Any suggestions as to who the bolded positions might be? Bolland might be a good pick up as a vet shutdown centre?
- hankthetank

Yeah that could be really enticing. It's tough, because you want the oil to get out without overpaying, but everything of course has a price.

I'd like to get a bunch of jack-of-all-trade guys and guys with potential to produce given the right linemates and see what sticks. Specifically, Brian Boyle, Justin Abdelkader, Matt Hendricks, Burmistrov, Zubrus, Antropov, Kulemin, Cooke, Nystrom, Pascal Dupuis.

And of course Clarkson, Clowe, Horton, Bickell. And for the right price Scott Hartnell

i don't neccasarily mean franchise players, and i don't think we're gonna be going after one of that ilk per se. but naming those trades drove my point home even further.
if those guys (kovalchuk, pronger etc) can be acquired for lesser quality players than rnh, then a player a step down (but one that can still can an real impact for us) can certainly be acquired by moving other pieces that still have value.
its been proven
- hugefemale dog77

Yes, sorry I misunderstood your original point. Any team with a top 10 pick and a good crop of prospects can acquire star players of this caliber. If there was ever a time for the Oil to so it is now.

Yeah that could be really enticing. It's tough, because you want the oil to get out without overpaying, but everything of course has a price.

I'd like to get a bunch of jack-of-all-trade guys and guys with potential to produce given the right linemates and see what sticks. Specifically, Brian Boyle, Justin Abdelkader, Matt Hendricks, Burmistrov, Zubrus, Antropov, Kulemin, Cooke, Nystrom, Pascal Dupuis.

And of course Clarkson, Clowe, Horton, Bickell. And for the right price Scott Hartnell
- Morris

whats your offer?

Yes, sorry I misunderstood your original point. Any team with a top 10 pick and a good crop of prospects can acquire star players of this caliber. If there was ever a time for the Oil to so it is now.
- coolehmon41

no worries. my longer posts tend to be abit convoluted.

and agreed

Of course people may disagree,( some people do nothing but come on here to disagree no matter what) but none of us actually know what will happen this summer with the Oilers, so instead I will add my opinions to the blog.

1. Ranger Danger - He does have a Issue, that is fixed now, that caused him to leave the NHL for 3 years. It's a risk to sign him because of the nature of it, but even as a 3rd pairing, it would be a good one, especially when you think our likely 3rd pair right now is Klefblom and the new Russian.

3. The Offering - No, too expensive and doesn't give the team what they actually need, which is size and two way play (though he is not bad) We need a Horcoff replacement, that costs half.

5. Trade for a Defenseman? - No idea, who knows what would happen. I very much doubt a top pairing defense man will be available, so MacT will settle on adding as many 2nd pairing defense man as possible, as depth has always been a issue with the injuries. He will fill out the D with a couple signings, but nothing major. (None really available anyway)

6. Would You Deal a Super Kid? - Yes, but not now. Only way to get that stud number 1 defenseman. I have posted before about trades, that GM's base their trades on the overall, like cap hit, contract, player stats, age, etc,but mostly on the total actual trade value. In terms of trade value, the Oilers list from top to bottom would be Hall, Yak, RNH, Erbele, Schultz, and Klefblom (because though he starts his entry level contract, he actually hasn't played yet) All of these players though would be in the top 100 in terms of actual trade value. People thought CBJ got hosed with the Nash trade, but they didn't, because Nashs cap/salary/performance/age didn't add up to what he was actually worth. Turned out it was a good trade for CBJ, not so great as thought for NYR.
Gags trade value is very low, because he is unsigned and one year from UFA, so he wouldn't be worth the other kids for that reason (unless your milbury of course)

7. Goalie! I said this one before Jason LaBarera would be a likely pickup. I think unless Louie drops in their lap cheap, the team will stick with Duby for another year.

8. Too Much Hartikainen - Actually, judging from last year, this should be more likely Too little Hartikainen when he played in the NHL. He read the tea leaves, knew there would be too much pressure to maintain a stable position on the team, and got out of Dodge before it happened. The love for him I do not understand. He never performed close to expectations, he is really slow, and just didn't seem that committed to doing what it will take to stay on the team.

9. Draft Daze - Who knows? One of the media boys stated (can't remember which one, think it was Bob Staufer) that the Oilers were making a play for number 5, or at least lay a major hint to that as well as trade down.

10. What Next MacT? - Fine with that, but also keep a eye out on Keith Acton. Assistant for a long time, and of course, a former Oiler.

I could see the Oilers trading this year's first round pick for some immediate help.
- hankthetank

hope so

if you're this excited about getting Paul Ranger... chances are your team is going to be in trouble in a few months.
- SuperHenderson13

no way we have dallas Eakins as head coach, no way this could go wrong hes like ralph kruger just the bad cop version

no way we have dallas Eakins as head coach, no way this could go wrong hes like ralph kruger just the bad cop version
- time2produce

your sarcasm is so full of rational and thought provoking points as to why Eakins is surely the wrong choice that I think most of us have come around to your way of thinking.
thank you for that.

I find it funny that you can be so adamant about such a highly sought after coach being the wrong choice, all the while espousing how badly we needed one of the veteran coaches that just got fired and didn't get it done in his previous job. with much better teams I might add.

give the guy a chance before we decide on what was right or wrong. do I need to name the number of successful first time hires?

btw-how did veteran coach pat Quinn do during his time here? what about tom renney?

MacTavish doesn't strike me as intelligent.
- Boinker

I like him so far.

actually its danger ranger not ranger danger. and he is a quality Dman. he was on his way to being a top pairing or top 4 dman with the bolts until he had personal reasons for leaving hockey (believed he was addicted to pain killers after shoulder surgery).

you rang?
- rangerdanger94

I think player development is starting to become an issue for the Oil. Teams lose their will to compete and succeed if they fail to accomplish a positive result over an extended period of time. MacT has signaled he wants to change the culture.

I do not think the Oil have a top 6 problem. I think almost all their problems stem from their inability to compete in their own end. And, they give up too many easy chances. Soft goals are a killer of a young team's spirit.

The idea that Weber would not help the Oil is beyond ludicrous. Move Weber and Nashville goaltending to Edmonton and the Oil instantly become dark horse contenders for Stanley.

I love this young Edmonton team but MacT understands the future has to be now. And, if things do not improve next year the long term prospects may start to decline.

Please, can everyone stop identifying the x number of players that are untouchable. Everybody is available for the right price. MacT will likely move a top player and get a very substantial improvement in the team's ability to compete.

The idea the Oil brain trust would have no interest in Weber is an insult even to the casual hockey student.

I think player development is starting to become an issue for the Oil. Teams lose their will to compete and succeed if they fail to accomplish a positive result over an extended period of time. MacT has signaled he wants to change the culture.

I do not think the Oil have a top 6 problem. I think almost all their problems stem from their inability to compete in their own end. And, they give up too many easy chances. Soft goals are a killer of a young team's spirit.

The idea that Weber would not help the Oil is beyond ludicrous. Move Weber and Nashville goaltending to Edmonton and the Oil instantly become dark horse contenders for Stanley.

I love this young Edmonton team but MacT understands the future has to be now. And, if things do not improve next year the long term prospects may start to decline.

Please, can everyone stop identifying the x number of players that are untouchable. Everybody is available for the right price. MacT will likely move a top player and get a very substantial improvement in the team's ability to compete.

The idea the Oil brain trust would have no interest in Weber is an insult even to the casual hockey student.
- spatso

Cloutier is the only one who lists 'untouchables' with any regularity.

Richard Cloutier: Ranger Danger!
- Maxbone

When blogger mentions Ranger and has no clue about his days in TB you have to wonder about it.

4. Weber? Ummm...No
I got bored and went to CapGeek. I must be reading this wrong, because what I'm seeing makes absolutely no sense. So the Preds owe Shea Weber over the next six seasons $68mil in signing bonus and $80mil in contract? $148mil over the next six years?
- Richard Cloutier

You are reading it wrong. They owe him $80 million over that six years and $68 of it comes in the form of a signing bonus. The salary column is really the total compensation - salary + bonus. So, the salary portion of his total compensation is $1 million for the next three years.

I'm not sure about this but I believe the difference is in terms of when the player receives the money. The signing bonus is paid in a lump sum on day 1 of the new contract year and the salary is paid in installments over the course of the season.

I hate you. New Edmonton blogger! Renew! Renew!
- fry

Go back to Calgary, you have a good blogger

Monahan to the Flames & they actually love all the talk about him dropping - he fits perfectly in what they need & what they're after.

He will not get by the Flames at #6, this from a very reliable source(as Cloutier likes to put it) within the organization.

Haha I love that you think Bozak is not going to sign with the Leafs but will sign with the Oilers to be on the 3rd line.

You could not be more out to lunch if you think he's signing anywhere for less than 4.5

"If I'm the GM, Hall, Eberle, Nuge, Yakupov, JSchultz and Klefbom are untouchables."

Haha

A couple points: Re the greatness of Tyler Bozak, try reading some of the Leaf blogs about this player before singing his praises. Much to be desired.

And as for Hartikainen, the Oilers did not screw this one up. The boy just never came to play. The Oiler mistake was to see him as a big bruising power forward. He is not one now. One has to question his motivation and desire to become one.
- maroussi

"much to be desired" would mean he's good

"leaves much to be desired" Is what you wanted to say.

"If I'm the GM, Hall, Eberle, Nuge, Yakupov, JSchultz and Klefbom are untouchables."

Haha
- SameOld

Klefbom being the best prospect in the organization would likely not be trade bait.


But yes it laughable Clouts throws him in the stupid 'untouchable' list he loves.

Correy Potter 2.0?

I am not too upset about Temmu leaving for the KHL. Lotsa potential in there to be the Finnish Cam Neely. However, what we saw with the Oilers was the potential to be Brad Isbister.

I agree that anyone can be moved. Would people here move one of the top guys Re: Eberle or Yakupov if it could get you Mike Green and Alzner from Washington? I would make that trade in a heartbeat and the Oil would be in the playoffs next year.

MacTavish doesn't strike me as intelligent.
- Boinker

concurred, those years wthout a helmet are becoming apparent, he should get out of the limelite, not be a press hog, stay in his office, build a nice spreadsheet (or hire an assistant to do it it for him) and put on a helmet