CBJ has been playing very well, and we play them twice, so we may end up 1st overall pick again this year. If you throw Gags, MPS and the second rd pick, think CBJ may bite at that one? They are looking for help now, not adding prospects, while we as Oiler fans just like to suffer more.
- shvmr

I am on board for that. Picking 1st and 2nd overall be awesome. CBJ can pick 31st and 32st overall plus getting Gagner and MPS, they also may have a 1st round too depends on what LA wants to do from the Carter trade. That means Oilers will draft a centre to replace Gagner. Oilers can sign Penner and re-sign Omark.

Not a bad blog until the reinhart nonsense.
An oiler homer AND a oil king homer.

Murray, dumba or trouba all ahead of reinhart.
We need talent more than we need character.

Richard Cloutier: If I Ran the Oilers...ver. 124
- Maxbone

Lets say the Wild get the 6th pick, interested in swapping? For what?

Trade Gagner for a proven defenceman and draft Grigorenko. We need a big second line center, and drafting a forward in the first round is a safer bet.

Richard Cloutier: If I Ran the Oilers...ver. 124
- Maxbone

Will you hire me?

Will you hire me?
- laughs2907

if you need a black joey moss, i'd be down.... just get me drunk and all cheer just like him

Will you hire me?
- laughs2907

as a fluffer?

Your nuts... Take Grigs, he wont be upset playing a 2nd line that gets tons of ice time, he will be on the top PP. And he will be competitive with Nuge Hall and eberle and try his best to put up points. Playing with Parajvi and Omark is what i expect from him. Then make a trade For Ryan Ellis out of Nashville, involving Ganger and Hemsky. Thats what they should do, and if the oilers realease Pekham i want the leafs to get him as a 6/7 guy competing with Komisarek and Holzer that is if we move a d man like Franson or Gunner or even Schenn...

if you need a black joey moss, i'd be down.... just get me drunk and all cheer just like him
- Killbot460

There's no way Richard would fire Moss... NO WAY!!!!

as a fluffer?
- abware

Assistant GM, but I guess that's the same thing.

Seriously though, I'll do anything they need... Anything.

I am on board for that. Picking 1st and 2nd overall be awesome. CBJ can pick 31st and 32st overall plus getting Gagner and MPS, they also may have a 1st round too depends on what LA wants to do from the Carter trade. That means Oilers will draft a centre to replace Gagner. Oilers can sign Penner and re-sign Omark.

- deks1

I don't think Columbus would be.

Personally I'd like to see the Oilers do the following in the off season:

#1 - Draft Grigorenko : there could be many reasons why his attitude is off. Maybe his girlfriend broke up with him. Maybe he did poorly on a test. Maybe he doesn't like living in Quebec. Maybe he misses home. Personally when I'm depressed I like to think about having a lot of money. $3.8 million per would change my attitude.

What you can't question is his talent. Looks like a Malkin type player in waiting.

#2 - Agreed sign Smyth to a deal of no more than 2.5 million per year, for 2 years would be ideal.

#3 - Signing Petry to a one year deal that makes sure he is still an RFA at the end of it is smart. While he has looked like he has taken a jump, he's still an unknown quantity. I don't think it's a good idea to pay him more than Smid though, that would send the wrong signal. $2 million, no more.

#4 - Release Peckham, Barker, and Hordichuk. Agreed

#5 - Sign Shawn Thornton if possible to a 3 year deal similar to Eager's. He's the type of toughness we need on our 4th line.

#6 - Resign Petrell, $800 K per for two years is reasonable. He's our 13th forward over the next season instead of Hordichuk.

#7 - Sign one of Dennis Wideman, Brad Stuart, Barret Jackman or Matt Carle if we are serious about upgrading our D for next season. All would be an upgrade and all would preempt the possibility of losing Whitney after next season. Most of our young defencemen in the system need another year or two before pushing for roster spots. If they push there way onto the roster after this signing then we know they are for real.

#8 - Sign Josh Harding to a 2 year deal at around 1.5 - 2 million per year.

#9 - Resign Devan Dubnyk to a one year deal at whatever raise is needed to quality him from RFA status.

#10 - Run a 3 goalie tandem at the start of the season until it becomes clear one of the 3 doesn't belong then send him to the AHL (Khabibulin or Dubnyk, not Harding).

#11 - Resign Gagner to a 5 year 3.5 million deal per season. Anyone who doesn't like Gagner is nuts in my opinion.

Personally I think if we did those 11 things we'd be pushing for a playoff spot next season.

And play Belanger on the 4th line and PK where he belongs!

Lets say the Wild get the 6th pick, interested in swapping? For what?
- Sharktank45

2nd+_________ for 6th and Brodin. Fill in the blank?

- Draft Murray
- Grab a D-man through free agency
- Have Katz and Rexall create a goalie
- Feed a couple of our guys steroids, so we're bigger... I'm sure Katz could easily supply roids all things considered...

#1 - Draft Grigorenko : there could be many reasons why his attitude is off. Maybe his girlfriend broke up with him. Maybe he did poorly on a test. Maybe he doesn't like living in Quebec. Maybe he misses home. Personally when I'm depressed I like to think about having a lot of money. $3.8 million per would change my attitude.
- bazmagoo

Crossing fingers Patrick Roy pushes him hard in Quebec and if he misses home...that's not a good sign...Russians missing home might end up pulling a Alex Radulov.

Crossing fingers Patrick Roy pushes him hard in Quebec and if he misses home...that's not a good sign...Russians missing home might end up pulling a Alex Radulov.

- deks1

It's a risk I agree, but if taking that risk equals potentially getting a Malkin type player then I'm all for it.

Personally I'd like to see the Oilers do the following in the off season:

#1 - Draft Grigorenko : there could be many reasons why his attitude is off. Maybe his girlfriend broke up with him. Maybe he did poorly on a test. Maybe he doesn't like living in Quebec. Maybe he misses home. Personally when I'm depressed I like to think about having a lot of money. $3.8 million per would change my attitude.

What you can't question is his talent. Looks like a Malkin type player in waiting.

#2 - Agreed sign Smyth to a deal of no more than 2.5 million per year, for 2 years would be ideal.

#3 - Signing Petry to a one year deal that makes sure he is still an RFA at the end of it is smart. While he has looked like he has taken a jump, he's still an unknown quantity. I don't think it's a good idea to pay him more than Smid though, that would send the wrong signal. $2 million, no more.

#4 - Release Peckham, Barker, and Hordichuk. Agreed

#5 - Sign Shawn Thornton if possible to a 3 year deal similar to Eager's. He's the type of toughness we need on our 4th line.

#6 - Resign Petrell, $800 K per for two years is reasonable. He's our 13th forward over the next season.

#7 - Sign one of Dennis Wideman, Brad Stuart, Barret Jackman or Matt Carle if we are serious about upgrading our D for next season. All would be an upgrade and all would preempt the possibility of losing Whitney after next season. Most of our young defencemen in the system need another year or two before pushing for roster spots. If they push there way onto the roster after this signing then we know they are for real.

#8 - Sign Josh Harding to a 2 year deal at around 1.5 - 2 million per year.

#9 - Resign Devan Dubnyk to a one year deal at whatever raise is needed to quality him from RFA status.

#10 - Run a 3 goalie tandem at the start of the season until it becomes clear one of the 3 doesn't belong then send him to the AHL (Khabibulin or Dubnyk, not Harding).

#11 - Resign Gagner to a 5 year 3.5 million deal per season. Anyone who doesn't like Gagner is nuts in my opinion.

Personally I think if we did those 11 things we'd be pushing for a playoff spot next season.
- bazmagoo

Agree with most, as for Grigorenko let the scouts decide. If there are some major issues then pass, if it is something minor then let's do it. Galchenyuk looks pretty decent as well if he is fully healthy, similar numbers to Grig a year younger. Would have loved to seen what he could have done this year. Also I'd pass on Wideman, he seems to be having a good year in Washington but if I'm not mistaken he was pretty much run out of Boston. there are a lot of options open for next year, I just hope something is done to address the D and goal and add a little more grit and size

- Draft Murray
- Grab a D-man through free agency
- Have Katz and Rexall create a goalie
- Feed a couple of our guys steroids, so we're bigger... I'm sure Katz could easily supply roids all things considered...
- laughs2907

I like all of these ideas

It's a risk I agree, but if taking that risk equals potentially getting a Malkin type player then I'm all for it.
- bazmagoo

or he becomes a kovalev...or name any other moody Russian prima donna player that has a commitment issue...

I would rather use #2 to draft Murray, than trade away players and put so much risk into a guy that has issues like that. he may be everything we want, but then again he can destroy the rebuild if he is everything we fear.

For me it would probably come down to Murray or Grigorenko if we draft #2. As has been said previously, whoever the scouts decide is the best player and fit for the organization is more than likely the best player.

In Stu We Trust!

If the Leafs fall a bit further down, maybe the Oil could use one of our young dmen and the Leafs can move up a bit. Dunno though, the Oil could take Ryan Murray/Dumba 2nd overall and I don't think anyone would fault them for it as it would fill a need, and theyd get the best dman in the draft guaranteed. Highest rated at least. I think it's easier to do with the 2nd pick than with the first overall....

Agree with most, as for Grigorenko let the scouts decide. If there are some major issues then pass, if it is something minor then let's do it. Galchenyuk looks pretty decent as well if he is fully healthy, similar numbers to Grig a year younger. Would have loved to seen what he could have done this year. Also I'd pass on Wideman, he seems to be having a good year in Washington but if I'm not mistaken he was pretty much run out of Boston. there are a lot of options open for next year, I just hope something is done to address the D and goal and add a little more grit and size
- abware

Personally I don't think the Oilers are going to do much on d via free agency, which is why I said "if we are serious about upgrading our d". I envision them signing one, maybe two low end free agent defencemen. Maybe someone playing on a good team but in a #7 role like Kent Huskins on St. Louis.

The plan is to develop another year, then make a real push during the summer of 2013. At least that's what I see happening.

While I never agree with Richard's assessment of the following players as being "locks" to make the NHL, you've got to think at least one of and maybe two of Musil, Klefbom, Marincin or Gernat will be pushing for a roster spot in 2013.

or he becomes a kovalev...or name any other moody Russian prima donna player that has a commitment issue...

I would rather use #2 to draft Murray, than trade away players and put so much risk into a guy that has issues like that. he may be everything we want, but then again he can destroy the rebuild if he is everything we fear.
- OilHorse

It was also rumoured Malkin had issues as well prior to the 2004 draft. If Pittsburgh had listened to these rumours instead of making their own decision, they very well may have drafted ...... you guessed it Cam Barker in the #2 spot. I'm guessing Mario wouldn't have been happy about that.

Marc Crawford, huh ?

....When Crawford got the Dallas job, Kings fans rejoiced; we knew the Stars would be no threat going forward....the fact that Dallas realized and corrected their mistake after only one season kind of says it all.....

....And the funny thing is, I kind of like Crawford; he actually makes some interesting points when talking hockey. However, so do you, I and a lot of other people who have no business coaching a hockey team. That Cup in Colorado was a long time ago, and was more of a Sakic/Forsberg/Roy production anyway; and his work in Vancouver, LA and Dallas since then does not inspire a lot of confidence. Plus, I don't know where you got the idea that players like him; I recall he finished in the top 3 of a "coaches players didn't want to play for" poll a few years back, and I don't recall many players singing his praises....

With the Oilers massive glut of talent. there doesn't seem to be anything to prevent them from eventually becoming a power in the Western Conference....except maybe hiring Marc Crawford.

Or maybe hiring Dean Lombardi, when he becomes available at the end of the season.....