Good problem to have though..

It's not like teams wouldn't be lining up for any of Hall/Eberle/Yakupov/RNH if we had to move one once we are closer to a cup run.

We could easily balance our team out by trading any 1 of them IMO.
- gretzky

Thats what im getting at. And its very good problem too have, but you can only have so many superstars... i guess. Trade hall for a very soild D and you are set... and thats where the kings come in....

what superstars make it to free agency?

and i never said Montreal was the top draw. i just said they haven't had much trouble drawing free agents. sorry, but Montreal is a far more desirable place to play and live than Edmonton.
- DoubleDown

One major problem with playing in Quebec is the taxes. Alberta has some of the lowest taxes on the continent for high income earners.

Badges of honour!

I think you took my comment the wrong way, I actually enjoy watching the oilers and would rather them win over most of the teams on the league. I was just suggesting that they tank and grab 2 more superstars before worrying about playoffs. Because realistically were do you see the oilers going in the playoffs with there current roster this year or next year. Ps the stars had a decent attendance rate the second half of the year and we got screwed out of the playoffs because of loser points. We definetly don't have the superstars or up and coming talent you guys have, but we do have some good you pieces and a great goalie.
- NoobasaurusRex

ok first of all, no team gets screwed out of of the playoffs cause of loser points, they miss the playoffs because they simply dont win enough games to get in. Each team is responsible for their own destiny and if they miss the playoffs they have only one thing to blame, themselves, not other teams getting "loser points"
And i disagree with tanking. Ya have to start winning at some point and moving forward, if ya tank every year ya end up with a lot of young talent but where are the vets that know how to win and can mentor the youth??? The oil havent tanked they have just sucked, didnt throw games on purpose, teams like the Habs who traded players for picks when they knew it was over could be accused of tanking. but thats on the management not the players.

I get why the Leafs are and have been so bad...poor/no drafting. Why are the Oilers such a hack-job of an organization after having such great draft positions basically every year?
- clarkysduster

ooooooooooooooooooooooooh.............. bitter, bitter,bitter.

Congrats Oilers and Oiler Fans..... Now please get into the top 8.

Thats what I'm getting at. You have all this superstar talent... on offense. On D, not so much. I think eventually there is going to be a log jam somewhere..
- Deadmau55

For now. 3 defense prospects in the AHL now, 4 more could be joining them next year. Oilers are real deep actually, but very young as well, most still in juniors or first year pros.

Goalies are fine, Roy will be AHL next year, bunz may turn pro as well. Both real decent young goalies, add to duby, who looked insane as the season ended.

It's center that seems to be the problem, as the 2 main center prospects did not do very well in the AHL, and meet expectations.

Badges of honour!
- Fan2

Thats what im getting at. And its very good problem too have, but you can only have so many superstars... i guess. Trade hall for a very soild D and you are set... and thats where the kings come in....

- Deadmau55

Doughty for Hall. Nothing less in return would interest me. We can even throw in a forward prospect or two since no winger will ever crack our top 6.

I guess you trade Gagner and maybe Paajarvi, then try Eberle at centre.

I still say Tambellini should be phoning Nashville every day this summer trying to convince Nashville to give us Weber or a signed Suter for the 1st overall. They finally get a star forward on an ELC to build around and we get the much needed D to build around. Everyone wins IMO. Plus we have a ton of forward prospects that likely just became expendable we can throw on top too.

Doughty for Hall. Nothing less in return would interest me. We can even throw in a forward prospect or two since no winger will ever crack our top 6.
- gretzky

I hate the Oilers ....... but it's over. I am rising up against my hate for everything the Oilers did to the Canucks from.... well.... 1980 to about 2000.

So all Hail the Oilers!!!

The team that is hard to hate anymore!

I mean, seriously.... ya gotta love what has been happening there.

I was somewhat ok with drafting Murray, but now we've got to go with Nail unless an elite Dman or center under 25is is offerd.

Good problem to have though..

It's not like teams wouldn't be lining up for any of Hall/Eberle/Yakupov/RNH if we had to move one once we are closer to a cup run.

We could easily balance our team out by trading any 1 of them IMO.
- gretzky

Unless you sign a goalie and sign or promote some quality D, it'll be a while before you're sniffing around a playoff spot. Not hating, just saying that a team with that back end will never make the playoffs regardless of what forwards they have.

What sort of pressure is the Oilers organization under for getting immediate results?

I hate the Oilers ....... but it's over. I am rising up against my hate for everything the Oilers did to the Canucks from.... well.... 1980 to about 2000.

So all Hail the Oilers!!!

The team that is hard to hate anymore!

I mean, seriously.... ya gotta love what has been happening there.
- Beatle_john

Well it sure is awesome on paper.

Hopefully we can translate it to some on ice success in the near future. You have no idea how hard it is to watch your team be so terrible for this long.

Unless you sign a goalie and sign or promote some quality D, it'll be a while before you're sniffing around a playoff spot. Not hating, just saying that a team with that back end will never make the playoffs regardless of what forwards they have.

What sort of pressure is the Oilers organization under for getting immediate results?
- AlexF

Who needs D or goaltending when you score 37 goals a game?



Serious note: We actually have a lot more quality D prospects than we get credit for. We really only need a solid #1 D man and we will be fine going forward. One of those players I listed is capable of bringing a #1 D in return.

Pretty far reach to go from moving one slot down in the draft, to resulting in the doom of the franchise. Don't get me wrong, it blows big time, but isn't unrecoverable.
- CBJ18

This is sort of like when we lost the Ovechkin lottery. It ended up working out pretty well. We ended up with the better player.

Doughty for Hall. Nothing less in return would interest me. We can even throw in a forward prospect or two since no winger will ever crack our top 6.
- gretzky

With the type of season he is having, im starting to think hes a tad overrated.. i would consider it.. then again I would wait till Hall matures a little bit before sending him to kings who seem to be a black hole for all offense. To be honest hall would probably be a third line grinder on the kings..

Who needs D or goaltending when you score 37 goals a game?


- gretzky

The one guy in history that might have been able to back that stat up, you traded.

Do you actually love it?
- HotSauceBlueChs

Yup. The reek of jealousy is thicker than Eks jowls

The one guy in history that might have been able to back that stat up, you traded.
- AlexF

Sold you mean.

You mad bro?
- fudgee_16

What a perfectly wasted opportunity for a meme....extremely dissapointed in you.

ok first of all, no team gets screwed out of of the playoffs cause of loser points, they miss the playoffs because they simply dont win enough games to get in. Each team is responsible for their own destiny and if they miss the playoffs they have only one thing to blame, themselves, not other teams getting "loser points"
And i disagree with tanking. Ya have to start winning at some point and moving forward, if ya tank every year ya end up with a lot of young talent but where are the vets that know how to win and can mentor the youth??? The oil havent tanked they have just sucked, didnt throw games on purpose, teams like the Habs who traded players for picks when they knew it was over could be accused of tanking. but thats on the management not the players.
- ruttager17

I wasn't saying draft 1st overall the next 2 years then instantly become cup contenders. I was saying draft McKinnon and ekblad then fill out the team with vets and plugs. Your top players would be head and shoulders above most teams by them so you guys could definitely make the playoffs. Then in 3-4 years from now(1-2 after drafting ekblad) challeng for the the cup the next 10 years. And your playoff logic is stupid, we finished withe 2 more wins than LA and the same amount as PHX who won the division and 5 more than Calgary who finished above us. Please explain what else there is to do, we would have made the playoffs based on wins.

I know I know Calgary should have got the 1st overall right?
- saskoil21

Oh....My....Gawd....!!!! 3 1st overall picks in a row!! How many Cups will this team win? Anyone see the look on Howson's face when they picked the Oilers logo?

GO OILERS GO!!!
- eekloond

None, thats the point everyone else is trying to make!

I wonder if yakupov was pumped about tje oilers getting the first instead of cbj.