The Oilers are going to hire Todd Nelson as the new head coach. They've brought in Craig MacTavish to help out with management of the team, but to also mentor Nelson. The Oil wanted to hire an experienced head coach, but the options are too limited for the kind of coach that they're looking for. So, they're going to go with an inexperienced coach, and have MacT bring Nelson along. Book it!

I've seen Kadri play a number of times. Looks like a slightly better version of Rob Schremp to me.
- Maxbone

Cloutier! I'm done with you. How dare you, (frank)ing troll.

Cloutier! I'm done with you. How dare you, (frank)ing troll.
- yea-ok-buddy

Don't worry Bro Kadri will show Rich wrong.

Ok, fair enough, but here's where I disagree. Toronto is not only a few players away from being good. Yes, they have built a solid blue line. Phaneuf, Liles, Schenn, Gardiner, I see as a strong top four. Komisarek, Gunnarson and Franson I see still as perhaps good but unreliable or unproven (much like Petry for the Oil).

Outside of Kessel, Lupul (who had a career year by the way) and Grabovski, their forward core is questionable at best. Connolly is vastly over rated, MacArthur I like, but meh...

I say this, because repeatedly they've shown to be drafting close to the lottery over and over. Strong start, can't finish. And goal tending?... well would we be talking about Luongo if they thought their goal tending was good?

And before Toronto fans get all up in arms... I'm suggesting this about any team who repeatedly finish near the lottery including Edmonton.

Any team drafting #15 or down can draft any position and need it.

I also tend to believe that you draft BPA and trade for need. So should Toronto be able to land Murray at #5, why not trade with Edmonton one of your blue for a forward like Gagner or MPS after the draft has happened? That to me makes more sense.

So I'm suggesting we're all up in arms about Yakupov not going #1? Maybe the Oilers feel he's no longer #1? I don't pretend to know why, but that could be the case.
- oilersinsider

In truth, I think Oilers management are having an head/heart argument. They know Yakupov is the class of the field, but they know the team will continue to lose until the defense is upgraded.

The Oilers had a bit of a disappointing season when it came to how the prospect defensement developed. Klefbom looks like an absolute star, but it looks like Musil, Marincin and Gernat are all years away from the NHL. Taylor Fedun may or may not ever fully recover from his leg injury, the Cam Barker signing was a complete bust, Colten Teubert looks to be, at best, a "meh" 5/6 pairing guy, and Alex Plante will never be an NHL player.

The Oilers "could" go out and sign UFA's like Suter or Carle, but we all know they aren't going to come here. Only Justin Schultz knows what Justin Schultz is thinking. Teams like TO who have plenty of D men will only cough one up if the Oilers start parting with high-end prospects like Paajarvi...the players the Oilers are willing to deal (for sure Hemsky, maybe Gagner)...no one is buying.

All things considered, the Oilers might draft Ryan Murray more out of frustration than anything else. Which is a mistake, if you ask me.

So it's settled. We trade the 1st overall to Toronto for Gardiner and the 5th overall (Reinhart)...

In truth, I think Oilers management are having an head/heart argument. They know Yakupov is the class of the field, but they know the team will continue to lose until the defense is upgraded.

The Oilers had a bit of a disappointing season when it came to how the prospect defensement developed. Klefbom looks like an absolute star, but it looks like Musil, Marincin and Gernat are all years away from the NHL. Taylor Fedun may or may not ever fully recover from his leg injury, the Cam Barker signing was a complete bust, Colten Teubert looks to be, at best, a "meh" 5/6 pairing guy, and Alex Plante will never be an NHL player.

The Oilers "could" go out and sign UFA's like Suter or Carle, but we all know they aren't going to come here. Only Justin Schultz knows what Justin Schultz is thinking. Teams like TO who have plenty of D men will only cough one up if the Oilers start parting with high-end prospects like Paajarvi...the players the Oilers are willing to deal (for sure Hemsky, maybe Gagner)...no one is buying.

All things considered, the Oilers might draft Ryan Murray more out of frustration than anything else. Which is a mistake, if you ask me.
- Maxbone

1) Why is Taylor Fedun even considered a legit prospect? He played well during training camp. Remember when Mike Comrie led the NHL in scoring during training camp a few years back?

2) How is Klefbom an absolute star?

3) Gernat had a break out year in junior this year. Marincin and Musil had solid seasons.

So it's settled. We trade the 1st overall to Toronto for Gardiner and the 5th overall...
- laughs2907

So its settled edmonton will draft 1st overall and draft Yakupov, Congrats

So it's settled. We trade the 1st overall to Toronto for Gardiner and the 5th overall...
- laughs2907

(frank) that, not after what Cloutier said, deals off.

1) Why is Taylor Fedun even considered a legit prospect? He played well during training camp. Remember when Mike Comrie led the NHL in scoring during training camp a few years back?

2) How is Klefbom an absolute star?

3) Gernat had a break out year in junior this year. Marincin and Musil had solid seasons.
- Starbuck

Well he also said kads is rob schremp

Well he also said kads is rob schremp
- LEAFSfan28191

Lynch him

So it's settled. We trade the 1st overall to Toronto for Gardiner and the 5th overall...
- laughs2907

If I knew that would be what it takes to land Justin Schultz, I'd absolutely go for it.

The Oilers would have to draft a forward with the pick, though. Klefbom will be an Oiler in 2013/2014. Gardiner and J. Schultz would be two roster spots. Nick Schultz, Jeff Petry and Ladislav Smid would be the other three. Oil would also have Musil, Marincin, Fedun, Gernat and Davidson all in the system. We'd be stacked.

So its settled edmonton will draft 1st overall and draft Yakupov, Congrats
- LEAFSfan28191

Fine... We'll have to settle for a top 6 of

Hall ~ Gagner ~ Eberle
Hemsky ~ RNH ~ Yakupov

Fine... We'll have to settle for a top 6 of

Hall ~ Gagner ~ Eberle
Hemsky ~ RNH ~ Yakupov


- laughs2907

Oh you betcha

If I knew that would be what it takes to land Justin Schultz, I'd absolutely go for it.

The Oilers would have to draft a forward with the pick, though. Klefbom will be an Oiler in 2013/2014. Gardiner and J. Schultz would be two roster spots. Nick Schultz, Jeff Petry and Ladislav Smid would be the other three. Oil would also have Musil, Marincin, Fedun, Gernat and Davidson all in the system. We'd be stacked.
- Maxbone

Depends who is available. Assuming Yakupov, Murray, Galchenyuk, and Grigorenko gor 1-4, I'd take Reinhart at #5. He's going to be a beast... I'm not sold on Forsberg for some reason.

Fine... We'll have to settle for a top 6 of

Hall ~ Gagner ~ Eberle
Hemsky ~ RNH ~ Yakupov


- laughs2907

***waits for blog about how our top six is too small***

1) Why is Taylor Fedun even considered a legit prospect? He played well during training camp. Remember when Mike Comrie led the NHL in scoring during training camp a few years back?

2) How is Klefbom an absolute star?

3) Gernat had a break out year in junior this year. Marincin and Musil had solid seasons.
- Starbuck

1. The Oilers organization love Fedun. His hockey IQ is tremendous. If you watched camp last year, Fedun was incredible smart and logical in his play. Extremely calm with the puck, too. Sometimes a prospect is just a prospect, but you can't train for brains. Fedun doesn't play the game, he thinks it. He'll be an NHL player because of it.

2. World Junior Championship. Klefbom was clearly the best player in the whole tournament. He looked like a man among boys.

3. Gernat has great misgivings he needs to correct. He's a big body who can do some magical things offensively. He also constantly makes dangerous passes and screws up defensively. His offensive numbers dropped considerably over the second half of the season after the Oil Kings started forcing him to play better defense.

Marincin had a bit of a falling out with the Oilers organization. They asked him to train last summer and to bulk up, and he didn't. He came into camp out of shape...or at least, not in the shape they wanted him to be. The pressure is on him to train this summer and to add upper body strength. Not doing so could cost him a chance with the organization.

I heard Musil took a step back this season compared to last.

The Oilers are going to hire Todd Nelson as the new head coach. They've brought in Craig MacTavish to help out with management of the team, but to also mentor Nelson. The Oil wanted to hire an experienced head coach, but the options are too limited for the kind of coach that they're looking for. So, they're going to go with an inexperienced coach, and have MacT bring Nelson along. Book it!


- Sammy Van Hagar

I think Nelson was on record saying he wishes to remain in OKC.

1. The Oilers organization love Fedun. His hockey IQ is tremendous. If you watched camp last year, Fedun was incredible smart and logical in his play. Extremely calm with the puck, too. Sometimes a prospect is just a prospect, but you can't train for brains. Fedun doesn't play the game, he thinks it. He'll be an NHL player because of it.

2. World Junior Championship. Klefbom was clearly the best player in the whole tournament. He looked like a man among boys.

3. Gernat has great misgivings he needs to correct. He's a big body who can do some magical things offensively. He also constantly makes dangerous passes and screws up defensively. His offensive numbers dropped considerably over the second half of the season after the Oil Kings started forcing him to play better defense.

Marincin had a bit of a falling out with the Oilers organization. They asked him to train last summer and to bulk up, and he didn't. He came into camp out of shape...or at least, not in the shape they wanted him to be. The pressure is on him to train this summer and to add upper body strength. Not doing so could cost him a chance with the organization.

I heard Musil took a step back this season compared to last.
- Maxbone

All prospects I like. But none of which next year get you closer to a playoff spot or meaningful games in April.

Edmonton needs to improve their blue line. When I say need, I don't just mean
"need" like I "need" a good rub a tug. I mean "need" as in I opened the rub and tug franchise so I can get all the free rub and tugs I want....

too much information? .. I digress.

If Edmonton truly believes head over heart that Murray is a better player now, take him. Even if Yakupov is an equal player by position to Murray now, but Murray projects better, take Murray.

If he doesn't you take Yakupov and you shop the crap out of him looking for a top 2 d-man. Do it while his stock is high as the top pick and he hasn't played a game to ruin the buzz.

Otherwise take Yaks. Play him and add pieces if you can.

But, as I wrote with this piece here, under no circumstances do I trade Gardiner for #1. Even if I'm 50/50 Schultz follows.

http://oilersinsider.blog...ing-considered-for-1.html

This might be the best blog you've written. There is no question the Oilers should take Yakupov. We need D no question but Yakupov is the real deal. He has said repeatedly he wants to play in the NHL. He even went as far as offending some of his fellow Russians in a recent interview with comments over his Mangolian heritage (Tatar). The guy was amazing at the WJC. Himself and Kuznetsov carried the Russian team. He may not turn out to be the best player in this draft class and he may even go back to Russia at some point in his career. We still have to take him. If he doesn't work out most fans will not fault the organization for the foul. If they take a player like Murray and Yakupov goes out and lights it up next season or even a few season's from now the fanbase will be enraged. If Yakupov doesn't perform or gets out performed by Murray or Galchenyuk the fans will blame the player not the organization. It is in managements best interest of self preservation they take Yakupov.

Richard Cloutier: The Return of Propaganda!
- Maxbone

Good blog! I totally agree that the Oilers management is needlessly dishonest and callous and unaccountable, and I have felt that way for several years now.
I have joked about swapping the #1 overall for Detroit's management structure... and you know, I would very seriously consider it. I might do it. You could draft #1 overall for 30 years running and never get anywhere with incompetent enough management... just ask Hawks or Isles fans about suffering through actual decade-long stretches of willfull incompetence.
I was astonished but elated when they brought MacT back because I dared hope it portended a change in the modus operandi of TweedleLowe and TweedleTambi. Hopefully this is just Staufford being a douche for whatever reason and the idiots running my hockey team have enough sense to see lightning, hear thunder, and draft the (frank)ing nigh-unanimous consensus BPA already!

How about Yakupov for the Isles 4th overall pick, Strome and De Haan? Or I have a better idea what about for Henrique and Larsson?
- zach parise9

Really? A)you managed to be first, and B)THAT'S what you had to say? Get a job!

Really? A)you managed to be first, and B)THAT'S what you had to say? Get a job!
- thefullnelson

He's dumb

Pizza.

Discuss
- mochoson

I love pizza. It is delicious. Dare I say, it is the ultimate munchie? Also, it never shows up and clutters your forum with its verbal diarrhea. And it has a job.

Really? A)you managed to be first, and B)THAT'S what you had to say? Get a job!
- thefullnelson

I'll have you know he has a job. He is the president of the Zach Parise fan club. It may not pay money per say but it does afford him all Parise posters he can fit on the ceiling of his bedroom in his parents trailer. You can't put a monitory value on that kind of happiness.

The Yakupov roast with Stauffer was a little curious today. Usually when Stuffer brings stuff up, it's along the lines of what the braintrust is thinking. There's a good chance they still take Nail, but I have my doubts. Before the deadline, he claimed Petry was playing well enough to possibly replace Gilbert and went from running Hemsky out of of town, to endorsing a possible extension. Gilbert then gets traded, Petry takes his spot, Hemsky gets signed. Maybe he's more of a puppet than we think, and maybe the "five guys at the top" comments from MacGregor holds some truth. Ick.