Why were they so interesting at the TDD? He'll end up there, Slats needs to do something big this year.
- Lahey

His team is in the Eastern Conference finals. Why exactly is something big required?

His team is in the Eastern Conference finals. Why exactly is something big required?
- mochoson

Because it's Slats.

His team is in the Eastern Conference finals. Why exactly is something big required?
- mochoson

Other than sending Torts to anger management classes, things seem good.

Well if appearances come into play, wouldn't that discount a lot of qualified coaches? I'm seriously worried - no way bucky would be an "associate" coach on any other team in the NHL and yet ther is was behind the Oil bench.....be groomed?
- reissem11

yeah i was just being facetious. But seriously seeing as though they did not renew renney, it wouldnt make sense to promote bucky to HC seeing as they would have just kept renney if they were happy with the way things were. I am thinking sutter. We should start a pool

yeah i was just being facetious. But seriously seeing as though they did not renew renney, it wouldnt make sense to promote bucky to HC seeing as they would have just kept renney if they were happy with the way things were. I am thinking sutter. We should start a pool
- ruttager17

Fair enough....just got a bad feeling in the ol' belly...I wouldn't mind Sutter, I wouldn't mind a lot of guys...including Renney...team will slowly start to progress with any decent coach...but there's a few guys out there (RE: Bucky) who could really screw things up too AND I don't exactly have a lot of confidence with the Management team - for a team, that is trying to show a new culture - they are doing doing that - but going the wrong way about it...Renney deserved to be treated better and the oilers handling of the situations was brutal....once again.

Hagelin-Richards-Gaborik
Kreider-Stepan-Callahan

He's gotta beat out Dubinsky and Anisimov for time. Not a daunting task.
- mochoson

I don't think it's as easy a task as you're making it seem. Dubinsky a year ago was a 54 point player and Anisimov netted 44. They're no slouches.

Also, for him to be anywhere close to the other rookies in scoring, he'll need to be in the top 6 pretty much out of the gates, for pretty much the entire season. He may be in the running for the calder, but he won't get as good opportunities as Huberdeau or Yakupov.

This team almost has no choice but to basically be the same...,

Horcoff and khabby are virtually untradeable.

Eager and jones are some of our only physical players, keep em.

Belanger can help this team if placed in the right situations only. Keep him.

Smyth can walk, or re-sign for cheap.

Hemsky should be dealt at some point. Just not sure when.
Id love to deal him for another need this offseason as hes got some value, but deadline or next offseason is probably better.
Drafting yaks or not, even the best rookies dont generally tear it up straight away.
Around 50 pts?
If we're talking about being a better teAm next year, this isnt more production than what hemsky is capable of.

I don't think it's as easy a task as you're making it seem. Dubinsky a year ago was a 54 point player and Anisimov netted 44. They're no slouches.

Also, for him to be anywhere close to the other rookies in scoring, he'll need to be in the top 6 pretty much out of the gates, for pretty much the entire season. He may be in the running for the calder, but he won't get as good opportunities as Huberdeau or Yakupov.
- Morris

Remains to be seen.

Dubinsky is likely moved this summer while he still has some value. The youth movement there with guys like Stepan, Hagelin, and Kreider is going to make him and his 4 mill+ price tag seem unnecessary.

He's producing quite a bit now on their fourth line playing under 8 minutes a game. If he can get in the top 9 and see some powerplay time, hes one of the favorites in my opinion.

As I said, Huberdeau is my favorite.

Its gonna be todd nelson

This team almost has no choice, but to basically be the same....

Horcoff and khabby are virtually untradeable.

Eager and jones are some of our only physical players, keep em.

Belanger can help this team if placed in the right situations only. Keep him.

Smyth can walk, or re-sign for cheap.

Hemsky should be dealt at some point. Just not sure when.
Id love to deal him for another need this offseason as hes got some value, but deadline or next offseason is probably better.
Drafting yaks or not, even the best rookies dont generally tear it up straight away.
Around 50 pts?
If we're talking about being a better teAm next year, this isnt more production than what hemsky is capable of.
- hugefemale dog77

I'd trade Belanger and sign another lower cost option as 4C. Lander starts in OKC as call up.

I'd trade Belanger and sign another lower cost option as 4C. Lander starts in OKC as call up.
- deks1

I'm fine keeping Belanger as a fourth. Someone else already said it but used right he can be very effective for PK and faceoffs. As long as the new coach decides against putting him on PP we will be fine. If Belanger can regain some of his old consistency too he could even be more effective as a third line center

It'll probably be Sutter or Crawford. I'd want McLellan or Quenneville but they're probably staying put.

No matter what lineup the Oilers ice, they are more than likely looking at another lottery pick. That is unless Hall, Ebs, and RNH, literally turn into Messier, Gretzky and Kurri. But still they'll each need to put up 100+ points to bail out the blueline and the circus that is the Oilers defensive zone play.

Also, Schenn is an immediate upgrade over anyone on the Oilers defense. Except Shultz and a healthy Whitney.
- Ben37

You wanna know why the Oilers have been a lottery team? Khabibulin. Check out our record with Dubnyk in net compared to Khabibulin. If management gets their heads out of their asses, and no longer gives Khabibulin 40+ games per season, we won't be a lotto team anymore.

I'd trade Belanger and sign another lower cost option as 4C. Lander starts in OKC as call up.
- deks1

Looking at it purely financially, it certainly isnt a bad option to save some money for a player whos gonna be relegated to the 4th most likely.

But i still think belanger can help this team. Great at faceoffs, strong defensively and a talented skater. He just seemed to have absolutely brick hands. Which i wouldnt guess as hes had some fairly adequate consistent numbers before edmonton.

Its gonna be todd nelson
- hugefemale dog77

Good...hands off Eakins.

You wanna know why the Oilers have been a lottery team? Khabibulin. Check out our record with Dubnyk in net compared to Khabibulin. If management gets their heads out of their asses, and no longer gives Khabibulin 40+ games per season, we won't be a lotto team anymore.
- laughs2907

There is no way u put that all on khabby.
Thats ridiculous.

Their are so many reasons why this team finished where it did.

In fact, Our stellar record coming out of october into nov was mainly due to khabby.
He stole about 5 games.

I agree dubs is the better option of course, but pinning that on nik is shortsighted.
Nik could be shipped and unless a bunch of things change/go right, we still could be close to the same spot next year.

There is no way u put that all on khabby.
Thats ridiculous.

Their are so many reasons why this team finished where it did.

In fact, Our stellar record coming out of october into nov was mainly due to khabby.
He stole about 5 games.

I agree dubs is the better option of course, but pinning that on nik is shortsighted.
Nik could be shipped and unless a bunch of things change/go right, we still could be close to the same spot next year.
- hugefemale dog77

Look at the numbers... Look at the numbers. You can't deny the numbers.

Dubnyk over the last 2 seasons... 32 wins, 33 losses, 11OTL

Khabibulin over the last 2 seasons... 22 wins, 52 losses, 11OTL

Huge difference.

With Khabibulin in net, the Oilers are a lottery team. With Dubnyk in net, we're very close to being a .500 team.

Bottom line... With a good goalie, and a sub-par D, we're a .500 team... With a bad goalie, and a sub-par D, we're a lottery team.

Argue all you want, you won't change my opinion on this AT ALL.

Depends what they want. Heard something about NHL experience, what does that mean? NHL HC experience or just NHL coaching experience
- Lahey

Tambo should ring up Graham James and see what he's up to.

I do believe the Oilers will be a better team next season, and your number is pretty close to correct. I'm predicting 82pts, which will be good for around 23rd place. Yakupov will win the Calder Trophy...in a walk, actually. Soft draft class + instant Top 6 role = 30g as a rookie.

There won't be anything wrong with the Oilers offense next season. If they don't/can't upgrade the D this summer, and don't get bigger and meaner, especially in the Bottom 6, the goals against total is going to be awful.
- Maxbone

Bombastic overhyped predictions about oiler players from rc?? Shocking!

Tambo should ring up Graham James and see what he's up to.
- Starbuck

If Fear of sexual assault = big numbers; im all for it!

Tambo should ring up Graham James and see what he's up to.
- Starbuck

He'd do wonders for the kids.

He'd do wonders for the kids.
- laughs2907

Him and RNH would be joined at the hip

Look at the numbers... Look at the numbers. You can't deny the numbers.

Dubnyk over the last 2 seasons... 32 wins, 33 losses, 11OTL

Khabibulin over the last 2 seasons... 22 wins, 52 losses, 11OTL

Huge difference.

With Khabibulin in net, the Oilers are a lottery team. With Dubnyk in net, we're very close to being a .500 team.
Bottom line... With a good goalie, and a sub-par D, we're a .500 team... With a bad goalie, and a sub-par D, we're a lottery team.
Argue all you want, you won't change my opinion on this AT ALL.
- laughs2907

Our dfence isnt just sub par. Its awful. Bottom few.

But k

Anyone have Ryan Smyth's email. I'd like to send him the following link showing what a true team player is all about.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=396251

Our dfence isnt just sub par. Its awful. Bottom few.

But k
- hugefemale dog77

Fair enough.

With a good goalie, and an awful D, we're a .500 team... With a bad goalie, and an awful D, we're a lottery team.

Either way, Khabibulin is sh1t and he in no way helps the Oilers become anything more than a lotto team. If they re-sign the guy to another contract, I'm going to simultaneously sh1t aannnnnnnnnd piss my pants with anger.