Richard Cloutier: Oh, Let's Just Keep Everyone!

Seems like a legit plan...

Really Good Blog Bub. You summed it up pretty good.

If they keep Hemsky and get rid of the 3rd line center (Or a 2nd line center, NHL caliber dman, etc) then it would just be more proof that management is incompetent.

Change isn't all bad. They have 3 Offensive minded RW's. One has to go to bring back inorder to bring back something of need. ANd it really pains me to say this, but we have to keep Horcoff "The Juggler" until a suitable 3rd line center can be had to replace him.

And Smyth need to be given the option of Retirement or trade/waiver. Their really is no need to keep him next year.

Seems like a legit plan...
- Fruitcakenipple

Except Pittsburgh has zero interest in Hemsky. Clouts needs to get that through his narrow head. He doesn't serve a purpose in Pittsburgh or fill a need.

Except Pittsburgh has zero interest in Hemsky. Clouts needs to get that through his narrow head. He doesn't serve a purpose in Pittsburgh or fill a need.
- Oneonta Penguin

Clouts knows as much about hockey as he does about nutrition.

Except Pittsburgh has zero interest in Hemsky. Clouts needs to get that through his narrow head. He doesn't serve a purpose in Pittsburgh or fill a need.
- Oneonta Penguin

Fine than....Stupid plan Clouts...

Man, Petry is a good young dman, but rough night for him where he played decent as a whole. Just an unlucky bounce for the tying goal and a sweet dangle by datsyuk

Hi Oilers. I have RNH in two hockey pools, and he's seriously breaking my balls at this point. It's not a keeper league, so I have 20 games left. Any of you Oiler fans see any indication that RNH will pick it up in the stretch run? Can't believe I'd drop RNH but man, how is he not getting more points than this even just by accident?

Do you guys need another hard hitting shut down dman or a mobile guy to top of your back end

Except Pittsburgh has zero interest in Hemsky. Clouts needs to get that through his narrow head. He doesn't serve a purpose in Pittsburgh or fill a need.
- Oneonta Penguin

Another top 6 winger seems like a need to me. you have crosby-kunitz, malkin-neal which is the deadly, dupuis can play in the top 6 if hes with those guys, why woudnt hemsky help? all those other guys play somewhat physical so its not like your top 6 is small or soft. Obviously you would rather iggy, but if you miss out on him, hemsky seems he would be a nice addition.
Unless you would want to further shore up your defense, as it seems like thats your weakest area.

Really Good Blog Bub. You summed it up pretty good.

If they keep Hemsky and get rid of the 3rd line center (Or a 2nd line center, NHL caliber dman, etc) then it would just be more proof that management is incompetent.

Change isn't all bad. They have 3 Offensive minded RW's. One has to go to bring back inorder to bring back something of need. ANd it really pains me to say this, but we have to keep Horcoff "The Juggler" until a suitable 3rd line center can be had to replace him.

And Smyth need to be given the option of Retirement or trade/waiver. Their really is no need to keep him next year.
- Oilnutz

Like we still need proof of managements incompetence?

Really Good Blog Bub. You summed it up pretty good.

If they keep Hemsky and get rid of the 3rd line center (Or a 2nd line center, NHL caliber dman, etc) then it would just be more proof that management is incompetent.

Change isn't all bad. They have 3 Offensive minded RW's. One has to go to bring back inorder to bring back something of need. ANd it really pains me to say this, but we have to keep Horcoff "The Juggler" until a suitable 3rd line center can be had to replace him.

And Smyth need to be given the option of Retirement or trade/waiver. Their really is no need to keep him next year.
- Oilnutz

Smyth is on a +35 contract so retirement or waivers doesn't get his cap hit off the books. Only options there are a trade or a buyout

Don't usually comment but a quick correction on your blog. I appreciate your stuff Richard. I love your passion and bluntness, close to my own heart

But, just an fyi rookies bonuses do not count against the cap the next few years so while I agree we need upgrades, it does not have to be due to cap restraint. That is why they'll keep Horc for sure and why I expect them to keep Smid. We absolutely do need upgrades on D and on Belanger. Hope they claim Adam Hall in waivers. He is a younger, bigger, more physical and just as effective pk and faceoff man for half the price of Belanger. Like Brown upgraded Eager, Hall upgrades Belanger. Makes too much sense to happen.

Just trade Yak for a vet already

Hi Oilers. I have RNH in two hockey pools, and he's seriously breaking my balls at this point. It's not a keeper league, so I have 20 games left. Any of you Oiler fans see any indication that RNH will pick it up in the stretch run? Can't believe I'd drop RNH but man, how is he not getting more points than this even just by accident?
- Zezel

One of the big problems with RNH has been with Horcoff out, he has been facing the oppositions top lines, and D-pairings. Last year Renney sheltered him alot, and kept him in positions that he could succeed. He's actually been doing ok with it defensively, and sawing off pretty well with scoring chances, the points just havn't been coming.

I'd say with Horc back now it should open things up a little for him, and his PP numbers should come back a little. So I'd expect him to finish off the season a little better than he's been thus far. RNH will be fine, just growing pains of a 19yo learning to be a #1 Center in the NHL.

One of the big problems with RNH has been with Horcoff out, he has been facing the oppositions top lines, and D-pairings. Last year Renney sheltered him alot, and kept him in positions that he could succeed. He's actually been doing ok with it defensively, and sawing off pretty well with scoring chances, the points just havn't been coming.

I'd say with Horc back now it should open things up a little for him, and his PP numbers should come back a little. So I'd expect him to finish off the season a little better than he's been thus far. RNH will be fine, just growing pains of a 19yo learning to be a #1 Center in the NHL.
- steveb12344

Good insight bro, I appreciate it. Yeah, my teams are deep at forward so I was thinking of dropping him just to pick up D, but I can't bring myself to do it. It seems like he just has to payoff a little bit more before this thing is through.

By the way both my pool teams are stocked with Oilers' star forwards, so Let's Go Oilers!!!

Another top 6 winger seems like a need to me. you have crosby-kunitz, malkin-neal which is the deadly, dupuis can play in the top 6 if hes with those guys, why woudnt hemsky help? all those other guys play somewhat physical so its not like your top 6 is small or soft. Obviously you would rather iggy, but if you miss out on him, hemsky seems he would be a nice addition.
Unless you would want to further shore up your defense, as it seems like thats your weakest area.
- pbrsimps

No, we need help with a physical presence on the third line. Why screw up the chemistry on our first line when its already the best or arguably the best line in hockey? Dupes is a third line type of player, but has generated loads of chemistry.

We don't need Iggy. We are the highest scoring team in the league without him. Unless Iggy is a physical presence on the third line, or can be a younger Brooks Orpik on the back end, he isn't needed. It's foolish to trade a first and a D prospect to Calgary for a 35 year old rental that we really don't need.

Hemsky serves no purpose either. He sucks defensively and he isn't a third line guy. Add in the fact he has a 5 million cap hit and his injury history, that has disaster written all over it. He is more likely to be on the IR than to do anything relevant for the Pens. The cap goes down, not up and Hemsky is making 2 million too much relative to what he actually does.

Like we still need proof of managements incompetence?
- cdjaakkola

No. I'm just hoping that enough booboos add up that somebody come to their senses and skids the whole crew.

I'm not holding my breath though.

Smyth is on a +35 contract so retirement or waivers doesn't get his cap hit off the books. Only options there are a trade or a buyout
- qwijibo

I was afraid of that. Do you know if he has a NTC/NMC?

Good insight bro, I appreciate it. Yeah, my teams are deep at forward so I was thinking of dropping him just to pick up D, but I can't bring myself to do it. It seems like he just has to payoff a little bit more before this thing is through.

By the way both my pool teams are stocked with Oilers' star forwards, so Let's Go Oilers!!!
- Zezel

Ya, I feel your pain. I have RNH on one of my teams too, and he's been the lowest ranked player on the team pretty much all year. In the 3 games since Horc came back RNH has 3 pts though. Maybe he'll start lighting it up down the stretch. Him and Ebs are definately due.

The worst though is I used an early pick to get Yakupov on my keeper team. Not only is he pretty much the lowest ranked player on my team, but with the emergence of a few others. (eg. Clarkson) I really don't see how i can even keep Yaks now.

I was afraid of that. Do you know if he has a NTC/NMC?
- Oilnutz

Yeah smyth is not being traded. Not after he moves his family here and declares his love for Edmonton. It would be optically even worse than the Souray debacle and back to being choice #30 for free agents.

Eberle and RNH must be playing hurt, Eberle still having problems with that finger?...Nuge with his shoulder?...

No, we need help with a physical presence on the third line. Why screw up the chemistry on our first line when its already the best or arguably the best line in hockey? Dupes is a third line type of player, but has generated loads of chemistry.

We don't need Iggy. We are the highest scoring team in the league without him. Unless Iggy is a physical presence on the third line, or can be a younger Brooks Orpik on the back end, he isn't needed. It's foolish to trade a first and a D prospect to Calgary for a 35 year old rental that we really don't need.

Hemsky serves no purpose either. He sucks defensively and he isn't a third line guy. Add in the fact he has a 5 million cap hit and his injury history, that has disaster written all over it. He is more likely to be on the IR than to do anything relevant for the Pens. The cap goes down, not up and Hemsky is making 2 million too much relative to what he actually does.
- Oneonta Penguin

Who is your 6th forward?

Who is your 6th forward?
- pbrsimps

Beau Bennett, who has played well with Malkin and Neal. Beau isn't a third line guy.

Bottom line, we don't need help in our top six. We have other needs.

Oilers need to target guys like Raffe Torres, Curtis Glencross and Sheldon Souray.

Oh forget it.... My bad