Only +7 on a team that's -28. Clearly only a 1 way player. And cant perform without McDavid.
- wreckage

No it’s like he doesn’t care out there at all....what a waste of 8.5 mil

I got it. Took me a minute.
- tomburton99

Thanks for being a good sport Tom. 👍

Good game by Sekera too....surprised on how he has played since his return
- RatedR80

Kevin and Louie described him as "ice in his veins" and I don't think there's a more accurate way to describe him. Whether he's playing 2RD or dominating at 3LD, he'll be a boon to the team so long as he remains healthy. His contract is one I can stomach so long as he's providing the level of play he's shown since his return.

Thanks for being a good sport Tom. 👍
- Wildschwein

Gonna keep this one for a while because the Rangers are stupid female genitalias.

Apparently Oilers will know more on Klef tomorrow but Hitch expects he will be ok

Gonna keep this one for a while because the Rangers are stupid female genitalias.
- tomburton99

Perhaps come lottery time, it’ll gift you with a reverse jinx of sorts.[/img]

Kevin and Louie described him as "ice in his veins" and I don't think there's a more accurate way to describe him. Whether he's playing 2RD or dominating at 3LD, he'll be a boon to the team so long as he remains healthy. His contract is one I can stomach so long as he's providing the level of play he's shown since his return.
- MaximumBone

My only concern with him was how he would perform coming off another injury....I thought maybe an effective bottom pairing for the rest of this season....he has risen to the occasion and then some

Apparently Oilers will know more on Klef tomorrow but Hitch expects he will be ok
- RatedR80

Nurse could always loan Klefbom some of his.

Only +7 on a team that's -28. Clearly only a 1 way player. And cant perform without McDavid.
- wreckage

Meanwhile, defensively-elite Auston Matthews is a -3 on a +47 team while Kadri and Tavares are usually used for the harder matchups

Nurse could always loan Klefbom some of his.
- Wildschwein

would it be wrong at that point to refer to Klef as an Oreo?

My only concern with him was how he would perform coming off another injury....I thought maybe an effective bottom pairing for the rest of this season....he has risen to the occasion and then some
- RatedR80

Yup. I was hesitant to count on him given the nature of his injuries but he's made that decision between him and Russell a no-brainer. Trade Russell with 1 or 1.5 retained or buy him out. Either way, there's another ~2.5mil for use on forwards.

Yup. I was hesitant to count on him given the nature of his injuries but he's made that decision between him and Russell a no-brainer. Trade Russell with 1 or 1.5 retained or buy him out. Either way, there's another ~2.5mil for use on forwards.
- MaximumBone

If he can make it to pre season without getting injured again that would be a good thing for us but yes as it stands the choice between him and Russell is an easy one

If he can make it to pre season without getting injured again that would be a good thing for us but yes as it stands the choice between him and Russell is an easy one
- RatedR80

Was it ever a question? I cant skate and am willing to block every shot I can get in front of. But I would happily play for league minimum.

Was it ever a question? I cant skate and am willing to block every shot I can get in front of. But I would happily play for league minimum.
- wreckage

I would argue that if Sekera gets another long term injury then he should be the one to go BUT there is LTIR too so I guess no matter how you spin it the choice is Russell

I would argue that if Sekera gets another long term injury then he should be the one to go BUT there is LTIR too so I guess no matter how you spin it the choice is Russell
- RatedR80

I would argue that seks at 60% is more valuable than Russell. I saw Russell get steamrolled 3 times tonight. He doesnt consistently produce offensively. Hes a 6-7 paid to be 4-5 at least. Seks is a 3-4 playing in about that ability, overpaid slightly because of injuries.

I would argue that seks at 60% is more valuable than Russell. I saw Russell get steamrolled 3 times tonight. He doesnt consistently produce offensively. Hes a 6-7 paid to be 4-5 at least. Seks is a 3-4 playing in about that ability, overpaid slightly because of injuries.
- wreckage

I actually fully agree with this. Russell is just DeKeyser bad.

I would argue that seks at 60% is more valuable than Russell. I saw Russell get steamrolled 3 times tonight. He doesnt consistently produce offensively. Hes a 6-7 paid to be 4-5 at least. Seks is a 3-4 playing in about that ability, overpaid slightly because of injuries.
- wreckage

Disagree- calling him a 6-7 is exaggerating. I think he's a 5 that gets paid like 3-4, but he's managing pretty well despite his obvious flaws. Not to limit the scope of the conversation, but the guy is continuing his trend of on-year, off-year and has been a mostly neutral influence on results.

Disagree- calling him a 6-7 is exaggerating. I think he's a 5 that gets paid like 3-4, but he's managing pretty well despite his obvious flaws. Not to limit the scope of the conversation, but the guy is continuing his trend of on-year, off-year and has been a mostly neutral influence on results.
- MaximumBone

Is he a 5 because he's on the Oilers, or would he be a 5 on a playoff team? I dont see him being the reliable presence on the bottom pairing on many playoff teams. He should be a 5-6 reliably at his rate. Could he be acceptable as the 6, sure, but he is paid to be a lot more than a 6. Regardless if he is on the Oilers or a playoff team. He is overpaid and it is a part of the reason they cant afford a top 6 winger. At least a lot of Seks money went to LTIR, if I recall correctly, and has been living up to close his value when healthy. And they HAD to slightly overpay for him when he signed due to our dire defensive situation at the time.

Good job last night with the win, boys. Especially since it was against the Rags. Only a handful of points out of a wildcard spot. Keep up the winning.

You guys hear the tidbit about the Oilers GM search seeming to be shying away from anyone that would make sweeping changes? Sounds like #OilersCulture
- MaximumBone

#BecauseCOilers

The moment Stuffer gets super defensive is when you know that's what the team is leaning towards
- MaximumBone

Ya because he got Gagner- which was one good move... But truth be told he also had input on resigning Koski- among others so IMO he is still a - ... but #COilers

Disagree- calling him a 6-7 is exaggerating. I think he's a 5 that gets paid like 3-4, but he's managing pretty well despite his obvious flaws. Not to limit the scope of the conversation, but the guy is continuing his trend of on-year, off-year and has been a mostly neutral influence on results.
- MaximumBone

Disagree on your disagreement. I would rather see Gravel or Benning out there instead of Russell, and that isn't giving any consideration to the salary, just the play on the ice. That puts him at least as a 7, not considering Jones might even be a better option too.

89 points now....if he wasn’t so lazy he would have 99
- RatedR80

I know this is sarcasm for you, I believe it might actually be true. His game over the past month is definitely stepped up over his game when the lazy narrative was being tossed out there. It is fairly obvious, IMO.

Something lit a fire under his ass, he looks much more interested and engaged.

Disagree on your disagreement. I would rather see Gravel or Benning out there instead of Russell, and that isn't giving any consideration to the salary, just the play on the ice. That puts him at least as a 7, not considering Jones might even be a better option too.
- Beergu

This is subjective, though. I'm talking about his actual results and, whether we like him or not, he's doing better at 2RD than any of those other Dmen you've mentioned. Like, substantially better.

Benning gets caved above the 3rd pairing, Russell only does every second year. Nothing about Gravel's play makes me think he'd do better up a pairing and on his offside and Jones got absolutely demolished in his top-4 time (sub-40 GF).

We may all prefer our group without him because of his style of play, but he's not without value and it's not like he's a worse option in his role than 6 or 7 other guys.

Have we hired a poopty GM yet ?