Friday, April 2, 2010

Oilers at Stars, G77, 09-10

The thing about these top draft picks is that they can have a major impact on a franchise. Choose wisely at the top and a kid with braces may spend 20 years in your town building up the franchise on his way to the HHOF.

I don't think either of these kids (Taylor and Tyler) is going to be a Modano, but then again maybe they will be a Modano and build a second "boys on the bus" era for the Edmonton Oilers.

Point being you can't get these kids unless you burn in hell one entire winter and lose more games than the other 29 hands in the poker game.

I can't name the last transaction made by the Edmonton Oilers franchise that had the long reaching effects of the name called on Draft evening.

Get it right and a new day dawns, the climb back begins, the Stanley eventually comes into view. Get it wrong and you'll be right back at the podium again. The Minnesota North Stars chose #1 overall three times: Bobby Smith, Brian Lawton and Mike Modano.

A lot of things contributed to the turnaround for the North Stars and maybe the club would have been a Stanley winner without Modano. History tells us that just over a decade after the North Stars took him in the Entry Draft Stanley came to town.

It's a helluva nice place to start.

129 comments:

  1. 9am Atlantic standard time, thanks LT. First website I hit the minute my coffee is ready

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  2. Pity Oilers can't take both Hall and Seguin - both look like franchise players, and us who witnessed the dynasty know the value of having more than one of these types.

    Hall really does seem like Messier/Gordie Howe - a little bit of a thicko, but hard as nails - the kind that blasts the winning goal in the big game, while Seguin looks like a real character - the guy who knows more than everyone else what needs to be done, and cracks a joke before(and after) he delivers.

    Barring injuries, both look like absolute future impact players. No wonder Tambellini looks so happy these days.

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  3. http://tinyurl.com/yford6h

    Hey LT, did you see this? See a name you recognize in there?

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  4. Julian: The Big Canadian Beauty!!!! Thanks for that.

    Vince: You're welcome. One thing that always floored me about the eastern boys and girls Oilers fandom is that the games don't even start until bedtime. I remember during the glory years there'd be a story every once in awhile about parties that started at 10:30 and ran until the wee hours of morning.

    Crazy, but in a good way.

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  5. Ottawa would like to know when the Daigle, Berard and Phillips picks pay off with silverware.

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  6. Man, I can't stand Modano. You can't play hockey for 20 years and still have perfect teeth without being some degree of a pussy.

    That being said, you have to respect a guy who is THAT good a two way center (sidebar: no wonder the Western conference was so dominant in the back-half of the 1990's - between Yzerman/Fedorov, Sakic/Forsberg and Modano/Nieuwendyk, you had three teams icing 1/2 punches at center where both guys are HHOF quality players).

    And even though LT hasn't explicitly stated it - could this be the last time we see him head-to-head against the Oilers? It could be. After all those memorable Oilers vs. Stars playoff battles, it's something worth pointing out.

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  7. Oilers maybe making Moreau a healthy scratch according to Jim Matheson, everyone interviewed bending over backwards to frame it to make it look like it's got nothing to do with the fact Moreau's now a rotten hockey player, lmao.

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  8. One thing that I think we have to consider is that other teams may not pick the BPA and may chose by position.

    For example:

    NYI: will take Hall as they have tavares and Bailey at C

    TB: Will take Hall with Stamkos and Vinie at C

    Boston: will take Hall with Savard, Bergeron, and Krejki at C

    Carolina: I have heard they like Stamkos because the owner is affiliated with Plymouth

    Flordia: ????

    So, if TB, Toronto, and the NYI finish 2nd, 3rd, and 4th last then the Oilers will have a 44% chance at drafting 2nd and receiving Seguin.

    On top of their 48% chance of winning the first pick.

    I have a feeling we wil be drafting Seguin after looking at the other teams

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  9. Am on way to Dallas to see the game, if for no other reason than to boo Modano. I can't stand him either.

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  10. Moreau on a possible healthy scratch:

    "Our line has been playing well, I’ve been playing well, so I don’t expect that (being scratched) to happen. I assume I’m playing."

    Not sure if I've ever seen a captain of a professional sports team that chooses to use the word "I" so much in interviews.

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  11. I'm just so thankful the year we decide to finish 30th is the year there is an absolute dead-heat between the top two picks. I still want that #1 pick from an optics standpoint...but at least if we lose the lottery it isn't catastrphoic like it would be in a Crosby / Bobby Ryan draft year.

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  12. 1. Oilers usual home starts were 11pm NST up and into the late 90's and I'm not sure when it changed but I welcomed it when it did. I remember the days of being in junior and senior high and watching those Kings/Oilers series when the LA games didn't start until midnight and my eyes would be so red the next morning in class that the principal asked me if I'd been out behind the school smoking hash.

    Note: during later years I Would wind up behind the school smoking hash in the span between getting off the bus and waiting for homeroom.

    2. I was also thinking the other day about which teams might jump us for draft order and if we're following pure need as a diving rod than I'd dare say a lot of clubs would select Hall first.

    3. Is DD gonna get the start tonight? And why didn't he get the start in Det? Quinn was already talking about going back on his win and in plan before DD got sick and JDD get the call a few games back so now I think the guy playing the best should get a run results or not.

    4. 18's a real fucking beauty isn't he? He can't see any reason why he'd sit? I wish there was a real media in Edm because that's a fucking softball right there.

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  13. A good draft pick being worth 20 years to the Oilers???

    Wish that was true.

    The Oilers had some of the best players ever on their team.

    And didn't

    keep

    a

    single

    damn

    one.

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  14. How far would the Oilers be willing to go to get both selections?

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  15. Dee Dee: Well, back then we had an owner who'd throw a HOFer under the bus for a roll of quarters and a dozen sausage casings.

    Seriously.

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  16. Hahahaha. Ah silly Ethan Moreau.

    Can't figure he's having a bad year even if Pouliot had his season's numbers in 29 games.

    ''When you're not on one of the team's four lines, that's usually a tip-off that something is up. Like maybe you're not playing?

    Moreau shrugged off the questions about maybe being a healthy scratch for tonight's NHL game against the Dallas Stars.

    "I don't know how you can come to that conclusion off one practice. I was playing D today. It was fun, something different. We'll see what happens. I don't expect it to happen (to sit out)," said Moreau.

    "There's no reason why I wouldn't be playing,"

    Thank you Jim Matheson

    "I haven't decided who's out yet. Ethan, I thought, could skate backward, but I don't know if he can," joked Quinn.

    Joked? Not sure.

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  17. "I don't know how you can come to that conclusion off one practice. I was playing D today."

    /brain explodes

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  18. Every time you post that picture of Modano, I keep thinking he looks about 14. (Maybe he was: I know 14-year-olds used to play in the Dub, but I don't know how far back that ended.)

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  19. Doogie: According to SIHR, Modano played for Detroit Compuware at 15 (he's from Michigan) and then went to Prince Albert the following summer. So he must have been 16.

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  20. My "favourite" comment was this one from Quinn, whose reputation for calling a spade a spade takes a serious hit here:

    “Hopefully it would be explained well enough (to Moreau) if it maybe comes down to him, that it’s not based on merit (how he’s playing).”

    If it really was based on merit, thecaptain would have sat out about 65 games by now.

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  21. Tencer on twitter saying Nilsson and O'Sullivan are out. While those are two deserving souls...would have preferred to see the captain up in the pressbox.

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  22. Maybe what they need to do is instead of having Moreau dress for the team:

    He can be a healthy scratch but he could give solo on ice hockey clinics in between periods.

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  23. that's a great idea hunter. "timbit" is a degree of qualcomp moreau might not get destroyed by this year.

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  24. Kris,

    I'd believe you, but you post on the internet and therefore are not to be read, believed, or trusted.

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  25. Captain Planet pajamas

    That was a good show.

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  26. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  27. Those old Prince Albert Raider unis are beauties.

    My first live WHL game that I can remember was in PA at the old comuniplex.

    It was Nedved (Seattle) vs McCammond (P.A). Both ridiculous junior players. Nedved's draft year (90): 145 points in 71 games.

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  28. Did anyone ever hear Stauffer's comments about Modano in jr. ? He said something like Modano was the reason for establishing a WHL rule with regards to second assists. Previously a second assist could be added by the score keeper even if the referee only gave out one on the play. Supposedly Modano was getting a lot of phantom assists and the practise was stopped. i.e. the score keeper was no longer allowed to add a 2nd assist.

    I heard it during an Oiler broadcast of a Stars game this season.

    Still turned out to be quite the player, although like most Oiler fans(except the gals probably). We all hate Modano for the amount of punishment he inflicted to the copper and blue over the years.

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  29. My favourite Stauffer comment of late was when he said that by the time the Canucks came off their 14 game roadtrip the Flames would be in first place in the division.

    He said it on a roundtable discussion on one of the Oilers PPV casts.

    Regarding 12 I wonder can we work out an agreement where an SEL club pays the majority of his freight for the '11 season. I waiver on whether anyone will take his cap hit for next year and today's a day where I feel like no one will take that chance.

    The deal with 18 is that his comments are a perfect segue for all the writers who think this club needs a culture change; here's the fucking captain giving you a quote that's the journalistic equiv of breadcrumbs for fucksakes.

    But nah don't bother to write about it or anything.

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  30. Don't know why one of the MSM media don't say to Moreau:

    "Hey Einstein: your team is 30th in the entire league, you are the captain and when the Oil gave you a $2.0m per year contract they were not expecting 6 goals and 14 points from you."

    Course that great leader of men would not listen: best message Oil could send next year is "Ethan, we want you to mentor our AHL players in OKC next year, enjoy your last year in the organization"

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  31. According to SIHR, Modano played for Detroit Compuware at 15 (he's from Michigan) and then went to Prince Albert the following summer. So he must have been 16.

    I guess; he also looked like he was wearing Daddy's suit in his draft picture, come to think of it.

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  32. Mehhh. How come Potulny has a good year and Nilsson an ass one while they have almost IDENTICAL stats.

    I am troubled on how we can figure out to dress Moreau or Pisani, and scratch POS and Nilsson.

    You know usually bad teams try out new guys or improve the icetime for young guns.

    Nilsson is gone next year, along with POS. Cogliano and Pouliot stay.

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  33. captain planet, hes our hero, gonna take pollution down to zero....

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  34. LT: On a Baseball note, do you think the old Vladi will bounce back? I think 25 HR ,300 and 85 RBI's seem reasonable.

    Cruz, Hamilton, Kinsler, Young, Guerrero, Saltalamachia/Teagarden, Murphy.

    Such a dangerous lineup, all guys who can hit 20HR'S or more.

    I believe the Rangers will finally win theyr Division this year. If Harden can stay healthy.

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  35. Vladdy's in Texas. I just found out last night. Seriously. Texas has always had the lumber, but lacked leather and arms. Has anything changed?

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  36. Yes it changed.

    Starting Rotation:

    Rich Harden 3,39 Career ERA. If healthy he's a jewel.

    Scott Feldman 17-8 with 4,00 ERA last year

    Tommy Hunter 9-6 with 4,10 ERA

    C.J Wilson 71 IP with 2,81 as a reliever (Lefty!) (Starting this year)

    Neftali Feliz: 1,73 in 31 IP last year, regularly hits the triple digits.

    Frank Franciso: 25 Saves out of 29 last year.

    And they got some other good relievers with around 3,50ish ERA.

    I really believe they could go far.

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  37. It was horrible watching Modano break the Oilers hearts time and time again, but hey, the world turns and Oilers are in a position to take a shot at their new potential version in a few weeks.

    Gotta laugh at the negative nellies whining their chicken hearted heads off about Daigle etc and other busts, as if picking 1st or 2nd is a scary thing. As if it's better to pick 17th or some such crap. Seriously, you have to wonder if some one on the Oilers like Kevin Lowe's posting in here under an assumed identity.

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  38. Mehhh. How come Potulny has a good year and Nilsson an ass one while they have almost IDENTICAL stats.

    I can think of one million, four hundred and five thousand reasons why.

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  39. FPB: You're just a young fella, right? Let me tell you that you can never ever depend on your Rich Harden types.

    Never.

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  40. Dennis: Yes i am aware of that. But those super shaky types can have a career year when they can stay healthy. It's a roll of the dices. But they still have a strong pitching staff even with Harden out of it.

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  41. No use scratching thecaptain if you are trying to get rid of him in the offseason.

    Would Tambelleni trade 18 along with all three 6th round draft picks for a conditional 7th?

    I might.

    Go Oilers!!

    PPV therefore:
    *clap,clap*

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  42. Gentlemen, there's a more important game than the Oilers/Stars matchup tonight. And all I will say about it is this:

    Best of luck to the Calgary Flames at the Pepsi Center in Denver this evening.

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  43. Thecaptain wins the game of chicken with thecoach.

    Fuck.

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  44. Bruce,

    It would be a hollow victory if 18 got scratched.

    Sending him to OKC becuase no one wanted him in trade, and he wasn't in the top 4 LW would be better.

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  45. Where can I find a breakdown on individual player stats across a restricted time span? Say for example, I want to see a goalie's save percentage and gaa over just the past 20 games, or a forwards ppg before and after the Olympic break?

    By the way - thanks for bringing back the old format, LT. I hope it's working better.

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  46. I am now convinced the 1RW is a panda because all I hear is "Ling-Ling"

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  47. Oh boy Linglet. That's not how you want to start your career.

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  48. If the Oilers first rounder has as much an impact on the game as 2nd rounder James Neal, I'd be happy.

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  49. Hey local Edmonton guys - I've not had a lot of exposure to this Tencer guy... is he always this embarrassing? Does he work for the team?

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  50. LT.

    Waiting 'til 11pm to watch western conference hockey isn't looked upon as crazy here in the maritimes, it's just the way it is.

    The '06 playoff parties lasted til the sun cmae up and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

    The thing I've always found weird about hockey fans out here is being a 15-20 hour drive from the nearest NHL team and no real regional representive is that loyalties are basically split evenly among the six Canadien teams, Boston, Pittsburgh and Detroit...with a few Rangers and Kings too.

    As for me, the Oil won the cup when I was 4,5,7,8 and 10 years old so choosing a favorite team wasn't difficult....every kid was an Oil fan then and one of the few who stuck it out.

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  51. Awesome.

    Unmolested Stars in front of the net 3 times and its 3-0

    Boy the defensive zone coerage is terrible.

    2 doesn't really know where to go that often.

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  52. 3-0 as soon as I decide to check out the score, first period?

    Does this mean the team really stinks? And I thought they were just larking about until securing Taylor Hall, then all of a sudden BAM! And they would "run the table"(Calgary Flamespeak).

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  53. Devin,

    He looks like a puppet.

    He is a puppet.

    Tencer :"you can debate some of their moves, but there is no one who wants this team to win more than Lowe and Tambelleni"

    Excellent criteria for justifying shitty mangement.

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  54. I'm kind of rooting for the Flames, a team I'd usually be happy to see go 0-82 forever.

    The only rational reason I can think of, is that I've been conditioned over the past decade to root for underdog Western Conference bubble teams, although I really have no idea why that would matter.

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  55. Woodguy - it was "no two guys in the league..." so I guess Tencer took a poll of every manager in the league and compared to Lowe and Tambo they were just kind of "meh" about winning.

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  56. Fricking Habs. Up 1-0 with Halak playing like Hasek and James VanRiemsdyk misses the net point blank. Never saw a team have more good things happen to them than the Montreal Canadiens.

    It's been running for decades.

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  57. Tencers a douche.

    At the draft, when Lowebellini steps up, oiler fans in attendance should chant 'RUDY! RUDY! RUDY! RUDY!'

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  58. The fact that Ethan Moreau is still playing tells us everything we need to know about this organization.

    Gutless.

    I actually wish we never had that lottery pick coming. Lowe/Tambellini don't deserve the basement for eternity.

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  59. Arsene looked like an AHL Dman that period. Someone should tell Linglet turnovers don't fly in the NHL. Cogliano skated miles but ended up the goat on the 2nd goal because he was dog tired when the mistake was made.

    Dallas scored on 3 one-timers and the Oilers didn't look ready to play, as usual. Looks like a lot of players have their pout on tonight. Its making me yearn for Sully and Nilsson and I can't stand them.

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  60. Tencer is embarrassing. He honestly thinks he's some sort of celebrity in Edmonton. One just needs to review his twitter and how he provides constant progress reports of his life and plans.

    Talk about taking self importance to a whole new level.

    That, and the fact he's the biggest apologist in Edmonton media history. Yes, the same city that has produced Bryan Hall and Jim Matheson.

    It's quite sad, actually.

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  61. *Lowe/Tambellini deserve the basement for eternity.

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  62. Eberle had an assist tonight in a 5-1 loss.

    He's a diamond surrounded by trash.

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  63. I can't stand the Flames. Lived in Calgary for almost a decade, and my hate for the Flames and Stamps grew exponentially while living there.

    Thought D. Sutter was a good pragmatic Alberta farm boy until he lost his mind this year.

    I think Calgary will pull it out though.

    The core Denver players have all never played this many games, especially their goaltender, and its starting to show.

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  64. Nice period. 17 minutes in the score was already 3-0 and Zorg had played 0:40. Not saying the two are related, but let's just say we never established a rhythm.

    Oh, and another injury. It's been a while since we had a rash of those.

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  65. Whats astonishing about the Flames is how Sutter turned into Kevin Lowe this season - trading away their top young player(Phaneuf), for a bunch of Leafs castoffs, then suddenly his prize UFA Bouwmeester looks like another SE Division wonder instead of a perennial candidate for the Norris Trophy, with honorable mention to the Jokinen for Kotalik trade, and the nepotism inside the Flames organisation that makes the Oilers appear like the 1976 Cincinnati Reds.

    The Flames are so going nowhere in a hurry, so I just can't hate them especially not with all the real or imagined great players headed to the Oilers.

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  66. Pat Quinn you're a bad coach. Outdated at best.

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  67. PJO: Think the AHL game is still on. It's 5-3 with the Falcons trailing. They must have taken Eberle's assist away too as he's now merely +1 on the night. Petry gets his first minus in the AHL then follows it up with two more. Had a nice little run of not having a minus in 3 games with something like 11 ES goals against (IIRC). The Falcons really are a poor team. How long until someone notices that everything Prendergast touches turns to shit?

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  68. When Dustin Penner decides to be strong he just kinda goes wherever he wants with the puck.

    Sublime pass to Poo.

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  69. Really nice to see 27 play that way.

    It's not a huge stretch to say there's not many guys that are that big and that skilled.

    It's a fucking shame he doesn't want it all the time though.

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  70. Dennis: Hard to want it all the time when your fans don't even want it. Penner strikes me as being one of those guys who would be a huge load in the playoffs. If only his team would ever get to the fucking playoffs.

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  71. Dennis:

    To be fair, I'm sure there was a point this season where it became pretty clear to him it didn't matter what he did.

    On that note, Pouliot's current numbers prorate to a 20-20 season.

    His shooting % is pretty high (13% headed into tonight), and I have no idea what any of his underlying numbers are, but he's looked pretty decent to my eye.

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  72. Dennis:
    He really seemed to give a shit when the games actually mattered, and that's a huge step.

    He ouscores everyone even when he doesn't care, and is ludicrous when he does.

    Hopefully next year more games wil actually matter.

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  73. Bruce: What in hell are you talking about? Penner really is the class of the group and just like Mahovlich the main gripe is long periods of sleepiness.

    Pouliot is a real nice player. I don't stump on his behalf anymore because it's basically at the point where I cheer and observe, but buddy can take and make a pass and the offense is flowing a little better now.

    If he comes to camp and plays like this I think he'll have a job.

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  74. LT: All I'm saying is the same thing PDO and Woodguy said (although better, apparently).

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  75. Thecaptain justifies not being scratched.

    I wonder if 27 would be inclined to sign an extension if they put the C on him next year?

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  76. Lord knows the Oilers could use a RH C who can play against real NHL players, win some draws, chip in some offense and come on the cheap.

    I have a feeling he's going to be dealt at the draft though. Just seems like an Oiler move to wait on the guy for 7 years and then deal him just as he becomes a guy who can potentially outperform his contract.

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  77. Bruce: I understand that, and honestly don't believe Penner has been any less consistent than the rest (in fact the evidence suggests he's been the least inconsistent).

    But your point about fans cheering against him, or hoping he doesn't do well? I've honestly never heard any of that sort of thing.

    Unless you mean a general "lets lose so we can pick first overall" sentiment, but that's not really focused on Penner imo.

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  78. LT: Well he knows he's a big part of any Oil Win.

    As i said earlier, i really think Pouliot could pull it as a useful 40 points man.

    Tough i believe the management group will somehow fuck it up (Trade for useless, or sign him to 2M$ contract)

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  79. Unless you mean a general "lets lose so we can pick first overall" sentiment, but that's not really focused on Penner imo.

    Yes, this is what I meant. One thing Penner isn't is stupid, he's quite capable of doing the same math you and I could do about what was in the best interests of the team come January or so, so why bust your ass if it's gonna hurt your team? Same probably goes for a few of the vets, but Penner is the one who is capable of taking over a game and winning it, and he's not done a lot of that since Dec. 11. No real good reason to, is all I'm saying.

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  80. The teams must have switched jersyes in between intermissions. Good to see robust Penner, not sure how long he'll stay this time.

    It seems this team plays as Whitney and Gilbert play. IF they are to transition the puck well, it bodes well for the Oilers.

    Looks like the Stars burnt themselves out with the hard forecheck they had going.

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  81. Principe: "I saw you talking to the coaches during the TV time outs, both Quinn and Fleming, what were you talking about?"

    Penner: "your broadcasts"

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  82. You tell 'im, Skyrockets.

    Principe overmatched by an actual "funny man".

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  84. I don't think there will be a bigger impact FA this summer than Halak and that includes Mr Kovalchuk. I wonder what the Canadien's are planning to do, re-sign him and trade Price would be the best situation IMHO but this could be a make or break decision for Pierre Gauthier in the eyes of the rabid Habs fans.

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  85. Pboy: Price was boo'ed last game vs Carolina... and it was during the annoucement of him as the 3rd star of that game.

    He's gone. If management doesn't pull the trigger and sign Halak, the rabbid crowd will make Gauthier's job a living hell.

    I sided on Halak all the time, i'm not a pro this or pro that, just pro the best goalie. And it's Halak.

    But those two fellas are RFA's.

    So get your picks out.

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  86. FPB: I really like Halak too. He's a keeper.

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  87. Price is a good goalie too.

    He's just a backbreaker. Let's in goals when it's really not the time, or just plain awful ones.

    Halak is consistent as a swiss clock. And he steals games often.

    (He's 7-0-0-0 with 40+ shots against him iirc)

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  88. Potulny -3 for the second straight game. On the ice for 1 shot for (Penner's goal) and 12 against (4 went in). Back of the line, son.

    Linglet was -2, with a shot count of +0/-9. 11:43 TOI, 0 shots for.

    Oilers 15/53 = 28% on the dot.

    On the bright side, Pouliot 5 shots, 3 hits. He's playing well.

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  89. Kiprusoff appears to have turned the clock back a few years.

    Fuck.

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  90. If Price truly is available Oilers management would be stupid not to seriously inquire. Subject to a ridiculous asking price, they should consider moving some significant assets to acquire him.

    At the ripe old age of 22 he's already had three 40+ game NHL seasons with save percentages of 0.920, 0.905, 0.910. Coincidentally Dubnyk nor Deslauriers can boast that at the AHL level.

    Short of the untouchables list (Gagner, Eberle, MPS, Hemsky, 2010 + 2011 1st rounders) I let Montreal take pretty much whatever they want for him.

    On an unrelated note, Colorado stands as the new team that cannot give Oilers fans a break. Aside from a handful of ugly, ugly wins against the Oilers since the lockout, it now appears that the Avs are rolling out the red carpet for the Flames to stumble into 8th in the West. Bravo.

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  91. Hunter said: The only rational reason I can think of, is that I've been conditioned over the past decade to root for underdog Western Conference bubble teams...

    Not sure how Calgary is an underdog team and Colorado isn't... Calgary should have been a shoo in for a playoff spot this year and Colorado a bit of a dark horse. Of course Calgary turned to shit and Colorado had an amazing start (largely on the back of great goaltending).

    Mostly though, I just really really really don't want to see Calgary in the playoffs. Though if seeing them get in somehow meant Vancouver and Looouuuu missing the second season, I'd probably be all for it.

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  92. Bruce: This was the game that changed my mind that Potulny goes and Comrie stays for next year.

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  93. Kipper has been the main reason they even have a look at the playoffs this year.

    He's back among the league leaders in SV%.

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  94. Jon K: I suspect the asking price should include at least one untouchable. You don't get a franchise goalie throwing peanuts around.

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  95. On a completely unrelated note, does anyone else think that Dustin Brown is overrated and overpaid?

    He signed his deal after a season where he had a shooting percentage double his career average, he routinely forgets the play fishing for a big hit and as a result he's been a significant minus player every year of his career (-68 overall).

    Not as big a factor, but he will also never fight a guy even if he makes a questionable hit. There might be some merit to that in terms of drawing penalties versus taking them, but I guess it's just a pet peeve of mine. That being said, he has led the league in penalties drawn minus penalties taken for the past two seasons. And by a significant margin.

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  96. fpv: I probably consider Hemsky and Eberle from my list if they ask. Maybe the 2011 1st rounder. Other than that I don't know if I could swallow the associated risk with dealing the asset. Obviously if Hemsky is leaving the other included assets in any deal are significantly diminished from an Edmonton point of view.

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  97. Ryan Jones should show more awareness if he wants to prolong his NHL career. In his short stint as an Oiler he sure puts himself into some vicarious positions on the ice.

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  98. I wonder if they would take Cogs+JDD+2nd round pick 2010 for Price.

    They probably don't want to add too much salary.

    Probably not enough.

    I might trade Gagner for Price if I draft Seguin.

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  99. Dustin Brown is a Diving Bastard. Which makes him a DB².

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  100. Woodguy: Why would we accept :

    A goalie that's would be our 5th at the moment (Behind Halak, Price, Sanford and Desjardins (AHL all star)).

    A small fry that barely can play on our 3rd line while Pacioretty should take that spot

    And a 2nd.

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  101. I hope the oilers don't give up anything significant for a goalie like price. They won't be good for a few years so they're better off looking for diamonds in the rough in other orgs and leagues.

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  102. DangerMan - No kidding on Jones. It's like he's a proud graduate of the "Laddy Smid School of Self Defence".

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  103. On second thought the. Cogs thing is stupid and Gagner is too much.

    Too much beer tonight.

    Benn with 2 and Neal with 1.

    Dallas has a lot of good LW.

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  104. I would do Gagner for Price.

    Traktor: But would Gagner do you?

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  105. lol bruce, i had typed 'why would Price want you to do gagner'

    On a related note, 42 percent of NHLers think that they have homosexual teammates.

    Quinn just thinks 42 percent of the NHL are homosexual.

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  106. did Strudwick mentioning Potulnys tan strike anyone else as odd? :)

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  107. Woodguy: Benn's been playing quite a bit of C lately. Apparently he moved into the middle when Wandell went down. Can't say as I noticed where he was lining up tonight on the tiny screen.

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  108. Everyone still want to crucify Tambo for not signing Craig Anderson?

    That hot start seems like a long time ago now that he can't win a game to save his life - or the Avs' season.

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  109. I really hope Calgary makes the playoffs for two reasons:

    1) Colorado was always smoke and mirrors anyway. It's nice to see that catch up with them.

    2) Anything that turns the heat up on Lowe and friends is a good thing. Seeing Calgary get in and maybe steal a round or two will ratchet that up. The Sutters are not only overrated but also insufferable pricks but they're hockey geniuses compared to the twits running the show in Edmonton.

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  110. commonfan13 said...
    Everyone still want to crucify Tambo for not signing Craig Anderson?


    Given his chosen alternative?

    Absofuckinglutely.

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  111. The Sutter Bros show about the same level of emotion as a pack of frozen Waffles.

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  112. Olivier Roy was the backup goalie in Springfield tonight.

    How long has he been there? And have we signed him to a contract?

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  113. Rangers are still kicking it after being called dead. I'd love to see NYR and ATL boot PHI and BOS out.

    But then again i would LOVE a PHI vs PIT series. A great rivalry

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  114. Woodguy said...
    I wonder if 27 would be inclined to sign an extension if they put the C on him next year?


    A truly horrible idea. Penner is a fine player who would be nice to have around when this team is finally worth watching but he's no captain. No way.

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  115. RiversQ: Then again we could continue with the stupid decisions and turn the Oil into a sitcom.

    Penner is the obvious star, with Moreau being the ass of the show.

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  116. Dustin Penner in the role of Archie Andrews

    Sam Gagner in the role of Jughead

    Ethan Moreau in the role of Reggie

    Ales Hemsky in the role of Veronica

    Jeff Deslauriers in the role of Betty

    M-A Pouliot in the role of Cherry

    J-F Jacques as Moose

    Patrick O'sullivan as Ethel

    Pat Quinn as Waldo Wheaterbee

    Robert Nilsson as Jason Blossom.

    You are free to continue the list

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  117. Do the Oilers go with no Captain if TheCaptainEthanMoreau isn't here next year?

    Horcoff, Penner, Hemsky, Gilbert, Whitney, Souray are probably the only names you can talk about at all.

    Souray is likely gone, Hemsky and Gilbert don't strike me as "that guy" and Whitney's been here 2 weeks.

    It'd be pretty funny to watch HFBoards implode if it was Horcoff, but for that exact reason I can see management being leery of it.

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  118. RQ,

    Just stating its a terrible idea without giving a reason is prickish.
    They did give an A.

    Care to elaborate?

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  119. PDO: It's either Whitney or Gagner if they had to put a "C" on someone. I like what Whitney is saying so far, but he's still too new, and Gagner is still a wee bit too young. I'd roll with 3 "A"s and let itself sort out.

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  120. I would do Gagner for Price.

    Is this before or after signing Cogliano to a threeveteen year, elebentybillion dollar contract?

    Gagner for Price, in short, would be a ridiculous overpay from the Oiler perspective. The simple fact is that 89 is the absolute last asset the Oilers should be trading outside of the 2010 first rounder.

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  121. You guys know we have a big ticket goalie on the books right?

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  122. You guys know we have a big ticket goalie on the books right?

    If he's only good for 50 games a season in a healthy year, we need an insurance policy.

    Fact: the Khabibulin signing was the worst contract given out by the Oilers the past decade.

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