Edmonton is No Good Episode 4: New Rink, Same Stink

[CaptainCrunch]

I bet the smell of urine hitting the side of the shiny new building last night was extra salty.

[FlamesAddiction]

Lucic is the biggest meathead in the league.



"Hugging the goalie's leg"?

The Oilers are like Trump. They can just make whatever up and the fans will believe it.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Who is on the far left in that picture? Whoever it is, it's like Chia's nose is psychically connected to his butthole. As he sits, Chia's head slams on to the table.

[McG]

Here we are at 930 and I haven't heard a thing from my normally quick to text Oilies pals.

Great guys all...just with this Oilies defect.

Perhaps I should be first off the mark this morning and ask if they know the outcome...

[nik-]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

That McTavish reaction is the reaction of a man who's not surprised by any of this.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by normtwofinger

Is that McTavish on the right? If so, wow he looks like he's 90.

So does Lowe. Take a look at Gretzky then compare MacTavish and Lowe and how old and worn they look in comparison. You can see that the last ten years have just sucked the life out of these men. Best part is that it's been all self-inflicted.

Originally Posted by nik-

That McTavish reaction is the reaction of a man who's not surprised by any of this.

Looked like a man that fully expected and accepted his fate.

[CaptainCrunch]

Whats great is that if the Oilers lose this series, they'll go into the off season knowing that they don't have great depth, and their depth players ain't that great, and they won't be able to fix it in free agency, and they're probably going to have to go a lot thinner because of upcoming contracts and too many high dollar players that they're going to have to bounce.

And no Vegas isn't going to help them out by grabbing a loser like Poulliot.

This year isn't bad, right now at the end of the year they'll have 15 million in space with 10 forwards 2 defensemen and 2 goalies. But they're going to have to sign Draisaitl who's probably going to get a 4 million dollar raise and Kassian who's probably earned a 1.5 million dollar raise.

But then the year after they'll have Nurse and Benning and Cagguilla and Sleppyshev and McDavid so they're going to probably be adding $17 million bucks. They also have a UFA Maroon who if he continues to have success is going to want to cast in

Their window is this year and next year unless the can find someone to take bad contracts like Eberle and to a lesser extent RNH and frankly Lucic is going to be a horrible contract.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Whats great is that if the Oilers lose this series, they'll go into the off season knowing that they don't have great depth, and their depth players ain't that great, and they won't be able to fix it in free agency, and they're probably going to have to go a lot thinner because of upcoming contracts and too many high dollar players that they're going to have to bounce.

And no Vegas isn't going to help them out by grabbing a loser like Poulliot.

This year isn't bad, right now at the end of the year they'll have 15 million in space with 10 forwards 2 defensemen and 2 goalies. But they're going to have to sign Draisaitl who's probably going to get a 4 million dollar raise and Kassian who's probably earned a 1.5 million dollar raise.

But then the year after they'll have Nurse and Benning and Cagguilla and Sleppyshev and McDavid so they're going to probably be adding $17 million bucks. They also have a UFA Maroon who if he continues to have success is going to want to cast in

Their window is this year and next year unless the can find someone to take bad contracts like Eberle and to a lesser extent RNH and frankly Lucic is going to be a horrible contract.

As much as I'd love to share your pessimistic view for the oilers, there's a number of ways out of that problem.

1) Puljujarvi is going to be a contributing NHLer next year likely
2) McDavid and Draisaitl are likely going to get better
3) Their D is really going and probably going to improve.

They'll have to get rid of some contracts, but Eberle at 3M will probably have enough suitors, or RNH at 5M, etc.

Their anchors will be Lucic, hopefully Russell and either RNH or Eberle dependent on who's left. That's bad but not awful

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

As much as I'd love to share your pessimistic view for the oilers, there's a number of ways out of that problem.

1) Puljujarvi is going to be a contributing NHLer next year likely
2) McDavid and Draisaitl are likely going to get better
3) Their D is really going and probably going to improve.

They'll have to get rid of some contracts, but Eberle at 3M will probably have enough suitors, or RNH at 5M, etc.

Their anchors will be Lucic, hopefully Russell and either RNH or Eberle dependent on who's left. That's bad but not awful

Pouliot - 67gp, 14 pts, 8 million dollars still owed
Sekera - 80gp, 35 points, 22 million dollars still owed, NMC

[FlamesAddiction]

The Oilers also look like they are relatively healthy at this point. If they had key players out due to injury like most teams at this point, they would probably already be out.

I also think it has been so long since the Oilers have seen playoff hockey that they forgot how lax things get. The refs tend to put the whistles away and let the players work. Had Talbot made that save on the tying goal, Nurse should have been called for interference.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Pouliot - 67gp, 14 pts, 8 million dollars still owed
Sekera - 80gp, 35 points, 22 million dollars still owed, NMC

You have a case with Pouliot, but he's at $4M and the average salary in the NHL is $3.5. Despite poor counting stats and bad penalties, he does bring some decent PK and defensive play. It's not a good contract by any measure, but not an anchor.

Sekera is actually bang on for his output. I have no issues with that contract.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

As much as I'd love to share your pessimistic view for the oilers, there's a number of ways out of that problem.

1) Puljujarvi is going to be a contributing NHLer next year likely
2) McDavid and Draisaitl are likely going to get better
3) Their D is really going and probably going to improve.

They'll have to get rid of some contracts, but Eberle at 3M will probably have enough suitors, or RNH at 5M, etc.

Their anchors will be Lucic, hopefully Russell and either RNH or Eberle dependent on who's left. That's bad but not awful

Puljujarvi is not a smart hockey player. Yakupov 2.0 there. He'll never play in the NHL.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

Puljujarvi is not a smart hockey player. Yakupov 2.0 there. He'll never play in the NHL.

I'll take that bet

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

As much as I'd love to share your pessimistic view for the oilers, there's a number of ways out of that problem.

1) Puljujarvi is going to be a contributing NHLer next year likely

Maybe, he was still not terrific or consistant at the American League level.

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

2) McDavid and Draisaitl are likely going to get better

Sure, but at the same time Teams are going to view Edmonton differently next year as well, and if its the McDavid and Draisaitl show it might be tougher sledding.

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

3) Their D is really going and probably going to improve.

Maybe Larsson who's young, but I don't see him as all that dynamic, and maybe Klefbom, though I think he's a what you see is what you get guy now.
Nurse isn't good, I think he taps out as a bottom half of the rotation guy. Sekera is at his height now today. Watching the Ducks right now, CBC propaganda aside, the Oilers blueline hasn't been great in this series, its been a case of Talbot 5 bell saving their a$$.

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

They'll have to get rid of some contracts, but Eberle at 3M will probably have enough suitors, or RNH at 5M, etc.

I tend to think that any suitors who might have been interested in Eberle are backing away after this season and playoffs. Even if the Oilers do 3 million dollar him, they're not getting anything useful back. If you trade RNH your not getting help for him now, you can't because of the upcoming cap situation, and as soft as he is, he's still a core piece that your not replacing.

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Their anchors will be Lucic, hopefully Russell and either RNH or Eberle dependent on who's left. That's bad but not awful

If Russell resigns in Edmonton he's going to want a raise on his 3 million dollar deal. Edmonton shouldn't be doing that, but if he leaves the blueline weakens that much more.

Lucic is going to boat anchor the Oilers.

respectfully I think Oiler fans should prepare for a brief light at the end of the tunnel and realize that its the train coming at them.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Maybe, he was still not terrific or consistant at the American League level.



Sure, but at the same time Teams are going to view Edmonton differently next year as well, and if its the McDavid and Draisaitl show it might be tougher sledding.




Maybe Larsson who's young, but I don't see him as all that dynamic, and maybe Klefbom, though I think he's a what you see is what you get guy now.
Nurse isn't good, I think he taps out as a bottom half of the rotation guy. Sekera is at his height now today. Watching the Ducks right now, CBC propaganda aside, the Oilers blueline hasn't been great in this series, its been a case of Talbot 5 bell saving their a$$.





I tend to think that any suitors who might have been interested in Eberle are backing away after this season and playoffs. Even if the Oilers do 3 million dollar him, they're not getting anything useful back. If you trade RNH your not getting help for him now, you can't because of the upcoming cap situation, and as soft as he is, he's still a core piece that your not replacing.





If Russell resigns in Edmonton he's going to want a raise on his 3 million dollar deal. Edmonton shouldn't be doing that, but if he leaves the blueline weakens that much more.

Lucic is going to boat anchor the Oilers.

respectfully I think Oiler fans should prepare for a brief light at the end of the tunnel and realize that its the train coming at them.

I don't necessarily outright disagree with your assertions, just pointing out the many things that could go right for them.

To me, the biggest hurdle will be Maroon. That line is nothing without his ability to protect the puck and make room for McDavid. What does a 6'3" 230lb winner who scores 27 goals get? A lot more than he is getting, that's for sure. But what really is a winger who's career best until this year was 11 goals going to contribute going forward? Could be interesting. He's really a $4-5M player for the oilers and a $2.5M player to anyone else.

I sincerely hope they sign Russell. He's a net negative in anything higher than a 5/6 role. They've got some really interesting D prospects graduating from the CHL this year, but nothing really noteworthy in the AHL IMO. So 2-3 years could see some replacement defensemen but that's hard to project

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

Puljujarvi is not a smart hockey player. Yakupov 2.0 there. He'll never play in the NHL.

Uhhhhh, he's played 28 games already

[mdubz]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

As much as I'd love to share your pessimistic view for the oilers, there's a number of ways out of that problem.

1) Puljujarvi is going to be a contributing NHLer next year likely
2) McDavid and Draisaitl are likely going to get better
3) Their D is really going and probably going to improve.

They'll have to get rid of some contracts, but Eberle at 3M will probably have enough suitors, or RNH at 5M, etc.

Their anchors will be Lucic, hopefully Russell and either RNH or Eberle dependent on who's left. That's bad but not awful

He'd have to work on not being healthy scratched by his farm team first.

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

Puljujarvi is not a smart hockey player. Yakupov 2.0 there. He'll never play in the NHL.

Originally Posted by mdubz

He'd have to work on not being healthy scratched by his farm team first.

[citation needed]

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

[citation needed]

It was in the first few games after he got there I think?

He's the second youngest ever (turns 19 tomorrow) to play in the AHL and got 28 points in 36 games, which isn't far off of Jankowski's PPG (0.78 vs 0.88).

I have a hard time believing he's not an NHLer

[ThisIsAnOutrage]

McDavid and the Oilers take it right to the edge as Anaheim grabs 3-2 series lead


"When the Abyss stares into Connor McDavid (1g, 1a, 2pts, -1), Connor McDavid stares back."


Such were the words of the Edmonton Oilers' General Manager, Peter Chiarelli, upon arriving back at Edmonton International the morning after an aching 4-3, double-overtime plundering by the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. "He's still getting his first taste of the playoffs and the injuries, tough calls, and hard stretches that a team has to play through to win. You can't ask more from your Captain at 20," added Chiarelli.


Before fielding any further questions about the game, which saw the Oilers' squander a 3-0 lead with less than four minutes to go, Chiarelli was addressed by unabashed, 4-and-a-half year old Tabitha DeMarquez. "Mister Chiarelli, why won't Collie McDoggy wake up this morning?" asked the littlest McDavid fan, her tiny arms overloaded with an eerily silent puppy-sized pet carrier.


Unable to break away from the gaze of the child, Chiarelli gently lifted the carrier from her arms, and just once reached in to stroke the still, furry form wearing a hand-knit, blue and orange #97 sweater. "Oh, I think he's just tired from cheering his little heart out, sweetie. Everything will be fine...just fine... You'll see," stated Chiarelli before locking eyes with the girl's father and wordlessly handing the carrier back. "Did you hear that, daddy? Collie McDoggy is going to be okay now!" said Tabitha.


Further questions about how the Oilers were planning on handling Ducks' forward Ryan Getzlaf, who has posted ten points in the five game series so far, were cut off by Chiarelli, who, after searching the crowd for a friendly face, stated only, "Hold me, Gene."