Well, their first move was pretty solid, so I'll wait to pass judgement.
- BINGO!

Which move was that ?

Which move was that ?
- Reveen.

Dumping Marcus Kruger for Martinook.

Saved a little cap space while spending a little more actual money. Martinook is basically a bigger, cheaper, more physical version of Kruger.

High pick? New owner that just fired a "Respected Hockey Man"? Hell yeah we're going to fabricate some drama that will come to nothing once draft day comes around.
- BINGO!

This whole Ron Francis was a respected hockey man is driving me nuts.

Guy does (frank) all and is respected for it?

We need to stop drafting band aids (Benson, Pitlick and Klefbom) plus the North American kids are less likely to bolt (Omark, Lander, Yakimov, Yakupov, Slepyshev, Pakarinen, and Paigin) all come to mind.

Mac-T had a Russian fetish while other teams would pass them over. I think extra due diligence is need with Euro players and Russians for the most part should be avoided (KHL threat).
- Reveen.

But that's because those guys were pretty much AHLers that didn't want to be here anymore as they can make more in europe. Really have no issue with them leaving.

Dumping Marcus Kruger for Martinook.

Saved a little cap space while spending a little more actual money. Martinook is basically a bigger, cheaper, more physical version of Kruger.
- BINGO!

I think Kruger will rebound this year.

Dumping Marcus Kruger for Martinook.

Saved a little cap space while spending a little more actual money. Martinook is basically a bigger, cheaper, more physical version of Kruger.
- BINGO!

That was a solid move... hopefully they can keep it up.

Judging someone off of a single playoffs isn’t too smart either though.
Other players have had off years then bring it in the next. Or vice versa they are average during a season then get hot for a single playoff run.
Doesn’t matter you’ll never change your opinion.
- Iggysbff

No I won’t because it’s not like Eberle just started playing that way. And I didn’t just start having this opinion of him.

Look how many of our recent euro draft picks have either not panned out or were constantly threatening to leave.
- Reveen.

Erik Gustafsson signed with the Blackhawks and Miroslav Svoboda just signed with the Predators. There’s 2 prospects just gone. Don’t know the reasoning behind either not wanting to come here

This whole Ron Francis was a respected hockey man is driving me nuts.

Guy does (frank) all and is respected for it?
- Lahey

The "Hockey Man" part is exactly why he was let go. The owner wants an analysis driven front office with the GM giving direction to the other parts, but with minimal actual decision making.

I think Kruger will rebound this year.
- Lahey

Nah. The guy was a healthy scratch for the first series of the AHL playoffs too.

Erik Gustafsson signed with the Blackhawks and Miroslav Svoboda just signed with the Predators. There’s 2 prospects just gone. Don’t know the reasoning behind either not wanting to come here
- Ihatebrianburke

Gustafsson, Rieder and now Svoboda potentially making something of himself in the bigs are 3 examples of Euros taken after the 2nd round since 2010. They're simply doing so with other teams... because Oilers.

The "Hockey Man" part is exactly why he was let go. The owner wants an analysis driven front office with the GM giving direction to the other parts, but with minimal actual decision making.
- BINGO!

If that's the case, is Rick Dudley really the type of guy you want leading such a group?

Erik Gustafsson signed with the Blackhawks and Miroslav Svoboda just signed with the Predators. There’s 2 prospects just gone. Don’t know the reasoning behind either not wanting to come here
- Ihatebrianburke

Did we want them is the question? Never heard a (frank)ing lick about either of them

Gustafsson, Rieder and now Svoboda potentially making something of himself in the bigs are 3 examples of Euros taken after the 2nd round since 2010. They're simply doing so with other teams... because Oilers.
- MaximumBone

Rieder wasn't going to sign with us. Oddly enough back then we had too many wingers

Rieder wasn't going to sign with us. Oddly enough back then we had too many wingers
- Lahey

All the reports I've read to understand the situation indicate that he was asking for low-1st round-level pay structure for his ELC (signing bonus/performance bonus) and the Oilers were unwilling to budge on giving him 4th round money. In combination with the depth chart ahead of him leaving limited opportunity to thrive in an offensive role (Hall, Eberle, Paajarvi and Yakupov) led to him refusing to sign. Makes complete sense for him that, if he isn't gonna be given a chance to succeed and he can't get some assurance of pay above league minimum, then why not refuse and re-enter the draft?

If that's the case, is Rick Dudley really the type of guy you want leading such a group?
- MaximumBone

I don't think Dudley's leading anybody at this point. He's mostly there to lead the Hockey Guys side.

Then there's Eric Tulsky leading the Data Guys side. The GM will ideally be somewhere in the middle with the assistant GMs compiling the data and making the actual phone calls.

All the reports I've read to understand the situation indicate that he was asking for low-1st round-level pay structure for his ELC (signing bonus/performance bonus) and the Oilers were unwilling to budge on giving him 4th round money. In combination with the depth chart ahead of him leaving limited opportunity to thrive in an offensive role (Hall, Eberle, Paajarvi and Yakupov) led to him refusing to sign. Makes complete sense for him that, if he isn't gonna be given a chance to succeed and he can't get some assurance of pay above league minimum, then why not refuse and re-enter the draft?
- MaximumBone

Which is fine, but is it really the Oilers fault? I'm not a fan of these guys coming in and wanting NHL spots right off the bat. It's bad enough we through guys to the wolves too early as it is. Don't need more just expecting it.

We lucked out with Slepy, Yakimov, Lander etc.. In them getting some AHL action in, but at the end of the day they just weren't good enough to play in the NHL. It's not like I see a list of teams trying to sign these guys. Slepy was on the block all year and no one took him. Lander was a great AHLer who I believe even cleared waivers. Isn't always on the team for guys not making it.

A lot of issues from the Oilers in development, but I'm not seeing a lot of these guys being much better elsewhere.

Did we want them is the question? Never heard a (frank)ing lick about either of them
- Lahey

You hearing a lick about them has no bearing on whether we should've wanted them. Gustafsson was producing well in the SHL before Edmonton chose not to sign him and Chicago swiped him up. He has since continued his quality offensive play and transition game to now showing great chemistry with Kane. Sure it's on a weak blueline, but he certainly wasn't being carried and seems likely to be a solid bet at a good #5 or #6 Dman.

Svoboda has been posting quality numbers at every level in the Czech league, but wasn't ready to come over last year in the final year of the Oilers' ownership of his draft rights. This time last year, he hadn't played in the top Czech league so it's totally fair that neither he nor Edmonton was in a hurry to test his mettle in the AHL or ECHL.

On a side note, if he does plan on staying in the NHL this year I'd take a run at MPS on a cheap contract.

Has speed, size, plays PK. Not sure you can count on much more than a 4th liner. But that added speed is where the NHL is going and we could use some guys battling for spots this year

You hearing a lick about them has no bearing on whether we should've wanted them. Gustafsson was producing well in the SHL before Edmonton chose not to sign him and Chicago swiped him up. He has since continued his quality offensive play and transition game to now showing great chemistry with Kane. Sure it's on a weak blueline, but he certainly wasn't being carried and seems likely to be a solid bet at a good #5 or #6 Dman.

Svoboda has been posting quality numbers at every level in the Czech league, but wasn't ready to come over last year in the final year of the Oilers' ownership of his draft rights. This time last year, he hadn't played in the top Czech league so it's totally fair that neither he nor Edmonton was in a hurry to test his mettle in the AHL or ECHL.
- MaximumBone

I would think one of the many guys that bashes the oilers in the blogosphere or on their show would've made it known that these guys were good.



Gustafsson was talked about a lot early this year after a stretch a good games, haven't heard much of him since. Not sure I'm overly concerned about losing a bottom pairing d-man who is already 26 and not doing a lot

It's also not like either has done anything and teams lose prospects like this all the time.

Seems that losing Gustafsson is damn near similar to NJ giving up on Auvitu. A loss, but not something you shouldn't be able to replace.

The fact that we are concerned about losing fringe NHLers is just so wrong as well.

Focus should be on not having wingers to push Yamo and Pool Party. Not having some sort of response for Sekera going down for the year.

Once we have players filled out in the spots that get a lot of ice time we can worry about 4th liners and bottom pairing d-men leaving the organization

Which is fine, but is it really the Oilers fault? I'm not a fan of these guys coming in and wanting NHL spots right off the bat. It's bad enough we through guys to the wolves too early as it is. Don't need more just expecting it.

We lucked out with Slepy, Yakimov, Lander etc.. In them getting some AHL action in, but at the end of the day they just weren't good enough to play in the NHL. It's not like I see a list of teams trying to sign these guys. Slepy was on the block all year and no one took him. Lander was a great AHLer who I believe even cleared waivers. Isn't always on the team for guys not making it.

A lot of issues from the Oilers in development, but I'm not seeing a lot of these guys being much better elsewhere.
- Lahey

It's absolutely the Oilers' fault that they weren't open to negotiating what was at the time among their best forward prospects. He wasn't demanding an NHL spot; he wanted to be paid based off how he had produced instead of where he was picked (entirely reasonable to almost every other team in the league). The fact that the future on the wings looked set likely just served to further realize he wouldn't get anywhere with the Oil.

As far as the others, it's hard to say if they would've been better off elsewhere. It depends how willing you are to ignore the consistent shortcomings of the Oilers' development process in favour of a view that those players simply weren't good enough. Effectively, you end up asking the question of whether a player's success is more influenced by the system in which he is developed or if it's more a result of his skill.

I think it's near the middle with a lean towards development system; you seem of the belief it's more to do with the players skill. I can go further as to why I believe what I do, but it's hard to define who's right and who's wrong in a discussion like this because we don't have exact parallels we can point to to prove or disprove our positions.

Erik Gustafsson signed with the Blackhawks and Miroslav Svoboda just signed with the Predators. There’s 2 prospects just gone. Don’t know the reasoning behind either not wanting to come here
- Ihatebrianburke

Edmonton let them walk

It's absolutely the Oilers' fault that they weren't open to negotiating what was at the time among their best forward prospects. He wasn't demanding an NHL spot; he wanted to be paid based off how he had produced instead of where he was picked (entirely reasonable to almost every other team in the league). The fact that the future on the wings looked set likely just served to further realize he wouldn't get anywhere with the Oil.

As far as the others, it's hard to say if they would've been better off elsewhere. It depends how willing you are to ignore the consistent shortcomings of the Oilers' development process in favour of a view that those players simply weren't good enough. Effectively, you end up asking the question of whether a player's success is more influenced by the system in which he is developed or if it's more a result of his skill.

I think it's near the middle with a lean towards development system; you seem of the belief it's more to do with the players skill. I can go further as to why I believe what I do, but it's hard to define who's right and who's wrong in a discussion like this because we don't have exact parallels we can point to to prove or disprove our positions.
- MaximumBone

It's definitely a team issue as well, but it's not like can't miss prospects are the ones busting or not developing.

I'm not too fond of our AHL club the past years and do think if guys like Nurse, Benning and Caggiula to name a few came through Bakersfield then people would be ecstatic that our farm team is doing something. Unfortunately we never had the depth to push these guys down. I think the disappointment is more from the lack of 2nd and 3rd round picks not being there as well. 14 and 15 we didn't have those picks. Those are hopefully the picks that should be in the AHL getting the development and should be your impact guys. But expecting a team who's always drafting first with no 2nd and 3rds, what can you really expect to develop?

Luckily we've signed some college guys. Unforutnately a lot are straight to the NHL

Gustafsson was talked about a lot early this year after a stretch a good games, haven't heard much of him since. Not sure I'm overly concerned about losing a bottom pairing d-man who is already 26 and not doing a lot.
- Lahey

That's either a lie or you're not paying attention. He did great work in a second pair role in Chicago after being called up late in the year and continued to do so until the last game. Considering how he played both this year and two years ago, he looks like a very solid bet at a cheap, 3rd pairing guy that can play the point on the PP going forward. I believe this has a good deal of value and certainly shouldn't be undersold.