James Tanner: PLUS/MINUS on PLUS/MINUS EXTREME EDITION!! Get Extreme, Bro!

Good morning Tanner...been awhile since I’ve visited your blog. I enjoyed this one! Regarding the Oilers, I’m not a big fan of Ken Holland, however, I am a fan of Dave Tippett. DT has the Oilers playing much better as a five man unit defensively and that’s made a huge difference in their standings results this year. He’s coaching what was given to him, much the same as his time with AZ, and that isn’t much.

As for Holland, he’s been there less than a season, it’s near impossible to turn that ship around in half a season, can’t really fault him for that. The James Neal deal is working out thus far, let’s see what he does this summer.

McDavid is 23 (tomorrow) and Draisaitl is 24, they’ve got time to turn things around and still have those two be huge parts of the team.

I seriously think you and Ryan Wilson should team up for a super blog as you two are the blogs I read most. The hate might break the internet lol

Edit. It should involve both Phoenix and Pittsburgh though.

You can't really blame Holland for anything yet. He's doing the right thing this year by not doing anything. The situation is forked and gets a lot better next year. They don't have the assets to trade for a goalie and there are no sure thing goalies available. It hurts McDavid far more that they're sending him out there on a consistent basis with Kassian and Neal.

Can't really blame the Oilers for not being able to sign good bottom six guys for a league minimum. Have you been to Edmonton? Players are only signing there if 30 other teams have passed or they're getting paid more than their worth. Players want to live in Toronto so they're willing to take league minimum.

Taking on the Neal contract and paying some of Lucic's was a brutal move, but at least he can pay Neal to go away.

You can't really blame Holland for anything yet. He's doing the right thing this year by not doing anything. The situation is forked and gets a lot better next year. They don't have the assets to trade for a goalie and there are no sure thing goalies available. It hurts McDavid far more that they're sending him out there on a consistent basis with Kassian and Neal.

Can't really blame the Oilers for not being able to sign good bottom six guys for a league minimum. Have you been to Edmonton? Players are only signing there if 30 other teams have passed or they're getting paid more than their worth. Players want to live in Toronto so they're willing to take league minimum.

Taking on the Neal contract and paying some of Lucic's was a brutal move, but at least he can pay Neal to go away.
- Hunkulese

I strongly disagree. I think Holland was a bad choice and that he's done poorly.

He doesn't have to wait to do anything, the day he was hired he should have traded for a goalie.

I strongly disagree. I think Holland was a bad choice and that he's done poorly.

He doesn't have to wait to do anything, the day he was hired he should have traded for a goalie.
- James_Tanner

With what assets and for what goalie? There's no one out there available that's a guaranteed significant upgrade. Koskinen was signed and looked like at least an average goalie and Smith had a really strong second half last year. There was no obvious, easy upgrade. He probably called the Penguins, but Rutherford is impossible to deal with if he didn't start the trade talks. It made sense to at least see if Koskinen was a real goalie.

Maybe they could get Georgiev, but Russians and Alberta don't really work together.

With what assets and for what goalie? There's no one out there available that's a guaranteed significant upgrade. Koskinen was signed and looked like at least an average goalie and Smith had a really strong second half last year. There was no obvious, easy upgrade. He probably called the Penguins, but Rutherford is impossible to deal with if he didn't start the trade talks.

Maybe they could get Georgiev, but Russians and Alberta don't really work together.
- Hunkulese

How do you know there's no goalies available? If you're an NHL GM, you can just call anyone you want and try to trade for whoever you want, it's called doing your job. You don't have to wait till Darren Dreger announces someone is available.

If it was easy, anyone could do it. Since there's only 31 GM jobs, you should be able to higher a guy capable of doing something hard. OR at least recognizing the problem.

How do you know there's no goalies available? If you're an NHL GM, you can just call anyone you want and try to trade for whoever you want, it's called doing your job. You don't have to wait till Darren Dreger announces someone is available.

If it was easy, anyone could do it. Since there's only 31 GM jobs, you should be able to higher a guy capable of doing something hard. OR at least recognizing the problem.
- James_Tanner

Most teams aren't willing to trade their starting goalies. So which backups are guaranteed upgrades? Maybe Raanta, but it's just as stupid to bet you season on Raanta being the guy and the Oilers would have to massively overpay.

There are like one or two guys who may have been available and might have been upgrades. Koskinen hasn't even been that bad this year. Who's the upgrade?

Those leafs third and fourth liners you’ve mentioned have all been in and out of the lineup at some point, some longer stretches than others. The leafs bleed goals, let’s see them get out of the first round before any praise is given.

Everyone are idiots

James Tanner: PLUS/MINUS on PLUS/MINUS EXTREME EDITION!!
Get Extreme, Bro!
- James_Tanner

Forget to take your meds ? Or smoke a little too much meth ?

How do you know there's no goalies available? If you're an NHL GM, you can just call anyone you want and try to trade for whoever you want, it's called doing your job. You don't have to wait till Darren Dreger announces someone is available.

If it was easy, anyone could do it. Since there's only 31 GM jobs, you should be able to higher a guy capable of doing something hard. OR at least recognizing the problem.
- James_Tanner

With what assets and for what goalie? There's no one out there available that's a guaranteed significant upgrade. Koskinen was signed and looked like at least an average goalie and Smith had a really strong second half last year. There was no obvious, easy upgrade. He probably called the Penguins, but Rutherford is impossible to deal with if he didn't start the trade talks. It made sense to at least see if Koskinen was a real goalie.

Maybe they could get Georgiev, but Russians and Alberta don't really work together.
- Hunkulese

1. I was surprised no one took Casey Desmith when he had to clear waivers at the beginning of the year.

2. Alberta is just like an English speaking Russia. Cold and full of weird poop. As an Albertan my ideal vacation destination would be Russia as the weather will be the same and no normal civilization to be found. Just like home.

I strongly disagree. I think Holland was a bad choice and that he's done poorly.

He doesn't have to wait to do anything, the day he was hired he should have traded for a goalie.
- James_Tanner

Exactly, works on Xbox...

Maybe a bit scandalous but, I think there is a time and place for the term folks.

Remember when Bill Meltzer owned James in his own blog?

That was a fun article by mr Wilson.

The pens should do the same thing again and devastate the future to win another cup or two in the next few years. Then a few years of junk. Then seeings the pens have been gifted top talent for years the are all but guaranteed to get the next crosby in the draft. He could play with sid in his autumn years and maybe even live in sids house. The story writes itself

Or smoke a little too much meth ?

What's your threshold for "too much"?

leafs bleeding goals

Trading for a #1 goalie is easy!

Works on Xbox every time.

This guys hockey knowledge is barely above his music grandstanding and I like a lot of the same bands. Probably watches dead poets society and reality bites on repeat.

Anyway always entertaining.

Plus: Patrick Mahomes!!

Plus Tanner being only a 7 on the obnoxious scale as opposed to his usual 38.

Tanner.
You're such an idiot.
Typical NEW "fan" with loads of stupid
opinions.
Man.
You're just so stupid.
I almost feel sorry for you.
Goof.

With what assets and for what goalie? There's no one out there available that's a guaranteed significant upgrade. Koskinen was signed and looked like at least an average goalie and Smith had a really strong second half last year. There was no obvious, easy upgrade. He probably called the Penguins, but Rutherford is impossible to deal with if he didn't start the trade talks. It made sense to at least see if Koskinen was a real goalie.

Maybe they could get Georgiev, but Russians and Alberta don't really work together.
- Hunkulese

How do you know this?

PLUS: Ghost Rider by Neil Peart