thanks for the shout out.

Mostly agree with the blog. I think a lot of people have the idea that simply getting rid of unwanted players will improve the team automatically. As we saw while Horc was out, unless you have a better replacement lined up, it won't be pretty.

Ideally you move hemmer for some defensive help, but dubinsky is a good return for us. Gives us a future #1 centre in Nuge, and two 2/3 options that bring different things to the table in gags and dubinsky
- Morris

Over/under on Cloutier mentioning Tyler Bunz in the next blog?
- sanfordnson

ahem

I know I'm going to get my ass ripped for this... but Dubnyk is garbage.

There... I said it. I wanted him to suceed so much... to prove me wrong, but I have little to no confidence in him and I think his team mates feel the same way.
- OilDerek

Im not giving up on him just yet, but i felt the same way.
Uncomf with him coming into this year as our starter, but hoping hed prove me wrong.
He played well initially too, but wow has he ever been mediocre lately. It seems like he went from having the total confidence of coaching to losing it