Instead of questioning RNH and his ability to take a hit, maybe we should be looking at the Oilers conditioning and medical team that can't seem to get anything right and have been quite good at signing off players to play and then seeing them come back to them within 3 games. Something is intrinsically wrong here.
- Pohl

I'm not really concerned. The kid is a boy in a man's game. He needs to add mass.

And no I don't blame the medical staff. He was able to play quite well the other games and was hitting.

Agreed. Coaches should be able to challenge scoring plays, or all goals that are called off for a defined set of reasons (ie interference, re-direction, early whistle) shouldbe subject to automatic review.

While we're talking new rules, throw in an illegal defence call for trapping teams...
- Deeps27

Kooky rule suggestion: If every member of the opposing team is in the neutral zone as the attacking team advances the puck, the attacking team cannot be called for icing, no matter where the dump-in occurs.

even more batpoop crazy rule suggestion: If every member of the opposing team is in the neutral zone as the attacking team advances the puck, the attacking team cannot be called for offsides, allowing players to get open behind defenders if they insist on trapping.

It's not unlike how dump and chase is used to evade the offside trap in soccer.

Ref thinks the play is dead
(Whistle should be blown here)................. _
......................................................................|
Ref pulls hand close to face...........................|
......................................................................|
Ref inhales.....................................................|
......................................................................| LAG
Ref puts whistle in mouth..............................|
......................................................................|
Ref blows... Whistle.......................................|
......................................................................|
Noise is made ...............................................|
(Whistle is only blown here)...................._|
- mfreedman

That's not what I meant, I meant the lag was due to the ref being blown in the corner

All you did was prove my point. Gagner, 0.61 ppg or 50 p/82g, or for Bozak, 0.55ppg, or 45 pts/82g. Are we trading any major assets for 5 points extra over an entire season, nope.
- p_zub

I hadn't realized the ppg was that close, and I totally don't recommend you trade for Gagne because you would have to wildly overpay to get him, but I still think Gagner is clearly the better player. When comparing the players numbers you have to factor in the context as well.
I realize it hasn't been all sunshine and puppy dogs in Toronto over the past few years and that Bozak doesn't have Crosby on his line, but Edmonton has quite literally been the worst team in the league in nearly every measurable way for longer than I care to think about. Take the 2009-2010 season - something stupid like 570 mangames lost to injury (google is being coy - I can't find the exact number) so you know Gagne's not playing with very good players, and so I would expect his numbers to drop, yet they are very respectable under the circumstances (68GP, 15G 26A 41 P -8) and are not a measurable dip from the season before, with "only" 200+ mangames lost to injury and a "respectable" 21st overall finish.
That being said, I've seen lots of Gagner and very little of Bozak, so I know for sure that Gagner is underrated but am not so sure about Bozak.

The rule is actually not when the whistle blows, but when the official intended the play to be stopped. There is a natural lag between when this occurs in the officials head and when the whistle goes, but the former is the rule. Tough one, but every team gets that kind of thing throughout a season.
- Deeps27

I agree. I think that this (and other plays like it) should have gone to a video review, however. But as blown calls go, this one is pretty mild. Sometimes you gotta walk into the wind, sometimes you gotta work in the rain, sometimes you gotta deal with questionable officiating.

Gagner reminds me of a young Doug Gilmour (hopefully he doesn't try tap a babysitter)
- all mighty oil

I never thought of that comparison before but I instantly like it (except the whole implication of attempting to seduce underage employees, cause that's skeezy)

All you did was prove my point. Gagner, 0.61 ppg or 50 p/82g, or for Bozak, 0.55ppg, or 45 pts/82g. Are we trading any major assets for 5 points extra over an entire season, nope.
- p_zub

Difference is Gagner is three years younger and has played three more seasons than Bozak. Not to mention that Gagner has been on the worst team in the league for lots of those seasons.

Schenn is not worth a 1st round (top 5 pick)... Mid 1st rounder yes but not top 5... Tambo should be fired if he does that trade when we can simply draft Murray... If you get a great offer for Gags or any player you take it... Same goes for Hemsky - he makes cute passes but the results remain the same
- saskoil21

you have forgot Luke Schenn was a force in junior more touted than Ryan Murray. Schenn was a fifth overall pick. i know you might not think hes worth a that pick.... but simply drafting Murray is not that simple edmonton will rip him apart it takes a while for these kids to turn into pros. look when Schenn was drafted it was Stamkos Doughty Pietrangelo Bogosian and its been this year for Pietrangelo and bogosian to come into their own. all im saying is be careful what you wish for. and schenn is one of my favorites.

PRV recalled

This is annoying. Have we made any deals yet? Nope. We called Paajarvi up. Not sure why. Let the kid play some games in the AHL on the top line. Nope, we're gonna play with Eric Baloney instead, because it's worked in the past.

The stuff this club does.

This is annoying. Have we made any deals yet? Nope. We called Paajarvi up. Not sure why. Let the kid play some games in the AHL on the top line. Nope, we're gonna play with Eric Baloney instead, because it's worked in the past.

The stuff this club does.
- Maxbone

RNH injured?

This is annoying. Have we made any deals yet? Nope. We called Paajarvi up. Not sure why. Let the kid play some games in the AHL on the top line. Nope, we're gonna play with Eric Baloney instead, because it's worked in the past.

The stuff this club does.
- Maxbone

RNH is out 7-10 days. Really should at the very least follow the Oilers twitter.

Difference is Gagner is three years younger and has played three more seasons than Bozak. Not to mention that Gagner has been on the worst team in the league for lots of those seasons.
- dragonslade

Regardless, as a GM, its foolish to part with significant assets for a player who has yet to show being capable of more than a 2nd line centre. A lot of teams have that player who can produce middling stats as a second liner.

This is annoying. Have we made any deals yet? Nope. We called Paajarvi up. Not sure why. Let the kid play some games in the AHL on the top line. Nope, we're gonna play with Eric Baloney instead, because it's worked in the past.

The stuff this club does.
- Maxbone

If we win too many of games we don't get a good draft pick, and management thinks we are on the second year of a five year plan so there's no rush to try to be good. In three years when three of the prospects we DIDN'T bundle in a trade to make the team better are cracking the roster, I will no doubt be very happy they tanked this season. Right now I'm sick to death of losing games we damn well could have won!
Any season ticket holders out there? How do you feel about management charging you full price to watch a team that could be challenging for the playoffs but is instead challenging for a lottery pick? I'd be furious, but I'm a very demanding and unreasonable consumer so I'm interested to hear what cooler heads think.

This is annoying. Have we made any deals yet? Nope. We called Paajarvi up. Not sure why. Let the kid play some games in the AHL on the top line. Nope, we're gonna play with Eric Baloney instead, because it's worked in the past.

The stuff this club does.
- Maxbone

Here's an all-day sucker for you:

-The oilers send an attractive package of picks and prospects to New Jersey (6th in the east but clearly "re-tooling" at least)
-The devils send Parise to the offense-starved Preds looking to assuage rinne and at least one of Suter/Weber
-the preds send the oil one of Suter/Weber, keeping the other and a more balanced team to boot.
-Maybe the oilers send the preds a pick for their troubles.

thoughts on this ridiculous bullpoop?

-Petry seems like he can keep up with the speed and creativity of the young kids. He passes nicer than I thought (see the tic tac toe eberle goal)

-Smyth goal should have counted, goes without saying, but of course so should the Lupul goal, so no complaining anyone.

-Hall's giveaway on the Lupul goal was brutal. fling that puck litterally ANYWHERE other than right up the middle.

-We need to get clearing the crease if the leafs are able to get a stick on so many rebounds.

-Potter looks slower than I remember...

-We should take care of our assets, but it seems like all the people who were so quick to judge that Nuge was too young and small to play in the NHL all suddenly jumped on the banwagon, and now are jumping back again. We knew there were pros and cons to playing Nuge, and if you're not prepared to say he's too small and they should give him time while he's scoring a PPG, you're not allowed to say so when he gets injured.

-If Nuge is out, I'd rather bring up Harti than claim Stewart

-Schenn isn't flashy, but he doesn't do the stupid plays that cause two of those goals and he takes the body as much as he can. If we're making a play for a guy to improve the team now and in the future, make it him!
- Morris

I jut can't imagine a deal going down for that to happen. Your big three are untouchable and there's a huge drop off after that. Picks would be the only thing, but I doubt burke is looking to weaken the team while we're on a playoff push.

Gagner reminds me of a young Doug Gilmour (hopefully he doesn't try tap a babysitter)
- all mighty oil

Whoa...let's rein those horses. Two weeks ago you guys didn't even want him on your team. Let's wait to see how the year finishes before we start making assumptions...

I jut can't imagine a deal going down for that to happen. Your big three are untouchable and there's a huge drop off after that. Picks would be the only thing, but I doubt burke is looking to weaken the team while we're on a playoff push.
- clarkysduster

I don't think it would happen before the deadline, but maybe in the off-season. I could see the leafs being interested in Paajarvi. Big Winger, good skater, younger than Kadri. Other than that, it'd be tough to pry the oilers 1st away from them but we've got three 2nds and two 3rds in the next two years, so that's something.

I don't think it would happen before the deadline, but maybe in the off-season. I could see the leafs being interested in Paajarvi. Big Winger, good skater, younger than Kadri. Other than that, it'd be tough to pry the oilers 1st away from them but we've got three 2nds and two 3rds in the next two years, so that's something.
- Morris

Arent they the same draft year?
That might work, but it would be schenn for paajarvi ++.

Arent they the same draft year?
That might work, but it would be schenn for paajarvi ++.
- clarkysduster

Before anyone flips out about the "++" it's because Paajarvi doesn't fill a need for us. (Physical top-6 winger and Physical 1c) and schenn fills a very important need on the Oilers back end.

Here's an all-day sucker for you:

-The oilers send an attractive package of picks and prospects to New Jersey (6th in the east but clearly "re-tooling" at least)
-The devils send Parise to the offense-starved Preds looking to assuage rinne and at least one of Suter/Weber
-the preds send the oil one of Suter/Weber, keeping the other and a more balanced team to boot.
-Maybe the oilers send the preds a pick for their troubles.

thoughts on this ridiculous bullpoop?
- Morris

On paper, surprisingly reasonable. Would never happen, in a million years, but I could put a tentative approval on that trade (after spending hours quibbling over which prospects/picks).

Arent they the same draft year?
That might work, but it would be schenn for paajarvi ++.
- clarkysduster

They are, but like Kadri he gets a bit of a bust stigma for silly reasons.

I agree btw that it'd probably be Paajarvi ++

On paper, surprisingly reasonable. Would never happen, in a million years, but I could put a tentative approval on that trade (after spending hours quibbling over which prospects/picks).
- thefullnelson

The big thing would be either getting a sign-and-trade situation to happen in both New Jersey and in Nashville, or to have A LOT of conditional picks based on how all the contracts shake out.

Whoa...let's rein those horses. Two weeks ago you guys didn't even want him on your team. Let's wait to see how the year finishes before we start making assumptions...
- clarkysduster

But you're making the assumption we wanted him gone. I never have and still don't. Trading him just creates another whole at 2C

should have been 3-2 after the first. just sayin.
- GuyLaDouche

dont worry the season series will be tied next week