NUGE TO WJ’S
Mark Spector has the story this morning, the Nuge will take some time away from the OKC Barons season and play at the World Juniors (should he make the team, which would seem to be a no-brainer). I’m not going to spoil the article–Spector did the work, you should click through–but this is the Nuge’s decision based on the framework in Spector’s piece.
I think it’s a fine idea, giving Oiler fans someone to cheer for at four on Boxing Day morning, and the Nuge’s AHL season (thus far) has been as successful as we should have expected it to be:
PP SCORING, BARONS F’S
| NAME | GP | PP G | PPA | PP PTS | PP PTS/G |
| RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS | 19 | 3 | 9 | 12 | .632 |
| JORDAN EBERLE | 20 | 3 | 8 | 11 | .550 |
| TAYLOR HALL | 12 | 3 | 2 | 5 | .417 |
| MAGNUS PAAJARVI | 20 | 1 | 6 | 7 | .350 |
| TEEMU HARTIKAINEN | 20 | 2 | 4 | 6 | .300 |
| MARK ARCOBELLO | 18 | 3 | 0 | 3 | .167 |
EV SCORING, BARONS F’S
| NAME | GP | EG | EA | EV PTS | EV P/G | |
| 1 | TAYLOR HALL | 12 | 2 | 9 | 11 | .917 |
| 2 | JORDAN EBERLE | 20 | 9 | 7 | 16 | .800 |
| 3 | TEEMU HARTIKAINEN | 20 | 4 | 6 | 10 | .500 |
| 4 | RYAN MARTINDALE | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .500 |
| 5 | MARK ARCOBELLO | 18 | 3 | 5 | 8 | .444 |
| 6 | RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS | 19 | 5 | 3 | 8 | .421 |
| 7 | TONI RAJALA | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .400 |
| 8 | MAGNUS PAAJARVI | 20 | 1 | 5 | 6 | .300 |
| 9 | DANE BYERS | 20 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .200 |
| 10 | CHRIS VANDEVELDE | 17 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .176 |
| 11 | TYLER PITLICK | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .143 |
| 12 | CURTIS HAMILTON | 16 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .125 |
| 13 | ANTTI TYRVAINEN | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .111 |
| 14 | TANNER HOUSE | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .083 |
| 15 | ANTON LANDER | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .063 |
It’ll also give the Barons a chance to mix and match Hall and Eberle, and I suspect Hartikainen and Paajarvi will get a push, maybe Lander too who knows? Since this is an Oiler fan blog, it also requires me to mention the possibility of Hall moving over to C for a time.
The one guy I’m interested in seeing over the next few weeks in OKC is young Rajala. Buddy has done some nice things since coming over from northern California.
Note: How about that Taylor Hall at evens. My.
What happens if the season starts on say, January 2?
Gold medal game on January 5.
What does the franchise do? What should they do?
If they commit to the WJ’s, and they have, then they commit to the WJ’s.
PunjabiOil,
I was wondering the same team, I don’t think they’d pull the players out that late in the tourney (speaking of not only RNH but also Yakupov), but I’m curious if they can were a deal to be signed on Dec 5, with the season to start on Christmas or Boxing Day?
If they even have the option of recalling them, would they be tempted to still leave Yakupov in RUS anyways, assuming Yakupov would prefer to stay in RUS and play for RUS?
I like it. I think it was a no-lose decision for his development (that is, keeping him in OKC, or having him play the WJrs are both positive). Sounds like he really wants to play though, which is great. Looks like RNH and the Oilers braintrust are all Team Canada fans (much like Sens management who are helping by keeping Zibanejad out of the WJrs).
Would be really interesting to see Hall take a spin at C, but I think Josh Green is just about ready to return, so he may slot straight into Nuges spot.
This is awesome!
I can’t really think of a draw-back. The idea that the hockey is radically better in the AHL seems misplaced to me as does the “unit cohesion” argument.
A couple of weeks playing high-caliber hockey for his country isn’t going to damage either IMO.
Besides, if Spector’s hunch is right on this:
“Nugent-Hopkins has not played in a World Junior tournament, and this will be the last one he is eligible for. You can bet that Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall — two WJHC veterans who are playing in OKC with Nugent-Hopkins — urged him to experience a World Junior while he is still eligible to do so.”
It may even boost unit cohesion… they will all share in an important developmental experience.
Moreover… this will simply give the best hockey tournament (next to Stanley when the Oil are in the POs) more drama! As a Hockey Canada and Oiler fan… this is the best possible outcome!
ps. assuming the NHL gets it’s act together… what are we realistically talking about here? A week and a half… maybe 4-5 games max.
This from Bob McKEnzie an hour ago–missed it:
Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ shoulder isn’t “injured” per se but hasn’t felt quite right this season in AHL. So he’s back in EDM for evaluation.
Hmmmm.
Lowetide,
Sounds about right…..
22 minutes ago
22m Ryan Rishaug Ryan Rishaug @TSNRyanRishaug
To be clear, RNH wasn’t snubbed by team canada.. I was at camp 2 yrs ago he wasn’t ready back then. He’ll be first line centre this time
4 minutes ago
Bob Stauffer @Bob_Stauffer
To be clear lots of media types said RNH needed to return to Junior last fall. Some based on showing at WJC camp’s…RNH proved otherwise
I think the key words are “to be clear” but perhaps I’m reading too much into it. An lol moment
Not sure why but that use of “to be clear” reminded me of this funny parsing of the dickish use of “actually” (with bonus reference to the use of “literally”):
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/08/actually-worst-word-planet-actually/55360/
If Nuge’s shoulder isn’t 100%.. For god sakes fix him first!! Screw the AHL and worlds. But if it turns out he’s all good.. It will be interesting watching his talent among guys his own age, Nuge vs Yak? Fantastic.
the shoulder item is a concern, would hope the Oilers would be extra careful during a lockout period. Jeebus.
Canada-Russia games would be outstanding if everything falls right.
That shoulder, though…Just get it fixed. We’ve seen this played out too many times as Oilers fans in recent years. It just doesn’t get magically better on it’s own. The NHL season is lost so it’s a good time to get it done, too.
Lowetide,
The curse of the shoulder strikes again….man alive!
Shoulders are complicated things.
“Just fix it” is not something that necessarily applies.
godot10,
We know shoulders are a complicated part of the body, being Oiler fans and all. Yes just fix the damn thing, rehab, repair, rebuild whatever needs to be done to maximize the prevention of reoccurring injury, or keep throwing him out there before it’s done. Yikes
Staff is sort of reliant on the player to effin say something. But what player does when it’s just “a feeling”?
You often can’t figure out if it is fixed without throwing them out there again. You sometimes don’t know if surgery will just make things worse instead of better. The shoulder might have felt perfectly fine all summer. Working out is different than playing hockey.
Sometimes with shoulders, it is just finding the correct physiotherapy and exercise routine.
“Just fix it” is mostly just for bones.
Well, it’s been almost a full year since the initial injury and he’s still being bothered by it. How long do you wait?
God damnit Jim I’m a hockey fan not a doctor!
Is it just me or did the line in Specs article surprise you too?!? The line that said he had surgery this off season??
Must have been a minor one but I don’t recall ever hearing about this before. Maybe I missed it, someone tell me I’m not crazy!
If so would like to hear exactly what the surgery was and it’s rehab time?
honestly, I give the hell up when it comes to Oilers and injuries. Its like that scene in Airplane when the guy says “turn on the landing lights” and the other guy says “NO! That’s just what they’ll be expecting us to do!”
For anyone interested, I was asking around a bit on twitter and it seems like this year, assuming both Yakupov and RNH play, would be the first time two (already drafted) #1 overall picks have been in the same tournament since Daigle and Jovo nearly 20 years ago.
The effects of shoulder injuries linger long after the injury has healed. Scar tissue becomes a issue, knots and imbalances become an issue. Joint rehab is an ongoing thing and never 100% Resolves itself. The Nuge might be just feeling the after effects of the surgery.
Yeah I don’t recall there be a surgery in the first place.
If the Nuge wants to play the WJ’s then he should. They need him. Who doesn’t want to see the Nuge vs. the Yak? Canucks fans?
After though, the Joilers would be very wise to get this taken care of. Right after.
Glad to see Nuge going after more glory on the international stage, and he should be the class of the tournament.
But this will expose the glaring need for a #2 center prospect in the system and playing in OKC.
Glad to hear Nuge is going to the WJC this year.
He must be setting some kind of a precedent as this first player to play a full NHL season, be out due to a lockout, spend time in the AHL, then play in the WJC.
The shoulder is a concern as he doesn’t seem to have much muscle around that joint to begin with. Mind you, Tim Kerr had shoulders the size of Arnie and it didn’t seem to help him much.