And you think that if you compare any popular opinion to nickelback or glee it makes you right.
- rmdevil313

OMG! Did you hear that "living on a prayer" song on Glee last night? It was soooooo goooooood!!!! Ew, who is this 'Journey' that's already doing a cover of that song?"

While Edmonton has taken steps to address their defense and goaltending, it has gone from abysmal to just terrible. Yes you grabbed Reggie Sekera but I hate to tell you, he's good...but not savior good. He's your 4th defenseman on a good team. Because you're going to force him into top pairing minutes, get ready for the roller coaster ride. Very brief moments of absolute dominance and game changing ability followed by huge stretches of absolute mediocrity with a few bone head plays sprinkled in. Until 1) Nurse takes hold as your top D and 2) you get 1-2 more capable players its going to be rough. And I don't think Cam Talbot is going to have the endurance to stand on his head all season.

Id say EDM has a chance to be in the hunt for a wild card into the spring but that's as close as I think they'll get - an improvement for sure but not quite there.

Well, it probly can't get any worse right


Yeah it will be for sure, both teams made good moves! Can't wait for the season to start
- Emcee27

Still bitter that you guys got Hamilton.

I'm looking forward to the renewed rivalry between our clubs. I actually think the days of crap bashing might be over. Now it has to be "respectful" bashing due to the talent we both have.

I am an avid Oiler fan, and even though I'm an optimistic person, years of temptation has left me cautious at best. I would love nothing more than to see the Oilers make the playoffs, but I cannot say they will or not. There are too many unknown variables.

That said, were the Oilers not on pace to have 85-90 points while Nelson was coaching? I can't remember specifically. I do believe 100% that their roster has gotten better and they now have an established coach, so it can't be unrealistic to say they make it.
- JayArr

don't forget an experienced and accomplished GM finally

No

so if we were one of the worst possession teams in the league, wouldn't that mean our numbers are probably going to go up next year? (with additions of Hamilton, frolik, and having a healthy gio) it's more than likely. And guys like bouma and hudler had ridiculous shooting percentages, so that inflated most of the team. Who says guys like mony and gaudreau etc can't have similar years? Your argument is running out dude.
- Emcee27

Are you stupid? What do the additions for next year have to do with what I said about last year? Absolutely nothing, at all. You made additions this year that can help you get back to the playoffs, yes. Doesn't change the fact that last year was a fluke........ Holy (frank) man lol, and my argument is running out? Wow.

Still bitter that you guys got Hamilton.

I'm looking forward to the renewed rivalry between our clubs. I actually think the days of crap bashing might be over. Now it has to be "respectful" bashing due to the talent we both have.
- ChetManly

I was surprised (and felt very lucky) we got him, so I can understand your frustration!

Absolutely, it's gonna be good old BOAs like the old days.

Lol hopefully you're right. Shouldn't be as bad if we are both competitive clubs, with which we should be!

Based on the points it took last year to get in, the Oilers would need to get an extra 35points!!
They will 100% be improved...the better be.
I still think they are on the outside looking in.

don't forget an experienced and accomplished GM finally
- ChetManly

Honestly, he hasn't done that much. Not to mention he actually doesn't play the games. All PC has done that wasn't gifted to him (McDavid) is:

Replace Petry with Sekera
Swap Marincin for Gryba (6th dman)
Replace 4th Line Centres
Acquire a 3LW
Acquire another promising backup

Honestly alot of the heavy lifting for this team has been done by MacT, his biggest mistake in my opinion was the hiring of Eakins I really think that move set us back.

While Edmonton has taken steps to address their defense and goaltending, it has gone from abysmal to just terrible. Yes you grabbed Reggie Sekera but I hate to tell you, he's good...but not savior good. He's your 4th defenseman on a good team. Because you're going to force him into top pairing minutes, get ready for the roller coaster ride. Very brief moments of absolute dominance and game changing ability followed by huge stretches of absolute mediocrity with a few bone head plays sprinkled in. Until 1) Nurse takes hold as your top D and 2) you get 1-2 more capable players its going to be rough. And I don't think Cam Talbot is going to have the endurance to stand on his head all season.

Id say EDM has a chance to be in the hunt for a wild card into the spring but that's as close as I think they'll get - an improvement for sure but not quite there.
- cornball

I agree but you forgot to mention how crazy the West is. And they only got better with hamilton to calagry, Lucic to kings and ward to sharks. Make all teams in division better.

Honestly, he hasn't done that much. Not to mention he actually doesn't play the games. All PC has done that wasn't gifted to him (McDavid) is:

Replace Petry with Sekera - upgrade
Swap Marincin for Gryba (6th dman) - and opened a roster spot via Brad Ross, also upgrade
Replace 4th Line Centres - upgrade on speed, offense and cap hit
Acquire a 3LW - meh
Acquire another promising backup - highly rated goaltender on the market and did it without a roster player or a first round

Honestly alot of the heavy lifting for this team has been done by MacT, his biggest mistake in my opinion was the hiring of Eakins I really think that move set us back.
- rathagor

He also added Reinhart, has opened a second buyout window, he brought in McLellan, brought in another goaltender for a minor amount of money.

I have nothing against MacT, but I think ChiaPet has done quite a bit.

I don't see Edmonton in the playoffs this year or the next. They are still a #1 dman and proven #1 goalie away from competing for a playoff spot. Yeah Talbot played great in the absence of Lundquist. But let's be real. The Rangers are a great defensive team and most backups in the league could have posted the numbers Talbot did during that time. Let's see how he does with the pressure to win in a Canadian market and swiss cheese defense in Edmonton. Unless they shore up the right side on D and bring in a solid vet up front like Eric Fehr, Matt Cullen or Scottie Upshall. The Oil might have a chance for a playoff game for the first time since '06.

Are you stupid? What do the additions for next year have to do with what I said about last year? Absolutely nothing, at all. You made additions this year that can help you get back to the playoffs, yes. Doesn't change the fact that last year was a fluke........ Holy (frank) man lol, and my argument is running out? Wow.
- SpoiledByOil

Honestly, he hasn't done that much. Not to mention he actually doesn't play the games. All PC has done that wasn't gifted to him (McDavid) is:

Replace Petry with Sekera
Swap Marincin for Gryba (6th dman)
Replace 4th Line Centres
Acquire a 3LW
Acquire another promising backup

Honestly alot of the heavy lifting for this team has been done by MacT, his biggest mistake in my opinion was the hiring of Eakins I really think that move set us back.
- rathagor

That's a fairly pessimistic point of view. He acquired Reinhart and Talbot without having to give up actual players. The Reinhart move may have been an overpay but waiting the Rangers out on Talbot was excellent. After the previous GM wasn't able to lock up Petry long term then traded him for nothing, Chiarelli was able to attract a highly sought after defenceman in free agency on a good deal. He traded Gordon, who wasn't going to be back after this season for a 3LW, then got a younger more offense minded 4th line centre on a good cap hit.

Throw in making sweeping changes at the scouting and coaching levels I don't see how you can classify that as "not much."

I don't see Edmonton in the playoffs this year or the next. They are still a #1 dman and proven #1 goalie away from competing for a playoff spot. Yeah Talbot played great in the absence of Lundquist. But let's be real. The Rangers are a great defensive team and most backups in the league could have posted the numbers Talbot did during that time. Let's see how he does with the pressure to win in a Canadian market and swiss cheese defense in Edmonton. Unless they shore up the right side on D and bring in a solid vet up front like Eric Fehr, Matt Cullen or Scottie Upshall. The Oil might have a chance for a playoff game for the first time since '06.
- Itsjustarash

meh.

No. They don't make it. Close, but the west is tough. They get better on D, but they still lack the true talent on the back end that most playoff teams have.

For all their offensive talent, they struggled to score last year. Better D-men who can keep the puck hemmed in and help break it out will bring up offensive numbers. I also hear they picked up a guy who is okay at producing offense.
The offense will be better, but I think the D still has holes. They have some prospects and some more solid guys now, but no elite guys back there yet.

Talbot has played well for the Rangers. However, he's never seen the types of shots Edmonton goalies have. Unless the Oilers can eliminate defensive breakdowns and keep players to the outside more, it won't matter who they have in net. I think Talbot is an improvement, but I don't think it is enough to get in. Finally trending in the right direction though.

Can you spot the writer that doesn't belong?

Can you spot the writer that doesn't belong?
- dps0610

He also added Reinhart, has opened a second buyout window, he brought in McLellan, brought in another goaltender for a minor amount of money.

I have nothing against MacT, but I think ChiaPet has done quite a bit.
- ChetManly

How big of an upgrade is Sekera over Petry, that is the question? I wouldn't say it is a hole lot.
Brad Ross didn't need to be included in that Marcinin deal so we didn't need to open a roster spot. Including him in that deal was a completely mind boggling.
Highly rated or not Talbot is just another promising backup there is one of those every year on the market.
Honestly with as bad as I believe Eakins was, we could have stuck with Nelson and still been considerably better. Not that I mind McClellan but I think that problem was already solved by the team PC came in.
As it sits right now Reinhart as the team sits right now is the 8th dman so he isn't making an impact.

That's a fairly pessimistic point of view. He acquired Reinhart and Talbot without having to give up actual players. The Reinhart move may have been an overpay but waiting the Rangers out on Talbot was excellent. After the previous GM wasn't able to lock up Petry long term then traded him for nothing, Chiarelli was able to attract a highly sought after defenceman in free agency on a good deal. He traded Gordon, who wasn't going to be back after this season for a 3LW, then got a younger more offense minded 4th line centre on a good cap hit.

Throw in making sweeping changes at the scouting and coaching levels I don't see how you can classify that as "not much."
- freelancer

Don't get me wrong most of these are decent moves but I wouldn't qualify many of them as solving the core problems we had by the time PC became GM which were Defense and Goaltending. In my opinion PC is getting a little more credit than he deserves.

I think above all the roster moves we have made, coaching will be the deciding factor on how much success we will have.
Eakins was literally ruining player development as the season would go on, should have been let go a lot earlier.
Mclellan will provide more stability and confidence into this roster IMO.
Players will be more relaxed having an experienced coach with less questions to do with his system.

Still think we won't make the playoffs but there will be major steps taken, and with that going into the season after I think we will make that final step into the playoffs

- Emcee27

That's what I thought. Good talk

That's a fairly pessimistic point of view. He acquired Reinhart and Talbot without having to give up actual players. The Reinhart move may have been an overpay but waiting the Rangers out on Talbot was excellent. After the previous GM wasn't able to lock up Petry long term then traded him for nothing, Chiarelli was able to attract a highly sought after defenceman in free agency on a good deal. He traded Gordon, who wasn't going to be back after this season for a 3LW, then got a younger more offense minded 4th line centre on a good cap hit.

Throw in making sweeping changes at the scouting and coaching levels I don't see how you can classify that as "not much."
- freelancer

He can classify it as that because he doesn't actually know what he's talking about

- Emcee27

Lahey?

How big of an upgrade is Sekera over Petry, that is the question? I wouldn't say it is a hole lot.
Brad Ross didn't need to be included in that Marcinin deal so we didn't need to open a roster spot. Including him in that deal was a completely mind boggling.
Highly rated or not Talbot is just another promising backup there is one of those every year on the market.
Honestly with as bad as I believe Eakins was, we could have stuck with Nelson and still been considerably better. Not that I mind McClellan but I think that problem was already solved by the team PC came in.
As it sits right now Reinhart as the team sits right now is the 8th dman so he isn't making an impact.
- rathagor

Well, I'll continue to look at it optimistically.