Eep, I have fixed that. Executing players is rarely a productive way to encourage development.
- freelancer

No, but it just might solve the Oilers cap issues.

"We regret to inform you that there's been a tragic, tragic accident involving Lucic and a piece of malfunctioning construction equipment outside Rogers Place..."

Talbot for Stolarz.... would you do it ?
- Reveen.

I would because let’s face it....Talbots time here is over....he went from a good starter to someone who is stuck on back up duty....then to add insult to injury he watches Koskenin get the contract that he was probably looking to get....time to move on......with Stolarz coming back the other way that would ensure that Startett wouldn’t have to be called up and can continue his development with the Condors

Obviously a hindsight comment, but ideal development strategy would have been:

year after draft - another full season in Finland

last year - full season in AHL

this year - first half season in AHL again, them call him up when/if he shows real promise

also saw some speculation that he doesn't want to play in AHL? Well tough poop bud, do as your told of (frank) off
- Garth_Mctavish

I have heard the same rumours about him not wanting to go to the AHL....IF it’s true and currently I don’t believe it is then I’m ready to move on from him....if he refuses to go down then he isn’t doing his part with his development so any sympathy that I had would be gone

I would because let’s face it....Talbots time here is over....he went from a good starter to someone who is stuck on back up duty....then to add insult to injury he watches Koskenin get the contract that he was probably looking to get....time to move on......with Stolarz coming back the other way that would ensure that Startett wouldn’t have to be called up and can continue his development with the Condors
- RatedR80

I think it's win/win for both teams... If we could sign Stolarz to a reasonable deal to be the backup next year I think we do it.

I think it's win/win for both teams... If we could sign Stolarz to a reasonable deal to be the backup next year I think we do it.
- Reveen.

If Stolarz is the player coming back then he will be resigned or why do it to begin with?

The treatment of puly is similar to Virtanen. I know the oilers were interested in Virtanen maybe swing a deal, juolevi is a good friend of pully.

I think it's win/win for both teams... If we could sign Stolarz to a reasonable deal to be the backup next year I think we do it.
- Reveen.

Stolarz/Morin

For

Talbot/Puljujarvi

Some of the players who drafted after Puljujarvi

Matthew Tkachuk
Clayton Keller
Mikhail Sergachev
Charlie McAvoy
Alex DeBrincat
Carter Hart
Victor Mete

Imagine if they drafted Tkachuk instead of him and Tkachuk with McDavid.

The description of his first couple of seasons sounds almost exactly like the way the Senators butchered the development of Curtis Lazar.

Lazar never recovered and is now in the AHL trying to regain some of his confidence and the promise he once had as a 1st round pick.

I hope the Oilers don't ruin Puljujarvi like Ottawa did with Lazar.

How is Puljujarvi's skating - speed/agility? Is it above average?

Some of the players who drafted after Puljujarvi

Matthew Tkachuk
Clayton Keller
Mikhail Sergachev
Charlie McAvoy
Alex DeBrincat
Carter Hart
Victor Mete

Imagine if they drafted Tkachuk instead of him and Tkachuk with McDavid.
- Leafsfan4

Should have could have would have.....I wish we never traded Gretzky but we did....I’m sure Leafs fans have a few examples of the same scenario from the past as well

Realistically, what can Puljujarvi get in return. I get he is a 20 year old, drafted 4th overall, but he has just 37 points spread out over 138 NHL games during his 3 year entry level contract. He has looked mediocre at best, and was given the opportunity to play with the best player in the world. 9 points over 14 AHL games doesn't stand out either. Realistically, what would the return be? His value has been run into the ground.
- bikeguy99

While he has certainly had some minutes with McDavid since joining the league (407mins, in fact), it's not fair to say he hasn't lived up to every expectation they could have for him in those minutes. All of McDavid's shot share, chance share and goal share numbers saw a positive impact from Puljujarvi's presence- literally all of them. Further, when Puljujarvi is on-ice with McDavid, he's producing well enough to cover the bet as a top-6 winger (2.06 P/60).

If they wanted to get value from their young asset, his time with McDavid has shown that it would help them do just that.

Some of the players who drafted after Puljujarvi

Matthew Tkachuk
Clayton Keller
Mikhail Sergachev
Charlie McAvoy
Alex DeBrincat
Carter Hart
Victor Mete

Imagine if they drafted Tkachuk instead of him and Tkachuk with McDavid.
- Leafsfan4

Maybe there's an argument to be made that Oilers should have taken a Dman because it was a position of need at the time, but many teams go with the "best player available" strategy, and Puljujarvi was the consensus BPA at pick number 4. Any team in that draft slot would have taken him

How is Puljujarvi's skating - speed/agility? Is it above average?
- EbonyRaptor

Speed is above average to fast, hard to comment on his agility as he doesn't use it much (hard-cuts, fakes, etc) and his acceleration is likely average or below. His issue seems to be linked to not being wired like a "small ice" player. He needs to focus on getting a faster off the block and to avoid his winding circles. There's a thought going around that he's not quite conditioned to play in fast bursts like pro-level hockey demands but instead to play the long game like in Bandi (soccer mixed with hockey).

Maybe there's an argument to be made that Oilers should have taken a Dman because it was a position of need at the time, but many teams go with the "best player available" strategy, and Puljujarvi was the consensus BPA at pick number 4. Any team in that draft slot would have taken him
- Garth_Mctavish

Damned if you do and damned if you don’t....the joys of drafting....if the Oilers didn’t take Puju at #4 then some of the fanbase would have been outraged with that decision

Should have could have would have.....I wish we never traded Gretzky but we did....I’m sure Leafs fans have a few examples of the same scenario from the past as well
- RatedR80

Can't screw up draft picks when you trade them away

Can't screw up draft picks when you trade them away
- Garth_Mctavish

if we are using the power of hindsight maybe the best plan would have been to trade down a few spots and grab Sergachev

I was wondering if Carolina might actually be the best fit for him and for a trade? Canes need some scoring, and JP isn't providing that but change of scenery might be good, and perhaps Aho can help with the language/IQ problem

Maybe a trade involving Faulk/Bean/Fleury? Could argue that's an overpay but they have a pile of good young D
- Garth_Mctavish

I could see a JP-Fleury swap honestly. Both high picks and address needs in the receiving teams.

Speed is above average to fast, hard to comment on his agility as he doesn't use it much (hard-cuts, fakes, etc) and his acceleration is likely average or below. His issue seems to be linked to not being wired like a "small ice" player. He needs to focus on getting a faster off the block and to avoid his winding circles. There's a thought going around that he's not quite conditioned to play in fast bursts like pro-level hockey demands but instead to play the long game like in Bandi (soccer mixed with hockey).
- MaximumBone

Beyond this, I think they've wrongly characterized him as some power sniper just because of his size and a few slapshot goals he scored in junior when in reality he's more of a playmaker. I think also think there's a legitimate argument that Puljujarvi might just not have the cognitive ability to keep up. How a Finnish guy pursuing a hockey career and doesn't learn English along the way speaks to a larger issue in his intellectual toolkit that may also be linked.

I could see a JP-Fleury swap honestly. Both high picks and address needs in the receiving teams.
- FinnGod

Fleury does nothing for us.

I could see a JP-Fleury swap honestly. Both high picks and address needs in the receiving teams.
- FinnGod

I could see a JP-Fleury swap honestly. Both high picks and address needs in the receiving teams.
- FinnGod

no it doesn't.

Fleury does nothing for us.
- MaximumBone

Like, Fleury's fine and his usage this year has been upsetting, but yeah I wouldn't trade Pulju for a guy who's probably a #4 defenseman at his peak.

Canes average the most shots per game of any team in the league (35.5) and the fewest shots against per game (27.9)

Oilers average the 5th lowest shots for per game (28.9) and are in the upper half of the league in shots against per game (31.4)

Overall, Carolina is the only team in the league with over 2000 shots on net, and have managed to hit the net 404 more times than the Oilers have this year with only one more game played.