Still the same weak bottom-6 as we had last year. In fact, I'd argue it even weaker. Are you ready for another bottom-10 finish?
- MaximumBone

No its not. Jones missed most of the year. Gordon in. Brown was only here for 25 games. Add a top 6 LWer and a MUCH better backend and its a vastly improved roster.

Why would we throw in Marincin? We could just offer sheet them and they get a 3rd rounder instead. Gotta manage those assets better than that.
- Ihatebrianburke

Offer sheet is a waste of time. They match unless its a gross overpayment.

We need AT LEAST 1 more FO winning bottom six C with some offense (preferably 2) and probably two bottom six wingers (one to bring serious grit and one who brings some offense). Of course, I'd prefer players who can play a solid defensive game as well.

Looking at the remaining players in FA, I'd be looking at guys like like Vinny Prospal, Lombardi, Brent, Malholtra, or even Wellwood as the centres. Wellwood would obviously be a last resort, but he still qualifies. On the wings I'd be looking into Morrow, Jagr, Larose, Cleary, Mueller, Boyes, and perhaps even Nodl.
- MaximumBone

Ridiculous. None of those guys are upgrade on Center. And your wingers are either not an upgrade or will want to be paid top 6 money.

Still need a C/W. In fact I'd consider it a selling point of any winger we were looking at if they could take draws.

Would have liked to be in on Peverley.

Still need a C/W. In fact I'd consider it a selling point of any winger we were looking at if they could take draws.

Would have liked to be in on Peverley.
- Morris

hecht or steckel?

To all those suggesting we offer sheet Stewart, then when St. Louis matches offer sheet peitrangelo, you do realize one we offer sheet Stewart, every other team would offer sheet peitro because they know stl is in a bind. You would have to offer sheet both at the same time. That said I still think stl would match both and then trade Oshie or Perron to get under. That trade would not be with the team that put an offer sheet on 2 of their players. No to offer sheets this year

your thoughts on antropov, hecht or steckel as centres?
- deks1

Antropov is inconsistent (wildly so year to year) and not defensively great, but he can bring some offense and is average at FOs. Steckel brings physicality and FO ability, but nothing else. He's slow as a tortoise, too. Hecht is getting up there in age, but still brings a solid defensive game (from what I saw of him). His offense seems to be declining and FOs were never really his forte.

In summary, meh. They're solid options but none of them really have the right combination for what we need IMO. That being said, there's little else on the market so we may have to settle.

Antropov is inconsistent (wildly so year to year) and not defensively great, but he can bring some offense and is average at FOs. Steckel brings physicality and FO ability, but nothing else. He's slow as a tortoise, too. Hecht is getting up there in age, but still brings a solid defensive game (from what I saw of him). His offense seems to be declining and FOs were never really his forte.

In summary, meh. They're solid options but none of them really have the right combination for what we need IMO. That being said, there's little else on the market so we may have to settle.
- MaximumBone

trades trades trades trades!

We'll see if we're ACTUALLY in on Jagr, but with 10 teams under 5 mill in cap space, there are some guys we can try to target if we lose out there.

To all those suggesting we offer sheet Stewart, then when St. Louis matches offer sheet peitrangelo, you do realize one we offer sheet Stewart, every other team would offer sheet peitro because they know stl is in a bind. You would have to offer sheet both at the same time. That said I still think stl would match both and then trade Oshie or Perron to get under. That trade would not be with the team that put an offer sheet on 2 of their players. No to offer sheets this year
- massa_3

You do realize that you can not do that? Cant offer the same draft picks on different offer sheets. And Stewart and AP both have to sign those offer sheets. Its their choice. Do you think they'll sign an offer sheet from Edmonton when there are other teams talking to them as well?

The offer sheet suggestion is ridiculous.

You do realize that you can not do that? Cant offer the same draft picks on different offer sheets. And Stewart and AP both have to sign those offer sheets. Its their choice. Do you think they'll sign an offer sheet from Edmonton when there are other teams talking to them as well?

The offer sheet suggestion is ridiculous.
- Iggysbff

Was about to say the same thing. No offer sheeting two at once. Consecutive offer sheets would make MacT a real persona non grata around the league, and again I contest he'd then have to start scrambling to lock up our RFAs (ignoring team needs in the process) to prevent someone from poaching them, and he'd have little cap flexibility when they did. I would bet in the end adding Stewart and AP would necessitate moving one of Nuge, Yaks, Eberle or Schultz AND maybe also one of PRV and Gagner.

Stewart and Pietrangelo are great players and they fill a need, but I'm not so enamoured with them that I want to sacrifice our existing core and four picks for one of them. If we do move one of the core guys, I want it to be on our own terms, and not out of panic.

It's a bold strategy for NHL 13, but not one I like in real life.

No its not. Jones missed most of the year. Gordon in. Brown was only here for 25 games. Add a top 6 LWer and a MUCH better backend and its a vastly improved roster.
- Iggysbff

But we lost Horcoff and (likely) Hemsky in the bottom-6. Horcoff is- in my opinion- a better and far more complete player than Gordon. Hemsky has the ability to produce offense pretty well anywhere (little as it may be) so that's a hit as well. That roster has VERY little scoring depth and maintains our status as a 2 line team. That 4th has absolutely ZERO scoring power and the 3rd also lacks offensive substance. We can't risk having a bottom-6 that's a non-factor again on Jones' ability to regain his offensive game.

I also argue the defensive strength of those lines. Gordon is great in his own end and Paajarvi has a developing D game, but that 4th line is certainly lacking. Lander is young, Smyth is slow as hell, and Brown brings very little defensively.

But we lost Horcoff and (likely) Hemsky in the bottom-6. Horcoff is- in my opinion- a better and far more complete player than Gordon. Hemsky has the ability to produce offense pretty well anywhere (little as it may be) so that's a hit as well. That roster has VERY little scoring depth and maintains our status as a 2 line team. That 4th has absolutely ZERO scoring power and the 3rd also lacks offensive substance. We can't risk having a bottom-6 that's a non-factor again on Jones' ability to regain his offensive game.

I also argue the defensive strength of those lines. Gordon is great in his own end and Paajarvi has a developing D game, but that 4th line is certainly lacking. Lander is young, Smyth is slow as hell, and Brown brings very little defensively.
- MaximumBone

Agreed. I still think we need another quality C/W and another experienced bottom 6 two-way guy to mitigate the loss of Horcoff. Some of the centres mentioned by you earlier could be among the better ones left in free agency.

Ridiculous. None of those guys are upgrade on Center. And your wingers are either not an upgrade or will want to be paid top 6 money.
- Iggysbff

Whats ridiculous about wanting some (frank)ing depth? Go back to your roster and tell me who moves up when anyone of those players get injured. I bet you'll have a hard time. I certainly did. Signing a guy like Prospal at around $2.5mill gives us options along both the wing and at C (he plays LW and C) in the case of injuries. Add a guy like Larose for $2mill and then you're covered.

Name me one of those guys that isn't a PROVEN upgrade over Lander. Lander may prove me wrong, but I'd rather have an insurance policy going into the season.

Agreed. I still think we need another quality C/W and another experienced bottom 6 two-way guy to mitigate the loss of Horcoff. Some of the centres mentioned by you earlier could be among the better ones left in free agency.
- Morris

Slim pickings I tell ya I couldnt find any better than what I did.

Slim pickings I tell ya I couldnt find any better than what I did.
- MaximumBone

On the bright side, I'm not of the opinion that we need too much more scoring in the top 6. So I'm not as gaga about the prospect of getting a true top 6 PWF LW at huge cost. I think if we have 5 true top 6ers and 7 quality bottom 6ers, we'd be in fine shape.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=427197


- laughs2907

Gosh darn those hackers!

Whats ridiculous about wanting some (frank)ing depth? Go back to your roster and tell me who moves up when anyone of those players get injured. I bet you'll have a hard time. I certainly did. Signing a guy like Prospal at around $2.5mill gives us options along both the wing and at C (he plays LW and C) in the case of injuries. Add a guy like Larose for $2mill and then you're covered.

Name me one of those guys that isn't a PROVEN upgrade over Lander. Lander may prove me wrong, but I'd rather have an insurance policy going into the season.
- MaximumBone

i'd entertain larose for 3rd line rw. still add a 4c. i certainly hope trading hemsky can cover at least one of these needs.

On the bright side, I'm not of the opinion that we need too much more scoring in the top 6. So I'm not as gaga about the prospect of getting a true top 6 PWF LW at huge cost. I think if we have 5 true top 6ers and 7 quality bottom 6ers, we'd be in fine shape.
- Morris

Same here. Larose is probably my favourite option off my list. He's proven he can play on and off with talent (Eric Staal 2009-2012) and produce at a reasonable level while providing solid defense. He's also physical and has speed to burn. The only questions are how much does we want, and can he play LW?

EDM still needs a 4C, 2LW, a 1D, n maybe a 3RW.

Jones has to bounce back to his 2011-2012 self if he expects to be that 3RW.
- TheNugeIsHuge

Why a 1d? I agree we don't have one, but do you think it wise to give up a bunch of assets for one now? The ones that might be available are either old or have poop contracts( Markov, Wisniewski come to mind). Why not ride out the guys we have for a season and see where we sit a year from now. It's not were heading into the SCF. Besides, our D has improved by the additions of Belov and Ferrence and the maturation of J Schultz and Petry.

wonder if MPS on the 3rd line with Gordon'll help him develop his 2 way game a lot

I'd also (frank)in love it if Jagr signed in EDM
- TheNugeIsHuge

Having Jagr I think would show our young guns how to be superstars in the league.

EDM still needs a 4C, 2LW, a 1D, n maybe a 3RW.

Jones has to bounce back to his 2011-2012 self if he expects to be that 3RW.
- TheNugeIsHuge

I could see him bouncing back with a full training camp and Eakins as coach. Hopefully he can put in 15 goals from the 3rd line

On the bright side, I'm not of the opinion that we need too much more scoring in the top 6. So I'm not as gaga about the prospect of getting a true top 6 PWF LW at huge cost. I think if we have 5 true top 6ers and 7 quality bottom 6ers, we'd be in fine shape.
- Morris

100% bubba
What's wrong with checking winger that can get 40 points while making room for GAgs and Yak so they can get a PPG and help keep the GA to a minimum?

I could see him bouncing back with a full training camp and Eakins as coach. Hopefully he can put in 15 goals from the 3rd line
- Ihatebrianburke

Same might be said about Eager, though its a bit of a reach.

Whats ridiculous about wanting some (frank)ing depth? Go back to your roster and tell me who moves up when anyone of those players get injured. I bet you'll have a hard time. I certainly did. Signing a guy like Prospal at around $2.5mill gives us options along both the wing and at C (he plays LW and C) in the case of injuries. Add a guy like Larose for $2mill and then you're covered.

Name me one of those guys that isn't a PROVEN upgrade over Lander. Lander may prove me wrong, but I'd rather have an insurance policy going into the season.
- MaximumBone

I wouldn't mind Vinny Prospal. He's a decent depth player. would add a lot of depth down the middle.

for some reason instead of making a huge risky trade. I wouldn't mind trading for less proven players. Like Pat Maroon and Dwight King, they would bring much needed size and have showed they can play, at least King has. Maroon has scored in the AHL, but would bring depth, size and scoring to the 4th line.

running either PRV or King in the top 6 and a 4th line of Maroon/Prospal/Joensuu would bring effective size to the oilers.

Having Jagr I think would show our young guns how to be superstars in the league.
- Ihatebrianburke

Not only that but guys like paajarvi and to a lesser extent Joensuu could learn how to protect the puck from the master.

Jagr also can play on any line and his size and skill would provide a different look offensively. Jagr is getting up there obviously but he still has the heart to play