Comments on: Are the Oilers a playoff team ?

By: CraigSTAR

CraigSTAR — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:30:04 +0000

I'm a huge Oilers fan…but that doesn't change the fact that you're right about MacT. He is NOT the man for the job. We were terrible last year. But it wasn't because Stoll was hrt or whatever. The fact is the pp sucked as did the pk. If you look at what Lowe did this off-season, we have drastically improved in those aspects (namely in the pp). As far as MacT is concerned, he's hurting our prospects by forcing them into becoming checkers and trappers…he's not helping, he's stunting their growth/potential. E.g. Pouliot (25th overall) on the fourth line when he could have been given more opportunity late in the year, Shremp (25th overall) played only two games when he could have played at least 10 games at the end of the yaar, etc, etc….

By: CraigSTAR

CraigSTAR — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:15:44 +0000

Lupul couldn't play under the microscope. The Oilers are fortunate that the fans are so intense, this way we can separate the men from the boys. Posers and prima donnas don't cut it in Edmonton….and Lupul just doesn't have what it takes. Thers' no sunshine, glamour, or glitz out this way so if you can win over the fans it shows that you love the game more than whateveer else. It's not like Bertuzzi looking foward to Floridas's golf courses at the beginning of last year, or Pronger's wife hating the cold.These millionaires don't need guys like you making excuses for them, they probably have their own entourages that they pay to do that for them. If they don't want to play, then they won't…they "spoil" themselves.

By: CraigSTAR

CraigSTAR — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:05:03 +0000

On paper I would say "no". But deep down I know that the Oilers are not the type of team that won't make a fight of it. Yeah they sucked last year, but it wasn't until the final quarter of last season that they stopped playing. If they're close to the play-off cut, they'll play their hearts out and make it interesting. They should score more goals, so they should also be in more games than they were last season. Can't win if you can't score. Should be very intesting. I can't see them in the bottom ten of the league but it's tough to say because they're in the toughest division in hockey. Their divisional play will determine their play-off fate.

By: I_hate_LA

I_hate_LA — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:21:02 +0000

Penner only had one 29 goal season and he has a bad work ethic. The Ducks were pushing him 100% of the time, which was why he performed so well. If he's placed in a system like Edmonton's he will be screwed for life just like how Edmonton screwed Lupul. Edmonton's media and fans will be on his ass 100% of the time instead of trying to help him improve and be better. And judging Edmonton's line-up, they will be screwed from entering the playoffs.

By: CaptainAvery

CaptainAvery — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:48:13 +0000

With Souray in the line-up, are you kidding me??? He couldn't even help lead the Habs to the post-season and you Oiler fans think hes gonna help your team. Yehhhh riiiiiiight, Souray is brutal on defence, and coming to a team lacking that already…. well you know what I mean, have fun.

By: saw234

saw234 — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:12:35 +0000

By: TheDonkey

TheDonkey — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:36:10 +0000

Hopefully they can at least squeak into 8th spot and be the team who gets to perform the annual upset of the Wings.

By: kamullia

kamullia — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:27:53 +0000

I keep shaking my head every time I see a comment on Tarnstrom being of help defensively for the Oilers. The best seasons The Great Dick Tarnstrom (only Penguins fans will understant this reference) ever had in his NHL career were all with the Pittsburgh Penguins, even leading the team in points on one year, but no one (other than the absurd comments I have seen here on HTR) has ever put Tarnstrom in any kind of light short of incompetent on his own end. The fact of the matter is that Dick Tarnstrom is a defensive liability. Period.

Tarnstrom was let go from both the Islanders and Pittsburgh because of him being a liability defensively. And when he went to Edmonton, he was even scratched plenty of times on the regular season. Only the need for offense combined with injuries, were together the reasons why he was put back into the lineup during the playoffs. Yes, he brings offense on the Powerplay, but his passing is erratic half the times, and more importantly he gives nothing but heartache when he is the last defenseman left in front of the goaltender, as anyone in Pittsburgh and Long Island can testify. And offensively, let us keep in mind that his last NHL season he had 5G+5A in 33 games for PIT, plus 1G+3A in 22 games for Edmonton in the regular season, to which he only added 0G+2A in 12 playoff games.

Tarnstrom is nothing more than a powerplay specialist, and if he is being relied upon to be anything other than this, the Oilers are starting behind the eight-ball with such a plan, before the season has even started. These references to him being of any kind of solution to the Oilers, other than adding some powerplay points, is nothing short of being delusional since I trust most have reasonably good eye-sight.

If some Oiler fans truly believe Tarnstrom is of any cure to the Oilers, I suggest to them buying a lot of Mylanta before October (actually all Oilers fans will need it) and be ready to be disappointed. Either that, or you best hope he became possessed by a spirit with the abilities of Paul Coffey after his season with Lugano.

By the way, the only goal (yes, as in 1) Dick Tarnstrom has ever scored professionally in any kind of playoffs, was for Sodertalje in Sweden back in 2005. Therefore if by the grace of God the Oilers do make the playoffs, do not count on The Great Dick Tarnstrom to make such an impact.

By: AzrithEH

AzrithEH — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:33:19 +0000

I'd rather have phoenix's first line, atleast Doan is gritty...

By: snowybuttman

snowybuttman — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:23:00 +0000

moreau will be given the "c" and he will be as good as smith at being captain as they were both the same type of player just a different position, Smith led by example and si will Moreau. No cup for edmonton this year but they will be better than people. Lowe still isnt done dealing he has one more deal that he will make.