G81 Ducks at Oilers
Edmonton is in a sea of white this morning, heavy snow has had an impact on the roads, power, trees, and the start of golf season. The Edmonton Oilers play again tonight, but it’s been awhile sine “Oilers” and “impact” showed up in the same sentence.
I think there have been some good signs this season. If we make a depth chart with the keepers and possible keepers, it might look like this:
- G: Devan Dubnyk
- D1: Smid-Petry
- D2: Schultz-?????
- D3: Whitney-????
- D4: Sutton
- L1: RNH-Hall-Eberle
- L2: Gagner-?????-Hemsky
- L3:
- L4: Lander-Hartikainen-Paajarvi
- Extra: Eager
The short term solution for the 3line might incude Horcoff, Belanger, Smyth and Jones. I wish they could find a Pisani-Dvorak for the 3rd line RW slot and they really need 2 defensemen to make this thing roll. But this season gave concrete answers for Dubnyk, Petry, RNH and offered some kind of answer for the special teams.
I think Lander is going to get another push this fall and probably Paajarvi too. Hartikainen? He should, but the Oilers will no doubt add a few people over the summer. They can’t trade Horcoff, Belanger and Eager are signed and dealing them is also impossible.
The Oilers signing of Ryan Smyth this summer might block Teemu Hartikainen or Magnus Paajarvi. I’d still do it, and then send out Eager or Belanger as required.
Omark? Sail on, Northern star. Sail On.
I think Sutton is a solid number 6. Not sure why you don’t Lowetide.
That leaves one pmd to play with Schultz. Who knows maybe that’s Justin Schultz or Ryan Murray.
For sure the Oilers need a legit power forward with skill to play in the top 6 and a pisani for 3rw.
Also a good backup goalie under the age of 35 please.
I agree with that.
I disagree with that. Smid and Petry have made great strides this year, but that’s still a hell of a weak top pairing. The team needs two more defencemen capable of playing top-four even-strength minutes.
If J Schulz is actually as good as some folks say he is, I don’t mind adding only one solid vetern D and him, BUT he cannot be the guy we add to make everything okay.
I like Sutton just fine as a number 6 and Potter/best kid being #7, but if we find a way to sign two solid vets instead of 1, well hey.
I’m hoping they draft Grigorenko, and slot him with Hemsky and Hall. Keep Harski with RNH and Ebelrle, and sign Travis Moen. We are then left with:
RNH-Eberle- Hartikainen
Grigorenko-Hemsky-Hall
Horcoff- ?- Smyth
Lander-MPS-Moen
This should give the Oilers the ability to roll four lines consistently, with the flexibility to move players up and down the order. I don’t know what Gagner’s perceived value is around the league, but maybe it’s enough to bring back a skilled, tough minutes, physical winger for the top nine.
They can’t trade Horcoff, Belanger and Eager are signed and dealing them is also impossible.
They should be able to trade Eager. The game (refereeing) has changed enough in the last 1/3 of the season that teams are going to have some renewed interest in size and truculence.
Having said that, and while being disappointed with Eager, I think they should hold onto him. He’s cheap and has had some nice games this year. A new coach and new year might get him going more consistently, and trading him now would be selling low.
” Grigorenko could be in for a major medal haul.
He was also nominated for the award as the top pro prospect along with Martin Frk of the Halifax Mooseheads and Brandon Whitney of the Tigres; the personality of the year award with Jonathan Huberdeau of the Saint John Sea Dogs and Nathan MacKinnon of the Mooseheads; and offensive rookie of the year with teammate Anthony Duclair and MacKinnon.”
From the Winnipeg Free Press.
Just found this too: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=392284
Seems he won the “pro prospect” award last night, and I also read that Patrick Roy liked him so much last year that he moved up in the draft to get him 2nd overall.
If he was nominated for personality of the year, can his attitude really be so bad?
This off season seems mas critical to the long term future of this org.
I think you’d be able to trade Belanger for nothing if you’d really like to get rid of him. Especially so if you wait until the deadline.
He kind of seems like a guy that just shows up and plays out the games. I don’t see much emotion there. That can be okay, but it’s a little side note to keep in mind when you’re thinking about your teams culture going forward.
I can hear Renney in my head now.. “Eric is a good man….”
Hey LT, just wondering why you put the centers first when you make the lines . I remember a while ago you made the forward lines L-C-R, just seems to be more of an easier read.
I do agree with your lines to an extent and although Horcoff has a hefty contract I think he makes a safe 3/4 center and I think Jones can effectively fill in the third line as well.
Need another goaltender, a top pairing D man, some size and real truculence (not the Ben Eager maybe tonight, maybe not) on bottom 6 and in our D corp. Would sign Smytty but would not, under any circumstance, give him money that jeopardizes in any way our ability to resign Hall and Eberle. Wonder if Philly would trade Couturier for 2nd overall.? Because you would definitely get a potentially very good big, defensively sound 2C.
Love to fill in holes via trades and free agency but the pro scouting staff has not covered itself in glory the last 5 years. But they are probably very good and just deliberately making mediocre trades/signings as part of the “Plan”
Edmonton PK rank #14
Those wanting to dump Belanger, Jones, they are top 20 in PK for there Position.
Without them we are bottom 5.
Willis with a hopeful look at Magnus Pajaarvi:
http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2012/04/05/can-magnus-paajarvi-establish-himself-as-a-scorer/
Everyone remember that Sedin and Kessler got off to the same start in their careers the next time DSF shit talks 91.
The Erat comparable is interesting as well.
Woodguy,
I just followed you. I had to join twitter and everything.
They can’t trade Horcoff, Belanger and Eager are signed and dealing them is also impossible.
Gomez and Kaberle were traded with awful “untradable” contracts.
Belanger and Eager are tradable, just don’t expect much back.
Horcoff is probably untradable now that Gainey doesn’t have a job.
We can always hope for the buy-out amnesty clause in the new CBA.
Given the Ed Snider has hung his team with the Bryz and Pronger contract I guarantee that there is a way to deal with them in the new CBA.
Captain Obvious,
What’s your twitter sn?
So is an Andrew Cogliano comparable.
Wonder if Philly would trade Couturier for 2nd overall.? Because you would definitely get a potentially very good big, defensively sound 2C.
I think they would. I watched him in a couple of Philly games on TV and he looked slow and really not that interested in mixing it up. He looks big like Dustin Penner and Joe Colbourne (ie soft) He has 27 pts this year and I’d bet Grigorenko blows that out of the water next year.
I am hardly an expert on Couturier but I think I’d insist on Brayden Schenn instead.
DSF,
Never change.
You can also shoot me a DM is you are following me to get things going.
My list.
New Coach.. Tippet.. For all those worried about offense under tippet.. I believe last I looked coyotes score more then us.
2 D.. Schultz, Garrison.. if a Suter or Weber can’t be had. If we get either of them.. only 1 d. We do have lots of players in the pipeline. Especially if we draft one of these D.
Goalie.. Someone to offset Doobie.. He’s won me over, he doesn’t need to race from post to post, looks like he’s figured out he’s huge. I’m only signing any goalie to a 2yr deal at most, Bunz is going to be up soon.
Forwards.. This is tough.. I really think we just need a coach with his head not stuck up his dark places. So many pieces to play with, Ralph was fantastic at it. I really hope they use the pick to add another weapon up front, unless you’re Tom Renney, you figure out how to use them all.
I like Eager, but if I was him.. I’d be pissed off too. One game bench, next game 13mins, next game 3mins. It’s ridiculous.
Belanger.. other then winning faceoffs, he’s useless. I’m pretty positive I’d add two middlemen this summer. One that pushed Horc to the 4th. One that pushes Gags to the 3rd. I doen’t trade Samwise, he’s been a bit invisible lately, but he’s not getting burned. He has some offensive flare, defense is getting better every year, and he isn’t afraid to fight, hit, mix it up, defend himself. He’s a better leader then the mighty Horc. Never understood that move by the Oilers brass, horcoff.. really?? We all knew our teams motto from that day out.. “Head down, get beat by Burrows, skate back to bench”
rickithebear,
Belanger and Jones are indeed excellent on the penalty kill. I don’t think anyone will suggest otherwise. but their 5v5 numbers have been less than stellar.
I don’t suggest moving them or anything, unless you are either planning to have another losing season or are bringing in players who are enough of an upgrade at EVs to make up for the loss on the PK.
It seems unlikely. I would bet against the 4th line LT has posted out-performing XX-20-28 playing 2nd hard minutes next year.
So, if you are keeping them, the question is who do you get to play with them at evens? If Smyth-horcoff and Belanger Jones are the pilars of the two hard minute lines you’re runing with… you need two hard minnute wingers to join them.
Eager & Hordichuk aren’t the answers, Petrell could be one. Pajaarvi could be the other, but plugging him in there will severely hamper any potential offensive development opportunities he gets, so he might be better served in the AHL next year on the top line. I’d say Harski would be a better fit as some grease on a scoring line, and I don’t think any other forwards we have are ready for that kind of role.
Mikael Sammuelson played the hard minutes in FLA this year, and did fairly well with them. only managed 50 games, but that just means he’ll fit in here this year, no? Seems like the kind of guy to put out there with Horc and Smyth to shovel shit so that the golden boys can try to kill the soft parade.
Woodguy,
I think you can only send a DM to someone who is following you. I joined under my real name (how many new followers do you get in a day?)
Ducey,
Couturier has been outstanding this year. He put up more pts/60 than Schenn, with a 40% zone start (compared to 55% for Schenn) against better competition, with worse teammates, while giving up less on defense, and being two years younger.
Couturier is miles ahead of Schenn at this point. Everyone who passed on him after #3 has made a huge mistake. Schenn by contrast hasn’t been very good this year. Taking Schenn over Couturier would be a disaster. Trading the #2 for Couturier would be a good move though the Flyers would never do it. By contrast trading the #2 for Schenn would be a really bad move.
In any case there is no conceivable way a rational person could have Schenn ahead of Couturier at this point.
Ducey
Couturier is slotted in a defensive role on that team. Schenn is not. Couturier is killing penalties on a veteran laden Philly team. That is very rare. . Particularly for an 18 year old (now 19). Few Offzonestarts. Schenn is 16 months older, smaller and other than scoring goals at a slightly higher rate per game, Couturier is outperforming Schenn. SC is also + 19 (second on team) Schenn -5. Both playing similar minutes
Couturier and Grigorenko had similar scoring #’s at age 17 in the Q. SC Had 4 56 96pts in 68 games. MG had 40 45 85pts in 59 games.
Not sure SC doesn’t score with Schenn and MG his whole career but don’t think either will be as capable defensively
LT has never done that. He says its something about how they used to do things back in the 1920s when he was a teenager. He can’t stand the new-fangled post war way of listing lines.
In any case there is no conceivable way a rational person could have Schenn ahead of Couturier at this point.
Really? I think there is no conceivable way a rational person could be so over the top in their opinions.
See The Other John’s post on how to make your point without being a prick.
And seek some treatment.
Ducey,
I was a prick on purpose because it was you.
Jordon:
Paul Gaustad 6’4″ 230lb
top 15 PK centers
top 10 face offs
1.50P/60 at even facing tough comp with a 33.5% zone start for 2M.
Harti-RNH-Eberle
MP-XXX-Rieder
Smyth-Hall-hemsky
Belanger-Gaustad-Jones
The Frozen 4 just started on espnu. Ferris St and Union.
This is going to be way better tan working.
rickithebear,
It’s Jordan, with an A. like Jordan Eberle (who is very dissapointed in you now).
I don’t mind Gaustad as a player, but the rest of your lineup doesn’t make any sense.
Why are you willingn to throw and unproven Reider in with Pajaarvi and a mystery centre and call it a second line? It’s foolish to beleive that they can play that roll when NONE of them have been able to do so at the NHL level to date. Hall has never played Centre in the NHL and Smyth can’t keep up with either Hall or Hemsky. Belanger sucks on the wing…
The more I look at it, the more it looks like someone throwing names out there and calling it a capable NHL team, like I remember people doing on HFBorads.
…
Another player who might fit would be Saku Koivu. Has size, solid offense, decent 2-way game, and has been at a bargain 2.5M per. Don’t know if you can get him for that after his year this year, but he’s another option.
Gaustad was +9 last year and +4 this year, in goals above average. He’d be an excellent pickup.
Hoping Hordichuk is in tonights lineup, with one mandate as ordered from above.
“Seasons been over for 2 months. We have nothing to lose..or reason to win. If you have to put us down a man for 7 minutes it’s no big deal. Grab Ryan and do a number on him for his head shot on Potter. If the NHL isn’t going to enforce their rules we will.”
Hi Ho Silver.
I also hope Nuge can pot 2-2 and give the Calder judges something to ponder.
This is probably the best way to deal with the problem. Send out more goons. I weep for the future NHL if this is OK.
I wonder how much letting Lucic kill his goalie affect Gaustad’s free agency price? I still like him because he’s still good, but it seems to me that what we really need is size in the top half of the lineup. Swapping out Belanger for Gaustad is better than rearranging deck chairs, but it’s not plugging the hole in the boat.
Before the Captain comes in and tells me that size doesn’t matter- I agree with you, as a general rule. However, if we want a team able to win many different styles of hockey, we need some people who can lean on big defenders and plow their way to the net when refs don’t feel like calling penalties.
How come nobody is talking about Doan? Judging by the mayor’s recent comments, Glendale is planning on losing the Coyotes. It’s no slam dunk, but Doan might think about going home. He is exactly the kind of player we want, but not in our age range. Does Smyth have his old man spot, or would we want both? (And please don’t give me any bull feathers argument about Harski taking that spot. He hasn’t been good that long, and in any case if he’s really that good then we’ll clear out Eager or Jones. Good players make each other better, not redundant.)
I think Doan is a good player as well. However, I don’t think he’s as good as Gaustad and he’ll probably be more expensive.
If we sign Gaustad he doesn’t replace Belanger. He replaces Gagner, with Gagner being sent out for D. We aren’t adding a center without trading a center away and Gagner is the only guy with external value.
If he was replacing Horcoff maybe. Other wise he wouldn’t be adding a whole lot other than costing less, being more physical, and better on the dot. Horcoff plays more, against better comp, and has a much better rel corsi.
Horcoff just has to play less and in fewer situations. What we really need is a “bona fide” 2C. Preferably one who can rack some points.
Just one goon is fine thanks and it’s for a specific reason. I’m sure if it was Eberle or RNH that had been hit like that you’d be fine with the the no penalty/ no suspension.
Perhaps you’re thinking it might be good to move up a spot from 29th to 28th so we should do everything we possibly can to win this one…for the Gipper.
Captain Obvious,
As much as I’m a Gagner fan, I agree that if we can move him for either a good young D, or a good young center whose skills aren’t duplicated elsewhere in the lineup you make that move. Gaustad, however, does not bring enough offence. He’s not that young either.
What I would like to do is try very, very hard to pry Hanzal or O’Reilly away from their respective teams, but I have no reason to believe that’s possible.
Rieder is from the two way forward factory that is Kitchner.
Downie, M. richards, Landeskog, etc.
1. Rieder @ 18 was 2PPG since mid Nov.
2. His Goal scoring rate was .7GPG in 18 year old season. very rare for 18. usually 19, 20.
3. 2nd in the OHL in Shorthanded goals and voted one of the top 3 pk players in the league.
4. 1st in GWG
5. 3rd in EVG ENHLE says 17EVG
6. strongest asset is his speed and shot.
7. lead the team in scoring at age 18. pretty rare group. Derek roy, M. Richards
So he is dominating the OHL @ 18. with numbers equal to Hall in his 18 year old OHL season.
He is currently 1st in playoff goals and 3rd in points.
The kid has nothing to prove in junior.!
rickithebear,
Neither did Eberle. He just didn’t have the size or strength at that age to compete at the pro level and succeed.
Sure turned out bad for him, eh?
There’s a difference between being fine with a lack of penalty and opposing violent vigilante-ism. The latter does not imply the former.
(The former probably does imply the latter, at least in almost any circumstance I can think of.)
Everyone’s kind of fixing for some trouble. I don’t think we’ll see any of that stuff. Two shortest games in the season straight ahead. 4pims each side would be my guess. No-hitter on the way!
I hear you, however….the former is totally unacceptable when a clear violation of the rules occurs, while the latter is all about team character, (see 70′s Flyers, 80′s Islanders and Oilers), and damn good entertainment.
How effective would you say penalties and suspensions are in deterring similar future indiscretions by a player versus a bruised and battered cranial region when said player knows exactly why it’s happening?
The lack of any sort of penalty or suspension points largely to the players involved and the fact that Potter got to his feet immediately afterwards, which we both know is complete bullshit. NHL refereeing is largely shit (albeit hockey is a difficult game to moderate), the rules in place are usually open to interpretation, and Brenden Shanahan could quite simply NOT be a bigger waste of time and salary.
Quite frankly the best term one can use to describe the NHL and its rules is Hypocritical.
I’m not, and doubt we see any sort of retribution as well. This is the Edmonton Oilers afterall.
Sponsor negotiations between the team, Massengill, and Scotty’s are in play.
MTL has sent the game to OT, so unless they pull the goalie in OT they’ll be at least 3 points up on EDM. Which would mean EDM could clinch a top 3 pick tonight with a regulation loss to ANA.
Also, NYI is up 5-4 with less than a minute to go, any point by them and EDM clinches a top 4 pick.
@Speeds: Small point, but your final standings in the bottom five don’t assure your team of a particular first round pick, just a position in the lottery.
NYI did end up winning, so EDM has clinched a top 4 pick. Also, MTL lost in a shootout, so they are 3points up on the Oilers. A regulation loss tonight and EDM clinches a top 3 pick.
delooper,
But you can’t drop by more than one position, so finishing 29th (for example) guarantees you a top-three pick, which is what Speeds was saying.
I thought bottom five were all up in the air in the lottery. Thanks for clarifying.
“Steve Smith”,
Picking up yesterday’s thread, I’m not entirely sure why Schultz wouldn’t go back into the draft, I started a thread on HF and some people have come up with some theories, much the same ones that came up before with Wheeler and I never really heard any detailed explanation of that back then either.
http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=1154691
delooper,
Nope. There’s a single team that wins the lottery, which moves up (I think) three spots. That’s it. Everybody else keeps their position, except as it may have been affected by the lottery winner moving up.
That’s exactly what this thread needs!
Thanks for the link, though – I’ll have a look. But it seems pretty clear that if the copy of the CBA on the NHL’s site is accurate, he should go back in the draft, from which I conclude that that copy of the CBA is probably inaccurate.
Eberle 18 years season
61GM 35G 39A 1.21PPG
35G 23 EV 12PP .38EVGPG
mid nov-season end 1.17ppg stalled in production.
Eberle weakness skating!
Rieder 18 yr season
60GM 42G 42A 1.4PPG
42G 33EV 9PP .55 EVGPG
Mid nov to end 1.77ppg improvment through the year
Rieder’s strength skating
one says “one more year of junior”
the other says “what more can he do?”
Oilers have had a lot of jump so far. If Belanger could finish they’d be up 1-0.
Players who turn 22 in the year of the draft are not eligible.
It’s that simple.
DSF,
I’ll start listening to that theory as soon as you point out which part of the CBA says that.
You’re obviously not a real Oilers fan. Any Oilers fan worth anything can tell you they move up 4 spots.
A regulation loss tonight clinches the following odds:
18.8% chance of picking 1st
42.0% chance of picking 2nd
39.2% chance of picking 3rd
0% chance of picking lower than 3rd
4 spots. For example, last year NJ went from 8 to 4.
(edit: Danny beat me to it)
Argh. I’m starting to dislike College Schultz.
In reply #15, Mouser theorizes something that makes some amount of sense to me (I only say some because I haven’t fully read every applicable section in checking this out, so I can’t say with any certainty). It kind of rings a bell as something that might have been discussed before somewhere around these blogs.
That being, the idea that Schultz has to wait until the day after the draft to formally leave school, to avoid having to go back into the draft.
Reply #16 by jfb392 seems to explain why Schultz wouldn’t be allowed to sign until July 1st, even though he comes off ANA’s reserve list before then (the day after the draft, if Mouser is right)
Well, historically when the Oilers are in the lottery they’re not in a position to move up more than zero spots, so to Oilers fans the exact number of spots is moot.
But yeah, I should have known it was four – hence the bottom five teams being known (not precisely accurately) as “lottery teams”.
Working listening to Ched, sure wish Jack Micheals would let me know which side of the rink I’m sitting on.
That initially got me too, but barneyb is right that coming off the Ducks’ reserve list doesn’t suddenly make him a UFA.
anonymous,
That’s one of two things that annoys me about Michaels, the other being the way he says “The Oilers! … Radio Network”. Overall, I actually think he’s pretty good.
“Steve Smith”,
Been reading this site for years that was my first comment. For some reason that makes me crazy.
Nice try counsellor. May I direct the juries attention to the fact that theres a 29.4% discrepancy in odds of drafting first when comparing 29th to 30th.
Yeah, it doesn’t fit perfectly, but it might have been the subject of some sort of side agreement. Because if you read it barneyg’s way (and I’m not saying that’s not right, or plausible, I don’t think we’re dealing with all the information here), Schultz would kind of be in limbo for the entire 2012/13 season, where no one holds his rights, but at the same time he’s not eligible to be signed.
I agree. But in fairness, all that does is impose a (de facto) draft day deadline for withdrawing from school. There are plenty of (de jure) deadlines elsewhere in the CBA, so the addition of one more doesn’t seem to bizarre.
He’s got the jimmy hands when the puck is on his stick-a little bit of panic in his hands.
Who is Shultz-the-younger’s agent?
Email him, bet he know.
Ah crap, forgot there’s no edit feature at home on XP.
Fussy Britches sez….
Kevin Lowe had turned the #Habs GM job down back in January
“Steve Smith”,
My only other thing is he seems a little forced with Bob. But the broadcast is pretty good and strangely since my comment he didn’t do it once.
Apropos of nothing other than the near close of the NHL season, I’d like to note that the NW division is terrible. 4/7 teams out of the playoffs will hail from the NW.
Jeebus. Gilbert player 33:30 tonight. I thought the Oilers rode him hard.
HOCKEY!!!!!!!
I see chaos still follows JDD around. I can’t believe he’s still in the league. Creative play by Gagner to Jones
Also, a goal. Those impending RFAs and their driving up of their next contracts.
Gagner with a goal, but my 1st star is the Finn.
Also – that takes balls to take on Parros, regardless if it’s your job or not – a few bombs landed both ways.
Somebody sure is showing off his “big brain” today especially more so than usual, what with the legal jargon and references. No lack of humility there. Such a card too.
There even seems to be some acknowledgement in Hockey Wilderness’s comment section that he makes his defensive partners better.
89 didn’t look to happy to be taken off of that O-zone draw in favour of the RNH line
El Duderino,
An alarming amount of the whole brevity thing on display there – tell me more.
The Hartikainen-Perry battle has been fun to watch.
That staged fight got me to thinking…are there any real men left in hockey? The fighters are usually overgrown kids and the rest don’t really appear to be all that gristled. Can you name a guy who’s all business and will kill you if you mess with him?
“Steve Smith”,
Just when I started to be ok with his passive style of play they sent him away. He was right at that age for vet dmen where they usually thrive.
anonymous,
Well, in fairness, Schultz is the same age. And by eye he’s looked pretty good since the trade. But I’d still take Gilbert back ten times out of ten.
“Steve Smith”,
Yeah I’d take them both.
Don’t worry, Cogliano’s SH% this game is 100% – that’s unsustainably high.
…Bobby Ryan, on the other hand, can keep that up all game.
Whitney.
Just looks helpless.
He needs someone to push him to move if he’s standing still.
No pressure on the right foot at all.
Man, we are driving close enough to Anaheim that we can get the radio feed on AM 830. Just as I turned it on Covlia o scores, and now Ryan.
Even though I was Edm to draft 2 nd and take Grig, I can’t not cheer for them to win. Especially with the driver being a Ducks fan and all. Sweet justice may be in the cards for her tonight.
LT, might want to start thinking about your post on how Lindy Ruff is going to deploy the troops. Maybe he can lure Gaustad over.
SK: What have you heard?
Man I love John Tortorella.
I don’t know if it’s hilarious or just sad, listening to the foolhardy optimism coming from the broadcast crew tonight.
They’re lucky it’s not my team – they’d be sacked en masse tomorrow morning.
oilers need an old timey colour guy like Pat Quinn!
Lowetide,
Oh nothing, just assuming Renney and Ruff will be unemployed soon seeing as Buff just got eliminated tonight.
He’s unfreakinbelievable.
That guys hands just keep amazing me.
Eberle is a wizard.
Lowetide,
That would be a great old timey nick name for 14. There’s just no descriptive nick names anymore like the Rocket or the Roadrunner.
There’s a blues artist named R.L. Burnside that’s got an album called Mr. Wizard.
where’s the hook on 14? Stripes are golfing already to I guess
delooper,
There’s a rock band called The Who who had an album called “Tommy”, on which a movie called “The Wizard” was loosely based.
Could Whitney have played that any worse?
Barbaro
Was really hoping they would clinch 29th today.
Of course they fuck it up.
Big day on Saturday.
Why does Getzlaf only have 11 goals.. Isn’t he supposed to be *good* or something? Cogliano has more goals than Getzlaf…
EDM (14-22-4) @ VAN (26-10-4)
TOR (17-20-3) @ MON (15-15-10)
What are the chances of a regulation EDM win and a regulation MTL loss? 10%?
There’s Gagner missing the net for at least the second time and creating a breakaway. Damn it kid, hit the net from there. Fricken pinball.
Well, I don’t give errors but if I did, that final goal would have 3: 89 for the ridiculous shot, Whitney for the Steamroller Blues and one for the fucking surgeon who operated on him.
Needs a more supple wrist.
EDM (14-22-4) @ VAN (26-10-4)
TOR (17-20-3) @ MON (15-15-10)
What are the chances of a regulation EDM win and a regulation MTL loss? 10%?
I should just play a parlay on that, so that I least get something if such a terrible thing happened.
My issue is that it may be a meaningless game for Vancouver. Beat them twice last year in the final 2 games of the season.
Sorry, lost my head there for a minute. 29th place et al
But still, how do you miss the net by that much from there, after the results last time?
Expletive, obscenity etc.
Yah, I’m sure 89 has scored maybe 1 or 2 goals from there with the clapper in his life and JDD is 6ft 4″ and I don’t think even he could have reached it. Too bad – Eberle and RNH had alot of jump in OT.
I’d give one to the GM who traded a Norris calibre D-man for the injury risk waiting to happen that we all know as ryan whitney.
Seems like a great guy. Hope it’s just a conditioning thing that can be resolved over the summer.
But we’ve seen him play with it – I’m pretty sure it’s a lot worse than a conditioning issue.
I’d rather have Lubo.
PunjabiOil,
Van is in a dead heat for the President’s Trophy right now. TIed with NY for 109 points and the Rangers have 5 more regulation wins, I believe so the Nucks need a win if they want a shot at home-ice all the way to the final.. Should serve as some motivation.
Punjabi
If the oilers pick second overall who would you pick?
Both teams have 1 game left (Vancouver and Rangers). Rangers game (home vs Washington) will be done before the Oilers game starts.
So theoretically, it could be still meaningless.
If the oilers pick second overall who would you pick?
Grigorenko and it’s not even close.
Punjabi
What do you make of all those reports that he doesn’t have passion, is lazy.etc… And Craig Button’s opinion that he will only be a second line center? Button says Grigorenko is more like Couturier or Jordan Staal than Eric Staal or Joe Thornton as some other s say.
My big reason for liking Grigorenko is that I think his second half really was affected by injury and that if not for trying to pkay through it he would have likely scored 100 points.
Nice to see him win rookie of the year over Mackinnon and Frk.
What do you make of all those reports that he doesn’t have passion, is lazy.etc…
Outside one report from an unnamed scout, there has been little evidence to support this.
I just think Grigorenko has the highest ceiling, and I don’t see that with Murray. I see it in Dumba, but it’s likely they won’t select him.
Even if the Oilers finish 29th, there is still a 40% chance they drop to 3rd.
That being said, they had a shot today to clinch 29th and didn’t get it done. Hoping they play Khabibulin on Saturday.
I think the answer Steve was looking for included the phrase deaf,dumb and blind.
He would have also accepted anything referring to Gagner’s playing by sense of smell.
29th place, 3rd overall secure!
Montreal can win the lottery for all I care. Draft Ryan Murray!
oilers are crazy not to draft Murray – only the top ranked freaking Canadian kid for 2012.
But I’m sure they already know that.
Other than Yakupov(who is impossible not to pick), it’s Ryan Murray for this fan every time and twice on long weekends.
29th place, 3rd overall secure!
Montreal can win the lottery for all I care. Draft Ryan Murray!
Ryan Murray evokes memories of Cam ”Phudu” Fowler.
Lots of similarities
Yakupov = Hall
Grigorenko = Seguin
Murray = Cam “Phudu” Fowler
oilers are crazy not to draft Murray – only the top ranked freaking Canadian kid for 2012.
Drafting solely based on nationality is absurd.
I couldn’t agree more. This kid is exactly what we need. The crap about his work ethic has become a narrative that everyone keeps perpetrating without any real evidence. It’s the big Russian and no one else!
Minus the deaf and blind.
What were the reports on Couturier again?
I did consider doing supple wrist derivatives. Probably a left hander.
But I’ve been dumping on the little jobber, like forever. The whole play slowed right down. “Here we go, big wind up – don’t miss the net – he missed the net! Yogie!” Fricken Deja vue…..
I hate screaming at the TV in game 81. It’s embarascing.
Remember when the Oilers were leading the West in October?
Cause I do,.
Ya what a disappointment to see Gagner waste an opportunity like that with a shot that’s way wide – again.
PunjabiOil, ASkoreyko – I too would pick Grigorenko. Strong, talented centerman that could replace Gagner and have more impact than Murray.
I think history says you’re best NOT to pick a D when picking 2nd or 3rd overall, right?
That being said, I won’t be disappointed if the Oil choose Murray. I just think Grigorenko > Murray.