I don't know, i personally think DZ is overrated by alot of fans, he has a weak point shot, dosen't like contact, gets knocked off the puck easily, and outside of the occasional stretch pass or end to end rush he just dosen't seem to do much. He is however only 23 and still has decent value so they should turn him into something at least for the rest of this year. I wouldn't re-sign him to more than a bridge deal.
- Ranger71

I don't know about that. I think about 80% of fans hate Del Zotto

I don't know. I really don't. I am not saying your wrong, but Kreider has mystified me more than any young player I've ever seen. In his draft year, he was the guy I wanted (I swear). And then, I got mad at him for spending that extra year at Boston College (I was selfish and wanted him here). And then in the playoffs, he was unreal at times with no pro experience.

But, then the next year. He stinks in Hartford, even before Torts got his hands on him. And then he was invisible for the Rangers (90% of the time at least). Then he doesn't make the team out of camp (with a different coach). And now, he is unbelievable again.

Is all that Torts? Or is Kreider just a bit of an enigma? I was one of the ones that thought the team should move in different direction from Torts. But, with young players, I thought he was real good on a whole. Not saying he didn't have faults in that area, but I don't blame him for Kreider. There were other warning signs about Kreider last year as well, when Torts wasn't even in the picture.
- Pete V

I wouldn't even say for selfish reasons I wanted Kreider to sign and join the system. I wanted him to play in the AHL knowing it would speed up his development curve. NCAA hockey is great but the shorter schedule and weaker competition doesn't properly prepare a player of Kreider's abilities for the NHL game. Some guys, usually all-effort types, can step right in after four years and fit in. With Kreider's high skill set, he needed to play against pros and to be coached by experienced pro coaches to learn to properly harness his talents to translate them to the NHL.

Evander kane having trouble with coach:

Evander Kane isn’t letting Wednesday night go.

After being held out of the lineup in a 4-1 loss to Chicago — the second game in a row he missed with an unspecified injury — Kane told reporters on Friday he was ready to face the ‘Hawks and insists he was a healthy scratch.

“I felt healthy enough to play,” Kane told the Winnipeg Sun. “My definition of a healthy scratch is a healthy player not playing. That was my interpretation.”

Embattled coach Claude Noel, who has run afoul of Jets players in the past (see: Burmistrov, Alex), told the Sun he’s discussed the matter with Kane and respects his opinion, but still stands by the decision to hold the 22-year-old out due to “health reasons.”

That said, it’s clear there’s some sort of rift between coach and player.

“I felt good in warm-up and obviously the feeling wasn’t mutual,” Kane explained. “Obviously it’s some sort of disagreement in a sense, but I don’t think it’s a big of a matter as some people are making it seem.”

Kane has six goals and nine points through 15 games this year, which is decent production. The problems in Winnipeg, it seems, are much larger in scope — after spending huge in the offseason to retain its core players for playoff push, the club has just six wins through its first 17 games and sits dead last in the Central Division.
- jimbro83

The coach will go before Kane goes.

I don't know, i personally think DZ is overrated by alot of fans, he has a weak point shot, dosen't like contact, gets knocked off the puck easily, and outside of the occasional stretch pass or end to end rush he just dosen't seem to do much. He is however only 23 and still has decent value so they should turn him into something at least for the rest of this year. I wouldn't re-sign him to more than a bridge deal.
- Ranger71

i disagree.

his shot obviously is lacking accuracy and isn't as hard as chara's or weber's...but when has he ever shied away from contact? and i don't think he's really bumped off that puck that easily, but maybe i need to pay closer attention.

you say he doesn't seem to do much besides the occasional stretch to stretch pass, but that's good for a defenseman when you don't notice him. kind of like giradi. it means he's quietly doing an effective job.

he's our weakest defenseman, but that's not saying a lot because mcdonagh, girardi, and staal are all great, stralman is arguably the most improved player in the nhl, and john moore has come out of nowhere with mcdonagh's skating and the offensive flair and confidence MDZ had his rookie season. that doesn't mean MDZ is a bad defender though, in my opinion. it just means he's expendable.

but mark my words, if MDZ gets traded and falk gets inserted into the lineup on a nightly basis, we'll be begging for MDZ to come back and the bickel comparisons will start for falk. i can see it now: "my eyes bleed every time falk steps on the ice!"

on a side note, someone on the oilers thread suggested simmonds for eberle and a flyers fan said simmonds could probably fetch a higher return than eberle LOL

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 6m
Lots of rumblings out of Edmonton. Things could be heating up.

Aaron Ward ‏@aaronward_nhl 1m
Source saying Ladislav Smid traded #tsn

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 29s
Smid to Calgary for prospects.

I don't know about that. I think about 80% of fans hate Del Zotto
- jimbro83

I'm a DZ fan, often criticized for it at times when sticking up for him . I agree with this, the kid is 22 yrs old or 23 and has already played a lot of NHL games. You're not gong to get a kid that young on D with his experience. He has some clunkers but he is talented and id like for him to stay a Ranger if possible. Obviously if you can get a former #1 overall pick I'm assuming he's the one to headline a package, you have to do it. Fans sh!t on him way too much though.

Aaron Ward ‏@aaronward_nhl 1m
Source saying Ladislav Smid traded #tsn

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 29s
Smid to Calgary for prospects.
- rangerdanger94

Why in the world would Edmonton trade away a defenseman

Why in the world would Edmonton trade away a defenseman

- pcjr307

make room for MDZ

make room for MDZ
- rangerdanger94

If they're gettin Yakupov I hope they do this shortly. I would imagine things are at least a little serious with Oiler management following them around all week.

i disagree.

his shot obviously is lacking accuracy and isn't as hard as chara's or weber's...but when has he ever shied away from contact? and i don't think he's really bumped off that puck that easily, but maybe i need to pay closer attention.

you say he doesn't seem to do much besides the occasional stretch to stretch pass, but that's good for a defenseman when you don't notice him. kind of like giradi. it means he's quietly doing an effective job.

he's our weakest defenseman, but that's not saying a lot because mcdonagh, girardi, and staal are all great, stralman is arguably the most improved player in the nhl, and john moore has come out of nowhere with mcdonagh's skating and the offensive flair and confidence MDZ had his rookie season. that doesn't mean MDZ is a bad defender though, in my opinion. it just means he's expendable.

but mark my words, if MDZ gets traded and falk gets inserted into the lineup on a nightly basis, we'll be begging for MDZ to come back and the bickel comparisons will start for falk. i can see it now: "my eyes bleed every time falk steps on the ice!"

on a side note, someone on the oilers thread suggested simmonds for eberle and a flyers fan said simmonds could probably fetch a higher return than eberle LOL
- rangerdanger94

That's fair, and I'm probably a little harder on him than most, but I find myself cringing alot when he's on the point or defending down low. I just always feel like he's unsure of himself and more worried about getting hit than what to do with the puck. To be fair I've also seen him nail some people too so he has shown some physicality at times. As for the others, I wouldn't say Girardi is "great", he is what he is, a lunchpail guy without much offense, but solid. Staal is always Staal and McDonagh should be a consistent AS over time. The Moore acquisition was important going forward, which makes MDZ a little more expendable imo for something else of need.
And Falk is horrible, he should be in the AHL if they had another competent 7th guy. Hopefully Allen is ready sometime this year, McIlrath I think needs the rest of the year in Hartford. Skjei and Andersson down the line.

Why in the world would Edmonton trade away a defenseman

- pcjr307

Edmonton Oilers ‏@EdmontonOilers 1m
#Oilers acquire G Laurent Brossoit and C Roman Horak from @NHLFlames in exchange for D Ladislav Smid and G Olivier Roy.

Edmonton Oilers ‏@EdmontonOilers 1m
#Oilers acquire G Laurent Brossoit and C Roman Horak from @NHLFlames in exchange for D Ladislav Smid and G Olivier Roy.
- jimbro83

Does the plot thicken?

Does the plot thicken?
- OLDSCHOOL#6

to me it does......

Oilers seemed primed to acquire a defenseman and trade a forward now

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 1m
Oilers-Bryzgalov discussions escalating. Edmonton had to move Smid money to make room for goalie.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 1m
Oilers-Bryzgalov discussions escalating. Edmonton had to move Smid money to make room for goalie.
- jimbro83

the had over $5 mil in cap space

the had over $5 mil in cap space
- rangerdanger94

they are gonna give Bryz 6 million a year like they do everyone else

make room for MDZ
- rangerdanger94

and replace him with who? The gap in talent from 6 to 7 on the back end is pretty wide

and replace him with who? The gap in talent from 6 to 7 on the back end is pretty wide
- JackBurton37

I think the thought would be Conor Allen or Dylan McIlrath

and replace him with who? The gap in talent from 6 to 7 on the back end is pretty wide
- JackBurton37

i'm willing to live with a crappy 6th defenseman if it means getting yakupov

to me it does......

Oilers seemed primed to acquire a defenseman and trade a forward now
- jimbro83

I can't imagine Slats didn't tell McT and Lowe that if there were to be a deal, he didn't want to it drag out over a long period of time.

i'm willing to live with a crappy 6th defenseman if it means getting yakupov
- rangerdanger94

agreed, its worth it, but another hamrlick type episode scares me

I can't imagine Slats didn't tell McT and Lowe that if there were to be a deal, he didn't want to it drag out over a long period of time.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

You get a sense something is going to happen?

agreed, its worth it, but another hamrlick type episode scares me
- JackBurton37

reports seem to indicate the mcrilath might be ready and connor allen was very impressive during training camp.

but we also forget we signed a couple veterans like johnson and syrvet or w/e who might be able to be serviceable 6th D.

You get a sense something is going to happen?
- Pete V

The deal they just made signals they are about to obtain a Dman. I guess we'll see if it's one of ours.