Sunday, June 27, 2010

RFA's, Qualifying Offers and the Future
















The Edmonton Oilers had a terrific draft weekend, improving the prospect list and adding an NHL ready left winger to the current depth chart. Next up for Steve Tambellini is a long list of restricted free agents. Some of these young men are major league free agents, others are of the minor league variety. Here are the rfa's and what could happen in the next 24 hours (and beyond).

  1. Sam Gagner. Samwise heads to rfa status with a $875,000 ticket and there are rumblings the club will merely qualify him. He's a guy the Oilers might want to think about signing to a longer term deal (say three years) at a reasonable price. He will probably cost a lot more next summer.
  2. Andrew Cogliano. Cogs has a $850,000 pricetag this year and a qualifying offer seems reasonable. The Oilers have no reason to spend to the cap and Cogliano shouldn't cost a lot more 2011 summer (if he's still an Oiler).
  3. Marc Pouliot. The perennial prospect had a salary of $825,000 and that's probably his outer marker for 2010-11 (Oilers need to offer 105% to keep his rights). There is the possibility that the organization rids itself of Pouliot this summer, moving instead to a more physical player type at his position.
  4. Gilbert Brule. Scoring winger made an $800,000 salary last season and is probably on his way to salary arbitration. The Oilers have a habit of flushing players who either approach or reach this position (Stoll, Pitkanen, Grebeshkov) with a precious few (Tom Gilbert) getting the big contract. If I'm Brule's agent--looking at the young offensive talent on this team--I cut a fair contract and wait to cash in next season. For the Oilers, I think they might want to offer a 2-year deal and hope he signs it. Brule can cash, and if he gets hot it could be a very expensive summer in 2011. If they signed him to a 2-year, $4M deal would you consider it an overpay?
  5. Devan Dubnyk. He made $700,000 this past season and this is a player who could be qualified and then traded. The Oilers need to decide which goalie to keep and then offload the other guy and that could happen in the next 24 hours. For me, Dubnyk is the better goalie prospect and a player I qualify and then send the other fellow away.
  6. Jeff Deslauriers. $625,000 in '09-'10 and a likely pay raise during the summer. Deslauriers played a lot last season and there is a theory out there that because he played so much his value will be higher than DD. This assumes the other teams were impressed with JDD's play and one wonders if its true. Having said that, he did have some spectacular games and he is the guy I would shop.
  7. Theo Peckham. A $600,000 hit in '09-10 and a player who might give the organization good value in 10-11. Tom Renney mentioned the other day that Peckham is a player who impressed him and the coach believes Peckham could establish himself next season. A big year for the kid, get that contract done and come to camp ready.
  8. Ryan Potulny. He was a wonderful $595,000 bargain this past season but he might not play another game for the Oilers. In today's EJ, Jim Matheson said "the Oilers aren't crazy about giving Potulny a one-way contract. There is a feeling the Oilers might trade his rights to the Wild." It is a peculiar item in that there's no real reason to speculate unless you have legit information and this sounds so specific I think we can assume this has an excellent chance of happening.
  9. JF Jacques. Inexpensive big man ($525,000) and still this is a player I'd let walk. Although Jacques has size and toughness, he is exposed when playing with skilled men (as he was last season when playing with Horcoff and Hemsky). The Oilers have guys like Ryan Jones who can play the 4line role and with Hall and others manning LW this fall it makes sense to send him down the line.

From that group, I would say the Oilers have to qualify Gagner, Cogliano, Brule, Dubnyk, Deslauriers, Pouliot, Peckham. Potulny might be dealt and Jacques set free, which helps the forward depth chart before the buyouts begin. We'll get the final list of the minor leaguers who did and didn't get qualifying offers, but we did get some news early in June from Jim Matheson in the EJ:

  • The Oilers won't be resigning Vlad Trukhno or Geoff Paukkanen off their farm team, which will make them unrestricted free agents July 1. They might let Ryan O'Marra walk, too, choosing to re-up Colin McDonald, a possible fourth-liner, instead. The feeling is McDonald has fit into a checking role better than O'Marra and is a better skater.

That leaves Lerg (likely gone), Hrabal (he's still on their rfa list) and I beleive Reddox who we need to find out about in the next day or so. Have I missed anything?

177 comments:

  1. Gagner=5 years @ 3 mill
    Cogliano=2 years at 1.8 mill
    Pouliot=2 years at 1.5mill
    Brule=2 years at 2 mill

    Is anyone else worried that Gagner goes to another team? What do the Oilers get in return if someone signs him to a crazy big dollars, long term deal that the Oilers will not match?

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  2. - Sam Gagner - re-sign 3 yr/$2,500,000/yr
    - Andrew Cogliano - Not re-sign - To be traded if not 1yr/1.5mil
    - Marc Pouliot - re-sign 1 yr/$850,000
    - Gilbert Brule - re-sign 2 yr/$1,500,000/yr
    - Ryan Potulny - re-sign 1 yr/$800,000 Two way deal.
    - JF Jacques - re-sign 1yr/$500,000 Two way deal.
    - Devan Dubnyk - re-sign 2 yr/$900,000/yr Two way deal.
    - Jeff Deslauriers - re-sign 2 yr/$900,000/yr Two way deal.
    - Ryan O'Marra - re-sign 1 yr/$500,000 Two way deal.
    - Bryan Lerg - Do not re-sign.
    - Slava Trukhno - Do not re-sign.
    - Geoff Paukovich - Do not re-sign.
    - Theo Peckham - re-sign 2 yr deal/$700,000/yr Two way deal.
    - Liam Reddox - re-sign 1yr/$550,000 Two way deal.
    - Colin McDonald - Do not re-sign.
    - Ryan Stone - re-sign 1yr/550,000 Two way deal.

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  3. Potluny will be a hard sell, I'd give him a two way, but I can see desperately wanting a one way, to the point of burnt bridges.

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  4. Brule @ $4MM/2 is an overpay. If the roster is full, he's a complementary player. You can't give them $2MM/ year.

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  5. Deano: Players who score in Brule's range make 2.0 million per year. If I'm Brule's agent I don't sign for less than that. On a previous post here I listed at least 5 comparables who scored in Brule's range and they earned from 1.75 to 3.0.

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  6. You lose control of Gagner with a 3-year deal, since he can opt for arbitration in the 4th, and be unrestricted in the 5th.

    For Gagner, it will be 2 years or 8 years. Since his value is not well-determined it will be 2 years.

    Ditto for Cogliano.

    No one else deserves more than one except Fraser.

    You lose control of Brule offering him more than one, since with a two year deal he can opt for arbitration to get to UFA status.

    People want to hand out extra years on contracts like they are candy. You should only get more than one year when you are in the long term plans.

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  7. I'm scared of Brule getting $2 million. I don't think he deserves anything over $1.5 mil.

    I'd like to see Gagner get signed to something similar to Hemsky's current contract.

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  8. Does anyone know when qualifying offers have to be made? I heard it was by Monday (tomorrow)? Why am I worried that Oiler management doesn't know this?

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  9. Agree with both Deano and Jon K on Brule: with Deano because I don't want to sign Brule for $2 million, and with Jon K because I think that's what the market will give him. That's why I say trade him.

    If we can get Cogliano on a cheap contract with term, I'd say do it, but I can't fathom why he'd sign long-term after such a wretched year. He's a guy I suspect signs his qualifying offer and hopes to be worth a lot more next season.

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  10. I believe it is 5pm tomorrow, and the Oilers are aware. Dale Tallon lost his job over it, can't imagine the Oilers have forgotten that story.

    http://www.fromtherink.com/2009/7/4/937662/the-blackhawks-qualifying-offer

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  11. jon_k - First, I like Brule. I think he's useful (unlike Cogs).

    Brule's never going to be one of the difference makers. Don't set him on the path to be paid like one. I am sure that there are comparables to support my side to, but I am not going to look for them.

    Bring back Torres as a UFA and let Brule go to FA after arbitration. If someone else pays him that's their problem. Don't make it ours.

    If we want to pay some players $5MM, others have to make $1M.

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  12. "If they signed him to a 2-year, $4M deal would you consider it an overpay?"

    Yup

    Brownlee and I got into this one day at ON - Brownlee is positive Brule will sign for less than $2mm.

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  13. That Dale Tallon lost his job over the qualifying offer snafu is interesting.

    It seems some of his staffers made the mistake, and one of them rumored to be current Hawks GM Stan Bowman. I'd bet he knows when the deadline is.

    I'm much more interested this week about the buyout deadline. Any guess which of the candidates will be gone, and which we'll be stuck with?

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  14. My guess is Moreau gets bought out and they hang on to the other two in hopes of dealing them after July 1.

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  15. Anon

    Either you do not understand NHL salaries, or I don't. It could just be me! No way Gagner signs for 5 years aT marginal money. If he becomes a 60 point player locked in to 5 year contract that is a horrible deal for him.........the Horcoff contract in reverse.

    There is no way I pay what you suggest for Cogs or Pouliot, I would give them a 2 year term but at 50 to 60 % of what you suggest. Your numbers are a gross overpay

    I would offer Brule a ;3 year term but at 5.5 m or so

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  16. I would give them a 2 year term but at 50 to 60 % of what you suggest. Your numbers are a gross overpay

    So you think paying Pouliot & Cogliano $892,000 is a "gross overpay"?
    And that they should be paid the league minimum?

    Gross overpay??

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  17. I wouldn't be afraid of signing Gagner signing a three year deal and then holding us up in arbitration in the 4th year. At that point he is going to want to sign longterm because the team and community are good enough or he's going to want to leave anyway.

    Things will be sorted out long before things get to arbitration.

    I know that means potentially having to sign Hall/Eberle/MPS/Gagner all in the same year, but I think that would be a good problem to have. But that means the Oilers have to start being frugal with the money now, because at that point Horcoff's contract will still be on the books.

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  18. If you are the OIlers you want to re-sign Andrew Cogliano to the best deal you can and do it over multiple years. If he is part of your core going forward you want him long term at good value. If he isn't part of the core a value contract greatly increases his trade value.

    If you are his agent you are praying they just qualify him and you take the money for a year and say thank you very much. Then he plays his head off and tries to hit the big bucks next year. It is risky but if he has a 20+ goal season you will have made a very shrewd move.

    Truthfully, it is hard to know his fair market value, which is probably part of why we are trying to trade him. Having failed the odds are pretty good we are going to end up paying him more than he is worth to us. Watch it come out something like $1.8 Million, $2.0 Million, $2.2 Million. I know it sounds ridiculous but we sort of gave Cogs the hammer by showing him how well he was thought of around the league.

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  19. LT:

    Why let Jacques go? Provided they can qualify him on a two way deal, which I believe they can, what's the harm in bringing him to camp and, if he isn't one of your 14th best at camp, send him down to the AHL where he's proven to be a useful contributor?

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  20. speeds: If he was playing hurt last year (which is possible) then qualifying him is a possibility. But he was SO bad last season I wonder if he can play.

    He was a prospect I always liked and defended, but man that was some bad hockey playing last year. I'd walk.

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  21. If you are his agent you are praying they just qualify him and you take the money for a year and say thank you very much.

    Well, the Oilers have to qualify him to keep his rights. Since I can't see them letting him walk for nothing, Cogliano will definitely have the option of signing his qualifying offer - no need to pray.

    Or am I missing something?

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  22. If you are his agent you are praying they just qualify him and you take the money for a year and say thank you very much.

    Besides what LT said, there's the fifty contracts. If we want him to help the AHL team, sign him to an AHL contract.

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  23. I think it would be a mistake getting rid of Potulny. He had a decent season (32 points in 64 games).

    He's exactly the type of player the Oilers need filling out the bottom 6 - cheap, effective player than can over-perform his contract.

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  24. PJO,

    He got thos points playing PP and some top 6 minutes.

    With a healthy Hemsky and possibly 3 hot shot 19 year olds no way he gets those types of minutes again.

    Vish said in the Oilers home movie that they want a bigger more aggressive bottom 6. Potulny doesn't fit that mould.

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  25. He's exactly the type of player the Oilers need filling out the bottom 6 - cheap, effective player than can over-perform his contract.

    It strikes me as premature to state that he can over-perform his contract when we don't know what his contract will be.

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  26. I think it would be a mistake getting rid of Potulny.

    Nope.

    Replace him with a placeholder vet who brings more grit and checks better.

    He is kind of a tweener between top 6 and bottom 6. He scores well but not enough to play ahead of Hemsky, Hall, Penner, Brule, Gagner, or Horcoff. He is competing with Cogs, Eberle, MPS, to get in there too.

    In the bottom 6 he has no business on a toughs 4th line with Storts, Fraser, Jones/Stone. He doesn't check well enough, or play physically enough to play shutdown on the 3rd.

    He really is poor man's version of Pouliot, and that is faint praise indeed. I don't think he really gives you much more than Reddox could.

    If someone will give you something for him, move him. Otherwise try and send him on the wagon train to Oklahoma. He is useful depth.

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  27. I know we are looking at our own free agents here but come July 1st, a depth defenseman I think the Oil should consider is Washington UFA d-man Milan Jurcina. He's 27 with 5 years experience. Nothing fancy in the skill set department but at 6'4" and 230+lbs he can hold his own.

    Admitedly I "saw him good" during the Olympics but he reminds me of a recently drafted Slovak giant - might be a good idea to get a trial run.

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  28. Cogliano could get 1,5 but Nilsson is a gross overpay at 2M$?

    What?

    As for Brulé, something like 1,8M$ would be a fair deal.

    Just have to negotiate a bit. Call 1,5 if he calls 2 and then go on.

    Qualify Cogs to get something in return. I like Potulny and Pouliot. Prefer DD. Let the giant coke machine walk and get lost.

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  29. Stafford of Buffalo is RFA and possibly he is in the mix with a Souray deal? (or Connelly) If so, which of the above players' spot does Stafford take??

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  30. Anonymous: He's a good thing to get if you want to shop Penner around.

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  31. It strikes me as premature to state that he can over-perform his contract when we don't know what his contract will be
    .

    That's a fair point, but I doubt he has much leverage to get more than his qualifying offer of $595,000.

    The thing with Potulny is the guy could be a decent option on the 2nd powerplay unit. I would also argue he would generate more results than a guy like Stortini on a 4th line.

    Stortini's redundant now with Fraser/Jones in the mix. Potulny's a goal scorer and 15 goals is 15 goals. Flawed player? Sure. Still young though, and perhaps worth keeping around as your 13th/14th forward.

    Will be a very interesting few days coming up. If nothing else changes these are the guys in the mix.

    Penner-Horcoff-Hemsky
    Hall-Gagner-Cogliano
    O'Sullivan-Brule-MPS
    Moreau-Pouliot-Eberle

    Others possibly in the mix:

    Jones, Fraser, Stortini, Comrie, Omark, Nilsson, Potulny, JFJ, Pisani, Stone, Reddox. That's not to include Steve Tambellini's declared intentions to sign some depth forwards in the UFA market.

    Kevin Lowe, ''Holy Mackarel, we got alot of forwards!''

    What will happen?

    I would imagine - Comrie, Pisani, Stone, Reddox, JFJ, and Potulny are not brought back. Nilsson, Moreau and POS bought out if not traded. Cogliano traded, possibly with Souray.

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  32. Highlander - agreed. I also saw Milan Jurcina in person in Vancouver. Great player.

    Lots of quality depth defenceman this year in the UFA market. Would be great if we can sign 2, allowing Souray to be moved for quality upfront (i.e. Stafford, Riberio, etc.)

    Here's the list of defencemen available.

    UFA

    Sergei Gonchar, Pavel Kubina, Kim Johnsson, Paul Martin, Brett Clark, Willie Mitchell,
    Mike Rathje, Derek Morris, Ruslan Salei, Andy Sutton, Mike Van Ryn, Toni Lydman,
    Matthieu Schneider, Joe Corvo, Jason Smith, Henrik Tallinder, Brian Pothier,
    Anton Volchenkov, Aaron Ward, Mark Eaton, Dan Hamhuis, Shaone Morrisonn,
    Jordan Leopold, Paul Mara, Brian Lukowich, Nick Boynton, Lukas Krajicek,
    Garnett Exelby, Randy Jones, Milan Jurcina, Carlo Colaiacovo, Andreas Lilja,
    Zbynek Michalek, Sean O'Donnell, Darryl Sydor, Nathan Paetsch, Jay McKee,
    Mike Weaver, Mike Mottau, MA Bergeron, Shane Hnidy, Brendan Bell, Chris Chelios,
    David Hale, Lukas Krajicek, Jason Strudwick, Brett Lebda, Jamie Sifers, Sean Sullivan,
    Shawn Belle, Anders Eriksson, Kurtis Foster, Mark Popovic, Derek Smith,
    Tyson Strachan, Freddy Meyer, Danny Syvret, Andrew Hutchinson, Mike Lundin,
    Corey Potter, Bryan Rodney, John Scott, Aaron Johnson, Mark Flood, Dean Arsene,
    Joe Callahan, Brian Fahey, Alex Henry, Chris Lee, Ben Lovejoy, Joey Mormina,
    Lawrence Nycholat, Brett Skinner, Noah Welch, Nolan Yonkman, Tim Conboy,
    Christoph Schubert, Jay Leach

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  33. Can't believe some here are questioning the Brule re-signing before the likes of MAP, etc. Brule is the ONLY smurf worth re-signing IMO. Kid has it all. Physical. Great shot. Smarts.

    MAP is total shiite IMO.

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  34. Can't believe some here are questioning the Brule re-signing before the likes of MAP, etc

    Money, money, money

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  35. PJO: I totally agree on Potulny.

    Tough i'd scrap POS, Cogliano and Moreau, and let Fraser, Potulny and Nilsson in.

    With Jones and Omark as EX.

    I think Nilsson has a better year than Cogliano even with a Concussion and some issues with the old man behind the bench.

    I think he's best suited to play a top 6 role because he has no issue when it comes to ''following the play'' he's got the skills to be with the top guns.

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  36. To go further....wh are some even thinking of protecting Lowe's biggest blunder ever next to Niinnimakki? MAP? Waste of time and blog space

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  37. Derrick : Because he was in the super exclusive club of ''I played like i gave a fuck in 2009-2010 with the Oilers'' ?

    I hated him, and tought he was worhtless, but his play convinced me, because he played with heart and convinction, and showed the tools of a 3rd liner.

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  38. PJO: I totally agree on Potulny.

    Tough i'd scrap POS, Cogliano and Moreau, and let Fraser, Potulny and Nilsson in.

    With Jones and Omark as EX.

    I think Nilsson has a better year than Cogliano even with a Concussion and some issues with the old man behind the bench.

    I think he's best suited to play a top 6 role because he has no issue when it comes to ''following the play'' he's got the skills to be with the top guns.

    BULLSHIIITEE. Nilsson has no business on any team looking to go forward. End of story. I play any one of the kids Tambellini just drafted before that wasteoid unless I'm looking to repeat the BS thats gone on in Etown for the past 10.

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  39. Derrick: Yeah sure, based on what?

    0,5 PPG with some trips on the 4th line, that's not that terrible. Based on projection, if he gets a full season he's in the 40 points range. I've seen far worst.

    He's got skill, and is able to play with high end forwards. Not a main engine, but a sideguy who can pass and receive a pass. Unlike some guys.

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  40. I really don't understand the seeming haste with which some people are showing Potulny the door. He had a fantastic AHL season and thereafter, did some good things when he got his chance in the show. I realize that we aren't invested in him like some of these draft picks as people have beeen fighting over those for years.

    But on a value for money basis I'd rather have Potulny on the team than any of Nilson, Moreou, Pouliot, Jones, Jacques and essentially everyone else autioning for a bottom six job. Potulny has enough offense to contribute in a depth role. All of his advanced stats are virtually identical to Cogliano and we can have Potulny at a fraction of the price. The only reason not to keep this guy around is his lack of 'name' value.

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  41. Stortini's redundant now with Fraser/Jones in the mix.


    Are you just fishing to try and get Bruce to respond?

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  42. Re: Cogliano
    Would he be enough for Burke to give up Kaberle? The sole purpose for this would be to solidify the D until the trade deadline, and then shipping him off to get another good draft pick(late 1st).

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  43. In terms of explaining "Geoff Paukkanen," I spoke to a guy who works at the journal a while back and he told me Matheson sends in pieces that have very poor grammar and spelling, and he often does so with little time remaining before deadline. He also spells 0ilers with a zero which always has to be corrected. I think because he's a HOFer he might have a small sense of entitlement.

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  44. The Journal probably will have fixed this story on their website by the time you all get up, but there is currently a headline in the sports section that reads:

    OILERS TRY woing boner AGAIN

    Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/OILERS+woing+boner+AGAIN/3210546/story.html#ixzz0s93dWOlc

    I guess I've led a sheltered life, but I don't even know what a woing boner is.

    If it helps the rebuild I'm all in favour though. :)

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  45. Man, I picked a bad weekend to move. No TV and no internet have had me even more irritable than normal.

    I think we're at a point where there's no sense in qualifying Pouliot, but he might be the player the org is most desperately hoping still works out.

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  46. Pouliot and Potulny both 'help the club' for their money. Brule helps at reasonable (< $1.5MM) money.

    Sign Comrie @ $1.25MM (and more like him) again.

    Cogs does not fit anywhere so its easy to find a better center or a better winger (he does neither well) for his money.

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  47. Andy Sutton or somebody like him would go a long ways to helping our ailing pk.

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  48. Bullshit. same as the draft rules apply. BPA. Brule is the BPA. MAP is shit not worth waitng for like we all have been for years,. Kids got NUTHIN.

    Um, no, not BPA: value contracts. That's why we want to keep Smid on our team, but get rid of Souray (quite apart from the trade demand) even though Souray is the better player. Come back once you've studied Cap Management 101.

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  49. Pouliot and Potulny both 'help the club' for their money. Brule helps at reasonable (< $1.5MM) money.

    If Brule signs for less than $1.5M, I'll favour keeping him. But I can't see him doing that. Likewise Potulny: if he signs for close to his qualifying offer, I'll favour keeping him. But his season pro-rates to 20 goals, so I'd think he'd want at least $1M.

    I like them both fine as players, if the price is right. I just don't think the price will be right.

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  50. Steve - exactly.

    Brule @ $500K is an asset.
    Brule @ $5MM is a liability.

    Don't make deals that are a liability.

    At < $1M there's not a lot of difference though.

    I'd give Potulny $1M but make it on a 2-way. (Gotta give to get...)

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  51. To be completely honest, I think that if we keep our RFA re-signings on short terms we won't have to worry about cap space this year or next.

    We have potentially moving out Souray (5.4), Moreau (2.0), and O'Sullivan (2.95). That's about 10.4 million in space. Assuming in getting rid of those assets we take back 5.0 we're still clearing over 5.3 in extra cap space, which should be more than enough to re-sign the important RFAs (Brule, Gagner, Cogliano).

    If we're interested in signing a bigger ticket UFA defender things might get tight but with some of the dead weight on this roster I can't see how it will be a problem making more space. For example, moving out Nilsson and Deslauriers.

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  52. I think the best deal you can get regarding Brule based on his comps is 1.75.

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  53. Gilbert is locked up on a long-term, if they offer both Cogs and Gagner contracts they'd have incentive to stay if they're all together.

    I think signing Cogs for a decent term would help sign Gagner to a long term deal. Then again I may just be reading too much into the interpersonal motivation to remain with the Oilers.

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  54. uni - signing one player for the benefit of another is muddled.

    Cogs is easily replaced.

    Gagner was one of the few guys that showed up every night this year. He seems to be a big boy about it.

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  55. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  56. Deano, I'd agree with you if the other player wasn't worth much. Cogs is a two time 18 goal scorer and still young.

    There may be value in a 2 year 1.5 per contract. If you believe putting him on the wing with talented players will get him back on track I think it's worth it.

    Similar to Anaheim and Rob Neidermayer, who isn't worthless and was a good checking line forward. His signing went a long way to getting Scott in the fold.

    As for letting Brule walk to UFA after an arbitration, that doesn't hold much water with me. If you don't intend to keep a player that's RFA and has some value like Brule trade his rights for pick. Even if it's a 4th in 2011 that's better than nothing.

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  57. get him back on track I think it's worth it.

    I don't. He's on his track it just goes 'round and 'round.

    His signing went a long way to getting Scott in the fold.

    Gagner's already in the fold.

    As for letting Brule walk to UFA after an arbitration, that doesn't hold much water with me. If you don't intend to keep a player that's RFA and has some value like Brule trade his rights for pick. Even if it's a 4th in 2011 that's better than nothing.

    So deal with it now. Putting Brule and the team into the situation 2 years from now where you have to re-qualify him @ $1.75MM after he's underperformed that deal is a bad move. Don't make it.

    Part ways now. I doubt he gets $1.75 as a FA and if he does, more power to him.

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  58. Lots of what appears to be informed opinions here today.
    So just to break from the trend.
    It seems to be be apples to oranges in many cases.
    The players in question all got more ice time (I think) than had they been on a not finished in
    30th position team.
    Are we comparing $$ to Oilers team mates or to equivalent NHL players?
    We keep talking about buying out players but how common is that in the league or how likely are this management team to actually use this tactic?

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  59. The players in question all got more ice time (I think) than had they been on a not finished in
    30th position team.
    Are we comparing $$ to Oilers team mates or to equivalent NHL players?


    Yes. Brule and Potulny got more icetime than they would have had on real teams, and their boxcars are consequently inflated. That's why I don't think the price will be right for either, and support trading both.

    We keep talking about buying out players but how common is that in the league or how likely are this management team to actually use this tactic?

    Oilers management, either directly or through their media conduits (I can't remember which) indicated that buyouts were a real possibility this year, so I think there's an excellent chance that we'll see some.

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  60. Steve,

    What I was saying before was that when the qualifying offers come out today there is nothing to prevent Cogliano and his agent from simply accepting the 10% raise for 1 year. Others will do exactly that. Most will do so because the qualifying offer is as good as it will get. Cogs on the other hand has the resume to get more than the basic qualifying offer but is under no obligation to negotiate a longer term for more money. If he were to score twenty this year he'd be in the $2 Million + club for sure.

    As I understand it teams can make more than the minimum qualifying offer and probably the Oilers will do just that. I'll say it again, given the plan seems to be to trade him the better the contract you can get Cogs to sign the more valuable he is as trade bait (the ideal would be around $1.3M - $1.5M for at least two years). That would make him very tradable. The thing is Cogs and his agent know that this is the plan and so have a strange kind of bargaining power.

    This is because price conveys messages. Cogs agent will argue that too low a contract will tell teams the Oilers have given up on Cogs and thus his trade value will actually decrease if the contract is ridiculously lowball. Whereas paying him like Nilsson will indicate you continue to have faith he will be a real force in the NHL. Yet if he plays the way he did in his first year this would still be a "value" contract. He'll also point to the vast improvement in Cogs play when he was with talented players rather than dragging anchors around. They will meet somewhere in the middle.

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  61. What are the RFA compensation numbers this year?

    Specifically, the break points for contracts that get draft pick compensation (eg. over 2.5M per year equals 1st and 3rd round picks or whatever)

    ReplyDelete
  62. Garrioch (Eklund with a press card), speculates in today's Sun that the Sens might be interested in Souray--if the Oilers were willing to take Cheechoo as part of the deal.

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  63. hmmmmmm. look what I found on ebay; its Taylor Hall's domain. Maybe we should buy it for him as a welcome gift.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270598607911

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  64. I thought that was stupid too, but Cheechoo's buyout number is $1M this year and next. That's a net saving of $4.4M over each of the next two years.

    Compare that to Zubrus, who I think would come back in any deal with Jersey and we'll be overpaying him by at least $1.5M per year for another 3 years.

    Cheechoo actually makes more sense.

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  65. Come on, the Oilers need to shed the following pathetic player/contracts:

    Nilsson
    thecaptainethanmoreau
    Piece of Shite(formerly known as POS)


    Rid the team of these three and I swear the future with Taylor Hall immediately improves, not viscerally, but exponentially.

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  66. Cheechoo actually makes more sense.

    What an enigma that guy is, maybe we could reprogram him into being the Cheecoo of a few years ago and it would be a stellar trade.

    I am not holding out much hope. Anyone know what happened to him that saw him drop from being a prolific scored to being a marginal AHLer

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  67. Would you take Cheechoo 1 year 1.75?

    I might.

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  68. grease trap - is the waiver wire available online directly? link?

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  69. Cheechoo was finished by injury. He's a hollow shell now.

    Word out of the Big Apple is Staal and Slats are miles apart on a new deal. He'd be a fine player to gun for and fits the cluster like a glove. Souray, Cogliano and picks.

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  70. I recall Brian Murray or Cheechoo's agent talking about a buyout saying that Cheechoo understands that there is a certain expectation when you are making that much money and a buyout is likely.

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  71. Hey Lowetide,

    Do you think the Oilers are/would be interested in Marc Savard? A centre that could get Hall the puck on the PP?

    ReplyDelete
  72. @ Deano:

    http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=325969

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  73. Just good old fashioned as per TSN:

    http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=325969

    The National Hockey League's waiver wire was active again on Monday, with Ottawa's Jonahtan Cheechoo, Petteri Nokelainen and Jim Vandermeer of the Phoenix Coyotes, Florida Panthers defenceman Ville Koistinen and Ales Kotalik of the Calgary Flames all made available.

    The players are expected to be bought out of their contracts if they go unclaimed through the league's 29 other teams.

    Cheechoo is in the final year of a multi-year contract that will pay him $3.5 million next season. He had five goals and 14 points in 61 games last season.

    Kotalik, 31, scored 11 and 27 points in 71 games with the Flames and New York Rangers last season. He will make $3 million in each of the next two seasons.

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  74. Wonder if the Oilers can resist Vandermeer...

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  75. The problem with Ottawa is that their prospect cupboard is pretty bare.

    Their top prospect, Kalsson is a smallish Swede D man - not what the Oilers need. (although I could be convinced otherwise)

    Jared Cowan is 6'5" D man but got exposed at the World Juniors and has had a pretty major kneee injury.

    Their best forward (Jim OBrien) looks like a checker.

    I would go with Cowan or Pat Wiercioch a 6'3" puck moving Dman from the Tom Gilbert tree.

    We know Ottawa like Cogs, so maybe:

    Souray and Cogs and Potulny for

    Cheechoo, Cowan and Wiercioch and a second round pick 2011

    The Oilers clear up some space up front and add to their D man depth.

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  76. Looks like Jim Vandermeer, and Pettri Nookelainen get traded for shit like ''Future considerations'' and get waived after. It's laughable.

    As for Koistinen, he's a fine player. I'd pick him up.

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  77. I would laugh if Sutter does end up buying out Kotalik and turning a two-year mistake into a four-year mistake.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Ducey: Karlsson pretty much blew off the doors this season, blosomming in the playoffs.

    ReplyDelete
  79. From some Flames fan poster on tsn.ca:

    Here's a breakdown of the Jokinen deal.
    Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Gormley, Brandon Prust, and the opportunity to re-sign Mike Cammalerri for Kotalik on waivers and the rights to Chris Higgins.
    As a Flames fan and season ticket holder, I want to curl up and die.

    ReplyDelete
  80. Word out of the Big Apple is Staal and Slats are miles apart on a new deal. He'd be a fine player to gun for and fits the cluster like a glove. Souray, Cogliano and picks.

    Given the salary room the Oil will have this year, I would be fine if the Oilers decide to sign a UFA to a 1 or 2 year offer to make the team more competative. The key goal has to be keeping the players and fans happy while not damaging the long term rebuild. Anyone that they bring in should be a 'culture-fixer' and a mentor

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  81. From Willie Wonka "The suspense is terrible. I hope it'll last."

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  82. Am I correct that the buyout period only goes to the 30th, so we will know by then if any Oilers are bought out?

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  83. Jared Cowan is 6'5" D man but got exposed at the World Juniors and has had a pretty major kneee injury.

    The only thing exposed was that it takes awhile to recover from major reconstructive knee surgery.

    Prior to this injury the kid could skate. If Ottawa gave up on him now. They're morons.

    This season will be telling whether he gets his "legs" back or not.

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  84. From a pretty ridiculous ESPN.com article grading the NHL Draft:

    Edmonton Oilers: B-plus
    Edmonton came away with the best player in the draft, Taylor Hall. That's good. The 10 other picks? Not as exciting. Something to like in No. 31 Tyler Pitlick out of Minnesota State; maybe he'll show a higher gear in Medicine Hat next season. Picks thereafter don't impress. There's a chance that this draft yields one-and-a-half NHLers for the Oilers.

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  85. fuck espn lol.

    We just drafted the 2010 equivalent of Gordie Howe, but until proven like Gretzky, there will be detractors.

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  86. Common: I think he's a bit retarded.

    ''The Carolina Hurricanes pulled a mild surprise with the seventh pick, grabbed Kitchener center Jeff Skinner, a former figure skater who has more goal-scoring potential than concrete achievements. ''

    Yeah i guess 50 goals in the OHL at age 17 is nothing in the concrete realm. Maybe if he scord a goal at the WJC tough!

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  87. Since I appear to be the most fanatical of Taylor Hall supporters here, I'd love to stick my head in the noose and state unequivocally he's going to end up being the automatic Calder finalist.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Anyway, it's high time the Oilers fanbase had themselves a bona fide future superstar in the NHL.

    ReplyDelete
  89. fpv - we don't use that 'r' word around here.

    Out of respect for our host. He has found it offensive in the past.

    ReplyDelete
  90. Keep Poltuny!

    Why? It's simple...

    ...my hairdresser is dating him and I get to hear stories.

    ReplyDelete
  91. Out of respect for our host. He has found it offensive in the past.

    Which really just means that he's a better man than most of us.

    ReplyDelete
  92. @flamingpavelbure:

    Gordie Howe was a superstar teenager who, having not managed to have himself offered a professional contract by the NY Rangers, got himself a gig with a little old team called the Red Wings - and the rest is history.

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  93. bookie-yes
    the first step in the process is waiving the player,so we should see something happen today or tomorrow if they plan to go that route

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  94. ST better have a long and hard look at Koistenen.

    Vandermeer = Strudwick

    One will be painful, two would cause me to poke my eye out with a stick.

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  95. Re: Koistinen - I hope they had a good enough look at him last year when he was on waivers. Pass.

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  96. @Undisclosed Personal Rsns:

    Let's hear some then.

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  97. Darryl Sutter is a douche.

    He was on the radio a week ago, defending the trade for Kotalik, saying (in his smug, superior voice) that the media always harps on Kotalik for not scoring, but what they don't know is that he led the team in 'finishing his check'.

    Basically, he made it sound like the media and fans were all idiots for not seeing how great Kotalik is, and how great the trade was.

    As an Oiler fan living in Calgary, I love seeing the Flames falter. That being said, I'd love to see Sutter get the boot.

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  98. Someone was mentioning that the Rangers and Staal are at loggerheads and proposed a deal involving Souray.

    Anything to the notion that Slats might have picked McIlrath early to include him in a deal for Souray and Cogs?

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  99. At least the Oil did better than Anaheim in ESPN.com's eyes.

    They seem to think grabbing guys who tumbled down the list unexpectedly makes you a sap:

    Anaheim Ducks: B
    With picks No. 12 and No. 29, the Ducks landed major junior players who dropped unexpectedly: at No. 12 Windsor D Cam Fowler, a projected top-6 pick, and at No. 29 Medicine Hat RW Emerson Etem (from Long Beach), projected in the top 20. Fowler is not physical enough for a lot of scouts' liking, and some don't like how he plays without the puck in his own end. Etem, a natural goal scorer, gets graded down by scouts for an awkward skating style.


    Also, they had this to say about Schrempanov:

    New York Islanders: B
    Portland RW Nino Niederreiter will get a chance to play next season and has first-line upside, but the Isles' next two picks are significant gambles. Warroad (Minnesota high school) C Brock Nelson is a decent value with the last pick of the first round -- but Kiril Kabanov early in the third is a big gamble; a lot of teams wouldn't have taken him with the last pick of the seventh round.


    No word on whether this grade was affected by "E" from Entourage announcing one of their picks.

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  100. @commonfan13
    those espn guys are useless... Emerson Etem is probably the best skater in the draft, and they're saying he has an awkward style? taylor Hall is an awkward skater as well i might add.

    ReplyDelete
  101. From @JasonGregor

    JP Barry. Brule's agent confirms he has received a qualifying offer from the Oilers. No surprise.

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  102. commonfan - what did they say about the Flames - no first or second round pick and used 2 of their other six to pick Rob Ramage's kid and Paul Reinhart's kid.

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  103. from Mackenzie's twitter:

    TSNBobMcKenzie Waivers, likely for buyout purposes: Cheechoo, Ott; Nokelainen, Vandermeer, Phx; Koistinen, Fla; Kotalik, Cgy.

    Does he mean Steve Ott? Would anyone take him at $2.95 mill per season? Seems like an overpay, but would anyone take him if we sent Dallas O'Sullivan? Same cap hit. If he is bought out I hope the Oil make a play for him, maybe $1.5 mill per season on a multi year deal. He's the kind of guy we lack.

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  104. Pretty sure the Ott is Ottawa.

    So, I wanted to read the ESPN grades being talked about, only to find out that you have to pay ACTUAL MONEY and subscribe to their drivel to read it.

    Wow.

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  105. TSNBobMcKenzie Waivers, likely for buyout purposes: Cheechoo, Ott; Nokelainen, Vandermeer, Phx; Koistinen, Fla; Kotalik, Cgy.

    Does he mean Steve Ott?


    He means Ottawa, its a city. The Senators play there.

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  106. Qualified - Brule, Cogs, JDD, DD, Frased, Gagner, JFJ, O'Marra, Peckham, reddox

    ReplyDelete
  107. He means Ottawa, its a city. The Senators play there.

    That explains why that PHX guy wasn't coming up on hockeydb!

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  108. Pouliot, Potulny, Lerg, Paukovich, Hrable, Trunko not qualified.

    Not qualifying Poo, but qualifying JFFJ?

    Hope that management got smarter fades a bit....

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  109. WG - JFJ, O'Marra, Reddox JDD for OKC?

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  110. Could someone stop by LT's house and check that he ok?

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  111. Signing Fraser certainly spelled the end of Pou - too many C's (especially if they're even remotely considering bringing Comrie back).

    But JFJ? Yech.

    Any word on the goalies?

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  112. Tencer Twit...

    2 notables not receiving QO's were Potulny and Pouliot. I have it on good authority that the team tried to push Potulny in the Fraser deal.

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  113. WG - JFJ, O'Marra, Reddox JDD for OKC?

    I don't know if they were offered two way contracts.

    Bottom line is that O'Marra and JFJ count against the Oilers 50 NHL contracts.

    Bleh.

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  114. oilerdago...Why not just have him play wing then? Like he has for most of his time as an Oiler.

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  115. Tencer...

    Brule, Cogliano, Gagner, Fraser, Reddox, Jacques, O'Marra, Peckham, Dubnyk and Deslauriers all got qualified. The others become UFA.

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  116. I guess they're making room for the kids.

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  117. I know I've been howling for buyouts, but I suspect we keep Kenta Jr. and POS. And maybe that's wise given that both could still have good seasons, maybe even get lucky with a high PDO and run up some boxcars. After that, maybe, we can trade one or both of them. Who knows? Ditto for Cogs. If he's not worth a mid round first, just keep him for a while. We're not winning much next year anyway, so might as well see if he can turn it around.

    If so, and if no Poo or Pis...ani then, maybe our lineup looks like this

    Hall-Horcoff-Hemsky
    Penner-Gagner-Nilsson
    Cogliano-Brule-POS (redemption line)
    Jones-Fraser-Stortini (old time 4th line)
    JFJ (waive, please)

    Eberle, MPS, and Omark for injury replacements (pretty much guaranteed to play a lot)

    IF I were Tambellini, I might rather run with that lineup-hellish 3rd line and all- for most or all of the season than make crappy trades or buyouts.

    Actually, if they can wive JFJ, it creates a roster spot that could be used to buy a veteran center to play on that 3rd line, soft minutes spot. (Cogliano-Veteran-Brule) Move POS wherever or sit him in the PB.

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  118. Ribs: That's what MacT kept trying to do - push him to the wing and he never looked the part. I remember a lot of GDT's where we all went back and forth on this issue and whether MacT was screwing him up, or punishing him for not accepting a 3C role.

    It just seemed that he finally started to find some game this past season (after all the injuries)when he was given a real chance to play center.

    Woke up too late for Oiler management?

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  119. Deano:

    Calgary Flames: C-Minus
    There's only so much you can do with no picks in the first two rounds, even if you have four picks in the first 108 selections. Unsurprisingly they went for players out of the Dub, C Max Reinhart and D Joey Leach, both out of Kootenay.


    Of course, ESPN did get the worst in class right:

    Toronto Maple Leafs: D
    Just getting into the second round is a win for GM Brian Burke, but what they trade up to No. 43 for gets them Portland LW Brad Ross, who looks like Darcy Tucker Redux, except that Tucker was a lot better junior. There's a good shot that Greg McKegg will have a bigger impact than Ross. Tough times for Burke and Leafs watching Boston get Seguin and Jared Knight as the first two of three installments on the Phil Kessel trade.

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  120. WG - 50 contracts is a nonsense restriction. Most teams don't have any trouble with it, but most teams shed JFJ and O'Marra.

    Can O'Marra win a draw?

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  121. Kris said:
    both could still have good seasons, maybe even get lucky with a high PDO and run up some boxcars

    Hope is not a strategy.

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  122. I'm starting to think we should have taken Parise...

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  123. WG - 50 contracts is a nonsense restriction. Most teams don't have any trouble with it, but most teams shed JFJ and O'Marra.

    That's probably why they have no problem with the 50 contracts, they get rid of the chaff.

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  124. What kind of a contract do people think the Penguins will sign Pouliot to?

    ReplyDelete
  125. I hope JFJ winds up in OKC at some point, even if he has a one way deal. Dear God, please. He just has to.

    There's no way Renney likes his game more than Penner, Hall, MPS, Jones, Cogliano, or anyone else we might play at LW. So, you can keep him at the end of the active roster for a while, especially if MPS needs some AHL time. Then waive him. He'll clear and could even be recalled, IMO.

    And JFJ is a great move if he's going to play in OKC for most of the year. He's a dominant AHL'er, with toughness. (Pouliot would too, but Jacques' toughness is nice for the AHL. Fans will like it, especially.) Will be great help for any kids we put down there.

    My two cents.

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  126. How little does JFJ have to accomplish before he wears out his welcome? And who does O'Marra have pictures of?

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  127. both could still have good seasons, maybe even get lucky with a high PDO and run up some boxcars

    Hope is not a strategy.


    Nor is spite. Make sure the buyouts aren't for spite.

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  128. That O'marra deal is the oddest thing. We knew they loved Jacques, but geez.

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  129. They don't have a third-line Center

    Horcoff - Gagner - Aaaaaa - Fraser

    Comrie won't
    Cogliano can't
    Brule can't

    Maybe they'll trade Souray to Bufflo fro Connelly?
    I know he's under-tough..

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  130. Jacques:

    In house enforcer type on a two way deal could come in handy in protecting the wee ones.

    Cheaper than Laraques, who doesn't fight, anyway.

    Just spit balling, but wasn't one of the big complaints that "Team Toughness" wasn't a working option?

    As for o'Marra...no clue. I guess they'll give him one more chance in the A.

    And not to offend anyone, but Pouliot always struck me as a butter soft player that rarely showed any sustained compete (injuries may have been a factor in that, but good god! those injuries Just.Kept.Happening!)

    MacT had him pegged right a few seasons ago but Pouliot wanted to be an All-Star.

    Hard to find common ground when there's that much disconnect.

    All that being said, I loved his game as the Season rounded out to a close.

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  131. oilerdago - He does belong at the center position but he was doing fine at wing as well. It just seems like a waste to lose him and keep a guy like O'Marra or Jacques. Oh well.

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  132. Hunter, I'm happy the Oilers pick makes you happy =).

    I will say though that making predictions are far from 'putting your head in a noose'. Basically if it doesn't pan out no one really remembers, and if it does pan out you can lord it over others. It's basically win-win.

    That said, I think the chances of one of Eberle, Hall, and MPS having a Calder season is pretty good. Here's hoping they start in the AHL unless they tear the doors off the hinges. Hall of course may stick if only because he's too good for junior but can't play in the AHL.

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  133. WTF? JFJ and O'Marra get qualified but Potulny and Pouliot don't?

    What type of crack is Tambellini smoking?

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  134. You only keep JFJ & Omara because you know they'll clear waivers and wind up in OKC. And if someone is dumb enough to take JFJ off waivers they're doing you a favor.

    I wish they were keeping Pou. Wouldn't shock me if he winds up in Pittsburgh to play with Crosby. I still think we could have worked out here. But when you've got too many forwards - and no one wants to give anything of value because THEY know you have too many, this is going to happen.

    Does tell me they're either going to try to find find another C or they're going to see if Cogs can do the job once and for all on a short-term contract.

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  135. I suspect (hope) that JFJ and Reddox are pegged as AHL veterans/injury call ups. I think (hope) the team learned a valuable lesson about the not having a sufficient stock of such players in the system.

    Matty said a couple of weeks ago that it was between COlin McDonald and O'Marra for the veteran checking centre role in OKC and it looks like O'Marra won out.

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  136. The story on TSN, although there's not much more there than what we know already.

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  137. One thing to remember is that every player that was not offered a qualifying offer was likely offered up to every other team in the league for anything (late late pick) at the draft. Nobody wanted them.

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  138. My main concern this summer regarding players coming and going is, if we buyout nilsson, who do we have that can level Boogard????

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  139. Pouliot has done nothing to suggest he is a capable NHLer. people here bemoan our lack of actual NHL players then complain when they walk away from Pouliot? Someone give me his + assets. he is not fast, not physical, is average on the dot, does not check well, can't kill penalties, doesn't have a good shot and is average at best in his own zone. So with no definable asset or skill why would anyone keep him? Some of the other RFA offers make no sense, but Pouliot has been taking up a roster spot for too long. Add a veteran, cheap NHLer and we are a better team right away, and there are better players in the system then Pouliot who are a few years away, but in the mean time you sign a vet.

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  140. I guess they may have given up on 78 because he was a problem in the room or they didn't think he was worth the money but the guy actually played well last year so I can't see how he wouldn't be an asset at that price.

    I think this is a case where maybe you think you're bottom six is a bigger problem than what it is -- guys like 12 and 19 were sinkholes and 13 can't find a role -- and you throw the baby out with the bathwater.

    Forget that he never covered his draft bet and then try and tell me he wasn't worth what he was gonna be paid this upcoming season.

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  141. Dennis: not sure but wouldn't they have had to qualify Pouliot at more then $900K? I think that is an overpay in a cap world for a guy l;ike Pouliot. You can get a vet for less in the summer and your team is better for it.

    ReplyDelete
  142. And who does O'Marra have pictures of?

    Just one: a picture of Ryan Smyth crying at the airport.

    ReplyDelete
  143. Not only do they qualify Jean-Francois Jacques, one of the very worst Oilers of all time, but they follow up with qualifying Ryan freaking O'Marra?!?!?!? (By the way, if O'Marra really did make some strides, why did Daum get let go?)

    I'll never figure these guys out.

    Oil Change? This org. needs an enema.

    ReplyDelete
  144. Could someone stop by LT's house and check that he ok?

    Trukhno and Pouliot in the same day, wow. I wonder if he is off setting up that Blue Jackets site he used to muse about?

    Good moves by Tambo. Fraser replaces Pouliot and Potulny who were miscast on the 4th line. They needed change, and wanted to get stronger and tougher.

    If Tambo can bring in a few 3rd line vets with some checking ability, this team is going to look a lot better.

    ReplyDelete
  145. Could someone stop by LT's house and check that he ok?

    He has a medic-alert bracelet for exactly these kinds of situations.

    ReplyDelete
  146. Not only do they qualify Jean-Francois Jacques, one of the very worst Oilers of all time, but they follow up with qualifying Ryan freaking O'Marra?!?!?!? (By the way, if O'Marra really did make some strides, why did Daum get let go?)

    I'll never figure these guys out.

    Oil Change? This org. needs an enema.


    Someone does.

    Both these guys will be in the minors and are pretty cheap won't they? What's the big deal?

    ReplyDelete
  147. O'Marra is probably still around because I assume he is on a two-way contract. It doesn't hurt anything to stick him in the minors if they think he is decent AHL depth.

    Pouliot and Potulny were on one ways.

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  148. One thing to remember is that every player that was not offered a qualifying offer was likely offered up to every other team in the league for anything (late late pick) at the draft. Nobody wanted them.

    Logically, you're right, Bookie. But I just have trouble believing that Potulny, an RFA coming off league minimum who scored a pro-rated 20 goals, wasn't worth a seventh rounder to somebody. Pouliot too, actually.

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  149. Is it just me, or shouldn't Moreau and at least one of the Twinkie Twins be on waivers by now?

    ReplyDelete
  150. Re: Pouliot and Potulny...

    If they don't receive QOs, can they be re-signed by the Oilers at a reduced salary after the June 28 deadline?

    ReplyDelete
  151. spoiler - if Pou was not worth 900K, there's no way POS is worth 2.4MM. Unfortunately, it costs as much as Pou would have to say goodbye to POS early.

    ReplyDelete
  152. spoiler - nope, but we can put a bid in like everyone else on July 1.

    Nothing in the CBA is structured to reduce salaries.

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  153. Deano, there's no doubt in my mind that POS ain't worth a wood nickel. Yet in a re-build year we might as well suck it up and get out from under the contract ASAP, rather then delaying the inevitable and keeping the salary on the books for another year.

    But we have a lot of friggin forwards.

    Can you really see them not buying out any of them buggers?

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  154. Deano, that's what I was thinking with regards to the two P's. Wasn't sure why there was a gap between the 28th and July 1 though.

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  155. spoiler - no gap - deadline is 30th not 28th.

    Fingers crossed for buyouts tomorrow. These guys have never been able to do two things at once.

    ReplyDelete
  156. Deano, isn't the deadline for QOs today? That's a gap.

    ReplyDelete
  157. I suppose the other side should be allowed an opportunity to consider the offer though.
    ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  158. Both these guys will be in the minors and are pretty cheap won't they? What's the big deal?

    Overvaluing depth players is just sentimentality, or an attempt to save face regarding old decisions. Neither O'Marra nor Jacques will ever be effective NHLers; shouldn't their AHL spots be given to people who might yet be?

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  159. This lack of Oiler activity on the waiver wire makes me wonder if we're buying any contracts out. Are players not typically waived first?

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  160. Lander should really fire his agent.
    If he would have signed within the last month, he would have been signing as the best or second best center prospect in the system. Not only is he no longer in that conversation, but with the exceptional wingers in OKC, he could drop down a couple of more spots by Christmas.

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  161. Hey I can deal with MAP and Potulny being sent down the road- and Reddox/O'Marra on 2-way deals - but keeping JFJ??? This is pointless unless they know he has value to someone and can be included in a trade - and I can't see that unless they find a GM who had lived in a closet for the last 2 years. I think MAP should have been kept - but realistically - the more guys flushed at this point the better. Of course they need another capable center as they just off-set any gain from the Fraser trade - and I'll believe they address that need when I see it.

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  162. and I can't see that unless they find a GM who had lived in a closet for the last 2 years

    Ever see how pale this guy is? Given how he speaks I am pretty sure that he is undead.

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  163. I am guessing that if they waive Moreau that they do so durring tonights celebration at Commonwealth.

    Might as well try and make the canning of your captain at a time when it will garner the least attention in terms of news cycle.

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  164. Um, no, not BPA: value contracts. That's why we want to keep Smid on our team, but get rid of Souray (quite apart from the trade demand) even though Souray is the better player. Come back once you've studied Cap Management 101.

    I'll get right on that the second you commit to the soonest Hockey 101 course offered. MAP and RP departing makes zero sense when we keep slugs like JFJ and RO but Pouliot wasn't ever going to amount to jack as a hockey asset and flushing the Poo (et al) is a far better option than letting it stew.

    MAP was a mistake the second our 17th got traded. If this is a small sign this team finally has a scintilla of a clue on how to build a decent team then hurrah! They just didn't hold the handle down long enough is all.

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  165. Um, no, not BPA: value contracts. That's why we want to keep Smid on our team, but get rid of Souray (quite apart from the trade demand) even though Souray is the better player. Come back once you've studied Cap Management 101.

    I'll get right on that the second you commit to the soonest Hockey 101 course offered. MAP and RP departing makes zero sense when we keep slugs like JFJ and RO but Pouliot wasn't ever going to amount to jack as a hockey asset and flushing the Poo (et al) is a far better option than letting it stew.

    MAP was a mistake the second our 17th got traded. If this is a small sign this team finally has a scintilla of a clue on how to build a decent team then hurrah! They just didn't hold the handle down long enough is all.

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