He'd be the 3rd center. At the moment his level of play is above Couturier.
- JAKEw1234

ya the whole convo is inane because they'd never have any interest in Gagner esp now that they have Vinny. In all likelihood Couts who is more suited to a shutdown role would be on the 3rd line with Gagner playing wing somewhere.

Philadelphia is tough to figure though because they're a team that on the surface didn't do so hot but I really think just underachieved. Their roster is good.

ya the whole convo is inane because they'd never have any interest in Gagner esp now that they have Vinny. In all likelihood Couts who is more suited to a shutdown role would be on the 3rd line with Gagner playing wing somewhere.

Philadelphia is tough to figure though because they're a team that on the surface didn't do so hot but I really think just underachieved. Their roster is good.
- Morris

I think a lot of last season's failure can be blamed on injury and coaching. We have a good roster, but still a couple gaps. We could definitely still use #1 dman, and a top line scoring left winger. You guys have 1 of those things, so let's talk about a Hall trade

I think a lot of last season's failure can be blamed on injury and coaching. We have a good roster, but still a couple gaps. We could definitely still use #1 dman, and a top line scoring left winger. You guys have 1 of those things, so let's talk about a Hall trade
- JAKEw1234

Hall's success is about the only thing keeping most oiler fans on the ledge we could never trade him

Richard Cloutier: Oilers to Make Deal on Sunday?
- Maxbone

Actually I don't know why you even post anymore, your blogs are getting worse everytime.

You have this untouchable list on the Oilers yet you continue to mention players like Johansson & Duchene as possibles coming to Edmonton via trade - come on Clouts, wake the fuk up!!

Why would you expect another team to trade away young talent like a Duchene & get nothing back as far as your untouchable list goes?? Just stop with your stupidity already.

Why do you think the Oilers haven't landed a big fish yet?? Because they're unwilling to move any player on the so-called untouchable list. Did you ever stop to think about that Clouts???

I'll paraphrase the next 1297892136219 trade roomer blogs:

Oiler Player rumored to be traded: "LOL! He haz no value stoopid Oilers."

Other Player rumored to be traded: "LOL! Stoopid Oilerz have to trade Eberle n a 1st foar him!"

Hall's success is about the only thing keeping most oiler fans on the ledge we could never trade him
- Morris

You sure? I just got a really nice bag of pucks in that I think you'd like to have

I think a lot of last season's failure can be blamed on injury and coaching. We have a good roster, but still a couple gaps. We could definitely still use #1 dman, and a top line scoring left winger. You guys have 1 of those things, so let's talk about a Hall trade
- JAKEw1234

No offence, but Philly posesses nothing I would give up Hall for.

he only had 1 less point than Nick Foligno. Simmonds is a stretch but he has potential
- TheNugeIsHuge

Simmonds a stretch?? He's exactly the player the Oilers should be going after & give up their 2014 1st rounder to do it.

How can anyone undervalue a player who scores 20 to 30 goals per season, hits, fights & clears space for the skilled guys he plays with!!!

He's a power forward, plain & simple - something the Oilers lack but for some strange reason, people think he's not worth giving up much in a deal - well I guess that's why he won't be leaving Philly.

Anyways, he's a Flyer thru & thru, they love him & i'd take 6 Wayne Simmonds over players like Gagner & Nugent Hopkins anyday!!

Simmonds a stretch?? He's exactly the player the Oilers should be going after & give up their 2014 1st rounder to do it.
How can anyone undervalue a player who scores 20 to 30 goals per season, hits, fights & clears space for the skilled guys he plays with!!!

He's a power forward, plain & simple - something the Oilers lack but for some strange reason, people think he's not worth giving up much in a deal - well I guess that's why he won't be leaving Philly.

Anyways, he's a Flyer thru & thru, they love him & i'd take 6 Wayne Simmonds over players like Gagner & Nugent Hopkins anyday!!
- newmy

1st bolded) Yes. Absolutely.

2nd bolded) Christ no. I love Simmonds play but once healthy Nuge will do things that Simmonds simply can't.

Actually I don't know why you even post anymore, your blogs are getting worse everytime.

You have this untouchable list on the Oilers yet you continue to mention players like Johansson & Duchene as possibles coming to Edmonton via trade - come on Clouts, wake the fuk up!!

Why would you expect another team to trade away young talent like a Duchene & get nothing back as far as your untouchable list goes?? Just stop with your stupidity already.

Why do you think the Oilers haven't landed a big fish yet?? Because they're unwilling to move any player on the so-called untouchable list. Did you ever stop to think about that Clouts???


- newmy

I really don't think there's an untouchable list. Evidence of that comes from the fact that Cloutier has at times included the likes of Paajarvi and Gagner on his untouchable list. MPS is gone and Gags may too have played his last game as an oiler depending on how negotiations go.

But I agree with you, almost. I don't think it's IMPOSSIBLE to get Johnson, but you can't just pitch out a deal on any given weekend and have the guy in your jersey by monday. That's NHL 13 thinking. If we want a big time player, and we're completely unwilling to trade any of the young guns, we need to A) be willing to trade multiple picks, including 1sts B) pretty much any prospect they ask for and C) Almost any roster player they want as a sweetener.

Example: 1st + Marincin + Gagner would get you a pretty solid player, if the Staal, Richards, Carter, or Burns deals set any precedent.

I really don't think there's an untouchable list. Evidence of that comes from the fact that Cloutier has at times included the likes of Paajarvi and Gagner on his untouchable list. MPS is gone and Gags may too have played his last game as an oiler depending on how negotiations go.

But I agree with you, almost. I don't think it's IMPOSSIBLE to get Johnson, but you can't just pitch out a deal on any given weekend and have the guy in your jersey by monday. That's NHL 13 thinking. If we want a big time player, and we're completely unwilling to trade any of the young guns, we need to A) be willing to trade multiple picks, including 1sts B) pretty much any prospect they ask for and C) Almost any roster player they want as a sweetener.

Example: 1st + Marincin + Gagner would get you a pretty solid player, if the Staal, Richards, Carter, or Burns deals set any precedent.
- Morris

Yeah but they're Oilers. That immediately makes their value less.

Simmonds a stretch?? He's exactly the player the Oilers should be going after & give up their 2014 1st rounder to do it.

How can anyone undervalue a player who scores 20 to 30 goals per season, hits, fights & clears space for the skilled guys he plays with!!!

He's a power forward, plain & simple - something the Oilers lack but for some strange reason, people think he's not worth giving up much in a deal - well I guess that's why he won't be leaving Philly.

Anyways, he's a Flyer thru & thru, they love him & i'd take 6 Wayne Simmonds over players like Gagner & Nugent Hopkins anyday!!
- newmy

I think Simmonds is great, but he's a 30 goals scorer like Gagner's a 50 point scorer.

Yeah but they're Oilers. That immediately makes their value less.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

Oh yeah, I forgot the Oilers tax.

1st becomes two firsts, Marincin becomes Nurse, Gagner becomes Nuge and the top pairing Dman we're acquiring becomes Mark Fraser

1st bolded) Yes. Absolutely.

2nd bolded) Christ no. I love Simmonds play but once healthy Nuge will do things that Simmonds simply can't.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

But you win with players like Simmonds, a top 6 of skilled players doesn't do much come playoff time without those big wingers.

Oh yeah, I forgot the Oilers tax.

1st becomes two firsts, Marincin becomes Nurse, Gagner becomes Nuge and the top pairing Dman we're acquiring becomes Mark Fraser
- Morris

There you go.

But you win with players like Simmonds, a top 6 of skilled players doesn't do much come playoff time without those big wingers.
- newmy

Will Simmonds play #1C? Like I said, I like Simmonds and absolutely agree we could use a player like him but he isn't a 1C.

I think Simmonds is great, but he's a 30 goals scorer like Gagner's a 50 point scorer.
- Morris

I said 20 to 30 goal scorer & he's done it before & was on pace for 30 plus this year had there been an entire season.

The guy is under-valued big-time & because he's not the flashing skill guy that many Oiler fans watch on a daily basis with Gagner, Nuge & Ebs, people forget just how good Simmonds really is.

But again, Philly isn't going to move him unless the offer is very good because they know full well how difficult it is to find players who do it all.

But you win with players like Simmonds, a top 6 of skilled players doesn't do much come playoff time without those big wingers.
- newmy

Something to keep in mind when we get a little closer to the playoffs. We'll need a PWF I agree, but there's no chance we're giving up Nuge to get it (at least not Simmonds).

Will Simmonds play #1C? Like I said, I like Simmonds and absolutely agree we could use a player like him but he isn't a 1C.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

No but he can play on the 1st or 2nd line as the winger!!

I said 20 to 30 goal scorer & he's done it before & was on pace for 30 plus this year had there been an entire season.

The guy is under-valued big-time & because he's not the flashing skill guy that many Oiler fans watch on a daily basis with Gagner, Nuge & Ebs, people forget just how good Simmonds really is.

But again, Philly isn't going to move him unless the offer is very good because they know full well how difficult it is to find players who do it all.
- newmy

Id take Hartnell too, who might come cheaper because he's older and has a bigger contract.

Something to keep in mind when we get a little closer to the playoffs. We'll need a PWF I agree, but there's no chance we're giving up Nuge to get it (at least not Simmonds).
- Morris

No, I didn't say give up Nuge but i'd part with the 2014 1st rounder in a heart-beat. Those are the type of moves that are "BOLD" as MacT wants to do.

There's never a gurantee the 1st rounders will pan out, you know what you're getting in Simmonds & the guy would help the Oilers out more than most people even know.

But you win with players like Simmonds, a top 6 of skilled players doesn't do much come playoff time without those big wingers.
- newmy

Ya. Cuz Philly with him last year won soooo much....

Chicago needed to have him....

No but he can play on the 1st or 2nd line as the winger!!
- newmy

Who moves then? Yakupov or Eberle? Arrrrrrgh it drives me nuts because like I said, I like Simmonds but damn it would be hard to justify jettisoning either of those two.

I said 20 to 30 goal scorer & he's done it before & was on pace for 30 plus this year had there been an entire season.

The guy is under-valued big-time & because he's not the flashing skill guy that many Oiler fans watch on a daily basis with Gagner, Nuge & Ebs, people forget just how good Simmonds really is.

But again, Philly isn't going to move him unless the offer is very good because they know full well how difficult it is to find players who do it all.
- newmy

Yeah he's a great player.

I don't need to remind you that Sam Gagner if completely healthy would have posted five 50+ point seasons and was on pace for a 65 point season this year. Other fans jump down our throats if we say he's a 45-55 point player let alone a 50 point player so I was just having some fun with you.

Do you really want Zajac & his 5.7 million for the next 8 years? Why people keep praising Lamorello is mind boggling. He appears to have lost his mind & lost it many years ago. Being a meglomanic will fry your mind eventually. NJ is a disaster. They were before Kovalchuk decided to retire. That has to be the worst NHL team on paper. Thankfully boring fans to death can win games but apparently people will not pay to watch paint dry, even if you have a flakey eastern european superstar.

Foligno for Hemsky. Not a chance in hell Buffallo makes that deal. A ton of similiarities to Lucic in that package.

Toronto appears to have a huge hole in their forward ranks with Komorov bolting to Russia, MacArthur moving to Ottawa as a UFA, Frattin being moved to LA in the Bernier deal & the buyout of Grabovsky. Factor in that Clarkson just isn't the player they think they paid for. He was the 2nd worst UFA signing at 5.25 mil for 7 years. The worst. Lamerello again signing Clowe for 5 years at 4.85 but I digress. Clarkson is really a 3rd line winger not a number 2. The perfect storm formed in 2011-12 when he scored 30; when you have no offensive players, players like Clarkson get icetime they have not really earned & last year he scored 9 of his 15 goals in the 1st 3 weeks & 6 in the final 11 weeks.

Toronto has a number of Dman that are very similiar. Franson, Gunnarson & Gardner. Personally I think a Phaneuf for Hemsky deal straight up makes the most sense for both teams. Toronto may & I stress may wish to resign Phaneuf after next season but they have to resign Kadri, Franson & Gunnarson now & next year they have to deal with new contracts for Kessel, Bolland, Kulemin, Gardiner & Reimer. They simply don`t have the money, I doubt Phaneuf wants to return considering the abuse the Toronto media heaps on him & teams will line up to sign him as a UFA warts & all. Top 10 point scoring Damn don`t grow on trees. Edmonton could sweeten the deal nominally but it is a 1 year deal for both Hemsky & Phaneuf as both are going UFA next season. Both teams get what they need now.

Gardiner might be a possible target. He does not appear to be a Randy type player & like Franson he has decent size but does not play to it. Would cost more than Hemsky but it would be interesting to reunite him with Justin.

There are several other teams that could use a player like Hemsky but having only 1 year left on his deal, his injury history & his lack of production when playing over the last 2 seasons is disturbing.

Personally I swap Hemsky to Buffallo for Stafford. Buffallo gets cap flexibility next season & Edmonton roles the dice that a fresh start for Stafford & his 2 remaining years at 4 mil will redidicate himself to playing hard. It is a low risk trade. A 3rd line of Gordon centering Jones & Stafford would generate some offense.