Matt Henderson: The Team As MacT Built It

I don't know if I'd put Fayne and Ference together. Who moves the puck or joins the rush on that pairing? I'd probably go
Marincin-Petry
Fayne-Schultz
Ference-Nikitin

Matt Henderson: The Team As MacT Built It
- Matt_Henderson

Top two centres with a combined weight of 200lbs soaking wet

I don't know if I'd put Fayne and Ference together. Who moves the puck or joins the rush on that pairing? I'd probably go
Marincin-Petry
Fayne-Schultz
Ference-Nikitin
- TheNugeIsHuge

Yep, but I'm going with what I think Eakins will start the year with.

Top two centres with a combined weight of 200lbs soaking wet
- Emcee27

Yep, but I'm going with what I think Eakins will start the year with.
- Matt_Henderson

I'm sure it'll evolve some. Who knows, maybe Nikitin-Petry are great, Marincin-Fayne click, and Schultz loses some ice time! One can dream

But really, why didnt you take a flyer on Ollie Jokinen

But really, why didnt you take a flyer on Ollie Jokinen
- TheJerseyDevil1

The reports are that the oilers tried to do just that

The reports are that the oilers tried to do just that
- Matt_Henderson

They couldn't outbid a one year contract for 2.5? I don't think they were trying too hard.

They couldn't outbid a one year contract for 2.5? I don't think they were trying too hard.
- TheJerseyDevil1

who knows maybe Olli was sick of playing in Canada, or didn't like Edmonton as a city going there so often during his time with the Flames and Jets

Until Draisaitl is ready, I think the Oilers continue to struggle??? Although not to the level they have in the past few years.

who knows maybe Olli was sick of playing in Canada, or didn't like Edmonton as a city going there so often during his time with the Flames and Jets
- DDM-Coga

He would've probably been a 1st line center on opening night in Edmonton. He'd have to really hate the idea of playing there to turn that down from a career POV.

Maybe if yaks, nuge, Schultz and petry take big steps. as well as one of scrivens/fasth being all world.....

Otherwise this isn't a playoff squad

He would've probably been a 1st line center on opening night in Edmonton. He'd have to really hate the idea of playing there to turn that down from a career POV.
- TheJerseyDevil1

unless he felt the oilers are no closer to the playoffs and was waiting for a team that was and had to settle with the Preds?

He hasn't been in the playoffs since 2008, (his only time). Maybe he seems himself as trade bait in Nashville?

He would've probably been a 1st line center on opening night in Edmonton. He'd have to really hate the idea of playing there to turn that down from a career POV.
- TheJerseyDevil1

You think Olli>RNH?

But really, why didnt you take a flyer on Ollie Jokinen
- TheJerseyDevil1

Arco (26) is putting up 2 points per game in the AHL and showed well in the NHL in a top 6 role. One way contract.

Lander (23) is finally putting up a point per game in the AHL and is a well respected prospect that just hasn't translated his game to the NHL level yet. One way contract.

Pitlick (22). Not a center but another prospect that needs to potentially have a roster spot available for. Pitlick has a great 2 way game, above average NHL skill set (skating, size, checking, shooting, passing etc) that has been derailed primarily by injuries but has shown ok even at the NHL level. One way Contract.

Leon Draisaitl (19) NHL ready size and offensive skill set. All around game probably could use more time developing outside of the NHL. If he shows as well as Hopkins did in his draft year it will be impossible to keep this guy out of the line up. Can be sent down.

We also have another winger Joensuu signed and battling for a roster spot. Showed really well in camp but has back problems. One way Contract.

Plus a slew full of regular prospects that if show well might be able to bump their way into the line up.

Plus we have Petry, Yak, Marincin, Fasthe, and Schultz to sign at the end of this next year. Cap space will be an issue and bringing in another Center is simply not economical with the roster we already have.

At some point to be successful we need to be able to fill roles and needs from within in a cap world.

Spending 5 years on a solid prospect like Lander and then letting someone scoop him through waivers would be terrible. Every team has to make roster spots available for prospects within their system to compete for. It just sucks because in the Oilers situation it happens to be 2 center positions that are available. Poor planning but it is what it is.

You think Olli>RNH?
- TheNugeIsHuge

Didn't say that, but I think throwing RNH out against Getzlaf, Kopitar, Thornton, Toews, etc. every night might not be the best for him at this age.

Arco (26) is putting up 2 points per game in the AHL and showed well in the NHL in a top 6 role. One way contract.

Lander (23) is finally putting up a point per game in the AHL and is a well respected prospect that just hasn't translated his game to the NHL level yet. One way contract.

Pitlick (22). Not a center but another prospect that needs to potentially have a roster spot available for. Pitlick has a great 2 way game, above average NHL skill set (skating, size, checking, shooting, passing etc) that has been derailed primarily by injuries but has shown ok even at the NHL level. One way Contract.

Leon Draisaitl (19) NHL ready size and offensive skill set. All around game probably could use more time developing outside of the NHL. If he shows as well as Hopkins did in his draft year it will be impossible to keep this guy out of the line up. Can be sent down.

We also have another winger Joensuu signed and battling for a roster spot. Showed really well in camp but has back problems. One way Contract.

Plus a slew full of regular prospects that if show well might be able to bump their way into the line up.

Plus we have Petry, Yak, Marincin, Fasthe, and Schultz to sign at the end of this next year. Cap space will be an issue and bringing in another Center is simply not economical with the roster we already have.

At some point to be successful we need to be able to fill roles and needs from within in a cap world.

Spending 5 years on a solid prospect like Lander and then letting someone scoop him through waivers would be terrible. Every team has to make roster spots available for prospects within their system to compete for. It just sucks because in the Oilers situation it happens to be 2 center positions that are available. Poor planning but it is what it is.
- Aerchon

Aside from goaltender, center is the position that should invest in before anything else. All the good teams are good down the middle.

Didn't say that, but I think throwing RNH out against Getzlaf, Kopitar, Thornton, Toews, etc. every night might not be the best for him at this age.
- TheJerseyDevil1

He's been playing them night in n night out to date. Ideally EDM has a Thornton or something that allows RNH to destroy 2nd line comp for a couple years but Olli definitely wouldn't fill that

Aside from goaltender, center is the position that should invest in before anything else. All the good teams are good down the middle.
- TheJerseyDevil1

I think EDM's winger depth will help balance out the weakness at C. That said maybe a camp invite to Loktionov or something for some competition'd do. I'm a big fan of Arcobello's too.

Send EDM Zajac. Problem solved

He's been playing them night in n night out to date. Ideally EDM has a Thornton or something that allows RNH to destroy 2nd line comp for a couple years but Olli definitely wouldn't fill that
- TheNugeIsHuge

I dunno, it just frustrates me that the Oil have stockpiled wingers and put so much of their cap into that. The whole Gagner situation just confused the hell outta me.

You don't think he's gunna work out as a top-two center? That's fine, but instead of swapping him for someone who might be, they went out and got another expensive winger.

I think EDM's winger depth will help balance out the weakness at C. That said maybe a camp invite to Loktionov or something for some competition'd do. I'm a big fan of Arcobello's too.

Send EDM Zajac. Problem solved
- TheNugeIsHuge

lol. For what its worth I'm pulling for you folks, good luck

lol. For what its worth I'm pulling for you folks, good luck
- TheJerseyDevil1

I didn't mind the Kaberle PTO by you guys, I don't see any issues with it. Who knows he could still be decent, make the team, and whats the worse that happens? You flip him at the deadline for a 5th round pick.

I dunno, it just frustrates me that the Oil have stockpiled wingers and put so much of their cap into that. The whole Gagner situation just confused the hell outta me.

You don't think he's gunna work out as a top-two center? That's fine, but instead of swapping him for someone who might be, they went out and got another expensive winger.
- TheJerseyDevil1

Gagner was pretty redundant in the top 6 and sort of represented everything wrong with Edmonton. Small, poor defensively, not physical. They probably could've kept Gagner AND gotten Purcell, but that's another story. The plan was to play Gagner at RW this year anyways. Doesn't belong as a C. Got a natural winger out of the shebang