Like who? Vanouver is worse, Calgary is worse, SJ is worse, Chicago is worse, Dallas is worse, Phoenix is about to get worse. Minny added Suter so will be tougher, LA will be tough, Anaheim is worse. Tell me how the west got tougher and better defensively?

- Iggysbff

This... Or hoW exactly is San Jose and Detroit better teams this upcoming season?? Fringe playoffs for the sharks and the wings r done! Book it... Further there is no way the Avs are consider in the hunt for for upper level in the conf either... the we're bottom feeders the first 40 games if I recall and wanted their coach axed?? Funny how we forget! Oh well we will enjoy lighting up Howard and co this season...

How is anaheim a worse team than last year? We're only a second line center away from being a very competitive team.
- selanne4pres

What is Koivu?

How is anaheim a worse team than last year? We're only a second line center away from being a very competitive team.
- selanne4pres

A lot depends on hiler!

The Kings got lucky at the right time, ended up on a hot streak just in time to steal a Stanley Cup. Congrats, enjoy it, but don't act like your team has any chance of repeating. Much like the Carolina Hurricanes & Edmonton Oilers of 2006, the LA Kings are "one & done". Enjoy it for the rest of the summer.
- Sammy Van Hagar

We were built for many seasons to come. The Oilers? One and done, and didn't even get it done. Enjoy your summer as well. Lol..

Admit it. You're envious of the Los Angeles Kings, because they just won the Stanley Cup. The Kings are so full of young talent mixed with veteran leadership, it's only a matter of time before the Dynasty 1.0 begins. Don't be jealous, I mean, your team made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 05-06. Don't feel bad, your team will be back to the cup finals just in time for another loss.............. in 5-10 years.
- StayTunedMTC

Chicago and Pittsburgh say hello. I heard dynasty talk after their Cup wins also. It seems to me people don't realize that the era of dynasties is over. Its too hard to retain talent and other teams are always improving.

While I am tempted to light you up over the ridiculous and juvenile diatribe, I will digress as fans of the Cup winning team get a full year of bragging rights. I should know, as we got almost a decade worth of bragging rights a while back. Enjoy it and be happy for your team but remember, no one likes a sore winner.

Haha, nah..

That is reality.. You really think teams like LA, Phoenix, SJ, STL, NSH, COL, DAL & VAN are just going to let your skill guys skate around them? Think about it.. There is a reason players don't jump directly to the NHL very often even with high skill.

Most of EDMs best players would not be in the NHL for at least another year if they were not top 5 draft picks. That is fine when adding one or two of them to the mix or if they are physically mature like Landeskog. But a top 6 of junior speed/skill guys are going to get ground up like hamburger in the second half of the season when the games are more bloody.
- Steve-B

We have two recent top 5 draft picks on our team: Hall, who is absolutely ready for the NHL and is as physically mature as Landeskog, and RNH, who was a calder candidate this year who injured his shoulder falling into the boards.

I can't remember the last time a 1st overall went back for a full year of non-NHL
after being drafted. It's not like we did anything out of the ordinary by bringing either up to the big club.

We were built for many seasons to come. The Oilers? One and done, and didn't even get it done. Enjoy your summer as well. Lol..
- Ersberg

All time the Oilers are 5 for 7 in Cup finals. We may suck now, but at least keep your facts straight.

How is anaheim a worse team than last year? We're only a second line center away from being a very competitive team.
- selanne4pres

I think he's referring to the possible loss of Ryan

All time the Oilers are 5 for 7 in Cup finals. We may suck now, but at least keep your facts straight.
- GuyLaDouche

Fitting name, considering we were discussing the most recent Oilers sucess. Ie the Pronger/Smyth finals vs this seasons LA team.

Learn to read..Douche-bag.

What is Koivu?
- _Zippy_

Koivu isn't going to cut it anymore. If another center comes in there will probably be a 2a and 2b line.

Also does anyone have any background with bryan allen? I feel like he could greatly impact the backend and help hiller out. You can never block too many shots.

I think he's referring to the possible loss of Ryan
- freelancer

There's way too many maybes left in the rest of the offseason. Guys like Ryan and Nash could still be in play, let alone the chance that free agents with game left in them (Doan, Green, Semin) could change teams, let alone still the chance that guys like Rosival or Coliaccovo could bounce back (maybe on a team like the Oilers).

Like who? Vanouver is worse, Calgary is worse, SJ is worse, Chicago is worse, Dallas is worse, Phoenix is about to get worse. Minny added Suter so will be tougher, LA will be tough, Anaheim is worse. Tell me how the west got tougher and better defensively?

- Iggysbff

So you throw out a bunch of teams and say they are worse without giving an actual reasonable explanation, and you expect people to take you seriously?

How is SJ worse they just added Stuart.

How is Vancouver worse? They didn't lose anyone important and they added Garrison.

How is Chicago worse? They will be healthy this year.

Dallas is not worse, they have some question marks with how well the veterans they brought in will hold up but largely they are a more skilled team. They lost some grit in OTT but that's one player. Ribero for Whitney & Jagr? OTT for Roy?

Calgary, yeah they are worse did I list them? No..

Phoenix is going to be hurting offensively if they lose Doan but there is no guarantee of that and they will be largely the same physical defensive team that they were before.

Anaheim is in fact not worse or better, same team.. Basically hanging in the balance between rebuilding or retooling. A lot of questions going forward but they will still be a physical team as they always have been.

There's way too many maybes left in the rest of the offseason. Guys like Ryan and Nash could still be in play, let alone the chance that free agents with game left in them (Doan, Green, Semin) could change teams, let alone still the chance that guys like Rosival or Coliaccovo could bounce back (maybe on a team like the Oilers).
- Morris

True, of course doing any conference predictions now is super premature as well

Fitting name, considering we were discussing the most recent Oilers sucess. Ie the Pronger/Smyth finals vs this seasons LA team.

Learn to read..Douche-bag.
- Ersberg

Learn to read? Did you actually just do that? Come on bro...

I was setting the record straight.I did so. Enjoy your year of bragging rights. They've earned it.

So you throw out a bunch of teams and say they are worse without giving an actual reasonable explanation, and you expect people to take you seriously?

How is SJ worse they just added Stuart.

How is Vancouver worse? They didn't lose anyone important and they added Garrison.

How is Chicago worse? They will be healthy this year.

Dallas is not worse, they have some question marks with how well the veterans they brought in will hold up but largely they are a more skilled team. They lost some grit in OTT but that's one player. Ribero for Whitney & Jagr? OTT for Roy?

Calgary, yeah they are worse did I list them? No..

Phoenix is going to be hurting offensively if they lose Doan but there is no guarantee of that and they will be largely the same physical defensive team that they were before.

Anaheim is in fact not worse or better, same team.. Basically hanging in the balance between rebuilding or retooling. A lot of questions going forward but they will still be a physical team as they always have been.
- Steve-B

Well Vancouver will be losing their starting goalie shortly.

We have two recent top 5 draft picks on our team: Hall, who is absolutely ready for the NHL and is as physically mature as Landeskog, and RNH, who was a calder candidate this year who injured his shoulder falling into the boards.

I can't remember the last time a 1st overall went back for a full year of non-NHL
after being drafted. It's not like we did anything out of the ordinary by bringing either up to the big club.
- Morris

Do you realize how retarded that sounds? Landeskog & RNH being compared in physical maturity and then saying RNH hurt himself falling down. LMAO

And yes 1st overalls don't go back to Junior very often, but they often go to bad teams or are surrounded by other more mature players so that the team is not relying on them fully.

EDM is relying on Hall, Eberle, RNH, Yakupv which have a combined what 5 years of NHL experience and physical development? Shultz coming out of college should help but still lacks experience.

Seguin, Duchene, Tavares... All those guys went to teams who have other players that have been in the league for a bit. Especially Seguin & Duchene. They were not relied on to be #1 centers (Tavares was but NYI finished bottom 5 didn't they?) or wingers in their first year. Landeskog was not relied on for that either he made himself that guy. He started on our 3RD line..

Well Vancouver will be losing their starting goalie shortly.
- flamminghead

Because their young backup is better? Yeah that makes them worse.. Nice try

Do you realize how retarded that sounds? Landeskog & RNH being compared in physical maturity and then saying RNH hurt himself falling down. LMAO

And yes 1st overalls don't go back to Junior very often, but they often go to bad teams or are surrounded by other more mature players so that the team is not relying on them fully.

EDM is relying on Hall, Eberle, RNH, Yakupv which have a combined what 5 years of NHL experience and physical development? Shultz coming out of college should help but still lacks experience.

Seguin, Duchene, Tavares... All those guys went to teams who have other players that have been in the league for a bit. Especially Seguin & Duchene. They were not relied on to be #1 centers (Tavares was but NYI finished bottom 5 didn't they?) or wingers in their first year. Landeskog was not relied on for that either he made himself that guy. He started on our 3RD line..
- Steve-B

"Hall, who is absolutely ready for the NHL and is as physically mature as Landeskog".

I would have thought it was impossible to misinterpret that.

"Hall, who is absolutely ready for the NHL and is as physically mature as Landeskog".

I would have thought it was impossible to misinterpret that.
- Morris

Hall isn't quite fully matured I don't think, not at 6'1 195.. Hell even Duchene is 200lbs and had been since he was drafted. He also looks like hes going to be coming in at more like 205lbs from the pictures I've seen recently.

Hall is still a wire.. and Eberle is just small. So back to my "EDM needs to add size in their top 6 argument." They need PRV to bring a physical element (He has the size, will he ever do it though?) and they need to replace Hemsky with a bigger physical winger that can still put up some points.

Because their young backup is better? Yeah that makes them worse.. Nice try
- Steve-B

Well Schneider has never proven that he can handle a full season and one of Vancouver's strengths before was that if Luongo faltered they had a good back up for him. Now they will have to play Eddie Lack in those situations. So yeah they will be a little worse. Still best team in the division though.

As a further point, I wonder if you have any idea the roles that the young players have been given so far. Horcoff, Hemsky and Penner/Smyth have consistently played more minutes than Taylor Hall, let alone the others, and the difficulty of minutes in terms of assignment and zonestart aren't even comparable.

They're not being sent out to (m)any of the tough jobs period, let alone are they the only ones doing them.

Well Schneider has never proven that he can handle a full season and one of Vancouver's strengths before was that if Luongo faltered they had a good back up for him. Now they will have to play Eddie Lack in those situations. So yeah they will be a little worse. Still best team in the division though.
- flamminghead

Schneider played 33 games.. 20 more games is not going to kill his numbers when hes been so consistent.

I am surprised they have not added a veteran backup but there is still time for that.

Van
La
Stl
Chi
Nsh
Min
Det
Dal
And the east
Pit
Bos
Tb
Nyr
Phi
Wsh
Nj
Car

As a further point, I wonder if you have any idea the roles that the young players have been given so far. Horcoff, Hemsky and Penner/Smyth have consistently played more minutes than Taylor Hall, let alone the others, and the difficulty of minutes in terms of assignment and zonestart aren't even comparable.

They're not being sent out to (m)any of the tough jobs period, let alone are they the only ones doing them.
- Morris

But they will be this season, and that will be a learning experience. (And yes I can't stand Cloutier, but I do read/watch the train wreck. Someone has to troll you guys. =) I still put EDM at 11th ahead of a lot of other teams. I just don't see them making the playoffs over the teams ahead of them.

Hall isn't quite fully matured I don't think, not at 6'1 195.. Hell even Duchene is 200lbs and had been since he was drafted. He also looks like hes going to be coming in at more like 205lbs from the pictures I've seen recently.

Hall is still a wire.. and Eberle is just small. So back to my "EDM needs to add size in their top 6 argument." They need PRV to bring a physical element (He has the size, will he ever do it though?) and they need to replace Hemsky with a bigger physical winger that can still put up some points.
- Steve-B

Hall will grow from here on out for sure, but he's mature enough to play in the NHL by a wide measure. And I'd say he's 200 or more now.

I already mentioned that size is an issue for the oilers currently (mostly just in the top 6). That being said, as Hall, Yakupov, Gagner, Pajaarvi and others fill out, they'll all be in and around 200 pounds (Paajarvi more, Yaks less). What would be the point of making a major change with those guys if we're happy with their play. The size issue will solve itself soon enough.

Like who? Vanouver is worse, Calgary is worse, SJ is worse, Chicago is worse, Dallas is worse, Phoenix is about to get worse. Minny added Suter so will be tougher, LA will be tough, Anaheim is worse. Tell me how the west got tougher and better defensively?

- Iggysbff

And Vancouver is sure worse. Ha thats a joke. Wanna explain how there worse