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

Except at 17... hes likely still 2 years away. This core and fan base dont have that patience anymore. Improvement needs to be seen damned near immediately. And not minor improvements. If they barely miss next year, maybe it can be accepted. But if they finish 14th in the west again... I expect nothing less than season ticket sales to plummet and near riots. Jerseys should be tossed. Fans should stop watching and attending. Core players should ask to be traded at that point and others should just say (frank) it and coast for the final 2 months and sign elsewhere. Why should Nuge want to resign when eligible if the team looks like it's still coasting to mediocrity once preseason starts? He should want to win. Why resign in Edmonton if they draft a player who is 2-4 years away from improving the team? Why should any free agent even consider signing in edmonton if all edmonton is willing to do is draft a 17 year old likely 2-4 years from making an impact and they cant afford to sign any impact free agents? Trades need to be made. Might cost us some prospects and futures. But space needs to be made and it has to be done smartly. 1 more year of this and they're gonna lose Nuge for nothing and have a league of players laughing at the teams management and not willing to sign there just for that. The prospect of playing with McDavid wont hold any value anymore. Its quickly becoming a VERY SAD situation.

I can see free agency now...

Bob - come play in Edmonton, opportunity to play with McDavid!

FA - isnt that what you said to Reider? How did that work out?

Bob - well others out worked him and deserved the opportunity.

FA - Like Yamamoto who you sent down? Or Lucic and his 20 points? Or Chiasson and his 23 5x5 points and no time with McDavid 2nd half of season to improve his value? Or Puj and his no time with skilled linemates to grow his game as a skilled forward?

Bob - ok, we'll give you 1 mill more than anyone else. Let us know who calls and their offer.

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.
- wreckage

Well I wasn’t really serious on that one either....I have stated before that this team needs to focus on the top 6 forwards (which is why I’m very opposed to this whole Nuge for Risto stuff) and this team needs to do it this off season....the clock is ticking on Nuge and having suffered longer then any other Oiler I don’t blame him

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

We need to trade this pick....I’m not so sure what we can get considering this isn’t considered to be a deep draft but regardless they need to put it out there and see what they can get....but of course nothing is so simple for the Oilers considering we don’t know as of yet who is going to be pulling the trigger on any trades

I can see free agency now...

Bob - come play in Edmonton, opportunity to play with McDavid!

FA - isnt that what you said to Reider? How did that work out?

Bob - well others out worked him and deserved the opportunity.

FA - Like Yamamoto who you sent down? Or Lucic and his 20 points? Or Chiasson and his 23 5x5 points and no time with McDavid 2nd half of season to improve his value? Or Puj and his no time with skilled linemates to grow his game as a skilled forward?

Bob - ok, we'll give you 1 mill more than anyone else. Let us know who calls and their offer.
- wreckage

BOLD prediction here but I don’t think Bobby Burgers enters next season as the POHO so that might not even be a thing....I would think even Katz at this point has seen Nicholson as a disaster between his seat holder meetings and his stuff after the fact.....or I’m just clinging on to foolish hope

Should be called Taylor Hall Day

Well I wasn’t really serious on that one either....I have stated before that this team needs to focus on the top 6 forwards (which is why I’m very opposed to this whole Nuge for Risto stuff) and this team needs to do it this off season....the clock is ticking on Nuge and having suffered longer then any other Oiler I don’t blame him
- RatedR80

We agree on too many things. And agreed on how Nuge may and deserves to feel.

BOLD prediction here but I don’t think Bobby Burgers enters next season as the POHO so that might not even be a thing....I would think even Katz at this point has seen Nicholson as a disaster between his seat holder meetings and his stuff after the fact.....or I’m just clinging on to foolish hope
- RatedR80

No bold predictions.... just that I dont expect them to make serious changes. Boldest was when they brought in Bob and Todd, 2 guys connected thru team Canada with Craig and Kevin due to the bit of time they spent there... and then it was revealed that they didnt even interview for their positions, just hired them. I'm beginning to think the same thing happens again and they remove interm from KGretz and he just hires his best friend to be the HC.

Oilers should sign Eberle and Yakupov in the off-season.

Oilers should sign Eberle and Yakupov in the off-season.
- TheUltimateJet

It would be an improvement

Which one do we get ?

Which one do we get ?
- Reveen.

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.
- wreckage

I know this comparison has been used before, but just like shingles or herpes he always eventually comes back. Good news is that he isn't nearly as smart as those viruses, so his life will be a short one.

It would be an improvement
- Reveen.

Well Ebs you can make an argument for but Yakupov is an even bigger bust than J.P.

- Wildschwein

Josh Anderson for the 8th overall pick ?

Well Ebs you can make an argument for but Yakupov is an even bigger bust than J.P.
- ruttager17

JP and Yamamoto both need to be moved for help now

Josh Anderson for the 8th overall pick ?
- Reveen.

If Columbus would do a 1 for 1, then yes, yes I’d do that. Prefer that the deal be bigger though.

If Columbus would do a 1 for 1, then yes, yes I’d do that. Prefer that the deal be bigger though.
- Wildschwein

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

Except at 17... hes likely still 2 years away. This core and fan base dont have that patience anymore.
- wreckage

Believe me when I say I get the line of thought. I've been there before a number of times (last year, Puljujarvi, Draisaitl, Nurse, Yakupov) and I don't necessarily disagree. However, I'm not particularly keen on abandoning discussion of the draft simply because I may prefer to try to move the pick. Further and more importantly, keeping the pick and trading other futures to improve aren't mutually exclusive. We could easily keep this pick and still acquire a top-6 winger or two in the offseason. Improving now without heavily crippling the future is still within our grasp.

We need to trade this pick....I’m not so sure what we can get considering this isn’t considered to be a deep draft but regardless they need to put it out there and see what they can get
- RatedR80

I agree. Put it out there, but it shouldn't be a trade at all costs kind of thing. There's a very particular criteria I need to fill if I'm giving away a piece like the 8th overall+ and if the player doesn't meet that criteria, then I'll just make the pick.

- MaximumBone

You wouldn’t?

He’s a 24 year old RW that has shown steady progression 3 years in row, and just posted 27-20-47 in 82. He’s also an RFA that makes only 1.85 million next season.

So yeah, I’d be all over that for the 8th.

You wouldn’t?

He’s a 24 year old RW that has shown steady progression 3 years in row, and just posted 27-20-47 in 82. He’s also an RFA that makes only 1.85 million next season.

Yeah. I’d be all over that for the 8th.
- Wildschwein

If I knew exactly what his next contract was gonna be, then maybe. I'd need it to be long term and at a reasonable cap hit if I were to make such a move. No chance I'm risking that 8th overall on a guy that could be bridged and then long gone two years from now. Beyond that, I'm not convinced Columbus will be keen on moving him.

As I mentioned, my criteria are specific. A guy like Ehlers fills them in that he has a long term deal, a reasonable cap hit, fits the age group and brings a skillset I think we need.

If I knew exactly what his next contract was gonna be, then maybe. I'd need it to be long term and at a reasonable cap hit if I were to make such a move. No chance I'm risking that 8th overall on a guy that could be bridged and then long gone two years from now. Beyond that, I'm not convinced Columbus will be keen on moving him.

As I mentioned, my criteria are specific. A guy like Ehlers fills them in that he has a long term deal, a reasonable cap hit, fits the age group and brings a skillset I think we need.
- MaximumBone

I’d do that as well.

JP and Yamamoto both need to be moved for help now
- Reveen.

Agreed move on from JP cause the kid just doesn't get it and not sure he ever will. Let him go back to Europe and be a star in a slower, softer league. Although JP isn't worth (frank) all right now, no point letting his value drop even lower.

As for the Asian version of Jenny Hockey, let that chick have a few years in the AHL and then bring her up if she deserves it. The team needs to start developing talent the right way.

If Columbus would do a 1 for 1, then yes, yes I’d do that. Prefer that the deal be bigger though.
- Wildschwein

More coming our way....

Lucic and 8th for Anderson and Wenneberg

I’d do that as well.
- Wildschwein