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

As do I.
But imagine both on this team....

Shero being a greedy heffer, ruined that for us!!!!!!!!

We can only hope. Tire fire in Edmonton. I heard they were looking at trading the hot dog vendor for a frozen puck. I guess Mac had some say in it. lol

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

Maybe thats why LA won ?

The Frank you want ?
- Xizord

Did you really just type out Frank instead of (frank)?

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 .
- james_tanner1

Then why didn't chayka pick up nail then? I mean one of the best gms clearly would have taken a shot no? Would love to hear ur spin why he didn't

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

You can have great centers and franchise wingers. Ovi and Backstrom come to mind.

Tanner for new Oilers and Habs blogger.
- RafiDRW

Please no...it's already a sh**it show in the ARZ blog...

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

I don't how long ago I said that, but at one time it was probably true. I sure don't think he's very good, but he's also a lot better than what Mtl, Edm, Van and Washington currently have.

Matthew Barzel for Griffen Reinhart, Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson, Jordan Eberle for Ryan Strome. Justin Schultz for a 3rd round pick. Sam Gagner for Teddy Purcell. Nail Yakupov for a 3rd round pick now on pace to be 25 - 30 goal scorer at age 24 for Aves. In hindsight the Oilers lost every trade and downgraded there speed and skill. It's like the Oilers set them selves back 10 years and all the years of losing were for not. Besides McDavid and Dreisidl, They don't have assets to show for the futility suffered.

You can have great centers and franchise wingers. Ovi and Backstrom come to mind.
- RafiDRW

Exactly my point. Also, all players are complimentary, you need a good team. Kessel was never going to make the leafs a contender all on his own.

Who was Val Bure's center when the Panthers went the finals?
- Aaron_85

Fair enough, but that was it wasn't it? They never repeated that success

The league should fold.

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

But if the results ( measured and pushed by analytics ) is showing them to be a top team, how than can the GM who put them together, and coach who has them setting those marks, be considered absolute failures? Sure they " could " have been better/sexier on paper, but would that translate to an actual better team analytically speaking, or results wise? No way of knowing, and considering current metrics, I would say at the very least a pass? Considering where other teams that are also out of the playoffs measure up.

The league should fold.
- BINGO!

Patience Bingo, Saskatchewan will get an NHL team one day.

The league should fold.
- BINGO!

start up a rival league liek the XFL?

start up a rival league liek the XFL?
- DDM-Coga

I actually have an idea for a supplementary league that I'm going to spread around a bit.

I'll be posting the link to the article soon-ish.

I actually have an idea for a supplementary league that I'm going to spread around a bit.

I'll be posting the link to the article soon-ish.
- BINGO!

Is there some sort of competitive eating challenge as a part of it? If so have your people call my people

Aside from a few minor details, (chia has made at least a couple minor moves that were net positive) the overall theme of the blog is undeniable
Both need to be fired as of yesterday.

Can’t really speak for the habs too much, but It’s sad that the damage has likely already been done in edm. Unless both jp and Yamamoto give the oilers GREAT years during their cheap elc’s, the chances the oilers get to the elite echelon is looking rather bleak at this point.

And while Last years playoffs were great for oilers fans after such a horrid 10 year stretch, I think they also masked the flaws and gave the fan base and media alike an unrealistic view of the job chiarelli has done. Essentially giving him a lifeline that he doesn’t deserve. Talbot stood on his head and stole games on a regular basis as well as Connor and leon being all world. But somehow these translated into chia doing a great job of building the “team” in many people’s minds.

The team is deeply flawed and has no depth up front. but even worse, its now cash strapped and can’t even really afford to upgrade for a difference maker with cap and term to rescue them.

Dude pretty much burned the golden ticket he was handed

I think of the oilers running out Hall and the way he’s playing right now, on the 2nd line, and it just pisses me off to think we gave him away for 50 cents on the dollar.

Any combo of

Connor leon
Hall nuge

Or

Connor
Hall leon
Nuge

And we’re next to impossible to match up with. And this is even accepting that ebs needed to go for a cap dump/loss in value (which he didn’t just yet anyway). Furthermore, don’t sign looch and russel to those abhorrent contracts and u aren’t in that position to begin with

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

The crazy part is this is absolutely true


The argument that “well he’s a professional and In the nhl so he must know more than anyone’s who’s not” is a narrative that is littered with evidence to the contrary.

Aside from a few minor details, (chia has made at least a couple minor moves that were net positive) the overall theme of the blog is undeniable
Both need to be fired as of yesterday.

Can’t really speak for the habs too much, but It’s sad that the damage has likely already been done in edm. Unless both jp and Yamamoto give the oilers GREAT years during their cheap elc’s, the chances the oilers get to the elite echelon is looking rather bleak at this point.

And while Last years playoffs were great for oilers fans after such a horrid 10 year stretch, I think they also masked the flaws and gave the fan base and media alike an unrealistic view of the job chiarelli has done. Essentially giving him a lifeline that he doesn’t deserve. Talbot stood on his head and stole games on a regular basis as well as Connor and leon being all world. But somehow these translated into chia doing a great job of building the “team” in many people’s minds.

The team is deeply flawed and has no depth up front. but even worse, its now cash strapped and can’t even really afford to upgrade for a difference maker with cap and term to rescue them.

Dude pretty much burned the golden ticket he was handed

I think of the oilers running out Hall and the way he’s playing right now, on the 2nd line, and it just pisses me off to think we gave him away for 50 cents on the dollar.

Any combo of

Connor leon
Hall nuge

Or

Connor
Hall leon
Nuge

And we’re next to impossible to match up with
- HB77

The problems were elevated due to what Chia did this previous offseason, along with the fact that he made no strides in acquiring depth.
Trading away an elite RW for 50 cents on the dollar (sorry but to me, Strome is nothing more than a top 9 forward).
Resigning Russell to a terrible contract and expecting him to hold down a top 4 role..........................................................................................................
Buying out Pouliot....... like why? Just cause he had a down year? He has had a great individual season with Buffalo so far. He has a good mix of skill, speed, and physicality that this team would love to have, especially when it comes to depth.

As for that Hall trade, it seems more so that he did a poor job when it came to negotiating. If Shero wanted Hall no matter what, a Hall/2nd for a Larsson/1st would still give each team the man they want and the value would be closer (NJ drafted 16 ov in 2016, so keep that in mind, nobody expected them to draft 1st overall the next year; also keep in mind that the year of the picks could be interchangeably agreed upon or maybe a conditional clause could have been put in as well). Along with those lines, Larsson has been improving as each year has gone by (going back to the 2014 season).

2014: https://www.allabouttheje...larsson-new-jersey-devils
http://www.thehockeynews....g-it-around-in-new-jersey

2015: http://lastwordonsports.c...rsson-has-found-his-game/
http://www.nj.com/devils/..._has_benefitted_adam.html
http://njdab.com/articles...g-term-signing-a-success/

2016: Had a great first half, but the latter part was eh(first couple months with Edmonton were okayish)

2017: http://edmontonjournal.co...sson-keeps-getting-better
http://edmontonjournal.co...n-edmonton-oilers-defence


Regardless, I'm not trying to state that Chia should be forgiven by any means. He did some good, but it has come to a point where he has done more bad than good, with the bad being more recent. That's not good at all. Coupled with what seems to be the fact that he hasn't learned from his mistakes from the past and what seems to be poor negotiation abilities, it seems like his time with Edmonton may be coming to an end.

The crazy part is this is absolutely true


The argument that “well he’s a professional and In the nhl so he must know more than anyone’s who’s not” is a narrative that is littered with evidence to the contrary.
- HB77

Again I agree that Chiarelli has done a bad job, but not sure there is any "evidence" considering no one that lives in their moms basement has been allowed to build an NHL team until Coyotes have hired their new GM..... so I think the verdict is out for a few years

The problems were elevated due to what Chia did this previous offseason.
Trading away an elite RW for 50 cents on the dollar (sorry but to me, Strome is nothing more than a top 9 forward).
Resigning Russell to a terrible contract and expecting him to hold down a top 4 role..........................................................................................................
Buying out Pouliot....... like why? Just cause he had a down year? He has had a great individual season with Buffalo so far. He has a good mix of skill, speed, and physicality that this team would love to have, especially when it comes to depth.

As for that Hall trade, it seems more so that he did a poor job when it came to negotiating. If Shero wanted Hall no matter what, a Hall/2nd for a Larsson/1st would still give each team the man they want and the value would be closer (NJ drafted 16 ov in 2016, so keep that in mind, nobody expected them to draft 1st overall the next year). Along with those lines, Larsson has been improving as each year has gone by (going back to the 2014 season).

2014: https://www.allabouttheje...larsson-new-jersey-devils
http://www.thehockeynews....g-it-around-in-new-jersey

2015: http://lastwordonsports.c...rsson-has-found-his-game/
http://www.nj.com/devils/..._has_benefitted_adam.html
http://njdab.com/articles...g-term-signing-a-success/

2016: Had a great first half, but the latter part was eh(first couple months with Edmonton were okayish)

2017: http://edmontonjournal.co...sson-keeps-getting-better
http://edmontonjournal.co...n-edmonton-oilers-defence


Regardless, I'm not trying to state that Chia should be forgiven by any means. He did some good, but it has come to a point where he has done more bad than good, with the bad being more recent. That's not good at all. Coupled with what seems to be the fact that he hasn't learned from his mistakes from the past and what seems to be poor negotiation abilities, it seems like his time with Edmonton may be coming to an end.
- EdmHockeyMan

Agreed for the most part

As far as the hall deal, I tend to hear this alot and I think it’s too much a generalization. Yes of course we needed a solid defender. And yes Of course larsson is exactly that. He’s a good dman and is not one of the “issues” with the team.

It’s no diss intended towards him, But this narrative neglects that his game and style is fairly ordinary. Or rather that stay at home, Physical, dependable, lumbering guys with almost no offence like him are out there. In semi large quantities actually.
And just for argument sake, Even if some of his intangibles put him ahead of many (which I believe they do), the difference still doesn’t lend itself to having to pay your 2nd best player and a franchise cornerstone forward to make it up.

I like larsson and I love his nasty streak and his intangibles, but he’s a limited player. Imo, I think the whole “we needed a dman and he filled a hole” while true, is kinda more what Oiler fans tell themselves to feel better about giving up a guy who would literally be the piece along with Connor/leon/nuge, that not only makes us far better, but puts us right in the conversation for cup contender

As far as getting more added to offset, totally agree. One for one was abysmal. But regardless, U don’t trade a player like hall unless you’re adding to him to acquire a true 1 stud. Or at least one that has the offence to potentially be that

Again I agree that Chiarelli has done a bad job, but not sure there is any "evidence" considering no one that lives in their moms basement has been allowed to build an NHL team until Coyotes have hired their new GM..... so I think the verdict is out for a few years
- Shyster19

😂. Fair enough. It was just abit Of hyperbole while using what’s has become a cliche of “living in moms basement”.

It was Just meant to point that there a vast number of armchairs totally that would’ve went in a different direction and not done the damage to the organization that pc has

😂. Fair enough. It was just abit Of hyperbole while using what’s has become a cliche of “living in moms basement”.

It was Just meant to point that there a vast number of armchairs totally that would’ve went in a different direction and not done the damage to the organization that pc has
- HB77

agreed they might of taken the team in a different direction, but does that really mean a better "team"? yes I know they are sucking and yes I know there are some bad contracts, but back to an earlier post I made....... if they are 2nd in the league in Corsi and a few other metrics ( low PDO as well, meaning they have been unlucky ) that over time play out to a top team, just wondering how the Gm doesn't at least get a pass in comparison to the other 30 Gm's?

Agreed for the most part

As far as the hall deal, I tend to hear this alot and I think it’s too much a generalization. Yes of course we needed a solid defender. And yes Of course larsson is exactly that. He’s a good dman and is not one of the “issues” with the team.

It’s no diss intended towards him, But this narrative neglects that his game and style is fairly ordinary. Or rather that stay at home, Physical, dependable, lumbering guys with almost no offence like him are out there. In semi large quantities actually.
And just for argument sake, Even if some of his intangibles put him ahead of many (which I believe they do), the difference still doesn’t lend itself to having to pay your 2nd best player and a franchise cornerstone forward to make it up.

I like larsson and I love his nasty streak and his intangibles, but he’s a limited player. Imo, I think the whole “we needed a dman and he filled a hole” while true, is kinda more what Oiler fans tell themselves to feel better about giving up a guy who would literally be the piece along with Connor/leon/nuge, that not only makes us far better, but puts us right in the conversation for cup contender

As far as getting more added to offset, totally agree. One for one was abysmal. But regardless, U don’t trade a player like hall unless you’re adding to him to acquire a true 1 stud. Or at least one that has the offence to potentially be that
- HB77

totally agree with this, my only question is what could they have traded at the time not named Taylor Hall to receive a Larsson type dman? especially when he was dealing from weakness because the entire NHL knew they needed a RHD