Agreed. A prime example is the Grabovski line with 2 supporting players normally given checking roles who are big, fast and gritty, who have suddenly found scoring success...Ward and Chimera. all I'm asking for is 1 of each of these types of players on each of our top 2 lines to complement the kids, and it won't cost a huge amount to get them IMO. So, trade Yak or Ebs for a top 2 D plus a big, fast winger--it should be doable. That's for starters MacT.
- haymac

Washington has used guys like Chimera, Ward, Brouwer, Beagle and Brooks Laich in top 6 roles so well in the past. It really always seems to work for them, I wish the Oilers would give something like this a try.

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
- hugefemale dog77

Bang on

We'll overpay Coburn as a UFA
- Reveen

We may have money going forward. It might be better to overpay in FA than overpay in a trade.

starts with a goalie imo

also i seem to remember last year you saying you wouldnt take subban if he was given to the oil. would you now? people have been saying forever the oil need defense, no one, not even oiler management seemed to think they needed solid defense. sad.. so (frank)ing sad build from the goalie out.

if they had taken murray over yak even gally over yak, id have faith the managment group knew what the (frank) they were doing. no debate, yak is/was a great player leading up to the draft, but organisational needs should outweigh taking a chance on yaks....ive been saying this forever, look at the caps with ovi. incredible talent but with no d and suspect gtendin' they went no where! the oilers already had stud players up front, hall nuge eberle... why in the f u ck do you take yak? when your d and tending stink. makes no sense. even adding a c in gally would have made gags avail for trade and the potential for bringing in a solid def. oh well its in the past, lets just hope things get righted faster than they have been. imo bryz is not a bad pick up. the teams needs confidence and briz can and should be able to steal some much needed wins until they get back into the swing of things.

on a side note, is it true that dallas eakins has banned doughnuts and other "unhealthy" foods from the media scrums? the guy comes across as a real health nazi. coupled with extreme arrogance is he the right guy for the job...
- munky123

I don't see it that way at all!

I can't name 5 goalies that were top 10 goalies 3 years ago and will be top 10 goalies in 3 years time.

Rinne, Lundqvist...

And in that six year span, there will probably be 25 different goalies on that "top 10". I don't see goalies as something you can build around any longer.

It depends what comes back. What if they moved him for a defensemen and a 2nd line power forward?
- Killbot460

Ebs or Yak will not fetch that at this point. Hemsky, on the other hand, has proven that he can put up the points if he can stay healthy. Picks, prospects and Hemsky would be a better move in the long term, IMO. It would allow us to hold onto Yak and Ebs for another year while getting something for a player that will become a UFA at seasons end.

toews and Bergeron man.

how can we compare our group to the two teams that possess the best defensive forwards in the game?

plus they got;

sharp who's strong defensively as well. saad aint no midget. hossa is a beast AND talented. and bickell is a net driving moose.

lucic is a monster. marchand is as gritty as they come and strong in his own end, krejci is very strong defensively. now they got Eriksson who's also an elite two way player...

apples and oranges.

u add toews or Bergeron to our group and we aint having this conversation.
but since we have what we have, I think adding the net driving mooses is probably the best course of action and the easiest to acquire

but no one in oilerville will disagree we aren't desperate for another quality defender.
this is a team game though and we need more than just one thing
- hugefemale dog77

Don't forget Hossa--he's big, fast and very hard to get off the puck.
Both Boston and Chicago have far more talented and bigger D than we do and that's huge for adding to their game--the Oiler can't be compared to either of those Teams.

I like Coburn
- Killbot460

me too

Don't forget Hossa--he's big, fast and very hard to get off the puck.
Both Boston and Chicago have far more talented and bigger D than we do and that's huge for adding to their game--the Oiler can't be compared to either of those Teams.
- haymac

I mentioned hossa.
how could I forget!!?

he's not a prototypical 'power forward" crasher. but that's because he's also got elite level skills and moves.
he's a big fuker and extremely hard to get off the puck.

we don't have a player like him in our top 6. nor do we have a player like toews.
nor do we have a player like bickell.

our group pales in comparison defensively and isn't as big either

hossa is very big. he's 6'2, 215..
you think he's easy to take off the puck downlow? or for ebs to beat in a one on battle?
bickell, saad.
plus they also have the forwards who are fantastic defensively.

we shouldnt even be talking about boston. until this season they also had Nathan Horton who's a beast...along with lucic
these teams are FAR better from the back end. but there also bigger, more well rounded, better defensively etc etc

and im not missing the point. you're blaming everything on defence.
I cant see how anyone can relieve our forward group of defensive blame...
or think theyre effective enough in either end.
we're second last in the west in goals for. do we think this is just because our defence isn't starting the breakout good enough!?
- hugefemale dog77

Yep. This is a one-sided argument, all in your favour.

I mentioned hossa.
how could I forget!!?

he's not a prototypical 'power forward" crasher. but that's because he's also got elite level skills and moves.
he's a big fuker and extremely hard to get off the puck.

we don't have a player like him in our top 6. nor do we have a player like toews.
nor do we have a player like bickell.

our group pales in comparison defensively and isn't as big either
- hugefemale dog77

Yeah, I saw that in a later post but after I replied to you.

Washington has used guys like Chimera, Ward, Brouwer, Beagle and Brooks Laich in top 6 roles so well in the past. It really always seems to work for them, I wish the Oilers would give something like this a try.
- Morris

Absolutely.

I don't see it that way at all!

I can't name 5 goalies that were top 10 goalies 3 years ago and will be top 10 goalies in 3 years time.

Rinne, Lundqvist...

And in that six year span, there will probably be 25 different goalies on that "top 10". I don't see goalies as something you can build around any longer.
- Morris

the hawks did not build from Crawford out. he may have been the LAST piece.
they certainly didn't build from niemi out.
neither did the kings and quick. I think they got abit lucky with him to be honest.

Detroit and osgood? or howard?

you need capable goaltending, but I completely agree with your sentiment on building blocks.

Yeah, I saw that in a later post but after I replied to you.
- haymac

yeah I figured.

but I relished the opportunity to reiterate the differences and gloss over hossa abit more. he's a beast.

it's always toews, kane, keith etc..and fair enough. but ive seen hossa be the hawks best player on MANY occasions.

I don't think that size in the top 6 is our biggest issue, but it could definitely be addressed with smaller scale moves.

I agree that a top pairing dman is the number one concern, but as you say it's a rarity to have the opportunity to acquire one.
- Morris

A top 3-4 guy on most teams would be a top 1-2 on the Oil---let's start there.

OK Oil . . . lookin' healthy, time to show who we really are (???) . . . time to start playing 60 minutes of NHL hockey. Can ya do it? Please, I'm sick of crying after every loss.

OK Oil . . . lookin' healthy, time to show who we really are (???) . . . time to start playing 60 minutes of NHL hockey. Can ya do it? Please, I'm sick of crying after every loss.
- calgaryoilerfan

ive tried bargaining too. then yelling and ranting, then begging.
12 steps of being an oiler fan..

of course there's margin for improvement etc, but I think we've seen who they really are.

we've always got a shot against weaker sister teams, but don't be surprised if we get walked on

Ladies and gentlemen, resist the urge to say that this team needs a bona fide power forward. Just because we need a physical element in the top 6, doesn't mean it needs to be Milan Lucic. Adding size, toughness and defensive acumen should be the goal for the forward core in the go ahead.

On the goaltending front, Dubnyk laid some eggs in the beginning, but I think now we're in a position to play a little more aggressively now that he's found somewhat of a groove. I think it's a big hole going forward on our depth chart, but not worth filling right now.

The unequivocal, who-could-argue-that need is a #1 defenseman, although we would settle for anyone in the top pairing. A perfectly two-way player is most needed in my mind, but I think the Oil would accept all applicants at this point. I would neither underestimate the need for the oilers to find a guy that can both pass and skate, and set the physical tone for the team.
- Morris

You've made this arguement before, using the Chicago model of putting a big body out there with Kane and Toews, but who are looking at?

How's the mustache coming?
- Yeti1181

My lady friend is participating in no shave November. You should see how often her zipper gets stuck.

Good post. I hope the Oil management group has FINALLY recognized the glaring deficiencies in the Team. No size on the top 2 lines. It boggles the mind that so many fans identified these problems the past 2 years and the Team did nothing to address it.
Any player with size also needs speed on the top 2 lines to keep up with linemates and to get in on the forecheck as soon as possible. Bigger players will allow linemates to gain both room to operate and probably give them a boost in confidence. Our talented kids just aren't playing defensively and they keep trying to force the play, often turning over the puck. If that doesn't change, no system they put in will lead to success.
- haymac

Did nothing? I think Perron was added to provide grit ( not a small player, not big either mind you) and why do you think they added Joensuu?

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

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

Eager?

Eager?
- BigDre

Essentially that sort of idea. I don't guarantee magic with any big man they put out with them, but an Eager sort of skillset.

Why does everyone want to give up one of Ebs or Yak? If we do that then we end up with Hemsky automatically in the top 6 for the rest of the year and then we either re-sign him, trade him at the deadline or he walks for free in the summer. Sure people are going to say that Hemsky has no trade value but I don't believe that for a second. He has been playing well and would be a great complimentary player on a contender. Move him in a package with a couple prospects and/or picks to fill some of the holes we have in the line up.
- nated81

Ok then why not just keep Hemsky? I still think he's good enough for a top 6 winger spot.

My lady friend is participating in no shave November. You should see how often her zipper gets stuck.
- Jeropotato

It's hard to notice the guy who always post to most ridiculous, stupid poop I've ever read, who also likes to pump his own tires and make references to his personal life on a (frank)ing hockey forum. don't worry about me, i'm more than comfortable, just don't need to brag about myself on the internet like you do. Get some actual hockey knowledge, you know (frank) all.
Childish is talking about your financials on Hockeybuzz, which you've done more than once. But it's, i'm sure you're a really cool guy
- SpoiledByOil

Anybody who talks like that on the Internet is a tool. Either a full of poop loser with an Internet persona or a high on himself braggart. Either one equals Tool or Douchebag in my books.