Oilers

[travel_dude]

1 minute ago, Thebrewcrew said:

I think they buyout Kassian.

 

Theres always a market for RHD, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they can deal Barrie.

 

I think they have to make a decision, Yamamoto or Puljujarvi. If they want to improve their roster, I don’t know that they can keep both, especially with arb for both. They don’t have many picks, could probably get a couple back for one of them.

 

The blueline will be an issue next year. Nurse is gonna miss some significant time. That leaves Keith as their top LD. Not sure about Klefbom or what he looks like having missed multiple years.

 

I would just be absolutely amazed if they go with Smith/Skinner next year

 

A PP specialist d-man with below average defensive skills might be tradeable, but the return is another player around the same value.  2 years left at $4.5M cap and $9.5M actual salary remaining. 

 

Kassian has negative value.

 

Puljujarvi, McLeod and Yammer are all young and need raises.

13 and 56 will go to arbitration because they won't take what the Oilers can afford.

I would be surprised if both aren't traded.

Can't afford them and they are probably due 3 each.

But I would question if either is actually worth that.

 

As it stands now the Oilers have 8F signed, with Shore being one of them.

6 D inclusing Klef. 

[The_People1]

Well what a waste of 8 days for the Oilers.  Can't help but to think the Flames could've done better... not saying we beat COL because they were so good but it's probably not a sweep.

 

 

[travel_dude]

4 minutes ago, Thebrewcrew said:

The Oilers are already half way through the McDavid deal. 
 

Draisaitl has 3yrs left.

 

Have the Oilers done everything they can to build around these two elite talents? I don’t think so. They need to be more aggressive in their approach to building this roster, because they have 3yrs to win something. Their 2022 1st should be in play. Best case scenario for that pick, that player is a rookie when Leon is a pending UFA. 

 

They need to blow up the D and some of the F.

Nuge is a feel good story you can't hang onto with the top 2 making $21M.

Kassian, Poolie, and Yamamoto are bottom 6 at best without the top 2 players.

McLeod you can build with.

Nurse was a big mistake.

He's like PK.  Big name that doesn't always show up.

Hasn't impressed me this year, healthy or injured.

Didn't really notice the difference.

[The_People1]

The Oilers should bring back Kane next season.  With him, they actually have a second line that's dangerous and it's made all the difference since he arrived. A full season with Kane, Woodcroft, and if they can find a goalie, then they take the Division next season.  Woodcroft has them playing the right way (meaning, just let McDavid go wild and every other line defend like crazy).

 

I can't imagine Kane will be expensive.  He made $2.1-mil on a shortened season. I personally think he wants to play in Canada because the US courts might take his US earnings due to bankruptcy... he's already banned from WPG.  I doubt the Flames target him since we have so many LWs.  Not sure about the Canucks... probably not.  Likely not OTT or MTL.  So... maybe the Leafs.  Kane - Matthews - Marner sounds so nasty on paper and the Leafs need a LW with sandpaper, grit, and dirtiness.  Plus, i'm guessing Kane comes in around $4-mil-per and will give point-per-game scoring.  That's a bargain a team like the Leafs can't look away from.

 

But that's my guess.  $4-mil-per because his options are so limited.  The Oilers should be able to do it.

[The_People1]

1 hour ago, Thebrewcrew said:

The Oilers have to upgrade at goalie this summer. 

 

Smith heading into his yr 41 season isn't going to carry you to a cup. 

 

There are some UFA goalies available. Campbell, Husso, maybe even Kuemper. They need to land one.

 

Heck, throw a ridiculous offersheet at Oettinger. 

 

Ya the Oilers need to prioritize G even if it costs them Puljujarvi, Yamamoto or whoever.  It's so critical that if they lose a young kid, they have to do it.

[travel_dude]

54 minutes ago, The_People1 said:

The Oilers should bring back Kane next season.  With him, they actually have a second line that's dangerous and it's made all the difference since he arrived. A full season with Kane, Woodcroft, and if they can find a goalie, then they take the Division next season.  Woodcroft has them playing the right way (meaning, just let McDavid go wild and every other line defend like crazy).

 

I can't imagine Kane will be expensive.  He made $2.1-mil on a shortened season. I personally think he wants to play in Canada because the US courts might take his US earnings due to bankruptcy... he's already banned from WPG.  I doubt the Flames target him since we have so many LWs.  Not sure about the Canucks... probably not.  Likely not OTT or MTL.  So... maybe the Leafs.  Kane - Matthews - Marner sounds so nasty on paper and the Leafs need a LW with sandpaper, grit, and dirtiness.  Plus, i'm guessing Kane comes in around $4-mil-per and will give point-per-game scoring.  That's a bargain a team like the Leafs can't look away from.

 

But that's my guess.  $4-mil-per because his options are so limited.  The Oilers should be able to do it.

 

I don't think it matters where he plays in the NHL.  US dollars paid.  Only difference is Canadian taxes.

He needs to maximize his contract to get anywhere.

Kane took a haircut to earn his next contract.$6M more likely than 4.

And probably 3-4 years minimum.

 

Scoring is nice, but they have over $31M invested in 4 players at F.

And $14.5M invested in 2D.

Klefbom will help, but don't really more expensive top 6 F.

Crap depth as it was.

 

 

[travel_dude]

1 hour ago, The_People1 said:

 

Ya the Oilers need to prioritize G even if it costs them Puljujarvi, Yamamoto or whoever.  It's so critical that if they lose a young kid, they have to do it.

 

Jack Campbell will be signing for about $5-6M this summer.

Yikes.

Maybe worth trading Poolparty and 1st to ANA for Gibson.

If ANA hasn't watch him play that is.

Maybe Pooly and Barrie and a defense prospect for Gibson.

Scratch that, ANA isn;t that dumb.

UFA goalies not very deep. 

[The_People1]

9 hours ago, travel_dude said:

 

I don't think it matters where he plays in the NHL.  US dollars paid.  Only difference is Canadian taxes.

He needs to maximize his contract to get anywhere.

Kane took a haircut to earn his next contract.$6M more likely than 4.

And probably 3-4 years minimum.

 

Scoring is nice, but they have over $31M invested in 4 players at F.

And $14.5M invested in 2D.

Klefbom will help, but don't really more expensive top 6 F.

Crap depth as it was.

 

US dollars paid in Canada to a Canadian bank by a Canadian corporation though.  The US banks should have no right to come across the border to take his money.  Meanwhile, he owes so much in the US, they could take future earnings if paid in the US I assume.

[cross16]

Oilers are in a tough spot with their roster. It's easy to say they need to upgrade goaltending but at the same time Mike Smith is hardly the reason Colorado swept them. I would equate his performance to Markstrom's in the 2nd round. Both goalies had a really poor game, then had flashes of good but mostly avg to below avg play while both were hung out to dry by their team. Are of the free agent goalies available going to change that narrative? Not imo. Seeing what they have in Skinner is not a terrible idea. 

 

I think some priority has to be given to Puljujarvi and Yamamoto because one thing the Oilers finally found this season is depth at forward. Once Woodcroft came in and got them playing a more modern style they actually good put out some lines that wouldn't bleed chances and I think that was huge in allowing McDavid to take over games. One of the problems the Oilers have is they don't really have impact players in the pipeline so if they don't bring back Puljujarvi and/or Yamamoto who fills that spot for them? They are back to the same problem where they will have one line and then just have to hope the rest of their lines don't bleed too many chances and goals.  If the Oilers want to walk away from Puljujarvi then the Flames should be all over that. 

 

They would be smart to look at Kane too provided Kane doesn't want some big contract. It's not easy to find players that can play at McDavid's speed so if you have one you need to look hard at brining him back. 

 

They've got some options but again it's such a poorly constructed roster and organization that I don't see an easy path here. Really tough choices ahead for them. 

[travel_dude]

^^^^^

Cross, I think what EDM really lacks is forwards that play without the puck very well.  

I thought Nuge was supposed to be their defensive forward.

Draisaitl flies the zone way to fast.

They are top heavy on salary (really just 2 guys which is fine).

Too much on their top D.

Too much spent on middling D-men; Keith, Barrie.

Stuck with a former top 4 D that hasn't played in some time at >$4M.

 

I think Puljujarvi is fixable.

Needs the right coach, since he hasn't improved under 2 or 3 different ones.

 

EDM needs to do an overhaul on the roster.

Have scoring and a bit of grit with Hyman.

Kane was a deadly player there.

But you can't win games when you don't score first often and have to rely on 2 players scoring 3 points each.

Yes, they started winning game 2-1, 4-2 etc, but that was more from the goalies stopping 35+ shots.

Bouchard understands how to score but a tire fire in the D-zone.

And with the scoring depth, I wonder how much of it double shifting McD.

[The_People1]

1 hour ago, cross16 said:

Oilers are in a tough spot with their roster. It's easy to say they need to upgrade goaltending but at the same time Mike Smith is hardly the reason Colorado swept them. I would equate his performance to Markstrom's in the 2nd round. Both goalies had a really poor game, then had flashes of good but mostly avg to below avg play while both were hung out to dry by their team. Are of the free agent goalies available going to change that narrative? Not imo. Seeing what they have in Skinner is not a terrible idea. 

 

I think some priority has to be given to Puljujarvi and Yamamoto because one thing the Oilers finally found this season is depth at forward. Once Woodcroft came in and got them playing a more modern style they actually good put out some lines that wouldn't bleed chances and I think that was huge in allowing McDavid to take over games. One of the problems the Oilers have is they don't really have impact players in the pipeline so if they don't bring back Puljujarvi and/or Yamamoto who fills that spot for them? They are back to the same problem where they will have one line and then just have to hope the rest of their lines don't bleed too many chances and goals.  If the Oilers want to walk away from Puljujarvi then the Flames should be all over that. 

 

They would be smart to look at Kane too provided Kane doesn't want some big contract. It's not easy to find players that can play at McDavid's speed so if you have one you need to look hard at brining him back. 

 

They've got some options but again it's such a poorly constructed roster and organization that I don't see an easy path here. Really tough choices ahead for them. 

 

Yamamoto scored 20 so maybe he will cost $3.5-mil x 3 on a bridge deal.  Puljujarvi only 15-goal scorer.. totally trending Sam Bennett at this point.  $2-mil x 3 should bring back Puljujarvi.  He's a 3rd line crash and banger with average skating, average IQ and average finishing skills.  

 

If the Oilers go with Skinner next season then that should free up lots of cap space for them to bring back both and also get Kane back for $4-mil.  I doubt Kane has much negotiating leverage right now because so many teams rather not deal with his antics.

[sak22]

27 minutes ago, The_People1 said:

 

If the Oilers go with Skinner next season then that should free up lots of cap space for them to bring back both and also get Kane back for $4-mil.  I doubt Kane has much negotiating leverage right now because so many teams rather not deal with his antics.

Debatable, he did himself some favors with his production.  But that suspension and when he took that penalty could stick out to some, just pure stupidity.

[travel_dude]

34 minutes ago, The_People1 said:

 

Yamamoto scored 20 so maybe he will cost $3.5-mil x 3 on a bridge deal.  Puljujarvi only 15-goal scorer.. totally trending Sam Bennett at this point.  $2-mil x 3 should bring back Puljujarvi.  He's a 3rd line crash and banger with average skating, average IQ and average finishing skills.  

 

If the Oilers go with Skinner next season then that should free up lots of cap space for them to bring back both and also get Kane back for $4-mil.  I doubt Kane has much negotiating leverage right now because so many teams rather not deal with his antics.

 

Skinner with Smith leaves them $6.2M or so to resign Pooly, Yammer and McLeod.

Plus another 3 forwards.

Without some major trades with no money coming back, Kane is not even close to possible.

 

But, I would debate this.  Going to a AHL goalie as your viable option with a 41 year old goalie makes no sense.

They want to be as good or better next season.

 

[sak22]

 

So much was left out of this video, but a decent telling of a career in minute.

[Thebrewcrew]

A Smith/Skinner tandem would be really risky for the Oilers.

 

Skinner has only played 14 NHL games. He's improved in the AHL steadily, but he's still a .906 in 113 AHL games.

 

No doubt it would be a very cost-efficient tandem. But if they are only spending 2.95 on goalies, you have to live with gaffes. 

 

Expectations are going to be high in Edmonton next year. If they are going in with a 41yr old and a rookie, it's quite the gamble

[cross16]

5 hours ago, Thebrewcrew said:

A Smith/Skinner tandem would be really risky for the Oilers.

 

Skinner has only played 14 NHL games. He's improved in the AHL steadily, but he's still a .906 in 113 AHL games.

 

No doubt it would be a very cost-efficient tandem. But if they are only spending 2.95 on goalies, you have to live with gaffes. 

 

Expectations are going to be high in Edmonton next year. If they are going in with a 41yr old and a rookie, it's quite the gamble

 

it is more of a gamble than one of the UFAs though?

 

with the lack of a clear #1 I actually don’t see anything wrong with seeing what you have in Skinner. There is fair reason to believe he can play at the nhl level. 

[travel_dude]

I got the sense from the Smith availability that he's not even sure he wants to come back next season.

Not that I like the guy, but he was the subject of blame for the loss by more fans than just the idle ones.

He played an injury riddled season and managed almost as manay playoff games as regular season.

If he stays, he will be no doubt criticized again for anything but perfection.

Not saying there is dissent in the leadership group, but you could see it in McD's face after the Compher goal.

That old, here we go again look.  Have the AVS where we want them and an easy goal.

I think the only way Smith comes back is if he can be the #1.

He doesn't want to end up getting sat healthy for 5-6 games in a row,

 

What I am saying is that he will only do it if he thinks he can be 100%.

Any less he doesn;t want to waste his time.

And he doesn't want to fade to nothing, but go out on top.

Make a decision not be a side show.

It's all ego, which is fine for a goalie.

They are the show.

 

[conundrumed]

Oilers related...

 

[travel_dude]

2 hours ago, conundrumed said:

Oilers related...

 

 

So this was a head office decision to let him go.  Nice, Post Media!

Toronto decides all.  

[conundrumed]

4 minutes ago, travel_dude said:

 

So this was a head office decision to let him go.  Nice, Post Media!

Toronto decides all.  

Yup. Yet Eric Francis was acceptable.

[travel_dude]

6 minutes ago, conundrumed said:

Yup. Yet Eric Francis was acceptable.

Isn't the Sun more like the National Enquirer of rags?

 

[conundrumed]

7 minutes ago, travel_dude said:

Isn't the Sun more like the National Enquirer of rags?

 

With more ads,lol.

[travel_dude]

6 minutes ago, conundrumed said:

With more ads,lol.

 

Quality of Sunshine Girls has dropped a bit.

[sak22]

If the Leafs were the current Stanley Cup champions when you started you've been at your job for too long.  Much like players in the sport, you either leave on your terms or your told you aren't good enough anymore.  Not a good look for Post Media for it to be done this way, but it is on par with how media companies are going about their business these days, and new blood in the Edmonton media is desperately needed.

[conundrumed]

2 hours ago, travel_dude said:

 

Quality of Sunshine Girls has dropped a bit.

Like my standards.lol

This might be a true story.