G71 Flames at Oilers
This year’s Oilers have 27 wins with 11 games to go and 30W seems reasonable. The GF-GA stats is also heading in a good direction, and any fool can see the 3 splendids at forward are bona fide.
BONA FIDE
Someday soon all of Hall, Eberle and the Nuge will be bona fide and I believe Sam Gagner, Magnus Paajarvi and Anton Lander will someday join the group. That’s 6, and there are some fine candidates bubbling under–although not at the level we see at the NHL level now.
On the blue, Ladislav Smid and Jeff Petry would seem to represent the future. Although they are not playing pro hockey in the AHL, men like Oscar Klefbom (SEL), Martin Marincin, David Musil, Martin Gernat (WHL) will be pushing before you know it.
If we ask the question “what single move can Steve Tambellini make?” this summer, the answer has to be one of:
- legit NHL goalie
- strong, capable big minutes defender
- veteran winger to fill the Dvorak/Pisani role
I don’t think they’re going to do anything about the goalie this summer. Do you?
Yeah, frustrating as it may be, the goalie will not change. Carlyle in Toronto has made their goalies SV% like 20 pts better based on system. Maybe you should add new coach to that list.
I say a top end RH dman to pair with Shultz, allowing Whitney to play PP and 3rd pairing with Sutton/Potter makes us a much better team. Funny how goalis get better when your dmen are better and the team defense improves.
Goalie ? We have a goalie problem ? The only movement on the goalie front will be if they can get a bag of pucks for Khabi at the trade deadline.
It will be interesting to see what Burkie will do about his goalie problem. Similar to the Oilers they are in dire need of a steady vet to be a true #1 until they can figure out what Reimer will bring on a regular basis next season.
A study of two GMs faced with similar issues, although truly there is an answer – albeit a bad one in that Khabi is signed.
Agree on the winger for some of those hard minutes and the D-man. The other question is, will they try to dump Belanger in the off-season or do they believe in his ability to rebound. If they don’t they will be looking for another centerman for taking draws.
Get another goalie?
But Nik is our MVP.
Moving or buying out Nik (I know he’s +35 and the cap stays) requires a bold move that admits a mistake.
It involves v4.0 having his own moment of clarity.
I’m betting against it.
I do think he’ll add at least 1 D though.
Also,
Sven Baertschi should play tonight.
3 goals in 4 NHL games. Good for him.
Saw a great tweet last night that said something like “Baertschi is poised to take Iginla’s place as The Only Offensively Talented Flame” Haha!
Oilers can stick a dagger in the CAL playoff hopes.
I have no idea how much the players embrace the “spoiler” role, I have my doubts that it motivates much.
I do have to say that the Oiler fanbase would love to see them beat Calgary tonight, and since its a Friday night game, the crowd should be lubed up to be loud.
Do it for the long suffering fans please boys.
Oilers win 4-3
Gagner, Hemsky get off the schnid, Potter and Eberle on the PP.
Go Oilers!!
*clap,clap*
Can we start calling those missing three pieces The Holy Trinity, because Oilers fans have been praying for those pieces for the last three years?
Question: Does anyone else get the feeling that the Oilers wil trade their top pick this year for a D-man?
The only reason I ask is that Stauffer mentioned before Gagner’s 8 points, that the oilers will not have D problems next year with who they were rumoured to be going after.
Then after the Schultz trade, Stauffer mentions that this trade was a set-up to have defensive player on each of the three pairings.
Now I heard that the 1 pick is in play this year? So, who reasonably is a right pairing D that is worthy of a lotto pick? and who is a Pisani-esque winger on that team. Of the top of my head
1. Weber (Spalding)
2. Bogosian (Thorburn)
3. Schenn (Armstrong)
That would leave:
Whitney XXXXXX
Smid Petry
Schultz Potter
Sutton Peckham
If Oiler Managment can read the tea leaves they may realize that they can no longer sell hope and have to start selling actual product.
Tonights prediction:
Oilers win 4-2 but Sven “the swiss pikeman” outscores RNH, forcing us all to hear about how the future is bright for the flame fans and RNH is a bust.
I know it’s not the narrative but, to be truly competitive, the Oilers need TWO top pairing defensemen (Whitney is likely done in that role), an actual bonafide #2 NHL centre, a remake of the bottom 6 forwards although the pieces are currently available and reliable NHL goaltending which may mean they need two goaltenders.
I don’t know how I got myself to the point of being a Tambo defender but we are in a rebuild – and we can see the progress.
Re: Khabi, as I recall the debate when we signed him was to keep Roli for two years (Tambo was prepared for one). Would that have been the better move? It would have cost us the Nuge but would not have gotten us into the playoffs. Is Roli’s 3.76 GAA and .881 Save% the answer – clearly no. Could we have done better than Khabi, perhaps but there are more than a few GMs out there (see Burke, Brian) who have similarly misjudged what they had and what they could get. It was a gamble, and a clear one at the time, that has not paid off. That said, the “out of his mind play at the start of the season” was the lightning in the bottle that Tambo was hoping to capture. He’s entering his contract year and Khabi’s record in contract years is pretty good. He’s not our goalie of the future but he can be a reasonable gamble for his final year to either take us on a run or offer up at the next trade deadline as a cup-winning vetran rental to a team needing such.
Doesn’t mean we don’t go hunting for something else but what options are there? Schneider may be on the block but inter-division trades are almost impossible and the price would be huge. Bernier may also be available (though Lombardi, or his replacement, will want a good return too). On the Free Agent heap we have the Monster in TO and Nabokov, assuming he doesn’t sign with the Island. Perhaps we simply let Dubnyk continue to develop and see what we have down the pipeline in Roy and Bunz.
Nice of DSF to wait four comments before bringing his usual ray of optimisism and sunshine.
I’m excited to see a kid like Sven take the opportunity afforded him and run with it. Exciting to watch and I hope he challenges for Calder next year.
OTOH, the game should be a slow one, with the Flames trying to keep things from getting out of control. And Sutter is a good enough coach to do that.
Would add one more thing to the list – a coach who knows how to properly use/develop Swedes.
Khabi is going nowhere because we’re not close enough to competing. If they keep Renney another season, he goes by Boxing Day 2012 when another losing streak puts the team out of it’s misery for another season.
If Renney is gone by fall and they bring in a coach who instills more discipline to the defensive side of the game AND if they bring in at least one top 4 d-man, this team might actually take a big step forward next season. Even w/DD and Khabi in place. Look what Hitch did in St. L w/Brian Elliott.
So Calgary is in full “Svensanity” mode. Lot’s of half-joking remarks with regards to penciling him in for the Calder next year. He’s a suitor!
The Flames are riding a 5 game win streak, and handled a tired Phoenix team pretty well last night, but the three previous games against the Jets, Wild, and Sharks, all fell in to the category of games they won but should’ve lost (blown leads, erratic play).
On the other side of the coin, you can bet they remember the beatdown the Oilers threw them last BOA, so they’ll be looking for revenge. I expect to see the old-timey Iginla out there running his mouth and throwing hits, not the invisible Iginla from the last game.
Let’s hope that if the Oilers find themselves in a tight spot tonight, they don’t Arr You Ehn Ehn Oh Eff Tee
I am a fail for Nail guy, but would love to see the Oilers win tonight in regulation.
Tambo might be able to get some things done at the draft- July 1:
1. Trade Bulin for a 3rd.
2. Trade Gagner and the third for a defenceman (Schenn?);
3. Pick Murray;
4. Grab a goaler during free agency that is down on his luck; and
5. Sign 2 top 9 FA vets with some size and hands who are coming off a poor year but have a decent track record.
I am thinking that Luke Schenn might be a decent target given that we have returned to glutch and grab hockey. He is only 22, has size, shoots R, and might just settle down once he leaves the Leaves and the circus going on there.
i think mps becomes the dvorak type player. maybe not next year, but as a career progression.
Trading Gagner for Schenn would be a massive step backwards by the simple formula that Gagner is good while Schenn is not. If we trade Gagner it has to be for an equivalent D, someone who is good/solid already and has upside. Schenn has none of these things.
Trading Khabibulin for anything is hilarious. Who would take him?
This team needs to trade for a top defenseman and it needs to be willing to use the #1 pick to do so. Anything less is just spinning their wheels, or worse, another step backwards (see Schenn, Luke).
I’d be fine with a Gagner trade instead but it has to bring quality back. Maybe someone like Fyodor Tyutin. Why didn’t he play in the Columbus game? If Gagner doesn’t get you quality than keep his underappreciated ass and trade the #1 pick + Omark + Musil + whatever it takes for Ekman-Larson, or Subban, or Fowler, or Hedman, etc.
Doug McLachlan,
Are we really at the point of arguing that Khabi was a good signing because he helped us lose? Is it come to this?
Maybe you’re right, maybe Tambo is an evil genius who signed Khabi because he knew he would help a tank job he hadn’t started yet. If that’s the case, well, he got the results he wanted so I guess I have to at least give him that.
I don’t think DSF is crazy to ask for two D, but I’d be happy with one. That would make Whitney our number five with potential to move up if he heals, and I’m fine with that. He’s good enough to be #5/injury sub #4 right now, and Potter/Sutton/Peckham/Top rookie is acceptable depth. I think if you don’t belive Whitney is good enough, as is, to be #5, then you should trade him to a desperate team.
As far as tonight goes, the further removed from Edmonton I am the less I care about spoiling, or tanking, or any alterior motive you can bring up. Every now and then I stay up real late and watch a game. When I do this, I want to see a good game and an Oiler win.
There are a lot of good things that happened this year that haven’t yielded results. The PP is great and the penalty calling disappears. The D of Smid, Schultz, Petry are a hell of a step up from the Oiler D of October. Whitney prognosis is critical. He is still top end on play development. Will his mobility improve with time?
Harts and Dubnyk need to play the last 12 games with Harts auditioning for the corner man slot. Unfortunately he didn’t develop much this year. Maybe it was injury. The sched is favorable to give him a shot.
I feel the major problem is in the coaching. They are forcing the players into the system rather than adjusting the system to the players’ strengths. The failure to utilize MPS is on the coaching staff. The offense is one dimensional. If the rush doesn’t work they’re in trouble. The Oilers need some technical coaching. Buchberger – yeesh
veteran winger to fill the Dvorak/Pisani role
The narrative has gone from last year’s “a veteran two way center who can win faceoffs” to this.
The veteran two way faceoff thingy didn’t really work out for us, and I doubt the veteran winger move would add much value either. Whoever comes up through the system will probably fill this role suitably enough.
I fully agree with the other two though. A real NHL goaltender and a solid Dman would significantly improve this team assuming we don’t have to subtract from the existing roster to get them (ie add a guy like Schultz without giving up Smid).
Gabriel’s fenwick data show just how valuable an elite goaltender can be. The quality of NHL teams more or less lines up from top to bottom with this statistic, but there are the obvious standouts like NYR who don’t even tread water in fenwick relative to their peers, and NSH who sits at the bottom of the fenwick totem pole. However, these are two of the best teams in the league in the standings.
The explanation? Elite goaltending.
LT
Kudos re the O Brother Where Art Thou reference. Also a nice touch having the word BONA right above the river girls. I remember being similarly “induced” the first time I saw the movie, sans the soggy bottom. A hint of wordplay perhaps in that most male gendered fans of the Oilers have been in Constant Sorrow for a few years?
Interested in how you see the Gagner contract negs unfolding. Will ST try to keep him longer term for less dollars meaning he’d still be viable as a 3rd line option or will he be in the $3.5 – 4 range shorter term and penciled into the 2C role. Haven’t heard much from the young feller lately despite decent ice and linemates.
Could he really be a trade piece? That would put a different slant on things come draft day if so. Sammy as part of the D solution and his replacement staring you in the face with your first overall? I need to know these things NOW and not in June.
Sorry but Flames in a romp.
I don’t see the Oilers adding any wingers this offseason. If there are any openings on the wing, those spots will be handed to guys like Hartikainen/Cornet/Tyrvainen/Petrell. There’s really just the one spot anyway unless they move Eager or decide not to bring Smyth back. Neither of which I see happening.
There will be no goalie change either IMO. At least not until next year’s deadline if Khabibulin is playing well enough to garner some interest. Teams aren’t usually looking to make trades for 39 year old goaltenders at the draft.
I think the Oilers will be agressive in trying to obtain a top defenseman this year, and that’s about it. They’re fairly desperate for defense, and I think we’ll end up seeing them overpaying to get one because of it. Either by giving an older UFA (Kuba/Kubina) too much in salary and/or term, or giving up too much in a trade for a former 1st round defenseman (I’m looking at you Meszaros).
I am so confident that the Oilers will pick up a goalie this summer that I am willing to bet Woodguy’s money on it!!!
Any takers?
I’ve got the “Go to Sleep Little Baby” song running through my head as a result of the O Brother reference. I’m not sure if LT means that the three youngsters are the sirens leading fans and mgt to the rocks of further rebuild/relying on youth, or if he means that the three make everything feel better by their sweet music on ice.
Either way, Capitol sir! Just Capitol!
stevezie,
Not that it was a good thing but the signing was criticised, here, at the time because we could have had Roli for less money and less term before free agency hit – both true – and that Khabi was too much $ and term for what he brought – agian both true.
At the time it was a gamble that didn’t work. And an expensive one at that. However today we have a Khabi who looked pretty good early in the year and if he looks as good again next year might get us up the standings a bit or prove to be better trade bait come deadline day 2013. That’s all.
I’ll take Woodguy’s money from you. When did you want to drop it off?
Also, how will you be able to differentiate my cheesie-filled basement from the rest of the unwashed masses?
Ok, I bet all of DSF’s vast fortune that other than bringing in a vet for the farm, they will go with DD and Bulin next year.
So who are the available UFA goalies and d-men to choose from come July 1st that Tambo will be grilled for not signing?
I think any good Canadian can smell a cheezie from 100s of meters away
Fair enough – I’m Edmonton born and bred, and even though I hate the things, I can still sniff em’ out like a bloodhound trackin’ a wounded deer.
That being said, that still doesn’t tell me how you will be able to differentiate between my cheesies and everyone elses.
What’s your secret? Are you Batman? Or Stan Weir?
Those of you familiar with the Plan….. can you let us know when we plan to actually start competing? Because I do not recall that this year we were trying reasonably successfully for DFL again. Course, who knew CBJ were prepared to throw a true Herculean effort out there that could only be matched by the Oilers playing Barker/Peckham as a pairing 18-20 minutes a night.
Think move over summer that nets the biggest improvement in terms of our record would be acquiring a better than average starting goalie. Do not see that happening. Too many people in management would have to admit mistake with Khabby/DD. Hope I am wrong,
Also not sure where we are getting puck moving D man that can play top 4 minutes but expect it will cost us lots Not sure management/fanbase willing to pay the requisite price in terms of prospects. Also requires management to be able to assess/project the ceiling on its own prospects and I am not sure they will be confident enough in their own ability to make that type of gutsy call. Hope I am wrong here, too.
You have to remember that according to the MSM and the club, this is only year 2 of the rebuild. Try to forget the fact that they haven’t iced a competitive team since 2007. The year Gagner, Cogliano and Nilsson all made the team out of training camp was when the “rebuild” was supposed to start but since 2 of the kids are no longer here, the team doesn’t count those years between 2007 and the OTC season. For some reason those years weren’t about rebuilding, they were just about terrible hockey. Now we get to enjoy terrible hockey but there’s a pot of Stanley’s at the end, so everythings cool.
Trademark Bob Stauffer
Would you be willing to give up Gagner + pick (any but our 20121st rounder) or prospect/s to make that happen TOJ?
Or would you pencil in Gagner as our #2 C and use the 2012 first rounder to help acquire said top 4 D?
I would make the Gagner move but that’s just my bias.
I see our biggest off-season need to be a top 4 NOW Dman.
Cheetos Crunchy are the choice of connisieurs. Like single malt Scotch over Rye for those of us with a refined taste and class oozing.
Garrison and white have better numbers and are free agents.
If the Oilers were to trade Gags.. who would step in and be the #2 center..
If the Oilers were to trade the pick.. which team has the superstar Dman that we all so badly want to see, and would be willing to part with for the pick.. I can’t really see this happening.
Schenn, Luke.. is a dead horse.. we already have better D then what Schenn is.. he’s going to end up a career 5/6 spot.
Could we not trade the pick for a established goalie..
Or do we keep the pick, draft one of the Russians.. and move out a few swedes?
Garrison is the Dman I want heavy pursuit this offseason.. Yes Suter would be amazing, but regardless of a Suter signing or not.. I go after Garrison.
I believe I saw a comment about what Hitch has done in St.Louis in regards to Elliot.. Ummm sorry about this but Elliot was on fire well before Hitch arrived this season.. It’s Halak that bounced back. Pay attention.
Smid/Suter
Schultz/Petry
Whitney/Garrison
Sutton
This allows Peck to head back to the AHL and become a nasty defender for a season or two, he will be good one day if he is properly brought along. He makes mistakes, completely brain dead mistakes.. but he shouldn’t even be playing up here.. One thing I really admire about his play, he’s always if on ice the 1st player sticking up for his teammates.
I can’t help but to think that Dubnyk with that D-core, would instantly be a almost #1
I think Oilers should go after Oliver Eckman-Larsson.
1) hes a stud
2) even though Pjaarvi dropped his hyphenation, the Oilers could use more hyphens.
3) Phoenix has a plethora of young D
I doubt Phoenix listens unless the 2nd or 3rd overall is in play however.
My fear is Tambo includes MPS in a package for a top 4 D.
This will help the back end but leave the hole that MPS should fill over the long term. The super defensive minded Third line winger that can play the toughs and when needed move up to the 2nd line and score some… I think this is the role meant for MPS and one that will provide significant value to the org. long term.
Don’t trade him Tambo!
slopitch,
Rundblad seems far more likely and won’t necessarily cost the 2nd overall pick.
Of course, another Swede for Renney to misuse might be a waste of time.
Maybe that’s the choice of the new generation, but this guys can’t stand the Cheetos Crunchy and I stick to the original Hawkins Cheezies.
Kyle Wellwood.
Does anyone truly believe that Renney will be back.. lets be serious. If Tambo is back for a year, that is still to be seen.. but Renney.. I think the few games where Ralph was in charge is all that was needed to guarantee Renney is coaching his last dozen games. Ralph clearly has a much better understanding of the team, the league, the game.
It’s confusing though.. if Tambi gets a 1yr extension.. the norm is to sign a coach for 3yrs it seems around the league now. So he signs a new guy for three years, but he’s only here for 1. Then we get a hopefully real GM and all of a sudden whoever the next coach is, he’s immediately in Danger of losing his job, as most GM’s like to bring in their own staff. What capable coach is going to put himself through that?
Thinking of the future makes my head hurt, it’s way to easy to visualize all this turning into NYI mess like situation.
Traktor,
Really? Kyle Wellwood.. So we’re going to have RHN, Wellwood, Horcoff, Belanger… SWEET! Another lottery pick!!
How would wellwood be able to keep up with the speed… are we going to tie a hotdog to a stick and glue it to his helmet?
OilClog,
I give Traktor enough credit to think he was joking, though I’ve been disappointed before.
Haha, when Traktor is keeping his HorcPosts/60 down, he’s one of the best commenters on this blog. Or at least most entertaining.
Lineup posted at ON
Jones – RNH – Eberle
Hall – Gagner – Hemsky
Smyth – Horcoff – Hartikainen
Hordichuk – Belanger – Petrell
Smid – Petry
Whitney – Schultz
Peckham – Potter
Dubnyk
“Steve Smith”,
I know! I was just visualizing the car wreck that would be.
Gerta Rauss,
WTF. How does Renney justify having Darcy “2 Shifts” Hordichuk in the line up over Linus Omark?
uni,
I’m guessing ‘casue it’s Calgary and things could get ugly.
Or something.
slopitch,
Agreed, but Don Maloney seems for all the world to be a smart GM that has made small but solid moves over the last few season of turmoil. No way he trades OEL for anything less that a high lottery pick and sweetener(s).
There’s a reason OEL went before MPS. I’d do that swap in a fraction of a second.
I am not so sure that giving up our 20121st round pick would be too disastrous…
Gerta Rauss,
Of course…cause Darcy would put an end to that immediately.
I prefer the type of “ugly” though where the Oilers outscore the Flames by 4 goals with actual players that are capable at the NHL level.
Jones is on the 1st
Hordichuk is playing
Omark is being doghoused again
Could there be any more evidence Renney is suffering serious PCS?
After tonights game it’s going to go something like this..
Renny ” Well yesterday I was cooking on the old BBQ then I got pulled away for a moment, when I came back my steak was burnt.. yet I still showed up today”
Horcoff ” Well you know, we’re a close prideful bunch here, we’re trying to work through this as a team, we all got eachothers back, there’s no quit in this room, but we got to toughen up, stick it out, and compete.. excuse me while I go and polish my C”
Hall ” I’m so fucking sick and tired of this crap!”
Whitney ” Did you hear about when three guys walked into a Oilers locker room..”
Smid “Well you know, I jumped infront of every shot that came my way, broke my foot, 10 sticks, got 14 stitches, and punched iginla in the kidney, all we can do is compete”
Renney “All these millionaires around here need to look in the mirror and wonder why I’m even here anymore.. SMID! you’re benched!”
Stauffer ” I’m sexy and I know it”
Oil faithful …”really.. really.. well what else is new”
Neither do I
At my house, every Christmas Morning there was a large bag of Hawkins Cheezies on the dinner table for each of us. Grandpa was always dead drunk by noon, so we’d split them up among ourselves once he was passed out.
Ridiculous that 16 is in tonight, even if it is the flames. Poor Omark.
Love the 4 89 83 line though. Gonna go out on a ledge and predict 1g and 1a tonight for hemmer, with slurred insults bein thrown at him each time he skates by the jag offs that sit a few rows in front of us. WG is right, rexall 1.0 will be sauced tonight.
5-58 and x-15 looks pretty legit to me next year, but that’s just because I like 58 a lot, and think Batman will overspend for a top 4 guy.
All team captains have been to the same school as this guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N63LeOyB8x8
hockeyguy10,
I agree.. except Sedin. They tried to send both, but after they experienced Luongo the year before they decided Vancouver wasn’t welcome to the class.
If Sven Barcheese doesn’t get plastered against the boards a few times tonight I am going to be pissed off.
Glencross has taken multiple runs at Hall and RNH and it’s time for a little payback.
I doubt it happens though. Oilers are the least feared team in the league. No grit, no heart and it starts with the Captain.
I can’t wait to until the real Captain Taylor Hall is anointed and the former is a distant memory.
I’ve made this point before, but going after a goalie this summer would be bad management of the highest order. There are 6-8 teams looking for goalies (not counting the Oilers) and there are exactly two UFA goalies that might be described as average – all the rest are well below average. It’s a sellers market of the worst kind.
There are may be three teams that maybe willing to trade an above average goalie – Boston, LA and Vancouver. They will be able to ask for, and get, a fortune in return for them. And two of those guys have never been a number 1 goalie. The other is old and has strong but unique political views that may or may not mesh well in the dressing room.
Given the market there is a high probability that teams picking up goalies this summer will:
a. not actually get one that’s any good; and
b. overpay for the priviledge.
The goaltending certainly needs an upgrade but this summer is certainly not the time to do it.
Good to see Renney doing all he can to help Nooge win a Calder.
Re the plastering of Bracheese….who the hell on this team does that? Petry’s about the only candidate.
Depends what you can get for it vs say a Gagner. If Gagner’s traded Grigorenko gets taken and tried at 2C. If the wheels fall off we have THE CAPTAIN Shawn Horcoff in the waiting. If he’s not run ragged with PK on top of reg mins he’s ok. Sorta. Naaa you cheer for Grigorenko to go Noogelike
Ryan Jones. If he’s the answer, you’re asking the wrong question.
On that note, I have no difficulty with a new head coach next year
Whatever happened to Horc’s sweet sweet one timer.. you know the one where he would park about 10 feet out, swing wildly, just get enough of the puck, make it flutter, and cross the line every 10 games or so. What the hell did he work on this past summer??? his skating?
I was just talking the other day to a fellow Oiler fan (Clarkentstein’s son, actually) and we were laughing about Horcoff. Love #10, but he shouldn’t be with the swordsmen.
Seeing as this seems to be the majority view, I have to ask, “Who’s next?”.
LT mentioned Crawford not long ago. MacT’s name has been brought up as well (in varying capacities). Does Krueger have a strong enough resume? Todd Nelson has to be in the running, too. Who else?
Gret99zky,
I’m not trying to pick on you Gretz, as many people have mentioned a desire to see Taylor Hall as captain sooner than later, but it’s a silly idea that should be put to rest for a year or two. To make it short: for every Toews you’ve got two or three Lecavaliers (who is a fine captain now, I mean his first go-round). There’s a reason most captains are a little older: it’s a demanding job and you really need to know what you’re doing as a pro to be able to handle it. Really, what’s the point? Does anyone believe that not being captain is holding Hall back? When he plays, does it look like he has an extra ten percent he’s holding back that a letter would get out of him?
Also, none of us are in the dressing room, so can we please put away the fellacious notion that the most intense player on the ice must be the best leader? There’s a reason Smyth was never captain: he’s not that guy. Hall sure looks like he is, but I can’t confirm or deny it, and neither can you. He sure as all heckfire doesn’t know how to work the refs yet, and that is the captain’s only official duty. If there is one element of a team that the general public is uniqiely unqualified to judge, it’s who should be the captain.
Last game Renney ran 93′s line head to head with Nash.
Wonder if he’s going to run them at Ollie & Iggy tonight?
LT,
No way 16,28 or 37 could sit for 23. The universe would collapse in on itslef if Renney iced three offensive minded RW.
Agreed. three scoring lines is like Sasquatch: never saw him either.
stevezie,
I don’t want Horcoff as captain of this team for the same reason I don’t want Ryan Jones on the first fucking line.
Gret99zky,
You don’t want Horcoff as captain because Ryan Jones is terrible?
“Steve Smith”,
Yes.
And Steve Smith (if that’s your real name) wins another thread early.
“Steve Smith”,
I’m glad you are cool with #10 leading the Oilers into battle. I’d rather have a player who actually gives a shit out there wearing the C.
Unfortunately my fortune is tied up in Wood futures and I won’t be receiving my payout for another two seasons while the Los Angeles Browns make a cup run or two.
He’s not joking.
Or wrong.
Gagner – 15G 27A 42P +4
Wellwood – 15G 26A 41P +6
Eerie.
Game hasn’t even started yet.
Gret99zky,
You can’t consider his GVSHT/60 without factoring in his QUALGLOW.
Peckham on the wing over Omark??\
Fuck you Tom Renney.
And Fuck Duke!!
Omark should be playing. Stupid decision.
Listen, maybe if we all take a moment to accept that Kyle Wellwood is a prety decent player on a pretty decent contract everything will get better. Those things are true, good for him. He’s also 29 years old and having a career year (not in ppg, but in total points). He’s also small and has been dogged by conditioning and attitude attacks in the past. I think he’s an underrated player, and this year he is getting it together. I don’t think a small 30 year old with two good years under his belt and a .48 ppg average is an upgrade over a small 23 year old who was a dominant junior and has shown flashes of excellence over his brief career and sports a .61 ppg average. Is Wellwood better defensively? At his age I would hope he’s learned a few things. If you’re telling me that a game is being played for your life tomorrow night and you’ve rather have Wellwood than Gagner, I guess that’s fair. But next season- look I’m sure I’m missing something in the cursory numbers I’ve outlined, but at a glance it’s pretty obvious who the best bet is.
Fuck you Calgary.
All hands on deck for payback!!
Good thing Peckham was in the lineup to protect Hall on that hit
I really hope Hall lives to enjoy his second contract in the NHL. The kid plays a dangerous game out there.
NUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEE!
Wonderful play by Eberle on the goal and RNH’s ability to shelf it with little space was also nice to see.
All in favour of repealing the instigator, say “aye”.
I’m simply at a loss for words when it comes to this league and injuries.
It kind of looked like RNH threw a sneaky pick on the only player who had a chance to strip Eberle of the puck.
I kinda get the whole “let them play” thing (don’t like it though), but even when you “let them play”, you have to call a trip when a guy is skating at the net with the puck.
Good work by Harksi there.
Also,
A 5v5 goal by RNH. Any one’s world view shattered?
Anyone have a feed?
Gret99zky,
You know who captained the Bolts to a cup? An old, past his prime Dave Anderchuk. Want a historical example? If memory serves all of the Flames co-captains (Peplinski, Hunter and MacDonald) were benched at times during the playoffs, though I was hella young, maybe it was injuries that kept two of those old, long past their prime guys out of skates when they accepted the cup. Two of the guys I mentioned actually announced their retirement immediately following the cup win. Consider the epic takeoff Washington expereinced when they got rid of their old captain so that Ovie could take the reins.
This city is hard on captains. Ethan Moreau destroyed his body for the franchise and was voted humanitarian of the year of the entire league, and there are still plenty of sonsabitches who spit on the ground every time his name is mentioned, Horcoff was an inspiring story of a guy who worked his way from the bottom to the top until he got a bad contract that wasn’t his fault, now rather than accepting him for what he is people curse his name. What part of the captaincy experience would benefit Hall? Setting aside for a second that we have no idea whether or not he’s the right man for the job, how would making Hall the captain make him a better player, or this a better team?
If you feel like it, go ahead and argue that Horcov should be stripped, but there is no good reason to think that Hall is his heir apparent. I’d sooner of given it to Gilbert,, so I guess… Shultz?
Some glad I pay a few hundred dollars for the CI package. Blackouts every week this year it seems. I live in Halifax…can someone explain why in fuck I’m blacked out at anytime? It’s not like I can head to the rink to see the game live.
Wow. Eberle can rip it
knighttown,
atdhe Just google thosse letters and you’ll get something.
And yeah, count me in with the crowd cursing voer Peckham over Omark.
And another thing on the Gagner vs. Wellwood- I liek Wellwood, but look at Ray Whitney’s career and then considering the fire Gagner obviously has, you don’t see a bright bright future there?
RNH picked on Eberle’s goal too.
Datsyukian indeed.
What happened to Hall? Just logging on.
I’m in Kelowna and have CI and haven’t missed a game yet?
jake70,
He slipped as Sarich came in to hit him and smashed his head on the ice.
Concussion for sure. Hopefully it doesn”t linger
Just putting this out there.. I loathed Horcoff well before that contract ever happened.. and Moreau will always have my respect. He gave his all.
jake70,
What always happens to Hall?
Head down, full stride.
If he heals before the season ends, Renney needs to bench him. I swear he’s never going to learn otherwise, because obviously repeat hits to the head don’t teach him.
Jesus, just saw the hit. Hall is not long for this league if this keeps up.
whale,
I believe the NHL feels that since I live in Halifax I must be a Senators or Canadiens fan. Since those teams are on CBC tonight I should be more than happy to watch that game. 19-fucking-64 all over again. How about I give you a few hundred bucks and you let me watch whatever fucking game I want to watch?
knighttown,
http://www.usagoals.com/live/84152-nhl-calgary-flames-vs-edmonton-oilers/watch/stream/online/free/feed/p2p/en/vivo/tv/gratis/
this one works, not sure if i posted it right
Do you think there’s any correlation between on ice play and public acceptance?
I prefer the captain of any team to be at very least, an above average player. Otherwise, why the fuck even bother?
Because of charity work? Give me a break.
This sort of attitude begets MacT and his preachy, schoolma’arm style for 8 brutal years. Or, Kevin Lowe lecturing the fans on gratitude.
The Hall cast a pall over the game but for my money EDM had a very nice period. CGY is going to be coming on strong here in the second.
stevezie,
It really comes down to optics.
They don’t put the letters in the locker room they put them on the jerseys. For all to see.
I’m sure Horcoff is the feel good story of the universe.
I don’t want him wearing the C out there. I want a fierce balls out play on the edge killer out there leading this team on the ice.
That’s where we see the C. On the ice. Not in the dressing room. Horcoff can lead all he wants behind closed doors.
Horcoff is fine as captain until Hall is ready to take the job. Or Eberle.
Hall is going to have a 8-10 year career unless he smartens up fast.
Horcoff is a pathetic captain. Unless you want to see the team stink forever, or something.
Leadership qualities of a two by four. Pals with the owner, and lifelong pet personal project of Kevin Lowe. I’d be hardly surprised if Jean Francois Jacques wasn’t still playing for the team, the way these jerkoffs operate.
At this rate, Hall’s career is going to end before Horcoff’s. I wish I felt I was exaggerating, but he’s one or two more hits like this from Brett Lindros land. Fencing response is not a good sign.
Lowetide,
I have to disagree.. I don’t want any of the kids getting the C for a few seasons, but Horc needs to either Fire it up and start being a real leader out on the ice.. or quietly walk away like he does on the ice, when faced with a battle. For a blue collar image of a city, he’s more of a Ohio like player. Go pick Daisies, unless you’re actually ready to lead the charge. Sadly in about 15 years Horc will probably be our coach.
Eberle is unbelievable. He wins 90% of 50/50 battles and all he needs is an inch of open space and he slithers his way past as many defenders as the opposing team sends at him and finds the open man. I don’t know how his brain can process the game that quickly.
I know Hemsky has a history of putting up numbers so looking at his body of work isn’t a bad idea, and I’m sure there is a statistic somewhere on the internet that says he isn’t terrible but I don’t know how anyone can watch him play right now and think he is playing good hockey. If I didn’t know what he had done in the past I would think he was called up from the ECHL or something.
You mean Jones isn’t terrible?
Well, when Horcoff stops taking the tough minutes and the difficult zone starts then I think we can start to count the days. But we’re not there yet.
Oh dear. did I call him terrible?
I cannot believe one Oiler, not one, is willing to run a Calgary player.
The balls on this team are kept in a jar on their wives and girlfriends shelves.
This is a pretty good game.
I never saw the Hall hit, but he’s seriously got to stop falling down all the time like a three year old kid. He’s just embarrassing himself and the entire NHL with this babyish style.
Hall’s my favourite oiler by far, I really don’t like having to say that.
Wow, Laddy can skate. Are there any other big men in the NHL that can skate as fast as him? Rick Nash maybe? He sure has become a valuable part of this team.
He’d better get cracking on those inevitable Stanley Cups, then.
I’m steamed enough I still have visions of cross-checking Bartschi’s head at full speed into the boards. How Hall’s teammates don’t feel this way…
Petry got away with one there.
I do not think that “Ohio” means what you think that it means.
Book it, kid.
Tambi does the Freudian slip during the interview on SNW.
“It’s up to the code, err coach, as to what should happen out there.”
I like our captain to actually hit someone. Horcoff does not like too. That’s not good enough.
whale,
And I’m really glad we unloaded that Gretzky bum.
Seriously, are all these accounts run by the same person?
jinx
Also, bah.
Petry with the bad giveaway for a GA. Bad break
If Horcoff could what 99 did then no problem.
On the subject of Petry, his contract is up. What’s he worth?
People commenting on Horcoff’s leadership when they’ve never met the man, or been in the locker room.
Jones good.
Moreau good.
Hemsky bad.
Its like bizzarolowetide.
Woodguy,
I was wondering why I’d suddenly grown this goatee.
Given his volume and type of minutes, it will be hard to keep him ubnder $3MM even though he’s coming off of his ELC.
3.5 x 2 then go term on the next one?
“Steve Smith”,
You for or against possible amnesty on Horcoff’s contract?
Woodguy,
I don’t know – I’d rather keep his cap hit down to maximize his trade value when he’s driven out of town for not hitting enough.
whale,
For, unless he starts hitting more.
Ryan Murphy with a 4 point night in a 5-1 win.
Woodguy,
I don’t doubt Horcoff as a leader or a guy who will let you crash on the couch when you need it most. I like the guy from what I have seen off the ice.
I don’t want the C on his jersey. I want the league, players, fans, public to know who wears the C on the ice for the Edmonton Oilers.
The player that leads the team in speeches, charities, high fives, pat on the backs, useful advice, autographs, salary, etc. doesn’t matter to me. That’s all behind the scenes stuff.
Fogolin might have been a better captain than Gretzky but the C belongs on the right jersey.
"Steve Smith",
Ass
Anyone else watch the Jets/Caps game?
What an incredible atmosphere and huge win for the Jets.
Must be nice to be playing meaningful games in March.
In other news, the Ottawa Senators have moved past the Bruins to take over 3rd in the EC.
What a daring proposition. What’s your position on motherhood?
The hit on Hall was predatory .Sarich was out to level him and it was at least charging.
Part of the blame is on Hall.He has to be more aware of whose on the ice.
The other part of the blame is on the coaches .there are only a few guys that are out to put you out and Sarich is one.Does anyone think that they would have the foresight to tell the wunderkids that Sarich and Glencross would like to end their carreers?
…and the last horse crosses the line.
Hits per game:
Petry 1.66
Gilbert 1.10
Horcoff 0.64
Herp Derp
If you’re not for amnesty buy-out, you’re for the terrorists…. Or the child pornographers.
Either way, SS has a new goatee so I think he’s suspicious.
Sarich, go beat it.
Hits per game? Lordy. We’re bringing out the useless stuff, folks. How many slump busters does he have?
Lowetide,
I agree… On the other hand,, “thundering hits” per 60 may be worth investigating…
Lowetide,
Is every stat that shows the Horcster not being up to snuff a useless one?
Horcoff can’t be the only player in the league facing tough minutes.
The one good two way centre on the team who does the dirty work should hit a lot, with his shoulders he ruined carrying everyone else who can’t play a complete game?
That says more about you than it does about Horcoff, terrorists or child pornographers.
BJ: Horcoff plays the tough C minutes on the Oilers. That’s a difficult job. I understand people don’t like Horcoff and agree the contract is too much, but imo there’s no real reason to replace him as captain until someone from the youth group starts doing some heavy lifting.
Hall will have his day. soon, I’d expect.
Yeah. Feels like we’ve stumbled into an earnest discussion of Stubing vs Picard.
Sarich says, “Really?”
I’m teasing. Thought the smiley made it more obvious.
It doesn’t matter how anyone feels about Horcoff. His contract is a solid gold boat anchor. Not only does it do a good job of making him rich and unmovable, it’s also not going to erode on its own while keeping the team well under water
Might as well make the best use of him that we can.
It’s sort of like the weather. We call it weather because we have to weather it, we have no control. Horcoff is Horcoff. Short of retirement or death, we’re stuck with him.
The best way to pay back Sarich is to win the game in reg. Also, I have to see the hit but honestly it looked to me like Hall fell. Tambo went off and I’d like to have another look but #4 is going to have to stop going balls out on those suicide plays or he’ll be the Oilers Wendell Clark.
I don’t think chopping Sarich is a smart play.
Peckham’s expression screams metrosexual coaching. Renney has him on a short leash, the pervert.
lol,
THe Calder might be back in play….
I’d have preferred that that be a hit.
Calder!
Incidentally, whatever happened to FPB? Whenever Jones gets an assist, I think of him.
Don’t look over your shoulder Gabby
Lowetide,
Welp, Nuge and gang are doing their best.
No, but chopping Iggy, Olly, Tangs, or Breweakster might send a message for the future.
This team has a very high pussy factor.
Jesus, I thought some of the old school boys would speak up. Guess getting old isn’t as bad as they say.
How many penalties are the lames going to get away with???
Hemsky!
DSF,
Even Horcoff fans know that using an amnesty buy out is a no brainer.
Its a comment on the degredation of the conversation around here.
I’d already do Petry 6 year @ $4 million per season, and see if he would go for it.
Damn CI.
By the replay on NHL.com, it seems like Hall sensed Sarich at the last second and leaned over to avoid the brunt of the elbow to the head, but then the ice got him.
I believe the NHL should penalize hits severely where the player is targeting the player with no intent to go after the puck simultaneously.
As with Torres last year on Eberle, Sarich didn’t give a damn where the puck was. He was targeting Hall.
I hate how the Oilers just aren’t smart enough (for year now) to exact retribution on the star players on the other team. One shouldn’t get emotional about it. It should be business and not personal. But one should clinically target Baertshi or Iginla or Giordano.
It shouldn’t be be Sarich.
absolute best way to get back at these punks?
knock them out of the playoffs.
tonight presents opportunity to do a ton of damage on that front, they just need to keep the pressure on and not get distracted.
LA is winning tonight and SJ has 2 games in hand. huge game for the flames that they deserve to lose.
The Oilers are up 3-1. They’ve won the thing that matters. The Hall play could have been a turning point in the game but it wasn’t, and jmo but the young Hall is going to have to figure out that play or be out of the league.
What exactly does all of that have to do with eye for an eye? It’s a loser’s bet. Ask Detroit.
My guess is Hall is done for the season.
Some around here will be cool with that. Different strokes.
I’d don’t give a shit if Hall stepped on a banana peel. I want a message sent.
JMO.
Haha!
Thanks for coming in to help save it.
56 has had a real nice game.
Remind me why they dressed Sutton over Omark???? Was it to stop Sarich from running Oilers??
Calgary WANTS the Oilers to chop them. they are desperate for it. they feel they need a PP.
isn’t this obvious?
don’t get distracted. don’t worry about pussy factor. knock these losers out of the playoff race. golden opportunity to do that tonight. don’t pass this up.
Lowetide,
I replayed it and slowed it down-it looked to me that Hall lost his balance and was going down,and Sarich made contact with Hall’s shoulder
-Hall then hit his head on the ice.
-Sarich came a long way to make contact
-Hall has to be more aware,I’m not sure he even knew Sarich was there
Hah! 5 on 3.
Feels great. Hope this breaks Calgary’s back, the way the crushing defeat we gave them last time sent them in a downward spiral.
Any bets they need that 3rd goal to win this?
Duke’s eliminated and the Lames take a huge blow to their playoff hopes….
Tonight is a good night
Time for some Whiskey!
I think our young friend is working hard at school.
Whenever I think of fpb I think of his Hemsky for Pacioretty proposal a couple years ago….
Well we can all sleep well tonight knowing that none of our star players will be put on the LTIR because we beat the Flames in regulation.
Well done. Well done.
Why not just go get in your car and drive down to Rexall right now, if you time it right you might be able to run over one of the Flames as they are walking to the team bus.
Sarich meant to hit Hall, no doubt, as we would want Sutton or Peckham to do in the same situation. Hall slipped and it made the resulting play much worse than it could of been. I don’t know why Hall’s inability to remain on his feet means that a Flame deserves to have his head run into the boards? I sure hope no one ever spills some milk in your house.
But he is going to have to take a quick look or he’s going to be in a world of hurt. Sarich IS a head hunter, that’s why he’s in the league. He’s their Sutton. Hall needs to be more aware.
Yes. You’ve explained it perfectly. Hall was a good player and now he’s retiring. But we got a win. Well said.
Huge loss for the Flames, they are really going to struggle to get in after this loss. LA holding on to a one goal lead…
ASkoreyko,
We don’t drink milk in my house.
You are a believer in freak accidents and I am a believer in what should follow what happens on the ice.
You want to give a player, team, incident a free pass. I do not.
I want somebody to send a message to the team the league and the rest.
It’s the difference between hockey and being the PC nice guy, aka shawn horcoff.
I want Sarich trying to explain why the Oilers were mistaken and he didn’t really mean it and they over reacted protecting a teammate.
This league is so PC is numbing.
Anybody feel like putting together a headshot compilation – you know, all the guys who’ve had their careers ended, derailed, or cut short by head injures – put that all together and send it to Hall? Maybe with a 5-minute montage of Muhammad Ali trying to stumble through 3 words?
It’s going to be one very short career if he doesn’t learn he needs to change his game.
Hall needs to be more aware yes.. but there goes another star down because of reckless hitting. Sarich is a bum, he’ll get his.
Gret99zky,
You didn’t answer the question about the car; I thought it was an excellent one.
Anyone who doesn’t think Sutter sent out the word, “If you get a chance to take out one of the kids, do it” hasn’t watched the BOA for the last few years.
He’s here all week folks!! Try the veal!!
Pffft.
Not from the the Butterton Oilers.
Renney lost his contract tonight in my opinion.
Tambi challenged him on SNW tonight and he dropped the ball by not sending Hordy, Pecks, Eager or anyone willing out there to send the appropriate message.
For those of you who want Renney gone, I reckon your wish just got a little truer.
Fifteen two, fifteen four and a pair is six.
Jason Gregor twitter: Also most Oiler teammates felt Sarich hit was not dirty, but wanted to play Flames hard after the hit. Wanted to win for Hall.
Lowetide,
A run of three is nine, and nobs makes ten.
…Horcoff’s number.
I had a 28 hand a few years back.
We still talk about it at Christmas gatherings.
I imagine you ranting things like this on a bus, or street corner, because you sound like a lunatic.
Gerta Rauss,
My maternal grandfather apparently once got 29. I think he framed it, or something, though I’ve no idea where it is now.
“Steve Smith”,
Well this thread has bottomed out.
Gret99zky,
Hordichuk was out, his wife’s in labour. Eager was sitting. Peckham actually did try and engage.
As for the response – as emotionally satisfying as it would have been to see Sarich twitching in a pool of his own blood a la Ivanans, or have Sven Bartschi return to the Winterhawks in a full body cast – the fact is that a win tonight was the best way to hurt the Flames. We were in a position to win, we did so, we seriously hurt the Flames’ chances of making the playoffs with another dominant victory (look what happened to them last time we beat them – they were on an 8-game unbeaten streak and then went into freefall).
If the Flames end up golfing this post-season, especially if they go on a losing streak after this, they’ll have the Oilers to thank. Iginla, Tanguay, Kipper, and Jokinen will all be one year closer to saying goodbye to the game with no Cup. Bouwmeester will be continuing his string of futility, and other than Bartschi, the Flames have nothing in the pipeline worth even talking about.
Plus, Calgary’s ownership has supposedly pushed for playoffs at any cost, because they want playoff revenue. If they miss the show, the dramarama in the offseason will be well worth it.
Remember, I’m the one who an hour and a half ago didn’t understand why the Oilers weren’t breaking the glass with Bartschi’s head.
I’ve played enough cribbage to have 29 a couple of times. (I began playing when I was 4).)
I had 25 once, I think it was 25. I can’t remember if I had one for the jack. Love crib. Played my Dad everyday from a pipsqueak until I moved away. Oh man he was tough. He was a pegging fool that man. When I was little and had a lead on him, he’d lick his thumb and then deal knowing I wouldn’t touch the spit card.
After awhile I spit on the first card too, bugger picked it up and kept on playing. Wonderful game. Great guy.
godot10,
showoff