Is that the way he's doing it? By top line? I agree, our top line (likely Hall-Gagner-Yakupov) doesn't have the defensive acumen to compete with those groups.

1st lines would probably go:
1) Los Angeles
2) San Jose
3) Vancouver
4) Edmonton
5) Anaheim
6) Phoenix
7) Calgary

Our 2nd line is pretty quality. Our 3rd and 4th lines suck.

Overall I'd say:
1) Los Angeles
2) Vancouver
3) San Jose
4) Edmonton
5) Phoenix
6) Anaheim
7) Calgary
- Morris

agreed. Might flip Edm with Anh on the 1st line though

Is that the way he's doing it? By top line? I agree, our top line (likely Hall-Gagner-Yakupov) doesn't have the defensive acumen to compete with those groups.

1st lines would probably go:
1) Los Angeles
2) San Jose
3) Vancouver
4) Edmonton
5) Anaheim
6) Phoenix
7) Calgary

Our 2nd line is pretty quality. Our 3rd and 4th lines suck.

Overall I'd say:
1) Los Angeles
2) Vancouver
3) San Jose
4) Edmonton
5) Phoenix
6) Anaheim
7) Calgary
- Morris

You have been pretty bang on with your lists today.

Is that the way he's doing it? By top line? I agree, our top line (likely Hall-Gagner-Yakupov) doesn't have the defensive acumen to compete with those groups.

1st lines would probably go:
1) Los Angeles
2) San Jose
3) Vancouver
4) Edmonton
5) Anaheim
6) Phoenix
7) Calgary

Our 2nd line is pretty quality. Our 3rd and 4th lines suck.

Overall I'd say:
1) Los Angeles
2) Vancouver
3) San Jose
4) Edmonton
5) Phoenix
6) Anaheim
7) Calgary
- Morris

Anaheim with Perry and Getslaf still have you beat.....

agreed. Might flip Edm with Anh on the 1st line though
- Bieksa#3

Yeah Perry Getzlaf is a pretty good combo

Not sure what the controversy is with the Oilers fans. The team has awful for years. Not sure why they think adding Ference is going to change anything. Prospects are just that and young Dmen don't often turn a team around.
- micah555

Not sure that there was much objection to the general positioning of the unit (in around 5th, 6th or 7th).

I think the bone of contention was the comment that no one on the oilers other than Smid and Petry could play top 4 on any other team. While not a inherently terrible thing to say, it did seem...transparent in its purpose to rile people up. Maybe i'm reading too much deviousness into Esplen's intentions, but there we are.

Not sure that there was much objection to the general positioning of the unit (in around 5th, 6th or 7th).

I think the bone of contention was the comment that no one on the oilers other than Smid and Petry could play top 4 on any other team. While not a inherently terrible thing to say, it did seem...transparent in its purpose to rile people up. Maybe i'm reading too much deviousness into Esplen's intentions, but there we are.
- Morris

Every fanbase over rates their own teams. Canucks included.I know I would like to see an upgrade on our D. Every one is hyped about Tanev because he is steady nd cheap. Take the cheap out of the equation and he is Meh. I would like a new kid like Franson or someone on our farm to step up.

I think Corrado will surpass Tanev this year.

Is that the way he's doing it? By top line? I agree, our top line (likely Hall-Gagner-Yakupov) doesn't have the defensive acumen to compete with those groups.

1st lines would probably go:
1) Los Angeles
2) San Jose
3) Vancouver
4) Edmonton
5) Anaheim
6) Phoenix
7) Calgary

Our 2nd line is pretty quality. Our 3rd and 4th lines suck.

Overall I'd say:
1) Los Angeles
2) Vancouver
3) San Jose
4) Edmonton
5) Phoenix
6) Anaheim
7) Calgary
- Morris

I'd go like this..for top lines:

1) Los Angeles
2) Vancouver
3) San Jose
4) Edmonton
5) Anaheim(unless they stack it with Selanne which they rarely do)
6) Phoenix
7) Calgary

Overall:

1) Los Angeles
2) San Jose(I like that core of Joe, Marleau, Pavelski, Couture, 2 on each line)
3) Vancouver
4) Anaheim
5) Edmonton
6) Phoenix
7) Calgary

Not sure its the same but...
- 1970vintage

Lu's looked more like a Mercedes GLK, rather than a GL.

The GLK is a bit smaller.

Lu's looked more like a Mercedes GLK, rather than a GL.

The GLK is a bit smaller.
- Fosco

Yup.

Anaheim with Perry and Getslaf still have you beat.....
- SMP8719

I'm probably counting on a leap forward in terms of defensive acumen out of our guys, but I think it could be pretty close. I probably should reserve judgement until I know what our top line is, and who their 3rd guy is now that Ryan is gone.

Candidates include Winnik, Beleskey, Palmieri and Penner. As it stands I feel like the weak link of our top line (Gagner if he's there, Yakupov if Nuge is there) will be better than whomever they choose of those four, and in fact possibly enough to make up for the difference between our other two and Getzlaf/Perry.

I'm probably counting on a leap forward in terms of defensive acumen out of our guys, but I think it could be pretty close. I probably should reserve judgement until I know what our top line is, and who their 3rd guy is now that Ryan is gone.

Candidates include Winnik, Beleskey, Palmieri and Penner. As it stands I feel like the weak link of our top line (Gagner if he's there, Yakupov if Nuge is there) will be better than whomever they choose of those four, and in fact possibly enough to make up for the difference between our other two and Getzlaf/Perry.
- Morris

Yeah, I have Anaheim/EDM pretty much even with their top lines, but tie when to Edmonton since they'd probably have a better third forward on their top line. I believe Anaheim usually lets a young guy or third liner type ride shotgun with Perry and Getzlaf when Ryan wasn't with them. Selanne is always on the second line.

Every fanbase over rates their own teams. Canucks included.I know I would like to see an upgrade on our D. Every one is hyped about Tanev because he is steady nd cheap. Take the cheap out of the equation and he is Meh. I would like a new kid like Franson or someone on our farm to step up.

I think Corrado will surpass Tanev this year.
- VANTEL

Jeez, I wasn't sold on Garrison, but I guess he was pretty good last year. I still see him as the guy you'd upgrade in your top 4. And I believe sooner than later Franson would be an undisputed upgrade on him.

As for Tanev/Corrado, it must be nice to have your pressing need being improving your bottom pairing

Yeah, I have Anaheim/EDM pretty much even with their top lines, but tie when to Edmonton since they'd probably have a better third forward on their top line. I believe Anaheim usually lets a young guy or third liner type ride shotgun with Perry and Getzlaf when Ryan wasn't with them. Selanne is always on the second line.
- Nucker101

Our guys need to play better in our own end though. That third guy is usually pretty good in his own end- I like Winnik, and I even like Cogs when he's up there.

Hopefully switching from the Krueger "wingers guard the point shot and nothing else" system will help our guys.

Jeez, I wasn't sold on Garrison, but I guess he was pretty good last year. I still see him as the guy you'd upgrade in your top 4. And I believe sooner than later Franson would be an undisputed upgrade on him.

As for Tanev/Corrado, it must be nice to have your pressing need being improving your bottom pairing
- Morris

I thought Garrison was our best defense an last yr. 15 goals and +30 over a full season. This after being awful the 1st month of the season till he adjusted to the change of sides, teams, system etc

Jeez, I wasn't sold on Garrison, but I guess he was pretty good last year. I still see him as the guy you'd upgrade in your top 4. And I believe sooner than later Franson would be an undisputed upgrade on him.

As for Tanev/Corrado, it must be nice to have your pressing need being improving your bottom pairing
- Morris

I think our pressing need is a help for Kesler on the 2nd line

What The F*** Facts‏@WhatTheFFacts1m
Ancient Egyptians believed that their god, Atum, created the universe by masturbating, so Pharaohs masturbated ceremonially into the Nile.


I wonder if that is where we get the saying "You are always in denial "
- VANTEL

I think our pressing need is a help for Kesler on the 2nd line
- Bieksa#3

A playmaker for the Kesler line feels like it's been our pressing need for an age.

A playmaker for the Kesler line feels like it's been our pressing need for an age.
- AlexF

Booth for Hemsky could be a nice win-win IMO. Add in a non-top prospect or pick from whichever side to make it work, value-wise. I'm not even a big Hemsky fan, but his strengths and weaknesses match up pretty damn well with Kesler's(they're very different players, but would compliment each other well IMO).

Booth for Hemsky could be a nice win-win IMO. Add in a non-top prospect or pick from whichever side to make it work, value-wise. I'm not even a big Hemsky fan, but his strengths and weaknesses match up pretty damn well with Kesler's(they're very different players, but would compliment each other well IMO).
- Nucker101

Finally a good post from a Philly fan

Booth for Hemsky could be a nice win-win IMO. Add in a non-top prospect or pick from whichever side to make it work, value-wise. I'm not even a big Hemsky fan, but his strengths and weaknesses match up pretty damn well with Kesler's(they're very different players, but would compliment each other well IMO).
- Nucker101

yeah I was thinking that and the likelihood that it would be win-win would be quite high. That being said, the chance that Hemmer goes off for Vancouver is not good enough for trading him to a divisional rival. Besides, you might more success for cheaper with Mueller or Brunner.

EDIT: Thought you said Hemmer for pick/prospect as opposed to Booth. Most of what I wrote here can be disregarded.

yeah I was thinking that and the likelihood that it would be win-win would be quite high. That being said, the chance that Hemmer goes off for Vancouver is not good enough for trading him to a divisional rival. Besides, you might more success for cheaper with Mueller or Brunner.
- Morris

I'd definitely prefer the two you mention as alternatives, but I think the crux of Nucker's deal lied in the exchange of cap hits, as opposed to picking up additional cap by acquiring UFAs.

Oilers top line isn't the problem, the rest of their lineup is.
- Nucker101

This

This
- hugefemale dog77

there's a minor problem with our 2nd line (size, for the moment defensive acumen), and I think Schultz-Ference is a fine 2nd defensive pairing. Our extra forwards and backup goaltender are okay.

So it's our 3rd line, 4th line, 1st pairing and bottom pairing that are the big problems.

there's a minor problem with our 2nd line (size, for the moment defensive acumen), and I think Schultz-Ference is a fine 2nd defensive pairing. Our extra forwards and backup goaltender are okay.

So it's our 3rd line, 4th line, 1st pairing and bottom pairing that are the big problems.
- Morris

I'm not trolling, but that's quite a bit.

I'm not trolling, but that's quite a bit.
- AlexF

yeah I meant it to be facetious. I think two good bottom 6ers, a #1 dman and a goalie to really challenge Dubnyk could turn us from an outside the playoffs team to a really competitive team, but those are 4 players that aren't going to come out of thin air.