Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle
You kind of answered your own question. Oilers, while likely have dug themselves a hole they can't get out of, at the very least need to be competitive for a playoff spot this year. They absolutely will not with their goaltending situation. So they acquired someone who COULD give them the chance to do that.
I agree with everything else you said, having to give up Smid, terrible asset management IMO. But in isolation, spending what they spenton Bryz, given it's a short contract has the potential to pay off big. It likely won't, but the upside to Bryz his definetely high reward, even though I agree he likely won't pay off. But that's the definition of low risk / high reward.
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Right. But thats also sort of my point. They traded a decent player for optics.
Its like Kevin Lowe press conferences all over again:
"See!! See!! We're TRYING!!!"
Optics dont get you into the playoffs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Resolute 14
There has been a lot of commentary in Oilers circles around the fact that Smid had dropped to 5th defenceman status in Edmonton. If he was viewed as being only fifth on that defence, then there are several arguments to be made, any or all of which may apply to varying degrees: 1. Eakins is an idiot who can't manage his players well. 2. Fans over/underrate defencemen horribly (he's not their guy anymore, so he sucks. He is our guy now, so he's going to be great), 3. Smid really did fall off.
If point three is viewed as the most accurate - particularly given they expect Nurse will be more than the next Plante starting next year and push him down further -then the trade makes sense from the Oilers long-term perspective. Problem is, it definitely made Edmonton worse in the short term, and if point 1 is the most accurate, worse in the long term as well.
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I have a hard time believing that. Smid is no Pronger or anything, but hes a serviceable Top 4 defenceman.
Andrew Ference
Nick Schultz
Justin Schultz
Jeff Petry
Philip Larsen
Anton Belov
Taylor Fedun
Smid is paid more than all of them, the same as Nick Schultz, shudder at that concept. I cant pick 4 guys on that list I'd take over Smid. I might be able to pick one. And then I remember that Andy Ference is 34 and I'm back to zero.