I'm going to laugh when Tanner predicts the Oilers miss the playoffs due to Hall trade and they finally make it.

Agree on the Panthers as everything has improved very nicely and should equate to a good season on the ice......except that awful new logo. Sorry not a fan, as the old logo had a much better look IMO

No, it does mean that. Please google the phrase 'opportunity cost.'
- James_Tanner

Sure. I'll also save the quote, "The Oilers are the answer to which team got worse over the summer," and I'll check back with you in December.

Good lord.

It really isn't becoming of a blogger to troll.

If this is your honest opinion, I feel very sorry for you. We get that you don't like the Larsson trade. Most of us believe it was an overpayment.

Hall out, Puljajarvi. Larsson, Lucic in ... Edmonton is a better team.
- Aetherial

I think the bottom-line is that Edmonton should have had a higher return for Hall which would have made them even better. It's hard not to look at the Larsson trade and not think Edmonton overpaid for a top 4 defender when they could have sweetened the pot for a top 2 defender.

Edm is defiantly worse because of the Hall trade but the Lucic signing will help them, Whether they are better remains to be seen

Was really hoping that John Jaeckel would stop in here to give his unbiased opinion.

Was really hoping that John Jaeckel would stop in here to give his unbiased opinion.
- jmatchett383

Clearly Chicago is the most improved, losing Ladd was addition by subtraction, the 2 picks they got from the Shaw trade (Alex Debrincat, and Chad Krys) are roughly 2-4 weeks away from making a serious impact in the NHL, and Soupy is far and away the best puck moving defenseman in the league.

How'd I do in his stead?

I think the bottom-line is that Edmonton should have had a higher return for Hall which would have made them even better. It's hard not to look at the Larsson trade and not think Edmonton overpaid for a top 4 defender when they could have sweetened the pot for a top 2 defender.
- mjones242

I really don't understand this thinking. Larsson played on the top pairing last year in NJ. He was #23 in NHL D for TOI, #17 in EV TOI and #3 for SH TOI. Sort of sounds like someone that plays in the top 2......

Yes, I understand that he is not that true #1 Dman that gets a ton of points and plays well defensively but at least he has the most important part of his job down pat.

I don't see anything that says he can't or won't be a decent #2 dman in the NHL.

Good lord.

It really isn't becoming of a blogger to troll.

If this is your honest opinion, I feel very sorry for you. We get that you don't like the Larsson trade. Most of us believe it was an overpayment.

Hall out, Puljajarvi. Larsson, Lucic in ... Edmonton is a better team.
- Aetherial

Agreed. I am not convinced Edmonton is better but Larssen gives them Defense so they should be a lot better in that area than since Pronger. I just dont feel like Lucic is a good Hall replacement. They are two different types of players.

I really don't understand this thinking. Larsson played on the top pairing last year in NJ. He was #23 in NHL D for TOI, #17 in EV TOI and #3 for SH TOI. Sort of sounds like someone that plays in the top 2......

Yes, I understand that he is not that true #1 Dman that gets a ton of points and plays well defensively but at least he has the most important part of his job down pat.

I don't see anything that says he can't or won't be a decent #2 dman in the NHL.
- EastCoastOiler

2nd pairing, not #2... and the Oil are still missing "that guy"... Should have offered more for PK i guess.

Agreed. I am not convinced Edmonton is better but Larssen gives them Defense so they should be a lot better in that area than since Pronger. I just dont feel like Lucic is a good Hall replacement. They are two different types of players.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

You actually put Larrson on equal footing as Pronger?

You actually put Larrson on equal footing as Pronger?
- geta02it

Where did I say that? All I said was that they havent had a actual top pair Dman since Pronger. Larrsen is a top pair Dman but he is not elite.

2nd pairing, not #2... and the Oil are still missing "that guy"... Should have offered more for PK i guess.
- geta02it

The guy played on the 1st pairing last year and was #2 to Greene.
Played 1st pairing minutes.
But for the Oilers and some of the posters he's a 2nd pairing Dman?!?!

Hmmm.......

Usually it's the opposite for the Oilers, we acquire 3rd pairing Dmen and expect them to play 1st pairing minutes. Now we have a guy that has and can play 1st pairing minutes and we say he is a 2nd pairing Dman.

Very interesting.....

I'm going to laugh when Tanner predicts the Oilers miss the playoffs due to Hall trade and they finally make it.
- NugentHallberle

He essentially has. He said they got worse so you don't have to extrapolate that too far to mean he thinks they will finish at the bottom of the league or at least near the top of lottery contention.

He is dead wrong. Now is the time to predict the Oilers will make the playoffs. They finally have the makings of a complete team.

Even if Hall stays healthy, which is a big IF, does he make NJ a cup threat down the road? No. He'll make the team more exciting to watch and put butts in the seats. They still have holes up and down the lineup except for in goal. On the other hand, does Larsson make the Oilers a cup threat down the road? Very possibly. They still need to shore up that D but they just came an awful long way with one simple move.

He essentially has. He said they got worse so you don't have to extrapolate that too far to mean he thinks they will finish at the bottom of the league or at least near the top of lottery contention.

He is dead wrong. Now is the time to predict the Oilers will make the playoffs. They finally have the makings of a complete team.

Even if Hall stays healthy, which is a big IF, does he make NJ a cup threat down the road? No. He'll make the team more exciting to watch and put butts in the seats. They still have holes up and down the lineup except for in goal. On the other hand, does Larsson make the Oilers a cup threat down the road? Very possibly. They still need to shore up that D but they just came an awful long way with one simple move.
- fattyboubatty

Why not? Hall is something Larrsen isn't. Elite. NJ could be a scary team next season. NJ was dead last in GF and top 10 for GA so defensively they are solid especially with Schnieder at G. Now they have an elite winger

Hall - Zajac - Palmeri
Cammalleri - Henrique - ?

Is a pretty good top 6. If Bennet, Smith-Pelly or Gionta can have a break out season that is a solid top 6. They will be battling for a wildcard spot for sure. Still some guys like Hudler and Versteeg who can play RW as well in FA pool

The guy played on the 1st pairing last year and was #2 to Greene.
Played 1st pairing minutes.
But for the Oilers and some of the posters he's a 2nd pairing Dman?!?!

Hmmm.......

Usually it's the opposite for the Oilers, we acquire 3rd pairing Dmen and expect them to play 1st pairing minutes. Now we have a guy that has and can play 1st pairing minutes and we say he is a 2nd pairing Dman.

Very interesting.....
- EastCoastOiler

Ericsson played on the top pair for the Wings and he sure as hell is not a top pair guy. Just because a team uses a guy in a certain way (mainly because they have nobody else better to play at that spot) doesn't make them a true top guy. Larsson is a top 4 guy at this point not top pair even if he used that way.

A perfect spot for a guy like Larsson would be behind a Keith and Seabrook type of thing where he isn't expected to be a top guy. Like Kronwall did for many years behind Lidstrom...Kronwall is not a #1 guy but he has to be because the Wings don't have a true #1 guy.

Florida
Buffalo
Calgary (elliott)

Ericsson played on the top pair for the Wings and he sure as hell is not a top pair guy. Just because a team uses a guy in a certain way (mainly because they have nobody else better to play at that spot) doesn't make them a true top guy. Larsson is a top 4 guy at this point not top pair even if he used that way.

A perfect spot for a guy like Larsson would be behind a Keith and Seabrook type of thing where he isn't expected to be a top guy. Like Kronwall did for many years behind Lidstrom...Kronwall is not a #1 guy but he has to be because the Wings don't have a true #1 guy.
- dcz28

Though they may have both played in the top pairing they are 2 totally different players and you can see by usage who was counted on as a top pairing Dman and play the tough minutes. Big difference between the 2.

Larsson Ericsson
TOI/GP 22:30 18:32
(NHL D rank) #45 #134

TOI 1845:47 1315:57
(NHL D rank) #23 #114

EV TOI 1557:34 1122:21
(NHL D rank) #17 #116

SH TOI 274:20 186:04
(NHL D rank) #3 #36

I am not saying Larsson is or will be a true #1 Dman, really how many of them are in the league? but last year he showed he has no problem playing top line minutes and could be a decent #2 going forward.

Though they may have both played in the top pairing they are 2 totally different players and you can see by usage who was counted on as a top pairing Dman and play the tough minutes. Big difference between the 2.

Larsson Ericsson
TOI/GP 22:30 18:32
(NHL D rank) #45 #134

TOI 1845:47 1315:57
(NHL D rank) #23 #114

EV TOI 1557:34 1122:21
(NHL D rank) #17 #116

SH TOI 274:20 186:04
(NHL D rank) #3 #36

I am not saying Larsson is or will be a true #1 Dman, really how many of them are in the league? but last year he showed he has no problem playing top line minutes and could be a decent #2 going forward.
- EastCoastOiler

People are really under-rating Larsson. As much as I want to get on board with all of the love for this trade, I think it's only a small-to-moderate win for NJ. Not the steal of the century some are making it out to be. Larsson was NJ's best defenseman last season on a team that is still elite at shot-suppression. Larsson handled all of the tough minutes and the coaching staff didn't trust anyone besides that first pairing to handle anything difficult. They got crushed in possession because the forwards were horrible and they had the roughest deployment of any pairing in the league. He's not going to do much offensively but he'll be a rock for Edmonton.

If you want to learn to appreciate Larsson, watch him play the forward entering the zone. He'll separate the forward from the puck like clockwork, especially if it's a dump in. He's not giving crushing hits, he's just great at winning position and making the right read to his partner. He sometimes has trouble with big fast forwards and they'll beat him wide, but he's improved his skating somewhat, so it's not as much of an issue as it used to be. Overall I think NJ got worse for this trade and Edmonton got better. Edmonton can replace Hall, NJ can't replace Larsson.

I'm going to laugh when Tanner predicts the Oilers miss the playoffs due to Hall trade and they finally make it.
- NugentHallberle

Oh they will still make it. They'll be a contender. Their team is pretty good. But they lost the best player that any team lost this summer. Hall is a machine and trading him was insane.

Sure. I'll also save the quote, "The Oilers are the answer to which team got worse over the summer," and I'll check back with you in December.
- hockey_talk079

Don't bother, I still predict they'll win the west and be a dominant team.

Why not? Hall is something Larrsen isn't. Elite. NJ could be a scary team next season. NJ was dead last in GF and top 10 for GA so defensively they are solid especially with Schnieder at G. Now they have an elite winger

Hall - Zajac - Palmeri
Cammalleri - Henrique - ?

Is a pretty good top 6. If Bennet, Smith-Pelly or Gionta can have a break out season that is a solid top 6. They will be battling for a wildcard spot for sure. Still some guys like Hudler and Versteeg who can play RW as well in FA pool
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Don't forget about Pavel Zacha

The guy played on the 1st pairing last year and was #2 to Greene.
Played 1st pairing minutes.
But for the Oilers and some of the posters he's a 2nd pairing Dman?!?!

Hmmm.......

Usually it's the opposite for the Oilers, we acquire 3rd pairing Dmen and expect them to play 1st pairing minutes. Now we have a guy that has and can play 1st pairing minutes and we say he is a 2nd pairing Dman.

Very interesting.....
- EastCoastOiler

Just because a player is playing top pairing or top line minutes doesn't make them an actual top line player ....Matt Stajan played top line minutes for the flames a few years back so the kids didn't have to ...Matt (frank)ing Stajan ...

Just because a player is playing top pairing or top line minutes doesn't make them an actual top line player ....Matt Stajan played top line minutes for the flames a few years back so the kids didn't have to ...Matt (frank)ing Stajan ...
- Redmile247

That is why you need to evaluate those minutes and break them down as well look at zone starts too.
As someone tried to compare Ericsson playing on the top pairing D to Larsson and why they both aren't top pairing but if you break down each players minutes you can easily see that Larsson ranks up there with top pairing dmen around the league but Ericsson doesn't even come close.
I bet if you were to compare Stajan to all other forwards around the league even though you may have seen him play on the top line he probably doesn't come close to other top line forwards when you break it down.

adding a great offence while depleating an already bad d is the same thing the oilers have done for the last 10 years so to say devils improved the most is just not right florida by far