At the AHL level, Teemu Hartikainen is 20 and looking better every day; Johan Motin, Milan Kytnar and Alex Plante are 21.
On the horizon? Another bushel of teenagers. The following players (by my calculation) could turn pro in the fall:
- F Tyler Pitlick, Medicine Hat Tigers
- D Martin Marincin, Prince George Cougars
- L Curtis Hamilton, Saskatoon Blades
- C Ryan Martindale, Ottawa 67's
- D Brandon Davidson, Regina Pats
- F Kellen Jones, Quinnipiac University
- C Anton Lander, Timra
- R Cameron Abney, Edmonton Oil Kings
- F Toni Rajala, Ilves Tampere
- G Olivier Roy, Acadie Bathurst Titan
- F Robby Dee, Maine
The Edmonton Oilers procurement department has morphed from a whisper to a scream. Stu MacGregor, you magnificent bastard.
"Question: if you're a guy like Gilbert Brule at the NHL level or Philippe Cornet at the AHL level, do you sleep at night? "
ReplyDeleteHaha..Nice! I think Omark has clearly replace Brule and 67 is more than likely gone by mid summer
If your analysis is correct, the next task for the Oilers is asset management. If half of these kids turn into the real deal then, Tambo (or the subsequent GM) will have the type of youth needed to bolster the cornerstones of the franchise as we move forward.
ReplyDeleteTeemu with 2 more assists last night..He has really turned it around!
ReplyDeleteYou think MBS can find a GM too?
ReplyDelete'Whisper to a Scream' was not on the Fabulous Stains soundtrack.
ReplyDeleteI loved that song. (80's 'New Wave' alert.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIxgHu5U1v4
oilerdago - A while ago I suggested drafting an overage Ivy League kid with a 4.0 GPA in Sports Management and pushing him into the deep end by giving the job to him next season.
ReplyDeleteIf I were Brule I'd be more concerned with these "flus" that seem to completely debilitate him for long periods of time.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I talk hockey socially I rant about our scouting last season. It seems the majority of oiler fans are still in the dark about Stu's work to date. Good times are ahead.
ReplyDeleteBrule is under 25 this summer, so he would be a 1/3rd buyout, rather than a 2/3rd buyout.
ReplyDeleteGood day.
ReplyDeleteOne small correction, Lain. Gagner is only 9 months (+ 5 days) older than Eberle. August '89 / May '90
I think we need to be a little cautious about MBS. He has an excellent record, and deserves full credit for it. But scouting's the kind of thing with so many unknowns that you have to be lucky to be good. If MBS keeps being smart, but suddenly ceases to be lucky, I think we could see a steep dropoff in our quality procurement.
ReplyDeleteLouise: Counting was always my downfall. :-)
ReplyDeleteSteve Smith: I think we have to have reasonable expectations. If Hesketh and Abney don't work out well they're not exactly top 10 picks.
I don't think it's too much to ask that the Oilers don't blow their first round pick and grab another player or two later in the draft.
Eberle from year one with a Hartikainen kicker and Motin as a distant bell.
MPS and Lander from year two with Roy and Rajala showing well.
Year three was a big fly.
Icicle Works? I knew there was a reason I had Napster back in the day.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know off the top of their head what the Finnish military obligation is w.r.t. Rajala and Hartikainen?
Hartikainen did his last year, I believe.
ReplyDeleteLT: Well those 2 are pretty much done.
ReplyDeleteFinally Pacioretty was only bruised, he's playing tonight and got 1G and 1 A so far.
That 22 years old garbage has 9 points in 18 games lol.
Well the easy changes to the forwards this summer are as follows as room needs to be made for higher quality bottom 6 types and kids like Teemu and Omark:
ReplyDeleteBrule - trade by draft or buyout (only $600,000)
Cogs - trade by draft
Mac - let walk (no trade value)
Stortini - trade by draft or let walk if no trade value
JFJ - let walk (no trade value)
Jones - trade at deadline while value is high
Reddox - resign as extra forward
That cleans out the bottom six for UFA and additions by trade - but Hemksy and Penner resignings are the much bigger issues and we have no idea whether they are interested or their terms. Would be best if both stayed - but if either or both are not signable - then they must be traded by the draft to extract value.
The dman are pretty clear as well:
Whiney, Gilbert, Peckham, Petry all stay
Trade Foster by draft for anything
Smid can stay as long as money is modest
Need a big tough #2 (trade much more likely than UFA)
Need a big tough #4/5 (trade or UFA, Souray?)
Goal is fine with DD as good backup with starter potential, but Bulin as starter is a disaster with no solution available unless Dubnyk really emerges
I think Rajala is doing his this year... but is it only one year?
ReplyDeleteYou think MBS can find a GM too?
ReplyDeletemy fear is calgary makes him theirs!
You think MBS can find a GM too?
ReplyDeleteWinner.
Pacioretty
FPB,
Post that here, or here,or here.
Not here.
WG: Please. I only update on something i said yesterday, replying to LT's comment.
ReplyDeleteFor the latter part, well will I begin to post forums about economics when you talk about the senior executives?
Seriously FPB, take it to a Habs blog because nobody cares here.
ReplyDeleteI think you do contribute to Lowetide, despite what others may say, but keep the topics relevant to the Oilers.
Grant: If you're that offended by the post then don't read it.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's too much to ask that the Oilers don't blow their first round pick and grab another player or two later in the draft.
ReplyDeleteNo, that's fair. But there's a difference between not blowing a first round pick and getting Jordan Eberle 22nd overall. I'm just concerned that some people are starting to expect that Stu'll hit a homerun off every fastball into the strike zone, and single off most of the other stuff.
Put another way, he's posting league-best results. But the guy posting league-best results almost inevitably i. is pretty damned good, and ii. has a PDO above 1,000.
Grant: If you're that offended by the post then don't read it.
ReplyDeleteGiven the format of the blog that really isn't an option.
Steve: Honestly as long as the team is good they probably won't notice.
ReplyDeleteTrevor Timmins has the 2nd highest rate of NHL players over draft picks and the MTL fanbase still whines.
As long as they win quickly no one will really notice if the draft goes down.
People only care about the minors when the pro's doing bad.
Grant: CTRL+F Enter Pacioretty and pass over.
ReplyDeleteFPB: WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!
ReplyDeleteThat's my point sailing past your head.
And even not blowing the first rounder is subject to some luck: what do you suppose Stu would have done with the first overall in 1993?
ReplyDeleteGrant: Allright i'l stop talking about it.
ReplyDeleteSS: Trade down and get Pronger.
ReplyDeleteThat or be forced by Management to take Daigle
SS: Trade down and get Pronger.
ReplyDeleteYou honestly think so? You may be right, but I doubt it. There were an awful lot of pretty smart scouts who thought that Alex Daigle was going to be a damned good NHL player.
SS: Yes that's a fact. But how many awfully big defensemen like Pronger go by and put up that much points?
ReplyDeleteNot a lot.
True he might be fooled too, but Daigle had some personal issues, and was really small. I know some scouts actually go to players house to see if they have background problems (See Timmins)
Wow, Vernon Wells traded out of Toronto. Albatross contracts can be moved it seems. Anthopolous for Oilers GM :) Horcoff contract bashing comments pale in comparison to some of the stuff I've read on Bluejay message boards last 2 years.
ReplyDeleteWhen you talk draft day heroics, you can't top Burke in 1999 maneuvering to get both Sedins.
ReplyDeleteThey are both over 100 points (17%) clear of anyone else in that draft (Havlat @ #26) and over 100 career GP clear of everyone except Nicklas Hagman.
Have to (grudgingly) give the guy credit for being prepared to pay to get what he wants. There was not much quality that year and Burke got the lion's share. It took forever for him to be proven right too.
Minnesota passing over Mike Prior to draft Joe Mauer
ReplyDeleteNot to be a rumor monger, but I thought Daigle had substance abuse problems or something.
ReplyDeleteMBS has done a fine job. One obvious concern is that this team will still be very young--fine for later years, but should temper expectations for next season.
Much of that will depend on how flat the trajectories are for Hall, Eberle, and PRV. Hopefully, they're not as flat as Gagner/Cogliano.
As SumOil said, goal will be a big concern. Wish they would have at least front loaded Bhulin's contract so he might have value as a backup to a team struggling to make the cap.
LT
ReplyDeleteOf your list, I think they only sign Hamilton, Marincin, Lander and Lander.
Dee and Jones will never be signed.
The rest should stay down for more seasoning. I'd like to see Pitlick start to dominate physically and on the scoreboard, and Martindale scares me as he is playing with two very good linemates.
Davidson and Blain could use more time as Dmen take a while.
@Jake
ReplyDeleteI wanted to get drunk when I saw that trade. They didn't even take on any of his salary.
AA is the complete opposite of toonces.
Ducey:
ReplyDeleteNo guarantees, but one problem with leaving Martindale in junior, if you're worried about that linemate effect, is that both Toffoli and Prince are likely to go back to the OHL again next year.
It's difficult to believe Martindale is driving the bus on his OHL line, but it is still nice to see him complement so well.
ReplyDeleteThat list includes zero first-round picks and a similar amount of NHL games played.
ReplyDeleteIt's time you stopped drinking from Tambellini's toilet water.
LT, have you checked out Jeremie Blain's stats lately? They look pretty impressive:
ReplyDelete18GP 1G 17A for 18 pts, +16
Not bad...
ps. The above anonymous comment addressed to Ducey was mine
If the young talent really is so good (or viewed that way) trade multiples of it for surer things that are slightly older. Keep some certainly, but we have an opportunity to use depth + "new nhl" to make some serious gains.
ReplyDeleteFPB: I hope someone else gets this old SNL/Farley and Sandler joke but if you love the Habs so much why don't you marry them?
ReplyDeleteIt's a free country but I don't know how you can expect to get anything but shit everytime you mention Cuntreal.
Seriously, no one gives a fuck.
Even more reason not to stress too much to sign Jones for next season. He is a more valuable trading asset than player for 11-12.
ReplyDeleteIf you're that offended by the post then don't read it.
ReplyDeleteThis is the logic of squeegee punks and spam kings. There's a transaction cost to saying no.
You like the idea of having squeegee punks on every street corner so you have to shake your head or flip the bird every time you catch a red light all the way home?
With spam, the economic cost of deleting the unwanted messages, borne by everyone, exceeds the profits accruing to those who engage in the transaction (which IMO is extremely one sided).
I don't even know why they bother with postage. They could just write back "Thank you for becoming $30 stupider. There's a bottle of Lourdes buried under the Stonehenge right now with your name on it. You'll get lucky tonight, for sure."
So the point is, we don't care about Lourdes or the Stonehenge. Keep it local. We don't want to hear about the pyramids, either, excepting only the 50 year drought.
Bob MacKenzie said...
ReplyDeleteBecause many people within the NHL community --GMs, assistant GMs, capologists and a number of agents --have also struggled with the ins and outs of what could happen to the free-agent goalie who has signed with the Wings.
Comments like this worry me. The Nabokov waiver situation isn't all that complicated and certainly should be well within the grasp of any NHL exec tasked with knowing it. I hope BobbyMac was just exploiting a narrative here. Sadly, past years of watching Oiler management bungle the CBA makes me think the comment isn't far off the mark.
Ducey: Players picked as high as Martindale and Pitlick, provided that they're still on track, never go back to junior for their overage season. I can't think of any position players as good as them who sent back for their 20 year old season and would indicate that the team probably doesn't think that much of the player.
ReplyDeleteTo clarify my apparent non-sequitur.
ReplyDeleteThe wealth of young talent moving up and the (apparent) desire of management not to compete for the next couple of years, makes Jones a more valuable trading asset than player asset.
Getting anothe bullet in the gun for MBS over having Jones locked up for a couple of years (and then playing ala Brule when his SH% drops) is a good managerial move.
I look forward to the news of his 6 year extension this spring(bookie thingy).
spOILer,
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing.
Its a pretty straight forward clause in the CBA. One of the few things that is clearly written in that document.
I wonder if we will see in hockey what we've started to see in baseball.
Smart young execs who don't have a history of playing the game, but do have excellent education, are whip smart and have a passion for the game.
Also,
Fvb,
If people hate economics as much as I hate the habs (although I think L.T and certainly Dennis hate them more), they are free to tell me to post elsewhere.
Staples has an article in the journal today about Gagner's defensive play.
ReplyDeleteOddly, the Journal editors replaced "Petry" with "Poetry" in a chart.
If Gene Principe saw this, he'd probably make an inane comment that Jeff Poetry's a poet and he doesn't even know it.
You have to think Brule is as good as gone. I wonder what we can get for a former first rounder! Yea...probably nothing. Whatever.
ReplyDelete40 Minutes to go and no word on Nabokov...Weird.
Bob McKenzie tweets
ReplyDeleteBased on NYI injury situation in net and @KatieStrang's post game story last night, Isles are my odds-on favorite to claim and get Nabokov.
That would sure help us out!
ReplyDeleteDevils catching up. Oilers (finally) ranked 30th by one of the two computer algorithms:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/nhl1011.htm
We're almost there!
Pierre's list from the Tencer podcast...
ReplyDelete1. Larsson
2. Landeskog
3. Nugent-Hopkins
4. Couturier
ribs - Pierre MacGuire's list?
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't the Wings get in touch with the Oilers and ask them to claim Nabakov when he came through waivers and then magically trade him to Det shortly afterwards?
ReplyDeleteIs there any language in the CBA that prohibits that? And it would be almost impossible to prove because if the Oilers Were smart, they Would claim Nabakov just because they know the Wings need him and they'd be able to get something for that.
Yup. He's flipped Nugent-Hopkins and Landeskog from McKenzies list but I find it very interesting that Couturier is at the bottom again.
ReplyDeleteThat said, Pierre and Bob are probably converse a lot about this.
-ing
ReplyDeleteDennis - Nabokov would have to go through waivers again.
ReplyDeleteMcKenzies explanation
ReplyDeleteFpb,
ReplyDeleteTo take the economic thing one step further:
If I went to a Chicago school blog and posted how a mediocre young Keynesian was worth a popular John Bates Clark Medalist, then I'd expect to get shouted down.
WG - cut it out.
ReplyDeleteBob....
ReplyDeleteNabokov (DET) claimed by NYI.
Woo!
Deano,
ReplyDeleteI respect your freedom to tell me to cut it out.
I'll drop it.
Also,
I wonder if Nabokov reports to the NYI?
Funny to see the Blues and Wings get hurt by the old Rexi rule.
Wonder if Holland would be interested in Gerber?
Gotta figure any NHL job where he is going to get ice time will suit Nabokov for half a season.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know off the top of their head what the Finnish military obligation is w.r.t. Rajala and Hartikainen?
ReplyDeleteIt's 6 months military service for men. Hartikainen did his while playing hockey last year, and it's speculated that it affected his first half of the season (note LT's attention to his splits and how much he improved in the 2nd half). Teemu all but confirmed this when he mentioned in an interview how exhausted he was all the time during his service, since he had training every day in between hockey.
Rajala expressly stated that he returned to Finland to serve his military requirement. He's currently serving it this year as far as I know, and he'll be free to do as he wishes after it's done within this season.
His numbers aren't blowing the doors off the hinges, but people need to remember he came back from an injury, and he's also likely doing military training at the moment. If that doesn't affect your counting stats in a men's league I don't know what will; let alone one of the top and most physical men's leagues in Europe. Remember he started off the season very well in Ilves Tampere when he was fresh and uninjured. He was very much a draft and follow. I don't know how some people can be down on this kid 2 years in when it was optimistically projected to be 4 years at least before he saw any NHL time.
It is certainly encouraging to look at the young talent pool the Oilers have amassed.
ReplyDeleteYears ago we were trying to make a case for a variety of no hopers.We seemed to have a disproportionate number of slow developers.
Will the law of averages catch up to MBS well if we draft in the top 3 probably not.
I have no problem with FPB I never click on his links.
I am sure he is a big boy but I thought the second round of piling on was a bit much.
Oddly, the Journal editors replaced "Petry" with "Poetry" in a chart.
ReplyDeleteReminds of the (apparently true) story of the newspaper whose style guide dictated that the British Monarch be referred to as "Queen Elizabeth II" rather than simply "the queen". Thanks to a clever use of the find and replace function, a story made the science section in which it was mentioned that, in a bee hive, Queen Elizabeth II lays thousands of eggs per day.
(Does anybody object to anecdotes about poor automated editing in the same way as they object to discussion of Habs prospects and supply curves?)
(Does anybody object to anecdotes about poor automated editing in the same way as they object to discussion of Habs prospects and supply curves?)
ReplyDeleteNon-sequiturs are de rigeur (though bad puns are maybe not)
FPB:
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what your point of referencing the Twins passing on Prior to take Mauer is about.
At the time Minnesota operated on a very limited budget and Prior's Agent wanted a boatload of money from whomever picked him. Mauer was cheaper and they figured he was a local boy and would therefore sign for less.
WG said...
ReplyDeleteIf I went to a Chicago school blog and posted how a mediocre young Keynesian was worth a popular John Bates Clark Medalist, then I'd expect to get shouted down.
This made me howl. Although if that makes Hemsky a Friedmanite, then trade his friggin ass!
Just not for a Keynesian, mediocre, young, or otherwise.
Anyone know when Souray can be recalled from the AHL without having to clear re-entry waivers to become a tradeable asset?
ReplyDeleteSpecifically, is it before or after the draft?
As long as the Oilers don't start espousing the "Chicago School Model".
ReplyDeleteTalent trickle down
Deano,
ReplyDeleteAfter the season is over.
Before the draft.
ReplyDeleteJust Read on TSN that Nabokov was claimed on waivers by the Islanders. Which was shortly followed by Nabokov issuing a statement that he won't report.
ReplyDeleteApparently I do not understand being banished to Russia.
ReplyDeleteIf you were the Islanders, would you put him back on waivers or suspend him and let him sit?
Why didn't the Wings get in touch with the Oilers and ask them to claim Nabakov when he came through waivers and then magically trade him to Det shortly afterwards?
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly, any player claimed off waivers must clear waivers again before a trade is made for the rest of the season. So, in other words, you can't do it.
All of a sudden I understand why Detroit included the NMC in the contract. I suspect Nabokov's refusal would have happened if anybody had claimed him. Because there is nothing they can do about it.
ReplyDeleteAs a total newb here I get the praise for MBS and others cited as more than competent but does anyone recall Skinner being even a blip on the radar as a potential #1 in the weeks leading up to draft day? If so then I'd be driving the bandwagon.
ReplyDeletePretty tough to bugger up a #1 overall in a draft year with two predominant choices isn't it? Or should there have been three names being bantied around if the scouting team was really looking at ALL of the availables?
MBS' work in the later rounds the past couple of years is undeniable and if I'm correct is where the real love is coming from yes?
Also noticed Jersey won so we are now only 2 points ahead of them in the standings. The first pick is within our grasp now.
ReplyDeleteSomewhat random segway here but isn't the counter arguement of building through the draft and stock piling/sucking forever easily answered with:
ReplyDeletePhiladelphia Flyers.
Call me crazy but with a savy GM there is absolutely no reasonable way to argue the continued suck. If that was the plan of action I honestly think we are already pounding holes in that boat due to dithering.
If the long suck was the plan, then this summer when so many teams that were in the win now phase of building could have been looted with boat anchors coming back for 2 years of Penner and Hemsky. If we honestly wanted Seguin and couldn't work out a deal with the Bruins (they were screwed this year) Toonces again has proven quite inept. Instead, we kept them and wasted another golden year on each of those contracts (depreciating asset value). By keeping those guys, there is no reason we shouldn't have attempted to assemble a bottom end of our roster that could possibly make it. Again, we half assed it.
The Chicago model by Toonces approach is nothing more than a license to suck in a rudderless boat. This rightly should concern anyone that gives a damn.
By keeping Penner and Hemsky that decision is viewed to me as anti-long suck. Philly is proof of the idea that only morons need suck. The islanders, thrashers, panthers, blue jackets are proof that long suck is possibly not a solid solution and more likely than not, is the path best left to morons.
Appologize for the rant but I see a lot of people arguing for continued prospect hoarding and I'm just not sure what the point is. If I have to RFA offer sheet Weber and give up the max, sign and trade some prospect depth to right the ship it just seems like a wiser option than to stay adrift at this point.
-RFA Weber (8 year deal average at or under 6 mill per - compensation is 1,2nd and 3rd)
-UFA Hejda (two year deal)
-maybe give back calgary's pick for two years of Sarich...(not sure how he's playing just looking at cap screwed teams and such with an eye towards clean slate in two years when you have to re-up the kids).
No reason to believe we can't be playoff bound next year. We've sucked like a rebuilding team for long enough (unfortunately not manage liked one but it is what it is).
with the panthers, flames maybe the wild and who knows whom else management looking at the stay of execution given Oiler's brain trust I don't really see the benefit of fighting our way to suck much longer.
Sorry for the rant LT.
Chartleys
-sign Marty Sakic as our 3rd/4th line center
Or, you could get crafty and set up long term deals one under just over 3 mill and one just over 4.5 mill. RFA compensation would just be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd the following year. Something tells me that I could get better value out of those RFA's then the three picks combined.
Chorney assinged to OKC
ReplyDeleteChartley,
ReplyDeleteI think to pull off the Philly/Bos style plan you would need an existing critical mass of talent and a willingness for UFAs to sign with your team.
@WG
ReplyDeleteWhat a relief. I was beginning to worry about how all these games off are effecting the development of Strudwick for next year.
Chartleys
@ Spoiler
ReplyDeleteFair enough. I really hope the city and management gets past this self-depreciating mentality. It would go a long way towards making that possible in these parts. If you constantly say everything sucks here and no one wants to come, it inevitably becomes true. Between that and the tendency to turn on any player paid more than 2 million dollars per season whenever management wants the fans to (or in some cases before), I honestly understand why they wouldn't want to sign here.
Chartleys
Well, Chartley's, I don't think we can do much about the fishbowl, but there's no doubt that a Northern wintry city in the middle of the prairies and little else, with no bright lights, big city action, and in the past, also exchange rate and tax issues... there's no doubt that's a tough sell.
ReplyDeleteHaving the kind of players others want to play with, and a shot at the Cup would go a long way to enticing free agents.
I suspect the new arena is probably part of this strategy too.
Charleys,
ReplyDeleteDo you get royalties for suggesting Weber to the Oilers?
It aint going to happen no matter how many times you bring it up.
If we're harpooning any white whales this coming off-season, I hope it is for Weber or Burns.
ReplyDeleteBurns is gonna get a massive bidding war, but if Poile can't give Weber the payday he wants, it should be possible to pick him up in a trade that doesn't require the draft picks an offer sheet would.
They would likely want a rightie in return. Someone cheaper than Weber who replaces a portion of his offense.
That would mean Gilbert or Petry going the other way.
Something like Gilbert, Brule, Martindale, 2012 2nd and permission to talk to Weber's agent to see if he can be signed long term.
If it falls through, go after Burns and hope that the contenders are so cap strung they can't compete.
Ducey, I'll keep mentioning it too, although no one's paying me, since it is impossible for you to make your assertion with any kind of certainty. See Pronger, Chris.
ReplyDeleteSpoiler,
ReplyDeleteAppologize that wasn't a shot at you wrt the whole city stop thinking it's peanuts deal.
I've been in a lot of places and realize the best ones are anywhere that folks don't give a shit how they compare to anywhere else, regardless of metric. Best explanation I can come up with:
East coast style where you are is where you are, might as well have a laugh.
Chartleys
@ Ducey
ReplyDeleteYes, I get paid a nickel by Weber's agent everytime I bring him up.
I now have 15 cents....THE FOOL!!!
Chartleys
@ Ducey
ReplyDeleteI'm with Spoiler as well. As long as he doesn't board a plane to come check Edmonton, end up beside someone such as yourself, anything is possible.
Maybe all the Oiler's are lacking is they need to hire a real estate agent that made it through the 80's housing collapse. If they could sell in that surely they could sell Edmonton.
Chartleys
@ Ducey (sorry LT)
ReplyDeleteLastly,
Why not? You seem to think Weber is free to choose his destination. That there every team is going to be bartering for his services. That there are no repercussions to tabling an offer...Like he's an UNRESTRICTED free agent.
The oiler's or any other suitor will have to pay dearly for his services. Not only to Mr. Weber but to the Preds as well. I'm uncertain there are a lot of GM's willing to stick their neck in a BURKEAN NOOSE (TM).
chartleys
Chartleys,
ReplyDeleteWhy would Weber chose to come to a rebuilding team on the frozen tundra?
Why would the Preds trade the cornerstone of their franchise?
If anything is possible, why don't we discuss bringing in Sid the Kid, instead.
Sorry, Chartley's I should have placed the 'well' after your name, my fault, I didn't think you were taking a shot at all.
ReplyDeleteDucey,
I would sell to him like this (and not necessarily in this order):
-payday
-stardom, more focus in a Canadian city
-play with 2 first overalls, Eberle, Hemsky and Penner with a pipeline jam-filled with talent
-perfect team for a young guy looking for a long term deal because the Oil are going to be good far into the future with its young talent
-partner will be Whitney, all round great guy and great set up man
-culture that has road trips with Dads and breaks in the desert golfing
-will rid ourselves of Khabby somehow
I think he'd think about it. The team can put pressure on too if the Oilers have the best assets in return.
Also, there was the assumption that Nashville doesn't want to give him the big payday due to their finances. Which is reasonable to speculate about, I think, especially as he remains unsigned. If not, go after Burns with the same sales pitch.
ReplyDeleteI would say it is very likely that Poile is at least checking out his options.
ReplyDeleteMy present speculation about the Oil this summer:
ReplyDeleteI think the Oilers were leaning towards SC this draft, but with the recent drop in the rankings, they needed to see if Hall can be that guy so they can take Larsson and avoid some bad optics too.
I think the original plan was to take SC and run with Horc, Gags, SC, and Cogs up the middle.
Lander to OKC till he can prove his footspeed is good enough. Pitlick back to Juniors for a second year so he can dominate. Davidson back to Jr.s too. Martindale and Marincin and Hamilton and Rajala to OKC.
If they take Larsson though, they likely need a Hamilton or Lander to make the team, and they are still gonna be the suck at centre.