Just got an email that I have to be in Phoenix for Thursday morning..... Flight leaves tomorrow at 7:20pm. Damn it.

The Blue Jackets really can't catch a break can they?

Whew. Just happy Montreal and Toronto lost. Great to see for the Oilers. They just keep getting more and more in there lol

So now that edm will get nail i heard hemsky is avail...

The Blue Jackets really can't catch a break can they?
- schiefer466

They don't really help themselves either.

The Oilers get another top overall pick?! I really wish they would quit "tanking" to get all those high draft picks.

Just got an email that I have to be in Phoenix for Thursday morning..... Flight leaves tomorrow at 7:20pm. Damn it.
- kgrpitt

They sure don't give you much notice.

Just got an email that I have to be in Phoenix for Thursday morning..... Flight leaves tomorrow at 7:20pm. Damn it.
- kgrpitt

That sucks. Maybe you can swap for an earlier flight?

Oilers are doing it the proper way. Build through the draft. You get some high-end talent and you can supplement it as you go. Yakupov just adds more to the list, RNH, Hall, Eberle... their future looks

They sure don't give you much notice.
- canadianpenfan

Yeah tell me about it. One good thing is my frequent miles will get a nice boost after this trip. I am still trying to trade out with another guy I work with so with any luck I will be able to and can watch it.

That sucks. Maybe you can swap for an earlier flight?
- tangent_man

Either that or swap with a guy I work with. If I get an earlier flight I will get out of the office early AND be able to watch the game. Win win if you ask me!!

Oilers are doing it the proper way. Build through the draft. You get some high-end talent and you can supplement it as you go. Yakupov just adds more to the list, RNH, Hall, Eberle... their future looks
- ikyan

I remember Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson was mentioned in the same breath as those other three for a while. What ever happened to him?

I remember Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson was mentioned in the same breath as those other three for a while. What ever happened to him?
- BulliesPhan87

Horrible start to the season and development mismanagment. He's destined to be a top 6 winger somewhere, but the Oilers had him on a line with Eric Belanger and Ryan Jones.

I remember Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson was mentioned in the same breath as those other three for a while. What ever happened to him?
- BulliesPhan87

I remember he had a hat trick in the preseason (vs. Flames?) and he was being talked about as possibly having a better year than Nuge. Then I think he scored his first goal in game 70 or something like that.

I remember he had a hat trick in the preseason (vs. Flames?) and he was being talked about as possibly having a better year than Nuge. Then I think he scored his first goal in game 70 or something like that.
- canadianpenfan

Yeah it was a rough season for him. He'll still be a really good NHL player, it's just this season was a rough one. When he was sent to the AHL he had a really good attitude about it.

I remember he had a hat trick in the preseason (vs. Flames?) and he was being talked about as possibly having a better year than Nuge. Then I think he scored his first goal in game 70 or something like that.
- canadianpenfan

Why do the Oil struggle so badly despite their excellent draft picks, in your opinion?

Joe Thornton only had 3 goals and 7 points in his first season. And he turned out alright.

Why do the Oil struggle so badly despite their excellent draft picks, in your opinion?
- powerhouse

The youth still hasn't fully reached their level. The players that are supposed to support the youth are not very good. Their defensive core is worse than my beer league teams, they have prospects on the blueline who are developing slower than Hall and Eberle. Their goaltending is questionable. They are still attempting to recover from the horrible job Lowe did in his last few years.

Following the Smyth trade the Oilers had no identity. It wasn't truely until just before they drafted Hall that they realized they might as well blow it up and rebuild. So now they have had 3 #1 picks. They still need to build the supporting cast though. They don't have the Dupuis's, Kunitz's and Orpiks to support the stars. It will come, much like the Penguins following the drafting of Fleury, Malkin and Crosby, it didn't translate to over night success.

Why do the Oil struggle so badly despite their excellent draft picks, in your opinion?
- powerhouse

We struggled Crosby's first couple of years, they just need to mature. They will be a powerhouse in 3-4 years if they all re-up.

Yeah it was a rough season for him. He'll still be a really good NHL player, it's just this season was a rough one. When he was sent to the AHL he had a really good attitude about it.
- Ben37

There's no denying his skill.

The youth still hasn't fully reached their level. The players that are supposed to support the youth are not very good. Their defensive core is worse than my beer league teams, they have prospects on the blueline who are developing slower than Hall and Eberle. Their goaltending is questionable. They are still attempting to recover from the horrible job Lowe did in his last few years.

Following the Smyth trade the Oilers had no identity. It wasn't truely until just before they drafted Hall that they realized they might as well blow it up and rebuild. So now they have had 3 #1 picks. They still need to build the supporting cast though. They don't have the Dupuis's, Kunitz's and Orpiks to support the stars. It will come, much like the Penguins following the drafting of Fleury, Malkin and Crosby, it didn't translate to over night success.
- Ben37

Lets also forget that RNH, Hall, and Eberle simply are not Crosby or Malkin in terms of raw talent. The Pens absolutely had some luck going for them in terms of timing in getting generational talent level guys. Edmonton needs to overpay a bit and bring in some upgrades on D and in goal to help these guys mature and find their own level.

The youth still hasn't fully reached their level. The players that are supposed to support the youth are not very good. Their defensive core is worse than my beer league teams, they have prospects on the blueline who are developing slower than Hall and Eberle. Their goaltending is questionable. They are still attempting to recover from the horrible job Lowe did in his last few years.

Following the Smyth trade the Oilers had no identity. It wasn't truely until just before they drafted Hall that they realized they might as well blow it up and rebuild. So now they have had 3 #1 picks. They still need to build the supporting cast though. They don't have the Dupuis's, Kunitz's and Orpiks to support the stars. It will come, much like the Penguins following the drafting of Fleury, Malkin and Crosby, it didn't translate to over night success.
- Ben37

It will be interesting to see if they follow the "Pittsburgh Model" and acquire some of those older role players to show the young talent the next level. Patrick and Shero did a great job of bringing veterans with great work ethic in like LeClair, Recchi, Roberts, Sydor, etc... Not so much guys who will help them win now, but more to show them how to win.

Slugging down coffee and getting ready to go to work. Have tickets to the game tonight with my daughter and BF. Nice to see the young up and coming generation into hockey. Lets Go Pens!!!

Slugging down coffee and getting ready to go to work. Have tickets to the game tonight with my daughter and BF. Nice to see the young up and coming generation into hockey. Lets Go Pens!!!
- powerhouse

Awesome! Have a good time

Slugging down coffee and getting ready to go to work. Have tickets to the game tonight with my daughter and BF. Nice to see the young up and coming generation into hockey. Lets Go Pens!!!
- powerhouse

If anyone isn't a hockey fan yet, this series should get them there. Regardless of the outcome, I just want to see an epic first round. No cheap stuff, hit a hard fought series. Should be exciting.