Its a team game the last time I checked. Was he a part of those teams that were dressed and played and won those games? Yes. Are you of the mind set that only those who get points, figure into the wins???
- ruttager17

Are you of the mindset that Arcobello only brought points?

When the Oilers were winning games just before the trade deadline last year were you one of the mindless sheep who thought Tambellini had actually assembled a good team?

There might be something to be said for decent 4th line minutes.

Having the ability to roll 4 lines with the lead has been nice.

I don't know one way or another if arcobello would've been better, but the fact remains they've been winning and the 4th line has played it's role well. To say their contribution is meaningless is short sighted.
- leaffanshaha

That line (well, Gazdic and Acton) has been bad in a bunch of other games though. and even in the columbus game they were probably the only line got stuck in their own end for prolonged periods of time.

The 4th line seems to spend a lot of time in our own zone though....
- Iggysbff

I think as far as 4th lines go, it's average at best. But not because they need a smaller, skilled guy.

The don't get a lot of offensive zone starts, and have been able to eat minutes fairly effectively.

I'd like to see the stats for the last 3 games. And one thing we know for sure is that they aint getting scored on.

Okay so everyone stop fighting I need to step in and propose the new 4th line combo;

Gazdic-Arco-JJ or

JJ-Arco-Jones

Are you of the mindset that Arcobello only brought points?

When the Oilers were winning games just before the trade deadline last year were you one of the mindless sheep who thought Tambellini had actually assembled a good team?
- Matt_Henderson

Now you are just deflecting from the origin point. Did arco play well in gagners absence and win draws and back check and put up some points? Sure did. But the oil were not winning. Now arco is a scratch and acton is playing and the oil are winning. So kinda hard to say put arco back in. He played well when the team sucked.

I think as far as 4th lines go, it's average at best. But not because they need a smaller, skilled guy.

The don't get a lot of offensive zone starts, and have been able to eat minutes fairly effectively.

I'd like to see the stats for the last 3 games. And one thing we know for sure is that they aint getting scored on.
- leaffanshaha

Well you can attribute a lot of that to Dubnyk.

It's average as a 4th line at best, because teams for some reason see value in using limited players and bottom six AHLers in those roles. Which is funny, because Eakins and MacT have muttered stuff about the fourth line having to be a threat to score, yet we stick a decent scorer in the pressbox over a guy who isn't.

That line (well, Gazdic and Acton) has been bad in a bunch of other games though. and even in the columbus game they were probably the only line got stuck in their own end for prolonged periods of time.
- Jack-artist

The entire team was getting walked in in multiple games.

And the Columbus point isnt necessarily a fact.

Either way, is the point that you're trying to make that we would've won by even more with Arcobello centering the 4th?
Maybe I guess. I doubt it, but I wont argue that which we'll never know too much I suppose.

Okay so everyone stop fighting I need to step in and propose the new 4th line combo;

Gazdic-Arco-JJ or

JJ-Arco-Jones
- AlEx_OiL

second one because at least you can stick Jones on the PK

Now you are just deflecting from the origin point. Did arco play well in gagners absence and win draws and back check and put up some points? Sure did. But the oil were not winning. Now arco is a scratch and acton is playing and the oil are winning. So kinda hard to say put arco back in. He played well when the team sucked.
- ruttager17

So just to be clear, your point here is that the winning of games had nothing to do with Dubnyk posting a .940+ save percentage, nothing to do with changes to the PP, nothing to do with David Perron exploding for points or Yak coming back to life, BUT was instead due to the change of Arcobello out and Acton in?

That is you assertion? That it couldn't POSSIBLY be purely coincidental that Acton's re-insertion into the lineup just happened to come when the rest of the team started playing better?

Is that your original point that I have so shamelessly avoided?

The entire team was getting walked in in multiple games.

And the Columbus point isnt necessarily a fact.

Either way, is the point that you're trying to make that we would've won by even more with Arcobello centering the 4th?
Maybe I guess. I doubt it, but I wont argue that which we'll never know too much I suppose.
- leaffanshaha

The 4th line plays so little that its neglligible to the outcome of the game, yes. I don't like the idea of not changing a "winning lineup", when all you're changing is the 4th line to get someone in who should be in on merit like Arcobello.

You could argue that we have enough scoring types, need more grit etc. etc. but Arcobello does everything that Acton does and more, just without being big. When we start playing good teams again, having all your best players on the ice regardless of size or punching ability should matter.

Well you can attribute a lot of that to Dubnyk.

It's average as a 4th line at best, because teams for some reason see value in using limited players and bottom six AHLers in those roles. Which is funny, because Eakins and MacT have muttered stuff about the fourth line having to be a threat to score, yet we stick a decent scorer in the pressbox over a guy who isn't.
- Jack-artist

I think in some cases I might agree. But it comes down to philosophical difference in opinion I suppose.
As far as this teams forward group goes, I have no wish for MORE smaller, skilled guys. it's the last thing we need imo.

It's not about thinking arcobello is no good. he's played well in stretches.
deal gagner for something we need and id gladly insert him into the lineup

I think in some cases I might agree. But it comes down to philosophical difference in opinion I suppose.
As far as this teams forward group goes, I have no wish for MORE smaller, skilled guys. it's the last thing we need imo.

It's not about thinking arcobello is no good. I don't at all.
deal gagner for something we need and id gladly insert him into the lineup
- leaffanshaha

Having too many small skilled guys isn't the problem. The problem is the guys trying to balance the team out are for the most part, not very good players, like Gazdic or Acton. Again, Arcobello has somewhat proven to be good at things that we could use more of (face-offs, defense, smart play, he even hits a lot), so the one thing he can't control (size) keeping him out of the lineup for big guys who are worse is puzzling if you're trying to win.

Having too many small skilled guys isn't the problem. The problem is the guys trying to balance the team out are for the most part, not very good players, like Gazdic or Acton. Again, Arcobello has somewhat proven to be good at things that we could use more of (face-offs, defense, smart play, he even hits a lot), so the one thing he can't control (size) keeping him out of the lineup for big guys who are worse is puzzling if you're trying to win.
- Jack-artist

More skill than both for sure, but Gadzic brings an element that the oilers need. I love that guy. The Oilers need Gadzic in the line up.

Having too many small skilled guys isn't the problem. The problem is the guys trying to balance the team out are for the most part, not very good players, like Gazdic or Acton. Again, Arcobello has somewhat proven to be good at things that we could use more of (face-offs, defense, smart play, he even hits a lot), so the one thing he can't control (size) keeping him out of the lineup for big guys who are worse is puzzling if you're trying to win.
- Jack-artist

we weren't winning with arcobello in the lineup either.
and the hitting thing with arcobello is the same I hear about gagner a lot. "well gags fights and has heart"
yes, he has. but he's not effective at it. at all. gags is not a fighter. and neither is arcobello an effective physical player.
thank god for the willingness or theyd be total pushovers.

and I totally disagree that one of our biggest weaknesses isnt size and strength in our top 6.

I think we need a dman, maybe 2.
and I think we need more defensive acumen, size and grit in the top 6

More skill than both for sure, but Gadzic brings an element that the oilers need. I love that guy. The Oilers need Gadzic in the line up.
- doon

they absolutely do. to take him out would be folly.

I think the debate is more acton and arcobello. which at least has some legs as actons actual contribution is much tougher to gauge. especially in relation to MA

Didn't this used to be a rumor site? Maybe one of the Oilers bloggers could actually talk about a rumour now and then instead of pretending to be reporters and/or analysts...

I think as far as 4th lines go, it's average at best. But not because they need a smaller, skilled guy.

The don't get a lot of offensive zone starts, and have been able to eat minutes fairly effectively.

I'd like to see the stats for the last 3 games. And one thing we know for sure is that they aint getting scored on.
- leaffanshaha

False. They Acton gets 50.9% of his starts in the offensive zone and Gazdic gets 56.3% of his. The other wingers (JJ, Jones, and Eager) have had varying, but all sub-50% zone starts mainly due to the constant early-season shifting of LWers.

They're also very ineffective at creating scoring chances (very few 4th lines are) and possess some abysmal Corsi numbers. That having been said, the last 3 or 4 games, they've been doing reasonably well at playing the simple game and not getting hemmed in all too much. They even managed to hem the opposition's first line in their own zone back in the Columbus game!

I'd still prefer Arco...

Yeah there is going to be a lot of SH goals against...

Yeah there is going to be a lot of SH goals against...
- Rseen

Not necessarily and there haven't been any yet. While more forwards may mean less defensive awareness, it also means more speed to get back with.

Didn't this used to be a rumor site? Maybe one of the Oilers bloggers could actually talk about a rumour now and then instead of pretending to be reporters and/or analysts...
- Centacre

Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, and Nail Yakupov for Mikael Backlund and Smid.

False. They Acton gets 50.9% of his starts in the offensive zone and Gazdic gets 56.3% of his. The other wingers (JJ, Jones, and Eager) have had varying, but all sub-50% zone starts mainly due to the constant early-season shifting of LWers.

They're also very ineffective at creating scoring chances (very few 4th lines are) and possess some abysmal Corsi numbers. That having been said, the last 3 or 4 games, they've been doing reasonably well at playing the simple game and not getting hemmed in all too much. They even managed to hem the opposition's first line in their own zone back in the Columbus game!

I'd still prefer Arco...
- MaximumBone

50% isn't a alot....it's half.

and I don't think anyone was really bagging on gazdic.

and you're second paragraph has basically been my point.
I don't even understand the need to retort in that fashion. did it bear repeating?

Is it weird that I read all of your posts in my head in Bryzgalov's voice?
- Nucker101

I totally do that too.

50% isn't a alot....it's half.

and I don't think anyone was really bagging on gazdic.

and you're second paragraph has basically been my point.
I don't even understand the need to retort in that fashion. did it bear repeating?
- leaffanshaha

It's more than Eberle gets. Gazdic gets a higher percentage of offensive zone starts then everyone besides Yakupov and Hemsky. I'm just saying that if that 4th line was Jones-Arco-Joensuu, maybe Eakins could trust them with both more AND tougher minutes taking away some of the pressure currently being pushed onto the other 3 lines (specifically the Smyth-Gordon-Perron line).

The value of a balanced roster is something that can't be underestimated.

Didn't this used to be a rumor site? Maybe one of the Oilers bloggers could actually talk about a rumour now and then instead of pretending to be reporters and/or analysts...
- Centacre

OK Clouts

they absolutely do. to take him out would be folly.

I think the debate is more acton and arcobello. which at least has some legs as actons actual contribution is much tougher to gauge. especially in relation to MA
- leaffanshaha

I think Arco should be in over Acton. I'm not sure why they don't swap those two out.