Why do Leaf fans always need to be so salty... It makes no sense.

And for the record, PC wanted to wait a year to evaluate the team before making any big moves to that he wouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Hey wait a sec, why are you commenting on here? Don't you have to make contracts for Stamkos, Matthews and McDavid to sign?
- 6ringslowe

I am sorry if I am coming across as salty. I am just very surprised this blogger said the Oilers took a step forward.

Being a Leaf fan with the team we had finishing in last isn't shocking. We expected (and most wanted) last or close to it. We had mostly AHLers on this team.

But to have the top 6 you guys have and only finishing one point more then Toronto is embarrassing. I want all the canadian teams to do well. I don't like that all Canada teams are golfing right now.

But out of all the Canadian teams, the team that has the most talent is Edmonton.
There is no excuse for where they finished had the GM done his job. I almost think Peter is gun shy making the big move. He failed on the Reinhart trade and I am sure Tyler Seguin is still haunting him at night.

You wrote about the goaltending woes over the last couple years saying the Oilers with league average goaltending would be much higher in the standing. Don't recall if you said playoffs with it or not but we got league average goaltending this year for the most part. We still stunk.

And don't give me the we were in more games because I've already shown we lost as many one goal games last year as this year ( when you include games where empty netters were scored in dying minutes).

This year has been a complete fail.
- Iggysbff

Talbot played his way to good goaltending by the end of the year but you'll recall was a mess in the beginning.

The team cut down 40+ goals on their differential.

They went from 197 5v5 goals against to 167 5v5 goals against and their 5v5 sv% was 28th ranked in the NHL. The goaltending wasn't as good as you claim it was and the gains are more than you refuse to admit.

I am sorry if I am coming across as salty. I am just very surprised this blogger said the Oilers took a step forward.

Being a Leaf fan with the team we had finishing in last isn't shocking. We expected (and most wanted) last or close to it. We had mostly AHLers on this team.

But to have the top 6 you guys have and only finishing one point more then Toronto is embarrassing. I want all the canadian teams to do well. I don't like that all Canada teams are golfing right now.

But out of all the Canadian teams, the team that has the most talent is Edmonton.
There is no excuse for where they finished had the GM done his job. I almost think Peter is gun shy making the big move. He failed on the Reinhart trade and I am sure Tyler Seguin is still haunting him at night.
- sparky

But is it really? Maybe the fans should accept the fact the supposed great top six they drafted isn't that great, that they have a lot of flaws in their game. Just maybe?

Is RNH really better than Kadri, is Eberle really that much better than JVR, do the Oilers have a young 22 yr old dman like Rielly who put up 36 points....the answer is no to all of them.

Draisaitl was 19 this year, McDavid 18, Nurse 20....forget about Eberle, RNH, Yakupov and such, the first three are the true rebuild starting players for the Oilers.

I am sorry if I am coming across as salty. I am just very surprised this blogger said the Oilers took a step forward.

Being a Leaf fan with the team we had finishing in last isn't shocking. We expected (and most wanted) last or close to it. We had mostly AHLers on this team.

But to have the top 6 you guys have and only finishing one point more then Toronto is embarrassing. I want all the canadian teams to do well. I don't like that all Canada teams are golfing right now.

But out of all the Canadian teams, the team that has the most talent is Edmonton.
There is no excuse for where they finished had the GM done his job. I almost think Peter is gun shy making the big move. He failed on the Reinhart trade and I am sure Tyler Seguin is still haunting him at night.
- sparky

As I said before, he wanted to wait a year. I'd rather wait a year and make the right move than rush into a deal in an act of desperation and make the wrong one.

You'll see. Peter will make the right moves this offseason. He has already made a lot of great moves, like finding Kassian and Maroon off the scrap heap, and I'm sure he's eyeing some defenders he likes. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he already had some deals in principle already.

But is it really? Maybe the fans should accept the fact the supposed great top six they drafted isn't that great, that they have a lot of flaws in their game. Just maybe?

Is RNH really better than Kadri, is Eberle really that much better than JVR, do the Oilers have a young 22 yr old dman like Rielly who put up 36 points....the answer is no to all of them.

Draisaitl was 19 this year, McDavid 18, Nurse 20....forget about Eberle, RNH, Yakupov and such, the first three are the true rebuild starting players for the Oilers.
- LeftCoaster

The only players I want Edmonton to keep in their top 6 is McDavid (obviously), Hall, Draisaitl and Maroon. Everyone else is fundamentally flawed in one way or another. Even with those 4 players thats a pretty good top 6.

And given their track records, yes, Eberle is a better player than JVR. I have no problem in saying that.

If the Oilers won 3 of the 4 items you listed and have shown such remarkable improvement, remind me again how they are the 2nd worst team in the league? They deserved every awful statistic they ended up with. They were not a good team, even with CMD. Coach? Added size? C'mon, have some respect for yourself as a blogger and admit the disaster.

The only players I want Edmonton to keep in their top 6 is McDavid (obviously), Hall, Draisaitl and Maroon. Everyone else is fundamentally flawed in one way or another. Even with those 4 players thats a pretty good top 6.
- 6ringslowe

Pouliot in the top 6 is good... I like what he brings to the team- if he could stay healthy it would definitely give added push back for this team... Added- I really miss Gordon... He was an absolute warrior for the Oilers... Seks is another mainstay in the Oilers top 4 and Talbot to either share or own the starting position- the rest are expendable for other pieces... it would be nice to keep Nuge but if he garners a top 3 RHD I have to think he is considered for a trade... Eberle and Yak are good as gone IMO- with Ebs he is a valueable trade piece- and Yak well he wants out and bad

Pouliot in the top 6 is good... I like what he brings to the team- if he could stay healthy it would definitely give added push back for this team... Added- I really miss Gordon... He was an absolute warrior for the Oilers... Seks is another mainstay in the Oilers top 4 and Talbot to either share or own the starting position- the rest are expendable for other pieces... it would be nice to keep Nuge but if he garners a top 3 RHD I have to think he is considered for a trade... Eberle and Yak are good as gone IMO- with Ebs he is a valueable trade piece- and Yak well he wants out and bad
- saskoil21

I don't see a spot on the team for Pouliot anymore; Maroon has pretty much rendered him obsolete. He definitely has some good value though and I'm sure Chia will dangle him.

If the Oilers won 3 of the 4 items you listed and have shown such remarkable improvement, remind me again how they are the 2nd worst team in the league? They deserved every awful statistic they ended up with. They were not a good team, even with CMD. Coach? Added size? C'mon, have some respect for yourself as a blogger and admit the disaster.
- jackzack87

If I could do it all over again I would add a section where I outline Chiarelli's complete failure to improve the defense. I really wish I had done that. Unfortunately the section about the defense was nothing but Grumpy Cat memes and a highlight reel of Justin Schultz Penguin moments.

I will live in shame for never mentioning that one major aspect of the roster that was both injured and woefully under talented. Yep. Definitely never mentioned it as the biggest contributing factor into why Edmonton couldn't get any further ahead than it did. I definitely didn't set up this summer's success being completely dependent on fixing it either.

C+ to D sounds about right.

That Reinhart trade is gonna look even worse with every passing year....I still can't believe he gave that much up for a player that couldn't crack the top six on the Isle. Bailed them out of wasting a high 1st round pick on him. Barzal has looked fantastic all year. Reinhart may never play a meaningful minute for this team.

While I realize the impatience of the fan base, I applaud him for taking the year to see what he had and form a strategy (I hope). He didn't trade any of the core for magic beans. He may still but he hasn't yet. He may have further devalued some of his assets by waiting but I still think it was the right move. Lets face it, MacT had no such luxury. I don't believe it was his player moves or lack of that got him canned. He hitched his wagon and career to a rookie coach, who tailspun this team. It takes a lot of time in the cap era to turn teams around from ground zero with a bunch of kids.

I didn't mind Gordon / Korpi trade and I realize Korpi wasn't very good. If Lander could have done anything last year, no one would care about Gordon.

Outside of sticking up for his mates, Kassian has been useless.

Talbot was a big win. I don't expect Maroon to keep this up (see: Penner, Perron, etc....its the Oilers after all and we can't have nice things).

While I think Chia has way more to work with than Tambs or MacT, he also has more to F up. The assets we have now though look to be devalued in the marketplace after being stuck on a losing team for the last 5 years. Are RNH, Hall, Ebs, Yak...even Nurse worth more or less than they were 3 years ago?

The only players I want Edmonton to keep in their top 6 is McDavid (obviously), Hall, Draisaitl and Maroon. Everyone else is fundamentally flawed in one way or another. Even with those 4 players thats a pretty good top 6.

And given their track records, yes, Eberle is a better player than JVR. I have no problem in saying that.
- 6ringslowe

The past couple of years in the league their numbers are very similar offensively and they're both soft defensively. There's a small separation when comparing the two. What they did three or four years ago means little, the past few seasons, three, they've very much equaled each other.

2013/14
Eberle - 28-37-65
JVR - 30-31-61

2014/15
Eberle - 24-39-63
JVR - 27-29-56

Pro-rated...because of JVR's injury, their numbers this year are again within a few points of each other. The point being, one does not SIGNIFICANTLY overshadow the other.

Talbot played his way to good goaltending by the end of the year but you'll recall was a mess in the beginning.

The team cut down 40+ goals on their differential.

They went from 197 5v5 goals against to 167 5v5 goals against and their 5v5 sv% was 28th ranked in the NHL. The goaltending wasn't as good as you claim it was and the gains are more than you refuse to admit.
- Matt_Henderson

I like again how you pick and choose stats without completing the picture.

Talbot had a slow period in Nov/Dec then picked it up big time.

And his 5 on 5 sv% was .921 which is better than his over all average.

Brossoit was .874 5on5

So his sv% on 5 on 5 had a big part in the improvement. Last year overall we had .892

Scrivens 5on 5 was .898

The past couple of years in the league their numbers are very similar offensively and they're both soft defensively. There's a small separation when comparing the two. What they did three or four years ago means little, the past few seasons, three, they've very much equaled each other.

2013/14
Eberle - 28-37-65
JVR - 30-31-61

2014/15
Eberle - 24-39-63
JVR - 27-29-56

Pro-rated...because of JVR's injury, their numbers this year are again within a few points of each other. The point being, one does not SIGNIFICANTLY overshadow the other.
- LeftCoaster

Yeah but you're saying how Edmonton's top 6 is hardly better than Toronto's when JVR is arguably their best forward. Meanwhile Eberle is Edmonton's 3rd, maybe 4th best player. I don't see anyone in Toronto's top 6 that compares to McDavid, ditto to Hall, Eberle is a lock for 25+ goals a year, Draisaitl is trending upwards in a big way and Nuge hasn't lit the league up but he's probably our most trustworthy forward in all situations and a great complementary player. Edmonton's top 6 is far better than Toronto's no matter how you slice it.

Just wondering what you Oiler fans thing about your first round pick this year. It will be a high one and the top picks are all forwards, which you don't really need.

Do you think Edmonton trades the first for D help or just draft the best player available regarless of position?

Yeah but you're saying how Edmonton's top 6 is hardly better than Toronto's when JVR is arguably their best forward. Meanwhile Eberle is Edmonton's 3rd, maybe 4th best player. I don't see anyone in Toronto's top 6 that compares to McDavid, ditto to Hall, Eberle is a lock for 25+ goals a year, Draisaitl is trending upwards in a big way and Nuge hasn't lit the league up but he's probably our most trustworthy forward in all situations and a great complementary player. Edmonton's top 6 is far better than Toronto's no matter how you slice it.
- 6ringslowe

I don't think that's ever been argued. I think that's the main point about "how the (frank) did Edmonton only achieve 1 more point than the Leafs" argument

Just wondering what you Oiler fans thing about your first round pick this year. It will be a high one and the top picks are all forwards, which you don't really need.

Do you think Edmonton trades the first for D help or just draft the best player available regarless of position?
- sparky

No way they should. They should draft Matthews and trade Eberle and RNH for dmen.

Just wondering what you Oiler fans thing about your first round pick this year. It will be a high one and the top picks are all forwards, which you don't really need.

Do you think Edmonton trades the first for D help or just draft the best player available regarless of position?
- sparky

Here's the problem with trading it: if the player pans out you'll be getting pennies on the dollar for the value of that pick. It's not that Edmonton doesn't want to trade for defensive help but in terms of asset management, we'd probably be better off trading a roster player. The team simply has too many holes to trade away assets for nothing

I don't think that's ever been argued. I think that's the main point about "how the (frank) did Edmonton only achieve 1 more point than the Leafs" argument
- walshyleafsfan

Defense. Defense. Defense. The forwards shouldn't be absolved of all blame but 90% of our problems would be solved through the defense.

If the Oilers won 3 of the 4 items you listed and have shown such remarkable improvement, remind me again how they are the 2nd worst team in the league? They deserved every awful statistic they ended up with. They were not a good team, even with CMD. Coach? Added size? C'mon, have some respect for yourself as a blogger and admit the disaster.
- jackzack87

Yeah if you want to talk about improvement look no further than the Sabres. They had 54 points last year. This year they had injuries to key people too.

No way they should. They should draft Matthews and trade Eberle and RNH for dmen.
- walshyleafsfan

Personally, I'd prefer Laine, if nothing else just so your media gets off our backs for having so many #1 overall picks But seriously, when Eberle inevitably gets traded this offseason theres gonna be a big hole in RW, and Laine would look mighty good taking passes from 97

Just wondering what you Oiler fans thing about your first round pick this year. It will be a high one and the top picks are all forwards, which you don't really need.

Do you think Edmonton trades the first for D help or just draft the best player available regarless of position?
- sparky

Too many scenarios.

If an Eberle or Nuge etc get traded for D then I can see picking one of the forwards.

Many things to play out still.

I don't think that's ever been argued. I think that's the main point about "how the (frank) did Edmonton only achieve 1 more point than the Leafs" argument
- walshyleafsfan

And the leafs had to keep playing Sparks to make sure that happened.

Defense. Defense. Defense. The forwards shouldn't be absolved of all blame but 90% of our problems would be solved through the defense.
- 6ringslowe

You need the likes of Polak, Marincin, Gardiner, Carrick, Corrado, Hunwick and Polak.

I don't think Edmonton fans will see it as fair value for trading forwards for D. D seem hard to get. Don't see many Seth Jones' traded

Personally, I'd prefer Laine, if nothing else just so your media gets off our backs for having so many #1 overall picks But seriously, when Eberle inevitably gets traded this offseason theres gonna be a big hole in RW, and Laine would look mighty good taking passes from 97
- 6ringslowe

I've read a lot of fans from multiple teams prefer Laine to Matthews. I, myself, are one of them. I'd wet my pants to see a line of Laine Nylander Marner

You need the likes of Polak, Marincin, Gardiner, Carrick, Corrado, Hunwick and Polak.

I don't think Edmonton fans will see it as fair value for trading forwards for D. D seem hard to get. Don't see many Seth Jones' traded
- walshyleafsfan

Speak for yourself. At this point, Oilers fans would trade even Hall for defensive help. Oilers fans aren't stupid, we know what we need to make the team better. Whether or not we will ever finally acquire that remains to be seen.