Why is the top x always the next "insert player from the same country who was really good?"

There's like 17 Lidstroms running around apparently.
- AdamFrench

i also like the; "well they're from the same country so they'll be best friends and can play on a line together"

Why is the top x always the next "insert player from the same country who was really good?"

There's like 17 Lidstroms running around apparently.
- AdamFrench

I've lost count of all the Hossa's

Why is the top Swedish player at the draft always the next Forsberg?
- XxHarounXx

We have two Forsbergs (Lander and Paajarvi) and a Lidstrom (Klefbom)

There's talk they want Nishuchkin, so who knows.
- Lahey

This would take pressure off the need for a bigger center than gags so I wouldn't mind it.
Hall-Nuge-Eberle
Nichushkin-Gagner-Yakupov

This top 6 gives me wood.

This would take pressure off the need for a bigger center than gags so I wouldn't mind it.
Hall-Nuge-Eberle
Nichushkin-Gagner-Yakupov

This top 6 gives me wood.
- Ihatebrianburke

Carolina wanted him. Not sure if we do or not.

They could trade the pick, sure, but I'm hoping that instead they take the opportunity to trade up if they are sold on a player. I personally really like Barkov. A big center with skill who can win faceoffs? Those do not grow on trees and you cannot trade for them once they are established. It is exactly what Edmonton needs to complement their small skilled wingers.

I would rather Edmonton package their #7 pick with Sam Gagner toy Nashville for the #4 pick if Barkov is still available than seeing them trade for Yandle. Would Nashville go for this? Their top center and forward from last year, Legwand, got 2 less goals and 13 less points than Gagner. Sam had 10 more points than Nashville's leading scorer, Shea Weber. He is a huge skill upgrade in their top two center spots and it would cost Nashville no roster players or prospects and still keep them in the top 10 of the draft. A top two center for a marginally worse draft spot when there is no huge talent gap between 4 and 7? Should be a no-brainer for the Preds.

With Gagner traded, the Oilers can try to give Sam's money to Bozak. Bozak takes the #2 center spot next year while Barkov learns the ropes and in the not too distant future the top nine look like (give or take a Hemsky):
Hall - RNH - Eberle
Paajarvii - Barkov - Yakupov
Hartikainen - Bozak - Hemsky
Essentially the trade is Gagner and #7 for Bozak and Barkov. A trade I would make all day. And if the Oilers can't snag a FA center? Well, they limp along with Horcoff in the #2 spot for a year or two. Not the end of the world. Kariya and Selanne pros
pered with the lesser talented Rucchin. Bertuzzi and Naslund prospered with Morrow. Throw any of Hall, Yakupov, and/or Eberle in with Horcoff and you'll still have a decent line (ignoring the sounds of protest from the Horcoff haters).

I'm sold on Barkov. I heeope the Oilers organization is too and has the stones to do what's needed to get him.
- Centacre

Great plan...until Bozo says no thanks to Edmonton then your little plan leaves us with Susan Horcoff and a rookie fighting for the 2c spot.
[img][/img]

Allow me to explain before you hurt yourself trying to figure it out.

K, the Oilers draft list...let's say they have one group of clear top prospects...Jones, Barkov, Drouin and MacKinnon. Those guys will all go before the Oilers pick.

So then we go to the next level. There might be only two guys here...Monahan and Nichkiskin. Did I spell that right? I don't have the spelling in front of me but you know who I mean.

Maybe next is a group that includes Lindholm, Horvat, Lazar, Gauthier, Ristolainen and Nurse. The Oilers could have any one of these guys at #7, but what the team needs is a bigger and/or physical two-way center who has 2nd line potential. Perhaps Lindholm is the best player in this group, but he's perhaps not the player physically the Oilers need. Maybe a different team drafting between 8 - 14 will be a big fan of Lindholm, and will willing to give up an asset or an additional draft pick to get him. I'm not convinced the Oilers want to draft a defenseman for reasons I've explained in the blog.

So let's go to the board.

Buffalo at #8 might want Lindholm. New Jersey at 9, Dallas at 10, Phoenix at 12 and Columbus at 14 could all be digging Lindholm. Let's work with Phoenix, as they are perhaps the team on this list that needs the most help at center. Maybe the Coyotes pitch to the Oilers their 12th overall pick and a 2nd rounder for the right to draft Lindholm.

This works for the Oilers as they'd still likely get one of Horvat, Gauthier or Lazar at the 12th spot. Those three are likely be a better fit for the Oilers needs than Lindholm. Plus, now you've added an additional 2nd round pick from a draft class considered to be deep. Maybe the next step for the Oilers is to take two of their 2nd round picks to move up and sneak a second pick into the 1st round. This allows them to take a decent defensive prospect or the best goalie available.
- Maxbone

What do you think about the oilers trading their 1st, Hemsky/Gagner (either one), and our late second round to Columbus for two of their picks (14th & 19th overall)? Having doing that, we could select a few players. Players like Zykov (even though he's a LW he's still amazing), Ryan Pulock (offensive defenseman), Samuel Morin (massive standing at 6'7 and 205lbs) or Freddy Gauthier (huge centerman who would fill a big hole for the Oilers). What you said sounds great. But Im just wondering what others think about this if it were to happen.

What do you think about the oilers trading their 1st, Hemsky/Gagner (either one), and our late second round to Columbus for two of their picks (14th & 19th overall)? Having doing that, we could select a few players. Players like Zykov (even though he's a LW he's still amazing), Ryan Pulock (offensive defenseman), Samuel Morin (massive standing at 6'7 and 205lbs) or Freddy Gauthier (huge centerman who would fill a big hole for the Oilers). What you said sounds great. But Im just wondering what others think about this if it were to happen.
- mbxiphos1527

I could see the 7th overall, Hemsky and an Oilers 2nd for the 14th + 19th. Putting Gagner into this deal instead of Hemsky is a huge overpayment.

Great plan...until Bozo says no thanks to Edmonton then your little plan leaves us with Susan Horcoff and a rookie fighting for the 2c spot.

- Jeropotato[img][/img]

I've said this before, and I'll say it again: The Oilers aren't a playoff team next season, so they'd still have time to find a better 2nd line center answer.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again: The Oilers aren't a playoff team next season, so they'd still have time to find a better 2nd line center answer.
- Maxbone

I thought they were suppose to win the cup this year, how the heck did they get that much worse?

Carolina wanted him. Not sure if we do or not.
- Lahey

I can't see them not drafting a defenseman with Nurse, Ristolainen, and even Zadorov on the board. I hope we don't trade up or down at all. If we can't trade the pick for immediate help I say we pick the BPA. Arguements can be made for so many of these kids as we have a lot of holes. I wouldn't be dissappointed if we walked away from this draft unless we take a Drouin or Lazar. I don't really care about the position as long as its someone with decent size.

What do you think about the oilers trading their 1st, Hemsky/Gagner (either one), and our late second round to Columbus for two of their picks (14th & 19th overall)? Having doing that, we could select a few players. Players like Zykov (even though he's a LW he's still amazing), Ryan Pulock (offensive defenseman), Samuel Morin (massive standing at 6'7 and 205lbs) or Freddy Gauthier (huge centerman who would fill a big hole for the Oilers). What you said sounds great. But Im just wondering what others think about this if it were to happen.
- mbxiphos1527

Zykov is a RW.

I bet nothing happens as far as monkeying around with picks go.

I could see the 7th overall, Hemsky and an Oilers 2nd for the 14th + 19th. Putting Gagner into this deal instead of Hemsky is a huge overpayment.
- Maxbone

True enough. Having said this, Columbus could use a player like Lindholm anyways I think. I wouldn't give our early second round though. Reason being is that this draft is so deep, there's players in the late second round who could've been first rounders in previous draft (obviously they werent eligable die to their age). A player I have my eyes on in the second round is Zach Fucale (goaltender) as well as Shea Theodore (fair sized all around defenseman who played on the worst team in the WHL this year and still managed to put up outstanding points despite his situation). Plus Columbus might take that since I'm sure they're well aware of the talent in the first two rounds in this draft. Even though it's a late second round pick.

I thought they were suppose to win the cup this year, how the heck did they get that much worse?
- Lahey

next year we get #2 for back to backs

Zykov is a RW.
- TandA4Flames

You're right. My bad haha. The site I was looking at had him listed as a left wing. Still a great player none the less.

We have two Forsbergs (Lander and Paajarvi) and a Lidstrom (Klefbom)
- laughs2907

Haha isn't that the truth. Well, maybe Paajarvi anyway. Lander hasn't proved much.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again: The Oilers aren't a playoff team next season, so they'd still have time to find a better 2nd line center answer.
- Maxbone

You also said "meh,they need like 5 players" to be a playoff team, and I agree with that. I think they will he looking to add more vets to fill the needs, and there are no plans to draft anyone to walk on the team this fall.a longer term project is more likely.

Richard Cloutier: Oilers at the Draft...A Response
- Maxbone

Don't want Yandle.
Don't want Bozak.
D prospects are not as deep as you make them out to be.

If I was the Oil in that situation I'd deal 7th and 50th to Columbus for 14th and 21stish (Rangers). Take a Center and a Dman or Left winger.

We don't need another Star type caliber guy. Just solid role players.

End up with Gauthier(14th), Morin (21st) and Carrier (37th). That would be a sick draft result.

I feel that the Oilers should possibly look at Pitsburgh and how they came to be. As far as this top and bottom six goes, the Pens don't have a top and bottom six. They just have 4 first lines. I think we should shoot to so something like that. It will take a VERY long time. But it seems like the rate were going at we may be able to accomplish something similar to what they've done in the next few years.

It's a scary thought. I think Schultz would be a better winger. Almost every game I've watched he pinches and goes on rushes. He's just really offensive. This is a touchy subject though. But I will agree that seeing Peckham on forward would be rather interesting. Wouldn't put him anywhere else other than the fourth line though.
- mbxiphos1527

Ya I agree nowhere but the fourth line and schultz would be good but I would rather a guy who could forecheck hard like burns. Corey potter would be alright on the fourth or third line also cause he can skate and he's a pretty big guy haha

Don't want Yandle.
Don't want Bozak.
D prospects are not as deep as you make them out to be.

If I was the Oil in that situation I'd deal 7th and 50th to Columbus for 14th and 21stish (Rangers). Take a Center and a Dman or Left winger.

We don't need another Star type caliber guy. Just solid role players.

End up with Gauthier(14th), Morin (21st) and Carrier (37th). That would be a sick draft result.
- Iggysbff

AMEN! But some have Freddy ranked as low as 33rd overall. That's just opinion though. There's not a chance that a player like that will be overlooked till the second round.

Ya I agree nowhere but the fourth line and schultz would be good but I would rather a guy who could forecheck hard like burns. Corey potter would be alright on the fourth or third line also cause he can skate and he's a pretty big guy haha
- BleedOil06

I think Potter would look best without a spot on this roster. Hahaha.

Don't want Yandle.
Don't want Bozak.
D prospects are not as deep as you make them out to be.

If I was the Oil in that situation I'd deal 7th and 50th to Columbus for 14th and 21stish (Rangers). Take a Center and a Dman or Left winger.

We don't need another Star type caliber guy. Just solid role players.

End up with Gauthier(14th), Morin (21st) and Carrier (37th). That would be a sick draft result.
- Iggysbff

Our d prospects is our deepest position. If we need d help then our whole prospect system is (frank)ed.

Zykov is a RW.
- TandA4Flames

He's a Right hand shot but plays offwing.