In a sense, yes, he is undoubtedly very skilled. He asked to be traded, so I'm sure he went to the team that offered the most. Also he's know to have a bad attitude, which can seriously effect the guys around him.
- dr_soiledpants

Kesler had a ntc a exercised it when he asked to be traded. He gave management two choices; Chicago and Anaheim. What a swell guy. I would laugh my ass off if canucks make playoffs and ducks don't.

call more damn penalties

PP point leaders 2014-15
Giroux: 37
OV: 34

PP point leaders 2005-06
Kovalchuk: 56
Jags: 52
- TheNugeIsHuge

This

Enough with that extra second of obstruction

Ender

Kesler had a ntc a exercised it when he asked to be traded. He gave management two choices; Chicago and Anaheim. What a swell guy. I would laugh my ass off if canucks make playoffs and ducks don't.
- bloatedmosquito

Also this, thanks. I just remembered that he asked to be moved.

Hey James one of the simplest ways to increase goals and PP chances in the game is to simply have tha goalies to start in the "long change net" which is traditionally the 2nd period net. If you discount the empty net goals in the 3rd period the 2nd period has the most goals as obviously the harder it is to change the longer players shifts will be and there for more tired players make mistakes and take penalties.

Here is a good article if your interested.

http://ca.dratings.com/a-...l-goal-scoring-by-period/
- Oilers rock 99

That is interesting. I think there's a bunch of little things like this that could make a big difference. Might as well try them out before going to getting drastic.

Out bottom 6 chipping in points to help out the top 6 is an issue. Not their defensive abilities.
Also, moving pouliot off of the top 6 in favour of komarov or Nash is a clear indication of a misunderstanding of the oilers issues. Benoit does so much for this squad. He creates Space, can play the cycle grind game but also has real skills to provide those kids with something other than an anchor plug.
He's been great for this organization alongside nuge/ebs or Connor/yaks. He's exactly the guy they need. and is not an issue in our top 6. A great addition to the oilers

And as far as silverfberg- another reason could be that Erikson has proven to be far better offensively. But quality defensively as well. His name has been mentioned for a selke nomination numerous times.

Just have to disagree I guess
- Ihateallofu

I think you're too caught up in top-six/ bottom-six thinking. I don't care how you number the lines or if you put Pouliot on the top one. My point is simply that you have 3 legit #1 type centres, 3 decent to excellent scoring wingers and if you partnered them together and added in an elite defensive forward for each line, you'd have an incredible team.

Like I said, I like Erickson, but Silferberg is younger and locked in for several more years.

next year's first for Riley Nash! EDM's former first turned 25P forward.

expecting a 27YO breakout season next year or what? awful!
- TheNugeIsHuge

The Oilers have tons of offense and need an elite defensive forward. Nash is one of the best.

Not a chance the Oilers make the playoffs.

I thought it was Reinhart. Why is he in the ahl? I was laughed at for saying he wasn't nhl ready.
- Isles_since_6

Ideally he would probably not be in the AHL right now. He has arguably earned a spot over plays like Ference (definitely) and Gryba. Grif is just the only one of those who does not need to pass through waivers.

It was essentially a battle between Nurse and Grif for the roster spot. Nurse won.

Only one that can't be picked up on waivers. Numbers game for now. Nurse has been too good since his call up.

He's NHL ready but in the 6-7 spot . Lots of competition among bottom pair D in Edmonton
- Jeropotato

Damnit.

call more damn penalties

PP point leaders 2014-15
Giroux: 37
OV: 34

PP point leaders 2005-06
Kovalchuk: 56
Jags: 52
- TheNugeIsHuge

Regardless of creating more goals calling more interference/obstruction penalties would make the game faster, more skilled, and better to watch. McDavid should pretty much be drawing a holding penalty every shift and Ference should pretty much be receiving a holding penalty every shift.

First, I want to thank you for offering up a reasonable argument to make your point. I would have liked it better if you didn't start off saying "lol" but beggers can't be choosers.

I think you have a solid argument, but just aren't properly valuing defensive forwards. The Oilers have enough scoring for two teams, but still don't win. Why? Saying their defensemen is too easy of an answer because Fayme, Sekera, Schultz, Klefbom, Reinhart and Nurse is not that bad of a lineup. It lacks experience and an elite #1 but that's it. It could be improved, but its not horrible.

The reason they don't win is because their forward units are one dimensional, for the most part. Once they have McD and Draisaitl in the lineup at the same time this will be neutralized, I believe, to some extent, but the fact remains you need defensive players to help out because you cant count on scoring more than 3 goals on average no matter what.

You just can't score your way out of trouble in todays NHL.

And the reason I think these are such good trades is that a) the players I want them to get are players the NHL tends to undervalue and the Oilers could afford to pay these prices or something comparable.

Three elite defensive forwards would make this team unstoppable.
- James_Tanner

Well as much as you believe defensive forwards are underrated, and I agree they're necessary, I'd go looking for a couple forwards I could have for FREE with those characteristics first. Colin Greening and Richard Panik are a couple of pretty good shot suppressors that could have been claimed off waivers this year. Hell I could see the Sens eating Nikitin's contract to take Greening off their hands for the remainder of his contract.

The game I watch is on a sheet of ice

The game some others watch is on a sheet of paper

Two totally different games with totally different stars

The Oilers have tons of offense and need an elite defensive forward. Nash is one of the best.
- James_Tanner

oilers have tons of offence, they need an elite defenceman

The game I watch is on a sheet of ice

The game some others watch is on a sheet of paper

Two totally different games with totally different stars
- Garnie

I for one was shocked to hear the two were mutually exclusive

I for one was shocked to hear the two were mutually exclusive
- TheNugeIsHuge

Yeah, not sure why they actually play the games when they can Sim them with all the stats they have now.

Connor McLupul for Bozak and a 5th round pick... book it

Ideally he would probably not be in the AHL right now. He has arguably earned a spot over plays like Ference (definitely) and Gryba. Grif is just the only one of those who does not need to pass through waivers.

It was essentially a battle between Nurse and Grif for the roster spot. Nurse won.
- RonPielep

He must have played light years better this year then. He was overmatched at best last year. Weakest 6'4 defensive defenseman I'd seen in a long time. Could still develop but his ceiling seems a lot lower now.

He must have played light years better this year then. He was overmatched at best last year. Weakest 6'4 defensive defenseman I'd seen in a long time. Could still develop but his ceiling seems a lot lower now.
- Isles_since_6

looked good away from Gryba (like every player to ever play with Gryba)

logjam of inexperienced D and Nurse and Davidson have been very good for them, weren't going to expose Davidson to waivers and Nurse has been better

He must have played light years better this year then. He was overmatched at best last year. Weakest 6'4 defensive defenseman I'd seen in a long time. Could still develop but his ceiling seems a lot lower now.
- Isles_since_6

I agree that his ceiling seems pretty low. I'd say his highest ceiling is a complementary #4 D-man. Most likely a 3rd pairing career D-man though.

He must have played light years better this year then. He was overmatched at best last year. Weakest 6'4 defensive defenseman I'd seen in a long time. Could still develop but his ceiling seems a lot lower now.
- Isles_since_6

Nurse?

Or Gardiner, now I'd agree

smells like teen spirit

I do defend that position because its been proven and is a fact.

I can't speak about Football because I don't follow it and I am not sure what the parity level is like. In hockey, the reason luck is such a factor is because of the parity that 15 years without expansion combined with a salary cap and inflated goalie stats causes.

In the NHL, the difference between say the 3rd best through 27th best team is so marginal as to be largely decided by things like injuries and unsustainable high percentages.

The reason luck is such a factor in hockey is because the teams who get injured the least usually win and shooting/save percentages start to taper towards career norms the larger the sample size becomes.

Also, it is appreciated to argue/discuss in a respectful manner.
- James_Tanner

the 72 game argument is about CYA. if you're right about a team, you're a genius. if you're wrong, well you're not really wrong are you? this blogging stuff is pretty easy.

the excuses are coming early this year apparently

Let's just calmly go through a couple of things here:

1) The Oilers have lost seven one-goal games. Therefore the Oilers are weak when it counts.
2) They have been screwed out of at least six points by blown calls. Therefore the Oilers don't respond well to adversity.
3) They have not dressed a single game with their ideal lineup so far this year. Therefore the Oilers are much like many other teams.
4) They will have McDavid - who's what, at worst a top 20 player already? - for 40 of their remaining 60 games. Therefore the Oilers will sell out road games?
5) Once McDavid is back, they will be able to run out McDavid, Draisaitl and RNH down the middle. I don't think the NHL is prepared for such a thing. It will be unstoppable. Therefore the Oilers will be pretty dang inexperienced up the middle.

Let's just calmly go through a couple of things here:

1) The Oilers have lost seven one-goal games. Therefore the Oilers are weak when it counts.
2) They have been screwed out of at least six points by blown calls. Therefore the Oilers don't respond well to adversity.
3) They have not dressed a single game with their ideal lineup so far this year. Therefore the Oilers are much like many other teams.
4) They will have McDavid - who's what, at worst a top 20 player already? - for 40 of their remaining 60 games. Therefore the Oilers will sell out road games?
5) Once McDavid is back, they will be able to run out McDavid, Draisaitl and RNH down the middle. I don't think the NHL is prepared for such a thing. It will be unstoppable. Therefore the Oilers will be pretty dang inexperienced up the middle.
- yzermaneely

But, but they're going to be a smokeshow this year...