Ok you win
- LeftCoaster

A first for oilers fans

Smytty does (frank)ing NOTHING out there, Arcobello is better defensively, better at faceoffs, better offensively and by far more physical. You make some of the worst posts on this site that I've ever seen. But it's ok because you make tons of money and (frank) super models.
- SpoiledByOil

make tonnes of money and (frank) supermodels??? I want a job like that! What is the job? Pornstar? Giggalo? Pimp?

it just kills me.

I agree that it's a long road, and their age cant be forgotten.
but I don't think this group is ever going to be the answer.

I watch those games where it's just endless cycling and losing board battles in our zone. this isn't lack of understanding, or a bad system. they flat out get outsized and outmuscled. add to that the extra long shift and running out of gas, they're ripe for the picking for an imminent quality scoring chance.
(after all that, when we finally do gain possession, we get a brief foray into the offensive zone only to lose a board battle, or run into 3 defenders, and then head back is every bit as frustrating too)

im desperate for management to do something about it.
whether it be through the first, or through gagner, or through yaks, or a package. I just want it done.
I truly believe that nothing will help get these kids where we want them to be more than confidence from wins. and no system, coach, new goaltender, patience etc is going to get this team there until we obtain a defender and that size up front.
- hugefemale dog77

We need to stop fixating on the "big man with soft hands". We need a big man who could keep up with our small skill guys and purely create space for them.

In the absence of success with conventional options, why not try unconventional ones?

We need to stop fixating on the "big man with soft hands". We need a big man who could keep up with our small skill guys and purely create space for them.

In the absence of success with conventional options, why not try unconventional ones?
- Morris

fuk yeah.

we don't need a superstar power forward. it aint gonna happen.
besides, we should be looking for a quality 'name' in that defender position I spoke of.

we just need a dude that can win some of those puck battles, make life more difficult for defenders and give our talent the opportunity to do what they do.

fuk yeah.

we don't need a superstar power forward. it aint gonna happen.
besides, we should be looking for a quality 'name' in that defender position I spoke of.

we just need a dude that can win some of those puck battles, make life more difficult for defenders and give our talent the opportunity to do what they do.
- hugefemale dog77

To that end, four wingers that could find their game with Nuge and Ebs:
Brian Boyle
Jordan Nolan
Eric Tangradi
Jack Skille

I'd add Jesse Joensuu to that list.

I'm starting to love your idea of running Hall-Matthias-Yakupov btw.

it just kills me.

I agree that it's a long road, and their age cant be forgotten.
but I don't think this group is ever going to be the answer.

I watch those games where it's just endless cycling and losing board battles in our zone. this isn't lack of understanding, or a bad system. they flat out get outsized and outmuscled. add to that the extra long shift and running out of gas and they're ripe for the picking for an imminent quality scoring chance.
(and after all that, its just as frustrating when we finally do gain possession and get a brief foray into the offensive zone only to lose a board battle, or run into 3 defenders and then head back)

im desperate for management to do something about it.
whether it be through the first, or through gagner, or through yaks, or a package. I just want it done.

I believe that nothing will help get these kids where we want them to be more than confidence from wins. and if they don't get it sooner rather than later, they may never find success with this organization. and no system, coach, new goaltender, patience etc is going to get this team there until we obtain a defender and that size up front.
- hugefemale dog77

Yeah man, seriously, that's where I'm at now. Aside from one or two solid moves (as you suggest) that may make us an actual winning team - the thing we have to realize is, or the question is:

Is this core IT? And yeah, with this losing culture it could take even longer to become a top five team in the west. Jesus H, look at the West standings right now.

They may not hit their peak until their LATE TWENTIES in the facets and confidence it takes to win night in and night out. They're not even close right now. RNH is a baby and so on and so on.

the worst part is Im starting to assume I wont be seeing said move anytime soon.

they don't want to gamble on dealing yaks..and maybe rightly so.

they made a verbal agreement with gags apparently. I think its ridiculous they would do that, but it is what it is. and we'll be stuck with him if we don't move him this season

and we probably aint gonna get the package we want for that first until teams know where it is.
plus, giving us a piece that's gonna help now, is gonna lessen the chance that the pick they receive stays as low.

the worst part is Im starting to assume I wont be seeing said move anytime soon.

they don't want to gamble on dealing yaks..and maybe rightly so.

they made a verbal agreement with gags apparently. I think its ridiculous they would do that, but it is what it is. and we'll be stuck with him if we don't move him this season

and we probably aint gonna get the package we want for that first until teams know where it is.
plus, giving us a piece that's gonna help now, is gonna lessen the chance that the pick they receive stays as low.
- hugefemale dog77

There will come a point where mathematically it'll become incredibly unlikely we climb out of the top 10.

This site suggests there's less than a 1% chance we'll finish higher than 11th in the conference! http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL.html

I think other teams can safely value our pick as AT LEAST a top 10 pick, which means even at present it holds a lot of trade value.

There will come a point where mathematically it'll become incredibly unlikely we climb out of the top 10.

This site suggests there's less than a 1% chance we'll finish higher than 11th in the conference! http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL.html

I think other teams can safely value our pick as AT LEAST a top 10 pick, which means even at present it holds a lot of trade value.
- Morris

interesting.

a shot at ekblad or reinhart probably holds a lot more value than anything in the next 8..but point taken

interesting.

a shot at ekblad or reinhart probably holds a lot more value than anything in the next 8..but point taken
- hugefemale dog77

It's painful, because top 2 talents are almost impossible to pass up on, but I feel like using the pick to acquire a guy who can play 25 minutes of competent defense a night could single-handedly drag us to around 25th in the league. It's a huge gambit, but I see it as:

Reinhart/Ekblad + Whatever else > Defenseman we acquire
BUT
Defenseman we acquire > 5th-10th overall pick + whatever else

Is MacT ballsy enough? Would another team bank on us not improving enough even with their player?

It's painful, because top 2 talents are almost impossible to pass up on, but I feel like using the pick to acquire a guy who can play 25 minutes of competent defense a night could single-handedly drag us to around 25th in the league. It's a huge gambit, but I see it as:

Reinhart/Ekblad + Whatever else > Defenseman we acquire
BUT
Defenseman we acquire > 5th-10th overall pick + whatever else

Is MacT ballsy enough?
- Morris

DO IT

as we wouldn't be looking at a solution for just this season, it's worth far more to me than a top ten pick.
plus the wins/confidence snowballs for these kids, makes us more desirable a location for free agents, gets the retard trolls off my back on hb etc etc

To that end, four wingers that could find their game with Nuge and Ebs:
Brian Boyle
Jordan Nolan
Eric Tangradi
Jack Skille

I'd add Jesse Joensuu to that list.

I'm starting to love your idea of running Hall-Matthias-Yakupov btw.
- Morris

I also thought about Jack Skille as well. He has some interesting tools and possesses some size as well. I'd throw Dwight King on that list too. I've mentioned Kyle Beach as well - but he's been waived and is playing in Sweden.

I'd pull Joensuu off though, haven't been impressed. Doesn't do much of anything.

That line would be interesting since you'd have one guy covering the D zone and would let Yak and Hall do their thing. Plus adds size.

it just kills me.

I agree that it's a long road, and their age cant be forgotten.
but I don't think this group is ever going to be the answer.

I watch those games where it's just endless cycling and losing board battles in our zone. this isn't lack of understanding, or a bad system. they flat out get outsized and outmuscled. add to that the extra long shift and running out of gas and they're ripe for the picking for an imminent quality scoring chance.
(and after all that, its just as frustrating when we finally do gain possession and get a brief foray into the offensive zone only to lose a board battle, or run into 3 defenders and then head back)

im desperate for management to do something about it.
whether it be through the first, or through gagner, or through yaks, or a package. I just want it done.

I believe that nothing will help get these kids where we want them to be more than confidence from wins. and if they don't get it sooner rather than later, they may never find success with this organization. and no system, coach, new goaltender, patience etc is going to get this team there until we obtain a defender and that size up front.
- hugefemale dog77

Well said we need a Top 6 guy with size and a legit top pairing D-man with SIZE
Eberle or Yak and our 1st for Subban

Smytty does (frank)ing NOTHING out there, Arcobello is better defensively, better at faceoffs, better offensively and by far more physical. You make some of the worst posts on this site that I've ever seen. But it's ok because you make tons of money and (frank) super models.
- SpoiledByOil

I respectfully disagree. If any of the kids could learn a lesson and play the front of the net like Smyth does, then he is expendable. Up until now, though, not one damn Oilers sticks his ass in the goalies face as well as Smyth has been. That said, Arco should definitely still be in the line-up. Gagner should have been slowly entered back into the line-up on the 3rd line wing. Arco has been better on the dot, more physical, better defensively, and just better all around than most of the team this year. And for Acton, big doesn't mean touch. Arco has showed more spit and fire than Acton at all times. That said, top time in the AHL is likely better for him than 4th line minutes.

To that end, four wingers that could find their game with Nuge and Ebs:
Brian Boyle
Jordan Nolan
Eric Tangradi
Jack Skille

I'd add Jesse Joensuu to that list.

I'm starting to love your idea of running Hall-Matthias-Yakupov btw.
- Morris

Matthias can skate too for such a big dude. this line could be an absolute nightmare for defenders

and then put marcus foligno on the top line alongside nuge and ebs and this team is vastly different. I mean night and day.

any of one of the guys u mentioned could work, I just have hard on for marcus.

long term;

foligno, nuge, ebs
hall, Matthias, yaks
perron, arcobello, joensuu
, Gordon, pitlick

Matthias can skate too for such a big dude. this line could be an absolute nightmare for defenders

and then put marcus foligno on the top line alongside nuge and ebs and this team is vastly different. I mean night and day.

any of one of the guys u mentioned could work, I just have hard on for marcus.

long term;

foligno, nuge, ebs
hall, Matthias, yaks
perron, arcobello, joensuu
, Gordon, pitlick
- hugefemale dog77

I'm assuming Gagner would go for Foligno? As much as Sabres fans would disagree, I think Buffalo listens to that offer.

Have to disagree with a lot of you. Size on our top 6 is not even close to our biggest problem. When they get the puck in the offensive zone they are dangerous.

Our biggest and most glaring problem is getting hemmed in our own end. Our D cant win a battle, and when they do they cant make a simple break out. We spend more time chasing in our own end than anything. When the puck does get to our forwards they break it out pretty well.

We cannot continue with the top 4 we have. I don't know if we will be able to get what we need during this season or have to wait until Summer? But that is the glaring weakness. Our goals for are not the problem. Goals against are. And even if we take out the 10-12 softies that Duby and Labackup have let in we are still far and away one of the worst in GA/game. And some on here will blame it all on MacT for not improving that this summer. He TRIED. Could not get any takers. They don't just give those guys away. Hopefully we improve throughout this season. And address it this Summer. Ference and Belov are not the answer.

I'm assuming Gagner would go for Foligno? As much as Sabres fans would disagree, I think Buffalo listens to that offer.
- ystoil

no. I was thinking gags+ for Matthias

and our first and nultz
for
foligno and ehrhoff

no. I was thinking gags for Matthias

and our first nultz, marincin
for
foligno and ehrhoff
- hugefemale dog77

I would add picks to Gagner and try and get Kulikov out of Florida as well. I think Gagner for Matthias could be a bit of an overpayment. Kulikov's value has to be down a bit too.

Say Gagner + 2 2nds for Kulikov and Matthias

I like your second deal.

Have to disagree with a lot of you. Size on our top 6 is not even close to our biggest problem. When they get the puck in the offensive zone they are dangerous.

Our biggest and most glaring problem is getting hemmed in our own end. Our D cant win a battle, and when they do they cant make a simple break out. We spend more time chasing in our own end than anything. When the puck does get to our forwards they break it out pretty well.

We cannot continue with the top 4 we have. I don't know if we will be able to get what we need during this season or have to wait until Summer? But that is the glaring weakness. Our goals for are not the problem. Goals against are. And even if we take out the 10-12 softies that Duby and Labackup have let in we are still far and away one of the worst in GA/game. And some on here will blame it all on MacT for not improving that this summer. He TRIED. Could not get any takers. They don't just give those guys away. Hopefully we improve throughout this season. And address it this Summer. Ference and Belov are not the answer.
- Iggysbff

I don't think anyone is saying we don't absolutely need a top 4 defender. and I think most would agree that its our biggest need. I just think theyre agreeing that we also desperately need size in our top 6.
is this even debateable? its actually painful to watch us get outmuscled time and time again and over and over.

a lot of our offensive time is very ineffective, short lived, and never gets to the tough areas even when it is sustained. how many more times you wanna see that drop pass but no drive to the net? or the toedrag?
whether this is by choice or because they're incapable of getting to those tough spots doesn't matter. it's not happening.
we're small and don't have a lot of options when they clog it up. and therefore we become predictable

but regardless, that size doesn't only help in the offensive zone. our forwards are also trying to battle but losing when we're hemmed in our zone.
they aren't free from responsibility by any means. its not a coincidence that the nuge is -10, hall isn't much better etc etc
this is a team game and its no coincidence our poor defenders are so mistake prone when theyre so pressured into just getting it out by any means. they need support.. our forwards have been terrible defensively and haven't provided any real help downlow.

a forward 6 of nuge, hall, yaks, ebs, gags will never be the answer. when our 'pushback' guys are hall and perron (who aren't soft by any means. but aren't bruising forecheckers) then there's a problem

I don't think anyone is saying we don't absolutely need a top 4 defender. and I think most would agree that its our biggest need. I just think theyre agreeing that we also desperately need size in our top 6.
is this even debateable its actually painful to watch us get outmuscled time and time again.

a lot of our offensive time is very ineffective, short lived, and never gets to the tough areas even when it is sustained. whether this is by choice or because they're incapable doesn't matter.

but regardless, that size doesn't only help in the offensive zone. our forwards are also trying to battle but losing when we're hemmed in our zone.
they aren't free from responsibility by any means. its not a coincidence that the nuge is -10, hall isn't much better etc etc
this is a team game and its no coincidence our poor defenders are so mistake prone when theyre so pressured into just getting it out by any means. they need support.. our forwards have been terrible defensively and haven't provided any real help downlow.

a forward 6 of nuge, hall, yaks, ebs, gags will never be the answer. when our 'pushback' guys are hall and perron (who aren't soft by any means. but aren't bruising forecheckers) then there's a problem
- hugefemale dog77

I disagree. With the right players on the back end it would make a huge difference.

Smytty does (frank)ing NOTHING out there, Arcobello is better defensively, better at faceoffs, better offensively and by far more physical. You make some of the worst posts on this site that I've ever seen. But it's ok because you make tons of money and (frank) super models.
- SpoiledByOil

That's a little childish isn't it? Maybe you should re-direct your small-man angst at improving your lot in life. I don't recall making a personal comment to you.

Thanks for the compliment but I have been married for quite a while now. Glad you've been paying attention to me.

To that end, four wingers that could find their game with Nuge and Ebs:
Brian Boyle
Jordan Nolan
Eric Tangradi
Jack Skille

I'd add Jesse Joensuu to that list.

I'm starting to love your idea of running Hall-Matthias-Yakupov btw.
- Morris

I'd have Pat Maroon and Kyle Clifford higher on that list. What would the 3rd line be?

Joensu/Gordon/Perron

I'd actually like a line up like that. Especially if zack smith was on the 4th line

I disagree. With the right players on the back end it would make a huge difference.
- Iggysbff

fair enough.

I just think the nhl is about so much more than just having more talent than your opponent.

Have to disagree with a lot of you. Size on our top 6 is not even close to our biggest problem. When they get the puck in the offensive zone they are dangerous.

Our biggest and most glaring problem is getting hemmed in our own end. Our D cant win a battle, and when they do they cant make a simple break out. We spend more time chasing in our own end than anything. When the puck does get to our forwards they break it out pretty well.

We cannot continue with the top 4 we have. I don't know if we will be able to get what we need during this season or have to wait until Summer? But that is the glaring weakness. Our goals for are not the problem. Goals against are. And even if we take out the 10-12 softies that Duby and Labackup have let in we are still far and away one of the worst in GA/game. And some on here will blame it all on MacT for not improving that this summer. He TRIED. Could not get any takers. They don't just give those guys away. Hopefully we improve throughout this season. And address it this Summer. Ference and Belov are not the answer.
- Iggysbff

Yes, getting out of our own end is an issue but with our forward group we are only decent as long as they can maintain possession. Once they lose possession they simply cannot get the puck back, it ends up in our end where the struggle continues. Having some forwards with size would help with regaining possession thus helping keep the puck out of our end.

Goals for also are an issue, when we allow our own net to be filled. We are second last in our conference in goals for. With the talent level up front this is simply not acceptable and goes back to the point, once we lose control of the puck we are screwed!

I agree with you, our top 4 needs to be improved but considering our forward rank adding in a guy like Campbell (as recently talked about)would not help this team.

I think at this point you can add a couple forwards with size easier than you can add the type of defenseman needed for this team. At least it it a move in the direction needed for playing in the Western Conf.