Is the Calgary Flames rebuild ahead of the Edmonton Oilers?

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by troutman

I don't agree the Oilers have the better forward group.

I agree. I think they will have the best player, but as a group the Flames players may be more effective.

[Reggie Dunlop]

David Staples is no good.

Spoiler!

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by TheoFleury

Big picture, Eberle has no trade value and his 6m is going to get in the way when Bennett and Tkachuk come up. I also think that line would get ground down in the playoffs too, much the way 13-23-24 were nullified by the Ducks and Canucks (for most of the series). I think a power forward is a much better compliment for the top line than another skill guy. Gaudreau doesn't need more skill on his line, he needs more space on the ice, and he needs a good forechecker to help dig pucks out. Brouwer will be a much better fit though Eberle is clearly more skilled.

Look at Hudler? That Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler was the best in the league. Both Eberle and Yakupov are trigger pullers, but you still need skill like Hudler to make tic tac toe plays or nice saucers on the tape.

[TheoFleury]

The forward groups are really close IMO. Flames defence is twice as good though, and they have the edge in goal. Better at two positions, roughly equal in the least important position.

[TheoFleury]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

Look at Hudler? That Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler was the best in the league. Both Eberle and Yakupov are trigger pullers, but you still need skill like Hudler to make tic tac toe plays or nice saucers on the tape.

Talking about playoffs bro.

[bubbsy]

I don't care.

The oilers are a trainwreck, and using them as measuring stick in any shape or form is a bad idea if the franchise has any aspirations of being deemed a 'good one'.

I will say this, it's an interesting year for the franchise. Last year was a disappointment over the year before where the scoring was there again, the defense found consistency too late, and the goaltending was atrocious. The flames have changed the entire goaltending depth chart for the big team, added a vet forward, not to mention changing the head coach.

We are all expecting that the changes are enough to put the flames back to being in the fight for a playoff spot. What if they aren't close though... If the team doesn't perform again this season (not due to of a mountain of injuries to the team leaders maybe), do they start to make some significant changes? does Treliving start to feel the heat?

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by TheoFleury

Talking about playoffs bro.

Look at the Pens-Sharks rosters?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

If the Oilers wanted to trade those three players for our 3 players, I would do it.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Eberle
Shinkaruk - Bennett - Yakupov
Bouma - Backlund - Versteeg

Just for that top line alone, I'd do it. Obviously an Oilers Yakupov is different than another teams Yakupov, but I think he's still a good talent. He's tenacious and skilled, but not a guy who can take over a game.

The Flames three RWs are all better suited for bottom six roles

I would think you would be one of a very few.

Having Eberle play with Gaudreau and MOnahan would make that line so soft I don't think I could even watch.

And the other two are garbage.

That is a terrible trade that would make the Flames much more like the Oilers actually - one-dimensional.

[TheoFleury]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

Look at the Pens-Sharks rosters?

Not really the best example. Those teams were successful because they blended various skill sets together and had great depth and goaltending. Basically the anti-2016 Calgary Flames.

A guy like Eberle doesn't get us closer to those teams imo, but being deeper and having a better mix of different players that compliment each other does. The last thing the Flames need is to do is get more skilled, less physical, smaller and worse defensively. Given the composition of the rest of the team, I honestly think that move would be bad one for Calgary.

[Hockey_Ninja]

This argument died the second that we made the playoffs

[GoJetsGo]

Without question the Flames rebuild is ahead.

They've already made the playoffs and shown improvement, whereas Edmonton is stuck spinning it's wheels in last place-vill. The depth at every position - including the back end being the trump card - is no comparison.

Just because your crack-smoking, terrible-decision making neighbour who lives in a poorly built house was gifted a Ferrari doesn't mean he's done anything correctly.

[wretched34]

Oilers finished 26th in goals for, Flames finished 10th. Oilers have better offense.
Stopped reading.

[Oil Stain]

I think both teams will be around the same place as each in the standings this upcoming season.

Within ten points and both missing the playoffs.

[AlbertaOiler72]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

This argument died the second that we made the playoffs

using that logic, the Avs are way ahead of both teams in terms of a rebuild

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

If the Oilers wanted to trade those three players for our 3 players, I would do it.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Eberle
Shinkaruk - Bennett - Yakupov
Bouma - Backlund - Versteeg

Just for that top line alone, I'd do it. Obviously an Oilers Yakupov is different than another teams Yakupov, but I think he's still a good talent. He's tenacious and skilled, but not a guy who can take over a game.

The Flames three RWs are all better suited for bottom six roles

Frolik and Brouwer are good bets for 20 goals and 40 points, if they don't hit those marks they're not far off. That's not bottom six.

Gaudreau and Monahan hardly need a player like Eberle to succeed. They dragged around a broken Hudler for half a season and a motly crew of misfits for the other half and did just fine.

[GioforPM]

Going by position:

McDavid > Monahan (though it's not as uneven as people think because of Mony's 200 foot game).
Gaudreau > Eberle (huge gap)
Lucic > Brouwer (compared because of playing type and the fact I think the Flames will play Brouwer in a top 6 role)
Backlund > RNH (close)
Bennett > Draisaitl (pretty close but Bennett has a higher ceiling IMO)
Tkatchuk = Pulujarvi (who knows)
Frolik> Pouliot
Chaisson = Maroon
Ferland/Bouma/Chaisson/Stajan and even Bollig > Kassian/Hendricks/Lander/Versteeg
Then there's Shinkaruk, Jankowski, Poirier, Hathaway, Prybl, Klimchuk, Mangiapane, Vey

The defence comparison is laughable. I like Talbot OK but the combined tandem in Calgary is miles better than their tandem.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by wretched34

Oilers finished 26th in goals for, Flames finished 10th. Oilers have better offense.
Stopped reading.

Since they drafted Hall, and the world was gifted with the young trio of Hall, Eberle and Paajarvi (a.k.a. Rebuild 2.0), the Oilers' offense has been:

2011: 28th
2012: 19th
2013: 18th
2014: 25th
2015: 26th and
2016: 26th

in the league. They have never, in 6 years, despite 4 #1 overall picks, been in the top half of the league.

And the media has referred to them as the high-flying Oilers the entire time.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I think both teams will be around the same place as each in the standings this upcoming season.

Within ten points and both missing the playoffs.

Or Captain Connor proudly wears the C at the World Championships while the rest of Oilers nation watches Flames playoffs on TV.

But one of the two, for sure.

[MrMastodonFarm]

The Oilers will always be a young, high scoring, fast paced team, no matter what the facts say.

[AC]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

The Oilers will always be a young, high scoring, fast paced team, no matter what the facts say.

"The Young Turks!!!"