Oil 1st pick for jordan staal

Reality check please. There are a bunch of kids in Gardiner's draft who handle the puck and skate better than he does. Stop escalating the expectations on this kid. When he takes on more minutes against tougher line matches next year we will see the usual sophomore slump. Be careful you don't do to him what the idiots did to Schenn after a promising rookie debut. The kid is okay but he is a long way behind some of the elite Dmen taken in his draft.
- spatso

I said he wont be any more than a top 4. But that he is fun to watch. I stand by what I said.

How about rushing his shiny 1st overall picks to the NHL and letting them play for a last place team while burning through their entry level deals. That is extremely dumb and the Oilers are going to regret it eventually. If he hires Brent Sutter, that is ridiculous.
- Jimmy_T

MC79 is that you?

Oil 1st pick for jordan staal
- jaredwildzee

We wouldn't get that much for the 1st overall, however if we would have to give up RNH for the 6th overall because teams know we need defensmen.

blah blah blah....all you do is whine clouts. There is a reason why you would never get the chance to actually blog for the oilers - all you do is female dog about them
- oooilersss

Totally inappropriate evaluation on several levels. Richard has worked hard and improved tremendously as a blogger. He is for the most part pretty positive about the Oilers. I thought this particular blog was objective and raised a valid perspective in regard to Oiler decision making.

How about rushing his shiny 1st overall picks to the NHL and letting them play for a last place team while burning through their entry level deals. That is extremely dumb and the Oilers are going to regret it eventually. If he hires Brent Sutter, that is ridiculous.
- Jimmy_T

I'm not a huge fan of having guys play right out of jr, but almost every team does it with the first 1-2 picks.... not sure any of them regret it yet.

We wouldn't get that much for the 1st overall, however if we would have to give up RNH for the 6th overall because teams know we need defensmen.
- Zombie

You're joking, but I'd bet actual GMs are lowballing Tambs as we speak because we're apparently screwed for dmen. The attitude towards this 1st overall from the blogosphere is that it's a curse for the oilers, and that ANY highly rated dman trumps the highest rated forward.

Who wants to deal a 1st from some bullpoop "position of weakness"? We're going to draft Yakupov.

We wouldn't get that much for the 1st overall, however if we would have to give up RNH for the 6th overall because teams know we need defensmen.
- Zombie

We'll have our defensemen season after this Klefbom,gernat etc.We should trade Gagner+ for a dman this year

How about rushing his shiny 1st overall picks to the NHL and letting them play for a last place team while burning through their entry level deals. That is extremely dumb and the Oilers are going to regret it eventually. If he hires Brent Sutter, that is ridiculous.
- Jimmy_T

You're right. Its much smarter to keep them in the minors when they have earned a spot on the big club, effectively pissing them off.

Its one thing not to rush prospects, its another to keep them in a lower league to save a year on their ELC.

You're joking, but I'd bet actual GMs are lowballing Tambs as we speak because we're apparently screwed for dmen. The attitude towards this 1st overall from the blogosphere is that it's a curse for the oilers, and that ANY highly rated dman trumps the highest rated forward.

Who wants to deal a 1st from some bullpoop "position of weakness"? We're going to draft Yakupov.
- Morris

They are lowballing partly because they know we won't move that pick until next Friday at the draft.

How about rushing his shiny 1st overall picks to the NHL and letting them play for a last place team while burning through their entry level deals. That is extremely dumb and the Oilers are going to regret it eventually. If he hires Brent Sutter, that is ridiculous.
- Jimmy_T

They had nothing to learn at the junior or AHL levels, as clearly demonstrated by their NHL play.

Great plan though. I'm sure making elite level talents fart around in leagues they are too good for isa great way of making them want to re-sign. I sure wish you were our GM.

The Oilers will take Nail with the top pick & hope to get back into the top 10 to grab a defenseman & Reinhart is on their radar!!

They will not get Murray unless they grab him 1st & that's too high for him.

If they move the pick to drop down, they won't drop past 7 because all those d-men could be gone by then.

My question to all you Oiler fans who continue to post about the Oilers ripping other teams off to get what they want is.....what do you think, seriously, the Oilers would have to give up to get back in the top 10 or top 7(that's if they keep the #1 pick) and grab a top-end d-man in this draft??

This should be entertaining!!

We wouldn't get that much for the 1st overall, however if we would have to give up RNH for the 6th overall because teams know we need defensmen.
- Zombie

You're joking, but I'd bet actual GMs are lowballing Tambs as we speak because we're apparently screwed for dmen. The attitude towards this 1st overall from the blogosphere is that it's a curse for the oilers, and that ANY highly rated dman trumps the highest rated forward.

Who wants to deal a 1st from some bullpoop "position of weakness"? We're going to draft Yakupov.
- Morris

I would agree entirely.

But, the fact there are sounds coming out encouraging thinking the Oil might deal the pick means they probably already have one legitimate offer. They are trying to promote other bids. In the end they will likely use the pick to take Yakupov.

They are lowballing partly because they know we won't move that pick until next Friday at the draft.
- Lahey

I hope they don't even consider it though. I would not be disappointed with Gally or Murray, but anyone outside of them or Yaks, I will be disappointed.

The Oilers will take Nail with the top pick & hope to get back into the top 10 to grab a defenseman & Reinhart is on their radar!!

They will not get Murray unless they grab him 1st & that's too high for him.

If they move the pick to drop down, they won't drop past 7 because all those d-men could be gone by then.

My question to all you Oiler fans who continue to post about the Oilers ripping other teams off to get what they want is.....what do you think, seriously, the Oilers would have to give up to get back in the top 10 or top 7(that's if they keep the #1 pick) and grab a top-end d-man in this draft??

This should be entertaining!!
- newmy

David Krejci for Omark .

The Oilers will take Nail with the top pick & hope to get back into the top 10 to grab a defenseman & Reinhart is on their radar!!

They will not get Murray unless they grab him 1st & that's too high for him.

If they move the pick to drop down, they won't drop past 7 because all those d-men could be gone by then.

My question to all you Oiler fans who continue to post about the Oilers ripping other teams off to get what they want is.....what do you think, seriously, the Oilers would have to give up to get back in the top 10 or top 7(that's if they keep the #1 pick) and grab a top-end d-man in this draft??

This should be entertaining!!
- newmy

On the table would be a combination of 2013 1st, 2012 2nd, 2013 2rd, Anaheim's 2013 2nd, PRV, Hemsky and Gagner.

Dunno specifically what the package would be, but we have the assets if we want to make the move (like any other team).

You don't want to piss them off? They are 18 year old kids set to make millions of dollars and earn the adulation of thousands of people. If they were the kind of idiots to get pissed off about not being handed a spot on the team, they probably wouldnt have gotten picked first overall in the first place. Its not just to keep them on their ECL either; there are several other reasons, the biggest being that they have teenaged bodies and are now playing against men who are in peak physical condition. There is maturity, injury possibilities, seasoning, confidence........Theres pros and cons to both I guess, but wasting their cheap years on another last place finish , well there is just no excuse for that really.
- Jimmy_T

You really don't understand anything, do you?

I would agree entirely.

But, the fact there are sounds coming out encouraging thinking the Oil might deal the pick means they probably already have one legitimate offer. They are trying to promote other bids. In the end they will likely use the pick to take Yakupov.
- spatso

I don't think anything is suggesting we might deal the pick. What is happening is the same poop that happens every year. GM's who hold the #1 pick listen to what is out there. Even if there was a #1 d-man, you still listen as maybe there is a team willing to offer you a Norris trophy d-man.

David Krejci for Omark .
- glove_was_stuck

Omark for Dougie Hamilton.

They never played in the AHL, and if you think they had nothing to learn, I dont even really wanna talk to you, because thats just an extremely stupid thing to learn. Niether of these kids is a Crosby. And trust me, Edmonton rushed them to the NHL for one reason and one reason only: to sell tickets. But its a myopic stratagy and floors me that anyone can disagree. Have fun losing them to free agency before you even get a sniff of the cup.
- Jimmy_T

They didn't play in the AHL because they aren't allowed.

We don't need a gimmick to sell tickets in this city, if you think that you really know nothing.

I am not sure if all you west coast guys have any idea the hype surrounding the Leafs and Nail right now. There seems to be a feeling that Burke is going to be making some major draft moves circa '99. This Oilers propagnanda thing really only adds fuel to the fire. The Leafs are not going to give you Gardner, but there are lots of useful players the Leafs can trade the Oilers for their pick.

Realistically, Edmonton can get the kid they want at the five spot, and they are also known to have a hard on for Carl "Gunny-sack" Gunnerson. Throw in Kulemin and the pick and maybe youre getting somewhere. Or Maybe they like Grabovski, or Joe Colborne - if Gagner's too small, big Joe is 6'5, theres youre number two with size.

As for this logic that the Leafs are definately going to take a centre, please allow me to dissuade you from that ridiculous notion. No matter who he drafts, Burke is most likely not letting him play in the NHL next season, so he needs to get a centre regardless of the draft. He has Grabovski already, as well as Big Joe and Nazem Kadri and the always improving Tyler Bozak and the underrated Tim Connolly. He still wants a centre and might get one in the draft, but he is not going to let that deter him from taking Nail, because what he wants, is a Franchise Player.
- Jimmy_T

Burke is like the hamster that keeps running on the treadmill bur never goes anywhere. The team is farther away from the playoffs than they were the year before he took over. If they keep letting this guy steer the ship for much longer they will get the 1st overall pick soon enough. But Blowhard would probably trade it to Boston in another bad deal. Or, he would get scammed by Murray and take Kadri rather than Cowen.

I hope they don't even consider it though. I would not be disappointed with Gally or Murray, but anyone outside of them or Yaks, I will be disappointed.
- Morris

I'm leaving it in Bastard's hands.

You don't want to piss them off? They are 18 year old kids set to make millions of dollars and earn the adulation of thousands of people. If they were the kind of idiots to get pissed off about not being handed a spot on the team, they probably wouldnt have gotten picked first overall in the first place. Its not just to keep them on their ECL either; there are several other reasons, the biggest being that they have teenaged bodies and are now playing against men who are in peak physical condition. There is maturity, injury possibilities, seasoning, confidence........Theres pros and cons to both I guess, but wasting their cheap years on another last place finish , well there is just no excuse for that really.
- Jimmy_T

No rational person would get pissed off for not being handed a spot. They would get pissed off because they earned a spot and werent given it.

Money is a major factor for an 18 year old as well.