lol. For what its worth I'm pulling for you folks, good luck
- TheJerseyDevil1

I think if RNH doesn't go down (which is entirely possible considering the weight that'll be on his shoulders and the probably 23 minutes a night he'll play), I don't think it'll be too too bad. I think MacT wants to see where Arco-Draisaitl are at camp and go from there, maybe make a trade with someone who finds a C expendable. Also said if it's a hard decision, Draisaitl won't be in EDM.

I didn't mind the Kaberle PTO by you guys, I don't see any issues with it. Who knows he could still be decent, make the team, and whats the worse that happens? You flip him at the deadline for a 5th round pick.
- DDM-Coga

Yeah people are sort of overreacting about the whole thing. I don't think he makes it, but if he does it'll be because management doesn't think the kids are ready.

So naturally I'm sort of rooting against him just cause I want to see the young guys make steps forward.

Yeah people are sort of overreacting about the whole thing. I don't think he makes it, but if he does it'll be because management doesn't think the kids are ready.

So naturally I'm sort of rooting against him just cause I want to see the young guys make steps forward.
- TheJerseyDevil1

bringing in vets for training camp competition isn't bad, it pushes kids to up their game also it shows them what it takes to battle for an NHL spot. Nothing is given, it has to be earned.

It's the best Oiler lineup in a lot of years. The scoring is spread out a bit and the support players have the skill to actually support the star players but will the plan be to play top line vs top line? That would be putting a lot on the shoulders of what is still a very young line.

If the goalies stand on their head and Yakopov is able to exploit some easier matchups and a couple of last years playoff teams falter that might just, just be enough to squeak into the eight spot. At the very least you should be out of the lottery next summer.

Arco (26) is putting up 2 points per game in the AHL and showed well in the NHL in a top 6 role. One way contract.

Lander (23) is finally putting up a point per game in the AHL and is a well respected prospect that just hasn't translated his game to the NHL level yet. One way contract.

Pitlick (22). Not a center but another prospect that needs to potentially have a roster spot available for. Pitlick has a great 2 way game, above average NHL skill set (skating, size, checking, shooting, passing etc) that has been derailed primarily by injuries but has shown ok even at the NHL level. One way Contract.

Leon Draisaitl (19) NHL ready size and offensive skill set. All around game probably could use more time developing outside of the NHL. If he shows as well as Hopkins did in his draft year it will be impossible to keep this guy out of the line up. Can be sent down.

We also have another winger Joensuu signed and battling for a roster spot. Showed really well in camp but has back problems. One way Contract.

Plus a slew full of regular prospects that if show well might be able to bump their way into the line up.

Plus we have Petry, Yak, Marincin, Fasthe, and Schultz to sign at the end of this next year. Cap space will be an issue and bringing in another Center is simply not economical with the roster we already have.

At some point to be successful we need to be able to fill roles and needs from within in a cap world.

Spending 5 years on a solid prospect like Lander and then letting someone scoop him through waivers would be terrible. Every team has to make roster spots available for prospects within their system to compete for. It just sucks because in the Oilers situation it happens to be 2 center positions that are available. Poor planning but it is what it is.
- Aerchon

Arco certainly showed he has a pretty strong defensive game and doesnt mind battling. But his shot is atrocious. He might have some offensive success insulated by quality, but still a massive question mark at that spot.

Pitlick showed he can contribute at this level if he forgets the puck and concentrates on grinding and forechecking. But his hands are stone. I haven't seen any of the quality shot or passing that u speak of in the nhl.

Lander cant score at all at the nhl level.

Joensuu was effective for 2 games and useless for months. I dont even expect a regular shift for him.

So many question marks and weaknesses at present

It's the best Oiler lineup in a lot of years. The scoring is spread out a bit and the support players have the skill to actually support the star players but will the plan be to play top line vs top line? That would be putting a lot on the shoulders of what is still a very young line.

If the goalies stand on their head and Yakopov is able to exploit some easier matchups and a couple of last years playoff teams falter that might just, just be enough to squeak into the eight spot. At the very least you should be out of the lottery next summer.
- CubanBuffet

Well said.

I think a 9-12th finish in the west is probably what we're looking at

Arco certainly showed he has a pretty strong defensive game and doesnt mind battling. But his shot is atrocious. He might have some offensive success insulated by quality, but still a massive question mark at that spot.

Pitlick showed he can contribute at this level if he forgets the puck and concentrates on grinding and forechecking. But his hands are stone. I haven't seen any of the quality shot or passing that u speak of in the nhl.

Lander cant score at all at the nhl level.

Joensuu was effective for 2 games and useless for months. I dont even expect a regular shift for him.

So many question marks and weaknesses at present
- hugefemale dog77

On paper you already have more offence then most of the rest of the league. It's the grinding, shot blocking, defensive players that you need.

- TheNugeIsHuge

Great rebuttal!

Well said.

I think a 9-12th finish in the west is probably what we're looking at
- hugefemale dog77

Funny, that's about what I expect from the Canucks as well. Maybe. Actually, I have no idea where the Canucks will finish next year. They're the hardest team in the league to gauge I think.

On paper you already have more offence then most of the rest of the league. It's the grinding, shot blocking, defensive players that you need.
- CubanBuffet

Yeah, it wasnt really a indictment of pitlick. I want him to play that style. He has to to be effective for us.
Just responding to the post mentioning his skill set.

Hes a quality skater. But no hands whatsoever. He needa to concentrate on the forecheck and providing difficult minutes down low for opposing defences

Yeah, it wasnt really a indictment of pitlick. I want him to play that style. He has to to be effective for us.
Just responding to the post mentioning his skill set.

Hes a quality skater. But no hands whatsoever. He needa to concentrate on the forecheck and providing difficult minutes down low for opposing defences
- hugefemale dog77

Kind of like Hansen. He was great on the PK, great skater, great forechecker, relentless, but stone hands. Torts thought that he was a top six forward and now he's dead to us.

Funny, that's about what I expect from the Canucks as well. Maybe. Actually, I have no idea where the Canucks will finish next year. They're the hardest team in the league to gauge I think.
- CubanBuffet

One of em without a doubt

Im not quite as ready as most to write them off. The sedins aint done, they have a deep defence, and miller can be world-class.

But they lack some scoring depth, lost a huge piece, etcetc; so it could all go bad.

Ima say 8-11th

Kind of like Hansen. He was great on the PK, great skater, great forechecker, relentless, but stone hands. Torts thought that he was a top six forward and now he's dead to us.
- CubanBuffet

Good post.

I like hansen. Dude can fly and is absolutely relentless.
And if put in the right spot, can be extremely effective.

One of em without a doubt

Im not quite as ready as most to write them off. The sedins aint done, they have a deep defence, and miller can be world-class.

They lack some scoring depth, lost a huge piece, etcetc; so it could all go bad.

Ima say 8-11th
- hugefemale dog77

Hopefully. Honestly as long as they play entertaining hockey and give some young players a chance to develop I'll be satisfied. Even when they were winning last year the hockey was unwatchable and from Christmas on they were hands down the worst team in the league.

My worry is that during the second half of last season their issues seemed more mental than anything else. With normal injuries you have a concrete time line before the players ready to go but not so much when the problem is in the head.

Good post.

I like hansen. Dude can fly and is absolutely relentless.
And if put in the right spot, can be extremely effective.
- hugefemale dog77

It drives me crazy when we write off a player just because he's not going to develop into the next Toews. It's one thing to expect a player to improve and another to expect them to become a player that they can never be. With Kesler gone we're going to need the top six to cover his offence and the bottom six, Hansen in particular, to make up for his defensive game. Not one player to make up for both.

Wished wed have made another move for a C. But its a lineup that should at least allow us to battle.

Well said.

I think a 9-12th finish in the west is probably what we're looking at
- hugefemale dog77

I agree. I wonder if Mac T would be a buyer at the TDL if you guys are sitting in 9th or 10th.

I agree. I wonder if Mac T would be a buyer at the TDL if you guys are sitting in 9th or 10th.
- Nucker101

I think that he'd have to. Oiler fans have been unbelievably patient, but if they are that close at the TDL and he did nothing, that might be the straw the broke the camel's back.

I agree. I wonder if Mac T would be a buyer at the TDL if you guys are sitting in 9th or 10th.
- Nucker101

Sure hope so.

A playoff spot or even meaningfull games right till the end would do way more for this squad going forward than another draft pick.
Id take 9th in the west missing by a point over any prospect not named mcdavid.

I think that he'd have to. Oiler fans have been unbelievably patient, but if they are that close at the TDL and he did nothing, that might be the straw the broke the camel's back.
- CubanBuffet

If they can add another solid center or d-man it would definitely help.

Wished wed have made another move for a C. But its a lineup that should at least allow us to battle.
- Morris

Who knows, Arco may get 95 points

Sure hope so.

A playoff spot or even meaningfull games right till the end would do way more for this squad going forward than another draft pick.
Id take 9th in the west missing by a point over any prospect not named mcdavid.
- hugefemale dog77

No doubt.

Who knows, Arco may get 95 points
- Oilers4Life14

Is he that bad that you're gonna send him to the ECHL?

It drives me crazy when we write off a player just because he's not going to develop into the next Toews. It's one thing to expect a player to improve and another to expect them to become a player that they can never be. With Kesler gone we're going to need the top six to cover his offence and the bottom six, Hansen in particular, to make up for his defensive game. Not one player to make up for both.
- CubanBuffet

Cant win in the nhl without guys who can provide quality minutes in secondary roles. Need penalty killers, checkers, pests etc.

The daniel paille's, darren helms, jarett stoll's of the league are loved by their coaches