Second… Hall is going to be fine. In my opinion he is playing really strongly and Horc provides the insulation for him to be able to experiment.

Third… I am one of the tiny few that liked Horc being honest to media about Halls long shifts. Horc said right off the bat that, before he got captaincy, that the rooks would be insulated and tutored and everyone was happy to help… but that their are expectations involved as well which arent negotiable. In the end, horc doesnt lie and when commenting on halls play he made a few points which were already brought up in the room and well documented in the media already. Simply put, he is, if nothing else, saying the expactations put on Hall are going to be as any other nhler. He didnt call him out like some people were accusing, he was simply answering a question on hall and rookies honestly – treating the players with the respect of being pros and adults.

fourth. The COG experiment at centre is a failure and most people saw this before it ever began on the ice. To move Brule off pivot, someone proven to win a good percentage of draws, was even more horrendous. If this was to increase possible trade value for Cogs it SEVERLY, and PREDICTABLY, FAILED. To add to the fall of his already worthless trade value…he has done NOTHING with ample opportunity and talent assisting in PP time given to him and SQUANDERED.
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I really like the idea of Penner with Ebs and Hemsky with Magnum but im not too thrilled with the centre uses. To be honest Penner and Ebs i think would work best with Brule… and Gags could try to work with Hemmer and Magnum while HOrc and Hall continue but bring size and strength with Jones.

So… excuse me Racki… sorry dude… Dump Cogs and bring up Reddox for a Reddox-Fraser-Stort/Mac 4th line.

Addition by subtraction.

Also, Ottawa said they are looking to make a change and they like Cogs. I really wonder if something is going on here. I doubt it, buuut never say never.

hemmerlady:
Gotta leave Hall in and give him the experience he needs. And continue to be patient with him. He’s just a baby. 18!! I have shoes older than that. Okay, maybe I don’t but I think that expression is funny.The way I see it – we have nothing to lose…it’s a rebuilding season anyway, and I think he contributes to plays rather than detracts from them. The only problem is everyone has such lofty (and unrealistic, at least immediately) expectations for him. He’ll never live up to them if everyone keeps expecting him to be Gretzky. It’s 4 games into the season and already people think he should be sent down?I have minor concerns that Hall’s size may become an issue – just in terms of safety, taking hits etc. But I agree with you Racki that he’s a gritty player and I think he can take it.

Well, there are some people that think he should be sent down because he’s not performing well (those are the people that I will call clueless ). But the majority that argue to send him down that are “in the know” want him sent down because we can perserve a year of entry-level contract, and therefore extend the date at which he turns RFA, and also extend the date at which he turns UFA. Personally, I say keep him up here and give him the best shot at his development. Delay him a year, and chances are you also delay his jump to the next level a year too.

Racki: I think Hall has been fine so far. I expected it would be a slow start for him, although I hoped he would fly out of the gate. He has some obvious areas to work on that Renney, Horcoff and Steve-O have all pointed out (laugh). I think he’ll be OK.I also see a pretty gritty player in there too. Someone who can handle fighting for a puck, which isn’t something we can say about most of our other young stars, as they’re best suited to avoiding the contact and sneaking their way out of the fray. He doesn’t look to be a guy who is going to be a physical player though (so don’t expect him to initiate contact often), but he can take the punishment. It’s important to remember his 18 year old frame is far from filled out yet. I think he’ll be a pretty strong player in a few years, and that alone could go a long way.
Lots of debate going on right now about whether the Oilers should keep him up or not.

Gotta leave Hall in and give him the experience he needs. And continue to be patient with him. He’s just a baby. 18!! I have shoes older than that. Okay, maybe I don’t but I think that expression is funny.

The way I see it – we have nothing to lose…it’s a rebuilding season anyway, and I think he contributes to plays rather than detracts from them. The only problem is everyone has such lofty (and unrealistic, at least immediately) expectations for him. He’ll never live up to them if everyone keeps expecting him to be Gretzky. It’s 4 games into the season and already people think he should be sent down?

I have minor concerns that Hall’s size may become an issue – just in terms of safety, taking hits etc. But I agree with you Racki that he’s a gritty player and I think he can take it.