Just going to throw this out there and say that contracts are almost getting to pre '04/'05 lockout levels, which is not good.

Its ludicrous

Look at Chicago. I love how opposing fans scoff at the contracts on their team. Are you (frank)ing kidding me? It always seems to be the fans of perennial losers that are throwing the daggers like they just don't get it(this wasn't directed at the Oilers or their fans).
- Cptmjl

No but I think fans of teams like the Oilers, who are anticipating good times ahead, need to look realistically at the future and where contracts are heading. The system or culture in the NHL is such that if you're good enough to win a championship, it's a given that that will be quickly followed up with a period of cap Hell. By studying it now, can these things be avoided by doing things differently? Or is that " just the way she goes"?
Someday an innovator is going to come along change the way things are done and will happily move on from players before their contracts outweigh their usefulness. Sure as (frank) it isn't going to be Chiarelli, but I hope he uses some foresight in these next few years.

No but I think fans of teams like the Oilers, who are anticipating good times ahead, need to look realistically at the future and where contracts are heading. The system or culture in the NHL is such that if you're good enough to win a championship, it's a given that that will be quickly followed up with a period of cap Hell. By studying it now, can these things be avoided by doing things differently? Or is that " just the way she goes"?
Someday an innovator is going to come along change the way things are done and will happily move on from players before their contracts outweigh their usefulness. Sure as (frank) it isn't going to be Chiarelli, but I hope he uses some foresight in these next few years.
- HonkyTonkMan

It's a novel thought but at this point it's a "you gotta be in it to win it" kind of thing. If the salary cap structure stays the same along with salaries when the Oilers are contending they're going to be in the same boat. It's unrealistic to think prospects are going to develop at the same rate all the while signing great players to even better contracts.

You're going to have a few bad ones along the way that'll cause some issues eventually.

It's a novel thought but at this point it's a "you gotta be in it to win it" kind of thing. If the salary cap structure stays the same along with salaries when the Oilers are contending they're going to be in the same boat. It's unrealistic to think prospects are going to develop at the same rate all the while signing great players to even better contracts.

You're going to have a few bad ones along the way that'll cause some issues eventually.
- Cptmjl

I guess...but don't you ever look at some of the deals and wonder if the GM's even used a shred of foresight? The max 8 yr deal was a step in the right direction so I suppose we see how things look after the pre lockout circumvention deals all expire....Hossa, Luongo...who's left?

Look at Chicago. I love how opposing fans scoff at the contracts on their team. Are you (frank)ing kidding me? Look what they have accomplished. Also, it always seems to be the fans of perennial losers that are throwing the daggers like they just don't get it(this wasn't directed at the Oilers or their fans honkytonkman it was a generalized statement).
- Cptmjl

They're the model (sorry the cliche and the ones about to follow) They sign, trade and draft well. They will have some hard decisions to make this off season and still they're going to be just fine.

I guess...but don't you ever look at some of the deals and wonder if the GM's even used a shred of foresight? The max 8 yr deal was a step in the right direction so I suppose we see how things look after the pre lockout circumvention deals all expire....Hossa, Luongo...who's left?
- HonkyTonkMan

Oh course I do but it is what it is. Until it changes which it may not you play along or you're not going to have all of the pieces to contend unfortunately. We just signed Boychuck to a contract that was probably(almost definitely) two yrs too long. If we didn't you guys or some other team probably give him what he wanted and where does that leave us? Grasping straws hoping we luck into an opportunity to get another defenseman who plays at the level that Boychuck did for us this past season. Not going to happen.

They're the model (sorry the cliche and the ones about to follow) They sign, trade and draft well. They will have some hard decisions to make this off season and still they're going to be just fine.
- glove_was_stuck

Exactly but lets not forget about all of those other hard decisions they had to make with big Buff, Neimi, etc and look at them now. How many times have opposing teams fans(even some of their own fans) and the press said it was going to blow up for them especially after they won the cup? Pretty damn impressive how they made the right decisions on who to let leave and who to retain. Well besides Leddy of course

Oh course I do but it is what it is. Until it changes which it may not you play along or you're not going to have all of the pieces to contend unfortunately. We just signed Boychuck to a contract that was probably(almost definitely) two yrs too long. If we didn't you guys or some other team probably give him what he wanted and where does that leave us? Grasping straws hoping we luck into an opportunity to get another defenseman who plays at the level that Boychuck did for us this past season. Not going to happen.
- Cptmjl

Yeah, you're right. I guess over a decade of driving up the 2nd contracts it may drive down the UFA prices....the problem is the age of UFA's . It was better when it was 30....now they're so young that 7 years doesn't seem so bad...even tho they are 35 or 36 at the finality of the deals.

Exactly but lets not forget about all of those other hard decisions they had to make with big Buff, Neimi, etc and look at them now. How many times have opposing teams fans(even some of their own fans) and the press said it was going to blow up for them especially after they won the cup? Pretty damn impressive how they made the right decisions on who to let leave and who to retain. Well besides Leddy of course
- Cptmjl

Oddly enough..they could use a good #5 D man right about now.

Oh course I do but it is what it is. Until it changes which it may not you play along or you're not going to have all of the pieces to contend unfortunately. We just signed Boychuck to a contract that was probably(almost definitely) two yrs too long. If we didn't you guys or some other team probably give him what he wanted and where does that leave us? Grasping straws hoping we luck into an opportunity to get another defenseman who plays at the level that Boychuck did for us this past season. Not going to happen.
- Cptmjl

Exactly but lets not forget about all of those other hard decisions they had to make with big Buff, Neimi, etc and look at them now. How many times have opposing teams fans(even some of their own fans) and the press said it was going to blow up for them especially after they won the cup? Pretty damn impressive how they made the right decisions on who to let leave and who to retain. Well besides Leddy of course
- Cptmjl

It's very very impressive. and yeah Leddy was good get for you guys.

It's very very impressive. and yeah Leddy was good get for you guys.
- glove_was_stuck

Biggest knock on his game was his defense when he came over and he was our best defensive defenseman IMO. That contract is probably going to look real good in a couple of years going on what we saw last season. I honestly wasn't expecting a ton when we traded for him but man I had no idea what kind of player he was or I should say could be.

Oddly enough..they could use a good #5 D man right about now.
- HonkyTonkMan

Because of circumstance. Depth, depth, depth...

Money talks, bullpoop walks.....Edmonton ain't so bad for a guy Hamiltons age, + there's that McDavid guy who might be interesting to play with. Still cold up there.
- HonkyTonkMan

edmonton sucks... almost as bad as buffalo. no one wants to go there willingly

edmonton sucks... almost as bad as buffalo. no one wants to go there willingly
- 77emac77

springtime in Edmonton

with less AT-AT's

Most important position on a NHL team are.......

First A #1 D- man......it takes about 200 games for a D-man to develop and to get confidence in the NHL and they are usually the toughest and longest position to develop. With either big stints in the OHL and AHL.

Hamilton has played 178 games and is ONLY 21. If we lost him what are the odds of getting another potential number one within the next three years.....? Slim to NONE.....look at the Oilers and Philly.


Second- Centers.......we have two very good two way centers that both ALWAYS lead the team in points in the playoffs and the regular season.


And people would rather let Hamilton and Krejci walk or get traded over an overrated LW and a 40.......FORTY.....year old D- man.

- glove_was_stuck