Kevin Lowe Gets an "A+" For the 2007 Offseason

[Deathsdoorstep]

Out: Sykora, Nedved, Markkanen, Smith, Lupul, Tjarnqvist

In: Souray, Tarnstrom, Pitkanen, Sanderson, Penner, Garon


Massive improvement IMO.

Also, we lose Smyth, and gain Nilsson and O'Marra. We lose Bergeron and get Grebeshkov.


Lowe = A+

[Wilkie12]

Re: Kevin Lowe Gets an "A+" For the 2007 Offseason

Now watch him pick up the phone and deal a body or two to get some draft picks back.

Mind you, with the Oilers past luck with draft picks, he may not want them back. Better to sign FA's with demonstrated NHL skills versus drafting an 18 year-old with "potential".

[Sectionq]

Re: Kevin Lowe Gets an "A+" For the 2007 Offseason

The thing I like is the Oil are now LOADED with quality NHL D-men. There are a ton of teams that are super thin on the blue line that we could trade with.

[Tucker83]

Re: Kevin Lowe Gets an "A+" For the 2007 Offseason

And we also picked up Garon.

[Deathsdoorstep]

Re: Kevin Lowe Gets an "A+" For the 2007 Offseason

And we also picked up Garon.

Right. Thanx. Made the edit.

[Beerfish]

Re: Kevin Lowe Gets an "A+" For the 2007 Offseason

Out: Sykora, Nedved, Markkanen, Smith, Lupul, Tjarnqvist

In: Souray, Tarnstrom, Pitkanen, Sanderson, Penner, Garon


Massive improvement IMO.

Also, we lose Smyth, and gain Nilsson and O'Marra. We lose Bergeron and get Grebeshkov.


Lowe = A+

Whoa that is a tad optomistic.

Garon - Markkanen: Garon is better but he'll play 15 games if MacT does his standard.

Sykora - Sanderson: At best a wash here, Sykora was a shooter that could score, we'll see what Sanderson brings to the table.

Souray - Smith: Souray is a big improvement offensively, the toughness is about a wash, he is worse defensively.

Pitkanen - Bergeron: should be a big improvment here, Joni should be a better skater, puck mover, offense close.

Penner - Lupul: Penner is an improvment size wise, as for the rest it's a huge question mark as to whether he'll score like we hope.

Tarnstrom - Tjanrqvist: A push, Tarnstroms value drops for me after we got the other two offensive defenceman because he's at his best as a pp guy.

We also lost a 1st, 2nd and 3rd draft choice in the mix.

For Lowe to get an A Penner will have to play with Hemsky and score.

I give Lowe a lot of credit for doing his very best to improve the team this off season. He's certainly left no stone unturned in his efforts to be better. Too bad moves by himself and the Oiler brass in the past really hurt his ability to do what he really wanted.

The Oilers are certainly improved on paper, we'll see of the coach can get the best of out these players.

I'd give Lowe an A for effort but a B for results so far.

[Traxy]

Re: Kevin Lowe Gets an "A+" For the 2007 Offseason

Penner - Lupul: Penner is an improvment size wise, as for the rest it's a huge question mark as to whether he'll score like we hope.

The difference between Lupul and Penner is that if Lupul wasn't scoring consistently he was completely useless. Penner will forecheck and run guys over, 2 things that Lupul would never do. Big difference there IMO.

[Deathsdoorstep]

Re: Kevin Lowe Gets an "A+" For the 2007 Offseason

The difference between Lupul and Penner is that if Lupul wasn't scoring consistently he was completely useless. Penner will forecheck and run guys over, 2 things that Lupul would never do. Big difference there IMO.

Agreed.



Plus, what if Anaheim ends up without Penner, Neidermayer and Selanne. Nowhere near as good a team.

[Traxy]

Re: Kevin Lowe Gets an "A+" For the 2007 Offseason

Agreed.



Plus, what if Anaheim ends up without Penner, Neidermayer and Selanne. Nowhere near as good a team.

Realistically thats 2 of their top 3 players gone. I can't see them being as strong this year obviously.

[Beerfish]

Re: Kevin Lowe Gets an "A+" For the 2007 Offseason

The difference between Lupul and Penner is that if Lupul wasn't scoring consistently he was completely useless. Penner will forecheck and run guys over, 2 things that Lupul would never do. Big difference there IMO.

We'll see, the stories of Carlyle having to ride Penner all the time last year stick with me. If Penner doesn't score he's a flop as simple as that, we don't need a Chris Gratton.

[Sectionq]

Re: Kevin Lowe Gets an "A+" For the 2007 Offseason

Garon - Markkanen: Garon is better but he'll play 15 games if MacT does his standard.

If I was Mac T and Jussi was my back up, I would be scared to play him anymore than 15 games too.

Sykora - Sanderson: At best a wash here, Sykora was a shooter that could score, we'll see what Sanderson brings to the table.

Sanderson skates better, better in his own zone and won't whine about not playing with Hemmer.

Souray - Smith: Souray is a big improvement offensively, the toughness is about a wash, he is worse defensively.

Souray's offence will far over shadow whatever difference in defence we lose with Gator gone. Plus gator was slowing down, plus the Oilers team needed a face life, including leadership. After the Smyth trade, a good captain does not let his team go into the tank as bad as the Oil did. I know losing Smyth was heart breaking, but the team flat out DIED after that trade. As professionals you have to move on. They all say the same line "it's a business". Well trading popular player sometimes happens. The Oilers after that trade completely stopped trying, stopped competing and completely stopped caring. No offence to Smith, but you CAN NOT let that happen as a captain. That to me showed a lack of leadership and something had to be done to change that dressing room.

Pitkanen - Bergeron: should be a big improvment here, Joni should be a better skater, puck mover, offense close.

HUGE upgrade. Bergeron is an absolute disaster in his own end and was a complete spaz case.

Penner - Lupul: Penner is an improvment size wise, as for the rest it's a huge question mark as to whether he'll score like we hope.

Absolutely HUGE upgrade. Lupul was a wussy and a supreme floater. I second what was said by another poster, when Penner is not scoring, he can still bang and crash, will always create more space because of his size and won't be pushed off the puck as easily as wet noodle Lupul was.

Tarnstrom - Tjanrqvist: A push, Tarnstroms value drops for me after we got the other two offensive defenceman because he's at his best as a pp guy.

HUGE upgrade. Defensively I think they are close, offensively Tarnstrom is way better.

[quake]

Re: Kevin Lowe Gets an "A+" For the 2007 Offseason

Souray will have a better +/- this year as the Habs were truely bad in their own end along with crappy goaltending.

[Sgt. Nuke]

Re: Kevin Lowe Gets an "A+" For the 2007 Offseason

Good analysis, and I totally agree that Penner's size is an asset all by itself. I have no question Lowe will deal some youth to get some draft picks.

[MoneyGuy]

Re: Kevin Lowe Gets an "A+" For the 2007 Offseason

Good analysis, and I totally agree that Penner's size is an asset all by itself. I have no question Lowe will deal some youth to get some draft picks.

I think Kipper and Phaneuf are a little bit nervous today. I like this signing.
And I agree that Lowe's not done. His team is not set.

[Sgt. Nuke]

Re: Kevin Lowe Gets an "A+" For the 2007 Offseason

They're only nervous for the next season. After that, they'll be in the Eastern Conference.