Is moving Drai back to he wing impossible? If the Oilers lose both Yak and Ebs would the possibility of moving Drai to RW not be a viable option?

Is moving Drai back to he wing impossible? If the Oilers lose both Yak and Ebs would the possibility of moving Drai to RW not be a viable option?
- wreckage

And why isn't moving RNH to wing just as plausible? Leon is bigger, already better at faceoffs (by 4 percentage points), a comparable- if not better- playmaker, and still has a solid two-way game. Nuge hasn't really improved at faceoffs, lacks the size to consistently compete with Getzlaf, Kopitar, Thornton, Toews, etc, and has an agility to his game that is equally suited to the wing.

Where is this depth you speak of? Because the way I see it, the Oilers are going to have to trade some forwards. It comes down to would you rather have wingers or centres? The C depth will be one of the deepest in the league, and the LW depth is possibly the best in the NHL. But no defensive depth at all, unless you consider a 5/6 logjam depth. Now ask yourself: Can the team afford to lose some winger depth to help the defense? I say yes, it can. For me, many of these holes that will be created through trade just need to be filled by players that can keep up with McDavid, Hall, Draisaitl etc. They don't need to be star wingers.
- 6ringslowe

Where is the depth in trade able assets without butchering what we already have?
Seriously?

Nuge or ebs
First
Yaks

Those are 3 fairly valuable pieces (depending on assuming dealing only one. U deal both nuge/ebs you've got 4)


Here's the thing, you don't believe there's middle ground. Someone says try and be prudent in your asset management, and the response is the obvious we need to trade forwards for defence!!
No ones disputing that.
But again, we can both maintain solid depth at forward AND acquire defenders

I'm as desperate to take a step forward as anyone, but let's see big picture and try and also maintain the positives we do have while adding needs.
I'm not interested in the model the pens have mostly created in surrounding 2 studs with a bunch of plugs and early exits every year.

A step Furthur, not only has it been proven that depending on signing free agents is a fools errand if you're an oilers fan (until it's proven otherwise) but even if we could fill the holes we've created through some of the trades you've suggested up front, couldn't the same be said about filling the holes in the back?

I was once like you and didn't believe in Vatanen, but I made an effort to watch him play this year and he just looks so solid with the puck. I'd say he's the real deal. In 71 games he got 9 goals and 38 points, which are respectable numbers for any young puck moving defenseman. My hope is that he is Chiarelli's main target for a puck mover.

And yes, I thought that it wouldn't make sense to trade the pick as the Oilers would be getting pennies on the dollar. Plus, I really like Laine. I haven't seen much of Puljujärvi though so maybe I should do that. Either way, if one of those Finns comes on the team then they would be coming into a great situation, playing with either Draisaitl and Hall or McDavid and Maroon.

Now there's an empty 2RW spot and a 3LW there. I'd feel much more comfortable heading into the offseason needing wingers rather than defensemen, because wingers are a dime a dozen on July 1. But honestly, I would trust Chiarelli to fill those winger spots
- 6ringslowe

This last paragraph is often parroted.
You look at the free agent wingers and tell me who's so easy to acquire that helps ...

Grabner- no
Vrbata- meh
Doan- not happening
Okposo- too expensive
Jones- meh
Brouwer, Troy- yes- gotta wanna come here though
Jagr- not happening
Versteeg- meh
Downie- no
Stewart- meh

That's the right side and every single one of those guys has s drawback k for various reasons. Brouwer is enticing, vrbata for dirtcheap I guess

Left side is even thinner beyond this group;

Eriksson, Loui- too expensive
Perron, David- not coming back
Boedker,- maybe, but prefer more 2 ways. Prob expensive too
Lucic, Milan- too expensive
Tanguay, Alex/ no
McGinn, Jamie - maybe. Gotta wanna come though
Ladd, Andrew - too expensive
Bourque, Rene- no

McGinn's probably the only guy there that is at a price point we can afford and helps us. But not only is he inferior to pouliot overall, there's anything but a guarantee he comes to edm.

Good players are good players. At any position. I get tired of these cliches that get used far too often. Hockeybuzz is famous for them in the place of actually doing research. Especially when people discuss the oilers. Yes, good wingers are easier to find than defenders, but you still gotta find them to be a good team. Tell me Kane, panarin and hossa aren't important to the Hawks. Or kucherov/palat aren't to the bolts. Tarasenko, steen, schwartz to the blues. Ovie, oshie to the caps etc etc. In some cases these are arguably the best and most valuable players on elite teams

As far as vatanen; the narrative they you couldn't possibly be hesitant in him if you had watched him is false

He's got solid offensive instincts and can run a pp no doubt.
but he's small, tends to struggle abit at times.

In the right situation, he could certainly help. But you better also add another defender and have some size to create space or you're effed if you're throwing him to the wolves with tough 5v5 minutes on a regular basis. We need pp guys, but if we're limited in who can we acquire, I settle on the safer/less dynamic two way guys like brodin every day of the week

We've had players like that before without the right insulation and we've seen how that goes ....

I'm interested, but if You chase vatanen, you've already acquired a player or two beforehand

For ON I gave him a C+. Are you seriously still holding a candle for MacT? Come on. Give it up.
- Matt_Henderson

Iggy is good poop but his Mac-T love is kinda creepy kinda like JB's obsession with gay porn.

So I actually went through the blog because I wanted to see if you would be objective...and you weren't.

You conveniently blame PC for getting bad advise for bad moves yet give him all the credit for the good.

1) the Oilers were well into the interview process with McLellan before PC was brought on. And you mention Bob Nicholson getting rid of Mact but that was not the plan. They originally only offered him the President role and it was Lowe that went to Nicholson and suggested it. Mact was to stay as GM until PC said he'd only come on in a dual role. Mact was already deep in talks with Todd at that point. PC came in and finalized it. I like TM and hope for better things to come.

2) the draft was awful. PC and his burnt bridge in Boston cost the Oilers Hamilton and we got worked big time on the Reinhart trade.

3) you're blaming Mact again for trading Marincin when it had nothing to do with him. Typical. Gryba was a PC type. He wasn't an upgrade but bigger and far more physical.

4) Sekera was a good sign. Too much term and NTC clauses but over all a good pick up.

5) Boyd Gordon for Korpikoski is a fail.

6) Maroon trade looks good now. But will he be able to continue? He fell off with Getz and Perry when he started out great there too.

7) Kassian is meh. Big and physical yet still takes a lot of really stupid penalties.

8) you left out Talbot because again...according to Sather it was a Mact deal he was honoring. That was by far the biggest improvement on the Oilers this season.


I'm happy to have PC but he's running out of time. He has far more assets to work with than any of his predecessors and we still stink. And people are still using the old excuse that people are taking advantage and trying to rob the Oilers of their players knowing they are desperate. Nothing new. Pc has said this.

So far his over all grade is a D+
- Iggysbff

Your Mac-T loves sickens me

Nope.

All I can do is write about what I've been told by people close to the situation. You don't have to believe me but my record with reporting BS is good.
- Matt_Henderson

lolol

true....fair point

Chia is in for a tough time here. Not only does it have to fix the oiler mess, he has to do it with nothing great in his prospect depth. It's going to take a while.

Good blog.

Th biggest mistakes: Reinhart, Marincin, and Schultz seem to have a lot of smoke being the old guards agenda. I hope that is the case and that Chiarelli realizes his mistake for giving those dolts even the smallest voices moving forward.

You did forget to mention Talbot. A solid trade by Chiarelli to say the least.
- Aerchon

So you're going to make your mind up based on things you "think" "might" have happened?

Jesus.what a dumb post.

Your Mac-T loves sickens me
- ReveenV2

As I've said Rev; I don't have Mact love. He made some bad moves. If any of you recall I said they were bad when he made them while most on here praised him. When he signed Nikitin I said it was awful. When we signed Ference I said it was awful. Yet most on here said they were legit top 4 veterans on playoff teams and would be great for our young guys and would automatically be our best dmen.

I just choose to look at things more objectively not emotionally like most on here with the flip flopping. Mact did good and bad. Just like any GM. And he wasn't able to finish what he started.

Good blog.

Th biggest mistakes: Reinhart, Marincin, and Schultz seem to have a lot of smoke being the old guards agenda. I hope that is the case and that Chiarelli realizes his mistake for giving those dolts even the smallest voices moving forward.

You did forget to mention Talbot. A solid trade by Chiarelli to say the least.
- Aerchon

And you seem to keep forgetting that Sather said he had the Talbot deal worked out with Mact and was honoring it.

Jesus. The way you guys search and grasp at straws for any reason to blame previous management and praise current is absolutely insane.

in all seriousness though it's amazing how people under value franchise centers. If RNH is traded it will be for a kings ransom.
- smellmyfinger

Points to your nose

Both the coach and the pres/gm have been fairly consistent about wanting centers.

Obviously MCSaviour is not going any where.

The other two top centers are not going to be easy for another GM to get.

Center is one of the most coveted positions in the game and the team now has 3 top end centers. There is depth in the position...finally. Yet too many people want to piss it away.

Unload wingers by the boat loads. Use draft picks a plenty. Use centers only if absolutely mandatory, and even then take time to think if that is what is right to do.

Trade Yak and Ebs. Weak Rside? Well Drai has already been on the Rside and was fairly competent.

Hall-Nuge-Drai
Maroon/Pou-McD-??
Maroon/Pou-??/Letestu-??
Hendricks-Letestu/??-Kassian

Maybe the 1st gets used for a RW...maybe it gets used for a Dman, but those ?? are easier to fill the further they get down the lineup.

Yakimov, Slepyshev, JJK. Some guys in the system that can see where they can make the team with a good camp. Bring in a UFA or 2 to keep the competition level higher.

None of this is sure, but one thing that is, is that management wants to keep the depth in the center that is there.

And you seem to keep forgetting that Sather said he had the Talbot deal worked out with Mact and was honoring it.

Jesus. The way you guys search and grasp at straws for any reason to blame previous management and praise current is absolutely insane.
- Iggysbff

Hey, asked about where you got the ideas you made in your first point on the first page. Got some links to post for me to read?

And you seem to keep forgetting that Sather said he had the Talbot deal worked out with Mact and was honoring it.

Jesus. The way you guys search and grasp at straws for any reason to blame previous management and praise current is absolutely insane.
- Iggysbff

You made it out of Tanner's threads yesterday without a lengthy ban? Are all the mods on vacation this weekend?

As I've said Rev; I don't have Mact love. He made some bad moves. If any of you recall I said they were bad when he made them while most on here praised him. When he signed Nikitin I said it was awful. When we signed Ference I said it was awful. Yet most on here said they were legit top 4 veterans on playoff teams and would be great for our young guys and would automatically be our best dmen.

I just choose to look at things more objectively not emotionally like most on here with the flip flopping. Mact did good and bad. Just like any GM. And he wasn't able to finish what he started.
- Iggysbff

My biggest issue was that when MacT failed it was exceptionally bad.

He would range from moderate success that exceptional fail. Too much was towards the negative, but what do you expect from a rookie GM learning the ropes on the worst team in the league over the past few years before he came in.

Hey, asked about where you got the ideas you made in your first point on the first page. Got some links to post for me to read?
- McSavioursPupil

Like which parts?

The parts about how the PC signing happened was from an interview with Nicholson when they first hired PC.

And there were all kinds of reports from the world's where Mact was already meeting with Tmac before PC was hired. We already knew Babcock was out and they were going hard after McLellan.

And the dual role stuff was talked about by Nicholson, Lowe and PC during the pressers when he was announced.

My biggest issue was that when MacT failed it was exceptionally bad.

He would range from moderate success that exceptional fail. Too much was towards the negative, but what do you expect from a rookie GM learning the ropes on the worst team in the league over the past few years before he came in.
- McSavioursPupil

What were his bad deals? Nikitin was overpaid, but everyone here praised the fact is was only a two year stop gap deal. His health didn't hold and that made the deal very bad.

Ference was overpaid and too long.

Pouliot was a good deal.

Fayne looked good his first season, fell off a bit this year.

Boyd Gordon was good deal.

The Perron deals looked awesome.

Trading for Hendricks for a shattered Dubnyk.

Smid for Brossoit was awesome.

Gagner for Purcell was OK.

When he finally was able to do a deal for Roy it worked out pretty good. And people in the know have said it was Mact that made the deal go down for Leon to be traded to Kelowna where he could get in a good development situation.

Not all great. But not all as bad as many try to say.

Like which parts?

The parts about how the PC signing happened was from an interview with Nicholson when they first hired PC.

And there were all kinds of reports from the world's where Mact was already meeting with Tmac before PC was hired. We already knew Babcock was out and they were going hard after McLellan.

And the dual role stuff was talked about by Nicholson, Lowe and PC during the pressers when he was announced.
- Iggysbff

1) the Oilers were well into the interview process with McLellan before PC was brought on. And you mention Bob Nicholson getting rid of Mact but that was not the plan. They originally only offered him the President role and it was Lowe that went to Nicholson and suggested it. Mact was to stay as GM until PC said he'd only come on in a dual role. Mact was already deep in talks with Todd at that point. PC came in and finalized it. I like TM and hope for better things to come..
- Iggysbff

This, so yes, you are replying to the right part. But the bold is of interest. I don't remember reading this detail at all.

As I've said Rev; I don't have Mact love. He made some bad moves. If any of you recall I said they were bad when he made them while most on here praised him. When he signed Nikitin I said it was awful. When we signed Ference I said it was awful. Yet most on here said they were legit top 4 veterans on playoff teams and would be great for our young guys and would automatically be our best dmen.

I just choose to look at things more objectively not emotionally like most on here with the flip flopping. Mact did good and bad. Just like any GM. And he wasn't able to finish what he started.
- Iggysbff

I think it's too early to judge Chia

This, so yes, you are replying to the right part. But the bold is of interest. I don't remember reading this detail at all.
- McSavioursPupil

Nicholson said the day PC was fired by Boston Lowe went to Nicholsons office and suggested they talk to him for the president role. There was no original intent to hire him as GM. It was only after PC insisted on autonomy that they went that direction.

I think it's too early to judge Chia
- ReveenV2

I agree. So far I'm not impressed but I'm not turning on him yet. He has up until about Christmas for me. Then I start to question him.

What were his bad deals? Nikitin was overpaid, but everyone here praised the fact is was only a two year stop gap deal. His health didn't hold and that made the deal very bad.

Ference was overpaid and too long.

Pouliot was a good deal.

Fayne looked good his first season, fell off a bit this year.

Boyd Gordon was good deal.

The Perron deals looked awesome.

Trading for Hendricks for a shattered Dubnyk.

Smid for Brossoit was awesome.

Gagner for Purcell was OK.

When he finally was able to do a deal for Roy it worked out pretty good. And people in the know have said it was Mact that made the deal go down for Leon to be traded to Kelowna where he could get in a good development situation.

Not all great. But not all as bad as many try to say.
- Iggysbff

Mac-T and Tambellini both pissed away opportunities to acquire d-men that would have fixed the blue line.

Remember when we almost had Ben Bishop but Mac-T/Tambellini wouldn't pony up more than a 4th liner in Ryan Jones.

What were his bad deals? Nikitin was overpaid, but everyone here praised the fact is was only a two year stop gap deal. His health didn't hold and that made the deal very bad.

Ference was overpaid and too long.

Pouliot was a good deal.

Fayne looked good his first season, fell off a bit this year.

Boyd Gordon was good deal.

The Perron deals looked awesome.

Trading for Hendricks for a shattered Dubnyk.

Smid for Brossoit was awesome.

Gagner for Purcell was OK.

When he finally was able to do a deal for Roy it worked out pretty good. And people in the know have said it was Mact that made the deal go down for Leon to be traded to Kelowna where he could get in a good development situation.

Not all great. But not all as bad as many try to say.
- Iggysbff

This is not all about his deals, but his dealings...

BOLD MOVES!!!

Norris Schultz...

Hardlining Petry, whom I believe could have been kept at a reasonable price/term, until the decidedly onesided opinion of other Dmen.

I think he didn't handle Dubnyk overly well. The talent was there. Though I think he salvaged that fail with Hendricks.

Holding onto Leon for too long during the season.

Broissoit is not there yet so I don't call it awesome until it actually is.

Perron was a good deal.

Like I said, he was basically middling in overall grading, and I am not a MacT hater at all. I actually hope that he is learning with PC and making good connections in the league to suit himself well in the future.