You are not kidding. Holy crap I went to the Oils/Sabresgame last night where Buffalo having the absolute worst Offense in the league and minus their only scorer in Moulson..basically the Sabres controlled play with 45+ shots on net and large chunks of O-zone time .. This coming from the absolute worst puck possession team in the league. Oilers MUST trade, draft and acquire UFA D-men .. Their blueline absolutely sucks. You know it's bad when a Sabrea fan calls out another teams D!!!! Stop drafting O... d wins championships .. Source SuperBowl 48 2014
- IonSabres

What makes it even worse is not one of their top 6 forwards plays a two way game. It's all offense all the time. Having a shakey blue line on a team that doesn't play team defense is one of the many reasons the Oilers are always at the bottom of the heap in the NHL.

well its been 4 hours. Where is the announced trade?

Why would the Isles trade Vanek and then trade for Miller? I get that Vanek will not be returning, so get something for him...but then to trade for Miller? Shouldn't they be focusing on using assets to trade for a young goalie? I don't think Miller will solve their long term issues

You are not kidding. Holy crap I went to the Oils/Sabresgame last night where Buffalo having the absolute worst Offense in the league and minus their only scorer in Moulson..basically the Sabres controlled play with 45+ shots on net and large chunks of O-zone time .. This coming from the absolute worst puck possession team in the league. Oilers MUST trade, draft and acquire UFA D-men .. Their blueline absolutely sucks. You know it's bad when a Sabrea fan calls out another teams D!!!! Stop drafting O... d wins championships .. Source SuperBowl 48 2014
- IonSabres

u mean like how in the last few years we've drafted nurse? or klefbom? or gernat? or marincin?
and let's not even get into how desirable a place Edmonton is for big name free agent dmen

which dman should we have picked before hall?
maybe Larsson over nuge????!!!!

the only one that anyone could really make a case for is murray over yaks. but even then, murray was out for all of last year and he'd be getting thrown to the wolves if he was with us this year. he wouldn't be helping us much

easy solutions and myths that have become fact.
gotta love hockeybuzz!!

u mean like how in the last few years we've drafted nurse? or klefbom? or gernat? or marincin?
and let's not even get into how desirable a place Edmonton is for big name free agent dmen

which dman should we have picked before hall?
Larsson over nuge??!!!!

the only one that anyone could really make a case for is murray over yaks. but even then. murray was out for all of last year and he'd be getting thrown to the wolves if he was with us this year. he wouldn't be helping us much

easy solutions and myths that have become fact.
gotta love hockeybuzz!!
- hugefemale dog77

such as.... http://capgeek.com/free-agents/

So basically you'll do the equivalent of a second Ference signing and that will fix your d issues, ok.

u mean like how in the last few years we've drafted nurse? or klefbom? or gernat? or marincin?
and let's not even get into how desirable a place Edmonton is for big name free agent dmen

which dman should we have picked before hall?
Larsson over nuge??!!!!

the only one that anyone could really make a case for is murray over yaks. but even then. murray was out for all of last year and he'd be getting thrown to the wolves if he was with us this year. he wouldn't be helping us much

easy solution and myths that have become fact.
gotta love hockeybuzz!!
- hugefemale dog77

The mere fact that they've drafted defense doesn't excuse the fact that they have no defense!

Do you honestly think that this team can simply wait for those players to develop? By the time most of the players you listed are ready to fill top line roles, your core guys will most likely be long gone.

I think the point is that defensive upgrades are needed NOW! Which means moving players and prospects in order to acquire them!

You've provided some very relavant answers to some of the many questions and critiques of your favorite team, but chalking everything up to myths that become fact on HB is kind of a cop out when you're really unwilling to stare the true issues of this team in the face yourself and call a spade a spade.

The mere fact that they've drafted defense doesn't excuse the fact that they have no defense!

Do you honestly think that this team can simply wait for those players to develop? By the time most of the players you listed are ready to fill top line roles, your core guys will most likely be long gone.

I think the point is that defensive upgrades are needed NOW! Which means moving players and prospects in order to acquire them!

You've provided some very relavant answers to some of the many questions and critiques of your favorite team, but chalking everything up to myths that become fact on HB is kind of a cop out when you're really unwilling to stare the true issues of this team in the face yourself and call a spade a spade.
- MnGump

never mind the fact that d prospects are probably the biggest crapshoot aside from goalie prospects

such as.... http://capgeek.com/free-agents/

So basically you'll do the equivalent of a second Ference signing and that will fix your d issues, ok.
- S Kaspar Rollins

wtf are u talking about??

wtf are u talking about??
- hugefemale dog77

I think he's saying there are no UFA dmen available that will fix the issue. Which is true. There are no game breaking dmen available. Girardi will be signed by then.

wtf are u talking about??
- hugefemale dog77

Look at the list of pending UFA d men and show me which ones would both be plausible Edmonton signs and be a big step forward in fixing the d. Not rocket science.

The mere fact that they've drafted defense doesn't excuse the fact that they have no defense!

Do you honestly think that this team can simply wait for those players to develop? By the time most of the players you listed are ready to fill top line roles, your core guys will most likely be long gone.

I think the point is that defensive upgrades are needed NOW! Which means moving players and prospects in order to acquire them!

You've provided some very relavant answers to some of the many questions and critiques of your favorite team, but chalking everything up to myths that become fact on HB is kind of a cop out when you're really unwilling to stare the true issues of this team in the face yourself and call a spade a spade.
- MnGump

u didn't read the post that was retorted to, and responded in the light that u wanted to see it in.
buddy made the same tired, "oilers, stop drafting offence"!!
like drafting a dman over hall or nuge woulda been the answer. or like we haven't drafted a few VERY SOLID d prospects recently.

we just drafted those guys in the last few years, I don't even know what ur suggesting. that we shouldn't wait for em?? no one's ever said theyre the unequivocal answer.
but no one should also suggest that the oilers have only one way to improve their defence. by trading one of the kids.
cause that's just flat out wrong for a bunch of reasons.

Look at the list of pending UFA d men and show me which ones would both be plausible Edmonton signs and be a big step forward in fixing the d. Not rocket science.
- S Kaspar Rollins

not many. especially the ones that WOULD come here, and also not completely rape our cap in relation to the difference theyd actually make.

which was my point from the beginning.
what was yours?
did u just hope I was saying something different and unwittingly drive my point home further??

not many. especially the ones that WOULD come here, and also not completely rape our cap in relation to the difference theyd actually make.

which was my point from the beginning.
what was yours?
did u just hope I was saying something different and unwittingly drive my point home further??
- hugefemale dog77

Ah. I misread your post.

Yup. A 5' 11" 170 lb lightweight is exactly what the Oilers need....
- Iggysbff

don't forget can only handle soft competition and has numbers pumped by being on the best team in the league.

I've seen Leddy live twice live in the last year and a good amount on TV. Redundant in EDM. EDM gets no better with him.

u didn't read the post that was retorted to, and responded in the light that u wanted to see it in.
buddy made the same tired, "oilers, stop drafting offence"!!
like drafting a dman over hall or nuge woulda been the answer. or like we haven't drafted a few VERY SOLID d prospects recently.

we just drafted those guys in the last few years, I don't even know what ur suggesting. that we shouldn't wait for em?? no one's ever said theyre the unequivocal answer.
but no one should also suggest that the oilers have only one way to improve their defence. by trading one of the kids.
cause that's just flat out wrong for a bunch of reasons.
- hugefemale dog77

Top 50 picks by the Oilers since 2010
Hall (F)
Pitlick (F)
Marincin (D)
Hamilton (F)
Nugent-Hopkins (F)
Klefbom (D)
Musil (D)
Yakupov (F)
Moroz (F)
Nurse (D)

That's two top 20 dmen vs. three 1st overall picks, and 6-4 overall. Not the disparity (or is that despairity?) I've been hearing so much about.

In that span we've also added three defensemen under the age of 25 (Schultz, Larsen and Fedun) who have played at the NHL level for us.

u didn't read the post that was retorted to, and responded in the light that u wanted to see it in.
buddy made the same tired, "oilers, stop drafting offence"!!
like drafting a dman over hall or nuge woulda been the answer. or like we haven't drafted a few VERY SOLID d prospects recently.

we just drafted those guys in the last few years, I don't even know what ur suggesting. that we shouldn't wait for em?? no one's ever said theyre the unequivocal answer.
but no one should also suggest that the oilers have only one way to improve their defence. by trading one of the kids.
cause that's just flat out wrong for a bunch of reasons.
- hugefemale dog77

No, obviously every team needs to keep the cupboards full of prospects, offense and defense if they want long term success at any level, and obviously I'm not suggesting that they just give up on those recent D draftees. I'm not even suggesting that they stop drafting offense, I'm simply suggesting that some sort of personel move has to be made in order to bring in at least one top 2 d-man and possibly some better defensive depth players. Maybe even a legitimate number one goalie.

Only way that probably happens is parting with a top 4 player and probably a couple of prospects/picks. That's my opinion anyway. Not saying it's right or wrong, just the way I would wish MacT would approach it if Edmonton were my team.

Would you be saying the same if Clarkson accepted that contract?
- Nucker101

He was smart enough to back away from the ridiculous money he was asking for.

don't forget can only handle soft competition and has numbers pumped by being on the best team in the league.

I've seen Leddy live twice live in the last year and a good amount on TV. Redundant in EDM. EDM gets no better with him.
- TheNugeIsHuge

I disagree with that. I'm not saying they'd improve leaps and bounds, but Leddy a definite upgrade over Schultz or Belov, even Marincin at this point.

I think he's saying there are no UFA dmen available that will fix the issue. Which is true. There are no game breaking dmen available. Girardi will be signed by then.
- Iggysbff

Maybe.

I disagree with that. I'm not saying they'd improve leaps and bounds, but Leddy a definite upgrade over Schultz or Belov, even Marincin at this point.
- MnGump

I'd say he's about equivalent to Schultz, maybe even worse. Belov's a bottom pairing D, but at least he's physical and experienced. Marincin's formed great chemistry with Petry. One couldn't say for sure that Leddy'd would help form a stronger pair.

I think it's hard to judge a player when he plays soft minutes for the best team in the league. Throw him into the wolves and see how he performs. EDM needs a guy that can handle it. Leddy is not that guy

Tsn is reporting Callahan wants between 6.5 and 7 mil, doubt the Rangers are only apart in terms of years.
- Alexzanki

Lol thanks for repeating exactly what Eklund said lol

I'd say he's about equivalent to Schultz, maybe even worse. Belov's a bottom pairing D, but at least he's physical and experienced. Marincin's formed great chemistry with Petry. One couldn't say for sure that Leddy'd would help form a stronger pair.

I think it's hard to judge a player when he plays soft minutes for the best team in the league. Throw him into the wolves and see how he performs. EDM needs a guy that can handle it. Leddy is not that guy
- TheNugeIsHuge

Fair enough. You make a fairly compelling argument!

Fair enough. You make a fairly compelling argument!
- MnGump

not sure if sarcasm or...

not sure if sarcasm or...
- TheNugeIsHuge

Aaron Ekblad could be that guy

not sure if sarcasm or...
- TheNugeIsHuge

Nope. It's always nice to be able to either agree, or at least relate to and or understand someone elses opinions or takes without resorting to name calling and the old "I'm right and your wrong" sagas that go on here.

I'm kind of a closet Oilers fan, so that helps to.