I'm so (frank)ing bored.
I think I'll just flip through this on-line catalogue of Russian wives.

Thanks Ek!

Can anyone tell me whats really wrong with the Oilers? I live in australia and can't catch as many games as I'd like, but I gotta think if the Oilers dont win Friday, they are F'd.

It will be a good test to see if the new canucks are like the old ones, losing in the games you'd think theyd win, except tragically under estimating and playing down to their opponent. But Edmonton should be dying to win, and get revenge for the burrows non hand pass assist on Bonino's goal... Plus Van hasn't played hockey for a week and are going to come out slow.

Can anyone tell me whats really wrong with the Oilers? I live in australia and can't catch as many games as I'd like, but I gotta think if the Oilers dont win Friday, they are F'd.

It will be a good test to see if the new canucks are like the old ones, losing in the games you'd think theyd win, except tragically under estimating and playing down to their opponent. But Edmonton should be dying to win, and get revenge for the burrows non hand pass assist on Bonino's goal... Plus Van hasn't played hockey for a week and are going to come out slow.
- Troutback

Coaching. Either the players can't play Eakin's system or the system itself is (frank)ed.

Can anyone tell me whats really wrong with the Oilers? I live in australia and can't catch as many games as I'd like, but I gotta think if the Oilers dont win Friday, they are F'd.

It will be a good test to see if the new canucks are like the old ones, losing in the games you'd think theyd win, except tragically under estimating and playing down to their opponent. But Edmonton should be dying to win, and get revenge for the burrows non hand pass assist on Bonino's goal... Plus Van hasn't played hockey for a week and are going to come out slow.
- Troutback

Defence, Coaching.

We were discussing a scenario where every non-playoff team has an equal shot
- bezz44

My bad - missed that part. I wasn't too sure about the equal shot scenario but listening to Dave Hodge this morning discuss it, I'd be on board. I was quite shocked that I was able to listen to him speak for more than 2 minutes without dozing off.

I'm so (frank)ing bored.
I think I'll just flip through this on-line catalogue of Russian wives.

Thanks Ek!
- bloatedmosquito

Bettman did it on purpose, he owns the Russian Wife site. You can package a Helga with a 2 tix to a Panthers game for under a $100.

If you're interested in a Maria, it'll be $200 for the package, but you also get 2 hot dogs and parking.

Great read on Willie for those that missed this article awhile back(it gets good after first 2-3 paragraphs).

http://www.macleans.ca/so...-he-make-the-canucks-one/
- Nucker101

I never read this when Carol posted a few days back...thanks for re-posting.

WD is focused, I really hope he can translate that level of dedication to the nhl. And that everyone buys into the concept that on any given night, every team can be exploited, just gotta believe and work hard.

Can anyone tell me whats really wrong with the Oilers? I live in australia and can't catch as many games as I'd like, but I gotta think if the Oilers dont win Friday, they are F'd.

It will be a good test to see if the new canucks are like the old ones, losing in the games you'd think theyd win, except tragically under estimating and playing down to their opponent. But Edmonton should be dying to win, and get revenge for the burrows non hand pass assist on Bonino's goal... Plus Van hasn't played hockey for a week and are going to come out slow.
- Troutback

Hiring ex-Oilers from the glory days of the '80's to manage the team instead of true hockey managers.

Bettman did it on purpose, he owns the Russian Wife site. You can package a Helga with a 2 tix to a Panthers game for under a $100.

If you're interested in a Maria, it'll be $200 for the package, but you also get 2 hot dogs and parking.
- moondawg

At least the russian wives are cracking a sweat.

Panther players not so much.

Hiring ex-Oilers from the glory days of the '80's to manage the team instead of true hockey managers.
- Marwood

So what your saying is that they need to hire a guy from the '90's as a president and fix all the mistakes??

So what your saying is that they need to hire a guy from the '90's as a president and fix all the mistakes??
- Troutback

Are you trolling your own fan thread?

All I'm saying is that the main purpose of such a system would be to promote parity and competition, but it assumes that it is within the power of teams like Edmonton, Florida, and Buffalo to become relatively competitive. As we have seen with Edmonton, that is not always the case, and for a variety of reasons such as how receptive FAs are to coming, how much your team can afford to spend, and how your organization is run, teams may not be able to respond to such a system. A system like this definitely makes it more difficult for struggling bottom feeders to crawl out of the basement. Whether or not that is a bad thing is another argument I suppose, as in the case of Florida there may be enough pressure to finally move that team somewhere it will be appreciated.
- bezz44

I would fully place the blame for the seasons that Buffalo and Edm are having at the feet of the GM. We cannot reward incompetent GM with high draft picks. People saying Edm was supposed to have been an improved team are delusional. If you have a #1 center who has never played a full season and you are in the western conference where almost every center is a behemoth and as a GM the only thing you do od trade away the only other NHL center and hope that a 18 year old fresh from the draft will make the team and your team sucks, then that is in my books planning to tank. In contrast, Canucks traded their #2 center and got back another guy that has potential to be #2 but as insurance they got another center (Vey) to cover holes if needed. That is a team trying not to tank. Buffalo traded every single player that has some trade value for picks. And it seems they are not done yet. if they end up losing being the worst team and get 1st overall is that not tanking? This system will promote parity as there will be no reward for bone head moves like what MacT makes. It will weed out incompetent management around the league.

So what your saying is that they need to hire a guy from the '90's as a president and fix all the mistakes??
- Troutback

Sure. Not really.

I don't think Kevin Lowe & Craig Mactavish are the answers to success. Ownership probably has to shoulder some blame as well.

Are you trolling your own fan thread?
- bloatedmosquito

kaptaan jr.

Sure. Not really.

I don't think Kevin Lowe & Craig Mactavish are the answers to success. Ownership probably has to shoulder some blame as well.
- Marwood

This was posted in the oiler thread by AlEx_OiL. Ferraro's spot on.

Ray Ferraro

“I hate talking about the Oilers bc I feel like I’m a broken record. Compounded errors by making the same errors over & over again … if this is what the season looks like in 4 more games they need to get Draisaitl and Nurse back to junior … the LA game was worse than the Arizona game … The biggest issue they face is at no point did it look like the Oilers felt they could win that game against LA …

The coach looked like he didn’t have any answers. Was first time I thought they might not be able to stay the course w the coach … I thought last year it seemed like a debacle from the get go [in Edmonton … From almost the very first day even taking away the donuts from the writers. His focus was too wide … … You can’t change the world need to focus on what’s right in front of you & they had plenty of work in front of them … Now you get to the 2nd year & they should be more comfortable & there should be signs of improvement and there really hasn’t been … Would they be better served with a more experienced coach? They can’t be less served …

Here’s the thing, they [Edm] have all kinds of talent, but over the past few years they don’t score a lot of goals either … They [Edmonton] never score 5 on 5 …

What’s Hall 4 years in? I assume there comes a point where he thinks we’re making progress & then he says “we’re the same spot we were in 4 years ago … We saw last year how frustration burns in that kid [Hall]. He has an engine that constantly churns … I can’t imagine [Hall] wants to sit there & watch the early part of your career waste away [on a team] that can’t show improvement …

Their [Edm] model for building the team is clearly flawed. If they can’t see that, I don’t know what they’re looking at … You have to start almost again at what your model is going to be and the model can’t be getting 18/19 year olds into your lineup … MacTavish said in camp they have to find out if RNH & Eberle are great, not good players… The league is different than it was in 1985 you need to be able to defend & counter off your defense… Forwards don’t dominate the game like they did before. There’s too much back pressure… The Oilers have half a dozen forwards who are all the same. They have no variance in their lineup … it’s really difficult to find something positive to say about them [Oilers]. Sometimes I try, but I just can’t.“

kaptaan jr.
- Marwood

I thought he was taking a shot at Linden. I thought it was funny.

My bad - missed that part. I wasn't too sure about the equal shot scenario but listening to Dave Hodge this morning discuss it, I'd be on board. I was quite shocked that I was able to listen to him speak for more than 2 minutes without dozing off.
- Canuckleafer

I would like to see it weighted somehow like this, don't know how it would be done.
counting from worst

last to 4th 50% chance of picking in that range 25% chance to pick in the other 2 ranges...
5th to 9th 50% in that range...
10th to 14th

So if you were in the bottom group there is a 10% chance for each of the 1 to 4 picks and a 5% chance for each pick between 5 and 14.

I don't know who would pick first and details... lol.

Are you trolling your own fan thread?
- bloatedmosquito

It was a gimmie! I'd like to think I haven't drank all the Koolaide yet, after a win tomorrow my cup'll be empty tho...

Hiring ex-Oilers from the glory days of the '80's to manage the team instead of true hockey managers.
- Marwood

fwiw, on 1040 this morning they were saying how close Katz is to Kevin Lowe, they have been friends/chums since the 80's and pal around all the time. (I'm prolly repeating what was said earlier)

This was posted in the oiler thread by AlEx_OiL. Ferraro's spot on.

Ray Ferraro

“I hate talking about the Oilers bc I feel like I’m a broken record. Compounded errors by making the same errors over & over again … if this is what the season looks like in 4 more games they need to get Draisaitl and Nurse back to junior … the LA game was worse than the Arizona game … The biggest issue they face is at no point did it look like the Oilers felt they could win that game against LA …

The coach looked like he didn’t have any answers. Was first time I thought they might not be able to stay the course w the coach … I thought last year it seemed like a debacle from the get go
- bloatedmosquito[in Edmonton … From almost the very first day even taking away the donuts from the writers. His focus was too wide … … You can’t change the world need to focus on what’s right in front of you & they had plenty of work in front of them … Now you get to the 2nd year & they should be more comfortable & there should be signs of improvement and there really hasn’t been … Would they be better served with a more experienced coach? They can’t be less served …

Here’s the thing, they [Edm] have all kinds of talent, but over the past few years they don’t score a lot of goals either … They [Edmonton] never score 5 on 5 …

What’s Hall 4 years in? I assume there comes a point where he thinks we’re making progress & then he says “we’re the same spot we were in 4 years ago … We saw last year how frustration burns in that kid [Hall]. He has an engine that constantly churns … I can’t imagine [Hall] wants to sit there & watch the early part of your career waste away [on a team] that can’t show improvement …

Their [Edm] model for building the team is clearly flawed. If they can’t see that, I don’t know what they’re looking at … You have to start almost again at what your model is going to be and the model can’t be getting 18/19 year olds into your lineup … MacTavish said in camp they have to find out if RNH & Eberle are great, not good players… The league is different than it was in 1985 you need to be able to defend & counter off your defense… Forwards don’t dominate the game like they did before. There’s too much back pressure… The Oilers have half a dozen forwards who are all the same. They have no variance in their lineup … it’s really difficult to find something positive to say about them [Oilers]. Sometimes I try, but I just can’t.“

I love Ray Ferraro - He says what everyone must be thinking but won't because it could harm their career. He's a beaut!


And to me this sums up the Oilers perfectly.

I love Ray Ferraro - He says what everyone must be thinking but won't because it could harm their career. He's a beaut!


And to me this sums up the Oilers perfectly.
- Troutback

Yeah, I thought it was a great assessment to.

This was posted in the oiler thread by AlEx_OiL. Ferraro's spot on.

Ray Ferraro

“I hate talking about the Oilers bc I feel like I’m a broken record. Compounded errors by making the same errors over & over again … if this is what the season looks like in 4 more games they need to get Draisaitl and Nurse back to junior … the LA game was worse than the Arizona game … The biggest issue they face is at no point did it look like the Oilers felt they could win that game against LA …

The coach looked like he didn’t have any answers. Was first time I thought they might not be able to stay the course w the coach … I thought last year it seemed like a debacle from the get go
- bloatedmosquito[in Edmonton … From almost the very first day even taking away the donuts from the writers. His focus was too wide … … You can’t change the world need to focus on what’s right in front of you & they had plenty of work in front of them … Now you get to the 2nd year & they should be more comfortable & there should be signs of improvement and there really hasn’t been … Would they be better served with a more experienced coach? They can’t be less served …

Here’s the thing, they [Edm] have all kinds of talent, but over the past few years they don’t score a lot of goals either … They [Edmonton] never score 5 on 5 …

What’s Hall 4 years in? I assume there comes a point where he thinks we’re making progress & then he says “we’re the same spot we were in 4 years ago … We saw last year how frustration burns in that kid [Hall]. He has an engine that constantly churns … I can’t imagine [Hall] wants to sit there & watch the early part of your career waste away [on a team] that can’t show improvement …

Their [Edm] model for building the team is clearly flawed. If they can’t see that, I don’t know what they’re looking at … You have to start almost again at what your model is going to be and the model can’t be getting 18/19 year olds into your lineup … MacTavish said in camp they have to find out if RNH & Eberle are great, not good players… The league is different than it was in 1985 you need to be able to defend & counter off your defense… Forwards don’t dominate the game like they did before. There’s too much back pressure… The Oilers have half a dozen forwards who are all the same. They have no variance in their lineup … it’s really difficult to find something positive to say about them [Oilers]. Sometimes I try, but I just can’t.“

I hope the next guy they draft pulls a Lindros and tells them to get stuffed and " trade me right (frank)ing now"

I hope the next guy they draft pulls a Lindros and tells them to get stuffed and " trade me right (frank)ing now"
- A_SteamingLombardi

Didn't Justin Schultz do that to Anaheim? What was he thinking?

Didn't Justin Schultz do that to Anaheim? What was he thinking?
- bloatedmosquito

Got to love the rules regarding college players

I thought he was taking a shot at Linden. I thought it was funny.
- bloatedmosquito

I got were you were coming from. I just thought troutback's tone had a hint of kaptaan smugness.