That makes no sense at all for Oil unless someone gets moved???

Agree and disagree. While all Oil fans would love a huge/skilled forward, I really believe this team will compete differently under Eakins and if you look at Hall, Perron and Jones finishing their checks, not as soft as you allege
- truthservedcold

I dont think hemsky's gonna bring back a huge 'skilled' forward if that's what you're under the impression I was saying.
if we had grabo, Id happily take a physical 'plug' in hemmers spot.

its true that hall can play physical, perron isn't afraid to mix it up, and even yaks likes to play that way. but none are imposing if you will, and need to concentrate on controlling the play with possession rather than throwing their bodies around too much.

im not saying at present it's a disaster. im saying if we add grabo, id like to add a different style of player instead of hemsky to make us a little tougher to play against.

we've talked about making life more difficult for the opposition ad nauseum.
and literally not 1 player in the proposed top 9 can truly dominate in a physical manner.....maybe hall, but his is a different style than a 'banger'

We won't be hurting many opponents, but if this lineup can play physically smart to seperate guys from the puck with speed, it might be enough to draw penalties and kill them on the PP.

I think we're seeing a different model being tried in Edmonton, and I don't think MacT would toss away a skill guy like Hemsky for a brute when he's clearly said he wants to be a quick, possession team.

I hear ya though, there's almost no jam in this lineup.
- BigDre

good post.

you make some great points. and at present, I suppose it's a reasonable for what im hoping for.

but to add ANOTHER player sorta of hemsky's ilk like grabo just seems to be going a little too far. if we already had said 'jam', I wouldn't make a peep. but our team is already fairly small.
puck possession and pure talent can only be relied on so much. defensive grinding and battling downlow is inevitable. especially in the west.
the muckers, grinders and role players are still essential to any winning team in the nhl

Gretzky was 6'0" and 180 - 185 lbs when he played. Enuf said!
- dogman35

Why do you think they had Dave Sememko

I don think hemsky's gonna bring back a huge 'skilled' forward if that's what you're under the impression I was saying.
if we had grabo, Id happily take a physical 'plug' in hemmers spot.

its true that hall can play physical, perron isn't afraid to mix it up, and even yaks likes to play that way. but none are imposing if you will, and need to concentrate on controlling the play with possession rather than throwing their bodies around too much.

im not saying at present it's a disaster. im saying if we add grabo, id like to add a different style of player instead of hemsky to make us a little tougher to play against.

we've talked about making life more difficult for the opposition ad nauseum.
and literally not 1 player in the proposed top 9 can truly dominate in a physical manner.....maybe hall, but his is a different style than a 'banger'
- hugefemale dog77

I hear you and pretty much agree. Although I really think Jones will surprise people, play very physically and be a key bottom 6 forward this year. He's due to bounce back and Eakins will run him out like he should be...

If your source is Clout's, then pretty safe to say it isn't or never was gonna happen.

Why do you think they had Dave Sememko
- Yeti1181

people forget but those oiler teams over the years were tough as nails too.
forgetting the obvious messier who was an elite talent and a total beast, they also had some tough mofos who could play and some real cementheads.

McClelland, Jackson, semenko, smith, mcsorley, beukeboom etc etc

best team in talent and one of the toughest too.

totally different game today, but just sayin

people forget but those oiler teams over the years were tough as nails too.
forgetting the obvious messier who was an elite talent and a total beast, they also had some tough mofos who could play and some real cementheads.

McClelland, Jackson, semenko, smith, mcsorley, beukeboom etc etc

best team in talent and one of the toughest too.

totally different game today, but just sayin
- hugefemale dog77

Yeah now days you can waste cap and roster on purely tough guys. Jeff Beukeboom

I hear you and pretty much agree. Although I really think Jones will surprise people, play very physically and be a key bottom 6 forward this year. He's due to bounce back and Eakins will run him out like he should be...
- truthservedcold

im clearly not quite as sold on jones contributing as much as you, but its certainly possible.
he doesn't even need to pot 18+ again to be effective imo. just keep up with the play, don't cherry pick for offence, but instead get downlow and make life tough.
if he can do this, itd be huge for us and ill stop the hate regardless of his offensive numbers.

here's hopin Eakins!

Yeah now days you can waste cap and roster on purely tough guys. Jeff Beukeboom
- Yeti1181

6 superstars and 6 thugs doesn't work??

well my models effed then I guess.

good post.

you make some great points. and at present, I suppose it's a reasonable for what im hoping for.

but to add ANOTHER player sorta of hemsky's ilk like grabo just seems to be going a little too far. if we already had said 'jam', I wouldn't make a peep. but our team is already fairly small.
puck possession and pure talent can only be relied on so much. defensive grinding and battling downlow is inevitable. especially in the west.
the muckers, grinders and role players are still essential to any winning team in the nhl
- hugefemale dog77

You'll get no argument from me. Hell I didn't like the Perron move (small skill guy for a big guy) but I think understand the move in the right context. MacT said it himself, you can't just go out and get a Lucic-type player, (see Clarkson, David) who we tried to overpay and overterm, and he said no.

I think MacT is going to try build a skill team which can make the playoffs based on the fact that refs actually call penalties during the regular season and then try poach some cavemen depth at the TDL.

At this point all I can do is hope MacT's plan B works.

All this talk about Eklund just trying to get hits....

Doesn't this site get like a million hits per day? I don't think he's worried about visits to his website.

You'll get no argument from me. Hell I didn't like the Perron move (small skill guy for a big guy) but I think understand the move in the right context. MacT said it himself, you can't just go out and get a Lucic-type player, (see Clarkson, David) who we tried to overpay and overterm, and he said no.

I think MacT is going to try build a skill team which can make the playoffs based on the fact that refs actually call penalties during the regular season and then try poach some cavemen depth at the TDL.

At this point all I can do is hope MacT's plan B works.
- BigDre

true

and although prv has some size, he's not physical per se. started to use his size abit, but still didn't punish whatsoever.
whereas perron lacks size, but certainly isn't afraid to go the tough areas and battle.
I can see why he made the move in a best case scenario anyway.

and yes those big power forwards are worth their weight in gold and aren't easily attainable. I doubt that mact had a lot of options available and just did what he could.

I just hope there's a plan to go after even a physical plug if another grabo type player is being considered.

that said, it's all probably moot as this is an eklund rumour lets not forget..

All this talk about Eklund just trying to get hits....

Doesn't this site get like a million hits per day? I don't think he's worried about visits to his website.
- JLO961

but he gets hits from idiots like me who comment on even the most far fetched rumours.

he's not 'worried', but this how he gets them

true

and although prv has some size, he's not physical per se. started to use his size abit, but still didn't punish whatsoever.
whereas perron lacks size, but certainly isn't afraid to go the tough areas and battle.
I can see why he made the move in a best case scenario anyway.

and yes those big power forwards are worth their weight in gold and aren't easily attainable. I doubt that mact had a lot of options available and just did what he could.

I just hope there's a plan to go after even a physical plug if another grabo type player is being considered.

that said, it's all probably moot as this is an eklund rumour lets not forget..
- hugefemale dog77

Have we become this desperate to find something to chat about?

While I agree that he does need to add some weight, he's 6'1'' and 190 pound, 20 year old...cut him a little slack
- yakattack

I'm sorry, there's no way RNH is 190. Maybe he's listed at that, but its very generous to say the least. He's smaller than all the reporters. I'd give him 175...max.

Edit - Unless he has the thickest set of legs in the league.

I'm sorry, there's no way RNH is 190. Maybe he's listed at that, but its very generous to say the least. He's smaller than all the reporters. I'd give him 175...max.
- djamon

well he's 6'0-6'1 which I do believe, so its a little easier to have a few more pounds than one expects at that height.


I agree that he's not 190 though. probably about 175 as of the start of the year and 180-185 at his prime weight in the near future

Have we become this desperate to find something to chat about?
- BigDre

the answer is clearly yes.

is it possible to start the season a little earlier...?

Oilers can do better than that. That will be a very soft center core if they get Grabo.

well he's 6'0-6'1 which I do believe, so its a little easier to have a few more pounds than one expects at that height.


I agree that he's not 190 though. probably about 175 as of the start of the year and 180-185 at his prime weight in the near future
- hugefemale dog77

Agreed. They list Kessel as 205 as well, which I think is nonsense. RNH really needs to bulk up his upper body, IMO and that's not too tough.

Agreed. They list Kessel as 205 as well, which I think is nonsense. RNH really needs to bulk up his upper body, IMO and that's not too tough.
- djamon

All about the legs in hockey.

Sure Grabo isn't physically big, but he plays like it. Lots of heart in that lion, I'm gonna miss 'em, and I think the team that picks him up will benefit from a man looking to prove everyone wrong... Show them why he deserves 2nd line minutes. And even though it would take some moving of contract(s), I'd like to see Grabo help the oilers make the post season.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA, oh yeah, Grabbo is the missing piece to finally put Edmonton into the playoffs

Agree with the people saying that he should sign in Washington. I also think that Anaheim makes sense.

Sure Grabo isn't physically big, but he plays like it. Lots of heart in that lion, I'm gonna miss 'em, and I think the team that picks him up will benefit from a man looking to prove everyone wrong... Show them why he deserves 2nd line minutes. And even though it would take some moving of contract(s), I'd like to see Grabo help the oilers make the post season.
- LotekLeafs

I was impressed with him in the Boston series, the dude got smacked around but still didn't shy away from it. Definitely not as soft as a guy like Hemsky.