best bugs bunny episode ever...sorry, that's all I have today. I have no idea how we're gonna get those players you want, but I'd sure be happy if that was the team in August, lack of Cogliano aside.

best bugs bunny episode ever...

Agreed - the baseball bunny episode also rules.

I am with my friend Shepso: I have no idea how you would get these players. It seems that you would be trading Staios, Moreau, Cogs, Poo, and Souray. Signing Bouwmeester, Veileaux and Veteran Dman as Free agents, and Harding as an RFA. You would have to trade for Callahan, Armstong and Hanzal.
Maybe
- Sign all of the above (Bouwmeester for 7 million, Veileaux for 1.5 Million, Harding for 2.5 million/2nd round pick, and Zannon for 2 million)
- Trade Souray, Moreau for Hanzal + parts (Phx has talked about bring in Veteran leadership, I think something other then Hanzal would be coming back but what I do not know)
- Staios and a 2nd round pick for Callahan and 4th round pick (assuming NYR need a dman who makes under 3Million)
- Cogs for Armstrong and a second round pick (which we will need for the Callahan trades, as ours would be going to Min in RFA offer sheet to Harding)
- Poo is a throw in somewhere

I do not support these trades but am trying to answer Coach's question. I personally want to keep Souray, as he does replicate any skill set we have on the backend (mean, shooter, leadership, and grit), and I would only want to see Cogs going if we got a first liner in return, period.

Callahan has been playing 22 minutes a night since Torts took over. He's a coaches favorite, he's cheap, he hits like crazy and he has nice hands. Unless you're offering Gagner I don't see why they'd bother moving him. They're certainly not in a position to take on salary and Cogliano is too much of a lateral move to trade a proven commodity that the coach relies on.

Veilleux is junk.

You could get Colby Beware for Cogs but Atlanta would be laughing when Cogliano puts up 30 jeans a season. I'd offer Smid and pick and hope Atlanta bites. Otherwise you have to save premium assets like 13 for bigger deals.

Hanzal is probably the best and most realistic option. One of our top defenders with picks evening things out would probably interest them.

Tambo said bigger and grittier...if we are playing the guessing game here is mine

Penner Horc Hemsky
Sully Carter/Staal Gagner
Moreau Belanger Pisani
Jacques Brodziak Storts
Potulny, Reddox

Souray Visn
Grebs Smid
Staios Vetran D
Peckham

Harding
Rollie

Here is my logic: Philly and Pitts are in cap trouble and have very talented centremen playing on the third line and need a puck moving dman and cheap talented forwards.

Gilbert Cogs for Carter/Staal
(we have other pieces if we need to add it)

Nillson, Poo, JDD, 2nd for Belanger Harding
(again...not sure what would be needed but belanger and harding answer two needs for us.)

Pick up a veteran d to plug the 5-6th hole and we have an affordable lineup with out any visable holes

Just my two cents

or instead of Belanger...sign Manny Maholtra.

He is a big body, good at faceoffs, and 28 years old.

CENTER
Gagner - he's a keeper and someone to build around
Horcoff - a good #2 centerman, not #1, cap hit is huge, so I would try and move him for a true #1 center (veteran like Lecavalier or youngster like Dubinsky, Staal)
Cogliano - for me he's a keeper, a Todd Marchant-type #3 guy
Brodziak - we need grit and size at #4 and he doesn't fit the bill
Schremp - I'd give him another shot, if it doesn't work out package him in a deal
Eberle - they say he's gonna be good, let's give him a shot
LEFT WING
Kotalik - let him walk
Nilsson - he's got to go
Penner - maybe a new coach, new system and reliable, steady linemates that play to his strengths will help. he did it in Anaheim with Getzlaf and Perry, he could do it here
Moreau - good veteran, but is slipping, could go either way keep him or trade him, but he is the captain so it would be difficult, but Souray would be a perfect choice for the "C"
Pouliot - got to go
Jacques - has had plenty of chances, but he's a big body so wouldn't give up on him yet, but if we can find someone meaner than him, then let him walk
Reddox - good little plugger I think has role on this team
RIGHT WING
Hemsky - unbelievable skill, we need a coach that will maximize his talent level by pushing him offensively to be creative and not so easy to defend on the rush
O'Sullivan - he's a keeper
Pisani - steady and reliable veteran, keep him
Stortini - he's a keeper
MacIntyre - feared enforcer, perfect extra man off the bench for spot duty
Omark - I think the Oilers will use this unsigned asset in any and all trade talk this summer
DEFENSE
Souray - skating is weak, but he's a talented leader and a keeper
Visnovsky - excellent player, but to me is expendable with Souray on the books
Gilbert - I really like him and his upside, he comes modestly priced, trading him I fear with come back to haunt the Oilers
Grebeshkov - very skilled, could go either way keep or trade but since I feel Visnovsky is expendable I keep Greby
Smid - same as Gilbert, lots of potential and he's developing a nice mean streak
Peckham - tough dman who I think can take Staios' spot right now
Staios - tough veteran that is just too slow these days for Oilers. hate to say but it's time to move him
Chorney - liked what I saw from him in final game, lots of potential, he's a keeper for the future
GOAL
Roloson - have no problem keeping him for another year but I think he wants to be the starter. Honestly Deslauriers deserves the shot at starting so I don't think Roli will like that and in the end will walk away from the Oilers
Deslauriers - excellent talent who deserves the chance to start now.

I like the recommendation of acquiring a Ryan Callahan. How about this proposal: Penner to Tampa for Ryan Malone? I'd do it in a heartbeat! Someone mentioned the Pens cap problems, well how about trying to pick up Maxime Talbot? Real gritty and gutsy forward would look good with Stortini. I am also a fan of Jordin Tootoo from Nashville. I know he plays RW but would love to see him with Stortini too.