Hopefully not. If they have a shot at both staying up, they need to play at the same time. I'd say sit Hansen, put Vrabata with Mcann and Burrows, and put JV with Horvat and Baerschi.
- Retinalz

Thank you- i felt like i was going crazy but that is what should happen.

So it appears Eichel > McDavid hey....who knew
- LeftCoaster

Toews > Crosby...

Eichel looks great, McDavid will look better. How do you prove which is better?

Just hoping our guys continue to develop. Hutton is one of the best, unexpected prospects to come along for this club since Burrows.

Because it's only a matter of time before this lineup implodes. I only watched the 3rd period last night, but they were getting owned and did not deserve to win that game. I'm not suggesting that Vrbata is the answer, or that Virtanen is the answer, but unfortunately as good of a story as it is, Adam Cracknel does not belong in the NHL. I'm with Lefty, I'd rather have Gaunce there or Sutter playing C giving the team 4 solid options.
- 1970vintage

I was impressed with the overtime 4 on 3. Canucks killed off that penalty perfectly. I thought the canucks dominated overtime.

Just because they couldn't score doesn't mean they don't deserve the win. Great goaltending and solid defense is also deserving of 2 points.

Toews > Crosby...

Eichel looks great, McDavid will look better. How do you prove which is better?

Just hoping our guys continue to develop. Hutton is one of the best, unexpected prospects to come along for this club since Burrows.
- hillbillydeluxe

The problem with hutton is that by christmas he will be exhausted and realise he is only a third through the season.

The problem with hutton is that by christmas he will be exhausted and realise he is only a third through the season.
- TJTD

Hey, stop bogarting the crystal ball…

McDavid is a victim of the team he plays for. The oil can ruin the best of talents.
- bloatedmosquito

Buffalo was worse than Edmonton last year…just saying.

The problem with hutton is that by christmas he will be exhausted and realise he is only a third through the season.
- TJTD

I was thinking the same thing for McCann...

Anyone have a link for WD's post game comments? (sorry, it's on cdc latest videos section.)

Toews > Crosby...

Eichel looks great, McDavid will look better. How do you prove which is better?

Just hoping our guys continue to develop. Hutton is one of the best, unexpected prospects to come along for this club since Burrows.
- hillbillydeluxe

I was being facetious - after reading twitter this morning…that said, Eichel does look great and more confident.

I was being facetious - after reading twitter this morning…that said, Eichel does look great and more confident.
- LeftCoaster

made me laugh when on Saturday, Friedman said it was too bad McDavid played in the west and not the east against Eichel...

what can you expect from the centre of the universe?

I guess those conversations can be fun, but more and more, it seems like a snapshot in time when people say one player is better than another- so many variables and stuff changing all the time.

I was impressed with the overtime 4 on 3. Canucks killed off that penalty perfectly. I thought the canucks dominated overtime.

Just because they couldn't score doesn't mean they don't deserve the win. Great goaltending and solid defense is also deserving of 2 points.
- bloatedmosquito

That's the thing though, it wasn't solid defense, at least not in the 3rd. They were lucky to get to OT. I'm sure WD talked about how hard they battled, but the number of times I saw a pass bounce off the stick, or get blocked or picked off. The two points are great, but if they continue to play like that it will come back to bite them.

I was being facetious - after reading twitter this morning…that said, Eichel does look great and more confident.
- LeftCoaster

He looks a lot more relaxed and comfortable out there. McDavid is going to be prone to forcing things as he (and the media/fans) put a lot of pressure on him. I cant imagine going from a league that you dominated for years and make the jump to the NHL easily, at least Eichel played a season (though a short one) against men and was facing new challenges to keep his development curve on the upswing. It wont take McDavid long to break through though, probably once the Oil are officially eliminated from the playoffs in late November...

I was impressed with the overtime 4 on 3. Canucks killed off that penalty perfectly. I thought the canucks dominated overtime.

Just because they couldn't score doesn't mean they don't deserve the win. Great goaltending and solid defense is also deserving of 2 points.
- bloatedmosquito

Totally true - that's what you need sometime for those road wins.

That's the thing though, it wasn't solid defense, at least not in the 3rd. They were lucky to get to OT. I'm sure WD talked about how hard they battled, but the number of times I saw a pass bounce off the stick, or get blocked or picked off. The two points are great, but if they continue to play like that it will come back to bite them.
- 1970vintage

Did you feel Anaheim was better on D? Agreed about the chippiness and bounciness...the announcers were mentioning that they didn't see a 'clean' pass for most of the game from either team. I thought Anaheim played better, but not by much, from the second half of the first to the end of the third.

Hutton, for all his praises, caused the Anaheim goal. I strongly recommend everyone save their prognosis until game 20.

So it appears Eichel > McDavid hey....who knew
- LeftCoaster

I don't think the Oilers have played a home game yet. Eichel also plays in the east

(frank)ing right. I'm early 40's next oldest guy was 31.
- golfingsince

The best part about being in shape in your 40's is kicking 30 somethings a$$es.

I'm wondering if they are doing all 9 games for Mcann 1st then JV after. It certainly would be easier to make room under the cap for 1 player and not 2 at once. so buying time essentially.
If they waited to see on both players they have to make a spot decision and scramble to make cap space. this will buy time and they'll also know if 1 player has already made the team 1st before deciding on the 2nd.
- SMBDragon

They are both on the cap, the cap isn't just the players on the ice, it's everyone on the active roster (23 players)

Did you feel Anaheim was better on D? Agreed about the chippiness and bounciness...the announcers were mentioning that they didn't see a 'clean' pass for most of the game from either team. I thought Anaheim played better, but not by much, from the second half of the first to the end of the third.

Hutton, for all his praises, caused the Anaheim goal. I strongly recommend everyone save their prognosis until game 20.
- Ronning4ever

Still early. Mistakes will be made with whatever lineup we go with, Hutton just brings us some of the skating and passing we were lacking. Sounds like he might also be a bit of a settling influence to Sbisa's play. And it won't be surprising if Hutton feels the grind from all the games.

Looking forward to see how it all shakes out. Might be interesting to see how the team plays without Hutton in the lineup too.

Did you feel Anaheim was better on D? Agreed about the chippiness and bounciness...the announcers were mentioning that they didn't see a 'clean' pass for most of the game from either team. I thought Anaheim played better, but not by much, from the second half of the first to the end of the third.

Hutton, for all his praises, caused the Anaheim goal. I strongly recommend everyone save their prognosis until game 20.
- Ronning4ever

I couldn't say, the puck was almost never in the Anaheim end... The OT was pretty even and I thought the Canucks had the better chances even being short handed. I'm not sure how you can suggest that the goal was Hutton's fault, it was a point shot that went clean through.

Still early. Mistakes will be made with whatever lineup we go with, Hutton just brings us some of the skating and passing we were lacking. Sounds like he might also be a bit of a settling influence to Sbisa's play. And it won't be surprising if Hutton feels the grind from all the games.

Looking forward to see how it all shakes out. Might be interesting to see how the team plays without Hutton in the lineup too.
- hillbillydeluxe

That is why the team is carrying 7 D.

I don't think the Oilers have played a home game yet. Eichel also plays in the east
- PetrolSexual

Oilers have a pretty good coach at the helm right now. Gotta figure McClellan will get them all headed in the right direction. He may not be there long term but I can see a turnaround under McClellan.

I couldn't say, the puck was almost never in the Anaheim end... The OT was pretty even and I thought the Canucks had the better chances even being short handed. I'm not sure how you can suggest that the goal was Hutton's fault, it was a point shot that went clean through.
- 1970vintage

Well the puck did go off of Hutton's skate while he stood in front of the net.

I couldn't say, the puck was almost never in the Anaheim end... The OT was pretty even and I thought the Canucks had the better chances even being short handed. I'm not sure how you can suggest that the goal was Hutton's fault, it was a point shot that went clean through.
- 1970vintage

Hutton screened Miller; hence why it went clean through from the blueline. Mildly acceptable if he was tying up his player in a hard fight, but he wasn't. I think he just got caught out of position.

Still early. Mistakes will be made with whatever lineup we go with, Hutton just brings us some of the skating and passing we were lacking. Sounds like he might also be a bit of a settling influence to Sbisa's play. And it won't be surprising if Hutton feels the grind from all the games.

Looking forward to see how it all shakes out. Might be interesting to see how the team plays without Hutton in the lineup too.
- hillbillydeluxe

Oh, agreed. I'll take 2 points and a -1 in 3 games with 18 mins a/toi any day of the week. Especially for $900K.

D is our big hole on the team, but they've been good 3 games in. We just need some goals from the backend again! And we'll have a better idea on everyone 17 games from now.

Hutton screened Miller; hence why it went clean through from the blueline. Mildly acceptable if he was tying up his player in a hard fight, but he wasn't. I think he just got caught out of position.
- Ronning4ever

I just watched the highlights again, Hutton was the only guy who was in position. It was Dorsett who was in no mans land.

Oilers have a pretty good coach at the helm right now. Gotta figure McClellan will get them all headed in the right direction. He may not be there long term but I can see a turnaround under McClellan.
- LordHumungous

Buffalo also traded prospects and picks for talent.
Edmonton won't do this.