Damn good post! Could not have said It better! Klowe just further embarrassed himself today... What a (frank)ing douchebag- further u don't just assign a GM without interviews... It narrows ur results -today's knee jerk may cripple this organization to a low no one thought possible
- saskoil21

Ever since the Brian Burke episode, where he bragged about his Cups as a player and took shots at Burke about Bobby Ryan being a bust, I lost all respect for Lowe because he was just being an @sshole. Burke was just being honest, Lowe was a whining baby making up sh!t. This Lowe has to be the biggest pr!ck exec in the league. Such a fu&king joke how he brings Howsen and Mac T back, are you Fu&king kidding me. He defends his record because of 1 season as a Cinderella 8th seed. The rest of his record proves that was only a fluke. Penner, Souray, Smyth, trading Stoll and Greene, this guy is a total fu&king joke.

"Cloutier also said this:"
Couldn't have just pasted a link, had to copy and paste an entire page ya arrogant jerk.
- ruttager17

I had that copied and pasted on my computer for months just waiting, it was so priceless I knew I could use it one day. Im sorry its just classic Cloutier getting worked up after a win over... Colorado.

Ever since the Brian Burke episode, where he bragged about his Cups as a player and took shots at Burke about Bobby Ryan being a bust, I lost all respect for Lowe because he was just being an @sshole. Burke was just being honest, Lowe was a whining baby making up sh!t. This Lowe has to be the biggest wiener exec in the league. Such a fu&king joke how he brings Howsen and Mac T back, are you Fu&king kidding me. He defends his record because of 1 season as a Cinderella 8th seed. The rest of his record proves that was only a fluke really. Penner, Souray, Smyth, trading Stoll and Greene, this guy is a joke.
- gunner2233

I agree that Kevin Lowe is a total jack ass.. but Mac T isn't a bad choice. He is a guy who understands the importance of development but also knows that there is a time and place to make a couple bold moves. If this team was content with the status quo then just keep tamby.. if they feel there are right pieces in place but aren't being complemented properly then bring in someone else.

He will bring change.. and thats all they need.

To me, Tamby not getting creative at the draft last year really surprised me and should have disappointed Oilers fans.

I agree that Kevin Lowe is a total jack ass.. but Mac T isn't a bad choice. He is a guy who understands the importance of development but also knows that there is a time and place to make a couple bold moves. If this team was content with the status quo then just keep tamby.. if they feel there are right pieces in place but aren't being complemented properly then bring in someone else.

He will bring change.. and thats all they need.

To me, Tamby not getting creative at the draft last year really surprised me and should have disappointed Oilers fans.
- kneught

I dont mind Mac T, but its just the old boys club thing, and the Lowe arrogance. He seems to think everyone but him self should take the fall. Lowe is more responsible then any for the situation the Oilers are in, look at his drafting and trading apart from the 2005-2006 season, he bases his whole body of work and merit on that one season, its unbelievable. Lowe gets not fired, but promoted to President, and Tambellini, well he's not in the Oiler for life Club, so he just gets fired. Kruger better watch out, he's not in that club, he might be next. I think Buchburger, and Smith are safe though..

I dont mind Mac T, but its just the old boys club thing, and the Lowe arrogance. He seems to think everyone but him self should take the fall. Lowe is more responsible then any for the situation the Oilers are in, look at his drafting and trading apart from the 2005-2006 season, he bases his whole body of work and merit on that one season, its unbelievable. Lowe gets not fired, but promoted to President, and Tambellini, well he's not in the Oiler Club, so he just gets fired.
- gunner2233

Kevin Lowe in that press conference came off as the biggest Richard in the world.

Some of the best GM's in history were average hockey players... winning 5 Stanley Cups as a player doesn't mean it equates to success as a GM or President of hockey operations..

I can't see McT keeping Smyth or Gags in the lineup--says he's impatient & wants results now. If he keeps them, he'll be shooting himself in the foot.
Not sold on the 1st line. Nuge is too slight. He could stay there only if Ebs is replaced by a power forward; then Ebs, Yak & a big new centre would be dynamite.
i hope they don't take Lazar if Gauthier is still available.

Gagner= Best OVERALL Oilers player this year.
.
- Oilers4Life14

perfect..let's trade him while his value is high cause anyone can tell that he is not the best player and will get bumped down the depth chart soon enough.

Kevin Lowe in that press conference came off as the biggest Richard in the world.

Some of the best GM's in history were average hockey players... winning 5 Stanley Cups as a player doesn't mean it equates to success as a GM or President of hockey operations..
- kneught

Could not agree more... And to think he gave me the impression in the presses that 'how dare u question my credibility and decisions' what a dumb (frank)! He and his current entourage made the mess, tambo gave them a nearly fully stocked cupboard to work with now- and he gets the axe for doing all the heavy lifting... I hope Tambo buries the (frank)er- although there is likely a gag on him much like Quinn got...

I can't see McT keeping Smyth or Gags in the lineup--says he's impatient & wants results now. If he keeps them, he'll be shooting himself in the foot.
Not sold on the 1st line. Nuge is too slight. He could stay there only if Ebs is replaced by a power forward; then Ebs, Yak & a big new centre would be dynamite.
i hope they don't take Lazar if Gauthier is still available.
- haymac

Nuge is one miscalculated hit away from eat smoothies for the rest of his life... He is the size of a 12 yr old for (frank) sakes... He better put 20lbs on this offseason - I'm surprised he played this much this season... His smarts obviously carried him this far but it won't last season after season... It's too gruelling of a career to be that size and take that abuse from guys 50-80 lbs bigger that are trying to kill you...

What about drafting bo horvat of we miss out on barkov or monahan... he is really rising in the draft standings and he hits, scores and specializes in the defensive zone with great leadership skills. Plus he's big.
- BleedOil06

Horvat should be taken before either of two mentioned.

Seems like a great opportunity to make a move using their first round pick this year. I think they have the luxury of moving that pick this year with 3 straight 1st overalls, package that pick with a Hemsky or Gagner and I think you're getting a significant piece in return. Top 3 forward or Top 2 Dman from a willing partner would seem reasonable in my mind, depending on where they finish. Sign a few decent UFAs and I think they can really change the culture of the team. EDM is in a great position right now, hopefully MacT is the guy to make it happen.

Seems like a great opportunity to make a move using their first round pick this year. I think they have the luxury of moving that pick this year with 3 straight 1st overalls, package that pick with a Hemsky or Gagner and I think you're getting a significant piece in return. Top 3 forward or Top 2 Dman from a willing partner would seem reasonable in my mind, depending on where they finish. Sign a few decent UFAs and I think they can really change the culture of the team. EDM is in a great position right now, hopefully MacT is the guy to make it happen.
- 13sundin13

I couldn't agree more. Mac T said his Top Priority is adding depth and Talent to the locker Room. He's not too interested in gritty players that cant handle the puck,which I also like. The opportunities I see,however are fairly minimal. There are plenty of free agents, but not that many good ones, and there won't be much to be had after the buy out period either if other teams,like ours,simply shed some garbage like Belanger and Eager.
If Mac T goes into the draft and transforms our 1st pick, Hemsky, Potter, Peckham, Whitney,Jones , Teubert and a handful of our so-so prospects ,and some of our late picks into a long term asset on D like Bogosian,Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, or Ryan McDonugh, and a big 3rd line Winger in the mould of Mike Grier or Chris Neil (in their primes,of course) I would be pretty happy.

Free agency is a bit lacking on the high end,IMO, if he can't fill those needs at the draft there a (small) handful of high end solutions.Streit is an okay player.Best high end option at defense, but there are quite a few decent depth guys that are past their prime, but still and upgrade over whitney for a bottom pairing D.Andrew Ference, Douglas Murray,Robin Regehr,Rob Scuderi would be okay pick ups on minimal term, and minimal money. I'm sure there are some bottom six guys available.It wont be the deepest,richest free agent pool as BSteinley likes to think, but the addition of Bozak or Clarkson would sure provide the depth Mac T is talking about.

That bold move he was talking about, I'm afraid does mean the exodus of one of our few good players, for a risky return. I'm sure the Fab 5 are safe, but I also think that Smid,new contract and all, Gagner, and (to a lesser extent) Petry may have to moved to acquire that other asset. It may be a a 2014 UFA with the hopes he resigns (the risk), but it would also have to be a veteran player that will make a significant impact. I've suggested Joe Thornton and was sentenced to rape with a processed meat product, but maybe there are similar players in size,talent and experience than can be had?

I am excited about a roster overhaul
- andymaury

I don't see it as an overhaul. Might get rid of some dead weight and move a guy like PRV or Gagner, but I don't expect 15 moves changing the dynamics of the team.

I don't see it as an overhaul. Might get rid of some dead weight and move a guy like PRV or Gagner, but I don't expect 15 moves changing the dynamics of the team.
- Lahey

No, but as you stated, I can see at least one of our good players players getting traded. I like Gags,Mps,Smid and Petry, but you gotta give some to get some. I suppose there a still some clowns out there that think Whitney and Hemsky will yield a high end talent in return, and if Mac T is unable to to pull off that miracle, his nay-sayers will roast him for it, since they were able to do it on NHL 13.

I don't see it as an overhaul. Might get rid of some dead weight and move a guy like PRV or Gagner, but I don't expect 15 moves changing the dynamics of the team.
- Lahey

Still, I can only count 16 keepers on a 23 man roster right now. If I do the highly complex math, that adds up to 7 new faces.Thats some pretty big change.

Still, I can only count 16 keepers on a 23 man roster right now. If I do the highly complex math, that adds up to 7 new faces.Thats some pretty big change.
- Jeropotato

That's if the Oilers think they need that many more.

MacT doesn't get any more of a break than Tambs would have this summer.

Real change while keeping the integrity of the core together.

Obviously, some have personal preferences to hold on to their favourites like Gagner/Paajarvi/Hartikianen, but I don't see a problem with moving those guys out for the right return per se.

Still, I can only count 16 keepers on a 23 man roster right now. If I do the highly complex math, that adds up to 7 new faces.Thats some pretty big change.
- Jeropotato

There aren't too too many guys that are actually addition by subtracting. It's about upgrading on players, and if we don't feel like we can do it than we should be hanging on to guys like Horcoff in the mean time.

best part is the female dog slap
- AlEx_OiL

MacT doesn't get any more of a break than Tambs would have this summer.

Real change while keeping the integrity of the core together.

Obviously, some have personal preferences to hold on to their favourites like Gagner/Paajarvi/Hartikianen, but I don't see a problem with moving those guys out for the right return per se.
- Morris

Couldn't agree more.

It shouldn't be hard to keep the intergrity together. Have your big 5 and everyone else.

Couldn't agree more.

It shouldn't be hard to keep the intergrity together. Have your big 5 and everyone else.
- Lahey

I think we can do a lot bringing in two top 9 wingers and a #6 defensemen. In fact, I think we could probably do it for around 5 million total (provided we were able to pull some strings and move some salary out). The top 2 dman situation is still pressing, but we could do a lot by simply getting a little bigger and tougher.

not really and yes really Google my Location with out the AB
- AlEx_OiL

You precious Peruvian you.
I was going to ask what you meant by your location a while back.

I've always wanted to go to that seemingly magical place after having read about it.

Cool poop.

I think we can do a lot bringing in two top 9 wingers and a #6 defensemen. In fact, I think we could probably do it for around 5 million total (provided we were able to pull some strings and move some salary out). The top 2 dman situation is still pressing, but we could do a lot by simply getting a little bigger and tougher.
- Morris

Bring in another top 4 d-man and push N.Shultz to the bottom pairing full time

Hemsky isn't worth a late first and a prospect. How many times do you need to be told. No one has even considered giving that up for him the last three years. Why on earth would they do it in the offseason when he is on the books for a ridiculous sum of 5 million? You are delusional.
- Oneonta Penguin

You fukking idiot - if Kyle Quincey can get a 1st these things are indeed possible.