Richard Cloutier: You are by far the smallest hockey mind I have read on the net. Obvious you never played the game. The oilers missing the play-offs one more time is not the end. Putting belief into the players who got them to this point IS the point. A hand full of other 4th round picks is just a bunch of volume that is not necessary. they are investing in the core group. Suggesting the Oilers throw games only tells the truth able the individual suggesting it, (Loser). However the Oilers are more of the Continue on type (try try again). Every other day you are jumping to a different conclusion. All while the Oilers management is staying the course, just as they have always said. You keep saying Tambo talks but says nothing. He has all along said they same thing (we are staying the course). However that is not what you want to hear. It's just too bad that a computer gives people like you the ability to spread dribble to the world. Please cancel you posts. The world would be a better place.

Okay, I can live with Oilers fans being cold on Joe as an option.
But what are Oilers fans exactly wanting Tambo to do to improve this team.Lets say we do okay and finish anywhere between 11th and 7th in the west and draft in the middle somewhere. What are our "realistic" trade options? I'm not talking about what you were able to accomplish on NHL 13, what realistically can Tambo do? You have to consider the lack of depth at whatever position we are trading away, so any player that goes needs to replaced.The Bolded players occupy a depth position, where possibly either can be traded and filled internally.

Hall-Nuge- Ebs
MPS-Gagner-Yakapov,Hemsky
Hartikainen-Horcoff-Jones

Petry-J.Schultz
N.Schultz-Smid
Whitney,Potter,Teubert,Kleffbom,Teddy Peckman,Fedun,Fistric.

2013 mid 1st round pick, 2 seconds
Jr.Prospects
Future Draft Picks.

These are our tradeable assets.
The non highlighted players can be traded, but there is no on the roster ready to replace them. I cringe at the prospect of trading Yak if the plan is for Hemsky to stay on as 2RW.I also think it would be foolish to move Kleffbom in an effort to improve the team, but it could happen.

So there you have it.A bunch of Jr.Players, draft picks,bottom pairing defensemen and 4th liners. How do we turn those into players that can help the team now?
- Jeropotato

by mixing in the higher value assets with the low to no value assets (or kinda skipping past the massive difference in value)
it seems as though uve attempted to drive ur point furthur that we have nothing to trade

2013 1st rounder
2, 2013 2nd rounders
klefbom
marincin
gernat,
musil
hemsky
2014 first
those should all be in play
plus any of the non highlighted guys too if need be, depending on the return.

a package including some of those assets along with the lesser values to just get rid of contracts could absolutely bring a valuable return.
no one's saying its a done deal, or super easy to make a big trade, but its also silly to say that its unlikely.
its part of your job as a gm, make it happen.

Yeah, I think the Oilers should give up and go for higher draft position? What a joke man, way to instill the winning culture a few points out with 10 games left. You go for it man, if you come up short, the team is better for it and sets the table for them making it next year because there hungry and have the bitter taste of defeat, not bending over and throwing in the towel. If you make it, maybe you go on a run. Its called learning how to win, not learning how to lose. Fans that rationalize intentionally losing I cant understand.

Yeah, I think the Oilers should give up and go for higher draft position? What a joke man, way to instill the winning culture a few points out with 10 games left. You go for it man, if you come up short, the team is better for it and sets the table for them making it next year because there hungry and have the bitter taste of defeat, not bending over and throwing in the towel. If you make it, maybe you go on a run. Its called learning how to win, not learning how to lose. Fans that rationalize intentionally losing I cant understand.
- gunner2233

We don't, Clouts does.

#FireClouts

Yeah, I think the Oilers should give up and go for higher draft position? What a joke man, way to instill the winning culture a few points out with 10 games left. You go for it man, if you come up short, the team is better for it and sets the table for them making it next year because there hungry and have the bitter taste of defeat, not bending over and throwing in the towel. If you make it, maybe you go on a run. Its called learning how to win, not learning how to lose. Fans that rationalize intentionally losing I cant understand.
- gunner2233

Trust me, he is alone on the intentional losing plan.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...post_id=10526377#10526377

wow.

So they have 6 mill to sign 5 depth players. I'd say its pretty easy
- Bieksa#3

Is that all they have to sign from then on? 6 depth players? Thats fine then

So they have 6 mill to sign 5 depth players. I'd say its pretty easy
- Bieksa#3

How are the Canucks going to fix their cap for next year? Looks pretty tight.

(frank) off Cloutier you (frank)ing loser

IMO there's gonna be a ton of bridge contracts on RFA's this season. Subban at $2.9 is all GM's are going to point to.
- golfingsince

or they'll point to ROR's 6.5M next season

Haha the Leafs are going to be in the playoffs this year and not one of those guys is on the roster. Great chirp though
- SameOld

wow. So wasted money and wasted contracts. Good management. You say players don't want to get traded to EDM, I pointed out you have to overpay terrible players to bring them to TO.

Clouts in your next blog why dont you simply write who is untouchable and who is trade bait

I see Carolina placing higher than us so I still think even with a valiant effort think we get a shot a barkov... or can simply swap picks with a team to get him- either way you slice it this draft will give the Stu the Magnificent a good test as we wont be drafting a slam dunk 1st overall...

I see Carolina placing higher than us so I still think even with a valiant effort think we get a shot a barkov... or can simply swap picks with a team to get him- either way you slice it this draft will give the Stu the Magnificent a good test as we wont be drafting a slam dunk 1st overall...
- saskoil21

He has been tested every year with rounds 2 and later. Unfortunately it will still be two to five years to see if he is all he is cracked up to be. If none of the late round picks pan out we will be pretty (frank)ed again in 7-10 years.

He has been tested every year with rounds 2 and later. Unfortunately it will still be two to five years to see if he is all he is cracked up to be. If none of the late round picks pan out we will be pretty (frank)ed again in 7-10 years.
- abware

the late round picks in the last 2 drafts have been quite good. Gernat, Khaira, Rieder(pre trade), Gustafson have decent chances at cracking the NHL eventually

You guys have zero clue of how the world works. Clouts get's hits and comments on his blog.

That means they can show advertisers the stats and get more for ads.

You want to get rid of clouts? Stop reading his blog and certainly stop commenting.

An advertiser looks for blogs that get a certain criteria of hits and revisits and comments.

All you are doing is showing an advertiser you visit multiple times a day, comment on the blog so they will pay a premium to advertise here.

No way Eklund fires a guy who makes him rich to replace him with someone who doesn't generate the type of activity that they can sell to advertisers.

Clout's isn't stupid. He knows how to make money.

He is banking off the predictability and stupidity of the demographic who frequents this type of site. Leading you around like sheep.

You guys complaining are the ones who need to smarten up and get a clue.

Nothing more painful to watch than people crying over the problems they create themselves while thinking someone else is the dummy.
- yaktalksback

this guy is the biggest bandwagon jumper around!!!! Oilers win he loves them, they lose they suck......
- abboy

Sounds like the entire fan base

No, the Oilers should not intentionally lose.
The odds are not in their favour but the last thing you want to do is keep making those kids used to losing. Make them feel it is okay to lose and all you will have in a few years from now is a pile of losers - talented ones.

Playoffs or not, the core needs to keep trying and they need to keep working. Not getting to the playoffs might be a blessing in disguise, like that management will see that the core is there but that there are a few pieces missing.
Even if the Oil was to make it to playoffs they are not a cup contender. And yet ANOTHER first (or second or sixth or 12th) overall pick is not going to change anything.

The team has its core, if in the summer they make a few good moves, we are for sure contenders next year. But losing for the sake of having a high pick is pathetic. Losing on purpose is an insult to the fans and to the people who live out of hockey. If there is no compete, what is the point?

I hope the Oilers die trying to get into playoffs. I hope they make us proud even if they die on the line. That is what professional sports are about. If you love the Oilers so much, why do you want them to tank the season when there are 10 games to cheer ?????

Other than that, your crush with the Mark Streit guy is sick (who in his right mind would want a 36 year old that has not done ANYTHING?). If you want to have babies with him, go ahead and have them but leave the rest of us out of it.

LETS GO OILERS!!!!

Sounds like the entire fan base
- Lanny9

Really? This has been a last place team for (pretty much) three years and I, and many others have proudly proclaimed this is my team. Les see how many flame fans are out in a year or two after they are the keepers of the basement for a while.

See oilhorse's avatars.

the late round picks in the last 2 drafts have been quite good. Gernat, Khaira, Rieder(pre trade), Gustafson have decent chances at cracking the NHL eventually
- TheNugeIsHuge

Until the players that Stu the Mag amount to anything of NHL substance - the jury will remain... IMO there are lots of players with potential but like Klefbom the proof will remain in a couple seasons...

I'm a CFA. My wallet is bigger than my ego.
- JLO961

CFA...meaning Certifiably (frank)ing Arrogant?

Seriously though, no one is impressed by what you claim is true about yourself.

CFA...meaning Certifiably (frank)ing Arrogant?

Seriously though, no one is impressed by what you claim is true about yourself.
- OilHorse

I'm a billionaire cowboy stockbroker astronaut who sleeps with a different supermodel every week.
That surely must impress you. And its all true, really it is.

Lose all you want. But at least keep you're pride as hockey team. I agree completely that they should lose purposely this season as the top 10 players in this draft (as mentioned) are highly skilled to say the least. The oilers simply need to have a slight "slip" in their play for the rest of the season, and therefore hopefully dropping to at least the bottom 10 to nab a prospect to add to this young team of skilled players. However, this should be the last season that they should need to do this. Come 2013/2014 they should be expected to come close to acquiring a playoff spot. I don't believe that Clouts' method to "purposely lose" is the way to go. Putting Eberle on a line with Petrell is nonsense and so is putting Paajarvi on defence and benching Schultz. However, I do believe that if Belanger is played that the Oilers will do worse as opposed to having him as an absence. If the goalies are rotated one game on and one game off, this could also work. Ultimately, creating mass confusion amongst the players is not how this should be done. Like I said, there just needs to be a "little slip".

the late round picks in the last 2 drafts have been quite good. Gernat, Khaira, Rieder(pre trade), Gustafson have decent chances at cracking the NHL eventually
- TheNugeIsHuge

Khaira especially. He's a big guy who plays physical and puts alot of points up. Sadly he probably won't see NHL action for possibly another year or so. He'd be lucky to be played in 2013/2014.