Thursday, July 1, 2010

Oilers sign Kurtis Foster

As per Stauffer on Team 1260. 2 times 1.8M a year. Great signing.

We've talked about him in the past (he had a horrible injury which made him a bit of a question mark) and has a monster shot. Souray is gone.

6.05, 220. Big man, played in ideal circumstances last season but did deliver (easiest qualcomp, solid support in terms of teammates) the best relCorsi on the team (among the blue).

The Oilers now have a top 6D with legit NHL experience. Whitney-Gilbert, Smid-Vandermeer, Peckham-Foster. PLUS Souray to trade.

Very good summer so far, like both defensemen they've hired in the last two days.

From the Hockey News:

ASSETS: Has a tremendous shot from the point and an imposing frame. Is a major threat on the power play, as well as a versatile blue-liner.

FLAWS: Needs to make better use his 6-5, 220-pound frame. Makes too many mistakes in his own zone. Injuries have hurt his development. Lacks coordination.

CAREER POTENTIAL: Power play specialist.

197 comments:

  1. It's probably an overpay, but I'm okay with it. That's one fewer spot into which to slot Taylor Chorney.

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  2. Can someone provide details about Kurtis Foster's game? How good is he?

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  3. Nice move. This guys been through a lot and still should be heading into his peak years as an NHLer

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  4. If Souray leaves....... absolutely love this signing!!Offensively they bring similar strengths.

    We now need a defensive stopper back there more than ever

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  5. Offensively they bring similar strengths.

    Um, Foster's career high for goals is ten. Are you confusing him with someone else?

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  6. I'm fine with the term and probably a bit too much on the dollars, but it's Edmonton so we're going to have to overpay a little. He was good with TB last year and hopefully most of those PP numbers can translate.

    Damn it ST, you're making it awfully difficult for me to hate you.

    So are we getting to the point where the Oiilers are again a 9-12 place team in West?

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  7. Um, Foster's career high for goals is ten. Are you confusing him with someone else?

    I take that back - apparently his offensive strengths really are similar to Souray's. So why is his career high for goals ten?

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  8. Fit, term and dollars all make sense, not used to thus type of rational thinking. Could a responsible veteran RH center that PKs be coming too? or is that too much to ask.

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  9. Foster's 42 points last year would have left him in second place on the Edmonton Oiler chart.

    Late developer who has bounced back after significant injury problems. Rick Tocchet saying some nice things about him on Stauffer's show now.

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  10. Souray was a late developer, too btw. He didn't score more than 3 goals in a season until he was 27.

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  11. 42 points last year, with only 8 goals?

    interesting, seems more like a puck mover than a blue line bomber.

    would like to know specifically *how* he was picking up those points.

    seems like a pretty good pickup but a more solid defensive d-man is still required.

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  12. My 3 hopefuls were all signed already, but I think we still need a tough minutes defender who'll help the PK, but even if we did get one of them, we'd need a guy like Foster.

    Leading up to today, I was not in favor of signing Foster, but that was mainly because I figured someone would give him big money based on the counting stats last year. Given the dollars and the term, I think this is a pretty good signing.

    Now lets get someone who can defend and play in the top 4. Smid shouldn't be the best player on his defensive pairing.

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  13. I should repeat that I like the signing. I'd have liked pretty well any short-term signing of a veteran defenseman, and it sounds like this is better than a lot of them would have been. I'm just puzzling over the Souray comparisons, based on the boxcars.

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  14. It's a pretty good signing. Defensively I think he'll remind us a lot of Cory Cross, but then again that almost seems like welcome relief compared to watching Chorney pick the puck out of the net once a game.

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  15. I really like this signing and IMO a good price. I expected him to get closer to 3M on the open market. Now I'd like to see a Morrisonn or Jurcina type added, and then it doesn't matter what we get back for Souray. Really like Tambo's moves now that he's finally done evaluating!!

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  16. One big difference between Foster & Souray would be the fear factor. Souray is mean, Foster apparently isn't all that.

    Of course Souray's fighting prowess, while fun to watch when he was winning by KO, also cost the Oilers most of his first year here and any chance of a trade deadline move last year.

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  17. Foster averages 5 goals a year Souray 8/yr...... similar strengths mostly a shooter of bombs on the PP

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  18. tocchet who coached him lastyear says he hs a boomer shot, but also has great passes to set up one timers and makes really smart plays on the PP and from his own zone. Great to pair with Smid. and for those saying overpay, tallinder and lydman got $3 mill plus per season for at least 3 years. This is exactly the kind of player we need to add. He's an actual nhler and he

    also volchenkov to jersey or 6 yrs. also, would love to pry Bieksa from vancouver if possible.

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  19. Tocchet referred to using Foster on the PP point.

    Apparently he a cannon of a point shot, and when goalies would come out to cut down the angle he would make nice dishes to Stamkos, etc. for one timers.

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  20. April 27, 2009 in this post:

    http://lowetide.blogspot.com/2009/04/picking-over-bones.html

    I said:

    The defender: I'll say the Oilers sign Minnesota's Kurtis Foster because he appears healthy and had some nice numbers in 10 games plus a nice career previous to the injury. Edmonton is brilliant in this area and one of the joys of summer comes from finding out who they've signed for D. In fact, one of the turning points for MacT was his slow recognition of Jan Hejda, so this individual will be important for the new coach. Let's say they get him for 1.3M (he made 1.025 and is coming off an injury).

    Just saying.

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  21. tambo's son signs with vancouver as per tsn

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  22. @striatic

    He played on the powerplay with a 50 goal scorer and 2 "almost" 30 goal scorers for almost 5 minutes every game.

    I'm not sure I'd call him a playmaker either, just fortunate.

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  23. Does anyone suspect that Tambellini was actually, for real this time, put in full control of this team just this offseason?

    It was mentioned at the close of 2009-2010 and we sort of joked about it, but look at the things that have transpired this offseason.

    The new coach was fired, the team didn't chase the big fish, the team moved out a plethora of contracts signed by Lowe, and change came in small, savvy increments via trade and free agent signings.

    Maybe he actually did get the job for real just this summer.

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  24. Foster averages 5 goals a year Souray 8/yr......

    Lies, damned lies, and...

    Looking at the last five seasons, Souray has averaged 18.6 goals per 82 games. Foster's averaged 9.4.

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  25. Can anyone name a better D-man than Foster who makes less money (excluding those on entry-level contracts)?

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  26. chris mason signs in atlanta for 2 yrs $3.7 mill total

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  27. The most pleasant thing is that this means that Chorney, Plante and Petry won't be handed NHL gigs before they've earned them.

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  28. It's probably an overpay

    Big defenseman. Plays the PP. Can play 3rd pairing minutes very well. All for 1.8MM? That's a good deal.

    Maybe he actually did get the job for real just this summer.

    Or reality and continually losing finally kicked the hubris and pride out of the organization. Finally.

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  29. "Foster averages 5 goals a year Souray 8/yr...... similar strengths mostly a shooter of bombs on the PP"

    no, no, no.

    souray has had 2 20+ goal seasons in the past four, and the other two were marred by injury.

    the comparison is not apt, and i'm not sure how similar their strengths really are. we'll see i guess. looks good on paper at least.

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  30. GF: Exactly. Peckham has to stay up, so the depth chart is:

    Whitney-Gilbert
    Smid-Souray replacement
    Vandermeer-Foster
    Peckham

    That's good. We still need a player with a wider range of skills (tough, can move the puck reasonably well) but these are good, solid moves.

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  31. Big defenseman. Plays the PP. Can play 3rd pairing minutes very well. All for 1.8MM? That's a good deal.

    My assessment that it was probably an overpay was not based on any knowledge of the player, but rather on the following:
    i. it's the first day of free agency, and
    ii. it's a UFA signing of an Actual NHL Player by the Oilers.

    I'm very open to the possibility that those facts were misleading in this instance.

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  32. The teams in the Atlantic have just been crazy busy so far. Martin and Michalek to Pits, Volchenkov and Tallinder to NJD, Shelly to Phi, O'Donnell to Phi, and Boogaard to NYR...

    Can you imagine being on the Islanders right now? God that would be a scary place to be...

    And now Ladd to ATL.. crazy!

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  33. Steve,

    Your pessimism is warranted.

    But think about Calgary. The TSN guys are making fun of Sutter now.

    I do like that he didn't pay Tanguay and the precious what they used to get, but he's made the team pretty much what it was last year. And he's only got 2MM in cap space left to round out the lineup.

    Just bizzarre. It's like Sutter is actually taunting the fans.

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  34. Wow - bowman got Vishnevsky and a 2nd out of ATL for Ladd.

    Solid trade for Chicago.

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  35. Some are saying it's an overpay. Just as Sutter sounds like he's offering Jokinen $6 mil for 2 years.

    Which GM would you rather have running your team today?

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  36. good signing! better than Jokinen/Tanguay in Calgary. their fans are going bonkers over that!

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  37. LT:

    I've read your blog everyday for the last 3 years day in and day out and just found out the bad news.

    I'm not sure how profitable it is to be writing for ON, but I know that I'd be more than willing to donate each month to keep this blog alive and I'm sure there would be plenty of others too.

    Anything to keep you from joining the darkside ;)

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  38. Everyone likes to slot D as a number this or that so while I like Foster for the price and shot and the idea that its better to play him instead of chorney the overall picture says that while our D is better than it was while we had kids like plante and chorney it still isnt good enough to make the playoffs or put a push on towards that end.

    but that wasnt the idea for this year and it isnt fosters problem that he;s a bargain bottom pairing D on a team that has a helluva lot of them,

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  39. Thanks Steve

    Now go calculate how many goals Souray AVERAGED through age 28..... not gonna waste my time doing it but suspect it is s a really REALLY low #

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  40. "no, no, no.

    souray has had 2 20+ goal seasons in the past four, and the other two were marred by injury.

    the comparison is not apt, and i'm not sure how similar their strengths really are. we'll see i guess. looks good on paper at least."

    Good call, unless Foster had to deal with and recover from some kind of crazy injury we can't compare the two.

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  41. Smart move, adds something we need on the blueline. Now we just need Huddy back to coach the blueline.

    Have to give Tambellini some credit. Did he get a paychecque this week?

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  42. We do need another defenseman or Souray to be traded/reconciled.

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  43. Agreed Dennis.

    If the Souray return is good, it changes everything.

    If I were Tambellini, I'd be willing to bring back Souray to start the season. Then offer him and Cogs to teams that need help on D due to injury or at the deadline. Return for both guys might be better that way.

    And Souray can't be taht bad in the dressing room that he needs to be moved.

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  44. LOL man Tsn is reporting "Sutter liked the chemistry between Jokinen and Iginla." I'm not sure what Sutter is smoking but the street value must be tremendous.

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  45. Now go calculate how many goals Souray AVERAGED through age 28..... not gonna waste my time doing it but suspect it is s a really REALLY low #

    Sorry, I missed the part where you said that Foster fills the same offensive niche as a 26 year old Souray.

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  46. Also, jonk stole my Cross point, ladd would have been a great addition, lombardi would be great and the canucks are stacked

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  47. Looking at Matthew Lombardi's numbers and salary.

    If I am not totally mistaken, he fits the last of LT's wish list (2 way cennter that can win face offs and kill penalties). I think we can do without overpaying a pugilist!

    BTW...We don't absolutely have to try and replace Souray, do we? I thought that Lowe said he would rather sit them than trade them just because they wish it were so!

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  48. Last 4 years Souray has 140 pts.Foster's last 4 years playing 100 pts. Similar offensive players although Souray's 26 and 23 goals are truly a huge difference for Souray. Absent those 2 years.... they are similar players particularly at same age

    And 10 games in we will be raving about how he shoots bombs. Nowhere near as tough as Souray though

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  49. Last 4 years Souray has 140 pts.Foster's last 4 years playing 100 pts.

    Now if only Gretzky had been injured more, I could demonstrate that Sam Gagner's his equivalent.

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  50. Whatever was haunting the Oilers front office and making them desperate and stupid appears to have moved 300km south.

    When was the last time the Oilers management looked 'astute'?

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  51. Foster just told McGuire off LOL

    So what you're saying is, not an overpay?

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  52. Kurtis Foster text to Bob McKenzie: "Tell Pierre McGuire if he mentions I'm overpaid again, to where a helmet between benches..."

    I think I'm going to like this guy

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  53. I think Souray has a big advantage, because it seems, his shot got such recognition, every time he's on a PP the strategy seems to give him the puck, until it forces it's way in.

    Anyway, I still think he's terribly overpaid and we should get rid of him. He was awful last year.

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  54. Foster at 1.8 is a good deal. He can play 1st unit PP and be a reasonable 5th defenseman possibly 4th. I like the deal.

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  55. Steve:

    Souray's games over the last 4 years: 225

    Foster's games over the last 4 years: 194

    I believe you got served.

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  56. Could not have imagined that anyone would refer to Gretzky in any discussion of Sheldon Souray about any subject. Souray averages 8 goals a year over his career and 49 of those goals were tallied in 2 years. Souray is the shooter of bombs starting at age 27 and someone who is consistently injured ALL the time. Foster will replace his skill set on the PP

    I like Souray but he is not a Gretzyesque talent at anything and that includes shooting bombs from the point

    Now if we go to points per game he is a pretty impressive offensive player (after age 28) but if we are projecting points per game ........ can we also pay him a prorated salary for the 26 and 37 games he played over 2 of the last 3 years

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  57. Looks like another good signing by ST.
    Thanks for all your efforts LT.
    I will try and come to ON but like others who come here, I find the content a little weak and the site in general a bit too commercial (I know, I know)

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  58. I also would pay for the content here.

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  59. Sounds like the Kings traded for a D. Kaberle or Souray?

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  60. Souray to LA?

    McKenzie says "All I know is Kings were bitterly disappointed at not getting UFA D. Is it possible they just picked one up in trade?"

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  61. Steve

    Foster ...overpaid???

    I am looking at the 76 pts the Oilers we received for the $18 million dollars we paid Souray and you worry that Foster is overpaid?

    To achieve that level of overpay Foster ONLY has to produce 8.4 points per year over the term of his contract. Hope he can do that

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  62. Foster's PP numbers from 09/10

    TOI/60 3.72 (1st among D)
    GFON/60 7.04 (1st among D)
    PTS/60 5.45 (1st among D)
    QUALTEAM 0.961 (1st among D)

    Oiles's D PP from 08/09 (last year was such a disaster that it wouldn't be a fair comparison)

    Grebs
    TOI/60 2.67
    GFON/60 5.62
    PTS/60 3.75
    QUALTEAM 0.209

    Gilbert
    TOI/60 2.81
    GFON/60 5.74
    PTS/60 3.91
    QUALTEAM -0.067

    Vis
    TOI/60 4.69
    GFON/60 5.38
    PTS/60 3.87
    QUALTEAM 0.539

    Big Sexy
    TOI/60 4.52
    GFON/60 6.72
    PTS/60 2.95
    QUALTEAM 0.026

    No question Foster had some good player to play with, but his number are good 5v4.

    Assuming 44 is gone the Oilers were missing the D shot option on the PP, good to fill that hole.

    Well done 3.0.

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  63. I imagine it's Kovalchuk to LA..so quiet on his front.

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  64. Pierre McGuire pumping the Oilers and dissing the Flames scares me.

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  65. .gotta like MaGuire kissing up to Foster tho' - called him a quality (but overpaid) person....

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  66. The Flames barely have enough cap space left to round out their roster with league minimum guys,

    Ian White is a good D-man and is RFA. Somebody fire an offer sheet at him at just below the level that costs you a 1st round pick.

    Flames will have to either respond and screw their lineup a bit or waive guys, pay more than they want to White, or lose him.

    Please Tambo, just do it. sign White.

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  67. Using the words 'Pierre McGuire' and 'pumping' in the same sentence makes me shudder.

    And think of Crosby.

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  68. Using the words 'Pierre McGuire' and 'pumping' in the same sentence makes me shudder.

    And think of Crosby.


    That sounds like you're doing something dirty.

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  69. I simply view Pierre McGuire as a sort of reverse oracle.

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  70. Here are the offer sheet compensation brackets that I found on some blog.

    $1,020,348 or below: No compensation.

    $1,020,348 to $1,545,981: A third-round draft choice.

    $1,545,981 to $3,091,963: A second round draft choice.

    $3,091,963 to $4,637,944: A first-round choice and a third-rounder.

    $4,637,944 to $6,183,925: A first- a second- and a third-rounder.

    $6,183,925 to $7,729,907: Two First-round choices, a second-rounder and a third-rounder.

    Over $7,729,907: Four first-rounders.

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  71. I'd say White is worth 3MM, but even if you want to offer less, you do it.

    And no matter what happens, you hurt a division rival, either by inflicting cap problems or stealing a player for little return.

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  72. Steve:

    Souray's games over the last 4 years: 225

    Foster's games over the last 4 years: 194


    As I said above:

    "Looking at the last five seasons, Souray has averaged 18.6 goals per 82 games. Foster's averaged 9.4."

    If Foster's offensive role is the same as Souray's - to score a bunch of goals from the point - the boxcars suggest that he's a lot worse at it.

    I still like the signing.

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  73. I am looking at the 76 pts the Oilers we received for the $18 million dollars we paid Souray and you worry that Foster is overpaid?

    "Foster is probably an overpay" != "Foster is as much of an overpay as Souray"

    Also, I explained my remark above.

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  74. deano:

    same information, from the nhl itself:

    http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=63234

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  75. Steve: Foster was behind Burns and Jonsson and others guys in Minny, he wasn't the main cannon, so i don't think we can compare goals directly.

    goals/60PP and EV maybe?

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  76. Steve: Foster was behind Burns and Jonsson and others guys in Minny, he wasn't the main cannon, so i don't think we can compare goals directly.

    goals/60PP and EV maybe?


    Yeah, I'm more than opening to seeing underlying statistics that make the comparison more sound; there's a reason that I've been prefacing everything with "based on boxcars". I'm much less open to having the comparison be made to seem better by refusing to consider injuries and by including a bunch of years that are blatantly unrepresentative of Souray's current playing style.

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  77. Does anyone suspect that Tambellini was actually, for real this time, put in full control of this team just this offseason?

    This is the basis behind the phrase Tambi 3.0. I actually think what happened is that there were 3-4 people making decisions and Tambi got overruled frequently. Since the 30th place finish, those people are all still in the room, but MUCH more humble than they were.


    Kurtis Foster text to Bob McKenzie: "Tell Pierre McGuire if he mentions I'm overpaid again, to where a helmet between benches..."

    Great, now watch him get suspended or charged for making a threat.


    I will try and come to ON but like others who come here, I find the content a little weak and the site in general a bit too commercial (I know, I know)

    This is about the 10th time I have read this. Its not a live show folks, you can just skip over the bloggers you don't like. I am pretty sure that LT's deal doesn't require a forced lobotomy. As per it being commercial, if you just use your willpower it is possible to avoid becoming a herbal magic beer guzzling golfer who finds himself watching the Edmonton Indy at the Pint.

    I don't get the animosity to the site. Its just a hockey blog, not a religion.

    I look forward to reading you there and here, and whereever else you end up!

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  78. So is Kovalchuk holding things up with the fwds?

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  79. "Good call, unless Foster had to deal with and recover from some kind of crazy injury we can't compare the two."

    look and their respective injury free seasons. Souray was far more productive.

    now it is likely that the TB PP may not have been as focused on the bomb from the point as the Oilers' was but still, if we are talking about goal production from the point, a healthy Foster wasn't where a healthy Souray was in terms of production.

    steve says "Looking at the last five seasons, Souray has averaged 18.6 goals per 82 games. Foster's averaged 9.4." and i can't see any way someone can disagree with the math.

    i like the signing but Foster isn't a "Souray Replacement". not that we need one, necessarily.

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  80. The Oilers finally sign a player that both they need, and I ask for.

    I expect he'll be playing in the Top-4 after coming back slowly last year from that freak injury.

    Thank you Steve.

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  81. @book

    There was a "(kidding!)" after the ellipsis, I don't think Foster will be joining Khabib on the chain gang anytime soon ;)

    Re: ON

    They would go a long way to improving their readership with an author filter like most group blogs (AOL's FanHouse comes to mind). I definitely would be a happier browser if I could select "Posts by Lowetide/Jonathan Willis" instead of seeing all the corny headlines and awful, awful photoshop on some of the other main posters over there. It may not be a live show, but it's still something I have to look at dozens of times a day.

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  82. Souray for Smyth.

    I would do that deal in a second.

    Despite the fact he wouldn't fit on the LW.

    Maybe in 2 years he'll come back.

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  83. Flames add Ivanans and Tim Jackman as per Kypreos.

    Storts better put Foster and Fraser on notice. I reckon Steverino will be chasing a thug with renewed vigor, too.

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  84. Sorry for the multiple comments, but I literally just found the Voices of the Nation filter on ON. :D

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  85. Foster 09/10 and Oilers D 08/09

    5v5 Goals/60

    Foster .27

    Souray .38
    Grebs .27
    Struds .15
    Gilbert .14
    Vis .14
    Staios .10
    Laddy .00

    5v4 Goals/60 (min TOI/60=1.5)

    Foster .68

    Vis 1.28
    Souray 1.15
    Grebs .62
    Gilbert .52

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  86. Tambo - please continue your recent work which is slowly rebuilding some belief that you are actually capable of performing your job.

    Needs: big veteran C and RW for 3rd line plus one more vet dman if Souray is traded

    Assets in play: Souray, Cogs, Brule

    Continue....

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  87. Looks like cullen's deal was 3 years at $3.5 mill per.

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  88. Via Ryan Rishaug...

    Oil believed to have deal on table for scott, waiting for response.

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  89. Twitter line via sportsnet: Sutter signed Ivanis to get him to his car

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  90. I’ll update this post with the most recent free-agent signings and trades today…

    Matt Cullen to Minnesota, 3 years, $10.5 million
    Adam Burish to Dallas: 2 years, $2.3 million
    Saku Koivu to Anaheim: 2 years, $5 million
    Dan Hamhuis to Vancouver, 6 years, $27 million
    Anton Volchenkov to New Jersey: 6 years, $25.5 million
    Olli Jokinen to Calgary: 2 years, $6 million
    Chris Mason to Atlanta: 2 years, $3.7 million
    Kurtis Foster to Edmonton: 2 years, $3.6 million
    Curtis Sanford re-signs with Montreal: 1 year, $550,000
    Henrik Tallinder to New Jersey: 4 years, $13.5 million
    Ray Whitney to Phoenix: 2 years, $6 million
    Toni Lydman to Anaheim: 3 years, $9 million
    Derek Boogaard to NY Rangers: 4 years, $6.6 million
    Paul Martin to Pittsbugh: 5 years, $25 million
    Jody Shelley to Philadelphia: 3 years, $3.3 million
    Dan Ellis to Tampa Bay: 2 years, $3 million
    Derek Morris re-signs with Phoenix: 4 years, $11 million
    Sean O’Donnell to Philadelphia: 1 year, $1 million
    Manny Malhotra to Vancouver, 3 years, $7.5 million
    Joel Perrault to Vancouver: 1 year, $510,000

    Antero Nittymaki to San Jose: 2 years, $4 million
    Colby Armstrong to Toronto: 3 years, $9 million
    Alex Auld to Montreal: 1 year, $1 million
    Zbynek Michalek to Pittsburgh: 5 years, $20 million
    Martin St. Louis re-signs in Tampa Bay: 4 years, $22.5 million
    Anton Babchuk to Carolina: 1 year, $1.4 million
    Jesse Winchester to Ottawa: 2 years, $1.5 million
    Alex Tanguay to Calgary: 1 year, $1.7 million
    Erik Christensen to Rangers: 2 years, $1.85 million
    Braydon Coburn back to Philadelphia: 2 years, $6.4 million
    Sergei Gonchar to Ottawa: 3 years, $16.5 million
    Dan Paille re-signs with Boston: 2 years, $2.15 million
    Marty Biron to Rangers: 2 years, $1.75 million
    Andrej Meszaros from Tampa Bay to Philadelphia for a second-round draft pick

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  91. LT - TSN's already doing that fro you:

    http://tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=25880

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  92. Comparing Souray and Foster's shooting percentage over the past 5 years [when healthy]..

    Souray healthy, played through the season:
    05/06 - GP:75 S%:5.9
    06/07 - GP:81 S%:11.6
    08/09 - GP:81 S%:8.6

    Foster healthy, played through the season:
    05/06 - GP:58 S%:8.1
    06/07 - GP:57 S%:2.2
    07/08 - GP:56 S%:5.9
    09/10 - GP:71 S%:4.8

    Foster did hit 10% in 08/09 but that was only over 10 games and isn't a great sample size.

    i'm guessing the Oilers see Foster as being where Souray was in 05/06 with arrows pointed up

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  93. I wonder if Fedoruk ends up somewhere. I'd still like to see him and Stortini on a line together. I wouldn't want to be a defenseman in the corner with those two coming at you.

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  94. Looks like Fraser signed a two year deal. no terms yet

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  95. Oil ink rfa collin fraser to 2 year deal, working on numbers
    - Rishaug Twit

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  96. 825K/yr for Fraser according to McKenzie.

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  97. 825K cap hit for Fraser, pretty much what most were expecting I think?

    This is weird, it's a year ago today that I remember a thread filled with disbelief and derision. But, today, I don't know, the Oilers behavior (outside of bidding on Boogaard, which feels reminiscent of Neil last summer) kind of seems pretty similar to what most are/were advocating?

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  98. Are people happy with an offer for Scott from minny? Brownlee has been pimping this guy for a few weeks, and apparently brodziak said he's great in the room. he's a 6'8 defenseman who is slow. not sure how I feel about our 6th dman on any given night being a knuckle dragger who can't play much. He is a nuclear deterant, but do we need or want one?

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  99. lets see!

    one the best assist wingers since the lockout, and scoring center 29-38 goal seasons. who were both miscast in there roles last year. Tanguay asked to score and jokinen asked to set-up.

    So now they will be re cast in there productive roles.
    Set-up winger plays with scoring center for 5M. potential 60 goals from two for 4.7M

    Brutal!

    Jesus Daryl you could have paid 3M for a 16G a season 2nd/3rd line winger

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  100. I'd be fine with Scott at around 1.1 million or so. I think we need some guys who will hit the other teams players if they want to beat up on our Hemskys, Halls, and Gagners.

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  101. speeds: I think last season was frustrating because we were chasing Heatley. The organization never did adjust to being the team with the money on July 1.

    This situation--measured moves and hiring value defensemen--is in the wheel house of this organization going back a decade or more.

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  102. smarmy: apparently it is a two year $650 per deal offered (i think that was a tweet from Rishaug) for Scott.

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  103. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  104. The rumoured Souray for Umberger deal would be good I think. Umberger can perform in a 3rd line role with fill-in duties on the 2nd line. Throw in the possibility of Cogliano in the mix for one of Columbus' prospects and I would be a happy man. John Moore or Filatov are both guys I'd be interested in.

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  105. Not sure about Scott as a fit if the team wants an enforcer, unless you're willing to waiver Peckham, or go 2G/8D/13F, which may well be plausible.

    Whitney
    Gilbert
    Smid
    Vandermeer
    Foster
    Souray or D replacement in Souray deal
    Peckham
    Scott?

    So, if you bring in Scott, maybe Souray gets traded for an overpriced F of sorts? Or, when you feel like dressing Scott, maybe you go with 7D 11F?

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  106. smarmy: apparently it is a two year $650 per deal offered (i think that was a tweet from Rishaug) for Scott.

    I wouldn't lose sleep over that.

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  107. Jon: umberger can be our 1st line centre ahead of Horcoff. he scored 23 last year, can win faceoffs and play physical. yes he can play 3rd line as well, but the benefit would be that he is interchangeable with horcoff and allows us to have depth and size at centre. who thought we'd ever say that?

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  108. I honestly can't see where there would be serious interest for Souray.

    Injuries (hand, head, etc)
    Contract
    That Press Release

    He's a gamble, and an expensive one at that.

    I have a feeling he's in the lineup this fall.

    Now just watch, he gets trade in the next ten minutes!

    ;)

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  109. Speeds: if they sign Scott, I see them moving Souray for a forward. Not sure about Scott - his numbers look Strudwickian to me, but maybe he's a more effective deterrent? Hard to think he could be worse than Struds on the ice. I'm okay with him being #6/7 on a short-term inexpensive deal.

    Whitney - Gilbert
    Foster - Smid
    Vandermeer - Scott
    Peckham

    Is that a D chart that we can live with? Not taking us to the cup any time soon, but between Storts, Vandermeer, Scott, and Peckham there would be plenty of grit there to stand up to most teams that try to run our kids.

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  110. Where's the Umberger rumor come from?

    The cap hits are pretty different, but it's an interesting near match salary wise as Souray is due 9 mil over the next 2 seasons, while Umberger is due 8.5 mil.

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  111. Howson talked about Umberger being the C to play with Nash this year, not sure if they'd move him.

    I actually agree with Brownlee that a guy who can warn off the other team for cheap shoting the kids is a good idea.

    Remember that these guys have Cup rings, even if they didn't see the ice much once the playoffs started:

    Semenko
    Jackson
    Brown
    McSorely
    McClelland

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  112. "Is that a D chart that we can live with?"

    i don't think that's good enough. i think the 2nd D pairing will bleed goals unless Smid makes significant progress next year.

    Scott is fine for an enforcer and bottom pairing D but Foster/Smid doesn't inspire a great deal of defensive confidence.

    i would absolutely love to be proven wrong on this though.

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  113. Remember that these guys have Cup rings, even if they didn't see the ice much once the playoffs started:

    Pre-instigator era.

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  114. I think anyone who thinks that 1.8 million is an overpay for a useful NHL player needs to stick their head in a dunk tank, and look at the economic reality of this league. The cap is at 59.4 million, and 1.8 million is three percent of the cap. The average NHL player, if you take the salary cap and divide it by a twenty three man roster, the salary is 2.58 million. This player is making SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE PER PLAYER AVERAGE (yes, I did mean to shout that) on the cap.

    If you're going to argue that 1.8 is an overpay, prove that he's a below average NHL player. He'd have to be Marc-Andre Bergeron in his own zone for that to be the case. I think it's a lot easier to suggest that he's a value contract and a badly needed player on a blue-line that has been depleted of veteran, shoot-first defencemen.

    Very smart deal on the surface, but I would be interested if someone could pull more advanced math on this player.

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  115. WG: Listing a bunch of dinosaurs isn't really helping the enforcer case.

    They'r old stuff, and Laraque was just such a painful guy to watch, god did he suck. Enforcers = Useless.

    No one will fight with Scott, guys like Hartnell and Burrows will just hit and run.

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  116. Speeds, very interesting point about Peckham.

    Is it possible Oil want to move another defenseman, in addition to Souray. Maybe Smid? Or Gilbert?

    Weird if true, but very possible.

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  117. I see us bleeding goals regardless - none of our D would be considered shut-down types, and with JDD or DD in net, we're going to be fishing the puck out of the net a lot.

    What makes sense for a "development" year? Adding a safe Hejda type to help prevent the kid forwards from drowning or adding a knuckledragger Scott type to prevent the kid forwards from getting "Reghered" all the time (although has this worked since we had Semenko/Brown in the lineup)?

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  118. I complete agree, and I don't think any math is needed. The man had 42 points - and he missed almost all of the previous year with a badly broken leg. He's 6'5 and 220, and though he probably doesn't skate well, $1.8M over 2 years is a great contract. Yeah, he's probably better as a #5, but he'll play on our 2nd PP, and he'll give us 15-18 minutes a game. At worst, he'll push the kids down to the farm. I don't wanna see Chorney anyhwere near the NHL next year. (Offensively, he needs to put up a monster year in the AHL to have any chance of being an effective NHL player.)

    As for John Scott, I'd rather get a real defenceman. The Souray for Commodore rumour is appealing - a shutdown defenceman who'll work hard and provide some grit. Yeah, he's overpaid at $3.75M, but I like him in our top 4 paired with Smid. Then the kids will really need to earn that promotion if they want to make the show in the next few years.

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  119. FPB,

    You misunderstand me.

    They don't have to fight.

    I'm perfectly fine with a stick in the teeth or an elbow in the forehead.

    Laraque doesn't intimidate anyone.

    I'm talking about a guy who might just rupture your spleen if you catch MPS from behind into the boards.

    Fear, not fighting.

    I like King from St. Louis. Big native kid from Meadowlake, Sask with just enough crazy.

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  120. I guess I want a goon more than an "enforcer"

    Homer: "Who's there?"

    (from other side of door) "Goons. Hired Goons"

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  121. Woodguy: Yeah sure, but find a guy who can also play hockey. Not those giant behemoths no one will fight or touch.

    Just get a guy who can scare/fight but still play. How much would Ben Eager or Dan Carcillo cost? (Sure the 2nd is nuts, but he's entertaining)

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  122. i don't see him as an overpay.

    i am a bit worried about the low number of goals to assists ratio on a team where he received a lot of offensive help [good qualteam] against limited opposition [easy qualcomp] in the shooting gallery that is the southeast division.

    better math would help a lot here.

    but the term is so short, the promise is there and the money really isn't that huge especially when you compare it to what grebeshkov was making versus what he was producing last year.

    heck, he almost had as many points as Visnovsky did last year, so even if we ratchet our expectations very, very low i don't think this was an overpay.

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  123. TSN has John Scott going to Chicago

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  124. Opportunity missed on Scott. Guys that tough are usually much, much worse hockey players.

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  125. damn, Scott, what you want to do, win a cup or something??

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  126. 3 points in 71 games, that kid's a world beater.

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  127. I honestly can't see where there would be serious interest for Souray.

    Did you hear that someone signed Boogaard to a 4 year deal at 1.6 million per year - ANYTHING is Possible!

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  128. The salaries are more reasonable this year w.r.t. the offer sheet brackets.

    I like these two for offer sheets:

    -Jack Skille, CHI in a 3rd rounder range

    -Greg Campbell, BOS in second rounder range.

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  129. How about Mike Weaver for EDM? Defenseman, played 4 SHmin/game on the best PK in the league in STL.

    He's a UFA and he made $800K last season. He's not flashy and won't produce any offense but he's the type of guy who could keep Chorney and Peckham developing in the A for at least a season, and Renney could depend on him.

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  130. After spending some time reading about the guys Edmonton has picked up and dumped this summer I think that the culture factor is being weighed by Decisive Steve 3.0 (DS3) in each and every decision.

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  131. destroyko,

    I think Weaver would be great. He is an elite penalty killer. There are however several problems. The first is he is a smurf. The second is he tends to not get all the way through the season. So lets see - a skilled, injury plagued, smurf. I just don't think Oilers management is going to go there. In this case I think it is a shame because one place we could radically improve is on the penalty kill and Weaver would go a very long ways to helping achieve that. In fact, I think you could argue that of all the free agents available he'd be the one that would make the biggest difference on the penalty kill.

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  132. Some solid negotiation there by Tambi XP. Fingers crossed, he's working the phones for Lombardi!

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  133. "It's a good fit. I'll be used the way I'm supposed to be used," Moreau continued.

    "It was definitely time to move on. I need a fresh start. I need a team that's going to use me where I'm most valuable and I don't think that was the case the last few years. And my play suffered because of it. But no regrets.

    "(Howson) was really the architect of that team. He made some key acquistions that got us to the final ... I don't think people realize how much he meant to that run. It's not just a coincidence that things went south when he left," Moreau told the Dispatch.


    Was anyone else absolutely gobsmacked by these comments? Sounds like Souray the sequel.

    Thanks for the memories Ethan. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.

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  134. Was anyone else absolutely gobsmacked by these comments? Sounds like Souray the sequel.

    Thanks for the memories Ethan. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.


    He said 'No regrets', that's a good thing, right?

    Good luck in Columbus Superstar.

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  135. It was because of overpayments to aging bottom 6 guys like Moreau things went south.

    Howson was have said to negotiated with them.

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  136. Sounds like the Blue Jackets are going to play Moreau on the 4th line with limited minutes where he belongs.

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  137. After spending some time reading about the guys Edmonton has picked up and dumped this summer I think that the culture factor is being weighed by Decisive Steve 3.0 (DS3) in each and every decision.

    Could you elaborate?

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  138. After reading Moreau's comments, it's absolutely astonishing to me that this guy wore the 'C' for this organization.

    Not only did the Oil honor this guy with the captaincy, they paid him far above the median line for a checking forward. And this is what he has to say about the team on his way out the door? Seriously?

    What did the Oil do? Did they bench him? Did they send him to the minors? Did they strip him of the captaincy? Oh that's right, they did none of these things. In reality, they treated him fairly and continued to pay him a hefty wage long past his expiration date.

    When it comes to the captaincy, clearly we had the wrong man for the job. Let's hope the org takes its time in deciding on the next one.

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  139. I wonder how much of an impact moreau leaving had on Souray saying he could come back and play in edmonton....

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  140. Good god that Rider/Als game was amazing. Better then any crap the NFL throws out there. :smug:

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  141. Love the CFL. The NFL is a fine league and their graphics rule the land, but I don't think I've ever seen an NFL game as good as the one that just ended.

    Freaking Rider wideouts.

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  142. Tambo

    "things in the mix that we haven't heard back on"

    Foster is a nice signing-nice term,decent value despite what Mcguire says.Premium pricing sure,but good value.

    I guess I'm a little worried that they feel they're set on D-I still think they need a 3/4 guy that plays tough.

    I know a right handed 3C is all the rage but I wouldn't mind a Robert Lang-ish type to play with Hemsky-but that's
    just me.

    Best of luck over at ON LT-I may have to open an account over there.No promises though:)

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  143. just wondering what people might think of afineganov to help the young lads along and or rob neidemayer? just a thought

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  144. If he gets little love out in the free agent marketplace: I think that Pisani at very minimal money would be a great bottom 6 forward/Press Box guy for one year 750K or 2 years @ 1.4m

    At Liam Reddox type money I would much rather have Pisani on the Oiler NHL roster

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  145. Course Darryl Sutter may sign Pisani for 3 years and $7.5 million so my idea may be a non starter

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  146. I wasn't sure if 18's comments were gonna fly under the radar and I sorta forget them given all the news of LT's FA signing; oh and the NHL players as well.

    In any case these comments weren't the first time Moreau's shown he's out of touch and like Eddie Murphy's Mr. Robinson said about his wife, "I'm glad the bitch is gone."

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  147. Bob Stauffer raising the possibility of a Souray/Smyth swap.

    Do you do it Lowetiders?

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  148. Now that Ethan Moreau and Scott Howson are reunited, I predict that Columbus will win the cup!

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  149. PJO: A no brainer.

    Souray is an old broken unhappy guy.

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  150. Maybe getting Smyth back would break the Curse :-)

    Haven't made the playoffs since he was traded away....

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  151. It would be good in that we'd be saying goodbye to someone who doesn't really want to be here, and welcoming home the prodigal son (of sorts). But the best thing that could come from a Smyth homecoming would be teaching the new kids a work ethic, giving back to the community, and what it means to be an Oiler.

    What may accomplish some of the above at a lower cost - albeit with less meaning - would be signing Guerin to a reasonably-priced one or two-year deal.

    Either way, I can't decide. Though I'm feeling a lot more comfortable saying something that hasn't ever been said during his time with the Oilers: In Tambellini I trust.

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  152. Smyth would be a quality acquisition. Those kids could see first hand how hard he works.

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  153. The issue isn't about money (6.25M cap hit) as his contract expires in 2 years - but rather whether their is room for the Moose Jaw Warrior?

    Smyth-Penner-Hall-MPS-Omark

    They say MPS can play on either wing - but at this stage of development, you want to play him at his natural position - which is LW. You can use the Cole experience with developing players like MPS.

    Perhaps Penner can move to RW, and everything works out.

    I'm warming up to the idea. I think LA would consider, especially if they get Kovalchuk.

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  154. SO if Smyth returns, does that make MPS and Hall fight it out for one LW spot? I could get behind that.

    A propos nothing, the TSN NHL front page still has Colin Fraser as a defenseman.

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  155. I think Smyth would also help Penner take another step. It just seems right to bring him back.

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  156. When Penner was taking face-offs last season was he playing the centre position in the defensive end? Or was he just taking face-offs?

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  157. After spending some time reading about the guys Edmonton has picked up and dumped this summer I think that the culture factor is being weighed by Decisive Steve 3.0 (DS3) in each and every decision.

    Could you elaborate?


    Yep, sorry, that was a rather vague statement. Basically, everything I read about all three of the guys picked up said things like "Great guy", "Good Attitude", "Hard Worker", etc. The three that are leaving due to buyouts are all one form of headcase or another. Ethan Moreau used to be one of those "Good Guys", but it seems like something went sideways when he got the 'C' on his chest.

    Essentially, I think that if Tambi is trying to fix the attitude in the room as part of these changes.

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  158. Smyth for Souray sounds both realistic (both are overpayed and a bit broken) and fine with me. I presume the market for Souray is not great. Ryan Smyth could come back with the 'C' on his Jersey and be a bridge between what was good about this team prior to 2006 and the future.

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  159. Truth and reconciliation?

    On a sidenote, what would I do without that old rock, today's music is terrible.

    Well I just can't enough of that sweet stuff
    My little lady gets behind

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  160. Smyth returning would be great. They would have a legit top six if he came back and it would bump a kid down the depth chart.

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  161. Perhaps Joe Corvo would fit for the opening on D.

    Seems to me we have first PP unit of Whitney/ Foster
    2nd unit:
    Gilbert/ nobody right now
    Probably Vandermeer at the moment. Smid and Peckham don't fit on PP. Need to do better than that.

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  162. I mentioned a Smyth for Souray deal a few months back. I love the idea. One way to limit the expectations on hall, Eberle, etc. is to overshadow their arrival with the return of Smyth. Captain issue solved. it also allows us to keep both MPS and Eberle in the minors to start the year. Unless of course the Org decides to run Hall at centre, then you could have them both up

    Smyth-Hall-Hemsky
    Penner-Horcoff-Eberle
    MPS-Gagner-Brule
    Jones-Fraser-Stortini

    Would be a fun team, and if you added a vet two-way guy to play with Horcoff and slide Penner to gagner's wing you could keep MPS in the minors and have a veteran team that may be solid if the goaltending holds up.

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  163. I don't even want to get excited about the idea of this.

    Love Smyth.

    One of my all time favorite players, and agreed:

    What a fun team this would be to watch!

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  164. Can we make a deal that if smyth comes back he has to turf that stupid stick of his that costs him 10-15 goals every year?

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  165. Souray for symth would be awesome.. then penner could definately anchor the 2nd line (gags/Eb/hall/Brule?!)

    but of course, another D is needed..

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  166. Never commented here before (do post on the Oilers site, though), but wanted to say I very much think the information here, both from LT and the commentors, is top notch. Sad to hear it's going to change.

    Anyway, I'm intrigued by Souray for Smyth. While I'm glad the Oilers are finally making the necessary choices to move the team forward, I think they need to be careful to avoid having too few quality (in personality) veterans. The Oilers have Horcoff, and despite how many people think he's overpaid, he does bring some vet leadership. Getting Smytty on board would show the Hall-MPS-Eberle youngins what it takes. That first puck to Smytty's teeth, and his return 20 minutes later, is a lesson that would stick.

    Continuing this....I personally want Pisani on the 10-11 Oilers for the same reason. I keep reading LT say the Oilers need "A Pisani type" player. Well, hell, how about Pisani to fill that role. I don't see him getting a contract anywhere else, so if he wants to play, the Oilers fire a cheap, cheap contract his way. I suspect his willingness to play hockey wins out and he accepts.

    Let's nurture this 2010-2011 team with a healthy dose of Horc-Smyth-Pisani. We all know this team won't make the playoffs, but let's make the investment for 2011-2012.

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  167. Smyth comes back and you just slide that C onto his jersey. Like they should have done in the first place.

    He should have never left. Meant to be a lifetime Oiler.

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  168. From all accounts the same reason everyone wants Smyth back is why Lombardi targeted him and gave up a good young D-man to get him.

    By all accounts, injuries aside, he's done everything for the Kings they hoped he would. Apparently a lot of his habits and hard work has rubbed off and the younger guys look up to him (many like Doughty had issues like poor shape etc.)

    There's even a funny story in an ESPN article that states Smyth imposed a rule that after losses Doughty isn't allowed to drink soda on the plane. I don't see the Kings trading him for Souray =(. Also he still has that 6.24 million cap hit for 2 more seasons.

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  169. Remove all the old memories and Smyth is a chronically injured, middle-of-the-road winger with a $6.25 million cap hit.

    For 2 more years.

    That would immediately become the worst contract on the team.

    I honestly don't have a clue how a group of commentators who are constantly trashing management over the Khabby contract can turn around and get excited over the idea of bringing back Smyth so that he can miss 20 games, get 50 points and take up more cap space that anyone else on the team.

    It's madness.

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  170. From espn.com's Day 1 Free Agency grades:

    Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay to Flames
    Honestly, we don't know exactly where to begin with the insane asylum that has become the Calgary Flames' front office. Jokinen was such a negative force last season, GM Darryl Sutter unloaded him on the New York Rangers as part of a massive personnel overhaul that still left the Flames short of the playoffs. Apparently after losing all the game tape from Jokinen's time with the Flames and Rangers, Sutter ended up bringing back the chronic underachiever for another kick at the can. That must have made captain Jarome Iginla's day. The only good thing is Sutter will waste less money this time around, inking Jokinen to a two-year deal worth $6 million (about half the money he made last time around).



    The shocking return of Jokinen came just hours after Sutter brought another erstwhile Flame, Alex Tanguay, back into the fold. True, Tanguay did have a career-best 81 points with the Flames in 2006-07, but we're guessing Sutter failed to come up with any game film showing Tanguay in action since. How else do you explain Tanguay's one-year deal worth $1.7 million and the no-trade clause that came with it? Who else gives a no-trade clause to a "sniper" with a combined 44 goals in the past three seasons? Uh, one guess.

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  171. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  172. Rewind the tapes a couple of years to see the Oilers chasing Nylander and Heatley and where that got them.

    The Flames are headed down the same path. They are a cap team with an average line-up destined to be fighting for the 8th play-off spot. They were very injury free last season in still missed the post season. A few key injuries going forward and Darryl Sutter is back farming this time next year.

    We've hit bottom and have nowhere to go but up. Calgary is headed for a fall. The two teams could pass by each other as early as this coming season.

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  173. Commonfan13,

    It just show you that at heart most here really are fans.

    FWIW I agree that he' not a fit in terms of contract, injury history and position. (Oilers need RW waaaay more the LW unless some can effectively play out of position)

    Where he is a fit is veteran leadership, which is in low supply.

    Funny, a math blog wants an overpay for his "intangibles"

    I'd rather see 44 turned into a 3C or 3D, but there may not be that many options.

    LA really needs a Dman, I'd make them throw in a prospect too.

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  174. I'm not spreadsheet warrior. I want Smyth back because he owns and Souray sucks.

    Horcoff contract would still be worse then the Smyth deal.

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  175. A Souray trade may require some patience.

    LA, while great for Souray, may not be the most natural fit for the Kings or the Oilers.

    While most of the FA d-men have now relocated I suspect that the final shoe to drop will be a Kaberle trade. Different players to be sure but Kaberle's puck-moving is likely more in demand than Souray's bomb and toughness combo.

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  176. I think Modano brings the veteran leadership on a 'going forward' basis. Smyth brings it on a 'looking back' basis. The period we are looking back upon is not that special for the Oilers.

    Modano should be cheaper, but he's supposedly got 5 teams interested. Would depend on the term that he would want to play here.

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  177. NO to Smyth. As much as I love his leadership, he's old and injury prone, paid WAAAAAAAAAAY too much and frankly plays THE ONE POSITION this team doesn't need.

    LW is not a need position. UNless they have a deal in place involving Penner and cogs for a #1 center , there's NO WAY you acquire another top 6 LW.

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  178. My deal with 94 would depend on just what's out there for 44 and how much you want to get him off the books.

    And it would be easier to take 94 back if he had only one year left because he would fit perfectly the idea of guys making big money one one year pacts who could then be flipped for a pick come deadline day.

    Renney or Tambo said they want to pair kids with vets who do the right things and can bring them along and Smyth certainly fits that bill but the first thing I would want for 44 if it all possible is a young D who's good now and will grow with the forward kids corps.

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  179. Oilers sign Strudwick and Petiot on D per their twitter.

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  180. Who is Petiot?? I know nothing about him. I assume it's an AHL signing???

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  181. LT: Just a heads-up and I'm not sure if you'll be checking this much anymore but Brownlee boasted yesterday that he has editorial privilege on all pieces at ON and if that's the case then I refuse to comment on any of your stuff over there; which will work out for you because then there's one less person to point out the times you're wrong:)

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  182. Dennis: That's a shame. I've always enjoyed your posts.

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  183. and i have always enjoyed your writing lain.

    but brownlees the sheriff over there and hes a miserable bag of dicks and im not gonna waste my time writing something that might be erased because hes taking another ride on his pity train.

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  184. and i have always enjoyed your writing lain.

    but brownlees the sheriff over there and hes a miserable bag of dicks and im not gonna waste my time writing something that might be erased because hes taking another ride on his pity train.

    ReplyDelete