Leon D
- VANTEL

He's 18 yrs old, not gonna help them achieve a playoff spot next year unless he totally hits it out of the park...which is highly unlikely. I expect their kids to make the natural progressive "next step", but not to the tune of a 30 point improvement.

1st and second lines aren't the problem. its the lack of all the other role players.

So if they make it to the PO's, it will be a quick exit
- numbear

Gotta walk before you run, and, Mac T did fill some depth positions this year which they've been missing. That said, they NEED a top six center.

I suspect Leon will be that guy, but not for a few years.

reminds of luke adams, or neminsz.

never really steps it up enough in speed
- numbear

Thank you. I get scolded by my canucks brethren. He has decent hands. Nothing hot. Skates on cinder blocks and most guys on the canucks boards are pissed at me for involving my interest on the subject. At most, and I stress MOST. Third line Centre at best and I feel Im pushing it at that.

I simply dont see what everyone else does. Dont remember who was after me about this earlier in the year. Pretty sure VANTEL.

Come at me bud. If you see fit.

Was wondering if Vanna would do anything for Vantel or if he's on a strict Pookey diet?

When I was growing up in the 80's I still thought Linda Evans had it going on. Vanna is still rocking it and give her a ##$@# break, she is dyslexic
- hillbillydeluxe

I like women of darker complexion, Vanna doesn't get the Vantel motor going.

Since the Sedins were drafted:

Umberger, Kesler, Schneider, Bourdon*, Grabner, Hodgson, Schroeder**

To put this in perspective, the all mighty Detroit Red wings have (with fewer 1st round picks mind you):

Howard, Kindl, Smith,
- 1970vintage

Allen

Gotta walk before you run, and, Mac T did fill some depth positions this year which they've been missing. That said, they NEED a top six center.

I suspect Leon will be that guy, but not for a few years.
- LeftCoaster

What they need is a coach who can implement a system that fits there players. They just run around and do what they want. And nobody takes responsibility for anything.

Also. "Hey lets draft a really good offensive player" Shyt its worked for them in the last how many years?

Dont get me wrong. They have offensive talent. But it been apperant now that there problem is defence. And Until they tackle this issue. Which frankly has been one since there Stanley cup run. I will never understand this teams management.

I want the oil to succeed. But upper management is a joke end of story.

He's 18 yrs old, not gonna help them achieve a playoff spot next year unless he totally hits it out of the park...which is highly unlikely. I expect their kids to make the natural progressive "next step", but not to the tune of a 30 point improvement.
- LeftCoaster

Third overalls usually have productive first years, he is a big boy too.

He's 18 yrs old, not gonna help them achieve a playoff spot next year unless he totally hits it out of the park...which is highly unlikely. I expect their kids to make the natural progressive "next step", but not to the tune of a 30 point improvement.
- LeftCoaster

Christ, whatever the reason (I think premature senility seems to be the gold standard), I thought Draisaitl as a Flame (yes, umm, sorta forgot that Sam Bennett guy, which actually demonstrates my lack of enthusiasm for said player (not saying he's bad or a lousy player but I'm just not excited whenever I've seen him play. In any event, well, that changes things a little lol.

I really don't think they should be @#$@# around with this Draisaitl kid. Right now there are quite a few options available at centre - The Nuge, Gordon, Taylor Hall (I think they've been trying to move Hall to centre for a while now, although not sure if that was just a temporary thing), Arcobello, Lander, and Purcell can and has played centre as well.

In any case, as has been said, only add him to the roster if he blows it out the park. Otherwise just let him continue to develop and get more confidence.

1st and second lines aren't the problem. its the lack of all the other role players.

So if they make it to the PO's, it will be a quick exit
- numbear

Oilers Bottom 6

Pouliot Arcobello Yakupov
Hendricks Gordon Pitlick

Where's the problem?

Oilers Bottom 6

Pouliot Arcobello Yakupov
Hendricks Gordon Pitlick

Where's the problem?
- Jeropotato

Not too shabby, indeed. Definitely better than a lot of teams

What they need is a coach who can implement a system that fits there players. They just run around and do what they want. And nobody takes responsibility for anything.

Also. "Hey lets draft a really good offensive player" Shyt its worked for them in the last how many years?

Dont get me wrong. They have offensive talent. But it been apperant now that there problem is defence. And Until they tackle this issue. Which frankly has been one since there Stanley cup run. I will never understand this teams management.

I want the oil to succeed. But upper management is a joke end of story.
- vancity787

That's because you haven't paid much attention.

Mac T Drafted Nurse, traded for Nikitin, Signed Faybe ,Ference and Aulie.

Not sure if it's tackled or not, but it certainly has been addressed. Or were you thinking that the Oilers management are incompetent for not wheeling a trade for Subban, Weber or Doughty?

Christ, whatever the reason (I think premature senility seems to be the gold standard), I thought Draisaitl as a Flame (yes, umm, sorta forgot that Sam Bennett guy, which actually demonstrates my lack of enthusiasm for said player (not saying he's bad or a lousy player but I'm just not excited whenever I've seen him play. In any event, well, that changes things a little lol.

I really don't think they should be @#$@# around with this Draisaitl kid. Right now there are quite a few options available at centre - The Nuge, Gordon, Taylor Hall (I think they've been trying to move Hall to centre for a while now, although not sure if that was just a temporary thing), Arcobello, Lander, and Purcell can and has played centre as well.

In any case, as has been said, only add him to the roster if he blows it out the park. Otherwise just let him continue to develop and get more confidence.
- Zogg

Tried it last year.....it was a disaster. Draisatl will be fine on a soft minutes line with a couple veterans, I think, like Perron and Purcell. If I were to make any prediction for any Oilers this year tho, I'm expecting a massive breakout for Ryan Nugent Hopkins (195lbs now too). I think he hits about 70 points.

Tried it last year.....it was a disaster. Draisatl will be fine on a soft minutes line with a couple veterans, I think, like Perron and Purcell. If I were to make any prediction for any Oilers this year tho, I'm expecting a massive breakout for Ryan Nugent Hopkins (195lbs now too). I think he hits about 70 points.

- Jeropotato

Definitely sounds reasonable. In fact I can see several players that might have that additional boost/break out (obviously Hall is already there as well, but there are a lot of good offensive players like Perron, Yak, Eberle, Purcell (Nuge as you pointed out) - even Arcobello looked great until he was injured in the AHL (after putting up some really good numbers)

I think the Oil should (at the least) be a fun team to watch

And I agree, if they can give D some sheltered minutes and try and keep things simple, I think Draisaitl should be ok

Allen
- VANTEL

Drafted the year before the Sedins.

Definitely sounds reasonable. In fact I can see several players that might have that additional boost/break out (obviously Hall is already there as well, but there are a lot of good offensive players like Perron, Yak, Eberle, Purcell (Nuge as you pointed out) - even Arcobello looked great until he was injured in the AHL (after putting up some really good numbers)

I think the Oil should (at the least) be a fun team to watch

And I agree, if they can give D some sheltered minutes and try and keep things simple, I think Draisaitl should be ok
- Zogg

That's the hope, anyway. I still don't think it's enough to make the playoff's, but if we don't have any regressions, LD is at least competent, RNH has his big breakout, Yak and Schultz get at least back on track, the new additions do their jobs and We get good goaltending , who knows?
That's a lot that has to go right.

Third overalls usually have productive first years, he is a big boy too.
- VANTEL

How many faceoffs has he had against NHL centers?

How many faceoffs has he had against NHL centers?
- A_SteamingLombardi

The Sun just posted an article about Benning tonight. Here's a few highlights:


He's written out the roster of every team on an entire wall in his office.

“This is my work space,” Benning explained. “I need to know every player in the league. This is just an example, but if I’m talking to Anaheim and (GM) Bob Murray and I say I want Jakob Silverberg or Kyle Palmieri included in the Kesler trade, and Bob says, ‘I can’t do that or I’ll have no right-wingers,’ I can say: ‘Actually, you still have Corey Perry, Palmieri, (Devante) Smith-Pelley and (Tim) Jackman.’ ”



Also talks about how much he got done around the draft:

“I put some pressure on myself because I know ... that’s one of those times in the year you can get stuff done,” Benning said. “I understood I had a window. I’m glad we were able to do the things we did because it pushed up the curve for us to have success. “We have six new players from last year — that’s a third of the team. I think we did the things we set out to accomplish. If we go into the season with this group, I’m happy. I think we’ve gotten younger, I think we’re more enthusiastic and have more energy, we’ve got a deeper roster and when Ryan Miller is on his game he’s one of the top six goalies in the league.”

“From the players that were here last year to the players we acquired, they all have something to prove,” he said. “The players that were here want to recapture where they were the previous couple of years, and the players we acquired all have something to prove to themselves and each other.”



About the young guys:

“If these guys come in and show they deserve to be on the team, then I’ll move somebody to make room for them,” Benning said. “But it’s going to be earned, not given. Coming from the organizations I worked for previously (Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres), we let players develop properly in the minor leagues. I don’t want to rush our players on development. I’m glad we have good, young players. But they have to earn their spot on the teams, and when they do we’ll make room for them.”



He spent a lot of time with Hamhuis and Stanton at the Canucks Autism Network fishing trip last week:

“The last four days, I spent with Dan Hamhuis and Ryan Stanton,” Benning said, referring to Canuck defencemen. “I said to Willie: ‘Crap, if all of our guys are high-end guys like this, we’ll have something here.’ If you get a group of guys together that have the talent to win, then want to support each other and help each other, and be responsible and accountable, then there’s no ceiling on what they can accomplish.”

The Sun just posted an article about Benning tonight. Here's a few highlights:


He's written out the roster of every team on an entire wall in his office.

“This is my work space,” Benning explained. “I need to know every player in the league. This is just an example, but if I’m talking to Anaheim and (GM) Bob Murray and I say I want Jakob Silverberg or Kyle Palmieri included in the Kesler trade, and Bob says, ‘I can’t do that or I’ll have no right-wingers,’ I can say: ‘Actually, you still have Corey Perry, Palmieri, (Devante) Smith-Pelley and (Tim) Jackman.’ ”



Also talks about how much he got done around the draft:

“I put some pressure on myself because I know ... that’s one of those times in the year you can get stuff done,” Benning said. “I understood I had a window. I’m glad we were able to do the things we did because it pushed up the curve for us to have success. “We have six new players from last year — that’s a third of the team. I think we did the things we set out to accomplish. If we go into the season with this group, I’m happy. I think we’ve gotten younger, I think we’re more enthusiastic and have more energy, we’ve got a deeper roster and when Ryan Miller is on his game he’s one of the top six goalies in the league.”

“From the players that were here last year to the players we acquired, they all have something to prove,” he said. “The players that were here want to recapture where they were the previous couple of years, and the players we acquired all have something to prove to themselves and each other.”



About the young guys:

“If these guys come in and show they deserve to be on the team, then I’ll move somebody to make room for them,” Benning said. “But it’s going to be earned, not given. Coming from the organizations I worked for previously (Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres), we let players develop properly in the minor leagues. I don’t want to rush our players on development. I’m glad we have good, young players. But they have to earn their spot on the teams, and when they do we’ll make room for them.”



He spent a lot of time with Hamhuis and Stanton at the Canucks Autism Network fishing trip last week:

“The last four days, I spent with Dan Hamhuis and Ryan Stanton,” Benning said, referring to Canuck defencemen. “I said to Willie: ‘Crap, if all of our guys are high-end guys like this, we’ll have something here.’ If you get a group of guys together that have the talent to win, then want to support each other and help each other, and be responsible and accountable, then there’s no ceiling on what they can accomplish.”
- hankthetank

JB seems like a very intelligent guy... I have very high hopes for him!

Allen
- VANTEL

He was drafted pre Sedin.

L8

Third overalls usually have productive first years, he is a big boy too.
- VANTEL

A productive first year for last year's draft pick would be about 40 points, not your typical top 6 C no?

JB seems like a very intelligent guy... I have very high hopes for him!

- kneughter

And a little humility. It's a refreshing change

How many faceoffs has he had against NHL centers?
- A_SteamingLombardi

Same amount that Sid or any other player that never played a NHL game .

A productive first year for last year's draft pick would be about 40 points, not your typical top 6 C no?
- 1970vintage

What did our top 6 centres get last year. Kids these days are playing at 4 yrs old. Much more NHL ready.

Not until the Oilers get a second line center. Or first?
- LeftCoaster

Draisaitl is gonna carry them to the playoffs.

Anyone know when our fantasy draft is this year?