He's make the most sense at the moment. We need centers.
- Lahey

Fukk I wanna be a fly on the wall in Mac-T-town....is he tryin to make a deal or do they believe they can stem the tide?

I just wonder if he's wavering on the topic or won't stop until he picks someone up here in the next week...

Fukk I wanna be a fly on the wall in Mac-T-town....is he tryin to make a deal or do they believe they can stem the tide?

I just wonder if he's wavering on the topic or won't stop until he picks someone up here in the next week...
- Salvo

I don't know who worried he is. RNH could be back in a couple weeks. Really the biggest question mark is Arcobello. 4th line center shouldn't be that big of an issue just yet.

I hate to see a knee jerk reaction just to make a minor upgrade. I don't think MacT will do that though.

The other thing is with Hall looking so good at center, we aren't exactly in that bad of shape. Not too many teams could lose #1 and #2 centers and then have a guy like Hall fill in and do well. When healthy we have decent center depth. Sobtka or someone similar would be nice simply because they can play wing.

You mean your wrist
- Lahey

We can always probably bring Smithson back at league minimum.

We can always probably bring Smithson back at league minimum.
- Morris

Probably, but is he that much better than Acton is the key? The fact that Smithson was never talked about with regards to a contract or PTO is very telling to what the team thought of him.

https://vine.co/v/h6uUnMP1hMx
Oilers new workout routine... looks rough.

Who's coming out of Toronto?

Who's coming out of Toronto?
- Oilers4Life14

could be mcclement

Steinley...you sure like to complain an awful lot don't you? I think Smyth is doing quite well on Halls line. Hall is doing well also.
When you make comments suggesting Eakins is dating Hamilton you sound like an unfunny 11 yr old.
Now, Mac T is responsible for the personnel , not Lowe. You need to figure that out.
Thomas Vanek as a 3rd line winger? I think we need a Center slightly more.
- Jeropotato

You are right, I do complain a lot. Mostly to get people wired up and to start a debate. Smyth is doing OKAY on Halls line in the preseason. We have seen last year what he is capable of during the regular season. He is not a top line player. Not anymore and anyone that thinks otherwise can just look at old highlights or read old articles from last year.

Eakins might not be dating Hamilton but he does have a man crush on him and you can see it in numerous interviews. You can also see it in the ice time and the lines he is playing on. Also if you think Kevin Lowe doesn't have a hand in the operations of the team you are kidding yourself. Kevin Lowe and MacT have and always will seek each others council on team matters. They are close friends first and foremost. They are business associates second. You are kidding yourself if you think it is the other way around.

Now I am not actually suggesting that Vanek be the exact target of ours. Of course a center is much more important but that is the calibre of player we need at this point. I am not suggesting we mortgage all our dmen. Marincin I think has a bright future with the team. However with Petry, Justin, Klefbom, Nurse and Marcinin we can afford to part with talented prospects like Fedun, Gernat, Musil and Davidson. Simple logic shows that we can't fit all these young guys onto the roster. Maybe a team like the Aves with their ton of Centers who opted to pick another one in the draft might be interested in some defensive prospects, a player like Nick and maybe someone else depending on who we get. That would be a possibility as they would probably love to go after Miller at this point.

That is the type of deal that we should explore. Also MacT and Kevin Lowe are terrible.

I don't know who worried he is. RNH could be back in a couple weeks. Really the biggest question mark is Arcobello. 4th line center shouldn't be that big of an issue just yet.

I hate to see a knee jerk reaction just to make a minor upgrade. I don't think MacT will do that though.

The other thing is with Hall looking so good at center, we aren't exactly in that bad of shape. Not too many teams could lose #1 and #2 centers and then have a guy like Hall fill in and do well. When healthy we have decent center depth. Sobtka or someone similar would be nice simply because they can play wing.
- Lahey

Yeah good word.

I've actually just backed off the ledge a little.

And you're right, one of the great things to come from this is the longer Hall does play center, the better off we are in coming years. Center swing men are a great asset.

Even if RNH comes back mid-October, you have to think Hall stays at center for two months over keeping Arco (unless of course Arco astounds and Eakins has options there)

Eakins claims he is a big fan of deploying all types of sytems - well having a guy like Hall to play center anytime he wants in the coming years is another look as well.

I'll summarize this pretty quickly:
shut up.
- ChetManly

From a guy without anything intelligent to say ever. This is probably the best thing you have offered to the conversation. Keep up the witty trash talk. It makes you look really smart.

Yeah good word.

I've actually just backed off the ledge a little.

And you're right, one of the great things to come from this is the longer Hall does play center, the better off we are in coming years. Center swing men are a great asset.

Even if RNH comes back mid-October, you have to think Hall stays at center for two months over keeping Arco (unless of course Arco astounds and Eakins has options there)

Eakins claims he is a big fan of deploying all types of sytems - well having a guy like Hall to play center anytime he wants in the coming years is another look as well.
- Salvo

hall playing centre may even open up his chances to be on team canada. being well rounded and versatile. there's a good debate hall vs benn for top line left wing role with crosby. benn goes back to left wing with seguin as top pivot. hall moves from wing to centre.

hall playing centre may even open up his chances to be on team canada. being well rounded and versatile. there's a good debate hall vs benn for top line left wing role with crosby. benn goes back to left wing with seguin as top pivot. hall moves from wing to centre.
- deks1

Hell yes.

From a guy without anything intelligent to say ever. This is probably the best thing you have offered to the conversation. Keep up the witty trash talk. It makes you look really smart.
- Hall Fan

Sobotka always figures into my capgeek tinkering. He's one of my favs.

Kulemin-Sobotka-Yakupov would be a ballin 3rd line.
- Morris

I think Morrow is past his prime. I almost like Sobotka better. Depending on what Morrow wants for a salary. Morrow is currently a better player but not for much longer. At some point in time they have to think about trading Halak or Elliot. Both on their final years of their contract. The team obviously has faith in Jake Allen as a back up, I think he is more than ready.

If I am parting with salary, I would give some serious thought to letting Halak go. You can argue that either one is better. Elliot has been putting up a lot of Shut outs over the last 3 years and Halak has had some injury problems. I think Halak is better personally but you have a better chance of signing Elliot for a good price in the off season than you do Halak. There are still a couple teams that are interested in a goalie of his caliber.

hall playing centre may even open up his chances to be on team canada. being well rounded and versatile. there's a good debate hall vs benn for top line left wing role with crosby. benn goes back to left wing with seguin as top pivot. hall moves from wing to centre.
- deks1

I'll be pretty sour if Hall doesn't get a solid reconsideration for the Olympic squad. He is miles above Kunitz in terms of skill, plus he has international experience already. I can't comment if Kunitz does or not.

Yeah good word.

I've actually just backed off the ledge a little.

And you're right, one of the great things to come from this is the longer Hall does play center, the better off we are in coming years. Center swing men are a great asset.

Even if RNH comes back mid-October, you have to think Hall stays at center for two months over keeping Arco (unless of course Arco astounds and Eakins has options there)

Eakins claims he is a big fan of deploying all types of sytems - well having a guy like Hall to play center anytime he wants in the coming years is another look as well.
- Salvo

I wouldn't be shocked to see gagner moved to LW when the team is healthy. Eakins has had a lot of praise for Hall at center.

Arco is an interesting one. MacT sees a lot in him. Really talked about his smart defensive game. I'm curious to see him play 5 or 6 games and see if he is one of those guys that ends up as a 4th line center that moves up for injuries.

hall playing centre may even open up his chances to be on team canada. being well rounded and versatile. there's a good debate hall vs benn for top line left wing role with crosby. benn goes back to left wing with seguin as top pivot. hall moves from wing to centre.
- deks1

I think with all the centers on Team Canada that they would like a dedicated winger. However I think you are right in the sense that if you have a winger who can take the face off if the center man is tossed out, he has that extra little bit. Unfortunately Benn is playing with Sequin this fall and they seem to have good chemistry. I think not having RNH is going to hurt Hall's chances. If he was playing with RNH and say Eberle or Yakupov, then he would have a much better chance to put up some big numbers. Truth be told I don't like any of the Oilers chances of making the team this year. Benn might even be on the outside looking in. Just so much talent to pick from.

If you look at TSN's top 50 they ran a couple days ago that was picked by 14 NHL coaches, Eberle and Justin are not in it. Hall barely made it. However guys like Getzlaf, Perry, Tavares, Toews, Staal, Spezza, Crosby, Stamkos, St. Louis, Duchene, Thorton, Nash, Bergeron, Giroux, Couture, Benn and Neal all were ranked a head of him. That is enough for 5 lines and two extras. The list for Shultz to beat is tougher. I think Neal, Benn, Spezza and Couture/Duchene will be off the team. The rest is who you are looking at.

I wouldn't be shocked to see gagner moved to LW when the team is healthy. Eakins has had a lot of praise for Hall at center.

Arco is an interesting one. MacT sees a lot in him. Really talked about his smart defensive game. I'm curious to see him play 5 or 6 games and see if he is one of those guys that ends up as a 4th line center that moves up for injuries.
- Lahey

Perhaps now Gagner on the wing would work well, he didn't perform too well on the wing during his early seasons.

I think with all the centers on Team Canada that they would like a dedicated winger. However I think you are right in the sense that if you have a winger who can take the face off if the center man is tossed out, he has that extra little bit. Unfortunately Benn is playing with Sequin this fall and they seem to have good chemistry. I think not having RNH is going to hurt Hall's chances. If he was playing with RNH and say Eberle or Yakupov, then he would have a much better chance to put up some big numbers. Truth be told I don't like any of the Oilers chances of making the team this year. Benn might even be on the outside looking in. Just so much talent to pick from.

If you look at TSN's top 50 they ran a couple days ago that was picked by 14 NHL coaches, Eberle and Justin are not in it. Hall barely made it. However guys like Getzlaf, Perry, Tavares, Toews, Staal, Spezza, Crosby, Stamkos, St. Louis, Duchene, Thorton, Nash, Bergeron, Giroux, Couture, Benn and Neal all were ranked a head of him. That is enough for 5 lines and two extras. The list for Shultz to beat is tougher. I think Neal, Benn, Spezza and Couture/Duchene will be off the team. The rest is who you are looking at.
- Hall Fan

Let's just hope we don't experience another Nagano 1998 experience again

I wouldn't be shocked to see gagner moved to LW when the team is healthy. Eakins has had a lot of praise for Hall at center.

Arco is an interesting one. MacT sees a lot in him. Really talked about his smart defensive game. I'm curious to see him play 5 or 6 games and see if he is one of those guys that ends up as a 4th line center that moves up for injuries.
- Lahey

Exactly.

"OMGZZZ If Hall plays center what the derp do they with Samwise?!?!"

Options.

I'll be pretty sour if Hall doesn't get a solid reconsideration for the Olympic squad. He is miles above Kunitz in terms of skill, plus he has international experience already. I can't comment if Kunitz does or not.
- ChetManly

I still think Hall not making the team is the best thing for the Oilers. (frank) Canada, Russia has the gold wrapped up anyway.

I wouldn't be shocked to see gagner moved to LW when the team is healthy. Eakins has had a lot of praise for Hall at center.

Arco is an interesting one. MacT sees a lot in him. Really talked about his smart defensive game. I'm curious to see him play 5 or 6 games and see if he is one of those guys that ends up as a 4th line center that moves up for injuries.
- Lahey

Question for you. Say RNH and Gagner is healthy. What would you make of the top 6 lines. Perron is on fire, Hall/Eberle have history, Hall/Yakupov showed Chemistry last year. If you were the coach, how would you line it up. I don't need a first and a second, just what pairings.

Question for you. Say RNH and Gagner is healthy. What would you make of the top 6 lines. Perron is on fire, Hall/Eberle have history, Hall/Yakupov showed Chemistry last year. If you were the coach, how would you line it up. I don't need a first and a second, just what pairings.
- Hall Fan

Smyth-Hall-Hemsky
Perron-Gagner-Eberle
Joesnue-RNH-Yak

Based on the premise that the Hall line continues to play well.

Let's just hope we don't experience another Nagano 1998 experience again

- ChetManly

Or a fukking Turin - what blip-glitch that was. Canada wins in 2002 only to back that up with a completely vacant charge in '06.

So our two victories since the pro-Olympics have been on the NA ice.

Gonna be interesting. Canada has to win leaving their comforts and on the big ice at some point.

Pyeongchang, South Kollea 2018!!!!!!!!1