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

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

The problem with the Oil from my take is that they're really bad at drafting key pieces in the later rounds. They have virtually nobody coming into the lineup providing depth. That's the big issue.

I agree. You still need those depth players that can play those grinding minutes in the corners that usually yo can find outside the first round. Instead of developing their own they might need to overpay to bring one in.

[EldrickOnIce]

Corsi numbers (relative) are very interesting.
Those three Oilers are very high.
So are the Sedins, Bergeron, Crosby, Malkin, etc
Good company, to say the least

[Tinordi]

So if the top line has an off night or can't carry the mail it's basically a guarantee that the Oil lose.

If you look at other successful teams around the league they actually draft alot of their role players and then make strategic UFA signings or trades with those assets where they're weak.

Look at some of the best teams: Canucks, they have a crap load of drafted or developed guys on their lower lines providing valuable production.

LA traded alot of their drafted players for key depth pieces, they also basically drafted their entire D-core which is the one the best in the league. They did that with solid later round drafting.

Pittsburg gets alot of credit for their skill players in drafting but look at their depth guys. Kennedy, Talbot, Armstrong, Letang (drafted 3rd round), Goligoski, Despres. Those guys were/are key contributors or where dealt for other great assets.

You need a deluge of young guys coming in beyond your top end skill to build a roster.

Oilers have just been horribly bad at doing that. Kevin Lowe may know a thing or two about winning but he knows sweet FA about drafting.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Corsi numbers (relative) are very interesting.
Those three Oilers are very high.
So are the Sedins, Bergeron, Crosby, Malkin, etc
Good company, to say the least

Yeah the problem isn't with their top end talent. We like to bash Hall and the rest but they have some very impressive pieces on the top line. They have a high quality first line with basically nothing on D past Smid and very little in the way of solid depth players or even a competent second line. It's not an NHL team and it has everything to do with terrible drafting.

[EldrickOnIce]

Exacttly correct!

The Hawks model:

After first round picks made by the Hawks, the 4 years prior to Toews/Kane successive draft years

108	4	Hjalmarsson	 D                 305	9	47	56	108
32	2	Dave Bolland	C		332	70	98	168	211
41	2	Bryan Bickell	L	        217	40	50	90	120
214	7	Troy Brouwer	L		364	86	82	168	250
52	2	Corey Crawford	G	        150	0	1	1	6
245	8	Byfuglien	D	                448	95	146	241	467
54	2	Duncan Keith	D	        605	59	249	308	417
156	5	Wisniewski	D	                405	38	151	189	354
282	9	Adam Burish	C	        340	26	31	57	513

Those are the soldiers, outside of first round, that wins you championship(s).
Specifically, that kind of drafting

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

The problem with the Oil from my take is that they're really bad at drafting key pieces in the later rounds. They have virtually nobody coming into the lineup providing depth. That's the big issue.

No, the big issue is bad management. The Ducks won a cup without having drafted any late round gems. Boston as well, as they didn't have any key pieces drafted later then the 3rd round.

Quality management gives your teams a chance to win every season. I think even the best drafting teams would agree that the late rounds in the draft are just a crapshoot.

[nik-]

The problem is the Oilers drafted the same player 3 times, flashy soft forwards. Some of that is bad luck at when they got their first overalls, but it won't stop me from laughing at them.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Yeah the problem isn't with their top end talent. We like to bash Hall and the rest but they have some very impressive pieces on the top line. They have a high quality first line with basically nothing on D past Smid and very little in the way of solid depth players or even a competent second line. It's not an NHL team and it has everything to do with terrible drafting.

agree their top end players are pretty good- we are talking about 2 first overall picks and another first rounder afterall...however they also stop being cheap soon- 15 million or so for the 3 of them (including RNH bonuses)....fair value to be sure, but not the underpay that would allow to stock the lineup elsewhere anymore

[Stay Golden]

Not much professional pride going on with the Oilers. Very little leadership on that team.

[AlbertaOiler72]

Originally Posted by nik-

The problem is the Oilers drafted the same player 3 times, flashy soft forwards. Some of that is bad luck at when they got their first overalls, but it won't stop me from laughing at them.

disagree

Hall and RNH and Yak don't play anything alike...Hall is a balls-to-the-wall player who uses his speed and strength to his advantage

RNH is more cerebral, using his hands and edges to work out of tight corners and great vision to set up the play

Yak is more of a darting player with a wicked shot...probably the best on the team. He's got speed, shiftiness and underrated playmaking ability

the 1st overalls are the least of my concern...it's the garbage bottom 6 and defense that needs changing

either way, no franchise can outsuck the Oilers...no team in the NHL can play with less heart, pride and determination than the Oilers...we are seasoned vets and masters of the art

[Azhouse]

Originally Posted by AlbertaOiler72

disagree

Hall and RNH and Yak don't play anything alike...Hall is a balls-to-the-wall player who uses his speed and strength to his advantage

RNH is more cerebral, using his hands and edges to work out of tight corners and great vision to set up the play

Yak is more of a darting player with a wicked shot...probably the best on the team. He's got speed, shiftiness and underrated playmaking ability

the 1st overalls are the least of my concern...it's the garbage bottom 6 and defense that needs changing

either way, no franchise can outsuck the Oilers...no team in the NHL can play with less heart, pride and determination than the Oilers...we are seasoned vets and masters of the art

It warms my heart to hear Oilers fans talk like this. J/K (well maybe not)

I think that the fact that Lowe is untouchable is very deflating to the Oiler fans (players?). Hiring MacTavish was the wrong move.

[Robbob]

It amuses me that next year they will be out of the ELC for two of their players (Eberle and Hall). At the end of next season RNH and Schultz ELC will be up. They obviously missed the boat on trying to get the best bang for their bucks with the first crop. I can see them getting themselves into a bit of a jam capwise. At the end of next year there is a possibility of 4 players counting up to 24 million in cap space (3F, 1D).

I think when all is said and done they are following the TB/Car model where they have a bunch of high priced talent combined with a bunch of boarder line cheap NHLers.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by nik-

The problem is the Oilers drafted the same player 3 times, flashy soft forwards. Some of that is bad luck at when they got their first overalls, but it won't stop me from laughing at them.

Gotta agree with the Oiler fans. Hall, RNH and Yakupov are not the same player. Hall isn't particularly soft either.

I do enjoy their misfortune although I'm not super excited that we passed them.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Robbob

It amuses me that next year they will be out of the ELC for two of their players (Eberle and Hall). At the end of next season RNH and Schultz ELC will be up. They obviously missed the boat on trying to get the best bang for their bucks with the first crop. I can see them getting themselves into a bit of a jam capwise. At the end of next year there is a possibility of 4 players counting up to 24 million in cap space (3F, 1D).

I think when all is said and done they are following the TB/Car model where they have a bunch of high priced talent combined with a bunch of boarder line cheap NHLers.

They should rename the team to the LOiLers. hahahhahaa
$6mill for Eberle and Hall. hahahhahahahahahahahahhahahaha

[Vinny01]

If they want to shed that losing culture they need to quit promoting within

MacT was a decent coach then they get Quinn and start to suck. Fire Quinn promote Renney his top assistant, fire Renney promote Kruger his top assistant. The culture stays the same. Fire Tambi bring in the old coach to GM.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

They should rename the team to the LOiLers. hahahhahaa
$6mill for Eberle and Hall. hahahhahahahahahahahahhahahaha

Yeah. Hall at 6 mill for the next 7 years. How terrible for Edmonton. Lol

[Tinordi]

Ultimately they need homegrown production on their lower lines and among their defencemen. Seems like Calgary has the opposite problem, looks like we have a fair amount of depth ready to step in from the farm (early but guys like Horak, Reinhart, Brodie, the Americans, Cundari look like they could be good depth players) but need that top end talent.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

They should rename the team to the LOiLers. hahahhahaa
$6mill for Eberle and Hall. hahahhahahahahahahahahhahahaha

We all hate the Oilers but this post is dumb. Both Hall and Eberle will be worth that money down the road, especially Hall.

[EldrickOnIce]

Sorry. Hall is worth that money. Now. He is a guy EVERYONE would love on their team, and hate otherwise. Elite scorer already. Basically a point a game player over the last two seasons - his 2nd and 3rd in the league. There are about 15 of those guys in the league. He hates to lose. Yeah he's cheap. And dirty. And so I hate him... not on my team.

Eberle... I don't know. I think they could have paid him less, but after last season hard to make that case when you are locking him up long term like that.

[Sainters7]

^
Is Hall going to stay healthy though? He plays a pretty reckless game. He needs to get that teenage invincibility mindset out of his head before something gruesome hap...oh right..