Poor example, 90% of the league gets steam rolled by The Buff.

- Garnie

I just love Buff vs Avs gifs...he has no respect for my team

James why would the Oilers who are weak on D trade D for another D? To me it doesn't make sense. You have a guy like Nurse, keep him.

To me it makes more sense to trade from your strengths (forward) to fill a hole where your weak D. The Oilers have enough forwards that they can lose one if they can get an equally good player at the D position.

Trading their first rounder is an option but the D available this year looks good, If I am the Oiler GM I keep the pick.

I just love Buff vs Avs gifs...he has no respect for my team
- DDM-Coga

He has no respect for anyone

He can just throw his body around and pretty much nobody can step to him

It's impressive to watch, but it gets pretty frustrating when he plays against your team. No concern for anybody, just goes around wrecking shop with no retribution against him. Starting to really hate him

I think they're on the verge of having a team that compete next year for the Western Conference title and the Stanley Cup.

Here we go again...

I just love Buff vs Avs gifs...he has no respect for my team
- DDM-Coga

That is awesome.

He has no respect for anyone

He can just throw his body around and pretty much nobody can step to him

It's impressive to watch, but it gets pretty frustrating when he plays against your team. No concern for anybody, just goes around wrecking shop with no retribution against him. Starting to really hate him
- HB77

You gotta beat the man to be the man.

Should he let up a bit? I say (frank) that....wreck em while you can.

I wish my team had The Buff.

I just love Buff vs Avs gifs...he has no respect for my team
- DDM-Coga

That gif is just a few seconds too short.

You gotta beat the man to be the man.

Should he let up a bit? I say (frank) that....wreck em while you can.

I wish my team had The Buff.
- Garnie

You're not wrong

And for sure I'd be singing a different tune if he was on my team



It's a pretty fine line though from him dominating physically and just destroying anyone in his path with zero regard. And I've noticed that line has been crossed by him more and more these days.
Or maybe I'm just looking for it more, I dunno

But he's certainly a beast and if he's trying to intimidate, it's working well

James why would the Oilers who are weak on D trade D for another D? To me it doesn't make sense. You have a guy like Nurse, keep him.

To me it makes more sense to trade from your strengths (forward) to fill a hole where your weak D. The Oilers have enough forwards that they can lose one if they can get an equally good player at the D position.

Trading their first rounder is an option but the D available this year looks good, If I am the Oiler GM I keep the pick.
- sparky

I'd agree, in a perfect world. But what's the odds Nurse is the top liner he appears to eventually be bound to become THIS year? I'd trade the future for someone ready to help now, since McDavid is soon to eat up 10-12 million of your cap and you only have two years to get a huge edge.

Same with drafting - there likely isn't anyone ready to come in and be effective a la Ekblad, so trade it for someone who helps now.

Instead of dealing from your strength, rely on it. The D isn't currently that bad.

Yandle, Barrie, Klefbom, Sekara would be one of the better top-fours in the NHL.

If that's your top 4 and you have Mcdavid/Eberle, RNH/Hall, Draisaitl/Yakupov + wherever you want to slot Pouliot, and you also have this years and next years firsts to trade, in addition to whatever UFAs you can get, I see no reason this team isn't a contender.

Tanner, I like your blogs and often agree with your write ups...
However, your Quarter Flipping comparison is just wrong.
Quarters are inanimate and the past has no effect emotionally on it.

If you don't think that all the negativity of playing for the Oilers doesn't sink in and effect how these guys play in the future, I think you are wrong. Not that it can't change, but it takes time.

In terms of the topic's title....no they actually can't.

If the Oilers won't touch their core then they don't have enough valuable pieces to get what they need. But sure if they want to keep repeating the same cycle of the last half-decade then they should feel free to just quietly tinker with minor pieces.

Need to rotate out at least part of the core that hasn't been able to escape the bottom of the standings.

Tanner, I like your blogs and often agree with your write ups...
However, your Quarter Flipping comparison is just wrong.
Quarters are inanimate and the past has no effect emotionally on it.

If you don't think that all the negativity of playing for the Oilers doesn't sink in and effect how these guys play in the future, I think you are wrong. Not that it can't change, but it takes time.
- Cooshie

Nah, it's a good analogy. Analogies aren't meant to be exact. But last year's 29th place finish has nothing to say about where a healthy Oilers team could finish next year.

Sure, there is carryover, and I assume anyone isn't taking my analogy to the most minute and pedantic application possible.

Nah, it's a good analogy. Analogies aren't meant to be exact. But last year's 29th place finish has nothing to say about where a healthy Oilers team could finish next year.

Sure, there is carryover, and I assume anyone isn't taking my analogy to the most minute and pedantic application possible.
- James_Tanner

David Duval loves your coin toss analogy.

In terms of the topic's title....no they actually can't.

If the Oilers won't touch their core then they don't have enough valuable pieces to get what they need. But sure if they want to keep repeating the same cycle of the last half-decade then they should feel free to just quietly tinker with minor pieces.

Need to rotate out at least part of the core that hasn't been able to escape the bottom of the standings.
- FlareKnight

While for the most part I agree that they should look to acquire impact guys through their impact guys.

But just for argument sake,
trading the 4th for immediate help, signing a quality free agent (goligoski).
along with a healthy klefbom and Furthur development from nurse and Davidson;

it could turn around pretty quickly without touching the core.

Admittedly, that's a lot of things that need to go right. But a healthy klefbom and development from nurse/Davidson is at bare minimum likely.
As is signing a free agent. As is attempting to move the 4th

I think they're on the verge of having a team that compete next year for the Western Conference title and the Stanley Cup.

- James Tanner

I feel like I'm having deja vu...

Nah, it's a good analogy. Analogies aren't meant to be exact. But last year's 29th place finish has nothing to say about where a healthy Oilers team could finish next year.

Sure, there is carryover, and I assume anyone isn't taking my analogy to the most minute and pedantic application possible.
- James_Tanner

It's a terrible analogy. Following your logic teams who perform like poop shouldn't make any changes because their past has performance has no impact on next season. Actually the two things are inherently linked (assuming it's at least partially the same team) and are not at all independent events. So yeah, it's a garbage analogy and it's classic Tanner logic at its finest.

6 years already, wow

At least this time it was not a guarantee but....

I am not sold on Talbot being an above average starting goalie but I guess you CAN say he is an above average NHL goalie as that doubles the number of goalies by including back up goalies.

after the 1st 2 steps...things get difficult

1) it makes sense to keep the 3 but might not be possible
2) the old don;t sell low does apply
3) can't disagree and would be surprised if they did not know that
4) Colorado is not rebuilding...they are in the same boat as the oilers..need to rebalance their roster so a Nurse for Barrie swap does not make sense in fact I am not sure trading Nurse is a smart decision as I think he is going to be a beast if developed correctly
5) Draft picks for Dmen and and elite defensive forwards...can't disagree with that
6) Signing older well rounded vets...makes sense and can;t fault it
7) Sign Yandle by overpaying..sure but doubtful he would take a 2 year contract as you said...

You are advocating that the oilers replace 1/2 their defence...that will be a tall order without touching the core but I guess you did not add a keep Eberle point so....

Nah, it's a good analogy. Analogies aren't meant to be exact. But last year's 29th place finish has nothing to say about where a healthy Oilers team could finish next year.

Sure, there is carryover, and I assume anyone isn't taking my analogy to the most minute and pedantic application possible.
- James_Tanner

OK.

Great blog.

Agree with basic premise. I think the Oilers do become an elite team this year and they go on a long run over a bunch of years as contenders. I think McDavid runs away with the scoring title and I think it is the beginning of a long string of successful years for the Oiler franchise.

But, I would not trade Nurse. DMen, especially Dmen with good wheels, are precious. I think the key piece to move is one on Hall, NuHop or Draisaitl along with the #4 for an elite Dman. You might have to add an additional skater but it would get you a top 5 Dman. Cap starved teams will be desperate for relief. Guys like Keith, Letang, Weber and even Doughty could be available for the right kind of mix.

When you have the assets that Edmonton has it gives Chiarelli a shot at shooting for the top player (Dman) that might be available. I think LA has great potential as a trading partner. They are capped out. There player base is well passed peak performance. They are getting close to having to look at some kind of rebuild. I would go hard after Doughty and then I would place my money on the Oil next year.

Sorry, but that coin flip analogy is both ridiculous and totally incorrect. The fact that it was prefaced with "as any half-way intelligent person can tell you" is priceless.

When you have a season as bad as the Oilers had after their track record of underachievement, after bringing in a new GM and coach, and after adding the likes of McDavid, Draisaitl, Sekera, Nurse, and Talbot to the roster... well, I'm sorry but changes are going to happen. Talk about a Stanley Cup contention if you want, but it's no coin flip to move up from the 2nd worst record in the league, and being bottom-5 in both Goals For and Goals Against.

Unfortunately for the Oilers, teams not only know how desperate they're going to be to try to right their ship with a big trade, but also that the Oilers are dripping with young assets and their GM still has the blood of the Tyler Seguin trade on his hands. Good luck getting a fair offer or negotiation in that environment. Signing Yandle would be a good start, but there are still a lot of holes in the roster.

I thought he was using the coin flip to reference whether Oilers would be decimated by injuries again this year.

Hahahahaha! Thanks for the laugh James. Here let me help you.

As any half-way intelligent person can tell you, if you flip a coin and get heads ten times in a row, you know you will get tails eventually. If you follow this analogy and apply it to the Oilers (who coincidentally have missed the playoffs for ten straight years), what it means is that if you keep guessing this is the year they make the playoffs you will eventually be correct.

Keep hope alive....keep guessing Oilers!

BTW, Nurse is going to be good, if he gets proper coaching.

Sorry, but that coin flip analogy is both ridiculous and totally incorrect. The fact that it was prefaced with "as any half-way intelligent person can tell you" is priceless.

When you have a season as bad as the Oilers had after their track record of underachievement, after bringing in a new GM and coach, and after adding the likes of McDavid, Draisaitl, Sekera, Nurse, and Talbot to the roster... well, I'm sorry but changes are going to happen. Talk about a Stanley Cup contention if you want, but it's no coin flip to move up from the 2nd worst record in the league, and being bottom-5 in both Goals For and Goals Against.

Unfortunately for the Oilers, teams not only know how desperate they're going to be to try to right their ship with a big trade, but also that the Oilers are dripping with young assets and their GM still has the blood of the Tyler Seguin trade on his hands. Good luck getting a fair offer or negotiation in that environment. Signing Yandle would be a good start, but there are still a lot of holes in the roster.
- khawk

IMO you don't trade if you aren't getting at least close to equal value. How is that helping your organization moving forward by making losing trades just because everyone thinks you need to make trades.