CAM SHAFT!

Pouzar:
RexLibris,

Sorry. He came off as an epic idiot.
No excuses for that.

Seconded. Someone who has “written a book” should be able to manage a slightly better tone, even inside of 140 characters. Not to mention some punctuation.

Pouzar: Playing your best 6 forwards in the top is beyond stupid.
Gotcha.

Leaving out my justification is what’s stupid. Just because you went and grabbed the 6 most talent players, doesn’t guarantee it’s going to work. I see you’ve already forgotten about McD with Hall? Ya, how’d that work out?

Oh, there are 60mins to a hockey game? I totally forgot about that part. Well our top 6 can play 30mins a piece I guess, according to you that is. Seems like sensible game management strategy in your world.

Right now neither Nilsson nor Talbot can carry a team as a 60+ game starter – they simply can’t – and no amount of hopium will make it so. Good thing is – they probably can both give you about 30 good games – maybe Talbot a bit more and Nilsson a bit less. Both guys have a lot of potential but also a lot to prove and a lot to learn. The NHL season is a marathon for goalies – and just like a marathon – you need to build your way up to performing at that level. Backups are are like 10k specialists who don’t just become dependable 60 game workhorse starters overnight. Running the hot goalie and then swapping is fine strategy for now – it will take advantage of the runs both of these guys can give you in short spurts. But be prepared for this – at some point there is a high likelihood that both of them will suck for a while and there will be much gnashing of teeth. This too will pass

Resigning Nilsson to a 2 year deal makes sense if he can rebound after getting some rest and practice in. He’s a big man – and in his last couple of starts he started doing what a lot of big guys do when they lose their form – flop around on the ice like a fish which negates their size. I’m pretty confident he’ll rebound and give us 15 more quality games out of about 20 more starts over the rest of this year. Don’t expect more – he’s done very well already.

Resigning Talbot to a bridge deal also makes sense but this has to be done by the end of February otherwise I deal him to recoup assets used to acquire him. Would be crazy to let him walk for nothing in the summer. Something in the neighborhood of 2 x $2.5 million?? I think he will give us another 20 good starts if he resigns – and again – patience will be required as he learns to be a starter.

If both guys continue to progress then going into next year as a 1A/1B tandem should be fine – and let the next 2 years determine who is the better starter.

frjohnk,

I said last night essentially the same. Athletes have access to extraordinary rehab procedures and the NHL is not exactly leading pro sports in PED testing, so 30+ players don’t scare me.

Now, giving up our best centre, when there isn’t one remotely close to replace him, becomes trade 2 Chia would have to deliver.

I’m still in favour of an offseason UFA/FA approach though.

No one understands him but his woman…. Cam Shaft!

We can dig it!

NYCOIL “Gentleman Backpacker”:
<

There was a vocal trade Talbot crowd here? How did I miss that? I guess people are impatient this year.

Yeah – I can’t remember after which game it was (a few weeks back), but Talbot was the topic and LT stated that if the Oil flush Talbot without finding out why so many goaltenders who do fine elsewhere end up performing sub-par in Edmonton, then it would be a constant merry-go-round.

I can’t remember if the discussion was here or in the comments section after one of LT’s ON articles, but I was definitely in the kick-Talbot-out-and-don’t-look-back camp. I was wrong.

AsiaOil:
So trading for a big mean 29 year old Team Canada RW dman who is effectively under control for the rest of his career is a bad idea? In a perfect world we keep RNH an play him with Hall and Drai (on RW) until Drai’s ELC is up. But that ‘s the shelf life of RNH on this squad. He’s a good player but never deserved a $6 million deal at that point in his career after major shoulder surgury. I’d prefer to deal other assets not named Hall, CMD, Nurse, Klef – but if it took RNH – you take that deal as it makes the Oilers a better team.

Id like to think that Rob Blake and Shea Weber are pretty good comparables.

If Shea Webers years from the ages of 30 to 39 are comparable to Blakes, I’d do that trade. And I love RNH.

But I don’t like the idea of our top 2 centers being 18 and 20 years old with less than 100 games experience between both of them.

AsiaOil:
So trading for a big mean 29 year old Team Canada RW dman who is effectively under control for the rest of his career is a bad idea? In a perfect world we keep RNH an play him with Hall and Drai (on RW) until Drai’s ELC is up. But that ‘s the shelf life of RNH on this squad. He’s a good player but never deserved a $6 million deal at that point in his career after major shoulder surgury. I’d prefer to deal other assets not named Hall, CMD, Nurse, Klef – but if it took RNH – you take that deal as it makes the Oilers a better team.

It would certainly accelerate the re-build.

Yeah basically makes the window from contention now until 2025. With Drai becoming a force as soon as he has, there is a lot of logic to it.

Pouzar:
Georges LaraqueVerified account
‏@GeorgesLaraque
@realPOSULLIVAN Pat, I wrote a book about my life also and as a child it was as bad as yours, I’m not playing the victim and forgave my dad

What. The. Fuck.

I loved George as a player (until he kinda stopped trying) but really, as a public figure, he comes across as someone who is somewhat misinformed with a major superiority complex and that’s always a bad mix.

So trading for a big mean 29 year old Team Canada RH dman who is effectively under control for the rest of his career is a bad idea? In a perfect world we keep RNH an play him with Hall and Drai (on RW) until Drai’s ELC is up. But that ‘s the shelf life of RNH on this squad. He’s a good player but never deserved a $6 million deal at that point in his career after major shoulder surgury. I’d prefer to deal other assets not named Hall, CMD, Nurse, Klef – but if it took RNH – you take that deal as it makes the Oilers a better team.

Caramel Obvious:
Gregor is a moron.Trading Hopkins for Weber would be a catastrophically bad trade.Unthinkably bad.People who think like that should be banished, or at least forbidden from speaking lest their stupid be infectious.

RexLibris,

Sorry. He came off as an epic idiot.
No excuses for that.

Pouzar:
Georges LaraqueVerified account
‏@GeorgesLaraque
@realPOSULLIVAN Pat, I wrote a book about my life also and as a child it was as bad as yours, I’m not playing the victim and forgave my dad

What. The. Fuck.

It should be noted that Laraque says that he’ll read O’Sullivan’s book now after their conversation.

This is one of the limitations and consequences of social media.

140 characters to get across your point of view/opinion and all of your followers and theirs, if need be, can see it with or without context.

That’s why I only tweet glib remarks and bald-faced lies. Nobody can misunderstand a man who never tells the truth!

Just kidding. That last bit was a lie.

Georges LaraqueVerified account
‏@GeorgesLaraque
@realPOSULLIVAN Pat, I wrote a book about my life also and as a child it was as bad as yours, I’m not playing the victim and forgave my dad

What. The. Fuck.

frjohnk: A PDO of 93.4% will do that to plus minus.
Save % is 89%
On ice shooting % is 4.4% when Ebs is on the ice at 5 on 5.

Here is the kicker

He has scored 5 goals and is shooting 13.2% while 5 on 5, this suggests he is pulling his weight by scoring, but this also means the guys he has played with are shooting a collective and might I say an incredible 1.2%!!!

EDIT: His teammates have recorded 123 shots on net and have scored 2 goals while playing 5 on 5 when Ebs is on the ice.That’s a shooting % of 1.6% not 1.2%.

Bingo. I was just looking into this today.

The entire world is worried about Nuge. While his two way play is a little lacklustre by his incredible standards, the guy is due for a couple goals.

I came to the same conclusion. That line hasn’t been great but they haven’t been the offensive blackhole that they are being portrayed as. The points are going to come.

Zelepukin: No. This is beyond stupid.

Playing your best 6 forwards in the top is beyond stupid.
Gotcha.

NYCOIL “Gentleman Backpacker”:
D,

There was a vocal trade Talbot crowd here? How did I miss that? I guess people are impatient this year.

Drunk and impatient Oiler fans married with a losing streak will produce amazing and intelligent conversations.

I’ve been doing it for quite some time.

D,

There was a vocal trade Talbot crowd here? How did I miss that? I guess people are impatient this year.

At some point, rambunctious will morph into RAMBO, and the Mark Scheifeles of the world better duck for cover.

OilClog: Ebs -14 involves the win streak and none of the brutal beginning

A PDO of 93.4% will do that to plus minus.
Save % is 89%
On ice shooting % is 4.4% when Ebs is on the ice at 5 on 5.

Here is the kicker

He has scored 5 goals and is shooting 13.2% while 5 on 5, this suggests he is pulling his weight by scoring, but this also means the guys he has played with are shooting a collective and might I say an incredible 1.2%!!!

EDIT: His teammates have recorded 123 shots on net and have scored 2 goals while playing 5 on 5 when Ebs is on the ice. That’s a shooting % of 1.6% not 1.2%.

LT,

I was part of the very vocal “trade Talbot for a lump of coal” crowd a few weeks back. Nothing makes me happier than seeing Talbot prove the naysayers (myself included) wrong.

blainer: We need to run..
Home…
Hall Nuge Drai
POO CMD Ebs
Purcell Hendy Yak
Lander Letestu Pak

No. This is beyond stupid.

For one, we’ve unlocked Purcell, something that seemed impossible pre-Drai.

You can keep that line humming.

Hall – Drai – Purcell

You can reunite this McD line and see if they can pick up where they left off:

Pou – McD – Yaks

Hendy is an obvious choice for replacing Pou on Nuge’s line since they’ll probably still tackle one of the top 2 opposition lines. If Hendy slides down to the 4th, then I’d give JJ another opportunity.

Hendricks/JJ – Nuge – Ebs

You don’t throw away the opportunity to test the unicorns by breaking up the chemistry of the top line.

blainer: Suspect we will see it both ways.. A loaded up two lines.. and unicorns.. often in the same game.

One fear is, Ebs being demoted to the third line below Yakupov and torpedoing his summer time trade value. Not many are going to give up much for a $6million winger not in the top 6. Yet it will all but finish Yak if he has to continue trolling with Hendricks and whoever isn’t injured.

Maybe this is where they jump on Teddy’s value raising and ship him out around all star break.

I don’t resign Teddy when there’s Ebs, Yak, Drai to eat up those minutes. If NYI is in their favourable position getting closer to the playoffs.. Maybe he’s a nice match there, with a Nikitin or Jultz or both and Fayne with a side of Korp. There’s a few pieces that would look awfully good in Oiler silks over in Brooklyn.

Ebs -14 involves the win streak and none of the brutal beginning. Yaks -1 came before the streak..Ebs needs to be better.

Gregor is a moron. Trading Hopkins for Weber would be a catastrophically bad trade. Unthinkably bad. People who think like that should be banished, or at least forbidden from speaking lest their stupid be infectious.

OilClog:
Eberlov 22gp 11pts -14
Yakule 22gp 12pts -1

Not a chance do I replace Yak with Ebs on McJesus’ wing.

Suspect we will see it both ways.. A loaded up two lines.. and unicorns.. often in the same game.

Eberlov 22gp 11pts -14
Yakule 22gp 12pts -1

Not a chance do I replace Yak with Ebs on McJesus’ wing.

Picking up on what Steve Smith was saying in the last thread. I’ve also noticed and been disturbed by the the recent flippant use of statements that have an undertone of misogyny and homophobia in recent comment sections. It’s troubling but also inevitable in such an anonymous forum. I’m heartened by the discussion that arises when another person inevitably calls out the misogyny and/or homophobia. I’ve been lurking since I’d guess about 2009. I remember the Pajaarvi draft discussions but not the Eberle draft.

Thanks LT for providing this forum and providing me and many other with hours upon hours of interesting reading and interactions. I’ve also followed you on the radio and twitter occasionally and although I’m not Jewish I have no problem in calling you a mensch. You’re a good man LT. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Darnell Nurse is a beast. He may be playing too high in the lineup but boy he makes me giddy with his hits.

The forwards will soon be thinking about heading into the corners to retrieve the puck knowing the Nurse train is coming at you full speed.. Can’t wait til the Flames and the Sedins experience this regularly.

When we get back to full health I can’t wait to see how we do.. I don’t want any trades yet.

We need to run..

Home…

Hall Nuge Drai

POO CMD Ebs

Purcell Hendy Yak

Lander Letestu Pak

Klef Sekera

Davidson Shultz

Nurse Gryba

Away…

Hall Drai Purcell

Hendy Nuge Ebs

Poo CMD Yak

Lander Letestu Pak

Same D

If we are in the hunt and I really believe we will if we can stay healthy then make a trade at the deadline..

We have an easy schedule in the back half. Playoffs are a real possibility..

striker: I think we may be jumping the gun in judging whether Draisatl or Bennett will end up being the better selection in the long run.Both had great pre-draft potential andboth will likely have wonderful careers.Leon has been amazing thus far and I hope that he continues to demonstrate that he was clearly the better selection of the two.This hope is founded on something irrational but also elemental.More intrinsic to nature than the Planck length, Avogadro’s number, the Newtonian constant of gravitation, or the speed of light in a vacuum is a simple primordial principle.The universe is arranged in such a manner that the fractal emergence of this underlying principle is inevitable and inescapable.That basal principle being that the “Flames Suck” and the consequently emergent normative statement that logically follows such an observation, namely “Fuck the Flames”That is what my hope is founded upon.

Also the sample size is still too small.

🙂

The Flames’ sample size isn’t small.

It’s just that the water is cold.

frjohnk: I’ll admit I was one of the guys that was not overly crazy with the LD pick and argued that LD would become only a good 2nd line center. I felt we should have picked Bennett. And while Bennett will be a very good player, Man, was I ever wrong.

I think we may be jumping the gun in judging whether Draisatl or Bennett will end up being the better selection in the long run. Both had great pre-draft potential and both will likely have wonderful careers. Leon has been amazing thus far and I hope that he continues to demonstrate that he was clearly the better selection of the two. This hope is founded on something irrational but also elemental. More intrinsic to nature than the Planck length, Avogadro’s number, the Newtonian constant of gravitation, or the speed of light in a vacuum is a simple primordial principle. The universe is arranged in such a manner that the fractal emergence of this underlying principle is inevitable and inescapable. That basal principle being that the “Flames Suck” and the consequently emergent normative statement that logically follows such an observation, namely “Fuck the Flames” That is what my hope is founded upon.

Also the sample size is still too small.

I know we’re depleted, but the 30-minute tire fire last night simply doesn’t scream “playoff bound”. More like “bound and feathered”.

The tiny upside I can still manage to visualize this morning (prior to the summer overhaul) is that once CMD returns, these 30-minute score-effect tire fires (Boston, Winnipeg) will be frequently interrupted by “two minutes for hugging the boards” when some opposing defensemen bent on exploiting our Achilles heel by taking the game hard to boards finds it necessary to take CMD down in neutral ice in a flying lunge, stick arm and stick at maximal extension.

Or perhaps, with CMD back in the fold, the score is 4–0 before the rubber ignites midway through the second period and the opposing team’s mojo wilts/withers and they’re too busy being mad at themselves to put on a majestic, half-hour display of clinical dissection.

Hey, I’m grasping at straws here. Someone help me out. Anyone? Anyone? Oh, yes, the officiating! A straw in need is a straw indeed.

No, I did not find yesterday’s result encouraging in any coordinate system larger than Leon’s paddle (which, admittedly—as a break point—could be far worse).

Through all the tough years of the rebuild this has to be the worst officiating I have ever seen. As a manager I would have to ask the NHL head office to investigate this problem. I have also seen the officiating fall in the oilers favor but not very often.

It seems we have really been shafted this year. Chia should complain about the officiating in General for all teams and pay the penalty. Somebody has to address this serious problem. It is costing us games and injuries.

fifthcartel:
So needless to say Leon Draisaitl has destroyed his RE?

Taylor DestoyRE Hall. I think that’s a French name.

RexLibris: I think he’s safely tucked away all but the most heady of expectations for this season thus far.

He’s on an incredible pace and is showing well in many areas of the game that typically belie a player floating on unsustainable percentages.

His sh% is high at 18%, but his faceoff percentages are strong, he shows that he can cycle and pass the puck exceptionally well, his defensive acumen is developing well by the eye test, his possession numbers aren’t great, but he is in line with those of his linemates, neither of whom need prove much more in the NHL.

You know, that Romulus Apotheosis fellow might’ve just been right when he screamed from the rooftops every day about taking this young man.

I’ll admit I was one of the guys that was not overly crazy with the LD pick and argued that LD would become only a good 2nd line center. I felt we should have picked Bennett. And while Bennett will be a very good player, Man, was I ever wrong.

Like, dead fuckin wrong!
Leon Draisaitl is exactly what we needed up front.

Rom was always right with LD. Hat tip to you sir.

Bruce McCurdy: The ref’s arm went up to call high sticking. On a slewfoot.

Give the ref credit, he realized at the 60 minute mark he couldn’t tie the game up any more, so it was safe to call a penalty on the trailing team. Even if he had no freaking idea what the penalty was, 10 feet away from him.

Like I said last night, refs were looking for calls. I just figured they’d call Nugent-Hopkins for parting his hair on the wrong side before they’d get around to a high-sticking call on a slew-foot.

I honestly don’t care what the refs did now. It’s over and we’ll probably see the same load of horse crap next game too.

But the league itself has the benefit of hindsight and video replay.

Scheifele should sit for a game for that kind of thing. It was dangerous and unnecessary. If it had cost Nurse the remainder of this season (worst case scenario, of course, but within the realm of possibility) would they do something?

Or is this like Plotnikov, where the assailant is saved from further punishment due only to the luck of his victim?

fifthcartel:
So needless to say Leon Draisaitl has destroyed his RE?

I think he’s safely tucked away all but the most heady of expectations for this season thus far.

He’s on an incredible pace and is showing well in many areas of the game that typically belie a player floating on unsustainable percentages.

His sh% is high at 18%, but his faceoff percentages are strong, he shows that he can cycle and pass the puck exceptionally well, his defensive acumen is developing well by the eye test, his possession numbers aren’t great, but he is in line with those of his linemates, neither of whom need prove much more in the NHL.

You know, that Romulus Apotheosis fellow might’ve just been right when he screamed from the rooftops every day about taking this young man. 🙂

RexLibris: Thanks, I didn’t see the play live but watched it afterwards and missed the ref’s arm.

Here’s my question, why no supplemental discipline?

A slew-foot is a very dangerous play and given that the game was essentially over, it is deserving of discipline that much more.

Otherwise the next time these teams play we’re going to have a Nurse/Scheifele pound-of-flesh shift or two and someone could get really injured.

The ref’s arm went up to call high sticking. On a slewfoot.

Give the ref credit, he realized at the 60 minute mark he couldn’t tie the game up any more, so it was safe to call a penalty on the trailing team. Even if he had no freaking idea what the penalty was, 10 feet away from him.

RexLibris: Thanks, I didn’t see the play live but watched it afterwards and missed the ref’s arm.

Here’s my question, why no supplemental discipline?

A slew-foot is a very dangerous play and given that the game was essentially over, it is deserving of discipline that much more.

Otherwise the next time these teams play we’re going to have a Nurse/Scheifele pound-of-flesh shift or two and someone could get really injured.

Which made no sense as Shiefele punched Nurse first, after trying to keep Nurse from getting up. Nurse just punched harder so Shiefele’s helmet came up.

Not that I condone either’s behaviour.

So needless to say Leon Draisaitl has destroyed his RE?

Doomoil: Sounds like a smart executive.

I wish there was a way we could see an alternate future where we trade a pre peak Nuge for a declining Weber without a Sutter or Josi to play with and see the type of excuses Gregor and co come up with.

That’s the same thought that goes through my head when I hear these sorts of things.

These guys make that claim and say that they’d make that deal every day but would never have to face the consequences.

Armchair GMs are plentiful and frustrating in the fan base, but when the media guys get into it for some reason it becomes so much more infuriating.

Suspect it is just the amplification effect of their platform. We can hear someone say something we disagree with in casual conversation and walk away from it unscathed. But when a media personality or celebrity does it the holy fires of righteous indignation shall rain down from on high!

Cap world:

Poor HS defencmen yeild high EVGA.
but they often look great skating and moving the puck.
That high EVGA requires high GF forwards.

the median 107/215 10gm+ d is 2.13 EVGA/60

Oilers D:
Davidson #107/215 (-.022) comp 9.11 HSCA60 1.89 EVGA60
————————————————————————————
Reinhart #27/215 (.058) comp 11.17 HSCA60 2.33 EVGA60
———————————————————————————–
Gryba #93/215 (-.013) comp 13.88 HSCA60 2.46 EVGA60
Schultz #62/215 (.010) comp 13.20 HSCA60 2.53 EVGA60
———————————————————————————–
Klefbom #14/215 (.083) comp 10.12 HSCA60 2.73 EVGA60
Fayne #12/215 (.091) comp 12.34 HSCA/60 3.01 EVGA/60
———————————————————————————–
Nurse #62/215 (.010) comp 13.37 HSCA60 3.23 EVGA60
Sekera #40/215 (.030) comp 11.89 HSCA60 3.33 EVGA60

Oiler Forwards: 10gm 403 forwards
Draisatl #4 3.89 EVGF60
Hall #7 3.66
Mcdavid #28 3.26
Purcell #70 2.97
RNH #98 2.80
Yakupov #135 2.56
Pouliot #185 2.25
Hendricks #315 1.57
Eberle #338 1.43
last 10gm 3.32 EVGF60 top 25 pace
Lander #354 1.25

Klefbom-Rheinhardt
Davidson-Sekera
Nurse-Fayne

RexLibris:
Friedman’s 30 thoughts: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-can-predators-win-without-bold-move/

See that in the URL…”bold move”. Heh, MacT’s press conference strikes again.

This I found very interesting after listening to Gregor last night say he’d move Nugent-Hopkins for Weber in the blink of an eye –

The aforementioned to which he refers are Duchene, Johansen and Nugent-Hopkins.

Sounds like a smart executive.

I wish there was a way we could see an alternate future where we trade a pre peak Nuge for a declining Weber without a Sutter or Josi to play with and see the type of excuses Gregor and co come up with.

Lowetide:
The Oilers should get McDavid, Klefbom, Davidson and Yakupov back in the next two (or a little more) weeks. A lot of these numbers (including last night) are basically not instructive because the team is so badly out of whack with what they should be.

I think McLellan has a bigger issue than his teams execution last night: They simply are not that good in the places we see on-ice weakness. Get healthy. That is the key.

The defence is a tire fire even when Klefbom and Davidson are healthy. McDavid and Yak coming back fixes the lack of scoring from the bottom six if they run three pairs, but nothing good can come from this defence. They need two more top four defenders. One can be a short term fix until Nurse matures.

More from Friedman regarding the Stamkos to Toronto brouhaha last week:

11. The wildest thing about his stop in Toronto? A representative from a local tourism agency, Visit Tampa Bay, walked up to Paul Romanuk, who was broadcasting Lightning/Maple Leafs. She presented Romanuk with a Stamkos sweater and told him, “You can keep the jersey. Let us keep the player.” I’m not smart enough to make this up.

Nice polite way of giving the Toronto media the middle finger and telling them they can get their star players the same way other teams have – the hard way.

Friedman’s 30 thoughts: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-can-predators-win-without-bold-move/

See that in the URL…”bold move”. Heh, MacT’s press conference strikes again.

This I found very interesting after listening to Gregor last night say he’d move Nugent-Hopkins for Weber in the blink of an eye –

2. I’m President of the Shea Weber fan club, and was surprised to hear a couple of executives say they wouldn’t trade one of the three aforementioned players for him. The major issue was age, as Duchene, seven years younger, is closest. “Shea Weber changes the game every time he steps over the boards,” one said. “But you should not be trading a 23-year-old for a 30-year-old.”

The aforementioned to which he refers are Duchene, Johansen and Nugent-Hopkins.

NYCOIL “Gentleman Backpacker”,

NYC, good thoughts, I wonder if the Purcell decision gives us a glimpse in the make up of this team?

Trading Purcell for a 2/3rd rounder now seems underwhelming for a 1RW on a top NHL line ……

Does trading Purcell, signal we are going with 2 scoring lines i.e. move 29 to RW and 93 to C

RexLibris,

You’re right. Forgot about January.

Re: supplemental discipline…can the Oilers quietly send in a tape to the league office?

You almost feel guilty after a win like last night’s.

I take comfort in the fact that the Oilers sit at 20th overall by PDO.

Snowman:
RexLibris,

That was a filthy play. I love that Nurse gave him a hard shot. That play needs to stop happening. Its awful and at that point in the game in that location makes it even more disgusting.

The NHL does enough to make it seem like they are doing something without actually doing anything.

They need only look south to the NFL to see how things can turn on a league when it begins to act, or in this case not act, with impunity.