Also I'm curios to see if Myers has a bounce back year next year. Based on this year I wouldn't give up yak for Myers. He's regressed it seems. I know this year was injury but last year as well he went down in points and +/-. Im open to other stats though to point his worth lately for a 1st overall pick aside from size. I'm not a close minded person so someone enlighten me please (no sarcasm intended in this post).

Nah he's smaller. Plays a more physical type game and his style hasn't really translated well yet. Nothing saying he couldn't still potentially be a 2nd liner. We have enough project players already though.

My issue with the trade is that Schenn doesn't do enough for us defensively and the 5th overall will likely be nowhere near what Yakupov is. Its well known this draft is dman heavy and forward depth is lacking. Another thing, despite the hubub around our offence, the Oil were still in the bottom half of the league in GF last year. Having a bevy of highly talented forwards around is not a problem in my eyes.

As I've said a number of times, the pick won't be moved out unless it's a stupid overpayment.
- GuyLaDouche

The voice of reason

I think Oilers have been drafting the same type of player over and over. Clouts asked the question do we trade Hall? IMO you need to draft different types of players. You will have an all offensive team with no D or goaltending.The problem you are running into is now, you want to move players you have drafted @#1 pick over the last 4 years.You need some power forwards ,top D QBs and stay at home and develop some goaltending.

Just looking at the AHL brackets, and if they win their respective series the Barons and Marlies could wind up facing each other in the conference finals. Considering the nature of both fanbases, could they wind up talking junk to each other about it?

I IMPLORE us all not to have this happen!

I think Oilers have been drafting the same type of player over and over. Clouts asked the question do we trade Hall? IMO you need to draft different types of players. You will have an all offensive team with no D or goaltending.The problem you are running into is now, you want to move players you have drafted @#1 pick over the last 4 years.You need some power forwards ,top D QBs and stay at home and develop some goaltending.
- VANTEL

The development schedule has always been a 5-6 year thing. So now, we got Hall, Nuge, Ebs and are about to draft Yakupov 1st overall plus some very decent prospects in juniors and AHL and all our draft picks. Now, say these guys play a bit more, get even better, and some of these prospects start to show some genuine NHL acumen. Do you think that the value of these guys goes up or down?

I still miss Gator sometimes.
- GuyLaDouche

He was a very useful player back in the day.

Gardner Biggs and the 5th is what'd I request. Chance of happening is 0. Schenns a pylon and we don't need Kadri. I like my deal better
- ystoil

Some Leaf fans may literally explode when they read this.

Ya want to know whats wrong with drafting the best player available year after year dumbass? You never get around to building a team! And why should any GM trade for the over-hyped rookies that still need time to develop. After all they have finished 30th, 30th and 29th. Its not like any of them will make a team a Cup contender next year. If all goes well for the Oilers, they may actually climb to the 20th-25th spot.

Your right in one aspect. All the high scoring forwards on the Oilers are great prospects. But they need more time to develop. The rest of the league will wait till they become UFA and pick them up when they can actually make a difference and contribute to a playoff caliber team.

And thats what the Oilers are without a rebuilding plan. A development team for the rest of the league. But thats what happens when your team picks 1st overall every year and doesnt actually have a rebuilding plan.

OH BTW: Trolls are misunderstood, your just a moron. But hey, dont feel bad. The world needs TMZ reporters too.


- Deisty

Wow - they have these douchebags in Atlanta, too! I didn't know they had hockey fans, let alone blog trolls!
That being said, we have Thrashers fans showing up to talk smack about how much our team sucks. Does that make anyone else's head want to explode?

I think Oilers have been drafting the same type of player over and over. Clouts asked the question do we trade Hall? IMO you need to draft different types of players. You will have an all offensive team with no D or goaltending.The problem you are running into is now, you want to move players you have drafted @#1 pick over the last 4 years.You need some power forwards ,top D QBs and stay at home and develop some goaltending.
- VANTEL

You think Hall and RNH are the same type of player?

These are morons, I'm a troll. See the difference Maxie?
- Deisty

Actually, trolls are morons. But not all morons are trolls.

Some Leaf fans may literally explode when they read this.
- robin_steele264

Good then no more leaf fans. Win win.

Just looking at the AHL brackets, and if they win their respective series the Barons and Marlies could wind up facing each other in the conference finals. Considering the nature of both fanbases, could they wind up talking junk to each other about it?

I IMPLORE us all not to have this happen!
- GuyLaDouche

It would be a total poop show.

Wow - they have these douchebags in Atlanta, too! I didn't know they had hockey fans, let alone blog trolls!
That being said, we have Thrashers fans showing up to talk smack about how much our team sucks. Does that make anyone else's head want to explode?
- thefullnelson

Deisty has listed himself as a BJs fan too. not sure what team he actually roots for. Doesn't really matter. He's not very bright so I generally just let him spout his silly things and ignore him, kind of how I would ignore a downie eating rocks and drooling on themselves.

The development schedule has always been a 5-6 year thing. So now, we got Hall, Nuge, Ebs and are about to draft Yakupov 1st overall plus some very decent prospects in juniors and AHL and all our draft picks. Now, say these guys play a bit more, get even better, and some of these prospects start to show some genuine NHL acumen. Do you think that the value of these guys goes up or down?
- GuyLaDouche

Do their value go up or down? To who the Oilers or the teams they trade them to.

What I was trying to say in my post is Oilers keep drafting Gretzky and Kurri over and over again but hey haven't drafted the Semenko to make the room for them to play.Poor analogy but you get the point.

I think the big question has been asked by Clouts when he said do we move Hall. How many times has Gagner name come up in trade talks?Oilers need to stop drafting the top 6 players and go after the best D now and pick up a second round goalie.

You think Hall and RNH are the same type of player?
- robin_steele264

Top 6 forwards that are not real power forwards. is what I am saying .I know one is the playmaker and one the sniper. You are hiring another sniper this year and no addressing the D issue.

Do their value go up or Down? To who the Oilers or the teams they trade them to.

What I was trying to say in my post is Oilers keep drafting Gretzky and Kurri over and over again but hey haven't drafted the Semenko to make the room for them to play.Poor analogy but you get the point.

I think the big question has been asked by Clouts when he said do we move Hall. How many times has Gagner name come up in trade talks?Oilers need to stop drafting the top 6 players and go after the best D now and pick up a second round goalie.
- VANTEL

Yeah they have been doing that actually... but You dont pass on a Gretzky to take Semenko with the 1st overall pick.

Top 6 forwards that are not real power forwards. is what I am saying .I know one is the playmaker and one the sniper. You are hiring another sniper this year and no addressing the D issue.
- VANTEL

I think Hall plays very much like a power forward.

RNH is the centerman the team has been missing for years.

This year they'll take another forward with superstar potential because you dont pass on an oppertunity like that.

Also I'm curios to see if Myers has a bounce back year next year. Based on this year I wouldn't give up yak for Myers. He's regressed it seems. I know this year was injury but last year as well he went down in points and +/-. Im open to other stats though to point his worth lately for a 1st overall pick aside from size. I'm not a close minded person so someone enlighten me please (no sarcasm intended in this post).
- ystoil

I think part of the problem in reading Myers stats is like you said injuries but also you have to understand what the sabres organization is trying to do with him. Throughout the year they have basically tried to make Myers a meaner/dirtier defenseman Chris Pronger style and I think that has taken away from his offensive edge.

Also its not just the injury that slowed him down but when you take a look at the lack of talent that was around him (due to other injuries to other players or just poor management) Myers didn't have much to work with. Post All star break he really turned it on offensively and defensively.

I guess what Im trying to say is he's not Dion Phaneuf here. Everyone knows he's got the skill, its just that lack of talent around him and the pressure from up top and fans to become a dirtier and more productive player can be a bit much for a player. He's 22 though so he's got a bit of time before you can really judge how good he is or not

Yeah they have been doing that actually... but You dont pass on a Gretzky to take Semenko with the 1st overall pick.
- robin_steele264

I know . As I said poor analogy ,because hall is not Kurri and RNH is not Gretzky.The game has changed over the years so Semenko would never be 1 st line but a Hartnell or Corey Perrywould be.

Do their value go up or Down? To who the Oilers or the teams they trade them to.

What I was trying to say in my post is Oilers keep drafting Gretzky and Kurri over and over again but hey haven't drafted the Semenko to make the room for them to play.Poor analogy but you get the point.

I think the big question has been asked by Clouts when he said do we move Hall. How many times has Gagner name come up in trade talks?Oilers need to stop drafting the top 6 players and go after the best D now and pick up a second round goalie.
- VANTEL

Look closer. Dubnyk was rock solid from Jan. on. Yann Danis was voted AHL goalie of the year and Bunz was one of the best goalies in junior this year. We have some depth there believe it or not.

As for the D thing, I dont think you got my point there. As the value of these guys goes up, they'll fetch more in a trade. SO you'll have four guys, Hall, Ebs, Nuge, Yak plus guys like Gagner, Paajarvi etc. that can used as trade pieces. It's kind of why they say you always take BPA at #1. It's highly unlikely that Ryan Murray will instantly make their D instantly better. Young dmen take a while to round into form. However, young forwards come into their own much faster. So, say, hpothetically, in a year or two, the Oilers let it be known they'll deal a guy like Nuge or Hall for a certain type of dman....

You do like those Avs teams did and make sure you have size with your complimentary players.
- Starbuck

Yeah... I'd love to build to the Avs model. Tell you what, we'll tell everyone Nail won't play for Edmonton so that some idiot offers us, say, Karlsson, Zibanejad, a couple #1 picks, and, oh, say 10 million dollars just to sweeten the pot. With me so far?
Then we'll wait for Montreal management/fans to finally piss Carey Price off so much that he demands a trade, and we'll offer them a ridiculuous underpayment. Say, Gagner and Pitlick for Price.
Then we'll take a year or two for our team to gel, then we'll be a dynasty for 10 years.
/end sarcasm
Can we please acknowledge that Colorado didn't "build to a model" as much as they were "handed some of the game's best players"? Ugh. Don't get me wrong - I'd LOVE to build to the Colorado model, but some of us are stuck living in the Real World.

I think Hall plays very much like a power forward.

RNH is the centerman the team has been missing for years.

This year they'll take another forward with superstar potential because you dont pass on an oppertunity like that.
- robin_steele264

I agree ,and next year when they still don't have a well rounded team and finish at the bottom you will draft next years big name forward.

I think Hall RNH Eberle are going to be a great 1 st line .Where does Yakipov fit in?

I see Schenn turning into Jason Smith V2.0
- Starbuck

Schenn is, IMO, a bottom 4 guy. The Oilers have a bevy of those on the team and in the system. A true Top 2 is what is needed.

Get a sign and trade for Weber or Suter.

5yr, $7mil per...include 1st round picks this and next year, add a prospect or bottom 6 forward.

If Suter is the trade put him with Whitney or Petry.

If Weber, put him with Smid or NSchultz.

Yeah... I'd love to build to the Avs model. Tell you what, we'll tell everyone Nail won't play for Edmonton so that some idiot offers us, say, Karlsson, Zibanejad, a couple #1 picks, and, oh, say 10 million dollars just to sweeten the pot. With me so far?
Then we'll wait for Montreal management/fans to finally piss Carey Price off so much that he demands a trade, and we'll offer them a ridiculuous underpayment. Say, Gagner and Pitlick for Price.
Then we'll take a year or two for our team to gel, then we'll be a dynasty for 10 years.
/end sarcasm
Can we please acknowledge that Colorado didn't "build to a model" as much as they were "handed some of the game's best players"? Ugh. Don't get me wrong - I'd LOVE to build to the Colorado model, but some of us are stuck living in the Real World.
- thefullnelson

spot on. building to other teams models is a fools errand.

Richard Cloutier: Nail Biter
- Maxbone

I couldn't help but notice that you didn't have Karlsson listed as one of your demands from Ottawa. I didn't see much of him in the regular season but I sure did love watching him in the Playoffs. Any particular reason you didn't mention his name as part of a potential trade?