If they can add another solid center or d-man it would definitely help.
- Nucker101

That's going to be the Oilers biggest challenge now, I think. The depth moves that any halfway competent gm can make they've made, and quite well. But a 1/2 C and a 1/2 D, how in the hell do you get one of those?

That's going to be the Oilers biggest challenge now, I think. The depth moves that any halfway competent gm can make they've made, and quite well. But a 1/2 C and a 1/2 D, how in the hell do you get one of those?
- CubanBuffet

Gotta give up value to get it.

Gotta give up value to get it.
- Oilers4Life14

What can they spare? Otherwise it's just getting better in one area and worse in another. Assuming the untouchables are still untouchable, draft picks and depth players are all you really have to offer.

That's going to be the Oilers biggest challenge now, I think. The depth moves that any halfway competent gm can make they've made, and quite well. But a 1/2 C and a 1/2 D, how in the hell do you get one of those?
- CubanBuffet

Any deal mact proposes for one of those is immediately replied with 'eberle or yakupov' and then some.
Id assume mact is hoping to buy time for nurse, klefbom, draisaitl etc, all the while hoping the moves hes made can still provide meaningfull steps forward

Who knows, Arco may get 95 points
- Oilers4Life14

1 point per pound... Not bad!

What can they spare? Otherwise it's just getting better in one area and worse in another. Assuming the untouchables are still untouchable, draft picks and depth players are all you really have to offer.
- CubanBuffet

Yep
Sideways moves at this point. Gut our wing strength to fix our center weakness.

Pretty massive year for the oilers comin up.
After taking what sorta looked like a step back last season, id assume another bottom feeder year puts one of the wingers and/or the first rounder firmly on the market

Yep

Pretty massive year for the oilers.
After taking what sorta looked like a step back last season, id assume another bottom feeder year puts one of the wingers and/or the first rounder firmly on the market
- hugefemale dog77

If that's the case, and as crazy as it sounds, I'd trade Eberle before Perron. Eberle is the better player but Perron gives you something that is otherwise absent in your top six.

What can they spare? Otherwise it's just getting better in one area and worse in another. Assuming the untouchables are still untouchable, draft picks and depth players are all you really have to offer.
- CubanBuffet

Yakupov..

1 point per pound... Not bad!
- laughs2907

give him credit, at the start of the year he produced quite well. Until MacRichard sent him down instead of Gazdic or Joensuu or whatever the (frank) his name is.

If that's the case, and as crazy as it sounds, I'd trade Eberle before Perron. Eberle is the better player but Perron gives you something that is otherwise absent in your top six.
- CubanBuffet

Ur killing it brah!

As tough as it would be to part ways with ebs, perrons skillset is more unique and vital to us. Skill along with grit, physicality etc. Perron can be an absolute douche and doesnt look fun to play against.
I love him for that.

If yaks develops furthur as well, it would also ease moving eberle. And lets not forget that ebs would bring a bettet return than perron most likely.

I really hope the kids see some success and they can continue to build around this core, instead of being forced to build through it

Yakupov..
- Oilers4Life14

Yakupov is one of the players your season hinges on. If he can exploit favourable match ups with better line mates it's going to go a long way in pushing you up the standings. Plus his trade value is not at its highest. Gms are only willing to pay so much for Russians with potential.

Yakupov is one of the players your season hinges on. If he can exploit favourable match ups with better line mates it's going to go a long way in pushing you up the standings. Plus his trade value is not at its highest. Gms are only willing to pay so much for Russians with potential.
- CubanBuffet

Solid post.

Ur killing it brah!

As tough as it would be to part ways with ebs, perrons skillset is more unique and vital to us. Skill along with grit, physicality etc. Perron can be an absolute douche and doesnt look fun to play against.
I love him for that.

If yaks develops furthur as well, it would also ease moving eberle. And lets not forget that ebs would bring a bettet return than perron most likely.

I really hope the kids see some success and they can continue to build around this core, instead of being forced to build through it
- hugefemale dog77

Eberle is a better player, also makes for more value.

Yakupov..
- Oilers4Life14

I just dont think it makes much sense to move him at present.

His value might be abit lower than it should be after last year.
The guy has elite goal scoring potential.
And we gut our right side strength and solely depend on ebs for true top 6 scoring.

I certainly disagreed with some of matts line combos for variois reasons. But regardless, how nice is it to see the kind of depth that can play a guy with as much scoring potential as yaks on the 3rd line!!?

Ur killing it brah!

As tough as it would be to part ways with ebs, perrons skillset is more unique and vital to us. Skill along with grit, physicality etc. Perron can be an absolute douche and doesnt look fun to play against.
I love him for that.

If yaks develops furthur as well, it would also ease moving eberle. And lets not forget that ebs would bring a bettet return than perron most likely.

I really hope the kids see some success and they can continue to build around this core, instead of being forced to build through it
- hugefemale dog77

You don't necessarily need to make the playoffs, but you definitely need to be playing meaningful games at the end of the season. As much as your stars have improved, none of them have come even close to playing meaningful hockey in the last month of the season.

Eberle is a better player, also makes for more value.
- Oilers4Life14

Yeah that was stated in the original post but Perron brings an edge to his game that helps as well.

Yakupov is one of the players your season hinges on. If he can exploit favourable match ups with better line mates it's going to go a long way in pushing you up the standings. Plus his trade value is not at its highest. Gms are only willing to pay so much for Russians with potential.
- CubanBuffet

A canuck fan that actually understands the oilers instead of the usual recycled media bile....


Agreed

You don't necessarily need to make the playoffs, but you definitely need to be playing meaningful games at the end of the season. As much as your stars have improved, none of them have come even close to playing meaningful hockey in the last month of the season.
- CubanBuffet

Totally.

If someone said 10th in the west and 5ish points out at the end; id take it without a doubt.


We havent played meaningful games past November/December in an 82 game schedule!!

Yeah that was stated in the original post but Perron brings an edge to his game that helps as well.
- Yeti1181

Eberle might be my fav player and his offensive ceiling is much higher than perrons.
But I dont think theres much doubt perron was more valuable to us last year.

Outside of hall, no one was

Eberle might be my fav player and his offensive ceiling is much higher than perrons.
But I dont think theres much doubt perron was more valuable to us last year.

Outside of hall, no one was
- hugefemale dog77

Exactly he had the knack for timely goals as well.

A canuck fan that actually understands the oilers instead of the usual recycled media bile....


Agreed
- hugefemale dog77

It's funny, everyone always questions the value of coaching but for both the Oilers and the Canucks coaching is going to be a huge factor. For you guys the simple fact that you actually kept one, and for us the fact the Torts is gone and is hopefully as far from Vancouver as it's possible to be while still being on planet earth.

Top two centres with a combined weight of 200lbs soaking wet
- Emcee27

Derp.

Piss off.

He would've probably been a 1st line center on opening night in Edmonton. He'd have to really hate the idea of playing there to turn that down from a career POV.
- TheJerseyDevil1

Pretty sure RNH would be the 1st line Center at this point.

Derp.

Piss off.
- Jeropotato

Size is nice, but skill is better. The Oil are in good shape at 1C. Their 2C is far from ideal but they have wingers with size that can help out.

I dunno, it just frustrates me that the Oil have stockpiled wingers and put so much of their cap into that. The whole Gagner situation just confused the hell outta me.

You don't think he's gunna work out as a top-two center? That's fine, but instead of swapping him for someone who might be, they went out and got another expensive winger.
- TheJerseyDevil1

We had a definite need for a couple wingers with size....plus, not sure if you noticed but the market was soft on Gags. Arizona got him for a 6th round pick.