Reaves isn't going anywhere according to Strickland. My money is on Cracknell. Reaves, Porter and Cracknell get hyped a lot, but they aren't that great. They play on a team that plays a real good system and it doesn't matter who is on their 4th. If you have 3 real good lines that's usually what happens. STL could lose all 3 of those guys and somehow they wouldn't skip a beat.
- Lahey

I was saying that Reaves would be a massive upgrade on MacIntyre. He's actually pretty fast like eager. He hits hard and fights the tough guys. Cracknell would be alright I guess. But I don't know why they would trade him. He wouldn't save them much cap room.

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

Referenced from my earlier post on page 3:

Smyth-Nuge-Hemsky
Perron-Gagner-Eberle
Hall-Arcobello-Yakupov
Jonesuu-Gordon- All the fourth line people you said (fighters)
- Oilers4Life14

Hall - Nuge - Yakupov/Hemsky
Perron - Gagner - Eberle
Smyth - Arcobello - Yakupov/Hemsky
Jonesuu - Gordon - Hamilton

I know Eakins will probably be rolling with three scoring lines, but I just don't see how Smyth will survive on L1 all season. I suspect he will be moved down to L3 eventually. I believe he is only there to help Hall acclimate into the center position. I think Hemsky and Yakupov should be flipped. Hemsky is still doing way too much puck handling and passing rather than shooting when he has an open lane. It's driving me nuts!

edit: sorry, this is my prediction for the line-up once we hit November.

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

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

Wow. Going forward, replace Smyth with the right UFA and really any combination of those as TOI 1A lines.

The NHL will be our female doges.

Referenced from my earlier post on page 3:

Smyth-Nuge-Hemsky
Perron-Gagner-Eberle
Hall-Arcobello-Yakupov
Jonesuu-Gordon- All the fourth line people you said (fighters)
- Oilers4Life14

Hall - Nuge - Yakupov/Hemsky
Perron - Gagner - Eberle
Smyth - Arcobello - Yakupov/Hemsky
Jonesuu - Gordon - Hamilton

I know Eakins will probably be rolling with three scoring lines, but I just don't see how Smyth will survive on L1 all season. I suspect he will be moved down to L3 eventually. I believe he is only there to help Hall acclimate into the center position. I think Hemsky and Yakupov should be flipped. Hemsky is still doing way too much puck handling and passing rather than shooting when he has an open lane. It's driving me nuts!

edit: sorry, this is my prediction for the line-up once we hit November.
- ChetManly

I have to make a couple ass umptions with mine. One being you run 3 lines quite equal in terms of TOI. Ass umption 2, Smyth won't get special team time which should help him not getting over played.

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

I think they want depth at the center position. Running "Pairs"

Hall with Hemmer
Nuge with Eberle
Gagner with Yak

obviously when the team is healthy.

I think Eakins want to run 3 scoring lines and a physical energy line.

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.

Pyeongyang, North Kollea 2018!!!!!!!!1
- Salvo

fixed!

I think they want depth at the center position. Running "Pairs"

Hall with Hemmer
Nuge with Eberle
Gagner with Yak

obviously when the team is healthy.

I think Eakins want to run 3 scoring lines and a physical energy line.
- Killbot460

Perhaps I'm being limited here but to my mind Nuge and Ebs:
Together Forever type poop

I also like Hall and Yak deployed on off wings together. Not sure that's defined as the typical pair but it could just be unstoppable in a few years.

I have to make a couple ass umptions with mine. One being you run 3 lines quite equal in terms of TOI. Ass umption 2, Smyth won't get special team time which should help him not getting over played.
- Lahey

Smyth only playing equal strength is the best scenario and perhaps the only way he survives the season.

fixed!
- ChetManly

you know...(FIXED) for good measure.

I think they want depth at the center position. Running "Pairs"

Hall with Hemmer
Nuge with Eberle
Gagner with Yak

obviously when the team is healthy.

I think Eakins want to run 3 scoring lines and a physical energy line.
- Killbot460

I think it'll be great seeing the left wingers continuously moving and seeing who has the best chemistry with the set center and right wing combo.

Perron go get puck.
Create space for ayeebody.
Win sauce.

Perhaps I'm being limited here but to my mind Nuge and Ebs:
Together Forever type poop

I also like Hall and Yak deployed on off wings together. Not sure that's defined as the typical pair but it could just be unstoppable in a few years.
- Salvo

Perron Hall Yak would be a devastating first line
Joensu Nuge Ebs It could work
Smyth Gagner Hemsky I dunno if I like smyth or hemmer

I think it'll be great seeing the left wingers continuously moving and seeing who has the best chemistry with the set center and right wing combo.
- ChetManly

Yes it will be great

(frank) why can't Oct 1 come faster. My Bday on opening night!!!!

Perron Hall Yak would be a devastating first line
Joensu Nuge Ebs It could work
Smyth Gagner Hemsky I dunno if I like smyth or hemmer
- Killbot460

Been saying this for a bit now but we need a surprise - we need a guy like Joensuu to develop well here as an Oiler. Poor-poor Harti.

So far I've liked his shot as well. That would be perfect to have him running around on that line.

Perron Hall Yak would be a devastating first line
Joensu Nuge Ebs It could work
Smyth Gagner Hemsky I dunno if I like smyth or hemmer
- Killbot460

lol yeah I just hope Smyth can play well here early on as they get healthy, it's the perfect set up for him to retain a little glory and prove the majority wrong here.

Okay, so fine be slow, but make 'em count Smytty. With any luck we get the rejuvenated and rested version.

Didn't he start really strong last before completely petering out?

Been saying this for a bit now but we need a surprise - we need a guy like Joensuu to develop well here as an Oiler. Poor-poor Harti.

So far I've liked his shot as well. That would be perfect to have him running around on that line.
- Salvo

Harti (frank)ed up. He would look great on a 4th line and then eventually/hopefully moving up when smyth retires

lol yeah I just hope Smyth can play well here early on as they get healthy, it's the perfect set up for him to retain a little glory and prove the majority wrong here.

Okay, so fine be slow, but make 'em count Smytty. With any luck we get the rejuvenated and rested version.

Didn't he start really strong last before completely petering out?
- Salvo

yes. he ripped it till about the 35-40 game mark I believe last two years

yes. he ripped it till about the 35-40 game mark I believe last two years
- Killbot460

Right. Excellent. He'll have to be huge in October.

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

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

That line up is poop... wont last long... either way u cut you will have RNH with Hall and Yak or Ebs as your top line...

That line up is poop... wont last long... either way u cut you will have RNH with Hall and Yak or Ebs as your top line...
- saskoil21

I like spreading the wealth more actually. With the way Hall and Yak skate the puck it doesn't matter too much who else is with them, as evidenced by their success with Horcoff last year. I like a big immovable object along with the Nuge and Ebs pairing.

My preference:
Smyth-Hall-Yakupov
Joensuu-Nuge-Ebs
Perron-Gordon-Hemsky while Gags is out and

Hall-Gagner-Yakupov
Smyth/Joensuu-Nuge-Ebs
Perron-Gordon-Hemsky

when Gags gets back.

Right. Excellent. He'll have to be huge in October.
- Salvo

That's all we really need. Hopefully by then MacT is looking for better long-term fixes

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

Ummm ...Steinley, your not really in position to make a sarcastic comment about anyone's intelligence, based on your last 1745 posts on this site.

Ummm ...Steinley, your not really in position to make a sarcastic comment about anyone's intelligence, based on your last 1745 posts on this site.
- Jeropotato

That line up is poop... wont last long... either way u cut you will have RNH with Hall and Yak or Ebs as your top line...
- saskoil21

Eakins is about spreading the wealth.

- saskoil21

Well for (frank)s sake? Some people should simply be spectators in life. I think if Everytime I made a comment and was reminded how rediculous my thought process was,I might clue in and STFU.