"The Edmonton Oilers are a useless franchise"

[Insta]

RNH got injured by falling awkwardly into the boards...it had nothing to do with being hit or too small or whatever.

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by Flamenfame

I think both the Flames and Oilers make the playoffs this year both teams have improvements going into this season.

I see both teams placing 10th-15th.

In the conference.

[dino7c]

burning a year of his rookie contract to finish 29th was a stupid move...not saying he is ruined

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by dino7c

burning a year of his rookie contract to finish 29th was a stupid move...not saying he is ruined

Experience?

It really would've been stupid to send him down after his 9 game stint where he had 9pts. He was also top 5 in scoring after 30 or so games I believe, but the point totals were declining leading up to his injury. Overall, it was a productive season for him, so I'm not sure how it was a stupid move for RNH.

[Flamenfame]

Originally Posted by Ezio

I see both teams placing 10th-15th.

I don't Flames addressed their offense and pp Oilers are a team on the rise its going to happen sooner than later. only other team in west who made big improvements is the wild. Teams like Nucks Detroit Coyote's are going to downtrend. It is also a short season standings will not look like the end of last season after 48 games.

[Insta]

Nugent Hopkins had 9 points in his 9 game tryout and had a hat trick...there's no way any team sends their player back to junior after that. Thinking otherwise is head in the clouds fantasy stuff.

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by Insta

Nugent Hopkins had 9 points in his 9 game tryout and had a hat trick...there's no way any team sends their player back to junior after that. Thinking otherwise is head in the clouds fantasy stuff.

Also the Oilers were one of the hottest teams during those 9 games. It would be an absolute blunder to send down your top point producer.

[Azure]

I remember a player that had 3 goals in 4 games on a team starved for offense and still in the hunt. He got sent back to the WHL.

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by Azure

I remember a player that had 3 goals in 4 games on a team starved for offense and still in the hunt. He got sent back to the WHL.

Bartschi? He had a very unsustainable 30% shooting percentage and 4 games is a pretty small sample size. I don't think the two situations are comparable.

Nevertheless, I think Bartschi can be a 1st line winger soon. By far the scariest offensive talent I've seen play the Oil Kings last season in the WHL Finals.

[Insta]

Originally Posted by Azure

I remember a player that had 3 goals in 4 games on a team starved for offense and still in the hunt. He got sent back to the WHL.

Ya he was only eligible for an emergency call-up.

[Flamenfame]

Originally Posted by Azure

I remember a player that had 3 goals in 4 games on a team starved for offense and still in the hunt. He got sent back to the WHL.

Yea and we missed the playoffs so I don't get your point.

[Red Slinger]

Originally Posted by Ezio

Bartschi? He had a very unsustainable 30% shooting percentage and 4 games is a pretty small sample size. I don't think the two situations are comparable.

Nevertheless, I think Bartschi can be a 1st line winger soon.

Well, if 4 games is a very small sample size than 9 games is a small sample size.

There's no denying that RNH is a skilled player that will probably be very productive in the NHL. I don't think too many are suggesting otherwise. I think some are suggesting that although his skill level was ready for the NHL that his physical stature may not have been.

Sure, he and the Oilers were playing well for the first 9 games. But did they really believe that 9 games was enough of a sample size to convince them that the team that finished 30th the previous two seasons improved enough to burn a year of his contract AND put a relatively immature frame up against the monstars in the NHL?

I suppose hindsight is 20/20 but there was very little for the Oilers to gain by playing him last year and there was a lot to lose.

In any case, the author of the article may be off in some of the details but he is right in his premise: The Edmonton Oilers ARE a useless franchise.

[Stampede2TheCup]

OMG I'm dying with laughter here. I finally decided to click through one of the links in that article and I wasn't disappointed. HALL CURRENTLY HAS A CUT ON HIS FOREHEAD FROM "BONKING HEADS" WITH EBERLE AT HOME.

“To be honest, me and Jordan actually bonked heads. If you look at his, he has the same cut on his head. I’m surprised no one asked me about it,” Hall replied, laughing and adding: “I’m actually kind of glad there’s only two reporters here.”

Eberle had spoken to reporters immediately before; any cut wasn’t noticeable, and he wasn’t asked about it. Only Hall will require stitches, a team spokesman said.

Taylor Hall picks up first injury of the season

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by Flamenfame

I don't Flames addressed their offense and pp Oilers are a team on the rise its going to happen sooner than later. only other team in west who made big improvements is the wild. Teams like Nucks Detroit Coyote's are going to downtrend. It is also a short season standings will not look like the end of last season after 48 games.

I don't see why the Canucks and Coyotes will downtrend. I think Minnesota could win the division since Vancouver has a very injury prone roster, but even then, they still added Garrison who was pretty good with Florida. Coyotes did lose Whitney, but their younger players like Ekman-Larsson (superstar) should continue to progress and Tippet got back his former #1 center in Lombardi. Detroit still has Datsyuk and Zetterberg and they're calling up a bunch of their top prospects, who have been playing well for years on their AHL team. Gustav Nyqvist is a name to look for, Realistically, I see the Sharks and Predators falling back and opening up two playoff spots for Minnesota and Colorado.

[Flamenfame]

Originally Posted by Ezio

I don't see why the Canucks and Coyotes will downtrend. I think Minnesota could win the division since Vancouver has a very injury prone roster, but even then, they still added Garrison who was pretty good with Florida. Coyotes did lose Whitney, but their younger players like Ekman-Larsson (superstar) should continue to progress and Tippet got back his former #1 center in Lombardi. Detroit still has Datsyuk and Zetterberg and they're calling up a bunch of their top prospects, who have been playing well for years on their AHL team. Gustav Nyqvist is a name to look for, Realistically, I see the Sharks and Predators falling back and opening up two playoff spots for Minnesota and Colorado.

Canucks are heading into season pretty much without a 2nd line Sedins are slowly starting to downtrend from their offensive peaks off 10/11 Whitney was the stick that stirred the offence in PHX . Don't care what prospects Detroit brings in You don't replace Lidstrom with prospects his loss will show. Datsyuk is not getting younger .

[TSXCman]

hmmm I enjoy a good ragging on the oilers, but it should be a little better thought out.

that was garbage

[Stampede2TheCup]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

hmmm I enjoy a good ragging on the oilers, but it should be a little better thought out.

that was garbage

C'mon, there's room for all kinds of ragging. Consider this bonus material in addition to the more well-thought out stuff.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

I hate to say this, but I think this will be a breakout year for the Oilers. Most of them have been together in Oklahoma City, Nugent-Hopkins and Yakupov were very impressive in the World Juniors, and the team is improving on the blueline. My prediction is the Oilers will go 26-17-5 this season, good for 7th place.

Most of them? Wasn't there 4 may e 5 if Hartikanen makes the team, playing there?

And has it been proven that playing in lesser leagues makes that much of a difference?

NJ seemed like an older team with few guys playing when they win in the last short season.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by moon

Most of them? Wasn't there 4 may e 5 if Hartikanen makes the team, playing there?

Hall
Schultz
Eberle
RNH
Pajaarvi
Hartikainen
Teubert (bubble/replacement)
Lander (bubble/replacement)

Not their whole team, but a pretty good chunk of their top-6, and a guy who will likely be a big minute defender.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by blah blah

OMG I'm dying with laughter here. I finally decided to click through one of the links in that article and I wasn't disappointed. HALL CURRENTLY HAS A CUT ON HIS FOREHEAD FROM "BONKING HEADS" WITH EBERLE AT HOME.



Taylor Hall picks up first injury of the season

The guy even walks with his head down.

Between Hall and Yakupov, I wonder which graduate of the David Branch School of Paying No Attention To Your Surroundings will get clobbered first. Eberle and Nugent-Hopkins have good spacial awareness. Those two do not. The Oilers' chances of taking a quantum leap up to 25th overall will depend on whether one or both of those two gets injured because they were skating with their heads down.