Here's the thing. If Cam Talbot went down to injury for any length of time, what do you think would happen. They have no other option but to play the Monster, Broissoit is sucking in the AHL this year and Edmonton has no decent goalie prospects in the farm system. For me, Talbot is the corner stone in Oil town. No Talbot, no playoffs for Edmonton.
- Flamin_Irishmin

I dont dissagree. Hes a stud, but that depth needs work. Signing the Monster was borderline retarded.

How many fanbases can say they have had comparable players to Gretzky and mcdavid ? Even messier ...

The oilers have been awful for the last ten years so yeah recently they have had it worse than most fanbases and been bombarded with first overall and lotto draft beaking ...but as a franchise they have had it better than most in the league long term

The oilers franchise may have deserved some positives ...but I don't buy that they deserved mcdavid ...jets fans had their best teams ever go head to head against the Gretzky era, then had their team moved to a (frank)ing desert ...Canucks fans have never won a cup and have had game 7 heart break in the finals twice ...Sabres fans have never won a cup and lost in the finals from the worst non call ever.

Those fan bases have had it much tougher than the oilers
- Redmile247

Who said anything about deserving McDavid? We won a flukey lottery

I get what your saying .. and in your case you probably do deserve him then ...I guess what some don't think about is when your team is terrible for so long you don't get to chirp much so when you finally do some go overboard

One thing I absolutely hate is the argument that fans of bad teams are dumb and don't know what good players are or how a good rebuild should go etc ....but fans of cup winning teams are (frank)ing geniuses.
- Redmile247

I chirp every year, all year, no matter where we are in the standings, so im exempt from this bullpoop.

Missed the game. Saw the highlights. Looked exciting. So we are now 8-3 against the oil in the last 11 games.
- DuranDuran

Or 0-3 this season, depending on the perspective you want to take.

Oh my.
- McSavioursPupil

Yup. Like I said on the Oilers thread...Fry is The Flames version of JB.

Yup. Like I said on the Oilers thread...Fry is The Flames version of JB.
- Larsson_fan

I disagree, only because he seems much more window licker than annoying kid.

Or 0-3 this season, depending on the perspective you want to take.
- Larsson_fan

I am of the beleif that the past is entirely arbitrary in value.

Lets discuss current matters: Early enough to say Tkachuk was a better pick than Puljujarvi?

I dont dissagree. Hes a stud, but that depth needs work. Signing the Monster was borderline retarded.
- Larsson_fan

Thing is though, that scenario is true for many teams in the whole league. Lose your starter and you are in trouble. It is not exclusive to Edm.

I am of the beleif that the past is entirely arbitrary in value.

Lets discuss current matters: Early enough to say Tkachuk was a better pick than Puljujarvi?
- fry

God no. Nobody drafts players for their rookie season, you draft players for what they can do in their primes. Ask again when they start their second contracts. Not that it matters if JP end up being the right player for Edmonton, even if Tkachuk is better.

I am of the beleif that the past is entirely arbitrary in value.

Lets discuss current matters: Early enough to say Tkachuk was a better pick than Puljujarvi?
- fry

TBH. No. Talk about it in 3 years. By then Puju has acclimated to NA life, English and NHL rink sizes.

That record is helped by the fact that the Oil finished 29th last year.

Oh wait, no it wasn't because discussing the past is arbitrary. Last year is as relevant as thirty years ago according to some on here.

Last night's game is as relevant as an early December game in 1983. No real point in discussing.
- fry

HB77 responded eloquently to this matter and although I didn't expect a direct reply addressing his point, you couldn't help yourself by leaving it alone.

So which is it... last year, 10 years, 30 years? Which arbitrary selection best serves your narrative.

Let me give you a hint... none are to flattering to the Flames.

The facts, the individual achievements and the Championships don't lie. The Oilers have been far more relevant then the Flames over the entirety of their existences.

Anyway you look at it... you lose.

Thing is though, that scenario is true for many teams in the whole league. Lose your starter and you are in trouble. It is not exclusive to Edm.
- McSavioursPupil

No but the Monster signing was dumb. Hes a bad goalie, provides zero upside. There are probably 28 or 29 superior #2's in this league.

HB77 responded eloquently to this matter and although I didn't expect a direct reply addressing his point, you couldn't help yourself by leaving it alone.

So which is it... last year, 10 years, 30 years? Which arbitrary selection best serves your narrative.

Let me give you a hint... none are to flattering to the Flames.

The facts, the individual achievements and the Championships don't lie. The Oilers have been far more relevant then the Flames over the entirety of their existences.

Anyway you look at it... you lose.
- OilDerek

Solid post, Bubba.

No but the Monster signing was dumb. Hes a bad goalie, provides zero upside. There are probably 28 or 29 superior #2's in this league.
- Larsson_fan

No argument on the signing except that he is playing below his established level. Win 1 more game. Just 2 points and there is a slight bit more separation. Doesn't excuse his suck, but it is a game of minor details.

God no. Nobody drafts players for their rookie season, you draft players for what they can do in their primes. Ask again when they start their second contracts. Not that it matters if JP end up being the right player for Edmonton, even if Tkachuk is better.
- Larsson_fan

But by then their first contracts will be as relevant as five Stanley Cups.

HB77 responded eloquently to this matter and although I didn't expect a direct reply addressing his point, you couldn't help yourself by leaving it alone.

So which is it... last year, 10 years, 30 years? Which arbitrary selection best serves your narrative.

Let me give you a hint... none are to flattering to the Flames.

The facts, the individual achievements and the Championships don't lie. The Oilers have been far more relevant then the Flames over the entirety of their existences.

Anyway you look at it... you lose.
- OilDerek

If we stay in the most recent 365 days we have you guys finishing second last and blowing the pick on a Finnish kid that should have slid further down the draft.

TBH. No. Talk about it in 3 years. By then Puju has acclimated to NA life, English and NHL rink sizes.
- McSavioursPupil

This is fair. Yaku-- Puljujarvi just needs to learn the language and acclimate a little more and he'll be NHL ready.

But by then their first contracts will be as relevant as five Stanley Cups.

- fry

I would say so. Completely irrelevant. i cant speak for the Flames but the Oilers goal is to win the stanley cup. If that happens with JP playing a role will it really matter if Tkuchuk has more points in a 20 year career?

Honestly all I care about is winning Championships. That isnt happening for either team this year so the only way the debate matters is if the Oilers miss the Playoffs and the Flames make it in partially due to to Tkachuks contributions. There is about as much chance of this happening as the feces in your skull being replaced with funtioning brain matter.

This is fair. Yaku-- Puljujarvi just needs to learn the language and acclimate a little more and he'll be NHL ready.
- fry

So...you think JP is a complete and total bust pick based on his 18 yr old season?

Tkachuck is just a modern day Warren Young.

This is fair. Yaku-- Puljujarvi just needs to learn the language and acclimate a little more and he'll be NHL ready.
- fry

Tkachuk was a great pick for us but most had him pegged as a beneficiary of great linemates in Junior. How well is Christian Dvorak doing this year?

As for Jesse Pulijujarvi, you can't judge him to be a bad pick until he has had some time. One could argue that Sam Bennett is a bust by that logic.

If you want to slam the Oilers for anything it should be for keeping him around for as long as they did.

I would say so. Completely irrelevant. i cant speak for the Flames but the Oilers goal is to win the stanley cup. If that happens with JP playing a role will it really matter if Tkuchuk has more points in a 20 year career?

Honestly all I care about is winning Championships. That isnt happening for either team this year so the only way the debate matters is if the Oilers miss the Playoffs and the Flames make it in partially due to to Tkachuks contributions. There is about as much chance of this happening as the feces in your skull being replaced with funtioning brain matter.
- Larsson_fan

If only my feces could "funtion" like brain matter does.

Tkachuk was a great pick for us but most had him pegged as a beneficiary of great linemates in Junior. How well is Christian Dvorak doing this year?

As for Jesse Pulijujarvi, you can't judge him to be a bad pick until he has had some time. One could argue that Sam Bennett is a bust by that logic.

If you want to slam the Oilers for anything it should be for keeping him around for as long as they did.
- Misterbator

Solid post from of the few (7 to be exact) quality Flames posters with something other than poop for brains.

If only my feces could "funtion" like brain matter does.
- fry

It recognizes spelling errors, you have some hope.congrats.

So...you think JP is a complete and total bust pick based on his 18 yr old season?

Tkachuck is just a modern day Warren Young.
- Larsson_fan

Never said he was a total bust. I just think he's a Finnish Lawson Crouse. Not top five material.

I am of the beleif that the past is entirely arbitrary in value.

Lets discuss current matters: Early enough to say Tkachuk was a better pick than Puljujarvi?
- fry

This is dumb. It is WAY too early to discuss this- Tkachuk is having a monster of a year and is already one of our best players, but to say he's already a better pick than Puuj is stupid. In a few years we can discuss this. Still sour over last night.Suck my Richard Oilers