as much as I poke fun at the oilers, they're literally a leddy and boychuk type move away from becoming a legitimate playoff team. there's tons of talent up front, good goaltending and there's just not enough on the defense yet, but they're right on the edge.
- Isles_since_6

You guys are about a leddy and a boychuck away from losing JT

If they can get a proven defender for the pick, they do it

Otherwise, drafting tkachuk is no different than drafting another young prospect defender in chycrun or sergachev. Not only is it a question mark, but it's years before they're making a huge impact.

Unlike what out screaming empty headed leaf friend ^ believes, we have young defenders we're waiting on. More of them changes nothing
- HB77

yup, and you don't draft by position with the 4th overall pick, take the best player available and then fill any holes on the team through trades or ufas if possible.

You guys are about a leddy and a boychuck away from losing JT
- Burkefection

more like a grabovski.

apparently you can't get knocked out 4 times in two years and produce.

I never use to feels.....

But I can honestly say I hate the oilers minus Mcdavid... What an incompetent organization. keep the pick, trade the pick WHO GIVES A FLYING F. KEEPING IT MEANS "ANOTHER CORE PIECE".............. WTF DOES THAT EVEN MEAN YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DRAFTING "CORE PIECES" FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS!!!!!! HOW MANY DO YOU NEED?!?!

TRADE THE DAMN PICK! GOD KNOWS YOU'LL JUST TAKE BPA IN TKACHUCK WHEN WHAT YOU NEED IS A D MAN RIGHT OR LEFT SHOT WHO GIVES A F?!?!?!?!?!?! YOU NEED D LIKE A WHO*E ON A SATURDAY NIGHT. FFS......... I cant handle the stupidity of this organization anymore
- Burkefection

It's just something that keeps getting said here, never seen anything where Shattenkirk actually said that, he has just commented before playing Rangers/Bruins that he always enjoys playing out east... just like pretty much every player does when asked how does it feel to be playing near home.

Shattenkirk being UFA next year means you can negotiate an extension then not sign it until after expansion draft. While pretty much any other of these names being mentioned would be lost to expansion draft, or Klefbom would. Since you have to protect your 2 defensemen with NMC's.
- Antilles

The oilers wouldn't be trading highly valuable assets for anything less than an immediate reup/sign and trade with shattenkirk.

And selling protection/expansion etc, doesn't change that fact

They wouldn't even do it before July 1. If a deal is in place, why risk it? Wait till the first, the blues sign him and the oil pull the trigger on a deal

Dealing a top 5 pick or nurse etc for a guy that might walk in a year is a move that gets you fired
(Maybe an elite team one piece away could explain a move like that )

as much as I poke fun at the oilers, they're literally a leddy and boychuk type move away from becoming a legitimate playoff team. there's tons of talent up front, good goaltending and there's just not enough on the defense yet, but they're right on the edge.
- Isles_since_6

And dont forget the talented Reinhart we stole from you

I have no trade proposals only a question. Over at the Hawks blog I suggested if I were the Oilers despite a desperate need for Dmen I would target the Hawks' Andrew Shaw first.

IMO the Oilers need a proven winner that can teach the young talented group how to be pros both on and off the ice and Shaw would be ideal to do that. Multiple cup winner at 24 yrs old, plays a 200 foot game with grit, can play wing or center up and down the lineup, a 40+ point guy who has the resume these kids would listen to, great locker room guy.

In other words get a couple key players to change the culture. I'd add a Seabrook or Lucic type would help on that account too. Vets who have won.

And dont forget the talented Reinhart we stole from you
- oilpatch

oh don't worry, I won't let you forget that one

seriously though, I'm interested to see what moves the oilers make this summer. You'd rocket past half the conference with a couple of good defensemen.

I don't think hamonic is still available, and I'm really hoping he isn't. If the isles moved him I'd be pretty disappointed. If they move him for a draft pick that won't help them immediately(need a top line winger) I'll be pretty pissed off.

I think the oilers draft best player available at #4 and then look to make a move for a solid 2-3 rhd. If they need to package the #4 and one of their forwards to get a top pairing guy, I think it's a worthwhile deal if the player they get is under contract for several years and under 28. Get someone who will be a huge upgrade on d and who will be around for a while. shattenkirk would be nice, but without a contract extension that's too risky imo.
- Isles_since_6

My bad. I didn't mean that Harmonic was available, but rather that he was the sort of D I want the Oilers to target with the pick.

I never use to feels.....

But I can honestly say I hate the oilers minus Mcdavid... What an incompetent organization. keep the pick, trade the pick WHO GIVES A FLYING F. KEEPING IT MEANS "ANOTHER CORE PIECE".............. WTF DOES THAT EVEN MEAN YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DRAFTING "CORE PIECES" FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS!!!!!! HOW MANY DO YOU NEED?!?!

TRADE THE DAMN PICK! GOD KNOWS YOU'LL JUST TAKE BPA IN TKACHUCK WHEN WHAT YOU NEED IS A D MAN RIGHT OR LEFT SHOT WHO GIVES A F?!?!?!?!?!?! YOU NEED D LIKE A WHO*E ON A SATURDAY NIGHT. FFS......... I cant handle the stupidity of this organization anymore
- Burkefection

Lord tundering (frank) dude!
Might I suggest you go bugger yourself with a red hot poker since you seem to like yelling so much?

I never use to feels.....

But I can honestly say I hate the oilers minus Mcdavid... What an incompetent organization. keep the pick, trade the pick WHO GIVES A FLYING F. KEEPING IT MEANS "ANOTHER CORE PIECE".............. WTF DOES THAT EVEN MEAN YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DRAFTING "CORE PIECES" FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS!!!!!! HOW MANY DO YOU NEED?!?!

TRADE THE DAMN PICK! GOD KNOWS YOU'LL JUST TAKE BPA IN TKACHUCK WHEN WHAT YOU NEED IS A D MAN RIGHT OR LEFT SHOT WHO GIVES A F?!?!?!?!?!?! YOU NEED D LIKE A WHO*E ON A SATURDAY NIGHT. FFS......... I cant handle the stupidity of this organization anymore
- Burkefection

tell me, who on the oilers hurt you. Was it Hall, what did he do to you?

tell me, who on the oilers hurt you. Was it Hall, what did he do to you?
- DDM-Coga

Totally was Hall. Touched his mustn't touch most like.
Then he killed his dog.

I have no trade proposals only a question. Over at the Hawks blog I suggested if I were the Oilers despite a desperate need for Dmen I would target the Hawks' Andrew Shaw first.

IMO the Oilers need a proven winner that can teach the young talented group how to be pros both on and off the ice and Shaw would be ideal to do that. Multiple cup winner at 24 yrs old, plays a 200 foot game with grit, can play wing or center up and down the lineup, a 40+ point guy who has the resume these kids would listen to, great locker room guy.

In other words get a couple key players to change the culture. I'd add a Seabrook or Lucic type would help on that account too. Vets who have won.
- Mr Ricochet

Same kinda thing they said about Ference.


I think this kind of stuff is overstated. Like sekera or Hendricks can't teach them how to be good pros cause they don't have a ring.

Love to have seabrook. But his titles are a much lesser part of that than him just being a really good defender.
Shaw could help if we put him in the right spot, but we certainly need a top 4 defender (with a winning pedigree or not) more than shaw

Does shaw win a cup if he doesn't play with Keith, toews, Kane, hossa, seabrook, hjslmarsson etc etc etc?

These guys need the pieces to help them win some games and gain that confidence that comes with winning. Shaw can't give them those wins. But maybe trouba or vatanen could...

Totally was Hall. Touched his mustn't touch most like.
Then he killed his dog.
- Wildschwein

Totally was Hall. Touched his mustn't touch most like.
Then he killed his dog.
- Wildschwein

Hall looks like a dog (frank)er. Good Call

How did you handle being a Leaf fan for the past couple of decades.
- prismo

What do you think happened to him?

Is this you?


- DDM-Coga

I totally understand why Edmonton could, and some could argue should, keep the pick: It's a cost-controlled asset in a cap world, with an expansion draft looming. It should be a high-end prospect

But the old fan of the sport in me...it's sad. Not that Edmonton makes the pick, if they do. But it will mean the league I prefer to watch, where teams made bold moves and took risks, is dead.

Because Edmonton needs a RHD. They simply do. In the era I prefer, that pick and a prospect would be moved to get that RHD, and Edmonton would win hockey games, and people wouldn't lose their minds about who the pick turned out to be.

But that league is probably dead and gone

I totally understand why Edmonton could, and some could argue should, keep the pick: It's a cost-controlled asset in a cap world, with an expansion draft looming. It should be a high-end prospect

But the old fan of the sport in me...it's sad. Not that Edmonton makes the pick, if they do. But it will mean the league I prefer to watch, where teams made bold moves and took risks, is dead.

Because Edmonton needs a RHD. They simply do. In the era I prefer, that pick and a prospect would be moved to get that RHD, and Edmonton would win hockey games, and people wouldn't lose their minds about who the pick turned out to be.

But that league is probably dead and gone
- AllInForFlyers

I agree it is sad. Now made worse by including all non playoff teams in the draft lottery. Teams won't risk trading 1st rounders anymore. Chiarelli has always been a gutsy guy though.

Reinhart, Yak and a 2nd
- prismo

Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ.
- muffin_man

That's our equivalent of Ryder, Halak and a 2nd

That's our equivalent of Ryder, Halak and a 2nd
- prismo

Historical jokes will get you everywhere.

What's the actual proposal?

Historical jokes will get you everywhere.

What's the actual proposal?
- muffin_man

RNH, Reinhart, 1st (4th OA)

I agree it is sad. Now made worse by including all non playoff teams in the draft lottery. Teams won't risk trading 1st rounders anymore. Chiarelli has always been a gutsy guy though.
- shack67

You have to...I mean, seriously. You can't be faint of heart in this business. But with each passing year, teams and executives get more and more nervous

You are going to get fired eventually. You just are. Even Scotty Bowman got fired in this sport

I feel like you have to understand that and always balance winning now with stockpiling assets. You have to know that both are extremely important, and in this particular case with Edmonton...how do you make that pick, knowing that this team needs NHL help?

That is the difference between today and yesteryear. I mean, people laughed at Jim Rutherford at various points last season, and he was on the hot seat earlier this year when Pittsburgh was struggling

But he absolutely old-schooled that franchise, moved picks and prospects and retained salary and moved guys who didn't fit for guys who might fit better

And unless they choke, that old-schooler is gonna be lifting a Cup by the end of the weekend

RNH, Reinhart, 1st (4th OA)
- prismo

Including Reinhardt in deals is like adding a 5th.....