Glen Miller: Game Day: Jackets Getting Healthier in Advance of Matchup With Oil

We just had confirmation that Hall and Eberle both will be in.

Simply put we need to spank you guys tonight. This team has been struggling and shouldn't be playing as bad as it has. I'm hoping the players see that a loss tonight and we are 2 points out of 15th.

We just had confirmation that Hall and Eberle both will be in.

Simply put we need to spank you guys tonight. This team has been struggling and shouldn't be playing as bad as it has. I'm hoping the players see that a loss tonight and we are 2 points out of 15th.
- Lahey

I figured that would be the case. It's clear why they made the move for Brown. There is plenty of skill but little grit in that lineup. Need more players willing to pay the price. What's the deal with Nuge, anyway? Is he playing well but not getting the points or has he struggled?

Glen Miller: Game Day: Jackets Getting Healthier in Advance of Matchup With Oil
- Glen Miller

I wouldn't compare Dorsett with Brown, at least Dorsett has some form of a scoring touch.

I figured that would be the case. It's clear why they made the move for Brown. There is plenty of skill but little grit in that lineup. Need more players willing to pay the price. What's the deal with Nuge, anyway? Is he playing well but not getting the points or has he struggled?
- Glen Miller

Depends who you talk to. Some think Nuge is still banged up as he had shoulder injuries before the WJC. It could be the case of a guy that is sore and maybe needs surgery at some point, but he's also not being sheltered.

Last year Smyth-Horcoff and whoever always went against the other teams best. After the all-star game the kids finally played against tougher competition. This year however, Kreguer doesn't give a crap. He is rolling his lines out and putting the kids in tough spots, which I don't mind.

You know it's odd we have a lot of grit, the real problem is the guys playing the most minutes don't have enough to be successful.

Depends who you talk to. Some think Nuge is still banged up as he had shoulder injuries before the WJC. It could be the case of a guy that is sore and maybe needs surgery at some point, but he's also not being sheltered.

Last year Smyth-Horcoff and whoever always went against the other teams best. After the all-star game the kids finally played against tougher competition. This year however, Kreguer doesn't give a crap. He is rolling his lines out and putting the kids in tough spots, which I don't mind.

You know it's odd we have a lot of grit, the real problem is the guys playing the most minutes don't have enough to be successful.
- Lahey

Right, I meant to say they needed more grit in their top lines. In essence, they need one or more physical forwards who can play top-six minutes.

Right, I meant to say they needed more grit in their top lines. In essence, they need one or more physical forwards who can play top-six minutes.
- Glen Miller

I at least hope a guy like Brown will stand up for our players though. It's odd that Gagner has to drop the mitts because he is getting pushed around. I like to see it, but it shouldn't have to come to that.

I wouldn't compare Dorsett with Brown, at least Dorsett has some form of a scoring touch.
- Alexzanki

Matheson did say that as well. I think he compared the two more in the fighting category as he said Brown isn't a true heavyweight and he's closer to Dorsett in that regard.

As for trade purposes regarding Dorsett (more on that later) I definitely feel he has far more value than Brown but a 4th/3rd is the starting point. For Dorsett you work your way up in terms of compensation from a 3rd.

Boll is probably a closer compareable to Brown. Both best suited as 4th line guys and both willing to drop the gloves. We now know the value for that player is going to top out around a 3rd round pick at this point. The price might rise the closer we get to the deadline. Of course should Kekalainen and Co. think he's more valuable than that then they simply decide to keep him.

I at least hope a guy like Brown will stand up for our players though. It's odd that Gagner has to drop the mitts because he is getting pushed around. I like to see it, but it shouldn't have to come to that.
- Lahey

Agree. Gagner is your leading scorer and you generally don't want him off the ice for five. Brown will fit nicely on the 4th line but how much he will discourage opponents from taking liberties with your top players is yet to be seen.

Agree. Gagner is your leading scorer and you generally don't want him off the ice for five. Brown will fit nicely on the 4th line but how much he will discourage opponents from taking liberties with your top players is yet to be seen.
- Glen Miller

I love guys like Macintyre and McGratton, but the simple fact is when we had one the liberties were still being taking.

I don't know if you'll ever discourage it, but what you can do is fight back. Dorrsett hits Hall with a borderline hit, then Brown goes and hits Ansiminov.

The other real problem especially the other night was no one was there to throw that big check to spark the troops. Fistric has been good at this. Eager had a couple this year that changed momentum, just haven't had enough of it.

I love guys like Macintyre and McGratton, but the simple fact is when we had one the liberties were still being taking.

I don't know if you'll ever discourage it, but what you can do is fight back. Dorrsett hits Hall with a borderline hit, then Brown goes and hits Ansiminov.

The other real problem especially the other night was no one was there to throw that big check to spark the troops. Fistric has been good at this. Eager had a couple this year that changed momentum, just haven't had enough of it.
- Lahey

I'm sure every coach talks about laying the body on the young skill guys there. That probably won't change but you definitely need to make sure you have some guys that can do the same to the opposition. Actually, a guy like Dorsett wouldn't be a bad fit. He isn't an ideal top-six winger but can fake it as he does here in Columbus.

Im hoping for a string of embarrassing losses so that it becomes quite clear that our management needs to go.

I figured that would be the case. It's clear why they made the move for Brown. There is plenty of skill but little grit in that lineup. Need more players willing to pay the price. What's the deal with Nuge, anyway? Is he playing well but not getting the points or has he struggled?
- Glen Miller

I never look at the stats so I had no idea how few points Nuge has been getting.

I do watch every game and I follow Nuge around when I watch.

He has created so many opportunities that have just not gone in. His play with the puck is impressive along the boards. He is getting more and more elusive.

His defensive play and instincts are criminally underrated.

The Oilers PP was unstoppable when they had Eberle on the left post and Nuge on the left wall.

They stopped that and stopped scoring.

Nuge is fine.

I never look at the stats so I had no idea how few points Nuge has been getting.

I do watch every game and I follow Nuge around when I watch.

He has created so many opportunities that have just not gone in. His play with the puck is impressive along the boards. He is getting more and more elusive.

His defensive play and instincts are criminally underrated.

The Oilers PP was unstoppable when they had Eberle on the left post and Nuge on the left wall.

They stopped that and stopped scoring.

Nuge is fine.
- yaktalksback

PP went down hill when horc got injuried.

PP went down hill when horc got injuried.
- Lahey

and where were Eberle and Nuge positioned when Horc was playing? Exactly as I described. They moved them.

Horc was not the main factor in that pp. It was the puck movement between Eberle and Nuge on the left side that was effective.

and where were Eberle and Nuge positioned when Horc was playing? Exactly as I described. They moved them.

Horc was not the main factor in that pp. It was the puck movement between Eberle and Nuge on the left side that was effective.
- yaktalksback

Winning a draw and fighting for the puck the way he did is being missed.

Winning a draw and fighting for the puck the way he did is being missed.
- Lahey

I agree and noticed that. I was lovin Horcoff's game before the injury.

I just think if we moved Eberle back where he was, a guy like Smyth etc in Horcoff's place could do a good enough job that our PP would improve.

"Both goaltenders have been fairly solid this season"

Nice Glen,

Only the CBJ would consider those golatending numbers "fairly solid"

"Both goaltenders have been fairly solid this season"

Nice Glen,

Only the CBJ would consider those golatending numbers "fairly solid"

- JasonHarrison

If you've watched them over the last few weeks then you would see they have been pretty good. Numbers don't tell the whole story. I'm not saying either of them have played at an elite level but they haven't been the problem most nights.

If you've watched them over the last few weeks then you would see they have been pretty good. Numbers don't tell the whole story. I'm not saying either of them have played at an elite level but they haven't been the problem most nights.
- Glen Miller

Agreed Mace and Bob had to bail that team out on some nights when faced with 30 plus shots.

Agreed Mace and Bob had to bail that team out on some nights when faced with 30 plus shots.
- Alexzanki

Still prone to giving up that bad goal but there have been a lot of bad turnovers that end up in the back of the net too. I can honestly say the goaltending has been better most nights than we are accustomed to.

I was wondering if Ansiminov would fit with the Oilers, yes he would after watching him closely last night.

Hat off to Bob he flat out won the game for ya.