James Tanner: PLUS/MINUS: Go Preds! Get your gramma cause Plus / Minus is back!

Not that good of a team? You must have high standards

. . . 4th overall last season, 2nd overall this season (despite a ton of injuries) and on the verge of back to back titles . . . defeating the 1st overall team in the process both times!

That is a great team.

When you have two of the best players in the world, you shouldn't be surprised they're still playing. Malkin / Crosby have made it to the finals 4 times over their last 9 playoffs.

With the cap situation getting even better for them in the coming years, expect more of the same I'm afraid.

Not that good of a team? You must have high standards

. . . 4th overall last season, 2nd overall this season (despite a ton of injuries) and on the verge of back to back titles . . . defeating the 1st overall team in the process both times!

That is a great team.

When you have two of the best players in the world, you shouldn't be surprised they're still playing. Malkin / Crosby have made it to the finals 4 times over their last 9 playoffs.

With the cap situation getting even better for them in the coming years, expect more of the same I'm afraid.
- goldeneye77

Yes, maybe I should have explained it better. They aren't that good of a team right now. They have pedigree and an awesome roster, but their D is brutal and they've been out shot and out chanced in so many games this spring.

With their full roster, they're great. But over the course of these playoffs they've been outplayed a lot and it's surprising to me they're still playing.

Just for argument sake

Mcdavid, Leon , nuge > Matthews, nylander, kadri

I think kadris probably markedly better than nuge and the only reason this is even up for debate as the top 2 for the oilers are significantly better. Just sayin


Also, a couple years ago, pc had just taken the job. I think it's pretty rational to wanna get a feel for your team before shipping out your only valuable assets.
And then last year; what we know is that neither Sheri nor snow had any interest in ebs for either Larsson or Hamonic. So while you did say "a couple" years ago, just wanna dispel the notion of last years potential return.
Plus- the oilers pretty much desperately needed ebs a few years ago as they had no none else. maybe now they can be better by dealing him. A totally different squad now. How is this typical oilers?

Ps- please don't mention yakupov. He was a worthless asset and hasn't proven he's even an NHL caliber player. Would've just sat in the press box as he's not better than anyone in the oilers top 12.

Not that good of a team? You must have high standards

. . . 4th overall last season, 2nd overall this season (despite a ton of injuries) and on the verge of back to back titles . . . defeating the 1st overall team in the process both times!

That is a great team.

When you have two of the best players in the world, you shouldn't be surprised they're still playing. Malkin / Crosby have made it to the finals 4 times over their last 9 playoffs. -

With the cap situation getting even better for them in the coming years, expect more of the same I'm afraid.
- goldeneye77

The offence is GREAT. Beyond debate.
Two of the top 5 in the world, plus kessel- some dynamic young players and great complimentary players.
As good an offence as I've seen in awhile .and quality tending. Which is obviously huge in the playoffs.

Kinda dispelling the notion that you need a deep defence.
Although they have a couple guys that are pretty good and underrated

Just for argument sake

Mcdavid, Leon , nuge > Matthews, nylander, kadri

I think kadris probably markedly better than nuge and the only reason this is even up for debate as the top 2 for the oilers are significantly better. Just sayin

Do the Oilers ever play LD at C? I usually see him on the wing. But I think you could be right, however, not 100% and the reason I say that is that given his ability to score 5v5 I don't think the difference between McD and AM is going to be as big as most people probably think. I also think that LD is older than Nylander and that Nylander will turn out to be better. However, of course I'd think that. Who knows. For now, assuming both teams recognize the importance of centres, you're probably correct.


Also, a couple years ago, pc had just taken the job. I think it's pretty rational to wanna get a feel for your team before shipping out your only valuable assets.
And then last year; what we know is that neither Sheri nor snow had any interest in ebs for either Larsson or hamonic.
Plus- the oilers pretty much desperately needed ebs a few years ago as they had no none else, maybe now they can be better by dealing him. How is this typical oilers?

Ps- please don't mention yakupov. He was a worthless asset and hasn't proven he's even an NHL caliber player. Would've just sat in the press box as he's not better than anyone in the oilers top 12.
- HB77

Fair enough about Eberle. Still, the Hemsky parallels are scary.

Fair enough about Eberle. Still, the Hemsky parallels are scary.
- james_tanner1

You are unreal, but the garbage you spue is expected since you are a self proclaimed communist

Fair enough about Eberle. Still, the Hemsky parallels are scary.
- james_tanner1

Good post . The parallels to hemmer are undeniable


As far as Leon; They've stated they want him at center long term. It's where he played some of the sharks series and the majority of the ducks series when he was going off.

But yeah- he played a ton of wing this year. I think it was just a reshuffle one game in November to get stuff going and him and Connor were unstoppable. There's no doubt they recognize the importance of center depth, but I don't think Todd had a choice but to keep em together the way they were producing. Best tandem for the 2nd half I think...? When that kind of chemistry happens, you just gotta ride it till the wheels fall off.

As far as nylander- we'll just agree to disagree on both of our biased opinions


And Matthews yeah maybe. He just didn't seem to be as dynamic, but maybe it's cause he's does so many other things so well. Hard to argue with 40 as a rook.
Like eichel- he gets brushed past in the Connor convo, but he's sooo good. Certainly much closer than people think probably

«Without Kris Letang, and having to rely so much on M.A Fleury, I have to say I can't believe they're still playing, let alone winning». Pretty much the proof that they are a great team.

MAF isn't even playing. Do you even watch hockey?

At least Tanner didn't post anything about the NBA and how the Raptors should have won

Remember the alamo!
- DeflatedPucks

Even I do!

Nice to hear that you enjoyed it

I'm 6'3 myself
- 21peter

I guess you are a huge Zuccarello fan.

I guess you are a huge Zuccarello fan.
- Leafsandbolts

You bet!
Saw him play for the first time 15 years ago. And that he signed with the Rangers - my favorite team ever since my father gave me some Rangers fan stuff from a trip to NY when I was 6

Sup boys

Penguins aren't a good team but they're defending champs and leading the cup finals once again

Penguins aren't a good team but they're defending champs and leading the cup finals once again
- 71Pittsburgh87

spot on!

Penguins aren't a good team but they're defending champs and leading the cup finals once again
- 71Pittsburgh87

30 total playoff wins thus far thru last 2 seasons. All luck!

MINUS: Which is why there being so much resistance to putting Nylander at C is weird. Why would you pass on having the best 1-2-3 centre combo in the NHL?
- James Tanner

Well? Which is it? Is it the Leafs, or the Oilers that have the 3 best centers? You used to post about it in every blog that the Oilers could have the best 1-2-3 centers in the league if they just wanted to.

Well? Which is it? Is it the Leafs, or the Oilers that have the 3 best centers? You used to post about it in every blog that the Oilers could have the best 1-2-3 centers in the league if they just wanted to.
- Wetbandit1

Why are you talking hockey on a Tanner blog??

Nothing to see here......please move on

The only thing you should be getting a feel for is personalities, if you don't know what kind of team it is you never should've been hired in the first place. A half competent GM knows what all other 29 teams(Vegas doesn't have a team yet) are and could step in and do the job because they study the other teams to see which players could potentially help their team. And which of your guys the other guy might be looking at.
- Wetbandit1

Not unreasonable

But it's not like it was beyond any doubt that eberle should've been traded.
Hell, depending on a few things, it might not be prudent to even deal him now.


I see what you're saying, but the implication is that there's only one logical way to go with individual players to make your team better.
Obviously we woulda got an impact player for him in return, but just looking at it in a vacuum, no eberle this year and we're significantly thinner and easier to match up with

My larger point surrounds the "typical oilers" comment . It may have been extremely prudent for pc to hold on to him (I believe it was- he made his play with another asset last year) and now with improvements in other areas, we may be able to afford to deal hold even if it's for a loss

I didn't see a Dark Side of the Moon album cover on your little graphic

If someone how that didn't make your list, why even have a list. It is clearly not valid.

That's another false narrative.
- MJL

Das it mane

Guess enough people female dogged and moaned...

I think we all learned a hard yet valuable lesson today