How about Brendan Gallagher? Sam Gagner? Tyler Seguin? Jonathan Huberdeau? Claude Giroux? Danny Briere? Tyler Ennis? Mike Cammalleri?

All smaller guys who got on pretty well.
- Morris

Didn't most of them struggle in year 2?

True. I realize that guys like RNH, Hall etc. had nothing more to prove at the junior level and that there is an age limit for th AHL. Tough decision. It's just too bad you guys didn't have a more solid vet presence when they were brought up. I think that is the biggest reason Feaster chose to retain guys like GlenX and Gio.
- TandA4Flames

Can't really disagree.

Didn't most of them struggle in year 2?
- TandA4Flames

I think we're agreed with the point that a small player in the NHL is only as good as his support network -- which on the Oilers, for Nuge, is bad.

He's struggled this year through not too much fault of his own, and I wish they had been more prepared to better utilize him. He's an NHL calibre player who can perform at the top level, and there was no way they were sending him down after a Calder-worthy campaign. What they did to provide conditions for him to succeed was lacking.

How about Brendan Gallagher? Sam Gagner? Tyler Seguin? Jonathan Huberdeau? Claude Giroux? Danny Briere? Tyler Ennis? Mike Cammalleri?

All smaller guys who got on pretty well.
- Morris

All guys were more substantially older than Nuge when they cam into the league except Gagner and Seguin. Gagner had the same issues and same flaws. He is STILL a defensive liability. Seguin and Huberdeau aren't comparable. Huberdeau and Seguin have bigger frames. The others were all older.

For some Backlund info if you want it:

http://flamesnation.ca/20...mikael-backlund-2013-wowy

Tough minutes, tough zone starts, makes the players around him better and contributes above average offence. Exactly the kind of player you win with, and Nuge could be a much higher ceiling version of him if he's handled properly.

Didn't most of them struggle in year 2?
- TandA4Flames

Does that really matter though? I mean to expect a kid not to struggle at some point seems far fetched. Regardless if they are 19 or 24. Rookies who play well always have a tough road ahead of them simply because teams figure them out.

I don't think age or size has anything to do with that. Landeskog has NHL size and he's struggling in year 2.

All guys were more substantially older than Nuge when they cam into the league except Gagner and Seguin. Gagner had the same issues and same flaws. He is STILL a defensive liability. Seguin and Huberdeau aren't comparable. Huberdeau and Seguin have bigger frames. The others were all older.
- DoubleDionn

And Seguin and Huberdeau had better vets supprting their play.

And Seguin and Huberdeau had better vets supprting their play.
- TandA4Flames

This is almost the ENTIRETY of Edmonton's problem.

Does that really matter though? I mean to expect a kid not to struggle at some point seems far fetched. Regardless if they are 19 or 24. Rookies who play well always have a tough road ahead of them simply because teams figure them out.

I don't think age or size has anything to do with that. Landeskog has NHL size and he's struggling in year 2.
- Lahey

I wouldn't really say that COL is handling him very well either. Year 2 and he is captain?

I think that is a little too much for a kid in an atmospere that obviously has some toxicity.

This is almost the ENTIRETY of Edmonton's problem.
- Morris

To clarify, not so much "better" vets, but vets that play in more important positions/roles. EDM isn't going to put Eager out 17mins a night with Hall and Nuge.

To clarify, not so much "better" vets, but vets that play in more important positions/roles. EDM isn't going to put Eager out 17mins a night with Hall and Nuge.
- TandA4Flames

Yeah, they're fine with guys like Horcoff, they just needed about 3 of him last year and this year.

All guys were more substantially older than Nuge when they cam into the league except Gagner and Seguin. Gagner had the same issues and same flaws. He is STILL a defensive liability. Seguin and Huberdeau aren't comparable. Huberdeau and Seguin have bigger frames. The others were all older.
- DoubleDionn

I'm not trying to oversell Nuge's size, but in what way isn't his 'frame' comparable to Seguin and Huberdeau? They're each around 6 feet or 6"1', and 175-185 pounds.

Are we making judgements on NHL readiness based on broadness of shoulders?

I'm not trying to oversell Nuge's size, but in what way isn't his 'frame' comparable to Seguin and Huberdeau? They're each around 6 feet or 6"1', and 175-185 pounds.

Are we making judgements on NHL readiness based on broadness of shoulders?
- Morris

Just look at them. Any objective observer can see Nuge isn't actually 6'1". They have him listed at the same size as Glencross. You've seen them both as an Oiler fan. Do you honestly think Nuge is the same size as Glencross?

Just look at them. Any objective observer can see Nuge isn't actually 6'1". They have him listed at the same size as Glencross. You've seen them both as an Oiler fan. Do you honestly think Nuge is the same size as Glencross?
- DoubleDionn

Glenny is certainly a little more filled out. The height may be correct but Nuge certainly doesn't weight the same.

Just look at them. Any objective observer can see Nuge isn't actually 6'1". They have him listed at the same size as Glencross. You've seen them both as an Oiler fan. Do you honestly think Nuge is the same size as Glencross?
- DoubleDionn

No, as I say I think Nuge is over six feet but about 170 pounds. Objective scouting reports with little incentive to lie would agree with me. He was 6'1/2", 165 pounds in his draft year, so even if he hadn't grown any he's not that different than Huberdeau at 6'1" 177 or Seguin at around 6'0" 182

No, as I say I think Nuge is over six feet but about 170 pounds. Objective scouting reports with little incentive to lie would agree with me. He was 6'1/2", 165 pounds in his draft year, so even if he hadn't grown any he's not that different than Huberdeau at 6'1" 177 or Seguin at around 6'0" 182
- Morris

I'd agree that's close to the truth.

No, as I say I think Nuge is over six feet but about 170 pounds. Objective scouting reports with little incentive to lie would agree with me. He was 6'1/2", 165 pounds in his draft year, so even if he hadn't grown any he's not that different than Huberdeau at 6'1" 177 or Seguin at around 6'0" 182
- Morris

nuge has 52pts in 60 games as a rook. but we shoulda sent him down?

what the fuk are we talking about here?

we're not talking about some 3rd round project. we're talking about an elite, bluechip first overall pick.