I like Virtanen. He's a good kid. Shinkaruk is a female genitalia though....
- Iggysbff

Shinkaruk was invisible tonight, think he's starting in the AHL. He's definitely a cock SOB, I don't care as long as he pans out though

I was ecstatic when they passed over Ehlers. He's looked like P Kane lite
- TheNugeIsHuge

I wanted Ehlers so badly.

I was ecstatic when they passed over Ehlers. He's looked like P Kane lite
- TheNugeIsHuge

Ehlers, Nylander, Ritchie.

I was really hoping the Isles would do a stupid and pick someone not named Dal Colle and leave him at six.

Hunt's 24 minutes and rave reviews from Eakins have me thinking he may stay up as #7 over Aulie, eh?

As long as they never look that poopty on the PP again.
- abware

Yeah the PP was rough, total momentum killer every time.

Hunt's 24 minutes and rave reviews from Eakins have me thinking he may stay up as #7 over Aulie, eh?
- TheNugeIsHuge

A better pick for 7 than Klefbom or Nurse.

But the way the defence looks beat up all 3 might start the season here

Hunt's 24 minutes and rave reviews from Eakins have me thinking he may stay up as #7 over Aulie, eh?
- TheNugeIsHuge

I liked Hunt last year too. If only he wasn't a runt. He's got the brains for it.

Ehlers, Nylander, Ritchie.

I was really hoping the Isles would do a stupid and pick someone not named Dal Colle and leave him at six.
- DTF69

I had my fingers crossed hoping Virtanen or Ritchie's name would be called. Hockey gods responded for once.

Anybody pay attention to Nashville? What's Fiala's deal?

Ehlers, Nylander, Ritchie.

I was really hoping the Isles would do a stupid and pick someone not named Dal Colle and leave him at six.
- DTF69

Ritchie scared me, I'm worried that his size was the reason for his dominant season, he doesn't have much more room to add on physically so there's not much to develop there. I had Nylander/Virtanen pretty much even. Ehlers was up there with Dal Colle for me.

I had my fingers crossed hoping Virtanen or Ritchie's name would be called. Hockey gods responded for once.

Anybody pay attention to Nashville? What's Fiala's deal?
- TheNugeIsHuge

You were pretty high on Virtanen during the season last year, you did a 180 pretty quick.

I liked Hunt last year too. If only he wasn't a runt. He's got the brains for it.
- Iggysbff

He had a strong pre-season game against VAN last year.

From the limited bits I saw it looks like play well for the most part but the big plays still kill us. Two big blunders end up as goals against.

I just discovered I don't get sportsnet360.

(frank)in crooked ass cable companies!
- Iggysbff

I bare-bones my tv package months ago and just turned on the package for $9 a month. Basically get all the Oiler games now

Ritchie scared me, I'm worried that his size was the reason for his dominant season, he doesn't have much more room to add on physically so there's not much to develop there. I had Nylander/Virtanen pretty much even. Ehlers was up there with Dal Colle for me.
- EagleNuck

Virtanen isn't gonna grow much more either. And he played with a 20yr old and an overager on a line that had an insane PDO in junior. He also had a pretty absurd S%.

Recipe for being picked way too high.

McCann and not Ho-Sang. Horvat and not Nichushkin. Its like high end game breaking skill is something that isn't necessary.

You were pretty high on Virtanen during the season last year, you did a 180 pretty quick.
- EagleNuck

whaaaaat? Maybe mentioned him in a group of centres(thought he was a centre last year) the oilers could draft at 10th overall

you weren't even on here a year ago

From the limited bits I saw it looks like play well for the most part but the big plays still kill us. Two big blunders end up as goals against.
- Iggysbff

D coverage still bad. I get its preseason, but I think all 4 of those guys were pros. Hall, Nuge, Hunt and someone else.

I think PeeWee players would have covered that better.

I don't hate Eakins. I'm just damned disappointed that we're stuck with a rookie coach and GM who still have lots to learn, which has already set us back at least a year. As a Fan, I support the Team but this forum is for opinions. And remember, I'm not talking hindsight here as I expressed my concerns over their hiring last summer. Even when I did, I still hoped for the best.
Point is, being near the bottom of the league standings, management should have been parring down the # of guys in camp to work in all the new guys with the roster they'll start the season with. I guess you don't think that's good planning, but I do.
- haymac

1. I'm ok with your point on the Eakins hiring
2. MacT has been fine so far as GM. I like that he's finding ways to get value from near-poope players and signings that won't be unmanageable with where the caps going
3. I'm pretty sure the guys who have been living and breathing hockey for most of their lives know a thing or two about what they're doing with a (frank)ing training camp... and I don't mean KLowe winning a cup 30 years ago. MacT is no fool.

Virtanen isn't gonna grow much more either. And he played with a 20yr old and an overager on a line that had an insane PDO in junior. He also had a pretty absurd S%.

Recipe for being picked way too high.

McCann and not Ho-Sang. Horvat and not Nichushkin. Its like high end game breaking skill is something that isn't necessary.
- DTF69

I've really never been wowed by Horvat. He was sort of pegged as a 2/3C guy before the draft. Probably would've even gone like Domi or something before him, let alone Nichushkin. I was mad when EDM went Nurse over Nich but doesn't seem too bad in hindsight

Virtanen isn't gonna grow much more either. And he played with a 20yr old and an overager on a line that had an insane PDO in junior. He also had a pretty absurd S%.

Recipe for being picked way too high.

McCann and not Ho-Sang. Horvat and not Nichushkin. Its like high end game breaking skill is something that isn't necessary.
- DTF69

Most of us in Calgary that see him a lot like his play and attitude but thought he should go 10-15 range.

Most of the game looked pretty positive for you tits, but it was like a lot of the games last year where "Well, 80% of the game was strong"

Reminded me of a lot of the games where the Oilers played veteran teams and were unable to dictate the pace for any long term stretch and had to play the game by the other teams rules

D coverage still bad. I get its preseason, but I think all 4 of those guys were pros. Hall, Nuge, Hunt and someone else.

I think PeeWee players would have covered that better.
- DTF69

Hall usually gets an unfair rep for piss poor defensive play, but I don't know what the hell he was doing there. Doubt that happens in a real game

Virtanen isn't gonna grow much more either. And he played with a 20yr old and an overager on a line that had an insane PDO in junior. He also had a pretty absurd S%.

Recipe for being picked way too high.

McCann and not Ho-Sang. Horvat and not Nichushkin. Its like high end game breaking skill is something that isn't necessary.
- DTF69

Where did you find his numbers? Virtanen did also get less PP time than most, if not all of the other high picks so I figure some of that PDO luck could cancel out. A high shooting percentage is also a sign of a skilled player, some guys consistently have a high PDO while some are always "unlucky", Virtanen does have one of the best shots(both forehand and backend) in this entire draft class IMO. And from what I've read goals translate better than assists from junior to the NHL, especially at 5v5.


I didn't love the pick with Ehlers still on the board, but it wasn't bad IMO. Ritchie was rumoured to be at around 220-230 pounds, Virtanen can still put on 5-10 pounds IMO. I'm worried about his low assist totals more than anything else.

Most of us in Calgary that see him a lot like his play and attitude but thought he should go 10-15 range.
- Iggysbff

Thats where I would have put him.

And I don't care about a player's attitude. They're (frank)ing kids. Of course they're going to be wienerheads. Kids are wienerheads. Gimme a guy that can play and I'll teach him his please-and-thankyous later.

Hall usually gets an unfair rep for piss poor defensive play, but I don't know what the hell he was doing there. Doubt that happens in a real game
- TheNugeIsHuge

Wasn't really Halls coverage though. Why are 2 dmen both chasing the puck there.

I've really never been wowed by Horvat. He was sort of pegged as a 2/3C guy before the draft. Probably would've even gone like Domi or something before him, let alone Nichushkin. I was mad when EDM went Nurse over Nich but doesn't seem too bad in hindsight
- TheNugeIsHuge

Gillis had a hard-on for centers, he'd basically always draft the highest ranked center. Hodgson, Schroeder, Gaunce, Horvat....Shinkaruk was the exception, but the value was too good to pass up at that point IMO).