Sean Maloughney: In No Particular Order:Haas/Bouchard, New Dates, Cracknell

So, I wanted to discuss this whole Cracknell situation....

So, I wanted to discuss this whole Cracknell situation....
- vertigo2002

- Wildschwein

You changed your team??

Sean Maloughney: In No Particular Order:Haas/Bouchard, New Dates, Cracknell
- freelancer

Good experience for Haas and Bouchard as they'll at least be playing games.

You guys need Krug. Would look awesome with McD/Drai on the PP...

Askarov.

You changed your team??
- EdmHockeyMan

The Oilers don’t require my support at the moment.

And truth be told, they’ve pretty much become my 1B team anyway.

You guys need Krug. Would look awesome with McD/Drai on the PP...
- LordHumungous

So will Bouchard, and likely sooner than later. He’ll be cheaper too.

Askarov.
- wreckage

I have no problem with this.

Anyone heard from Rafi lately?

The Oilers don’t require my support at the moment.

And truth be told, they’ve pretty much become my 1B team anyway.
- Wildschwein

Failing to win tends to do that

Failing to win tends to do that
- MaximumBone

That and the legions of retarded Oil fans found in the north. If they’d had their way, Maroon would’ve been on the Oil payroll for 6 @ 6 per.

No Islanders fans up here though. Just me. Which I rather like.

That and the legions of retarded Oil fans found in the north. If they’d had their way, Maroon would’ve been on the Oil payroll for 6 @ 6 per.

No Islanders fans up here though. Just me. Which I rather like.
- Wildschwein

Hockey fans are dumb, yeah

Cracknell sure isn't the solution to that bottom 6..... Wow. That will sure boost morale

You guys need Krug. Would look awesome with McD/Drai on the PP...
- LordHumungous

Trade Klef and Larsson to the highest bidder. Trade a 3rd rd pick to anyone willing to take Russel. ink Hoffman, Pietrangelo and Edmunson. See its that easy.......

That and the legions of retarded Oil fans found in the north. If they’d had their way, Maroon would’ve been on the Oil payroll for 6 @ 6 per.

No Islanders fans up here though. Just me. Which I rather like.
- Wildschwein

Yes - you do need another Lucic...

Yes - you do need another Lucic...

- Nasty_Duck

Trade Klef and Larsson to the highest bidder. Trade a 3rd rd pick to anyone willing to take Russel. ink Hoffman, Pietrangelo and Edmunson. See its that easy.......
- bikeguy99

Two of those three names would be burdens REAL fast

The possibility of Bozak as a 3C option has been bandied about on other sites lately and I'm not entirely opposed to it. We'd get a R shot 3C with some offense to his game and one year left on his contract and- assuming Kenny doesn't pull a Bergevin- should get an asset back on top of Bozak.

Obviously, this might put us in dire straits cap-wise, but there's a part of me that has already resigned myself to a lack of big changes this offseason. If we can get assets alongside a a 3C filler for next year, it'd help us be competitive now and give us an extra lottery ticket in a strong draft.

So will Bouchard, and likely sooner than later. He’ll be cheaper too.
- Wildschwein

2-3 seasons for Bouchard to fully develop. Krug is ready to go now. Oilers can't afford to wait another 2-3 years for a top level dman lol

2-3 seasons for Bouchard to fully develop. Krug is ready to go now. Oilers can't afford to wait another 2-3 years for a top level dman lol
- LordHumungous

And yet your scenario would still leave them without a "top-level" Dman- depending on one's definition of such. Krug is consistently sheltered (+60% off zone FOs, ~25% of mins against top opposition) and yet doesn't exactly dominate his competition (+0.88 relGF%). Considering he spends a healthy portion of his time behind perhaps the most dominant line in the league, this is concerning.

He's a good offensive Dman that changes the dynamics on the back-end, but I'm not convinced he'd a.) be worth the UFA cap hit he'll likely demand and b.) actually fix the problem on the Oilers' backend. If Holland is convinced he needs to spend big money on a UFA Dman, at least go for the RD in Pietrangelo who has proven he can play hard minutes and outscore.

And yet your scenario would still leave them without a "top-level" Dman- depending on one's definition of such. Krug is consistently sheltered (+60% off zone FOs, ~25% of mins against top opposition) and yet doesn't exactly dominate his competition (+0.88 relGF%). Considering he spends a healthy portion of his time behind perhaps the most dominant line in the league, this is concerning.

He's a good offensive Dman that changes the dynamics on the back-end, but I'm not convinced he'd a.) be worth the UFA cap hit he'll likely demand and b.) actually fix the problem on the Oilers' backend. If Holland is convinced he needs to spend big money on a UFA Dman, at least go for the RD in Pietrangelo who has proven he can play hard minutes and outscore.
- MaximumBone

Pietrangelo is a good option too but I believe Krug would be a better fit with McD/Drai on the PP. Tough call.

Pietrangelo is a good option too but I believe Krug would be a better fit with McD/Drai on the PP. Tough call.
- LordHumungous

Not tough at all, in my eyes. The Oilers don't need help on the PP; they need help at 5-on-5- especially among their forward group.

Honestly, I think your premise is actually flawed to begin with, but I understand that the optics from an external view give a different impression than from within. The Oilers' biggest problem that NEEDS to be addressed this offseason is the black hole that was the bottom-6- specifically the 3rd line that dragged the team into the red at 5-on-5. If that isn't fixed, the team is gonna be right back to being out of the playoffs.