Am i alone in believing that with the addition of Ference and Belov, the matuing of J Schultz/Petry that our defence is not only better, but more tough to play against than it has in probably 8 years... Hell, the back end in OKC is impressive. Hunt Marincin Klef gernat fedun...


Edit: Musil sucks
- JShack

In all fairness, Musil was a long-term project when drafted. Not shocked he isn't close to making this team yet.

I didn't watch yesterday's game, but just looking at the lineups it would be hard to make a case for a guy with a good game yesterday. Was pretty poor lineups.

As for Brown/Eager, one will be here for sure. Probably Brown. The other who knows. Do we go with 14 forwards and sit both Eager and Mac until the Van and Cgy and LA games?
- Lahey

Let Eager play bookmark on the bench! C'mon!

Our D's:

J.Schultz
N.Schultz
Smid
Ference

Are for sure going to make the team. Who's on the bubble.

Larssen
Nurse
Belov
Grebshkov
Hunt
Out of those 5 guys, who doesn't make it?
- Oilers4Life14

(frank) man what about our best d-man Jeff Petry?

Eakins has hinted it's Smid-Petry, Ference-J.Schultz and the rest is TBD. Although I have N.Schultz in the 5 slot. Hunt and Nurse aren't in the conversation at all IMO. Waivers is going to come into play and the guys that don't need to clear waivers are gone.

Larsen, Belov and Grebs are the 3 fighting for the 6th and 7th spot. Not sure if there is an 8th spot.

Yaks will be the best player on the team and one of the premier goal scorers in the league IMO. I wouldn't trade him for anything short of highway robbery.
- SpoiledByOil

I seriously can't see a trade that would even make sense.

As a Senators fan may I propose a trade. Ottawa has far too much depth at forward especially center. Edmonton needs a big center with enough talent to play with their awesome wingers. Z-Bad and Conacher for Yakupov?

Your thoughts??
- Aprost

As an Oilers fan, Conacher and Zinbanejad plus the Moon wont pry Yakupov from my cold dead hands.

As an Oilers fan, Conacher and Zinbanejad plus the Moon wont pry Yakupov from my cold dead hands.
- Matt_Henderson

Could just drop the moon on you causing some sort of reflex to open your hands

yer in the wrong thread, we're still in Matt's last one...
- BigDre

We have 2 bloggers now boss...try to keep up.

Anyone listen to Dreger? Talk of adding more toughness, through out Rosehill? Wish I would've heard it, guy from work is kinda useless at passing information from the radio.

Rosehill seems like a waste given what we have.

As an Oilers fan, Conacher and Zinbanejad plus the Moon wont pry Yakupov from my cold dead hands.
- Matt_Henderson

Thankfully you are just a fan then, and not the GM.

As an Oilers fan, Conacher and Zinbanejad plus the Moon wont pry Yakupov from my cold dead hands.
- Matt_Henderson

Karlsson?

I thought Belov showed well enough to make the team last night.....especially if you consider how messed up his comfort level must be right now and he's only had 1/4 of the training camp everybody else had. Great outlet passes and more physical then 1/2 the defence already here.....no contest....Keep him!

Anyone listen to Dreger? Talk of adding more toughness, through out Rosehill? Wish I would've heard it, guy from work is kinda useless at passing information from the radio.

Rosehill seems like a waste given what we have.
- Lahey

Could be for the farm with Plante gone?

Could be for the farm with Plante gone?
- Rhino

Rosehill played wing last year. Even if he is playing d, you can't send him to OKC when you pick him up of waivers. Would have to put him back on waivers.

That and we don't need him, we have too many d in the system as well as the NHL.

I like this quote from the canucks main page regarding their win vs Pho.
"For the first time in the pre-season the Canucks dressed a lineup that closely resembled what they expect for the regular season. The final result was also something the Canucks expect a lot this regular season."

First disregard our wins against them saying, "oh... its only preseason. means nothing." After they finally win against a team featuring an incomplete roster, "Expect this all year long female doges!!!"

(frank) man what about our best d-man Jeff Petry?

Eakins has hinted it's Smid-Petry, Ference-J.Schultz and the rest is TBD. Although I have N.Schultz in the 5 slot. Hunt and Nurse aren't in the conversation at all IMO. Waivers is going to come into play and the guys that don't need to clear waivers are gone.

Larsen, Belov and Grebs are the 3 fighting for the 6th and 7th spot. Not sure if there is an 8th spot.
- Lahey

i am thinking grebs is a goner. larsen and belov to stick with the big club. nurse is sent down no matter what from to nine game trial. i'd probably consider fedun over grebs too.

i am thinking grebs is a goner. larsen and belov to stick with the big club. nurse is sent down no matter what from to nine game trial. i'd probably consider fedun over grebs too.
- deks1

So... just throw N. Schultz on waivers and maybe even hope someone picks him up on waivers and free up some cap space?

So... just throw N. Schultz on waivers and maybe even hope someone picks him up on waivers and free up some cap space?
- heh49314

and rely on belov, fedun, grebs, or larsen to duke it out for 5&6? tough one. i like n.schultz veteran presence.

So... just throw N. Schultz on waivers and maybe even hope someone picks him up on waivers and free up some cap space?
- heh49314

I wouldn't waive him. The guy was a pretty good shutdown d-man before the lockout. You have to give a guy like him the benefit of the doubt. You waive these other guys that haven't proved jack in the NHL before you waive N.Schultz.

I wouldn't waive him. The guy was a pretty good shutdown d-man before the lockout. You have to give a guy like him the benefit of the doubt. You waive these other guys that haven't proved jack in the NHL before you waive N.Schultz.
- Lahey

I wouldn't treat a leader like him like that especially not for greb or fedun. His cap hit might be steep, but he's only got 1 year left. Who knows, maybe he'll stick around for another 2 years at much lower price?..

Also, since we do have a bundle of d prospects, is there a move to be made for some forward prospects in return? I'd so, who?

Just sign Mueller already...

Just sign Mueller already...
- Jaciems

Didn't he sign in Europe somewhere?

If I were Eakins and Co., my defensive pairings would look like this:

Ference Belov - this pairing really stood out to me last night at the game. It was great to see them in real life at the game. Belov looks like an NHL ready player.

Smid Petry - they were a silver lining to what was a disappointing 2011/12 season, yet they regressed in 2013. I'm not convinced that they can match the same level of play yet.

Schultz Schultz - Nick Schultz's game is so average/forgetful but at least he can be relied on for medium level competition, whereas Justin Schultz is still a one trick pony: ace on the power play while leaving Schultz the Elder out to dry on even strength. In time he will become our best defenseman though.

Overall, not too bad. I can honestly say our defense looks pretty good; a lot better than they have been since 2006.

- Lahey

Holy poop! Is that Gags? (frank)ing Kassain piece of poop...

We have 2 bloggers now boss...try to keep up.
- ruttager17

This comment is like 10 hours late