God I hope so. Kind of curious how dev. camp went. Where the eff is McCurdy? He usually writes up a story reviewing everyone there...
- KHarris

Klef was damn good at development camp. I'd still give him lots o playing time in OKC for 3-4 months before he gets called up

Blockbuster Trade or BUST!!!

1) Gags + Smid OR Nschultz + 2014 2nd round pick to Philly for Coburn + Bschenn or Couturier.

2) Hemmer + 2014 1st rnd pick to Buffalo for Vanek... And while MacT is making deals with Buffalo kick the tires on Folingo, if they threw in prospect or Paajarvi could we get him in the deal??

This leaves the Oilers with:

Vanek-RNH-Ebs
Hall-Schenn/Couturier-Yak
Folingo/Joensuu-Gordon-Joensuu/Paajarvi
Symth-Lander-Jones
ex-Brown

Jschultz-Coburn
Petry-Ference
Nschultz-Belov/Klefbom
ex-Potter
- Oilgurrrl

you are a dreamer oil girl

Clouts: "It's not going to unravel the fabric of the universe if we deal a good player to get a different good player. Honest."

oh, so bang on. this was Tambo's problem, but it now appears to be an Oilers problem. The unwillingness to part with a player that has the potential to be good someday, even tho the team is terrible, soft and horribly imbalanced.

until Management grows a set to trade a good player for a different kind of good player, or two useful players, the team isn't going anywhere. I don't care if these particular players improve on their own. they are not the right mix, there is no way this many nifty danglers will ever win. they will be ripped apart by lesser, but tougher teams.

God I hope so. Kind of curious how dev. camp went. Where the eff is McCurdy? He usually writes up a story reviewing everyone there...
- KHarris

Here's a vid someone made of today...

I guarantee RC claims this was a joke in his next blog, and that we are the stupid ones for not getting it. It's what he does.
- Copper n Blue

No hits, No comments, No Cloutier. Only way to get rid of him. Yes i realize the irony in my statement.

Here's a vid someone made of today...


- laughs2907

Ask and the internet giveth. Awesome. Thanks man.

That's it.... time for a road trip to Lac La Biche....

We can pistol whip RC with chicken drumsticks
- Reveen

RC used to spin tunes at the La Biche Inn, possibly the toughest bar in the province of Alberta. that doesn't make RC tough, but it means he has some very tough friends. LLB is one of the toughest towns you'll ever visit. and if u are white, i wouldn't advise walking with a swagger and popping off. many a tough rig pig has left LLb with his confidence forever weakened (and a few less teeth).

just saying.

RC used to spin tunes at the La Biche Inn, possibly the toughest bar in the province of Alberta. that doesn't make RC tough, but it means he has some very tough friends. LLB is one of the toughest towns you'll ever visit. and if u are white, i wouldn't advise walking with a swagger and popping off. many a tough rig pig has left LLb with his confidence forever weakened (and a few less teeth).

just saying.
- seanjohn667

Doesn't he live in Boyle? Just saying.

You know, I love pugnacity, truculence, and preposterone as much as the next hockey fan, but the bottom line is that this team NEEDS upgrading. Whether it be Peter Mueller, Kyle Clifford or Dustin Penner means nothing to me so long as they're signed at a fair price for a reasonable term.

"But this team doesn't need more small skilled forwards!!1!"

No team can have enough skill, regardless of size. Obviously this team's need for tenacity and grit is more significant, but that shouldn't invalidate their willingness to take on more skill. Take Brunner and his asking price of $3mill as an example. Imagine if we could sign him to a 1 or 2 year deal at that price. Wouldn't you say our team had improved. Imagine him on a third line with Paajarvi and maybe another skilled FA pick-up (say Grabovski at $3.5-$4.5mill for 2-3 yrs) and suddenly you're thinking of a team fully capable of rolling three scoring lines. Wouldn't that be great?! Sure we'd get out "gritted" and likely lose our fair share of wall battles (not a guarantee considering Eberle's proficiency in "wall scrums"), but teams would have a hell of a time shutting down 3 skilled and possession-based scoring lines.

Something like this would be entirely acceptable to me:

Hall (6)- Gagner (4.5)- Yakupov (3.75)
TENACITY-CITY (1.5-2.5)- Nuge (3.75)- Eberle (6)
Paajarvi (1.5)- Gordon (3)- Brunner (3)
Jones (1ish)- 4C (1)- Brown (1ish)

Forward cap: $36.5mill
Defense cap: $17.5mill (w/ N. Schultz)
Goaltending cap: $4.5mill
Total cap: $58.5mill approx.

Offensively that line-up is pretty sexy. Defensively they could use some work, but they're by now means slouches. Paajarvi, Grabovski, and Nuge have fairly solid two-way games and all three of Hall, Gagner, and Yakupov have shown a strong willingness to back check (albeit all require work, but the willingness is there). Physicality/size is the only facet that line-up lacks, but not a fully as some make it out to. Hall and Yak lay out their fair share of checks and the new acquisition (2LW) would have to be an aggressive checker, but our D corps will do most of the hitting (Smid, Ference, Petry, N. Schultz, and Belov are all adept hitters).

I'm down for pursuing perceived "grit" and "tenacity" as Lord knows that's what this team sorely needs, but if nothing comes of their search, they'd better damn well explore other means of upgrade or you can bet your ass I'll fly in from BC and poop on MacT and Lowe's cars!

Excuse my essay

Clouts: "It's not going to unravel the fabric of the universe if we deal a good player to get a different good player. Honest."

oh, so bang on. this was Tambo's problem, but it now appears to be an Oilers problem. The unwillingness to part with a player that has the potential to be good someday, even tho the team is terrible, soft and horribly imbalanced.

until Management grows a set to trade a good player for a different kind of good player, or two useful players, the team isn't going anywhere. I don't care if these particular players improve on their own. they are not the right mix, there is no way this many nifty danglers will ever win. they will be ripped apart by lesser, but tougher teams.
- seanjohn667

I sort of agree, there is a time and place for that, but it isnt for a while I'm afraid. Because of our depth issues, we will need to make it a 2 Oilers for 3 solid NHL'ers type trade, and I'm not sure anyone wants to do that deal with us right now, even if the Oil are providing the best player in the deal.

Nice hack job on the western conference standings...you have now sunk below Berry's level...congratulations
- PAY-DIRT

1. St. Louis Blues
2. Chicago Blackhawks
3. Detroit Red Wings
4. Los Angeles Kings
5. San Jose Sharks
6. Vancouver Canucks
7. Minnesota Wild
8. Columbus Blue Jackets
9. Edmonton Oilers
10. Nashville Predators
11. Dallas Stars
12. Phoenix Coyotes
13. Colorado Avalanche
14. Calgary Flames

Got to love Peg staying East and Anaheim joining them from California. This takes the cake, Richard.

So, like Cloutier, I don't wanna write a paragraph explaining all this.. But what do you guys think about this?

Hall - RNH - Eberle
Yak - Gagner - Simmonds
PRV - Boyes - Jones
Smyth/Joensuu/Hamilton - Gordon - Brown

Offersheet Pietrangelo.
- HitmanKiller12

no.

Got to love Peg staying East and Anaheim joining them from California. This takes the cake, d-i-c-k.
- trolleytracks

I see what you did there

Blockbuster Trade or BUST!!!

1) Gags + Smid OR Nschultz + 2014 2nd round pick to Philly for Coburn + Bschenn or Couturier.

2) Hemmer + 2014 1st rnd pick to Buffalo for Vanek... And while MacT is making deals with Buffalo kick the tires on Folingo, if they threw in prospect or Paajarvi could we get him in the deal??

This leaves the Oilers with:

Vanek-RNH-Ebs
Hall-Schenn/Couturier-Yak
Folingo/Joensuu-Gordon-Joensuu/Paajarvi
Symth-Lander-Jones
ex-Brown

Jschultz-Coburn
Petry-Ference
Nschultz-Belov/Klefbom
ex-Potter
- Oilgurrrl

no, edm is not going to be competing for the cup next season. not giving up a first round pick when it could potentially be another top 10 pick and for only one year of vanek?!?

Breaking news... ducks big ufa signing Zack Stortini! Omg instant cup contenders

Mark Spector said today on the radio he didnt think Dominick Hasek was a 1st ballot Hall of Famer, because Hasek has never won a Cup and thats a factor...(Cup 2002 Detroit). The guy won 6 Vezina's, Olympic Gold etc.. Vice-Executive of Proffessional Hockey Writers Association I see, this guys votes on awards??????!!! He doesnt take his job seriously, just is a hack, not a hockey guy at all but he always has an opinion..... Spends half his time insulting the Canucks organization, city, and fans, goes out of his way nearly every day, the guy's got serious issues to be so hate filled and preoccupied. Yet doesnt have a passable knowledge of Sports let alone hockey. Most depressing SOB in Sports media, and he gets that top columb spot on Sportsnet . ca, that's a joke.
Bob Stopher blows that guy away in my books, that guys a pro and I respect him as a hockey guy. Very in the loop.
- gunner2233

Can't believe I'm agreeing with a 'Nucks fan but yeah Spec's an idiot. I never read his stuff and can't stand watching during intermissions. I change the channel to the Food Network when he comes on hahaha.

So, like Cloutier, I don't wanna write a paragraph explaining all this.. But what do you guys think about this?

Hall - RNH - Eberle
Yak - Gagner - Simmonds
PRV - Boyes - Jones
Smyth/Joensuu/Hamilton - Gordon - Brown
- mbxiphos1527

Neva eva gonna happen

Richard Cloutier: Random; Almost Like I'm Just Making Things Up
- Maxbone

thanks for squashing the penner rumors. stupid.

no to brunner, thanks for squashing that too. why the hell does edm need another small skilled right winger. brunner played in the same league, same team, same line as omark for team zug. might as well resurrect the omark.

So, like Cloutier, I don't wanna write a paragraph explaining all this.. But what do you guys think about this?

Hall - RNH - Eberle
Yak - Gagner - Simmonds
PRV - Boyes - Jones
Smyth/Joensuu/Hamilton - Gordon - Brown
- mbxiphos1527

Boyes does not and has not played C. Otherwise, I'd be all over grabbing him and Simmonds. I'm assuming the Simmonds deal is costing us our 2014 1st and a prospect (thinking Gernat or Musil, but I may be convinced to part with Marincin)? I mean, they do need cap room so their asking price MAY be lower, but Simmonds is a commodity in today's market and he's signed to one hell of a deal.

Hey Richard! You think that Oilers management are acting like "nerds"? How about the Canucks' management? Dumbies!

So, like Cloutier, I don't wanna write a paragraph explaining all this.. But what do you guys think about this?

Hall - RNH - Eberle
Yak - Gagner - Simmonds
PRV - Boyes - Jones
Smyth/Joensuu/Hamilton - Gordon - Brown
- mbxiphos1527

how does edm get simmond, explain. and....no to boyes.

Offer sheeting can be an awful thing for EDM in the future. EDM better lock up Gags, MPS now and RNH, Schultz, Petry before july 1 next year.

EDM's got a lot of RFAs comin and if a team returns the favour n offer sheets Nuge to 6.5M or Schultz to 5+M it puts EDM in an awkward situation
- TheNugeIsHuge

Yeah that would suck, we'd have so many draft picks that could possibly be turned into actual hockey players over 6 feet tall and 170lbs. Don't get me wrong, like those guys but too many of the same player.

So, like Cloutier, I don't wanna write a paragraph explaining all this.. But what do you guys think about this?

Hall - RNH - Eberle
Yak - Gagner - Simmonds
PRV - Boyes - Jones
Smyth/Joensuu/Hamilton - Gordon - Brown
- mbxiphos1527

Well who doesn't like Simmonds.?...not sure how we got him seeing as all our contracted forwards seem to be on the roster. Boyes...I dunno. I know he isn't the player he was once projected to be...is he a better 3C than Gordon?