Not one of those guys was on a team that could put out three centres 1-2-3 down the middle like RNH-McD-Draisaitl That in itself is going to be scary. What about the defense they can exploit with Hall, Eberle and Yakupov all on different lines?

Now they have a goalie, a de defacto #1. I think Schultz is a whipping boy, but his numbers are solid. I love the Talbot add. I love this team. Playoffs are a lock. 100% guarantee it.
- James_Tanner

Bookmarked.

Couldn't agree more about the Kessel and Oilers stuff. Pens got a hell of a deal when you consider he's most comparable to Kane and Kessel's cap hit is almost 4 million less. Didn't they make all that fuss about Kessel showing up to camp out of shape only to have him finish top 3 on the team in the fitness testing?

stoll is a UFA, so nothing to void or terminate.
- JETSWIN

He was a member of the team with a valid contract when he was caught and arrested

They should have done it then.... (But Stoll was a needed player with a good contract, but no need to get into all of that)

Not one of those guys was on a team that could put out three centres 1-2-3 down the middle like RNH-McD-Draisaitl That in itself is going to be scary. What about the defense they can exploit with Hall, Eberle and Yakupov all on different lines?

Now they have a goalie, a de defacto #1. I think Schultz is a whipping boy, but his numbers are solid. I love the Talbot add. I love this team. Playoffs are a lock. 100% guarantee it.
- James_Tanner

Oh my....I guess some people just can't help themselves.

Bookmarked.
- tomburton99

Yup

Couldn't agree more about the Kessel and Oilers stuff. Pens got a hell of a deal when you consider he's most comparable to Kane and Kessel's cap hit is almost 4 million less. Didn't they make all that fuss about Kessel showing up to camp out of shape only to have him finish top 3 on the team in the fitness testing?
- Hunkulese

I know a guy that too had cancer treatment at a younger age. He's still very fit and active, but he carries weight funny now. Maybe Phil is having the same issue. At any rate, the Kessel bashing is beyond sickening already.

He was a member of the team with a valid contract when he was caught and arrested

They should have done it then.... (But Stoll was a needed player with a good contract, but no need to get into all of that)
- RoloTahmasee

Once his season was over, his contract had expired. They had exclusivity to resign him prior to July 1st though.

Mapanen is a book or bust prospect. He's a defensive liability on the ice. No way is he a two way player.
- jfkst1

Mapenen?

Couldn't agree more about the Kessel and Oilers stuff. Pens got a hell of a deal when you consider he's most comparable to Kane and Kessel's cap hit is almost 4 million less. Didn't they make all that fuss about Kessel showing up to camp out of shape only to have him finish top 3 on the team in the fitness testing?
- Hunkulese

It's not his fitness that was in question (except by every non-Leafs fan at the time), it's his give-a-(frank)-meter, which is off the charts (in a bad way)

James I have to agree with you about Phil

Being one of the very few leaf fans out of everyone I talk to that actually liked pk81 ,hell we even named the new family dog after him ,i never felt the need to worrie myself with what he did off the ice and I actually used the same example that you did about being one of that fastest skaters in the Nhl and not actually playing with a true #1 center .

I agree with most of the blog, however; I find ROR to be overpaid. Not as significantly as some people but still overpaid.

Makes me wonder how the above will affect Vladimir Tarasenko's contract negotiations.

Also, if Phoenix is out of the playoff picture next year, they can always flip Vermette and Michalek again.

It's not his fitness that was in question (except by every non-Leafs fan at the time), it's his give-a-(frank)-meter, which is off the charts (in a bad way)
- walshyleafsfan

Agreed he has always been when media is concerned. I did not see effort issues until this past season, but the whole team had also quit around him. Kessel is the only one that gets female doged about.

Not one of those guys was on a team that could put out three centres 1-2-3 down the middle like RNH-McD-Draisaitl That in itself is going to be scary. What about the defense they can exploit with Hall, Eberle and Yakupov all on different lines?

Now they have a goalie, a de defacto #1. I think Schultz is a whipping boy, but his numbers are solid. I love the Talbot add. I love this team. Playoffs are a lock. 100% guarantee it.
- James_Tanner

James I find it funny that you predicted the oilers and yotes would both make the playoffs last year. It seems like your going to do it again with the oilers. You say the same thing every year it seems. So for example if the oil miss the playoffs this year and next year you make the same prediction and they do make the playoffs. Are you going to make a blog saying how you're smarter than everyone else?

I think I'm going to pull a tanner and say the jackets will win the cup this year. I'll do it until they do win and then I can be smarter than all of you!

The Kings "Zero tolerance on Illegal Drugs" policy is going to bite them in the a$$ if this goes to court

They have to explain why Stolls contract wasn't "immediately terminated" when he was found with cocaine in Vegas and actually arrested/charged

Can't be picky and choosy when it comes to corporate/business policies when it comes to employee discipline
- TheGame316

There was nothing to terminate his contract ended. How can you terminate a contract if there was no contract to terminate? The Kings were not brining Stoll back regardless if he was caught with drugs or just chilling by the beach.

PLUS: The Green Lantern movie. Maybe I'm the only one who liked it, but I did.

Well that pretty much explains the rest of the column....

Not one of those guys was on a team that could put out three centres 1-2-3 down the middle like RNH-McD-Draisaitl That in itself is going to be scary. What about the defense they can exploit with Hall, Eberle and Yakupov all on different lines?

Now they have a goalie, a de defacto #1. I think Schultz is a whipping boy, but his numbers are solid. I love the Talbot add. I love this team. Playoffs are a lock. 100% guarantee it.
- James_Tanner

Did you watch an oilers game last year?? Please tell me how Schultz is not a giant liability in his own end. He was absolutely terrible all year until he was paired Klefbom and Klefbom covered for a lot of his mistakes. Ask any oilers fan how they feel about Schultz.

James I find it funny that you predicted the oilers and yotes would both make the playoffs last year. It seems like your going to do it again with the oilers. You say the same thing every year it seems. So for example if the oil miss the playoffs this year and next year you make the same prediction and they do make the playoffs. Are you going to make a blog saying how you're smarter than everyone else?

I think I'm going to pull a tanner and say the jackets will win the cup this year. I'll do it until they do win and then I can be smarter than all of you!
- kessellover69

I can't knock the truth! I Know how it looks, but while the Coyotes playoff prediction was just hope, i really honestly believeed the Oilers would be better last year. And i love their team, so yeah, if they suck this year, I'll probably say the same thing next year.

Did you watch an oilers game last year?? Please tell me how Schultz is not a giant liability in his own end. He was absolutely terrible all year until he was paired Klefbom and Klefbom covered for a lot of his mistakes. Ask any oilers fan how they feel about Schultz.
- kessellover69

Fair enough, but there are people who think Karlsson and Gardiner are defensive liabilities, but its all confirmation bias- yiu remember what you're looking for. Fact is, all three guys keep the puck in the other teams zone more than 50%

Fair enough, but there are people who think Karlsson and Gardiner are defensive liabilities, but its all confirmation bias- yiu remember what you're looking for. Fact is, all three guys keep the puck in the other teams zone more than 50%
- James_Tanner

I would hope Schultz has the puck in the ozone more than 50% considering he has 64% ozone starts. And the 49% of the time the puck is in the dzone his constant mistakes lack of physicality and lack of positioning cost the oilers on the scoreboard.

Not one of those guys was on a team that could put out three centres 1-2-3 down the middle like RNH-McD-Draisaitl That in itself is going to be scary. What about the defense they can exploit with Hall, Eberle and Yakupov all on different lines?

Sid-Malkin-Staal?

Now they have a goalie, a de defacto #1. I think Schultz is a whipping boy, but his numbers are solid. I love the Talbot add. I love this team. Playoffs are a lock. 100% guarantee it

.

I agree with the Kings comments and the Phil comments, but am really annoyed by the Oilers comments.

You just admitted that you plan on making this claim every year (like you have for a couple years already) until it eventually comes true. Do you not see a problem with this?

Anyways, I 100% guarantee the Oilers will not make the playoffs this year. What do you think of that?

only james would say kessel is a physical specimen in top condition, the oilers have a "fantastic" defense, and green lantern is a good movie all in one blog
all it was missing was an oel lindstrom comparison and some cherry picked stats about kadri or gardiner

at least there was yearly oilers will be great this year prediction that will eventually be right 10 years later and he will let us all know how right he is

Sid-Malkin-Staal?

.

I agree with the Kings comments and the Phil comments, but am really annoyed by the Oilers comments.

You just admitted that you plan on making this claim every year (like you have for a couple years already) until it eventually comes true. Do you not see a problem with this?

Anyways, I 100% guarantee the Oilers will not make the playoffs this year. What do you think of that?
- tom_delonge_ava

Now that made me laugh.....

Agree with everything in the blog with a few comments. Does everyone remember Kessel beating Seguin in the race at the last Allstar game........you bet he's fast. Yes it was the Leafs fault they never picked up a better top line centre to play with him, but those guys don't grow on trees, and I do believe they tried very hard to get one.

On Richards.........I think there are issues with this guy and this is just an opportunity for the Kings to do something about it. Tough to assess at this time if it's right or wrong, and who knows if it will ever all come out.

Leafs and small skilled forwards.............same as Oilers!? Wouldn't a Leaf/Oiler final be awesome in years to come!? (McDavid does not look happy to be there!)

can you imagine the heat we would have took if we traded Richards to Calgary or Edmonton and then had the investigation come out?

Let's see Draisaitl play effectively in the NHL first before proclaiming him part of a great 1-2-3 punch.

The Oilers w/ McD will inevitably be a good team at some point, but I still don't think they stack up with most of the other teams in a very tough conference. They look pretty similar the Avs at this point but with far less proven goaltending.