OKC V CHARLOTTE 11.1.13
I imagine Teemu Hartikainen has a thousand things running through his brain today. Play well, contribute to his line’s success, don’t get hurt, remember to pack everything. It may or may not be his final night in the minors for years, but it could be and that’s a plateau all on its own.
Harski has “earned” the right to compete for an NHL job and his unique skills (size, hands) have gotten him this far and just might be enough for him to spend the heart of his career as a regular in the best league on the planet. He has played 152 AHL games now and the Oilers are reaching that point where they either keep him in the NHL or “Brad Winchester” him to another team for a second opinion.
In this 152 AHL games, Hartikainen’s boxcars (42-58-100) suggest a player of some ability. That’s about two seasons worth of games so if he can post 50 points in an AHL season then 25 in the NHL seems reachable. Can he hang with the big boys and get that number north of 35 points? Would it be enough?
–
If the Oilers call up only Hartikainen, the roster might look like this:
- Goal (2): Devan Dubnyk, Nikolai Khabibulin
- Defense (7): Ryan Whitney, Ladislav Smid, Jeff Petry, Justin Schultz, Nick Schultz, Corey Potter, Theo Peckham
- Center (4): Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Sam Gagner, Shawn Horcoff, Eric Belanger
- Left W (5): Taylor Hall, Nail Yakupov, Ryan Smyth, Ben Eager, Darcy Hordichuk
- Right W (4): Ales Hemsky, Jordan Eberle, Teemu Hartikainen, Lennart Petrell
meaning they’re one short. They could add any of the following:
- G Yann Danis
- D Colten Teubert
- C Anton Lander
- C Chris VandeVelde
- L Magnus Paajarvi
- R Mark Arcobello
and I’m sure a few others could end up being considered (Fedun, Marincin, Green) but I think we’ve got them surrounded. Suspect Edmonton adds someone for the big club or chooses from column B above but replaced that player in OKC with a solid AHL veteran.
As crazy as it sounds, it looks from here as though there is a huge opportunity for this guy to shine. The Ryan Jones injury combined with a strong organizational need to add some skill to the 3-4 lines makes Paajarvi a solid option. He might end up on a 3line with Horcoff-Smyth or possibly part of a 4line with Belanger and Petrell. No matter how things shake out, he needs to play well and make sure the coach can call on him in as many situations as possible. That’s how Fernando Pisani passed Daniel Cleary, and Paajarvi doesn’t have anyone of Cleary’s quality in his way.
New coach, fresh chance. Knock it out of the park, young man. And if the Oilers don’t call him up, shame on them.
We wait.
Good for Corey Pronman, I knew all that writing would pay off.
@LT,
You must’ve had draft lists on the brain when you listed the 7 dmen!
Seeing Khabby on that list for some reason got me thinking of how many guys will have survived three lockouts. There must be a list somewhere. And it must be short…
Clay,
Ray Whitney?
Jagr.
Pronman.
Arnott.
Hasek, when Tambellini signs him this summer.
Lowetide,
After he trades Dubnyk for Stajan? Uh oh – I’m sounding like Richard Cloutier now…
Oklahoma City Barons @OKC_Barons
Projected #OKCBarons scratches: Davidson, Plante, Schultz, Ringwald, Eberle, Tyrvainen, Cornet, Hall, Pelss, Marincin, Lizon. #BuiltInOKC
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Why in gods green earth would Tambellini do that. Flames are stuck with that bum. Unless Kipper is coming back in that deal. Even then he is getting up there in age.
Projected #OKCBarons lines: Green-Arcobello-Hartikainen, Paajarvi-Lander-Pitlick, Rajala-VandeVelde-Hamilton, Byers-Martindale-House
D-Pairs: Hotham-Fedun, Deck-Teubert, Lafranchise-Henry. Yann Danis in net
I wonder if Hotham is the son of Greg Hotham?
read the post that I was replying to – we’re not being entirely serious.
Zharkov with an early goal for Belleville.
Zharkov 1-1-2 +2 now.
Gregor’s interview with Krueger seems to indicate that he wants Yak on LW at evens and at RW on the PP.
He also showed sufficient approval for Eager and Petrell that i think we can feel secure penciling them in ahead of Hartikainen and PRV.
That gives us the following forward lineup:
RNH, Hall, Eberle
Gagner, Yakupov, Hemsky
Horcoff, Smyth, *Jones*
Belanger, Eager, Petrell
Jones is injured, which SUCKS because i think that is a really well rounded lineup. Hartikainen is the best available replacement so he’ll probably play there.
i think it would be a mistake to call up PRV given this lineup. better he stay in OKC and play heavy minutes until someone gets injured.
what i’d like to see is Yann Danis called up for the first couple weeks of the season and go with three Goalies. in a season this truncated and with Khabibulin still possibly injured i don’t want to see any of the goalies overplayed. Let Khabibulin and Danis compete for the many extra starts that Dubnyk won’t be able to take.
Right now the most glaring problem the Oilers have is that the schedule dictates that a large number of games played by backups. Even IF Dubnyk turns out to be a stellar starter, i am extremely nervous about Khabibulin in back up role this year.
Dillon Simpson with an early assist for UND.
4 – 0 Charlotte, well this has gotten out of hand.
5-0 Charlotte, the rout is on.
I doubt that Jones is getting another contract from the Oilers, so who really cares.
If Belanger and Eager don’t return to form, there are your penalty free buyouts.
The OIlers should have better UFA depth players knocking on their doors. The cluster will attract them like they attracted Justin Schultz.
Why wouldn’t Jones get another contract? He’s been one of the only effective bottom 6 players the Oilers have had since he has been on the team.
1-2-3 +4 for Zharkov tonight.
Looks like Jochen Hecht is going to sign a 1-year deal with Buffalo.
1) Jones is not a very good hockey player.
2) Better depth players will knock on the door because of the cluster.
3) Unlike Lowe, Tambellini can count to 50.
Tracy @TreenasOil
Oilers are opening in Vancouver not Calgary game on CBC as per Garfield
Because this
The Jones injury is such a huge break for one of the kids – at this point I’m not even fussy about which one, I just hope that somebody grabs a roster spot by the throat while they have a chance.
Moroz with a 1st period goal, Musil one of the assists.
Exactly how I feel. Exactly.
Martindale – Pitlick- Hamilton playing together now, also known as “The Underachiever Line”
6 – 0 Charlotte, why am I watching this?
Don’t mention the war
7-0 now. This is some truly awful hockey, I mean beyond putrid.
Captain Happy,
Well it’s a definite massacre out there.
Riley Nash is having a decent season for Charlotte. Might make it as a Blair Betts type 4th liner.
Stu Who?
Fans get it wrong a lot of the time but in 2007 we knew it was a shitty draft before day 2 even started.
BCHL 2007
Nash 38 goals in 55 games – 1st round pick
Benn 42 goals in 53 games – 5th round pick
Rickibear would’ve drafted Benn
Kyle Bigos with a goal for Merrimack, Simpson now with 2 assists. Khaira and Jones nil with Laleggia still playing for U Denver.
Magnus last two games since the Wunderkids left:
0G 0A 0P -5
7SOG
SH% – 0
Still think he should be called up?
Khaira didn’t get a point tonight, but is 20, 4-11-15 so far at Michigan Tech. 34 shots on goal but he’s improving, 12 in the last 4 games.
Well said, and true.
Lowetide,
Yes.
Agreed here too. Jones won’t be re-signed. If one of the kids can take his spot before then all the better.