When I arrived at hf boards in about May of 2000, Kim Gernack was the lone Oiler poster. He was a great fellow (may he rest in peace) and I learned "online behaviour" from him: agree to disagree and don't make it personal. I've tried to live by that as both a mod at HF and the host of the Lowetide blog, but have of coursed failed many times.
The idea is to have a community of Oiler fans who can state their opinions, respect the opinions of others and move the conservation forward like a giant think tank.
I think it's worked very well. My knowledge of hockey, advanced stats and law (how many lawyers are there in Canada?) has improved and maybe you've taught me something and learned along the way too.
Here's the deal: the blog is fairly popular (it's not THAT popular but we're a decent bunch, at least a WAL-MART parking lot at 11pm on Thursday night in St. Albert) and I don't have time to mod the thing and delete comments and make sure people are minding their P's and Q's.
Also, it isn't fair to the posters and readers that I get pissy one afternoon and shut down the blog either.
So I need a helping hand. First, can we agree that personal comments and putdowns are counter-productive? If you find the comments here interesting enough to respond to, please respect the people who are going to read it enough to take out the barbs and keep it between the lines. If not, please refrain from posting here.
Second, I need help moderating this blog. It's a volunteer position, but I will buy you lunch once a month (providing you order from the children's menu) unless you live outside the Edmonton area and if that's the case we'll work something out. If you're interested, please email me at nationradio@team1260.com and I'll send you passwords and the combination for the beer fridge.
I thought the blog had turned into a private party and I wasn't invited.
ReplyDelete=(
I believe Colin McDonald won the goal scoring championship in the AHL.
ReplyDeleteGeez for the 30 mins or so that this place was down, I didnt really know where to go.
ReplyDeleteOilersnation isnt my kinda thing, and HF is way in my past.
Can you post your email again LT? It was lost in the standoff.
I thought the blog had turned into a private party and I wasn't invited.
ReplyDeleteI don't care to belong to any club that would have me as a member.
got it
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@kinger...i agree! that's why i haven't been around for a while! :(
ReplyDeleteDitto to what Danny and WG said
ReplyDeleteI was apparently unaware there was a problem - probably stems from the fact I am illiterate and was likely part of the problem.
ReplyDeleteIf I was, sorry.
I volunteer Steve Smith as moderator. Browlee thinks he's a first class twat. Thats good enough for me.
LT
ReplyDeleteFor your radio gig would some of the teams that have strong draft histories be willing to be interviewed? Love to know what some of them think of this years draft class overall. Some of the prospects at top of the draft. Can say the added perspective from people like Kirk Luedecke has been interesting to hear.
Scouting directors from teams like Detroit, NJD, Nashville, even LA would be interesting to hear. And all things being equal, what hole would they fill first Centre or D?
Ducey: Wasn't your fault, doesn't matter whose fault it was. Honestly, the comments wasn't anything that hasn't been on here a hundred times. I just reacted to it differently today, and my solution is to get some help (cue the comedians). :-)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it's all good.
TOJ: Yeah, I've got some things planned for draft stuff and former scouting people would be good. I'll check it out.
Ducey: Did Brownlee actually say that? If so, my respect for that recovering Students Union addict has quintupled. :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, Steve would do a good job. (If he wants it!)
I was lost and confused.
ReplyDeleteThen that site with the Pint asked me if I ghost rided the whip.
Confusion ensued
I volunteer Steve Smith as moderator. Browlee thinks he's a first class twat. Thats good enough for me.
ReplyDelete2nd'd
I volunteer Steve Smith as moderator. Browlee thinks he's a first class twat. Thats good enough for me.
ReplyDelete2nd'd
2nd'd the mod part, not the twat part.
Probably.
Ducey: Did Brownlee actually say that? If so, my respect for that recovering Students Union addict has quintupled. :)
ReplyDeleteHe didn't; that was me paraphrasing him.
And I must ask: do I know you?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI really don't know what happened earlier.
ReplyDeleteI think it's funny to needle people and I don't think I'm attacking in doing so.
as for red twilight, he wasn't the same towards me as he was to you, I can tell you that.
I once went nuts at him because he said I was "special, in an olympian way."
I didn't mind that he used that on me per se, I was just disgusted that he used it in general.
I've never see anything here like that.
I think the only way we have total peace here is if the Oilers win. in the meantime it's the arguments that make any discussion.
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ReplyDeleteDucey - I was asking James L., whose comments suggested to me that I might know him in another context.
ReplyDeleteBut please do mention it if we ever meet on a file (not that that's likely in the near future unless you're a Crown prosecutor).
Dennis: Let me tell you a story. I used to own a dog (don't worry, we're both dogs in this story) and he used to bury bones all over the yard. My Mom hated it but my Dad liked the dog (his name was Shep) so it continued.
ReplyDeleteNow, the dog was pretty laid back and he had a buddy from next door who would romp over all the time and they'd go chasing cats and God knows what.
Anyway, one day my dog buried a bone over in the part of the yard where the other dog would walk by on the way to our house.
Well, damned if my dog didn't jump up, show his teeth and start chasing the neighbor dog all the way down the road.
I couldn't figure it out, ran all the way down to Dewdney trunk road chasing after my dog because I was worried he'd so something.
That night, I told my Dad and he asked "did Shep bury a bone?"
Damndest thing.
==
I owe you a beer.
And I must ask: do I know you?
ReplyDeleteOh, I think we met once, maybe, briefly. But since we both went to the U of A around the same period of time, I certainly knew of you. One just had to check the Students Union UBB once every other month to get a good glimpse of the kind of carnage you like(d) to dish out.
Keep on rockin' in the free world, sir.
LT:
ReplyDeleteFirst off, thanks so much for this blog and the work you do. This blog (and others in the blogosphere)is the best thing about being an Oilers fan.
I wonder if perhaps some of your issues could be solved by changing the home of this blog. Quite frankly blogger sucks. I know you have had all kinds of problems with it in the past. If you moved to either another platform or even your own website, you could moderate, temp ban, perma ban etc or delegate those tasks to other moderators. I am sure that there are all kinds of techno savy folks out there that would be happy to lend their expertise in order to pay back all of the incredible stuff you have put out over the years for no personal gain.
Well I missed something. Damn need to watch these blogs closer. When I miss a game I always come here to get feel of how the game went. alas that did not happen today.
ReplyDeleteI cannot be accused of making personal attacks on anyone. As for bullying and name calling I get enough that playing Black ops man do I suck.
See u next season ... as for Steve Smith he seems fairly level headed. Have great off season will be checking in on the draft stuff... when do we know for sure what pick we get?
Interesting night on here and a nice little story, LT. Damned if I know what you were talking about, but we can blame that on those nasty post concussion symptoms.) It was nice to see Chicago squeeze in to the big show and that should be a lot more entertaining series with the Nucks than Dallas would be.
ReplyDeleteMatt N: Well, I'm looking into it but honestly a big part of the blog is the comments. If I took all of the posts without the comments that wouldn't be worthwhile, and we have several seasons of hell documented here.
ReplyDeleteSo, I don't know. Is there anything out there the can scrape all of this (including the comments and all content) and put it on a website?
Poor Trotz, gets a tough 1st round draw again in the Ducks.
ReplyDeleteThe hockey gods really have it out for him.
New Jersey and Columbus finished tied for 22nd. I think NJ wins the tiebreaker so if I am right columbus drafts seventh and NJ eighth..
ReplyDeleteIf the oilers plan to suck anyway, I would trade Hemsky for Columbus'
seventh overall pick.
The top 8 seems to be agreed upon. Larsson, RNH, Landeskog, Couturier, Hamilton, Huberdeau, Strome and Murphy. Can we agree on that? That would free up the Oilers to draft Larsson and get one of those 5 forwards, probably Strome or Huberdeau although possibly Couturier.
Keep the 19th pick to draft McNeil and you may be set to start signing free agents this summer as center and D could both be set.
Matheson had suggested a week ago if Columbus trades that pick the OIlers may have to take Huselius back. Not a big fan but he can score points and may even get more than Hemsky next season given Hemsky's injury history.
Thoughts?
I am sure that this has been talked about here ad infinitum, but these rumours about trading Hemsky for a pick are just nuts. If Tambellini does one thing right this summer then it should be letting 83 know he is an important part of the team and getting him extended. Trading the LA pick along with a lower one and maybe a prospect to the Islanders or Columbus would be fine, but leave Hemsky alone.
ReplyDeleteBryan: You could insert the name Penner in your paragraph and be as right as you are in the one you wrote.
ReplyDeleteWhat does that tell us?
Bryan
ReplyDeleteI would be ok with extending Hemsky too, although injuries are a concern, and it seems like mgmt doesn't care what I think and it sounds also according to Tencer that Hemsky wants to try free agency.
To get a top 7 pick though, it may make sense to get more players in the same age for the longer term.
Mackenzie has Zack Phillips as #32 on his mid season rankings. Wouldn't that be hilarious for the Oilers to get both Larsson, Huberdeau and Zack Phillips?
Add that to the young players already on this roster and we have a really bright future .
oh yeah
ReplyDeleteand don't forget McNeil...
Oilersfan: I'd highly doubt that 6''0 with 95 points kid goes after 15.
ReplyDeleteLT: Well Penner ain't that great in LA either.
I don't think he ever proved he could be more than a Marginal 1st liner/2nd liner with off nights.
FPB: Really? I think Penner is getting barbequed without context on the web and apparently in LA.
ReplyDeleteThat team is an absolute mess offensively, they've lost their best player and he's new to the team. He looked very good early and has fallen off after Kopitar's injury like everyone else.
The Kopitar injury is the story of their season. Penner is a good player in a tough situation. He'll rebound and play well next season.
FPB
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should get a job at the major scouting services that have him ranked at 32?
I think LA reminds me of old Oiler teams. Lots of size and heart, not much playmaking skill.
Current Oilers have lots of playmaking skill but not much size
LT I was hoping that some common sense might show up at some point, but you are probably right that we should be very afraid.
ReplyDeleteoilersfan
It's fine to stock pile all of this young talent, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing! They won't all turn out the way we hope and it is highly unlikely that there will be another sublime talent in there like Hemsky. He is also at a stage in his career where he can provide some leadership along with Horcoff and they desperately need some of that. The other problem is that there will be a whole group of players rolling through together and it will quickly become unmanageable financially.
@ WG
ReplyDeleteother than Phx/Lak ANA is the best they could get. furthermore with their goaltending issues and thin blue, it might just be the match up they want.
Lets not forget they actually got the blackhawks to 6 games last year with essentially the same team. So I think thats a good match up.
Detroit got it easy and so did Sharks!
Oilersfan:
ReplyDeleteProbably. I'd probably produce less busts.
Sum,
ReplyDeleteWith no Zetterberg DET isn't as tough as ANA right now.
ANA may have only a +4 GD for the year, but they were +15 in the last 20 games.
So I think DET, PHX, and LAK would be easier match ups than ANA and there was a chance that NSH could have seen those other 3.
Jmo
LT
ReplyDeleteI don't envy your position or your decision.
I would miss Dennis if he didn't post here any more. But I get sick and tired of the re-hash too these days. How many times do people have to hammer the same point without becoming tiresome? The Oil is what it is.
I don't know what to say about RQ, I have never been fan of his methods. But I lack patience with stupidity maany days too so what can I say?
As far as Steve's moderating goes... It isn't really fair to volunteer him. I hope he doesn't feel obligated. I would much rather he made it thru his schooling than baby-sitting our sorry asses.
And the role of Switzerland isn't always the most fun..
Bryan,
ReplyDeleteI posit that if Lowe/Tambellini were the GM duo for the Ducks they would have dumped Teemu a while ago because "he didn't fit into the age group of their core players"
Steve can be my lawyer.
ReplyDeleteThere, THAT should scare him straight. :-)
Jesus. Wish I'd seen this thread. I'm sure I could have helped.
ReplyDeleteWG
ReplyDeleteVery likely. I think that the model that has shown the most sustain is Detroit and they keep this going with a nice mix of veterans and young players. Of course it doesn't hurt to hit some home runs with late round picks now and then either.
Lowetide:
ReplyDeleteOn web scraping, there is that open source software named HTTrack. There is a windows Version. It's kinda obscure, but if you have some motivated help, it can do wonders.
Can certainly scrape this whole site.
LT,
ReplyDeleteThanks for you regular posting. I have read nearly every post over the past four years and have learned a lot about stats, drafting, and what is reasonable to expect out of young players coming into the league. I don't know what happened earlier, but I really hope it gets straightened out. In my opinion, your writing along with a number of other blogs in the oilerblogosphere is more balanced and well informed than most stuff in print these days.
I wonder when the oilers are going to have too much top end talent waiting for a roster position. If you look at the current group not even in the pros (Pitlick, Hamilton, Blain, Martindale, Marcinin, Davidson, plus a few that might still have the lights come on), add 3-4 more top end prospects from this draft, plus a the 6-8 rookies or quality prospects in the AHL (maybe as many as 10), plus the likelihood of another sub-par season and another batch of top end prospects in 2012, at some point do you start to run the risk of having to trade prospects or lose them before they even get a chance to play in Edmonton simply because you don't have room or enough minutes to go around
Jeremy: Well thay may eventually have to deal off players for picks or to address need elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteSather offloaded a bunch of nice forwards in the mid-90's and usually got something good in return (Satan deal aside).
That'll be the key, getting enough in return.
So what's the next order of business? The Hemsky Death Watch? Eberle at the Worlds? The March to the Calder Cup? Losing my playoff pool to a Canucks fan? Mudcrutch as Ambassador Sarek?
ReplyDeleteThe land lady story was true..
ReplyDeleteI can't complain, though. 2 deleted posts in five years isn't bad considering there are about 200 deserving of moderation.
*prolicki* haha me love you longtime.
mc79hockey said...
ReplyDeleteJesus. Wish I'd seen this thread. I'm sure I could have helped.
Tyler...lawyers never help.
Well, okay, they're pretty good with real estate conveyancing :)
It must've gotten ugly after I left. I find that around my house it means someone needs to be fed. ;-)
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I am always overwhelmed when I think about the work you do on here, and cannot blame you a bit for wanting to pull back a little. Wish I could help, but I can't.
I still think the whole ball of wax is for BOS and VAN to lose (hoping for boston, as I have explained to my boys that we will never be allowed to cheer for Van in this household).
gorangl - messy angle
Bryan
ReplyDeletere Hemsky
I know what you are saying about not wanting to trade him. I definitely have been in that camp as for most of my life I have seen the Oilers screw up many many draft picks. That being said, if Columbus is number 7, (can anyone confirm they lose the tiebreaker with NJ as they won 4 games less) and Columbus will trade that for Hemsky, and Hemsky won't commit verbally by draft day to re-sign, then I think the risk reward to trading him is better than keeping him.
As mentioned before, it seems like in this draft there is no clear cut number one, but there seems to be a top 3 and then a top 8 (5 more). The top three seems to be Larsson, RNH and Landeskog. The top eight is those three plus Couturier, Strome, Hamilton, Huberdeau and Murphy. If the Oilers want a top pairing dman and first line center, there is a good chance that Larsson and Hamilton will both be studs on D, and all 4 centers will be 80 point+ players in the NHL when their bodies mature. Although Strome and Huberdeau are skinny I think both are 6'1 so should grow to be 190-200 so won't be shrimps, I have heard Huberdeau is similar to Damphousse in many ways, plays both wing and center. Strome, not sure who the comparison is. Sounds a lot like Doug Weight to me.
Anyways if the Oilers trade Hemsky for Columbus' number 1 that gives them the chance to go Larsson then Strome/Huberdeau/Couturier. Or pick RNH with number one and hope Hamilton is still there. I am betting Hamilton won't be there at number 7 so if the four centers are so close together I draft Larsson, then take whichever of those 4 centers is left at number 7, assuming Hamilton and Landeskog are already gone leaving one of those 4 centers available.
Then at number 19 I take McNeil and with him and Huberdeau you should have a legit 1-2 center punch for 15 years if you treat them well and the team looks to be competitive. Gagner goes to right wing on the second line with McNeil and either Pitlick or Hamilton, and we have the best third line in the NHL with the Swedes Lander/MP and Omark with the obvious first line of Hall/Hubedeau(or Stome or Couturier whoever is at 7)/Eberle. Fourth line can be battled out with VDV, Hartikainen, Cogliano and Hamilton. Lots of arrows pointing up in those 14-15 names, and a fair amount of size in skill positions as well.
Defence is set too with Larsson/Whitney
Gilbert/Smid
Petry/Peckham
not even counting Marincin, Teubert and Plante all three of which should be legit NHLers , possibly Marincin taking Whitney's job if his health doesn't hold up and Teubert challenging for the second pairing shutdown role if Smid doesn't progress or has health issues. Plante and Peckham take turns for #6-7 tough guy.
Either way this could be the last year of intentional suck in that scenario, the Oilers could sign a couple of one or two year UFA deals to let those kids play in junior or the SEL and the AHL for another year.
I think moderation of some kind could be a good idea.
ReplyDeleteRE: Penner. I think it's been said a few times, but it's really difficult for forwards to pick up new systems in a short period of time (unless it's the Pavel Bure role, where neither the player nor the team give a flying eff). So I think that's all you really see with Penner at the moment and I haven't bothered to dig into the numbers yet. I never really liked the player and disliked how he was acquired, but he's a very good top line NHL forward. There's no question.
(Aside, if there's one thing I despise about Oiler fans, it's how quick they are to diminish and dismiss players that have left the club. Is it like this with other orgs? I can't imagine. I guess it's the 20 yrs of brainwashing that did it, but people should realize there's usually nothing wrong with an outgoing Oiler at all. In the 90's they couldn't pay the freight, now they can't find their backsides with both hands and an RCMP detachment. Sometimes, its just a hockey deal. That's all.)
RE: The last thread. That was a blast. Absolutely hilarious. Especially all the people on there that had no idea what was going on. Seasons in the sun? Really? That was funny. For me anyway.
DSF said...
ReplyDeleteTyler...lawyers never help.
Well, okay, they're pretty good with real estate conveyancing :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u9JAt6gFqM
You had me worried there for a second LT. The comments are the livelihood of the blog and although I don't post much, I love to read what other people have to say. An early offseason without this blog would leave me with free time that I don't care to fill another way.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a lot to say about the Oilers at this time... but I suppose I was wondering if anyone knows if the Barons playoff games are going to be broadcast anywhere, on TV or online. I know I can listen to them, but I would love to see them live if at all possible.
this place has changed dramatically in the last few years. some of the really good commenters have left to write their own blogs and LT's popularity has seen more "strays" come over with an HF background.
ReplyDeletethere used to be a lot more advanced stats talk and a lot less saw him good/bad talk.
it has made the comments less vital for me...the most important part is that LT seems to be writing a new article ever 4 hours lately!
Just downloading the website now using HTTrack. I've used it before and it works great. 1 GB and counting right now.
ReplyDeleteGoals is what this game is about. Getting or stopping them.
ReplyDeleteRNH: You do not use the #1 pick on a player who provides that skill at a rate 120 other players can produce.
You pick a player who has the potential to produce at a rate only 10 players are capable of: Ritchie
You pick a player who has the potential to produce at a rate only 30 players are capable of:possibly Hubredeau, Puempel, Landeskog,
Or you take a D who prevents goals 30 minutes a night at an elite level for the next 15 Years.
I've posted a few times that I don't think Hemsky is getting traded, both because the Oilers value him very highly (LT - rightly or wrongly I think it is abundantly clear that the Oilers think much more highly of Hemsky than they do of Penner so I don't think you can assume that dumping Penner necessarily means that Hemsky is on the way out) and want a significant return and because his injury history and contract status should make teams less inclined to give up significant assets for him.
ReplyDeleteThinking a bit more about it, I think that the only kind of team that might look at Hemsky in the off season is one that fully appreciates how good he is when healthy, and is desperate enough for success next year that they gamble on giving the Oilers what they want for him.
If that is the case then I think only Columbus fits the bill. Howson has to get them into the playoffs to save his job and there have been reports that both the pick and 'disappointments' like Voracek and Brassard could be moved to get better now.
The only way I see Hemsky moving in the offseason would be for something like him and LA's pick for Voracek and Columbus' pick. Hemsky is clear upgrade over Voracek at RW if healthy and they should still be able to get a decent prospect with LA's pick. Edmonton gets RW who is younger, bigger, healthier and contractually controlable for a few more years. He may never become as good as Hemsky is when healthy, but he is also just 21 and could still get a lot better. The Oilers would also be pretty much guaranteed to get a top center and a D prospect in this draft.
LT thanks for coming back. THis is one of my top 5 favorite website on the entire Al Gore.
ReplyDeleteThanks for everything.
there is a good chance that Larsson and Hamilton will both be studs on D, and all 4 centers will be 80 point+ players in the NHL when their bodies mature.
ReplyDeleteWell, considering that there were exactly 3 centres who scored 80 points in the NHL this year, that would truly be something. Greatest draft of all time!
Good day.
ReplyDeleteLowetide: I owe you a beer.
heh... nailed it.
mc79hockey: I'm sure I could have helped.
I believe you would have, Tyler.
Oh and, Lain...
;-D
What RiversQ says.
Bang on again, Riv.
thanks and cheers
L8r
Louise
As much as I enjoy Steve Smith's posts, I don't think it's necessarily a good idea to have a super active poster as the mod.
ReplyDeleteMods are better when they're not involved in the majority of the discussions.
I think LT missed out because I clearly should be the moderator;)
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't think this place needs a moderator. Lain got mad at me yesterday because I was pushing on old bruises but it was all in good fun and at the end of all our battles he realizes that:)
As for 83, I wouldn't be shocked if the Oilers package him Plus LA's first in an effort to move up. I could see Col or Ott jumping at that and also Atlanta depending on their budget.
So I spend my Sunday napping and getting shot in the back at Black Ops while LT's blog burns to the ground?
ReplyDeleteI try to think; "What would LT do?" whenever I am about to lose it on some poor fool...it doesn't always work, but it's a goal I strive for.
WWLTD & ISWT
I missed the fun as well as I was busy priming the basement. I swear this is the third time now that I've taken a day or two break from reading and LT has had to turn the fire hose on everyone. It's very
ReplyDeleteodd. Maybe we need double word verification to keep out the riff-raff.
LT:
ReplyDeleteAlthough there are many (many!) different platforms, I'm a big advocate of WordPress and have used it for many different situations. The WP experience can be as basic or advanced as you need it to be. The world of plugins can add great functionality with little expertise required. Specifically, there are a handful of chat extensions that may be of great use for you. A live game chat might work well here.
WP out of the box does a pretty good job importing posts, comments, and users (http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/blogger-importer/).
That being said, you don't necessarily have to import everything over. You might consider leaving the existing blog as an archive and moving forward with whatever new platform.
Just a couple of thoughts from a loooooong time lurker. Whatever direction this takes, thanks for all the time and effort you've put in over the years. This is still one of the daily must-stop corners of the intertubes.
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