MacLean: Oilers will win cup in next 2-4 years

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by TX_Flame

Uh... he built a championship team?

Hardly. Pretty much the entire core was in place before he took the job. Bergeron, Krejci, Marchand, and Lucic were drafted, Thomas and Rask were already in the organization, and Chara was signed (though likely with Chiarelli's blessing) all before he took over the GM position in mid July 2006.

[troutman]

The Calder cup maybe, if we had relegation.

[Acey]

For what it's worth, the only people I've talked to up here that think a cup is certain in the next couple years are casual fans or utter morons. The vast majority of people are level headed and intend to have some patience. There are a lot of Oilers fans who know more about hockey than I could ever dream of knowing and, ironically, talking to them makes being stuck in this hellhole a little more bearable.

Carry on.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by TX_Flame

My point overall is Chia>Lowe.

Why, because Lowe's SCF team lost game 7 with a backup goalie forced to start and Chia's SCF won game 7 with Tim Thomas going total God Mode and posting a shutout?

I for one would want neither, but winning a Stanley Cup does not make Chia > Lowe.

Just think for a second. The Bruins could have Tyler Seguin, Dougie Hamilton, and Johnny Boychuk on their roster next season, but because of Chiarelli they've got Loui Eriksson, Adam McQuaid, and Dennis Seidenberg.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Chiarelli did fine with the package he received return for Kessel, but let's not pretend like his deal was some sort of ingenious master stroke. The return Sweeney received was terrible. What Chiarelli got back was completely unsurprising—apart from the fact that the 2010 pick was #2.

Let's reserve (not deserve.. Doh) that judgement for a few seasons down the road, which is officially where the Bruins were looking with the moves they made.

I'll be 100% honest - I was waiting for this draft with deadmonton oiler-like enthusiasm. If this year's talent pool truly does end up littered with impact players through the top 2-3 rounds, there could be some serious steals. With the Flames set to pick 6 times in the first 3 rounds (and I had been eating my vegetables and washing behind my ears and whatever else good boys do all month while crossing my fingers and hoping we could move some depth guys as part of s package to add a second first round pick).

I had visions of us just crushing our picks.. Mid/late firsts and two mid seconds could have potentially had is walking away with Getzlaf/Parise/Seabrook, Perry, Bergeron and Weber..

*goes blind*

[Dynamic]

Longtime oiler fan here.....

First of all there are now at least 4-6 real good teams every year. There is no guarantee you will ever win no matter how good you are. In the good ol days there always seemed to be 1-2 teams that were above the rest.

Second of all there no guarantee the oilers will ever get into the top 4-6 teams. They should be able too with some competent moves to balance the roster, specifically on D. I sure hope so but still far from guaranteed.

I do think they have a good chance to be one of the top 4-6 teams which gives them a chance but that is still far from the cup. And even that is years away.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by TX_Flame

Uh... he built a championship team?

Chia had 2 amazing moves as GM of the Bruins bathe first was signing Chara which turned out to be one of the best July 1 moves of all time. The second was the Kessel trade but that move was not a sure thing at the time. His trades were not very good long term. Moving Wheeler for Peverly, a first for Kanerle, and Seguin for spare parts. The Bruins were in complete cap hell thanks to Chia.

He does deserve credit though for the cup team because he added key pieces to that group. The best players were there when he took over similar to Gillis in Vancouver

[TX_Flame]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Chia had 2 amazing moves as GM of the Bruins bathe first was signing Chara which turned out to be one of the best July 1 moves of all time. The second was the Kessel trade but that move was not a sure thing at the time. His trades were not very good long term. Moving Wheeler for Peverly, a first for Kanerle, and Seguin for spare parts. The Bruins were in complete cap hell thanks to Chia.

He does deserve credit though for the cup team because he added key pieces to that group. The best players were there when he took over similar to Gillis in Vancouver

Well, very few GMs ever get the chance to build a contender from the ground up without inheriting at least part of the core these days. Ken Holland and Lombardi are the only ones who come to mind right now. I don't think Chia is infallible, I just believe he'll do a much better job than Lowe (which is hardly a ringing endorsement).

[TX_Flame]

Originally Posted by Acey

For what it's worth, the only people I've talked to up here that think a cup is certain in the next couple years are casual fans or utter morons. The vast majority of people are level headed and intend to have some patience. There are a lot of Oilers fans who know more about hockey than I could ever dream of knowing and, ironically, talking to them makes being stuck in this hellhole a little more bearable.

Carry on.

I'm sure there are plenty of level headed fans up in Edmonton, as you say. I'm also sure most of them are not in the habit of spending considerable time trolling other teams fan forums, so we get to know a lot of the crackpots who do. That being said, if we have to endure their drivel, it's kinda fun to mock them mercilessly for the insane stuff they (and several deluded media types) come up with.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by TX_Flame

Well, very few GMs ever get the chance to build a contender from the ground up without inheriting at least part of the core these days. Ken Holland and Lombardi are the only ones who come to mind right now. I don't think Chia is infallible, I just believe he'll do a much better job than Lowe (which is hardly a ringing endorsement).

I think he is an upgrade on Lowe as well but that is not saying much. One thing Chia did in Boston was put that team in cap hell by signing guys like Kelly, Peverly, Krejci, Savard to bad contracts. The Iginla contact hurt the Bruins this year with the bonuses carrying over.

I think he has already started this trend in Edmonton with Sekera. That deal was too long and will hurt the team in 3 years when McDavid and Nurse need new contracts.

[TX_Flame]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Why, because Lowe's SCF team lost game 7 with a backup goalie forced to start and Chia's SCF won game 7 with Tim Thomas going total God Mode and posting a shutout?

I for one would want neither, but winning a Stanley Cup does not make Chia > Lowe.

Just think for a second. The Bruins could have Tyler Seguin, Dougie Hamilton, and Johnny Boychuk on their roster next season, but because of Chiarelli they've got Loui Eriksson, Adam McQuaid, and Dennis Seidenberg.

You have just explained why Chia < Stan Bowman. However, Bowman is arguably the best GM in the league at keeping a core (most of which he didn't build either) together in spite of the difficult cap constraints championship teams get into in today's NHL. Thank goodness Bowman wasn't looking for a job this offseason!

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Dynamic

Longtime oiler fan here.....

First of all there are now at least 4-6 real good teams every year. There is no guarantee you will ever win no matter how good you are. In the good ol days there always seemed to be 1-2 teams that were above the rest.

Second of all there no guarantee the oilers will ever get into the top 4-6 teams. They should be able too with some competent moves to balance the roster, specifically on D. I sure hope so but still far from guaranteed.

I do think they have a good chance to be one of the top 4-6 teams which gives them a chance but that is still far from the cup. And even that is years away.

There are no reasonable Oiler fans. Too many here trying to masquerade as one!!!

[TX_Flame]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Why, because Lowe's SCF team lost game 7 with a backup goalie forced to start and Chia's SCF won game 7 with Tim Thomas going total God Mode and posting a shutout?

I for one would want neither, but winning a Stanley Cup does not make Chia > Lowe.

Just think for a second. The Bruins could have Tyler Seguin, Dougie Hamilton, and Johnny Boychuk on their roster next season, but because of Chiarelli they've got Loui Eriksson, Adam McQuaid, and Dennis Seidenberg.

Are you seriously comparing a team that squeaked into the very last playoff spot and then got lucky for a couple of months to a championship team that proved itself to be a contender both before and after their SC run??? The Bruins have President's trophy, division and conference championship banners to show for what they did in the years surrounding their SC Championship. The Oilers have a bunch of high draft picks.

Yes TT played very well throughout most of that run. (He had a couple of stinkers, too.) Every championship team is going to have at least one if not several players who elevate their game during the playoffs. The art of being a GM is to identify and acquire those players, or to retain them if you already have them.

Yes, the Bruins could have had blah blah blah... Have you ever stopped to think what Lowe could have had with all those high draft picks he "won" since 2006, not to mention the ones from before 2006?

[TX_Flame]

Originally Posted by street pharmacist

there are no reasonable oiler fans. Too many here trying to masquerade as one!!!

lol

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by TX_Flame

Are you seriously comparing a team that squeaked into the very last playoff spot and then got lucky for a couple of months to a championship team that proved itself to be a contender both before and after their SC run??? The Bruins have President's trophy, division and conference championship banners to show for what they did in the years surrounding their SC Championship. The Oilers have a bunch of high draft picks.

Yes TT played very well throughout most of that run. (He had a couple of stinkers, too.) Every championship team is going to have at least one if not several players who elevate their game during the playoffs. The art of being a GM is to identify and acquire those players, or to retain them if you already have them.

Yes, the Bruins could have had blah blah blah... Have you ever stopped to think what Lowe could have had with all those high draft picks he "won" since 2006, not to mention the ones from before 2006?

And you aren't going to keep Dougie, Seguin and Kessel under the salary cap

[TX_Flame]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

And you aren't going to keep Dougie, Seguin and Kessel under the salary cap

Dougie, Seguin and Boychuk, no? Dougie and Seguin were the return on the Kessel trade.

[TX_Flame]

It's almost like we have 2 Edmonton is no good threads now.

[handgroen]

Originally Posted by krazycanuck

http://beaconnews.ca/blog/2013/04/ed...s-ron-maclean/



2 years ago he was saying the same thing. Just a matter of time eh Ron?

if you only read one post in this thread.....

[YoungGuns]

[QUOTE=TX_Flame;5377244]I'm sure there are plenty of level headed fans up in Edmonton, as you say. I'm also sure most of them are not in the habit of spending considerable time trolling other teams fan forums, so we get to know a lot of the crackpots who do. That being said, if we have to endure their drivel, it's kinda fun to mock them mercilessly for the insane stuff they (and several deluded media types) come up with.[/QUOthTE]

The funny thing is that the fans that tell me, 'Oh man you guys are going to be crazy next year" or "You guys are winning a cup very soon"are other teams fans. Mainly Calgary and Vancouver fans. I must have talked to 20-30 the past while during parties etc and they all say the same thing.

I'm the one who says "hooold on there man. Let them prove it on the ice next year before all this winning talk" lol.

[Vinny01]

I have been in the states for a work conference the past week with many people from all over the U.S. All the hockey fans I talk to think the Flames are going to be the next young team that rises up from a rebuild into a legit contender like Tampa recently. Feels great as a fan to hear that from people nowhere near our market