Richard Cloutier: Should the Oilers Intentionally Lose?

Richard Cloutier: Should the Oilers Intentionally Lose?
- Maxbone

(frank) off with the tanking already.

(frank) NO!

Hockey players play hard regardless of where they are in the standings. Shocked to see this blog with your team only 3 points out of a playoff spot. Making the playoffs would be huge for the development of all your youngsters. You need them to get that experience early even if though the odds would be heavily in favor of the Hawks.

Edmonton and Florida have a great future either way you look at it. Both teams have great young talent and eventually we will be talking about top 3 seed in our own conferences.

Question, who do you guys think the best player in the draft is? Panthers will be picking in the top three and I love Drouin but everyone is saying Jones is the clear cut #1. I guess it depends, I'd rather have the 2nd pick in the draft so the pressure is off at that point. Colorado picks Jones (kinda have a feeling this is happening) and Panthers next pick Drouin, Calgary MicKinnon. we'll see what happens.

Not a chance. The most important thing for this team right now is to know what being in a playoff environment is, upping their game to the teams around them. Throwing this team which has worked hard most of the season and are subject competing for a playoff spot would be the greatest slap in the face

I am way too tired to read the blog right now, but if there is anyone on the team willing to lose for a better draft pick they should be sat and then traded or bought out. Same thing with management, anyone who suggests it should immediately be fired. Finishing bottom 5 would do a lot more damage to the psyche of this team than a top 5 pick would help.
Also this team does not need more kids, it needs experienced players to help take the load off the kids. IMO to be a decent playoff threat add 1 top 6 winger with size, and 1 top pair defense man. (and Klefbom will likely not be that guy for a few years if ever)
Add to that the experience the team gets over the next 10 games chasing a playoff dream, and this team could be competing for the division lead.

And as a second comment. I'm sick of people getting mad about deadline day and how things were handled. You have brought up the forsberg deal a couple times now. How do you know they didn't try to make a deal? Point being none of us have any idea what calls or discussions were made so complaining about what did or didn't happen is a waste of time. Much better things to blog about

And as a second comment. I'm sick of people getting mad about deadline day and how things were handled. You have brought up the forsberg deal a couple times now. How do you know they didn't try to make a deal? Point being none of us have any idea what calls or discussions were made so complaining about what did or didn't happen is a waste of time. Much better things to blog about
- freelancer

C'mon, Clouts has a source.

I laugh at the fact you saying Carolina needs d so there gonna draft d when the oilers have needed. In the draft for years and keep picking forwards. Leafs drafted Matt Finn right after the oilers picked a forward in the 2nd round last year. Wake up edmonton and draft some (frank)in d cause yours suck ballsack...ohh and the oilers aren't gonna tank on purpose. Wake up. Are you related to ek?

I laugh at the fact you saying Carolina needs d so there gonna draft d when the oilers have needed. In the draft for years and keep picking forwards. Leafs drafted Matt Finn right after the oilers picked a forward in the 2nd round last year. Wake up edmonton and draft some (frank)in d cause yours suck ballsack...ohh and the oilers aren't gonna tank on purpose. Wake up. Are you related to ek?
- phaneuf03

Richard Cloutier: Should the Oilers Intentionally Lose?
- Maxbone

Is that what you want to teach the kids?

Maybe they'd be in a playoff position right now had you taught pride from the start.

Is that what you want to teach the kids?

Maybe they'd be in a playoff position right now had you taught pride from the start.
- golfingsince

Because Cloutier has such a huge influence on the team.

Because Cloutier has such a huge influence on the team.
- abware

kool-aid dispenser

Tanking isnt hockey or sports in general. Trading aging assets for picks is one thing but wanting your team to intentionally lose is borderline wanting them to cheat. From a business perpective it makes sense, but i dont know anyone who will cheer on a bunch of businessmen in a board room. Why even bother following the game if that's how you're thinking?

I think the ship is going to sail either way. The future isn't so bright. Jerrod is already getting more shifts than Hemsky. Potter as much as Nick. I think this will continue until all we see is brown and smyth.

this guy is the biggest bandwagon jumper around!!!! Oilers win he loves them, they lose they suck......

Didn't they do that for 3 straight years?

This team proves that #1 picks mean nothing if you always have a loser mentality...and Ryan Smythe.

You really are an idiot. One more blog suggesting the oilers tank and i'm leaving this site. No team plays to lose you moron. I didn't even read the whole blog, the first have of it was bad enough.

Richard Cloutier: Should the Oilers Intentionally Lose?
- Maxbone

Oh herro, is someone feering a rittle ronrey today?

So you're saying the Oilers are Calgary now...

Richard Cloutier: Should the Oilers Intentionally Lose?
- Maxbone

Good read Clouts

Yup, still scratching my head at the lack of interest management showed at the deadline. This can only mean they are going to be the busiest organization at the draft as they position themselves for next season.

There is an excellent core to build around, but they need a few character guys on the 3rd and 4th line who have won before. Confidence is everything with this group. When the confidence is high, they are lights out, but confidence is fragile with a youthful core. No major overhaul needed here, just a little tweaking on the 3rd and 4th lines, and on D. At the draft, target teams facing a cap crunch, offer up that #12 pick for not one, but two character guys who can help stabilize the group. Not many UFA's available this year you would want. Maybe only 3 worth targeting.

Is that what you want to teach the kids?

Maybe they'd be in a playoff position right now had you taught pride from the start.
- golfingsince

You are suggesting Clout's could teach a team something about pride? You don't know clout's do ya?