Joey Moss
Registered User
- Aug 29, 2008
- 36,163
- 8,012
If this happens the Oilers are a playoff team/someone else disappoints big time.My bold prediction on Purcell.
27 goals 30 assists.
He will clean up around the net.
If this happens the Oilers are a playoff team/someone else disappoints big time.My bold prediction on Purcell.
27 goals 30 assists.
He will clean up around the net.
My bold prediction on Purcell.
27 goals 30 assists.
He will clean up around the net.
My prediction... Purcell and Pouliot combine for
27 goals 30 assists
They're still talking about him?Seems like everybody on TB board is real happy Purcell is gone.
Seems like everybody on TB board is real happy Purcell is gone.
The thread on TB board said they could not find a taker for Purcell (with that contract). Could not give him away..
One thing you should know by now as an Oilers fan is that a lot of people find ways to hate decent players.
See recently: Gilbert, Hemsky, Gagner, Penner, Yakupov, Cogliano.
The thread on TB board said they could not find a taker for Purcell (with that contract). Could not give him away..
One thing you should know by now as an Oilers fan is that a lot of people find ways to hate decent players.
See recently: Gilbert, Hemsky, Gagner, Penner, Yakupov, Cogliano.
There was a thread in November asking if Purcell was one of the most underrated players in the NHL and his value on these boards (and with some Tampa fans) was pretty high right until the trade to Edmonton. Literally hours.. there was one on the trade forum the morning of.
I've seen quite a few posts suggesting his play trailed off when he started hanging out a lot with Malone. Purcell has acknowledged he took things for granted so hopefully the trade woke him up and we get a determined player.
Purcell had a very effective two years in tampa before being pretty bad last year... i dont know what happened last year but the people saying he's awful are looking at the situation with tunnel vision, at one time he was basically the second best player on the lightening and carrying their second line... i think if we get an actual second line centre to pair with him he will be a huge addition to this team and make us a lot tougher to play against (not beacsue he is tough per say but because of the type of offense he should provide)
He was never carrying the second line nor was he the second best player in the Lightning, though. 11-12 he was worse than Malone, Lecavalier, Stamkos and St. Louis when it comes to forwards and the same guys in 10-11. He played mostly with Stammer and Marty anyway, not in the second line and when he played in the second line, he didn't have to carry it.
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Purcell had a very effective two years in tampa before being pretty bad last year... i dont know what happened last year but the people saying he's awful are looking at the situation with tunnel vision, at one time he was basically the second best player on the lightening and carrying their second line... i think if we get an actual second line centre to pair with him he will be a huge addition to this team and make us a lot tougher to play against (not beacsue he is tough per say but because of the type of offense he should provide)
I hate this notion that Gagner was rushed. He scored 49 points as a rookie, good for 3rd in team scoring and 5th for rookie scoring that year. He was clearly ready to play. His development stagnated, and his defensive commitment never came through, but do you honestly think that another year or two on the London Knights would've changed that? If anything, it's an indictment of the Oilers' ability to insulate their young players with good support, and it's an indictment of the Oilers' coaching decisions over the years. But Gagner was just plain ready to play. He made the team fair and square and performed admirably.
I do think that it's the right decision to send him on though. Too many players with his skill set on the team, and he isn't as good as they are. Arizona is an excellent landing spot for him. He gets to be the man on their 1st PP unit, he gets to be surrounded by players that compensate for his lack of size, grit, and defensive play. I think it's a great fit for him. At the same time, Purcell is a great fit for us. Bigger body, good skating, a natural winger with slightly more offense than Gagner. And he's older. Not as much NHL experience as Gagner, but being older is an advantage in its own right. His body is more developed, he's more developed as a person. Great trade all around IMO, and given what Tampa got for Gagner, I think it was great value.
There was a thread in November asking if Purcell was one of the most underrated players in the NHL and his value on these boards (and with some Tampa fans) was pretty high right until the trade to Edmonton. Literally hours.. there was one on the trade forum the morning of.
I've seen quite a few posts suggesting his play trailed off when he started hanging out a lot with Malone. Purcell has acknowledged he took things for granted so hopefully the trade woke him up and we get a determined player.
Purcell was a good player under Guy Boucher, he didn't fit Jon Cooper's system at all. He was a very good player in 10-11 and 11-12, then had a good start (like the rest of the team) for 2013 shortened season but then completely disappeared. He's soft and mediocre defensively and the reason why Lightning fans are glad that he's gone isn't the fact that they think he's a completely terrible player (I don't, at least) - it's simply the fact that Purcell wasn't a good fit for the team anymore, now that there's tons of forward depth here. Drouin will make the team next season and will certainly replace Purcell. He was never carrying the second line nor was he the second best player in the Lightning, though. 11-12 he was worse than Malone, Lecavalier, Stamkos and St. Louis when it comes to forwards and the same guys in 10-11. He played mostly with Stammer and Marty anyway, not in the second line and when he played in the second line, he didn't have to carry it.
That said, even though Purcell didn't have much value, I do think that he will rebound in Edmonton. Probably will take Hemsky's role but the difference is that Purcell isn't as injury prone. He'll give you guys more options offensively. He also should help your power play, at least he is one of the best guys in the league when it comes to entering the offensive zone on PP. He's not a terrible player, just wasn't a good fit for the Lightning's system. I'm happy that he's gone, you guys will likely be happy that you have him in your team.