You're free to have that opinion but players of his style are seen all around winning teams. Stepan (2C), Granlund (2-3C), Datsyuk (1C), Ribeiro (soft-comp 2C), and Nielsen (2C) to name a few. They're all smaller players that play a slippery playmaking game and contribute on defense (with the exception of Ribeiro) by using their stick. He's not the elite #1 like Datsyuk, but he's no far cry from Stepan or Nielsen. He's also younger than all of those mentioned.
- MaximumBone

Fair, although Daystuk was a far, far better player and only now at 37 or whatever he is, is starting to come to RNH level. Also Stephan and Nielsson are grittier and better defensively. Kyle Turris comes to mind as a comparison, but again, there's a player with defensive weakness that a mediocre team is using as a 1/2 C.

My main point is that I would let him go first and foremost to bring in D help. He's not going to be missed.

Only bad teams argue over who had the most injuries. Last year it was the Jackets excuse for their troubles. Look at the pens and bolts... They just keep playing.
- shack67

Yup and it wouldn't make it less of an excuse if they were to be ousted early in the playoffs. I'm not saying it's the primary or even secondary factor for not making the playoffs, just that it was a big factor.

Because I figured I wouldn't need to name the other two as I listed their games lost, but evidently I should've guessed you didn't want to do any research of your own to try to understand our team's roster better. See, normally when you come in to another team's thread, you assume a certain level of responsibility to put in effort to understand the opposing team and their situation.
- MaximumBone

it's not the roster i'm confused by... u said 8 but only names 4... and then say u didn't think u needed to name the other 2.... just cant make sense of the math?

youre a bad team


Boom roasted
- DDM-Coga

My comment was meant for leaf fans too dummy.

My comment was meant for leaf fans too dummy.
- shack67

Keep up Im all about the Hot takes, thats fatmarsh life,

Fair, although Daystuk was a far, far better player and only now at 37 or whatever he is, is starting to come to RNH level. Also Stephan and Nielsson are grittier and better defensively. Kyle Turris comes to mind as a comparison, but again, there's a player with defensive weakness that a mediocre team is using as a 1/2 C.

My main point is that I would let him go first and foremost to bring in D help. He's not going to be missed.
- jackzack87

On one hand I can agree, on another, I pursue moving the wingers first if we can get appropriate return for them, but I consider moving Nuge for sure. I think his two-way game is overblown in comparison to McDavid and Leon. Both have solid two-way games and are only gonna get better.

At the end of the day, I want to see at least one of the 6mil gone in the summer with another one of them leaving by next summer

it's not the roster i'm confused by... u said 8 but only names 4... and then say u didn't think u needed to name the other 2.... just cant make sense of the math?
- derm10

Sorry, on my phone. I mistyped 8 when I meant 6.

On one hand I can agree, on another, I pursue moving the wingers first if we can get appropriate return for them, but I consider moving Nuge for sure. I think his two-way game is overblown in comparison to McDavid and Leon. Both have solid two-way games and are only gonna get better.

At the end of the day, I want to see at least one of the 6mil gone in the summer with another one of them leaving by next summer
- MaximumBone

I just think Nuge's offense is simply not good enough; it's certainly not 6 million dollar good. I think Leon has shown more promise than Nuge has at this point and has overtaken Nuge in terms of value to the team. What doesn't seem to be talked about very much is that Nuge is a bandaid out there, and that's because he's so small.

Our top trading chips this offseason in my opinion and in no particular order are Nugent-Hopkins, Eberle, Pouliot, the 2016 first and Yakupov. That should be enough to substantially improve the defense in a meaningful way

I just wanted to say I'm jelly you guys got Maroon.

I don't know what Anaheim was thinking to get rid of him for peanuts. Maybe it was just compliance on his part playing for the Ducks, but a change of scenery has shown he's still the same player he was when he was on the Duck's top line.

You guys got rid of that steaming turd Schultz which is probably the best addition by subtraction ever.

On top of that I thought Kassian was a decent player for you guys. One of those players who can create chaos when he's on the ice.

I just wanted to say I'm jelly you guys got Maroon.

I don't know what Anaheim was thinking to get rid of him for peanuts. Maybe it was just compliance on his part playing for the Ducks, but a change of scenery has shown he's still the same player he was when he was on the Duck's top line.

You guys got rid of that steaming turd Schultz which is probably the best addition by subtraction ever.

On top of that I thought Kassian was a decent player for you guys. One of those players who can create chaos when he's on the ice.
- ScotsonFire

so are you saying that you might have a little bit of a crush on the oilers now

I just think Nuge's offense is simply not good enough; it's certainly not 6 million dollar good. I think Leon has shown more promise than Nuge has at this point and has overtaken Nuge in terms of value to the team. What doesn't seem to be talked about very much is that Nuge is a bandaid out there, and that's because he's so small.

Our top trading chips this offseason in my opinion and in no particular order are Nugent-Hopkins, Eberle, Pouliot, the 2016 first and Yakupov. That should be enough to substantially improve the defense in a meaningful way
- 6ringslowe

If the name is big enough in return I would also be willing to part with Hall....like if the Subban rumors were true we could offer up Hall +

I just wanted to say I'm jelly you guys got Maroon.

I don't know what Anaheim was thinking to get rid of him for peanuts. Maybe it was just compliance on his part playing for the Ducks, but a change of scenery has shown he's still the same player he was when he was on the Duck's top line.

You guys got rid of that steaming turd Schultz which is probably the best addition by subtraction ever.

On top of that I thought Kassian was a decent player for you guys. One of those players who can create chaos when he's on the ice.
- ScotsonFire

Not only did they get rid of him for peanuts but they also retained some salary for the remainder of the contract.....like the sample we got from Maroon I just hope this is the guy that shows up for all of next year

If the name is big enough in return I would also be willing to part with Hall....like if the Subban rumors were true we could offer up Hall +
- RatedR80

Absolutely.

I am a huge Hall fan, I have a soft spot for him because he's our OG #1 and he's been money for our team. Let's be honest, of the non-McDavid #1's, he's the only one who I would say completely fulfilled expectations of a #1 overall pick. He's still my favourite Oiler and I have a jersey signed by him after he got his hat trick against the Avs a couple years back. (Sorry DDM-Coga)

But McDavid literally changed everything. It's clear that he is the player this team will be built around. I didn't include Hall because I wouldn't actively shop him. But if Karlsson, Subban or OEL shook loose, I would be the first to say we should trade Hall.

I just think Nuge's offense is simply not good enough; it's certainly not 6 million dollar good. I think Leon has shown more promise than Nuge has at this point and has overtaken Nuge in terms of value to the team. What doesn't seem to be talked about very much is that Nuge is a bandaid out there, and that's because he's so small.

Our top trading chips this offseason in my opinion and in no particular order are Nugent-Hopkins, Eberle, Pouliot, the 2016 first and Yakupov. That should be enough to substantially improve the defense in a meaningful way
- 6ringslowe

My only concern with trading Eberle right now is that we are thin on the Right side. Our depth goes as follow Eberle, Yakupov, Kassian, Pakarinen, Cracknell. Yakupov is probably as good a gone, Kassian is an RFA and we can probably do better than him. Pakarinen is also an RFA we'll probably keep him and Cracknell is a UFA.

Say we trade Eberle and Yakupov and qualify Kassian and Pakarinen, we will effectively have no 2 six right wingers.

Personally i'd like to keep Pouliot as that gives us some depth on the left side. Hall would be first line and we can have Pouliot and Maroon on the 2nd and 3rd lines depending on who's playing better.

My only concern with trading Eberle right now is that we are thin on the Right side. Our depth goes as follow Eberle, Yakupov, Kassian, Pakarinen, Cracknell. Yakupov is probably as good a gone, Kassian is an RFA and we can probably do better than him. Pakarinen is also an RFA we'll probably keep him and Cracknell is a UFA.

Say we trade Eberle and Yakupov and qualify Kassian and Pakarinen, we will effectively have no 2 six right wingers.

Personally i'd like to keep Pouliot as that gives us some depth on the left side. Hall would be first line and we can have Pouliot and Maroon on the 2nd and 3rd lines depending on who's playing better.
- rathagor

If Ebs gets traded then I can see PC drafting Laine or Puljujärvi (depending on draft position) to play on McDavids wing which really isnt a bad thing at all

If Ebs gets traded then I can see PC drafting Laine or Puljujärvi (depending on draft position) to play on McDavids wing which really isnt a bad thing at all
- RatedR80

I'd rather trade the pick than rely on another 18 year old at this point.

I'd rather trade the pick than rely on another 18 year old at this point.
- rathagor

Depends what we trade and if we get the long coveted Dman or 2 we deserpately need

@ Iggy:

Can you link some of the stuff in your 1st point. I never heard that version of how things went at all.

I don't see a spot on the team for Pouliot anymore; Maroon has pretty much rendered him obsolete. He definitely has some good value though and I'm sure Chia will dangle him.
- 6ringslowe

I'll bet you anything he's not dealt.

And no, maroon has not rendered poo obsolete at all. He's the superior skater, defender, penalty killer and is effective in way more situations.
This isn't trashing maroon, he's been great, but pouliots been a quality oiler in ever situation he's played in with pretty much every linemate we've placed him beside.


They hardly have anything in common other than both having some size (pc wants more size, not less) and that we're both effective with Connor (something that could probably my said about the majority of players in the league

I can only write about the truth. I don't get to invent one that makes Craig MacTavish less negatively impactful to the team. There's a reason he wasn't at the Rexall goodbye. It's not because they needed him scouting.
- Matt_Henderson

Yeah. That is flat out BS Hendo, and there is no way youcan even show that that is truth.

I'll bet you anything he's not dealt.

And no, maroon has not rendered poo obsolete at all. He's the superior skater, defender, penalty killer and is effective in way more situations.
This isn't trashing maroon, he's been great, but pouliots been a quality oiler in ever situation he's played in with pretty much every linemate we've placed him beside.


They hardly have anything in common other than both having some size (pc wants more size, not less) and that we're both effective with Connor (something that could probably my said about the majority of players in the league
- HB77

I dont think he will get dealt either and if they insist on keeping Nuge then you could have a Pouliot-Nuge-? 3rd line or could flip it and do a Maroon-Nuge-? tho for some reason I think Pouliot-Nuge-? would be the better option

I dont think he will get dealt either and if they insist on keeping Nuge then you could have a Pouliot-Nuge-? 3rd line or could flip it and do a Maroon-Nuge-? tho for some reason I think Pouliot-Nuge-? would be the better option
- RatedR80

They've been extremely successful before (nuge and poo)

And If you trade ebs, maybe one of maroon/poo can play right side with Connor ? ( poo's been successful with him too)

But even if not, pouliot on the 3rd line Not only makes for 2/3rds of a quality 3rd line, but makes us so much deeper.

It's so easy to forget how long we didn't have poo for (20-25 games?) because our defence was decimated with injuries and the obvious forward injuries to the bigger names. But pouliot was a big loss

They've been extremely successful before (nuge and poo)

And If you trade ebs, maybe one of maroon/poo can play right side?

But even if not, pouliot on the 3rd line (or on the 2nd when he's going) Not only makes for 2/3rds of a quality 3rd line, but makes us so much deeper.

It's so easy to use to forget how long we didn't have poo for (20-25 games?) because our defence was decimated with injuries and the obvious forward injuries to the bigger names. But pouliot was a big loss
- HB77

Maybe it might look something like this but I could be really wrong here but its just opinion so screw it

Hall-Drai-?
Maroon-McDavid-Laine/Puljujärvi
Pouliot-Nuge-?
Hendricks-Letestu-Kassian

the ? could be filled in through either trade or UFA depending on who is out there

Edit: Ah screw it ill finsih the rest of the lineup too

Klef-Hamonic
Sekera-?
Nurse-Davidson

Again fill in the ? with a trade and of course if said trade takes out someone already listed in the forwards then they will just have to fill in the gap with someone else

Maybe it might look something like this but I could be really wrong here but its just opinion so screw it

Hall-Drai-?
Maroon-McDavid-Laine/Puljujärvi
Pouliot-Nuge-?
Hendricks-Letestu-Kassian

the ? could be filled in through either trade or UFA depending on who is out there

Edit: Ah screw it ill finsih the rest of the lineup too

Klef-Hamonic
Sekera-?
Nurse-Davidson

Again fill in the ? with a trade and of course if said trade takes out someone already listed in the forwards then they will just have to fill in the gap with someone else
- RatedR80

I think laine's a left winger.
And even though they say him and pulujarvi are nhl ready, I'm pretty hesitant to pencil one of em in a top 6 role. or at least assuming theyll be big impact players straight away.

But yeah, that might just be the cynical oilers fan in me


You add laine, another decent middle 6 big winger and a defender;
and the oilers immediately go from fairly small a few months ago to reasonably big as they are now, to downright huge

Leon, kassian, maroon, poo, Hendricks, nurse, klefbom, Davidson, reinhart

Gryba?
Hamonic ?
Laine?
Brouwer?

Yeah. That is flat out BS Hendo, and there is no way youcan even show that that is truth.
- McSavioursPupil

All I can do is write about what I've been told by people close to the situation. You don't have to believe me but my record with reporting BS is good.