Rumor: Rumors & Proposals Thread: Help Wanted

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Thank god for that

Haha… doesn’t make what you said any less false.

 

[Sheikyerbouti]

Realistically, who are the moveable pieces on the team?

Our offseason for cap space

 

[BlackZer0]

Our offseason for cap space

20mil in cap space. Currently with 9 forwards, 4 dmen and 2 goalies signed for next season. This could change depending on TDL.

Bouchard and Emberson are taking half or more easily. That leaves under 10mil left. Team will need forward depth, RHD for Nurse (not cheap) and a goalie upgrade (not cheap).

That Nurse contract is really a big hindrance.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

No option for a top line defenseman.

I wouldn't write it off. I think the pressure is on and If one is available I could see it.

I think they know the bigger need is a top forward.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

Accountable for what? The guy that brought the guy in is gone. If Kane comes back, it's par the course for his history of self-serving behavior. But you hope the guy has learned his lessons and recognizes that there's nothing to gain by pushing his way back into the lineup.

But if you want to be realistic. He was forced to sit in Game 7 of the Cup Finals in a series that he was deemed healthy. He might have a reason to hold a grudge if he's that petty.

Kane has two choices. Sit until playoffs or be traded.

Isn't there a good chance he is traded in the offseason anyways?

 

[McDrai]

I would be looking to trade Bouchard. There is a potential blockbuster trade waiting to be made with Buffalo.

Something around Bouchard + good prospect/pick (O’Reilly?) for Byram and Peterka would be interesting.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

Is Jonathan Quick any good? Can he handle a work load or is he the back up to Skinner? I also thought Skinner doesn't play well when he is sitting?

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

I would be looking to trade Bouchard. There is a potential blockbuster trade waiting to be made with Buffalo.

Something around Bouchard + good prospect/pick (O’Reilly?) for Byram and Peterka would be interesting.

Good for you, when I say it I get ripped a new one lol.

Bouchard is not going to be a top guy in this league, so depending on his AAV you have to trade him.

We won't trade Bouchard, but it's fun to theorize. (we'd get another good young piece back)

 

[McDrai]

Good for you, when I say it I get ripped a new one lol.

Bouchard Is not going to be a top guy in this league, so depending on his AAV you have to trade him.

We won't trade Bouchard, but it's fun to theorize. (we'd get another good young piece back)

Anyone who watches Oilers games can tell that Bouchard doesn’t have the hockey IQ to be the go to guy on a team. I’m frankly sick of his boneheaded decision making and feel like it would be a big mistake to pay him 10+ mil. We need to go in a different direction in my opinion.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

I did mention before that are starting 6 Defensemen wouldn't change, but after this horrific road trip I'm starting to wonder that if we found a 5/6 guy to slap with Nurse that maybe Kulak and Klingberg would be the 3rd pair with Emberson fighting it out for some ice.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Is Jonathan Quick any good? Can he handle a work load or is he the back up to Skinner? I also thought Skinner doesn't play well when he is sitting?

He's better than Pickard and much more experienced than Skinner. He can't play everyday, I don't believe, but he's a better #2, that said they still need to replace Skinner in this, a clean slate for the entire position.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

Anyone who watches Oilers games can tell that Bouchard doesn’t have the hockey IQ to be the go to guy on a team. I’m frankly sick of his boneheaded decision making and feel like it would be a big mistake to pay him 10+ mil. We need to go in a different direction in my opinion.

That is why I brought it up last year. He had good/great offensive moments, but he still had these brain dead moments that were evident they would always be present.

Also last year you see that compared to other top D (Hughes, Makar, Josi) that his east west athletic ability is not amazing. This season Bouchard is shooting a lot of pucks of shin pads, where you watch a more mobile guy like Klingberg get pucks through and on net.

Anyways we shouldn't discuss Bouchard in this rumour thread (IMO) so it's best we stop, but for the Oilers sake I hope down the stretch and in the playoffs he goes on a real heater

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

He's better than Pickard and much more experienced than Skinner. He can't play everyday, I don't believe, but he's a better #2, that said they still need to replace Skinner in this, a clean slate for the entire position.

Is this J. Quick rumour legit, Or is that girl just spewing stuff?

 

[soothsayer]

Is Jonathan Quick any good? Can he handle a work load or is he the back up to Skinner? I also thought Skinner doesn't play well when he is sitting?

Skinner doesn't play well when he sits for extended periods. He also doesn't play well when he has consistent starts.

 

[CupofOil]

I started the day feeling pretty down about the team and now I feel like, as always, many posters here are taking it way too far. Up until this losing streak the team was still playing like an elite team, and the metrics back that up. There's still time for guys to turn it around. A lot of hyperbole going on around here. A lot of the same things we heard before the team went to the Finals last season (team is cooked, can't win with Skinner, would be lucky to make it through two rounds).

There will be changes at the deadline. A few tweaks could get the team going again, no doubt in my mind.

Actually they were playing like trash well before the losing streak started, this goes back to the Buffalo game in late January when Buffalo badly outplayed them and they somehow won then started a stretch of getting outplayed by mediocre teams culminating with the ugly Colorado loss going into the break. Bad habits have dominated their game for over a month now.

Sure they can turn it around but the Oilers haven't played this poorly this late in the season in a long time (this is usually when the Oilers start peaking) and to top it off they might be stuck with no cap space and be unable to upgrade the flawed roster at the deadline. I'm usually one of the more optimistic fans but I'm just not feeling it with this team.

 

[belair]

Kane has two choices. Sit until playoffs or be traded.

Isn't there a good chance he is traded in the offseason anyways?

I don't see how he isn't.

 

[soothsayer]

Actually they were playing like trash well before the losing streak started, this goes back to the Buffalo game in late January when Buffalo badly outplayed them and they somehow won then started a stretch of getting outplayed by mediocre teams culminating with the ugly Colorado loss going into the break. Bad habits have dominated their game for over a month now.

Sure they can turn it around but the Oilers haven't played this poorly this late in the season in a long time (this is usually when the Oilers start peaking) and to top it off they might be stuck with no cap space and be unable to upgrade the flawed roster at the deadline. I'm usually one of the more optimistic fans but I'm just not feeling it with this team.

Yeah, this isn't just rust from the break. They've looked like a near lottery team since that Buffalo game. As some here have pointed out, that's around the time that illness started to run through the dressing room. But their continued atrocious play over a month later throws that theory out the window.

I don't want to beat a dead horse, but their decline coincided with the consistently and especially horrific goaltending during that time. The effect that bad goaltending can have on a team is often underrated by people like Gregor and Rishaug etc. It can destroy a team. And I think that has played a big part in the Oilers significant struggle the past month+.

 

[CupofOil]

If has a nmc what is management supposed to do if he doesn’t play along? I mean I hope he does. But we will find out soon enough.

They should get shitcanned because they should have had a contingency plan in place for months just in case this very thing happened that Kane might come back. Instead they signed nothings like Kapanen and Klingberg killing their ability to accrue cap space and now it's hope and pray that Kane doesn't come back for the regular season or have zero deadline flexibility in an "all in" season. People need to get fired for this incompetence if indeed they end up with zero deadline flexibility and are forced into a money in money out situation or, god forbid, attach a 2nd or higher to rid of the Kane contract. What a shit show that could have been avoided altogether.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

I don't see how he isn't.

This is where there could be a bit of an issue. Kane plays ball with us and does everything we ask of him and the we turn around and trade him lol. Can't we see the problem here?

 

[brentashton]

Good for you, when I say it I get ripped a new one lol.

Bouchard is not going to be a top guy in this league, so depending on his AAV you have to trade him.

We won't trade Bouchard, but it's fun to theorize. (we'd get another good young piece back)

But when he says it, he does it with a European accent, so it sounds more romantic. ;/

Trading Bouchard for as bad as he has been, seems like folly. I believe he will come around. He will never be a complete D, that’s just not his DNA. But there is no reason he can’t be a serviceable Dplayer with his huge offensive upside. Byram isn’t close to being a replacement in my humble opinion.

When you look around the league, there isn’t much else available that is a comparable that you could deal for. Most younger offensive players have all recently signed 7-8 mega deals themselves (Power, Dahlin, Hronek, Hughes). I think we are stuck paying Bouchard and trying to straighten his game out.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

They should get shitcanned because they should have had a contingency plan in place for months just in case this very thing happened that Kane might come back. Instead they signed nothings like Kapanen and Klingberg killing their ability to accrue cap space and now it's hope and pray that Kane doesn't come back for the regular season or have zero deadline flexibility in an "all in" season. People need to get fired for this incompetence if indeed they end up with zero deadline flexibility and are forced into a money in money out situation or, god forbid, attach a 2nd or higher to rid of the Kane contract. What a shit show that could have been avoided altogether.

Yes, but that is why we know that we have Kane's cap hit available. He plays ball or is traded.

What are we suppose to come out and say "Hey everyone we are cheaters like Vegas, look at us!"

If we knew we didn't have Money at the TDL we don't go give Klingberg 1.8 and bow the flexibility.

 

[brentashton]

If has a nmc what is management supposed to do if he doesn’t play along? I mean I hope he does. But we will find out soon enough.

Kane’s contract changed to a modified 16 team list,effective today.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Yes, but that is why we know that we have Kane's cap hit available. He plays ball or is traded.

What are we suppose to come out and say "Hey everyone we are cheaters like Vegas, look at us!"

If we knew we didn't have Money at the TDL we don't go give Klingberg 1.8 and bow the flexibility.

I mean, or Klingberg is their deadline move. Wouldn’t be the dumbest thing this org has done at the deadline.

Kane’s contract changed to a modified 16 team list,effective today.

What a way to spend a 1st.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

I mean, or Klingberg is their deadline move. Wouldn’t be the dumbest thing this org has done at the deadline.

Way too much pressure to win and compete.

You can't have Kane's cap hit available and not use it, you just can't

 

[brentashton]

You have to remember, Kane can be a loose cannon. If the Oilers made him sit, don’t think for a second he wouldn’t blow the whistle. The league would investigate, find the Oilers in the wrong, penalize them with draft picks taken away and not just Vegas and Tampa but the league laughs at us again. The Oilers should know better anyways trying to bury a guy on LTIR. The league is going to watch every move they make

If he’s adamant about playing before the season ends, then he has to be traded. Which sucks because he can be effective.

Yup. The PA would grieve that all day long. And why not, if he’s cleared to play and wants to.