If, we continue to be at the bottom of the league next year and the years after that, than yes, we deserve to be criticized. I don't want to see the Sabres at the bottom of the league next year, many people didn't want to see them at the bottom this year. But, we finally got some high-end draft talent in Reinhart and Eichel, and they are only 50 games into their careers and have this franchise playing a hell of a lot better than last year. If we continue to pick 1-2 for the next five years I would full expect the rest of the league to look at us like WTF already...
- sskkoo1

True statement.

The major roster turnover has already occured. They get a year under their belts in a brand new system with a new coach to get their feet wet and build chemistry is my 2 cents.

I think this all comes down to getting Connor.
No one seemed too worried about it before

How can one blame the oilers for being at the mercy of their draft year?
Yakupov?

Hell, even nuge who's a quality player and a great two way center, isn't a franchise changer.

- HB77[b]Give us mackinnon and ekblad and things are different.

I don't think you'd be too upset if the Sabres had ekblad and mcdavid would ya?
And let's not forget, unlike the sabres, we didn't even finish last when we won this past lottery. Nor the previous one

Also, this narrative assumes teams should immediately turn it around despite a ton of factors just because you got high picks. You have eichel, risto and reinhart. Those three have to be considered comparable to hall, yaks and nuge at the same point in their careers, no?
How come you're not better? How come you're looking at another top 3 pick ?
It's just not that simple to turn around a decimated franchise

I feel like I'm reading an argument about which leg is better to have amputated....the right or left.

But I'm dumb for saying I would trade rosters with them....got it
- sbroads24

Touche....


I don't like their development I guess is the part I should have outlined there. I don't know if it is the atmosphere, the pressure, or the coaching but I wouldn't trade coaching or scouting staffs with them.

But we should've drafted him instead of Risto!
Not
And other Stars seem to be performing just fine with Ruff as coach, don't blame him
- jdfitz77

Haha... I was more playing off of that was the cliche for Ruff when he was here man... calm down.

I know that guys like Benn and Seguin have absolutely flourished into top 5 NHL players under him there.

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 ?
- HB77

That still leaves 5 guys that should be studs, or at least good players by now
(What's the deal with Nurse btw? Do they feel they need to bring him along extra slowly for some reason?)

And they could've made other picks in those spots, or potentially traded those picks for a really nice return one would think.

Bottom line is that the Oilers should be MUCH better after picking so highly for so long

No offense, I actually own an Oilers jersey
Just how I see it

I feel like I'm reading an argument about which leg is better to have amputated....the right or left.


- HonkFortheGoose

Not the same as being a top10 player at his position, which Ekblad is
Not saying he hasn't had a good streak, but it's way too small a sample size to consider him in Ekblad's league just yet
- jdfitz77

Ekblad's been awesome, but I'm not sure he's top 10 yet.

Karlsson
Doughty
Josi
Subban
Burns
Giordano
Hedman
Brodie
Klingberg
Ekman-Larsson
Faulk

That's 11 that I'd say are playing at a higher level

Maybe the picks the Oiler have made in the top 3 are not really that talented. borderline busts ? I don't buy into the organization doesn't develop the players correctly. Either the player has it or he doesn't.

Who developed Mcdavid ? Crosby? Those guys had it the 1st game in an NHL jersey.
- cabin

Eberle was a late round pick so he should even be in the convo

But yeah,

Hall was the only bonafide franchise player drafted. One can continue to harp on draft position all they want, but if you draft the consensus guy and he isn't that, that's all there is to it.

Love the nuge, but he's no Tavares or ksne. A great two way center going forward for sure, but franchise guy? No. And he's just becoming that now, he's also been developing into that for awhile.

Leon/nurse/Connor all first time real crack at it.

I feel like I'm reading an argument about which leg is better to have amputated....the right or left.


- HonkFortheGoose

Well i'm left footed, so i'm gona go right.



That is where I stand in this argument.......................

offer a 2nd rd pick for him!
- ImThatGuy

It would be hard to imagine them giving up on Nichuskin this quickly, but it's certainly worth the call
I'd trade Fasching & McGinn for him in a heartbeat

[quote=sskkoo1]
Your arguments are getting worse now. So many of your contentions have been proven false you're resorting to silly comebacks now.

Eberle was a late round pick so he should even be in the convo

But yeah,

Hall was the only bonafide franchise player drafted. One can continue to harp on draft position all they want, but if you draft the consensus guy and he isn't that, that's all there is to it.

Love the nuge, but he's no Tavares or ksne. A great two way center going forward for sure, but franchise guy? No. And he's just becoming that now, he's also been developing into that for awhile.

Leon/nurse/Connor all first time real crack at it.
- HB77

I thought RNH would be that kind of player for you when they drafted him and I am surprised he is not.

Well i'm left footed, so i'm gona go right.



That is where I stand in this argument.......................
- ImThatGuy

Personally, I'd like to keep both. But that's probably just me being greedy and unreasonable.

Ekblad's been awesome, but I'm not sure he's top 10 yet.

Karlsson
Doughty
Josi
Subban
Burns
Giordano
Hedman
Brodie
Klingberg
Ekman-Larsson
Faulk

That's 11 that I'd say are playing at a higher level
- sbroads24

The only one I might quibble with is Klingberg, but that said, it is ultra impressive for Ekblad to be even considered as a part of that group.

I feel like I'm reading an argument about which leg is better to have amputated....the right or left.


- HonkFortheGoose

The left.

The right is more important for driving purposes.

Anybody that is saying Ekblad is not a franchise defenseman is only fooling himself and making themselves look idiotic

I myself was wrong about him I thought he would be another Seth Jones ..

he's already in elite defenseman at this age it's absolutely crazy because usually that happens in 3 -4 years to develop into that he's a special defenseman a generation talent for sure

That still leaves 5 guys that should be studs, or at least good players by now
(What's the deal with Nurse btw? Do they feel they need to bring him along extra slowly for some reason?)

And they could've made other picks in those spots, or potentially traded those picks for a really nice return one would think.

Bottom line is that the Oilers should be MUCH better after picking so highly for so long

No offense, I actually own an Oilers jersey
Just how I see it
- jdfitz77

Hindsight on drafting is bs imo.
No one considers drafting trouba at 1 over yaks or Murray.

Yeah, I'm not sure I can agree that the oilers "should" be better. Had things/player so/free agency circumstances/drafting prior to rebuild etc etc gone abit differently, they could be much better

Anybody that is saying Ekblad is not a franchise defenseman is only fooling himself and making themselves look idiotic

I myself was wrong about him I thought he would be another Seth Jones ..

he's already in elite defenseman at this age it's absolutely crazy because usually that happens and 3 -4 years to develop into that he's a special defenseman a generation talent for sure
- gerbe75pts

Must be all that help he gets from playing with Soupy.

Eberle was a late round pick so he should even be in the convo

But yeah,

Hall was the only bonafide franchise player drafted. One can continue to harp on draft position all they want, but if you draft the consensus guy and he isn't that, that's all there is to it.

Love the nuge, but he's no Tavares or ksne. A great two way center going forward for sure, but franchise guy? No. And he's just becoming that now, he's also been developing into that for awhile.

Leon/nurse/Connor all first time real crack at it.
- HB77

There is an article regarding 18yr old hockey stars and the mindset that is needed to become a star. Think about what you wanted to do in life at 18. Some have all the talent but no drive too excel as a professional hockey player. It's a big decision and commitment at 18/19. Some find out they don't have it and just go through the motions and take their paycheck that they received based on potential.

That is just baloney. Just strip it down to sound better there?


Here let me spin it...

We traded a 3rd round pick and returned their 2 very late 2nd round picks for a 3rd and 4th rounder. Did I do it better to help you?

You are all good Fitz. I think Fasching is A LOT better than people give credit for. PPG player and better college stats than Stepan.
- JVince11

1) ppg in college is not a big deal!!!
Last time I checked, Fasching was something like 47th in the nation in scoring

2) Stepan's point totals in college in NO WAY represent the player Faschong may or may not become
How many points did Rodrigues have last year?
Why are we talking about what a stud prospect he is?
How many guys have more points than Fasching in Stephan's year that never made it to the NHL?

Must be all that help he gets from playing with Soupy.
- JVince11

Ii was really hard for me to say that because I for one hate drafting defensemen but I was totally wrong about him

Hindsight on drafting is bs imo.
No one considers drafting trouba at 1 over yaks or Murray.

Yeah, I'm not sure I can agree that the oilers "should" be better. Had things/player so/free agency circumstances/drafting prior to rebuild etc etc gone abit differently, they could be much better
- HB77

Go beyond the drafting is my opinion... whether it be via trade or UFA.. they have not been able to build a balanced team.

They probably could have traded back from a 1st or traded one of them now to get more balanced.

That is my issue with them. They know their issue but haven't really addressed it well enough.

Nurse, Klefbom, and Sekera could be a solid top 4 setup but they need a top tier guy in that group IMO. All 3 of them are probably best suited as 2nd pairing material IMO.

I thought RNH would be that kind of player for you when they drafted him and I am surprised he is not.
- kingcong39

Everybody did

He's got a ton of tools, but a 90 point guy he is not. And now with Connor/Leon I think he's the odd man out.

But don't get me wrong, he's developed into a guy (he's only 22) that can be an elite two way 65+ point center for years to come. Still a great player, and maybe he will become that franchise center. But he hadn't been that yet

1) ppg in college is not a big deal!!!
Last time I checked, Fasching was something like 47th in the nation in scoring

2) Stepan's point totals in college in NO WAY represent the player Faschong may or may not become
How many points did Rodrigues have last year?
Why are we talking about what a stud prospect he is?
How many guys have more points than Fasching in Stephan's year that never made it to the NHL?
- jdfitz77

Dude.. I get it... not everyone is high on Fasching. I do think a 2 way physical forward like Fasching being a PPG player on a gutted Minnesota team is impressive. You don't.

Fasching is not gonna lead the league in scoring.. he isn't going to break records but I do think he is a darn good 2 way player. I see him as a 2nd line winger with a game much line Girgnesons but with more scoring upside.

That is my opinion. Agree to disagre perhaps.