Racki: FYI, I’ve never been a Roli fan per se either.. but just saying I definitely would have preferred Roli for 2 years (and likely a cheap salary) over Khabi at 4 years and $3.6M, even at the time the deal was done.And again, apparently the reason Roli isn’t here is because he wanted 2-years whereas the Oilers weren’t willing to risk two years and wanted to only give him 1 year. Him asking for 2 years suggests that he wanted to be here. The Oilers offering one year.. well.. maybe you could read between the lines and say it was another veteran purge, but I don’t know about that. Not something I’ll speculate on though. Bottom line though.. Roli @ 2 years and ~$1.5M/yr is far superior to Khabi @ 4 years and $3.6M/yr. I’d have even taken Conklin at 2 years over that. lol Pretty much any goaltender at 2 years is a lot less painful than Khabi at 4 years. Bah.. I’ll stop complaining.. for now

Yeah I think he had a term an number in mind and the Oilers new what it was an offered less to save face due to his popularity. I’m sure he would have stayed if they offered what he wanted, but they didn’t want him for two years as you said. Looking back, if you presume the team results remain the same, you should have kept Roli. i.e. Presuming that the guys we got due to finishing last would still be here if that makes sense.

And again, apparently the reason Roli isn’t here is because he wanted 2-years whereas the Oilers weren’t willing to risk two years and wanted to only give him 1 year. Him asking for 2 years suggests that he wanted to be here. The Oilers offering one year.. well.. maybe you could read between the lines and say it was another veteran purge, but I don’t know about that. Not something I’ll speculate on though. Bottom line though.. Roli @ 2 years and ~$1.5M/yr is far superior to Khabi @ 4 years and $3.6M/yr. I’d have even taken Conklin at 2 years over that. lol Pretty much any goaltender at 2 years is a lot less painful than Khabi at 4 years. Bah.. I’ll stop complaining.. for now

Racki: Yah I suppose on that note, in the long run, having Khabibulin will work out better for the team I can’t say that’s so much the case for next year or the year after though.And I didn’t hear anything about Roli being a bad influence in the locker room. Don’t know much on that. I will say though that I’ve heard that Khabibulin is very good in the room. Just he has stunk up the joint on the ice most nights, unfortunately. Here’s hoping he has that bounce-back year Renney is expecting him to..

I’m not saying Rolison was necessarilly a bad apple, I’m just saying he was part of that vet group that got cleaned out. With the complete lack of interest by the Oilers in signing him, I’m kind of reading between the lines in that they wanted him gone for one reason or another. I think he got lumped into the veteran purge as he was obviously very tight with the guys who we know were issues.

I just never got the impression from Rolison that he was a great team guy. I do get the impression he was a great me guy like lots of goalies are, but I can’t say for sure on that obviously as I’ve never met him. I know JDD liked him, but what else is he going to say really? I think on a veteran team he’s a great guy. I’m not sure he was at all happy here with all the rebuilding and being thrown to the wolves every night. That has to play on a guy’s attitude towards a situation so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. His interviews were always good and he was definitely a competitor. I am pretty sure he was quietly happy to move on from the Oilers. Can’t really blame him on that to be honest.

I was just never sold on Roloson. Amazing cup run for sure and that was awesome, but in my mind I just never saw him as anything other than a guy who was almost good enough to be a true no. 1. To each their own I guess. I’ve seen all the stats etc. on Roloson from the other side so I don’t want to beat a dead horse. I hope he gets a contract from Tampa for next season and does well.

As for Khabbi for the next two years, I agree. I would have been really excited to see his contract up this year despite the reports of him being a great team guy, the dude just sucks.

And I didn’t hear anything about Roli being a bad influence in the locker room. Don’t know much on that. I will say though that I’ve heard that Khabibulin is very good in the room. Just he has stunk up the joint on the ice most nights, unfortunately. Here’s hoping he has that bounce-back year Renney is expecting him to..

Fudge: There is no way we could have kept Roloson. The media and citizens in Edmonton were vicious to Roloson. There’s no doubt in my mind he had a bad attitude here late, but considering what he endured who could blame him.

Yeah, I’m not sold on Roloson being a great guy in the locker room those last few years. He was part of the Staios, Moreau and Pisani group and I think it was pretty obvioius they wanted him gone just for a change from a PR POV and also to make it look like they were trying to succeed. The PR worked great until everyone found out the cost of the contract Khabbi signed and the term, so like, three days. The upgrade, not so much.
I don’t miss Roli in the slightest, but it’s hard to argue that he would have been a better tender, but then maybe we don’t get Hall etc.?