Interesting read. Its not fair to compare Sid to Gretz nor Malkin to Mess or Coffey to Letang. The Sather-led management made sure they had balanced Assets, unlike today's Oilers. Big,mobile defence, solid in Goal, skilled, fast forwards with big wingers (enforcers like Semenko & McSorley, who are not needed as much today), plus the bottom 6 had shutdown guys who could still score. Gawd I long for competent Management back in Edm!

If that is the case I hope management is right. Not sure what they are using to convince them there is no concern.

Im pretty surprised Biron cleared waivers today.
- kgrpitt

His play?

No he's not the answer yet. I think if Fleury plays well up to the deadline they will roll with him. If he shows signs of weakness they will deal for a suitable 1b.

I don't think management is as concerned about it as the fans.
- canadianpenfan

I was thinking more about regular season workload for MAF in the absence of a serviceable #2 guy, not really about him being replaced like he was last year after game 3.

Interesting read. Its not fair to compare Sid to Gretz nor Malkin to Mess or Coffey to Letang. The Sather-led management made sure they had balanced Assets, unlike today's Oilers. Big,mobile defence, solid in Goal, skilled, fast forwards with big wingers (enforcers like Semenko & McSorley, who are not needed as much today), plus the bottom 6 had shutdown guys who could still score. Gawd I long for competent Management back in Edm!
- haymac

The Oilers constructed a team in the 1980's that was the definition of perfection for their era. It was very fun to watch as a young kid even though I didn't fully understand what I was watching at the time (I was 3-8 years old).

I was thinking more about regular season workload for MAF in the absence of a serviceable #2 guy, not really about him being replaced like he was last year after game 3.
- akane13

I guess that's my point though. Do they aquire a back up that can start here and there to rest Fleury or a guy that could lead them to a cup in the event Fleury is garbage again?

Ryan Wilson: Penguins And Oilers Share Similar Amount Of Top Draft Picks, Not Results
Penguins take on the Edmonton Oilers at the Consol Energy Center, features many offensive players.
- Ryan_Wilson

This is why I cringe at the thought of "tanking for a draft pick". First of all, it depends on the players available in a given year. Yes, you are liable to get "elite" talent, but not all the talent is someone you can build a championship team around. Crosby was definitely that. Malkin is a hell of a complement. All of Eberle, Hall, and Nugent-Hopkins are going to be studs, but they all, at this point, anyway, seem to lack an "it" factor. I know it was a short tournament of 19 year olds and under, but I felt Nugent-Hopkins underwhelmed in the World Juniors. In a tournament like that, he should have dominated, not just by putting up numbers, but by simply being unstoppable. He seemed to lack the "I'm going to put this team on my back and we're going to win this no questions asked" attitude. There's scoring boatloads of points, and then there's making everybody around you better. The Oilers' studs have yet to show they can do that.

His play?
- canadianpenfan

and we're going in circles. His play in the regular season has almost always been good. Again, I am not talking about regular season, come on canadian keep up. Anyways, I done with this cause somethings are just not agreeable.

I guess that's my point though. Do they aquire a back up that can start here and there to rest Fleury or a guy that could lead them to a cup in the event Fleury is garbage again?
- canadianpenfan

I suspect they will go after at least a solid #2 guy at the deadline if it looks like Vokoun will not be back for much or any of the regular season.

and not a guy to carry them like last year, but at least a guy you can go to and have a chance to win games down the stretch at the very least.

I guess that's my point though. Do they aquire a back up that can start here and there to rest Fleury or a guy that could lead them to a cup in the event Fleury is garbage again?
- canadianpenfan

Lead them or at least a goalie with some upside such as Lindback, a St. Louis goalie, etc. Before jumping all over those names I was just throwing them out their as examples.

Lead them or at least a goalie with some upside such as Lindback, a St. Louis goalie, etc. Before jumping all over those names I was just throwing them out their as examples.
- kgrpitt

I thought you were done?

Not to be a Debbie downer but its still the regular season. He usually pretty good during it. Obviously, it is great to see him doing good and I hope he continues but I still hold my breath during points of the game waiting for that soft goal.
- kgrpitt

Start drinking now and you will be as miserable as you want to be for the playoffs.

Interesting read. Its not fair to compare Sid to Gretz nor Malkin to Mess or Coffey to Letang. The Sather-led management made sure they had balanced Assets, unlike today's Oilers. Big,mobile defence, solid in Goal, skilled, fast forwards with big wingers (enforcers like Semenko & McSorley, who are not needed as much today), plus the bottom 6 had shutdown guys who could still score. Gawd I long for competent Management back in Edm!
- haymac

Well said, sir. Straight from the heart and that is always respected here.

This is why I cringe at the thought of "tanking for a draft pick". First of all, it depends on the players available in a given year. Yes, you are liable to get "elite" talent, but not all the talent is someone you can build a championship team around. Crosby was definitely that. Malkin is a hell of a complement. All of Eberle, Hall, and Nugent-Hopkins are going to be studs, but they all, at this point, anyway, seem to lack an "it" factor. I know it was a short tournament of 19 year olds and under, but I felt Nugent-Hopkins underwhelmed in the World Juniors. In a tournament like that, he should have dominated, not just by putting up numbers, but by simply being unstoppable. He seemed to lack the "I'm going to put this team on my back and we're going to win this no questions asked" attitude. There's scoring boatloads of points, and then there's making everybody around you better. The Oilers' studs have yet to show they can do that.
- buffalofan19

IE: Derek Roy

hahahaha, Jeff Deslauriers tweeted this picture of Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond at what must be a WBS Pens golf outing:


- rival22

Psycho pants. Seriously strobing my brain.

I thought you were done?
- canadianpenfan

Really? Done talking about why there is a need to worry about Fleury in the playoffs even after a successful reg season. This was about a backup...which is different, obviously.

Again, I hope I am wrong. Just keeping things in perspective. I am pumped he is doing good to start the season! Lets hope that purple pill continues to work.

Start drinking now and you will be as miserable as you want to be for the playoffs.
- powerhouse

Nah, I will just watch and hope I'm wrong. I would be happy to be wrong in this case.

Scary quote in Elliotte Friedman's 30 thoughts this week:

Monday morning, Yakupov told Edmonton reporters, "I don't really like playing without the puck, skate all the time and do forecheck and hit somebody every shift... I don't think it's my game."

That's an alarming quote, although you must be careful with young players who don't speak English as a first language. Sometimes nuance gets lost. But this is the kind of programming the Oilers will need to change -- and not only in Yakupov -- to be successful.

I left the second paragraph in there because he's correct about the language nuance, but that quote really doesn't show a player with an NHL level of maturity.

Scary quote in Elliotte Friedman's 30 thoughts this week:



I left the second paragraph in there because he's correct about the language nuance, but that quote really doesn't show a player with an NHL level of maturity.
- rival22

Yeah, not really what you want to hear, especially from a #1 overall pick. Your #1 overall pick should be as close to a sure thing as it gets. He's young, his career is still in the beginning stages but he will need to pick it up to justify the selection.

Scary quote in Elliotte Friedman's 30 thoughts this week:



I left the second paragraph in there because he's correct about the language nuance, but that quote really doesn't show a player with an NHL level of maturity.
- rival22

And his trade value just got a little lower.

Scary quote in Elliotte Friedman's 30 thoughts this week:

I left the second paragraph in there because he's correct about the language nuance, but that quote really doesn't show a player with an NHL level of maturity.
- rival22

Dang, yeah that is not what you want to hear. Sums up the Russian stereotype pretty well.

Yeah, not really what you want to hear, especially from a #1 overall pick. Your #1 overall pick should be as close to a sure thing as it gets. He's young, his career is still in the beginning stages but he will need to pick it up to justify the selection.
- Ryan_Wilson

Galchenyuk is looking like a much better player. Maybe that's not fair because he has more/better opportunity but i feel that's earned and maybe this quote shines a light onto why Yakupov hasn't been given those same opportunities.

Scary quote in Elliotte Friedman's 30 thoughts this week:



I left the second paragraph in there because he's correct about the language nuance, but that quote really doesn't show a player with an NHL level of maturity.
- rival22

He's saying he's not a fourth-liner... the kid can't really express himself accurately in english.

IE: Derek Roy
- Ryan_Wilson

Derek Roy is the extreme opposite of what you want in terms of what I laid out. I don't think any of the trio of Nugent-Hopkins, Eberle, and Hall will be like that. I think they will for the most part play the game the right way. However, I guess I question how much leadership they all really possess.

Really? Done talking about why there is a need to worry about Fleury in the playoffs even after a successful reg season. This was about a backup...which is different, obviously.

Again, I hope I am wrong. Just keeping things in perspective. I am pumped he is doing good to start the season! Lets hope that purple pill continues to work.
- kgrpitt

I'm glad that the always brilliant Hockeybuzz.com community can reach a consensus that Fleury is doing good because of his Eminem pills, and not because of:

A) Absence of the most defensively irresponsible Norris candidate in years;

B) Presence of Jacques Martin as a defensively-minded assistant coach; and

C) Renewed focus of entire team on actual team defense in their own zone (for most of the games so far at least, Florida excluded).

Now I'll just sit back and wait for all the out-of-town hockey gods to tell me I'm full of crap.

I'm glad that the always brilliant Hockeybuzz.com community can reach a consensus that Fleury is doing good because of his Eminem pills, and not because of:

A) Absence of the most defensively irresponsible Norris candidate in years;

B) Presence of Jacques Martin as a defensively-minded assistant coach; and

C) Renewed focus of entire team on actual team defense in their own zone (for most of the games so far at least, Florida excluded).

Now I'll just sit back and wait for all the out-of-town hockey gods to tell me I'm full of crap.
- Kineada

Out of town hockey gods?