Proposal: Proposals Thread: Fix this broken club

[Torch]

The Oilers need to rebuild. It's the only way.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

I'm really reading around the boards that some Oiler fans would give up the first this year for Myers?

Sickening isn't it? If this was after his rookie season perhaps I'd understand.

 

[Jtown]

How's that strategy been working out for us for about....oh I dunno, the last half decade or so?

No Offense , but you sound like a jilted school boy who swears off women after being rejected by his prom date.

This team is short on talent, and short on the right talent.

There are only 2 ways to acquire talent. Draft and Free Agency. Since Free Agents don't want to come here this team has to improve through the draft. The best way to do that is to get the highest picks.

To get the highest picks you must be one of the worst teams. So unless you can think of a better way to get better I suggest that this course ( the one that we are currently on) be the course of action.

 

[Up the Irons]

loser mentality? Maybe you have that. Imagine what pittsburgh would be had they not gotten crosby. They would be a 1 line center team nothing special maybe make the ecf every so often. But they got crosby the face of the nhl and now the pens are one of the marquee teams in the league. You get mcdavid and that could be the oilers.


And yes throw in the towel next year. You think they are winning a cup next year? Win the cup or get the first pick in the draft those are the two best outcomes in every season. But i guess you would enjoy a decade of first round exits just so you can say you root for a playoff team.

Respectfully, and completely disagree.

Cheers

 

[McDrai]

The Oilers need to rebuild. It's the only way.

I don't think we need to rebuild. We have a better roster than last season but we have been much worse. This points to coaching. If we kept Kreuger we would have at least 5 more wins. If we're going to rebuild anything it should be the coaching staff.

 

[Soundwave]

Sickening isn't it? If this was after his rookie season perhaps I'd understand.

If the pick was 4/5 I would consider it, if its 1/2/3, then no.

Myers still has no.1 d-man potential IMO and is probably better than any of the Oilers D.

 

[McOilbleeder]

No Offense , but you sound like a jilted school boy who swears off women after being rejected by his prom date.

This team is short on talent, and short on the right talent.

There are only 2 ways to acquire talent. Draft and Free Agency. Since Free Agents don't want to come here this team has to improve through the draft. The best way to do that is to get the highest picks.

To get the highest picks you must be one of the worst teams. So unless you can think of a better way to get better I suggest that this course ( the one that we are currently on) be the course of action.

Just read what your suggesting. The best way to fix the team is to keep doing what we've doing and has lead us to this point in the first place. I believe the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting different results.

Throwing out a new contingent of 18 year olds year after year won't lead us to the playoffs. And unless I misread the new CBA, trades are still allowed are they not. The same way we acquired most of our 'good' talent on this team ie Perron, Hendricks and Scrivens.

And your plan also is contingent on the fact that we'll keep the talent we already hold until we draft McDavid. I mean, Hall and co., are going to suck it up and accept that the organization won't make any meaningful changes in the supporting cast in this plan of yours for the next offseason right? Not only that but what about factoring in that some of our young players will get better and we won't be the worst team in the NHL next season(aka this season)? Then what? We miss out on McDavid and we've just wasted another season being historically bad aswell.

No matter how many silly analogies you use, your plan is makes no sense.

 

[Soliloquy of a Dogge]

Here's another one:

Eberle (5 years left at 6M)

for

E. Kane (4 years left at 5.25M)

Kane has underperformed, but fits the mold of what the Oilers need in terms of a power forward. Would be a huge addition and I think you can absorb the loss of Eberle.

Highway robbery for the Oilers.

If they could get Evander for a one-dimensional, soft, uninterested and unintelligent 60-65 point forward management would be idiotic not to do that sort of deal. But it seems they're content languishing along with wonderkid #1 who continues to live off his world junior success, a solid rookie and sophomore NHL campaign but brings absolutely no intangibles at this level and hasn't shown any measure of growth over the past season and a half.

 

[Paralyzer008]

I'm tired of the same puzzle.

A top six who underachieves? Check.
A fanbase who wants to undersell or oversell those young players? Check.
A fanbase who overrates the bottom six to enormous levels? Check.
A lack of depth that protreads into our 3rd and 4th lines? Check.
A D core so bad, for countless seasons? Check.
Fans who suggest an 18 year old is the answer? Check.
Fans who suggest a project 24 year old is the answer? Check.
Management who suggests Klefbom and Nurse are ready now? Check.
Development that REEKS? Check.
A cheerleading team on a Canadian team? Check.
A captain who is overwhelmed? Check.
Years of suffering thanks to Tambellini? Check.
An enforcer who does nothing but fight and only shows up against Calgary? Check.
An overrated powerplay specialist with potential who may get over 3M a year this summer? Check.
SAM GAGNER? Check.

I'm dying here.

At least, if I can take any positives.....our goaltending looks good and Scrivens looks like the real deal.

 

[Jeffler]

I agree with that, it sounds like a good way to go. Give them 10-15 games next year, if its still a gong show, then I think you start changing the core.

Honestly is Eakins really that big of a fitness guru? Look at this dude's physique:

And we are no where near one of the better conditioned clubs in the NHL, and then you have guys like Smid and Bryzgalov saying other teams run harder practises. Fitness guru my ass.

Hey, dude who took that picture here

Fitness comes in many forms. Some forms of activity require different physiques. Eakins is a cyclist/marathon guy which requires you to be lean. Also worth noting that most of the Marlies players dominated the Leafs guys in fitness tests over the last couple years

Now, back to the actual point

 

[Raab]

Let's say we get the 3rd pick. I would make a serious effort to get into the top 2 by adding to that 3rd pick. I think we should target Ekblad and if that is a no go. Then Trade back accumulate a pick for next year and get Fleury. That increases the chances for Mcdavid next year and gives us another high end d prospect that we can keep in the minors.

Nah, not worth trading down. Take Reinhart or Bennett then move RNH for a strong 2 way center and dman. Maybe something around RNH+ for Hanzal and Yandle would work for both clubs.

 

[fuswald]

And the perfect player to trade for culture change is Eberle. Hall is too good, we need RNH, Yakupov has at least some fire in him.

Trading Eberle would send a clear signal and break up the best drinking pals.

I think Hall is the culture and others follow. Hall gets the best return, the trade will make the most impact on the others. If Eberle goes Hall and Schultz don't change and RNH may be getting corrupted. Nuge needs to hang with Yak and avoid the party.
Of course this is a guess from all I read but who knows the real truth.

I suppose the problem with this is Hall is the only one with superstar potential. The only one capable of breaking 100 pts.

Hall must go if we can get something (or a couple of something's) good in exchange. 100 pt players have good value.

Of course I would be fired.

 

[BarDownBobo]

MacT needs to make at least one trade this summer that will piss off a lot of people in Edmonton. Team needs a major shakeup, not just the usual changing of bottom 6 forwards and bottom pairing defensemen.

 

[McShiva]

I was just reading a blog about Hall, and that blog called for him to be traded as well. Won't go into details, but it stated it may be for the best of the team if we get as a return a number one defense man.

I agree with that, I think looking at some things like maturity, that most of us fans tend to ignore, it might be for the best. There's lots of problems with this team, and there has been issues in the locker room that have leaked out recently. (NS brother, Eakins saying there were bigger problems with players when asked about the water bottle incident)

Call it if I am wrong, but it sure looked like Hall said something to Eakins just before Eakins went ape s@@t at him.

 

[Paralyzer008]

If I had to list the No.1 most dumb thing the Oilers could possibly do....

other than offer David Clarkson 6M a year....

would be trading Taylor Hall.

 

[Tarus]

If I had to list the No.1 most dumb thing the Oilers could possibly do....

other than offer David Clarkson 6M a year....

would be trading Taylor Hall.

Agreed

 

[Burnt Biscuits]

FORWARDS
Taylor Hall ($6.000m) / Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($6.000m) / Dustin Byfuglien ($5.200m)
David Perron ($3.813m) / Artem Anisimov ($3.283m) / Nail Yakupov ($0.925m)
Cody Eakin ($1.650m) / Boyd Gordon ($3.000m) / David Moss ($2.750m)
Antti Pihlstrom ($0.750m) / Mark Arcobello ($0.725m) / Matt Hendricks ($1.850m)
Luke Gazdic ($0.721m) / Anton Lander ($0.750m) /
Adam Lowry ($0.828m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Fedor Tyutin ($4.500m) / Justin Schultz ($2.500m)
Martin Marincin ($0.730m) / Jeff Petry ($3.250m)
Andrew Ference ($3.250m) / Matt Greene ($4.800m)
Oscar Klefbom ($0.894m) /
GOALTENDERS
Viktor Fasth ($2.900m)
Ben Scrivens ($2.300m)

Trade 1:
To WPG: 2014 1st round pick + David Musil
To EDM: Dustin Byfuglien + Adam Lowry

Why for Edmonton we need a power forward and more importantly someone who provides net front presence in the worst way, Buff is one of the best in the league in front of the net, hasn't had as much opportunity to show it given he's been playing defense for the most part. They have a lot of size in there line-up so they can part with both for a potential impact center in the draft.

Trade 2:
To DAL: Sam Gagner
To EDM: Cody Eakins

A little speedier and is better on the forecheck than Gagner and is more defesively responsible. Gagner is more capable of carrying the offensive load than Eakins and adds more punch to Dallas which could use a bit more especially if Peverly is going to be out for a while. Eakins would fill a similair role to Higgins in Vancouver, adding a little needed offensive punch to a 3rd line lacking in offense. Eakins adds utility like Hendricks that he can slide into center if needed.

Trade 3:
To CBJ: Jordan Eberle + Martin Gernat
To EDM: Fedor Tyutin + Artem Anisimov

For Edmonton addresses both of our primary needs in top paid d and a big two way center, but both fall short of being ideal or high impact long term solutions, but should still fill the role adequately. For CBJ they want to add more skill and an impact player and Tyutin is someone who they could potentially stand to lose with Murray there + Jack Johnson and potentially re-signing Nikitin. Anisimov is more expendable with Johanson and Jenner stepping up in a big way.

UFA signings:

• 
  David Moss ($2.75 million for 3 years)- chance to play with Gordon again and a bit of an overpay and a little longer than one would like but not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things
• Matt Greene ($4.8 million for 2 years)- big overpay but we need a respectable D to cover top minutes as it seems like every other game one of Petry or J. Schultz are having an off night adds stability and a physical presence which we badly need. Similair player to Boychuk minus the big shot so it should provide a little more comfort to Ference or we could pair him with Marincin to provide stability for the young D.
• Antti Pihlstrom ($0.8 million for 2 years)- plays a high speed game and is gritty and physical, a player I like quite a bit more than Joensuu, I would just loan out Joensuu to some team in Europe to finish off his contract. If he won't oblige through waivers and to the AHL he goes.
• Marc Arcobello- technically a UFA

I had another version in my head which I'm sure people on this board would like more, but penciling in upper tier UFA's given our struggles just isn't realistic. I am considering standing pat to no longer be an option, Hall must be quickly approaching the end of his rope, if we have to trade him our rebuild might as well start over again.


So thoughts on the lines:

Hall- Nuge- Buff:
Hall and Nuge dominate the play lots of give and go's; Buff just needs to play big, helps on the boards, and has to be a continual pest and threat in front of the net. Hall and Nuge tend to play with Eberle or more recently Yak a lot which typically involves trying to get an ideal set-up for a good shot which is hard to do consistently any shot with a rebound and Big Buff infront of the net is a threat to go in.

Perron- Anisimov- Yak:
A country man for Yak to play with who has good skill and above average attention to detail on the defensive end, with Perron and Anisimov on the line it would be a bit more forgiving in terms of mistakes by Yak ending up in the back of our net, and while Anisimov isn't a bulldozer or really gritty he is a big guy who can't just be pushed around like a Gagner or Arcobello.

Eakins- Gordon - Moss:
Gordon + Moss is a solid foundation for a checking line and the tough kind of minutes and defensive zone starts that Gordon gets fed, while I like the chemistry Gordon and Hendricks have, Hendricks just isn't a scoring threat often enough to justify a spot on the 3rd line. Eakins adds more offense to the line, but is still a capable member to support the duo.

Pihlstrom -Arco/Lander- Hendricks:
The only way I see Arco and Lander re-signing here is if they are promised a spot on the 4th line, I think if we tell them we won't pick up a center for the 4th line and they just have to compete against each other for the job at training camp we could convince both to sign. Pihlstrom is a great energy line player, doesn't have world class hands but is really fast and quick on the forecheck and plays with a lot of tenacity, it's kind of funny that he would be the 4th Finn (Hartikainen, Joensuu, and Petrell) to play on our 4th line but I'm hoping the 4th time is the charm. The basic premise of the line is all 3 players are hard working players Pihlstrom has the speed to force the direction the play goes and then Hendricks is the 2nd man on the forecheck coming in hard to paste who ever is the recipient of the pass. I seen Washington utilize this with Chimera hard on the forecheck with Wilson 2nd man in, to devastating effect. The line could change the tempo of the game like our 4th line really hasn't been able to do for quite a while and putting fear into D and creating turnovers has a contagious effect and should benefit the other lines as well. Eakins doesn't like small 4th line, but if we had size on every other line like we have it should be less of an issue.

D should be pretty self explanatory Tyutin is a solid stable defenseman who can help both offensively and defensively and Matt Green is someone we are all familiar with who can mash and bang his health is a concern but D like him are always in demand we overpay cause it's the only way I think he would consider it especially if we are only offering a short team deal. None of our pairings are world class but if we have 3 pairings that are decent we should be able to hold our own.

I know, I know, TLDR, but I like to provide some justification for my thoughts.

 

[Beranek]

I don't think we need to rebuild. We have a better roster than last season but we have been much worse. This points to coaching. If we kept Kreuger we would have at least 5 more wins. If we're going to rebuild anything it should be the coaching staff.

I agree. If they kept kreuger and had decent goaltending at the start of the season, they would have at least 5 or 6 more wins and a less frustrated fanbase.

 

[Soliloquy of a Dogge]

FORWARDS
Taylor Hall ($6.000m) / Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($6.000m) / Dustin Byfuglien ($5.200m)
David Perron ($3.813m) / Artem Anisimov ($3.283m) / Nail Yakupov ($0.925m)
Cody Eakin ($1.650m) / Boyd Gordon ($3.000m) / David Moss ($2.750m)
Antti Pihlstrom ($0.750m) / Mark Arcobello ($0.725m) / Matt Hendricks ($1.850m)
Luke Gazdic ($0.721m) / Anton Lander ($0.750m) /
Adam Lowry ($0.828m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Fedor Tyutin ($4.500m) / Justin Schultz ($2.500m)
Martin Marincin ($0.730m) / Jeff Petry ($3.250m)
Andrew Ference ($3.250m) / Matt Greene ($4.800m)
Oscar Klefbom ($0.894m) /
GOALTENDERS
Viktor Fasth ($2.900m)
Ben Scrivens ($2.300m)

Trade 1:
To WPG: 2014 1st round pick + David Musil
To EDM: Dustin Byfuglien + Adam Lowry

Why for Edmonton we need a power forward and more importantly someone who provides net front presence in the worst way, Buff is one of the best in the league in front of the net, hasn't had as much opportunity to show it given he's been playing defense for the most part. They have a lot of size in there line-up so they can part with both for a potential impact center in the draft.

Trade 2:
To DAL: Sam Gagner
To EDM: Cody Eakins

A little speedier and is better on the forecheck than Gagner and is more defesively responsible. Gagner is more capable of carrying the offensive load than Eakins and adds more punch to Dallas which could use a bit more especially if Peverly is going to be out for a while. Eakins would fill a similair role to Higgins in Vancouver, adding a little needed offensive punch to a 3rd line lacking in offense. Eakins adds utility like Hendricks that he can slide into center if needed.

Trade 3:
To CBJ: Jordan Eberle + Martin Gernat
To EDM: Fedor Tyutin + Artem Anisimov

For Edmonton addresses both of our primary needs in top paid d and a big two way center, but both fall short of being ideal or high impact long term solutions, but should still fill the role adequately. For CBJ they want to add more skill and an impact player and Tyutin is someone who they could potentially stand to lose with Murray there + Jack Johnson and potentially re-signing Nikitin. Anisimov is more expendable with Johanson and Jenner stepping up in a big way.

UFA signings:

• 
  David Moss ($2.75 million for 3 years)- chance to play with Gordon again and a bit of an overpay and a little longer than one would like but not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things
• Matt Greene ($4.8 million for 2 years)- big overpay but we need a respectable D to cover top minutes as it seems like every other game one of Petry or J. Schultz are having an off night adds stability and a physical presence which we badly need. Similair player to Boychuk minus the big shot so it should provide a little more comfort to Ference or we could pair him with Marincin to provide stability for the young D.
• Antti Pihlstrom ($0.8 million for 2 years)- plays a high speed game and is gritty and physical, a player I like quite a bit more than Joensuu, I would just loan out Joensuu to some team in Europe to finish off his contract. If he won't oblige through waivers and to the AHL he goes.
• Marc Arcobello- technically a UFA

I had another version in my head which I'm sure people on this board would like more, but penciling in upper tier UFA's given our struggles just isn't realistic. I am considering standing pat to no longer be an option, Hall must be quickly approaching the end of his rope, if we have to trade him our rebuild might as well start over again.


So thoughts on the lines:

Hall- Nuge- Buff:
Hall and Nuge dominate the play lots of give and go's; Buff just needs to play big, helps on the boards, and has to be a continual pest and threat in front of the net. Hall and Nuge tend to play with Eberle or more recently Yak a lot which typically involves trying to get an ideal set-up for a good shot which is hard to do consistently any shot with a rebound and Big Buff infront of the net is a threat to go in.

Perron- Anisimov- Yak:
A country man for Yak to play with who has good skill and above average attention to detail on the defensive end, with Perron and Anisimov on the line it would be a bit more forgiving in terms of mistakes by Yak ending up in the back of our net, and while Anisimov isn't a bulldozer or really gritty he is a big guy who can't just be pushed around like a Gagner or Arcobello.

Eakins- Gordon - Moss:
Gordon + Moss is a solid foundation for a checking line and the tough kind of minutes and defensive zone starts that Gordon gets fed, while I like the chemistry Gordon and Hendricks have, Hendricks just isn't a scoring threat often enough to justify a spot on the 3rd line. Eakins adds more offense to the line, but is still a capable member to support the duo.

Pihlstrom -Arco/Lander- Hendricks:
The only way I see Arco and Lander re-signing here is if they are promised a spot on the 4th line, I think if we tell them we won't pick up a center for the 4th line and they just have to compete against each other for the job at training camp we could convince both to sign. Pihlstrom is a great energy line player, doesn't have world class hands but is really fast and quick on the forecheck and plays with a lot of tenacity, it's kind of funny that he would be the 4th Finn (Hartikainen, Joensuu, and Petrell) to play on our 4th line but I'm hoping the 4th time is the charm. The basic premise of the line is all 3 players are hard working players Pihlstrom has the speed to force the direction the play goes and then Hendricks is the 2nd man on the forecheck coming in hard to paste who ever is the recipient of the pass. I seen Washington utilize this with Chimera hard on the forecheck with Wilson 2nd man in, to devastating effect. The line could change the tempo of the game like our 4th line really hasn't been able to do for quite a while and putting fear into D and creating turnovers has a contagious effect and should benefit the other lines as well. Eakins doesn't like small 4th line, but if we had size on every other line like we have it should be less of an issue.

D should be pretty self explanatory Tyutin is a solid stable defenseman who can help both offensively and defensively and Matt Green is someone we are all familiar with who can mash and bang his health is a concern but D like him are always in demand we overpay cause it's the only way I think he would consider it especially if we are only offering a short team deal. None of our pairings are world class but if we have 3 pairings that are decent we should be able to hold our own.

I know, I know, TLDR, but I like to provide some justification for my thoughts.

You should really post more often. Just saying. Excellent post.

One of the better looking line-ups I've seen suggested.

 

[MPStoEberletoHall*]

FORWARDS
Taylor Hall ($6.000m) / Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($6.000m) / Dustin Byfuglien ($5.200m)
David Perron ($3.813m) / Artem Anisimov ($3.283m) / Nail Yakupov ($0.925m)
Cody Eakin ($1.650m) / Boyd Gordon ($3.000m) / David Moss ($2.750m)
Antti Pihlstrom ($0.750m) / Mark Arcobello ($0.725m) / Matt Hendricks ($1.850m)
Luke Gazdic ($0.721m) / Anton Lander ($0.750m) /
Adam Lowry ($0.828m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Fedor Tyutin ($4.500m) / Justin Schultz ($2.500m)
Martin Marincin ($0.730m) / Jeff Petry ($3.250m)
Andrew Ference ($3.250m) / Matt Greene ($4.800m)
Oscar Klefbom ($0.894m) /
GOALTENDERS
Viktor Fasth ($2.900m)
Ben Scrivens ($2.300m)

Trade 1:
To WPG: 2014 1st round pick + David Musil
To EDM: Dustin Byfuglien + Adam Lowry

Why for Edmonton we need a power forward and more importantly someone who provides net front presence in the worst way, Buff is one of the best in the league in front of the net, hasn't had as much opportunity to show it given he's been playing defense for the most part. They have a lot of size in there line-up so they can part with both for a potential impact center in the draft.

Trade 2:
To DAL: Sam Gagner
To EDM: Cody Eakins

A little speedier and is better on the forecheck than Gagner and is more defesively responsible. Gagner is more capable of carrying the offensive load than Eakins and adds more punch to Dallas which could use a bit more especially if Peverly is going to be out for a while. Eakins would fill a similair role to Higgins in Vancouver, adding a little needed offensive punch to a 3rd line lacking in offense. Eakins adds utility like Hendricks that he can slide into center if needed.

Trade 3:
To CBJ: Jordan Eberle + Martin Gernat
To EDM: Fedor Tyutin + Artem Anisimov

For Edmonton addresses both of our primary needs in top paid d and a big two way center, but both fall short of being ideal or high impact long term solutions, but should still fill the role adequately. For CBJ they want to add more skill and an impact player and Tyutin is someone who they could potentially stand to lose with Murray there + Jack Johnson and potentially re-signing Nikitin. Anisimov is more expendable with Johanson and Jenner stepping up in a big way.

UFA signings:

• 
  David Moss ($2.75 million for 3 years)- chance to play with Gordon again and a bit of an overpay and a little longer than one would like but not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things
• Matt Greene ($4.8 million for 2 years)- big overpay but we need a respectable D to cover top minutes as it seems like every other game one of Petry or J. Schultz are having an off night adds stability and a physical presence which we badly need. Similair player to Boychuk minus the big shot so it should provide a little more comfort to Ference or we could pair him with Marincin to provide stability for the young D.
• Antti Pihlstrom ($0.8 million for 2 years)- plays a high speed game and is gritty and physical, a player I like quite a bit more than Joensuu, I would just loan out Joensuu to some team in Europe to finish off his contract. If he won't oblige through waivers and to the AHL he goes.
• Marc Arcobello- technically a UFA

I had another version in my head which I'm sure people on this board would like more, but penciling in upper tier UFA's given our struggles just isn't realistic. I am considering standing pat to no longer be an option, Hall must be quickly approaching the end of his rope, if we have to trade him our rebuild might as well start over again.


So thoughts on the lines:

Hall- Nuge- Buff:
Hall and Nuge dominate the play lots of give and go's; Buff just needs to play big, helps on the boards, and has to be a continual pest and threat in front of the net. Hall and Nuge tend to play with Eberle or more recently Yak a lot which typically involves trying to get an ideal set-up for a good shot which is hard to do consistently any shot with a rebound and Big Buff infront of the net is a threat to go in.

Perron- Anisimov- Yak:
A country man for Yak to play with who has good skill and above average attention to detail on the defensive end, with Perron and Anisimov on the line it would be a bit more forgiving in terms of mistakes by Yak ending up in the back of our net, and while Anisimov isn't a bulldozer or really gritty he is a big guy who can't just be pushed around like a Gagner or Arcobello.

Eakins- Gordon - Moss:
Gordon + Moss is a solid foundation for a checking line and the tough kind of minutes and defensive zone starts that Gordon gets fed, while I like the chemistry Gordon and Hendricks have, Hendricks just isn't a scoring threat often enough to justify a spot on the 3rd line. Eakins adds more offense to the line, but is still a capable member to support the duo.

Pihlstrom -Arco/Lander- Hendricks:
The only way I see Arco and Lander re-signing here is if they are promised a spot on the 4th line, I think if we tell them we won't pick up a center for the 4th line and they just have to compete against each other for the job at training camp we could convince both to sign. Pihlstrom is a great energy line player, doesn't have world class hands but is really fast and quick on the forecheck and plays with a lot of tenacity, it's kind of funny that he would be the 4th Finn (Hartikainen, Joensuu, and Petrell) to play on our 4th line but I'm hoping the 4th time is the charm. The basic premise of the line is all 3 players are hard working players Pihlstrom has the speed to force the direction the play goes and then Hendricks is the 2nd man on the forecheck coming in hard to paste who ever is the recipient of the pass. I seen Washington utilize this with Chimera hard on the forecheck with Wilson 2nd man in, to devastating effect. The line could change the tempo of the game like our 4th line really hasn't been able to do for quite a while and putting fear into D and creating turnovers has a contagious effect and should benefit the other lines as well. Eakins doesn't like small 4th line, but if we had size on every other line like we have it should be less of an issue.

D should be pretty self explanatory Tyutin is a solid stable defenseman who can help both offensively and defensively and Matt Green is someone we are all familiar with who can mash and bang his health is a concern but D like him are always in demand we overpay cause it's the only way I think he would consider it especially if we are only offering a short team deal. None of our pairings are world class but if we have 3 pairings that are decent we should be able to hold our own.

I know, I know, TLDR, but I like to provide some justification for my thoughts.

This is actually really good. If we could somehow package something together to get Gormley that would be unreal

Hall-RNH-Buff
Perron-Anisimov-Yakupov
Eakin-Gordon-Moss
Hendricks-Lander-Pihlstrom
Lowry/Gazdic

Tyutin-Petry
Gormley-Schultz
Ference-Greene
Klefbom/Marincin

A core of Gormley, Nurse, Tyutin, Klefbom, Marincin, J Schultz would be unreal in 4-5 yrs

 

[Paralyzer008]

We're not paying Matt Greene 4.8M

Healthy scratched in LA multiple times this season, he's literally worth 2M right now tops.

 

[Kulleroinen*]

I think Hall is the culture and others follow. Hall gets the best return, the trade will make the most impact on the others. If Eberle goes Hall and Schultz don't change and RNH may be getting corrupted. Nuge needs to hang with Yak and avoid the party.
Of course this is a guess from all I read but who knows the real truth.

I suppose the problem with this is Hall is the only one with superstar potential. The only one capable of breaking 100 pts.

Hall must go if we can get something (or a couple of something's) good in exchange. 100 pt players have good value.

Of course I would be fired.

This is just my opinion and it is only based on my personal observations of these players:

Hall has some issues, but he has a drive to win. These issues are really minor, more like little bad habits that he has picked up. I think they can be fixed.

Eberle has also those same issues and from my subjective viewpoint, those issues are more about his personality than from what he has picked up. Eberle seems to be ok with losing and his attitude is enabling some of those bad habits of Hall. Just by showing that it is ok, because your best buddy also does it. That of course has an impact to everyone on the team. Why work hard if our leaders aren't working hard?

They are the stars of this team, they are "untouchable" and they know it. With that, they set the culture.
Once again, in my opinion the best way to solve this is to trade the lesser but still very important player for someone who would lead by a better example.

It would also be good for Eberle, who I think would be an awesome player if he would be forced to keep working to be better by making him accountable for his actions. In another team with other star players, his habits would not be encouraged and I am sure he would "see the light" and become a better player.

 

[jmoss45]

Just for fun..

Would you guys deal RNH+Eberle for Staal and Staal?

Hall-E Staal- Yakupov
Perron-J Staal- Gagner

 

[McDeathbyCheerios*]

Imo our needs are as following
- #2 Center
- Physical top 6 Winger
- 2 top 4 d
- Third Line Right Wing
- 2 Fourth Liners

I also want to be realistic in seeing what is actually obtaibable

Step 1- Look at and Fill Needs Thru Free Agency
For the center there isn't many Free Agents that I think could do great but two stuck out to me the most. Derek Roy and Steve Ott. Problem is Roy is tiny and we are trying to shy away from that. Ott is 6' and has seemed like a good defensive player for me. His point totals are slightly lower then Gagner's however his defensive and physical play is much greater so the trade off works. So I think we should sign Ott.

Searching for a top 6 winger was a lot harder in my mind because most of the players we would want would have many teams begging for them or are old enough that they are on the declije and wouldn't be here to long.

Instantly saw Moss was available and thought he would perfectly round out our third line pretty decently.

For the fourth line I didn't seen anyone instantly that would be a great fit that we didn't already have someone in the system that could do the job

I still stand by going hard for Markov but that's just me.

Step 2- Trades
I feel like Gagner + 1st to Nashville for Josi + low picks could be a trade that looks good for them. The trade will get them an offensive forward to put in with their defensive heavy team and the draft pick can grab another center for them. Josi would do wonders for the Oilers d Imo.

Other then that I don't see any teams giving up a size skilled winger for anything we have even Hall so I think that's the only trade that will help much or even impact the roster.

Step 3- Fill from within
Arcobello/Lander one of them should grab the 4th Line center role. Imo should be Arcobello because he can move up the lineup if needed. Pitlick can fill the other 4th line spot.

The Line up and reasoning.

Hall - RNH - Yak
This line should be getting most of the offensive minutes and SHOULD be able to score

Perron - Ott - Eberle
This line has two skilled guys, and two guys who can work hard for the puck, it would be the best second line we have had in years

Hendricks - Gordon - Moss
This line is self explanatory. Good for the hard minutes, probably a bunch of pk minutes as well.

Gazdic - Arcobello - Pitlick
A mix of some skill and a lot of rough work down low. Gazdic can hit and fight everything while Arco puts some offensive pressure on.

Markov - Josi
This is a real top pairing. How did this happen.

Marincin - Schultz
Both young both improving very well and could feed off each other.

Ferrence - Nurse
Have the few teach the new guy about the Nhl and not have to worry to much about playing too many minutes

 

[MinnesotaFats]

Just for fun..

Would you guys deal RNH+Eberle for Staal and Staal?

Hall-E Staal- Yakupov
Perron-J Staal- Gagner

Yes.