As much as I would applaud it happening, Gags isn't getting us a 1st
- gzatron

I agree, poor Sammy. He really needs a fresh start somewhere else so his career can start trending upwards.

It's really Klef vs Larsen/Fedun at this point isn't it?

I realize now that they don't want to burn a year of his contract, though so you may be right.

I wholeheartedly agree with you about dump and chase. Taylor Hall was among the best last year at zone entries with possession, and I think him being forced to dump and chase may limit his turnovers, but it's directly related to his supposed dimished ability to create chances this year.

Also, I don't care if he turns the puck over 5 times a game if he back checks like he did last night.
- Morris

Klefbom is playing in the ahl. He is on his three year contract. There is no burning of a year from what I understand.

That 9 games is for junior to nhl.

Gags has been playing quite well the past 10 games or so.
- Iggysbff

Keep him with hall. He has the rest of the season to raise his value. Prob trade at draft before Ntc kicks in.

I think Gags + can get us something useful. Might want to keep him until after the Shea Weber sweepstakes at the draft.

As much as I like Weber, the most I'm thinking we should pay is Eberle, Klefbom, our 2014 1st and our 2015 1st and not a penny more!
- Jeropotato

Do you really think weber is going to be traded? I don't.

Dunno whether Krueger would have taken a demotion, but I think Eakins needs a PP guru. We're getting very little out of a LOT of PP talent this year.
- Morris

Agree. It's to bad really, are pp was so good last year.

just watching him during the last Avs and Jets game, I would hate him on my team, he just clutches and grabs in the corner, takes 2 strides and then quits. Very lazy player. Duchene burned him all game long with his speed, he had to maul him just to try and catch up to him.

But yeah gary lawless of the wpg free press was saying that was the rumoured asking price for him, 1st rounder and a player. All depending on the pick. So I think if you gave up the 5th and gagner, you will be getting a lot more than just buff and the 11th back.
- DDM-Coga

I feel like you just described Duchene against 90% of NHL dmen.

I'm of course open to getting more for Byfuglien. I don't think he'd solve all our problems but I can certainly see use for a guy who hits, shoots and moves the puck well.

Klefbom is playing in the ahl. He is on his three year contract. There is no burning of a year from what I understand.

That 9 games is for junior to nhl.
- ystoil

Ah, I see. Well then I'd like to know why iggy is confident Klef will 0nly get 9 of the last 18 over Larsen and Fedun.

Especially since, as of today, the Barons are sitting in 9th place and may not make the playoffs

Do you really think weber is going to be traded? I don't.
- deks1

Lol...I have no real idea, but if you look at that roster outside of Weber....they are probably 3 years away from the playoffs. They kinda went as far as they could go riding a stiff defense (kinda like the anti-Oilers), then Suter goes, who knows ?
If the Preds were looking to make changes , now would be a good time , especially with the Connor McDavid draft coming up.
Of course, more than likely they will keep doing it they way they have been, but it sure would be nice to have a crack at him.

I think our best targets will be that 2nd tier of top pair D-men like Buff, Bogo, hamhuis, Erhoff, Edler (barf) ,Shattenkirk, Coburn, just about anyone on the Blue Jackets Blueline , Campbell ,etc, guys like that. I would very hesitant to include a player like Eberle for any of those (frank)s.

Ah, I see. Well then I'd like to know why iggy is confident.

Especially since, as of today, the Barons are sitting in 9th place and may not make the playoffs
- Morris

(frank) the Barons. I get the farm boys learning how to win, having that culture, but the Priority should always be the Oilers. Where does Klef benefit more? Whatever the answer is , that's what they should do.

Agree. It's to bad really, are pp was so good last year.
- HouseArrest187

It was pretty good....but even strength was still god awful.

Agree. It's to bad really, are pp was so good last year.
- HouseArrest187

"so was out goaltending"

But it looks great now!

(frank) the Barons. I get the farm boys learning how to win, having that culture, but the Priority should always be the Oilers. Where does Klef benefit more? Whatever the answer is , that's what they should do.
- Jeropotato

For this, and the post above it, you are the real.

The more I watch this team play, the more I think it's the system more than the players. Like, I never quite recalled this many "defensive lapses" in past years. Am I just suffering from "favourable memory loss" here or can someone else attest to this as well?

For an example, the neutral zone strategy Eakins employs essentially consists of a 1-2-2. This is, in my opinion, Eakins' first major folly.

The 1-2-2 (a rarely used NZ strategy) relies heavily on the one forechecker to force the play to one side. For this to work, the team needs a group of experience, aggressive, and fast forecheckers to appropriately apply pressure. None of Hall, Yakupov, Perron, or Eberle are good enough to do that yet (Perron and Yak being the closest).

The second issue surrounding the 1-2-2's deployment with this team is that it displaces either one of the wingers or the C when/if the opposition gets past the forechecker. This, in turn, leads to scrambling, a number of missed assignments, and open players.

My final issue surrounds how our inexperienced and defensively inconsistent defensemen are being tasked to compensate for the inexperience or straight up inability of the forwards. They either fall back too deep int he zone or get too aggressive at the line.

The more I watch this team play, the more I think it's the system more than the players. Like, I never quite recalled this many "defensive lapses" in past years. Am I just suffering from "favourable memory loss" here or can someone else attest to this as well?
- MaximumBone

My issue is the positioning in the neutral Zone. Ferraro broke it down last night. And if you really watch the wingers are rarely on their side. Forwards just kind of flow. Granted sometimes they need to cover someone but ya it's causing easy zone entries leading to sustained pressure.

The more I watch this team play, the more I think it's the system more than the players. Like, I never quite recalled this many "defensive lapses" in past years. Am I just suffering from "favourable memory loss" here or can someone else attest to this as well?
- MaximumBone

I think the blames belongs to both.50% coaching, 50% players.

For this, and the post above it, you are the real.
- Morris

Well, lately I have become so detached to this Team that "(frank) The _____!" Is my answer for everything.

So, my friends, let me axe you dis:
Are the Oilers on the right track? Meaning to we stick with the Fab 5, Gagner, Petry, Perron, our 2 new goalies and just keeping adding through the draft , minor trades and whatever we can get in free agency? If so, when can we expect a playoff berth?

Or, is this team (frank)ed? Does Mac T need to start trading assets to improve now? Can this ship be turned around swiftly with a BOLD move or 2?

Tell me bubba or go fck yourself and have a nice day.

My issue is the positioning in the neutral Zone. Ferraro broke it down last night. And if you really watch the wingers are rarely on their side. Forwards just kind of flow. Granted sometimes they need to cover someone but ya it's causing easy zone entries leading to sustained pressure.
- ystoil

This

The difference between the ease Of opposition zone entries and the space given in relation to what we're seeing is night and day.

As far as the dump and Chase vs possession, wtf people? We did the gain the zone strategy for much of the disastrous first 20. Until eakins decided to employ a simpler strategy on both sides of the puck.not only that, but the evidence showing success between the two is very similar. We take what we''re given; stacking the blueline is something we're going to see alot of to negate our skating advantage.

(frank) the Barons. I get the farm boys learning how to win, having that culture, but the Priority should always be the Oilers. Where does Klef benefit more? Whatever the answer is , that's what they should do.
- Jeropotato

The thing is would klefbom benefit more from playing in edm which won't make the playoffs vs okc has a chance to make the playoffs. Which games are more meaningful and beneficial to his development and experience for the remainder of the year.

The thing is would klefbom benefit more from playing in edm which won't make the playoffs vs okc has a chance to make the playoffs. Which games are more meaningful and beneficial to his development and experience for the remainder of the year.
- deks1

The contract is 2-way, so Klefbom should be able to be sent back down to OKC for their playoffs..

Well, lately I have become so detached to this Team that "(frank) The _____!" Is my answer for everything.

So, my friends, let me axe you dis:
Are the Oilers on the right track? Meaning to we stick with the Fab 5, Gagner, Petry, Perron, our 2 new goalies and just keeping adding through the draft , minor trades and whatever we can get in free agency? If so, when can we expect a playoff berth?

Or, is this team (frank)ed? Does Mac T need to start trading assets to improve now? Can this ship be turned around swiftly with a BOLD move or 2?

Tell me bubba or go fck yourself and have a nice day.
- Jeropotato

This team ain't close.

This top 6 isn't the right mix. I'd say 2 additions.

That defence needs 2 top 4 additions.

The bottom 6 needs at least 1 or 2 bodies plus pitlick and Lander to take the step

The thing is would klefbom benefit more from playing in edm which won't make the playoffs vs okc has a chance to make the playoffs. Which games are more meaningful and beneficial to his development and experience for the remainder of the year.
- deks1

Play here till the end. Go to okc if they make the playoffs

I just noticed that they played a game last night lol.

This team ain't close.

This top 6 isn't the right mix. I'd say 2 additions.

That defence needs 2 top 4 additions.

The bottom 6 needs at least 1 or 2 bodies plus pitlick and Lander to take the step
- hugefemale dog77

So trade a top 6 forward in a bold move to address the other needs?

I just noticed that they played a game last night lol.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

Busy cruising Nude Vista last night?