Fixing the Oilers

[A.E]

Hard to imagine it hasn't even been 5 seasons since the Oilers visited the Stanley Cup Finals, not to mention, that the team was a meager 3 points away from their last post-season trip in 2007-08. A lot has gone wrong with Edmonton since watching the Lightning hoist the cup and the franchise finally seems to be in position to totally transition towards a brighter future.

What needs to happen? (Cue SG89. or SGeightnine, whatever)

Taylor Hall instantly becomes a flagship player the minute he's taken 1st overall on January 25th. Around him, the Oilers do have some promising, young 'spects coming up but what of the veterans?

Word off the hot stove is that the Oilers' offseason will start by parting ways with veteran players who are on the finals years of their deals. Yes, this list does include Ethan Moreau, Patrick O'Sullivan and Robert Nilsson.

 

[The Guid]

Rumor was they were looking at Jason Spezza. Him and Hall add some desperately needed scoring. They have some decent trade bait but the problem is their contracts. I can see them trying to add another scorer and a solid defenseman.

 

[Oiler35]

I'll tell you what needs to happen.

We need a <Censored>ing scoring team, and a goalie.
I'll make a thread that expands later.

 

[A.E]

Horcoff 3/$5.5M, Souray 2/$5.4M, Penner 2/$4.5M, Hemsky 1/$4.1M, Gilbert & Whitney 3/$4.0M, Khabibulin 3/$3.75M

Some bad contracts indeed and its time to tear this team down even farther, so the build back up is much better. Start trying to package the older players with more unappealing contracts. Target teams like Atlanta or Tampa, anybody with a good amount of cap room. Say 'goodbye' to Dustin Penner, get a nice pick or young defensive 'spect in a trade for Souray, and trade f'ing Hemsky. Hemsky is the team's current best player/scorer and he's only 26 but lets look at 2 facts: 1, how is he by the time Hall or Seguin are as dominant as Crosby/Ovechkin? 2, he's already making $4.1M per, do you really want to give him something in the $6-$7M range next deal?

TFP reports that the Oilers are shopping the #1 overall pick in the draft. Unless the Penguins call and offer Malkin, I can't see any reason to trade out of that spot. Edmonton trading the pick would signal to me that they are merely looking to patch up the bad team they already have...rather than doing the obvious and totally restructuring it.

I could agree with a move down to the 2nd overall pick though.

 

[The Guid]

There was some reported scenario where the Bruins would take on Souray's mammoth contract to swap picks with the Oilers. I personally want nothing to do with that. I wouldn't mind if they went after Whitney though.

 

[A.E]

There was some reported scenario where the Bruins would take on Souray's mammoth contract to swap picks with the Oilers. I personally want nothing to do with that. I wouldn't mind if they went after Whitney though.

Ouch, no way do I buy that rumor. The Bruins are more than content sitting at 2 & taking Seguin...even better for them if it ends up being Hall.

 

[The Guid]

Exactly, it's just like the Spezza rumor someone was trying to spread (Spezza for the 2nd). The Bruins are content. I remember hearing another 'different' scenario about swaping picks. The Oilers were very impressed with Vladimir Sobotka when they played us and I heard before that Boston would let him go (he's an RFA) to Edmonton for the 1st or something like that. It's a tricky situation.

 

[A.E]

Exactly, it's just like the Spezza rumor someone was trying to spread (Spezza for the 2nd). The Bruins are content. I remember hearing another 'different' scenario about swaping picks. The Oilers were very impressed with Vladimir Sobotka when they played us and I heard before that Boston would let him go (he's an RFA) to Edmonton for the 1st or something like that. It's a tricky situation.

Recchi is 42 and the Bruins were already content in giving up Kessel b/c of their current depth at center. As a Bruins' fan, I would have wet dreams over the possibility of Milan Lucic clearing the offensive zone for Taylor Hall to do nothing but score. That in mind, I think the Bruins would be more than willing to move up to #1...but I only see it happening if the Oilers call up and say: "We want Seguin, let's make a deal."

 

[Mooche]

Well. To take the first step in the right path - they need to take Hall and not Seguin. Both players should be very good in their own right, but Hall brings that scoring ability and the highlight reel plays that will fill the seats in the arena. Hall has greatly improved since his last stint in the World Junior Championships for Canada, to this past Memorial Cup, his game has gotten a lot better. I think that Edmonton must realize a lot of their youth potential that they have. They have one hell of a player in Jordan Eberle, and his time might just about now. He has been sitting in the wings for a while and I think Oilers need to see on what scale he can produce.

 

[A.E]

Quinn out as Oilers coach, Renney promoted

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP)—Pat Quinn is out as coach of the Edmonton Oilers after finishing last in the NHL standings in his first season. Assistant coach Tom Renney has been promoted to be his replacement.

The Oilers say Tuesday that Quinn is moving into the front office as a senior adviser, making room for Renney—a former head coach of the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks. Edmonton was 27-48-8 with Quinn behind the bench, 33 points below the playoff cutoff in the Western Conference.

Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini says a succession plan had been in place for Renney take over for Quinn, but added during a news conference Tuesday that the process was accelerated.

Quinn replaced fired coach Craig MacTavish on May 26, 2009. It was Quinn’s first head coaching position since being dismissed by Toronto in 2006.

Ugh, I freaking Tom Renney.

 

[Oiler35]

I think Renney could do well with the team, like he did with New York.

 

[The Guid]

Good, I hate Pat Quinn. So hopefully, for the Oilers, Renney does well