Oilers hit the greasy slide

A once great hockey team from a great city is now wallowing in last place. The Edmonton Oilers fired their head coach a few games ago, but not much changed. Eakins is one of the elite coaches in the sport of hockey. Even he had to realize once he had a chance to evaluate the team that the roster was filled with poorly developed hockey players. Loads of talent. Lacking in skill.
... Typical. The Oilers overrate their players. One really has to wonder where the management derives its plan. McT probably issued the funniest assessment about his inability to forge a meaningful trade.
... He said that he doesn't want to trade away his core players. Worse. He said it with an absolutely straight face.
... The Oilers management has bungled their player development so badly that it is totally believable that every player would likely pass through recallable waivers. And if there was interest, none could attract a value trade of better than a 6th round draft pick.
... Every other team in the league recognizes that there isn't a single player on the Oilers who would not benefit from doing a year or two in the AHL. If the Oilers manage to get another first, or second pick in the first draft round put them into a year in the AHL. And throw away the key.
... The NHL is no place to develop players. Too focused on winning. Too little practice time. Too many games. Very little time for meaningful long term one on one coaching.

Big stopper

Well Bob, this day is almost (two days short) the one year anniversary of the game, which converted the Leaf's season from a walk in the park, to the top of the diving tower into an empty pool. Worse than this, it is also the same sequence of goalie changes. Reimer's net choice followed Bernier loses. Worse this year, is that they are up against a formidable high tempo hockey team in the Hawk's home rink.
... Reimer is in net. The last two games indicate that the Leafs are on the down low when it comes to game. Now last year, the loss to the Hurricanes was the precursor to an early visit to the Florida golf courses.The other goalie might be the number one, but Reimer must prove that he is the stopper, the wall.
... The Leafs will be on the road for the next seven games. How successful they are will determine just how the rest of their season goes. Its the fine line. Tonight they step over a line or trip over it.

Life in the Fastsh Lane.

Fastsh just screamed his way out of Edmonton. Reimer does well against the Wings.And in the Leaf's eyes Reimer's trade value will never be higher. Maybe finally MacTavish has seen the light and offered up one of his... and I am trying to say this with a fuckin' straight face now.... core players.

... I could see a three way trade with Fasth going to Winnipegs farm team, Budaj going to the Leafs with a forward from Edmonton and Reimer going to the Oilers.

.. That would be the best deal for the Leafs because Budaj has to be the best back up goalie available. The Jets don't seem to want to give Budaj a chance but they are still paying him a salary.

... The latter would be the best deal for the Leafs right now. If the Jets don't want to play in the pool. Then MacTavish must make a deal straight up. Which means he must trade somebody both useless and valuable which the entire Oilers are smitten with. All of them have offensive talent but most were brought up to the NHL without at least a year's seasoning in the AHL to get their bodies honed and learn even the most basic of defensive skills.

... The Leafs on the other hand must get the deal done by 8:00 o'clock Reimer's value goes down if you are the Leafs and the Red Wings take out their frustrations on Bernier. Which by the way they will. Bernier's in a tough spot right now. He has to win tonight with an offense who only managed 19 SOG in regular play.

... So Dave (Nonis) you only got 6 hours(from 1300hrs EST) leverage to get Hall or Hopkins for Reimer and maybe a 3rd round daft pick.