This "wont go to a bad team" stuff is really blown out of proportion. Look at the UFA lists from the last 3 years, I'd bet of the top 25 UFA's each summer almost as many go to bottom 10 teams as top 10 teams.
- Zombie

Well it has merit, yes guys go to bad teams but they go to teams where the media aren't a bunch of female genitalias and mother nature isn't a female genitalia.

And yet less so for the poor teams and more so for the good teams.

My point, and maybe I don't have you as a direct quote, but you and bitch tend to mimic similar thoughts, is that too often when there is a signing made of a guy that could have helped the Oil, certain posters start going on about how ST is just coasting. There is more behind the scenes than we are privy to, we all know this. It is the belly aching that gets to me. I have 3 young kids and I hear enough of that crap when things don't go their way, I figure that I am dealing with adults (for the most part) here and that I would not have to hear that kind of stuff.
- OilHorse

Considering we chear for a team that's not far from being considerd one of the worst off all time, I think a little critisism of the GM is fair.

The fact is that we had arguably the worst defense in the league last year and all that has been added is another rookie. The forwards are basically set, and quite frankly are a scary group, this team should be moving way up the standings by now, but they seem unwilling, or unable to address the teams biggest needs.

It's a results bassed business, I don't care if it's "really hard" to do his job, if he can't build a team that can win then someone else needs to be brought in.

Well it has merit, yes guys go to bad teams but they go to teams where the media aren't a bunch of female genitalias and mother nature isn't a female genitalia.
- Lahey

Now you are getting into some of the more realistic reasons (though I don't really think our media is worse then most)... the city sucks, the weather sucks, the travel sucks... it's a tough sell.

However, considering the biggest prize of the free agent market went from a team in the SCF to a team that had something like the worst record in the league for the last 30/40 or whatever it was games.... well don't tell me players wont go to bad teams.

Now you are getting into some of the more realistic reasons (though I don't really think our media is worse then most)... the city sucks, the weather sucks, the travel sucks... it's a tough sell.

However, considering the biggest prize of the free agent market went from a team in the SCF to a team that had something like the worst record in the league for the last 30/40 or whatever it was games.... well don't tell me players wont go to bad teams.
- Zombie

Canadian media never helps. Keep in mind those prize free agents went there because A they were americans B one of them is from the area and one has ties to the city.

It's really not that simple, but there are options more the most part.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=25880

Of the top 30 UFA signings:

Teams 20 - 30 signed 12 of them (including the top 4)

Temas 1 - 10 signed 9 of them, the best being Garrison and then after a resigning Brodeur, the next best was Jonny Oduya with the Hawks

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=25880

Of the top 30 UFA signings:

Teams 20 - 30 signed 12 of them (including the top 4)

Temas 1 - 10 signed 9 of them, the best being Garrison and then after a resigning Brodeur, the next best was Jonny Oduya with the Hawks
- Zombie

It's just not that simple. You saw what it took for us to get Eager and Belanger, do you think we should just give extra years to these guys just to get them?

Canadian media never helps. Keep in mind those prize free agents went there because A they were americans B one of them is from the area and one has ties to the city.

It's really not that simple, but there are options more the most part.
- Lahey

And frankly, it's not even the top guys I'm interested in, the kind of guys we needed are the ones from the above list that signed for between 1.5 million and 3.5 million.

It's just not that simple. You saw what it took for us to get Eager and Belanger, do you think we should just give extra years to these guys just to get them?
- Lahey

Yes, I think we should give an extra year to the right players if that's what it takes. Belanger sure... Eager is garbage so obviously not. But a guy like Belanger for 3 and Roszival for 2 are pretty safe bets.

Yes, I think we should give an extra year to the right players if that's what it takes. Belanger sure... Eager is garbage so obviously not. But a guy like Belanger for 3 and Roszival for 2 are pretty safe bets.
- Zombie

How is Roszival a safe bet? The guy got injured in the playoffs and has missed significant time the past 2 years. At 33 that's not called a safe bet.

Still think the plan was to get someone but we got (frank)ed when teams like PHI and PIT missed out on UFA's. Still think something could happen depending on the new CBA, but then again 2 months of AHL action and maybe we find out Schultz is for real.

How is Roszival a safe bet? The guy got injured in the playoffs and has missed significant time the past 2 years. At 33 that's not called a safe bet.

Still think the plan was to get someone but we got (frank)ed when teams like PHI and PIT missed out on UFA's. Still think something could happen depending on the new CBA, but then again 2 months of AHL action and maybe we find out Schultz is for real.
- Lahey

Its a safe bet because he's a quality player, and it's not alot of $$ or term.

How did Pits and Phi missing guys (frank) us? The top guys they signed were Vokoun and Fedetenko... it certaintly didn't affect any other team, yet some how it "(frank)ed" the Oilers.

Its a safe bet because he's a quality player, and it's not alot of $$ or term.

How did Pits and Phi missing guys (frank) us? The top guys they signed were Vokoun and Fedetenko... it certaintly didn't affect any other team, yet some how it "(frank)ed" the Oilers.
- Zombie

Because if Pit and PHI get Suter or don't lose Carle and Michalek then others on their team would've been available via trade.

Its a safe bet because he's a quality player, and it's not alot of $$ or term.

How did Pits and Phi missing guys (frank) us? The top guys they signed were Vokoun and Fedetenko... it certaintly didn't affect any other team, yet some how it "(frank)ed" the Oilers.
- Zombie

Again Rozsival wanted more term and cash, settled for a contender. Highly doubtful he was coming to Edmonton.

Because if Pit and PHI get Suter or don't lose Carle and Michalek then others on their team would've been available via trade.
- Lahey

Pretty weak managment to wait for other teams to have a fire sale rather then aquiring the depth on your own.

Again Rozsival wanted more term and cash, settled for a contender. Highly doubtful he was coming to Edmonton.
- Lahey

Ya, and 2 years 5.5 million is alot more cash and term then 1 year 2 million

Pretty weak managment to wait for other teams to have a fire sale rather then aquiring the depth on your own.
- Zombie

That's kinda what happens when you are drafting 1st overall 3 years in a row. There is only so long you can pitch the future is bright and when nothing happens on the ice players look away.

Ya, and 2 years 5.5 million is alot more cash and term then 1 year 2 million
- Zombie

That's a brutal contract to give.

That's kinda what happens when you are drafting 1st overall 3 years in a row. There is only so long you can pitch the future is bright and when nothing happens on the ice players look away.
- Lahey

Ah, so now we are back to players wont sign with bad teams again.

That's a brutal contract to give.
- Lahey

Ya right, the guy played 19+ min/night on a team far better then ours. Thiers a really good chance he'd be our 2nd or 3rd best defensmen.

Andy Sutton can play 14 - 17 min per night on a brutal team and he's a good signing for 2 years at 1.75 per at 37 Y/O

But Roszival who plays 19+ min per night on good teams is a brutal signing at 2.75 per at 33 Y/O

Ya right, the guy played 19+ min/night on a team far better then ours. Thiers a really good chance he'd be our 2nd or 3rd best defensmen.

Andy Sutton can play 14 - 17 min per night on a brutal team and he's a good signing for 2 years at 1.75 per at 37 Y/O

But Roszival who plays 19+ min per night on good teams is a brutal signing at 2.75 per at 33 Y/O
- Zombie

Roszival is fragile. One year max on him. We can't be locking into multi year deals on guys like him going into a new CBA.

Ya right, the guy played 19+ min/night on a team far better then ours. Thiers a really good chance he'd be our 2nd or 3rd best defensmen.

Andy Sutton can play 14 - 17 min per night on a brutal team and he's a good signing for 2 years at 1.75 per at 37 Y/O

But Roszival who plays 19+ min per night on good teams is a brutal signing at 2.75 per at 33 Y/O
- Zombie

Also Sutton is one year

Roszival is fragile. One year max on him. We can't be locking into multi year deals on guys like him going into a new CBA.
- Lahey

What we can't do is ice a horrific defense and expect to make the move up the standings that we need to start making.

Now you are getting into some of the more realistic reasons (though I don't really think our media is worse then most)... the city sucks, the weather sucks, the travel sucks... it's a tough sell.

However, considering the biggest prize of the free agent market went from a team in the SCF to a team that had something like the worst record in the league for the last 30/40 or whatever it was games.... well don't tell me players wont go to bad teams.
- Zombie

Parise? I'm pretty sure the fact that he's from Minnesota had something to do with him signing there.

It's just not that simple. You saw what it took for us to get Eager and Belanger, do you think we should just give extra years to these guys just to get them?
- Lahey

Which brings me back to my STD point... You pay too much, or offer too long of a term, and you'll be left with an itch (or cap problems). It's not a question of whether you can get these guys... To quote the Million Dollar Man, "Everyone has a price." The question here is what premium do these guys want in order to come to a bottom feeding team?

Parise? I'm pretty sure the fact that he's from Minnesota had something to do with him signing there.
- laughs2907

Sure, it had something to do with it. Doesn't change that fact that as many (or more) solid free agents went to bad teams, or good teams.

Sure, it had something to do with it. Doesn't change that fact that as many (or more) solid free agents went to bad teams, or good teams.
- Zombie

How many drafted 1st 3 years in a row? How many are in the most northern city in the NHL?