Great column! Your best work cause even the idiot fans saw through Stauffer today. Lowe is the problem, gauranteed.

To me im happy with leafs having anyone in the top 5 at 5 what happens none of us know and im glad with anyone whos projected in the top 5

Great column! Your best work cause even the idiot fans saw through Stauffer today. Lowe is the problem, gauranteed.
- bigdaddyneil

Lowe has had a hard on for Murray forever it was completely obvious when he added him to the world championship team.

Jordan is more suited to the Oil. NuHop is the #1C of the present and future.

The use of the media to soften the public for a potential deal is a well established practice by all teams. I think a deal with Pittsburgh is probably not in the cards. They are way down in the draft order. But they do have some good puck moving D in their prospect inventory.

Edmonton needs to get their D up to the same standard as their front line skaters.

I would do a deal with the Leafs for the #1 pick if they offered up Gardiner, Franson and the #5. With the #5 I would take Murray. So the Oil would come out of the draft with Gardiner, Franson and Murray. They would have a young D that would complement what they have put in place up front. I think there are other teams in the top 10 draft group that might an even better offer allowing for the Oil to come out of the draft with three good D prospects.
- spatso

I'd be tempted to do that trade, because it's an overpayment and one that satisfies positional need. I probably wouldn't though, because it would leave us with too many young bottom 4 d-men and no clear #1. If I was in Oilers management I would have spent all season long cozying up to Pheonix. They have more elite young defenders than they know what to do with and are starved for elite young forwards. I'd be on their doorstep once a week, hat in hand, trying different trade speeches.
And those speeches will sound even better in a year, when Yaks has, shall we say, taken some of the game's best defenders to the prom (ie:undressed and ****ed). Take the BPA - we can always swap him for the perfect player later, if need be.

Lowe has had a hard on for Murray forever it was completely obvious when he added him to the world championship team.
- LEAFSfan28191

I still say that was a conflict of interest... Team Canada is not Lowe's Oilers tryouts. Very not cool and I'm surprised he got away with it without publicity backlash.

I still say that was a conflict of interest... Team Canada is not Lowe's Oilers tryouts. Very not cool and I'm surprised he got away with it without publicity backlash.
- thefullnelson

I had actually heard via Bob Stauffer that this was a favor to Scott Howson. Now if Stauffer is in fact a puppet, perhaps this was meant to direct attention from the truth, but if it's true, it tells us Howson likes Ryan Murray.

Which makes very good sense as to why Howson has no interest in trading up and might even consider moving down if Murray could fall to #4 or #5.

I had actually heard via Bob Stauffer that this was a favor to Scott Howson. Now if Stauffer is in fact a puppet, perhaps this was meant to direct attention from the truth, but if it's true, it tells us Howson likes Ryan Murray.

Which makes very good sense as to why Howson has no interest in trading up and might even consider moving down if Murray could fall to #4 or #5.
- oilersinsider

leafs gotta deal for #2 so we can pick up Gally!!!!

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.
- Jack-artist

A calm and patient man I generally am
I'm starting to lose patience with this BS. Our management is clown shoes. If we don't have a coach by the draft I'll kill someone. (pilgor)

He's this big power forward who runs over people and hurts them. Plus, he can score goals.

Luke Schenn is a 5/6 pairing defensive defenseman who could turn into another Ladislav Smid if the Oilers are lucky.

Smid-type defensemen aren't rare. Big scary power forwards who can play functional minutes in your Top 6 are.
- Maxbone

Is this what u really think of Schenn or are u just downgrading him due to your hatred for the Leafs. If it's the ladder I understand but if this is your assessment of Schenn you know nothing about Hockey.

Is this what u really think of Schenn or are u just downgrading him due to your hatred for the Leafs. If it's the ladder I understand but if this is your assessment of Schenn you know nothing about Hockey.
- coolehmon41

Well this year Schenn was a 5th or 6th dman, but he has shown some potential to be even greater. The kids 22!

Sounds like you are describing Nazem Kadri, and look how that turned out.
- Maxbone

How has he turned out? is he done? you ended his career before it even started

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.
Hope so

2.World Junior Championship. Klefbom was clearly the best player in the whole tournament. He looked like a man among boys.
No. Kuznetzov was. Although oskar did have a strong wjc, Ive read some mixed reviews about his play throughout the season.

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.
Totally agree

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

ummm..... just saw a speech by kopitar ... is he wearing eyeshadow? or is he really tired? i get the dark visor now

ummm..... just saw a speech by kopitar ... is he wearing eyeshadow? or is he really tired? i get the dark visor now
- ChrisMS

Steve Buschemi eyes

A calm and patient man I generally am
I'm starting to lose patience with this BS. Our management is clown shoes. If we don't have a coach by the draft I'll kill someone. (pilgor)
- TheTaoOfSemenko

Lollipop Chainsaw is the hypest poop. Too bad you're so gay you're blue.

Yeah, but if they don't trade down, and they pass on Yakupov, I'm going to sh1t my pants and mail them to Tambs.
- laughs2907

Garth has to make some big moves if he wants to hit the cap floor.

He will make some Milbury type moves this offseason.
- jimmc7722

Jesus God almighty I hope not. Why do you say such things

There are at least 6 top rated Dmen in this draft. Some in the mid range of the first round might finally prove out to be the best (Koekkoek and Maata). If I am the Oilers and I decide not to take Yakupov my goal has to be to stock up on young defensive talent. I want to bring the defense into the same range as the depth at the forward position.

So, I want a young roster player (eg. Subban) a top prospect (Murray) and a mid range prospect (Maata) for the #1 pick.

I can change the mix and probably get a similar result by doing a deal with any of the teams having a top 10 pick. The key is to get the good roster player, one of the top three Dmen from the draft and one of the mid range first rounders.

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

As Bob McKenzie mentioned in an interview recently, Matheson isn't the first person to question Yakupov as the clear #1 pick. Many scouts had questions about him being a franchise forward after his playoffs this year. He went on to say that Edmonton really wants a defenseman, but is afraid to draft one first overall over fear of how outsiders will view the organization. That being said, teams that draft defensemen out of need in this draft, especially Murray and Reinhart, will not be disappointed.

There are at least 6 top rated Dmen in this draft. Some in the mid range of the first round might finally prove out to be the best (Koekkoek and Maata). If I am the Oilers and I decide not to take Yakupov my goal has to be to stock up on young defensive talent. I want to bring the defense into the same range as the depth at the forward position.

So, I want a young roster player (eg. Subban) a top prospect (Murray) and a mid range prospect (Maata) for the #1 pick.

I can change the mix and probably get a similar result by doing a deal with any of the teams having a top 10 pick. The key is to get the good roster player, one of the top three Dmen from the draft and one of the mid range first rounders.
- spatso

I know that is an example but it is terrible. Subban and the #3 pick alone for the #1 pick is a very large overpayment.

A calm and patient man I generally am
I'm starting to lose patience with this BS. Our management is clown shoes. If we don't have a coach by the draft I'll kill someone. (pilgor)
- TheTaoOfSemenko

I like your choice.

So did Radulov
- dcz28

No Radulov came him to make money. He was paid by Quebec to play in the Q. He liked it here alot but the risk with the KHL is that ELC only allow for a maximum whereas a guy like Radu was making $5 million tax free.

Ask a 20 year old kid whether he stay in Nashville for $850k or go back to your home country for $5 million tax free.. Not exactly an easy decision.

With that said there is always a risk when drafting a Russian player because of the lucrative contracts back home. I wonder however why nobody has mentioned these problems with Grigorenko.

No Radulov came him to make money. He was paid by Quebec to play in the Q. He liked it here alot but the risk with the KHL is that ELC only allow for a maximum whereas a guy like Radu was making $5 million tax free.

Ask a 20 year old kid whether he stay in Nashville for $850k or go back to your home country for $5 million tax free.. Not exactly an easy decision.

With that said there is always a risk when drafting a Russian player because of the lucrative contracts back home. I wonder however why nobody has mentioned these problems with Grigorenko.
- willey101

While he was in contention to be #1 the whole Russian thing was spoken with him in mind also if memory serves.

It is a shame because to me it is the whole "1 bad apple" syndrome. Can they retreat back to the Motherland? Sure, but it should be something that is quietly acknowledged and not brought to bear down on these kids.

How many have "defected" back? How many russian kids have played?

I look at Yak, and see his agent, Larionov, a guy that is well spoken, articulate and respected (from my understanding) in the NHL. I do not think he is preaching , privately, to Yak togo back.

Yak is here to play in the NHL.

And, as much as I wish the Oil had not won the 1st. And as much as I wish they would trade down to get either Murray or Reinhart, I do not see it happening.

Yak will be picked by Edm, Stauffer rant not withstanding.

No Radulov came him to make money. He was paid by Quebec to play in the Q. He liked it here alot but the risk with the KHL is that ELC only allow for a maximum whereas a guy like Radu was making $5 million tax free.

Ask a 20 year old kid whether he stay in Nashville for $850k or go back to your home country for $5 million tax free.. Not exactly an easy decision.

With that said there is always a risk when drafting a Russian player because of the lucrative contracts back home. I wonder however why nobody has mentioned these problems with Grigorenko.
- willey101

What are you talking about? Up to now, Grigorenko was the only one they were talking about with respect to this. I was surprised Yakupov was largely given the benefit of the doubt just because he was a potential 1st overall pick.

I know that is an example but it is terrible. Subban and the #3 pick alone for the #1 pick is a very large overpayment.
- zach parise9

+ Gomez? This will be a large boon for Mtl.