Don't exaggerate. Great is a big word. They are a good team that is well coached. Their small skilled players are well insulated an yes if the Oilers did the same thing, they would be a playoff team.
- Champ

the 3 small players they have? deharnais, gallagher and gionta ...outside of that whos is small?

I can honestly say I am no longer envious of the Oilers and their collection of youth/high picks. I would take any of them in a heartbeat on the Leafs, dont get me wrong, but a plethora of youth with inept and clueless coaching/management isn't worth my jealousy. Boston, LA, Hawks, Pens....now im getting that sinful green feeling.
- systemtool

If the Oilers are following the "Chicago model" I would suspect Tambellini gets axed soon.

Now is not the time to be trading RNH . His value went down this year. If you trade him wait until he is having a better stretch.
- VANTEL

He won't be traded.

I can honestly say I am no longer envious of the Oilers and their collection of youth/high picks. I would take any of them in a heartbeat on the Leafs, dont get me wrong, but a plethora of youth with inept and clueless coaching/management isn't worth my jealousy. Boston, LA, Hawks, Pens....now im getting that sinful green feeling.
- systemtool

Yup . If they made progress it would have showed in the standings. I also think they have one or two key pieces only not 6 or 7

Hemsky ISN'T worth a D prospect from Pittsburgh. Stop with the utter non sense. It gets old. Pittsburgh has no interest in Hemsky and his 5 million cap hit for next year and his inability to stay healthy.
- Oneonta Penguin

exactly correct.

teams in general, but particularly this year with the CAP going down come July 1st are not going to be able to dump players, even talented ones without taking contracts and $ back.

Edmonton, like other teams who have able players with heavy contracts (read Vancouver with the Luongo ALBATROSS contract) simply can't move these players for picks or futures.

haha and what tells you that they will? infact if they did i wouldnt be overly upset, they have a great gm thats proactive. also mtl is in the top 3 places players a; want to play b; love to play in. im not worried. Im happy the team is playing well, but tell me whats going to make them fall? it it because they rely on proce night in or night out? nope. injuries? what man?
- munky123

The roster.

cmon people... if you think the habs are overachieving you obvioulsly have blinders on or you just dont like the team period. the way the team is built is not to overachieve its built with character guy and the talents level is between a and b players. no superstars or individuals types, this is just a great team.

the reason for the fail last year was a poor coaching staff and poor managment. Players are human and if your work environment sucks, your attitude will suck. Habs are playing to their potential and its refreshing to see, most habs fans could se the potential, it just wasnt being handled properly. example cammaleri playing on the pk. firing coachs b4 a game trading players during a game... ill say that the biggest turn around was changing their player personel and bringing in martin lapoint, scott melanby and patrice brisboise. they really help the kids develop and stay oon course.

the team is in the top 5 for most stats and is probably in the top3 for speed. They burn teams with their speed and have 3.19 goals agame average. Are defensively sound and havent had to rely on goaltending to bail them out of games. how is that overachieving? its just the way the team is built... speed kills in the nhl and if you can add puck posession to that man what a lethal combo.

I can garuantee theres probably 20 players on the habs that the oilers would love to have play for them. its time to start giving credit where credit is due. maybe not this year but soon the habs will be true contenders. im beingsincere and not a homer ( if thats possible haha being a fan of the habs)

If the oil had the habs managemnt and coaching staff they would be in a playoff spot. garaunteed

also my man rutt, the habs didnt fail for 3rd overall on purpose. they had the most injuries of any team and were the worst run franchise... when bourque arrived to mtl , not one person was there to greet him and welcome to the team. the habs of last year is a joke, and classless
- munky123

i couldn't read pass the blinders comment, you can't honestly think your team is the best team in the east??

man there are so many (frank)ing donkies in this blog today, It's giving me a headache

i couldn't read pass the blinders comment, you can't honestly think your team is the best team in the east??

man there are so many (frank)ing donkies in this blog today, It's giving me a headache
- SpoiledByOil

He really, truly believes that. The Habs are so awesome they have 20 players you would love to have on your team.

The roster.
- systemtool

what?

exactly correct.

teams in general, but particularly this year with the CAP going down come July 1st are not going to be able to dump players, even talented ones without taking contracts and $ back.

Edmonton, like other teams who have able players with heavy contracts (read Vancouver with the Luongo ALBATROSS contract) simply can't move these players for picks or futures.
- BorjeFan4Ever

The Oilers seem to think there's interest in Hemsky. People not from the Oilers seem to think there's interest in Hemsky too.

haha and what tells you that they will? infact if they did i wouldnt be overly upset, they have a great gm thats proactive. also mtl is in the top 3 places players a; want to play b; love to play in. im not worried. Im happy the team is playing well, but tell me whats going to make them fall? it it because they rely on proce night in or night out? nope. injuries? what man?
- munky123

You're right about want and love to play in. When polled Mtl is the #1 place players like to come to play....against the Habs. They like the atmosphere. Montreal and Toronto were in the Top 5 teams they would least like to play.

He has before and does from time to time. Thanks for leaving early.
- systemtool

but to suggest he would get bumped off that line for Hemsky is just idiotic, 99% of the time he's on a line with Malkin, so he wouldn't be getting "bumped" anywhere genius

The Oilers seem to think there's interest in Hemsky. People not from the Oilers seem to think there's interest in Hemsky too.
- Maxbone

Bless your soul.

i couldn't read pass the blinders comment, you can't honestly think your team is the best team in the east??

man there are so many (frank)ing donkies in this blog today, It's giving me a headache
- SpoiledByOil

man, the results speak for themselves... beause they dont have any marquee players means they cant be first? they have 13 players with over 10 points... all 4 lines are playing well, doesnt that translate to succes?

cmon people... if you think the habs are overachieving you obvioulsly have blinders on or you just dont like the team period. the way the team is built is not to overachieve its built with character guy and the talents level is between a and b players. no superstars or individuals types, this is just a great team.

the reason for the fail last year was a poor coaching staff and poor managment. Players are human and if your work environment sucks, your attitude will suck. Habs are playing to their potential and its refreshing to see, most habs fans could se the potential, it just wasnt being handled properly. example cammaleri playing on the pk. firing coachs b4 a game trading players during a game... ill say that the biggest turn around was changing their player personel and bringing in martin lapoint, scott melanby and patrice brisboise. they really help the kids develop and stay oon course.

the team is in the top 5 for most stats and is probably in the top3 for speed. They burn teams with their speed and have 3.19 goals agame average. Are defensively sound and havent had to rely on goaltending to bail them out of games. how is that overachieving? its just the way the team is built... speed kills in the nhl and if you can add puck posession to that man what a lethal combo.

I can garuantee theres probably 20 players on the habs that the oilers would love to have play for them. its time to start giving credit where credit is due. maybe not this year but soon the habs will be true contenders. im beingsincere and not a homer ( if thats possible haha being a fan of the habs)

If the oil had the habs managemnt and coaching staff they would be in a playoff spot. garaunteed

also my man rutt, the habs didnt fail for 3rd overall on purpose. they had the most injuries of any team and were the worst run franchise... when bourque arrived to mtl , not one person was there to greet him and welcome to the team. the habs of last year is a joke, and classless
- munky123

how many of the players on the current squad are newly brought in by the new management team? are they playing the same style of hockey as last year?

He really, truly believes that. The Habs are so awesome they have 20 players you would love to have on your team.
- systemtool

the 3 small players they have? deharnais, gallagher and gionta ...outside of that whos is small?
- munky123

Diaz, Plek, Bouillon. Just saying.

Im gonna quote you on that and when he ends up on crosbys wing you will laugh at this. As far as not being worth a defensive prospect your right. Hes worth 2
- Joshc

You are either dumb or delusional if he is worth two D prospects. You pick.

but to suggest he would get bumped off that line for Hemsky is just idiotic, 99% of the time he's on a line with Malkin, so he wouldn't be getting "bumped" anywhere genius
- SpoiledByOil

That's right. Hemsky won't be bumping anyone from the top 6 on the Pens. Neal and Crosby play on the PP alot together. Theyve been on the same line a few times this season, especially when Malkin isn't going. As of now, Neal is on Crosbys line for their next game.

Let go of the denial. Embrace corrections to your inaccurate statements.

man, the results speak for themselves... beause they dont have any marquee players means they cant be first? they have 13 players with over 10 points... all 4 lines are playing well, doesnt that translate to succes?
- munky123

no you're right, MTL is definately the best team in the East, and MIN is the Best team in the West because last year they were leading the West after about the same amount of games as this year

Homer

He really, truly believes that. The Habs are so awesome they have 20 players you would love to have on your team.
- systemtool

man im in no way sounding the parade bells, im trying to point out that they are a great team. the stats are saying the same thing. why is that so hard to accept? also you dont agree about said 20 players?

the leafs this year are also agreat example of a turn around. breath of fresh air in mangment and coaching and the true talents of the team come thru. carlyl has them playing the system the team is built for.

exactly correct.

teams in general, but particularly this year with the CAP going down come July 1st are not going to be able to dump players, even talented ones without taking contracts and $ back.

Edmonton, like other teams who have able players with heavy contracts (read Vancouver with the Luongo ALBATROSS contract) simply can't move these players for picks or futures.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Exactly right. People forget the cap is coming down, not going up. Hemsky is bad value, especially for a team like Pittsburgh. We don't need him. Scoring goals isn't our problem. Then again, he doesn't do that. An expensive health risk play maker isn't a need in Pittsburgh. A good solid stay at home physical defenseman and a two-way third line forward is.

man, the results speak for themselves... beause they dont have any marquee players means they cant be first? they have 13 players with over 10 points... all 4 lines are playing well, doesnt that translate to succes?
- munky123

They will not finish first, they are not that good. Get over it.

That's right. Hemsky won't be bumping anyone from the top 6 on the Pens. Neal and Crosby play on the PP alot together. Theyve been on the same line a few times this season, especially when Malkin isn't going. As of now, Neal is on Crosbys line for their next game.

Let go of the denial. Embrace corrections to your inaccurate statements.
- systemtool

haha ok buddy, Crosby is playing with Kunitz and Dupuis, because Neal played a few shifts here and there on the line doesn't mean he's a staple there, keep trying to act smart though like Neal is Crosby's linemate because of a few shifts here and there

no you're right, MTL is defiantely the best team in the East, and MIN is the Best team in the West because last year they were leading the West after about the same amount of games as this year

Homer
- SpoiledByOil

haha only time will tell