Saturday, June 26, 2010

2010 Entry Draft Day 2: Value Picks


















The Edmonton Oilers secured Taylor Hall in round one of the 2010 NHL entry draft. What to do for an encore? Get the best possible value, especially in round 2. The names will go more quickly today and the Owners and presidents and General Managers will slip away and congratulate themselves on negotiating the rapids.

The room will be left to to the beer drinkers, to the men who can't go more than 11 seconds without dropping an F-Bomb, to the men with the lesser haircuts and paychecks. The Oilers will be busy today:
  • #31 (Rd2)
  • #48 (Rd2)
  • #61 (Rd3)
  • #91 (Rd4)
  • #121 (Rd5)
  • #162 (Rd6)
  • #166 (Rd6)
  • #181 (Rd7)
Steve Tambellini said (and looked like) he was trying to move up in the first round. This from the SUN: "We were really aggressive in the top half of the first round, like most teams, but as we got down into the second half our scouts felt that we didn't want to give up the picks. We're going to have an important second round on Saturday. I'm looking forward to that."

Kings GM Dean Lombardi gave us some valuable insight into what the trade market looked like on the draft floor when asked about the asking price to move up: “Sometimes you can’t even get a price. Sometimes you zero in on a guy, and particularly on draft day, picks have more value. At the trade deadline, we throw them around like nickels. Then on draft day, it’s almost like we hold them like gold. The other thing that happens is, you have scouts out there the whole year, and this is kind of like their day, so maybe you’re hesitant not to give them a guy they’ve zeroed in on. Only from about four picks ahead of him were people even considering it. Then, right before the pick, they go, `Ah, we’re taking it.’ Then you just keep working back.”

Buffalo's Darcy Regier thought there would be more movement: "There were a lot of conversations over the last few days about players being moved, and it didn’t happen. Maybe the ask was too high. Teams in some cases were looking for first-round picks for players that everyone knows they’re either in a cap situation, they’re in a tough spot, and I think it’s good they didn’t get off the hook by collecting a bunch of first-round picks." Fun guy, that Darcy Regier.

It is impossible to know the names of the kids Edmonton will select today (so much relies on what will be left), but here are a few names that might be available on day two:

  1. C Tyler Pitlick: Has size and is a center. Promising.
  2. D Jonathan Merrill: Combination of size,skill, intensity.
  3. C Tyler Toffoli: Skill center with footspeed issues.
  4. C John McFarland: Has speed and skill, attitude a worry.
  5. D Justin Faulk: Strong skater, hardest shot in the draft.
  6. G Calvin Pickard: Big WHL goalie with a .914 SP.
  7. C Calle Jarnkrok: BSA. Slight W with impressive skill.
  8. L Petr Straka: Good skater with plus skill set.
  9. L Brad Ross: Sandpaper W with skill. Undersized.
  10. D Alex Petrovic: Nice combination of size and speed.
  11. L Ludvig Rensfeldt: Big W with skill, very consistent.
  12. C Ryan Spooner: Very skilled playmaker.
  13. D Matt McKenzie: D with size can play physical style.
  14. D Mark Alt: Big defender with a wide range of skills.
  15. L Johan Larsson: Late breaker. Hard worker, skilled.
  16. C Stan Galiev: Tall, lean playmaking C fromt he Q.
  17. C Greg McKegg: Slippery C with good skills.
  18. G Kent Simpson: A solid technical goalie.
  19. D Stephen Johns: Huge D, will take time.
  20. D Patrik Nemeth: Huge D with, large wingspan.
  21. L Kiril Kabanov: Tall, talented and erratic. In all areas.
  22. R Teemu Pulkkinen: Skilled but inconsistent.
  23. C Jordan Weal: Unreal skill. 5.09, 162.
  24. C Oscar Lindberg: Skill C from Swedish juniors.
  25. D Brock Beukeboom: Chip off the old block.
  26. R Brett Bulmer: Lanky winger spiked late.
  27. C Jakub Culek: Big, skilled C with speed. Sleeper.
  28. G Mathieu Corbiel: Mammoth G. Blocks out the sun.
  29. L Devante Smith-Pelly: Skill W with some grit.
  30. L Jason Zucker: 2-way winger.
  31. D Troy Rutkowski: Draft wild card. Skilled, inconistent.
  32. R Jared Knight: Skill W with average size and speed.
  33. D Taylor Aronson: Complete skills, raw. Shone late.
  34. C Kevin Sundher: Energy player, +speed and some skill.
  35. D Joey Leach: Rugged D with size. He can play defense.
  36. L Curtis Hamilton: A nice size/skill combination.
  37. C Viktor Ohman: Big C plays a physical game. Skilled.
  38. L Maxim Kitsyn: High risk skilled Russian.
  39. L Justin Shugg: Small, skill winger.
  40. L Sondre Olden: Big Swedish winger with skill.

A few notes on these 40 players. It is not a comprehensive list, there are 50 more names that I could list and still miss an Oiler pick. If the player Edmonton drafted isn't familiar to you (especially after round two, EDM seems to reward their area scouts in round three) its best to check the Al Gore.

I'll be around today and will post the selections and trades immediately on this blog. It was a very big day for the Edmonton Oilers yesterday, they drafted a player who should have a major and long-reaching impact on the organization. Stu (Magnificent Bastard) MacGregor's job today (along with the scouts) is to make this draft even better. The 2007-10 Oilers cluster of picks is already impressive, but there are more bullets in the gun.

Fun day.

241 comments:

  1. Chicago has 5(!) picks in this round and Florida has 4. It would be nice to get our hands on some of them but I'm not sure we have anything either of them might want. Florida has already added a couple of young forwards and Chicago definitely doesn't need roster players from the worst team in the league. Next year's picks have to be off limit because odds are the Oilers are deep in the lottery again.

    Does Nash buy a couple of second rounders?

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  2. Marc: I think we'll see something give today from the Oilers in terms of forwards. If they have to trade a current forward and a pick in the 100's for a later pick next year, then so be it.

    But as it stands now, the F depth chart is a mess.

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  3. 29 GMs have the opportunity of swaping picks for smurfs.

    Somehow I can't see too many of them being up for that.

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  4. After missing out on a chance to steal elite D Fowler or Gormley, I don't think the 2nd rounders should be used to take a D. As discussed earlier, the development time is far too long.

    D picked 2nd round or later to make an NHL impact:
    2009 - None
    2008 - Demers (7th Rd, Age 20 at draft)
    2007 - Gunnarsson (7th, Age 20)
    2006 - McBain (2nd)

    F/G picked 2nd round or later to make an NHL impact:
    2009 - O'Reilly (2nd)
    2008 - None
    2007 - Simmonds, Galiardi, Moller (2nd), Benn (5th)
    2006 - Anisimov, Lucic, Matthias, Kulemin, McGinn (2nd), Clutterbuck , Steve Mason, Zharkov (3rd), Beleskey (4th), Stalberg (6th), Dorsett (7th)

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  5. I'll vouch for J. McFarland:

    Hands down the best player on this Sudbury team but lost considerable ice time to two much weaker players- little Foligno and littlest Staal.. because of their names and who's dad the coach is. He should've asked out instead of suffering through an entire season with very little help but he did not want to look like bad guy in his draft year.

    That being said, he looks pretty close to being ready at this point and could probably make this team out of camp.

    I'd hope MacFarland is our pick at 31. He'll be a good player.

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  6. Not knowing anything but his press clippings, but Kabanov looks the type old Slats might have taken a flier on back in the day - he shows up at camp and sees Hall, Eberle, and MPS then realises he's in tough to even make the NHL.

    Then, down to the AHL and let the F**ker develop into a real hockey player. if it works out, Oilers have another game breaker, and at very least help cover their bet should any of the big three prospects bust.

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  7. I think the Oilers will be active today in the trade market. That might involve dealing picks, etc but there's also going to be a market for some of the kids who are being pushed out and possibly a veteran or two.

    Florida, as a for instance, has the following: four second round picks (Nos. 33, 36, 50 and 59), two fourths (92, 93), a fifth (123), sixth (153) and seventh (183).

    I can see the Oilers dealing some of their youth (especially up front, but also in goal) to grab another 2nd rd pick.

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  8. Is Cogs still on the market or is he too 'precious' to take a second round pick for (surely he's worth that)?

    Apparently, your info was right LT, Duthie said we had a deal in place for McIlrath @15 hut Sather saved us from ourselves. Whew!

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  9. I think McIlrath will surprise people. He isn't a goon and he does have footspeed. That said, he was not a value pick at #10 imo.

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  10. With Florida having sooo many 2nd rounds maybe we can unload some of the smurfs. If we can walk away with Pitlick, Ross and a defenseman it will be a good morning!

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  11. Anon: Matt McKenzie is a fine D prospect, I wouldn't be surprised to see EDM take him at 31.

    Damn I wish it was on already.

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  12. @hunter

    Kabanov? Slats might take a flyer on him but did Slats have success doing that?

    Why take him when there are real players on the board?

    The second they ask him to play D or play in the AHL, he will pout and head off to the KHL.

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  13. From the interview Kabanov gave the guys at the Pipeline Show, I'd definitely use Nashville's pick on him.

    With any of Petrovic, McFarland, Galiev and even the Pitlick who a lot of people seem to like being available, I'd love to see the Oilers move the 31st to drop 2-4 spots and get another pick in the 2nd or 3rd round.

    Also moving a few redundancies for 3rd or 4th picks would be nice. I'm not for moving Cogs at this point though, unless they offer something very good like multiple 2nd picks or a 1st next year etc. A season under Renney as a protected winger might drive Cogs's stock way up.

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  14. Not sure what Tambo has to trade today.

    Souray will be worth more once Kaberle is traded and a few teams wind up short a D man.

    It seems that Tambo isn't going to get much value for his main roster players (Hemsky, Penner) until the trade deadline. (see Lombardi's comments)

    It would be nice if they could get a few more picks for Moreau, POS, Nilsson, JFJ, Potulny but do any of them have much value?

    Need to keep JDD at this point until camp and they see whats up with Bulin?

    I'd kind of like them to keep Cogs at this point. His value has to be quite low and a line of him, Hall and MPS would be unbelievably fast.

    They could trade Nash but perhaps its better to wait until they see if they can sign him - he is likely worth more than a second.

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  15. nhl.com supposed to be streaming today.

    I think McIlrath will be a player, but I don't think he's value @ 15 either, especially if you have to buy your way up to 15.

    My pick @ 15 would have been Bjugstad, or the Watson enigma after seeing the infomercial.

    Getting there would have cost us #31 (Pitlick?) plus (#48?) or Cogs possibly plus.

    I don't think he'll be more valuable than any of those 3 forwards - ever. Just bad bet to make.

    The Lombardi comment about the changing value of picks is distressing. Surely its not too difficult for guys in this business to accurately value a draft pick all year long.

    Tallon is selling players for picks, so I'd be very interested to see what kind of player makes him reverse that strategy today. I think its unlikely that Florida does not use them all. He has a simple plan - more bullets are better.

    Anaheim 'held their water' and made out like bandits.

    I want to cheer for smart guys for a change, men who I can see know what they are doing. Instead of guys who can't properly value the assets they deal with everyday.

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  16. Oh, and one other thing. I recall a couple of years ago that guys around here were screaming for the Oilers to take Angelo Esposito with one of their later first round picks.

    He had makeup issues - and still does.

    I think one of MBS' strengths over the previous regimes has been to lay off these talented but lazy or mentally fragile guys.

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  17. I must be the only guy who enjoyed the Oilers tv hour. I'd watch a draft show once a week all year if it was on. Oh well. :-)

    Tallon's roster isn't so deep that he can't add someone like Cogliano. I'd prefer to keep Cogs and deal someone else but the depth chart suggests someone is going today.

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  18. Interesting that supposed mystery man Watson was still around at 15 and was not of interest for the Oilers then.

    So was that an incorrect read by the bloggers or smoke and mirrors by the staff?

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  19. Ducey: I recall more people being upset about them passing on Cherepanov.

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  20. I thought 'Oil Change' should have had the phone # for the ticket line on a crawl at the bottom of the screen.

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  21. Cherepanov gets forgotten, because the ones who 'told us so' would have been wrong so they don't bring it up.

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  22. A couple questions:
    - What time does the 2nd round begin?
    - Is it being broadcast on TV or the web?

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  23. I must be the only guy who enjoyed the Oilers tv hour. I'd watch a draft show once a week all year if it was on. Oh well. :-)

    I enjoyed it. I think a lot of people have trouble separating their frustration with management over the past couple of years and judging the show (or draft day or any single trade) with any level of objectiveness. If Tambellini donated a kidney to save a stranger, there are a bunch of people here who would find some way to turn that into a negative. Lots of people, including yourself LT, have been honestly and fairly critical of Tambellini (and Lowe, etc.), but there are a lot of people who think in terms of heroes and villains with no room for ‘grey’ areas or for complexity. I think Tambellini has made a lot of mistakes (the summer of Heatley for example), but that does not mean that everything he does is a mistake.

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  24. Ducey: I recall more people being upset about them passing on Cherepanov.

    I was going to mention him, but unfortunately we will never know if he was a good pick.

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  25. Lombardi's comments about the value of draft picks are really interesting to me. It is human nature to value picks more on draft day and players more at trade deadline.

    A smart GM would be stacking up on picks at the deadline and buying cheap players at the draft.

    A quick look at transactions shows Boston and Chicago aquiring picks at the deadline and Vancouver, St.Louis aquiring players at the draft.

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  26. Trading Oilers cast-offs for a 2nd is a bit iffy, but I can see where a team would take a Moreau, Nilsson or O'Sullivan, etc. for a 3rd, 4th or 5th rounder.

    Either of which is better for us than a buyout.

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  27. LT wrote:

    I think the Oilers will be active today in the trade market.

    Paging Dennis!

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  28. For the record, ST also acquired picks at the trade dealine (2nd, 3rd, and 6th) and then traded a 6th for Fraser just prior to the draft.

    I'm not saying to lump him in with the "good gms", but he's sure as hell no Darryl Sutter or Glenn Sather...

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  29. C Jordan Weal: Unreal skill. 5.09, 162

    We haven't given up on the small guys, have we?

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  30. Rob: God no. Just trying to cut back on them so the new ones (Eberle) can find their way to the show. No worries about drafting smaller forwards if they are bpa.

    There's a mess at the NHL level, though. A combination of size married to "tweener" with a pinch of "not playing his position" but Weal looks like a really good prospect.

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  31. Rob - the trouble with the small, unreal skill guys is that that's the only role that they can ever fill. A prospect with size can become a checker if he can't adapt to the faster pace of the NHL (like Reasoner or Madden).

    Weal may turn out to be Marty St. Louis, but its a long shot. (You are not alone in your desire for him by-the-way).

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  32. After a fresh night's sleep and a bit of perspective on last night's events, a few things occured to me this morning:

    Should Lowe's comments about "making Pronger sit if he had to do it all over again" give us concern that the org is pondering the same thing for Souray?

    Why would any teams trade picks for our castoffs today? Darcy Regier said it best in LT's post, teams know when other teams are trying to drop a non-performer or shed salary. That said, would it be a mistake to trade Brule for a 2nd rounder today?

    It hasn't been talked about much, but Flames fans have to be absolutely gnashing their teeth at the Oil's drafting of Hall. As much as I hate the Flames, I've always like and respected Iginla as a local boy who plays the game the way it should be played. Quite ironic that as the Iginla era is starting to draw to a close in Calgary, the Oilers look to be embarking on a new era with a Calgary lad as the cornerstone of the rebuild.

    Now, we just need to beat them in the Western Final this year!

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  33. I think Lombardi's comments make a lot of sense, and point to a simple truth: generally speaking, draft day isn't the time to acquire picks, it's the time to sell them. The sexier an asset, the more over-inflated its value, and draft picks are sexy on draft day, and at no other time. With that in mind, I'm glad the Oilers didn't pick any up. If Tambellini wants to unload players for picks, he should do it tomorrow.

    As for O'Sullivan, etc., getting us picks from other teams: these players are so ineffective/overpaid that the worst team in the league is considering buying them out. Explain to me again why other teams are going to perceive them as having positive value?

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  34. Lee: I don't think Lowe will put those two thoughts together, so don't see a reason for us to do it.

    As for trading castoffs, eventually you reach a tipping point. If I say "hey Lee, I have $400 worth of empty beer bottles in my basement and am too lazy to do anything about it. I'll split the money with you if you do all the work" you might give me the middle finger.

    But if I say "buy me a 2-4 and you can have this, plus I'll help you load them" then maybe you'll do it.

    NOTE: I do NOT have $400 dollars worth of empty beer bottles in my basement. Not close.

    I wouldn't trade Brule, though. Oilers have enough trouble scoring goals.

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  35. I think Souray would play of it came to it. I also think they'll move him for a similar player/players/contracts. Not too worried there.

    Some chance for value with the 31st and hopefully they can get some more picks today as well. Have to admire what Tallon and Bowman have done, to have nine picks between them. Bowman will use them I would guess but Tallon might move a couple for players.

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  36. LT - when it comes to $350 or $400 aren't we just splitting haris really? ;)

    They won't move Brule for a pick but I'd have to think Cogliano will get moved today.

    As for Nilsson, POS, Moreau, these guys have negative value. Fraser, a guy who is cheap and is good at what he does, netted a sixth. A guy who makes more and is rotten (albeit in a different role) isn't going to get you anything but the same coming back.

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  37. "So was that an incorrect read by the bloggers or smoke and mirrors by the staff?"

    Misdirection. Just drop the reference to a forward.

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  38. Lowetide, the trouble with that beer bottle analogy is that those beer bottles have value. A better analogy for O'Sullivan would be "I've got a basement full of poisonous spiders; buy me 2-6 and they're yours; I'll even help you load them."

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  39. I enjoyed the Oiler infomercial. The NFL network does hours and hours of that kind of stuff It's harmless fun.

    The whole marketing of the Taylor-Tyler thing by the OIlers, TSN and the like, and the NHL was good planning. The Oilers really demonstrated the promotional aspect of first overall when you don't have a Crosby or a Lemieux.

    Hall was known already. But the campaign elevated Seguin into a marketable name for the NHL. Seguin is probably already has more name recognition that Duchense, Tavares, or Hedman.

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  40. (Note: all worthwhile analogies contain more than one semicolon per sentence.)

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  41. Lots of people, including yourself LT, have been honestly and fairly critical of Tambellini (and Lowe, etc.), but there are a lot of people who think in terms of heroes and villains with no room for ‘grey’ areas or for complexity.

    Well said bookie.

    Its funny that some of the ST bashers also display a lot of obvious intelligence in other posts.

    I think it had a lot to do with intellectual laziness. ST=bad and they refuse to consider each move on it's a own merit.

    You try to discuss the Fraser deal and they bring up the (horrible) Khabby contract.

    They leave no room for someone to improve over time and learn from their mistakes.

    I think there are a bunch of small positives happening that cannot be ignored.

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  42. Steve: Well now you've done it. The spiders are coming rfn to YOUR basement buster! It took me 0.11 seconds to think of that, and you blew holes in it.

    Bastardo! (ironically, that's the last name of the guy we're taking this morning).

    I do think O'Sullivan is a guy some team (like Carolina) would take in exchange for some Albatross (Public Image Ltd) contract from them.

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  43. Steve - Moreau is the spiders. POS is dryer lint.

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  44. I do think O'Sullivan is a guy some team (like Carolina) would take in exchange for some Albatross (Public Image Ltd) contract from them.

    Sure - negative value can be moved for other negative value. But draft picks are never negative value.

    "I've got a basement full of poisonous spiders; if you take them, I'll take that anthrax off your hands."

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  45. LT: I know exactly what you mean about the tipping point and the 2-4. We're moving into a new house next week, and believe me, those helping hands don't show up unless a couple of 2-4's are in the bargain ;)

    I like Brule as well, but if the top two lines are something like this:

    Penner Hall Hemsky
    MPS Gagner Eberle

    Where does he fit in that equation? Reinventing himself as a third line two way guy?

    BTW, in missing around with the depth chart. One thing seems clear. If MPS & Hall both perform out of the gates, it's either Penner's days are numbered or Hall moves to center. I much prefer Hall and Gagner at center with Penner staying and Horcoff falling to the 3rd line. Not sure how it's going to play out, but it will be one very interesting training camp this year.

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  46. Steve: No No. Anthrax was Gang of Four.

    If the Oilers trade O'Sullivan for a defenseman making 2.5M who can play that would be a helpful deal imo. And I'd be fine if ST had to throw in a pick. Send away the one they were going to spend on this season's Abney.

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  47. Lee - movers are very inexpensive and you get to boss them around - even if you only get a couple of them for a half-day to do the heaviest stuff.

    Saves putting too many miles on friendships.

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  48. Deano. Totally agree. The moving co. is doing the heavy lifting but we couldn't make our family and close friends stay away if we tried. They'll help with the breakables. No way in hell my guitars are bouncing around the back of a moving truck!

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  49. Matt.N: One could also argue that it might be wiser to acquire players (not ones with bad contracts) for draft picks (not lottery picks). With a player, you at least have a good idea what you're getting. Most picks (after the first round) don't amount to much.

    A GM for a rebuilding team might want to collect draft picks on deadline day and turn some of those excess picks into a few quality players on draft day.

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  50. I too enjoyed "Oil Change". I got to see the inside of Katz's house, the outdoor rink, the faces of the scouts, the parents, a glimmer into Stu M, the extent of Lowe's involvement, and so on. There was a whole lot there that I didn't know about before.

    It's human nature to criticize.

    Were some posters here expecting a Michael Moore Documentary?

    Most significantly it became clear that Katz has directed a full and proper rebuild.

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  51. Between soccer and the draft this guy isn't getting a whole lot of work done today. Other than here of course, where is the best place online to follow the draft?

    WORLD CUP SPOILER:



    Brilliant strike from Uruguay a minute ago. Unbelievable control and spin for a play made in a downpour.

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  52. Penner doesn't need Hemsky. He can be his own line.

    Penner, Fraser, Brule is a fine line. Even Cogs would work pretty well as a centre here. Tell him to cheat on every draw, because Penner and Brule are pretty good on draws. If Brule continues to suck defensively than one might put Pouliot there

    Hall is the ideal LW for two intelligent players like Eberle and Gagner. Hall's speed and willingness to go to dangerous places will open up space for Ebertle and Gagner.

    Hemmer and Horcoff work well together. Put Paajarvi on their left wing, who I think fits stylistically better there than Hall would.

    Paajarvi-Horcoff-Hemsky
    Hall-Gagner-Eberle
    Penner-Fraser/Cogs-Brule/Pouliot

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  53. Remember when Tambellini asked NY Islanders for the 31st overall for Rob Schremp in the 2009 draft and then lost him on waivers a few months later?

    Should be an interesting day.

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  54. So has Cogs dropped to the point where you take 2 2nds for him?

    Gilbert (or his agent) are smart to go arbitration to maximize a contract now.

    His likelihood of shooting 14% and getting a ton of Pennerminutes this year are low.

    Tempted to sell high on him, but many, many more need to go before him.

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  55. Godot, did you have the same concern I had in putting those lines together that a Gagner & Eberle pairing might be a little on the small side?

    I agree with the logic behind your combos but any scenario where Shawn Horcoff gets 1st line minutes and Penner 3rd line minutes is a waste of resource IMO. Not a Horcoff hater by any means, but it's going to take more than the fact that he's working out like a demon at the moment to convince me he merits first line minutes alongside Hall.

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  56. Even better send away Abney.

    I think Cogliano is the guy to go today. Which bothers me somewhat. He is an NHL player but he has been mishandled imo. I'd like to see him get a shot with Renney but there may not be a spot for him I guess.

    I'd rather they trade him, if they do, for a young Dman who needs a change of scenery than on a pick. That's not getting value.

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  57. "Penner, Fraser, Brule is a fine line."

    Not really.

    "If Brule continues to suck defensively than one might put Pouliot there"

    Our best player with a couple 4th line scrubs. Brilliant. Bet he can't wait to re-up his contract.

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  58. I think I'd take Pitlick 31st and look to trade Riley Nash for a pair of second rounders (either both this year, or a 2010 + 2011). I'm starting to doubt whether Nash will ever suit up for the Oil, and this would preserve the two-way center role on the depth chart.

    Anyone else have a feeling that Brock Beukeboom is high on the Oiler's list for today?

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  59. i knew a girl who created homemade paper from dryer lint.

    I see an ATL or FLA taking a flyer on POS or Nilsson.


    The arts and crafts possibilities for poisonous spiders, however, are somewhat limited.

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  60. Riley Nash could potentially be had for a single 2nd round pick, but I think it's unrealistic to think he could garner two of them.

    IMO it's more likely to see someone like Cogliano traded for a couple of 2nd rounders, or some other combination of picks in '10 and '11.

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  61. I'll be happy with some form of Ross, Pitlick or Petrovic with the 31 pick but I do think they need to pick a Dman at some point in the 2nd round, if not with the 61 pick.

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  62. Oil Change showed me some things haven't changed at all.

    We were assured that Lowe was being kicked upstairs to help get the new arena and look after the other franchises.

    The Oiler management team is in sad shape.

    Lowe has all of the power and none of the responsibilities. He can sit back and make all the decisions and leave Tambellini to take any blame.

    Tambellini is a lame duck GM, he has to listen to his boss and take the lumps if (when) things go bad.

    Plus, the owner is clearly infatuated with the boys on the bus.

    The defining moment for me was when they were having the scouting discussion and trying to decide between Hall and Seguin and the question was asked if they had another player like that in their organization.

    I shouted at my tv that they traded all of those types away and that brain trust in that room was the reason why the franchise is in the shape it is in today.

    Then Lowe starts musing about "perhaps" forcing Penner to sit for a while and how he "might" have made a mistake.

    All it took was an old draft list and all was forgotten by Katz.

    This team is going nowhere as long as Lowe is running things.

    ReplyDelete
  63. "The winning element. Just winning all the time," said Edmonton Oilers president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe"

    As long as I read statements like that, I'll be questioning the ability of the Oilers Traintrust.
    [That and giving up assets to trade up for a guy who can't skate]

    If Seguin wins the Cup next season [quite possible] and Hall plays on a Lottery team [more possible],
    is Seguin now a winner [and Hall a loser]?

    That shit makes me crazy.

    Its statements like that t

    ReplyDelete
  64. Whoops
    Edit issue

    One thing I didn't like about having 1st Overall was that it was all over so fast.
    Like Xmas morning when the kids were little, 8am and everything is open - only thing left to do is stuff shreds of green & red paper into garbage bags

    ReplyDelete
  65. What are the odds that a 2nd round pick turns into a player as good as Cogliano? He is not a world beater but I'd like to think he's already covered the bet of being picked #25 overall so if Edmonton is chomping at the bit to trade him, I hope it's for a real player and one who can play defense. Trading him for picks is like winning $50 on a scratch card and using every dollar to buy more tickets - the kind of plan that starves you in the long run.

    ReplyDelete
  66. //did you have the same concern I had in putting those lines together that a Gagner & Eberle pairing might be a little on the small side? //

    I think Hall's speed and willingness to go to danger areas will create open spaces for Gagner and Eberle.

    Penner is great from the faceoff dot in, but he doesn't have the speed to create open spaces for Gagner and Eberle.

    Gagner and Eberle aren't afraid of traffic and/or cycling, but I think they are better if spaces and seams are opened for them, and I think Hall can do that better than Penner. Hall is not little. I think teams will still have to respect Horcoff and Hemsky, and Penner demonstrated last year that he can be his own line.

    In response to Traktor, I think Penner will be happier if he doesn't have to play with Hemsky. And I think Brule's attacking style opens ice for Penner, and takes the game below the dots, where Penner is an exceptional player.

    My line strategy relies on Paajarvi being half decent defensively, so Paajarvi, Horcoff, and Hemsky can still go PVP. Fraser with Penner and Brule, because that line would have to handle the second toughest minutes. And then Hall-Gagner-Eberle to create mismatches with softer minutes.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Debakey: Winning is an important attribute when evaluating athletes. It is one of those intangibles that need to be considered. The lessons learned and the growth of character experienced for a young athlete like Hall is extremely valuable. There are a lot of talented and skilled athletes out there who never learn these same lessons and miss out on the opportunity to grow and mature. The Oilers already have a few shining examples of that.

    ReplyDelete
  68. gary-b - and you didn't marry her?

    DeBakey - yeah, like they have nothing to do with winning and its all on the players.

    Who brought those players in?

    Maybe they just won't go all balls-to-the-wall for knobs like these guys.

    That being said, WG is right - there are smart moves being made. Unfortunately, we are no longer holding 8's and 9's. We have a hand full of 3's and 4's.

    Also, I am not convinced that Lowe has the decision-making power in the room. He is the still the public face though.

    I was surprised how involved Katz seems to be.

    ReplyDelete
  69. He is not a world beater but I'd like to think he's already covered the bet of being picked #25 overall so if Edmonton is chomping at the bit to trade him, I hope it's for a real player and one who can play defense.

    Agreed.

    Trading him for picks is like winning $50 on a scratch card and using every dollar to buy more tickets - the kind of plan that starves you in the long run.

    Excellent analogy.

    If you can't turn him into a 1st rounder, then you have to try to get a roster player for him, and a roster player that fills a need.

    ReplyDelete
  70. LT

    I liked the informercial too. It just took me a few minutes to realize that it was an in-house paid for, produced and slanted puff piece.

    Would love to see Michael Moore do the EXACT same subject from the perspective of a poor jersey buying Oiler fan.

    Cut to large fat guy chasing "Tambi" down hallway

    "Tambi why did you overpay in term and $ for an old goalie with a bad back? Don't you have medical consultant on staff to review medical records? Did you know he kinda likes a few pops?

    Did Kevin Lowe explain to you why he did the exact same thing with the Souray signing? Do bad organizations not learn from their mistakes?

    Did you ask the former GM whether Horcoff was wearing a mask when he robbed....er negotiated that contract with Lowe?


    Now that documentary...... I would pay money to see in the theater. It would be the best comedy of the year

    Any smurf (save Gagner and Eberle) moved out for picks is good with me. More picks for the Magnificent bastard is good with me

    ReplyDelete
  71. Its that "winner" thinking that brought Mr DUI to the Oilers.

    ReplyDelete
  72. godot:

    I think you're a little too focused on the opposition.

    Have you ever thought about putting together a line that would force the other team to play tough minutes?

    Fraser with Penner is like placing Bonds #3 in the order and then following up with John McDonald at cleanup.

    ReplyDelete
  73. well, Pitlick has now been handed to the Oilers on a platter, the big, talented center they always complain they never have, so now's the time to take him.

    ReplyDelete
  74. "Trading him for picks is like winning $50 on a scratch card and using every dollar to buy more tickets - the kind of plan that starves you in the long run."

    I think the last time I looked 14 of Edmonton's last 18 2nd round picks played in the show not including Petry and Lander who both look like good bets as well.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Dee Dee, I understand the frustration with Lowe. In my opinion he did a really good job prior to the Lockout and blew it after that. Its not unusual for a manager (in any business) to do that. Once they have 'lost their way' its time to dump them.

    I think with Tambi 3.0, that has happened. Lowe is not totally dumped, but is rather just a voice in the room to consider. I honestly didn't (and don't) get the sense anymore that Katz and Lowe are running things. I think they got a dose of humble pie last season. I think that Tambi is in charge.

    Katz is fully enamoured with the Boys on the Bus, but I doubt you will see a former Oiler running his Pharmacy business just because he enjoyed that era. I suspect that the man is smart enough to see what Didn't work with Klowe.

    The big risk with keeping Lowe around is that after a year or two, his confidence/arrogance may return and he may start to push his ideas. However, he may also be a bit wiser from his own failures.

    Nuanced critisism is a sign of experience. I appreciate those here who provide it.

    I am giving Tambi 3.0 a chance, but he needs to trend well over the summer and the season as he is on life #3 now.

    ReplyDelete
  76. What are the odds that a 2nd round pick turns into a player as good as Cogliano?

    Pretty low. But if there isn't room for him on the team next year, you trade him for whatever you can get, which is probably cents on the dollar.

    Still, I'd find a place for him, and move somebody whose value isn't at a low ebb.

    ReplyDelete
  77. Dug - welcome aboard! Now you're talking. Way better thnn buying your way into Satherland.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Ducey:

    I was a big Cherapanov fan also. It's a high risk(Kabanov), but extremely high reward unless like you say he turns out to be an absolute tool.

    People are talking top five talent.

    PS: I was also a huge Schremp fan, lol.

    ReplyDelete
  79. Dug said...
    well, Pitlick has now been handed to the Oilers on a platter, the big, talented center they always complain they never have, so now's the time to take him.

    We took Nash higher.

    ReplyDelete
  80. anyone found the feed on nhl.com?

    ReplyDelete
  81. What are the odds that a 2nd round pick turns into a player as good as Cogliano?

    In all honesty, not great.

    But in this instance, it's pretty damn obvious that Cogliano is not part of "The Plan" after having it made public twice within the space of a calendar year that your team had a plan in place to trade you away.

    With Hall, Eberle and MPS on the way, and with Cogliano being biblically bad at faceoffs, he is an asset that keeping at this point would be akin to hoarding. We can't keep every shiny bauble.

    I'd prefer something tangible back for him as well, but if the best deal the Oilers can make is for more baseballs to throw at the milk jugs, then I won't cry too many tears.

    ReplyDelete
  82. What Steve said. I think Cogliano is a smart guy and has unreal wheels, but what the hell are you going to do? He's RFA, undersized, can't play center and doesn't want to play wing.

    ReplyDelete
  83. Traktor: Going back to 2000, which of the following players will have better NHL careers than Andrew Cogliano?

    Petry
    Chorney
    Tesliuk
    Paukovich
    McDonald
    Jacques
    Deslauriers
    Stoll
    Greene
    Lynch
    Caron
    Winchester

    ReplyDelete
  84. Traktor:

    I like Brule with Penner better than I like Hemsky with Penner. I think with a defensively responsible centre, that Brule is all Penner needs to create offense. Brule gets the puck below the dots, and is comfortable hanging around by the time Penner gets there.

    Brule has the offensive tools to be a good top six player. He went #5 overall. Brule's "problem" is that his defense sucks.

    I think Fraser is still in the ascending portion of his career. I admit, I'm projecting that he can do the job.

    But the Oilers are a 30th place team. You are going to want to find out if Fraser can do the job. What risk is there?

    ReplyDelete
  85. Showerhead:

    How many of those players were drafted by Stu?

    ReplyDelete
  86. I think the last time I looked 14 of Edmonton's last 18 2nd round picks played in the show not including Petry and Lander who both look like good bets as well.

    While that may be true, its still a bet, while a roster Dman is a sure thing.

    They need to shore up D, and have 2 high 2nds already.

    I wouldn't cry if they get Florida's top 2 2nds for Cogs as there is lots of talent left and bottom D can be filled through FA, but the Oilers are so thin on real NHL Dmen, using Cogs to grab one who will still be RFA after the current contract would be a good move.

    Is Keaton Ellerby worth taking a flier on? Does Florida part with him?

    There is a good example of why you don't take "rugged" Dmen high in the draft.

    Taken 10thOV in 2007, he is developing via sundial and might just now be able to play NHL minutes but the jury is still out.

    If a player's top end is someone like Matt Greene or Rob Scuderi, these players top out at 3-3.5M/yr.

    Not expensive to get as FA's, not expensive to get in trade.

    Load up on players who's future top end value is expensive in the early part of the draft. Big, Skilled (no unibrowns need apply)

    Go get Pitlick, he might turn into Neal.

    Neal went 32nd and now you can't pay Dallas enough to get him.

    ReplyDelete
  87. I hope we can all agree that Penner should play with Gagner. That duo has great potential.

    ReplyDelete
  88. LT- I like the thought of a Penner-Gagner-Eberle line. I know it lacks speed but Penner's size alone should be enough to create the space that Gagner-Eberle will need to operate.

    ReplyDelete
  89. Pitlick, McFarland, or Merrill...

    I still think Pitlick, but I didn't know about McFarland getting the shaft, mentioned above.

    Hockey sense always seems to ome up when discussing McFarland.

    Merrill's had a lot of hype follow him the past few years, and the "off-ice" incident worries me not, but as much as the kid wants to be Nik Lidstrom, I don't see him having that offensive upside. More like a Tom Gilbert would be the top end potential offensively.

    ReplyDelete
  90. Pretty low. But if there isn't room for him on the team next year, you trade him for whatever you can get, which is probably cents on the dollar.

    Still, I'd find a place for him, and move somebody whose value isn't at a low ebb.




    In all honesty, not great.

    But in this instance, it's pretty damn obvious that Cogliano is not part of "The Plan" after having it made public twice within the space of a calendar year that your team had a plan in place to trade you away.

    With Hall, Eberle and MPS on the way, and with Cogliano being biblically bad at faceoffs, he is an asset that keeping at this point would be akin to hoarding. We can't keep every shiny bauble.

    I'd prefer something tangible back for him as well, but if the best deal the Oilers can make is for more baseballs to throw at the milk jugs, then I won't cry too many tears.



    What Steve said. I think Cogliano is a smart guy and has unreal wheels, but what the hell are you going to do? He's RFA, undersized, can't play center and doesn't want to play wing.

    All good points (and a great line re: hoarding) but to trade him on draft day for picks whose value are inflated because it's draft day... You're basically saying that you gain enough value simply by clearing him off your roster to make up for the fact what you get in return isn't likely to be as good as he is.

    I still don't like it. And I'm stubborn :)

    ReplyDelete
  91. @spOILer...Pitlick is about 20 pounds heavier though than Nash is so i don't know if i'd call Nash "big"...yes we did take Nash higher, but he was a projected 2nd rounder who went in the 1st thanks to us. Pitlick was a projected 1st rounder who has fallen to the 2nd.

    ReplyDelete
  92. Traktor: When did he take over? You tell me? How many of those 14/18 were drafted by Stu? Also, please tell me because I don't know.

    The point remains, if you look at that list and the answer to my original question is not that many.

    ReplyDelete
  93. Showerhead: Okay. I like Cogliano, don't want him dealt (honest). What do we do with him?

    ReplyDelete
  94. I hope we can all agree that Penner should play with Gagner. That duo has great potential.

    This.

    Penner opens up space and generally makes it to dangerous areas of the ice (eventually). I have seen Gagner good in terms of how well he finds DP in traffic and therefore I am sold on them as a pairing.

    ReplyDelete
  95. I'm not sure the Oilers will be that desperate to dump Cogliano, depending what they plan to do with Moreau, O'Sullivan and Nilsson. It's one thing to try to move him for 15OV, but that doesn't mean they want to move him at any cost. Just because Eberle and Hemsky might have been offered up for #2 OV doesn't mean the Oilers will move them before camp.

    At this point, I'd guess they go with a lineup something like (assuming they move or buy out the aforementioned 3):

    Hall-Horcoff-Hemsky
    Penner-Gagner-Eberle
    Paajarvi-Pouliot-Pisani (or his type)
    Jones-Fraser-Stortini

    Cogliano, Brule, maybe an enforcer

    So maybe they start one, or both, of Paajarvi/Eberle in the minors for a bit, see what happens. Even if Cogliano's outside that line-up, I don't think it'd be that shocking if one or two players get hurt by the end of training camp.

    ReplyDelete
  96. I think Cogliano will score 25 goals next year but at this point I just hope Tambellini can get some value for him because its clear he's done as an Oiler. Bloody shame because he's going to end up better than Gags.

    My hope is Cogliano for two 2nd round picks.

    ReplyDelete
  97. LT: My answer is you play him for another season or you deal him for a defenseman. I'd be willing to add pieces to make a trade work but given the imbalance on Edmonton's roster, I would much prefer a real defenseman to a second round dart.

    Going by your list in yesterday's thread:

    C
    1. Horcoff
    2. Gagner
    3. Cogliano
    4. Fraser
    5. Pouliot

    L
    6. Hall*
    7. Penner
    8. Moreau
    9. O'Sullivan
    10. MPS*
    11. Jones
    12. Omark
    13. Potulny
    14. Jacques

    R
    15. Hemsky
    16. Brule
    17. Nilsson
    18. Stortini
    19. Eberle*


    That's 19 players for 14(?) spots.

    In my world, 2/3 of MPS, Eberle, and Omark make the team. Nilsson, O'Sullivan, and Moreau magically disappear. Jacques too. Jones, Storts and Potulny rotate in and out.

    And Cogliano plays.

    ReplyDelete
  98. Buy out Nilsson if no one wants him. Keep Cogliano unless someone pays for some upside.

    ReplyDelete
  99. Cogliano better than Gagner?!

    To paraphrase Will Ferrel Traktor.


    "I like you, but you're crazy..."

    ReplyDelete
  100. Matt McKenzie is a fine D prospect, I wouldn't be surprised to see EDM take him at 31.

    Really? I mean, even with my bias, that seems awfully high. What are the odds he's still around at 48? 61? Probably not too bad.

    Winning is an important attribute when evaluating athletes. It is one of those intangibles that need to be considered. The lessons learned and the growth of character experienced for a young athlete like Hall is extremely valuable. There are a lot of talented and skilled athletes out there who never learn these same lessons and miss out on the opportunity to grow and mature. The Oilers already have a few shining examples of that.

    While all that is true to a degree, I'm of the firm belief that being good at hockey is a better predictor of winning than having won (at this or any other level) before. While winning possibly begets becoming better at hockey to a small degree in youngsters, as a general rule, having "winners" on your team is only useful if a) you're actually good enough to get that far, and b) those "winners" are capable of contributing positively to the team.

    I hope we can all agree that Penner should play with Gagner. That duo has great potential.

    I dunno, Horpensky seems like it's still a valid option, depending on the situation (maybe home ice to take advantage of matchups). Might not make the most of Gagner's potential, as such, but I'd think it'd be easier to both hide the kids and come out even/ahead against the big guns. You're probably right that it makes the most sense in terms of spreading around your Real NHL Players (Gagner's close) through your top six to augment the new guys, but it's not the only option that works.

    ReplyDelete
  101. Why can't Cogliano center the 4th line? If he's incredible maybe he moves higher as a winger, but clearly he's not anywhere near the centre the team needs on it's top two lines.

    ReplyDelete
  102. feed:
    http://www.justin.tv/CoMoBlues

    ReplyDelete
  103. Oh and apparently there's a draft 10 minutes away.

    Tencer says "Round 2 about to start...I'd take goalie Calvin Pickard and Bob Stauffer is hoping for Tyler Pitlick."

    Is Stauffer a good line on the Oilers' thoughts? I don't know much about Pitlick but you folks have sold me on him in yesterday's thread and this.

    ReplyDelete
  104. Showerhead: Stauffer is better connected than Tencer.

    ReplyDelete
  105. If we take Calvin Pickard 31 I'm going to puke.

    I'm hoping Tambellini can trade down for a couple 2nds like Chicago did at 30.

    ReplyDelete
  106. What I learned from Oil Change by Dennis King.

    What I learned from Oil Change is that Kevin Lowe is still in charge but Tambellini is the new face of the GM chair even though he still doesn't have all the power.

    Have a great summer!

    PS: Pitlick sounds like my kind of player, 13 clearly isn't in the longterm plans, macGregor had to be talked into Hall over Seguin and does anyone else vomit when they think of our defense corps.

    ReplyDelete
  107. If we need a goalie take a Euro in the later rounds.

    ReplyDelete
  108. PS: Pitlick sounds like my kind of player, 13 clearly isn't in the longterm plans, macGregor had to be talked into Hall over Seguin and does anyone else vomit when they think of our defense corps.

    Good to know, I expect you're right, that concerns me, and yes repeatedly.

    ReplyDelete
  109. Dennis: You also learned that Lowe and Tambellini make a lovely couple.

    ReplyDelete
  110. To me, "winning" means the player has the ability to elevate their game under pressure. THAT is an invaluable quality and one worth considering in a recruitment scenario.

    Scott Niedermayer is a winner. Is part of that the good fortune of being on the right teams at the right time? Absolutely, but to a man, Team Canada's Gold Medal Team says Niedermayer was a calming influence on the team because when the pressure's on, he's as cool as the other side of the pillow.

    Lowe may be a dinosaur in a number of ways, but IMO he's right on the money placing a high value on someone being a 'proven winner.'

    Hall will lead this team out of the wilderness. Can't wait to see the impact he'll have on the likes of players like Brule, Penner and Gilbert who can lose focus at times.

    ReplyDelete
  111. Jon Merrill changes the look of the defensive corps in an instant.

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  112. @ Dorito

    I don't think another character question guy is what the team needs now.

    Take the safe bets this high, Gamble later

    ReplyDelete
  113. I don't think they should take a goalie yet though. Sami Aitokallio and Jonathan Iilahti will probably be available late in the draft.

    With so many skill forwards and puck moving D-men still available, Tambo needs to acquire some more 2nd and 3rd round picks.

    ReplyDelete
  114. S-head (haha) - no problem - I don't have a laptop, so this works way better for me (not as good for live games though).

    This way I can annoy all of you while I watch! Lucky you!

    Away we go!

    ReplyDelete
  115. Too many people question the MacFarlands, Martindales, and Merills based on attitude or what not.

    Parise and Getzlaf had "attitude" problems coming into the NHL as well.

    I think that if the skill is unquestionably there then it's up to the team to mine it.

    ReplyDelete
  116. C Tyler Pitlick is good.

    I had Riley Sheahan pencilled in ahead of him but since Detroit picked him already.

    Now we really can say we drafted Taylor AND Tyler!

    ReplyDelete
  117. godot - where? I get a text story when I click on the 'watch' link.

    ReplyDelete
  118. Derek nailed the SB mockdraft out of the park.

    http://www.coppernblue.com/2010/6/21/1527728/tyler-pitlick-31st-pick-in-the

    ReplyDelete
  119. How is Toffoli not the first Ottawa 67 to be drafted? Toffoli's still out there. wow.

    ReplyDelete
  120. Yes, a right handed centerman who can win draws. Nice.

    Man, do I love the fact that the MB doesn't go off the board early on wild goose chases.

    ReplyDelete
  121. Florida is ripping this year's draft.

    Big fast players

    ReplyDelete
  122. Florida is ripping this year's draft.

    Big fast players

    ReplyDelete
  123. Question for the men in the room:

    If the lady who you love and live with is out of town and all you're doing all day is watching draft and soccer coverage...

    ...Is it OK to bust out some rye and Dr. Pepper at noon? My vote is yes but please advise.

    ReplyDelete
  124. itsaleaf: you're right. Florida is is having the kind of draft that is going to make them very good in a few years.

    ReplyDelete
  125. Carolina just picked a defenseman. They could have had Fowler and Gormley instead.

    That's stupid.

    ReplyDelete
  126. Merrill gone to Jersey. If Lou's picking him, you know there's no issues to his character.

    ReplyDelete
  127. Showerhead - grown men don't need to ask for permission (when she's away).

    I am not sure its ever ok to drink Rye and Dr. Pepper though.

    ReplyDelete
  128. I want one of the Swedes with our next pick.

    Lindberg, Jarnkrok, Ohman or Larsson.

    ReplyDelete
  129. @dorito:

    What's not to like about Faulk and Skinner versus Fowler?

    ReplyDelete
  130. godot - does not bring up video for me. I am Firefox on linux though

    ReplyDelete
  131. Two picks from out of left field already, there should be some pretty good players left for the next pick...

    ReplyDelete
  132. Deano: Haha the drink is already poured, I was just looking for some people to blame tonight's decisions on later :)

    And don't you mess with my Rye + DP. I will fight for its honor until the end.

    ReplyDelete
  133. @Traktor:

    I like Jarnkrok and Lindberg but Ohman has serious motivational issues. Doesn't mean he won't be a good prospect but he sounds like a Niinimaki to me.

    ReplyDelete
  134. Ross, Pickard, Weal, Kabanov, Toffoli?

    Others?

    ReplyDelete
  135. RT40:

    I wasn't a fan of Skinner. For a figure skater to have issues with skating, there's something not right about that to me.

    Both Fowler and Gormley were top-5 talents. I think Carolina could have slid down a couple spots if they were that sold on Skinner.

    Carolina has said outright it's wrong to draft defensemen because they don't pan out until UFA status is almost upon them. To pass over top-2 talents and then immediately turn around and draft a guy with a cannon shot and not much defending talent isn't right.

    ReplyDelete
  136. Draft is airing live on NHL Network for those still looking.

    Toronto gets Chicago's 43rd pick.

    ReplyDelete
  137. do they gamble on Kabonov next? maybe 3rd round?

    ReplyDelete
  138. God I hate Burke

    I wanted ROSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  139. Nice move by Toronto. Ross could be a good one, wish he was bigger.

    ReplyDelete
  140. Showerhead,

    Its required to drink, but Dr. Pepper makes me ask if you had any olfactory injuries in your youth.

    ReplyDelete
  141. @dorito:

    Unless they think that Faulk is more NHL ready for what he brings.

    If Fowler is a pure offense guy then look at Faulk's scouting report. He hits and he skates and he's got size. Sounds like he has a lower ceiling than Fowler but is more of a sure thing.

    ReplyDelete
  142. @ LT

    Don't need to be big if youre a complete dick on the ice. Just gotta be willing

    ReplyDelete
  143. Woodguy: I'm not sure I understand. There are people in the world who don't like Dr. Pepper? I feel dizzy.

    ReplyDelete
  144. sweet! Pitlick and Marinsin. and Nash is gone! woot woot!!

    ReplyDelete
  145. Interesting. Too bad things soured with Nash

    ReplyDelete
  146. Wait, where are you guys getting info on the trades? Besides Tencer's Twitter I can't find any info.

    ReplyDelete
  147. Ottawa's GM has had a fantastic draft here, without making a single selection.

    Rundblad and Nash for the 16th and 46th picks.

    ReplyDelete
  148. Marincin #71 on Mackenzie's list

    ReplyDelete
  149. Back when I was 12 there was an Atari or Intellivision promo with Dr. Pepper and I drank 40 or so gallons trying to win.

    Can't even smell the stuff to this day.

    ReplyDelete
  150. LA must think EDM is taking this guy at 48 to move up... damn its toffoli.

    they were probably right

    ReplyDelete
  151. Oilers are up now. I'd love Galiev here.

    One pick shy for picking Toffoli. Damn.

    ReplyDelete
  152. So the Oilers trade 30 and 36 for Nash and then Trade him for 46? Ok....

    ReplyDelete
  153. so did we take marincin 2 picks too soon?

    ReplyDelete
  154. You gotta think the Oil wanted Toffoli there. LA jumped over only them.

    ReplyDelete
  155. I hope Toffoli isn't another Parise for the Oil.

    ReplyDelete
  156. Apparently he's very skilled and big but already broke his collar bone TWICE against kids...

    gamble

    ReplyDelete
  157. Is this the right Curtis Hamilton?

    http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=97920

    I don't like it much...

    ReplyDelete
  158. Godot,
    I just want to reinforce the notion that fraser is not yet a tough minute centre.. I really do not like the idea of putting him w penner, at all..

    This being said, the potential lines are all a mess because there are still way too many players with similar skill sets.. and besides horc, no vet 2-way players (excluding penner, want him scoring)...

    At this point, I feel like the fourth line grinders may be tossed in as the 3rd line levy.. then have two soft scoring lines (one toughened up w pens); all this w a H-H paired up PvP

    ReplyDelete
  159. Would anyone take Khabanov with first pick in Round 3?

    ReplyDelete
  160. Hat tip to Mr Zona

    http://www.coppernblue.com/2010/6/4/1480859/oilers-draft-watch-martin-marincin

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  161. Wow, Tencer sounds angry in that last Nash twit lol.

    Speaking of trading for picks, anyone think we can coax another 2nd out of Chicago? I would love Jarnkrok.

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  162. Take Kabanov at 61 if he's there guys. We can afford the chance.

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