Development more than anything. Look at Yakupov. Ever since the Eakins calamity left town he's been great.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

Bingo... Eakins set a few kids back in development... what a waste of 1.5 years...

You still do

- DDM-Coga

We have 2 days to look forward to as oiler fans.
The lottery and the draft.


The rest is filler

A lot of that has to do with poor scouting/development. Look at Schwartz and Tarasenko, both were picked in the teens of the first round. You do not need a #1 overall pick to have an effective reload on talent.
- Yeah Boyes

Exactly- and Edmonton has lacked legit scouting staff for years... They cant draft for poop passed the 1st round...

We have 2 days to look forward to as oiler fans.
The lottery and the draft.


The rest is filler
- Ihateallofu

Its ok, think of the draft parties. Who doesnt love wings and top 5 picks

ok, i do not understand at all the argument that teams never tank

whether you see a problem with tanking or you dont think that a team tanking is a big deal, im not saying you are wrong,

but actually arguing that no team intentionally tanks??? thats the dumbest argument, its very blatantly happening right now.. And if anyone says a team would never tank (no not the players on the ice) but the management, is either lying to themselves or delusional

I personally hate it, but i also see that all the "fixes" to ensure it stops, arent a proper fix, so i wont sit here and act like i have the answers,

allowing all 14 teams to be in the lottery is not going to work, teams like the kings, or flyers simply should not have 1st overall when theyre clearly not in need as much as the bottom teams

the "GOLD RULE" doesnt exactly work either because "mathematically being eliminated" from the playoffs happens to most teams so late in the season, regardless of how bad the record, that it can still benefit teams that dont need the help as much

but again we come back to the teams TRYING to be the worst, should also not be rewarded anymore, especially than teams who bust their ass and still sit in mediocre-ville

its a tough problem to fix, i wish there was a solution, i seriously hate teams that want to tank to get better but the system in place makes it so tanking is almost the only way to get a player like mcdavid.

Exactly- and Edmonton has lacked legit scouting staff for years... They cant draft for poop passed the 1st round...
- saskoil21

Couldn't.

The guys we've drafted since the rebuild under a different regime are absolutely still viable candidates.

I look at Landers development specifically and how far he's come.
time will tell with the marincin, yakimovs etc

ok, i do not understand at all the argument that teams never tank

whether you see a problem with tanking or you dont think that a team tanking is a big deal, im not saying you are wrong,

but actually arguing that no team intentionally tanks??? thats the dumbest argument, its very blatantly happening right now.. And if anyone says a team would never tank (no not the players on the ice) but the management, is either lying to themselves or delusional

I personally hate it, but i also see that all the "fixes" to ensure it stops, arent a proper fix, so i wont sit here and act like i have the answers,

allowing all 14 teams to be in the lottery is not going to work, teams like the kings, or flyers simply should not have 1st overall when theyre clearly not in need as much as the bottom teams

the "GOLD RULE" doesnt exactly work either because "mathematically being eliminated" from the playoffs happens to most teams so late in the season, regardless of how bad the record, that it can still benefit teams that dont need the help as much

but again we come back to the teams TRYING to be the worst, should also not be rewarded anymore, especially than teams who bust their ass and still sit in mediocre-ville

its a tough problem to fix, i wish there was a solution, i seriously hate teams that want to tank to get better but the system in place makes it so tanking is almost the only way to get a player like mcdavid.
- digitalbath

Not really the argument.

Management can try and tank.

Players don't tank.

Its ok, think of the draft parties. Who doesnt love wings and top 5 picks
- DDM-Coga

i love wings in general!

I read an article last year that threw out the idea of 'Points After Elimination' to determine draft seeding.

Team eliminated early (while still not a good team) has more games to earn points while later eliminated teams (close to the play-offs) have fewer games.

Last season Buffalo was eliminated with 14 games left, Edmonton 10 games, Florida 8 games... Buffalo's record was 2-10-2 after getting eliminated. Edmonton 4-6-0. Florida was 2-6. Calgary was eliminated with 7 games left and went 4-3 after.

Using the model noted above, Edmonton and Calgary had 8 points after getting eliminated. 1st overall would have gone to Calgary for fewer games played (better win %). Toronto would have had the worst pick, getting 0 points from 2 games played after getting eliminated.

Not really the argument.

Management can try and tank.

Players don't tank.
- Ihateallofu

but there are people on here arguing that management wouldnt do that, they care about their jobs and tanking doesnt really happen, they just are having bad years ect..

Oh boy, the word "generational" was used in the blog. Can't wait to read the 200+ comments

i love wings in general!
- ChetManly

are we going to serve wings in our pizza business?

Couldn't.

The guys we've drafted since the rebuild under a different regime are absolutely still viable candidates.

I look at Landers development specifically and how far he's come.
time will tell with the marincin, yakimovs etc
- Ihateallofu

Under Nelson Lander looks like something... otherwise earlier this year not so much... Either way the jury is still out on Stu the fat bastard and his minions...

Not really the argument.

Management can try and tank.

Players don't tank.
- Ihateallofu

Did you catch Ron Wilson talking on trade deadline day?

He said flat-out that a team he worked for told him to tank. He wouldn't name the name, but with the timeline he gave, it was obvious it was the Capitals.

They told him to do whatever he could to lose games (ie screwing with the lines.. the power play.. pk..etc). He said the only thing he really couldn't control was the goaltending.

If the coach is in on the fix, then it's totally realistic to think a team would try to tank. Sure, the players always want to win, but if the coach puts them in uncomfortable positions, or asks them to play a style they aren't used to, he can clearly have an effect.

Look at Toronto's transformation for proof. Not saying the new coach is purposely trying to tank, but he's doing a good job of getting the players to play something they aren't used to and they are surely sucking balls because of it.

are we going to serve wings in our pizza business?
- DDM-Coga

Can I get a job as a delivery driver? I like to participate but don't want any responsibility

Trading young franchise level players for multiple lesser pieces always does.
How did you not know that?
- Ihateallofu

I didn't. You just told me, baby.

Can I get a job as a delivery driver? I like to participate but don't want any responsibility
- gzatron

do you like jean jackets with no sleeves as the official delivery boy uniform?

are we going to serve wings in our pizza business?
- DDM-Coga

we'd be stupid not to.

do you like jean jackets with no sleeves as the official delivery boy uniform?
- DDM-Coga

I thought we were going to be a pizza food truck?

but there are people on here arguing that management wouldnt do that, they care about their jobs and tanking doesnt really happen, they just are having bad years ect..
- digitalbath

I think tambellini 11-12, Murray 14-15, and Maloney 15 are evidence otherwise.

do you like jean jackets with no sleeves as the official delivery boy uniform?
- DDM-Coga

I am Canadian... Its hanging with the summer coats

I thought we were going to be a pizza food truck?
- ChetManly

better still. no driving!

Eklund: Fixing the NHL: No Team Shall Be Allowed The 1st Pick Twice in Five Years
- Eklund

...So McDavid will end up on team in danger of moving just as sidney crosby to the Penguins

Did you catch Ron Wilson talking on trade deadline day?

He said flat-out that a team he worked for told him to tank. He wouldn't name the name, but with the timeline he gave, it was obvious it was the Capitals.

They told him to do whatever he could to lose games (ie screwing with the lines.. the power play.. pk..etc). He said the only thing he really couldn't control was the goaltending.

If the coach is in on the fix, then it's totally realistic to think a team would try to tank. Sure, the players always want to win, but if the coach puts them in uncomfortable positions, or asks them to play a style they aren't used to, he can clearly have an effect.

Look at Toronto's transformation for proof. Not saying the new coach is purposely trying to tank, but he's doing a good job of getting the players to play something they aren't used to and they are surely sucking balls because of it.
- Charliebox

Renney suggested the same about his time in edm under tambellini
Similar anyways.

Something like don't play the vets horcoff hemsky. Play the kids. The fans live them and we know we'll lose that way

That could reward a team who just misses the playoffs though.... That sounds pretty stupid.
- Guile

Better than teams knowingly and blatantly tanking. At least you give teams the incentive to still try for the playoffs, and not selling off their teams for parts, hoping some 18 year old kid becomes their savior.

The should do like the EPL, and the drop teams down to a lesser league. Maybe some of these teams wouldn't pull this stuff.