Dude, flames fans can't read. If they were smart they wouldn't be flames fans.

Monahan isn't slipping.
Bozak is not signing for under 4.5 mil.
Lou will be traded and not bought out. They might not get a lot but teams DO want him. Edmonton should be on that list. I would rather have lou at 5.25 than Hiller at 4.5. Plus we can get Lou for a song.
Hartkinen left too soon, this might have been his year but MacT signed that card when he said he would keep Smyth. We need a guy with Hartkinens size that can cycle low more than we need a 38 year old that only does wrap arounds.
Oilers should try to move up by at least one spot in the draft.
They should try to pull a dallas but not for Bozak, for Bickel, Horton, Stalberg, Zubrus or Streit. We need to replace Hemsky, add a top dman and size to our back 6. Not a number 2 center to our third line and then try to draft another one.

Goalie is the big issue. We can't live with a Dannis. We need a backup that can play 20 games. Price between that and a starter this year is only going to be about 2 mill if you look at goalies available by UFA and teams shopping. We should trade for rights and sign a starter. Price between average goalie Theodore (3 mil) and starter Backstrom (5 mil) is worth paying for what you get. We have no assets to trade and there are too many teams fishing in the same small pond this year. Sign a 1A or 1B before July 1 should be the first priority. Signing after will cost us more money for what we get.
- bsteinley

What team is going to trade for luwhoopo's "dipietro" like contract, you donkey? Not even Garth snow would, even with Charles Wang pulling the strings!

Hall, Eberle, nuge, yakupov, j.schultz and klefbom is all you want to keep after 7 years of rebuilding?! 3 out of 5 are first over all picks, hahhahahahah
- Emcee27

huh?

Hall, Eberle, nuge, yakupov, j.schultz and klefbom is all you want to keep after 7 years of rebuilding?! 3 out of 5 are first over all picks, hahhahahahah
- Emcee27

You guys have Baertchi to be excited about and nothing else. I'm so glad Feaster runs your organization. now that's something to laugh about

Richard Cloutier: Ranger Danger!
- Maxbone

So you want to improve the Oilers, but want to do it by trading away spare parts? How is that gonna work?

its not about the dollars. its the term. who's unclear on this?
lu aint overpaid, but hes got 9 years left on that abortion of a contract.
id take hiller at 4.5 for one more year, or dubs at 3.5 for one more year over 9 years of lu every day of the week. and so would most gm's in the league. hence not being moved yet

goalie is NOT the big issue. u need to get this idea out of your head. we can find a backup or someone to compete with dubs without breaking the bank or even looking too hard.

defencemen, size in our top 6 and a tougher bottom 6 are WAYY more pressing needs.
- hugefemale dog77

i'd inquire about khudobin once playoffs is over and this whole roman josi payday is going to make it pretty interesting in st louis with shattenkirk and pietrangelo.

i hope mac-t can snag even just minimum bottom 6 players for horcoff and hemsky.

So you want to improve the Oilers, but want to do it by trading away spare parts? How is that gonna work?
- hankthetank

isn't that how the rangers got nash? isn't that what cbj traded for gaborik?
sj for thornton? devils for kovalchuk? etc etc

spare parts might be abit of an overstatement regarding some of those players, but certainly not core pieces. so the point remains; WE DONT HAVE TO TRADE ONE OF OUR PRIZED KIDS TO LAND A BIG FISH.
in fact, that's normally NOT the way these trades get accomplished.

i'd inquire about khudobin once playoffs is over and this whole roman josi payday is going to make it pretty interesting in st louis with shattenkirk and pietrangelo.

i hope mac-t can snag even just minimum bottom 6 players for horcoff and hemsky.
- deks1

I really have no idea what we can get for horcoff. just feels like he's untradeable. but who knows?

as far as hemsky goes, I think what u suggested is exactly what we'll get for hemmer barring a big package for a star.
I hear a lot of people throwing around what type of pick he'd be worth, but I think most gms would be hesitant to deal any pick straight up for him. that's a lot of money going their way.

isn't that how the rangers got nash? isn't that what cbj traded for gaborik?
sj for thornton? devils for kovalchuk? etc etc

spare parts might be abit of an overstatement regarding some of those pieces, but certainly not core pieces. and the point remains; WE DONT HAVE TO TRADE ONE OF OUR PRIZED KIDS TO LAND A BIG FISH.
in fact, that's normally NOT the way these trades get accomplished.
- hugefemale dog77

The Oilers have a lot of needs. They aren't a playoff team. They've got some nice, young forwards and an offensive d-man in Schultz. They are still missing a lot of pieces. If I were an Oilers fan I'd be sick of rebuilding. Great to have young forwards but why not trade one of them for a nice package that would improve the team?

isn't that how the rangers got nash? isn't that what cbj traded for gaborik?
sj for thornton? devils for kovalchuk? etc etc

spare parts might be abit of an overstatement regarding some of those pieces, but certainly not core pieces. and the point remains; WE DONT HAVE TO TRADE ONE OF OUR PRIZED KIDS TO LAND A BIG FISH.
in fact, that's normally NOT the way these trades get accomplished.
- hugefemale dog77

Not to mention that trading away one or two of our "prized kids" would only create another hole to fill.

What people continually fail to realize is that the Oilers literally had nothing of value when they hit rock bottom. Every asset traded away either returned a bust, an underachiever, or a player on the decline.

All this speculating can't be good for you, Richard. Take a few weeks off, watch the games on TV; remember, the game is bigger than the Oilers.

You guys have Baertchi to be excited about and nothing else. I'm so glad Feaster runs your organization. now that's something to laugh about
- Ihatebrianburke

Already stated I was drunk and it was 3 out of 6, you donks lol. And it's Sven Bartschi, you tool. And we do have many to be excited about, TJ Brodie, Laurent brossoit, max reinhart, Jon Gilles, Joni ortio, pat sieloff, Tyler wotherspoon, John gaudreau, micheal Ferland, Markus granlund...... And not to mention Ben hanowski, Kenny agostino, and mark cundari who we acquired. All decent to upper level prospects waiting to emerge, and waiting to be in a winning environment.

Paul Ranger isn't going to sign with the Oilers because of his relationship with Eakins. He didn't want to play in the NHL last year and wanted to stay in Toronto to be close to family. He's got issues and I won't be surprised if he stays in AHL playing for the Marlies again.

Bozak is going to get 4.5mil+ and I don't think you want to pay him that much for a 3rd line centre.

I'll give Clouts an E for effort when it comes to blogs. At least he's not Garth blogging about anything happening with other teams that could affect the Sabres. Imagine how many blogs Clouts will have then!

I really have no idea what we can get for horcoff. just feels like he's untradeable. but who knows?

as far as hemsky goes, I think what u suggested is exactly what we'll get for hemmer barring a big package for a star.
I hear a lot of people throwing around what type of pick he'd be worth, but I think most gms would be hesitant to deal any pick straight up for him. that's a lot of money going their way.
- hugefemale dog77

horcoff will only go to contender...so...what are the options...

hemsky, a bad contract return, but serves a decent purpose on the edm roster will come back. the other team will use hemsky for the year and let him walk, gaining cap space after next season.

isn't that how the rangers got nash? isn't that what cbj traded for gaborik?
sj for thornton? devils for kovalchuk? etc etc

spare parts might be abit of an overstatement regarding some of those players, but certainly not core pieces. so the point remains; WE DONT HAVE TO TRADE ONE OF OUR PRIZED KIDS TO LAND A BIG FISH.
in fact, that's normally NOT the way these trades get accomplished.
- hugefemale dog77

But but but the oilers suck. Three first overalls. How many first overalls do they need. Why can't they win with all their high draft picks that are still boys. They will never afford all their good players like everyone else manages to do. None of the kids will want to sign longterm. We must trade the kids for plugs. Gagner only had one good game ever. Hemsky is untradeable and is injuerd more than anyone ever. Did I about cover it?

But but but the oilers suck. Three first overalls. How many first overalls do they need. Why can't they win with all their high draft picks that are still boys. They will never afford all their good players like everyone else manages to do. None of the kids will want to sign longterm. Gagner only had one good game ever. Hemsky is untradeable and is injuerd more than anyone ever. Did I about cover it?
- Ihatebrianburke

Someone's a little sensitive I see.

The Oilers have a lot of needs. They aren't a playoff team. They've got some nice, young forwards and an offensive d-man in Schultz. They are still missing a lot of pieces. If I were an Oilers fan I'd be sick of rebuilding. Great to have young forwards but why not trade one of them for a nice package that would improve the team?
- hankthetank

tons of needs. and no not a playoff team. and we are sick of rebuilding.

since tambs tore it down, itll be year 4 next year. I think the playoffs are a must and what will be expected.
I think adding a few important pieces, along with first and foremost the furthur maturation of said kids, could solve that problem. it's easy to forget that the nuge is 19, yaks is 18, hall is 21 Schultz was a rookie etc etc.

but the real point is I don't think we need to trade one of our kids to get to the next level. those teams that struggled and built through the draft didn't put up with the tough times, just to trade their core kids as soon as they're ready to take that next step.

klefbom, 2013 1st, prv, gagner, marincin, gernat, musil, hemsky, two 2013 seconds, 2014 1st etc etc imo is enough to get some real value back.

star for star isn't the norm.

now if we get offered lucic or pietrangelo or something crazy, then yes im sure mact deals one of em. but that's not how this is going to play out

You guys have Baertchi to be excited about and nothing else. I'm so glad Feaster runs your organization. now that's something to laugh about
- Ihatebrianburke

And who is running your organization? It wasn't tambellini was it? Is it mactavish now? Or has it always been Lowe? I love how you guys just pick the BPA at the draft, that's just amazing!

Already stated I was drunk and it was 3 out of 6, you donks lol. And it's Sven Bartschi, you tool. And we do have many to be excited about, TJ Brodie, Laurent brossoit, max reinhart, Jon Gilles, Joni ortio, pat sieloff, Tyler wotherspoon, John gaudreau, micheal Ferland, Markus granlund...... And not to mention Ben hanowski, Kenny agostino, and mark cundari who we acquired. All decent to upper level prospects waiting to emerge, and waiting to be in a winning environment.
- Emcee27

ill agree with tj brodie for sure. he looks like the goods. but only know the rest of em marginally

And who is running your organization? It wasn't tambellini was it? Is it mactavish now? Or has it always been Lowe? I love how you guys just pick the BPA at the draft, that's just amazing!
- Emcee27

You pick the BPA because they become valuable assets you can then go and trade to fill the holes.

Paul Ranger isn't going to sign with the Oilers because of his relationship with Eakins. He didn't want to play in the NHL last year and wanted to stay in Toronto to be close to family. He's got issues and I won't be surprised if he stays in AHL playing for the Marlies again.

Bozak is going to get 4.5mil+ and I don't think you want to pay him that much for a 3rd line centre.

I'll give Clouts an E for effort when it comes to blogs. At least he's not Garth blogging about anything happening with other teams that could affect the Sabres. Imagine how many blogs Clouts will have then!
- mmold

good post. and agreed

I read that about ranger too. weird.

Already stated I was drunk and it was 3 out of 6, you donks lol. And it's Sven Bartschi, you tool. And we do have many to be excited about, TJ Brodie, Laurent brossoit, max reinhart, Jon Gilles, Joni ortio, pat sieloff, Tyler wotherspoon, John gaudreau, micheal Ferland, Markus granlund...... And not to mention Ben hanowski, Kenny agostino, and mark cundari who we acquired. All decent to upper level prospects waiting to emerge, and waiting to be in a winning environment.
- Emcee27

Ouch I misspelled a weird European name. You sure got me. And winning environment? Have you forgot that you're a flames fan? You're picking ahead of us in the draft

tons of needs. and no not a playoff team. and we are sick of rebuilding. since tambs tore it down, itll be year 4 next year. I think the playoffs are a must and what will be expected.
I think adding a few important pieces, along with first and foremost, the maturation of said kids could solve that problem. its easy to forget that the nuge is 19, yaks is 18, hall is 21 Schultz was a rookie etc etc.

but the real point is I don't think we need to trade one of our kids to get to the next level. those teams that struggled and built through the draft didn't put up with the tough times, just to trade their core kids as soon as they're ready to take that next step.

klefbom, 2013 1st, prv, gagner, marincin, gernat, musil, hemsky, two 2013 seconds, 2014 1st etc etc imo is enough to get some real value back.

star for star isn't the norm.

now if we get offered lucic or pietrangelo or something crazy, then yes im sure mact deals one of em. but that's not how this is going to play out
- hugefemale dog77

It's too bad, really. I wish there still were star for star trades.
I was just curious what Oilers fans thoughts were on whether or not they'd trade one of those guys. Seems counter-productive to label all of them as "untouchable." Like you said, if a trade offer came along that would improve the team and it involved moving one of them, MacT would likely pull the trigger. I wonder what the Oilers could get for one of them. Probably a fair bit. A top pairing d-man or an entire third line. Will be interesting to see what happens going forward. If the Oilers don't make the playoffs next year I could see something big happening.

Paul Ranger isn't going to sign with the Oilers because of his relationship with Eakins. He didn't want to play in the NHL last year and wanted to stay in Toronto to be close to family. He's got issues and I won't be surprised if he stays in AHL playing for the Marlies again.

Bozak is going to get 4.5mil+ and I don't think you want to pay him that much for a 3rd line centre.

I'll give Clouts an E for effort when it comes to blogs. At least he's not Garth blogging about anything happening with other teams that could affect the Sabres. Imagine how many blogs Clouts will have then!
- mmold

You'd be surprised how much we're willing to pay 3rd line centers around here.

good post. and agreed

I read that about ranger too. weird.
- hugefemale dog77

I don't know what his family issues are but it kept if from hockey for a few years. Glad he can still play. He looks to be a 5/6 defensemen so adds depth.

ill agree with tj brodie for sure. he looks like the goods. but only know the rest of em marginally
- hugefemale dog77

That's fair. Surprisingly, our AHLers at the end of the year, instilled some fight and winning attitude in the dressing room. These guys are actually fighting for a spot on the roster, something young guys haven't been able to do for years in calgary. Culture, leadership and coaching style have changed for the better. People actually need to worm hardto earn their spot, which means they will work hard on the ice surface, bringing value and a winning attitude to the dressing room. A lot of our prospects come from winning cultures..... In the long run, this will have a huge impact!