THATS THE ONLY WAY



- robin_steele264

Yes, sadly.

If the Oil can't acquire one legit, consistent top 4 defense man this summer I will be calling for Tambs head all year. My biggest problem with our rebuild is even with all of the offense we are bringing in and the highly rated defensive prospects we have. When these prospects enter the NHL they will be rookies, making rookie mistakes on a nightly basis while 4-5 year vets in Hall, Nuge, Eberle, Yakupov will be tearing it up.

I'm being realistic and understanding huge blockbuster trades for defense aren't going to happen and that Suter isn't going to sign here but unless an effort is made to have at least an average defense management isn't doing their job.

Completely agree with Robin that for ST sake we have to make playoffs are be pretty damn close.
- freelancer

you guys should take a defenseman off of our hands, we've got a few to spare

Horcoff and Belanger are good at it... hopefully they pass on their skill.


Yes... thats their only skill.
- robin_steele264

They can kill penalties too.

Smyth is a joke.

That is all.
- StayTunedMTC

Yes, sadly.
- Maxbone

You are magical.

The only way Edmonton makes the playoffs in 2012/2013:

- Oilers hire Cooper or some other hot shot coach.
- Oilers sign UFA Justin Schultz, and he's everything we imagined.
- Oilers deal Ales Hemsky and the Oilers 1st round pick in 2013 for a real, legitimate, immediate Top 4 defenseman.
- Oilers sign some meat head like Konopka to be 4th line center, and sell Eric Belanger to Wal-Mart or something.
- Oilers re-sign Lennart Petrell and Ryan Smyth. Both have good seasons.
- One of Magnus Paajarvi or Teemu Hartikainen step up in a big way to play meaningful 2nd line minutes
- Oilers sign Harding to be Dubey's backup, burying Khabibulin in the minors.

Oilers roster in 2012/2013:

L1: Hall - Gagner - Yakupov
L2: Paajarvi or Hartikainen - Nuge - Eberle
L3: Smyth - Horcoff - Jones
L4: Eager - Konopka - Petrell

D1: Smid - Petry
D2: Legit Top 4 Guy - Justin Schultz
D3: Whitney - Nick Schultz

G1: Dubnyk
G2: Harding
- Maxbone

To add a few other points into that.
- We keep Belanger as a fourth liner and he remembers the puck goes into the net and has 20 points (not really big on Konopka to be honest)
- Whitney's foot seems to have healed much better and has said he will be able to train better this summer than he has for the last couple. Returns to being a solid #2 defenseman.
- If a reasonable contract can be had to have Smyth as a third liner fine, if not Paajarvi or Harti would slot in quite nicely I think.
- Becoming more and more tempted to trade Gagner. We need size in our top six and either Harti gains more skill, Paajarvi becomes more physical, or we acquire a bigger LW winger. Having Hall be our most physcial top 6 guy is not a good thing. Which leads me to...
- Find someway to acquire Grigorenko. After listening to some of his interviews here I would love to see him as an Oiler.
Hall-Nuge-Eberle
Paajarvi-Grigorenko-Yakupov

Much better

You are magical.
- robin_steele264

I'm kinda like a homeless guy who keeps a rat in his pocket as a pet.

To add a few other points into that.
- We keep Belanger as a fourth liner and he remembers the puck goes into the net and has 20 points (not really big on Konopka to be honest)
- Whitney's foot seems to have healed much better and has said he will be able to train better this summer than he has for the last couple. Returns to being a solid #2 defenseman.
- If a reasonable contract can be had to have Smyth as a third liner fine, if not Paajarvi or Harti would slot in quite nicely I think.
- Becoming more and more tempted to trade Gagner. We need size in our top six and either Harti gains more skill, Paajarvi becomes more physical, or we acquire a bigger LW winger. Having Hall be our most physcial top 6 guy is not a good thing. Which leads me to...
- Find someway to acquire Grigorenko. After listening to some of his interviews here I would love to see him as an Oiler.
Hall-Nuge-Eberle
Paajarvi-Grigorenko-Yakupov

Much better
- freelancer

It would be outstanding if the Oilers found a way to turn Gagner+ into Grigorenko.

It would be outstanding if the Oilers found a way to turn Gagner+ into Grigorenko.
- Maxbone

I'm still under the belief that Grigs will go no further than 8th. Hell, if Columbus is taking Galchenyuk at 2 and Toronto really wants a center I wouldn't be surprised to see them take Grigs over Forseberg. But let's say for example they don't. Does Hemsky and Gagner = Carolina's 8th pick and say Mcbain or even a Justin Faulk?

I'm still under the belief that Grigs will go no further than 8th. Hell, if Columbus is taking Galchenyuk at 2 and Toronto really wants a center I wouldn't be surprised to see them take Grigs over Forseberg. But let's say for example they don't. Does Hemsky and Gagner = Carolina's 8th pick and say Mcbain or even a Justin Faulk?
- freelancer

This year's draft is a riddle. Grigorenko could go at #2 for all I know. The only pick that is actually predictable is the Oilers taking Yakupov #1.

Agreed.

I wouldnt be opposed to bringing Hordi back... I get the feeling he's a great team guy and can be usefull for the Oilers for a bunch of games at least... not like he'll cost much.
- robin_steele264

rather have Huggy bear back. He actually put some points up. Seem like a good team guy. Someone mentioned parros but Stort is a better player imo. and its not like there are any crazy heavies in the league anymore

The only way Edmonton makes the playoffs in 2012/2013:

- Oilers hire Cooper or some other hot shot coach.
- Oilers sign UFA Justin Schultz, and he's everything we imagined.
- Oilers deal Ales Hemsky and the Oilers 1st round pick in 2013 for a real, legitimate, immediate Top 4 defenseman.
- Oilers sign some meat head like Konopka to be 4th line center, and sell Eric Belanger to Wal-Mart or something.
- Oilers re-sign Lennart Petrell and Ryan Smyth. Both have good seasons.
- One of Magnus Paajarvi or Teemu Hartikainen step up in a big way to play meaningful 2nd line minutes
- Oilers sign Harding to be Dubey's backup, burying Khabibulin in the minors.

Oilers roster in 2012/2013:

L1: Hall - Gagner - Yakupov
L2: Paajarvi or Hartikainen - Nuge - Eberle
L3: Smyth - Horcoff - Jones
L4: Eager - Konopka - Petrell

D1: Smid - Petry
D2: Legit Top 4 Guy - Justin Schultz
D3: Whitney - Nick Schultz

G1: Dubnyk
G2: Harding
- Maxbone

NNNOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! Richard... don't turn into one of those line makers! injuries, slumps, suprising rookies... its never anything close to that. Now that you did it... everyone will. leafs fans, especially!

Oh my (frank), why is every big, mean player in CHL compared to Lucic? Lucic is the exception to big junior players with little offense, not the rule. Most of these guys have third-line potential at best. People need to stop taking Matheson's spitballing seriously.
- Jack-artist

Could be .... moroz reminds me of jamie mcguinn or he could be another jf jacques

To add a few other points into that.
- We keep Belanger as a fourth liner and he remembers the puck goes into the net and has 20 points (not really big on Konopka to be honest)
- Whitney's foot seems to have healed much better and has said he will be able to train better this summer than he has for the last couple. Returns to being a solid #2 defenseman.
- If a reasonable contract can be had to have Smyth as a third liner fine, if not Paajarvi or Harti would slot in quite nicely I think.
- Becoming more and more tempted to trade Gagner. We need size in our top six and either Harti gains more skill, Paajarvi becomes more physical, or we acquire a bigger LW winger. Having Hall be our most physcial top 6 guy is not a good thing. Which leads me to...
- Find someway to acquire Grigorenko. After listening to some of his interviews here I would love to see him as an Oiler.
Hall-Nuge-Eberle
Paajarvi-Grigorenko-Yakupov

Much better
- freelancer

prv + gagner +++++ to aquire that pick maybe a bad contract coming back too

rather have Huggy bear back. He actually put some points up. Seem like a good team guy. Someone mentioned parros but Stort is a better player imo. and its not like there are any crazy heavies in the league anymore
- Killbot460

meh

NNNOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! Richard... don't turn into one of those line makers! injuries, slumps, suprising rookies... its never anything close to that. Now that you did it... everyone will. leafs fans, especially!
- ChrisMS

I never got into the hockeybuzz linemakers club.

I'm still under the belief that Grigs will go no further than 8th. Hell, if Columbus is taking Galchenyuk at 2 and Toronto really wants a center I wouldn't be surprised to see them take Grigs over Forseberg. But let's say for example they don't. Does Hemsky and Gagner = Carolina's 8th pick and say Mcbain or even a Justin Faulk?
- freelancer

maybe the 8th alone... ok ok... possibly a prospect D

This year's draft is a riddle. Grigorenko could go at #2 for all I know. The only pick that is actually predictable is the Oilers taking Yakupov #1.
- Maxbone

I swear to God, Buddha, Odin, and Megatron if the Oil take Murray with their pick without trading down...

I swear to God, Buddha, Odin, and Megatron if the Oil take Murray with their pick without trading down...
- freelancer

If they do that I will turn off my tv and drink this.

I love being a member of the Hockeybuzz linemakers club.

Hall ~ Gagner ~ Eberle
Hemsky ~ RNH ~ Yakupov
blah blah blah
yadda yadda yadda

fart fart
piss piss
who cares who care

Dubnyk
sh1t
- robin_steele264

Seems good to me.

I hope Smyth returns. You saw that he can still contribute in a big way in the first half of the season, but he just played to much and got tired. If he limits his time on the ice, which should be easy since the kids should be playing 20 minutes a game instead of 14, then Smyth can still contribute.

And I'll be so extremely surprised if Tambi actually goes after Cooper, that would require more effort than just hiring some recently unemployed NHL coach that would be more than willing to coach anyone.

- Watch for the Oilers to try and acquire a 2nd - 1st round pick at the draft. The Oilers have a big interest in Henrik Sameulsson and realize they'll need to move up from #31 to get him.

Is that a joke?

It is rumoured that the Canadiens offered Subban for the 1st overall pick but Tambellini said no. Subban + 3rd overall for 1st overall + Gagner + 61st overall. Take Reinhart or Galchenyuk. Trade for one of the leafs extra D (preferably Franson). Re-sign Smyth and Petrell to 1 year deals, and try to sign Parros, Schultz, and Stoll as UFAs. And that is about as much as this team is going to improve between now and next season.

It is rumoured that the Canadiens offered Subban for the 1st overall pick but Tambellini said no. Subban + 3rd overall for 1st overall + Gagner + 61st overall. Take Reinhart or Galchenyuk. Trade for one of the leafs extra D (preferably Franson). Re-sign Smyth and Petrell to 1 year deals, and try to sign Parros, Schultz, and Stoll as UFAs. And that is about as much as this team is going to improve between now and next season.
- dallas717

i would actually be down for that... except the smyth part. where did you hear this info?

i would actually be down for that... except the smyth part. where did you hear this info?
- Killbot460

http://twitter.com/#!/HockeyyInsiderr

Obviously, take any info this guy gives with a grain of salt because he is an anonymous source, but I can tell you I was following him on deadline day and not only was he bang on about every deal, he also broke the majority of the days trades before TSN. It was pretty impressive. He has also broken a lot of news since then such as coaching and ownership changes etc.