Any of you bro-turds read what Craig Button said recently? That the Russian factor is the stupidest thing ever and teams would be nuts to let Yakupov or Grigorenko get away from them basically. When like 2 weeks ago when he released his someone who is attracted to the opposite sex rankings he had Grigs at 20 because of the Russian factor.

Such a dippoop
- DTF69

There is such a thing as the "Russian Factor" especially in a year where there could be an NHL lockout. Where do you think Yaks, Grigs and Galchenyuk are going to go if they can't play in the NHL in the fall?

There is such a thing as the "Russian Factor" especially in a year where there could be an NHL lockout. Where do you think Yaks, Grigs and Galchenyuk are going to go if they can't play in the NHL in the fall?
- Maxbone

I'm not disputing that. Just that Button said it is a non factor and dumb, yet he queefed his period blood all over Grigs in his rankings because of the Russian factor.

I'm not disputing that. Just that Button said it is a non factor and dumb, yet he queefed his period blood all over Grigs in his rankings because of the Russian factor.
- DTF69

Oh, I see what you're saying. Yeah, Button doesn't make much sense sometimes. I find his player rankings to be ridiculous in places.

One thing a bunch of people noticed in the Oilers organization in between Prendergast and MacGregor is that MacGregor pays more attention to the work of scouting services. Apparently Prendergast was like Button...made some extreme lists, and loved all sorts of odd-ball players. The Oilers draft results during those years speak for themselves. If you compare draft service rankings to what the Oilers did under Predergast, compared to who was available...you'd have some pretty outstanding players here now if the Oilers paid more attention to consensus.

The Oilers scouting strategy now is extremely serious to the point of overkill. Before the draft, all the scouts and management get together to have a huge debate on how to construct the draft list. They use every piece of information they can find in constructing the list. The Oilers will tell you...and they absolutely mean this...that they honestly haven't decided who their top prospect is. They won't do so until the day before the draft. They aren't just saying this to be suspenseful. They actually do not pre-determine any ranking on their list until the day before.

And when they go into the draft, MacGregor, Lowe, Tambellini, and now MacTavish...could all be on the phones trying to work deals and improve draft position. If you look at what MacGregor, who leads this circus, has done over 2010 and 2011...well, in 2010, the Oilers had to let two decent prospects go, because they could have signed everyone. In most years, a team will draft 7 times and sign four or five. The Oilers signed 8 our of 10 from 2010. From 2011, the Oilers will sign at least seven of the prospects. A ridiculously high number, and all thanks to MacGregor and team's wizardry.

The Oilers currently have seven picks for the 2012 Entry Draft. 1st overall (1st round), 32nd overall (2nd round), 63rd and 91st overall (3rd round), 93rd overall (4th round), 123rd overall (5th round), and 153rd overall (6th round).

Perhaps the Oilers have scouts? Or maybe the Oil Kings played against the Winterhawks in the playoffs?
- Maxbone

That's not what you said at all

Oh, I see what you're saying. Yeah, Button doesn't make much sense sometimes. I find his player rankings to be ridiculous in places.

One thing a bunch of people noticed in the Oilers organization in between Prendergast and MacGregor is that MacGregor pays more attention to the work of scouting services. Apparently Prendergast was like Button...made some extreme lists, and loved all sorts of odd-ball players. The Oilers draft results during those years speak for themselves. If you compare draft service rankings to what the Oilers did under Predergast, compared to who was available...you'd have some pretty outstanding players here now if the Oilers paid more attention to consensus.

The Oilers scouting strategy now is extremely serious to the point of overkill. Before the draft, all the scouts and management get together to have a huge debate on how to construct the draft list. They use every piece of information they can find in constructing the list. The Oilers will tell you...and they absolutely mean this...that they honestly haven't decided who their top prospect is. They won't do so until the day before the draft. They aren't just saying this to be suspenseful. They actually do not pre-determine any ranking on their list until the day before.

And when they go into the draft, MacGregor, Lowe, Tambellini, and now MacTavish...could all be on the phones trying to work deals and improve draft position. If you look at what MacGregor, who leads this circus, has done over 2010 and 2011...well, in 2010, the Oilers had to let two decent prospects go, because they could have signed everyone. In most years, a team will draft 7 times and sign four or five. The Oilers signed 8 our of 10 from 2010. From 2011, the Oilers will sign at least seven of the prospects. A ridiculously high number, and all thanks to MacGregor and team's wizardry.

The Oilers currently have seven picks for the 2012 Entry Draft. 1st overall (1st round), 32nd overall (2nd round), 63rd and 91st overall (3rd round), 93rd overall (4th round), 123rd overall (5th round), and 153rd overall (6th round).
- Maxbone

And they hav ducks 2nd round

That's not what you said at all
- isles10289

Well, it is, you just interpreted it wrong.

Just a thought for you guys.... what if you traded your 1st rounder 2013, MPS, Anton Lander, omark for columbus first rounder 2012...


Eberle Nuge Hall

Gagne Galchenyuk Yakopov

Smyth Horcoff Hemsky

Jones ______ Eager

And they hav ducks 2nd round
- ryleybala22

That's next year

Any of you bro-turds read what Craig Button said recently? That the Russian factor is the stupidest thing ever and teams would be nuts to let Yakupov or Grigorenko get away from them basically. When like 2 weeks ago when he released his someone who is attracted to the opposite sex rankings he had Grigs at 20 because of the Russian factor.

Such a dippoop
- DTF69

There's something up with that (frank)er... He has actually sounded somewhat intelligent this past week.

There's something up with that (frank)er... He has actually sounded somewhat intelligent this past week.
- laughs2907

He photocopied some of Bobby Macs notes from his super secret notebook

Perhaps.

You could see a massive deal. Something like a 4 for 2 situation. Something like Sam Gagner, Theo Peckham, Magnus Paajarvi and Edmonton's 2nd round pick for Lubomir Visnovsky and Anaheim's 1st round pick (6th overall). The Ducks would get a stack of young players, and the Oilers would get an immediate Top 4 defenseman and a quality draft pick, in which they could take one of Forsberg, Grigorenko, Galchenyuk or Faksa (best center available).
- Maxbone

A bunch of young players that look like they will not amount to more than bottom six forwards or defense. Seriously? Not eve ONE SINGLE player you named will most likely be nearly as good as any player they pick at #6.

Wow.. Dude really starting to believe the comments about you being a serious homer after trade wars and comments like this. Visnovsky is one thing to off load for a couple players like that because of his age. But.. Top 10 drafted players can have star potential.. I bet you $100 right now that NO WAY in hell Anaheim moves their 6th over all for a package like that. Care to take my wager?

Unbelievable.

A bunch of young players that look like they will not amount to more than bottom six forwards or defense. Seriously? Not eve ONE SINGLE player you named will most likely be nearly as good as any player they pick at #6.

Wow.. Dude really starting to believe the comments about you being a serious homer after trade wars and comments like this. Visnovsky is one thing to off load for a couple players like that because of his age. But.. Top 10 drafted players can have star potential.. I bet you $100 right now that NO WAY in hell Anaheim moves their 6th over all for a package like that. Care to take my wager?

Unbelievable.
- Steve-B

Why would I take a wager like that? The odds are unbelievably stacked in your favor. Anaheim could make a good or a bad deal with 29 other teams. And most teams, anyway, keep their top 10 picks. I only bet on wagers I stand a chance of winning.

But back to the subject, was or wasn't Sam Gagner a top 10 pick? Does he play in the Top 6 of an NHL team. Does Paajarvi have Top 6 potential? Plenty of people think so.

Let's go through recent draft history, shall we? See what 6th overalls look like.

2011 - Mika Zibanejad. Solid prospect; has proven nothing at the NHL level yet.
2010 - Brent Connolly. I dare say Sam Gagner has done better so far than this guy.
2009 - Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Amazing pick. Dynamite player.
2008 - Nikita Filatov. A complete disaster. Awful pick.
2007 - Sam Gagner. Oh look.
2006 - Derick Brassard. A less-good version of Sam Gagner
2005 - Gilbert Brule. Almost as big of a disaster as Filatov
2004 - Al Montoya. You've got to be kidding.
2003 - Milan Michalek. A solid player. Decent stats.
2002 - Scottie Upshall - Plays in NHL; really hasn't put up Gagner-level stats
2001 - Mikku Koivu. Tremendous player.
2000 - Scott Hartnell. Took him 8 seasons before he put up a +50pts season

Have I done kicking your ass yet in this debate? No. Let me finish the job.

Zibanejad is too young to count in this fairly, so we'll leave him out. Since 2010, at the #6 overall position there have been three players drafted who are clearly better than Sam Gagner...4 if you count Hartnell, but it took him several seasons to get to that point. What's to say Sam doesn't turn into a 70pts guy next year?

How many picks were worst than Sam? Six by my count.

So with all of that being said, let me ask this question: Why do people who have no knowledge of the Oilers or the history of draft accuse me of being a homer and an idiot instead of looking stuff up and thinking before they write?

A bunch of young players that look like they will not amount to more than bottom six forwards or defense. Seriously? Not eve ONE SINGLE player you named will most likely be nearly as good as any player they pick at #6.

Wow.. Dude really starting to believe the comments about you being a serious homer after trade wars and comments like this. Visnovsky is one thing to off load for a couple players like that because of his age. But.. Top 10 drafted players can have star potential.. I bet you $100 right now that NO WAY in hell Anaheim moves their 6th over all for a package like that. Care to take my wager?

Unbelievable.
- Steve-B

Ugh Let's break this down.

Gagner = already top-6 forward (C)
Paajarvi = likely top-6 forward (LW)
Peckham = 5/6/7 defenseman (D)
2nd round pick = solid prospect

Visnovsky = #2 defenseman (D)
6th overall = blue chip prospect

ANA needs depth at C, LW, and D and are likely attempting to get younger. On paper, this deal fills more holes than it creates. While I will admit that Visnovsky may not be a likely guy to be traded considering that it would leave the team without a top D-man, the deal is on the right track. Remove your own bias before chastising others for theirs.

A bunch of young players that look like they will not amount to more than bottom six forwards or defense. Seriously? Not eve ONE SINGLE player you named will most likely be nearly as good as any player they pick at #6.

Wow.. Dude really starting to believe the comments about you being a serious homer after trade wars and comments like this. Visnovsky is one thing to off load for a couple players like that because of his age. But.. Top 10 drafted players can have star potential.. I bet you $100 right now that NO WAY in hell Anaheim moves their 6th over all for a package like that. Care to take my wager?

Unbelievable.
- Steve-B

You would have been better off just dragging your ass across the keyboard and pressing submit.

You would have been better off just dragging your ass across the keyboard and pressing submit.
- robin_steele264

+1

Perhaps.

The only reason why I could see the Ducks wanting to move the pick is to address depth issues. Saku has re-signed, and I'm pretty sure the NHL will get one more year of Teemu, but the team could potentially lose Selanne, Koivu, Perry, Visnovsky and Getzlaf all next summer. Talk about completely killing a team. The Ducks; a team already stuggling with depth issues, needs to add kids immediately.

You could see a massive deal. Something like a 4 for 2 situation. Something like Sam Gagner, Theo Peckham, Magnus Paajarvi and Edmonton's 2nd round pick for Lubomir Visnovsky and Anaheim's 1st round pick (6th overall). The Ducks would get a stack of young players, and the Oilers would get an immediate Top 4 defenseman and a quality draft pick, in which they could take one of Forsberg, Grigorenko, Galchenyuk or Faksa (best center available).
- Maxbone

Doubtful the Ducks do that. Sure, they have depth issues, but they also have stars who probably won't want to re-sign with the Ducks if they signal rebuild mode. And they won't give away their best dman either. Not happening. The Ducks have the star players, they just need depth. Depth is easier to get, in my opinion, than star power.

There is such a thing as the "Russian Factor" especially in a year where there could be an NHL lockout. Where do you think Yaks, Grigs and Galchenyuk are going to go if they can't play in the NHL in the fall?
- Maxbone

If that happens, they will go to Russia, and make some good cash playing the KHL.

Why would I take a wager like that? The odds are unbelievably stacked in your favor. Anaheim could make a good or a bad deal with 29 other teams. And most teams, anyway, keep their top 10 picks. I only bet on wagers I stand a chance of winning.

But back to the subject, was or wasn't Sam Gagner a top 10 pick? Does he play in the Top 6 of an NHL team. Does Paajarvi have Top 6 potential? Plenty of people think so.

Let's go through recent draft history, shall we? See what 6th overalls look like.

2011 - Mika Zibanejad. Solid prospect; has proven nothing at the NHL level yet.
2010 - Brent Connolly. I dare say Sam Gagner has done better so far than this guy.
2009 - Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Amazing pick. Dynamite player.
2008 - Nikita Filatov. A complete disaster. Awful pick.
2007 - Sam Gagner. Oh look.
2006 - Derick Brassard. A less-good version of Sam Gagner
2005 - Gilbert Brule. Almost as big of a disaster as Filatov
2004 - Al Montoya. You've got to be kidding.
2003 - Milan Michalek. A solid player. Decent stats.
2002 - Scottie Upshall - Plays in NHL; really hasn't put up Gagner-level stats
2001 - Mikku Koivu. Tremendous player.
2000 - Scott Hartnell. Took him 8 seasons before he put up a +50pts season

Have I done kicking your ass yet in this debate? No. Let me finish the job.

Zibanejad is too young to count in this fairly, so we'll leave him out. Since 2010, at the #6 overall position there have been three players drafted who are clearly better than Sam Gagner...4 if you count Hartnell, but it took him several seasons to get to that point. What's to say Sam doesn't turn into a 70pts guy next year?

How many picks were worst than Sam? Six by my count.

So with all of that being said, let me ask this question: Why do people who have no knowledge of the Oilers or the history of draft accuse me of being a homer and an idiot instead of looking stuff up and thinking before they write?
- Maxbone

It seems to me that Gagner may be a good asset, far better than his reputation. The larger question is why has his image suffered. Do you think the problem is more about Edmonton fans and media constantly promoting his being shipped out of town? If you keep putting an item on sale and there are no buyers the price will be reduced. Perhaps it is time to stop trying to push this sale for awhile and the value might actually increase.

I'm a big fan of boarding the too too train. I'd sign crazy eyes torres too, I'd even look into the whereabouts of Chris Simon: This team needs a huge mutual destruction deterent. Yeah I said Simon.

I'm a big fan of boarding the too too train. I'd sign crazy eyes torres too, I'd even look into the whereabouts of Chris Simon: This team needs a huge mutual destruction deterent. Yeah I said Simon.
- DrinkOil

You would have been better off just dragging your ass across the keyboard and pressing submit.
- robin_steele264

Perhaps.

The only reason why I could see the Ducks wanting to move the pick is to address depth issues. Saku has re-signed, and I'm pretty sure the NHL will get one more year of Teemu, but the team could potentially lose Selanne, Koivu, Perry, Visnovsky and Getzlaf all next summer. Talk about completely killing a team. The Ducks; a team already stuggling with depth issues, needs to add kids immediately.

You could see a massive deal. Something like a 4 for 2 situation. Something like Sam Gagner, Theo Peckham, Magnus Paajarvi and Edmonton's 2nd round pick for Lubomir Visnovsky and Anaheim's 1st round pick (6th overall). The Ducks would get a stack of young players, and the Oilers would get an immediate Top 4 defenseman and a quality draft pick, in which they could take one of Forsberg, Grigorenko, Galchenyuk or Faksa (best center available).
- Maxbone

sigh... a stack of young players expendable by the second to last team. thats... sigh

Have you not stated emphatically in many blogs that without question the Oil are taking Yakupov and now you are assigning percentages?

You waffler!

Ugh Let's break this down.

Gagner = already top-6 forward (C)
Paajarvi = likely top-6 forward (LW)
Peckham = 5/6/7 defenseman (D)
2nd round pick = solid prospect

Visnovsky = #2 defenseman (D)
6th overall = blue chip prospect

ANA needs depth at C, LW, and D and are likely attempting to get younger. On paper, this deal fills more holes than it creates. While I will admit that Visnovsky may not be a likely guy to be traded considering that it would leave the team without a top D-man, the deal is on the right track. Remove your own bias before chastising others for theirs.
- MaximumBone

less homer, more realistic view
gagner- potential number 2, undersized, more likely a solid 3rd liner
mps- potential top six, but stock has fallen
peckham-looking like a bust, seems edm can;t wait to run him out of town
2nd rounder- is what it is

visno- aging top d man- overpriced at this point, but a very solid 3-4 guy on a team with legitimate condender depth.
6th overall- probably a good to great player. but... should pan out to a top 4 d or a top 6 forward
despite visno's limitations, ana could get a much better return than that

Ryan Murray will be an Oiler by the end of the week