Guest Writer: Losing Depth Is Hurting The Oilers

Fist.

Suck it Rutts.

And agreed on the failures. This should be seen as a huge indictment of the coaches and management that these guys are willing to take less to play in a poophole league that may or may not pay them...

Fist.

Suck it Rutts.
- Iggysbff

Best post ever!

Yep.

Losing a solid pk energy option in pak is far from ideal. Ida signed him over cagg or cammy without hesitation.

But Losing a low risk/high reward guy with size that can skate and shoot like slepyshev is probably much worse than people realize.

He’s exactly the type of piece that can effectively play bottom 6 and potentially develop into much more, all at a cheap price tag, the oilers needed.
It’s All bad

The oilers are meant to be finding quality options to add to a team that’s abit of a Mess, but instead is going the other direction and losing more depth on a team totally bereft of it.

Can’t believe they kept chiarelli on after the disastrous stuff he’s done. Without significant changes AND a big bounce back from talbot and Klefbom, this team is a bottom feeder again. And then how much more of that till Connor asks for the door ?

Good blog mang, congrats and stuff !

The bottom six needs some high priced slow vets.

Why can´t you guys see that?

RNH for Brouwer and Versteeg then?

RNH for Brouwer and Versteeg then?
- murTor

With Chia getting a haul for Hall, and restocking the cupboards I think Brouwer and Versteeg would provide the veteran leadership that can push Edmonton out of the bottom 3rd of the league.

I accept your trade proposal!

The bottom six needs some high priced slow vets.

Why can´t you guys see that?
- DuranDuran

Yep

Fixin to compete in the rough tough pacific

Yep

Fixin to compete in the rough tough pacific
- HB77

That was the old plan. Remember Chia has a new plan...

Im often the first to say how important depth is, but the first and foremost focus for this team needs to be on acquiring a winger for Draisaitl. A couple FA additions like Calvert and Czarnik then a trade for one of my recommendations (Foegele, Joseph, etc) would do us a lot of good.

Nuge- McDavid- Lucic (don't pass to him)
[Acq]- Draisaitl- Aberg
Khaira- Strome- Puljujarvi
Calvert- Czarnik- Kassian
[Rec], Caggiula, Rattie

Going into camp with that and a few forward prospects in the AHL (Yamamoto, Marody, Benson, etc) and we'll be fine. Not elite, but fine.

Im often the first to say how important depth is, but the first and foremost focus for this team needs to be on acquiring a winger for Draisaitl. A couple FA additions like Calvert and Czarnik then a trade for one of my recommendations (Foegele, Joseph, etc) would do us a lot of good.

Nuge- McDavid- Lucic (don't pass to him)

- MaximumBone[Acq]- Draisaitl- Aberg
Khaira- Strome- Puljujarvi
Calvert- Czarnik- Kassian
[Rec], Caggiula, Rattie

Going into camp with that and a few forward prospects in the AHL (Yamamoto, Marody, Benson, etc) and we'll be fine. Not elite, but fine.

Calvert is not likely taking 4th line money.
Czarnik
Counting on Aberg as a top 6er
Lucic on the RW with McD

And your recommendations for pick up...why are their teams giving them up?

Yep.

Losing a solid pk energy option in pak is far ideal. Ida signed him over cagg or cammy without hesitation.

But Losing a low risk/high reward guy with size that can skate and shoot like slepyshev is probably much worse than people realize.

He’s exactly the type of piece that can effectively play bottom 6 and potentially develop into much more, all at a cheap price tag, the oilers needed.
It’s All bad

The oilers are meant to be finding quality options to add to a team that’s abit of a Mess, but instead is going the other direction and losing more depth on a team totally bereft of it.

Can’t believe they kept chiarelli on after the disastrous stuff he’s done. Without significant changes AND a big bounce back from talbot and Klefbom, this team is a bottom feeder again. And then how much more of that till Connor asks for the door ?

Good blog mang, congrats and stuff !
- HB77

The loss of Iiro and 0V2 doesn’t bother me much, but losing Slephyshev hurts. Last year was a poop year in so many regards, and it seemed if it could go wrong that it did go wrong. Not exactly a good year to appraise the performance of a sophomore winger.

Im often the first to say how important depth is, but the first and foremost focus for this team needs to be on acquiring a winger for Draisaitl. A couple FA additions like Calvert and Czarnik then a trade for one of my recommendations (Foegele, Joseph, etc) would do us a lot of good.

Nuge- McDavid- Lucic (don't pass to him)

- MaximumBone[Acq]- Draisaitl- Aberg
Khaira- Strome- Puljujarvi
Calvert- Czarnik- Kassian
[Rec], Caggiula, Rattie

Going into camp with that and a few forward prospects in the AHL (Yamamoto, Marody, Benson, etc) and we'll be fine. Not elite, but fine.

Isn’t Calvert just a younger uglier version of Letestu?

Calvert is not likely taking 4th line money.
Czarnik
Counting on Aberg as a top 6er
Lucic on the RW with McD

And your recommendations for pick up...why are their teams giving them up?
- Iggysbff

I’m not counting Aberg as a top 6 winger myself, but I expect him to be penciled in there regardless. He’s shown flashes in his short time here, and I’m cautiously optimistic.

Isn’t Calvert just a younger uglier version of Letestu?
- Wildschwein

And he was on the outside with Torts and basically replaced by Letestu...

I’m not counting Aberg as a top 6 winger myself, but I expect him to be penciled in there regardless. He’s shown flashes in his short time here, and I’m cautiously optimistic.
- Wildschwein

I'm quite certain Chia has both him and Rattie penciled into the top 6.

And he was on the outside with Torts and basically replaced by Letestu...
- Iggysbff

Well to be fair Torts is well known for his often irrational behaviour. Good coach or no, I’d hesitate before using Torts favour or dis-favour concerning potential personnel decisions.

I'm quite certain Chia has both him and Rattie penciled into the top 6.
- Iggysbff

Rattie has at least shown enough that I am open to seeing him get a chance to serve in the Maroon role - ie a complimentary player on a skill line. Make no mistake this team needs at least one true top 6 right winger.

What I am hearing the team thinks about Aberg scares the crap out of me. He scored 5 of his 8 points in 2 games and was basically unnoticeable aside from that while playing with Draisaitl. Aberg is at best right now a 4th line easy minutes player but some people are already saying 15 goal scorer next season...

I'm quite certain Chia has both him and Rattie penciled into the top 6.
- Iggysbff

Oh most assuredly.

Rattie has at least shown enough that I am open to seeing him get a chance to serve in the Maroon role - ie a complimentary player on a skill line. Make no mistake this team needs at least one true top 6 right winger.

What I am hearing the team thinks about Aberg scares the crap out of me. He scored 5 of his 8 points in 2 games and was basically unnoticeable aside from that while playing with Draisaitl. Aberg is at best right now a 4th line easy minutes player but some people are already saying 15 goal scorer next season...
- freelancer

4th line winger is a bit harsh IMO. I’m more inclined to think of him as a European version of Strome.

Rattie has at least shown enough that I am open to seeing him get a chance to serve in the Maroon role - ie a complimentary player on a skill line. Make no mistake this team needs at least one true top 6 right winger.

What I am hearing the team thinks about Aberg scares the crap out of me. He scored 5 of his 8 points in 2 games and was basically unnoticeable aside from that while playing with Draisaitl. Aberg is at best right now a 4th line easy minutes player but some people are already saying 15 goal scorer next season...
- freelancer

Anybody could score 15 if playing regularly with McDavid. Problem is we need a guy that can score 30 with McDavid and is at least competent when not with him.

4th line winger is a bit harsh IMO. I’m more inclined to think of him as a European version of Strome.
- Wildschwein

Is it though? Aberg scored 2 goals in 16 games with Edmonton, and 2 goals in 37 games with Nashville this season. Aberg is fast but he aside from some good moments in his 3 and 2 point games he was invisible.

Can he be get better? Of course he is only 24. However I would not be comfortable going into the season with him already penciled into a top 9 position.

Is it though? Aberg scored 2 goals in 16 games with Edmonton, and 2 goals in 37 games with Nashville this season. Aberg is fast but he aside from some good moments in his 3 and 2 point games he was invisible.

Can he be get better? Of course he is only 24. However I would not be comfortable going into the season with him already penciled into a top 9 position.
- freelancer

I guess that all depends on your idea of the required production for a 3rd line winger. In my mind it’s a minimum of 30 points with some contribution to the PK.

I’m fairly confident that Aberg is capable of such.

Nuge Connor rattie
? Leon khaira
Lucic strome pujujarvi
Aberg ? Kassian

Nuge Connor rattie
? Leon khaira
Lucic strome pujujarvi
Aberg ? Kassian
- HB77

Khaira had a fine year last year but I don't think he is top 6 material. And I doubt Lucic will play a bottom 6 role. Reverse their lines and I'd say that's close to what we will see at least to start the season.
Add a 4 C and a 2RW and that'll be it.