In terms of entertainment and style, he's one of the best bloggers on the site. He's just far too reliant on statistics, and is often led down the wrong path with them.
- MJL

No it actually is reasonable, especially because I don't hold fast to things I used to think, don't get emotionally tied to past ideas and I ask a lot of questions and defer to people who know more than me.
- James_Tanner

So as GM of the Yotes you would be deferring to everybody in the organization, including Pete the cat, about everything except what to order for lunch?

So as GM of the Yotes you would be deferring to everybody in the organization, including Pete the cat, about everything except what to order for lunch?
- leonkennedy

Im warning you, watch your word hole in regards to Pete the Cat

For a stats guy you surprise me. Teams 4 or 5 points back by around Thanksgiving are typically out of the playoff running. Not impossible, but not easy either.
- MJL

Pretty sure that teams 4 or 5 points back, by the second week of October, aren't typically out of the running.

Im warning you, watch your word hole in regards to Pete the Cat
- poohcrumbs

Eff. I didn't get a chance to edit that post in time. Meant to add that Pete the cat most definitely gets deferred to on what to order for lunch.

For a stats guy you surprise me. Teams 4 or 5 points back by around Thanksgiving are typically out of the playoff running. Not impossible, but not easy either.
- MJL

Tanner isn't a "stats guy" for a multitude of reasons.

Tanner isn't a "stats guy" for a multitude of reasons.
- jfkst1

We disagree there.

can you post a picture of the Cat so I can leave the blog

can you post a picture of the Cat so I can leave the blog
- poohcrumbs

- smellmyfinger

I hate you

- poohcrumbs

one of funniest things I have seen in a long time... thanks.

- smellmyfinger

Whoa. When did Tanner get 2 cats?

I love Oilers fans. RNH, Eberle, Hall are all tremendous assets (even though the combined talents of the 3 of them haven't gotten the team even close to contending for a playoff spot in 4+ seasons) and no NHL defenseman is worth all that much, except Nurse, who is already the greatest defenseman since Bobby Orr.

I love Oilers fans. RNH, Eberle, Hall are all tremendous assets (even though the combined talents of the 3 of them haven't gotten the team even close to contending for a playoff spot in 4+ seasons) and no NHL defenseman is worth all that much, except Nurse, who is already the greatest defenseman since Bobby Orr.
- Snowblind

I wonder if this guy actually thought this was a well thought out and rational post when he wrote it?

Massive exaggeration and simple cause and effect have always worked so well as solid points in the past!! May as well stick to that formula!!

If I had to guess, I think this stems from the emotional scars he has during the hamonic debates of November 2015. Sh1t got real and alotta people got hurt

I hate you
- poohcrumbs

I wonder if this guy actually thought this was a well thought out and rational post when he wrote it?

Massive exaggeration and simple cause and effect have always worked so well as solid points in the past!! May as well stick to that formula!!

If I had to guess, I think this stems from the emotional scars he has during the hamonic debates of November 2015. Sh1t got real and alotta people got hurt
- Ihateallofu

No, it's more like I've never seen a fan base so in love with the players of their perennially terrible team quite like Oilers fans around here seem to be right now. Usually when a team sucks for a the better part of a decade, the team's fans start underrating their players; not the Edmonton faithful! In their mind, they have a upwards of a half-dozen hall-of-fame caliber players. The fact that they have never even get close to NHL .500, let alone a playoff spot, is just fine print. The real story is that Hall, Eberle and the Nuge are all awesome!

Very good blog today James. You've sparked a lot of healthy debate...even among your most ardent detractors.

Very good blog today James. You've sparked a lot of healthy debate...even among your most ardent detractors.
- shack67

I think you may be confusing healthy with something else.

No, it's more like I've never seen a fan base so in love with the players of their perennially terrible team quite like Oilers fans around here seem to be right now. Usually when a team sucks for a the better part of a decade, the team's fans start underrating their players; not the Edmonton faithful! In their mind, they have a upwards of a half-dozen hall-of-fame caliber players. The fact that they have never even get close to NHL .500, let alone a playoff spot, is just fine print. The real story is that Hall, Eberle and the Nuge are all awesome!
- Snowblind

Which oilers fans are overrating their players?
I saw one fairly silly proposal from an oilers fan, but a few pretty reasonable ones.
It were the only reasonable trades in your estimation the ones where the oilers get gutted? Maybe you're as biased as those you accuse of the same ?


Are you attempting to imply that Taylor hall doesn't have much value?
Ryan nugent Hopkins?
You don't understand how nurse could be worth a lot to the oilers organization??

if a player is on a bad team, he's automatically also bad?


Another terrible post bro. I don't think Your simple cause equals effect took much critical thought did it?

And again - the whole hall of fame exaggeration is just that. Exaggeration. But not a solid counter point.

Which oilers fans are overrating their players?
I saw one fairly silly proposal from an oilers fan, but a few pretty reasonable ones.


Are you attempting to imply that Taylor hall doesn't have much value?
Ryan nugent Hopkins?
You don't understand how nurse could be worth a lot to the oilers organization??

if a player is on a bad team, he's automatically also bad?


Another terrible post bro. I don't think Your simple cause equals effect took much critical thought did it?

And again - the whole hall of fame exaggeration is just that. Exaggeration. But not a solid counter point.
- Ihateallofu

Would you trade RNH for Hamonic straight up?

I think you may be confusing healthy with something else.
- Cptmjl

He may be confusing healthy with...unhealthy?

Would you trade RNH for Hamonic straight up?
- rangerdanger94

Probably. Pretty reasonable trade and ud be amped to have Hamonic.
But not until Connors back. We're lost even worse at centre without him till then


Even then, Not a slam dunk. And I'd look for a better two way guy with a higher ceiling going forward first. (Seth Jones was mentioned a few days ago)
Even if I had to add something fairly tangible to nuge to get it done.

Being desperate for what hamonic brings at present doesn't change the difference in potential long term as I see it though.


That said , way rather oel. He's in another class from hamonic

Probably. Pretty reasonable trade and ud be amped to have Hamonic.
But not until Connors back. We're lost even worse at centre without him till then


Even then, Not a slam dunk. And I'd look for a better two way guy with a higher ceiling going forward first. (Seth Jones was mentioned a few days ago)
Even if I had to add something fairly tangible to nuge to get it done.

Being desperate for what hamonic brings at present doesn't change the difference in potential long term as I see it though.


That said , way rather oel. He's in another class from hamonic
- Ihateallofu

You will not get Jones or OEL for a package centered around RNH imo. Hamonic is likely as good as you'll get, and with his contract, it's a damn good trade.

Which oilers fans are overrating their players?
I saw one fairly silly proposal from an oilers fan, but a few pretty reasonable ones.
It were the only reasonable trades in your estimation the ones where the oilers get gutted? Maybe you're as biased as those you accuse of the same ?


Are you attempting to imply that Taylor hall doesn't have much value?
Ryan nugent Hopkins?
You don't understand how nurse could be worth a lot to the oilers organization??

if a player is on a bad team, he's automatically also bad?


Another terrible post bro. I don't think Your simple cause equals effect took much critical thought did it?

And again - the whole hall of fame exaggeration is just that. Exaggeration. But not a solid counter point.
- Ihateallofu

I didn't see any unreasonable offers for OEL on this thread. Nurse and a first is a perfectly reasonable demand for OEL, a legit top-flight top-10-in-the-world NHL defenseman.

If you'd trade the Nuge for Hamonic, then you are not unreasonable (that is more than fair, but the Isles would never do it). However, the general tenor of Oilers fans' hypothetical trade proposals would have the Oilers landing a legit NHL defenseman (whether Hamonic or anyone else) for Jultz or Fayne or, if they are unusually generous, Yak. The Oilers aren't getting what they need by pruning around the hedges.

You will not get Jones or OEL for a package centered around RNH imo. Hamonic is likely as good as you'll get, and with his contract, it's a damn good trade.
- rangerdanger94

what a shock

Anyway, I disagree.
i think depending on what's added- it could very well get it done. imo...

You undervaluing oiler players has no more validity than what u see as an overvalue from the other side


"Trade your players! It's the only way u get better!!"
"Oh sorry, I didn't mean for a ton of quality in return."