I don't think either are true top 6 wingers, more like middle 6. The winger that the oil need should be a natural goal scorer. dzingel has potential but the word was there are issues with the player and that is why columbus walked away when they need scoring.

I like ferland in the first half of the season but he consistently goes MIA in the last half of the season. 4 years for that, yikes.....

Holland was in on a number of players until they went past the value he placed on them. It is good to have a GM that goes into a negotiation with a number and if he does not get it he walks away rather that paying a premium.
- oiler993111

Ferland was hurt pretty bad for most of the last half of the year, and then lost his spot to Niederreiter.

Dzingel is... I dunno what to expect there. As long as we get decent middle 6 production out of him, he's fine. Plunk him next to J.Staal and you don't have to worry about his defense.

How do you female genitalias have $4,133,333 in buyout penalties with Lucic still on the books? Wtf guys?
- AdamFrench

She's great. Glad you guys can service her, my dad's a little bit too old for that sort of tat these days and I love to see her happy.
- AdamFrench

Ferland was hurt pretty bad for most of the last half of the year, and then lost his spot to Niederreiter.

Dzingel is... I dunno what to expect there. As long as we get decent middle 6 production out of him, he's fine. Plunk him next to J.Staal and you don't have to worry about his defense.
- BINGO!

I love what the Canes did by letting Ferland walk and taking on Dzingle without over paying.... now make Wallmark for Pulju happen

Ferland was hurt pretty bad for most of the last half of the year, and then lost his spot to Niederreiter.

Dzingel is... I dunno what to expect there. As long as we get decent middle 6 production out of him, he's fine. Plunk him next to J.Staal and you don't have to worry about his defense.
- BINGO!

Ferland has had bad ending to his last few seasons not just last year in carolina. That said I would not have given him a 4 year contract.

She's great. Glad you guys can service her, my dad's a little bit too old for that sort of tat these days and I love to see her happy.
- AdamFrench

Well played.....lol

- Reveen.

I am literally laughing out loud....funny!!!

Ferland and Dzingel are both top 6 wingers on this team, and both signed on reasonable term deals under 4 mil. I don't have any hopes that Holland improves this team this year, but I am willing to give Tippet a chance to create some structure in the group that we do have.
- Beergu

“Top 6 wingers on this team” here is my issue with that statement.....just because they are good enough to be a top 6 forward on this team doesn’t mean they are a true top 6 guy.....Dzingel was a top 6 forward on a crap Ottawa team....how did he do in Columbus again? Was he a true top 6 forward? We should stop lowering the bar by saying “top 6 on this team” and lift it up to a true top 6 forward....big difference

How do you female genitalias have $4,133,333 in buyout penalties with Lucic still on the books? Wtf guys?
- AdamFrench

Don’t wtf us we don’t make the decisions and this is why I’m anti buyout....I hate them with a passion

“Top 6 wingers on this team” here is my issue with that statement.....just because they are good enough to be a top 6 forward on this team doesn’t mean they are a true top 6 guy.....Dzingel was a top 6 forward on a crap Ottawa team....how did he do in Columbus again? Was he a true top 6 forward? We should stop lowering the bar by saying “top 6 on this team” and lift it up to a true top 6 forward....big difference
- RatedR80

I get he wouldn't be a long term solution, but we are in a position were we have a limited amount of cap space to improve our team short term. Dzingel signed for 2 years, exactly what time frame we have before we have more options (cap) for chasing a true top 6 winger. He put up 12 in 21 in Columbus, and was a positive player. To me, at his price, he is exactly the signing that Holland needed to make to give RNH someone decent to play with, and to move someone else down the roster (to improve the bottom 6, instead of signing more contracts into the bottom 6). Just my opinion though.

“Top 6 wingers on this team” here is my issue with that statement.....just because they are good enough to be a top 6 forward on this team doesn’t mean they are a true top 6 guy.....Dzingel was a top 6 forward on a crap Ottawa team....how did he do in Columbus again? Was he a true top 6 forward? We should stop lowering the bar by saying “top 6 on this team” and lift it up to a true top 6 forward....big difference
- RatedR80

Dzingel's scoring pace in Columbus equates to 47 points over a full season.

That's top 6 level production. He's definitely a complimentary piece, but at less than $3.5 for only two years? It's a low risk move that could net you 20 goals.

Dzingel's scoring pace in Columbus equates to 47 points over a full season.

That's top 6 level production. He's definitely a complimentary piece, but at less than $3.5 for only two years? It's a low risk move that could net you 20 goals.
- BINGO!

I get the arguments for the Oilers to sign a Dzingel type player but this franchise can’t rely on “could net you 20” what we need is “can net you 20” and that’s the difference with this team.....for the Canes or a team like that I love the move but this fanbase would torch Dzingel if he didn’t produce at a top 6 level....he made the right move

I get the arguments for the Oilers to sign a Dzingel type player but this franchise can’t rely on “could net you 20” what we need is “can net you 20” and that’s the difference with this team.....for the Canes or a team like that I love the move but this fanbase would torch Dzingel if he didn’t produce at a top 6 level....he made the right move
- RatedR80

So what you're going to rely on Alex Chiasson to do it instead? Like at least sign somebody who has a chance.

What in the hell is the point of signing a bunch of guaranteed 4th line guys to short term and not even taking a chance on a guy who at least is potentially capable of scoring 20 goals? Or is everybody just resigned to the fact that they're wasting yet another season of McDavid already?

So what you're going to rely on Alex Chiasson to do it instead? Like at least sign somebody who has a chance.

What in the hell is the point of signing a bunch of guaranteed 4th line guys to short term and not even taking a chance on a guy who at least is potentially capable of scoring 20 goals? Or is everybody just resigned to the fact that they're wasting yet another season of McDavid already?
- BINGO!

Probably the case.

In fairness, the bottom-6 was as much (perhaps more) of a problem last year as the top-6 was. Brodziak is one of the few players who played strictly in the bottom-6 and his on-ice goal share was 15/31 (32.6%). That's so far beyond replacement level that it's hilarious and that level of bad was the norm for our bottom-6 all season. Taking steps to rectify that and trusting the top-6 can rebound to the form they've generally held to is a viable yet uninspiring option.

If the influx of bottom-6 guys can cut that goal differential down from ~35% to closer to 42-43% (still among the league's lower-end) and the McDrai duo can maintain their 3-yr running average of 57.6% on-ice GF and Nuge and Lucic can maintain their 3-yr running average of 56.2% on-ice GF (in 962 mins together), then the team can likely keep themselves in the fight.

That's a vast improvement over Tambellini, Lowe, Crack-T and Chiarelli
- Reveen.

Don’t forget Howson.

He’s surrounded himself with good scouts and development staff overall. Is he great at it? Meh. But he’s good. Nyquist, Tatar, Jensen, Jarnkrok, Bertuzzi, Anthanisou come to mind.
- RafiDRW

So basically just trust your amateur scouts at the draft and do nothing else. Just wait for them all to develop and hope some turn out.

So what you're going to rely on Alex Chiasson to do it instead? Like at least sign somebody who has a chance.

What in the hell is the point of signing a bunch of guaranteed 4th line guys to short term and not even taking a chance on a guy who at least is potentially capable of scoring 20 goals? Or is everybody just resigned to the fact that they're wasting yet another season of McDavid already?
- BINGO!

I’ve been saying the whole time we need a top 6 guy to play with Nuge....this whole time but once Nyquist got signed I lost all hope for a UFA fix for the top 6 and unless Holland has a magic wand and makes a trade happen I fear we won’t get one.....Dzingel is not the answer in my eyes....it’s just another “hopeful”.....I’m sick of hopeful.....hopeful is Puju turning into a top 4 drafted player....hopeful is Lucic reverting back to Boston Lucic....hopeful is Chiasson getting 20+ goals....hopeful is Benson making the team and getting 50 points....to hell with hopeful.....I want the sure thing

I’ve been saying the whole time we need a top 6 guy to play with Nuge....this whole time but once Nyquist got signed I lost all hope for a UFA fix for the top 6 and unless Holland has a magic wand and makes a trade happen I fear we won’t get one.....Dzingel is not the answer in my eyes....it’s just another “hopeful”.....I’m sick of hopeful.....hopeful is Puju turning into a top 4 drafted player....hopeful is Lucic reverting back to Boston Lucic....hopeful is Chiasson getting 20+ goals....hopeful is Benson making the team and getting 50 points....to hell with hopeful.....I want the sure thing
- RatedR80

tbh I'd be impressed with Benson getting 50 pts over his career

I’ve been saying the whole time we need a top 6 guy to play with Nuge....this whole time but once Nyquist got signed I lost all hope for a UFA fix for the top 6 and unless Holland has a magic wand and makes a trade happen I fear we won’t get one.....Dzingel is not the answer in my eyes....it’s just another “hopeful”.....I’m sick of hopeful.....hopeful is Puju turning into a top 4 drafted player....hopeful is Lucic reverting back to Boston Lucic....hopeful is Chiasson getting 20+ goals....hopeful is Benson making the team and getting 50 points....to hell with hopeful.....I want the sure thing
- RatedR80

No doubt! Why would Nuge even want to re-sign here? If I were him I would walk and test UFA. The team continually puts him out there with complete garbage on his wings and expects the world from him. Luckily he’s learned to create offense himself. I think he could be a ppg player with better wingers. Love the Nuge! It will be sad to see him go. (frank) this team!

No doubt! Why would Nuge even want to re-sign here? If I were him I would walk and test UFA. The team continually puts him out there with complete garbage on his wings and expects the world from him. Luckily he’s learned to create offense himself. I think he could be a ppg player with better wingers. Love the Nuge! It will be sad to see him go. (frank) this team!
- Ihatebrianburke

I will be shocked if Nuge is still an Oiler after the TDL this coming season unless him and his new line mates can get that good chemistry going

No doubt! Why would Nuge even want to re-sign here? If I were him I would walk and test UFA. The team continually puts him out there with complete garbage on his wings and expects the world from him. Luckily he’s learned to create offense himself. I think he could be a ppg player with better wingers. Love the Nuge! It will be sad to see him go. (frank) this team!
- Ihatebrianburke

He's the one I feel for the most. Sure we have everyone saying we're wasting Connor, yadda yadda.. But Nuge has been here since 2011 and is on what, his 7th coach in the bigs? And during that time it's been a mish-mash of styles and rotating door of wingers.

He's the one I feel for the most. Sure we have everyone saying we're wasting Connor, yadda yadda.. But Nuge has been here since 2011 and is on what, his 7th coach in the bigs? And during that time it's been a mish-mash of styles and rotating door of wingers.
- ChonDerry

One winning season the whole time too....everyone else is so focused on Connor but it’s Nuge that will be gone

So what you're going to rely on Alex Chiasson to do it instead? Like at least sign somebody who has a chance.

What in the hell is the point of signing a bunch of guaranteed 4th line guys to short term and not even taking a chance on a guy who at least is potentially capable of scoring 20 goals? Or is everybody just resigned to the fact that they're wasting yet another season of McDavid already?
- BINGO!

maybe he didnt want to sign in Edmonton

maybe he didnt want to sign in Edmonton
- Reveen.

There is that.

He did sound like a big part of signing in Raleigh was because he wanted to play for Brind'amour.

...though I suspect with his fiance being involved in golf broadcasting, being in the Southern US probably helps her out a bit as well.

There is that.

He did sound like a big part of signing in Raleigh was because he wanted to play duck,duck, goose.
- BINGO!

That's better