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

You're already getting RNH and 4th OA

- smellmyfinger

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
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah where would they be without the deals he made last year? People will say he mortgaged the future but that's how you take your shot.

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...
- HB77

Fair enough, you're much closer to the Oilers than I am that's for sure. I guess we disagree on how much a proven winner can bring to a club, one who contributes on the ice as well.

Like anyone else I look forward to seeing the Oilers young talent both live and on the NHL Package and to put it kindly I rarely make it through a whole game. Just so many breakdowns the game gets old fast.

But I'm one who thinks this group is closer than most think.

BLog was kinda dumb im sorry, you talk about having no prospect depth on the farm and in jr... its cus you have all of your guys under 24 playing in the nhl. you just drafted the best player to come along in who knows how long and your complaining about prospects its just crazy...


deal 2 of hall/eberle/4th/nug/nurse

for 2 of barrie/hamonic/subban/vatanen

problem sovled then whatever forwards you need to add can be done through free agency.

BLog was kinda dumb im sorry, you talk about having no prospect depth on the farm and in jr... its cus you have all of your guys under 24 playing in the nhl. you just drafted the best player to come along in who knows how long and your complaining about prospects its just crazy...


deal 2 of hall/eberle/4th/nug/nurse

for 2 of barrie/hamonic/subban/vatanen

problem sovled then whatever forwards you need to add can be done through free agency.
- mauryballstein

poop son, why hasn't anyone thought of this before or even brought it up in this thread? Problem is solved....FINALLY! Its over guys, clear direction finally has been presented

poop son, why hasn't anyone thought of this before or even brought it up in this thread? Problem is solved....FINALLY! Its over guys, clear direction finally has been presented
- DDM-Coga

By a Canuck fan nonetheless

poop son, why hasn't anyone thought of this before or even brought it up in this thread? Problem is solved....FINALLY! Its over guys, clear direction finally has been presented
- DDM-Coga

YES!

HOT TAKES!!!!! COGA FOR OFFICIAL HOCKEY BUZZ BLOGGER NAO!!!!

By a Canuck fan nonetheless
- prismo

YES!

HOT TAKES!!!!! COGA FOR OFFICIAL HOCKEY BUZZ BLOGGER NAO!!!!
- smellmyfinger

I don't have time for any more mouth breathers on this site.

Figure it out or get Hot Taked

I don't have time for any more mouth breathers on this site.

Figure it out or get Hot Taked
- DDM-Coga

I anxiously await the next episode. With the mouth breathing content around these parts, I'm sure I won't wait for long.

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 )
- HB77

That is any defenseman you deal for. Oilers are required to protect Sekera & Ference for the expansion draft. If Oilers aren't willing to trade for someone they might lose next summer, then they aren't making a trade.

That is any defenseman you deal for. Oilers are required to protect Sekera & Ference for the expansion draft. If Oilers aren't willing to trade for someone they might lose next summer, then they aren't making a trade.
- Antilles

The Ference thing was apparently not accurate

That is any defenseman you deal for. Oilers are required to protect Sekera & Ference for the expansion draft. If Oilers aren't willing to trade for someone they might lose next summer, then they aren't making a trade.
- Antilles

Oh, hello buyout option.

Oh, hello buyout option.
- MaximumBone

I'd trade him for Desharnais or Eller and a pick

I'd trade him for Desharnais or Eller and a pick
- WaterBoy

You'd give us Eller for Ference? Hell yes.

Oh, hello buyout option.
- MaximumBone

Ending the year on LTIR means he can't be bought out this summer, doesn't it?

Yeah where would they be without the deals he made last year? People will say he mortgaged the future but that's how you take your shot.
- shack67

What does that even mean, anyway -- "mortgage the future." It's a cool phrase and everything, and it's one of those things where it sounds really smart, but what the hell does it really mean?

Because I don't want to say something about a hockey team that might be someone's favorite and start a fight, I will switch sports. Let's say...baseball.

But you look at the Cubs. Or the Pirates. Or the Orioles. Even the Dodgers.

I mean, OK. Some of these teams haven't won for decades. DECADES. Now, the analogy isn't meant to be perfect, because again, I am using baseball so I don't piss someone off about hockey.

But can you imagine how absurd it sounds if someone with the Cubs says "well, yeah, you know, we have some holes, but we don't want to mortgage the future."

You haven't won for 100 years! WTF does that even mean? We've already seen the past and present where you don't win, and 10 years ago, this was the (frank)ing future! So what does that even mean?

At some point, it becomes a shell game you are playing with yourself -- you can completely delude yourself about where you are and where you are going when you constantly tell yourself that the future matters more than the present

I anxiously await the next episode. With the mouth breathing content around these parts, I'm sure I won't wait for long.


- smellmyfinger

Ending the year on LTIR means he can't be bought out this summer, doesn't it?
- Antilles

I think he just has to pass a physical.

Thats not very Canadian I'm afraid. Can we just give them a stern talking to with disapproving looks?
- Wildschwein

No.
Rocks+heads

Simmer down Leafer! No one here gives a flying (frank) what you think!
- NEONDOUBLEDION

No.
Rocks+heads
- batjester

Fine. But I'm going to apologize during the whole damn thing.

Fist female doges Oh ya and trade the pick And suck it Ruttager
- saskoil21

I can only assume you forgot Oilhorse's name. Otherwise excellent fist.

That is any defenseman you deal for. Oilers are required to protect Sekera & Ference for the expansion draft. If Oilers aren't willing to trade for someone they might lose next summer, then they aren't making a trade.
- Antilles

Absolutely untrue


Ference will be bought out or some arrangement will be sorted out


To be honest, I highly doubt this isn't addressed by the league beforehand anyway. Being forced to protect a player who's a free agent a week later ??.. The league isn't always logical, but that's silly

Ference will not need to be protected

Again, if the oilers are dealing valuable assets like the 4th or nurse, it's obviously been sorted out.
As nurse doesn't have to be protected, he's invaluable. So even forgetting that it's highly unlikely he's moved for anything, assuming he goes for a guy that could walk in a year or isn't going to be protected (and they aren't just gonna risk losing klefbom either) is a laughable contention.

And just for argument sake, let's say we cant buy out ference, then we just wouldn't deal the 4th or nurse