They can keep drafting small forwards but I don't see them being an elite team for a long, long time.
I don't understand how they're still as bad as they are. Is it coaching? Is their D/goaltending that bad? Are they not developing players enough before bringing them to the NHL? They've been drafting high for a while now and it seems like they should have enough at this point to at least be scratching it out for a low playoff seed just on pure talent alone. The Pens were terrible Sid's first year but his second year when they added Geno & Staal they managed to grab the 8th seed.
I don't understand how they're still as bad as they are. Is it coaching? Is their D/goaltending that bad? Are they not developing players enough before bringing them to the NHL? They've been drafting high for a while now and it seems like they should have enough at this point to at least be scratching it out for a low playoff seed just on pure talent alone. The Pens were terrible Sid's first year but his second year when they added Geno & Staal they managed to grab the 8th seed.
Weren't we the 5th seed? It is a bit odd that the Oilers are still awful.
I don't understand how they're still as bad as they are. Is it coaching? Is their D/goaltending that bad? Are they not developing players enough before bringing them to the NHL? They've been drafting high for a while now and it seems like they should have enough at this point to at least be scratching it out for a low playoff seed just on pure talent alone. The Pens were terrible Sid's first year but his second year when they added Geno & Staal they managed to grab the 8th seed.
Yeah, their D is trash. Outside of Whitney it's pretty horrible. Their only decent prospect is Petry and I personally don't think he's all that good.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JTG
Or Chicago, LA, Tampa, Washington, NYI
Just mainly has to with how the Pens landed the 2 best players on the planet.
__________________ "I don't know what the stronger emotion would be, the joy of winning or the pain of losing"-Sidney Crosby.
A Canadian team with a ton of tradition and a quarter century removed from being one of the greatest dynasties in sports history is awarded the #1 pick in the draft for 3 years straight...
...but back to the topic at hand, WE HATE PITTSBURGH! BETTMAN LOVES MARIO! CINDY CRYSBY!
If they put this in the dictionary beside "Irony," it still might not do the situation justice.
It's hard to hate the Isles for drafting high repeatedly considering what they're dealing with concerning their arena and their financial situation. Of course, the Pens were dealing with THE EXACT SAME **** and that doesn't stop anyone from hating on them.
I don't understand how they're still as bad as they are. Is it coaching? Is their D/goaltending that bad? Are they not developing players enough before bringing them to the NHL? They've been drafting high for a while now and it seems like they should have enough at this point to at least be scratching it out for a low playoff seed just on pure talent alone. The Pens were terrible Sid's first year but his second year when they added Geno & Staal they managed to grab the 8th seed.
The kids are fine, its the veterans and defence that disappointed the Oilers this year. Guys like Horcoff, Hemsky, Whitney, Belanger all had rough years. The only reliable d pairing was Smid-Petry. Schultz brought some poise and calm with the puck, but that was late in the year after we acquired him.
Looks like NHL fans will stop picking on you guys and switch their rage to us, heh.
It's hard to hate the Isles for drafting high repeatedly considering what they're dealing with concerning their arena and their financial situation. Of course, the Pens were dealing with THE EXACT SAME **** and that doesn't stop anyone from hating on them.
It's hard to be jealous when there is no success. Until the locals raise their pitch forks to the aforementioned teams, then it's just jealousy to me.
Too bad for the player Columbus gets. They keep on ruining players development. I'll say they get Yakupov 2nd overall (Oilers will draft a Dman), and he will be bad, instead of a stud.
One of the writers for the Edmonton Journal has had 2 recent stories concerning the draft, looking at high picked D and where top end D tend to come from. Moderately informative even if some of it was somewhat common knowledge; they are here and here.
What are the chanes the Oilers will pick Murray instead of Yakupov? Do they really need more offense?
TSN guys were saying the pretty much have to take Yakupov if they retain the no. 1 pick. I could see them trading it to Columbus if they really wanted Yakupov and then taking Murray.
I could see Edmonton trading down to two and picking Murray but I have no idea what it would cost for Columbus and it's not like they have assets to spare.
Could also see Columbus just picking Murray at two. Why do people think they just need a forward? Their D is brutal too and they should stay the hell away from Grigorenko.
Both Smid and Schultz are solid shutdown top-4 d-men, and we do have D-prospects like Klefbom, Marincin, and Musil who project to be at that level at the very least. Justin Schultz is also a realistic addition to that prospect base, and we have tons of money to overpay on the UFA market on short-term deals for the next couple years (before three of the ELC's come off the kids).
The issue is that it doesn't look like any top-pairing defenders are coming through. Ryan Murray was our only real hope, and I just don't think you can pass up on Yakupov or trade down to get him.
I could see Edmonton trading down to two and picking Murray but I have no idea what it would cost for Columbus and it's not like they have assets to spare.
Could also see Columbus just picking Murray at two. Why do people think they just need a forward? Their D is brutal too and they should stay the hell away from Grigorenko.
You also have to consider what they might get if they end up trading Rick Nash. That kind of trade could drastically change their organizational needs overnight.
