Edmonton Oilers

[Axeman33]

Smart move by management. He wasn't getting enough icetime to warrant keeping him up at this point, playing at a bottom pairing rate.

I hate sending him back to basically fiddle-fart in the OHL for another year but if they weren't going to use him in a high end position, no sense wasting a year on that ELC. Not to mention, he should be a big part of Team Canada.

[SeaDawg]

phew...I drafted Klefbom with my last pick, instead of Bouchard, and I was a little worried that at some point this season Bouchard would steal the top PP job from Klefbom. Guess I don't have to worry any longer.

[lektrix]

Any chance Koskinen steals the job??

[Axeman33]

Any chance Koskinen steals the job??

This is like asking if Halak will steal the job in Boston, only Halak has started more games to this point.

So far, in the two games that Koskinen has played in, he's done well. They brought him in to alleviate the workload from Cam Talbot because Talbot is their guy. I don't think that changes any time soon. That being said, as long as Koskinen continues to play well, he will get starts.

Steal starts? Maybe. Steal the job? Unlikely. I think Oilers fans are happy as long as ONE of them are winning games and don't really care who it is.

[MZac]

Interesting read on Puljujarvi for those interested:

https://thehockeywriters.com/jesse-p...ilers-condors/

[MZac]

Anyone thinking this California trip is do or die for McLellan? It feels like we're awful close to that point.

[agentzero]

It certainly looks that way, though who is a better candidate than he? Don’t say Quenneville because I don’t believe he’s going there. Certainly not this year. Reminds me of the Randy Cunneyworth situation in MTL a few years back, when the team had absolutely no direction and arguably the best player in the league (Price) at the time.

[MZac]

Well I guess we get to see what Hitchcock does with them..

[SeaDawg]

I'm so depressed about the Oilers. I don't think Hitchcock changes anything. There will probably be a short-term turnaround, but this team just isn't built to win. It is sad, because some of the pieces are there. They have solid depth at the center position (which all teams covet), and I still feel that Klefbom, Nurse, and Larsson are legit dmen who can each play 20 mins a night. Talbot has the potential to give them league average goal-tending (which considering there are very few top goalies in the league any longer, we can't really ask for much more). The supporting cast isn't very good and we are still missing (and probably always will be) a #1 dman. I don't know what anyone can do to change the situation. Chiarelli had the best chance when he opted to trade Hall and waste money on players like Lucic and Russel. I appreciate that he tried, but he ultimately failed miserably and now I don't see much hope. The best we can hope for is to wait for Bouchard to mature and maybe we can challenge for a cup in 3 or 4 years. It is hard to be patient when we have the best player in the league and we are wasting his talent.

[Axeman33]

Good read on Hitchcock's first game behind the bench and how he deployed his lines. I agree with the Puljujarvi comments as well.

https://twitter.com/JasonGregor/stat...049515008?s=19

[SeaDawg]

That was a really interesting article. I'm not sure if a new system and new lines will help them make the playoffs, but it can't hurt. I think we are, unfortunately, a couple of players short of being a real contender and I don't see us finding those players via free agency or trade. All we can hope for is a couple of our prospects to pan out.

[tropheus_guy]

That was a really interesting article. I'm not sure if a new system and new lines will help them make the playoffs, but it can't hurt. I think we are, unfortunately, a couple of players short of being a real contender and I don't see us finding those players via free agency or trade. All we can hope for is a couple of our prospects to pan out.

If Talbot could make a few saves, that would help. Its hard to judge the D when your goalie is full of holes, quite possibility an overrated piece of crap former backup who had one decent year. Doesnt look like he can turn it around and now with Koskinen playin ok, and making some key saves, Talbot looks done for. Just the kind of goalie that ends up in Philly, Carolina, etc next year.

Oilers need Bob for next year.

O-Dawg said it best "when you trade a player and he wins the MVP the next year" that grounds for dismissal - why is the GM still there? In hindsight the Oilers were better off with full throttle offence with Eberle and Hall inserted back in the lineup. What a circus.

Go Koskinen!

[Axeman33]

If Talbot could make a few saves, that would help. Its hard to judge the D when your goalie is full of holes, quite possibility an overrated piece of crap former backup who had one decent year. Doesnt look like he can turn it around and now with Koskinen playin ok, and making some key saves, Talbot looks done for. Just the kind of goalie that ends up in Philly, Carolina, etc next year.

Oilers need Bob for next year.

O-Dawg said it best "when you trade a player and he wins the MVP the next year" that grounds for dismissal - why is the GM still there? In hindsight the Oilers were better off with full throttle offence with Eberle and Hall inserted back in the lineup. What a circus.

Go Koskinen!

I'd love to see Bobrovsky in Edmonton but his next contract is going to be filthy. Oilers have enough of those.

[rataylor22]

Puljujarvi called back up. I’m sure that’s just what his development needs. Was just starting to get comfortable and get a bit of a foothold in the A

[MZac]

Puljujarvi called back up. I’m sure that’s just what his development needs. Was just starting to get comfortable and get a bit of a foothold in the A

No indication on where he slots into the lineup but one defensive blunder(which you know is coming) and I'm betting hitch gives him 8 minutes in return. Id rather see him stay down and take another look in the new year if he plays well.