But you must get that you probably go that far regardless. The Oilers didn't make the Playoffs because they had Adam Larsson, they had the HART TROPHY WINNER and it was his first full year with the team.

That is the difference. We can only imagine what Taylor Hall could have done to secondary defensive units.
- james_tanner1

We had McDavid for 45 games last year and we were under .500 in those games. So really you are giving way too much credit to McDavid and not enough to the rest of the team.
Dont get me wrong, McD is a god amongst men, but there is more to it than just one or two players.

Chiarelli is terrible. The oft put narrative that "he had the balls to make big changes" is patently ridiculous - it doesn't take balls to make big moves - any idiot can do that (see: Snow, Garth).

Chiarelli seems to me to be the worst kind of GM -- the one that plays loose and fast with assets and puts his ego and "feelings" above intelligent, informed asset management. It's this type of style that was the prevailing GM wisdom for decades that some have not been able to shed (see also: Burke, Brian).

I've mentioned it before and it bears repeating: if you haven't watched the stupefying video where PC and fellow Boston upper management team discuss and then pull the trigger on ridding themselves of Tyler Seguin, you need to do yourself a favour and watch it. It should be required viewing for any Chiarelli-apologists.

The Oilers should thank their lucky stars that they landed McDavid. Can you imagine what kind of (poop)show Edmonton would be in without landing that miracle pick? Yeesh.

NHL Draft Grades

http://bleacherreport.com...-grades-for-notable-picks

Anaheim Ducks, B+
Arizona Coyotes, B
Boston Bruins, C
Buffalo Sabres, B
Calgary Flames, B-
Carolina Hurricanes, A-
Chicago Blackhawks, C-
Colorado Avalanche, A
Columbus Blue Jackets, C-
Dallas Stars, C+
Detroit Red Wings, B+
Edmonton Oilers, B
Florida Panthers, C+
Los Angeles Kings, A-
Minnesota Wild, B-
Montreal Canadiens, B+
Nashville Predators, B+
New Jersey Devils, A
New York Islanders, B+
New York Rangers, C+
Ottawa Senators, B+
Philadelphia Flyers, A
Pittsburgh Penguins, C
San Jose Sharks, C-
St. Louis Blues, B+
Tampa Bay Lightning, B-
Toronto Maple Leafs, B
Vancouver Canucks, B+
Vegas Golden Knights, B+
Washington Capitals, D (first pick came in fourth round)
Winnipeg Jets, B-

Now, if you blow out your knee, or you have chronic back-pain, then I would see why NHL GMs would back off. I ain't no doctor, but I don't think sports hernias and mono are career-long reccuring things you're going to have to worry about.

1) Minus - you're assuming Nolan's medical issue was the reason he didn't go first, which is likely not the case. The Devils seemed to value Nico's speed and skill over Nolan's game as did many other scouts and professionals.

2) Minus - A sports hernia isn't an actual hernia most of the time and can cause reocurring problems.

3) Minus - since you brought up recency bias... your assumption that Nolan wasn't picked based on his injuries is actually a good example of you succumbing to recency bias, which either you failed to realize or you just don't care when it works for you.

4) Plus - thank god you're not a doctor.

I don't know how anyone can watch basketball, and I'm a sports nut. Excellent blog Jim. And almost everything you said that the Yotes needed to do, they did. Cheers
- shack67

Well, I guess you're not a sports nut then.

5 years ago?
No those are his career averages. Like true first line winger numbers.

And last year ?
Ebs 51 pts- strome 30
Year before both missed a few games due to injury.
Ebs on pace for 55- strome in pace for 32

You don't have to like Ebs that's fine. But there's absolutely nothing you can say that proves strome is on his level or even close.
Sure hope that changes. But as of now...no

Joke indeed...
- Ihateallofu

Im not saying they are on the same level. You are running a guy down before he has even played a game in Oil silks. Hes 23 years old dude. I mentioned Patty Maroon having a career year his first year here, why cant Strome do that? We needed to clear cap space and got a much younger player in return who still has tons of room to develope. He also has a personal relationship with our captain and he is super motivated. Just lets see what the kids got before we run him out of town.

1) Minus - you're assuming Nolan's medical issue was the reason he didn't go first, which is likely not the case. The Devils seemed to value Nico's speed and skill over Nolan's game as did many other scouts and professionals.
- devils_mike

This is highly debatable. The scouts were divided right down the middle at the end of the year between Nico and Nolan - about as razor thin a difference as you can get.

While entirely speculative, I think had Nolan played the entire season it may have made a significant enough difference that some scouts may not have been as skittish.

TL;DR: the injury almost certainly played a factor. IMHO anyway.

Moo cows
Tuna fish
Ice hockey

Im not saying they are on the same level. You are running a guy down before he has even played a game in Oil silks. Hes 23 years old dude. I mentioned Patty Maroon having a career year his first year here, why cant Strome do that? We needed to clear cap space and got a much younger player in return who still has tons of room to develope. He also has a personal relationship with our captain and he is super motivated. Just lets see what the kids got before we run him out of town.
- Leichs

I'm not running strome out of town. There's potential there. And there was even some rationale to moving for him.
But using that savings on the Russell deal was fuking terrible. Just terrible. He handcuffed us to upgrading the backend as well.

Strome is 24 in 2 weeks. He's not that young. Time to turn it around no doubt.
But he's not just a rook with only upside left.


Maroon had a career year for one reason. I love the guy, but yeah he jumped on Connors back.
Can't just assume every trade is good because hey we can play them with Connor

Exactly. The Oilers were always my favorite non-Leafs team, but PC has been brutal from day one.
- james_tanner1

Haha its just strange that you are a fan of the team when they are the laughing stock of the league but then as soon as they get a new GM and start to turn things around and make playoffs for the first time in a decade you jump ship and start bashing them.
Weird logic dude.

This is highly debatable. The scouts were divided right down the middle at the end of the year between Nico and Nolan - about as razor thin a difference as you can get.

While entirely speculative, I think had Nolan played the entire season it may have made a significant enough difference that some scouts may not have been as skittish.

TL;DR: the injury almost certainly played a factor. IMHO anyway.
- mjones242

It's definitely debatable. But I read a few sound bites (and I don't remember where) that after having met with Nolan and reviewing his medical history, they were not overly concerned about it. Maybe just fluff for the public or maybe they really weren't. Point is - they definitely talked about how Nico's speed and skill compliments what they are trying to build.

Philly and Toronto are going to the two best team in the East for a long time.

Amen... at least the Philly part, but if it takes Toronto coming along with us, then I think I could accept that.

how did I not know that LCD was making a new album?? I heard rumors about a year ago that they were going to start playing again.. oh baby.

I'm not running strome out of town. There's potential there. And there was even some rationale to moving for him.
But using that savings on the Russell deal was fuking terrible. Just terrible. He handcuffed us to upgrading the backend as well.

Strome is 24 in 2 weeks. He's not that young. Time to turn it around no doubt.
But he's not just a rook with only upside left.


Maroon had a career year for one reason. I love the guy, but yeah he jumped on Connors back.
Can't just assume every trade is good because hey we can play them with Connor
- Ihateallofu

Russell I would have liked to get for cheaper, this i agree. But what other options were there? Sure maybe we could have offered the same thing for Hammonic but if you are the Isle do you want the Oil first rounder or the flames? Clearly we are trending up right. I dont know how much options we had other than to re up Russell, especially with the Sekera injury being a game changer. At least we know he can play the system and plays every single night like its game 7. Just need Benning and Nurse to hit some huge strides this year. And Russells contract is also front loaded so once out younger d are mov=re devloped and ready to take on bigger roles, hopefully it wont be that tough to move Russell.

Moo cows
Tuna fish
Ice hockey
- DanDaoust24

What are popular topics around the sutter family dinner table ?

I'll take sports family hodgepodge for 600 Alex

Haha its just strange that you are a fan of the team when they are the laughing stock of the league but then as soon as they get a new GM and start to turn things around and make playoffs for the first time in a decade you jump ship and start bashing them.
Weird logic dude.
- Leichs

Not sure which rock this poster crawled out from. Never seen him around before. He should go back where he came from. Definition of blind homer.

Russell I would have liked to get for cheaper, this i agree. But what other options were there? Sure maybe we could have offered the same thing for Hammonic but if you are the Isle do you want the Oil first rounder or the flames? Clearly we are trending up right. I dont know how much options we had other than to re up Russell, especially with the Sekera injury being a game changer. At least we know he can play the system and plays every single night like its game 7. Just need Benning and Nurse to hit some huge strides this year. And Russells contract is also front loaded so once out younger d are mov=re devloped and ready to take on bigger roles, hopefully it wont be that tough to move Russell.
- Leichs

What I was REALLY hoping for was that somehow we could package Ebs and next years first rounder or even this years for a top 4 dman but it never happened unfortunately.

Chiarelli is terrible. The oft put narrative that "he had the balls to make big changes" is patently ridiculous - it doesn't take balls to make big moves - any idiot can do that (see: Snow, Garth).

Chiarelli seems to me to be the worst kind of GM -- the one that plays loose and fast with assets and puts his ego and "feelings" above intelligent, informed asset management. It's this type of style that was the prevailing GM wisdom for decades that some have not been able to shed (see also: Burke, Brian).

I've mentioned it before and it bears repeating: if you haven't watched the stupefying video where PC and fellow Boston upper management team discuss and then pull the trigger on ridding themselves of Tyler Seguin, you need to do yourself a favour and watch it. It should be required viewing for any Chiarelli-apologists.

The Oilers should thank their lucky stars that they landed McDavid. Can you imagine what kind of (poop)show Edmonton would be in without landing that miracle pick? Yeesh.
- mjones242

100%

PLUS: The Flyers. Huge score getting the #1 at #2
- tanner

McKenzie, Zeisberger, Button not to mention Draftsite, Sportsnet (Cosentino), USAtoday all had Nico either going #1 or ranked as the #1 available skater; NHL.com was split; Pronman had Makar #1 interestingly. I don't think it was as clear cut having Nolan as #1 especially with his short season and Nico's great performance.

Not sure which rock this poster crawled out from. Never seen him around before. He should go back where he came from. Definition of blind homer.
- Iggysbff

Haha I made this account just to raz you bud. Been reading your stuff for a long time. Lots of gut cramps off your crap

Im not saying they are on the same level. You are running a guy down before he has even played a game in Oil silks. Hes 23 years old dude. I mentioned Patty Maroon having a career year his first year here, why cant Strome do that? We needed to clear cap space and got a much younger player in return who still has tons of room to develope. He also has a personal relationship with our captain and he is super motivated. Just lets see what the kids got before we run him out of town.
- Leichs

The main problem is that the Oilers took a loss in order to save cap money, which they then sunk into a bad player. They also failed to consider that if the potential that makes this trade palatable at all works out, Strome will cost as much as Eberle does.

James,
Last year you defended the signing of Murphy, so you obviously saw potential. Do you think with a better quality of teammates and coaches he can improve to a legit top 4? I don't ever see him as a true replacement for Hammer, but I would have been fine with this trade next year, since they would likely lose him the following off season anyway.

how did I not know that LCD was making a new album?? I heard rumors about a year ago that they were going to start playing again.. oh baby.
- MartysBetter88

It's in the can and out in September. The two new songs are among the best they have in their entire library.

The main problem is that the Oilers took a loss in order to save cap money, which they then sunk into a bad player. They also failed to consider that if the potential that makes this trade palatable at all works out, Strome will cost as much as Eberle does.
- james_tanner1

Thats what you do when you are about to be in cap hell. See Chicago and Boston a few years back. Sometimes you gotta take a loss to move an expensive contract out, especially one that puts up 2 points in over 10 playoff games. But you are right, maybe we should have kept Ebs and risk Drai and Mcd contracts. Makes sense.

McKenzie, Zeisberger, Button not to mention Draftsite, Sportsnet (Cosentino), USAtoday all had Nico either going #1 or ranked as the #1 available skater; NHL.com was split; Pronman had Makar #1 interestingly. I don't think it was as clear cut having Nolan as #1 especially with his short season and Nico's great performance.
- DeflatedPucks

Yes, everyone changed their number one pick.........because Patrick got injured. That's how these things work, that's how they always work. Only exception is if the player in question is "generational."