Edmonton Oilers Offseason Thread

[LittleOzzy]

Another high draft pick coming in, will this finally be the year the Oilers make a push to the playoffs?

What needs to happen for the Oil to make the post season?

[Nolan]

Well our biggest need is on the backend. We have no troubles scoring and with the further development of RNH, Hall and Eberle I doubt we'll have that problem for a long time and we also have a solid goalie in Dubynk who could become a pretty good one if we can get some help in front of him. I'm a big fan of Ryan Murry and I think we should trade down to get him, he's not going to address our issues on the backend right away but he's a long term solution for that problem.

Next on my list is getting bigger and tougher. We added some muscle last summer with Eager, Sutton and Hordichuk but we need a some guys that can actually play big minutes. The guy who's number one my tagret list is Ryan Getzlaf, he had a bad year last year but he's big he can win faceoffs and create problems in front of the net. I'd be all for throwing a package of Gagner, Paajarvi and a couple picks at the Ducks.

[Nolan]

Brandon Davidson just got signed to an entry level deal. Kids a late bloomer who looks like he could really become a solid two-way defenseman.

[Nolan]

So Ralph Krueger's our new head coach. Not really sure what to make of him but we'll see how he does.

[LittleOzzy]

Ralph Krueger regularly runs in the mountains so we know he’s in superior shape to most hockey coaches.

“He runs stairs like I do, but his stairs are in the Swiss Alps,” kidded Edmonton Oilers assistant coach Steve Smith. “Tough to keep up to Ralph.”

The question, though, isn’t Krueger’s stamina, it’s how he fits as the Oilers head coach now.

How is he going to be different from Tom Renney, who brought the longtime Swiss national team coach to the NHL as his right-hand man?

Different voice, for sure. Different tactics? Different message? We’ll see.

He’s got a lot to do:

• Wring 10 more wins out of the Oilers so they are in a playoff hunt next March and early April.

• Get his veteran core to produce infinitely more than they did last season, when only Ryan Smyth (for the first half) gave them any offensive spark to complete young stars Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

• See his veterans buy into support roles, particularly Smyth and captain Shawn Horcoff.

• Guide his defence into moving the puck up the ice with more alacrity so RNH, Hall and Co. don’t have to come back 175 feet to start the attack.

Other than that, piece of cake.

Krueger, a motivational speaker when he’s not a coach, is up for whatever hockey hills he has to climb.

He’s armed with a three-year contract, which should buy him some time to get to the next step. Returning will be loyal coaching soldiers Smith, Kelly Buchberger, goalie coach Fred Chabot, video coach Myles Fee and skating instructor Steve Serdachny, who were all part of Renney’s staff.

For now, Krueger, who has been auditioning for this NHL head-coaching post for the last two decades since a chronic back ended his starry playing career in Germany, will not be hiring an associate coach.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/hockey/n ... story.html

[Nolan]

We just landed Justin Schultz. Love the signing, we needed another young right handed d-man and we got one. Hopefully he lives up to the hype.

[Nolan]

2 years 4.5 million for Ryan Smith. Glad to see him back, it looks like he's going to finish his career in an Oilers uniform.

[Nolan]

Hordichuk resigned today. Glad to see him back, great dude who's damn good at what he does.

[Nolan]

So Hall and Eberle both signed long term extensions for 6 million a season. Both of these guys have the potential and the ability to completely outplay these contracts.