I dunno. Kane, Ovi, Zetterberg, Benn, Hall, Marchand are all players I would take over him in their early 20s. But he may end of HHoF.
- RafiDRW

Other than Zetterberg, who I mostly think of as a centre, those other guys still need a ways to go before they're at Kessle's level of consistent excellence.

He's pretty much been good for 30 goals a year for a decade, he's like Mike Gartner, but he played when it was much harder to score for the most part. If you haven't already, check out high Kessel is ranked on the scoring leaderboard since he came into the league. I was surprised how good he fares compared to some highly regarded players.

I think they're both doing just fine, Benning is no longer the biggest idiot in the league.....oh and Benning > Chayka
- LeftCoaster

Even though the Canucks have better results so far, the Oilers are miles ahead of them and will finish higher in the standings. The Canucks GM is still one of and arguably the worst GMs in the game. Saying Benning is better than Chiarelli is like saying the Foo Fighters are better than Foreigner. I mean, it might be true, but so what?

Not that i totally disagree with some of Chiarelli’s moves, but considering what the Oilers did last year, plus considering they are top of the league in CORSI, how has the GM and coach failed?? Or can it be attributed more to bad luck??

Yes you can. And some of it in the coach. Yak was scoring and playing well in McDavids wing and then he got injured. When he came back and they didn’t put him back on McDavids wing McLellan said” people are asking why we haven’t put Yak back on McDavids wing? Well we decided we like Jordan there better so we haven’t. And that’s that”

So they let his value deteriorate and gave him away for nothing then did the same with Ebs. Then they had to put Drai there and now he’s got a massive anchor contract he didn’t fully deserve. It all linked.
- Iggysbff

In McDavid's rookie season (a season in which Edm panicked after missing the playoffs even though they had one of the worst injury seasons in recent NHL history) he played with Yakupov for 200 mins.

Together than had almost a 53% corsi, and McDavid's possession rating was actually worse when Yakupov wasn't on the ice with him. McDavid scores about 2.8 pts per 60 for his career, and 3.61 p/60 with Yakupov.

So the idea that Yakupov was a bust who needed to be let go for nothing is down right Trumpian in its bald face spin.

The fact is, Yakupov and McDavid could have been a premier combo in the NHL and the Oilers burned it without giving it a chance .

Not that i totally disagree with some of Chiarelli’s moves, but considering what the Oilers did last year, plus considering they are top of the league in CORSI, how has the GM and coach failed?? Or can it be attributed more to bad luck??
- Shyster19

It's simply a matter of looking at the roster that life-long professional NHL experts but together vs what the roster they'd have had if they'd listen to the people who live in their mom's basements.

The difference is staggering.

Yakupov was doing pretty good with McDavid until injuries, then never got a chance after that. Put in a plugger role which totally suited his talents

is it at all possible the guy just isnt that good? they realized this and moved on? They made their assessment, time will tell if they were right or wrong.

It happens believe it or not that some players are just not good enough for the nhl or not as good as one thought.
- rinaldo

It is quite possible he was no good, in the role Edm and St Louis put him in.

James Tanner: Time for Oilers and Canadiens to Fire their General Managers (and Coaches)
It's about half past too late already, but enough is enough.
- james_tanner1

Nice troll blog , Tanner.

True in Eberle’s case. I’m satisfied with the Hall trade, though I’m definitely in the minority in that opinion.
- Wildschwein

Hall trade was garbage. Only in Oil town would some one think that was even close to ok.
Oil town wanted Eberle gone in the expansion draft for nothing.

Hall trade was garbage. Only in Oil town would some one think that was even close to ok.
Oil town wanted Eberle gone in the expansion draft for nothing.
- ifiwasgm

As for your Eberle statement.

It's simply a matter of looking at the roster that life-long professional NHL experts but together vs what the roster they'd have had if they'd listen to the people who live in their mom's basements.

The difference is staggering.
- james_tanner1

I agree they could have had a far better scoring/driving type team, say like the leafs, but the one positive I see in what they have built ( no doubts some bad contracts ) is that I believe this roster is a better Western conf playoff team than one built with Hall and Eberle. But that might just be my biased opinion from seeing them be pushed around for years.

Other than Zetterberg, who I mostly think of as a centre, those other guys still need a ways to go before they're at Kessle's level of consistent excellence.

He's pretty much been good for 30 goals a year for a decade, he's like Mike Gartner, but he played when it was much harder to score for the most part. If you haven't already, check out high Kessel is ranked on the scoring leaderboard since he came into the league. I was surprised how good he fares compared to some highly regarded players.
- james_tanner1

We are talking about what type of players you build a team around to make them a franchise player. Toronto tried this with Kessel and he will be remembered as a lumberjack. He’s a complimentary player who is very excellent. You can’t build a franchise around him.

Hall trade was garbage. Only in Oil town would some one think that was even close to ok.
Oil town wanted Eberle gone in the expansion draft for nothing.
- ifiwasgm

I cannot presume you have watched 75% of the Oilers games over the last 6-8 years like myself..... but if you have, I wonder how you did not see the glaring flaws in Taylor Halls game ( yes he drives a line and puts up good numbers ) but more often than not his weak play defensively, or hugely costly turnovers crippled the team and its spirits/drive over and over. Yes they lost the trade, but Larson makes the Team better than Hall ever did.

I cannot presume you have watched 75% of the Oilers games over the last 6-8 years like myself..... but if you have, I wonder how you did not see the glaring flaws in Taylor Halls game ( yes he drives a line and puts up good numbers ) but more often than not his weak play defensively, or hugely costly turnovers crippled the team and its spirits/drive over and over. Yes they lost the trade, but Larson makes the Team better than Hall ever did.
- Shyster19

Hall was often guilty of trying to do too much all on his own. Considering the state of the franchise during his tenure, I can't say that I blame him. He's still an elite winger though, and I miss him badly. That being said I still prefer Larsson.

We are talking about what type of players you build a team around to make them a franchise player. Toronto tried this with Kessel and he will be remembered as a lumberjack. He’s a complimentary player who is very excellent. You can’t build a franchise around him.
- RafiDRW

I don't see how you can build a franchise around a star winger without a star center. I can't think of a case where a franchise went far with only a really good winger...

Hall was often guilty of trying to do too much all on his own. Considering the state of the franchise during his tenure, I can't say that I blame him. He's still an elite winger though, and I miss him badly. That being said I still prefer Larsson.
- Wildschwein

He did the same last year. Carry the puck in at 100MPH spin a few times and lose control of it.

He's been much better this year, having a line mate like Hischier that can keep up helps tremendously.

I wouldn't dump this on McClellan (However you spell his name). Oilers GM sure but not the coach. Guaranteed oil would fire him and you'd see him behind the bench of a really competitive team in the same year. Guy needs more than two players to make a team.

I don't see how you can build a franchise around a star winger without a star center. I can't think of a case where a franchise went far with only a really good winger...
- mgriffen

Who was Val Bure's center when the Panthers went the finals?

I don't see how you can build a franchise around a star winger without a star center. I can't think of a case where a franchise went far with only a really good winger...
- mgriffen

2012 NJ Devils. Kovy and Parise. Top centers were Henrique/Zajac, not bad players but certainly not "franchise" centers.

Didn't you just last season say Bob Murray was the worst GM?

Hall was often guilty of trying to do too much all on his own. Considering the state of the franchise during his tenure, I can't say that I blame him. He's still an elite winger though, and I miss him badly. That being said I still prefer Larsson.
- Wildschwein

that is a better way of putting it and I totally agree, never disliked Hall, only that I like what Larsson brings to the team

Better than your Habs alt, Xizord.
- RafiDRW

The Frank you want ?

Nice troll blog , Tanner.
- leonkennedy

Definition of insanity is keep coming back here and expecting Tanner to write something intelligent

Even though the Canucks have better results so far, the Oilers are miles ahead of them and will finish higher in the standings. The Canucks GM is still one of and arguably the worst GMs in the game. Saying Benning is better than Chiarelli is like saying the Foo Fighters are better than Foreigner. I mean, it might be true, but so what?
- james_tanner1

I said Chayka, not Chiarelli.

Hall trade was garbage. Only in Oil town would some one think that was even close to ok.
Oil town wanted Eberle gone in the expansion draft for nothing.
- ifiwasgm

Yeah... no. Overpaid, yes, but even more so, it was a necessary trade that provided each team with what they needed from my POV. One team got its TOP #2 RH defender, another got its elite forward.

Hall trade was an okay trade (could have gotten more value but I got an indication from the Seguin video that Chia seems to have poor negotiation abilities)
Maroon trade was fantastic
Kassian trade was good
Sekera too
Lucic signing was okay; (I may be in the minority here) to me its the term that sucks
Letetsu signing was good

Ebs trade = terrible
Russell RESIGNING = terrible
Pouliot buyout = bad
Reinhart = holy poop that was terrible

Notice anything? Prior to this offseason, Chia had done more good than bad. Coming into this season, looks like there has been more bad done than good.
I'd think that Chia would learn from his mistakes in Boston (gave him a chance when it came to asset management).... looks like he hasn't learned (frank) all when it comes that part of management.