Even if you like Larsson, which I do, you have to consider how dumb it was that multiple NHL GMs are on record as saying they had no idea Hall was available.

It's one of the worst one for one trades in NHL history, but it's made worse by the fact Chiarelli clearly didn't maximize the return he could have got.
- James_Tanner

I choose to call bs on those gm's. Or at least a massive exaggeration on the medias part

Forgetting for a second that I only read that two gms (not named) stated they didn't know, I still find it rather hard to believe.
Who in the hockey world didn't know the oilers were desperate for a defencemen?
And who in the hockey world didn't know who the oilers most valuable assets were?
This has been pretty much common knowledge since mactavish was the gm. It's literally been the most discussed topic in the oilers thread for 3-4 years! And that's just armchair outsiders knowledge.

Not only that but there's been reports hall was offered for shattenkirk , hamonic and of course Larsson. There's 3 gms right there

If there's a gm out there that didn't actually consider the oilers Might be willing to deal any of nuge, hall or eberle, I'd say he's terrible at his job. And the words 'might be willing' are putting it lightly I think.

What I actually believe happened is chiarelli got mercilessly lowballed (sounds like nuge and ebs didn't have anywhere near the market value we hoped. Same for hall if it's true that snow actually refused hall straight up for hamonic ) and he went with a guy with a great contract that he felt was better than many of the pundits did

Did chiarelli deal his best asset for a guy he coulda found at a comparable level elsewhere for much cheaper ? (Free agency etc) maayybbee.
Did he not do his due diligence before making a deal? I don't believe that for a second

Gardiner for Norris consideration?

OV the greatest goal scorer in history?

Ah man you are just doing this for the lulz today. Probably why you included 3 kicking a dead horse songs to boot.

Like I was saying the other day, it's pretty dumb to write off all criticism as being from haters. Maybe the Habs just aren't a playoff team since October ended or something like that.
- James_Tanner

Well they're going to make the playoffs.. so I guess that means they're a playoff team. But if advanced stats say otherwise then there's no arguing with that.

Well they're going to make the playoffs.. so I guess that means they're a playoff team. But if advanced stats say otherwise then there's no arguing with that.
- maxbart5

And Boston is going to win the Presidents Trophy if we are using advanced stats.

Gardiner for Norris consideration?

OV the greatest goal scorer in history?

Ah man you are just doing this for the lulz today. Probably why you included 3 kicking a dead horse songs to boot.
- FLflames34

Adjusting for Era or not, OVI is not a better Goal Scorer then Wayne or Mario (and its not close, those guys could score from anywhere!!!), I would also put Mike Bossy ahead of him.(although that much more debatable)

Well they're going to make the playoffs.. so I guess that means they're a playoff team. But if advanced stats say otherwise then there's no arguing with that.
- maxbart5

Remember this is the same James Tanner that said the Hawks were going to miss the playoffs, and stood by this prediction about 20-30 games into the season even after the Hawks had established great positioning in the standings.

Funny, I haven't read a peep from him since then regarding the Hawks. Not one word. Even as they've gone on to be arguably the leagues hottest/best team since Feb 1st. Hmmmmmmmm i wonder why....

Love it when someone continually pushed their agenda even after it has been effectively proven to be at least mostly wrong by most conventional and unconventional means and methods.

Think the Hall for Larsson trade was great for the Oilers and Chiarelli has done more good than bad for the Oiler to date. I would guess the few people that disagree with that statement are either unfamiliar with the situation or incredibly stubborn and won't/can't admit they are wrong.

Adjusting for Era or not, OVI is not a better Goal Scorer then Wayne or Mario (and its not close, those guys could score from anywhere!!!), I would also put Mike Bossy ahead of him.(although that much more debatable)
- Brianandr1

Bossy was a better goal scorer, sucks his career didnt last longer. Hull was a better goal scorer. Dino was almost as good as OV and Id slide him just above that.
I think even putting OV top 10 is a stretch. So many eras to pick from..

Love it when someone continually pushed their agenda even after it has been effectively proven to be at least mostly wrong by most conventional and unconventional means and methods.

Think the Hall for Larsson trade was great for the Oilers and Chiarelli has done more good than bad for the Oiler to date. I would guess the few people that disagree with that statement are either unfamiliar with the situation or incredibly stubborn and won't/can't admit they are wrong.
- Aerchon

Who would have guessed that trading for Kassian and Desharnais would've been as beneficial as it has been?

Like I was saying the other day, it's pretty dumb to write off all criticism as being from haters. Maybe the Habs just aren't a playoff team since October ended or something like that.
- James_Tanner

In all honesty James, you're kind of a slave to the numbers. You've used Montreal's possession stats to destroy them in the past. Now they're 3rd overall in CF, first in the Atlantic and they still suck.

I'm realistic, I know exactly what the Habs are and aren't, and I know they're not on par with the best teams in the NHL. But your analysis comes off as partisan when you pick and choose when the data matters and when it doesn't.

Remember this is the same James Tanner that said the Hawks were going to miss the playoffs, and stood by this prediction about 20-30 games into the season even after the Hawks had established great positioning in the standings.

Funny, I haven't read a peep from him since then regarding the Hawks. Not one word. Even as they've gone on to be arguably the leagues hottest/best team since Feb 1st. Hmmmmmmmm i wonder why....
- SimpleJack

That's because he posts to get hits. I can see why. At least for some.

Of course he isn't going to blather about the 'Hawks now.....save last night in S. Fla. Creating controversy, or at a minimum expounding on existing controversy is what a good columnist would do at a large publication. Too bad, eh?

if the league punished crosby for a play happening every game then it would only be because he is crosby. not only is that wrong its also stupid for the league marketing wise. hows about start calling the game correctly. sure ten-fifteen games would be a slow slog to the box of a mess but players would adjust quickly. start levying suspensions based on how many penalties a player has... you accumulate 5 slashing penaties over the season 1 game suspension. 10 penalties, another 2 games, etc. then it will be gone.

if the league punished crosby for a play happening every game then it would only be because he is crosby. not only is that wrong its also stupid for the league marketing wise. hows about start calling the game correctly. sure ten-fifteen games would be a slow slog to the box of a mess but players would adjust quickly. start levying suspensions based on how many penalties a player has... you accumulate 5 slashing penaties over the season 1 game suspension. 10 penalties, another 2 games, etc. then it will be gone.
- ChrisMS

Slashing happens, unless it is blatant and egregious it should never result in a suspension.

Slashing happens, unless it is blatant and egregious it should never result in a suspension.
- FLflames34

hits to the head, boarding, suckerpunches, slewfooting also happen but should be dealt with. slashing is a penalty and dangerous and shouldn't be part of the game. How exactly does slashing improve the game?

Slashing happens, unless it is blatant and egregious it should never result in a suspension.
- FLflames34

If they're going to start handing out suspensions for slashing (ones that have a terrible result), you have to start doing it at the beginning of the season. You can't start doing it 10 games before the seasons end......it's absurd to even suggest it.

Does Melnyk understand he signs Chris Neils paycheck?

Remember this is the same James Tanner that said the Hawks were going to miss the playoffs, and stood by this prediction about 20-30 games into the season even after the Hawks had established great positioning in the standings.

Funny, I haven't read a peep from him since then regarding the Hawks. Not one word. Even as they've gone on to be arguably the leagues hottest/best team since Feb 1st. Hmmmmmmmm i wonder why....
- SimpleJack

Yep. He loves pointing out the times when he's right, but shuts his yap when he's wrong.. Which is often the case. I haven't been following Tanner's stupidity all that long on this site and I've already seen a bunch of stuff he's been proven wrong on this season. Carlyle destroying the ducks, Torts being the worst coach in the league, the habs and Sens missing the playoffs, the Hawks missing the playoffs, the Preds being the best team in the league, etc. That's just what I got off the top of my head, I'm sure there's a ton more. Like Garth's blogs, Tanner's blogs are purely for entertainment purposes. Nobody takes him seriously as a hockey writer.

Well, it's a team game so it's not like it's all on hall that edm or jersey weren't any good

But yeah, I suppose one will explain away all the oilers fortunes this season to Connor and talbot, (which I don't agree with entirely. But there's no doubt they're the biggest factors of course)
But the devils are on pace to have significantly less points than last year with only only one major swap in the roster.
Is that coincidence ? I dunno.

I'm one of halls biggest supporters. A great player.
But I was chatting with a devils fan recently and he kinda reiterated a lot of the things I think about hall. He tends to be easy to read steamrolling into the zone alone and button hooking to allow his teammates to catch up. And then he inevitably loses possession.
He just doesn't seem to be able to utilize his teammates and make them better. He's a one man show. Maybe thats his linemates fault?
If he has space then the defence is fuked of course, but yeah, it's the NHL 2017. Not much space out there unless you're Connor mcdavid and can create space with one explosive half step.

I hated the trade so much for awhile. But I'm coming around slowly. We lost the deal in talent by a country mile. But Larsson has been a horse for us over the last couple months. Nothing extraordinary about his game, but does his defensive job hella well, Allows klefbom to take chances and have some feeedom. And He's a physical mean dirty fuker that doesn't look fun to play against at all. Integral tools to the team we are today.
I think he's been an important part of our success. And his contract is beautiful

I guess the question is ;
Are the oilers better with hall and demers than Larsson and lucic?
I think the latter for sure. Especially the way they've both been playing over the stretch run
- HB77

Hall is the only one who creates anything on the team. Absolutely insane to think he's been a bust. Bigger reasons for why the devils have taken a step back would be an improved division, schneider having an off year, and yeah the D being worse would be the third reason but that doesn't make it a mistake from our end to make that deal.

if the league punished crosby for a play happening every game then it would only be because he is crosby. not only is that wrong its also stupid for the league marketing wise. hows about start calling the game correctly. sure ten-fifteen games would be a slow slog to the box of a mess but players would adjust quickly. start levying suspensions based on how many penalties a player has... you accumulate 5 slashing penaties over the season 1 game suspension. 10 penalties, another 2 games, etc. then it will be gone.
- ChrisMS

I'd like to see existing rules called. And in two+ weeks it gets more egregious.

hits to the head, boarding, suckerpunches, slewfooting also happen but should be dealt with. slashing is a penalty and dangerous and shouldn't be part of the game. How exactly does slashing improve the game?
- ChrisMS

That is a straw man argument and unrelated. Slashes happen dozens of time a game, the goal typically is to knock the stick or lift it to gain possession. Crosby's was inadvertant.

Hits to the head is completely different. Tkachuk just served 2 games (his team losing both) and it was certainly earned. I had no complaints over it.

Boarding? Thats the biggest grey area there is. It can be extremely dirty or unfortunate, if the player turns his back.

Slewfooting sucks, but its basically tripping. Do not see how it is suspense worthy.

If you two hand hack a limb it is egregious. Otherwise, slashes happen all the time and always will. Doing an NBA style Tech Foul count for suspension wont change it.

Wrong dude its Mike Bossy not this Ovie guy.

I think the Flames have a decent broadcast team.

Giving Crosby a 5 game suspension fir that may have been the silliest suspension the NHL had ever given out. Those slashes are happening all the time every game. I agree it's a problem, but they need to just come out and say there's zero tolerance for hitting someone with your stick if they want to get rid if it.

Can anyone explain to me why you shouldn't get a penalty every time you hit someone with your stick?
- Hunkulese

Boom! I'm not just agreeing with this because I'm a Pens fan, but this is just spot on. The NHL needs to simply start calling penalties again. Punishing the act, not the result. If you keep going after the result, you're not deterring players from continuing to push the envelope.

When it comes to star players? I mean look, just about any sport gives some sort of either leniency or favoritism, but anyone who watches a lot of Pens games knows for a fact that the "star treatment" has been long gone when it comes to Sid.

I would love for someone to make a compilation video of the dangerous hits, slashes, etc... against Sid each and every game that not only go un-called, but get zero media attention.

Tanner clearly watches a very small % of Pens games.

Bossy was a better goal scorer, sucks his career didnt last longer. Hull was a better goal scorer. Dino was almost as good as OV and Id slide him just above that.
I think even putting OV top 10 is a stretch. So many eras to pick from..
- FLflames34

Almost as good?????

Almost as good?????


- DeflatedPucks

Dino waa awesome
Also Teemu was better than OV

Almost as good?????


- DeflatedPucks

Cracks me up that the guy who gets no respect is the marvelous Marcel -
550 with Kings - when LA was horrible and in Siberia and players flew commercial -
139 for the D & 42 with the Rangers - He is 5th all time and for years was 3rd and yet no one and I mean no one ever mentions him as one of the greatest goal scorers in History - .... Just Sad

Cracks me up that the guy who gets no respect is the marvelous Marcel -
550 with Kings - when LA was horrible and in Siberia and players flew commercial -
139 for the D & 42 with the Rangers - He is 5th all time and for years was 3rd and yet no one and I mean no one ever mentions him as one of the greatest goal scorers in History - .... Just Sad
- dozerD10

Agreed. I wasn't alive when he played, but always admired the old footage of him carrying a crappy team for so many years in those gorgeous mustard jerseys.

If he spent his prime somewhere other than LA he would have gotten more due.

Just goes to show how asinine Tanner's statement was. OV is great, but I don't see how he even cracks top 10 in goal scorers. Perhaps his worst lulz statement.