So is Klefbom taking Gagner's spot as the whipping boy this season?
- ChetManly

no for me,the whipping boy for me still Eakins

Because last year is all I got out of it. Guys like Marincin who barely had spots last year really don't own a spot to lose. Whoever is the better player any given day should have it. At this point Marincin didn't do anything to cement the spot as his and Klefbom showed better according to the team. Only a matter of time before he's back though.
- Lahey

every single stat, metric any way what so ever to comparet these 2 players throughout preseason was won by Marincin, there's no justifiable reason to keep Klefbom over Marincin

It appears so. On the bright side, Mr.Petry who really is the make it or break it for this team is going unnoticed.
- Lahey

Good thing about Petry. He was getting some bad lashings for a while as well. I'm on the side of "lets watch a few games and see how everything proceeds and make changes then as required". The roster that is starting this year is already much better than last years.

is not one player but taking a player out from your roster that was the exception of a horrible D last year that played long minutes is a mistake, but again I hope it works out.
- AlEx_OiL

Meh, Stauffer is already claiming Marincin will be back in a week so I'm not exactly worried.

no for me,the whipping boy for me still Eakins
- AlEx_OiL

we all know that quite well

Are you reading over what you're posting?

You're against overrating young players but you're perfectly fine w/ Nurse/Klefbom in a guaranteed top 4 role over someone who succeeded in one!

Yes. I probably would've rather Gagner-Cogs-Nilsson as the top line than handing the 1C spot to Schremp
- TheNugeIsHuge

How are they guranteed top 4?

Fayne, Nikitin, Schultz, Petry. Pretty sure that's our top 4 with maybe Nikitin slipping out.

Really don't see one place where I said Nurse and Klefbomb are both in our top 4. Nurse probably gets limited action as a #6 unless he does well. Klebom on the other hand could sneak into that top 4 with good play, although I've heard a lot of good about Nikitin so far.

Not when Hall wants out.
- Nucker101

If this season goes bad and Hall and Eakins have another incident(I hope Eakins does get squirt pee/water)I would not be surprise is Hall say's to the Oil Hasta la vista baby.

we all know that quite well
- ChetManly

just making sure

This really is the problem. We shouldn't be banking on either of them in order for this team to have success. This team needs Nikitin, Fayne, Petry and Schultz to perform well. Those are the guys that should be eating up the minutes. Banking on Klefbomb or Marincin to be the game changers is just a mistake.
- Lahey

who's banking on them for anything? I'm banking on the team to ice the best team possible, and icing Klefbom over Marincin at this point in their careers, isn't icing the best team possible.

every single stat, metric any way what so ever to comparet these 2 players throughout preseason was won by Marincin, there's no justifiable reason to keep Klefbom over Marincin
- SpoiledByOil

Better work ethic in practice?

How are they guranteed top 4?

Fayne, Nikitin, Schultz, Petry. Pretty sure that's our top 4 with maybe Nikitin slipping out.
- Lahey

Nikitin's out week 1. Opening night roster will have Nurse or Klefbom in a top 4 role and based on their experience in the role (0), the odds are they don't succeed

You think that Marincin was only going to play 16 minutes this year? Well, only a terrible coach would play, arguably, their best puck moving defenceman for 16 minutes. But i guess for those 16-18 minutes we should employ reallllllllly good looking dmen that will bring some cool physicality to the position. Because physicality wins games! ask the leafs
- JShack

there's more to life than just being really, really, ridiculously good looking

If hes better, i ABSOLUTELY think that he will play more... you clearly know notihng if you think big hard hitting Dmen are still important in todays game. Please ask yourself this. Who is harder to play against. Erik Karllson or kevin Bieksa. Now if you dont like that one. How about this. Who would you rather match up against as a forward. Lindstrom or darrien hatcher.

If you like playing in your own d zone, then im guessing youll choose karllson, lindstrom and marincin.

You are brilliant
- JShack

wow man..... just.... wow............. Pronger or Karlson? Weber or Letang?


WOW................................ no words for this stupidity.

every single stat, metric any way what so ever to comparet these 2 players throughout preseason was won by Marincin, there's no justifiable reason to keep Klefbom over Marincin
- SpoiledByOil

Except that Klefbom will get little to no playing time.

Nikita will most likely be back after only a couple of games.

Nurse plays through the whole time up until his 9 games, Klefbom and Hunt split until Nikita is healthy. This is the easiest portion of the Oilers schedule so there is no better time to give Klefbom/Hunt their cup of coffee before both become irrelevant to the NHL roster.

Of course if Nurse, Klefbom, and Hunt all suck then Mac T has egg on his face something fierce.

Nikitin's out week 1. Opening night roster will have Nurse or Klefbom in a top 4 role and based on their experience in the role (0), the odds are they don't succeed
- TheNugeIsHuge

Ya there's a leap of faith, odds are 100% healthy we aren't succeeding.

Ok man. whoever steinley is. You're wrong and a complete waste of time, especially after the fact you read the article and still think that the choice between Klef and Marty was a coin toss. From now on, ill call you Mr. Carlyle.
- JShack

i agree with you on MM derseving to be here over Klefbom, but everything you've said since, and the comparables and justifications you've used to argue your side have made you look like a complete idiot with little to no knowledge about anything hockey. Holy (frank) you're a new level smrt

Why is there so much hatred towards Klefbom?

Ahhhh so klefbom and his ZERO points and 5 shots in preseason make him a weber comparable... Great
- JShack

Whoever this man-child (or just child) is needs to go back and get their grade 8. That was the most incoherent display of an argument I've ever witnessed.
Your competence ====>

Maybe we should actually wait until they play in the NHL this year. Some seem to just discount Klefs injuries and are talking marincin's 44 games way too far.
- Lahey

I agree when it comes to letting them play and seeing what happens because what IF (I know its a stretch) those two guys actually do good and dont hurt the team? then it was a risk worth taking and if the first week is brutal then Nikitin should be back and they can always recall MM if the need arises. I hate us losing as much as the next person but let see how it plays out before we declare the season lost already.

Why not Eichel?
- ChetManly

I'd rather have Eichel at this point. We need the size with skill over small and skilled

Except that Klefbom will get little to no playing time.

Nikita will most likely be back after only a couple of games.

Nurse plays through the whole time up until his 9 games, Klefbom and Hunt split until Nikita is healthy. This is the easiest portion of the Oilers schedule so there is no better time to give Klefbom/Hunt their cup of coffee before both become irrelevant to the NHL roster.

Of course if Nurse, Klefbom, and Hunt all suck then Mac T has egg on his face something fierce.
- Aerchon

it's the easiest schedule so we should ice an AHL D to lose winnable games?

Better work ethic in practice?
- Lahey

it's pretty obvious they both have good practice work ethic, now you're just reaching and trying to be devils advocate. What you're saying in here is pretty opposite of what you've said in the past about playing the best players, and not having too many rookies in the lineup.

Why is there so much hatred towards Klefbom?
- ChetManly

I just don't understand demoting MM over Klefbom. Neither require waivers. One is more experienced and looked better in the pre season. Draft pedigree?

Except that Klefbom will get little to no playing time.

Nikita will most likely be back after only a couple of games.

Nurse plays through the whole time up until his 9 games, Klefbom and Hunt split until Nikita is healthy. This is the easiest portion of the Oilers schedule so there is no better time to give Klefbom/Hunt their cup of coffee before both become irrelevant to the NHL roster.

Of course if Nurse, Klefbom, and Hunt all suck then Mac T has egg on his face something fierce.
- Aerchon

I don't think they will suck, i just think Marincin earned the right to be on the opening roster over Klefbom.

how can Klefbom and Marincin currently be on the same level in some minds? Marincin was playing top lines (again, most common opponents Getzlaf, Perry, D Sedin) and performing better than the rest of the club for over half a season. Klefbom played 17 games against softer competition and was at about the average team level.

If you're basing anything off of 6 pre season games then don't even bother responding
- TheNugeIsHuge

Bingo Bongo