He might have made 2.5 million dollars worth of difference to their team's attitude this year.

Although in essence I agree with you we'll overpay with free agents until the team improves in the standings
- Morris

How does improving in the standings help with cold weather and high taxes?

yea it does. You think Brandon Prust is worth 2.5M?
- TheNugeIsHuge

Brian Gionta
Erik Cole
Mike Cammalleri

How does improving in the standings help with cold weather and high taxes?
- Reveen

trade Gagner, buyout Horcoff, draft Monahan, sign Bozak to 6 years, 5.5 million to replace Horcoff.

How does improving in the standings help with cold weather and high taxes?
- Reveen

Players will play on a winner and disregard other issues with the city itself. See Detroit.

Players will play on a winner and disregard other issues with the city itself. See Detroit.
- Lahey

Yeah, and it's not like Edmonton was this glorious city in the 80s that it isn't now.

Brian Gionta
Erik Cole
Mike Cammalleri
- Reveen

Three overpaid guys two of whom they moved.

Albertans have the sweetest deal in Canada when it comes to taxes. You know who has the worst? Quebec.... and that doesn't stop players from signing with the Habs.
- Reveen

Income taxes in Quebec aren’t pretty. Roughly a 10% difference in taxation rate at a pro hockey players salary from Alberta to Quebec. Not to mention the sales tax rates (which don’t make that much of a difference to a pro hockey player), are the highest in Canada (roughly tied with Nova Scotia, who are actually barely higher) as well at 15%.

Why wouldn't they want him? They would be getting something for nothing if they were cool with taking Nurse, which odds are they might be anyways.

Still Barkov is not as good as Nich or Monahan. Nor is he better than Gagner. People always think that bigger is an improvement. You still need talent. Who got the most points this year in the league? A good old short guy.

Barkov MAY someday be better than Gagner, I doubt it, because I don't think much of the games I have watched him play. Monahan on the other hand probably will be a number one center. Still Gagner is better than both next year.

I think a top 6 player at the age of 22 like gagner would move you up nicely in this draft. I think Nashville might be biting at that offer but I don't think we need to go that high. I think our third round pick will do it. All we really need to do is trade with Calgary. 1 spot and we get Barkov, Monahan or Nich. From worst to best in that order. All wins. Calgary is obviously looking to rebuild. Rumor is they like Lind. Also talk of them trading their picks around to grab a later first round to make it 4 firsts. Grab someone like Horvat. Plenty of options for them to stack their team this year if they are smart.

Edmonton on the other hand, we need 1 good top 6 man. We can use our second round picks for gambles.
- bsteinley

You're not serious are you? You think Nichushkin and even Monahan are better than Barkov? And yea, Gagner is better now but Barkov will almost certainly be better down the road. Most teams that aren't the Oilers actually draft for the future. You guys have been spoiled the last 3 years with 1st overall you forgot that.

I say they wouldn't want Gagner because they already have centres equal to or better. If the plan is to draft Nurse sure they would likely do it. It's just not what they need and someone may offer a need. I doubt a 3rd gets it done.

And I really don't see CGY passing on Barkov if he is there. Especially not by trading down with EDM so you can get the 2nd best C in this draft.

Th draft is NOT the answer to what ails the Oilers:
1. Let Stu pick the best guy available at number 7 and leave him in the minors to develop.
2. We need experiance, size and grit. So lets start by shedding some salary: Trade Hemsky to Phoenix for Rundblad
3. Trade Belanger to Phoenix (He played well there before) for a bag of pucks.
4. Trade Nick Schultz for a pick or whatever
5. We need a new big guy to play with Nuge and Ebs. Sign UFA Bryan (>150 hits) Bickle 6'4" 223lbs. He should good for 50 pts playing with Gretz and Kurri er sorry I mean Nug and Ebs.
6. We need an experienced big guy to play between Hall and Yaks. Sign Nik (>100 hits) Antropov 6'6" 240lbs. Remember how Blair McDonald had 46 goals and 48 assists playing with Gretz in 79/80? Well let Hall and Yaks bounce pucks off this fire hydrant!
7. Resign Paajarvi, he is just beginning to hit his stride
8. Resign Gags, he bleeds coppernblue
9. We need a gritty guy to play on our 3rd line with Paajarvi and Gags so sign Nathan Horton 6'2' 229lbs. From time to time double shift Hall to play on the third line with Gags and Horton. That way Horton is guaranteed to be good for >40 pts.
10. Symtty, Horc and Brown are our 4th line with Harti and Lander as extras.
11. We need a big L shot Dman so sign Robyn (>150 hits) Regehr 6'3" 225lbs. Pair him with Justin Schultz. Smid and Petry are the 2nd pairing. Rundblad/Klefbom/Potter round out the defense.
12. Bring in some guest coaches: Michael Peca to teach our forwards on how to win faceoffs; Isa Tikkanen to teach on being a pest; Scotty Bowman to teach Krueger and the staff on coaching!

There that was easy.
- redwolf

This is similar to what I've been saying all along but nobody listens lol. With the amount of cap space we have we're more than capable of doing this.

Income taxes in Quebec aren’t pretty. Roughly a 10% difference in taxation rate at a pro hockey players salary from Alberta to Quebec. Not to mention the sales tax rates (which don’t make that much of a difference to a pro hockey player), are the highest in Canada (roughly tied with Nova Scotia, who are actually barely higher) as well at 15%.
- Dirte

NS is rough right now. They just released a report that 97% of labour force growth in NS over the last 6 years has been workers 45 and older.

Nothing going on for young people in NS. People get their degrees and then get the hell out.

You're not serious are you? You think Nichushkin and even Monahan are better than Barkov? And yea, Gagner is better now but Barkov will almost certainly be better down the road. Most teams that aren't the Oilers actually draft for the future. You guys have been spoiled the last 3 years with 1st overall you forgot that.

I say they wouldn't want Gagner because they already have centres equal to or better. If the plan is to draft Nurse sure they would likely do it. It's just not what they need and someone may offer a need. I doubt a 3rd gets it done.

And I really don't see CGY passing on Barkov if he is there. Especially not by trading down with EDM so you can get the 2nd best C in this draft.
- TandA4Flames

I don't know why it's so far fetched that Nichuskin is better than Barkov. ISS has him ranked higher.

NS is rough right now. They just released a report that 97% of labour force growth in NS over the last 6 years has been workers 45 and older.

Nothing going on for young people in NS. People get their degrees and then get the hell out.
- Morris

That's a shame. I like NS. I mean, I've seen pretty limited amounts of it outside Halifax, but it's a nice place.

Players will play on a winner and disregard other issues with the city itself. See Detroit.
- Lahey

I saw Detroit yesterday, it is a great big pile of smashed assholes. I can't believe what a mess that city is, the downtown is a ghost town. Really really sad, looks like a city from an apocalypse movie.

I saw Detroit yesterday, it is a great big pile of smashed assholes. I can't believe what a mess that city is, the downtown is a ghost town. Really really sad, looks like a city from an apocalypse movie.
- ShooterMcGavin

But the areas NHL players live in, in the outskirts, Grosse Pointe and the likes, along with automotive company execs, are phenomenally beautiful.

yea it does. You think Brandon Prust is worth 2.5M?
- TheNugeIsHuge

yes, his bank statement concurs

I don't know why it's so far fetched that Nichuskin is better than Barkov. ISS has him ranked higher.
- Lahey

Draft is always unpredictable. A team may like nischuskins physical qualities and because lindholm Is a centre. If that happens, you may see drouin drop. Unlikely, but so was fowler slipping

Draft is always unpredictable. A team may like nischuskins physical qualities and because lindholm Is a centre. If that happens, you may see drouin drop. Unlikely, but so was fowler slipping
- ystoil

Most scout rankings have Barkov as the top euro in this draft.

As for Drouin, I still think FLA takes him over Mac. If that happens, I also wouldn't be surprised if TBL took Nich. Yzerman has his report with Russians. It just matters how they have things ranked. But it wouldn't shock me to see NSH get Mac at 4.

Cue the ridicule........

Most scout rankings have Barkov as the top euro in this draft.

As for Drouin, I still think FLA takes him over Mac. If that happens, I also wouldn't be surprised if TBL took Nich. Yzerman has his report with Russians. It just matters how they have things ranked. But it wouldn't shock me to see NSH get Mac at 4.

Cue the ridicule........
- TandA4Flames

I don't think anything really matters until after the combine. All it takes is one kid to impress physically or in the interview and the order is (frank)ed up.

Only thing I'd put money on is Seth Jones at #1.

no way. Drouin's got a decent chance at 1 or 2. A lot of rankings have him at 1. I doubt he slips out of top 3 unless TB loves Valeri.

Nurse that high because CAR needs a D man, hence my suggestion for the skinner/5th for M Staal swap
- TheNugeIsHuge

if either florida or colorado passes on jones and mackinnon, ill laugh my azz off

Th draft is NOT the answer to what ails the Oilers:
1. Let Stu pick the best guy available at number 7 and leave him in the minors to develop.
2. We need experiance, size and grit. So lets start by shedding some salary: Trade Hemsky to Phoenix for Rundblad
3. Trade Belanger to Phoenix (He played well there before) for a bag of pucks.
4. Trade Nick Schultz for a pick or whatever
5. We need a new big guy to play with Nuge and Ebs. Sign UFA Bryan (>150 hits) Bickle 6'4" 223lbs. He should good for 50 pts playing with Gretz and Kurri er sorry I mean Nug and Ebs.
6. We need an experienced big guy to play between Hall and Yaks. Sign Nik (>100 hits) Antropov 6'6" 240lbs. Remember how Blair McDonald had 46 goals and 48 assists playing with Gretz in 79/80? Well let Hall and Yaks bounce pucks off this fire hydrant!
7. Resign Paajarvi, he is just beginning to hit his stride
8. Resign Gags, he bleeds coppernblue
9. We need a gritty guy to play on our 3rd line with Paajarvi and Gags so sign Nathan Horton 6'2' 229lbs. From time to time double shift Hall to play on the third line with Gags and Horton. That way Horton is guaranteed to be good for >40 pts.
10. Symtty, Horc and Brown are our 4th line with Harti and Lander as extras.
11. We need a big L shot Dman so sign Robyn (>150 hits) Regehr 6'3" 225lbs. Pair him with Justin Schultz. Smid and Petry are the 2nd pairing. Rundblad/Klefbom/Potter round out the defense.
12. Bring in some guest coaches: Michael Peca to teach our forwards on how to win faceoffs; Isa Tikkanen to teach on being a pest; Scotty Bowman to teach Krueger and the staff on coaching!

There that was easy.
- redwolf

rundblad doesnt really have any of grit or experience. he's tall, so abit of size i guess. but doesnt really use it
belanger is almost untradeable. for anything
im not a n schultz fan at all. but we flat out dont have the depth or luxury to move a roster dman for nothing.
i think horton signing here is a longshot
if potter is in our top 6 again, that means we didnt help our depth issues much

Most scout rankings have Barkov as the top euro in this draft.

As for Drouin, I still think FLA takes him over Mac. If that happens, I also wouldn't be surprised if TBL took Nich. Yzerman has his report with Russians. It just matters how they have things ranked. But it wouldn't shock me to see NSH get Mac at 4.

Cue the ridicule........
- TandA4Flames

IMO It would be a mistake for Florida to take Drouin over MacKinnon, but that's just my personal preference. Barkov is going to be a beast, potential franchise player.

IMO It would be a mistake for Florida to take Drouin over MacKinnon, but that's just my personal preference. Barkov is going to be a beast, potential franchise player.
- Nucker101

yep

Brian Gionta
Erik Cole
Mike Cammalleri
- Reveen

cammalleri worth 6M?

trade Gagner, buyout Horcoff, draft Monahan, sign Bozak to 6 years, 5.5 million to replace Horcoff.
- Morris

Bozak is horcoff. If EDM signed Bozak to 5.5M I'd stop watching hockey. He's not even as good as gagner

trade Gagner, buyout Horcoff, draft Monahan, sign Bozak to 6 years, 5.5 million to replace Horcoff.
- Morris

How the (frank) did I miss this abortion?

Morris you know better.