Richard Cloutier: End of an Error

fist mofo's
And once again, suck it Oilhorse

I don't know why this hasn't been discussed, but what about terry murray? I don't know what hes doing now, but he was a good coach. Set the framework, got the team into the playoffs. Just a thought.

I don't know why this hasn't been discussed, but what about terry murray? I don't know what hes doing now, but he was a good coach. Set the framework, got the team into the playoffs. Just a thought.
- Deadmau55

Bring back robbie Ftorek and his fancy sweater vests

Nelson plays his vets a lot too in OKC. He wouldn't make a huge difference in that regard, and I doubt you find too many coaches who won't trust their veteran players.
I'd like to see a little spike in the ice time of the big three, but it's not like they were getting completely shafted last year, ala Paajarvi.

Nelson plays his vets a lot too in OKC. He wouldn't make a huge difference in that regard, and I doubt you find too many coaches who won't trust their veteran players.
I'd like to see a little spike in the ice time of the big three, but it's not like they were getting completely shafted last year, ala Paajarvi.
- Jack-artist

But what are the Oilers vets doing to deserve trust? You watched Oilers hockey this season? Vets bad. Kids good.

But what are the Oilers vets doing to deserve trust? You watched Oilers hockey this season? Vets bad. Kids good.
- Maxbone

Vets had to do a lot of tough sledding this year. They weren't good by any stretch, but how much can you stop defensively with such a crappy defense and goaltending? You wanna send RNH's line out to match up against the other team's best lines then be my guest. The results won't be much different.

Vets had to do a lot of tough sledding this year. They weren't good by any stretch, but how much can you stop defensively with such a crappy defense and goaltending? You wanna send RNH's line out to match up against the other team's best lines then be my guest. The results won't be much different.
- Jack-artist

This is something all of Oilerville needs to realize: The Oilers will stink again in 2012/2013, because there is no way Tambi can move out the bad vets and replace half of the D without trading away anyone good all in one season.

Success in 2012/2013 will be drafting Yakupov, signing UFA Schultz, working Hartikainen and Paajarvi into the line-up permanently, and moving out Belanger, Smyth and Khabibulin...possibly Hemsky too, if he plays with the same attitude that he did this season. Not sure if Ryan Jones and Ben Eager fit into this long-term either.

Love to see some vets go in my opinion. I would only keep Jones, Sutton, Potter, Eager from the list on the thread.

Love to see some vets go in my opinion. I would only keep Jones, Sutton, Potter, Eager from the list on the thread.
- deks1

I'd get rid of them and keep the others.

I'd get rid of them and keep the others.
- Jack-artist

Imagine if Katz gave the GM job to a bunch of bloggers, wonder would we really do a better job than Tamby.

This is something all of Oilerville needs to realize: The Oilers will stink again in 2012/2013, because there is no way Tambi can move out the bad vets and replace half of the D without trading away anyone good all in one season.

Success in 2012/2013 will be drafting Yakupov, signing UFA Schultz, working Hartikainen and Paajarvi into the line-up permanently, and moving out Belanger, Smyth and Khabibulin...possibly Hemsky too, if he plays with the same attitude that he did this season. Not sure if Ryan Jones and Ben Eager fit into this long-term either.
- Maxbone

How much difference will Schultz make though? You're probably looking at Petry-esque results if he plays this season. This team flat out needs more minute eaters on defense and two-way forwards who can play up and down the lineup. Jones might be one of those guys, but he stills run around a bit in his own end. I wouldn't consider Ben Eager a two-way forward. But that's just me, I tend to value defensive specialists as opposed to toughness, grit, and well, goons.

Love to see some vets go in my opinion. I would only keep Jones, Sutton, Potter, Eager from the list on the thread.
- deks1

I know this roster setup means losing in 2012/2013 for the Oilers, but I think what the roster should look like next season is...

L1: Paajarvi - Nuge - Eberle
L2: Hall - Gagner - Yakupov
L3: Hartikainen - Horcoff - Jones
L4: Eager - Lander - Petrell

D1: Smid - Petry
D2: Whitney - N. Schultz
D3: J. Schultz (UFA signing) - Player TBD

G1: Dubnyk
G2: Not Khabibulin. Could be Harding. Could be Gustavsson. Could even be Danis. Just anyone but Khabibulin

- Smyth and Hordichuk not re-signed
- Hemsky dealt at draft
- Belanger dealt ASAP
- Omark given away for food stamps

Imagine if Katz gave the GM job to a bunch of bloggers, wonder would we really do a better job than Tamby.
- deks1

You never know. I mean it's most likely much harder than we all think it is, but some GMs prove time and time again that being a former player and a member of the old boys doesn't correlate directly to competence and managing abilty.

I know this roster setup means losing in 2012/2013 for the Oilers, but I think what the roster should look like next season is...

L1: Paajarvi - Nuge - Eberle
L2: Hall - Gagner - Yakupov
L3: Hartikainen - Horcoff - Jones
L4: Eager - Lander - Petrell

D1: Smid - Petry
D2: Whitney - N. Schultz
D3: J. Schultz (UFA signing) - Player TBD

G1: Dubnyk
G2: Not Khabibulin. Could be Harding. Could be Gustavsson. Could even be Danis. Just anyone buy Khabibulin

- Smyth and Hordichuk not re-signed
- Hemsky dealt at draft
- Belanger dealt ASAP
- Omark given away for food stamps
- Maxbone

Yep, that's a lottery lineup.

Yep, that's a lottery lineup.
- Jack-artist

It is, but what other options do the Oilers have? The only way the Oilers immediately get better is if they deal the 1st overall pick to a team that will give them an immediate defenseman, plus if the Oilers make perhaps a few other deals.

L1: Chris Stewart - Nuge - Eberle
L2: Hall - Gagner - Hemsky
L3: Hartikainen - Horcoff - Jones
L4: Eager - Belanger - ?

D1: Smid/Petry
D2: Whitney/N. Schultz
D3: J. Schultz/Schenn

G1: Dubnyk
G2: Harding

- Paajarvi and a pick to St. Louis for Chris Stewart
- 1st overall pick to TO for Luke Schenn, the 5th overall pick, and a 3rd asset
- Schultz and Harding signed as UFA's

I know this roster setup means losing in 2012/2013 for the Oilers, but I think what the roster should look like next season is...

L1: Paajarvi - Nuge - Eberle
L2: Hall - Gagner - Yakupov
L3: Hartikainen - Horcoff - Jones
L4: Eager - Lander - Petrell

D1: Smid - Petry
D2: Whitney - N. Schultz
D3: J. Schultz (UFA signing) - Player TBD

G1: Dubnyk
G2: Not Khabibulin. Could be Harding. Could be Gustavsson. Could even be Danis. Just anyone but Khabibulin

- Smyth and Hordichuk not re-signed
- Hemsky dealt at draft
- Belanger dealt ASAP
- Omark given away for food stamps
- Maxbone

I'd suggest to deal the cards and take some risk on the forwards in the UFA pool...

L1: Hall - Nuge - Eberle
L2: Stewart - Gagner - Yakupov
L3: Moen - McClement - Jones
L4: Eager - Konopka - Hall

PRV, Lander, and Teemu starts in OKC as call ups.

It is, but what other options do the Oilers have? The only way the Oilers immediately get better is if they deal the 1st overall pick to a team that will give them an immediate defenseman, plus if the Oilers make perhaps a few other deals.

L1: Chris Stewart - Nuge - Eberle
L2: Hall - Gagner - Hemsky
L3: Hartikainen - Horcoff - Jones
L4: Eager - Belanger - ?

D1: Smid/Petry
D2: Whitney/N. Schultz
D3: J. Schultz/Schenn

G1: Dubnyk
G2: Harding

- Paajarvi and a pick to St. Louis for Chris Stewart
- 1st overall pick to TO for Luke Schenn, the 5th overall pick, and a 3rd asset
- Schultz and Harding signed as UFA's
- Maxbone

Well there's usually teams with depth looking to shed a quality defenseman or two for cheap, so there's that. Plus there's always NHL quality bottom sixers available in FA that would be an improvement on some of our players. That Schenn rumour (frank)ing needs to die. There's gotta be much better packages out there for a first overall pick, and consensus number one prospect.

I'd suggest to deal the cards and take some risk on the forwards in the UFA pool...

L1: Hall - Nuge - Eberle
L2: Stewart - Gagner - Yakupov
L3: Moen - McClement - Jones
L4: Eager - Konopka - Hall

PRV, Lander, and Teemu starts in OKC as call ups.
- deks1

The last thing the Oilers should do is go UFA crazy. Every time they try it, it fails.

If they can sign Justin Schultz, it makes sense. The Oilers need to replace Khabibulin or they will suffer next season. Other than that, the options available to the Oilers will be overpaid and disappoint.

Well there's usually teams with depth looking to shed a quality defenseman or two for cheap, so there's that. Plus there's always NHL quality bottom sixers available in FA that would be an improvement on some of our players. That Schenn rumour (frank)ing needs to die. There's gotta be much better packages out there for a first overall pick, and consensus number one prospect.
- Jack-artist

Agreed. Yakupov for Schenn? I'd pass. For me it's got to be a John Carlson or Alex Pietrangelo type of player and of course those just don't grow on trees.

Well there's usually teams with depth looking to shed a quality defenseman or two for cheap, so there's that. Plus there's always NHL quality bottom sixers available in FA that would be an improvement on some of our players. That Schenn rumour (frank)ing needs to die. There's gotta be much better packages out there for a first overall pick, and consensus number one prospect.
- Jack-artist

The immediate quality of the player(s) the Oilers could get for the 1st overall pick goes up as you move down the draft board. A team like San Jose who always seems to fall short of expectations could perhaps be willing to part with a star player...but in the long-term, is getting a player who can't get it done with a different team really in the Oilers best interests?

I see the solution, if the Oilers are willing to deal the 1st overall pick, is to get a younger yet immediate defenseman, and a high pick so they can take another quality prospect. Schenn might be one of the only players available who could fill that order. The Habs aren't going to deal Subban, and the Islanders don't have a good defenseman to give up (maybe Hamonic, although I think everyone completely overrates him). Maybe Fowler from Anaheim?

The last thing the Oilers should do is go UFA crazy. Every time they try it, it fails.

If they can sign Justin Schultz, it makes sense. The Oilers need to replace Khabibulin or they will suffer next season. Other than that, the options available to the Oilers will be overpaid and disappoint.
- Maxbone

Trade Bulin for a mascot or water boy from another team is alright with me. I ain't expecting EDM to win the cup next year. Not going to save the world in one season, but try to compete for at least a playoff spot.

Trade Bulin for a mascot or water boy from another team is alright with me. I ain't expecting EDM to win the cup next year. Not going to save the world in one season, but try to compete for at least a playoff spot.
- deks1

I honestly don't believe the Oilers can add the pieces they need (D mostly) through free agency, and because of it, this isn't going to be a team challenging for anything next season.

The solution in Edmonton is for some combination of Klefbom, Musil, Marincin, Gernat, Fedun, Davidson, and Justin Schultz (if they can sign him) to turn into Top 4 NHL defensemen.

The immediate quality of the player(s) the Oilers could get for the 1st overall pick goes up as you move down the draft board. A team like San Jose who always seems to fall short of expectations could perhaps be willing to part with a star player...but in the long-term, is getting a player who can't get it done with a different team really in the Oilers best interests?

I see the solution, if the Oilers are willing to deal the 1st overall pick, is to get a younger yet immediate defenseman, and a high pick so they can take another quality prospect. Schenn might be one of the only players available who could fill that order. The Habs aren't going to deal Subban, and the Islanders don't have a good defenseman to give up (maybe Hamonic, although I think everyone completely overrates him). Maybe Fowler from Anaheim?
- Maxbone

How about trading down even lower in the top 10 for a better defenseman? Like Bogosian and the 9th, and we add something mediocre. I mean, if it's absolutely necessary to have a higher pick. But (frank), Luke Schenn types are available for reasonable prices, and shouldn't be worth trading down from first just to get.

I honestly don't believe the Oilers can add the pieces they need (D mostly) through free agency, and because of it, this isn't going to be a team challenging for anything next season.

The solution in Edmonton is for some combination of Klefbom, Musil, Marincin, Gernat, Fedun, Davidson, and Justin Schultz (if they can sign him) to turn into Top 4 NHL defensemen.
- Maxbone

Okay, wait 3-5 years for those guys to possibly turn out and wallow in the bottom-third for the next little while? There's always the trade route too.