What’s your definition of inconsistent? Years missing the playoffs? The past is the past, nothing you can do to change that.

It was Peters first year. Over a third our roster is new. We had the second youngest team in the NHL this year, and if Valimaki didn’t lose 2+ months to the dreaded high ankle sprain, we would have had the youngest.

We’re only going to get better. The future is very bright in Cowtown. If it’s consecutive years making the playoffs you want for consistency, you’ll be getting it for years to come. You can count on it.
- Flamin_Irishmin

All sounds great in writing but let’s see how it all plays out next year for you guys is all I’m saying....I’m still hoping at some point we can see another BOA playoff battle so to a degree I want you guys to succeed

Fair point, but by that metric is Winnipeg no longer elite? They lost in the first round. How about Nashville? Tampa Bay?

I guess the truth is, after our and R80’s chat, definitions of elite are different to some than others. I am fine with not being considered elite then. You guys win. I will settle for “a decent team” for now. Next year at this time however, we shall see..
- Flamin_Irishmin

I wouldnt say they have a decent team. They have a damned good team. But to be considered elite it has to happen more consistently.

You should present the "(frank) Off Awards"
- Reveen.

I will do something with that.

I will do something with that.
- RafiDRW

Call them “the Alfies”

Call them “the Alfies”
- RatedR80

I might just do that.

All 4 division leaders bounced.

All 4 division leaders bounced.
- wreckage

Mahoney might get an interview now that the Caps are out and McCrimmon as well

Mahoney might get an interview now that the Caps are out and McCrimmon as well
- RatedR80

Everything's lining up perfectly for Bob to (frank) things up a second time

All 4 division leaders bounced.
- wreckage

I really should have laid more coin down on bets this year. Only teams that (frank)ed me were Tampa and Vegas.

I really should have laid more coin down on bets this year. Only teams that (frank)ed me were Tampa and Vegas.
- Wildschwein

I should've placed real money on my two underdog picks. I won 20 and 40 on them respectively off a friend.

Priceless

Wow are you ever a butt hurt little Oilers fan.

30 teams will not win the Stanley Cup every year. I guess that makes the rest of the NHL teams a bunch of losers, huh.

Does losing in the playoffs hurt? Yes. Do we have to shake it off? Yes.

Do we have an incredibly bright future ahead of us? Yes.

You speak of deflection in every single one of your posts when the only one really deflecting is you. And you know it. You must be a sad sad little man. I feel sorry for you.
- Flamin_Irishmin

The Flames got schooled in the playoffs. I get that your above statement is the only thing that will take the sting away from an epic choke job but that makes you no better than us

When a team wins their conference, you don’t consider them elite?! Like what are your (frank)ing standards?! Holy shît dude, I know you to be smarter than this.

By that standard Tampa Bay isn’t elite either. What colour is the sky in your world these days R80? Have you jumped on the team bashing train like so many fools just to make yourself feel better?! Comon dude, your better than this.

Sounds like you need a vacation friend lol.
- Flamin_Irishmin

1) The Flames won the division not the conference.
2) Tampa has had repeated playoff success despite not winning a cup.

What’s your definition of inconsistent? Years missing the playoffs? The past is the past, nothing you can do to change that.

It was Peters first year. Over a third our roster is new. We had the second youngest team in the NHL this year, and if Valimaki didn’t lose 2+ months to the dreaded high ankle sprain, we would have had the youngest.

We’re only going to get better. The future is very bright in Cowtown. If it’s consecutive years making the playoffs you want for consistency, you’ll be getting it for years to come. You can count on it.
- Flamin_Irishmin

The future is bright... you guys could be the next Quebec. Put together an amazing young team just in time to move to Houston and have them win the cup in the first year.

Fair point, but by that metric is Winnipeg no longer elite? They lost in the first round. How about Nashville? Tampa Bay?

I guess the truth is, after our and R80’s chat, definitions of elite are different to some than others. I am fine with not being considered elite then. You guys win. I will settle for “a decent team” for now. Next year at this time however, we shall see..
- Flamin_Irishmin

Tampa, Nashville and Winnipeg have a history of playoff success and tend to win more than one game in the playoffs.

The oilers need to be calling for nylander like now.

We’ve got the hard working bottom 6 types Babcock loves. Add a good pick or a solid prospect and let’s make this happen

The oilers need to be calling for nylander like now.

We’ve got the hard working bottom 6 types Babcock loves. Add a good pick or a solid prospect and let’s make this happen
- HB77

How would they dump salary to take on Nylander?

How would they dump salary to take on Nylander?
- RonPielep

Yeah that’s the thing....can’t really make major moves to add until we shed some cap

How would they dump salary to take on Nylander?
- RonPielep

The same way they would if they were to acquire any other substantial player.

Yeah that’s the thing....can’t really make major moves to add until we shed some cap
- RatedR80

The 10% offseason cap overage exists for a reason.

The same way they would if they were to acquire any other substantial player.
- MaximumBone

Okay then, so generally speaking, how will the Oil clear $7M in cap space to accommodate Nylander OR any other substantial player?

My guess is they won't.

The same way they would if they were to acquire any other substantial player.
- MaximumBone

Okay then, so generally speaking, how will the Oil clear $7M in cap space to accommodate Nylander OR any other substantial player?

My guess is they won't.
- RonPielep

We’ve got like what 9?
Gotta sign a backup and puju for sure. 2.5 puju? 1-2 for a backup short term.

So we’ve still got 5 to resign Rattie, jt and chiasson. Prob shouldn’t commit more than 3 total for all of em if you want em back.

So 2 left.

Russels gotta go regardless imo. There’s another 4 potentially. So we’ve got 6. Willie gets paid 7.
Maybe try and beg to move brodziak.

I mean sure, the next guy’s gotta get creative, but finding that money certainly isn’t Everest. And that’s just off the top of my head.
Honestly, if they don’t find a proven scoring winger to slot in the top 6, (at the very least) instead of forcing benson up there, expect another year like this one.
Def not in the top 3 in the pac anyway

Okay then, so generally speaking, how will the Oil clear $7M in cap space to accommodate Nylander OR any other substantial player?

My guess is they won't.
- RonPielep

They already have 8.4mil in cap space along with another 2-4mil around the corner in the likely increasing salary cap. We have 6 Dmen and 8 forwards currently signed. Beyond my usual schemes (retained trade of Russell, split retention of Lucic), buying out Gagner adds 2mil this year at the cost of 1mil the following year (1mil likely covered by the following cap increase). Buyout Sekera to save 3mil each year for years at the cost of 1.5mil in the two years following the contract (only makes sense if you're betting against a lockout). Trade Benning to a team in need of RD to save 1.9mil. Bury Brodziak for around 1mil in savings.

I'm not saying to do all these things, but there are plenty of options that can be taken advantage of if it means adding a high-end offensive forward to our team. Improving our middle-6 scoring is priority #1 as far as I'm concerned and adding Nylander to a 2nd line with Nuge does exactly that.

Do I think the Oilers will hire a manager capable of doing the lateral thinking required for this? No, but since when do we pontificate on what this dumb(frank) organization WILL do and not on what we want them to do?