Are you kidding me? All of our problems nearly solved.We can then move Gagner+ for an upgrade on d with no worries about a gaping sweaty hole between the legs of Yak and Hall, and if we draft a C,he can play another year of Jr and a year or 2 of AHL hockey before becoming an Oiler.Mac T would be God like if he could pull that off.
- Jeropotato

then buyout richards at the end of the year because he'll be terrible!! 5M are you kidding? 3.5 as high as I'd go. Never sign a buyout candidate, I thought we learned that with barker.

then buyout richards at the end of the year because he'll be terrible!! 5M are you kidding? 3.5 as high as I'd go. Never sign a buyout candidate, I thought we learned that with barker.
- TheNugeIsHuge

5 mill is way more then he will go after but also
don't compare brad Richards to cam barker lol that's no a fair comparable

then buyout richards at the end of the year because he'll be terrible!! 5M are you kidding? 3.5 as high as I'd go. Never sign a buyout candidate, I thought we learned that with barker.
- TheNugeIsHuge

I think Richards has the ability to still put up anywhere from 55 to 70 points over the next few years. Keep in mind whose system he is playing in right now. He is on the wrong side of 30 but he is a proven winner, has a cup and conn smythe trophy. Do not compare him to Barker.

He is exactly what we need for mentoring in the locker room and stepping up when the kids have an off game. He would be an excellent pick up in the free agency market, even at 5 mill. We will not get any discounts when it comes to UFA signings to insulate our top guys.

To get quality we need to trade quality. The only quality we are willing to trade (consensus) is outside of our fab 5. If we want quality from the UFA market, we need to overpay a bit. Plain and simple. Everyone is frustrated with being patient through the draft.

then buyout richards at the end of the year because he'll be terrible!! 5M are you kidding? 3.5 as high as I'd go. Never sign a buyout candidate, I thought we learned that with barker.
- TheNugeIsHuge

Okay Brad richards...Cam Barker...one is a proven winner and the other has never proven sh*t... brutal comp.
I'm not looking at Richie as a long term solution, just someone to help get us over the hump. I don't think he is that washed up, I think he has just had it with the gay system Torts has him in. Pretty sure he would do better in a system that encourages a little offense and creativity.3 years at 15M is not so bad. Hell, we paid Hemmer 10 over 2.

Horton is so good in the playoffs. Here's to hoping he will dawn the Oiler Jersey, probably not though

I think Richards has the ability to still put up anywhere from 55 to 70 points over the next few years. Keep in mind whose system he is playing in right now. He is on the wrong side of 30 but he is a proven winner, has a cup and conn smythe trophy. Do not compare him to Barker.

He is exactly what we need for mentoring in the locker room and stepping up when the kids have an off game. He would be an excellent pick up in the free agency market, even at 5 mill. We will not get any discounts when it comes to UFA signings to insulate our top guys.

To get quality we need to trade quality. The only quality we are willing to trade (consensus) is outside of our fab 5. If we want quality from the UFA market, we need to overpay a bit. Plain and simple. Everyone is frustrated with being patient through the draft.
- ystoil

he's 33YO has 1P in 10 playoff games this year. Won his cup and conn smythe a decade ago.

if he ages like smytty has, you'll be regretting that 3 year deal in december

he's 33YO has 1P in 10 playoff games this year. Won his cup and conn smythe a decade ago.

if he ages like smytty has, you'll be regretting that 3 year deal in december
- TheNugeIsHuge

That's why we save one compliance buy out

Honestly though, I wouldn't expect him to slow down substantially until he hits 35 or 36, so the last part of the deal. By then, maybe we have developed the centre well enough to steal minutes from him.

That's why we save one compliance buy out

Honestly though, I wouldn't expect him to slow down substantially until he hits 35 or 36, so the last part of the deal. By then, maybe we have developed the centre well enough to steal minutes from him.
- ystoil

don't think buyouts should be contingency plans

he's 33YO has 1P in 10 playoff games this year. Won his cup and conn smythe a decade ago.

if he ages like smytty has, you'll be regretting that 3 year deal in december
- TheNugeIsHuge

Bah...he is having a sh*t playoff,no doubt, but he was on pace for a 60pt season in a terrible defensive system. All I'm saying is that if we sign him for 3 yrs,15M we can:
A) Trade Gagner for help on D
B)Trade Gagner and not have to dress another 18 yo "savior" to replace him. The kid can actually be afforded time to develope.
C)Afford it. At least for 2 years...then the cap needs to go up.Not that we should worry.
D)Afford it. Who gives a sh*t, it's Katz's money.
E)Attract other free agents by acquiring a well liked, well repected NHL veteran. Don't beleive me, check out Twitter today.
F)Have a guy in the room that guys like Hall,Ebs and RNH can actually look up to with respect. Sorry, not sure Horc has that effect on the young guys.

Yeah, his days of point per game averages and conn Smythe trophies are over, but there is still value in him.

don't think buyouts should be contingency plans
- TheNugeIsHuge

I agree that would be stupid. I think he has 2 years left as a good 2C, and maybe a couple years after that as a utility guy.

Bah...he is having a sh*t playoff,no doubt, but he was on pace for a 60pt season in a terrible defensive system. All I'm saying is that if we sign him for 3 yrs,15M we can:
A) Trade Gagner for help on D
B)Trade Gagner and not have to dress another 18 yo "savior" to replace him. The kid can actually be afforded time to develope.
C)Afford it. At least for 2 years...then the cap needs to go up.Not that we should worry.
D)Afford it. Who gives a sh*t, it's Katz's money.
E)Attract other free agents by acquiring a well liked, well repected NHL veteran. Don't beleive me, check out Twitter today.
F)Have a guy in the room that guys like Hall,Ebs and RNH can actually look up to with respect. Sorry, not sure Horc has that effect on the young guys.

Yeah, his days of point per game averages and conn Smythe trophies are over, but there is still value in him.
- Jeropotato

Agreed. Except having Yakupov and maybe Paajarvi (or wait for it..... Horton) on his wings, we may be pretty damn close to a point per game guy the next couple years. I mean if Whitney can keep producing, why can't Richards

Bah...he is having a sh*t playoff,no doubt, but he was on pace for a 60pt season in a terrible defensive system. All I'm saying is that if we sign him for 3 yrs,15M we can:
A) Trade Gagner for help on D
B)Trade Gagner and not have to dress another 18 yo "savior" to replace him. The kid can actually be afforded time to develope.
C)Afford it. At least for 2 years...then the cap needs to go up.Not that we should worry.
D)Afford it. Who gives a sh*t, it's Katz's money.
E)Attract other free agents by acquiring a well liked, well repected NHL veteran. Don't beleive me, check out Twitter today.
F)Have a guy in the room that guys like Hall,Ebs and RNH can actually look up to with respect. Sorry, not sure Horc has that effect on the young guys.

Yeah, his days of point per game averages and conn Smythe trophies are over, but there is still value in him.
- Jeropotato

it's not a terrible idea. Don't know whether I'd trade Gagner for D help or move him to wing. He's a great player, just doesn't work well in krueger's system as a C.
Hall-RNH-Ebs
Yak-Richards-Gags
MPS-Horc-Hemsky/Bickell/Stalberg/whoever
Brown-Smithson-Lander/whoever

trade the pick+ prospects for D help and pray to god Khaira or someone turns out/return gagner to C/sign a UFA when Richards is done.

Depth'd be phenomenal.

it's not a terrible idea. Don't know whether I'd trade Gagner for D help or move him to wing. He's a great player, just doesn't work well in krueger's system as a C.
Hall-RNH-Ebs
Yak-Richards-Gags
MPS-Horc-Hemsky/Bickell/Stalberg/whoever
Brown-Smithson-Lander/whoever

trade the pick+ prospects for D help and pray to god Khaira or someone turns out/return gagner to C/sign a UFA when Richards is done.

Depth'd be phenomenal.
- TheNugeIsHuge

this year yak was 19, eberle broke his finger, RNH played with one shoulder, J schultz was worn out form being used to 40games per year in college.

If that was the depth chart next year, EDM could potentially make the playoffs. Injuries and lack of maturity were big factors this year.

We saw what Yak can do with good quality teammates at the end of the year.
We saw what Nuge could do last year
We saw (sort of near) what Ebs could do last year (although lucky SH% and easy comp)
We saw how good Schultz was for the first 20 games.

Next year could be the year they take that next step and begin to contend or at least play meaningful games in march and april

this year yak was 19, eberle broke his finger, RNH played with one shoulder, J schultz was worn out form being used to 40games per year in college.

If that was the depth chart next year, EDM could potentially make the playoffs. Injuries and lack of maturity were big factors this year.

We saw what Yak can do with good quality teammates at the end of the year.
We saw what Nuge could do last year
We saw (sort of near) what Ebs could do last year (although lucky SH% and easy comp)
We saw how good Schultz was for the first 20 games.

Next year could be the year they take that next step and begin to contend or at least play meaningful games in march and april
- TheNugeIsHuge

Go check out Willis' article on Cult of Hockey. He wrote how Nuge faced toughest competition of forwards and outchanced them or had more shots for than against. He also had an unsustainable low shooting percentage, likely due to that bummed shoulder. His defensive game improved and I'm sure when that shoulder is good to go, he will be putting up points.

Go check out Willis' article on Cult of Hockey. He wrote how Nuge faced toughest competition of forwards and outchanced them or had more shots for than against. He also had an unsustainable low shooting percentage, likely due to that bummed shoulder. His defensive game improved and I'm sure when that shoulder is good to go, he will be putting up points.
- ystoil

I'm really not worried about him. Nuge shot at 5.1% because of his shoulder. I expect a big bounce back from him. I think eberle will do a little better, but I think it's unreasonable to expect more than 65 points.

Schultz could put up 50 points. Seriously. His PPG this year would have had him at like 46P or something had he played a full season. Don't hold me to that. Writing from memory

MacT says centre at the draft is priority 1. Says Mackinnon, barkov, Monahan is what he wants and has had talks about moving up and down.

Says re-upping Gagner is highest priority.




AND FOR GOD'S SAKES SOMEONE ELSE SAY SOMETHING

MacT says centre at the draft is priority 1. Says Mackinnon, barkov, Monahan is what he wants and has had talks about moving up and down.

Says re-upping Gagner is highest priority.




AND FOR GOD'S SAKES SOMEONE ELSE SAY SOMETHING
- TheNugeIsHuge

Where did you hear or see this?

Where did you hear or see this?
- ystoil

he's on somewhere. Some guy on twitter's live tweeting him.

Look up @colinpriestner he's still tweeting everything

are you Arkansas dave ruttager??

same guy, just a different way to look at the world. I still think Clouts sucks!!
- newmy

Nope, i ride or die with my teams
- PinkSock

You could have just said no and not a quote from one of the gayest movie's and movie franchises of all time.

Go check out Willis' article on Cult of Hockey. He wrote how Nuge faced toughest competition of forwards and outchanced them or had more shots for than against. He also had an unsustainable low shooting percentage, likely due to that bummed shoulder. His defensive game improved and I'm sure when that shoulder is good to go, he will be putting up points.
- ystoil

Amen. My personal pick in terms of who's going to be our best #1 pick.

which staal? I don't know who rags is lol
- TheNugeIsHuge

Rags = Rangers. They're talking Marc Staal. And they're bang on. If The Rangers were willing to trade Marc Staal for Sam Gagner, then the Oilers should have done it already. (but, no way they're willing to do it)

MacT says centre at the draft is priority 1. Says Mackinnon, barkov, Monahan is what he wants and has had talks about moving up and down.

Says re-upping Gagner is highest priority.




AND FOR GOD'S SAKES SOMEONE ELSE SAY SOMETHING
- TheNugeIsHuge

possibly Monahan, the others aren't realistic.

possibly Monahan, the others aren't realistic.
- Dirte

Well Mac t has discussed moving up so it is realistic, although may not be probable.

I hope trade up.

Rags = Rangers. They're talking Marc Staal. And they're bang on. If The Rangers were willing to trade Marc Staal for Sam Gagner, then the Oilers should have done it already. (but, no way they're willing to do it)
- Dirte

I would poop my pants of joy if that happened. I think Staal goes to Carolina for Skinner or 5th overall.

Staal's the ideal type of guy EDM needs. LH top pairing shut down guy. He'd be a perfect partner for J Schultz