Since watching Robert Nilsson from the beginning of the season til now, I think the case can be made that he is the best player on the Oilers. What I don't understand is how he is getting very little praise from Oiler fans considering all he brings to the team, such as:
1. Solid defensive play: He hasn't really made any huge errors defensively and in fact, he leads the team in +/- (+5).
2. Promising offensive talent: Now that he's found his stride (4 pts. in the last 4 games), Nilsson has shown that he is a dynamic offensive threat in every game. In fact, some ppl complain about the Ryan Smyth deal that sent Nilsson here but here's a startling fact: in their first NHL seasons with more than 10 GP, Nilsson's stats are 53GP 6G 14A 20P -6 while Smyth's were 48GP 2G 9A 11P -10. Nilsson has clearly better stats.
3. An NHL pedigree: Ppl talk about how great Sam Gagner is (and I agree with them) and how his father was an NHLer. Well, the exact same could be said for Robert Nilsson.
I hope that this gives Oiler fans a better understanding of just how good Nilsson is. With Gagner, Cogliano, Gilbert, and Nilsson the future of the Oilers is looking the brightest it ever has.
I hope that this gives Oiler fans a better understanding of just how good Nilsson is. With Gagner, Cogliano, Gilbert, and Nilsson the future of the Oilers is looking the brightest it ever has.
That's true actually, they put Gretz, Mess, and Kurri to shame. Gilbert makes Paul Coffey look like a child pornographer
Not even close to the best player, not by a long shot. His only consistant attribute is his ability to disappear for several games at a time. Offensively he has been decent, his plus/minus is decent, and he has obvious skill. But his commitment is questionable.
I don't mind Nilsson, and the potential is obvious, but his flaws quite easily take him out of the running for best player on the team.
I used to wonder if any Oilers players came on here and posted under a pseudonym. This post answered that for me.
I hope you have great game tonight, Bobby.
p.s. continue to engage Gagner in the cycle as frequently as you do...you can overcome size disadvantage with your puck handling skills and constant movement.
Since watching Robert Nilsson from the beginning of the season til now, I think the case can be made that he is the best player on the Oilers. What I don't understand is how he is getting very little praise from Oiler fans considering all he brings to the team, such as:
1. Solid defensive play: He hasn't really made any huge errors defensively and in fact, he leads the team in +/- (+5).
2. Promising offensive talent: Now that he's found his stride (4 pts. in the last 4 games), Nilsson has shown that he is a dynamic offensive threat in every game. In fact, some ppl complain about the Ryan Smyth deal that sent Nilsson here but here's a startling fact: in their first NHL seasons with more than 10 GP, Nilsson's stats are 53GP 6G 14A 20P -6 while Smyth's were 48GP 2G 9A 11P -10. Nilsson has clearly better stats.
3. An NHL pedigree: Ppl talk about how great Sam Gagner is (and I agree with them) and how his father was an NHLer. Well, the exact same could be said for Robert Nilsson.
I hope that this gives Oiler fans a better understanding of just how good Nilsson is. With Gagner, Cogliano, Gilbert, and Nilsson the future of the Oilers is looking the brightest it ever has.
Now that's a first post. Welcome to the Board, Robert!
um, sorry, he cant be the most popular cause he's not canadian and he didnt go through the WHL/OHL (and least of all, the NCAA system always trumps euro-time.).
at least he's playing on the team as part of the Smyth trade. Ryan O'Marra cant even make the AHL after playing on team canada.
Let's not flame the poster too much now. He's made some valid points using statistics but, those can be easily skewed.
I think Row-bert has been very good in the minutes he has played. In fact, i'd say he's ahead of where Hemsky was at this age in his overall game.
Hemsky-lite has a bright future on this team imo.
Bobby keep up your good work ethic, you have great skills and talent, you will defenetly be a top 6 forward next year, (that is under the right coach) have a great game tonite, good luck
1. Lowe gets ripped a fair bit for his transactions. But, man oh man, this was a beauty trade. Garth Snow essentially gave us Nilsson, O'Marra and Plante to rent Smytty for 6 weeks.
2. Nilsson is pretty special player. I think the "inconsistent" tag is overblown considering he is averaging more than 0.5 ppg and his plus/minus.
3. And Smytty has been so effective for the Avs they had to recruit Foppa's clubbed feet just to make the playoffs.
1. Lowe gets ripped a fair bit for his transactions. But, man oh man, this was a beauty trade. Garth Snow essentially gave us Nilsson, O'Marra and Plante to rent Smytty for 6 weeks.
2. Nilsson is pretty special player. I think the "inconsistent" tag is overblown considering he is averaging more than 0.5 ppg and his plus/minus.
3. And Smytty has been so effective for the Avs they had to recruit Foppa's clubbed feet just to make the playoffs.
Plus, if he hadn't dealt Smyth, no way the team dives like they did. So we'd have no Sam Gagner.
I do think Nillson will be a better point producer than Ryan Smyth..one day...not our best player now, but I think the poster has a valid point. He MAY be one day.
I don't think Lowe gets ripped for the Smyth trade--just what happened afterward. I would have liked either Tambalini or Okoposo--O'Meara will never make the nhl untl he can stay healthy and Plante has a bad back
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Joy of being an oiler fan--watching the team play worse then AHL teams. Guess the oiler brass is already on the golf course
Hey Nilsson is great, and he's going to mature into a heck of a player. But he isn't our best player right now. Most nights that award goes to either Garon or Hemsky.
I will give him credit for showing up almost every night of late, if he can keep up that kind of dedication he could become a poor man's Zetterberg. If he can't, he'll be another Samsonov.
Now if O'Marra and/or Plante can somehow pull out an NHL career, we'd be sitting pretty after the Smyth trade.
I like Nilsson a lot. He is a good back-checker, and has some real nice offensive skills. Wouldn't be suprised at all if he developed into a 60 point winger.
A lot of fans can't think for themselves.
So, when they hear Pierre McGuire constantly ripping on Row-bert over and over and over and over and over again, they get brainwashed into thinking he isn't as good as he really is.
I'd be more of a fan if he didn't disappear for 5 or 6 games at a time. Once he is more consistant, he'll be a good player. he's getting there, anyway.
Nilsson is great. Great hands, speed, pretty intelligent out there. I think as far as his head is concerned it just keeps improving at a rapid pace. He is good defensively, and he can actually hit alright for his size. Nilsson is easily one of the better young guys on the team. Cogs is no slouch, Gagner is massively hyped by the org (but is so damn young and effective that his future is unquestionably bright), Brodz, Glenx, gibs, etc... Nilsson is not a step behind any of these guys in my opinion. I think he is in a good niche as far as his development goes at the moment and it is serving him well. His game improved a lot this year, especially defensively and mentally.
To go out and declare him the best player on the Oil is just plain wrong, though.
