Sign MacT for 20 years as Lowes special assistant

There's no guarantee they'll draft Eichel, lets deal with what we know not what we assume. Rarely does an 18 year old player come in and set the NHL on fire for one, secondly, I think MacKinnon is better than Eichel and look at how well Colorado is doing with their center depth….it's a process that includes a lot of parts.
- LeftCoaster

If they stay last, it's a guarantee they pick one or the other. Also, I have heard Eichel described as generational. That means that he steps in and is instantly an NHL impact player. It means he's much, much better than MacKinnon.

Now, I don't know this, cause I have seen him play once. I am only going on what I've lead to believe, which is that both him and McDavid are supposedly closer to Crosby than any other players in the NHL. Now, if that isn't the case, if we dial back our expectations to "just" a Nathan Mackinnon, then I still think that that's a 3 centre combo to put you directly on the path to the Final. Add in Hall, Yak, Nurse et al. the Oilers and their fans are in for a pretty sweet last half of the decade.

You're overvaluing 1sts in the 25-30 range. Getting a future solid 3rd liner at that point is decent.
- Nucker101

I'm talking about their own pick. I'd bet heavily they trade the Pens pick.

If this blog is an intentional troll, then I herald you as a bigger genius than MacT, because you know how to succeed at your craft better than he does.

Now, if you are in any way being serious with your assessment of this franchise, then I have to call you out for being wrong on all accounts. You are using blind assumptions and retroactive thinking (hindsight is 20/20) to defend what is indefensibly a gong show. You are looking back at countless faulty decisions and saying they were all done on purpose to make the team bad. So basically you are accusing this franchise of corruption. The management of this team 100% thought they would have a championship team after they got Hall, RNH, & Eberle. When that failed, they 100% thought Yakupov would be the final piece to this seemingly never ending puzzle. When he turned out to be another incorrect target, they decided to pull a rope-a-dope on the fans, bring in MacT, and then preach patience.

Give me a break. The patience WAS shown during the 3 1st overall pick years. You can't sit back now and pretend that never happened and say, "oh well give MacT some time he just got here." Screw that! Who cares if he just got here, the organization has failed through the whole process. Changing one person doesn't negate all that. You claim this fiasco is a genius plan? Well please explain how Buffalo and Calgary are far superior teams than the Oilers, when both of these teams are legitimately in years 1 & 2 respectively of their rebuild process, and Oilers are on year 5 or 6, being generous. The funny thing is, your blog would make a lot more sense if you said this about Buffalo rather than Edmonton. Buffalo actually stripped the team bare and LEGIT is trying to tank a year, but they can't! Why? Because they have a team concept and a system that leads to slow but sure success. And they drafted players in the first round and beyond that fit their needs.

As for your assumptions in this blog, I want to challenge you to a gentleman's wager:



You posted this so you must stand by it now. If they even make the Stanley Cup Finals in the next 3 seasons (not even win) I will come to this blog every week for an entire year and make a very positive comment about one of your blogs, your blogging skills, and your talent as a blogger. If you are incorrect, you must post this comment at the bottom of every blog you write for a full year.

Do we have a deal?

I'll explain to you why you are wrong, just in case you want to save face and back out now. But if you stand by your words, let's make the bet.

You are wrong because:

1. You assume that drafting another skilled forward is going to change the dynamic of this team, even though their needs are on defence and goaltending.

2. You assume MacT brought in Scrivens/Fasth to purposely tank, when everyone else knows he actually thought they would be a good 1A and 1B option.

3. He won't be able to find a starting goaltender and/or a first-pairing duo of defencemen in the next year or two, which are the bare essentials of what they would need to actually win a cup, like you predict.

4. You assume Eichel or McDavid are equal to Crosby, therefore guaranteeing the Oilers have followed the Pittsburgh model and on the way to a cup, when in fact that is far from proven (see MacKinnon) and Oilers still lack every other comparable role player that led to that cup for Pitt, including but not limited to, a starting goaltender.
- tom_delonge_ava

You have some good points. I am not going to bet you, but I do stand by my words. I agree that they thought they had a good team and that they were not trying on purpose to suck, what I believe though is that when MacTavish got there, he said to himself "The picks are good, but not great. But if hold out until after 2015, we'll be golden...but I obviously can't put in a two year tank job, so what I'll do is try to improve as much as possible without trading picks or the guys we've recently picked and if we improve because of it, then sweet, if not, we will be virtually unstoppable after 2015."

But you're right about needing F and a G, which is why If I was MacT, I'd send Yakupov and Pittsburghs first for Yandle and then my 2016 first to Anaheim for Gibson.

People say get an older goalie, but I say Gibson can be their MAF.

and a D that has Yandle, Nurse, Klefbom, Schultz, Petry will actually be pretty good - in 2016 they'll lose in the first round and in 2017 they'll win the Cup.

MacT is a genius.. Lol!!!
He was a moron when he played hockey (duuhh helmets are stoopid), he was fired for being a terrible coach and he's doing a horrible job as the gm.

As a gm he is expected to make trades. If he's finding it difficult and he's over his head then he's not the right man for the job.

Perron needed to go so trading was def the right move. Getting a 1st was better than nothing but an OK move at best. I'm sure he could have done a package deal w Perron + prospect for a top 4 dman or upgrade in goal. If he ends up trading the 1st for one of the above then he's smarter than I thought... But why the Oilers need another 1st makes no sense and is far from genius.

I can't believe you called MacT a genius. Doesn't make you sound very intelligent.
- RazzDazzle

I don't need to sound intelligent any more than MacTavish needs you to like him. I just talked to him and we are both in agreement that we think each other are both geniuses and he invited me over to his house for a BBQ.

I don't need to sound intelligent any more than MacTavish needs you to like him. I just talked to him and we are both in agreement that we think each other are both geniuses and he invited me over to his house for a BBQ.
- James_Tanner

I knew it, all that positive trolling... you`re on the Katz payroll

But you're right about needing F and a G, which is why If I was MacT, I'd send Yakupov and Pittsburghs first for Yandle and then my 2016 first to Anaheim for Gibson.

Only problem is there is a slim chance they get Yandle, and zero chance they get Gibson. Gibson is Anaheim's golden boy. It's easy to say they would be better with a goalie they will never acquire. They would be better with Quick too.

But no starting goalie is coming until they draft one or trade someone significant, hint not Yakupov.

and a D that has Yandle, Nurse, Klefbom, Schultz, Petry will actually be pretty good - in 2016 they'll lose in the first round and in 2017 they'll win the Cup.

Not in the next 2/3 years that will not be a cup winning defence, and that is still under an assumption of having Yandle, which they probably will never get.

So you are saying they will win a cup if they get Gibson and Yandle. We all know they won't get either, yet you still stand by your words.

It sounds like your are being insincere in your prediction, so when they don't get those two guys you can say, well I meant IF they get those guys.

So yeah, I don't think you are serious anymore.

Only problem is there is a slim chance they get Yandle, and zero chance they get Gibson. Gibson is Anaheim's golden boy. It's easy to say they would be better with a goalie they will never acquire. They would be better with Quick too.

But no starting goalie is coming until they draft one or trade someone significant, hint not Yakupov.
- tom_delonge_ava

Bernier was once LA's golden boy and Quick made him expendable. Hard to go to Gibson when Anderson is playing as well as he is. That being said I don't think the Oilers go for another Anaheim goalie.

Petry said that he'd be willing to re-sign in Edmonton.
- BoringBob69

Plan the parade.

Only problem is there is a slim chance they get Yandle, and zero chance they get Gibson. Gibson is Anaheim's golden boy. It's easy to say they would be better with a goalie they will never acquire. They would be better with Quick too.

But no starting goalie is coming until they draft one or trade someone significant, hint not Yakupov.



Not in the next 2/3 years that will not be a cup winning defence, and that is still under an assumption of having Yandle, which they probably will never get.

So you are saying they will win a cup if they get Gibson and Yandle. We all know they won't get either, yet you still stand by your words.

It sounds like your are being insincere in your prediction, so when they don't get those two guys you can say, well I meant IF they get those guys.

So yeah, I don't think you are serious anymore.
- tom_delonge_ava

My god. Nucker may have lost his spot as my fav nucks poster. So sensical!

The NHL will ensure the Oilers do not get another number 1 pick.
- grand-magus

A number 2 or 3 pick will be great as well.

My god. Nucker may have lost his spot as my fav nucks poster. So sensical! []

Haha. I promise to bring logic and truth to a forum that so desperately needs it.

I am the Truth Teller.

Haha. I promise to bring logic and truth to a forum that so desperately needs it.

I am the Truth Teller.
- tom_delonge_ava

Do that and they call you a troll

If this blog is an intentional troll, then I herald you as a bigger genius than MacT, because you know how to succeed at your craft better than he does.

Now, if you are in any way being serious with your assessment of this franchise, then I have to call you out for being wrong on all accounts. You are using blind assumptions and retroactive thinking (hindsight is 20/20) to defend what is indefensibly a gong show. You are looking back at countless faulty decisions and saying they were all done on purpose to make the team bad. So basically you are accusing this franchise of corruption. The management of this team 100% thought they would have a championship team after they got Hall, RNH, & Eberle. When that failed, they 100% thought Yakupov would be the final piece to this seemingly never ending puzzle. When he turned out to be another incorrect target, they decided to pull a rope-a-dope on the fans, bring in MacT, and then preach patience.

Give me a break. The patience WAS shown during the 3 1st overall pick years. You can't sit back now and pretend that never happened and say, "oh well give MacT some time he just got here." Screw that! Who cares if he just got here, the organization has failed through the whole process. Changing one person doesn't negate all that. You claim this fiasco is a genius plan? Well please explain how Buffalo and Calgary are far superior teams than the Oilers, when both of these teams are legitimately in years 1 & 2 respectively of their rebuild process, and Oilers are on year 5 or 6, being generous. The funny thing is, your blog would make a lot more sense if you said this about Buffalo rather than Edmonton. Buffalo actually stripped the team bare and LEGIT is trying to tank a year, but they can't! Why? Because they have a team concept and a system that leads to slow but sure success. And they drafted players in the first round and beyond that fit their needs.

As for your assumptions in this blog, I want to challenge you to a gentleman's wager:



You posted this so you must stand by it now. If they even make the Stanley Cup Finals in the next 3 seasons (not even win) I will come to this blog every week for an entire year and make a very positive comment about one of your blogs, your blogging skills, and your talent as a blogger. If you are incorrect, you must post this comment at the bottom of every blog you write for a full year.

Do we have a deal?

I'll explain to you why you are wrong, just in case you want to save face and back out now. But if you stand by your words, let's make the bet.

You are wrong because:

1. You assume that drafting another skilled forward is going to change the dynamic of this team, even though their needs are on defence and goaltending.

2. You assume MacT brought in Scrivens/Fasth to purposely tank, when everyone else knows he actually thought they would be a good 1A and 1B option.

3. He won't be able to find a starting goaltender and/or a first-pairing duo of defencemen in the next year or two, which are the bare essentials of what they would need to actually win a cup, like you predict.

4. You assume Eichel or McDavid are equal to Crosby, therefore guaranteeing the Oilers have followed the Pittsburgh model and on the way to a cup, when in fact that is far from proven (see MacKinnon) and Oilers still lack every other comparable role player that led to that cup for Pitt, including but not limited to, a starting goaltender.
- tom_delonge_ava

so if with no Defensemen or Goalies available, how does Mac T ( or his proposed replacement) improve the team?

Do that and they call you a troll
- cdjaakkola

be a little childish prick n they'll call you a troll

MacT is a genius.. Lol!!!
He was a moron when he played hockey (duuhh helmets are stoopid), he was fired for being a terrible coach and he's doing a horrible job as the gm.

As a gm he is expected to make trades. If he's finding it difficult and he's over his head then he's not the right man for the job.

Perron needed to go so trading was def the right move. Getting a 1st was better than nothing but an OK move at best. I'm sure he could have done a package deal w Perron + prospect for a top 4 dman or upgrade in goal. If he ends up trading the 1st for one of the above then he's smarter than I thought... But why the Oilers need another 1st makes no sense and is far from genius.

I can't believe you called MacT a genius. Doesn't make you sound very intelligent.
- RazzDazzle

You seem pretty sure of all these supposed trades he could have made....such as?

be a little childish prick n they'll call you a troll
- TheNugeIsHuge

so if with no Defensemen or Goalies available, how does Mac T ( or his proposed replacement) improve the team?

That is the very essence of the franchise-wide failure here. They got giddy and acted like the draft was a candy store, drafted a bunch of flash with no concern for team needs, and completely ignored that every successful, post-lockout rebuild has involved developing a strong blue-line and a starting goalie.

They have proven you cannot do it backwards. In fact they outright refuse to trade the "core" forwards anyways.

To answer your question, they have to somewhat start over by doing 3 things:

1. Drafting a goalie and developing him the correct way.

2. Drafting a couple of blue chip defencemen and hoping they are ready in 2-4 years.

AND/OR

3. Figuring out which of Hall, RNH, Eberle you see as your future captain, and trade one of the others for one of those above 2 needs.

I am convinced that McDavid or Eichel will not change a thing unless he is replacing the one of the big 3 who is traded.

Goalies or Dmen are not available for what the Oilers are willing to trade (essentially what no one wants). They are in fact available for players of high value.

you really think there's no chance Canada loses to either the Russians or Swedes for reasons other than "luck or variance"? All three teams are really good, the players are U20 and it's one 60 minute game... plus, Canada hasn't won Gold in years.

Edit: "luck and variance" what does that even mean in this context, there's only two outcomes? Is that a 'they'll win unless they don't' type of comment?

I remember when I thought Cloutier's blogs were the worst I would ever read. Thanks for the laughs

I remember when I thought Cloutier's blogs were the worst I would ever read. Thanks for the laughs
- bluepulasky

Stay tuned, some of these saps believe this poop

you really think there's no chance Canada loses to either the Russians or Swedes for reasons other than "luck or variance"? All three teams are really good, the players are U20 and it's one 60 minute game... plus, Canada hasn't won Gold in years.

Edit: "luck and variance" what does that even mean in this context, there's only two outcomes? Is that a 'they'll win unless they don't' type of comment?
- KarlKarlsson

Think you`re posting in the wrong blog for an opinion on winning

You seem pretty sure of all these supposed trades he could have made....such as?
- Jeropotato

Obviously we should of got Matta for Perron. We all know how other teams are just dying to give us great value on every deal we make.

You seem pretty sure of all these supposed trades he could have made....such as?
- Jeropotato

There's been lots of trades since MacT started as GM, so saying there's nobody to trade with is wrong. His inept ability to negotiate is the reason it's difficult for him and why nothing is happening.

There's moves that will make the Oilers better sooner rather than later. I've given my suggestions before and had you rip them down because of the "brilliant signings" MacT made in the summer.

I just posted to laugh at the oilers blogger for calling MacT a genius.

To answer your question, they have to somewhat start over by doing 3 things:

1. Drafting a goalie and developing him the correct way.
- tom_delonge_ava

We have Laurent Brossoit who MacT traded for. He's 21 and top 10 in the AHL in GAA, SV% and wins.

2. Drafting a couple of blue chip defencemen and hoping they are ready in 2-4 years.

We have Nurse, Marincin and Klefbom who are the future of our blueline and they just need time to develop.