Numbers
- Starbuck

I think a 55+ pt season this year is a must... And plausible.
Under 50 again, and id be pretty frustrated with him.

Career high 65. All in all, a pretty decent 2nd line center.


Let me be clear. I dont hate gags. Hes a decent player thus far, with a boatload of great qualities u cant teach.
Character, heart, team first, etc etc etc

Its the size of our top 6 i hate. Watchin some of those games against dallas, colorado last year was painful.
None of the 4 are moving. So its basically between him, prv and hemmer if we wanna make a move for a dman with players of value. ( maybe 2 of them). Which we need to do.

Uve heard my reasoning for prv.
And i think hemmer is a much more talented player and capable of getting back to 70.
While at the same time criminally undervalued because of the injuries and a tough last season.
One final reason id rather hemmer, is the opportunity to shelter yaks abit. We've never had the depth to do this. Play him in easier situations instead of throwin him to the wolves. He'll still get his pp time etc.


Id like to keep hemmer until at least the deadline. Preferably next summer.

Back to your childish games Rutt the adults are talking here!! Aren't there any other blogs you can "first" on?? Don't you remember what happened the last time we argued?? What was it 4-5 or guys chimed in saying you were WRONG!! But no worries bud hold that grudge and keep trying!! I stand by my comment in saying he is the most expendable! Reasons given NOT changing my mind at all!! But if that's the ammo you bring to an argument keep it up dim wit!! Maybe you can call in your buddy LongBottom to help like last time?? You probably have him on speed dial!!

Sorry to everyone else but I need to point everything out to this retard:

Why Gagner is the most expendable player on the roster:

1. He is young and as of yet hasn't lived up to potential.

2. The Oiler lack size and Gagner is not big. So ask yourself who do you keep RNH or Gagner?

3. Hemsky has 0 trade value so he would not fetch anything worth while in a trade Gagner would fetch more at this point in time.

4.Belanger 0 value, Horcoff negative value. SO I ask again to fill a need what do you do? Gagner? Hall? Eberle? RNH? Yakupov?

Again I DO NOT think we should deal Gagner but I can look at this team without Oiler colored glasses on and if you want a top 4 Dman, Gagner will be the first to be gone in the deal (expendable).

If you need me to type slower Rutt let me know!!
- undisputed_8821

Did you forget to take your meds today??? Who exactly chimed in to say that you could run an NHL franchise? You make a lot of things up just like you make up your opinions to be facts.

A ranger fan gets it but Oiler fans don't!! Maybe why management is so inept (Edmontonian thinking way). YIKES!! I have said if before and I will say it again the ONLY downfall that can happen with this team is mismanagement! Passing on these type players is a MISTAKE!! Plain and simple a MISTAKE for a last place team!!

I will explain low risk: To sign a player for $1.75 million with NOTHING to lose!

High reward: Signing a player at $1.75 million and he goes on to score 25+ goals! Has the potential to do so!

Worst case scenario: He doesn't score at near that pace (less than 10) then you let him go! DOES NOT AFFECT any roster players as far as anyone having to leave!!!
- undisputed_8821

Every time a player signs somewhere else you always say management is stupid for not signing him, did you talk to the player? I guess so cause he told ya "yup, i wanted to play in edmonton but they didnt ask me so i had to go elsewhere". you are a (frank)ing moron, how do ya know they didnt try to sign any of these players but they chose to go elsewhere?? Seriously use this mind reading and future seeing knowledge you have to just win the lottery and stop wasting your time arguing with everyone on HB. Oh wait, spending hours to argue on HB, yup you definitely manage your time productively and well, now i see how you could run a 183million dollar sports franchise

- Starbuck

Hey Clouts what are the chances of getting Grimlock to do a guest blog?
- Cornelius

I would read that...

Well currently Gags is more proven but I think PVR has the higher ceiling... as he has the assets -just needs to gain confience and understanding in how to apply it... in 2 years PVR could be something we need on this team or any team for that matter...
- saskoil

Or at the very least, be more willing to take punishment using his skating to drive to the tough areas. Those wrist shots from way out aint goona get it done.

Im not sure he'll ever be a truly physical player, but at least use his frame better to create chances in the offensive zone
- hugefemale dog77

Sandpaper = the asset we need for him to be effective and differentiated from the other small fast skill guys. I'm not just talking bout being able to take a hit and hang onto the puck, I want someone who's gonna put a female dog through the boards when its called for.

Sandpaper = the asset we need for him to be effective and differentiated from the other small fast skill guys. I'm not just talking bout being able to take a hit and hang onto the puck, I want someone who's gonna put a female dog through the boards when its called for.
- BigDre

Hes not small. Thats what differentiates him.
And being a banger is certainly not the only way he can be effective.
Not even close.


You're talking about a power forward. A skilled one.
Im down.
Whos willing to deal us one? Bobby ryans dont come cheap.
And then we give up assets and still have the more pressing defensive need.

If it was just that simple we'd put hartakainen in that spot.
But hes not a good enough skater for that role full time.

A ranger fan gets it but Oiler fans don't!! Maybe why management is so inept (Edmontonian thinking way). YIKES!! I have said if before and I will say it again the ONLY downfall that can happen with this team is mismanagement! Passing on these type players is a MISTAKE!! Plain and simple a MISTAKE for a last place team!!

I will explain low risk: To sign a player for $1.75 million with NOTHING to lose!

High reward: Signing a player at $1.75 million and he goes on to score 25+ goals! Has the potential to do so!

Worst case scenario: He doesn't score at near that pace (less than 10) then you let him go! DOES NOT AFFECT any roster players as far as anyone having to leave!!!
- undisputed_8821

How does adding another forward not affect the roster?

How does adding another forward not affect the roster?
- abware

Because life is NHL 12 where giving a player top 6 minutes one game and scratching him the next has no effect on team chemistry or player morale.

Because life is NHL 12 where giving a player top 6 minutes one game and scratching him the next has no effect on team chemistry or player morale.
- Morris

well played sir. well played.

Any chance we go after Daniel Winnik? That's a guy who could help our team.

Any chance we go after Daniel Winnik? That's a guy who could help our team.
- Morris

Damn Winnik be such a good addition rather than Smyth in my opinion.

Damn Winnik be such a good addition rather than Smyth in my opinion.
- deks1

In what world is Winnik better then Smyth? Winnik bumps Petrell, not Smyth.

I'm really bored. Here's some Oilers all-time records:

-Ryan Smyth will stand pat as 6th in all-time Oilers scoring this year, but could surpass Paul Coffey by the end of his career with 74 points. He's already the highest scoring Oilers LW of all time.

-Ales Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff will both leap-frog Esa Tikkanen this season to take 8th and 9th Respectively. Hemsky is 4 points behind Horcoff, so he'll probably pass him too. Horcoff is 4th all time amongst Oilers centres and Hemsky is 3rd for RWs. With Gretzky, Messier, Weight and Kurri, Anderson ahead of them, they probably won't get any higher than that in their careers.

- Even a pedestrian season will move Sam Gagner into 17th all-time. A season on par with last year would place Eberle 25th, Hall 45th.

-The Oilers haven't had a player record 60+ points in consecutive seasons since Doug Weight in 1999-2000, 2000-2001.

-The Oilers haven't had more than three players net 50+ points since 2005-2006. They currently have 7 players that have scored 50+ points in the past.

Any chance we go after Daniel Winnik? That's a guy who could help our team.
- Morris

Winnik would be good for our 4th line...

In what world is Winnik better then Smyth? Winnik bumps Petrell, not Smyth.
- Zombie

I don't think Winnik is better than Smyth as a player, I am simply looking at a organization stand point. He is younger, cheaper cost than Smyth, can kill penalties, defensive acumen, good depth option for 3LW or 4LW, good size for bottom six. He won't be able to put up Smyth point totals, but I thought he would be a good addition to the team.

I know you'll call me a homer, but unless it's Eberle for a signed Weber straight up, I wouldn't trade Eberle for anyone else in the NHL.
- BigDre

I can think of easily a dozen guys I would trade Eberle for without hesitation.

No, the start of your sentence was. It didnt make any sense.

But anyway, hes a natural center, and was moved to the wing in colorado cause they wanted him top 6 and already had duchene and stastny.

Im not arguing for mueller per se, hes an effin bandaid, but more for the reasonable argument that undisputed made.

Side note- to throw a little gas on the fire: i also think his ceiling is higher than gagners
- hugefemale dog77

Thank you!! I am learning that these boards are for humor ONLY and serious hockey talk gets turned into a pissing match between childish morons that will argue just for the sake of arguing!! These boards are for the childish (Ruttager, Ryan types) that have nothing to do in their spare time but come on here and point out obvious flaws in hockey talk like "You are NOT a qualified GM" Or signing a player to help the team doesn't help the team because of this or that!

Anyway thanks for the support I will stand by all of my statements on here like a man should (take notes Ruttager). I still believe I couldn't do a worse job than management has the past 5 years and YES I am not qualified to be a GM but you know what I personally don't think KLowe or Garth Snow are either and they have jobs as GM's!

First suck it children of hockeybuzz!! YEAH I'M COOL!!

I still believe I couldn't do a worse job than management has the past 5 years and YES I am not qualified to be a GM but you know what I personally don't think KLowe or Garth Snow are either and they have jobs as GM's!

- undisputed_8821

Yes you would. You would do a worse job because you have no knowledge of the ins and outs of the NHL.

Look at the GMs of the league and tell me what 90ish% have in common. They have been associated with the NHL, or high levels of hockey for decades.

--Lowe and Tambi both played and stayed in the league in the offices of teams.

Many also have a high degree from a Post Secondary Institute.

--Burke and Lombardi are both lawyers

You as a shlub just pulling comments out of your ass are in no way even as qualified as the much maligned Tambellini. Heck even Howson is more qualified and see how he has ruined CBJ.

As much as you like to think you have the ability to do it, you don't. Or more to the point, you may have the ability to make decisions but you do not have the knowledge to do it.

Sorry guy, but it is just true.

Yes you would. You would do a worse job because you have no knowledge of the ins and outs of the NHL.

Look at the GMs of the league and tell me what 90ish% have in common. They have been associated with the NHL, or high levels of hockey for decades.

--Lowe and Tambi both played and stayed in the league in the offices of teams.

Many also have a high degree from a Post Secondary Institute.

--Burke and Lombardi are both lawyers

You as a shlub just pulling comments out of your ass are in no way even as qualified as the much maligned Tambellini. Heck even Howson is more qualified and see how he has ruined CBJ.

As much as you like to think you have the ability to do it, you don't. Or more to the point, you may have the ability to make decisions but you do not have the knowledge to do it.

Sorry guy, but it is just true.
- OilHorse

Give me 2 years to learn the ins and outs, and 3 years later whatever team I'm the GM of will win a cup. I guarantee it. Katz, if you're reading this (and I know you are) PM me, luh!

Give me 2 years to learn the ins and outs, and 3 years later whatever team I'm the GM of will win a cup. I guarantee it. Katz, if you're reading this (and I know you are) PM me, luh!
- laughs2907

But you are a special case.

But you are a special case.
- OilHorse

That's what my mom tells me. She also says I'm quite handsome.

That's what my mom tells me. She also says I'm quite handsome.
- laughs2907

That's what moms do.

Having Gilbert 2.0 might not be a bad thing.
- Starbuck

I agree

That's what moms do.
- OilHorse

Yeah