Not true. While the standings aren't reflecting it necessarily, go back and look at Pach's most recent Team Stats blog and you'll see the improvements.

Also, I'm not bashing Edmonton, so please don't take it that way. I'm sure it's just as frustrating to you that they haven't improved the way you'd like, just like it's frustrating to us that the Sabres haven't either. Fortunately for the Sabres fans, we've only had top 5 picks twice recently, where you guys have picked in the top 5 in 5 of the past 6 years.
- HonkFortheGoose

I meant standings tangible

But I agree on the other stuff wholeheartedly, because although the rebuild had stalled, this team is so much better than years past despite the standings showings. In almost every facet

And of course it's frustrating. But I wanted to point out a few things. Despite Leon's pedigree, this is his first full on shot at the show, same for nurse, Connors played 14 games etc. but yet they're still listed as reasons why the oilers should be better by now.
Doesn't have a ton of logic to it imo

McNabb is on LAK 3rd line pairing again now...


Just for all of you still saying we got screwed in that trade because McNabb was a top pairing guy.


(I said that he was paired there to balance 2 pairings a bit but not truly indicative of his current talent level)

First, as I clearly stated, I'm not blaming Edmonton for winning the lottery, who wouldn't want to win. What I'm saying is that it's ridiculous to allow one single team to consistently be able to win without asking them to take a seat for a while. Second, saying that Sabres should have it turned around by now compared to Edmonton is just B.S. Eichel and Reinhart are 50 games into their careers Hall, RNH, Ebe, and Yak are not. We are better, we're the most improved team in the league this year. Edmonton has been rebuilding for almost a decade now, time for that franchise to get it's act together. And, I truly feel bad for you Edmonton fans, you deserve better. I never meant to sound like I'm trying to bash the Edmonton fan base, but there's clearly a problem there when every year for the past 10 years Edmonton is in the bottom 5 and is in contention for the first overall pick. Edmonton should be talking about how they're going to plan their Stanley Cup parade this June, not talking about a draft party welcoming Matthews.
- sskkoo1

A decade?
Hall was picked at the draft in 2010. We never picked in the bottom 5 before that.
Eberle was picked at 22nd.
How can we use yaks as a reason we should be so good? Just cause he was the consensus 1 at the time? What does that have to do with anything once he steps on to the ice?

There's a bunch wrong with your contention, but I won't argue that the issues lie deeper than what we can easily see

Damn Nichuskin is a 4th liner in Dallas now....

Ruff..... burring talent.

A decade?
Hall was picked at the draft in 2010. We never picked in the bottom 5 before that.
Eberle was picked at 22nd. How can we use yaks as s reason we should be so good? Just cause he was the consensus 1 at the time? What does that have to do with anything once he steps on to the ice?

There's a bunch wrong with your contention, but I won't argue that the issues lie deeper than what we can easily see
- HB77

The team was torn down after the cup run in 2006. Edmonton picked 6th in 2007 (Ganner) and 10th in 2009 (Paajarvi-Stvensson) then Hall in 2010 and so on...

We're going into the 2016 draft, so yeah, I think it's safe to say the Edmonton has been rebuilding for close to a decade. And, your contention that it's excusable that the Oilers are where they are this year because they didn't get McKinnon and Ekblad in the two years of the last six where Edmonton did not end up picking first, is completely disingenuous. Leon is doing better than Reinhart and arguably better than Ekblad.

Darcy quits...

http://www.azcentral.com/...ersonal-reasons/79729836/

Head's rolling from the John Scott trade?

The team was torn down after the cup run in 2006. Edmonton picked 6th in 2007 (Ganner) and 10th in 2009 (Paajarvi-Stvensson) then Hall in 2010 and so on...

We're going into the 2016 draft, so yeah, I think it's safe to say the Edmonton has been rebuilding for close to a decade. And, your contention that it's excusable that the Oilers are where they are this year because they didn't get McKinnon and Ekblad in the two years of the last six where Edmonton did not end up picking first, is completely disingenuous. Leon is doing better than Reinhart and arguably better than Ekblad.
- sskkoo1

True... I having a hard time agreeing with the crying of not getting the #1 picks in 2 more drafts for those players rather than RNH, Hall, Yak, Draistail, McDavid, and Nurse.

I mean.. c'mon... is this really "Well we didn't get the best player in EVERY draft for the past 7 years so its no big deal that we are still a losing franchise" Is that really what I am reading?

I believe this. Made my day a little better
- Zschalberg

Had to kick him out once or straight up groping girls, grabbing their asses, etc
Tried to fight the staff that walked him out & then slipped & fell on his drunk ass a couple times walking away
I'd heard of him getting kicked out of a couple other places for that crap too
Actually never saw him out with other Sabres though
I guess that's why
Good riddance

The team was torn down after the cup run in 2006. Edmonton picked 6th in 2007 (Ganner) and 10th in 2009 (Paajarvi-Stvensson) then Hall in 2010 and so on...

We're going into the 2016 draft, so yeah, I think it's safe to say the Edmonton has been rebuilding for close to a decade. And, your contention that it's excusable that the Oilers are where they are this year because they didn't get McKinnon and Ekblad in the two years of the last six where Edmonton did not end up picking first, is completely disingenuous. Leon is doing better than Reinhart and arguably better than Ekblad.
- sskkoo1

Torn down ?

Don't preach the ins and outs of the oilers to me.

In fact they did the exact opposite of tear down. They did everything they could to add talent to a floundering roster to get into the dance from 06 Year after year until trade deadline 2010 where they realized it was a futile effort. Just like thru had done before that's

Attempting to deal for heatley, offer sheeting vanek and Penner, offer one huge contracts to hossa and nylander. Dealing for visnovsky, lupus, smid, Whitney, always buyers at the deadline kotalik, osullovan for draft picks etc etc etc etc etc

Even after poor finishes they still tried to relive that just get in and see what happens ideal.

Long story short; it's not safe to sAy they've been rebuilding for a decade because you're just plain wrong

Torn down ?

Don't preach the ins and outs of the oilers to me.

In fact they did the exact opposite of tear down. They did everything they could to add talent to a floundering roster to get into the dance m. Year after year until trade deadline 2010 where they realized it was a futile effort

Attempting to deal fur heatley, offer sheet vanek and Penner, offer huge contracts to hossa and nylander. Deal for visnovsky and Whitney, always buyers at the deadline kotalik, osullivan etc etc etc etc etc

Even after poor finishes they still tried to relive that just get in and see what happens

Long story short; it's not safe to sAy they've been rebuilding for a decade because you're just plain wrong
- HB77

Which is exactly what the Sabres did. They won the division once, but you could tell this team was going nowhere and it was going to be a race to 8th place every year.

Torn down ?

Don't preach the ins and outs of the oilers to me.

In fact they did the exact opposite of tear down. They did everything they could to add talent to a floundering roster to get into the dance m. Year after year until trade deadline 2010 where they realized it was a futile effort

Attempting to deal fur heatley, offer sheet vanek and Penner, offer huge contracts to hossa and nylander. Deal for visnovsky and Whitney, always buyers at the deadline kotalik, osullivan etc etc etc etc etc

Even after poor finishes they still tried to relive that just get in and see what happens

Long story short; it's not safe to sAy they've been rebuilding for a decade because you're just plain wrong
- HB77

Long story short is your team is stacked with top-notch talent and is yet again at the bottom of the standings. And all we ever hear is, that's okay because we didn't get McKinnon and Ekblad those two years we didn't pick first. As if, your franchise is endowed with the inherent right to always pick first. Again, I'm not bashing the Edmonton fan base, YOU GUYS DESERVE BETTER. But, it's past time to get your chit together, and saying that the Sabres are equally as bad is just laughable.

Which is exactly what the Sabres did. They won the division once, but you could tell this team was going nowhere and it was going to be a race to 8th place every year.
- CaptainRivet

Absolutely

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing year after year and expecting different results.
They got their lucky run in 06 cause of pronger/ roloson and couldn't recreate it.

When the injury bug hit in 2010 and the cupboards were bare, they started selling off assets and started a tear down at the trade deadline

Long story short is your team is stacked with top-notch talent and is yet again at the bottom of the standings. And all we ever hear is, that's okay because we didn't get McKinnon and Ekblad those two years we didn't pick first. As if, your franchise is endowed with the inherent right to always pick first. Again, I'm not bashing the Edmonton fan base, YOU GUYS DESERVE BETTER. But, it's past time to get your chit together, and saying that the Sabres are equally as bad is just laughable.
- sskkoo1

The team was torn down after the cup run in 2006. Edmonton picked 6th in 2007 (Ganner) and 10th in 2009 (Paajarvi-Stvensson) then Hall in 2010 and so on...

We're going into the 2016 draft, so yeah, I think it's safe to say the Edmonton has been rebuilding for close to a decade. And, your contention that it's excusable that the Oilers are where they are this year because they didn't get McKinnon and Ekblad in the two years of the last six where Edmonton did not end up picking first, is completely disingenuous. Leon is doing better than Reinhart and arguably better than Ekblad.
- sskkoo1

Draisaitl isn't doing close to Ekblad, you're reaching there
But I do agree with your point (I think)
Regardless of when u wanna say the Oilers "rebuild" started, they've been bad & picking high for 9 drafts now
Shouldn't have taken them this long to get it together
Next year I think they'll have a legit shot to challenge for a playoff spot, but still would think LA, the Ducks & Sharks will get in. (5 teams from the central again)

McNabb is on LAK 3rd line pairing again now...


Just for all of you still saying we got screwed in that trade because McNabb was a top pairing guy.


(I said that he was paired there to balance 2 pairings a bit but not truly indicative of his current talent level)
- JVince11

Agreed with all of this

People were talking about McNabb as a top pairing and we got ripped off. They were clearly looking for balance. It didn't work. McNabb is nothing more than a 4-6 guy.

Also Wiedman got 20 games.

Long story short is your team is stacked with top-notch talent and is yet again at the bottom of the standings. And all we ever hear is, that's okay because we didn't get McKinnon and Ekblad those two years we didn't pick first. As if, your franchise is endowed with the inherent right to always pick first. Again, I'm not bashing the Edmonton fan base, YOU GUYS DESERVE BETTER. But, it's past time to get your chit together, and saying that the Sabres are equally as bad is just laughable.
- sskkoo1

"All you ever hear" ???

This your new contention now that rebuild narrative had been proven unequivocally false?


I don't think I've ever heard anybody say they shoulda got ekblad. We're happy with Leon. Changing the draft rules was brought up because we got Connor, so the discussion started. And we got into how silly it is to say the oilers should be better and then use Yakupov drafted at 1 as a reason. It makes no sense.

I've never even stated that it's ok we're at where we are, I simply stated that your contentions were far too simplistic and ignored any context and logic

Long story short is your team is stacked with top-notch talent and is yet again at the bottom of the standings. And all we ever hear is, that's okay because we didn't get McKinnon and Ekblad those two years we didn't pick first. As if, your franchise is endowed with the inherent right to always pick first. Again, I'm not bashing the Edmonton fan base, YOU GUYS DESERVE BETTER. But, it's past time to get your chit together, and saying that the Sabres are equally as bad is just laughable.
- sskkoo1

Kane 4th overall
Bogosian 3rd overall
Eichel 2nd
Reinhart 2nd
Ristolainen 8th overall


We have 5 former top 10 picks. We have no room to talk

I'd trade places with the Oilers any day of the week.

They got the better player in 2014 and 2015.

- JVince11

If you finish last for 3rd year in a row, you'll be worse ......

Draisaitl isn't doing close to Ekblad, you're reaching there
But I do agree with your point (I think)
Regardless of when u wanna say the Oilers "rebuild" started, they've been bad & picking high for 9 drafts now
Shouldn't have taken them this long to get it together
Next year I think they'll have a legit shot to challenge for a playoff spot, but still would think LA, the Ducks & Sharks will get in. (5 teams from the central again)
- jdfitz77

Huh? He's producing at a top 10 rate in the league.

Kane 4th overall
Bogosian 3rd overall
Eichel 2nd
Reinhart 2nd
Ristolainen 8th overall


We have 5 former top 10 picks. We have no room to talk

I'd trade places with the Oilers any day of the week.

They got the better player in 2014 and 2015.
- sbroads24

Just in the last 10 years:

McDavid 1st overall
Draisaitl 3rd overall
Nurse 7th overall
Yakupov 1st overall
RNH 1st overall
Hall 1st overall
Paajarvi 10th overall
Gagner 6th overall

8 picks inside the top 10. 4 1st overall picks and 5 top 3 picks

Your argument has no validity.

Please do go become an Oil fan.

Kane 4th overall
Bogosian 3rd overall
Eichel 2nd
Reinhart 2nd
Ristolainen 8th overall


We have 5 former top 10 picks. We have no room to talk

I'd trade places with the Oilers any day of the week.

They got the better player in 2014 and 2015.
- sbroads24

the entire direction of the conversation kinda went askew.
I simply defended the false narrative far too many try and sell. They took it as sabre bashing, but it was just meant to infuse some logic and context


The oilers being bad 6 years into a rebuild kills me and hall/nuge shoulda been insulated earlier.

If you finish last for 3rd year in a row, you'll be worse ......
- HB77

No, sorry. 4 1st overall picks and 5 in the top 3 is your franchise.

Just in the last 10 years:

McDavid 1st overall
Draisaitl 3rd overall
Nurse 7th overall
Yakupov 1st overall
RNH 1st overall
Hall 1st overall
Paajarvi 10th overall
Gagner 6th overall

8 picks inside the top 10. 4 1st overall picks and 5 top 3 picks

Your argument has no validity.

Please do go become an Oil fan.
- JVince11

Please take the homer glasses off and realize criticizing the Oilers is becoming more ironic by the day

Agreed with all of this

People were talking about McNabb as a top pairing and we got ripped off. They were clearly looking for balance. It didn't work. McNabb is nothing more than a 4-6 guy.

Also Wiedman got 20 games.
- Stripes77

WE AGREE!!!!

FRONT PAGE NEWS!!!!

Just in the last 10 years:

McDavid 1st overall
Draisaitl 3rd overall
Nurse 7th overall
Yakupov 1st overall
RNH 1st overall
Hall 1st overall
Paajarvi 10th overall
Gagner 6th overall

8 picks inside the top 10. 4 1st overall picks and 5 top 3 picks

Your argument has no validity.

Please do go become an Oil fan.
- JVince11

So now you're pulling his Sabres card cause he wants to inject some logic ?
Ok bud


Anyway, how does prv, gagner and Yakupov prove that the oilers should be better right now ?