Darren Dreger (tsn) is reporting today that Devan Dubnyk is off to Mannheim to join Team Canada at the World Hockey Championships. It is a curious choice given the names that are available (Fleury apparenty turned down an invite) and one would think that Jeff Deslauriers would have been the more likely name from the Oilers based on depth chart.
This is a subtle item, but it may be another tell (based on the number of Oilers management people and former management people surrounding Team Canada this year) that shows Dubnyk ahead of Deslauriers at this time. I'd say its better than 50/50 in favor of Dubnyk at this point in time.
Messier has really made some bizarre choices with this team, but I agree with you. It says a lot about what who might be the odd man out next year when deciding between our two young goalies (even though Messier has no say in the construction of the Oilers).
ReplyDeleteI can't believe people are actually upset that Crosby has declined the offer to join the WC team.
ReplyDeleteOr is that just TSN (et al) trying to sensationalize some controversy by stirring the pot?
What do you mean Messier had no say in the Oilers?
ReplyDeleteWasn't he invited to the secret meeting of the Boys-On-The-Bus?
You know the ones that Sather runs?
MPS scored early for Sweden today. Lordy.
ReplyDelete...and Eberle with 4 points...wow...
ReplyDeleteHubris or the mark of a good player?:
ReplyDelete"The game almost gets a little easier when you're playing with such good players," Eberle observed. "Passes are always right on the tape, and you can do things you can't do in junior. The guys are always talking to you."
A nice debut in any event.
Gogliano, there isn't even a hint of hubris in that quote.
ReplyDeleteHe's basically saying it's easy out there when you're playing with great players who execute at a much higher level than would be the case in Junior. I.e. he's giving his team mates credit while saying it's fun to play with them.
MPS and Tambo by Terry Jones
ReplyDeleteJust one quote:
ReplyDeleteWhen Tambellini gets back from the Worlds, the entire scouting staff will meet in Kelowna to put together their final draft lists and make the big decision on Hall or Seguin. But you get the idea that right now Paajarvi-Svensson is the priority.
Good news day all around.
probably also lessens the chance that Dubnyk clears waivers if they want to send him down...
ReplyDeleteIt should lessen the chance that he's sent through waivers.
ReplyDeleteIt could also sweeten the pot for a trade (if we go that route and get a more experienced back up to the Bulin wall.
Either way, this is good.
He'll be the third goalie (right?) so it's not like he'll get any action. Good experience for a young goalie. Nice call Messier!
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ReplyDeleteCrosby is a traitor and might as well declare himself an American who just plays for the love of money¡
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I thought Eberle had 4 assists and a goal. Am I totally wrong or was he credited with an assist that was changed later or what?
ReplyDeleteIts quite possible that I am just wrong.
Dubnyk probably won't see any game action, but it's got to be a nice confidence boost for the kid.
ReplyDeleteAlso really great to see all of the Oilers young prospects producing at the WHC. The future looks bright for this group.
wow TSNs recap of CAN/NOR is basicly an entire artcile gushing over Eberle.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/story/?id=321500
Watching Team Sweden play is painful. What an awful team... and with the 'talent' I'm not sure why.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised by the indifferent/lackluster play.
I find it difficult to believe that this type of hockey is going to prepare MPS for the NHL. Maybe the SEL is better than what I'm seeing here?
Regardless, I'm all for getting him to NA now and putting him on the small ice in OK City if he needs a little more time.
I really don't see how MPS and Eberle don't make the team this year. I totally agree with the need to develop them properly and even with the value of not having a good year this year to get another high pick, but it seems like those two are destroying it wherever they go.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying not to buy the hype, but the numbers themselves don't lie.
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ReplyDeletePart of me wants to say: "Throw em all (Hall/Seguin, Svensson, Eberle) in as the 4th line and hope by the end of the year they're the 2nd line. What the hell?"
ReplyDeleteAnyone know if the Sunday WC game against Sewden is being televised?
ReplyDeletespOILer: I'm sure it is on tsn and something tells me it is on around noon hour. Don't quote me, but I did see a tsn promo on it so they have the game.
ReplyDeleteI think the Oilers should take Hall with the top pick, but I really like the idea of Seguin and MPS playing on a line together some day.
ReplyDeleteCAN-SWE is @ 12:15PM MST Sunday
ReplyDeletePart of me wants to say: "Throw em all (Hall/Seguin, Svensson, Eberle) in as the 4th line and hope by the end of the year they're the 2nd line. What the hell?"
ReplyDeleteIs that part of you your brain or your heart¿
(hey, book¡e, does a '¿' work for a sarcastic question?)
All I want is for them to decide how competitive they are going to try to be in Hemsky and Penner's final years. (If the Oil do well enough you might be able to resign one or both) If the rebuild is going to take longer, start acting now and get pieces that will help then. It won't be hard to find a way into the lottery if they want to.
Anyone who thinks that DD would clear waivers is seriously under-valuing him. He would not last 3 teams. A big goalie drafted in the first round with 3 pro years under his belt and the appearance of a light going on against NHL opposition in the last 1/4 of the season - lots of teams take this gamble - and frankly the Oilers would be insane to throw away this development investment right at the point where it pays off.
ReplyDeleteNow DD still has to cross a couple of bridges - putting up consistently good results, and adapting after the NHL shooters have a solid book on him and are go at his weak spots regularly. We'll see how he does on these points next year - but the arrows are pointing in the right direction.
Asiaoil said...
ReplyDeletelots of teams take this gamble.
Do you have any evidence or examples thereof, AO? Just that goalies, especially backups, are a dime a dozen and I have difficulty believing this prima facie.
If they waive Dubnyk this fall - they are MORONS (so it's entirely possible).
ReplyDeleteThe kid has managed to keep his head above water, on sub-par teams, in a sub-par development system.
Now that he has some games under his belt in the bigs... they waive him? Crazy.
If a goalie gets waived, I would hope it was Khabi. How much does it cost Washington to pick him up on waivers?
On another tangent, how much does Halak get this summer? 5M+?
Claimed players have to remain on the NHL roster or the original team can claim them back.
ReplyDeleteI don't see a team dumping their own backup to 'steal' DD from us.
He's not there yet. You may be right that he's about to get there, but the 3 teams picking after us have Gustavsson, Clemmensen and Garon. The next team is the Isles and maybe DiPietro is still hurt (DD is better than nobody).
Calgary has no backup goaltender. Sutter would claim Dubnyk.
ReplyDelete...or Sutter would sign himself a backup of his own over the summer.
ReplyDeleteYou know there is a difference between guys whose proven level of performance is backup - and young first round picks with several years of pro experience and a strong finish to their first NHL season. The former are a dime a dozen - the latter are more than worth the trivial risk of a backup roster spot for a year to see if they emerge as a quality starter. Dubnyk does not clear waivers - several teams would roll the dice to get free shot at a potential starter who is right at the point in his development where goalies show whether they have it or not.
ReplyDeleteTotally weird choice. I would think there would be a dozen better goalies willing to go.
ReplyDeleteBut its a total tell when it comes to what the Oilers are thinking. Messier called Lowe and Tambo and said who's the better and their answer was DD.
Mess doing a favor to enter Oiler management?
ReplyDeleteI love the inside stuff this year at the WHC. Hilarious. I sure hope everyone's right that this means they are looking at DD for next year. If it's," go garner some ice cred for a trade", then I am back to disillusionment.
ReplyDeleteNothing short of bizarre.
ReplyDelete