Tanner, you always say it's the same group attacking you, but come on...you are almost begging for it.

Let's just start with this, "the Oilers already had a decent team"....i mean where do you even come up with this? On paper maybe (and that's a stretch) but in the reality that the rest of us live in they finished 27 out of 30 teams last season, how can you rationalize that as a "decent" team.

I mean by that logic the Sabres should be called "average" since they only placed 2 slots lower!

Some overall by adding Sekera. Moving out Marincin was a step in the wrong direction IMO.
- jfkst1

I don't know. Marincin soured on the club last year. The club soured on him. We brought in Reinhart now too, so there really was no room for him.

The fact that we got nothing for the guy really shows the value he had. And teams scouted him heavily last year. Stauffer menitoned on a few occasions that one player teams were always asking him about was Marincin. Scouts and other management types were quite confused that he was sent to the AHL after having what the Oilers billed a successful 13-14. Teams knew Marincin could be available and spent the time getting the info on him.

Tanner, you always say it's the same group attacking you, but come on...you are almost begging for it.

Let's just start with this, "the Oilers already had a decent team"....i mean where do you even come up with this? On paper maybe (and that's a stretch) but in the reality that the rest of us live in they finished 27 out of 30 teams last season, how can you rationalize that as a "decent" team.

I mean by that logic the Sabres should be called "average" since they only placed 2 slots lower!
- nikel

King Kong KFC Cloutier did the same thing.

ya but you're the worst poster on this site...
- geta02it

He thinks if he embraces it that it won't be true.

He thinks if he embraces it that it won't be true.
- James_Tanner

I vote James Tanner is the worst poster on this site

I can't believe everyone is being so cautious. Tempering expectations is not what I am here for. Just look at that roster and tell me who in the NHL has comparable offensive talent to McDavid, Hall, Eberle, RNH, Draisaitl, Yakupov, Schultz and Sekara?

This team will be all about exploiting matchups. Not many teams can put a Yakupov one timer on the second PP unit, or Draisaitl on the third line (if they go that way) or even a RNH passing to Eberle and playing against secondary defenses.

If this was any other team than the one people unanimously picked to breakout year after year only to look like idiots, people would be calling this the best roster ever assembled under the salary cap.

A bubble team? Are you kidding me? McDavid alone makes every single team in the NHL a bubble team were he added to their roster.

Last year, lets not forget that the Oilers were eliminated from the Playoffs very early in the season almost exclusively because of terrible luck - injuries + playing a decent to very good possession game that was not getting the results it probably should have.

Lets not forget that Hall's injury was a huge part of their not recovering. That RNH had a pretty amazing year, all things considered. And they'll be icing a team with a real defense and goalie.

The question shouldn't be "will the Oilers make the Playoffs" but how long until the Oilers make the Western Conference their female dog?
- James_Tanner

of the players you named,

Shultz was a complete bust
Sekara will be good and add some offense to the D but he is not a stay at home type which is what they sorely need (already have enough talented O).
Draisaitl was sent packing last season so don't know why you think he'll make a huge impact one season removed (might be decent enough to stay this time but impact player i think not).
Yak did come around playing with Roy last year but still, 33 points is hardly a difference maker (though if he stays with Roy i think he'll do better).

So of the players you named, you're realistically down 4 with undisputed NHL talent.

Tanner, you always say it's the same group attacking you, but come on...you are almost begging for it.

Let's just start with this, "the Oilers already had a decent team"....i mean where do you even come up with this? On paper maybe (and that's a stretch) but in the reality that the rest of us live in they finished 27 out of 30 teams last season, how can you rationalize that as a "decent" team.

I mean by that logic the Sabres should be called "average" since they only placed 2 slots lower!
- nikel

First of all, disagreement and personal attacks are two different things. It's fine by me if people - all of them even - disagree. If people aren't disagreeing with you, it's because you're just saying the same thing as everyone else.

And, if the popularity of things like Glee, the Foo Fighters or the Notebook has taught us anything, it's that popular opinion is usually laughable.

The Oilers were a decent possession team sandbagged by injuries and bad luck + being unable to overcome having a #1 D or goalie.

Talbot has nothing to prove since he was nearly indistinguishable from Lundquivst over his two seasons on the NHL. It's more than reasonable to think he'll be good. All of the Oilers players are young - even Hall and are only improving.

Adding McDavid is being crazy underrated here.

#1 in the West is more likely then them missing the Playoffs.

I honestly think you are the dumbest blogger. Mcdavid is a rookie. Crosby scored over 100 points his rookie year and they still sucked. One player will not make you over 30 points better. He is good player and will be great but you cant expect him to be savior first season. He will get around 60 points but will need to adjust to the NHL. He has never played with NHL players before, not saying he cant handle it but OHL to NHL is bit of a difference.

Oilers defense is still missing player or two. Sekera is offensive dman and wont help shutting down top lines. Goalie is very questionable. He could turn into stud or dud never know. If plays like Dubynk they make playoffs for sure but that is big IF. He will face alot of shots with Edmonton defense.

Not to mention they play in the west. You honestly think Oilers are better then Flames, Kings, Ducks. Because they will be locks for playoffs in my opinion. So for wildcard they will need to fight off sharks, jets, Avalanche, Wild, and the Stars. That is alot of competition for team who had 62 points last season.

I honestly think you dumbest blogger..
- hanleyaj

I vote James Tanner is the worst poster on this site
- kessellover69

- Lahey

of the players you named,

Shultz was a complete bust
Sekara will be good and add some offense to the D but he is not a stay at home type which is what they sorely need (already have enough talented O).
Draisaitl was sent packing last season so don't know why you think he'll make a huge impact one season removed (might be decent enough to stay this time but impact player i think not).
Yak did come around playing with Roy last year but still, 33 points is hardly a difference maker (though if he stays with Roy i think he'll do better).

So of the players you named, you're realistically down 4 with undisputed NHL talent.
- nikel

Schultz was a bust I guess if you ignore all the stats that say he's actually pretty good.

Stay at home defenseman are going the way of the enforcer. You must move the puck and skate to play. Just go pull up an of the dozen graphs available and compare Schultz to Polak.

Yes, it's completely crazy to think a #3 overall pick who dominated the leagues he played in last year will have trouble being effective in the NHL at 19 when the team can shelter him and doesn't need him to play a main role.

Yakupov has talent. And was used terribly. Let's credit Todd McLellen with having a brain.

- ChetManly

At least he fixed it and the Crosby part

He thinks if he embraces it that it won't be true.
- James_Tanner

I wasn't aware that bloggers were allowed to be insulting towards commenters. I stay within the COC, I provide you with hit counts (thus you getting money).

It's not my fault that you are incapable of finding humour that is widely embraced among the masses. If you don't like it, then don't read what I post. I honestly don't give two poops what you say or think, so either deal with what I say, or keep crying about it to people that don't care.

I vote James Tanner is the worst poster on this site
- kessellover69

I..... second this movment.....

Yea they fought hard. But if you don't think it was a fluke the you're just a homer.
- SpoiledByOil

They've been playing good hockey since after the all-star break the year before last, so no, I don't believe it was a fluke. We have much MUCH better defence than the over achieving avalanche of a couple years ago, and where they had vezina caliber goaltending, we had above average last year, so who's saying it can't be the same or improve, as well as our depth upfront and defensively only got better. So it's still a fluke?

At least he fixed it and the Crosby part
- Lahey

I just love the fact that the worst poster on the site said that Tanner was the worst blogger

I agree that Talbot's play may be what decides wheter this team makes the playoffs or not.

First of all, disagreement and personal attacks are two different things. It's fine by me if people - all of them even - disagree. If people aren't disagreeing with you, it's because you're just saying the same thing as everyone else.

And, if the popularity of things like Glee, the Foo Fighters or the Notebook has taught us anything, it's that popular opinion is usually laughable.

The Oilers were a decent possession team sandbagged by injuries and bad luck + being unable to overcome having a #1 D or goalie.

Talbot has nothing to prove since he was nearly indistinguishable from Lundquivst over his two seasons on the NHL. It's more than reasonable to think he'll be good. All of the Oilers players are young - even Hall and are only improving.

Adding McDavid is being crazy underrated here.

#1 in the West is more likely then them missing the Playoffs.
- James_Tanner

I agree, no need for personal attacks.

But come on, by your logic above, "everybody else" could (and in this case likely is) correct.....yet you're going to argue the complete opposite, even if it lacks any evidence whatsoever.....just because it's the opposite of what most think?

That is some pretty flawed reasoning my friend (does make for a lot of comments/hits on your blog so i guess that's smart)......and is why most of your summer time predictions never come to fruition.

First of all, disagreement and personal attacks are two different things. It's fine by me if people - all of them even - disagree. If people aren't disagreeing with you, it's because you're just saying the same thing as everyone else.

And, if the popularity of things like Glee, the Foo Fighters or the Notebook has taught us anything, it's that popular opinion is usually laughable.

The Oilers were a decent possession team sandbagged by injuries and bad luck + being unable to overcome having a #1 D or goalie.

Talbot has nothing to prove since he was nearly indistinguishable from Lundquivst over his two seasons on the NHL. It's more than reasonable to think he'll be good. All of the Oilers players are young - even Hall and are only improving.

Adding McDavid is being crazy underrated here.

#1 in the West is more likely then them missing the Playoffs.
- James_Tanner

You're comparing taste in TV shows to views on hockey players. Wow, man, wow. Yet you still think yourself to be intelligent? Great (frank)ing comparison! No words for that stupidity

I for one enjoy Tanners out of the box thinking. I mean we all come here as a form of entertainment, whats wrong with being a shepherd instead of another sheep spewing the same drivel as everyone else. It starts conversations which is what this site is for.

I honestly think you are the dumbest blogger.
- hanleyaj

Handy coming in hot Love this guy

I don't know. Marincin soured on the club last year. The club soured on him. We brought in Reinhart now too, so there really was no room for him.

The fact that we got nothing for the guy really shows the value he had. And teams scouted him heavily last year. Stauffer menitoned on a few occasions that one player teams were always asking him about was Marincin. Scouts and other management types were quite confused that he was sent to the AHL after having what the Oilers billed a successful 13-14. Teams knew Marincin could be available and spent the time getting the info on him.
- Lahey

Agree that he was kind of given away, but technically, that pick we got for him was sent to Ottawa for Gryba. A Marincin for Gryba move is a massive win for the Oilers.

They've been playing good hockey since after the all-star break the year before last, so no, I don't believe it was a fluke. We have much MUCH better defence than the over achieving avalanche of a couple years ago, and where they had vezina caliber goaltending, we had above average last year, so who's saying it can't be the same or improve, as well as our depth upfront and defensively only got better. So it's still a fluke?

- Emcee27

Yes , it was a fluke. You were one of the worst possession teams in the league and had the highest shooting percentage. It was a fluke that you just barely squeaked into the playoffs. Don't get me wrong, congrats for making the playoffs, must of been a great year to cheer for the flames. was still a fluke though.