It's been another long off-season.... What are your lines for next year?
Due to boredom, and the fact that I am sick in bed, I have had the time to play around with the Oilers' lines in 2012-2013. Here are my lines considering we draft Yakupov and sign J.Schultz. (Yes I know we don’t have either of those players but it's more fun that way so here is what my lines would look like)
L1: 1st overall line. Defenders will have A LOT of trouble keeping up.
L2: If Eberle can’t play LW, insert Yakupov, who said he can even play in nets.
L3: A good shutdown line with speed, turnovers can be costly for opposition.
L4: Future 3rd line materiel (without Belanger) has a lot of grit and may prove effective.
PP1
-------------Horcoff-----------
--------------------------Hall
RNH-------------------------
------------------------------
-------Eberle J. Shultz/Petry
Horcoff wins faceoffs and stands in front of the net. RNH and Hall will be a lethal combo. I don’t remember which side Eberle played last season but he did quite well. Apparently J.Shultz very good on the PP.
Deadly one-timers once again from PP2 with Hemsky/Yakupov
If we need to take a FO, play Gagner, if not, play Hartikainen and cause ruckus in front of the net.
Whitney and Petry would be an excellent combo on PP2.
Dubnyk
Khabibulin
Yakupov
It’s Dubnyks’s starting role to lose. If either of the top 2 net minders do not perform, insert Yakupov.
At least now we have someone on our team that can play nets if both our goalies get injured!!
Last edited by Lowe in Oil: 06-12-2012 at 06:20 PM.
Hall/Gagner/Eberle (I really wish there was a bigger version of Gagner to slot in here)
Harti/RNH/Yakupov (in a couple years time I can see this line becoming the 1st line)
Smyth/Horcoff/Hemsky
Eager/Belanger/Jones
Whitney/FA
Smid/Petry
Schultz/FA
Sutton
Dubnyk
Khabi
Leave MPS, Lander, Pitlick, and Teubert in OKC for another year of seasoning.
(Note: if Gagner is on the team I don't see any point in converting Hall to Centre)
they'll trade Gagner + for J. Schultz and the 6th pick lines after draft will be 1st line Hall, RNH,Eberle 2nd line Hemsky(LW), Grigorenko, Yakupov 3rd line Smyth Horc Jones 4th line Eager, Lander, Hordy. D 1st pair Whitney N.Scultz 2nd pair J.Schultz Smid 3rd pair Petry Sutton. and our 2 goalies
they'll trade Gagner + for J. Schultz and the 6th pick lines after draft will be 1st line Hall, RNH,Eberle 2nd line Hemsky(LW), Grigorenko, Yakupov 3rd line Smyth Horc Jones 4th line Eager, Lander, Hordy. D 1st pair Whitney N.Scultz 2nd pair J.Schultz Smid 3rd pair Petry Sutton. and our 2 goalies
Even if they are able to deal Gagner for 6th, they are likely going to have to package that pick to the Islanders for 4th if they want Grigorenko. I don't think both Montreal and Toronto pass on him.
Even if they are able to deal Gagner for 6th, they are likely going to have to package that pick to the Islanders for 4th if they want Grigorenko. I don't think both Montreal and Toronto pass on him.
Montreal will take Yakupov's centre Gelynchuk(sp) sorry islanders forsburg leafs who cares lol one of murray,grigorenko or gelynchuk will be there at 6 all could play next year
Best case, we sign Schultz, Penner, and draft Yakupov
Penner - Nugent-Hopkins - Eberle
Hemsky - Hall - Yakupov
Gagner - Horcoff - Jones
Eager - Belanger - Petrell
Smid - Petry
Whitney - N. Schultz
Sutton - J. Schultz
Dubnyk
Khabibulin
Worst case
The 5th and Schenn rumour is true, we miss out on Yakupov, Murray, Grigorenko, and Gelchenyuk, we don't get Schultz, and just generally strike out this summer.
Hall - Nugent-Hopkins - Eberle
Paajarvi - Gagner - Hemsky
Forsberg - Horcoff - Jones
Eager - Belanger - Petrell
Montreal will take Yakupov's centre Gelynchuk(sp) sorry islanders forsburg leafs who cares lol one of murray,grigorenko or gelynchuk will be there at 6 all could play next year
You're forgetting about Columbus.
1) Oilers - Yakupov
2) Blue Jackets - Murray/Forsberg
3) Montreal - Galchenyuk
4) NYI - Murray/Forsberg
5) Toronto - Grigorenko
6) ?
So Hall doesn't rehab as scheduled, and we either draft someone 1st overall who doesn't play in the NHL or we trade the 1st overall pick for no actual NHL players......
So Hall doesn't rehab as scheduled, and we either draft someone 1st overall who doesn't play in the NHL or we trade the 1st overall pick for no actual NHL players......
Trade Belanger And A 5th for fiddler and take the 1.8 cap hit for two years then sign Tootoo for 2. For two years Tootoo has some offensive upside can score 20 with the right players
Whitney-Schultz
Smid-Carle
Wideman-Schultz
Sign all three dmen in the off season would be outta of the lottery
Trade Belanger And A 5th for fiddler and take the 1.8 cap hit for two years then sign Tootoo for 2. For two years Tootoo has some offensive upside can score 20 with the right players
Whitney-Schultz
Smid-Carle
Wideman-Schultz
Sign all three dmen in the off season would be outta of the lottery
Well it's a pessimistic lineup... because it's essentially very similar to how last year ended... but with Harti and MPS up. I hope Hall comes back to start the season but I'm not counting on it... of course the season may start in January or February so he should be fine by then.
Main point is I think the roster will be largely the same... I don't know if there will be a bunch of big changes or many UFA additions and they'll go mainly with players from OKC for the bulk of their roster shuffling.
Maybe they'll get another Barker type signing... if they do it's hardly worth noting.
I'd love to be wrong and they add several great UFA players on D and a great forward with their #1 pick that slides right into the lineup but I'm not holding my breath.
I think that the Nuge works well anywhere on the ice, I'm used to seeing him on the right wall as he can make slick passes to our only D on the PP and I think it's a toss up between Horcoff and Smyth for Mr.Garbage Rebound (my vote goes for Smyth).
I think that the Nuge works well anywhere on the ice, I'm used to seeing him on the right wall as he can make slick passes to our only D on the PP and I think it's a toss up between Horcoff and Smyth for Mr.Garbage Rebound (my vote goes for Smyth).
True, but Smyth doesn't look like he will be back with the Oilers. He would have signed by now...
