This is Gilles Meloche as a Cleveland Baron. The name "Barons" goes way back in hockey history (we talked about John Ferguson Sr yesterday, he played for the Cleveland Barons in the 1960's. They were an AHL team) and a few reports say the Oilers Oklahoma City AHL franchise will also be called the Barons.
I was liking Roughneck simply because of the progression to Oiler from Roughneck - however, Barons is a more classic choice.
I was just reading the Barnes article this morning and it appears that the Oilers did not employ a sports Psychologist of any kind last year (though he may only be talking about the player development side - its not clear). Just another way in which this is a less than professional organization.
That goal was Eberle's fault. MacT will now staple him to the bench. he's only playing on the PP, and made a bad pass leading to a shorthanded breakaway goal.
Bookie: Thanks for the heads up on the Barnes article.
It is inexcusable that the Oilers organization did not have a sport psychologist working with their athletes last season. From what I have read about the Oilers low buy-in to strength & conditioning and now their mental training capacities I have to conclude there is little respect for sport science. Once they improve these areas they need to review their hiring practices as they are obviously employing unqualified people.
The U of Alberta houses some of the best subject matter experts in mental training and strength & conditioning in North America. The Oilers need to get their act together and build some relationships with them.
Pisses me off hear the broadcasters(and some Oilers fans???) throwing Eberle under the bus for that goal. Where does he take the pass???? Rod Black and whoever that other asshole is on CTV should go back to the bush league.
And if we are looking at Washington as a possible destination for Souray, as much as I'd love Semin (not realistic), i wonder if they would move Laich? Solid two way centre, can play wing, kills penalties, plays physical and can score 25 goals.
Are we seriously still bashing MacTavish after the season of Quinn? If anything, he proved that he can make a rose out of a turnip, even if it doesn't smell great.
I get the negative comments, even with tongue in cheek, but the fact of the matter is he is a better coach than Tambi's man by a long chalk.
Was their relationship that bad???? If he was asked and didn't go because he and MacT aren't buddies ......well bugger him. Side note......does anyone else think team Canada looks bad? This is the first game i've watched and it looks as sloppy as a my high school girlfriend. hahaha
I was reading the Rajala was having a dynamite Memorial Cup. What's his story boys? I live in Australia and I have a helluva time getting decent information.
Are we seriously still bashing MacTavish after the season of Quinn?
I am not seriously bashing MacT at all. I think this past season identified that MacT was not 'the problem' and perhaps his craziness can be explained by the team which he had under him.
Penner may have been asked and refused simply due to nagging injuries or the need to drink beer with his friends.
macT wasn't the problem, quinn wasn't the solution.
watching the WC i am reminded of the macBlender we all hated. penner's exclusion also shows the "hurdles" that we often saw with player decisions. seeing macT in the WC is enough for me.
i miss him in comparison to OTC, but the cleansing was needed. the relationship was too old and contaminated
Woodguy: "I just wanted to give Pat some time to think where he's at and what lays ahead for us to get better, then go talk to him."
That's from a Matheson column that LT mentioned and very much fits into what you're saying. Is that where your paraphrasing from? Or was there another interview?
I don't understand the newfound love for MacT; just because Quinn wasn't the solution doesn't mean MacT should come back, or should've stayed in the first place. MacT wasn't "the" problem, but he was "a" problem and needed to be let go.
As per the game; I don't understand stapling Eberle to the bench. I'm not as high on Eberle as most others are, but I'm a firm believer in that if a player does screw up, you give him the opportunity to make up for it. Stapling him to the bench, imo, is a sign of poor coaching.
Wasn't thrilled with a lot of Canadian forwards (I only started watching after it was 3-41). Wasn't impressed with Stamkos' game, saw the play die on his stick several times -- probably came back a game or two early.
Loved the goal at the end; I'm a fan of being able to hit a goalie if he's out of his crease. Outside of the crease he should be treated as any other player.
Thanks Ribs - I haven't been paying much attention to anything other than individual performances of our future Oilers (Barons at least). I have the game on in the background while working so I wasn't sure of the context of the W/L.
Woodguy; I think a full season of Hemsky alone would have brought this team closer to the 11th - 12th spot in the conference, possibly a touch higher (due to not only his production, but the possibly better seasons by those who would have gotten much softer competition with Hemsky drawing the tough opposition).
Now, I won't argue that in a vacuum (or possibly any other team) that Mact is the better coach than Quinn. MacT had to go, however, in my opinion (though Lowe should have preceded his departure by a few years as well instead of still kicking around).
He's a coach who, for all his intelligence, was no longer what the Oilers needed. Nor is Quinn, but our upper management isn't exactly known for getting things right, even when they do have a good idea.
I haven't exactly been wowed by MacT's coaching efforts since leaving the Oilers, either.
Given that Hall is showcasing himself in the memorial cup and that Lowetide has become convinced that the Oilers should take him and Hall is making a persuasive argument, how pumped would boston be to try and get hall. I think they were probably expecting the Oilers to take Seguin and they would get Hall anyway but I would think they are probably more willing than before to actually work a deal,and if so what would the most likely scenario be?
I am thinking Boston might have the same concern. They might give up a first rounder their first rounder (24 or whatever it is) or next year? They have Toronto's next year so they might be okay with this. It really depends if the think the difference between Seguin and Hall is worth a first rounder. It it really is, should the Oilers be making that trade?
Personally, nothwithstanding LT's call I don't thing the difference between them is much. Hall has had the benefit of the big stage but Seguin would be averaging 2 pts a game (as he did all year) on the same team in the same situation.
Hall plays with his head down a lot. He is gumby as an 18 yr old but as well all know the body becomes more brittle with time. I would feel a lot better about him if he was doing the hitting but I have not seen it.
Seguin once again comes off brainier than Hall who messes up more turns of phrase than Ricky from Trailer Park Boys. A good interview is probably the last thing you look for in an NHLer, but am I wrong for preferring the more eloquent of the two? Seguin already plays a more cerebral game than Hall and thoughtful, well-spoken answers send more up arrows in that direction (for me). It should go without saying that it's a miniscule shift in preference as the Spitfire is putting on a clinic in the Memorial Cup.
Bonner has a proven track record for discovering talent, he has been credited with finding players like Milan Lucic and Cody Franson who were passed over in the WHL bantam draft. Other NHL players Bonner has discovered include Daymond Langkow, Todd Simpson, Sheldon Souray, Brain Boucher, Scott Gomez, Ray Schultz, Mike Comrie and Zenith Komarniski. Bonner’s ability to assess talent has helped to support and produced NHL calibre players as well as further the success of the Vancouver Giants.
FPB: The Tribe only gets away with it because they're over a century old. The org and its fans can call it traditional and an institution of MLB, but it's just trumped up racism not "caricatural".
If OTC doesn't come back and JFJ is cut loose then I have to officially get onside with this guy and stop calling him Milquetoast.
I'm the same way. If I evaluate only from the last trade deadline on, I think Tambellini, based on word and deed, looks like a pretty good GM. Even going further back, hiring Quinn was likely a mistake, but the kind of mistake that brings in an established NHL coach with a track record of success elsewhere in the league and no connection with the 1980s Oilers is a new and refreshing kind of mistake. He brought us O'Sullivan, so we can damn him for that, but a lot of smart people liked the trade at the time. I didn't like the Heatley trade, but again, a lot of smart hockey people did.
Really, the only thing that I just can't cram into the "Tambellini's actually a decent GM" narrative is Khabibulin. If somebody could show me evidence that Lowe or Katz insisted on that move against Tambellini's opposition, than I'd actually be all for giving Tambellini another season to show what he can do.
Lowetide; WTF with the cute nickname for that Stu dude, Scots whatever, lol. How many, exactly, of his prospects have panned out?
The Magnificent Bastard's overseen three drafts so far (well, most of three drafts - he started partway through the first of those, as I understand it). How many established NHL regulars do you think it's fair to expect from him by this point?
Of his four first round picks, two would almost certainly be drafted earlier if the draft was re-held today, and the closest thing to a bust he's drafted is Riley Nash (who's not exactly Jason Bonsignore, and was a late first round pick anyway). He's only had one second and one third round pick in those three drafts (which turned into Anton Lander and Troy Hesketh), any in later rounds he's found possible gems like Omark, Motin, Hartikainen, Rajala, and Roy. If even one of those guys has a real NHL career, the bastard's covered the bet in late round picks.
How many teams have a better drafting record since 2007 than the Oilers? It's obviously too early to decide conclusively, but not a lot of teams have grabbed Jordan Eberle 22nd overall or Linus Omark 97th.
If somebody could show me evidence that Lowe or Katz insisted on that move against Tambellini's opposition, than I'd actually be all for giving Tambellini another season to show what he can do.
No proof, but a viable narrative built upon some other info. Katz is pushing for Heatley big time, phoning him, sending him flowers, etc. Heatley trying to let Katz down softly avoids the honest truth (there is no way I would ever play for the oilers) and uses some line like "I dunno, I just can't, you guys don't have a goalie signed, and the team is just generally not a good fit. Look maybe next year I can sign with you guys. Its not you its me."
Katz insists on the best goalie possible prior to flying out to see Heatley at the Cottage.
i think it's interesting that we have more 'prospects' playing in the WC than we have roster players. i'm not even sure how to spin that.
after watching all of MPS's games, i'm a little concerned that his transition to the small rink will take a little longer. by my eye, he's a player that really takes advantage of the large playing surface. obvious talent, but definitely like to operate where there's space for him.
omark was down low behind the net all game moving around and fighting with big defensemen. i know we're not into midgets, but game in and game out, he seems to be the most NHL ready of all our current non-roster prospects -- he's definitely not nilsson v2.0.
omark was down low behind the net all game moving around and fighting with big defensemen. i know we're not into midgets, but game in and game out, he seems to be the most NHL ready of all our current non-roster prospects -- he's definitely not nilsson v2.0.
That's what I've noticed, as well. Not only is he willing to battle, which few current oilers do. he wins a lot of those battles. He too, likes having his space, but he seems to be able to make that space for himself. Hopefully he'll be able to on the smaller rinks. I'm not sure which of MPS, Eberle or Omark has been the most pleasant surprise.
This article was passed on to me by the jr. high science teacher at our school (the man is interested in everything). Anyways, the gist of it is that if you put a battery on an athletes head running a small amount of current to their sensory cortex, they get better at the sport they are practising!
I find this extremely interesting as a fan. I mean, could JFJ learn to make and take a pass if he was forced to wear a car battery to each practise? How soon will we see a space in helmets for a 9 Volt?
i think you're half right with the above pouliot/brodziak statement.
i think brule also factored into their thinking as well.
regardless of how they thought of it, gags and cogliano made me think of brodziak on as many nights as pouliot failed to be in the line up.
seems to me that brodziak is one of those players (in the million range) with a variety of bottom end skills (faceoffs, PK, straight ahead forechecking) that good teams have en masse.
i would have been more than happy to have brodziak, mohaltra and betts as my 3rd line, rather than o'sullivan/nillson and jfj in assorted top 6 roles.
not really arguing, just spitballin'. brodziak was "nothing special" but i don't think that an honest evaluation of our line-up/prospects told us we had a better alternative.
I argue that it is significant that in 2008–2009, only Horcoff and Brodziak were reliable face-off guys and took the bulk of D-zone face-offs. That meant that his past season, we had just Horcoff.
I have no objection to wanting to upgrade on Brodziak, but when the GM doesn't acquire new players to fill Brodziak's role, when we were already two short with Brodziak in the line-up, then the GM has failed to properly equip the team for success.
Brodziak-Glencross-Stortini would arguably be a damn fine 3rd line.
Hind sight is 20/20. Ideally they'd have inked Glencross to 3 years at around 1-1.1 per, then traded the 3rd rounder that was Cameron Abney to grab 2 lower picks to still grab Rajala and Roy.
I was liking Roughneck simply because of the progression to Oiler from Roughneck - however, Barons is a more classic choice.
ReplyDeleteI was just reading the Barnes article this morning and it appears that the Oilers did not employ a sports Psychologist of any kind last year (though he may only be talking about the player development side - its not clear). Just another way in which this is a less than professional organization.
Should have been the Viscounts.
ReplyDeleteMarquis
ReplyDeleteEarl
Marshal
That goal was Eberle's fault. MacT will now staple him to the bench. he's only playing on the PP, and made a bad pass leading to a shorthanded breakaway goal.
ReplyDeleteBullshit outlet pass. Cant put all the blame on the kid for that one.
ReplyDeleteBookie: Thanks for the heads up on the Barnes article.
ReplyDeleteIt is inexcusable that the Oilers organization did not have a sport psychologist working with their athletes last season. From what I have read about the Oilers low buy-in to strength & conditioning and now their mental training capacities I have to conclude there is little respect for sport science. Once they improve these areas they need to review their hiring practices as they are obviously employing unqualified people.
The U of Alberta houses some of the best subject matter experts in mental training and strength & conditioning in North America. The Oilers need to get their act together and build some relationships with them.
Go Barons!
Pisses me off hear the broadcasters(and some Oilers fans???) throwing Eberle under the bus for that goal. Where does he take the pass???? Rod Black and whoever that other asshole is on CTV should go back to the bush league.
ReplyDeleteI am guessing that there is a game on right now? 9am really?
ReplyDeleteI guess I will wander over to the TV and check.
A previous article on the OC nickname:
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.newsok.com/jennicarlson/2010/05/06/an-okc-hockey-nickname-please/
...and I know that the tournament is happening in Germany, but its the first game that has been so early in the AM, that's all.
ReplyDeleteLet me be the first.
ReplyDelete'MacT ruined Eberle'
Ebrele back on PP. But I think that is the only shift he's playing. no even strength time, just PP unit #1.
ReplyDeleteHow does Tavares fan on that pass from Eberle anyway?
ReplyDeleteAnd if we are looking at Washington as a possible destination for Souray, as much as I'd love Semin (not realistic), i wonder if they would move Laich? Solid two way centre, can play wing, kills penalties, plays physical and can score 25 goals.
ReplyDeleteWe need a centre more than an overpaid D, for certain.
ReplyDeleteAnother question, how is Penner not on this Canadian team?
ReplyDeletePenner not on this Canadian team?
ReplyDeleteProbably something to do with relationship problems between he and the Canadian Coach.
He may have been asked and declined.
Nice to see Eberle on the penalty kill. Good ol' MacT. He'll turn our offensive stars into checkers even if he isn't our coach!
ReplyDeleteMaybe Penner didn't want to play for MacTavish
ReplyDeletePenner said he was never asked.
ReplyDeleteConsidering MacT thought Reddox was a more useful player than Penner I'm not surprised.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAre we seriously still bashing MacTavish after the season of Quinn? If anything, he proved that he can make a rose out of a turnip, even if it doesn't smell great.
ReplyDeleteI get the negative comments, even with tongue in cheek, but the fact of the matter is he is a better coach than Tambi's man by a long chalk.
Was their relationship that bad????
ReplyDeleteIf he was asked and didn't go because he and MacT aren't buddies ......well bugger him. Side note......does anyone else think team Canada looks bad? This is the first game i've watched and it looks as sloppy as a my high school girlfriend. hahaha
I was reading the Rajala was having a dynamite Memorial Cup. What's his story boys? I live in Australia and I have a helluva time getting decent information.
ReplyDeleteAre we seriously still bashing MacTavish after the season of Quinn?
ReplyDeleteI am not seriously bashing MacT at all. I think this past season identified that MacT was not 'the problem' and perhaps his craziness can be explained by the team which he had under him.
Penner may have been asked and refused simply due to nagging injuries or the need to drink beer with his friends.
I'm not really bashing MacTavish either. I'd probably take him back if the room was okay with it.
ReplyDeletemacT wasn't the problem, quinn wasn't the solution.
ReplyDeletewatching the WC i am reminded of the macBlender we all hated. penner's exclusion also shows the "hurdles" that we often saw with player decisions. seeing macT in the WC is enough for me.
i miss him in comparison to OTC, but the cleansing was needed. the relationship was too old and contaminated
no offense to anyone, but i'd never take MacT back!
ReplyDeleteIs this Canada game a "lose and you're out" situation?
ReplyDeleteMacT was on record saying that Penner's game didn't translate well to the bigger ice surface.
ReplyDeleteIts total bullshit but that was the reason given for not inviting him.
MacT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>OTC
But I still want a new head coach which is neither of the above.
Arniel would be cool, signaling a new direction and new blood, but if there is going to be a change, it will be Renney stepping up.
Milquetoast said nothing unexpected about OTC when asked. He is his hire, and he will defend it.
That being said, the quote was (paraphrased) "If he (OTC) wants to come back"
That artfully leaves it wide open for Quinn not to come back.
Regardless of whoever actually makes that decision on it, it will be couched in terms of OTC not wanting it.
Good to see the old "Carter for the one-timer" pp strategy is in full effect. (Although Mac-T has Stammer but it's still entirely predictable)
ReplyDeleteDon't want to pile on Mac-T but the pp was never his strength.
Woodguy:
ReplyDelete"I just wanted to give Pat some time to think where he's at and what lays ahead for us to get better, then go talk to him."
That's from a Matheson column that LT mentioned and very much fits into what you're saying. Is that where your paraphrasing from? Or was there another interview?
I don't understand the newfound love for MacT; just because Quinn wasn't the solution doesn't mean MacT should come back, or should've stayed in the first place. MacT wasn't "the" problem, but he was "a" problem and needed to be let go.
ReplyDeleteAs per the game; I don't understand stapling Eberle to the bench. I'm not as high on Eberle as most others are, but I'm a firm believer in that if a player does screw up, you give him the opportunity to make up for it. Stapling him to the bench, imo, is a sign of poor coaching.
Wasn't thrilled with a lot of Canadian forwards (I only started watching after it was 3-41). Wasn't impressed with Stamkos' game, saw the play die on his stick several times -- probably came back a game or two early.
Loved the goal at the end; I'm a fan of being able to hit a goalie if he's out of his crease. Outside of the crease he should be treated as any other player.
bookie - The loss means that Canada will finish fourth in Group F, which will set up a quarterfinal match against either Russia or Finland.
ReplyDelete-TSN
DF,
ReplyDeleteThat was it.
Thanks Ribs - I haven't been paying much attention to anything other than individual performances of our future Oilers (Barons at least). I have the game on in the background while working so I wasn't sure of the context of the W/L.
ReplyDeletemacT wasn't the problem, quinn wasn't the solution,
ReplyDeleteThat summarises what I meant better than what I actually said (trying to teach kids in May, when none of us want to be here makes me cranky).
I'm mainly just frustrated by what appears to be another year of poor coaching choices and bad goaltending because they are the 'new' GMs choices.
Fire the lot of 'em I say.
*upcoming year*
ReplyDeleteSheesh
I don't understand the newfound love for MacT
ReplyDeleteI don't think its new.
Its the realization that he had this sad roster in a playoff spot for most of 08/09.
That's something.
He also had a few things OTC didn't have:
-72 games of Hemsky @ 0.917pts/gm)
-63 games of Rollie @ .915 SV%
-81 games of Souray @ 0.65pts/gm
Would OTC have better results with those 3 guys added to the team? No question.
Would he have had them in a playoff position for most of the year like MacT? My guess is probably not, but that's all conjecture.
Woodguy; I think a full season of Hemsky alone would have brought this team closer to the 11th - 12th spot in the conference, possibly a touch higher (due to not only his production, but the possibly better seasons by those who would have gotten much softer competition with Hemsky drawing the tough opposition).
ReplyDeleteNow, I won't argue that in a vacuum (or possibly any other team) that Mact is the better coach than Quinn. MacT had to go, however, in my opinion (though Lowe should have preceded his departure by a few years as well instead of still kicking around).
He's a coach who, for all his intelligence, was no longer what the Oilers needed. Nor is Quinn, but our upper management isn't exactly known for getting things right, even when they do have a good idea.
I haven't exactly been wowed by MacT's coaching efforts since leaving the Oilers, either.
I'm just watching boxcars here; anyone see the MPS goal? I'm excited to have a legit Swede to cheer for in Edmonton.
ReplyDeleteGiven that Hall is showcasing himself in the memorial cup and that Lowetide has become convinced that the Oilers should take him and Hall is making a persuasive argument, how pumped would boston be to try and get hall.
ReplyDeleteI think they were probably expecting the Oilers to take Seguin and they would get Hall anyway but I would think they are probably more willing than before to actually work a deal,and if so what would the most likely scenario be?
Ian,
ReplyDeleteI am thinking Boston might have the same concern. They might give up a first rounder their first rounder (24 or whatever it is) or next year? They have Toronto's next year so they might be okay with this. It really depends if the think the difference between Seguin and Hall is worth a first rounder. It it really is, should the Oilers be making that trade?
Personally, nothwithstanding LT's call I don't thing the difference between them is much. Hall has had the benefit of the big stage but Seguin would be averaging 2 pts a game (as he did all year) on the same team in the same situation.
Hall plays with his head down a lot. He is gumby as an 18 yr old but as well all know the body becomes more brittle with time. I would feel a lot better about him if he was doing the hitting but I have not seen it.
Anyone else peruse these interviews?
ReplyDeleteSeguin once again comes off brainier than Hall who messes up more turns of phrase than Ricky from Trailer Park Boys. A good interview is probably the last thing you look for in an NHLer, but am I wrong for preferring the more eloquent of the two? Seguin already plays a more cerebral game than Hall and thoughtful, well-spoken answers send more up arrows in that direction (for me). It should go without saying that it's a miniscule shift in preference as the Spitfire is putting on a clinic in the Memorial Cup.
Yeah so Hall is dumb and skates with his head down. I'm sold.
ReplyDeleteplus Seguin would be way more awesome on Windsor.
ReplyDeleteTencer tweets something of interest...
ReplyDeleteThe Oilers are winding down their search for a new assistant GM. Vancouver Giants GM Scott Bonner, an Edmontonian, is the front-runner.
Bonner has a proven track record for discovering talent, he has been credited with finding players like Milan Lucic and Cody Franson who were passed over in the WHL bantam draft. Other NHL players Bonner has discovered include Daymond Langkow, Todd Simpson, Sheldon Souray, Brain Boucher, Scott Gomez, Ray Schultz, Mike Comrie and Zenith Komarniski. Bonner’s ability to assess talent has helped to support and produced NHL calibre players as well as further the success of the Vancouver Giants.
ReplyDeleteNow that's what I like to see.
Ribs:
ReplyDeleteI like his track record but yeesh, what a mug.
Looks like Eric Stoltz in Mask.
Tambellini with Tencer...18 minutes
ReplyDeleteMeh... the Barons? Yesshhh, even the Wheat Kings seem better than that.
ReplyDeleteCould have called them the Choctaws, to have a little local taste.
Bar Qu: Well i guess it's not like theyre's a super negative connotation.
ReplyDeleteI mean it ain't the frickin Cleveland Indians. (More caricatural than that you die)
FPB: The Tribe only gets away with it because they're over a century old. The org and its fans can call it traditional and an institution of MLB, but it's just trumped up racism not "caricatural".
ReplyDeleteTambellini finding a young executive with a good track record and elevating him to the next level?
ReplyDeleteUh, oh.
If OTC doesn't come back and JFJ is cut loose then I have to officially get onside with this guy and stop calling him Milquetoast.
I'll just blame the Khabby signing on OTC and move on.
Jesus Christ as if there is any single last argument for "taking a chance" on Gordie Howe 3.0
ReplyDelete...Oh yeah, Seguin's a 'natural' centre.
Lowetide; WTF with the cute nickname for that Stu dude, Scots whatever, lol. How many, exactly, of his prospects have panned out?
As fans we need to become radicalised, as we naturally were by this season past, ongoing with the playoffs(something Oilers fans don't remember).
Panned out: Higher level than Brad Winchester.
ReplyDeleteMPS: Tied for second overall in points at the WHC; he just turned 19.
ReplyDeleteForgot to add: he is the plus/minus leader at +8 in 6 games.
ReplyDeleteIf OTC doesn't come back and JFJ is cut loose then I have to officially get onside with this guy and stop calling him Milquetoast.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way. If I evaluate only from the last trade deadline on, I think Tambellini, based on word and deed, looks like a pretty good GM. Even going further back, hiring Quinn was likely a mistake, but the kind of mistake that brings in an established NHL coach with a track record of success elsewhere in the league and no connection with the 1980s Oilers is a new and refreshing kind of mistake. He brought us O'Sullivan, so we can damn him for that, but a lot of smart people liked the trade at the time. I didn't like the Heatley trade, but again, a lot of smart hockey people did.
Really, the only thing that I just can't cram into the "Tambellini's actually a decent GM" narrative is Khabibulin. If somebody could show me evidence that Lowe or Katz insisted on that move against Tambellini's opposition, than I'd actually be all for giving Tambellini another season to show what he can do.
Lowetide; WTF with the cute nickname for that Stu dude, Scots whatever, lol. How many, exactly, of his prospects have panned out?
The Magnificent Bastard's overseen three drafts so far (well, most of three drafts - he started partway through the first of those, as I understand it). How many established NHL regulars do you think it's fair to expect from him by this point?
Of his four first round picks, two would almost certainly be drafted earlier if the draft was re-held today, and the closest thing to a bust he's drafted is Riley Nash (who's not exactly Jason Bonsignore, and was a late first round pick anyway). He's only had one second and one third round pick in those three drafts (which turned into Anton Lander and Troy Hesketh), any in later rounds he's found possible gems like Omark, Motin, Hartikainen, Rajala, and Roy. If even one of those guys has a real NHL career, the bastard's covered the bet in late round picks.
How many teams have a better drafting record since 2007 than the Oilers? It's obviously too early to decide conclusively, but not a lot of teams have grabbed Jordan Eberle 22nd overall or Linus Omark 97th.
Better not tell you now but i think Hunter has a chubby one for Hall. We all have our preferences but Gordie Howe 3.0? And who would 2.0 have been?
ReplyDeleteIf somebody could show me evidence that Lowe or Katz insisted on that move against Tambellini's opposition, than I'd actually be all for giving Tambellini another season to show what he can do.
ReplyDeleteNo proof, but a viable narrative built upon some other info. Katz is pushing for Heatley big time, phoning him, sending him flowers, etc. Heatley trying to let Katz down softly avoids the honest truth (there is no way I would ever play for the oilers) and uses some line like "I dunno, I just can't, you guys don't have a goalie signed, and the team is just generally not a good fit. Look maybe next year I can sign with you guys. Its not you its me."
Katz insists on the best goalie possible prior to flying out to see Heatley at the Cottage.
WC comments:
ReplyDeletei think it's interesting that we have more 'prospects' playing in the WC than we have roster players. i'm not even sure how to spin that.
after watching all of MPS's games, i'm a little concerned that his transition to the small rink will take a little longer. by my eye, he's a player that really takes advantage of the large playing surface. obvious talent, but definitely like to operate where there's space for him.
omark was down low behind the net all game moving around and fighting with big defensemen. i know we're not into midgets, but game in and game out, he seems to be the most NHL ready of all our current non-roster prospects -- he's definitely not nilsson v2.0.
omark was down low behind the net all game moving around and fighting with big defensemen. i know we're not into midgets, but game in and game out, he seems to be the most NHL ready of all our current non-roster prospects -- he's definitely not nilsson v2.0.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I've noticed, as well. Not only is he willing to battle, which few current oilers do. he wins a lot of those battles. He too, likes having his space, but he seems to be able to make that space for himself. Hopefully he'll be able to on the smaller rinks. I'm not sure which of MPS, Eberle or Omark has been the most pleasant surprise.
I'm the same way. If I evaluate only from the last trade deadline on, I think Tambellini, based on word and deed, looks like a pretty good GM.
ReplyDeleteConsider the following:
1. His end of season rant about getting bigger and tougher and then not doing anything to address that.
2. The aformentioned Khabibullin overpay.
3. Signing Comrie (admittedly at a good rate, but last thing we needed was another small forward—see #1).
4. Trading Brodziak, one of only two centres who could win a face-off and play solid defense, for a bag of pucks
5. Not rounding out the roster last summer with NHL players.
6. Not addressing the team's problems when the season got going and we began flailing. Likewise, not acquiring some injury replacements.
There are plenty of mistakes by Tambellini beyond the O'Sullivan and Heatley trades (both of which, I agree, were defensible moves).
The most offensive franchise in sports is the Edmonton Eskimos.
ReplyDeleteBoth for the name and their play on the field. (both terrible)
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ReplyDeleteFPB,
ReplyDeleteAnd anything native which is not given by First Nations, in this day and age, is insensitive (if not racist - btw Black Gold, that was gold).
This article was passed on to me by the jr. high science teacher at our school (the man is interested in everything). Anyways, the gist of it is that if you put a battery on an athletes head running a small amount of current to their sensory cortex, they get better at the sport they are practising!
ReplyDeleteI find this extremely interesting as a fan. I mean, could JFJ learn to make and take a pass if he was forced to wear a car battery to each practise? How soon will we see a space in helmets for a 9 Volt?
4. Trading Brodziak, one of only two centres who could win a face-off and play solid defense, for a bag of pucks
ReplyDeleteIt came down to him and Pouliot, and the Oilers weren't ready to give up on 78.
If 78 is healthy all year and OTC actually plays him at center, no one remembers who Brodziak is.
With 13, 89, 10, 78 on the roster there was no room.
His RelCorsi QC was 12/13 on the Oilers only in front of Zorg.
His RelCorsi QT was 12/13
His RelCorsi was -11.8, 11/13 worst on the Oilers.
He played with the dregs against the dregs and was dregfull.
No big loss.
@woodguy
ReplyDeletei think you're half right with the above pouliot/brodziak statement.
i think brule also factored into their thinking as well.
regardless of how they thought of it, gags and cogliano made me think of brodziak on as many nights as pouliot failed to be in the line up.
seems to me that brodziak is one of those players (in the million range) with a variety of bottom end skills (faceoffs, PK, straight ahead forechecking) that good teams have en masse.
i would have been more than happy to have brodziak, mohaltra and betts as my 3rd line, rather than o'sullivan/nillson and jfj in assorted top 6 roles.
not really arguing, just spitballin'. brodziak was "nothing special" but i don't think that an honest evaluation of our line-up/prospects told us we had a better alternative.
I argue that it is significant that in 2008–2009, only Horcoff and Brodziak were reliable face-off guys and took the bulk of D-zone face-offs. That meant that his past season, we had just Horcoff.
ReplyDeleteI have no objection to wanting to upgrade on Brodziak, but when the GM doesn't acquire new players to fill Brodziak's role, when we were already two short with Brodziak in the line-up, then the GM has failed to properly equip the team for success.
Mustafa, Pouliot had put up good FO numbers in the past too and is a rightie, same as Brodziak.
ReplyDeleteWhich at best means we still had 2 FO men for 4 lines . . .
ReplyDeleteOklahoma Iatolas. What do you think?
ReplyDeletewait, it should be spelt Ayatollahs, even better
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ReplyDeleteBrodziak-Glencross-Stortini would arguably be a damn fine 3rd line.
ReplyDeleteHind sight is 20/20. Ideally they'd have inked Glencross to 3 years at around 1-1.1 per, then traded the 3rd rounder that was Cameron Abney to grab 2 lower picks to still grab Rajala and Roy.