This is the part where Tanner will reply to you with his patented "I was just kidding / you need to develop a sense of humor" routine.
- Katana777

Buddy, this is the seventh or tenth time you've made this same reference and it's totally false and complete B.S. Unless you're an idiot, you must have realized this blog contains a lot of humour (assuming you've read more than one).

Just for the record, the time you're referring to is when you thought my reference to being the Canadian Kanye was serious and you looked ridiculous when you forced me to explain it.

So sure, keep playing your one note, but realize who that you're talking to someone at least 54% more influential than anyone else alive.

Yeah we'll take Dvorak for Gardiner
- Conquest

Did Nonis get hired back? Cause Arizona would do that all day long. You are seriously proposing trading one of the 10-20 best defenseman in the world for a prospect drafted in the second round?

Where do I sign?

We're talking perceived value vs market value.

Kings will be pay a premium. Gotta keep up with the jones.
- Tumbleweed

Fair point.

Oilers aren't taking on more prospects. Want players to help them win now. Plus, of all guys, why trade Yakupov ? He'll get back a horrible return on a first overall pick. Trade someone who someone else will pay for. If they were trading Yakupov, i doubt he'd ever skate with anyone besides Connor.
- James_Tanner

I don't see yak fetching them a solid nhl player.

High risk/reward prospects/picks is what I think he brings back

Edm can flip picks/prospects to fill other needs is my thought.

Best Faith No More song=

Surprise, you're dead

I love OEL

I love OEL
- YuenglingJagr

He doesn't love you

Did Nonis get hired back? Cause Arizona would do that all day long. You are seriously proposing trading one of the 10-20 best defenseman in the world for a prospect drafted in the second round?

Where do I sign?
- James_Tanner

James, I find your posts extremely entertaining and I think you're a great writer that helps make following the game really fun.

That said, I can't tell if you're trolling everyone with your extremely exaggerated evaluations lately. You recently said that the Oilers had "objectively the best lineup in the salary cap era", tonight you said Arizona's first line is the worst ever (this might actually be true, I haven't watched much of Vermette this year), and now you're saying Gardiner is top 20 in the world?

Gardiner's not even playing top 4 on one of the worst teams in the league, which is coached by a guy who would know if he was top 20 in the world (Average Time On Ice shows that Hunwick, Rielly, Phaneuf and Polak were regularly playing ahead of Gardiner. POLAK.).

Edmonton's coach just used the media to demand that his GM deal two thirds of the roster so he has something to work with. Injuries aren't the reason he did that.

Just for the record, the time you're referring to is when you thought my reference to being the Canadian Kanye was serious and you looked ridiculous when you forced me to explain it.
- James_Tanner

Drake is the Canadian Kanye

Best Faith No More song=

Surprise, you're dead
- mr.sir

Hard to pick a favorite, they're an awesome band.

James, I find your posts extremely entertaining and I think you're a great writer that helps make following the game really fun.

That said, I can't tell if you're trolling everyone with your extremely exaggerated evaluations lately. You recently said that the Oilers had "objectively the best lineup in the salary cap era", tonight you said Arizona's first line is the worst ever (this might actually be true, I haven't watched much of Vermette this year), and now you're saying Gardiner is top 20 in the world?

Gardiner's not even playing top 4 on one of the worst teams in the league, which is coached by a guy who would know if he was top 20 in the world (Average Time On Ice shows that Hunwick, Rielly, Phaneuf and Polak were regularly playing ahead of Gardiner. POLAK.).

Edmonton's coach just used the media to demand that his GM deal two thirds of the roster so he has something to work with. Injuries aren't the reason he did that.
- JyrkiLumme

First off, thanks for the compliment.

Second, I swear, I do believe what I say.

I don't think the Oilers comment is that far off. I know it's hard to look past the losing and I know people don't generally want to credit injuries with the blame they deserve. I also don't think the Oilers have a complete team or even a very good balanced one...but if we look at talent alone, how many teams can compete with Hall, Draisaitl, Eberle , Pouliot, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nurse, Klefbom and Yakupov (who is more talented than successful) ? That's as solid a group as anyone has.

Then you go and add McDavid to that - I think it's insane, he's the best (or at least, most talented) player in the entire world. So I stand by that statement.

#2 - Boedker has production for his career that is third line and not a good third line player. Domi is a defensive nightmare who has shown negative ability at puck possession and Vermette would be cut from most teams in the NHL. Legit worst first line ever. Honestly, it was more of a shot of how they were listed.

#3 I have gone over the Gardiner thing a lot. He seriously does have some of the biggest impacts statistically in the NHL. Now, you don't have to agree, but I can back this up with a statistical argument and have several times.

If you look at possession stats, scoring chance and shot differentials, shot suppression, puck clearing, passing data,, crease clearing, WAR etc. it isn't debatable: there are not 20 players who are statistically superior.

Now, you could make the argument that EA sports doesn't respect him and that stats don't tell the whole story and I should watch the games - basically you'd be saying "I have no proof, but Gardiner doesn't 'feel' like he's that good."

So, yeah, not trolling. I can back up everything I say. It's just, what your average fan believes is so far from the truth that I seem "crazy" even though I'm the more accurate one in like 99% of cases.

As for the ice time, Babcock clearly had a mandate not to seperate him from Phaneuf since every player improves massively when paired with JG. They played Polak as much as possible so they could trade him. As for Rielly, he's the future and they sacrificed Hunwick - possibly the worst player in NHL history to receive top line D minutes - to make it happen.

grossman > gormley

OEL.

Guess you didn't catch those Leaf games when Kadri was injured.

Leafs 1st line for a couple of games was Komarov - Holland - Grabner.

This would definitely be a weak 3rd line on most teams.

James, I find your posts extremely entertaining and I think you're a great writer that helps make following the game really fun.

That said, I can't tell if you're trolling everyone with your extremely exaggerated evaluations lately. You recently said that the Oilers had "objectively the best lineup in the salary cap era", tonight you said Arizona's first line is the worst ever (this might actually be true, I haven't watched much of Vermette this year), and now you're saying Gardiner is top 20 in the world?

Gardiner's not even playing top 4 on one of the worst teams in the league, which is coached by a guy who would know if he was top 20 in the world (Average Time On Ice shows that Hunwick, Rielly, Phaneuf and Polak were regularly playing ahead of Gardiner. POLAK.).

Edmonton's coach just used the media to demand that his GM deal two thirds of the roster so he has something to work with. Injuries aren't the reason he did that.
- JyrkiLumme

you all (frank)ing love it, and you all know it.

Guess you didn't catch those Leaf games when Kadri was injured.

Leafs 1st line for a couple of games was Komarov - Holland - Grabner.

This would definitely be a weak 3rd line on most teams.
- Barilko

That is a weak first line, but none of those guys is worse than Vermette, and at least Komarov, maybe even the other two are better all-round players than Boedker.

I think, of all the things anyone could say about me, failure to face his critics would have to be the absolute most ridiculous. I mean, give me a break. Keep your insults within the realm of reality.
- James_Tanner

Right. Where exactly is the response to that argument then?

The prosecution rests your honour.

I think, of all the things anyone could say about me, failure to face his critics would have to be the absolute most ridiculous. I mean, give me a break. Keep your insults within the realm of reality.
- James_Tanner

See what you get yourself into when you don't think like the rest of the herd?

grossman > gormley
- rinaldo

I noticed Grossman a lot last night.

Right. Where exactly is the response to that argument then?

The prosecution rests your honour.
- mlindsay

Its there. If I have time I respond to every comment I can. I tend to ignore ones that are rude or from one of the people I've sworn not to respond to again.

I don't know why you guys are so caught up in gotchas. Is there a single intelligent person who doubts that they'd have made it if they had McDavid, RNH and Klefbom for the whole year?

All these "told you so" dudes are always going off without even so much as a nod towards thinking critically.

Is anyone even comprehending what kind of advantage McDavid-RNH-Draisaitl down the middle is?
- James_Tanner

Well McDavid is back and they still went 1-8-1, I believe there's a good chance they don't make it again next year if they don't trade for a D or 2.

It's not really a surprise to many they didn't make it, except you...which i'm surprised by.

Did Nonis get hired back? Cause Arizona would do that all day long. You are seriously proposing trading one of the 10-20 best defenseman in the world for a prospect drafted in the second round?

Where do I sign?
- James_Tanner

He's improved by lets not get carried away.

First off, thanks for the compliment.

Second, I swear, I do believe what I say.

I don't think the Oilers comment is that far off. I know it's hard to look past the losing and I know people don't generally want to credit injuries with the blame they deserve. I also don't think the Oilers have a complete team or even a very good balanced one...but if we look at talent alone, how many teams can compete with Hall, Draisaitl, Eberle , Pouliot, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nurse, Klefbom and Yakupov (who is more talented than successful) ? That's as solid a group as anyone has.

Then you go and add McDavid to that - I think it's insane, he's the best (or at least, most talented) player in the entire world. So I stand by that statement.

#2 - Boedker has production for his career that is third line and not a good third line player. Domi is a defensive nightmare who has shown negative ability at puck possession and Vermette would be cut from most teams in the NHL. Legit worst first line ever. Honestly, it was more of a shot of how they were listed.

#3 I have gone over the Gardiner thing a lot. He seriously does have some of the biggest impacts statistically in the NHL. Now, you don't have to agree, but I can back this up with a statistical argument and have several times.

If you look at possession stats, scoring chance and shot differentials, shot suppression, puck clearing, passing data,, crease clearing, WAR etc. it isn't debatable: there are not 20 players who are statistically superior.

Now, you could make the argument that EA sports doesn't respect him and that stats don't tell the whole story and I should watch the games - basically you'd be saying "I have no proof, but Gardiner doesn't 'feel' like he's that good."

So, yeah, not trolling. I can back up everything I say. It's just, what your average fan believes is so far from the truth that I seem "crazy" even though I'm the more accurate one in like 99% of cases.

As for the ice time, Babcock clearly had a mandate not to seperate him from Phaneuf since every player improves massively when paired with JG. They played Polak as much as possible so they could trade him. As for Rielly, he's the future and they sacrificed Hunwick - possibly the worst player in NHL history to receive top line D minutes - to make it happen.
- James_Tanner

You back it up with the stats YOU believe in...not all the stats available. A couple guys say some stats are meaningless and you are riding that to the grave.

I think it's a mistake as 99% of the population could list of 20 or more players that are better "hockey players" than Jake Gardiner. ( I do think he's really improved this year and is a good D, just not top 20 in the WORLD )

Its there. If I have time I respond to every comment I can. I tend to ignore ones that are rude or from one of the people I've sworn not to respond to again.
- James_Tanner

So, I guess I'm on that list?