Lindholm is north of 6 feet and currently weighing 192lbs. Doesnt seem small to me.
- Jeropotato

Hockeydb lists him as 5'11 183
hockeysfuture 6'0 192
wikipedia 6'0 183
Carolina hurricanes scouts 6'0" 181
central scouting 5'11 181

so maybe taller but to me quite similar size to Gagner

trading picks, prospects and secondary player isn't 'blowing or wads'

this is exactly the argument ive had with iggy many times before we just stopped and decided to agree to disagree.
It's like there's no middle ground with your way of thinking. we either do nothing,or we 'blow our wads and trade yakupov.
- hugefemale dog77

There's plenty of middle ground. Do we need a top 5 defender? No.It would be nice, but last time I checked 11 teams made it to the playoff's without one.
I'm not suggesting we do nothing,either.
I suggest we try to maximize the return on Horc and Hemmer and go hard after quality,but fair priced,UFA's. We're still too young at our core to put a SCC together for 2013-14, but that doesn't mean we cant improve our roster.
I would like to know how we will ice 4 quality centers when we deal away Gagner this year? Scratch that.How about 2 quality Centers?

Hockeydb lists him as 5'11 183
hockeysfuture 6'0 192
wikipedia 6'0 183
Carolina hurricanes scouts 6'0" 181
central scouting 5'11 181

so maybe taller but to me quite similar size to Gagner
- Morris

Very true. But I think we can expect better seasons from Eberle and Nuge. Hall is already an All-Star in my books, but he will still improve on the fine details of him game.Ditto for J.Schultz. Yak is a wild card,he might have a sophmore slump, or he might score 30 goals. Gagner and Smid might have plateaued...but there is still some hope for improvement. Belov couldn't possibly be worse than Whitney.Petry, Dubey,and MPS have all shown gradual improvement,and there is no reason to expect that to suddenly stop.

Overall,I expect the core of this team to be better.

What we need is some defensively sound players to compliment them, not the addition of another superstar.Simple additions of players similar to Kulemin, Boyd Gordon, Cal Clutterbuck and Andrew Ferrence would greatly improve this team.Not enough to win a cup, but enoughto compete. It's not until we are either on the doorstep of championship glory, or our prospect pool is deep enough (and valueble enough) that we blow our wads going after the big guns.
- Jeropotato

The oil will make the playoffs if all the kids can not just out up good "on pace for" numbers but actually hit those numbers
If at the end of next year you are saying well this guy was on pace for this many points and that guy was on pace for that many .... Then the oil won't be in
They need full 82 game seasons or at least close to that with near point per game totals from a few guys
I think with some help on the back end and some 3rd line scoring they will be just fine .... But if they don't get that and the kids only have decent on pace for numbers they are still I'm trouble

I say get a top d and some 3 line scoring and they will make er

Hockeydb lists him as 5'11 183
hockeysfuture 6'0 192
wikipedia 6'0 183
Carolina hurricanes scouts 6'0" 181
central scouting 5'11 181

so maybe taller but to me quite similar size to Gagner
- Morris

He told Jason Greggor the other day he was 6ft,192lbs, when he pointed out all the discrepencies in his his listed size. He also likes fishing,Golf and playing XBOX with his friends and still lives with his parents. By the time he's pro, he will be much bigger than Gags. I saw a pic of him in a tight sexy stretch shirt, and he is not built like RNH by any means.

There's plenty of middle ground. Do we need a top 5 defender? No.It would be nice, but last time I checked 11 teams made it to the playoff's without one.
I'm not suggesting we do nothing,either.
I suggest we try to maximize the return on Horc and Hemmer and go hard after quality,but fair priced,UFA's. We're still too young at our core to put a SCC together for 2013-14, but that doesn't mean we cant improve our roster.
I would like to know how we will ice 4 quality centers when we deal away Gagner this year? Scratch that.How about 2 quality Centers?
- Jeropotato

dunno about gags. gonna be tough.

but if that was is in reference to my trading him for mcdonagh in that dude's proposal. I jump at that deal for the young, two way, top pairing guy that's gonna anchor my defence for years to come. and then worry about that later.

we shouldn't be CONSIDERING improving our roster. we HAVE to improve our roster.
we don't NEED a top pairing superstud, but do we need a top 4 guy?? hell yes. our defence could actually be worse than last year if that's even possible.

The oil will make the playoffs if all the kids can not just out up good "on pace for" numbers but actually hit those numbers
If at the end of next year you are saying well this guy was on pace for this many points and that guy was on pace for that many .... Then the oil won't be in
They need full 82 game seasons or at least close to that with near point per game totals from a few guys
I think with some help on the back end and some 3rd line scoring they will be just fine .... But if they don't get that and the kids only have decent on pace for numbers they are still I'm trouble

I say get a top d and some 3 line scoring and they will make er
- Redmile247

Hey, if the kids struggle or only marginally improve we are in trouble no matter what. This team is going to live and die by those players.

The oil will make the playoffs if all the kids can not just out up good "on pace for" numbers but actually hit those numbers
If at the end of next year you are saying well this guy was on pace for this many points and that guy was on pace for that many .... Then the oil won't be in
They need full 82 game seasons or at least close to that with near point per game totals from a few guys
I think with some help on the back end and some 3rd line scoring they will be just fine .... But if they don't get that and the kids only have decent on pace for numbers they are still I'm trouble

I say get a top d and some 3 line scoring and they will make er
- Redmile247

I think u kinda eluded to this, but along with those additions (which I agree with and we NEED) the single biggest thing might actually be the further maturation of those kids. they don't get it done. we're done

Die
- HouseArrest187

dunno about gags. gonna be tough.

but if that was is in reference to my trading him for mcdonagh in that dude's proposal. I jump at that deal for the young, two way top pairing guy that's gonna anchor my defence for years to come. and then worry about that later.

we shouldn't be considering improving our roster. we HAVE to improve our roster.
we don't NEED a top pairing guy, but do we need a top 4 guy?? hell yes. our defence could actually be worse than last year if that's even possible.
- hugefemale dog77

The roster WILL be improved. The toughest spot to fill will be the 3C, just because the importance of the position. I disagree about the D being worse.Belov has to be be better than Whitney.I would like a veteran 3 pairing guy to baby sit Klefbom though, if he even makes the team.
But really. I've said it a dozen times...how hard can it really be to find a more effective 3rd liner than Ales Hemsky? How hard can it be to upgrade over Jones and Petrell? Belanger? Khabibulin?

I think u kinda eluded to this, but along with those additions (which I agree with and we NEED) the single biggest thing might actually be the further maturation of those kids. they don't get it done. we're done
- hugefemale dog77

agreed
I think just stay healthy
Play a little smarter defensively
They are too good for the points not too come

I think the Oilers are the reverse Detroit Red Wings: Everyone's going to peg them to make the playoffs every year from now on not based on anything they've done but just because they're a sexy pick

I think the Oilers are the reverse Detroit Red Wings: Everyone's going to peg them to make the playoffs every year from now on not based on anything they've done but just because they're a sexy pick
- Morris

this.

really pissed me off this year. retarded media picking them cause they were the 'sexy' pick.
that one cnnsi moron putting them 2nd or 3rd preseason??!!

and it makes us look bad, cause it somehow turned into oiler fans claiming on our team. when we did no such thing. ever.
anyone with a clue should've pretty much known that this teams was at best battling or a longshot for 8th

I think the Oilers are the reverse Detroit Red Wings: Everyone's going to peg them to make the playoffs every year from now on not based on anything they've done but just because they're a sexy pick
- Morris

It's kinda like that episode of Seinfeld with bizarro Jerry George and Kramer

I think the Oilers are the reverse Detroit Red Wings: Everyone's going to peg them to make the playoffs every year from now on not based on anything they've done but just because they're a sexy pick
- Morris

I hate to agree with Clouts, but the team does need another year of developing. Where we disagree is that I think the team can add quality depth without mortgaging the future, and improve enough to make the playoffs (or at least be in the convo). Also, a year from now "if" Lander,Marincin and Klefbom are legit NHL'ers, and our 2013 1st round prospect in looking ready, we will have much more wiggle room as other players such as Gags,Smid,Petry,etc will be much more expendable,and available for trade. Right now, we can only make 2 for 1 trades. In a year or2 maybe we can make 1 for 2 or 1 for 3 trades.

The roster WILL be improved. The toughest spot to fill will be the 3C, just because the importance of the position. I disagree about the D being worse.Belov has to be be better than Whitney.I would like a veteran 3 pairing guy to baby sit Klefbom though, if he even makes the team.
But really. I've said it a dozen times...how hard can it really be to find a more effective 3rd liner than Ales Hemsky? How hard can it be to upgrade over Jones and Petrell? Belanger? Khabibulin?
- Jeropotato

based on what? the plethora of times uve seen him play?
and you're penciling in a true rookie that's never played a game in north America. i think saying our defence HAS to better is wishful thinking at best. it very well could be worse. and i for one wouldn't be wiiling to take that chance.
we've gambled on dmen for 3 years now. foster, barker, Sutton, fistric etc etc. albeit we didn't have to gamble much, but NONE of them turned out. maybe fistric is a reasonable 7 i guess.

i keep hearing this we'll be better every year like it's a given or something.

until we prove that we ARE a much better team, it's far from fact.

Apparently he played wing all year and his 58% is coming from having taken a mere 67 faceoffs this season.

My understanding is that he actually has a similar skillset and weaknesses to Gagner: ridiculously high IQ, passing and playmaking skills off the charts, capable skater and a decent shot. Small and can be knocked off the puck. Lindholm is considered a good two-way player but I remember when Gagner was praised for his defensive play in his draft year, too.

Is there really that big a drop-off between Lindholm and Nurse or do you just like Lindholm more?
- Morris

I take Lindholm before nurse as well but completely believe Ristolinen is the best dman after that chubby Jones... Apparently Ristolinen is a mean MF with good size (6'3 208). He also possesses a cannon of a shot and a better offensive game. Nurse is superior in his defensive zone with limited offensive upside.

Personally, If were taking a Dman at 7, Ristolinen is the best option.

He told Jason Greggor the other day he was 6ft,192lbs, when he pointed out all the discrepencies in his his listed size. He also likes fishing,Golf and playing XBOX with his friends and still lives with his parents. By the time he's pro, he will be much bigger than Gags. I saw a pic of him in a tight sexy stretch shirt, and he is not built like RNH by any means.
- Jeropotato

I take Lindholm before nurse as well but completely believe Ristolinen is the best dman after that chubby Jones... Apparently Ristolinen is a mean MF with good size (6'3 208). He also possesses a cannon of a shot and a better offensive game. Nurse is superior in his defensive zone with limited offensive upside.

Personally, If were taking a Dman at 7, Ristolinen is the best option.
- JShack

risto seems like the safe all around pick. i wouldn't be opposed

already addressed this a few pages back. Somehow I doubt you actually laughed that much.
- Morris

IT would be nice but doubtful! I just want to see some changes..... Anything really just to show us they actually have a pulse! If he is available they should pick Nichuskin!