I'll put my 2 cents in cause I was in an airport all day yesterday reading all the non-sense going back and forth.

1. Pittsburgh would have zero interest in Sam Gagner. Zero. If you told me right now that we could trade staal for Gagne or we could keep him for another year and one more run and then lose him for nothing...I would risk losing him for nothing. We don't need a small "scoring" center. We need to tighten up the back end.

2. Pajaarvi? He wouldn't crack our roster. How does that help us now when we have guys like Pascal Dupuis that outscore both MP and SG and actually provide a physical element and strong two way play? Edmonton is not a match here.

3. Staal put up 50 points in 62 games while playing the tail end of every powerplay. Hence, why only 7 of his 50 points were powerplay points. If you watch any penguin games you will see that Malkin and Letang play almost all of the 2 minutes of each powerplay. I've often accused malkin of blood doping cause his stamina is out of this world. Staal gets maybe 20 seconds of each powerplay. Even with Sid out the entire year he was not on the #1 unit. (Malkin, Neal, Letang, Kunitz, and Sullivan played point).

4. Hey, maybe Clouts is right and Staal's value is low. Maybe I'm right and we get much more than 2 struggling young prospects. However, Darren Dreger was on Pitt radio 2 weeks ago when this whole crap erupted. He said if Staal hits the market there will be 29 teams lining up and the offers will be a "kings ransom". What does he know though, right? Do you think Dreger would consider a package surrounding Sam Gagner is a "kings ransom"? After reading your thoughts on Gagner, I think you might. Unfortunately no one else does.

I kinda hope he gets traded now so we can settle this. Make sure to write up a blog either rubbing it in to Pitt fans or eating some crow. Either way I think we all know he's not going to end up in Edmonton. Just not a match. I hope he gets moved to Carolina to play with his big brother.
- LeaderofthePAEK

Points number 2,3 and 4 make me question your sexual preference.

Points number 2,3 and 4 make me question your sexual preference.
- Starbuck

Classy.

Coming to the party a bit late but here's my take. As for Gagner first off you make a good argument in favor of him with points that many of the anti Gagner fans fail to see. Despite having very similar point totals since his rookie year, his overall game has improved and to still be waiting for a breakout year when the guy is only 22 isn't unheard of. On another note with Gagner he has something this team desperately needs, motivation and drive. Gagner competes every night which can't be said about half of our roster. If I had to choose the next Oil captain right now it would be Gagner.

As for Stall, yeah I would love to have him on our roster who wouldn't. But if somehow we did manage to sign him, unless this year we make the playoffs and have a good run, I doubt he would want to resign here. If the cost is to lose a good player who would've stayed here for 3 years to get a different good player for 1 it isn't worth it.

I think Edmonton is much better off keeping Gagner right now and focusing on acquiring a winger with size. For example, if we trade Hemsky for something and have a second line with Gagner-Yakupov. That's the type of scenario where someone like Hartikainen can be inserted. Would never call Harti a great player but with playeres like Gagner and definitely Yakupov who make people around them better it wouldn't matter.

no, stall plays against the top offensive players and is asked to shut them down.. offence is an afterthought. u can compare number without even mentioning the plus minus.
- derm10

yes cause the penguins have last change on the road... and why was crosby matched with Giroux? cause hes the best center in the game. He only played against the best players when Syd and Malkin were out... sorry bud but the penguins matched skill against skill

Classy.
- LeaderofthePAEK

You have to understand the humor that goes does in Clout's blogs.

Dont take it to heart

Points number 2,3 and 4 make me question your sexual preference.
- Starbuck

Why on earth would boston move their goalie of the future?
- LeaderofthePAEK

I forgot that Thomas is getting older and will probably retire soon but you never know, they could still pull it off.

If Dubnyk proves not to be a starting goalie, the Oilers could try to sign Harding or maybe draft Vasilevski or Subban if they get another 1st rounder or if they're still available in the 2nd round but that's a long shot

If Dubnyk proves not to be a starting goalie, the Oilers could try to sign Harding or maybe draft Vasilevski or Subban if they get another 1st rounder or if they're still available in the 2nd round but that's a long shot
- OilerFanFromBC

Oscar Dansk. Easily who I take with Edmontons second pick (unless Vasilevski is there)

Oscar Dansk. Easily who I take with Edmontons second pick (unless Vasilevski is there)
- mochoson

Dansk is another great guy. Regardless they should draft a goalie in the second round

Classy.
- LeaderofthePAEK

I'm just ribbing you.

Oscar Dansk. Easily who I take with Edmontons second pick (unless Vasilevski is there)
- mochoson

Do you take Dansk or Vasilevsky over Henrik Samuelsson?

Most scouts don't necessarily look at height so much but rather centre of gravity. Gagner is stocky he maintains a low centre of gravity, great strength in his lower body which prevents him from being outworked. At 5'11" and 195 pounds he isn't really that small. http://oilers.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8474040
- Oilogosphere

Except for the fact that he dose get knock around. ahaha
I still love him.

Do you take Dansk or Vasilevsky over Henrik Samuelsson?
- Starbuck

You take someone like Slater Koekkoek or Lukas Sutter or even Tom Wilson if they are for some reason left on the board.

I take Vasilevsky over Dansk at first. But you have to consider the whole Russian thing.

Samuelsson no. There will be better players there.

Do you take Dansk or Vasilevsky over Henrik Samuelsson?
- Starbuck

Tough call.

I watched Vasilevski play sweden in calgary. He was outstanding. Just recently I watched the USA/Sweden U-18 gold medal game online and Dansk wasn't looking that sharp in a big game.

3 QUESTIONS:

Do we need to draft another winger or another goalie for the system?
How does Bunz compare to Dansky/Vasilevski?
Will H.Samuelsson fall past the 2nd round?

Do you take Dansk or Vasilevsky over Henrik Samuelsson?
- Starbuck

Depends on how the Oilers organization feels about their goaltending situation. They have Roy and Bunz signed but maybe they feel more confident with Dansk (Or Vasilevski if available) rather than drafting another forward. Personally I would probably take the goalie assuming the Oilers draft Yakupov since both him and Samuelsson play on the right wing

I'm just ribbing you.
- Starbuck

With ribbed condoms...

Basically. I wonder what RNH would be if he were a Leaf.
- laughs2907

Calder winner, no questions asked.

The flip side of the issue has to do with the fact there is so little enthusiasm for Gagner except for this small group of Oiler apologists. There must be reasons why other teams are not knocking down doors hoping to deal for him. You have to ask yourself, why would the Oil be so anxious to give up Gagner (plus another skater) for a one year rental?

The rest of us are having difficulty following this particular strain of Northern Alberta logic. If your goal is to make Gagner the new Hemsky of the discussion boards, you are succeeding. You have effectively turned what we may have thought was a flaw in the little skaters's game into a worry that there is a gaping hole in the package of what the kid may be able to offer another team.
- spatso

Since when are fans opinions even comparable to what Oilers management are thinking?

As for knocking down doors, how the heck do you know which players other teams are trying to aquire?

As for Gagner he is very under rated amongst NHL fans. They don't seem to have any appreciation for the complete game he plays.

I for one have no interest in seeing the Oilers move Gagner + for Stahl. You have one player who plays on an over exposed team versus one that plays on a team that isn't a media darling. The hype about Stahl is staggering. He has very little offensive upside and has played his entire career on a very, very good Pittsburgh team. He is the exact type of player that moves to a situation with less surrounding talent and never matches his previous numbers.

Some GM will overpay just like they always do. Hopefully it isn't the Oilers.

Do we need to draft another winger or another goalie for the system?
How does Bunz compare to Dansky/Vasilevski?
Will H.Samuelsson fall past the 2nd round?
- kelholtz

1. Edmonton needs to get one of the big 3 goalies in this draft. No excuse not to.

2. Bunz is obviously further a long in development. But Dansk is the best goalie to come out of Sweden since Lundqvist, and Vasilevski is the best goalie to come out of Russia since, idk, Nabakov?

3. I think he does.

The reason your analogy "1 year of Staal vs 3 of Gagner" fails, is that the only way your equation works out is that Jordan Staal absolutely leaves after that one year. You are assuming whoever trades for him won't convince him to stay.
If the Leafs traded for him, I bet he'd sign an extension. Pretty well anyone who trades for Jordan Staal, he is likely to sign an extension with. Because no matter where he goes, he'll be better than the #3 center on the team.

Gagner is an Andrew Cogliano who can actually put up points. Nothing else.
Gagner is a non-factor in every game he's not scoring in.

Staal can get no points and be a dominant figure and force in any game.
- Face-offs, physicality, size, 2 way game, play on any line, play any role, proven winner with lots of playoff experience and Stanley Cup.

Who cares if Staal plays on a team with Malkin and Crosby? How much do you think he actually plays WITH them? Pittsburgh has pretty average wingers. And Staal gets the 3rd pairing of those.

You said Staal's one of the "better" 2 way players... he's probably closer to one of the best. Gagner isn't in his stratosphere. Adding in a prospect like MPS who has probably fallen more this year than any other prospect on the planet is subject to ridicule, and rightly so.

You are so far off. Staal plays with checkers in Pittsburgh, Gagner still got top line minutes. How did top line minutes work for Eberle? Gagner is overrated, his points would look even bad if not for his 3 game hot streak. And if you think Gagner is so great, why don't you keep him as a 2nd line center?

With ribbed condoms...
- laughs2907

For his pleasure

1. Edmonton needs to get one of the big 3 goalies in this draft. No excuse not to.

2. Bunz is obviously further a long in development. But Dansk is the best goalie to come out of Sweden since Lundqvist, and Vasilevski is the best goalie to come out of Russia since, idk, Nabakov?

3. I think he does.
- mochoson

one of the great things about drafting a euro goalie is he can stay in his country and develop in that professional league. you don't have to bring him over until you feel its necessary.

Anyone who says Staal is nothing more than a 50 point player clearly doesn't understand hockey.