Thursday, May 20, 2010

09-10 Oilers Rookies: It was about the Goalies

From the fall of 2000 through the end of the 2009-10 season, the Edmonton Oilers sent a large number of rookies into the fray. In those 9 seasons (the lockout cost everyone a year) Edmonton was coached by Craig MacTavish for 8 years and Pat Quinn for one.

The 8 MacTavish seasons saw rookies of every shape and size; rookies who could dangle but not check their hat; rookies who could skate but had no touch around the net; rookies who saw very little ice time and rookies who stepped right into regular roles.

It was an impressive group in size, and there were impressive players in the overall sample. One suspects the next decade will tower over the following group in 10 summers from today.

2000-01
  1. C Dom Pittis (506 minutes)
  2. C Mike Comrie (467)
  3. C Shawn Horcoff (452)
  4. L Dan Lacouture (262)
  5. D Scott Ferguson (218)
  6. C Brian Swanson (174)
  7. L Michel Riesen (119)
2001-02
  1. G Jussi Markkanen (784)

2002-03

  1. D Alexei Semenov (905)
  2. R Ales Hemsky (712)
  3. L Jason Chimera (710)
  4. D Ales Pisa (621)
  5. R Fernando Pisani (375)
  6. L Jani Rita (114)

2003-04

  1. G Ty Conklin (2086)
  2. D Marc-Andre Bergeron (953)
  3. C Jarret Stoll (945)
  4. C Mike Bishai (128)
  5. L Tony Salmelainen (125)

2005-06

  1. G Mike Morrison (892)
  2. D Matt Greene (303)
  3. D Danny Syvret (123)
  4. C Kyle Brodziak (110)

2006-07

  1. D Ladislav Smid (1481)
  2. D Jan Hejda (795)
  3. L Patrick Thoresen (777)
  4. C Marc Pouliot (600)
  5. L Brad Winchester (476)
  6. L JF Jacques (293)
  7. D Mathieu Roy (225)
  8. R Zack Stortini (207)
  9. D Bryan Young (151)

2007-08

  1. D Tom Gilbert (1820)
  2. C Sam Gagner (1238)
  3. C Andrew Cogliano (1120)

2008-09

  1. L Liam Reddox (481)
  2. L Steve MacIntyre (86)

2009-10

  1. G Jeff Deslauriers (2797)
  2. G Devan Dubnyk (1075)
  3. D Taylor Chorney (730)
  4. R Ryan Stone (293)
  5. D Theo Peckham (241)

Players in italics have played 200 or more NHL games (lower qualifier for the G's). From the most recent seasons, I would guess Pouliot, Peckham and the goalies have the best chance of reaching italic status.

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18 comments:

  1. DangermanThursday, May 20, 2010 at 6:32:00 PM MDT

    "One suspects the next decade will tower over the following group in 10 summers from today."

    You got that right. There definitely is quantity, but not a lot of quality. I don't even think anyone would be able to make a passable hockey teams out of those names.

    ReplyDelete
  2. "Steve Smith"Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 7:21:00 PM MDT

    I don't even think anyone would be able to make a passable hockey teams out of those names.

    Because there are jobs for which I should be applying, here's my attempt:

    Comrie-Gagner-Hemsky
    Cogliano-Stoll-Winchester
    Chimera-Horcoff-Pisani
    Brodziak-Pouliot-Stortini

    Extras: Thoreson, Stone

    Gilbert-Hejda
    Smid-Greene
    Bergeron-Peckham

    Extra: Ferguson

    Dubnyk
    Markkanen

    If that team stays healthy, I think it finishes higher than the 09-10 Oilers. I know I'd pay good money to watch a Bergeron/Peckham defensive pairing, in any event.

    ReplyDelete
  3. DangermanThursday, May 20, 2010 at 7:30:00 PM MDT

    Thanks Steve for the the attempt. i'm checking out the team and saying, the forwards are ok, the defense is passable in the right situations, but then I look at the goaltending, and its game over. Its much like the real Oiler team, passable in some areas, weak in others, and don't really excel at anything.

    ReplyDelete
  4. "Steve Smith"Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 7:35:00 PM MDT

    I look at the goaltending, and its game over.

    Oh yeah, the goaltending's lousy; my only claim, though, was that the team would do better than the 09-10 Oilers, which had even worse goaltending for most of the year.

    I actually like the defense better than the forwards; not enough offense up front.

    Anyway, I'm not really making a point, just avoiding cover letters.

    ReplyDelete
  5. "Steve Smith"Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 7:46:00 PM MDT

    Steve - your team sucks - you must be a terrible GM.

    Is it me? Is it me?

    ReplyDelete
  6. KLowebelliniThursday, May 20, 2010 at 7:48:00 PM MDT

    You don't even have a third goalie - how is that an NHL team?

    ReplyDelete
  7. SchitzoThursday, May 20, 2010 at 8:31:00 PM MDT

    You don't even have a third goalie - how is that an NHL team?

    Post of the day.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AshleyThursday, May 20, 2010 at 9:57:00 PM MDT

    Slightly off topic, but check out Philly's lineup. Half of them must be first rounders, tended to be drafted later than 15 (except the boyish giant van Riemsdyk), and they have built a solid team. They weren't even really that bad in the last 10 years except for one year (2008?). Perhaps the Philly model is better than the Chicago model for the Oil because the problem with the Chicago model is everyone has forgotten how bad the Hawks were and for how long. Absolutely terrible for many many years. I can be a little patient, but Chicago patient? (Hawks fans weren't really that patient though since their average attendance in 2002-2006 was probably 4 digits in city of several million).

    Better yet, we should ask ourselves why did the Philly first round draft picks do so much better than the Oiler first round draft picks?

    Finally, we need to ask Chris (or his wife) is Philly really a better place to live than Edmonton? Seriously? Philly? C'mon Chris.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Robert J. SummersThursday, May 20, 2010 at 9:57:00 PM MDT

    I think Blogger is still not working - no FPV to cheer about the win?

    ReplyDelete
  10. SK Oiler FanThursday, May 20, 2010 at 10:23:00 PM MDT

    Awesome KLoweballini!

    I expect more quality out of the current prospects (including this year's 1st overall) in the next 5 years than that group in 10.

    ReplyDelete
  11. JimVThursday, May 20, 2010 at 10:38:00 PM MDT

    I expect FPV is climbing a lamp post or something right now.

    ReplyDelete
  12. geowalThursday, May 20, 2010 at 11:10:00 PM MDT

    What strikes me looking at that list is Tom Gilbert's minutes his rookie season. He played a ton. I know he was older, but that's impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousThursday, May 20, 2010 at 11:44:00 PM MDT

    I believe it was on the “Chicago Model” post that someone mentioned the Oilers’ need for a d-man like Keith or Doughty. Do we not think that Gilbert can fill that role? I am confident that in 3-4 years when this team has solid offensive production out of these kids (Hall, Eberle, MPS, Gagner), that Gilbert will be an all-star and up in the stats table with Doughty and co.

    Am I right there???

    ReplyDelete
  14. HBombFriday, May 21, 2010 at 6:14:00 AM MDT

    I expect FPV is climbing a lamp post or something right now.

    Either that or tossing a trash-can through the window of an SAQ outlet....

    ReplyDelete
  15. uniFriday, May 21, 2010 at 6:55:00 AM MDT

    Gilbert is a very good defenseman. Could be an All-Star one day.

    Gilbert isn't in the same category as Duncan Keith or Drew Doughty; defensemen like that are in another level above him. Tommy boy is closer to a Tomas Kaberle.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Rob GilganFriday, May 21, 2010 at 6:59:00 AM MDT

    Mike Morrison as sure fun while he lasted. Remember him being switched in for the shootout.

    ReplyDelete
  17. flamingpavelbureFriday, May 21, 2010 at 7:48:00 AM MDT

    Hbomb: Nope. No one that actually goes to the game commits (Or very few) fellonies around the Bell Centre. It's mostly guys who come in and jump on the occasion of having a massive crowd to cover them. (I laughed when i saw that on all the photos, the only stealers were black (Doing a good job fighting stereotypes)).

    I was playing Baseball, and since no one talked about it, it didn't felt necessary. (Especially down 2-1)

    ReplyDelete
  18. "Steve Smith"Friday, May 21, 2010 at 9:34:00 PM MDT

    Dear FPB,

    I find you odious.

    Love Steve

    ReplyDelete