On the topic of the blog, I would say the possession numbers argument is a good one, but it's not a true diagnosis of the oilers faults. I would say the reason those numbers are so bad is the following:

1) Poor/Inconsistent Zone Exits
2) Poor/Inconsistent Zone Entries
3) Poor/Inconsistent Boardplay/Cycling
4) Lack of Point Shot / Front of net Play
5) Consistently Poor Coverage in Dzone
6) Consistently Poor Coverage in Neutral Zone/Transitions

MaximumBone is right that Letang could help us in some of these areas. But I'm not convinced he's the best fit, although he may be the best fit available. In which case MacT has a decision to make.
- Morris

What is your desired course of action? Continue on doing what you're doing until the perfect fit comes along? Keep things the same and assume all the draft picks eventually figure things out? I mean at some point don't the people of Edmonton have enough of the losing? The pressure isn't on Pittsburgh to make changes, do you feel the same can be said about Edmonton?

I mean really, I don't care. I fully trust that if Letang is dealt Shero will get a great return. If he's not we're 'stuck' with a great defenseman. But at some point Edmonton needs to make some progress and if they continue doing nothing, waiting for the perfect deal, will they?

Letang would be a huge upgrade over what they have now, that can't be argued. Sometimes trades need to be made to change the culture of an organization, even if they aren't the 'perfect' fit. This might be one of those times.

I have nothing against people that feel it's not enough, too much, whatever. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I don't see a fix for Edmonton coming from within the organization anytime soon. Certainly I could be wrong as I don't pretend to know alot about your prospects, but that's how I feel.

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

Actually it is just people recognizing that Letang doesn't solve any of the Oilers problems. BTW, "Norris Trophy Nominee" these days can also be obtained by posting up points and playing bad defense. It doesn't always mean the player is great in the defensive zone.

No in fact most of the regulars say over and over that Weber, Suter, Chara, doughty etc are never happening. What we need is not that type of trade but for a more complimentary fit.

I disagree we are better with Letang and without Eberle.
- Iggysbff

Really, that's what it comes down to, and I can respect that.

But I can't agree with it.

Actually it is just people recognizing that Letang doesn't solve any of the Oilers problems. BTW, "Norris Trophy Nominee" these days can also be obtained by posting up points and playing bad defense. It doesn't always mean the player is great in the defensive zone.
- GSDIV

I agree, the Oilers need to somehow find a way to support their very talented but undersized line up. Not add another undersized talented player

Generally a long time.

- Whiskey-Tango

Well, we have one that it took one year in the OHL ... Maatta. I guess he is way ahead of the curve.

What is your desired course of action? Continue on doing what you're doing until the perfect fit comes along? Keep things the same and assume all the draft picks eventually figure things out? I mean at some point don't the people of Edmonton have enough of the losing? The pressure isn't on Pittsburgh to make changes, do you feel the same can be said about Edmonton?

I mean really, I don't care. I fully trust that if Letang is dealt Shero will get a great return. If he's not we're 'stuck' with a great defenseman. But at some point Edmonton needs to make some progress and if they continue doing nothing, waiting for the perfect deal, will they?

Letang would be a huge upgrade over what they have now, that can't be argued. Sometimes trades need to be made to change the culture of an organization, even if they aren't the 'perfect' fit. This might be one of those times.

I have nothing against people that feel it's not enough, too much, whatever. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I don't see a fix for Edmonton coming from within the organization anytime soon. Certainly I could be wrong as I don't pretend to know alot about your prospects, but that's how I feel.
- canadianpenfan

Something every Edmonton fan should read.

Fair enough, but I think Letang is better player then Eberle and IMO he (when healthy) brings more to the Penguins roster then Eberle would.
- fiveandagame

If Eberle were to play on a line with Crosby and Kunitz I think all three would end up with 100 point seasons

Really, that's what it comes down to, and I can respect that.

But I can't agree with it.
- canadianpenfan

Good news sir, Zatkoff looks to be the guy tonight.

Petry = Letang? Schultz = Letang? Come on Oilers fans!

If Eberle were to play on a line with Crosby and Kunitz I think all three would end up with 100 point seasons
- Ihatebrianburke

Who would get the puck to them from the back end or QB the PP?

Edit: Another thing that I learned during the Team Canada selection conversation is the only person that can play with Crosby is Kunitz so don't pencil in Eberle with 100 pts just yet.

If Eberle were to play on a line with Crosby and Kunitz I think all three would end up with 100 point seasons
- Ihatebrianburke

You thought wrong. hahahaha

Well, we have one that it took one year in the OHL ... Maatta. I guess he is way ahead of the curve.
- Oneonta Penguin

Playing sheltered minutes on a team with other vets to carry the load. Totally different situation.

Good news sir, Zatkoff looks to be the guy tonight.
- Ryan_Wilson

I heard.


Dubnyk confirmed too, bet the over kids.

Petry = Letang? Schultz = Letang? Come on Oilers fans!
- SPIDEROCKSTAR

Not a single person has said that.

What is your desired course of action? Continue on doing what you're doing until the perfect fit comes along? Keep things the same and assume all the draft picks eventually figure things out? I mean at some point don't the people of Edmonton have enough of the losing? The pressure isn't on Pittsburgh to make changes, do you feel the same can be said about Edmonton?

I mean really, I don't care. I fully trust that if Letang is dealt Shero will get a great return. If he's not we're 'stuck' with a great defenseman. But at some point Edmonton needs to make some progress and if they continue doing nothing, waiting for the perfect deal, will they?

Letang would be a huge upgrade over what they have now, that can't be argued. Sometimes trades need to be made to change the culture of an organization, even if they aren't the 'perfect' fit. This might be one of those times.

I have nothing against people that feel it's not enough, too much, whatever. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I don't see a fix for Edmonton coming from within the organization anytime soon. Certainly I could be wrong as I don't pretend to know alot about your prospects, but that's how I feel.
- canadianpenfan

It's a bit paradoxical, but I feel like the best way to deal if you're a GM on a bad team is to posture yourself as if you don't "need" to make a deal. More often than not, desperate GMs do worse, not better.

Secondly, I think we're operating on a assumption that Letang is definitely availanble, but every other player definitely isn't. At a certain point, a GM needs to work on the information available to him and not dwell on finding out later who they could have had. But as a fan, I'm not going to pretend like the paramaters of this blog exactly represent what's available.

Third, I think the notion that it needs to be one big piece for another big piece depends on an assumption that the core is flawed (in terms of character/skillset). I'm not going to sit around and pretend like an impact Dman isn't on every Oiler fans wishlist. However, I think if anyone is under the notion that we need to change the culture by making a trade, I think they're sorely mistaken. In a hypothetical situation where one of our highly touted D prospects becomes a top dman, there's nothing inherently wrong with the group of players assembled that will keep us from success. Just like Pittsburgh is apparently fine to move on from Letang given their depth of young up and comers.

Lastly, I really do believe chemistry has a lot to bear on the situation. Again, Pens fans saying on one hand that Kunitz is a perfect fit for Crosby and on the other maintaining that any skilled Dman would solve the oilers problems, I find that a bit rich. My question is, can a lesser Dman than Letang who's a better fit for the Oilers be had? And would that chemistry make us better off, or worse off, than Letang? Relating to my second point, without having that information of who's really available, I'm unable to say for sure.

That being said, since Letang could address some of the oilers needs, I'm not opposed to the idea prima facie.

Something every Edmonton fan should read.
- Oneonta Penguin

It's a quality post, but it's not like we're delusional or something.

Not to mention that what Oilers fans think has no impact on what MacT does or how the team plays.

It's a bit paradoxical, but I feel like the best way to deal if you're a GM on a bad team is to posture yourself as if you don't "need" to make a deal. More often than not, desperate GMs do worse, not better.

Secondly, I think we're operating on a assumption that Letang is definitely availanble, but every other player definitely isn't. At a certain point, a GM needs to work on the information available to him and not dwell on finding out later who they could have had. But as a fan, I'm not going to pretend like the paramaters of this blog exactly represent what's available.

Third, I think the notion that it needs to be one big piece for another big piece depends on an assumption that the core is flawed (in terms of character/skillset). I'm not going to sit around and pretend like an impact Dman isn't on every Oiler fans wishlist. However, I think if anyone is under the notion that we need to change the culture by making a trade, I think they're sorely mistaken. In a hypothetical situation where one of our highly touted D prospects becomes a top dman, there's nothing inherently wrong with the group of players assembled that will keep us from success. Just like Pittsburgh is apparently fine to move on from Letang given their depth of young up and comers.

Lastly, I really do believe chemistry has a lot to bear on the situation. Again, Pens fans saying on one hand that Kunitz is a perfect fit for Crosby and on the other maintaining that any skilled Dman would solve the oilers problems, I find that a bit rich. My question is, can a lesser Dman than Letang who's a better fit for the Oilers be had? And would that chemistry make us better off, or worse off, than Letang? Relating to my second point, without having that information of who's really available, I'm unable to say for sure.

That being said, since Letang could address some of the oilers needs, I'm not opposed to the idea prima facie.
- Morris

There's no denying a deal involving those two would be more risky for the Oilers. I think any major hockey deal would be more risky for the Oilers. Seems kind of counterintuitive since the expectations for the Oilers are so low, but theres less insulation for the player moving to the worse team on the off chance he regresses (or actually isn't that good as was the case with a Ryan Whitney).

Not a single person has said that.
- Iggysbff

Read around Page 3,4,5, you are going to see it. Letang > Petry + Schultz

You thought wrong. hahahaha
- SPIDEROCKSTAR

And how is that you figure that? A guy that can put up 76 points in a season on the worst team in the league with linemates that put up 52 and 53 points couldn't put up 100 points with the best player in the world and his red hot linemate? Get a clue before you open your mouth

Really, that's what it comes down to, and I can respect that.

But I can't agree with it.
- canadianpenfan

I think we could be better than we are now with Letang, minus Eberle.

But I don't want to lose the forest through the trees and concentrate on merely getting better than we are now. What's a GM doing if he's not trying to build a team to eventually compete for a cup? Not saying Letang couldn't be a piece of that puzzle, but if you don't think it can help you be cup competitive, improving slightly is a poor consolation.

It's a bit paradoxical, but I feel like the best way to deal if you're a GM on a bad team is to posture yourself as if you don't "need" to make a deal. More often than not, desperate GMs do worse, not better.

Secondly, I think we're operating on a assumption that Letang is definitely availanble, but every other player definitely isn't. At a certain point, a GM needs to work on the information available to him and not dwell on finding out later who they could have had. But as a fan, I'm not going to pretend like the paramaters of this blog exactly represent what's available.

Third, I think the notion that it needs to be one big piece for another big piece depends on an assumption that the core is flawed (in terms of character/skillset). I'm not going to sit around and pretend like an impact Dman isn't on every Oiler fans wishlist. However, I think if anyone is under the notion that we need to change the culture by making a trade, I think they're sorely mistaken. In a hypothetical situation where one of our highly touted D prospects becomes a top dman, there's nothing inherently wrong with the group of players assembled that will keep us from success. Just like Pittsburgh is apparently fine to move on from Letang given their depth of young up and comers.

Lastly, I really do believe chemistry has a lot to bear on the situation. Again, Pens fans saying on one hand that Kunitz is a perfect fit for Crosby and on the other maintaining that any skilled Dman would solve the oilers problems, I find that a bit rich. My question is, can a lesser Dman than Letang who's a better fit for the Oilers be had? And would that chemistry make us better off, or worse off, than Letang? Relating to my second point, without having that information of who's really available, I'm unable to say for sure.

That being said, since Letang could address some of the oilers needs, I'm not opposed to the idea prima facie.
- Morris

Forget about Letang.

Would you trade Eberle right now for an impact defenseman that upgraded your team significantly but might not address ALL your needs on the backend?

Or do you wait and hope you find a team willing to trade you an impact defenseman somewhere down the road that addresses all your needs?

There's no denying a deal involving those two would be more risky for the Oilers. I think any major hockey deal would be more risky for the Oilers. Seems kind of counterintuitive since the expectations for the Oilers are so low, but theres less insulation for the player moving to the worse team on the off chance he regresses (or actually isn't that good as was the case with a Ryan Whitney).
- Deadstar

Whitney busted his ankle really badly. He had a phenomenal, albeit brief, pre-injury career with us.

I think we could be better than we are now with Letang, minus Eberle.

But I don't want to lose the forest through the trees and concentrate on merely getting better than we are now. What's a GM doing if he's not trying to build a team to eventually compete for a cup? Not saying Letang couldn't be a piece of that puzzle, but if you don't think it can help you be cup competitive, improving slightly is a poor consolation.
- Morris

Makes sense.

Good chat Morris, i gotsta go fill my fat tummy now.

Playing sheltered minutes on a team with other vets to carry the load. Totally different situation.
- Iggysbff

No, its not. During all the injuries, he certainly didn't play sheltered minutes. Hell, he would be your best defenseman as well.

Whitney busted his ankle really badly. He had a phenomenal, albeit brief, pre-injury career with us.
- Morris

He was good with you. I was referring to Anaheim unfortunately who wanted to rid him so quickly. He was not good for them.