I did not say the Oilers couldn't score. I said they were not a particularly high scoring club.
Other teams have seen success without a great deal of scoring by being more defensively sound. I just wonder if instead of focusing on the offense the Oil will lose should they trade Hall, we should instead consider whether the defensive stability his trade could create might not be more beneficial from a team play/standings perspective.
- Wildschwein

Potentially they could yeah. I certainly wouldn't discount any possibility of it. And considering how bad we've been...

That said, I do think the essential direction of the team is in place. and while of course we need to round out the group much better, an up tempo possesion driving offensive team is what we're looking at. unless we strip the team down to Connor/Leon and build around them going forward.


A guy of halls caliber as your 2nd offensive weapon is pretty sweet to have. Even in relation to Leon, hall is substantially better

Connor

Hall



Everyone else

This is just it, you speak of our inability to score, but then take away our top scorer.
I love the idea of centre depth as well, but the whole thing about centres and wingers is taking on a life it's own it seems. Like so many things on hb tend to. You need good players, regardless of position. and hall at wing does far more for this team Than nuge at centre has/does

Taransenko, Kane, kucherov, steen, ovie etc etc
Tell me there's any centre that's more important to their team than these guys

End of the day, I don't think there's no deal that can be made for lesser players that doesn't make us better, but it's a pretty slippery slope if you're going through hall instead of much inferior players...
- HB77

In ways yes. All the wingers you mentioned above have one thing in common though, a very stable and in some cases elite defense moving the puck to them from the back end.
While Hall at wing does more for the Oil than Nuge at center, does Hall at wing do more for the Oil than having Nuge and say Lehtera (with Drai at wing) at center and Shattenkirk on the back end (or a similar package from another club)?
At this point I don't know if it does.

Does anyone truly know who PC likes and doesn't like?

All I really have is McDavid and Leon.

Maroon while I don't think will be gone he's not a long-term core guy.

Pouilot was already rumored to be dealt so he isn't core.

Then you have your 3 wild cards in Hall, Eberle and Nuge. My guess of those three Hall is probably in PC's core the other two are trade baits.

Potentially they could yeah. I certainly wouldn't discount any possibility of it. And considering how bad we've been...

That said, I do think the essential direction of the team is in place. and while of course we need to round out the group much better, an up tempo possesion driving offensive team is what we're looking at. unless we strip the team down to Connor/Leon and build around them going forward.


A guy of halls caliber as your 2nd offensive weapon is pretty sweet to have. Even in relation to Leon, hall is substantially better

Connor

Hall


Everyone else
- HB77

Agree completely.

Does anyone truly know who PC likes and doesn't like?

All I really have is McDavid and Leon.

Maroon while I don't think will be gone he's not a long-term core guy.

Pouilot was already rumored to be dealt so he isn't core.

Then you have your 3 wild cards in Hall, Eberle and Nuge. My guess of those three Hall is probably in PC's core the other two are trade baits.
- Lahey

Haven't the slightest clue. Chia has been pretty cryptic. He has had nothing but high praise for Nuge though.
I'd keep Maroon and Pouliot if it was up to me. Up for grabs would be Eberle, Yak, 2016 1rst, and (should the right package come along) Hall.

Agree completely.
- Wildschwein

I think maybe this is the crux of my hesitation


Obviously we need to get better, but I've noticed that some people are so desperate for any improvement, they're willing to mortgage the things that could potentially make us elite.

It's not like battling for a playoff spot wouldn't be a huge improvement and be great to see, but as long we're not just setting ourself for mArginal improvement to be mediocre long term. We've done that, and that's one of the reasons we did a rebuild. We were never truly contenders.

That said, I will admit that some semblance of winning and confidence might be all this team needs to take off. Even if you have weakened the true high end talent of the core.

Essentially I think we can absolutely fill our needs without getting rid of hall

I think maybe this is the crux of my hesitation


Obviously we need to get better, but I've noticed that some people are so desperate for any improvement, they're willing to mortgage the things that could potentially make us elite.

It's not like battling for a playoff spot wouldn't be a huge improvement and be great to see, but as long we're not just setting ourself for mArginal improvement to be mediocre long term. We've done that, and that's one of the reasons we did a rebuild. We were never truly contenders.

That said, I will admit that some semblance of winning and confidence might be all this team needs to take off. Even if you have weakened the true high end talent of the core.

Essentially I think we can absolutely fill our needs without getting rid of hall
- HB77

I truly hope you are right, but I have my doubts. Time will tell.

When did Rinne get SOOOO bad at staying with wrap-around attempts. He's been well behind on all 3 I've seen.
- MaximumBone

when Trotz and his goalie coach left to the Caps...and shocker Holtby takes his game to a new level as soon as the both of them show up

In my mind, I would have three centres on three lines. There's more than enough ice time to go around because when the situation warrants it, you move all your best guys onto a mega-line.

But over 82 games, you're going to grind down most teams if you go three deep down the middle with McDavid, LD and RNH.

In my mind, I would have three centres on three lines. There's more than enough ice time to go around because when the situation warrants it, you move all your best guys onto a mega-line.

But over 82 games, you're going to grind down most teams if you go three deep down the middle with McDavid, LD and RNH.
- James_Tanner

how did you get in here?

anybody have a link for Canada v USA?? Thanks!

I would think a player like Ladd should be on our radar... He really did a number on his last leg of the regular season and playoffs- its doubtful he is going to command alot of dollars IMO... Plus he does have size and leadership on the table...

reading some of these comments,

why do people say the Oilers may have to lose a trade? that makes no sense, you can give up the best player in the trade without losing the trade per say. It's about building a winning team not individual stats. and they already lost a trade trying to improve their D, see Reinhardt.

Islanders may want Ebs or they may want hall, they are in a great spot with good young D in the system and also Dal Colle, Barzal and Ho Sang up front so replacing the over rated Okposo i dont think is as big a deal as some on here are making it.

Islanders will wait and see who makes the best deal between Minny, Edm and Winnipeg, but he will be traded at the draft I bet

Does anyone truly know who PC likes and doesn't like?

All I really have is McDavid and Leon.

Maroon while I don't think will be gone he's not a long-term core guy.

Pouilot was already rumored to be dealt so he isn't core.

Then you have your 3 wild cards in Hall, Eberle and Nuge. My guess of those three Hall is probably in PC's core the other two are trade baits.
- Lahey

Always the voice of reason... How are things?

I would think a player like Ladd should be on our radar... He really did a number on his last leg of the regular season and playoffs- its doubtful he is going to command alot of dollars IMO... Plus he does have size and leadership on the table...
- saskoil21

I would think a player like Ladd should be on our radar... He really did a number on his last leg of the regular season and playoffs- its doubtful he is going to command alot of dollars IMO... Plus he does have size and leadership on the table...
- saskoil21

Wasn't he asking for North of 6 mill?
Doesn't seem cheap to me.

Let's not forget Nail Yakupov played very well down the stretch,when given consistent top 6 minutes. I think he could still be a solution,and doesn't have to be moved. IF Eberle is the one traded for Hamonic,then I think you promise Yak City Top 6 mins for next season,and see what a motivated and confident Yakupov brings to the Top 6 over the course of an entire season. The Oilers haven't given this kid that opportunity since he came into the league,and trading him away without that opportunity,for pennies on the dollar,is poor asset management. He has improved his play away from the puck,and isn't the liability he once was,early in his career. To put up with all those growing pains,then trading him without a shot in the role he is meant to play,is foolish. Who drafts a sniper first overall,with the intentions of burying him on the 3rd line with Mark letestuu,and then gives up when they don't produce? If Yak can score 20 over the course of a season with McDavid,then losing Eberles 25-30 doesn't hurt so much.

In my mind, I would have three centres on three lines. There's more than enough ice time to go around because when the situation warrants it, you move all your best guys onto a mega-line.

But over 82 games, you're going to grind down most teams if you go three deep down the middle with McDavid, LD and RNH.
- James_Tanner

If we keep nuge, totally agree

Line juggling will occur, but inability to matchup depth wise would be our biggest asset rolling 3 lines

Let's not forget Nail Yakupov played very well down the stretch,when given consistent top 6 minutes. I think he could still be a solution,and doesn't have to be moved. IF Eberle is the one traded for Hamonic,then I think you promise Yak City Top 6 mins for next season,and see what a motivated and confident Yakupov brings to the Top 6 over the course of an entire season. The Oilers haven't given this kid that opportunity since he came into the league,and trading him away without that opportunity,for pennies on the dollar,is poor asset management. He has improved his play away from the puck,and isn't the liability he once was,early in his career. To put up with all those growing pains,then trading him without a shot in the role he is meant to play,is foolish. Who drafts a sniper first overall,with the intentions of burying him on the 3rd line with Mark letestuu,and then gives up when they don't produce? If Yak can score 20 over the course of a season with McDavid,then losing Eberles 25-30 doesn't hurt so much.
- 2centz

i don't think he's been mistreated at all

He was played behind better more productive players.


And although he's extremely ineffective far too often, that talent still shows itself from time to time.
Yaks gets 'promised' nothing., but if ebs goes, yaks is an extremely cost effective way to potentially keep serious talent in the lineup on the cheap

Hall, Leon , ?
Maroon, Connor, yaks
Poo, nuge, kassian
Hendricks, letestu, khaira
Korpikoski

Brett Pesce, L.A's 1st round pick and a 2nd round pick for RNH

Brett Pesce, L.A's 1st round pick and a 2nd round pick for Josh Bailey
- BINGO!

You've got yourself a deal

You've got yourself a deal
- eichiefs9

Brett Pesce, L.A's 1st round pick and a 2nd round pick for RNH
- BINGO!

Nuge and the 4th overall

Faulk and a 2nd rounder

Nuge and the 4th overall

Faulk and a 2nd rounder






- HB77

That's really tempting, but I don't think so.

Faulk is REALLY cap friendly and locked up for the next 4 years.

Slavvin-Faulk
Hanifin-Pesce
Fleury -Murphy

Is a pretty promising D core....

I know it will be difficult but I believe we can move forward with a team with no holes. I think that is more important than the OP.

With that in mind I think Eberle is untradable. Moving Ebs would leave a massive hole that would take a complete revamp of our right shooting forwards. As it is I think we will still need to add a top 9 RW. Since Yak is gone in the offseason.

Whether we trade a LW or center that is an area we can afford to move someone out. Our salary structure is too forward heavy so moving one of Hall or RNH imo inevitable. I would actually prefer to move Eberle than either but opening a hole in our line up just isnt worth it.

Trading for Rd like Harmonic or better is a must. However if it is Harmonic we still need a heavy Rd on the PP.

To just follow the shortest simplest path I would think it would go like this.

Rnh for Harmonic striaght up or some slight variations.
Draft Dubios as a replacement for Rnh down the road.
Trade Yak for Dumba straight up or some slight variation.
Sign a guy like Chris Stewart to improve on Yak.
Sign one of Gyrba or Pardy for right side depth.
Sign an experienced back up goalie.

That would give us an actually balanced team that should be able to push for a playoff spot.

Hall Leon Stewart
Maroon McDavid Eberle
Poo Lets Kassian
Hendricks Kharia Pakarinen
Yakimov Lander Slepy

Sekera Harmonic
Klefbom Fayne
Davidson Dumba
Nurse Gyrba
Reinhart

Talbot
Xxx new experienced back up..
LB