City of Champions?!

[Oiler35]

Just 4 years ago to last night, the Edmonton Oilers won off of a Fernado Pisani goal in overtime, that sent the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals to a game 7. The underdog Edmonton Oilers, the only 8th seed to ever make the Cup Finals, against the Carolina Hurricanes, the 2nd seed from the East.

Now, as we all know, Roloson got hurt, he's now an Islander, and he's never been the same 'Roli' everyone knew him as. Many key players have aged, and left the City of Champions, and have left the team to begin a rebuilding stage, which puts key young players, who will have quite the future, on showcase. Players like Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, Gilbert Brule, and Patrick O'Sullivan, all of which are under or right on the age of 25, going into the season.

A big thing that will be huge to this rebuilding stage: the 2010 Draft, where the Oilers have the first overall pick. The decision to be made: Tyler or Taylor?
Don't get me wrong, they're both great players, who will go on to have great careers, but the Oilers must draft Taylor Hall, the offensive defensemen.

Hall, who lead his OHL team, the Winsor Spitfires, to a Memorial Cup this year, had 106 points in 57 games played during the regular season, and lead the playoffs with 35 points.
Hall, who always shows great leadership, even in big stages (Memorial Cup finals, U18 finals, U20 finals), and has always been able to light the lamp, and create chances, even as a defensemen.

But, is he the answer to the Oilers prayers? Could he be the reason the Oilers will be back to glory, like in the '80s?

Probably not. I mean, he's a great player, that will help the Oilers greatly, but he doesn't help the main problem: goaltending. Sure, he brings scoring, which the Oilers also lacked last year, but he doesn't help the fact that the average GAA of the Oilers is over 3.00.


The Oilers have quite the future, but I wouldn't say that this year is there year. Give them a few more years, for players like Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson to develop, and you'll see a real contending team, that has a change to bring the Stanley Cup back to the city of champions.

-SG.

 

[The Guid]

Hall's a winger not a defenseman lol

 

[footballplaya52]

why not post this in the FIXING THE OILERS thread

 

[A.E]

Both Taylor Hall & Tyler Seguin are dynamic enough to be the long-term centerpiece of any rebuilding organization. I don't think there's any question that the Oilers walk away from the draft with 1 of the 2...the question pondering most is: "Which do you take?" In Hall is a sure-handed scorer on the LW, very creative, and just about as much of a guarantee as a future NHL superstar as you can get. Tyler Seguin offers many of the same qualities in addition to his leadership. Seguin is way above his years when it comes to be being a leader and many argue that he's played with a less talented supporting cast, done more, than say Taylor Hall. Is it the LW or the C? Me personally, I am going with Seguin b/c I see Seguin as the 2nd coming of Jonathan Toews. Not too long ago, the Hawks took Toews, his leadership stood out, he was given the "C" at a very young age, and here we are. Ethan Moreau is clearly on his way out of Edmonton, Hemsky is already a stellar winger, meaning Seguin makes too much sense. Don't get me wrong though....the Oilers cannot go wrong with Taylor Hall.

Oilers' fans need to stop counting on guys like Penner, Cogliano, and even Sam Gagner (to a certain extent) to reach their peak and become superstars. Although I would argue that playing on a better team would allow each to play much better (see Penner in Anaheim), none have shown an ability to put a team on their back and become that flagship player I see in Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin.

You're right Sam, the Oilers need a goalie but that goalie isn't going to come with the 1st overall pick and it would be a travesty to trade away that pick in some sort of a deal that nets you a goalie. Because so much of the success at the position relies on nerves and composure, goalies are the hardest prospects to gauge and there's no goalie even close to that 1st overall pick status right now. But look around Sam, goalies are all over the place to be had. LA is shopping both of their guys, both Canadien netminders are RFA's, and there's even the possibility of bringing in somebody under 30 that's coming off a big year; like a Niemi or even Leighton. Either way, given Bulin's massive contract, the Oilers will continue to band-aid up the goalie position for another year or so. I would see no problems in acquiring a Jonathan Quick...but for right now, there's a lot of work to be done and that work starts around whoever is taken 1st overall on Friday.

 

[Oiler35]

Both Taylor Hall & Tyler Seguin are dynamic enough to be the long-term centerpiece of any rebuilding organization. I don't think there's any question that the Oilers walk away from the draft with 1 of the 2...the question pondering most is: "Which do you take?" In Hall is a sure-handed scorer on the LW, very creative, and just about as much of a guarantee as a future NHL superstar as you can get. Tyler Seguin offers many of the same qualities in addition to his leadership. Seguin is way above his years when it comes to be being a leader and many argue that he's played with a less talented supporting cast, done more, than say Taylor Hall. Is it the LW or the C? Me personally, I am going with Seguin b/c I see Seguin as the 2nd coming of Jonathan Toews. Not too long ago, the Hawks took Toews, his leadership stood out, he was given the "C" at a very young age, and here we are. Ethan Moreau is clearly on his way out of Edmonton, Hemsky is already a stellar winger, meaning Seguin makes too much sense. Don't get me wrong though....the Oilers cannot go wrong with Taylor Hall.

Oilers' fans need to stop counting on guys like Penner, Cogliano, and even Sam Gagner (to a certain extent) to reach their peak and become superstars. Although I would argue that playing on a better team would allow each to play much better (see Penner in Anaheim), none have shown an ability to put a team on their back and become that flagship player I see in Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin.

You're right Sam, the Oilers need a goalie but that goalie isn't going to come with the 1st overall pick and it would be a travesty to trade away that pick in some sort of a deal that nets you a goalie. Because so much of the success at the position relies on nerves and composure, goalies are the hardest prospects to gauge and there's no goalie even close to that 1st overall pick status right now. But look around Sam, goalies are all over the place to be had. LA is shopping both of their guys, both Canadien netminders are RFA's, and there's even the possibility of bringing in somebody under 30 that's coming off a big year; like a Niemi or even Leighton. Either way, given Bulin's massive contract, the Oilers will continue to band-aid up the goalie position for another year or so. I would see no problems in acquiring a Jonathan Quick...but for right now, there's a lot of work to be done and that work starts around whoever is taken 1st overall on Friday.

Alright, first off, neither me, or any Oilers fan is expecting any of them to grow into 'superstars'. We're expecting more and more as the grow and develop, but nobody is asking for 50 goals, or anything, but we are expecting more.

Second, we're obviously not going to take a good goalie in the draft, but I like what you're saying about LA, Niemi and Leighton, and those types of guys.

 

[A.E]

Alright, first off, neither me, or any Oilers fan is expecting any of them to grow into 'superstars'. We're expecting more and more as the grow and develop, but nobody is asking for 50 goals, or anything, but we are expecting more.

Second, we're obviously not going to take a good goalie in the draft, but I like what you're saying about LA, Niemi and Leighton, and those types of guys.

Sorry dude but the way I hear a lot of Oilers' fans talk, it sounds like the expectations for these cats is way too high. Of the 3, I do like Gagner, but he obviously needs to be playing with a better team around him. As for a goalie, who would of though that Jaroslav Halak would be so cheap in trade? That deal is actually good news for a team that may be trading for a younger goalie. Today's Halak trade will be used as a bargaining chip for every team trying to deal for a Bernier-type goalie.

 

[Oiler35]

Sorry dude but the way I hear a lot of Oilers' fans talk, it sounds like the expectations for these cats is way too high. Of the 3, I do like Gagner, but he obviously needs to be playing with a better team around him. As for a goalie, who would of though that Jaroslav Halak would be so cheap in trade?

Penner is too old, so I don't really expect more than what we saw last season from him: A great start, and a <Censored> finish.
Cogliano, with Gagner and like, Hall, would be a dirty combo.


Halak went far too cheap for the Habs. Like, ridiculously cheap. That's like Edmonton giving up Theo Peckham, and Charles Linglet. Bull<Censored>.