Most Eastern fans see nothing but highlights and make their judgement based on that. ANYONE with any hockey sense can watch a dozen Oilers games and clearly see who our best and most important player is. Nuge may become that one day but is not right now. And Eberle is no where close to Hall....not even close.
- Iggysbff

Leafs fans judge Eberle on 1 thing... his World Jr's performance. Nothing else matters, he's the best, it's settled.

ive noticed this.

it's a combination of highlight reels, world juniors and the hall hate.
- hugefemale dog77

What I've noticed about Hall is how his on-ice impact affects the team's performance. Seems we create more shots, chances, goals with him playing than without. Then again, maybe we lose Eberle for a few games and we start sucking again. Hard to say, when he rarely gets hurt.

I'm kinda not sold on Simmonds. I think his hockey playing abilities aren't much above grinder, and that the physicality he brings overshadows that. I don't think you trade a first liner for an average player with physicality, even if we need some of it and if we're getting another piece back.
- Jack-artist

It all depends on how much you value "presence". If there's one thing Edmonton lacks besides a reliable goalie, it's that. The team needs someone who can bring something to the game even when he's not scoring. Beyond Perron, this team doesn't really have that in the top-9. Simmonds certainly doesn't solve all the team's problem, but the value of a quality net presence and crasher that can compliment skill (which he has proven capable of) shouldn't be underestimated.

Horray! More inconsistent offensive producers that can't win faceoffs If that trade were to happen, I think the lines would go more like:

Hall- Arco- Simmonds
Schenn- Nuge- Yak
Perron- Gordon- Hemsky

But it's really not important as Eakins would changes the lines every damn period.
- MaximumBone

People used to think that JVR was an inconsistent producer, he looks just fine now.
People thought that you couldn't win with M. Richards and J. Carter, they look just fine right now.

The problem in Philly is NOT the players. It's their management, culture, coaching, everything. They need a clean sweep, not of players, but of everyone else.

devils. the isles beat us
- hugefemale dog77

Oh, thanks for the fix!

I'm kinda not sold on Simmonds. I think his hockey playing abilities aren't much above grinder, and that the physicality he brings overshadows that. I don't think you trade a first liner for an average player with physicality, even if we need some of it and if we're getting another piece back.
- Jack-artist

good post.

im not sure how good he is either. I liked him the world championships and was impressed with his skating and net drive. small sample though.
he's put up some numbers in the past, but then again, so have guys like jones.

huge gamble for sure. first line talent, for grit.
im sure the oilers would've scouted the fuk out of him if they ever made a deal involving those two

I wouldn't say THAT high if you pick the right combination of players. Assuming each player continues to play like they have so far

Kulemin for $2-2.5 mill
Moss for $1.5-2 mill
Boyle for $1.5-1.75 mill
Vitale for $900k (possibly two-way)

Orpik for $4-4.5 mill
Hiller for $4-4.5 mill
Greiss for $1-1.5 mill

Petry resigned for $4-4.5 mill
J Schultz resigned for $2-2.5 mill (bridge deal)
Larsen, Jones, Bachman on 2-way deals

Let Hemsky, N Schultz, Dubnyk, and Labackup walk, and Smyth retires.

Don't know what would happen to Arco (I'd like to keep him) and Belov, though.
- MaximumBone

Orpik is not even close to worth that anymore and is not a guy I'd want at all. a lot of these others....I agree. But Perron is a top 6 guy. No way he belongs on the 3rd line.

Also I think Nurse has a Very good chance to make the team next year.

I don't see this deal happening. Doesn't make much sense for Edmonton.

we'd struggle in either conference, but we just get killed against the la's and san joses etc.

as far as decent teams go, we beat the habs and the sens.
shoulda beat Toronto in that first game too...
- hugefemale dog77

Well you lost to Toronto twice now.. Pretty sure the Oil isn't quite on their level yet. Ottawa and Montreal go though streaks and tend to elevate or lower their play based on their opponent.

I thought you checked out.
- deks1

It all depends on how much you value "presence". If there's one thing Edmonton lacks besides a reliable goalie, it's that. The team needs someone who can bring something to the game even when he's not scoring. Beyond Perron, this team doesn't really have that in the top-9. Simmonds certainly doesn't solve all the team's problem, but the value of a quality net presence and crasher that can compliment skill (which he has proven capable of) shouldn't be underestimated.
- MaximumBone

Thing is, I think Joensuu can do what Simmonds does almost as well. He might not be as proven or punch guys as much, but you don't have to trade a key player for him. Now if we're trying to get David Backes or Andrew Ladd that's a different story.

People used to think that JVR was an inconsistent producer, he looks just fine now.
People thought that you couldn't win with M. Richards and J. Carter, they look just fine right now.

The problem in Philly is NOT the players. It's their management, culture, coaching, everything. They need a clean sweep, not of players, but of everyone else.
- ILoveLamp

If philly changed nothing for next year i still wouldn't rule them out of a playoff spot. They are so weird.

Orpik is not even close to worth that anymore and is not a guy I'd want at all. a lot of these others....I agree. But Perron is a top 6 guy. No way he belongs on the 3rd line.

Also I think Nurse has a Very good chance to make the team next year.
- Iggysbff

Orpik's deal would be an over-payment for something we need as I think he's capable of still playing top-4 minutes well. The thing about that contract would be that it'd be short term; 2 or 3 years max.

It's not that Perron "belongs" on the 3rd line so much as this roster make-up maintains strong depth in scoring and two-way play. He's the kind of player that doesn't need to play with significant skill to be successful (like Hemsky). It's not like that line would be getting typical 3rd line minutes, either.

What I've noticed about Hall is how his on-ice impact affects the team's performance. Seems we create more shots, chances, goals with him playing than without. Then again, maybe we lose Eberle for a few games and we start sucking again. Hard to say, when he rarely gets hurt.
- Jack-artist

agreed.

I was discussing this with some friends who are hab fans the other day. comparing injuries as they had lost max pac etc.

our team is so different without hall. brought to it's knees really. I tried to make it clear that it's as much of a diss on the team as a tire pump for hall. but they didn't understand and said I was being a homer.

but yes, tough to say what we're like without ebs as he rarely misses games. a quality that I don't overlook

If philly changed nothing for next year i still wouldn't rule them out of a playoff spot. They are so weird.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Lightning seem to be the same. Bottom, Top, Bottom, Top. Rollercoaster ride from year to year.

Thing is, I think Joensuu can do what Simmonds does almost as well. He might not be as proven or punch guys as much, but you don't have to trade a key player for him. Now if we're trying to get David Backes or Andrew Ladd that's a different story.
- Jack-artist

But Joensuu has an injury history and it's showing this season. As such, the team can't rely on him to consistently be their skilled-size.

Orpik's deal would be an over-payment for something we need as I think he's capable of still playing top-4 minutes well. The thing about that contract would be that it'd be short term; 2 or 3 years max.

It's not that Perron "belongs" on the 3rd line so much as this roster make-up maintains strong depth in scoring and two-way play. He's the kind of player that doesn't need to play with significant skill to be successful (like Hemsky). It's not like that line would be getting typical 3rd line minutes, either.
- MaximumBone

1000%

we add a big winger that can crash and create some space for nuge/ebs, and move perron to the 3rd, we're a much better and deeper team.
it's in no way a demotion for david. quite the opposite. it's a reflection of how versatile he is. we'd be rolling a top 9 fairly consistently would be my guess.

But Joensuu has an injury history and it's showing this season. As such, the team can't rely on him to consistently be their skilled-size.
- MaximumBone

Well yeah there's that. But there's other players that can kinda do what Simmonds does with marginally less skill but much cheaper to acquire. Some of them might not be more than grinders but that's Simmonds was supposed be when he was in LA before he got PP time and ice time with skilled players. The guys Morris brought up like Abdelkader, Winnik, etc.

Orpik's deal would be an over-payment for something we need as I think he's capable of still playing top-4 minutes well. The thing about that contract would be that it'd be short term; 2 or 3 years max.

It's not that Perron "belongs" on the 3rd line so much as this roster make-up maintains strong depth in scoring and two-way play. He's the kind of player that doesn't need to play with significant skill to be successful (like Hemsky). It's not like that line would be getting typical 3rd line minutes, either.
- MaximumBone

Perron would be a 3rd liner the same way that Marchand, brown, pavelski etc. Play on the 3rd line

Well yeah there's that. But there's other players that can kinda do what Simmonds does with marginally less skill but much cheaper to acquire. Some of them might not be more than grinders but that's Simmonds was supposed be when he was in LA before he got PP time and ice time with skilled players. The guys Morris brought up like Abdelkader, Winnik, etc.
- Jack-artist

Greening was a guy I looked into a lot. Brings speed, physicality, and can scored at a reasonable pace. I totally agree with Morris in that regard, but the thing is, other teams are starting to recognize this as well. I like to call them "simple players" cause they play a real straight-line game and bring a little bit of everything. Some others that could be of interest include Kulemin, J McGinn, N Foligno, Wingels, and to a lesser extent Pouliot. Hell! Throw Clifford in there as well!

Well you lost to Toronto twice now.. Pretty sure the Oil isn't quite on their level yet. Ottawa and Montreal go though streaks and tend to elevate or lower their play based on their opponent.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

montreal matches up well for us and played our game. the first game coulda went our way too.

Toronto did this in the first game against us too. they tried to get into a track meet and had it not been for dubnyk, we win that game.
they stomped us the second game for sure and are a better team, but the fact remains when teams try to trade chances and play our style we always have a chance.
problem is, teams know not to do that and we struggle to adjust when it gets physical and defensive.

Perron would be a 3rd liner the same way that Marchand, brown, pavelski etc. Play on the 3rd line
- Morris

Exactly. When your team is deep enough that you can play Perron on your third line, you're doing something right.

Perron would be a 3rd liner the same way that Marchand, brown, pavelski etc. Play on the 3rd line
- Morris

you're a better poster than me. period

Greening was a guy I looked into a lot. Brings speed, physicality, and can scored at a reasonable pace. I totally agree with Morris in that regard, but the thing is, other teams are starting to recognize this as well. I like to call them "simple players" cause they play a real straight-line game and bring a little bit of everything. Some others that could be of interest include Kulemin, J McGinn, N Foligno, Wingels, and to a lesser extent Pouliot. Hell! Throw Clifford in there as well!
- MaximumBone

Greening is a great option because the team has some building to do and last I heard he wasn't doing so hot there

you're a better poster than me. period
- hugefemale dog77

Morris is just a beauty Not to get all blow-hard here, but I think he's one of best posters on HB (take that for what you will).