How much longer do you think the Oilers will be this bad for?

[moon]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Didn't TSN project Oilers to miss the playoffs as well? In fact, finish one place (14th/13th) above Flames in their season preview show? I don't think TSN was wrong here like some are saying.

Shhh.

Don't let reality get in the way of people ripping on TSN for no good reason.

Plus when TSN predicts Calgary to finish near last place again next year people can't say "ignore it they get everything wrong remember how they loved the Oilers last year" if they correctly remember that TSN predicted both teams to finish right around where they likely will.

[CaptainCrunch]

I look at the Flames up front roster and its not really a mini mouse roster.

Bart is 5-10 which is a little small, as is Hudler, Cams is really small at 5-9 but he's a pretty solid 190 pounds

Some of the new guys like Bancks and Street are 5-11, Byron is 5-9 but I don't expect him to be a regular.

Our defense isn't undersized with the exception of Cundari at 5-9, and I have to apologize for calling him fat when he was first traded here at 195,the guy looks like a light tank.

We're not small, with Rhino joining the lineup with Jackman and McGratton, and Hanowski we've got some players with push. Glencross is always decent on board battles as well.

I wouldn't call our forwards quite small, I'd say we're probably middle of the pack average.

What we are lacking though is that one of two powerforward type. I was holding out that Aliu would be that guy, but he's not as nasty and jerkish as last year. Ferland could still be that guy in a few years if he develops.

Bouma will be back in the mix next year in a 3rd or 4th line role as well.

Sadly I think Nemitz is kinda done.

Wonder why Breen wasn't called up, is he hurt?

[Stay Golden]

Oilers failed to meet the media's expectations, lol again.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=413838

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/e...-expectations/

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/e...-for-playoffs/

[CaptainCrunch]

Going by Lowe's MO there will be lots of excuses as he covers his a$$. I expect a big part of his post season press conference will be railing about the 9 game road trip. Ijuries, Tambellini not big game hunting etc.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

What's funny is how the short season skews everything. Check out these game-by-game comparisons showing each of the last three seasons:

http://flames.nhl.com/club/teamseasoncomparison.htm

http://oilers.nhl.com/club/teamseasoncomparison.htm

Based on that we'll all be eating our words on the Oilers in 10 years when they finally have improved enough to compete

[Loyal and True]

For the Oilers' season, the only positive is Dubnyk. He appears to be a solid goaltender for the next few years.

Other than that, I don't see anything good coming out of this season. Hall racked up points against Colorado and a recently-gutted Calgary team, but disappeared when it counted against the playoff contenders.

Oilers top 6 has some skill to score some highlight reel goals and have a dangerous powerplay. They can't dominate 5-on-5, and in fact they get dominated. By the time they get to be good at 5-on-5, the salaries will be too high to keep them all.

I think they will be a playoff team in a couple years, but Chicago/Pittsburgh is not realistic.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Oilers failed to meet the media's expectations, lol again.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=413838

In the West, the Oilers were projected to finish 13th, while the Flames were expected to finish in 14th place.

McKenzie added that he felt Devan Dubnyk is ready to step up and be the number one goaltender in Edmonton.

Seems about right to me. Aren't Oilers in 13th? Flames are in 12th so take that, TSN.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

There were a lot of games where Dubnyk has been ungodly and the only reason why the Oilers have been able to compete, His .921 svpct is way higher then his average. What's your point.

The point is that Robob thinks the Flames have more young NHL ready players than the Oilers because the Flames are fluking out some season ending wins.

I seriously doubt Max Reinhart and his -26 plus/minus in the AHL is going to have sustain as an NHLer next season.

Ditto for the rest of the call up gang outside of Baerstchi, and possibly Horak.

Of course if you look at the Flames top 9 and don't see the lack of size and grit, I'm not sure you will agree on the lack of NHL readiness in the rest of the group. The top nine has zero grit and size outside of Glencross.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

The reason the Flames are winning is because everything is breaking their way at the moment.

Joey MacDonald has a .944% save percentage in the last 5 games and Kipper has a .930% in his last 3. That would be tied for one and two in the NHL.

Its kind of funny proclaiming all these young Flames have arrived when most of them have fewer then 10 NHL games. That's very HFboards.

Not saying that they have arrived. Just saying they seem to be NHL capable players that seem to be really excelling in those support roles. By no means do I think any of the new players can carry the team alone (even Baertchi I think is a support player for now). No doubt the goaltending has helped, but it is also a good portion of players showing they can play at this level in that role.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

The point is that Robob thinks the Flames have more young NHL ready players than the Oilers because the Flames are fluking out some season ending wins.

I seriously doubt Max Reinhart and his -26 plus/minus in the AHL is seriously going to have sustain as an NHLer next season.

Ditto for the rest of the call up gang outside of Baerstchi, and possibly Horak.

Of course if you look at the Flames top 9 and don't see the lack of size and grit, I'm not sure you will agree on the lack of NHL readiness in the rest of the group. The top nine has zero grit and size outside of Glencross.

Reinhart struggled in his first pro season in Abbotsford but he was a very good junior and the way he has played for the Flames is exactly what was expected of him as a solid, hard working two way center. I think he's been exactly as advertised and I don't recall Flames fans ever penciling him in as a 1st line center as we all knew he was 2nd/3rd line material.

[Vinny01]

The Flames finishing higher than the Oilers this season is good for a few laughs, probably win a couple of bets, and bragging rights for a little while.

Edmonton still has some really nice trade assets and a pick that could land them that centre we are hoping to get. The way that organization is positioned right now I think better management could have them in the playoffs next season

[Joker]

I have been having this convo with my friend who is an oilers fan, for what seems like an eternity. Pretty much always the same

Him:"..this is their year.."
Me: "They need a goalie and a stud D, or 2 good D"

Every year they tank.

This year:

Him: "...this is the year.."
Me: "they need a goalie and a stud D, or 2 good d"
Him: "they got Schulz...this IS the year"

As much as i like listening to the excuses at the end of the season, it's starting to get painful watching the oilers constantly miss the playoffs. It also really annoys me, that they will probably get another top 5 pick this upcoming draft. There needs to be an 'Oiler Clause' wherein a team that gets 1st overall is exempt from the 1st, or even top 3 picks in consecutive seasons.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Reinhart struggled in his first pro season in Abbotsford but he was a very good junior and the way he has played for the Flames is exactly what was expected of him as a solid, hard working two way center. I think he's been exactly as advertised and I don't recall Flames fans ever penciling him in as a 1st line center as we all knew he was 2nd/3rd line material.

His 60 games in Abbotsford is way more likely to be indicative of what you will get out of Reinhart then his 9 NHL games IMO.

I'm willing to bet he spends most of next season in Abbotsford.

[trackercowe]

I love how the only salvation the Oilers have is to compare their organization with ours. Congrats! After 5 last or near last place seasons (soon to be 6) you're finally able to be competitive with the Calgary Flames! Wow what an accomplishment. All it took was 3 first overall picks, and a glut of other first rounders in the lineup to become competitive with the other terrible teams! You guys sure are super special.

Next up the Nashville Predators and a dog fight for 11th place next year lol.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

His 60 games in Abbotsford is way more likely to be indicative of what you will get out of Reinhart then his 9 NHL games IMO.

I'm willing to bet he spends most of next season in Abbotsford.

I'll take that bet.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

The point is that Robob thinks the Flames have more young NHL ready players than the Oilers because the Flames are fluking out some season ending wins.

I love how you throw out the diversion flukey. I would then respond that more then half of the Oiler wins were fluky due to Dubnyk playing way above his head this year, and in a 80 game season next year, his play will probably drop. Watching the games I would say that the Flames have been pretty good value for their wins.

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I seriously doubt Max Reinhart and his -26 plus/minus in the AHL is going to have sustain as an NHLer next season.

Maybe he's just better in the NHL then the AHL, the coaches seem to think so. We know when he was drafted and going to the farm that he was considered a guy with a good hockey IQ. His last period of time with Abbotsford was considered to be night and day from his first part of the season when he was lost and trying to figure out the pro game and his role in it. Wouldn't it be terrible for you if Rhino was actually following some kind of natural pro progression.

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Ditto for the rest of the call up gang outside of Baerstchi, and possibly Horak.

We really don't know what we have, nobody here is following the something special down here mantra that the Oilers have had for 7 years and through two failed retools/builds.

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Of course if you look at the Flames top 9 and don't see the lack of size and grit, I'm not sure you will agree on the lack of NHL readiness in the rest of the group. The top nine has zero grit and size outside of Glencross.

By size they are not really tiny if you compare them to other rosters in the NHL,I'd argue that they are average sized.

In terms of grit, with Tanguay out this team has played a lot more physical style then it did earlier this year.

but again, we're not building something special here.

Like Edmonton

Beep Beep Beep Beep

[Hockey_Ninja]

The Oilers sure did a fine job picking such a classy guy in Yakupov...

http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/sports/sto...ntroversy.html

[moon]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

The Oilers sure did a fine job picking such a classy guy in Yakupov...

http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/sports/sto...ntroversy.html

I dislike Yakupov as much as most but that seems to be an honest question and not meant to be racist or anything malicious.

[CaptainCrunch]

Meh, making a lot out of nothing, first of all the whole English not being the first language. then the stupidity of young people not having a twitter filter.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by moon

I dislike Yakupov as much as most but that seems to be an honest question and not meant to be racist or anything malicious.

Fair enough. The guy still comes off as a goof to me.