I think Hemsky was under estimated this year. He broke his foot but that is a rare injury. It is not like he keeps having concusions and he would have kept playing on it if we were a playoff contender. He played a bunch of games in Europe and the NHL. Almost a full season this year. I don't think this can be called an injury season compared to his others. He might be past that. He started the season huge and now that Yak and hall are having a bromance. Maybe we will find the Hemsky is the playmaker that eberle has been looking for. Put that together with a healthy RNH and that line might gel. They will be feather weights but they will have to learn to toughen like the sedins did. Or Switch RNH and Gagner might be better since the bromance might need the play making of RNH and we know gagner and Hemsky have chemistry.

Like MacT said. There is internal development that needs to be done and if the team improves, which I think they will with a training camp and the worlds. Plus RNH's surgery. The top 6 might be ok untouched.
- bsteinley

I think MacT will do a great job this year. He really has so much experience in the NHL and how things work. Player, coach and now a GM. He seems pretty confident as well. So I think it's a great change from Tambellini.

I don't know that Mac T has much time for sentiment himself. To say that Mac T liked this guy or that when he was a coach doesn't mean a thing. It's a tough business, but I dont think he will have any problem looking at this roster objectively. He knows,as well as the rest of us, that the 06 run was a long time ago.
- Jeropotato

Agreed. I'm sure he'll make an educated decision.

Has anyone brought up Lecavalier as a #2 center. I am assuming he will be bought out and I like the idea of him between Hall and Yaks
- andymaury

MacT likes Gags. Despite what people think, gags is good as a winger though. Vinny went to high school essentially in Alberta. This is his old stomping grounds. I don't know whether he has fallen in love with Florida whether or not but he once was an Oiler fan. A bunch of my friends went to the same private school as him (I recommend sending your daughters, lots of good hockey players graduate from there so you can marry them off to a rich kid).

I think he wouldn't be opposed to it but he would be another 5 mill price tag for a few years. I think if macT keeps his love affair with gags going, I don't see another 5 mill center in our future.

Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov, Justin Schultz and Oscar Klefbom all aren't going anywhere

With this thinking, the Oilers will not go anywhere, you need to give to get.

Mac T hasn't said anything stupid,at least not to the press,since he was named GM. Care to elaborate on your thoughts?
- Jeropotato

As many as "8 new players on our roster next year." Don't get me wrong. I have loved MacT so far as GM but how is it even possible to squeeze 8 new people into our roster without blowing up the team. I think the simple reality of the league limits him from adding 8 players. If he plans on improving. He might add 8 including prospects but I think he is preparing people for worst case scenarios and has no intention of doing them. I see him making the small changes he talks about most of the time.

I also like to leave statements like that open so people like you don't jump on me to elaborate. Some people like him, some don't. I am on the liking him part right now. Liked him as a player, hated him as a coach but liking him as a GM. I just wanted to appease people with that sentence so people would focus on what the actual point of what I was saying. Which was the rest of it. But no matter how neutral I try to write it, someone always finds a way.

MacT likes Gags. Despite what people think, gags is good as a winger though. Vinny went to high school essentially in Alberta. This is his old stomping grounds. I don't know whether he has fallen in love with Florida whether or not but he once was an Oiler fan. A bunch of my friends went to the same private school as him (I recommend sending your daughters, lots of good hockey players graduate from there so you can marry them off to a rich kid).

I think he wouldn't be opposed to it but he would be another 5 mill price tag for a few years. I think if macT keeps his love affair with gags going, I don't see another 5 mill center in our future.
- bsteinley

love affair with Gags? I saw the presser and he talked about Gags effort and leadership...all good things.I didn't hear him say he was untouchable. Gags is as of this time an important part of the team.If an opportunity to trade Gagner to improve the club comes up,I didn't hear Mac T say he wouldn't do it. Having said that,I don't think he is actively being shopped,unless contract talks go sour.

Are you suggesting moving Eberle to the LW spot? Hemmer sucks on LW.
- Jeropotato

I guess, if that is how it has to be. I haven't known heard a coach complain that a winger couldn't switch sides before. They do it on PP, odd line changes, when a player is caught on the ice, PKs, international tournaments and sometimes on a whim. But I will take your word that he can't play LW. So Eberle would then.

As many as "8 new players on our roster next year." Don't get me wrong. I have loved MacT so far as GM but how is it even possible to squeeze 8 new people into our roster without blowing up the team. I think the simple reality of the league limits him from adding 8 players. If he plans on improving. He might add 8 including prospects but I think he is preparing people for worst case scenarios and has no intention of doing them. I see him making the small changes he talks about most of the time.

I also like to leave statements like that open so people like you don't jump on me to elaborate. Some people like him, some don't. I am on the liking him part right now. Liked him as a player, hated him as a coach but liking him as a GM. I just wanted to appease people with that sentence so people would focus on what the actual point of what I was saying. Which was the rest of it. But no matter how neutral I try to write it, someone always finds a way.
- bsteinley

I think 7-8 new players in the system under contract for sure will happen. I dont think we will see 7-8 new players on opening night tho.

Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov, Justin Schultz and Oscar Klefbom all aren't going anywhere

With this thinking, the Oilers will not go anywhere, you need to give to get.
- blk4x499

UFA market.

Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov, Justin Schultz and Oscar Klefbom all aren't going anywhere

With this thinking, the Oilers will not go anywhere, you need to give to get.
- blk4x499

No team can go out and get a guy like Richards or depth role players like Fraser, Ellerby, Penner, Stoll and Greene, or secondary scoring like Justin Williams, or veteran reinforcements like Robyn Reghr, without giving up a stud 21 year old.

And don't get me started on how much it costs to bring in guys like Rob Scuderi, Willie Mitchell and Jake Muzzin via free agency. 7.5 million dollars total? WOAH MAN.

I think MacT will do a great job this year. He really has so much experience in the NHL and how things work. Player, coach and now a GM. He seems pretty confident as well. So I think it's a great change from Tambellini.
- mbxiphos1527

I think so too, but I think he has it right when he talked about looking at the defense and help there. Then adding... I forget how he put it but muscle to the line up. Character guys. I think our back 6 could use them. However to do what he needs with the forwards, he will have to unload some contracts and Horcoff is the largest. Smyth is the least useful for what he has in mind. However he doesn't sound like those two are who he is focused on which means there is really only Landers and Browns spot to play with on the fourth line (if Hartkinen is playing 3rd line with Paajarvi).

Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov, Justin Schultz and Oscar Klefbom all aren't going anywhere

With this thinking, the Oilers will not go anywhere, you need to give to get.
- blk4x499

Who needs to get. These guys are already better than LA's roster. We just needed them healthy. All we need to do is train them to play 30+ minutes a game and we are golden.

Who needs to get. These guys are already better than LA's roster. We just needed them healthy. All we need to do is train them to play 30+ minutes a game and we are golden.
- bsteinley

I hope you're being facetious...

love affair with Gags? I saw the presser and he talked about Gags effort and leadership...all good things.I didn't hear him say he was untouchable. Gags is as of this time an important part of the team.If an opportunity to trade Gagner to improve the club comes up,I didn't hear Mac T say he wouldn't do it. Having said that,I don't think he is actively being shopped,unless contract talks go sour.
- Jeropotato

I said that. Gags has a price but MacT has signaled him out as being a leader on and off the ice and being the type of Oiler that they need. I am thinking they are sharing a hotel on away games.

No team can go out and get a guy like Richards or depth role players like Fraser, Ellerby, Penner, Stoll and Greene, or secondary scoring like Justin Williams, or veteran reinforcements like Robyn Reghr, without giving up a stud 21 year old.

And don't get me started on how much it costs to bring in guys like Rob Scuderi, Willie Mitchell and Jake Muzzin via free agency. 7.5 million dollars total? WOAH MAN.
- Morris

I think so too, but I think he has it right when he talked about looking at the defense and help there. Then adding... I forget how he put it but muscle to the line up. Character guys. I think our back 6 could use them. However to do what he needs with the forwards, he will have to unload some contracts and Horcoff is the largest. Smyth is the least useful for what he has in mind. However he doesn't sound like those two are who he is focused on which means there is really only Landers and Browns spot to play with on the fourth line (if Hartkinen is playing 3rd line with Paajarvi).
- bsteinley

Horcoff also has a no trade clause for the next three years sadly. He gets paid too much for how little he does. If he does what he says he's going to do this summer, we could be cutting close to or a bit over 13M. That leaves us alot of space. And that doesn't include the prospects that are UFA's this coming season. And they'll more than likely look for another team who needs them considering the oilers never play them. I think Hartikainen should go as well. He's just not cutting it for this team. Yeah, he's big but I don't think we should hold onto him as he hasn't proved anything yet.

I said that. Gags has a price but MacT has signaled him out as being a leader on and off the ice and being the type of Oiler that they need. I am thinking they are sharing a hotel on away games.
- bsteinley

It all depends on what they pay gags... if he is wanting north of 5 mill he may not be the leader macT thought... lmfao...

Horcoff also has a no trade clause for the next three years sadly. He gets paid too much for how little he does. If he does what he says he's going to do this summer, we could be cutting close to or a bit over 13M. That leaves us alot of space. And that doesn't include the prospects that are UFA's this coming season. And they'll more than likely look for another team who needs them considering the oilers never play them. I think Hartikainen should go as well. He's just not cutting it for this team. Yeah, he's big but I don't think we should hold onto him as he hasn't proved anything yet.
- mbxiphos1527

I dont think many expect Harti back next year... which is too bad because he was damn effective cycling the puck down low... and could be an awesome option for line 3 or 4...but i think smyth takes that spot..

I think 7-8 new players in the system under contract for sure will happen. I dont think we will see 7-8 new players on opening night tho.
- Jeropotato

I agree. But isn't that what he said? Playing next year. as many as 8? Did I hear that wrong? I know the number was given to him by the press but he did say that right? We already have 2 new guys. Simple draft has us probably signing 2. I think with Kassy's performance he might go to OKC this year (and yes, I got the part of him being an old oiler from some idiot on my blog and he was wrong, I should have checked it). Maybe an entry level for one of our picks from last year. We are at 4 there. We need a back up. Then a dman. That is 6. So I can see 8 new players signed. But unless he is moving Duby, Hemsky, Horcoff, Smyth, one of lander and brown. There is no way he is getting 8 new guys. That would allow for a change of 1 d and a signing of 1 plus a backup. Or he could go for 3 changes on D and keep duby. Switch out Nick, add Striet and Klef. I guess it is possible but the D is going to be shiny new or he is dumping our back 6 like they were women you woke up with after a family reunion (this applies to flames fans).

I dont think many expect Harti back next year... which is too bad because he was damn effective cycling the puck down low... and could be an awesome option for line 3 or 4...but i think smyth takes that spot..
- saskoil21

Exactly. Both of them are replaceable though. I think he needs to go. Like you said, Smyth can possibly fill the hole until we find a replacement though. Which will hopefully be soon.

I hope you're being facetious...
- Morris

I was. Your burn was better but point is. I wouldn't trade those 5 for his team.

Horcoff also has a no trade clause for the next three years sadly. He gets paid too much for how little he does. If he does what he says he's going to do this summer, we could be cutting close to or a bit over 13M. That leaves us alot of space. And that doesn't include the prospects that are UFA's this coming season. And they'll more than likely look for another team who needs them considering the oilers never play them. I think Hartikainen should go as well. He's just not cutting it for this team. Yeah, he's big but I don't think we should hold onto him as he hasn't proved anything yet.
- mbxiphos1527

Maybe on Hartianen. But he cycles well down low. He has potential. We have seen it. I would like to see what an actual training camp would do for this kid. He is still young. We almost gave up on Paajarvi. Hartkinen is still better than Brown, Smyth and Lander (although brown does fight well). If we can get a second round pick for Hartkinen... sure. Anything less, I say we give him one more year.

I think Hemsky was under estimated this year. He broke his foot but that is a rare injury. It is not like he keeps having concusions and he would have kept playing on it if we were a playoff contender. He played a bunch of games in Europe and the NHL. Almost a full season this year. I don't think this can be called an injury season compared to his others. He might be past that. He started the season huge and now that Yak and hall are having a bromance. Maybe we will find the Hemsky is the playmaker that eberle has been looking for. Put that together with a healthy RNH and that line might gel. They will be feather weights but they will have to learn to toughen like the sedins did. Or Switch RNH and Gagner might be better since the bromance might need the play making of RNH and we know gagner and Hemsky have chemistry.

Like MacT said. There is internal development that needs to be done and if the team improves, which I think they will with a training camp and the worlds. Plus RNH's surgery. The top 6 might be ok untouched.
- bsteinley

Hemsky will be traded to the first taker. I even assume we'd take anything we can get as long as we can get the 5 off the books.

A big, reasonable skating crasher would do WAY more for ebs and the nuge than hemsky can. They dont need more skill, they need size snd space created for them.

No one saying he isnt talented, but its clear hes no longer what this team needs. And hes not strong on the 3rd either.

Maybe on Hartianen. But he cycles well down low. He has potential. We have seen it. I would like to see what an actual training camp would do for this kid. He is still young. We almost gave up on Paajarvi. Hartkinen is still better than Brown, Smyth and Lander (although brown does fight well). If we can get a second round pick for Hartkinen... sure. Anything less, I say we give him one more year.
- bsteinley

Yeah. I think Brown should stay on the active roster. He needs to. It's the only guy who can really fight. I'd be fine with Harti being traded for a second round. Or what might be better would be to include him in a package deal possibly.

Who needs to get. These guys are already better than LA's roster. We just needed them healthy. All we need to do is train them to play 30+ minutes a game and we are golden.
- bsteinley

Joking right? LA is in another class from us. It aint even close at present