I think you go to far Dobber...pray tell explain where exactly you see them fitting into this? CGY sucks so you can kick them out, but who else are they going to usurp to sneak into the playoffs? Lots of those teams are good-getting better

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P=1 DPts=1.2 +/-=.32 PIM=.08 PPP=.4 SHP=.6 S=.015 Blk=.2 Hit=.08
W=2 OTL=.8 GA=-.64 SV=.08 SO=3

Pro (23 keep 17)
C- Filppula,Turris,Stastny,Backstrom
D-Boyle,MDZ,Karlsson,Robidas,Goligoski,Schenn,Seiden berg
G-Anderson,Hiller,Rinne
LW-Malone,Parise,Rolston,Eriksson,Ruutu
RW-Alfredsson,Callahan,Setoguchi,Brown,Ryder,Vrbata

Farm (9 keep all, max 200 GP, 100 Goalies)
Colborne,Leblanc,Loktionov,Perreault,Tangradi,Blum ,Poulin,Markstrom

I think it's going to be really hard to say where all these teams are going to be since it's going to be a long offseason with lots of moves to shake out not to mention the fact that with the CBA negotiations coming in the fall there could be rule changes. If the league responds to the reduction in scoring by making rule changes to open things up the Oilers would surely benefit while more defensive teams who have benefitted from the relaxing of the whistles by the referees will suffer.

Now I won't point any fingers but I feel as though half the teams up there directly benefitted from the relaxed attitude towards interference.

Looking at it more specifically I would say that Calgary probably falls out. Colorado could go any direction. Dallas is probably in a similar boat, although I personally like their direction with new ownership. Los Angeles could be burnt out from a long playoff run. Ditto for Phoenix, especially since they could be losing several of their vets. San Jose appears on the verge of imploding. Nashville won't be the same if they lose even one of Weber or Suter. It will be interesting to see what happens to Detroit if Lidstrom retires.

Now none of this is saying that the Oilers as they are currently constructed would pass any of these teams but as I mentioned it will be a long offseason and there is no telling that the Oilers will remain as they are currently constructed. All we know right now is that the Oilers are loaded with hungry young talent and the right coach could harness it. I don't think it is as obvious as Dobber says that the Oilers will explode for the next coach but I do think if they add a big time defenseman that they should.

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all good points, but your boys need a basic defense for it to be relevant...its not like they were a cusp team this year dude, they were 21 pts out, that's not going to be as easy as you imagine with the competition they have in the west

__________________
Thats me on the street with a violin under my chin, playing with a grin, singing gibberish.





P=1 DPts=1.2 +/-=.32 PIM=.08 PPP=.4 SHP=.6 S=.015 Blk=.2 Hit=.08
W=2 OTL=.8 GA=-.64 SV=.08 SO=3

Pro (23 keep 17)
C- Filppula,Turris,Stastny,Backstrom
D-Boyle,MDZ,Karlsson,Robidas,Goligoski,Schenn,Seiden berg
G-Anderson,Hiller,Rinne
LW-Malone,Parise,Rolston,Eriksson,Ruutu
RW-Alfredsson,Callahan,Setoguchi,Brown,Ryder,Vrbata

Farm (9 keep all, max 200 GP, 100 Goalies)
Colborne,Leblanc,Loktionov,Perreault,Tangradi,Blum ,Poulin,Markstrom

Not even pretending for a second that it's going to be easy but I also know how big a factor a top tier defenseman can have on a team. I honestly believe that if they were to add a Weber or a Suter that they should be a playoff team but adding one of those guys is not easy.

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Dig my Cage Match articles? Follow my blog! The Laws of Sport

Also on Twitter @SteveLaidlaw