At least we still have this beautiful specimen even tho the Toronto media are trying to trade him too
- RatedR80

I'll admit coach, that when you called me into the showers mid January and had that one on one talk/shower with me, that I really got the message and it turned my season around.

Possible, but I'm not gonna count on it.

So. Hughes or the Finn. Which gives Smelly the bigger chubby?
- Wildschwein

The Finn, but impossible to be upset either way. Kinda like the Nico/Nolan year either way to move up and get a shot at one of those players is a win. The worst place for me was 3 because I’m not in on the Podkolzin hype.

Cozens is projected at 5 or 6. Most of the others are centers and we need wingers. Poolparty and Yamo are both RW making the left side our biggest area of need. Krebs fills that need. If we cant trade 8 for a NHL ready young LW, I want Krebs. Plus hes an Alberta boy.
- wreckage

I see one of Yamo or Puljujarvi being moved for a top-6 winger and us getting a reset on one of them with who we draft now. Given that all the top-6 wingers likely to be available this summer are L shots, then another R shot to reinforce or right side which is also lacking.

I look at the toolkit on Cozens and like it over the rest of the forwards possibly available around 8. His game gets compared to Carter and I think that's precisely what best compares to Hall (an element we need).

The Finn, but impossible to be upset either way. Kinda like the Nico/Nolan year either way to move up and get a shot at one of those players is a win. The worst place for me was 3 because I’m not in on the Podkolzin hype.
- smellmyfinger

But Byram.

The Finn, but impossible to be upset either way. Kinda like the Nico/Nolan year either way to move up and get a shot at one of those players is a win. The worst place for me was 3 because I’m not in on the Podkolzin hype.
- smellmyfinger

Agree completely.

But Byram.
- MaximumBone

(frank) Byram.

There. I said it.

Trade the (frank)ing pick.

I'll admit coach, that when you called me into the showers mid January and had that one on one talk/shower with me, that I really got the message and it turned my season around.
- leonkennedy

What happens in the showers stays in the showers.....

(frank) Byram.

There. I said it.

Trade the (frank)ing pick.
- Wildschwein

How dare you

But Byram.
- MaximumBone

Hawks get their next Keith

How dare you
- MaximumBone

Oh I (frank)ing dare. I (frank)ing dare bigly.

Hawks get their next Keith
- RatedR80

Probably. Bunch of wieners.

Probably. Bunch of wieners.
- Wildschwein

Oh wait WAIT!!!!!.....I got great news....ok so remember when Manning hurt McDavid and then we went on to get him in a trade? Well Gio just hurt McDavid so by that alone this means that we will be getting Gio in the off-season

Oh wait WAIT!!!!!.....I got great news....ok so remember when Manning hurt McDavid and then we went on to get him in a trade? Well Gio just hurt McDavid so by that alone this means that we will be getting Gio in the off-season
- RatedR80

Nah, it'll be 3 years after the injury so we'll acquire him when he's 38 going on 39 and probably overpay in doing so.

Oh I (frank)ing dare. I (frank)ing dare bigly.
- Wildschwein

I'm not trading that pick unless we get a proven, young top-6 forward with term in return. Ehlers comes to mind.

We’ve seen people slide before, not completely out of the question that Byram or Turcotte is there at 8. Would be a great scenario for you guys to grab either one of them.
- smellmyfinger

One or two of the 2nd tier of players will be there at #8 and it'll almost certainly be a forward. Personally, I don't include Turcotte in there from what I've read into him.

Nah, it'll be 3 years after the injury so we'll acquire him when he's 38 going on 39 and probably overpay in doing so.
- MaximumBone

Yeah that’s probably the more likely thing to happen

Cozens is projected at 5 or 6. Most of the others are centers and we need wingers. Poolparty and Yamo are both RW making the left side our biggest area of need. Krebs fills that need. If we cant trade 8 for a NHL ready young LW, I want Krebs. Plus hes an Alberta boy.
- wreckage

Neither of those players will amount too much.

(frank) Byram.

There. I said it.

Trade the (frank)ing pick.
- Wildschwein

Agreed.

Agreed.
- Oilers4Life14

Agreed you should (frank) OFF!!!!

Agreed you should (frank) OFF!!!!
- ruttager17

Agreed. I thought post season was a safe zone from his stupidity. I was courteous and didnt mention him or reply to his idiocracy for the 2nd half of the season hoping he would die off for the post season like last year. Guess that was asking for too much, like hoping for Kakko.

(frank) Byram.

There. I said it.

Trade the (frank)ing pick.
- Wildschwein

Our depth in the minors is defense. I agree, vote no to Byram. He's a gem, but not a generational talent at his position. Now if this was another Dahlin... I might reconsider.

Oh wait WAIT!!!!!.....I got great news....ok so remember when Manning hurt McDavid and then we went on to get him in a trade? Well Gio just hurt McDavid so by that alone this means that we will be getting Gio in the off-season
- RatedR80

Thanks but no thanks. Unless we get him this offseason, and even then I'm not 100% on it. Yes, just had a fabulous year where he should win the Norris, but this is what, the 3rd or 4th time in the past 8 or 9 years he hasnt missed significant time due to injury. Fantastic player when healthy, but like Hall during his time with us, that happens too seldom. Especially on a guy who should be entering his twilight.

Our depth in the minors is defense. I agree, vote no to Byram. He's a gem, but not a generational talent at his position. Now if this was another Dahlin... I might reconsider.
- wreckage

26 goals as a Dman at age 17 is about as close to "Dahlin"-level production as I think you can get from the CHL. I don't think the WHL has seen a more dominant draft-eligible D prospect in over a decade. Maybe Seth Jones? I'm willing to concede that maybe the only games I saw were his absolute best games, but I stand by my stance that any team that passes over him after pick #2 will deeply regret it in short order.

26 goals as a Dman at age 17 is about as close to "Dahlin"-level production as I think you can get from the CHL. I don't think the WHL has seen a more dominant draft-eligible D prospect in over a decade. Maybe Seth Jones? I'm willing to concede that maybe the only games I saw were his absolute best games, but I stand by my stance that any team that passes over him after pick #2 will deeply regret it in short order.
- MaximumBone

I’m not saying that you’re wrong, I’ve seen you be right enough to respect your opinion when it comes to prospects.

That being said, taking Byram has its risks too. First there’s the obvious “bust” risk that goes with any prospect, even one as impressive as Byram. Second (and far more serious) is the risk that even if he’s what you say he is, he’ll be too little too late. You yourself posted the slightly paraphrased Nuge exit interview quote:

You hear his end of year? He was clearly frustrated and specifically mentioned having consistent linemates was something he missed. He also said something along the lines of "we've gotta fix this this year; not a year or two after". Sounds like Nuge is near the last straw.
- MaximumBone

Now this scares me more than anything Bob “something in the water” Nicholson has said. If a player as soft spoken as Nuge is feeling this way, and is willing to say it, who’s to say others don’t? Is Draisaitl this fed up? Or Nurse? Or worst of all McDavid? And if any or all of them are, can this organization risk using this years 1st on another prospect who likely won’t make a noticeable difference for at least another 2 years?

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depends how you wanna look at it) Byram probably won’t be on the board when the Oilers pick.

Prospect depth wise, the Oilers are relatively rich with the likes of Jones, Lagesson, Bear, Bouchard, Persson, Samorukov, Benson, Yamamoto and Marody.

The time for patience is over. The fanbase (and possibly the core) have stomached all the losing they can take. Trade the pick. Fix this mess as quickly as possible.

I’m not saying that you’re wrong, I’ve seen you be right enough to respect your opinion when it comes to prospects.

That being said, taking Byram has its risks too. First there’s the obvious “bust” risk that goes with any prospect, even one as impressive as Byram. Second (and far more serious) is the risk that even if he’s what you say he is, he’ll be too little too late. You yourself posted the slightly paraphrased Nuge exit interview quote:



Now this scares me more than anything Bob “something in the water” Nicholson has said. If a player as soft spoken as Nuge is feeling this way, and is willing to say it, who’s to say others don’t? Is Draisaitl this fed up? Or Nurse? Or worst of all McDavid? And if any or all of them are, can this organization risk using this years 1st on another prospect who likely won’t make a noticeable difference for at least another 2 years?

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depends how you wanna look at it) Byram probably won’t be on the board when the Oilers pick.

Prospect depth wise, the Oilers are relatively rich with the likes of Jones, Lagesson, Bear, Bouchard, Persson, Samorukov, Benson, Yamamoto and Marody.

The time for patience is over. The fanbase (and possibly the core) have stomached all the losing they can take. Trade the pick. Fix this mess as quickly as possible.
- Wildschwein

A-(frank)ing-men.
The little depth we have, is on defense in the system. The last thing we need is another who will need 1-3 years developing down there. What the Oilers need is a close to ready, if not ready winger whether in our system or not. And they need more than 1 of them. If Jesse or Kailer can be ready and do it next year there is still 1 spot at minimum that needs to be fixed. Either trade the pick for a young and close to be if not ready player who can play with McD/Drai/Nuge, or draft the closest winger capable player to be ready. If one has to wait 1 more year so be it. But no more drafting guys who need 2-3 years of seasoning and rushing them. And no more stockpiling better defensive prospects until our forward situation is fixed. Having only CmD drai and Nuge while having the most offensive d group wont do it. This is 2020 we are talking about, not 1980. Having a dominant core at 1 position doesnt cut it anymore. You need depth at any and every position.