Edmontons defence is a fire drilll against a strong forecheck. Every team that beats us knows this and they all do it. How does Letang fix that?
- TheTaoOfSemenko

He can make tape to tape passes and is one of the best skating defensemen in the league.

Not one single player will "solve" Edmonton's issues. It's a culture problem, they don't work hard, they are not consistent, they arent built to be a good team.

Shea Weber won't make them a playoff team, they need a major change. I'm actually a little suprised they hired Eakins.

45.1%

http://stats.hockeyanalys...1&sort=HARTp&sortdir=DESC
- Ryan_Wilson

Man, Edmonton's defense is a freaking dumpster fire. Yikes!

Man, Edmonton's defense is a freaking dumpster fire. Yikes!
- powerhouse

I think this term has some legs, haha

At his contract and likely trading price it wouldn't be enough. They have guys that can move the puck, what they don't have is a guy that can calm down the dzone coverage.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

Letang's ability to carry the puck can calm down a forecheck without anything else happening. Team don't come after Letang much once he's established possession. Letang typically makes the simple plays...that's not where his mistakes come from. It's when he tries to do too much that gets him into trouble.

He can make tape to tape passes and is one of the best skating defensemen in the league.
- Ben37

So can Schultz and Petry. Like I said, its the own zone coverage that has been god awful in Edmonton. Its been that way for a few years.

Id rather Niskanen.

While I'm not trying to argue with you, I bet Kris could play a more conservative game if asked to. New team, new gameplan, but you're right. They could use more muscle. I'm interested in Ference's #'s though, those aren't on the chart, and he fits the mold of what we're talking about(obviously more couldn't hurt, just curious).
- LotekLeafs

Andy's a great 4/5/6, and a great character/team guy, but not someone you look to to anchor your D-corps.

Like someone above said, what they need is '06 Pronger back.

Letang's ability to carry the puck can calm down a forecheck without anything else happening. Team don't come after Letang much once he's established possession. Letang typically makes the simple plays...that's not where his mistakes come from. It's when he tries to do too much that gets him into trouble.
- hardnosed

This describes our whole team outside of a few guys.

There's no way that Letang gets traded, but I get the timing as the boys are in Edmonton and this prospective Letang trade at least makes logical sense.

Eberle is an above average two-way forward with a huge contract.

Letang (who is only 26 - still young in D-man years) has a chance to be a generational player if his hockey IQ even comes close to catching up with his talent level and work ethic.

And the only prospect that has a chance of replacing Letang's puck carrying skills is Pouilot, and he's nowhere near Letang at this stage.

And Scuderi does have oven mitts for hands.
- hardnosed

Eberle is only 23 and has one of the most accurate shots in the NHL. He's had a few health problems the last year but truly will be one of the better snipers when he and the team get the right pieces. He'd be absolutely lights out next to Crosby. Not saying Letang doesn't still have potential to improve but to say one is clearly better than the other is wrong.

I agree with most people here. I think the oilers shouldnt go for a player like letang as good as he may be. A guy like niskanen would be a better move cause he certainly wouldn't cost us Eberle.

After that I like the oilers to take a good run at Dan Girardi in the off season and then maybe keep the pick and get ekblad or reinhart and actually let them develop properly and be competitive for a long time to come.

Andy's a great 4/5/6, and a great character/team guy, but not someone you look to to anchor your D-corps.

Like someone above said, what they need is '06 Pronger back.
- Double_A

and the Flyers could use '11 Pronger back.

Nobody is overvaluing Eberle pal. We're just saying Letang wont fix our blueline issues.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

Letang might not be exactly what the Oilers need to fix their blueline, but he is by far an upgrade on Shultz and Petry as puck movers. And he is more physical than pretty much their whole blueline other than maybe Ference. He might not immediately fix the problems, but he makes them less impactful.

This is going to be fun. Oiler fans overvalue Eberle by extreme amounts. Almost insane amounts. And Penguin fans are bipolar over Letang.

Just look at the responses so far. A #1 defensema who is a Norris Trophy nominee is not enough to acquire a guy who has scored 30 goals once in his career.

On the other hand we have Penguin fans who believe that a 30 goal forward is not enough to acquire a defenseman that many of us have all but purchased his plane ticket out of town.
- Ben37

It not saying Eberle is worth more than Letang. I'm saying letang is not a fit so I wouldn't do the deal. Comprende?

So can Schultz and Petry. Like I said, its the own zone coverage that has been god awful in Edmonton. Its been that way for a few years.

Id rather Niskanen.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

You sure about that about Shultz and Petry. A guy who wilts under a forecheck and a guy who has been a healthy scratch this season. Letang gets the puck and gets it out of the zone, one way or another. His problems start when he gets out of the zone and tries to turn into Bobby Hull.

I pass, but wouldn't be terribly upset if it happened. Letang has the potential, if he snaps out of his gaffe mode, to be a top 10 d-man in the league. That is too hard to replace, even for a talent like eberle.

45.1%

http://stats.hockeyanalys...1&sort=HARTp&sortdir=DESC
- Ryan_Wilson

Aww, so he sucks too, eh?

I think this term has some legs, haha
- Ryan_Wilson

I think it got started when you compared Tyler Myers play to a 'tire fire' and somehow, not sure, it evolved into 'dumpster fire'. I love to watch the Oilers. They can light you up one night and twice as often they get lit up like a, well you know............................................DUMPSTER FIRE!!!

Letang might not be exactly what the Oilers need to fix their blueline, but he is by far an upgrade on Shultz and Petry as puck movers. And he is more physical than pretty much their whole blueline other than maybe Ference. He might not immediately fix the problems, but he makes them less impactful.
- Ben37

Petry is an underrated puck mover and is top 15 in the NHL in hits. Letang IS a better version of Jultz and Petry but why would we want an upgrade on them when we have no one that can play a shut down role. We need to compliment Petry and Jultz not upgrade them.

It not saying Eberle is worth more than Letang. I'm saying letang is not a fit so I wouldn't do the deal. Comprende?
- Iggysbff

10-4, captain!

It not saying Eberle is worth more than Letang. I'm saying letang is not a fit so I wouldn't do the deal. Comprende?
- Iggysbff

I love how Letang a Norris nominee isn't a fit.

By the way, defensive zone coverage doesn't matter when the puck is out of the Oilers zone.

Andy's a great 4/5/6, and a great character/team guy, but not someone you look to to anchor your D-corps.

Like someone above said, what they need is '06 Pronger back.
- Double_A

Oh, I wasn't expecting 1st pairing #'s from him or anything. Just curious as I hated (the leafs) playing against him, he didn't make life easy for our forwards. I'd love him on the leafs, perfect shutdown 2nd pairing dman in my eyes.

Let's just kill this right now.

Letang is a very good dman but not even close to the type the oil need. Period.

We need guys that can win a battle on the boards, clear the front of the net and make a first pass. Not puckrushing guys. We have 3 puck movers.

Letang is not a fit!
- Iggysbff

you killed it! Now it will never happen.

I love how Letang a Norris nominee isn't a fit.

By the way, defensive zone coverage doesn't matter when the puck is out of the Oilers zone.
- Ben37

Lots of people are or have been Norris nominee's... See Edler, Alex, another type we do t need.

Note for Penguin fans

It's important to remember that every Oilers fan isn't jumping to acquire Letang at the cost of Eberle that you pull out this old chestunut:

"Fine, have fun with your sub-par defense and bottom of the conference finishes. Maybe another 3 first overalls will solve your problems".

- whipper334

You'd kill to have Kunitz at this point.