I think any kind of hockey writer who uses twitter beefs, or posters comments, to base an article on, looks absolutely ridiculous on them. As pathetic as other certain bloggers are (Garth), you never seem to see them openly sparring with posters, or writing articles to mock them. You're openly pandering to the 13 year old side of your fanbase, and it makes you look like an unprofessional goof. That being said, your articles are usually worth a quick read at the worst of times.

Horcoff is obviously grossly overpaid. Tyler bozak is a good comparison, better talent wise, but less of a leader. Is that worth an extra 5 mil a season? Hardly. He obviously as a big impact on the team, and being overpaid isn't his fault as a player. From an outside fans perspective, it is what it is. He isn't going anywhere til that contract is dusted, so probably best to deal with the positives you get from him.

I've always been suprised he has such a solid reputation as a team guy. Heard a story from a player who dropped the gloves for horcoff on numerous occasions over a few seasons. Told me he ran into horcoff at an airport years later, and stopped to ask him how things were. Horcoff gave him the 'I'm sorry, who the hell are you?'. Long story short, I always took the idea horcoff was a pretty ignorant dude, couldn't give a poop about other people. His reputation now a days would surely indicate otherwise.

Anyways, not an oiler fan by any stretch.. But have they ever become a fun team to watch. Find myself catching alot of oiler games lately. Thumbs up to the fans, definitely deserving of such an entertaining team. Cheers.
- joel878

esplen spars for sure. but he's much worse cause he writes his diss and then threatens to tattle and get u banned when u respond. he's a little b1tch. i dont see the problem with clouts defending himself when hes attacked. especially since its no holds barred in his threads and u can speak freely. so why shouldnt that include him?

and i also think ur choosing to ignore the type of seasons horcoff had before he signed that big contract. especially when attempting to compare him to bozak.
73, 51 and and 50 in 53! all surrounding a cup run where he was our number 1 center.
bozak right now more talented? probably. when horcs signed the contract? not a chance.

at the time of the signing there were many that thought the length may be a problem and a small overpayment, but it was completely within the realm of his reasonable value

Is this code?
- Lahey

I dropped my smoke.

10 more goals and Kunitz beats his career high.

Gee Richie, you really think good development is having an entire line up of green horns no matter what their talent level is?

That to me is "stupid" development. That is what the AHL is for. Like it or not your team needs that veteran presence on the ice. As you well know, talent alone does not get you a cup, or in the case of the Oilers, anything but another 1st overall pick...
- MnGump

Ya ol' d i ck forgets that little caveat - I think he knows it but just chooses not to add it at times.

Some periods / games demand a little more from the vets, even our---at times---sub-par versions.

Now, if a guy like Petrell keeps getting 4 minutes a night more then Yaks or Nail continues to get under 10 minutes a night I'd start the "show a little faith in him" talk.

Your'e hired !!!
- Reveen

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

TRADE 1
To Edmonton: Clowe
To San Jose: Petrell

TRADE 2
To Edmonton: Lucic
To Boston: Belanger

TRADE 3
To Edmonton: OEL
To Phoenix: Peckham

TRADE 4
To Edmonton: Schneider
To Vancouver: Danis
- laughs2907

Is this your alt account joshc???

TRADE 1
To Edmonton: Clowe
To San Jose: Petrell

TRADE 2
To Edmonton: Lucic
To Boston: Belanger

TRADE 3
To Edmonton: OEL
To Phoenix: Peckham

TRADE 4
To Edmonton: Schneider
To Vancouver: Danis
- laughs2907

Gonna need a 2nd rounder from Van. Otherwise sound.

Grieving women usually don't put out.
- Reveen

Hmm, depends, grief can be quite the aphrodisiac.

Sorry: AFROdisiac

Sorry again: Katz kid's Orange Jewfrodisiac.

esplen spars for sure. but he's much worse actually cause he writes his diss and then threatens to tattle and get u banned when u respond back. he's a little b1th. i dont see the problem with clouts defending himself when hes attacked. especially since its no holds barred in his threads and u can speak freely. so why shouldnt that include him?

and i also think ur choosing to ignore the type of seasons horcoff had before he signed that big contract. especially when attempting to compare him to bozak.
73, 51 and and 50 in 53! all surrounding a cup run where he was our number 1 center.
bozak right now more talented? probably. when horcs signed the contract? not a chance.

at the time of the signing there were many that thought the length may be a problem and a small overpayment, but it was completely within the realm of his reasonable value
- hugefemale dog77

Look at Horcoff and Kesler in the three seasons leading up to their 5+ million, 6 year extensions:

Horcoff
79GP 22G 51A 73P 52.7%FO 19:58/G
80GP 16G 35A 51P 50.6% FO 20:49/G
53GP 21G 29A 50P 50.6% FO 22:13/G

Kesler
80GP 21G 16A 37P 53% FO 19:03/G
82GP 26G 33A 59P 54% FO 19:47/G
82GP 25G 50A 75P 55.1% FO 19:37/G

It turned out to be an overpay, but it didn't come out of left field or anything.

Gee Richie, you really think good development is having an entire line up of green horns no matter what their talent level is?

That to me is "stupid" development. That is what the AHL is for. Like it or not your team needs that veteran presence on the ice. As you well know, talent alone does not get you a cup, or in the case of the Oilers, anything but another 1st overall pick...
- MnGump

he really does think this.

its always; "another 18 year old kid in the lineup is gonna be great. or klefbom's gonna step in and turn around the franchise in his rookie year. we need to trade this veteran for insert unproven big named propect here. and the key is another lottery pick" etc etc etc

yaks is lost and ineffective way more than he is dominant. that line played well early, but pushing him back after the second period when he went quiet made sense.

esplen spars for sure. but he's much worse actually cause he writes his diss and then threatens to tattle and get u banned when u respond back. he's a little b1th. i dont see the problem with clouts defending himself when hes attacked. especially since its no holds barred in his threads and u can speak freely. so why shouldnt that include him?

and i also think ur choosing to ignore the type of seasons horcoff had before he signed that big contract. especially when attempting to compare him to bozak.
73, 51 and and 50 in 53! all surrounding a cup run where he was our number 1 center.
bozak right now more talented? probably. when horcs signed the contract? not a chance.

at the time of the signing there were many that thought the length may be a problem and a small overpayment, but it was completely within the realm of his reasonable value
- hugefemale dog77

Yeah, fair enough. At the end of the day, its his space and he can use it however he pleases. I just think it lacks professionalism (which at the end of the day, its hockeybuzz). He's far from the only one to do it. Ty Anderson seems to be worse, I've seen yost sparring with posters to. Esplens a great example. It seems like the good writers on this site (augello for example), are never sparring with posters, don't use their blogs as an outlet to respond to the 15 year old twitter hecklers, and are better at what they do because of if.

And yes, I did neglect that on horcoff's part. Like I said, being overpaid isn't his fault. Someone backs the money truck up to you or me, we going to tell it to stop somewhere else? But definitely didn't consider the good years he had before signing that contract. Burkie might have had a bit of quiet genius to him, refusing to dish out long term contracts. I'm sure he missed the bus on a few good players because of it.. But he's gone now, and the leafs just may be in a better position than any team in the NHL payroll wise because of it. (Aside from the komosarek, liles contracts).

Yeah, fair enough. At the end of the day, its his space and he can use it however he pleases. I just think it lacks professionalism (which at the end of the day, its hockeybuzz). He's far from the only one to do it. Ty Anderson seems to be worse, I've seen yost sparring with posters to. Esplens a great example. It seems like the good writers on this site (augello for example), are never sparring with posters, don't use their blogs as an outlet to respond to the 15 year old twitter hecklers, and are better at what they do because of if.

And yes, I did neglect that on horcoff's part. Like I said, being overpaid isn't his fault. Someone backs the money truck up to you or me, we going to tell it to stop somewhere else? But definitely didn't consider the good years he had before signing that contract. Burkie might have had a bit of quiet genius to him, refusing to dish out long term contracts. I'm sure he missed the bus on a few good players because of it.. But he's gone now, and the leafs just may be in a better position than any team in the NHL payroll wise because of it. (Aside from the komosarek, liles contracts).
- joel878

good post

Yeah, fair enough. At the end of the day, its his space and he can use it however he pleases. I just think it lacks professionalism (which at the end of the day, its hockeybuzz). He's far from the only one to do it. Ty Anderson seems to be worse, I've seen yost sparring with posters to. Esplens a great example. It seems like the good writers on this site (augello for example), are never sparring with posters, don't use their blogs as an outlet to respond to the 15 year old twitter hecklers, and are better at what they do because of if.

And yes, I did neglect that on horcoff's part. Like I said, being overpaid isn't his fault. Someone backs the money truck up to you or me, we going to tell it to stop somewhere else? But definitely didn't consider the good years he had before signing that contract. Burkie might have had a bit of quiet genius to him, refusing to dish out long term contracts. I'm sure he missed the bus on a few good players because of it.. But he's gone now, and the leafs just may be in a better position than any team in the NHL payroll wise because of it. (Aside from the komosarek, liles contracts).
- joel878

The other thing about Horcoff is, why would any fan care what a player is paid? Unless you're Daryl Katz, I don't see a problem. We're looking at 10+ mil in cap space next year even with Horcs and all the kids. It doesn't hamper us in the slightest. There is no reason to hate a player for being overpaid.

And take away that Horcoff complaint, you don't have a whole lot to complain about.

Grieving women usually don't put out.
- Reveen

It worked for will ferrell in wedding crashers.

Is this your alt account joshc???
- Iggysbff

he really does think this.

its always; "another 18 year old kid in the lineup is gonna be great. or klefbom's gonna step in a turn around the franchise in his rookie year. we need to trade this veteran for insert unproven big named propect here. the key is another lottery pick" etc etc etc

yaks is lost and ineffective way more than he is dominant. that line played well early, but pushing him back after the second period when he went quiet made sense.
- hugefemale dog77

why cant we hang out? i agree 100% it drives me bat poop crazy when he rposts poop like that. at this rate the oil wont be "ok" for another 5 years when they are all 25-27... but o poop then you had better watch out.

crosby and co, who had a great coach to develop them ( therrien) and great vetran pressance is what the oil need.... why is it so hard to understand? did they not already win the cup?

It worked for will ferrell in wedding crashers.
- ruttager17

will ferrell, was he in that movie?

It worked for will ferrell in wedding crashers.
- ruttager17

will ferrell, was he in that movie?
- Oilfan19

will ferrell, was he in that movie?
- Oilfan19

Cmon bro, Moooom get me my MEATLOAF!!!

Cmon bro, Moooom get me my MEATLOAF!!!
- Oilersforlife

will ferrell, was he in that movie?
- Oilfan19

yeah, he was chazz, the guy who taught them how to crash weddings. Still lives with his mom and brings chicks home from funerals now so it seems pretty legit.

The Horcoff factor is deceiving

Are the Oilers a better hockey club with Horcoff in the lineup? Yes
Could the Oilers be a better hockey club with a replacement for Horcoff? Yes

What I'm saying is that sure the Oilers are better with Horcoff in the lineup because we have noone else to fill his role as a 3rd line center that can win face-offs, and play a little special teams (our PK went on just fine without him, and our pp went down the tubes for way more reasons than not having Horcs in the lineup).

We have assets to bring in a more effective 3rd line center that would make our team better. If we are better with Horcoff in the lineup, think of how much better we would be if we had someone better than Horcoff... catch my drift?

Besides Horcoff, we could easily make deals for players that would be better suited for 3rd line roles and excel at them.

Tambellini, you have to give to get. We need some diversity on this roster and you continue to do nothing.

Targets for 3rd line:

-Clowe (no goals on the year, not vital in SJ anymore? Bring him here)

-Dubinsky (bigger, younger, better version of Horcoff - can go up and down depth chart more effectively)

-Stoll (the guy has more tools than Horcoff)

-Legwand (making 4 next year and 3.5 year after that, Nashville needs scoring - he is in over his head being a 1st line C)

-Vermette (3.5/year till 14/15)

Lastly, those saying that O'Reilly isn't as good as Gagner and that he is overrated might wanna follow his progress. The dude has 4 points in 5 games since returning from not playing competitive hockey. And he was always considered the better defensive player. Would have been a risky move to deal for him but its looking like it would have paid off.

- Lahey

Never crashed a funeral per say, but I have crashed a wake and although I did not get to bang some strizange I certainly got absolutly pooptied, I am pretty sure I could have hammered a few broads out if I wasn't loser pissed. I actually ended up poopting my pants that night. Anyways so yeah skip the funeral hit the wake.

yeah, he was chazz, the guy who taught them how to crash weddings. Still lives with his mom and brings chicks home from funerals now so it seems pretty legit.
- ruttager17

They really should've tied Wedding Crashers with Blades of Glory, he played the same sort of role with the same name.