- A #1 goalie.
- A top 6F
- Players who were tough to play against
- Grit and size
- Signed Khabibulin
- Tried to deal for Heatley (and then signed Comrie)
- Deal Brodziak for crimes real or imagined in the "tough to play against" department and attempted to sign Chris Neil.
- He (and possibly Quinn and other members of the organization) may have felt that Stone and Jacques gave them enough in the grit and size department. Either way, he did nothing.
My point here is that the Oilers must have an active summer because they've piddled around not making decisions on so many people. There are oodles of small forwards and some of them must be sent away. Here are some real items I think we can assume Tambellini and company are going to be using in their action plan before opening night 2010-11:
- At least two of the small forwards will be gone (I'd guess Nilsson and O'Sullivan).
- Sheldon Souray will be traded for a lesser defenseman (Rangers likely).
- A veteran RH center comes to town and settles the middle up front.
- They bring in a big winger with some skill (possibly the new Isbister).
- They sign one of those monsters Stauffer is always talking about on his show.
- Oilers will deal one of the young goalies (I hope they keep DD).
- MPS is signed and surprisingly makes the big club.
I think Oilers fans should expect a very active summer. Seguin/Hall at the draft, a major trade to move into the middle of the first round for a Dylan McIlrath type and a bunch of small forwards (plus Souray) heading out of town.
My guess is we see at least 6 new faces on the big club opening night. At least.
I hope MPS doesn't make the club. He's only 19 and he hasn't dominated the Swedish league yet. Let him have a dominant season this year, and then let him come over next year. He probably won't be ready to make an impact yet in the NHL, so I'm not sure what good it will do his development or the team's performance.
ReplyDeleteIf the Oilers could somehow snag Rozsival and an early pick (say 2nd round) from the Rangers for Souray, that would be an excellent trade from an Oilers perspective.
ReplyDeleteTake a hefty contract back, but with only 1 year left (both teams stay in the same position cap wise). You also get a decent defenceman who is good in his own zone and has decent size.
It kind of sounds like Tambellini wants to be traded back to Vancouver.
ReplyDeleteBring in MPS, draft Hall, and all of the sudden this team has some blazing speed at forward, not to mention depth. It'll be a Dman's nightmare. These two are pretty relentless when it comes to getting the puck to the goal.
ReplyDeleteI really hate the idea of trying to replace Souray. Without Visnovsky we're left wanting for a powerplay stud on the back end. I think it's going to have to be offense by committee without him, which means we need some help. Has anyone been keeping an eye on Kurtis Foster at all this season? He's a UFA and I was kind of hoping for him last season. Anyone else out there that pops out?
ReplyDeleteWhat I want to see is Mr. Dithers going after a couple not big names on the first days of free agency. I am thinking:
ReplyDeletea) a John Madden (for 1.5 Million) or Metropolit (for 1 Million).
b) Richard Park (for 1.5 Million)
*both these guys on a ONE year deal*
and Swing for the Fence:
c) Anton Volchenkov (for 4.5 Million a year on a four year deal), and when we miss Klesla (2 Million a year for two season)
I know some of these folks haven't had the best season this year, but we need vets that are centres, wingers, and Dmen. All of these folks (with the exception of Volchenkov) would be a nice stop gap, and it would mark a change of direction on 'free agency' day
If Tambellini takes Wade Redden back from the Rangers in a Souray deal I'll lose it.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you're right about the goalie that comes back. DD's stats were not as strong, but he got better over time whereas it seems JDD is running in place. Challenge though might be that other's will feel DD can bring more in a trade.
ReplyDeleteAgree with your call on the smurfs. It will not be a good summer of Nilsson/POS are still here at camp.
I would not be surprise though if a 3rd smurf goes - Cogs/Omark in an effort to offload Souray's contract.
If that happens, it could leave a crack for Eberle to start the season in Edmonton, but I'd be fine if he starts in OKC and continues his development. No need to rush him, or MPS.
I'm all in favour of just giving the PP quarterback role to Gilbert.
ReplyDeleteI think we'll be looking back at his first 65 games this year as a bizarre aberration.
Foster and Hedman were the lone bright spot on the T-Bay D Corps.
ReplyDelete21st in D points.
6'5" 223 lbs
28 years old.
Oilers could use one of these.I'd be ok with an overpay here.
Made 600k last year, coming off a shattered leg. Possibly the best D bargain in the league.
Think you could you get him for 2.5-3M over 3? That is if he'd want to join the Edmonton Thunder.
What does Cogliano and Souray get us?
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind that Cogliano is RFA.
ReplyDeleteNo big name expensive free agents please. That doesn't work.
ReplyDeleteThey just serve as a distraction. Affordable no-name value UFA's only.
You build your core from player development. Fill holes with value-for-money no-name free agents. And dabble in the big name market, only when one has changed the culture and are a Stanley Cup contender.
Randy Moss to the Patriots turned out much different than Randy Moss to the Raiders.
Do we think the Sharks might end up wanting Souray when the dust settles? There's a lot of money coming off the books this year in the Bay Area... maybe something like him for Doug Murray?
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice to optimistic like LT on the summer of Steve, but that's what I was last summer and he cruelly disappointed me. I expect nothing different. Maybe he makes more than 3 moves, but one of those 'energetic' moves is going to make the team worse, not better, and handcuff salary again.
ReplyDeleteBar Qu: Just to be clear--I'm certain Tambellini will be extremely active compared to last season.
ReplyDeleteI am completely uncertain about how successful he'll be in terms of making moves.
I am willing to 'wait and see' because the Lubo trade had a nice short term result (although I wouldn't have traded Lubo, ever).
But his overall body of work doesn't lend itself to a confident feeling about the summer. Active, but the return is a complete mystery. In re-listening to some portions of the interviews yesterday there seems to be a "knuckle-dragger" thread throughout the piece.
If Tambellini takes Wade Redden back from the Rangers in a Souray deal I'll lose it.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I was just about to make a Wade Redden crack, too.
LT, pretty hard to be a lesser defenceman than Souray, who was as bad as Strudwick and Chorney after he came back from concussion -- that's the real injury that Souray came back too soon from, IMO.
ReplyDeleteAt his age, with his injury history, if he's not done as an NHLer he'll be seriously defying the odds.
With all the clarity going around, it's clear Tamby should have traded the guy last summer when Souray apparently wanted out of here and might have agreed to a trade(although I suspect, Souray's trade demand was very much on again, off again, based on personal issues).
If Tambellini can now move Souray, kudos to him. Frankly, I didn't think Souray could be moved this past January even before his injury and recent outburst.
The other teams scout Oiler games, after all, as Ethan Moreau found out.
I am really hoping that is right about the right handed FO man. The only thing that worried me about that. It was kind of put in his mouth by the question that was asked (by Gregor who pooh-pooh'd anyone who suggested we get Betts, Malhotra, Moore etc.. last summer).
ReplyDeleteSo I am not sure if he just repeated what was asked in the question or that is something he really believes. Because so far he seems by actions to think face offs and/or PK mean crap all.
I've been brooding for the last couple of days on how weird it is to be relentlessly negative about the team I'm nominally a fan of. I mean, they've given me a thousand reasons, but it's still kind of masochistic. I used to go to games, or go to the bar in a jersey and be excited like everyone else, but I've really grown to hate this organization. It's only 31 years as an Edmontonian, and some hazy nostalgic memories, that keep me caring. Stupid.
ReplyDeleteSo, without any sarcasm or irony: go Steve! Walk the walk this time! It's completely fine if the Oilers finish dead last again next season, as long as it fits in with a coherent plan. I'll evaluate and assess, give Tambellini a fair chance, and happily wait. Until Christmas.
But if by the Christmas break in the 2010-11 season things aren't clearly going in the right direction - and they can be losing every game, that's fine, but it has to be with a clear purpose - I'm mailing all my Oilers paraphernalia to my brother-in-law in Mexico and washing my hands of this franchise forever.
I think that they can move Souray but you can expect a similar return.
ReplyDeleteThat is - a player or two who eat up a lot of cap space and who are probably injury prone or crappy or both.
I think we may have lucked out with the Whitney return although of course that's a small sample size so far plus Lubo has more value than Souray I think. In any case finding a young guy who has fallen out of favour with the coach may be a difficult proposition this time.
Now if you throw Cogliano or another kid in there then you might have to take less crap back I guess.
That is - a player or two who eat up a lot of cap space and who are probably injury prone or crappy or both.
ReplyDeleteNik Antropov is making similar money and may not be in the picture in Atlanta. Kovalev in Ottawa. Finger in Toronto. CFP in Philly. :D
c) Anton Volchenkov (for 4.5 Million a year on a four year deal), and when we miss Klesla (2 Million a year for two season)
ReplyDeleteKlesla signed an extension, I think.
It's going to be very difficult to move Souray and not get garbage back without throwing in someone of real/perceived value.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me that was part of the thinking in moving Cogs up to Penner's line - inflate his value to package him with a lesser "asset" (Souray).
Cogs can't stay on Penner's line with Hall/Seguin coming in, plus Gagner coming back, plus Hemsky plus perhaps even Brule if you really want to go that deep.
Hate to lose him, but somethings gotta give. And if we can get back a good stay at home d-man and/or a true 3C, well, good for us.
I'm not confident in Tambellini's ability to pull any of this off though.
only when one has changed the culture
ReplyDeleteFuck that
Seriously
Lets talk about getting hockey players
Talking culture is for the
Young Yoghurtians League
I guess the optics of this would look bad but:
ReplyDeleteTo Boston: 1st overall and POS
To Edmonton: 2nd overall
;)
That might be a way to clear out some crap.
Why blow any value of trading down from 1 to 2 on getting rid of contracts. Ask for draft picks and then eat these bad contracts for another year.
ReplyDelete@Yeti:
ReplyDeleteI think Boston would take Souray. I'm not keen on trading the 1st overall but I Souray has played with Chara before and I can't confirm this but I remember Boston was looking for a PP specialist to go with Chara.
Edmonton's 1st
Sheldon Souray
Toronto's 1st
Boston's 1st
Random cap eating player
Souray has played with Chara before
ReplyDelete?
I think there's hope that Tambi is moving in the right direction. Don't forget the last deal he made at the deadline...Staios for Johnson and a third round pick...that was brilliant.
ReplyDeleteIf he can make deal or two like that this summer (shed salary, pickup a useful asset or pick) then I think he could do a lot of good for his image and the team, simultaneously.
I kind of hope the inertia continues from Tambellini. Less damage that way.
ReplyDeleteIf the Khabibulin signing is any indicator of what we can expect from him "doing something" then I'd rather he just sits there assessing.
LT: I'm not saying Tambellini won't be more active this summer, but it's hard to predict exactly what will happen.
ReplyDeleteHow many times last summer, both before the season started and just after the season started, did you post about expecting a trade quickly?
Antropov is coming off a career year, and I don't think that's a phrase we'll hear used to describe anyone we get back in a Souray trade.
ReplyDeleteI Souray has played with Chara before
ReplyDeleteUnless it was in Europe during the lockout, no dice (All-Star Games don't count).
Souray: NJD, MTL, EDM
Chara: NYI, OTT, BOS
@johnnyshaka: Yes, you have to give Tambellini credit for getting rid of Staios contract at the deadline.
ReplyDeleteBut given all his moves prior to this year's deadline, many still think it's a case of even a blind dog getting a bone every now and then versus a sign of management acumen.
Antropov is coming off a career year, and I don't think that's a phrase we'll hear used to describe anyone we get back in a Souray trade.
ReplyDeleteIt's a career year playing with Kovalchuk, who's gone, and his contract was back-loaded. I'm assuming that real dollars are a bigger concern in ATL than the salary cap.
That said, you're probably right that we'd have to add to it. I'd do Souray and Cogs for the big man.
It looks like Souray and Chara played for Farjestad during the lockout.
ReplyDelete@speeds:
ReplyDelete[puts on optimistic dunce cap]
Tambi has had ample time to "assess" what he has, something he might not have had going into the season with guys like Brule, Nilsson, POS, or Cogs...for whatever reason.
With his assets properly evaluated he can move forward and do what he can do get what he deems good value in return...whether that be cap space, players, or picks.
This past trade deadline was the first step in his master plan and by most accounts, I think he earned a passing grade.
[removes optimistic dunce cap]
The question is, will phase two be as successful...better...worse??
Maybe the Oilers could land Iginla while the space cadets are still running the Flames.
ReplyDeleteLets see.....,
Souray, Moreau, O'Sullivan, Nilsson, lots of trade bait.
Hehe.
@oilerdago:
ReplyDeleteThere's no question that some of his prior moves were sketchy, at best, but we'll likely never know the whole story behind some of those moves...meaning that maybe some of the guys he shipped out were contributing to this "bad culture" we keep hearing about and that he was willing to overpay to try and improve it.
I'm not necessarily praising his tactics, but I'm also not so sure he was really driving the bus for the first little while (the Cole for POS and Kotalik deal comes to mind) either.
Like others have said, I think he's been right more often than not, lately, and I'm willing reserve judgement until further notice. But I'm really anxious to see what happens with our goaltending situation going forward because that move is the only one I really shake my head at. I think I might understand his reasoning (he obviously loves his attitude around the locker room but is that worth that much money over that many years at that position?) but I'm still sitting there at the cash register trying to decide if I really want to buy that or not.
I think you guys are wrong that believe Edmonton will get a pile of shit in return for Souray.
ReplyDeleteIf all Souray returns is other baggage I expect Souray to be sent to Oklahoma. Souray will not report and then Edmonton will release him and Souray will be free to sign wherever he wants and Edmonton gains 5.4 in cap space.
Can I propose a friendly wager to the proprietor? A case of beer, delivered on the date of the 1st 2010/11 Battle of Alberta, that the Oilers do *not* add a veteran RH centre from outside the organization. I'll be generous with the definition of veteran, too -- say 250GP (Brodziak is presently at 257).
ReplyDeleteObviously I might be wrong and the Oilers are prepared to address a 2-season-old need, but I like my odds.
@Traktor:
ReplyDeleteWith two years left on his deal, can we just release him if he doesn't report to OKC? Would anybody be on the hook for the rest of the cash or would be in breach of contract for not reporting and essentially voiding the remainder of it?
Something doesn't sound right about that...
Actually Antropov continued to put up points post Kovalchuk. He also put up points in Toronto as well, and is responsible enough defensively.
ReplyDeleteHis drawback has always been health. He has managed to play 76, 81, and 72 games the last 3 seasons though. Without the injuries early in his NHL career I'm pretty sure he'd have been a solid 60 point guy in the league for the last few years.
The consensus this season is that he delivered on his contract. I wouldn't mind an Antropov for Souray deal but I don't see Atlanta trading him.
Last year Tambellini talked about getting tougher from within (the group we have) not by trade. Now - clearly he was wrong, but saying he didn't deliver 'promised' trades is incorrect. The message is different this year.
ReplyDeleteI think its more than fair to criticize him for inactivity, optimism due to the coaching change, and maybe even beer goggles, but it is not fair to say that he promised trades and then did not deliver. To be accurate, he promised to make the crew that he had more competitive through a new coaching regime and then he failed to do that. He totally misread his assets.
He also did weird things that did not match his rhetoric - signing Khabibulin and going after Heatley did not really fit his plans as described, so I wonder if these were Lowe/Katz moves. It would bee interesting to know if Tambellini was keen on Heatley/Khabibulin or if Tambellini was telling Lowe and Katz that it was a bad move and getting over-ruled (lets hope it is the latter).
I think we will see action this summer, there is no option of delusion for the management any longer. I think that everybody now agrees with MacT that 'this group is not coachable'. There is no 'fire the coach' option.
I think we will see action this summer, there is no option of delusion for the management any longer. I think that everybody now agrees with MacT that 'this group is not coachable'. There is no 'fire the coach' option.
ReplyDeleteWhich is a shame, because now we're stuck with the four-line-rolling-damn-the-consequences old bastard.
Let him have a dominant season this year:
ReplyDeleteGreat idea let him be top ten in scoring @ under 22 like the swedish greats of past and Now:
K. Nilsson, Gradin, Markus Naslund, P sundstrom, T. Sandstrom, Matts Naslund, Forsburg, H. and D. Sedin, Omark.
Oh wait! everyone wants to trade Omark. Hey maybe we can package up eberle with something since we are trading small forwards with elite trending.
Seguin is going to be the right handed center that they pick up. Nilsson and O'Sullivan will be bought out or traded in a package with Souray for a garbage defenceman with a big cap hit.
ReplyDeletebaggedmilk
According to Bob MacKenzie's latest twitter, Eberle will be going to the Worlds, and will start out on the Taxi squad with the possibility of moving up a la Toews, depending on his performance.
ReplyDeleteIs MacT serious about not reconsidering on the Penner issue? If I had a power forward enjoying his career season... I'd want him on my team.
ReplyDeleteThey're grown men. Put the grudges behind them.
@Schitzo:
ReplyDeleteOn a further note, Mike Comrie also played with Chara and Souray.
Not that we would be able to trade a pending UFA like Comrie for anything useful (since he plays on lines 2-4).
@ antonyta
ReplyDeleteComrie would have been a fairly solid provider for the team this year if he didn't come down with the plague. He got 13 goals in just over half a season.
-bm
Probably better suited for the previous thread, but it seems fairly clear that long term player has been set back by having no minor league team of our own and then having the wrong people in charge when we did get one.
ReplyDeleteIf scouting prior to MB was as poor as opined on this and other blogs then it is amazing that we got any results out of the minors.
@JSBM
ReplyDeleteNo doubt, but my comment was on his relative market value not his ability to contribute.
If they could maintain perfect health players, such as MAP, Hemsky, Khabibulin, Smid, Visnovsky, etc., would have enjoyed better performances this season.
Unfortunately, this is not the case.
I have a feeling that unless your name is Patrick Marleau or Ilya Kovalchuk, few pending UFAs will draw much attention in terms of the acquisition of exclusive negotiating rights (a la Sundin).
Eberle to the worlds, wow.
ReplyDeleteThere's still every possibility this kid could be something special, rather than just something good.
Eberle officially headed to WCs (on the taxi squad at first) as per McKenzie's twitter.
ReplyDeleteI've been of the opinion that MPS should return to the SEL to continue honing his game. However, the more time passes without us hearing that he's re-signed with Timra, the more I suspect we see him crack the Oilers lineup out of camp. With Moreau leaving the team we'll essentially have one legitimate LW in Penner.
ReplyDeleteIf I was MPS I'd be smiling when asked about my odds of breaking that lineup.
Size and speed will always help a young player's odds of making the team and the kid certainly has those in spades.
-----
If we do end up drafting Seguin, I can't see the team changing the centres around. The depth chart down the middle will look something like Horcoff-Gagner-Seguin-Pouliot/Potulny/Cogliano/etc.
If Seguin goes back to junior, I can see this management group sitting pat at centre regardless.
-----
The moves I do anticipate? Souray out for scraps. O'Sullivan and Moreau out for scraps or nothing.
It is my sincere hope that we don't sell the farm and the truck (not in that order) to get another draft pick in the top 5. There's a lot of depth in this draft and I think there's a reasonable argument to be made that a player available at 20 could end up as good as one available at 5.
That being said, there a lot of top 4 defensemen that are available this offseason. With Souray on the way out and the shadow of Strudwick/Chorney looming over next season, I think Tambellini will need to look at trying to sign at least one of them. That probably makes me most nervous out of all these possibilities.
Chorney and Potulny named to the US World Championship team.
ReplyDeleteChorney? Really?
Chorney < Whitney
ReplyDeleteI don't know about you but the USA team seems stacked with college players.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why this would exclude Whitney (Boston U) or Gilbert (U.Wisconsin) but I think this trend might be part of the explanation for why Chorney and Potulny are on the team ahead of better Americans.
Both Whitney and Gilbert declined their invitations.
ReplyDeleteCrazy. I guess I'm not Whitney or Gilbert but I would never decline a chance to rep my country.
ReplyDeleteIsn't Whitney getting surgery on his foot in the near future?
ReplyDeleteTambellini talked about getting tougher from within (the group we have) not by trade.
ReplyDeleteYeah, how'd that work out?
Souray - injured
Smid - injured
Peckham - injured
JFJ - injured
Stone - injured
Stortini - still truckin'
... but when your team as a whole is firing on one and a half cylinders in this as in any one aspect of the game, your team is in deep, deep trouble. The rhymin' tag team of Stortini and Arsene isn't apt to scare anyone, and behind them we had the likes of Strudwick, Moreau, and Pisani who can look after themselves but don't ask for much more than that. (See: Moreau's pathetic "fight" with Iginla after the Souray concussion)
What was that, October 8, and the season was already heading south from a team toughness perspective. Stone went down shortly after, and the Oilers went down right around the same time.
There was lots of other shit happening around the same time (Hemmerbulin) and of course it was a number of negative factors that contributed to the übershitty season Oilers fans have endured, but I would certainly cite loss of team toughness, mostly through injury, as one of them.
Agreed Lt, I also would guess the Rangers will end up with Souray. I'll suggest it will be Souray and Cogs... for Rozival (cap hit) and their #10 pick this year which will become Pysyk.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a good fit.
Congrats to Eberle but not having Penner on that team is retarded. (Unless he declined or something)
ReplyDeleteCan't believe Mac-T couldn't coax Horcoff onto the team.
Jon K:
ReplyDeleteMaybe if they draft Seguin and keep him in the NHL, playing wing is an option to begin his career?
Would everyone feel comfortable breaking MPS, Eberle and Hall or Seguin at the same time this fall?
ReplyDeleteJust seems to me that this is too many kids, in addition to Peckham probably being the #6 or #7D man this year.
Yikes.
Breaking in all those kids at once will probably destroy one or two of them.
ReplyDeleteSo if we sign Seguin we're committing to keep them in the NHL all season, right? We can't send them back to junior part way through? Seems to me we should send him back to junior if only for the contract considerations.
ReplyDeleteWhat about MPS? He's not AHL-eligible either, is he? Or is it only players from North American junior leagues to whom the restriction applies? If MPS made the team out of camp and then we wanted to get rid of him what would be our options?
If all three of them do make the team, you'd hope that one of them would get pressboxed each game - isn't that how Hemsky started?
If we do end up drafting Seguin, I can't see the team changing the centres around. The depth chart down the middle will look something like Horcoff-Gagner-Seguin-Pouliot/Potulny/Cogliano/etc.
ReplyDeleteFace off % last year Minimum 200 face offs;
Brule 52.6 275FO;
Penner 47.7 421;
Potulny 47.4 820;
Gagner 47.4 709;
Horcoff 46.4 1337;
Pouliot 44.3 235;
Cogliano 43.0 379
We better be rolling out
Horcoff;
Brule W/ penner
Gagner;
Poor old Charlie Brown.
ReplyDeleteXXX-Gagner(20 yr)-Hemsky(27yr)
ReplyDeleteXXX-Horcoff(32)-XXX
Penner(28)-Brule(23)-Cogliano(23)
XXX-XXX-Stortini(25)
Jones (26)
Stone(25)
Pouliot(25)
Omark (23)
How much room is there for youth. Considering:
1. MPS-Lander-Omark-Eberle-Potulny to Worlds
2. Hartikainen lighting in SM-Ligga playoffs
Brule is physical on a team that isn't physical, he scores on a team that doesn't score, and he wins draws on a team that can't win draws.
ReplyDeleteGagner and Seguin are both locks in the top 9 as well.
That leaves 78 and 10 battling it out for minutes on the 4th line.
Where is the room for the vet RH center?
traktor: I am picking Hall!
ReplyDeletePenner will not be around after contract.
Our future LW are:
Hall
Hartikainen
MPS
Traktor: Just because Brule takes faceoffs doesn't make him a centre. He played a lot of wing this year.
ReplyDeleteTowards the end of the season up until 67 got hurt, he and Penner were flanking Cogliano, who while nominally the centre, was clearly the third best faceoff option on the line. Not a situation one encounters very often!
By season's end Quinn was using Pouliot and Stortini as his bottom-six pivots, both righthanders. Stortini took 183 draws, just below Rickibear's artifical threshold of 200, and ranked a respectable third among the 9 Oilers with 180+ draws at 47.5%. (Nobody else took as many as 50.)
I personally think we need a LH faceoff specialist at least as much as we need another righty.
What is it that all these managers see in Taylor Chorney anyway?
ReplyDeleterickibear:
ReplyDeleteI would say it's like 0.1% chance one of MPS or Lander makes it to the World Championships in Germany.
SEL Finals started today and there will probably be at least 4 players from those two teams joining the Swedish squad. After that there is also the Swedish NHL players who might be or not be available to consider.
Steve: My understanding is that we can sign him, play him, and send him back to junior at any time if we desire. If we do send him to junior however he cannot be recalled during the OHL season unless the league grants us an emergency callup exception.
ReplyDeletespeeds: They could, but given how poorly our centres have faired since we lost Stoll and Reasoner I think they'd be starved for a centre who can actually play the position.
Bruce: I agree about Brule. The guy is still a liability defensively but he's improved since we first saw him come over to the Oilers. I think if he gets a short term contract in the area of 2.0 to 2.5 million per, we'll see a lot of moaning about it, but personally I think that'd be more than fair for both parties.
ReplyDeleteBrule at 2.0 to 2.5 million per?
ReplyDeleteI've seen that number suggested more than once.
I can't see where its coming from, or why the Oilers would pay it.
Mr Debakey: How do you figure he should be paid less than that? Even a cursory search of contracts signed in the last year shows several players scoring in Brule's range who make more than that. I'd be interested to know your valuation method. Agents and organizations negotiate using comparable players and what they had accomplished to the point of time of negotiation.
ReplyDeleteOn the lower end of the range:
Jussi Jokinen, 3.4 over 2 years (1.7 per), 27 points in 71 games previous season
http://www.capgeek.com/players/display.php?pid=56781&pos=F
One the upper end of the range:
Mikhail Grabovski, 8.7 over 3 years (2.9 per), 48 points over 78 games previous season
http://www.capgeek.com/players/display.php?pid=77331&pos=F
Mikael Samuelsson, 7.5 over 3 years (2.5 per), 40 points in 81 games previous season
http://www.capgeek.com/players/display.php?pid=37626&pos=F
I stopped at this point, but I'm sure with some elbow grease I could come up with more.
Gilbert Brule, 37 points in 65 games (prorates to 46 points in 82 games, including 21 goals).
When comparables like these exist I'd be forced to say something nice about Steve Tambellini if he manages to get Brule signed for 2.0 or less on a two-year term.
Brule's day at centre are over guys. He is still a defensive liability at wing 4 years into an NHL career. He will never be a competent NHL centre.
ReplyDeleteBrule is good for one of two things 1) a soft minutes only scoring RW 2) a 4th line energy player (where one might play him at centre).
Eberle likely steal his job in short order, and thus, Brule only has a long term future with the Oilers if Hemsky is not re-signed.
Notice how so many of the guys who got hurt were supposedly know for team toughness. I don't disagree that the team has to get bigger and tougher, but the tougher guys try to play the more often they will get hurt. Toughness is not the goal, it just helps you get there.
ReplyDeleteA good offense is the best defense. Teams will not often be scared into submission by a bunch of goons (see Minnesota). Teams will back off if they know you can score - and that will allow you to get more goals on Special Teams because teams offer that kind of respect.
Team toughness, on the other hand, should be implied not brandied. Having those Milan Lucic or David Backes types should help. Having more guys like J.F. Jacques shouldn't.
I believe the Oilers need a guy similar to Brandon Dubinsky - a guy who defends your star players or sticks up for guys who can't for themselves (like Cogliano or something) but can still chip in from time to time with their own points. Even the Broad Steet Bullies had to bring a certain element of skill.