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

Yeah other than a McDavid year it makes you wonder about winning the lottery. If the leafs pick 2,3,or 4 it's fine with me.

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

No....you're missing my point, McDavid missed half the year, I'm saying is there really collectively, outside of McDavid, a huge difference between the Oilers and Leafs. In response to Sparky's comments.

Are the Oilers more talented up front, sure they are, but by a huge margin? Defensively the Leafs are better...I just don't see this big separation Sparky sees.

Next year I will with Draisaitl and McDavid a year older and that much better than anything the Leafs have, although Nylander looks pretty talented.

One of the good things that happened this year was playing meaningful hockey passed November!! And I think it was in large part due goaltending and Todd and his system- -wasn't it 21 or 22 game losses by 1 goal?? its unfortunate that we had so many injuries but so do other teams- it just speaks to our lack of depth at NHL ready players... there is much work that remains- but this offseason is a huge one for the Oilers...

No....you're missing my point, McDavid missed half the year, I'm saying is there really collectively, outside of McDavid, a huge difference between the Oilers and Leafs. In response to Sparky's comments.

Are the Oilers more talented up front, sure they are, but by a huge margin? Defensively the Leafs are better...I just don't see this big separation Sparky sees.

Next year I will with Draisaitl and McDavid a year older and that much better than anything the Leafs have, although Nylander looks pretty talented.
- LeftCoaster

I'd have to say Edmonton's top six are an upgrade on Kadri, JVR, Grabner, Komagod, Holland and Winnik.

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

Yes defense is largely to blame and its obvious- but what about scoring? Our offense wasn't exactly tearing it up and nor was it consistent...

No....you're missing my point, McDavid missed half the year, I'm saying is there really collectively, outside of McDavid, a huge difference between the Oilers and Leafs. In response to Sparky's comments.

Are the Oilers more talented up front, sure they are, but by a huge margin? Defensively the Leafs are better...I just don't see this big separation Sparky sees.

Next year I will with Draisaitl and McDavid a year older and that much better than anything the Leafs have, although Nylander looks pretty talented.
- LeftCoaster

"If you take their best player out of the equation is their top 6 better?" You're right I'm missing your point, because you don't really seem to have one. When you take McDavid out of the equation then of course the margin shrinks but even without McDavid I'd still say their top 6 is comfortably better than Toronto's.

Let's just say for arguments sake Eberle and JVR are equivalent players.

As I said before there is no player on the Leafs' roster that compares to Hall.

Draisaitl is a great player who cooled off a bit at the end of the year but he looks to be trending towards an elite 2C, if not a lower tier #1.

Nugent-Hopkins is a better player than Kadri, I'm sorry he just is.

Do you see any players on the roster RIGHT NOW that you can argue make Toronto's top 6 almost as good?

I'd have to say Edmonton's top six are an upgrade on Kadri, JVR, Grabner, Komagod, Holland and Winnik.
- walshyleafsfan

Bozak seems to conveniently get lost, kid is just as good as RNH.

Bozak seems to conveniently get lost, kid is just as good as RNH.
- LeftCoaster

gtfo.

No....you're missing my point, McDavid missed half the year, I'm saying is there really collectively, outside of McDavid, a huge difference between the Oilers and Leafs. In response to Sparky's comments.

Are the Oilers more talented up front, sure they are, but by a huge margin? Defensively the Leafs are better...I just don't see this big separation Sparky sees.

Next year I will with Draisaitl and McDavid a year older and that much better than anything the Leafs have, although Nylander looks pretty talented.
- LeftCoaster

The key is the blueline.....if we get a real puck mover then thats going to make our forwards that much better because they wont always have to transport the puck themselfs which will make a difference...not gonna waste my time and compare the talent between the Leafs and Oilers because the reality is both teams suck...its like comparing human poop to dog poop....its still poop

Bozak seems to conveniently get lost, kid is just as good as RNH.
- LeftCoaster

Bozak = Nuge? You are kidding right?

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.
- 6ringslowe

I know Oiler fans are not stupid and you know what you need. What puzzles me is the poster who say Peter wanted to take a year to watch the team before trading anyone away.

I am sure he saw game tapes after he took the job. I am sure he spoke to others in the organization for what they feel the team needs. I am sure by December or the trade deadline he would know what every single hockey fan in North America already knew but yet he did nothing.

If I was the owner who fired promoted, whatever people to bring in a supposedly top GM I would expect some moves to be made. Not finish second last

Bozak seems to conveniently get lost, kid is just as good as RNH.
- LeftCoaster

Good point

Bozak = Nuge? You are kidding right?
- RatedR80

Location worthy.

I know Oiler fans are not stupid and you know what you need. What puzzles me is the poster who say Peter wanted to take a year to watch the team before trading anyone away.

I am sure he saw game tapes after he took the job. I am sure he spoke to others in the organization for what they feel the team needs. I am sure by December or the trade deadline he would know what every single hockey fan in North America already knew but yet he did nothing.

If I was the owner who fired promoted, whatever people to bring in a supposedly top GM I would expect some moves to be made. Not finish second last
- sparky

That was me who said that, and its one thing to watch the tape, its another to watch 82 games with your own eyes and having a coach who is in the dressing room every day telling you what the players are doing. Why is that such an unreasonable thing to do? Do you really think Chiarelli was gonna rush and do something without having a strong judgement first?

"If you take their best player out of the equation is their top 6 better?" You're right I'm missing your point, because you don't really seem to have one. When you take McDavid out of the equation then of course the margin shrinks but even without McDavid I'd still say their top 6 is comfortably better than Toronto's.
- 6ringslowe

Because I was comparing the Oilers top six to Toronto's with McDavid out of the lineup for half the year.

And yes I said they're better, more offensively talented, the Oilers, but not by a huge margin when McDavid is out.

Sorry I just don't see it and the numbers, team point totals, suggest I'm right. Just like Babcock said of Nylander, "he can have all the talent in the world, but if he's not willing to compete, his talent doesn't matter".

Being offensively gifted doesn't make the Oilers young player greater, their compete levels, their inability to play a structured defensive game, is what detracts them from being better.

Maybe if you and the Oilers brass saw that you wouldn't be drafting top three six years running. That said I think Chiarelli gets it!

I know Oiler fans are not stupid and you know what you need. What puzzles me is the poster who say Peter wanted to take a year to watch the team before trading anyone away.

I am sure he saw game tapes after he took the job. I am sure he spoke to others in the organization for what they feel the team needs. I am sure by December or the trade deadline he would know what every single hockey fan in North America already knew but yet he did nothing.

If I was the owner who fired promoted, whatever people to bring in a supposedly top GM I would expect some moves to be made. Not finish second last
- sparky

I will always give a GM two years at least before getting real critical either it was MacT or PC it doesnt matter....I will say tho its one thing to watch a team from a distance while its another to be right in the trenches...PC has now had a full season to see what he has and now he needs to prove his worth in the offseason....im ok with a guy taking a year to figure it out but now he needs to act....our biggest need is D and I dont recall a trade that was going to be made during the season to get it done (Yes im aware of Seth Jones)

Bozak = Nuge? You are kidding right?
- RatedR80

No I'm not kidding, he can actually win a faceoff, he's better defensively, the game isn't played at one end of the ice.

Why do you think Toews and Kopitar only have on average 60 some points a year, because they commit to playing at both ends of the ice. RNH is gifted offensively, if you call 56 points gifted, but he couldn't save his life in his first few years if it meant he had to win a faceoff or play defensively.

I will always give a GM two years at least before getting real critical either it was MacT or PC it doesnt matter....I will say tho its one thing to watch a team from a distance while its another to be right in the trenches...PC has now had a full season to see what he has and now he needs to prove his worth in the offseason....im ok with a guy taking a year to figure it out but now he needs to act....our biggest need is D and I dont recall a trade that was going to be made during the season to get it done (Yes im aware of Seth Jones)
- RatedR80

This guy gets it

Because I was comparing the Oilers top six to Toronto's with McDavid out of the lineup for half the year.

And yes I said they're better, more offensively talented, the Oilers, but not by a huge margin when McDavid is out.

Sorry I just don't see it and the numbers, team point totals, suggest I'm right. Just like Babcock said of Nylander, "he can have all the talent in the world, but if he's not willing to compete, his talent doesn't matter".

Being offensively gifted doesn't make the Oilers young player greater, their compete levels, their inability to play a structured defensive game, is what detracts them from being better.

Maybe if you and the Oilers brass saw that you wouldn't be drafting top three six years running. That said I think Chiarelli gets it!
- LeftCoaster

We didn't have JVR for 41 games, Bozak for 25 games and Nickel Spalling for a whopping 49 games

So any truth to the rumour the Oil are targeting Wideman?

Location worthy.
- Iggysbff

Thank for the idea

No I'm not kidding, he can actually win a faceoff, he's better defensively, the game isn't played at one end of the ice.

Why do you think Toews and Kopitar only have on average 60 some points a year, because they commit to playing at both ends of the ice. RNH is gifted offensively, if you call 50 points gifted, but he couldn't save his life in his first few years if it meant he had to win a faceoff or play defensively.
- LeftCoaster

Please don't say more of this, because in future it'll be said that Leafs fans believe Bozak is as good as RNH

So any truth to the rumour the Oil are targeting Wideman?
- K-man25

Not something I can see happening but i know you guys would be thrilled if we took him off your hands.....I dont know if I want a zebras target on our team...we take enough penalties as is

Bozak = Nuge? You are kidding right?
- RatedR80

I don't see what's so outrageous about that. Guys been a consistent near-50 point producer (like Nuge), played with horrible defenses behind him, and is a capable faceoff man. Nuge has a touch more offense and far more potential, but that's all it is currently. In the present, they're fairly close as players.

No I'm not kidding, he can actually win a faceoff, he's better defensively, the game isn't played at one end of the ice.

Why do you think Toews and Kopitar only have on average 60 some points a year, because they commit to playing at both ends of the ice. RNH is gifted offensively, if you call 50 points gifted, but he couldn't save his life in his first few years if it meant he had to win a faceoff or play defensively.
- LeftCoaster

Nuge cant play defensively? im having issues taking this seriously....a good hockey debate is one thing but I dont know what to call this