gr8one: JDD does not suck. I would actually kind of like to see how JDD does with the added pressure of being the “starter” for a few games.NorwegianOiler, I love you, and fjords are awesome.

Hehehe. Fjords are good. They allow the sea to invade the land. Or vice versa?

The real break down last night was with the Oilers’ defensive play. They were victimized several times in their own zone.

But you know what, I am certain they’ll learn from those mistakes and have a big game tomorrow. Really, Chicago is going to be the bane of our existence this year. Every year we have a team we hate to play. This year, Chicago is likely going to romp us everytime we play them, but that’s just because they’re such a good team.

NorwegianOiler, I love you, and fjords are awesome.

You’re preaching doom at every corner my friend. To make us really scared write a “everything is going to be fine”-post

New game tomorrow. It, as all the others, starts at 0-0.

Racki: I’m not a fan of moving Visnovsky or Souray, and to a lesser extent Staios (I think I’m his only fan). I think we just still need some guys that can actually play the position to teach these other guys. And well, Visnovsky may be 32 or whatever, but he shows no sign of slowing down. If anything, he’s at his peak. Staios is obviously on the decline, but he’s having a Steady-Steve year so far. I can wait the extra year for his contract to expire.Moreau, Pisani, Strudwick, Nilsson, however.. they all have better options here. I mean, there’s someone in our lineup that can easily replace any of those guys.
I’m just thinking out loud though, cause I’m still not 100% sold on tanking it just because we hit a big rough patch in the early goings of the season. But it’s an option I wouldn’t be against, is all I mean. But it sounds more like you’re suggesting just dropping dead weight and seeing where what we have takes us. That is something I’m sure I’ve said in the past too.Either way, I’d like to see them say go buy to a few players by the end of this year. Namely the players mentioned above.

yeah, you’re right, I guess “dropping dead weight” is a way better of articulating what I meant, I certainly would never advocate tanking just for the sake of tanking just to get a lottery pick, but instead drop some dead weight/salary and see what we have, and if that means we end up with a lottery pick, great, and all the better for the re-build.t There would still be the possibility that with the remaining players we could be very pleasantly surprised.

Penner Brule Hemsky
JFJ O’Sullivan Comrie
Cogliano Gagner Potulny
Reddox Stone Stortini

Souray Staios
Grebeshkov Gilbert
Smid Chorney/Peckham

I mean, really, that roster doesn’t look half bad, and that’s without taking into consideration whatever we might be getting in return for the players we ship out.

nor is it taking into consideration the potential impact next year of a more seasoned pro ready Eberle, MPS and even Omark, plus we’ll have a stockpile of picks, the money to resign our RFA’s and some leftover to possibly fill some other holes if needed via free agency.

honestly, the more I think of it, the more I like the idea.

although I do agree with you in Visnovsky, I’d really hate to see him go, but on the other hand, he would arguably get us the best immediate return, not to mention his hefty cap hit. plus we retain our young guys for a more long term prospectus.

Lastly, and not to sound redundant, but I actually do have some faith left that once we become healthy we can really turn things around, and am not opposed to remaining patient, but I doubt I’ll have much patience if mid-season comes around and we’re the same, or worse.

Moreau, Pisani, Strudwick, Nilsson, however.. they all have better options here. I mean, there’s someone in our lineup that can easily replace any of those guys.

I’m just thinking out loud though, cause I’m still not 100% sold on tanking it just because we hit a big rough patch in the early goings of the season. But it’s an option I wouldn’t be against, is all I mean. But it sounds more like you’re suggesting just dropping dead weight and seeing where what we have takes us. That is something I’m sure I’ve said in the past too.

Either way, I’d like to see them say go buy to a few players by the end of this year. Namely the players mentioned above.

Racki: It’s definitely far too early to write the season off, but I’d be all for it if they tanked and got a top-5 pick. The top 2 picks are expected to be phenomenaly good, but I’m not sure how deep it is after that. There’s still a lot of season to turn things around, but I’d be ok with tanking. Bonus points if they drop some dead weight in the form of contracts mentioned many times before

agreed, in some other thread recently I suggested this and most if not all disagreed with me, although, I think some took my comments to say that I was suggesting that the team intentionally tank, but that’s not really what I meant.

I meant more along the lines of getting rid of most of the vets mfor youth and picks, and really start a true rebuild, and let the chips fall where they may.

in other words, get rid of Visser for a young forward and/or younger shutdown D and/or picks.(I love Visser, but he’s old, and I want to keep Souray for his leadership plus he’d likely bring the highest return)

Get rid of Pisani, Moreau, Staios, Strudwick for prospects/picks.

and if possible shed Horcoff’s salary.

that would leave us with still a really good, young core to build around, lots of cap space, and an incredible futre with Eberle, MPS, Omark, and whatever other top prospects/picks we’d be acquiring, not to mention the top 5 pick we’d likely get by doing the above.

but we’d still have Penner, Hemsky, Gagner, Cogs, O’Sullivan, Brule, Grebs, Gilbert, Smid and Souray, that’s a damn good looking young core to build around.

Btw, I’d still prefer they put the effort into making it to the playoffs though. I’d just rather not see them finish 10th or 11th in the conference. Either make it into the playoffs or completely blow it… none of this in between stuff.