I don't know that I even have a preference. I just think Tippett will like Willy's style in that role than Jones'. Not a knock on Jones, of course. I appreciate his higher-octane style, but it'll depend on what Tippett prefers in this go-around: will he stick to his recent history and go low-variance or will he lean high-variance this time?

Either way...

Legs/Jones- Bear
Lowe- Bouchard
Samorukov- Day


- MaximumBone

that’s going to be fun to watch plus Maksimov (who I feel has the highest potential of the forward group) makes his debut

We've already got one. Russell and Puljujarvi for Pysyk and a pick (and maybe Sceviour if they want to shed more cap).
- MaximumBone

I would still do it without a second thought

Woke up today and still cant believe Lucic is actually gone... even though we have heard all the rumours since the end of the season I never actually thought there was anything to them

Woke up today and still cant believe Lucic is actually gone... even though we have heard all the rumours since the end of the season I never actually thought there was anything to them
- Lemmewinks

I feel the worst for Iggysbff becasue of how big of a PC supporter/sympathizer/appoligizer, he was and how stoked he was when the Oil signed Looch.

Now it's like everything PC did in the past few years has been erased.....poor, poor Iggy

Lucic- "It was important to go to a contending team, a team that was playing meaningful hockey on a night-to-night basis."

Maybe if you were a meaningful player as advertised we might have been playing more meaningful games too.....good riddance

I feel the worst for Iggysbff becasue of how big of a PC supporter/sympathizer/appoligizer, he was and how stoked he was when the Oil signed Looch.

Now it's like everything PC did in the past few years has been erased.....poor, poor Iggy
- ruttager17

Quit stealing my jokes sluttager.

Lucic- "It was important to go to a contending team, a team that was playing meaningful hockey on a night-to-night basis."

Maybe if you were a meaningful player as advertised we might have been playing more meaningful games too.....good riddance
- RatedR80

Like he really had a say in where he was going.


How many clubs showed any level of interest in acquiring him?

Like he really had a say in where he was going.


How many clubs showed any level of interest in acquiring him?
- golfingsince

Hard to say tbh......I think a team might take a chance if it was at 3 mil per season as opposed to 6 but yes I can’t see a scenario where a long line of teams would be interested in him.....everything he has said since he was traded suggests he was full of poop his whole time here.....it was too hard for him apparently.....he was asked to lead and play physical top 6 hockey and it just got too difficult for him 😭.....I just wonder how difficult it was for him to cash in all those pay cheque’s

Hard to say tbh......I think a team might take a chance if it was at 3 mil per season as opposed to 6 but yes I can’t see a scenario where a long line of teams would be interested in him.....everything he has said since he was traded suggests he was full of poop his whole time here.....it was too hard for him apparently.....he was asked to lead and play physical top 6 hockey and it just got too difficult for him 😭.....I just wonder how difficult it was for him to cash in all those pay cheque’s
- RatedR80

I agree, the contract is the anchor.

There's no way he goes unsigned this season if he's a UFA, just nowhere near his current price.

I make the same argument for Neal or even LE.

I agree, the contract is the anchor.

There's no way he goes unsigned this season if he's a UFA, just nowhere near his current price.

I make the same argument for Neal or even LE.
- golfingsince

If I had to choose between Neal, Lucic or LE in their current forms I would take Neal and not because he is an Oiler now but because of the 3 I think he has the best chance of having a good year

Interested to see the direction the Puljujarvi problem goes. Assuming he doesn't decide to sign, I would still be interested in the previously discussed Puljujarvi for Wood trade. Throw a contract Lindberg's way and I think the bottom of the roster starts to take shape. It's still below league-average but at least it looks better.

Benson/Jurco- RNH- Neal
Wood- Khaira- Archibald
Granlund- Lindberg- Chiasson
Nygard, Haas

Yamo- Marody- Currie
Gambo- Cave- Russell
Maksim- McLeod- Gagner

Curious what other names might come up in 1-for-1 Puljujarvi discussions.

Personally I am hoping Rum Sunset makes the Oilers top 6. I have become very fond of him over the past few days and am expecting big things.

Quit stealing my jokes sluttager.
- RonPielep

Pretty sure I started this back when PC hired pooch and after trading hall for a studd dman the team needed In Larsson and Iggy was the first to flock to PC's defense.

Personally I am hoping Rum Sunset makes the Oilers top 6. I have become very fond of him over the past few days and am expecting big things.
- freelancer

You're (frank)ing trashed right now man.

You're (frank)ing trashed right now man.
- leonkennedy

He's perma trashed

Personally I am hoping Rum Sunset makes the Oilers top 6. I have become very fond of him over the past few days and am expecting big things.
- freelancer

I like his name and would like to meet his mom.

Pretty sure I started this back when PC hired pooch and after trading hall for a studd dman the team needed In Larsson and Iggy was the first to flock to PC's defense.
- leonkennedy

But have you ever summoned the devil himself? In a Hallfan blog no less.

If you aim to cheat the devil, you owe him an offering.

But have you ever summoned the devil himself? In a Hallfan blog no less.

If you aim to cheat the devil, you owe him an offering.
- RonPielep

Hallfan hasn’t written anything in a long time.

But have you ever summoned the devil himself? In a Hallfan blog no less.

If you aim to cheat the devil, you owe him an offering.
- RonPielep

Oh Tanner.

Well, slap me silly.

Gotta give Holland his credit. To be able to offload Lucic and his NMC... that's pretty big, especially going into the expansion draft.


I still don't know why Calgary, a RIVAL, made that trade...

Nonetheless, I wonder what layout Holland will use when it comes to protecting players?
- EdmHockeyMan

Cause Neil was so far into the nose candy that it was affecting the team chemistry. Not sure why you guys were worried about Loochs not trade contract you didn’t have 7 forwards that needed protecting.

Cause Neil was so far into the nose candy that it was affecting the team chemistry. Not sure why you guys were worried about Loochs not trade contract you didn’t have 7 forwards that needed protecting.
- K-man25

No, but we might have 8 skaters if even a fraction of our prospects (Bear, Jones, Bouchard, Benson, Yamamoto, Lagesson, etc) pan out.

What’s more, Lucic wasn’t working here. This is known. Sad but true. Neal himself very well might not work out either. But then again, maybe he will. I for one will take a maybe without an NMC, over a doesn’t with an NMC every day of the week.

Both teams probably benefit from this deal. Only time will show who benefits more.

Everyone has been fleecing EDM for paying a bottom-6 forward $6M. That’s why Todd tried to shoehorn him into the top-6 for 2.5 years. Calgary already has Lucic slotted for a bottom-6 role and somehow Flames fans/pundits consider this a win. I have to say, a few fights and hits cost A LOT less than that in the NHL. A bigger win for the Flames would have been to get an unconditional 2nd or 3rd rounder for Neal, accept the loss, and sign Maroon for $1M for a year or two. It is an absolute flogging that Holland somehow unloaded this contract... on the teams biggest rival.

I say this with the utmost respect for Lucic. He is a very intelligent man. He knows the CTE risks for a bruiser in this league. Flames fans, HE DOESN’T WANT TO FIGHT ANYMORE. Anyone expecting him to drop em every time Johnny gets pasted is going to be dissatisfied.

Everyone has been fleecing EDM for paying a bottom-6 forward $6M. That’s why Todd tried to shoehorn him into the top-6 for 2.5 years. Calgary already has Lucic slotted for a bottom-6 role and somehow Flames fans/pundits consider this a win. I have to say, a few fights and hits cost A LOT less than that in the NHL. A bigger win for the Flames would have been to get an unconditional 2nd or 3rd rounder for Neal, accept the loss, and sign Maroon for $1M for a year or two. It is an absolute flogging that Holland somehow unloaded this contract... on the teams biggest rival.

I say this with the utmost respect for Lucic. He is a very intelligent man. He knows the CTE risks for a bruiser in this league. Flames fans, HE DOESN’T WANT TO FIGHT ANYMORE. Anyone expecting him to drop em every time Johnny gets pasted is going to be dissatisfied.
- fightobesity

Just 2 teams trading for something they both needed. Calgary gets toughness, Edmonton gets a winger that may bounce back. I wouldn’t get too excited yet. Both players are slow so that’s a wash.

Just 2 teams trading for something they both needed. Calgary gets toughness, Edmonton gets a winger that may bounce back. I wouldn’t get too excited yet. Both players are slow so that’s a wash.
- K-man25

Believe me, nowhere did say either team should be excited about this deal. The true winner remains to be seen but I don’t think you can call it successful for Calgary if Lucic gets in a few strategically placed fights, hits a few guys who just successfully passed the puck, and cashes a $5M+ paycheck. The math doesn’t work in this cap climate. It’s been easy to take a s#!+ on the oilers lately (and rightly so), but Holland deserves some props for this one, even if Neal flops as an Oiler. They’re at least going to pay someone $5M+ to play in the top 6. If it doesn’t work out, the buyout is now at least an option.