Jooris with a hatty!!!!

And oh yeah Iggysbff, JG with 2 more points...

Yeah I agree. The longer this goes the deeper the hole gets. I don't know how MacT makes a trade without losing. Maybe that's what it'll take though to wake that dressing room up.
- whipper334

I'm not a professional, and I have no idea what goes on in that room.

But let's just assume one key player in the room wants out. Hypothetically, it's Eberle.

If we package Eberle and our 2015 1st, that's gonna return a hell of a package, I'd think. Going down that train of thought, let's say it was Keith Yandle and Antoine Vermette. There's a rationale there for both sides. I personally think as of today Edmonton gives up considerably more value, and Arizona has a couple of young dmen coming up in the world. Vermette's a UFA after this year, and Yandle after next year, so Arizona saves themselves a headache in renegotiation and maybe kicks in a sweetener.

If I'm sitting in that room, and MacT comes down and tells me a guy who wanted out is gone, and we get two veteran gamers back including by far our best defenseman, I'm stoked. Then, he says "listen boys. I traded the 1st. Forget McDavid. He's never going to be an Oiler. We're going to win without him. He does not figure into our future. What's more, we're going to win enough this year - right now - that we're not giving him up anyway".

If I'm in that room, I'd be motivated. Even if dealing picks is the furthest thing from my job. If I'm a player, I'm motivated to do my job better by a motivated management team doing their job.

Is it true we are about to sign the Russian bear to be our goalie again? Fml

Probably a few people who would pay to see you do it!
- pj50

You saw my list of demands and conditions for new Ref Morris right? I don't mind identifying by name the biggest Jabronis on this site. Have enough friends.

I'm going to totally agree with nucout on this. I will also throw in Andrew Ference to the mix in terms of lack of aggressive, accountable, intimidating leadership. Between Eakins and Ference, this team runs free as birds...they can do whatever they like. If these rookies had a captain that would literally blacken their eyes and a coach that would pull those "Keenan-esque" manipulative moves...this team would win A LOT more.

My guess...
Hall would totally thrive in that environment.
Yakupov would thrive
Eberle would pack it in, ask for a trade, regress, etc.
Schultz would demand a trade
Both goalies would excel
the fourth line would be even MORE motivated
and the others would benefit from the internal competition.

Now, the solid captain approach works for good...the Keenan coaching approach works for a year or two.

but I agree with nuckout, this team needs leadership (and those two guys are actually, literally, the leaders).
- JLO961

Thank you!

There are a lot of intangibles at play here. These players are human, and their entire hockey careers (up until edm) they have been playing under coaches who's main goal is to utilize everyone's talents to the best of their ability, and galvanize the players into a winning machine.

Take that last sentence and apply it to Eakins. Is he making that a reality? Sometimes a little critical thought on the unmeasurables can sometimes illuminate the answer a little.

Fleischman, Kopecky, Bergenheim all on the block for Florida.

Is it true we are about to sign the Russian bear to be our goalie again? Fml
- Snagglepuss

That's another future 4th round draft pick at the deadline

I'm not a professional, and I have no idea what goes on in that room.

But let's just assume one key player in the room wants out. Hypothetically, it's Eberle.

If we package Eberle and our 2015 1st, that's gonna return a hell of a package, I'd think. Going down that train of thought, let's say it was Keith Yandle and Antoine Vermette. There's a rationale there for both sides. I personally think as of today Edmonton gives up considerably more value, and Arizona has a couple of young dmen coming up in the world. Vermette's a UFA after this year, and Yandle after next year, so Arizona saves themselves a headache in renegotiation and maybe kicks in a sweetener.

If I'm sitting in that room, and MacT comes down and tells me a guy who wanted out is gone, and we get two veteran gamers back including by far our best defenseman, I'm stoked. Then, he says "listen boys. I traded the 1st. Forget McDavid. He's never going to be an Oiler. We're going to win without him. He does not figure into our future. What's more, we're going to win enough this year - right now - that we're not giving him up anyway".

If I'm in that room, I'd be motivated. Even if dealing picks is the furthest thing from my job. If I'm a player, I'm motivated to do my job better by a motivated management team doing their job.
- Morris

I agree with you completely. That being said, Ebs and the 2015 1st at this point would get you more imo.

That's another future 4th round draft pick at the deadline
- DDM-Coga

my dude

I try not to deal in steadfast rules about who you build or don't build a championship team around. It seems to change every two or three years.

Let's just say I wouldn't put him a distant 4th behind those guys, and I wouldn't in general put the premium of lining up at centre as high as some do. Especially because none of the four players is especially good defensively, and only Johansen is actually a full time centre. Tarasenko and Hall are definitely wings, and Seguin has been a winger for the majority of his career.
- Morris

What are the 5 common denominators of the last 20 cup winners. Get back toe when you figure it out. Only 1 Anomoly and that's Carolina.

You saw my list of demands and conditions for new Ref Morris right? I don't mind identifying by name the biggest Jabronis on this site. Have enough friends.
- Jeropotato

Bloated is pretty funny though

I agree with you completely. That being said, Ebs and the 2015 1st at this point would get you more imo.
- whipper334

poop, give us Hanzal then, he's so hot right now

I like to lowball the Oilers on trades so it gives us a platform to build on. If you open the other way you just get trolled.

That 2015 first rounder is a gold card for us and if it's traded has to be for a kings ransom.

That 2015 first rounder is a gold card for us and if it's traded has to be for a kings ransom.
- Snagglepuss

If you don't move it...

MacT=Tambs

Or Katz is a loser...

What are the 5 common denominators of the last 20 cup winners. Get back toe when you figure it out. Only 1 Anomoly and that's Carolina.
- Jeropotato

20's a lot. I'll go with the last 5, in no particular order

1 & 2 a good top pairing
3 a good goaltender
4 depth of scoring
5 Colin Fraser

I see your point

If you don't move it...

MacT=Tambs

Or Katz is a loser...
- whipper334

Ya I hear ya but the return has to be huge

Is it true we are about to sign the Russian bear to be our goalie again? Fml
- Snagglepuss

Why you heff to be mad? Give him a tryout at least. It's a win win, so let him pull a Brodeur and see if he can still play. I know that consistency is a serious issue here, and we would be inherently losing a goalie, but if we can package Fasth with say, Eberle, the return will be at least better than average. Scrivens then has sort of a mentor, which he desperately needs as a goalie right now. He sure wasn't getting that under Chabot, and we now have a green GC who has zero NHL experience. Sign Bryz to a 1 year deal. It would be a loss if he flops, as he would float back into free agency limbo, but I'd say it's worth a shot at this point.

However, the only way this would be feasible is if Bachman is ready for an NHL backup role as an insurance policy.

Ya I hear ya but the return has to be huge
- Snagglepuss

For sure.

Why you heff to be mad? Give him a tryout at least. It's a win win, so let him pull a Brodeur and see if he can still play. I know that consistency is a serious issue here, and we would be inherently losing a goalie, but if we can package Fasth with say, Eberle, the return will be at least better than average. Scrivens then has sort of a mentor, which he desperately needs as a goalie right now. He sure wasn't getting that under Chabot, and we now have a green GC who has zero NHL experience. Sign Bryz to a 1 year deal. It would be a loss if he flops, as he would float back into free agency limbo, but I'd say it's worth a shot at this point.

However, the only way this would be feasible is if Bachman is ready for an NHL backup role as an insurance policy.
- nuckout

Just seems like it's a waste of time bringing him back. we have been down this road before failed. Ben will never be a number one goalie in the nhl even with a mentor, the sooner we realize this the better for us. I'm not sure where we find a number one but hopefully sooner then later.

True, but McDavid on his own won't help the organization. There are many changes needed. And say what you will but you know deep down Katz is praying for McDavid. So I guess the question is, where does the losing mentality start?
- whipper334

Especially if the current core is intact.mcDavid will end up like those other goods, tripping on his bottom lip and being a poopy pants like Hall, Ebs and Schultz.

its the culture of losing...they told those young guys it was okay to lose and they will be better in a few years. To tank another season for maybe a 20% chance at McDavid is ridiculous but that seems to be the Oiler way

Which regular is this? Let me guess jeropotato
- mighty13duck

Don't insult me, (frank) face!

That line up looks really good but it's that culture that I have no idea will get fixed.
- whipper334

I have an idea.

Don't insult me, (frank) face!
- Jeropotato

Which regular is this? Let me guess jeropotato
- mighty13duck

Either way it burns .