Is Edmonton intentionally tanking?

[Coach]

Originally Posted by moon

I like Monahan and wouldn't trade him for much but Hall was a top 10 scorer last year, over a PPG this year and the BS about him being awful defensively or stupid mainly come from him being a Oiler.

He was invited to the Team Canada Olympic roster camp and is only 3 years older than Monahan.

Monahan may be a two way stud player and not sure how you can say that Hall doesn't make guys around him better but Monahan does.

You may prefer to keep Monahan and that is fine but it is nowhere close to crazy to take Hall over Monahan unless looking at it with huge homer glasses.

I don't think Hall will ever make players around him better. I do think Monahan will. I just think Monahan will end up being a better, more important player. Hall is going to join the Flames anyways when he's tired of being a loser Oiler and want's to play on Monahan's wing. He will be a good piece for our championship team.

It's crazy to me in the sense that this team really needs some home grown players, and Monahan is the perfect model for it. You need to keep him. Honestly wouldn't trade him for most star centers in the league outside of Jonathan Toews. Because I think when he's 25, he will be Jonathan Toews.

[OzSome]

For a team with so many good forwards, the Oilers shouldn't be at the bottom so yeah they are TANKING this season. It is ashame that management in Oiler land doesn't give a crap if they are the laughing stock in the league and they are just happy to have one of the top pick. I definitely think they would like to pick defenseman Ekblad.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Originally Posted by CedarMeter

Hire Joey Moss as GM he couldn't do much worse.

Don't go there.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by herashak

Wow people wouldn't trade monahan for hall? That's insane to say no to that.

I wouldn't Calgary has been looking for a big skilled center forever its been a massive hole in the Flames lineup since the 90's.

So no I wouldn't trade Monahan for Hall.

I don't like his game without the puck. I don't like the fact that it looks like he's on the verge of quitting on his team mates. I don't like his multiple blunders per game.

I like his offensive game except he doesn't really look to his team mates, but as a first rush guy he's great. I don't like his passing game. I like his physical skill set, I don't like his mental one.

He's got great scoring stats because he's basically concentrating on his offensive game. If a coach made him back check he wouldn't have the offensive numbers that he has now.

So no I would absolutely positively not trade Monahan for Hall, I would never trade a number one center for a top line winger.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Pliddy

I know that this could also go in the Edmonton is no good thread, but I really think this needs to be discussed in addition to the fact that the Oilers blow goats.

While I am extemely proud of the way this team has approached the rebuild, and I loved the effort tonight, plus anytime Monahan scores I am happy, but the fact of the matter is these points are not helping us, as we now are 5 points up on 2nd overall. As I see this lunchbox crew, win tonight based on hard work and being too proud to see the home winless streak get any longer. I can't help but think "Why can't Edmonton do this?". The fact of the matter is, as much as I like to crap on Edmonton, thier roster is filled with real NHL players, guys who have been elite in almost all levels of hockey, several who were highly sought off draft picks and at least 6 or 7 that would have 25+ teams interested if they were shopped around. The point is you cannot reach thier levels unless you have a very high level of compete and personal pride attatched to you. That's what got them there ,yet upon arrival it seems to dissapear so universally that the only explanation is that the organization must have thrown in the towel and has given these former elite players reasons to lose, and my gut feeling says that this happened sometime in early December . What are your thoughts

I think Lowe isn't smart enough to make an intentional tank work, I think suggesting he does anything intentionally and have it pan out as he wants is a huge stretch

[Plett25]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Most, if not all, non Calgary fans would take Hall over Monahan

I'm not so sure about that... C's are more valuable than LWers

I think it comes down to whether you think Hall can un-learn all the bad habits he's picked up with the Oilers. If Trotz thinks Dubnyk has bad habits, I'd love to hear what he says about Hall.

I'd trade Sven + our 2014 2nd for Hall or maybe Brodie for Hall, but I wouldn't trade a 19 year old NHL caliber 2 way C

[Plett25]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I wouldn't Calgary has been looking for a big skilled center forever its been a massive hole in the Flames lineup since the 90's.

So no I wouldn't trade Monahan for Hall.

So no I would absolutely positively not trade Monahan for Hall, I would never trade a number one center for a top line winger.

What he said

[nik-]

Hall is worth more than Monahan in a bubble, but this fanbase has just watched what happens when you try to build around a winger and I don't think any of us wants to go down that road again.

[Yoho]

Buffalo wins, Edmonton now 1 point from last overall in the league!!!!

[CaptainCrunch]

As has been mentioned before, I have no doubt that Bettman forces a serious look at the drafting process after this year. Especially if Edmonton doesn't make a major move to get better then hypes their number one pick to their fans.

That organization is making a mockery out the league and the draft. There really should be either a relegation clause or the NHL is allowed to seize management that continues to suck and rip off fans year after year.

If I was an Oiler fan I would be out of my mind furious if I was paying to watch that team play. Just like if the Flames aren't showing some pretty big steps forward in three years I'm going to start taking a serious look at what they doing.

[trublmaker]

Don't think they are intentionally tanking, just think they are really that bad at playing an organized sport.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

If I was an Oiler fan I would be out of my mind furious if I was paying to watch that team play.

They are already planning the draft party and squealing with glee at the thought of getting their next savior. Of course 2015 is the McDavid year so they might as well tank that one to.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by trublmaker

Don't think they are intentionally tanking, just think they are really that bad at playing an organized sport.

They may be that bad but with the GM talking about who they are wanting to draft in the top 3 and not about winning you have to wonder where their priorities are.

I think they are focusing more on getting a high pick in the draft.

[Buck Murdock]

If you're Ekblad, do you refuse to go to Edmonton?

[bucksmasher]

Originally Posted by Buck Murdock

If you're Ekblad, do you refuse to go to Edmonton?

He'll pull an honorable Tom Erixon

[Sylvanfan]

Offer them Gaudreau and Baertschi and they will trade the Eckblad pick. They can't control themselves when there is a chance to acquire an undersized winger.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by herashak

Wow people wouldn't trade monahan for hall? That's insane to say no to that.

I don't know about that. Building around a stud winger never really paid off for the Flames. Center depth wins cups. If the Oilers fail themselves into Ekblad then the Flames will land into another solid center to which is fine with me as if say the Flames get Reinhart and Monahan in successive drafts they will have accomplished more in two years than the Oilers have in four years of picking 1st overall.

[EYE_Overstand]

1 Pt away from last again is a joke.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by EYE_Overstand

1 Pt away from last again is a joke.

Combined with the fact that they're just going with it from ownership down. No "short term moves" as their owner says ... lol what?

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Yoho

Buffalo wins, Edmonton now 1 point from last overall in the league!!!!

Buffalo has been playing better since Nolan took over.

New Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray said Friday that coach Ted Nolan will have the interim tag removed from his title soon.
Speaking on Sportsnet's "Hockey Central," Murray said Nolan's title will change in the next few weeks.
The Sabres are 8-11-4 since Nolan was named interim coach Nov. 13. The Sabres started the season 4-15-1 under coach Ron Rolston.