just watched world war z.

pretty gnarly

He's been insanely bad with his finances, but it looks like I was slightly off on that one. Long read, but an interesting one...

http://www.grantland.com/...95/the-wrestler-real-life

"In August, Fliehr signed a security financing agreement with Conbraco. As collateral for the $185,000 he owed the company, he put up two championship belts, wrestling gear, a Rolex watch given to him by Shawn Michaels engraved "To Be the Man," framed magazine covers, an autographed poster of Michael Jordan, a poster of Fliehr and Vince McMahon, and any future earnings from the Storick lawsuit (these were never collected by Conbraco since they went to paying Elizabeth's alimony)."
- laughs2907

Well (frank).

Hey no need to apologize. I stick to what I said. I think you showed it. Ference was a good signing. I think it was a rookie GM thing to give him a NTC. I think he could have still got him without it. Regardless, I don't see any reason for him to go anywhere. I always said there was a problem with depth but I meant with the 7 that most teams strive to have NHL ready.

We needed a 1-2. We can discuss this all day but the only dmen to be had were Muzzin who isn't a 1-2 or Piet who is. They would have to be done by offer sheets and that would give up future prospects and apparently MacT is collecting young hockey players in an attempt to start his own personal army. Drafting 10 this off season rather than going for 2 good ones. Maybe this will pay off but we have never really been that lucky.

So we agree that he had to fill the dmen with 3-4's. We had Petry - Ference, Shultz - Smid, Schultz - Potter. Potter is functional but we added Belov early as a gamble. Rumor is Klefbom might have been ready at the time. Not sure if he has a chance now. So we have 7 dmen. Our minor league team has enough good prospects to fill them up. Klef, Fedun, Gernat, Marincin, Davidson and Musil. Pretty good bunch of young guys. In theory any of them could break out this year but Klef, Marincin and Fedun (longer shot) have the most chance to be ready next year. The person moving up gets replaced by Nurse. After 2 years Klef, Marincin and Nurse should definitely be roster ready and add nicely to Schultz and Petry.

Our D looks good. Then we we pay 7 million for arguably NHL ready dmen that we don't need. Meanwhile our bottom 6 forwards are: Omark, Gordon, Joesnsuu, Brown, Smyth, Lander, Jones, Eager and Eventually Hemsky if RNH comes back healthy with no one else getting injured. Which means we have no third line center but 2 x 4th lines. We have Jones, eager and smyth who should be healthy scratches. Omark who was not good enough last year to even offer him a contract he would sign. Joensuu who has as much chance of scoring as Katz's kid does without paying for it. Brown who's only talent is to fight and that doesn't really motivate people the way it use to.

Now we are 1.5 mil from the cap, we have no real back up goalie and 4 extra dmen we have to put in OKC now bumping our rookies which negates the point of having a farm team to train them to the oilers style of play.

So yeah. I wanted MacT to get some defensive depth but I thought he might do it by unloading the 3.5 million contract we have sitting on our 3rd pairing, offering a waiver or upgrading potter to someone bigger but I don't think we even bothered to pick up some grit with the guys fighting for that last spot. There is a strong chance that Potter will hold it and everything else will be 1.5 million dollar wastes each when in the end Klefbom should be playing or Marincin should get the chance during an injuring. At least that guy is huge.
- Hall Fan

when did our d look good?
we literally had one of the worst defences in the league. bottom 3rd at least. id say closer to bottom 5 is probably more apt.

and why didn't we need more defencemen? we knew depth was a problem, and we know injuries are gonna happen.
we also know that potter isn't a suitable 6th guy in the long haul.
but nor do we know if belov is. so why not add some possible insurance in case of any of the aforementioned?

we shouldn't even be discussing klefbom and marincin as possibles. not only are they most likely not ready, giving them some time in the farm instead of rushing them can do nothing but help.

of course we wanted another top pairing guy. but clearly they weren't available or just too pricey. mact couldn't solve all of our issues all at once, and clearly he felt that adding short term defensive depth was more paramount than signing 3rd liner question amrks. especially with the ones he already had signed.

mact clearly doesn't agree that we have no 'backup goalie'. and neither do I. labarbera is a career backup that has been known to play reasonably for stretches. whether hes the cream of the crop or not, I think dubs is getting ridden this year regardless. and then we'll know one way or another.

brown brought more than just fighting. he brought some much needed energy, grit and physicality to a team that sorely lacked it last year. low talent or not, your mistaken if you didn't see any value in mike browns low minutes.

I just don't see how your posts really addressed my thoughts of the obvious defensive depth help mact provided.

Jason Lewis: Pacific Division Preview: Edmonton Oilers
- Jason_Lewis

Nice analysis.

The fact that we were 18th overall in scored, despite putting up the 6th most powerplay goals tells you that the biggest issue was ES play. If I had to diagnose it, it was zone entries. We weren't comfortable or systematic in our ability to move the puck down the ice. At the end of the season I would have told you that that arises from young guys not following the system. But the more I look back at footage, the less impressed with Kruger's system in the first place.

Puck movement from the back end may still be an issue. Although, Ference and Belov are more mobile than Whitney and Fistric/Peckham so at this point we're a better puck-moving team on paper. Justin Schultz's development, and seeing what Petry can do on a different pairing than Smid could be interesting here.

I like our additions, although I'll say while a defensive stalwart, and cheaper, Boyd Gordon is not really an upgrade on Shawn Horcoff. Not in terms of skating or scoring ability, and perhaps not in terms of perspcacity. If there is a windfall in scoring from some of the departed guys, we'll have to hope the added maturity of Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins, Hall and Yakupov and the addition of Perron allow us to make up the difference.

Nice analysis.

The fact that we were 18th overall in scored, despite putting up the 6th most powerplay goals tells you that the biggest issue was ES play. If I had to diagnose it, it was zone entries. We weren't comfortable or systematic in our ability to move the puck down the ice. At the end of the season I would have told you that that arises from young guys not following the system. But the more I look back at footage, the less impressed with Kruger's system in the first place.

Puck movement from the back end may still be an issue. Although, Ference and Belov are more mobile than Whitney and Fistric/Peckham so at this point we're a better puck-moving team on paper. Justin Schultz's development, and seeing what Petry can do on a different pairing than Smid could be interesting here.

I like our additions, although I'll say while a defensive stalwart, and cheaper, Boyd Gordon is not really an upgrade on Shawn Horcoff. Not in terms of skating or scoring ability, and perhaps not in terms of perspcacity. If there is a windfall in scoring from some of the departed guys, we'll have to hope the added maturity of Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins, Hall and Yakupov and the addition of Perron allow us to make up the difference.
- Morris

This, him - it's big to my mind. To have Perron come in and gel with the team and play well is going to be huge.

Pro-player scouting once again on the line here.

This, him - it's big to my mind. To have Perron come in and gel with the team and play well is going to be huge.

Pro-player scouting once again on the line here.
- Salvo

If Perron bombs someone should get fired from this group... too many screw-ups over the last two-three years not to.

If Perron bombs someone should get fired from this group... too many screw-ups over the last two-three years not to.
- BigDre

Should be interesting. Apparently the advanced stats guys love Perron and have been pestering/begging management to look at him for a long time.

Hey no need to apologize. I stick to what I said. I think you showed it. Ference was a good signing. I think it was a rookie GM thing to give him a NTC. I think he could have still got him without it. Regardless, I don't see any reason for him to go anywhere. I always said there was a problem with depth but I meant with the 7 that most teams strive to have NHL ready.

We needed a 1-2. We can discuss this all day but the only dmen to be had were Muzzin who isn't a 1-2 or Piet who is. They would have to be done by offer sheets and that would give up future prospects and apparently MacT is collecting young hockey players in an attempt to start his own personal army. Drafting 10 this off season rather than going for 2 good ones. Maybe this will pay off but we have never really been that lucky.

So we agree that he had to fill the dmen with 3-4's. We had Petry - Ference, Shultz - Smid, Schultz - Potter. Potter is functional but we added Belov early as a gamble. Rumor is Klefbom might have been ready at the time. Not sure if he has a chance now. So we have 7 dmen. Our minor league team has enough good prospects to fill them up. Klef, Fedun, Gernat, Marincin, Davidson and Musil. Pretty good bunch of young guys. In theory any of them could break out this year but Klef, Marincin and Fedun (longer shot) have the most chance to be ready next year. The person moving up gets replaced by Nurse. After 2 years Klef, Marincin and Nurse should definitely be roster ready and add nicely to Schultz and Petry.

Our D looks good. Then we we pay 7 million for arguably NHL ready dmen that we don't need. Meanwhile our bottom 6 forwards are: Omark, Gordon, Joesnsuu, Brown, Smyth, Lander, Jones, Eager and Eventually Hemsky if RNH comes back healthy with no one else getting injured. Which means we have no third line center but 2 x 4th lines. We have Jones, eager and smyth who should be healthy scratches. Omark who was not good enough last year to even offer him a contract he would sign. Joensuu who has as much chance of scoring as Katz's kid does without paying for it. Brown who's only talent is to fight and that doesn't really motivate people the way it use to.

Now we are 1.5 mil from the cap, we have no real back up goalie and 4 extra dmen we have to put in OKC now bumping our rookies which negates the point of having a farm team to train them to the oilers style of play.

So yeah. I wanted MacT to get some defensive depth but I thought he might do it by unloading the 3.5 million contract we have sitting on our 3rd pairing, offering a waiver or upgrading potter to someone bigger but I don't think we even bothered to pick up some grit with the guys fighting for that last spot. There is a strong chance that Potter will hold it and everything else will be 1.5 million dollar wastes each when in the end Klefbom should be playing or Marincin should get the chance during an injuring. At least that guy is huge.
- Hall Fan

Dude,

You just don't learn do you?

Should be interesting. Apparently the advanced stats guys love Perron and have been pestering/begging management to look at him for a long time.
- Morris

Perron was a REAL thorn in the side of the Kings during last years playoff series also. Constantly mucking it up in the crease and getting in Quick's area. Not sure the Kings are too happy to have him as a divisional opponent now. Really good player and still very young.

Should be interesting. Apparently the advanced stats guys love Perron and have been pestering/begging management to look at him for a long time.
- Morris

I just hope he can bring those elements to his game without playing next to Backes. I understood why they traded PRV for him, but I didn't like the trade at first and hopefully he works out just fine and I can be proven wrong.

Nice blog!I am hoping Gordon helps improve the faceoff % this year and we can actually gain possession in the defensive zone and get it out.

when did our d look good?
we literally had one of the worst defences in the league. bottom 3rd at least. id say closer to bottom 5 is probably more apt.

and why didn't we need more defencemen? we knew depth was a problem, and we know injuries are gonna happen.
we also know that potter isn't a suitable 6th guy in the long haul.
but nor do we know if belov is. so why not add some possible insurance in case of any of the aforementioned?

we shouldn't even be discussing klefbom and marincin as possibles. not only are they most likely not ready, giving them some time in the farm instead of rushing them can do nothing but help.

of course we wanted another top pairing guy. but clearly they weren't available or just too pricey. mact couldn't solve all of our issues all at once, and clearly he felt that adding short term defensive depth was more paramount than signing 3rd liner question amrks. especially with the ones he already had signed.

mact clearly doesn't agree that we have no 'backup goalie'. and neither do I. labarbera is a career backup that has been known to play reasonably for stretches. whether hes the cream of the crop or not, I think dubs is getting ridden this year regardless. and then we'll know one way or another.

brown brought more than just fighting. he brought some much needed energy, grit and physicality to a team that sorely lacked it last year. low talent or not, your mistaken if you didn't see any value in mike browns low minutes.

I just don't see how your posts really addressed my thoughts of the obvious defensive depth help mact provided.
- hugefemale dog77

Our D was looking good for the future. Not in the past, I completely agree and not for this year. Without the signing of a top 2 (as we both agree without an offer sheet, there was not one to be had without mortgaging our future) we were doing damage control. Potter may not be the best number 6 guy. However how many minutes does a number 6 guy need to play? Could Belov and Klefbom not help the guy out in that role. If we were getting a guy, why not grab a veteran like Hainsey that hasn't signed and at least has some size to him. He might not be the answer but he is the opposite of hall and a better version of Fistric's style of play.

Plus why sign Greb when he did. I am pretty sure Greb would be there mid September. We could have had a good look at our roster. Maybe Marincin is ready for some ice time, in which case we have a big dman ready for some ice time.

I also agree that Lababera has put up some okay numbers as a career back up. Averaging just shy of 3.00 GAA a game. The problem is that our D is not the same as PHO d. If you can't improve on your dmen you get a solid back up like Bryz. He is not amazing but he wouldn't set you back much more and has a larger upside.

As for discussing Klef and Marincin we are discussing them because they are going to have no farm time due to the sheer number of NHL D men we will have in OKC this year.

MacT didn't address the depth problem we had because he didn't add roster depth. He added depth to the team on one year contracts with people that won't play for the team. Depth for me is filling up the roster playing size and improving on current players.

Dude,

You just don't learn do you?


- Iggysbff

You got me. I stand in awe of your amazing contribution to our debate. Hugefemale dog i appreciate for having an opinion but dude, join the conversation. You are better than this. You can't just keep calling people out and not offer a reason. You do it all across the message boards. Join in. This is a friendly debate. We can't control what happens so we are only sharing opinions.

In truth neither of us know which of the billion players are going to win the 6th spot. Heck one might even take over for Nick or we could get an injury. Lababera might be a late starter like Rolly and have the year of his life.

I think we can agree that our bottom 6 still looks pretty weak and the odds of us making the playoffs are not not great. In fact vegas is paying good money if you bet that they will and win. Still at least we are offering opinions, right or wrong it is something. Either of us could be right and we aren't going to know until the season is over.

Our D was looking good for the future. Not in the past, I completely agree and not for this year. Without the signing of a top 2 (as we both agree without an offer sheet, there was not one to be had without mortgaging our future) we were doing damage control. Potter may not be the best number 6 guy. However how many minutes does a number 6 guy need to play? Could Belov and Klefbom not help the guy out in that role. If we were getting a guy, why not grab a veteran like Hainsey that hasn't signed and at least has some size to him. He might not be the answer but he is the opposite of hall and a better version of Fistric's style of play.

Plus why sign Greb when he did. I am pretty sure Greb would be there mid September. We could have had a good look at our roster. Maybe Marincin is ready for some ice time, in which case we have a big dman ready for some ice time.

I also agree that Lababera has put up some okay numbers as a career back up. Averaging just shy of 3.00 GAA a game. The problem is that our D is not the same as PHO d. If you can't improve on your dmen you get a solid back up like Bryz. He is not amazing but he wouldn't set you back much more and has a larger upside.

As for discussing Klef and Marincin we are discussing them because they are going to have no farm time due to the sheer number of NHL D men we will have in OKC this year.

MacT didn't address the depth problem we had because he didn't add roster depth. He added depth to the team on one year contracts with people that won't play for the team. Depth for me is filling up the roster playing size and improving on current players.
- Hall Fan

Somewhat agree. Good post.

I think those 1 year contracts were done for the very reason you suggested that our future on D looks ok. With klefbom, marincin hopefully not being too far away, it was more prudent to sign short term contracts in case those guys are ready sooner rather than later.

It wouldnt be a bad thing if klefbom progressed quickly, we have 3 of those depth guys gone at the end of the year.
Its to easy to say 'what if best case happens?'. Or use hindsight.
Mact attempted to ensure we have some depth to cover any possibilities. Not to mention no long term contracts with a bunch of important pieces up for renegotiation next year.

Nice blog!I am hoping Gordon helps improve the faceoff % this year and we can actually gain possession in the defensive zone and get it out.
- SoiledBritches

I hope he does better than Belanger. He had been a good faceoff guy with offense before he came here to lose his mojo.

Somebody!!! Please...write...a new blog...

Somebody!!! Please...write...a new blog...
- BigDre

No sh:t. I almost wish Clouts would come back part time to fill In The gaps. Almost.

No sh:t. I almost wish Clouts would come back part time to fill In The gaps. Almost.
- Jeropotato

Nice analysis.

The fact that we were 18th overall in scored, despite putting up the 6th most powerplay goals tells you that the biggest issue was ES play. If I had to diagnose it, it was zone entries. We weren't comfortable or systematic in our ability to move the puck down the ice. At the end of the season I would have told you that that arises from young guys not following the system. But the more I look back at footage, the less impressed with Kruger's system in the first place.

Puck movement from the back end may still be an issue. Although, Ference and Belov are more mobile than Whitney and Fistric/Peckham so at this point we're a better puck-moving team on paper. Justin Schultz's development, and seeing what Petry can do on a different pairing than Smid could be interesting here.

I like our additions, although I'll say while a defensive stalwart, and cheaper, Boyd Gordon is not really an upgrade on Shawn Horcoff. Not in terms of skating or scoring ability, and perhaps not in terms of perspcacity. If there is a windfall in scoring from some of the departed guys, we'll have to hope the added maturity of Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins, Hall and Yakupov and the addition of Perron allow us to make up the difference.
- Morris

I think a big problem was breaking out. Krueger's style didn't allow much support for the Dmen and the D was often overwhelmed and would lose the puck in EDM's end. Something Steve Smith said Eakins is working to change.

I think the best move of the summer was hiring Eakins. Krueger was sh*t for 5 on 5 play. If Eakins is anything like what he's built up to be, I could see EDM pushing for a playoff spot

I think a big problem was breaking out. Krueger's style didn't allow much support for the Dmen and the D was often overwhelmed and would lose the puck in EDM's end. Something Steve Smith said Eakins is working to change.

I think the best move of the summer was hiring Eakins. Krueger was sh*t for 5 on 5 play. If Eakins is anything like what he's built up to be, I could see EDM pushing for a playoff spot
- TheNugeIsHuge

I hope he's hard on his players. These guys are all millionaires, so they should be willing to work hard and give it their all more often then not... Something that I believe has been a problem for a pretty long time. I believe only a 3-4 guys gave it their all last year (although some were injured, so I'll cut those some slack).

I think a big problem was breaking out. Krueger's style didn't allow much support for the Dmen and the D was often overwhelmed and would lose the puck in EDM's end. Something Steve Smith said Eakins is working to change.

I think the best move of the summer was hiring Eakins. Krueger was sh*t for 5 on 5 play. If Eakins is anything like what he's built up to be, I could see EDM pushing for a playoff spot
- TheNugeIsHuge

Greb will help move the puck, as might Belov. Those might turn out to be good moves also.

I hope he's hard on his players. These guys are all millionaires, so they should be willing to work hard and give it their all more often then not... Something that I believe has been a problem for a pretty long time. I believe only a 3-4 guys gave it their all last year (although some were injured, so I'll cut those some slack).
- laughs2907

You think a good old fashioned a$$ kicking is in order?

You think a good old fashioned a$$ kicking is in order?
- Jeropotato

I want Eakin's foot up 75% of our player's asses!

I want Eakin's foot up 75% of our player's asses!
- laughs2907

I'm curious to hear who should be first on the list and who's off the hook.

I'm curious to hear who should be first on the list and who's off the hook.
- Jeropotato

Not sure if the 75% thing is accurate... Let's see.

Hall <--- One of the hardest working players in the league. Saying he's safe is an understatement.
Gagner <--- Safe
Eberle <--- I'll assume he was injured last season... Possible foot up the ass, not sure yet.
Yakupov <--- Safe
J. Schultz <--- Safe
RNH <--- Injury last season, so he'll be safe.

*I can see this will be less than 75%... Far less. Maybe Eakins can fly to Dallas and St. Louis to shove his foot up Horcoff's/Paajarvi's asses*

Perron <--- I'm assuming he'll be safe

*Let's just skip to some returning Oilers who will probably get a foot up their ass*

Hemsky, Smyth, Jones, N. Schultz, Smithson (If he's even still here?) Belanger (If he's even still here?) Hartikainen (Visit the KHL to do this) Eager, Lander (Come on, Lander... You're a (frank)ing superstar... Act like one!)