The Lindros return was way more than just OEL. If McDavid got us OEL and a combination of Gormley / Samuelsson / Domi and obviously Dubnyk, then they may go for it.
- kingbrehm

You dangle a generational type talent, and then wait for the bids to come in. It would do them a lot more good in the long run, however good Macdavid winds up being.

Id rather have Weber. You know, experience being a weak point
- Oilfan19

Weber is a better all around player no doubt, but OEL has 4 full non-injury seasons under his belt, plus 6 or 7 years younger. I'd go for OEL.

WTF? Did you seriously just completely contradict yourself like that? " We don't know cause we don't play on the team and can't measure it". You don't play for the wings, can't measure it but it has to exist because they have won for a really, really long time.
- ruttager17

You should read what you wrote. Talk about not making sense......

We can't measure it because it's not tangible or concrete. There is no statistic to measure culture or chemistry. It's either there or it isn't.

We can never really tell at any given point in time, but over time it can become apparent that a team has some sort of "winning culture". The Wings are a good example of this, I'd say maybe the Patriots as well. You can tell it exists but nobody is going to come on here and say the Wings have a 90% culture rating

Weber is a better all around player no doubt, but OEL has 4 full non-injury seasons under his belt, plus 6 or 7 years younger. I'd go for OEL.
- kingbrehm

Precisely. He hasn't even hit his peak yet. As far as general playing ability, OEL is really not far off Weber. The guy will be in Norris conversations for years. He might even make guys like Jultz look respectable, to say nothing of the impact he would have on guys like Marincin, Klefbom and Nurse.

Precisely. He hasn't even hit his peak yet. As far as general playing ability, OEL is really not far off Weber. The guy will be in Norris conversations for years. He might even make guys like Jultz look respectable, to say nothing of the impact he would have on guys like Marincin, Klefbom and Nurse.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

Pronger couldn't make Jultz look respectable..

Chemistry is between the players they know where each other are on the ice... That's chemistry in a nutshell...

Hall and Eberle have chemistry, why? Because they have played together for like the past 5 years..
- Oilers4Life14

That is so not what chemistry is in a nutshell. Lot's of NHL players have great awareness about where all the people are on the ice, doesn't mean they have chemistry with all of those people. Chemistry is about the players being able to anticipate what the other or each other is going to do, with/without the puck.

You dangle a generational type talent, and then wait for the bids to come in. It would do them a lot more good in the long run, however good Macdavid winds up being.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

If the return is in the realm of the Lindros deal then it's a definitely a no-brainer. Forsberg worked out pretty well for the Avs and Lindros was constantly one sneeze away from drooling on himself for the rest of his life.

That is so not what chemistry is in a nutshell. Lot's of NHL players have great awareness about where all the people are on the ice, doesn't mean they have chemistry with all of those people. Chemistry is about the players being able to anticipate what the other or each other is going to do, with/without the puck.
- ruttager17

Chemistry isn't all about anticipating what players do on the ice either. It's about trust, how certain personalities get along, willingness to sacrifice for each other etc etc etc.

Precisely. He hasn't even hit his peak yet. As far as general playing ability, OEL is really not far off Weber. The guy will be in Norris conversations for years. He might even make guys like Jultz look respectable, to say nothing of the impact he would have on guys like Marincin, Klefbom and Nurse.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

Agreed. Would be huge to have an OEL type on the blueline. Marincin and Klefbom will be good players, and Nurse could become a #2 guy, but with the influence of a real Norris caliber dman playing alongside them is immeasurable.

Pronger couldn't make Jultz look respectable..
- Oilfan19

Jultz is just a right shooting MAB. He just hasn't taken out a #1 goaltender in the cup finals yet.

Jultz is just a right shooting MAB. He just hasn't taken out a #1 goaltender in the cup finals yet.
- kingbrehm

The thing is that we never really know because we aren't on the team, and we actually have no clue about the true "culture". Also, it can't be measured. But that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Look at the Red Wings, how do you think they always have good teams? Their culture breeds success, you can't deny that. And this doesn't just apply to the players, it applies to the coaches, the gm, the scouts, the training staff, everyone.
- The-O-G

In my amateur sporting experience it takes a special group of players to will that a bad team become good through hard work, commitment and effort.

It takes a strong willed player to abide by an existing team culture's standard of hard work, commitment and effort, but not nearly as much. I think once you get the ball rolling, buy in is easy.

And a good argument for that is when you see guys use their opportunity to buy into a new team when they leave the oilers

You should read what you wrote. Talk about not making sense......

We can't measure it because it's not tangible or concrete. There is no statistic to measure culture or chemistry. It's either there or it isn't.

We can never really tell at any given point in time, but over time it can become apparent that a team has some sort of "winning culture". The Wings are a good example of this, I'd say maybe the Patriots as well. You can tell it exists but nobody is going to come on here and say the Wings have a 90% culture rating
- The-O-G

I said you contradicted yourself, nothing about not making sense. Nice deflection from that though. Just because you didn't understand what I wrote, doesn't mean it doesn't make sense.

Chemistry isn't all about anticipating what players do on the ice either. It's about trust, how certain personalities get along, willingness to sacrifice for each other etc etc etc.
- The-O-G

Not really, chemistry has nothing to do with personalities and sacrifice. Chemistry is not knowing where the other player is, it is knowing where that other player is going to be and knowing what he is going to do.

That is so not what chemistry is in a nutshell. Lot's of NHL players have great awareness about where all the people are on the ice, doesn't mean they have chemistry with all of those people. Chemistry is about the players being able to anticipate what the other or each other is going to do, with/without the puck.
- ruttager17

I agree. With that said chemistry can be instant or develop. Hall and Yak had instant chemistry in Yak's rookie year. RNH, Hall and Eberle have learned both through playing and practice what the other players style's are like.

All that said I think we all saw Eakins going. They needed a scapegoat and really it was him or MacT. I hate to say it but the team had to do something somewhere. I like Eakins as a coach. He is just ironically not great with young all stars. Young prospects you can bench to motivate. Can't be your main strategy for high caliber young guys that need confidence. I think we also saw Barons coach being the next guy. I am not sure if they will shop in the offseason and keep him as an assistant but I think at this point the head coaching job is his to lose.

The blog was right though. Eakins wasn't provided with key components he needed to win. Regardless of being the right fit, I don't forsee MacT making this team into contenders.

Chemistry isn't all about anticipating what players do on the ice either. It's about trust, how certain personalities get along, willingness to sacrifice for each other etc etc etc.
- The-O-G

Did I use the words "Chemistry is all about" followed by the answer?

Not really, chemistry has nothing to do with personalities and sacrifice. Chemistry is not knowing where the other player is, it is knowing where that other player is going to be and knowing what he is going to do.
- kingbrehm

Come on now.......

Did I use the words "Chemistry is all about" followed by the answer?
- ruttager17

Just adding to your thoughts Rudy. Don't get your panties in a bunch.

Chemistry

I said you contradicted yourself, nothing about not making sense. Nice deflection from that though. Just because you didn't understand what I wrote, doesn't mean it doesn't make sense.
- ruttager17

You call me out for deflection then don't respond to a single thing I said

We've got bad chemistry bro.

Sacrifice

Taylor Hall is un-coachable, will be on trade block: Report

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...iacontentstory&soc_trk=tw

Matt Henderson: Bloody Fingerprints
- Matt_Henderson

- laughs2907

why am i laughing at this? it looks like its photoshopped but,

good blog.....here's another take.....maybe when "tier 1" reporters start calling for it Katz will do something:

http://espn.go.com/nhl/st...arrassing-edmonton-oilers