When do they fire Eakins?

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by trumpethead

-The Thomas Vanek $50M offer sheet miss (which Buffalo matched because they had just lost Briere)
-The Dustin Penner offer sheet hit (which drew the ire of the media and Brian Burke at the time). Penner turned out to be a bust

I don't understand the backlash over the offer sheets. They are in the CBA, and thus if you follow all the rules of the CBA, you haven't done anything wrong procedurally. The Ducks had cap issues, Edmonton had money to spend and Penner signed the offer. Burke thought it was far too much money to pay for Penner, and said it would impact all 30 teams. He was most upset over Penner's raise from $450k to $4.25M. To me, it seemed like whining from a guy who lost a player. If someone else puts a value on a player that you deem high, then don't match it. What Burke considers appropriate for Penner is irrelevant to any of the other 29 teams. The Ducks got a 1st, 2nd and 3rd round pick for Penner. He should be thanking Lowe for that. If Lowe offered that amount, wouldn't you take that if you were Burke?

Fun Fact: The 2nd round pick in 2008 was used by Anaheim to pick Justin Schultz. Schultz, obviously, now plays horribly for the Oilers.

I don't mind blasting Lowe for overpaying for Penner, but he didn't do anything wrong by using the offer sheet. With the Vanek one, just because Buffalo said not to do it, doesn't mean he shouldn't have done it. It's a perfectly legit way to acquire a player, even if the other team doesn't like it.

[Enoch Root]

^ all true, but just because something isn't 'wrong' doesn't mean it doesn't have repercussions.

Those offer sheets, and trying to trade guys that are injured, result in reticence from other GMs later.

The Oilers could really use a shake-up right now. What do you think the chances are that another GM cuts them a bit of a break and gives them a even trade?

[Geeoff]

I'd like to see them get the whole band back together and hire Gretzky.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The Oilers could really use a shake-up right now. What do you think the chances are that another GM cuts them a bit of a break and gives them a even trade?

Likely zero. They're not going to be able to fix this mess by trading one player - Eberle, Yakupov, Gagner and Schultz's values are very low. Hall and RNH still have significant value, but who is willing to trade a top 2 defenseman and/or goalie in a trade for Hall or RNH considering their injury issues?

The value Oilers fans give to their young players is astounding. Yakupov for a franchise defenseman + (guys like Weber, E-Larsson, etc are thrown around). The best chance for the Oilers on a return for Eberle, Yakupov, Gagner or Schultz is a young defenseman with upside but has struggled with his current team (Luke Schenn or Runblad), a guy like Merszeros or a package of lesser players to fill multiple holes (like Sutter tried to do with Phaneuf). Regardless, Oilers fans will be unhappy.

[trumpethead]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

^ all true, but just because something isn't 'wrong' doesn't mean it doesn't have repercussions.

Those offer sheets, and trying to trade guys that are injured, result in reticence from other GMs later.

The Oilers could really use a shake-up right now. What do you think the chances are that another GM cuts them a bit of a break and gives them a even trade?

Agreed. Nothing wrong with offer sheets as a rule but you have to consider the message it sends to the other 29 teams. KLowe's image based on that summers body of work was that he was not to be trusted.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by trumpethead

-The Thomas Vanek $50M offer sheet miss (which Buffalo matched because they had just lost Briere)
-The Dustin Penner offer sheet hit (which drew the ire of the media and Brian Burke at the time). Penner turned out to be a bust
-the failed attempt to trade Penner (+ Smid and Cogliano) 2 years later for Dany Heatley (who refused to waive no-trade to leave Ottawa). All names were announced before trade was consummated
-The 2007 "signing" of Michael Nylander announced by the Oilers when he had actually signed with the Capitals
-Signing Ales Hemsky to a ridiculous 2-year $10m deal in 2012 (even though he had been injured at least once in each of the previous 4 seasons)
-signing Shawn Horcoff to a ridiculous 6-year $33m deal in 2008

There are just so many.....

Slight correction:

Heatley wouldn't waive to go to Edmonton. He wanted out of Ottawa, but, not badly enough to go to Edmonton.

Lowe and Co. Apparently flew out to his cabin, Heater wouldn't let them in.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Lowe and Co. Apparently flew out to his cabin, Heater wouldn't let them in.

That would be the best youtube video ever.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

I'd like to see them get the whole band back together and hire Gretzky.

"Operation '80s"

Didn't Lowe use Gretzky and Coffey to recruit Justin Schultz?

[trumpethead]

Amazing to think that had the Sabres not matched that Vanek offer sheet they would have got 4 years of 1st round picks from the Oil as compensation. Of course we will never know how bad/good they would have been with Vanek in their lineup but the Oilers 1st round picks in those 4 drafts were 12th overall in '08, 10th in '09, 1st overall in '10 and 1st overall in '11. Those 4 picks + Buffalo's own first rounders could have set up the Sabres for many years

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Jacks

That would be the best youtube video ever.

No YouTube, but there is a transcript of the conversation online.

[trumpethead]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

No YouTube, but there is a transcript of the conversation online.

This made me lol. Thanks for sharing. Heatley truly would have been an awesome Oiler

Heatley: Look Kevin, I just want you know that the regular season is nice. But that's not my focus. For a guy like me, the real hockey doesn't start until April and May.

Lowe: Yes, absolutely, it's all about the Stanley Cup.

Heatley: The what? No, I meant the world hockey championships.

Lowe: Oh.

Heatley: Man, I totally kick ass in that tournament.

Lowe: I've heard.

Heatley: I totally lit it up against Latvia this year. Their goalie had no glove.

[Itse]

Found this in the Oilers board. Thought it would fit here.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by trumpethead

Amazing to think that had the Sabres not matched that Vanek offer sheet they would have got 4 years of 1st round picks from the Oil as compensation. Of course we will never know how bad/good they would have been with Vanek in their lineup but the Oilers 1st round picks in those 4 drafts were 12th overall in '08, 10th in '09, 1st overall in '10 and 1st overall in '11. Those 4 picks + Buffalo's own first rounders could have set up the Sabres for many years

Yeah, they could switch places in the standings with the Oil.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

^ all true, but just because something isn't 'wrong' doesn't mean it doesn't have repercussions.

Those offer sheets, and trying to trade guys that are injured, result in reticence from other GMs later.

The Oilers could really use a shake-up right now. What do you think the chances are that another GM cuts them a bit of a break and gives them a even trade?

With the Buffalo offer sheet, it was more due to the fact that Buffalo caught wind that Lowe was going to do it, but formally called him a day or two before and not to bother wasting everyone's time, as Buffalo was going to match. Out of likely the need to put on the appearance of trying to do something to make the team better, he did it anyways.

Toss in the dressing room upgrade that would be paid for keeping Smyth, using the media in floating rumors out there (Jagr) and being a mouthpiece for the club, the list goes on. He did also declare the Oilers "open for business" at a draft and in UFA time and left the draft weekend with nothing in a trade (though our esteemed GM made the same claim this draft )

Not picking up the option on Mctavish and basicallycutting him loose, as he had to do before the 2006 playoffs, and then forced to overpay him after MacT got to the Finals. Toss in his admittance he was grinning ear to ear on national TV when Calgary was out of the Crosby sweepstakes, only to have the Oilers picked out of the hat next.

As for a trade, again, most anything fair value on another team likely has a NYC, and would have to waive to go to Edmonton.

[Dion]

[Sol]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

No YouTube, but there is a transcript of the conversation online.

_________________________

"Heatley: Hey, wasn't Steve Tambellini going to be here?

Lowe: He's in the car. We don't let him get involved with actual decisions."

________________________

"Heatley: Actually, a friend of mine used to play for the Oilers and he told me that the media there is very talented.

Lowe: Oh really? And who said that?

Heatley: Chris Pronger.

Lowe: Right.

Heatley: Veeerrry talented."

_________________________

That's some pretty good stuff there. I'm getting too much enjoyment from the Oiler gong show.

[Corral]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

Likely zero. They're not going to be able to fix this mess by trading one player - Eberle, Yakupov, Gagner and Schultz's values are very low. Hall and RNH still have significant value, but who is willing to trade a top 2 defenseman and/or goalie in a trade for Hall or RNH considering their injury issues?

.

Seriously love these overstatements by armchair GMs. I suspect the consensus around the NHL is that every one of these players would be far better off on a different team right now. If Jordan Eberle is currently available for a low price, I hope the Flames are lining up to obtain him.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Corral

Seriously love these overstatements by armchair GMs. I suspect the consensus around the NHL is that every one of these players would be far better off on a different team right now. If Jordan Eberle is currently available for a low price, I hope the Flames are lining up to obtain him.

So what do you think his value is? All you've said in your post is you'd line up for him if he's available at a low price.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by browna

With the Buffalo offer sheet, it was more due to the fact that Buffalo caught wind that Lowe was going to do it, but formally called him a day or two before and not to bother wasting everyone's time, as Buffalo was going to match. Out of likely the need to put on the appearance of trying to do something to make the team better, he did it anyways.

this. Buffalo had already lost Briere and Drury that summer, they couldn't afford to lose Vanek as well. So Regier made it very clear that they would match every offer sheet, he said so pubicly and the fact that Lowe didn't listen and went with the offer sheet anyway surely wasn't helpful for Lowes and Edmontons reputation around the league. Especially when they followed it up with that Penner offer sheet.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Corral

Seriously love these overstatements by armchair GMs. I suspect the consensus around the NHL is that every one of these players would be far better off on a different team right now. If Jordan Eberle is currently available for a low price, I hope the Flames are lining up to obtain him.

On the other hand a lot of the Edmonton guys are going to be projects at this point. They've learned a ton of bad habits and very few good ones, and you can never be sure that a young player will ever learn the discipline and the work ethic needed to be succesful in the NHL, even in the best of circumstances.