I think its far too early to call Griffin Reinhardt a failing prospect. The Islanders have always been a team that hasn't been scared to make a trade and in today's NHL you have to give something of value to get something of value. I also think that the Dougie Hamilton trade and the Griffin Reinhardt trade are completely different. Hamilton will have to prove on a nightly basis that he is worthy of a long term contract at just shy of 6 million per year. The Oilers still have two years of entry level contract left with Reinhardt, where they can send him to the AHL if necessary for more seasoning, or keep him in the NHL and have the two years before they have to make the decision of whether he's worthy of a long term contract.

I think its far too early to call Griffin Reinhardt a failing prospect. The Islanders have always been a team that hasn't been scared to make a trade and in today's NHL you have to give something of value to get something of value. I also think that the Dougie Hamilton trade and the Griffin Reinhardt trade are completely different. Hamilton will have to prove on a nightly basis that he is worthy of a long term contract at just shy of 6 million per year. The Oilers still have two years of entry level contract left with Reinhardt, where they can send him to the AHL if necessary for more seasoning, or keep him in the NHL and have the two years before they have to make the decision of whether he's worthy of a long term contract.
- Woowy

People were calling Yakupov a failed prospect when he was 19-20. Surely they can call Reinhart a bust at 21

I agree that Reinhart is a gamble. Especially at the price the Oilers paid for him. Still from the Oiler's perspective, they need a top d prospect more than they needed 2 of any player. Reinhart is a lot further along in his development and picking a D-man at 16 would have meant the Oilers would be 4-5 years before they could put him in. Even then there would be no guarantee.

I can't find a prospecting page that doesn't list him as a 1-2 dman. He is huge and I suspect he will dominate the top pairing in 2 years. I like his odds finding a roster spot this year as well. He is just leagues ahead of our old guys.

The Oilers have Schultz, Klefbom and Nurse on the blue line. With Griffen these 4 should be able to make up the top 2 pairings in a couple years. No need to draft a dman for down the line as these guys have 15-20 years left in them. The Oilers also have their top 6 forwards who also have tons of time left in them. They also have role players for the rest of the forwards with long careers ahead of them. Letestu, Pouliot and the prospects you have already mentioned.

This was one year that the Oilers could spare 2 picks to fill a need with a guy that is less of a gamble. Deep draft or not, this was a great move. I think the Oilers could have got him for less than that but still it is what the Oilers needed.

Shestyorkin, Calle Anderson, Dale Weise, Carl Hagelin, Ryan Callahan, Dominic Moore, and Henrik Lundqvist all come to mind as 91+ guys along with Fast as you mentioned.

The chances definitely drop substantially but you can still hit there.
- rangerdanger94

Wut. You can't count two prospects.

I agree that Reinhart is a gamble. Especially at the price the Oilers paid for him. Still from the Oiler's perspective, they need a top d prospect more than they needed 2 of any player. Reinhart is a lot further along in his development and picking a D-man at 16 would have meant the Oilers would be 4-5 years before they could put him in. Even then there would be no guarantee.

I can't find a prospecting page that doesn't list him as a 1-2 dman. He is huge and I suspect he will dominate the top pairing in 2 years. I like his odds finding a roster spot this year as well. He is just leagues ahead of our old guys.

The Oilers have Schultz, Klefbom and Nurse on the blue line. With Griffen these 4 should be able to make up the top 2 pairings in a couple years. No need to draft a dman for down the line as these guys have 15-20 years left in them. The Oilers also have their top 6 forwards who also have tons of time left in them. They also have role players for the rest of the forwards with long careers ahead of them. Letestu, Pouliot and the prospects you have already mentioned.

This was one year that the Oilers could spare 2 picks to fill a need with a guy that is less of a gamble. Deep draft or not, this was a great move. I think the Oilers could have got him for less than that but still it is what the Oilers needed.
- Hall Fan

What (frank)ing price? The guy is a top 5 pick from 3 years ago.

And if he's such a longshot why would people be happy in New York? If Snow can't get it right with a #4 overall pick why is a mid first and early second going to turn out for them?

jesus

another banger from this guy



the oilers are really kicking themselves due to having hall, nurse, draisaitl in the organization.
epic mistakes
- HB77

Your team has been joke for the past decade. And the reason for it is because you guys have the best player mentality. Not player who will fit/ help my team the most. That was all I was getting at. Your first picks terrible I mean u had the first overall pick 4 in the past 6 years. How can they all be bad.

Imagine they drafted the player after the player they took.

They would have sequin landeskog Murray ristolainen Bennett.

I think that is better then what u have now.

Your team has been joke for the past decade. And the reason for it is because you guys have the best player mentality. Not player who will fit/ help my team the most. That was all I was getting at. Your first picks terrible I mean u had the first overall pick 4 in the past 6 years. How can they all be bad.

Imagine they drafted the player after the player they took.

They would have sequin landeskog Murray ristolainen Bennett.

I think that is better then what u have now.
- Bigdog1991

3 of those guys literally have done nothing in the NHL, but somehow that would make us better?

Your team has been joke for the past decade. And the reason for it is because you guys have the best player mentality. Not player who will fit/ help my team the most. That was all I was getting at. Your first picks terrible I mean u had the first overall pick 4 in the past 6 years. How can they all be bad.

Imagine they drafted the player after the player they took.

They would have sequin landeskog Murray ristolainen Bennett.

I think that is better then what u have now.
- Bigdog1991

Nurse will likely suit the Oilers' long term needs better. Ristolainen was getting injured throughout his draft year. Taking risks with a 6th overall pick when Nurse is still available is bad drafting.

But it would have been neat to see Rasmus on his dad's former team.

Your team has been joke for the past decade. And the reason for it is because you guys have the best player mentality. Not player who will fit/ help my team the most. That was all I was getting at. Your first picks terrible I mean u had the first overall pick 4 in the past 6 years. How can they all be bad.

Imagine they drafted the player after the player they took.

They would have sequin landeskog Murray ristolainen Bennett.

I think that is better then what u have now.
- Bigdog1991

hall and seguins career ppg is virtually identical. the guy is one of the top few lw's in the world and has been top 10 in scoring twice by 22. ender

landeskog has led his team to a first overall and another tank show last year. there is absolutely zero chance he was a better pick for this team than nuge at the time. especially after they had already went with the winger in the the toss up pick the year before. nuge remains the more talented and better pick as of today.

yaks led rooks in goals and points and stuggled abit since, but has started to regain that form. all that aside, murray didn't play in his rookie season whatsoever and missed another 68 games last year. he would've done absolutely nothing to change the fortunes of the oilers thus far.

nurse is as bluechip a defender as they come. he literally possesses every attribute this team needs going forward. anyone saying nurse was a bad pick thus far really has no idea what theyre talking about.

same goes for draisaitl. forgetting for a second that sam has played just a few games at at the pro level, leons size and game is exactly what the oilers are looking for in a skill position. the kid is gonna play at around 220 for most of his career and loves to use his frame to play a downlow game. and all with supreme talent. not to mention winning the whl playoff mvp and the memorial cup mvp last year.

its been the lack of insulation, ability to sign quality free agents to provide those kids with that insulation, gambles on tending, terrible defence etc etc etc.

but not those picks.
you really have no idea what youre talking about

3 of those guys literally have done nothing in the NHL, but somehow that would make us better?
- Lahey

If teams would have known about Nurse's development after the draft, he would have gone higher.

hall and seguins career ppg is virtually identical. the guy is one of the top few lw's in the world and has been top 10 in scoring twice by 22. ender

landeskog has led his team to a first overall and another tank show last year. there is absolutely zero chance he was a better pick for this team than nuge at the time. especially after they had already went with the winger in the the toss up pick the year before. nuge remains the more talented and better pick as of today.

yaks led rooks in goals and points and stuggled abit since, but has started to regain that form. all that aside, murray didn't play in his rookie season whatsoever and missed another 68 games last year. he would've done absolutely nothing to change the fortunes of the oilers thus far.

nurse is as bluechip a defender as they come. he literally possesses every attribute this team needs going forward. anyone saying nurse was a bad pick thus far really has no idea what theyre talking about.

same goes for draisaitl. forgetting for a second that sam has played just a few games at at the pro level, leons size and game is exactly what the oilers are looking for in a skill position. the kid is gonna play at around 220 for most of his career and loves to use his frame to play a downlow game. and all with supreme talent. not to mention winning the whl playoff mvp and the memorial cup mvp last year.

its been the lack of insulation, ability to sign quality free agents to provide those kids with that insulation, gambles on tending, terrible defence etc etc etc.

but not those picks.
you really have no idea what youre talking about
- HB77

For one hall is a winger sequin is a center he would help your team a lot more then hall would because of position alone. I much rather have seguin and landeskog then hall and Hopkins. Also the reason for terrible defense is because u drafter one defender in the first round. You build from defense out.

For one hall is a winger sequin is a center he would help your team a lot more then hall would because of position alone. I much rather have seguin and landeskog then hall and Hopkins. Also the reason for terrible defense is because u drafter one defender in the first round. You build from defense out.
- Bigdog1991

they have the centers in nuge, mcdavid and draisaitl. what are you even talking about? they got their man in hall and hes been great for the oilers.
at the time it was a toss up pick (which is actually being kind to seguin-it really wasn't. it was pretty much gonna be hall for any team that had that pick)

and you cant draft what isn't there in regards to your positional argument and building from the defence out.

as mentioned it was hall or seguin that year. gudbranson, fowler or gormley not only were never gonna get chosen, but would've been colossal mistakes.


the next year with the franchise winger already chosen it was gonna be center or defence. the only reasonable option in terms of defence wouldve been adam Larsson. do you think that would've been a prudent pick over ryan nugent Hopkins at the time??!! even now its not debateable, but at least Larsson is starting to turn out. but in terms of your original argument-wed've been worse thus far had we went in that direction. and as far as the landeskog debate, its not one. we absolutely would not've been better with him.
also, youre incorrect that weve only taken one defencemen over this entire stretch. we took Oscar klefbom in the first that year as well. and its looking to be a very very solid pick.

the only year that's even debateable is the yaks pick. and while I was also on the murray train, its fairly moot at this stage. Again, we'dve been worse thus far had we chosen ryan. he missed an entire rookie campaign while yaks led rooks in points, and then missed another 70 last season. hes played less than one full season out of three.
the only defender that would probably be actually considered (in hindsight of course) making us noticeably better is trouba. and there was zero shot he was gonna be picked at 1.

the next year we chose nurse. the guy is a beast and a bluechipper. nuff said.

2014, ekblad is already gone at our pick. so in terms of size, skillset and needs-leon was pretty much a slam dunk. regardless of what bennet does.


no, just no

If teams would have known about Nurse's development after the draft, he would have gone higher.
- doon

I take him 3rd in a redraft today behind mackinnon and jones.
and I seriously debate taking him over jones.
although that may be a bit of homer in that one, nurses's mean streak and willingness to engage cant be taught. its a rare commodity to have that along with his skillset.

Monahan is fantastic, but for our needs, I still take nurse over him

they have the centers in nuge, mcdavid and draisaitl. what are you even talking about. they got their man in hall and hes been great for the oilers.
at the time it was a toss up pick (which is actually being kind to seguin-it really wasn't. it was pretty much gonna be hall for any team that had that pick)

and you cant draft what isn't there in regards to your positional argument and building from the defence out.

as mentioned it was hall or seguin that year. gudbranson, fowler or gormley not only were never gonna get chosen, but would've been colossal mistakes.


the next year with the franchise winger already chosen it was gonna be center or defence. the only reasonable option in terms of defence that woulve been adam Larsson. do you think that would've been a prudent pick over ryan nugent Hopkins at the time??!! even now its not debateable, but at least Larsson is starting to turn out. but in terms of your original argument-weve been worse thus far had we went in that direction. and as far as the landeskog debate. its not one. we absolutely would not've been better with him.
also, youre incorrect that weve only taken one defencemen over this entire stretch. we took Oscar klefbom in the first that year as well. and its looking to be a very very solid pick.

the only year that's even debateable is the yaks pick. and while I was also on the murray train, its fairly moot at this stage. we'dve been worse thus far had we chosen ryan. he missed an entire rookie campaign to yaks leading rooks in points, and then missed another 70 last season. hes played less than one full season out of three.
the only defender that would probably be actually considered (in hindsight of course) making us noticeably better is trouba. and there was zero shot he was gonna be picked at 1.

the next year we chose nurse. the guy is a beast and a bluechipper. nuff said.

2014, ekblad is already gone at our pick. so in terms of size, skillset and needs-leon was pretty much a slam dunk. regardless of what bennet does.


no, just no
- HB77

"I dislike your team and/or your fanbase therefore your picks must be mistakes" Pretty sure that's it

"I dislike your team and/or your fanbase therefore your picks must be mistakes" Pretty sure that's it
- Sabresfan-365

This.
And his opening statement in retort that the oilers have been bad for a decade reinforces his short sightedness.
It's not simple cause and effect, it's much deeper. but he can only see it one way cause it's clear his ideas on the oilers are not only biased, but skewed.

The oilers have had many issues, deficiencies and problems over the last decade. no doubt about it.
But his rational as to what they shoulda done, or why it is the way it is, is flat out wrong

This.
And his opening statement in retort that the oilers have been bad for a decade reinforces his short sightedness.
It's not cause and effect, it's much deeper. but he can only see it one way cause it's clear his ideas on the oilers are not only biased, but skewed.

The oilers have had many issues, deficiencies and problems over the last decade. no doubt about it.
But his rational as to what they shoulda done, or why it is the way it is, is flat out wrong
- HB77

Can't wait to hear these same people call them geniuses for making these picks once they put together a winning season.

If you're ever bored enough take a look at some old articles and the comments on them, really makes for a good laugh

First time I've ever heard Thomas Hickey called a gem in your little excert there Matt. What a crock of poop.

No barzal wouldnt really fit in your lineup but if you drafted 16 you wouldn't take barzal.
Imagine having Thomas Chabot at 16 and Travis Dermott at 33. I would much rather have two promising young dman then one injury prone prospect. Bonus is Dermott played with Mcdavid. I believe this trade will blow up in your face.
- Bigdog1991

Go lick a window or a butthole.

First edm. have couple very high end talent but beyond the first four they are pretty weak. Which goes into the drafting point.

In my opinion they are the worst drafting team in nhl. If you look at the first round picks over past 6 years all of them were mistakes except mcdavid. I know it is easy to look back and say that but it is really bad. If you just look at the positions they drafted it is easy to see they had no idea how to build a team. Defense and center are two most important position. They fail to see the value in Defense and this is why they keep struggling.
- Bigdog1991

A banana eater says what?

Slow down, cowboy.

2010: Hall is one of the best LW on the planet. Very difficult to frame his choice as a mistake.
2011: There isn't anyone from the 2011 draft I would trade Nuge for and don't reply if you are going to say Landeskog.
2012: Yakupov was the consensus number 1 and the best player *right now* might be Trouba and drafting him was NEVER going to happen. The choice was Yak or Murray and Yak>Murray
2013: How could Nurse possibly be considered a mistake. At all.
2014: Draisaitl is a wide framed centerman who just dominated the CHL during their playoffs

The number of mistakes in that list are pretty low. All of them? Not a chance.
- Matt_Henderson

The guy is an assclown Hendo. Good blog.

I don't know if I can agree with that. Vancouver for example has been pretty bad over a similar period of time, even if they haven't had the same opportunities.
Clb comes to mind as well when you look at the players they selected prior to Jarmo arriving.

I think RNH, Nurse and Tayler Hall were the right call and it is hard to discount Yakopov or Draisatl as well, although I wouldn't of gone with Draisatl personally.
- belcherbd

What a terrible prospect to have in the organization. A center with size that was just the Memorial Cup MVP. (frank) you!

Okay lets look into this then.

2010: Hall is one of the best left wingers in the league but this is the reason why you guys are in the position you are in. It was up in the air who to take that year so why would you take winger over a center doesnt make since. Seguin is turning out to be top 5 center in league. Seguin> Hall all day.

2011:Hopkins is good pick but since you already have a number one center you could go with a winger. Landeskog isnt as skilled but he is leader and plays both ends very well. You have no leadership in your locker room. He would do wonders on your team.

2012: This is the draft that kills me the most. You drafted two forwards in the past two years how do you take another forward. I know murray hasnt lived up to expectations but Yak has been train wreck.

2013: Nurse is good but have you seen Ristolainen he has been a stud. He has played 78 games last year and is alot better then Nurse. I even think Zardov will turn out to be better or as good as Nurse. Not saying this was bad pick at all becuase he is good player but you cant honestly say Nurse is better then Ristolainen.

2014: is way to early to say.
- Bigdog1991

You are one of the worst posters I've ever seen on here.
2010- Hall one of the best LW's in the league. End of story
2011- Who is this magical #1 center we already had? Horcoff?
2012- Yak was the concencus #1 pick and we would've been ripped to shreads if we didn't take him.
2013- Ristolainen was off the board already and Zadorov wasn't even a consideration and shouldn't have been
2014- Draisaitl is a beast.

You're a (frank)in ass clown. Suck a BBC you female dog!

I think its far too early to call Griffin Reinhardt a failing prospect. The Islanders have always been a team that hasn't been scared to make a trade and in today's NHL you have to give something of value to get something of value. I also think that the Dougie Hamilton trade and the Griffin Reinhardt trade are completely different. Hamilton will have to prove on a nightly basis that he is worthy of a long term contract at just shy of 6 million per year. The Oilers still have two years of entry level contract left with Reinhardt, where they can send him to the AHL if necessary for more seasoning, or keep him in the NHL and have the two years before they have to make the decision of whether he's worthy of a long term contract.
- Woowy

I'm not going to call reinhart a bust but if your team plays him in the nhl this year it's not going to be pretty.

Your team has been joke for the past decade. And the reason for it is because you guys have the best player mentality. Not player who will fit/ help my team the most. That was all I was getting at. Your first picks terrible I mean u had the first overall pick 4 in the past 6 years. How can they all be bad.

Imagine they drafted the player after the player they took.

They would have sequin landeskog Murray ristolainen Bennett.

I think that is better then what u have now.
- Bigdog1991

When was the last time your team won anything???