Gagner has shown in the past he can play a strong game with
Pääjärvi and perhaps coach Renney will need to move Ryan Jones back onto that line. They played well against St. Louis (scored a big goal in the 3rd period of that game on Dec 4) and it's probably worth a try.
--
The Desjardins numbers for qual comp are telling us an interesting story at center this season. Here are the latest numbers, I'm excluding Hall because he's played only 3 games there:
- Cogliano .077
- Horcoff .045
- Gagner .019
- Fraser -.094
--
The relCorsi numbers (qual of competition) for that group DO jive with my eyeballs:
- Gagner .501
- Cogliano .350
- Horcoff .251
- Fraser -.799
--
I've always been fairly confident that Gagner was the keeper over Cogliano and remain convinced of same. Having said that, if Taylor Hall can play center and Shawn Horcoff remains (which he will) to play the toughs then there's only going to be room for one of Gagner, Cogliano or Couturier.
DOES the Hall experiment bring into question Gagner's future with the Oilers? I don't think so, but it is probably something worth considering. Sam Gagner would get you a nice return on the trade market.
--
In the game thread below, poster Ducey wrote the following:
- LT, Survey says you should move Petry up in your Prospect list from 12th?! ~Why do you hate him so much?~
My dividing line for prospects is 50 NHL games. At this point, all of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Magnus Pääjärvi, Theo Peckham, Linus Omark and Devan Dubnyk will have graduated from the prospect list. That represents 6 of my December top 12. Petry has played 8 games and so won't graduate before summer. He would have to be the overwhelming favorite for #1 at this point in time, although that lottery pick is pretty stiff competition.
As far as Petry is concerned, you might have to eat some Crow ala Flaming.
ReplyDeleteAlso, as an aside, Guy Flaming is an awesome Chef's name. I think he missed his calling.
Interesting that Matheson says in today's Journal that Larsson is the guy the Oilers should draft. You seem stuck on Couterier. It will be interesting to see how the Hall experiment at centre progresses.
ReplyDeleteToo bad they don't put a mic on Penner tonight...eh getzzy??
ReplyDeleteIf the Oilers end up with enough C depth, what's wrong with eventually shifting Gagner to RW?
ReplyDeletePenner-Hall-Hemsky
Paajarvi-Horcoff-Eberle
???-2011 draftee-Gagner
Mark-Ryan:
ReplyDeleteAfter his draft, there were concerns expressed about Petry's skating and his college coach expressed frustration at his inconsistent play during that one horrible college season.
Petry looks terrific, but he's made progress from his draft day. We know this from where he was drafted and from the information I mentioned above.
He's made himself into a helluva young defensemen. I'm happy to eat crow, but I think we also need to give him credit for what must have been a lot of hard work.
"Petry has played 8 games and so won't graduate before summer. He would have to be the overwhelming favorite for #1 at this point in time"
ReplyDeleteThis is an unfair comparison and I am aware of that, but at times when the play is getting chaotic in our end (which seems to happen a lot), I have noticed that Petry manages to slow the tempo of the play. I haven't seen that particular bit of magic since Chris (f****) Pronger left town!
That kid is good and getting better. Very surprised. Pleasantly!
speeds: I'm all for keeping Gagner and that would negate one of his weak areas (faceoffs).
ReplyDeleteThe thing about Gagner is that you have to be sure before you deal him. I wouldn't deal him even if he's "only" Stephen Weiss good, because those guys are useful and don't grow on trees.
The CBC guys mentioned last night Petry had to hide his hockey love from papa, missed ball practices, give him credit for sticking with hockey. I am sure there was pressure to play their pastime.
ReplyDeleteWhat to make of that number is that Horcoff just isn't as good as we'd like him to be.
ReplyDeleteHe's bad on faceoffs, our PK has been significantly better since his injury (along with Eberle being taken off the PK), he most definitely doesn't make our power play better, and it's hard to argue that he's a strong 5v5 performer.
Looking ahead to the point where 14 and 10 are ready, who gets sent down?
ReplyDeleteI was going to suggest 23 but his RelCorsi has come out of the cellar.
JFJ has been playing better and if they have stuck with him this long, they might as see the project thru.
Reddox has added a spark and has to clear waivers.
How about MPS? His RelCorsi stinks (-9.2) although he has been playing above average competition with less than average team mates.
Assuming a top 6 includes Hall, Eberle, Penner, Horcoff, Hemsky, Gagner, and maybe Omark, things are not really going to change for the big Swede.
Send him down for 10 games, not as punishment, but so he can play a ton of first line minutes, PP, and PK. Seems to me this would help his development the most at this point.
And what's with Horcoff messing around with the alignment of the moon? I'm a freakin' Virgo now? What the hell?
ReplyDeleteI'm in a little trouble there. I have to tell my wife I'm a Ophiucus; chances are it'll end the marriage.
ReplyDeleteCogliano faced a lot of tough opposition when he was playing with Penner.
ReplyDeleteI doubt that will continue with Cogliano plays with Jones and Reddox.
From the highlights (I didn't watch the game), it looked like LA was using Kopitar's line against Gagner's. Gagner will have trouble matching up with good big centre when he has two rookies as wingers, (who are not named Hall and Eberle).
Gagner needs to step it up and appear as important to this team as Hall does.
ReplyDeleteLately he has looked like a player on the Edmonton Oilers, a team in the NHL.
Tom Renney on PP: "I might play the 4th line as a power play unit. They'd probably be just as good."
ReplyDeleteChanneling MacT, or what?
I wonder if Gagner is suffering from Hall envy. I mean, at the beginning of the season Gagner was being talked about as a team leader, potentially the next captain.
ReplyDeletePaajarvi has a plus/minus of -1, even though they have messed with who he's played with all year. I doubt he gets send down, because he is not hurting the team while he makes the adjustment to the North American game.
ReplyDeleteRenney looks to have made the decision to run Cogliano against tougher competition and Gagner against the softer opponnet since Horcoff's injury. That doesn't jive with my eyeballs, and I wanted to check with you. Does that chart represent the true situation? Let me know.
ReplyDeleteIt looked like Gagner started off facing the toughs and faltered, so they're trying Cogliano now and I think he's done slightly better. It's been all over the map though, so it's hard to reach any kind of conclusions there.
bookie: I don't think that's it. I mean, there's no evidence that he's sulking or anything (at least that we know about) and until recently 89 had been on track.
ReplyDeleteThe most recent change puts him out there with two rookies and that line has been exposed. Gagner to my eye has contributed to the mess with some unusual decisions.
That suggests to me he might be trying to do too much, but I guess he could be sulking. Seems unlikely, though.
Too bad they don't put a mic on Penner tonight...eh getzzy??
ReplyDeleteWell, "Getzzy" is still out with a broken face so it wouldn't be as entertaining.
I would really like to see Corey Perry get pummeled tonight. Re watching that knee on knee with Horcoff a few times in the latest Oil Change episode makes my blood boil. Who does that?
Normally I kind of tune out the complaints about commentators here, because well, there are a few perfectionists hanging around and they can expect too much from a normal human. ;-)
ReplyDeleteBut I did catch the third period after work last night and I was seeing what the anger with Weekes was all about. His insistence that the fourth goal was caused by a lack of forecheck rather than a ghastly defensive turnover, had me foaming at thr mouth. Then there was a bunch of other stuff that my memory refuses to retain. A bad night of calling. Mea culpa.
Hall at centre looks great, and I actually like Omark's play (even if there is a lot going back the other way sometimes - high event player and all). At some point more points will go in for young Leenus.
He's bad on faceoffs, our PK has been significantly better since his injury (along with Eberle being taken off the PK), he most definitely doesn't make our power play better, and it's hard to argue that he's a strong 5v5 performer.
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing at least three things wrong with this paragraph.
- He's within decimal points of 50% on faceoffs, which is worlds better than our other center options (save Brule, who is a forgotten man right now).
- It's been shown elsewhere on the Oilogosphere that the Oilers PP improvement has been due to the fact the Oilers PK save percentage has gone from awful to red-hot.
- Given our PP has some serious issues with overall system, no, Horcoff is not going to be the magic healer for that - however, since he can win a faceoff, he'd at least help gain initial possession.
- "It's hard to argue he's a strong 5v5 performer". Well, I'm not even going to discuss this one, because it's flat-out drek. Even though he's not what he was in 2006, he's still by far this team's best even-strength option at center against tough comp. I don't know how someone could debate otherwise.
Some people have made the argument we're "better off without (Horcoff)". No intelligent hockey fan, no matter how much they may dislike his contract, his style of play, the fact his eyes are two colors, or whatever, can seriously believe that argument to be true. He was among our best players this season until Corey Perry decided to take out his knee.
Speaking of which, we're playing the Ducks tonight. Steve MacIntyre could actually earn his full-season's salary if he cold-cocked that puke, but I'm not expecting it to happen.
That suggests to me he might be trying to do too much, but I guess he could be sulking. Seems unlikely, though.
ReplyDeleteGenerally speaking he seems like a pretty good character. I kind of meant a sense of disappointment/frustration as opposed to sulking. Not as in him blaming the team or coaches or anything like that.
Now that I think about it, it could be that he is attempting to take his turn as the team 'Goat'. It does seem like this years edition of the Oilers have been passing that around a little, which has prevented the boo-birds from really establishing a target. Could be a team strategy¡
Well, "Getzzy" is still out with a broken face so it wouldn't be as entertaining."
ReplyDeleteDidn't realize he was out. Well maybe 27 could exchange pleasantries with Perry then.
With Whitney's pending operation and Petry's excellent play of late, it's safe to assume he'll finish the season as an Oiler...
ReplyDeleteThere's no justifiable reason in the world to give Strudwick minutes going forward.
I'm not sure when Vandermeer is expected to return, but he'll likely play in the interest of trying to move him.
With Eberle and Horcov returning, even if Jones is slotted back on the 4rth, one of Omark, PRV, or Reddox will have to go to OKC.
Given contract issues and other factors, I'm guessing Omark might be the odd man out though he's played okay. Stortini seems to be persona non grata for Renney, but he would have to be moved for an asset.
Okay, enough *thinking* out loud and slightly off topic. :p
I like watching the Hall experiment though their play doesn't look very cohesive yet. It does raise questions regarding Gagner's future role though.
//I like watching the Hall experiment though their play doesn't look very cohesive yet. It does raise questions regarding Gagner's future role though.//
ReplyDeleteWhy? The Horcoff critics say he is a 3rd line centre. The Gagner critics say he is a 2nd line centre.
Hall would be the first line centre. So there is no inherent conflict.
Chicago kept all their centres (Toews, Sharp, and Bolland) as did Pittsburgh (Crosby, Malkin, and Staal).
Gagner has this year and next year on his current reasonable contract, before a long term decision on him has to be made. And the salary total at the centre position isn't a problem until then.
Things will unfold as they will.
Penner-Hall-Hemsky
ReplyDeleteXXXXX-Horcoff-Eberle
Does Gagner fit into that picture? Up until this season Gagner was the guy getting the best linemates and the biggest push from behind the bench. Looks like Hall is starting to stake a claim to that territory.
If Gagner isn't getting good linemates and quality PP time, does he fit into the Oilers plans going forward? I'm not sure he fits into a third line role any better then Cogliano/Brule and if he ends up playing a smaller role then his trade value will likely evaporate.
It all depends on Hall. If he sticks in the middle, and a deal came up where the Oilers could get a good young defender for Gagner I would want 3.0 to pull the trigger. I really doubt Gagner is going to blossom into something that would be greatly missed.
Detroit (Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Filppula)
ReplyDeleteVancouver (Sedin, Kesler, Malhotra)
Philly (Richards, Carter, Briere, Giroux,etc)
Boston (Savard, Krejci, Bergeron)
Two is not enough.
Bank Shot:
ReplyDeleteHow much weight do you put into the following forumla?
scoring line
scoring line
checking line
energy line
What's wrong with having a 3rd line that's as good as the 2nd line of other teams? And when injuries inevitably occur, you have quality players you can move up?
Odd off-topic thought
ReplyDeleteI was looking at the following LT link for some reason:
http://lowetide.blogspot.com/2010/11/oilers-career-leaders.html
and it occurred to me that there's a pretty decent chance Horcoff will make it to #2 in Career GP for the Oilers, with a really outside shot at #1.
One thing Pittsburgh often does is move malkin to wing to play with staal so he has someone to back up his mistakes. With the current cogliano line playing better, why not move gagner to wing when Horc and Eberle come back. Then you slot Fraser between MPS and Omark on the 4th sheltered line. they'll run the opposing 4th lines show offensively (and get punished defensively).
ReplyDelete27-4-83
89-10-14
28-13-85
91-16-23
it also allows you to sub in Storts or Jacques(whichever you don't waive down) or Macintyre (why I can't fathom, but renney likes him) if you need more toughness. Fraser is better in his own zone then gagner, so maybe he plays the horcoff lite role with the two rookies. You can then run 2 pvp lines and the 3rd line can at least hold it's own.
speeds: I'm all for it. I think the Oilers have three veteran forwards (Horcoff, Penner, Hemsky) that the team can build the kids around. There's no reason those three can't be solid NHL players by the time this team is ready to contend.
ReplyDeleteDefense is a little more difficult because now that Whitney is out for the season I'm not certain you want to include him long term.
But I'd include Gilbert in the veteran list. Keep all of the good NHL players for as long as they're effective.
Isn't that what Detroit does?
//Fraser is better in his own zone then gagner.//
ReplyDeleteFraser is at best a fringe NHL hockey player. You are comparing apples and oranges.
Fraser would be eaten alive in his own zone if he was matched against the centres Gagner is matched against.
BS: Looking that lineup if you get a really good LW to round out out 10-14 then you're looking at two PVP lines and then 91-89-?? are there to hopefully pound the soft opp.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a problem with that as long as 4 shows progress in the FO circle and 89 doesn't make too much money.
Right now - for admittedly the short-term and just until 10 gets back - you've got a situation that resembles when Comrie got to play with Smyth-Anson carter and Weight had to make chicken salad.
I like DBO's lines and generally the idea of moving Gagner to wing.
ReplyDeleteBut I like the idea of giving MPS more quality minutes. (I mean, we're developing, so why not?)
Tougher minutes:
1.Penner-Hall-Hemsky
2.MPS-Horcoff-Eberle
Softer minutes:
3.Jones-Cogs-Gagner
4.Omark-Fraser-Reddox
What's wrong with having a 3rd line that's as good as the 2nd line of other teams? And when injuries inevitably occur, you have quality players you can move up?
ReplyDeleteI don't have a problem with having a great third line, but I'm not sure the Oilers have the horses to pull it off for one, and you need a couple of great long term contracts to even begin because most teams with strong depth on three lines get dismantled by the salary cap in two years or less.
Gagner isn't going to excel with inferior line mates against strong opposition so if he sticks around then he needs to be getting the ice time that will allow him to do what he does best, score points.
If Gagner is scoring points then he is going to want to get paid, and he's not one of the forwards that I want to see the Oilers give big bucks to. If Gagner is not on the team, then you can give his offensive minutes to Horcoff who is already making money, and give all the defensive zone starts and uphill ice time to a guy who isn't getting paid.
Plus there is the back end to think about. The Oilers need blueliners, and their most valuable pieces for trade up front are Hall, Eberle, Paajarvi, and Gagner. I think Gagner is the one to move out of that group as Hall/Eberle have shown more in their first half season, and Paajarvi is a better bet to be useful in multiple roles.
Out of the seven good forwards the Oilers currently have, Gagner is the least well rounded. If there comes a time when the Oilers have to make a tough decision and keep only 4-5 of them, Gagner is one of the ones going down the road, so if there is a good deal to be made that addresses team weakness then Gagner is a guy I'd use to do it.
@DBO I can't see Renney running a 4rth line with 91/16/23. I get the idea of 4 scoring lines, but I think that would leave 16 as the odd man out. Renney also likes his 'crust' even if it can't actually play hockey.
ReplyDeleteHas Gagner ever played on his off wing?
I do agree with BS and his thoughts about Gagner. At this point, I don't think he's shown that he can carry a weaker line or hold it above water though he's still a kid and on a value contract.
When Horcov returns, if Hall stays at Center, that will create an interesting situation. Obviously that squeezes out one of Fraser, Cogs, and Gagner from centre.
Given that Gagner isn't likely to be centering a 4rth line or killing penalties, at least one of Cogs or Fraser is slotted into one of the centre positions.
I don't have a problem with that as long as 4 shows progress in the FO circle and 89 doesn't make too much money.
ReplyDeleteMe either for the short term.
In order for Gagner to bring the most value for the team though you have to put him in a situation where he is going to make make money. Not sure if he's a keeper when he starts getting paid.
I don't have a problem with having a great third line, but I'm not sure the Oilers have the horses to pull it off for one, and you need a couple of great long term contracts to even begin because most teams with strong depth on three lines get dismantled by the salary cap in two years or less.
ReplyDeleteI definitely don't think they have the horses right now, but I think it's possible next year or the year after, assuming a number of things - development of the younger players (including the undrafted 2011 1st), retention of Hemsky and Penner.
As to the cap portion, the Oilers are in a position where they can, kinda sort of, control that assuming they get Hemsky and Penner signed long term - you don't have to worry about those guys putting up big G/A/P totals once they are under contract (Horcoff too, I suppose).
IF all pans out and these guys start posting big G/A/P totals, then EDM may have some cap issues, but then again they can probably trade those guys for good value in that case, if the points are coming the team is probably winning a bit more, might be attractive to some UFA's to fill holes, they might have young guys developing to fill a spot or two, etc.
Gagner isn't going to excel with inferior line mates against strong opposition so if he sticks around then he needs to be getting the ice time that will allow him to do what he does best, score points.
If Gagner is scoring points then he is going to want to get paid, and he's not one of the forwards that I want to see the Oilers give big bucks to. If Gagner is not on the team, then you can give his offensive minutes to Horcoff who is already making money, and give all the defensive zone starts and uphill ice time to a guy who isn't getting paid.
I don't know, if Gagner is on the 3rd line, sometime on the 2nd unit PP and other times no PP, is he really likely to get much of a raise from his current salary? He could still be quite valuable in a 3rd line role, in that case.
Plus there is the back end to think about. The Oilers need blueliners, and their most valuable pieces for trade up front are Hall, Eberle, Paajarvi, and Gagner. I think Gagner is the one to move out of that group as Hall/Eberle have shown more in their first half season, and Paajarvi is a better bet to be useful in multiple roles.
Out of the seven good forwards the Oilers currently have, Gagner is the least well rounded. If there comes a time when the Oilers have to make a tough decision and keep only 4-5 of them, Gagner is one of the ones going down the road, so if there is a good deal to be made that addresses team weakness then Gagner is a guy I'd use to do it.
I can see that argument.
My preference, if I have to choose between the two, is strong F/average D vs. average F/strong D. I think the Oilers should/might be able to address the D via UFA/salary dumps/RFA(?), but if it turns out that trading Gagner for a D and filling his F spot via UFA makes for a better team, well, ok.
Some really good discussion here on the future of certain players. It speaks to the magnitude of the decisions facing Tambellini in the near-mid term.
ReplyDelete"these guys", in my previous post, was referring to Hall/Eberle/Gagner/Paajarvi, I didn't make that very clear.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the "well, ok", at the end wasn't meant to flippant (if it reads that way), I was meaning that if that is better, great, go that direction.
I am waiting with bated breath for the Lander, Hamilton, Pitlick influx. I saw more position awareness by Lander, Hamilton in admitedly a short showing than I've seen here all season. Add size to smarts and you've got tough minutes coverage.
ReplyDeleteThe first line just needs time to sort things out but they're looking dominant.
The Oilers are playing their best hockey of the season. When Horcoff and Eberle come back they should change nothing. Keep the three decent lines together and then add in Horcoff and Eberle with whomever.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about contrived things like assigning numbers to the lines. Those are post facto descriptions anyway. This would give them three scoring lines and one (the Cogliano line) decent fourth line.
The top two lines designation doesn't make any sense. All good teams have three scoring lines. Un
The only thing they should change is to play four forwards on the power play.
Here's a winning, playoff lineup next year. Will come in under cap:
ReplyDeletePenner-Hall-Hemsky
Torres/Tanguay/etc.-Horcoff-Eberle
MPS-Reasoner-Gagner
Jones-Cogliano-Stortini
Omark, Goon, Lander, etc.
Gilbert-Souray
Whitney-Hejda/Sim.
Peckham-Foster
Petry, Vandermeer, etc.
Dubnyk
Khabi/Gerber
For next year, I wouldn't mind seeing something along the lines of;
ReplyDeletePenner - Hall - Hemsky
Ganger/Landeskogg/someone? - Horcoff - Eberle
Paajarvi - Lander - Omark
Reddox - Cogliano - Stortini/Jones/inevitable muscle-bound pylon
With all top three lines expected to score some (naturally you'd slightly shelter the third). Given somewhat intelligent/skilled wingers, Horcoff should saw-off almost regardless he plays against, given where his skills lay. First line should dominate and the fourth line expected to grind with jammed crust.
But I'll admit I'm big on Lander and the idea of a Swede line. I think Paajarvi has had some trouble this year because he feels he needs to be somewhat cautious, given who many of his line-mates have been (ala Cogliano), but with a somewhat responsible center he knows.. could do decently well, and Omark's work along the boards should work well with him if he's freed to be more offensive.
Not that any of this matters. Two really important people, minimum, will get hurt next year for decent/long term stretches. It always happens. Always.
As my father says; "the Oilers will never be allowed to field a good team over a long period ever again, due to the Hockey Gods exacting the toll for the 80's".
Kris: Souray not coming back, neither is he a 1st pairing D-man anymore.
ReplyDeleteWatching Smac and JFJ on 2 on 1 was hilarious last night. Especially the part where Smac couldn't skate to save his life and was rushed to take a shitty slapshot.
Souray not coming back
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Tambo will run some of Petry, Chorney, Peckham, Plante, in the top 4 to start the season and the top 2 when injuries inevitably happen. This is more reason to complain about Tambo.
neither is he a first pairing D-man anymore
I'm not sure he ever was a "first pairing D-man" in the way you mean. But he's sure as fuck better at ES against tough comp. than any of our near rookies or the crappy third pairing guys Tambo has added. Put him with one of Gilbert or Whitney and you have a decent, maybe slightly below league average top pairing.
Souray is an overpay. (The injuries are a big part of that.) He's a massive overpay if you only consider his ES contribution. But he can PK pretty well (Something we just don't have in the lineup. The lack of PK'ing D is -just below Khabi- the Oilers second biggest problem this year.) and he can PP very, very well.
The sooner the Oilers can stabilize the third line the better the chances of fighting for the playoffs. They have to be ruthless in setting up the two top lines. That means strength down the middle. You need two dominant offensive centers and this is the Oilers best chance to draft a dominant center.
ReplyDeleteMy personal preference is Strome, he is now fourth in scoring with no one on his line to complement him. He is another Hall that is developing quickly. Of importance is that he is one of the youngest draftees.
how much value does samwise really have? undersized, slow, marginal offense, poor in the dot, can't penalty kill, poor performer on the pp and hasn't looked good since he was 17/18.
ReplyDeletei think we're coming very close to looking at the mueller for wolski trade all over again for samwise. what's sad is that cogs was once in that conversation. i believe the term for these two is "dying on the vine"
Let's not go overboard on Gagner.
ReplyDeleteLetting go of him now would've been comparable to letting Hemsky go before his breakout 2005-2006 season.
Actually, it would be worse, because Gagner has shown more offense at a younger age.
I'm not saying Gagner will be better than Hemsky. But the kid is 21. It's not like he's Cogliano or POS, still struggling at 24.
Not every excellent player comes in like Hall and Eberle.
Gagner is a valuable young player. You could get a nice return, I don't think there's a reasonable argument against it.
ReplyDeleteHorcoff is the immovable object, if Lander is as advertised then he is your future third center. With Hall at first center, where does Gagner play?
ReplyDeleteThe team should be geared to the 2012 playoffs so players should be plugged as they mature.
Somewhere out West, Jfry's Californian equivalent is at a similar pulpit regarding Logan Couture. Poor Logan is injury prone, doesn't hit enough, slow, bad in his own zone, etc. If only that dead weight could be cast away, the Sharks could finally stop choking in the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I went a bit far here but Lowetide brought up an interesting point about timing and perception not too long ago. The bottom line is that Sam Gagner is 21 years old, an intelligent hockey player, and on pace for a 20-30-50 season. Why are we complaining exactly?
@lt
ReplyDeletei know we don't do a lot of trade speculation around here, but what do you think the value for samwise is?
to my mind, he has "flawed" trade value at this point in his career. JW wrote a piece at the start of the year about how all sorts of players didn't hit their stride until 24/25. While i understand that argument, it's a bit of a "glass is half full" view of it.
i'm on board for trading sam...not because i don't believe he'll become something (although my doubts are growing), but rather because i don't think he's ever going to fit into the "team build". I've always used his dad as a comparable, which is dramatically less impressive than other people believe around here.
can we realistically expect something like samwise for jack johnson? like LA did a couple years ago? not current jack johnson. ie, two players struggling to find their identity.
@showerhead
ReplyDeletei would trade couture for samwise, no problem.
i think sammy is fine, but i also believe that we force this view onto him because of his draft position and how he came into the league. for every eberle we sneak at 22, we have to be leary of the zherdev's at 4. if sam turns into weiss, that's okay, but does weiss have a place on the oiler's as we all want the Oil built?
i guess what i'm saying is i'd rather betts or mohaltra as a third line centre than sam, because of their strength in the overall picture.
I wouldn't trade 89 for the current Jack Johnson, never mind a more flawed version.
ReplyDelete@showerhead
ReplyDeletesam is also on pace for -20 and a FO of 42% against the "soft parade"
we always talk about the getz/perrey development curve against the soft parade...i'm just not seeing it. maybe he got the rowbear bump as a rookie (i jest)
I think last nights game showed us that when we want to compete in the playoffs we cannot have 3 or 4 undersized forwards unless they are capable of competing real hard. I think one of the factors as the game wore on was how LA's size contributed to the loss.
ReplyDeleteEberle is a given. But all of Gagner, Omark, Cogliano, Brule..... that ain't gonna work or at least not successfully
Jfry: While throwing stats around I think Couture's PDO of 1020 vs. Gagner's of 977 would be worth a look too.
ReplyDeleteI was admittedly being harsh earlier but you seem awfully ready to call Gagner's 21 year old season his ceiling. He's a good point producer for his age, both at even strength and with the man advantage. I wouldn't let this season's special teams clusterfuck completely cloud your view of him on the powerplay; last year he led Oiler regulars in PPPts/60 by a country mile.
Faceoffs are obviously a big weakness and it's tough to say how much better (if any) he'll get. Other than that, I'd rest assured he is a valuable piece moving forward. If he doesn't fit the sort of player archetype you like, fine.
Now I remember why I never turn a Sportsnet broadcast on until 10 minutes after it starts. Holy crap was Principe's opening embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteLove seeing a younger Khabibulin in Jets gear.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad 91 is making contact, but I really wish he would't put the brakes on before rubbing shoulders with the other team.
ReplyDeleteshowerhead
ReplyDeletei think he's a valuable piece, but my inclination is to believe that it will be for another team. i hope he has a great career, etc. but i'd rather turn him into "something we need" and not "something we're trying to make fit".
i don't see a natural position for him on this squad, especially if we're hot to trot for the big centre out of the Q. i'll be excited if sam blossoms and is an oiler for life, but as a team building excercise, i seem him having more value as a trade asset. the earlier discussion about seabrook makes me wonder if chitown would have any interest in getting kane and samwise back together, for instance.
33 impacting the game already in only his second shift.
ReplyDeletei love how the oil think. anaheim puts in their back up goalie, so we put in strudwick.
ReplyDeleteIs it accurate to say that Linus Omark's offensive creativity is on a level that surpasses Hemsky's?
ReplyDeleteFuck. That's the second time Jacques has gone to "finish" his check from 10 feet out, only to put his team offside.
ReplyDeleteKhabibulin's rebound control is horrendous. AHL goalies are better than that
ReplyDeleteOn the upside, I can never in my life cheer against Teemu Selanne. And I've got Vis in my hockey pool.
ReplyDeleteBig big milestone for the ageless Finn.
Fun fact: of 1300 career points, Selanne has scored 900 of them against the Edmonton Oilers.
ReplyDeleteOr at least it seems to be that way....
Terrible period. AWFUL
ReplyDeleteThey look like they're sleepwalking
Another "who gives a fuck" period by our boys. Just don't want to compete some nights... this looks like it could be another one.
ReplyDeletepretty easy to like that fowler kid. looks like he's going to be the steal of the 1st round.
ReplyDeleteHall line getting hemmed in alot, not good. Boys probably had a few last night.
ReplyDeleteSelanne is a wonderful player, I'll never cheer against him. Besides, he's helping us to the lottery and the modern Jean Beliveau.
ReplyDeleteStink finger first period there by the Oilers.
lt, why the modern beliveau?
ReplyDeleteI had the chances at 1-6 and sweet fuck was that ever a bad period by the Oil.
ReplyDeleteOh good, assessment of Ryan Whitney. See you in 2013 good sir.
ReplyDeleteJfry: I meant Jean Ratelle. Getting old. :-)
ReplyDeleteIs it accurate to say that Linus Omark's offensive creativity is on a level that surpasses Hemsky's?
ReplyDeleteAre you saying he is an even ROUNDER peg?
Wow. those are some ugly jerseys.
ReplyDeleteThe black and orange is nice. But, what's with the retro side stripes?
The mighty ducks have always been unique, Ill give em that.
Lowetide: If I do recall correctly, some excessive praise by Kevin Lowe back in 2003 training camp compared one Marc-Antoine Pouliot to Jean Beliveau.
ReplyDeleteSo we already drafted the "modern" version of Montreal's legendary #4. Right, that's it.
I guess we know MacIntyre's penalty crossed the line from "aggressive" to "stupid" because it wasn't easy to kill.
ReplyDelete@Ghost: I kinda like the red knees on the socks.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly don't look out of place on the #10 jersey.
ReplyDeletewow...our powerplay looks so easy to defend. i'd love to see way more passes in the 10-15 foot range that force defenders to move a bit -- honestly, i think our team would be well served watching some NBA footage...lots of quick passes around the arc, waiting for it to open up and then feed the big man once the d provides us the space.
ReplyDeleteThis team just does not create enough disorder and chaos in close, even strength or PP, all perimeter play. They have some stretches but overall they play the perimeter.
ReplyDelete@Bruce
ReplyDeleteThe socks, are okay, but theres too much goin on when combined with the stripes.
From a distance the uniforms seem cool, but anytime there's a close-up they look like an optical illusion from the late seventies.
That Teddy, he's a keeper.
ReplyDeleteIs Brule "sick" again, or did he get HS'd tonight?
ReplyDeleteMan that's scary stuff. Nearly Malarchuked him
ReplyDeleteJeff Petry can play goal.
ReplyDeleteWhat dman saved that goal? Close call there
ReplyDelete@DG
ReplyDeleteseriously, what's going on with him?
PETRY! kid looks like our next gilbert!
Seriously, these PPs are fucking awful. 3 passes in 20 seconds and then we lose it along the boards. Just take a fucking penalty and play 4 on 4 because it seems like they can't do fucking anything with a man up
ReplyDeleteIf I'm Renney, I'm running Reddox, Jones and Cogliano on the PP. The "usuals" have proven they suck.
ReplyDeleteHemsky and Gagner have been dreadful this game.
There's just one thing I dispise about NHL officating.
ReplyDeleteVet vs rookie battle for puck, vet embeleshes = rookie penalty.
I can't remember the last time I saw an Oiler in the slot on the powerplay like Selanne just was.
ReplyDeleteThe effort tonight makes me think it's bag skate time
The opposing teams who put the puck on the net during the PP make it look so easy.
ReplyDeleteHas a team ever finished the regular season with the 30th ranked PP and PK?
Does anyone have faith that Tambo can fix this team? This team has so many problems/holes, is scary to think that this talent could be wasted.
ReplyDeleteMagnus!
ReplyDeleteGagner!
ReplyDeleteOmark is easy to like. what are we going to do with him?
ReplyDeleteI was just gonna write, watch the comeback and win. Fickle team, fickle.
ReplyDeleteWEll they are really good at falling behind by three and then turning it on.
ReplyDeleteIt's a miracle that they're down one.
Omark with a divine pass.
ReplyDeleteLT: Given your ability to make things happen (Gagner's snap), I humbly request a post tomorrow about doritogrande needing a woman.
ReplyDeleteI'd probably wind up with Elisha Cuthbert.
Of course, we score 2 goals and then get a marginal call to rip any momentum out of our hands before the end of the period
ReplyDeletewow, i forgot how many pucks vis gets to the net.
ReplyDelete@DG, can i have your sloppy seconds! puuhhhlllease!
ReplyDeleteWas -just- about to drag my ass to bed if we were still down by 3 at the end of the 2nd. Nice work by Gagner's line there.
ReplyDeleteSpecial teams killing us; PK is running around a bit much and there seems a lack of attention to the passing lanes. Powerplay.. simple problem; only the person with the puck bloody moves.
Seriously. Its like the other four players get rooted to the ice when we gain the zone on the powerplay. You can see Hemsky/Hall/whomever just looking for someone open to do something with, but there's nothing.
If they are going to send down the forward who plays the least when 10 gets back its going to be Zorg.
ReplyDeleteThat would be a shame.
83 looks very hexagonal on the PP.
Why is there never a winger in shooting position on the PP. I don't like the overload PP set up with these players. They don't skate enough without the puck.
If Marincin turns out anything like Chara I will sacrifice a whole flock of lambs in MBS name.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to ruffle feathers here;) but Selanne can go fuck himself. I'm sick of seeing that goofy-looking bastard murdering us.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember the last time 83 looked this useless, BTW.
Finally, how many shifts will the 4th line get this period? If I know Renney he'll make sure they get out there against the Ducks top line.
Oh and the Oilers PK is back and in fine fashion. They'd soared for such a long time that they we knew the fall would hurt but, yeah, it still stings when it happens.
The PP? I'm shocked when they get a SOG.
I really like Petry's poise with the puck. I think he'll make a helluva of PP point man in the not-so-distant future.
ReplyDeleteAgree that the big weakness with the PP is the lack of movement. If they want to stand still they should do it while in FRONT of the net, not 15 feet away from it.
ReplyDeleteDoes Gagner read this blog?
ReplyDelete@thiru
ReplyDeletehe doesn't, but lowetide's middle name is Carnac
27-4-83 have played 12-14 minutes apiece including 4:00 on the PP and they have combined for 1 shot and 1 other attempted shot.
ReplyDeleteDare I say that Hemsky in particular looks right out of it? He's sleep walking out there.
The Ratelle reference (it was supposed to be Ratelle) comes from this item:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.edmontonjournal.com/life/Draft+rankings+fans/4116214/story.html
Nice to see Gagner and MPS score, and lordy Petry is looking solid right now.
SMac is a walking 2 minutes whenever he's a mile from his net. He's money.
Obviously the formerCaptainethanmoreau had a talk with Big Mac before he pulled stakes in Edmonton.
ReplyDeleteIf Mac starts criticizing the PP after the game, we'll know for sure.
Hitting Jason Blake from behind shouldn't be a penalty.
ReplyDeleteIf Mac starts criticizing the powerplay, I'll agree with him.
ReplyDeleteShoot the puck Ales!!!!!!
ReplyDelete*qhjdfksadswsjhew
ReplyDeleteJust shoot the goddam puck there 83!!
How can 83 play his best and worst game of the year within 4 days?
ReplyDeleteI wish Hemsky was selfish!
ReplyDeleteWow. I'd bench Hemsky the rest of this game.
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't deserve the ice time
It baffles me Hemsky wasnt' ready to one time that pass.
ReplyDeleteI won't be surprised if the Gagner line gets ten minutes in the 3rd. They're flying.
ReplyDeleteThe 89/91/23 line looking dangerous tonight. 91 finally looking like he has some confidence again - skating with authority again.
ReplyDeleteWTF, Lupul is playing?
ReplyDeleteStill trying to be that one shot scorer by trying to touch the puck just once / game.
I'm liking 85-13-28 tonight too. A decent performance from the first line and this game would be there for the taking.
ReplyDelete23-89-91 = sheltered 2nd line
ReplyDelete28-16-85 = 4th line
22-16-33 = 5th line?
RE: Lowetide... Im surprised to see you say you arent sure about Whitney being a part of the long term plan here? Just because of his injury?
ReplyDeleteIt's almost as if only five forwards and two defense can play competently at one time. Like for five straight years now.
ReplyDeleteMagnus seems to have a good stick and breaks up a lot of plays, and it is nice to see him make some hay on the attacks.
These special teams are killing us. Maybe this team could gain a little traction at evens if they could execute on the specials. They sure could have used a kill and powerplay goal last night.
I think Bruce Budreau said it best when describing his teams struggles:
ReplyDeleteTeams play you differently when they're not afraid of your powerplay.
Joffrey Lupul is wearing #19.
ReplyDeleteSomewhere, Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic are shaking their heads in disgust.
I think after the last 4 seasons there shouldn't ever be any talk of the Oil having too many centers. EVER.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be fitting for Selanne to register a hatty just seconds after the longest successful penalty kill in Oilers' team history?
ReplyDeleteA PP? NOOOOOOOOOOO!
ReplyDeleteBruce: Are we watching the best game of Gagner's career?
ReplyDeleteI think I want 4 ans 14 back together when 14 gets back.
ReplyDeleteWhen 4 is motoring around 14 looks for soft ice in a shooting position.
83 and 27 don't compliment that part of 4's game as well as 14 does.
Petry - quite the game for the young man.
ReplyDeleteHe can take Foster's spot permanently.
Wow, rare 6 on 3??
ReplyDeleteMAKE THE FREAKING BACK DOOR PLAYYYYYYY!
ReplyDeleteIf I see a point shot that isn't through a 2 Oiler screen or into an empty net I'm gonna spaz.
a DOUBLE powerplay... oh my god... a double powerplay across the sky!
ReplyDeleteHow in hell don't you have Omark on the ice...
ReplyDelete6 on 2 1/2 and they cant get a shot on net
ReplyDeleteWG - was thinking exactly the same thing re: 4 & 14. It's actually too bad they're both RW, because I think 83 & 14 would be a good match.
ReplyDeleteWell, for what began as an absolute shit game, I was on my feet for the last two minutes.
ReplyDeleteThe kids did alright tonight. Veterans let the team down.
Disgusting...
ReplyDeleteNot having your best PP passer on the ice when you need a goal...
Not making the down low play when you have a 6-on-3 and 6-on-4 advantage...
Just wow...fire a coach.
Showerhead: That's hilarious.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the record for most games without a PP goal? Gotta be getting close?
ReplyDeleteHas a coach ever gotten fired for a useless PP?
Anyways, game shouldn't have been this close.
Hemsky burns time off the clock "lookin" around, then passes off while 2 Oilers are sitting on the edge of blue paint with about 5 seconds. Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI don't know who should be shot and pissed upon, but I know someone should definitely take the bullet for that fiasco.
ReplyDeleteslipper: Sadly, the Oilers' PP usually looks about as high as the double rainbow guy sounded. And nothing beautiful happens on an Oiler powerplay. Blah.
ReplyDelete83 was awful all game. He should be ashamed. Renney should have benched him for the last 10 minutes.
ReplyDeleteIt's games like this that make you wonder if he is the guy you want to keep long term. ugggggh
Scoring chances:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mc79hockey.com/?p=3558
6 on 3 and Marchant? breaks his stick. He actually skates to the bench to get another one leaving a shooting lane large enough to park Penner's cheeto supply in, and the Oilers don't get a one timer away?
ReplyDeleteThere aren't enough swear words in the language to convey how I'm feeling right now.
Ken Hitchcock can coach special teams, can't he?
ReplyDeleteHere's an idea - fire that useless waste-of-benchspace Buchberger and bring in "Hitch" as an associate coach to fix the twin disasters that are the Oilers PP and PK.
Wishful thinking? Probably.
useless waste-of-benchspace Buchberger
ReplyDeleteSorry, but where do you get your information that Buchberger is a- the problem and b-useless.
Yup, that Bucky.. he's a helluva coach!! ha ha... Sweet Jesus!!
ReplyDeletebookie: I won't lie, I'm blindly scapegoating. But he was gifted a coaching position on this staff and survived two head-coaching changes.
ReplyDeleteIt reeks of Lowe watching out for one of his buddies.
The Oilers scored the other night 1 second after a PP, can we just give them a pp for that effort so that the stress levels around here go down??
ReplyDeleteI thought I saw in the Oil Change episodes that Krueger ran the special teams.
ReplyDeleteI'm a lot calmer than I used to be and the Oilers PP has been so bad for so long that they can't even upset me anymore.
ReplyDeleteBottom 5 teams in NHL via pts%
ReplyDeleteTOR .466
OTT .435
NYI .407
EDM .398
NJD .307
If Oilers draft 1st or 2nd there is a good chance they take a Swede.
If 23 stays on the team (he should) and Lander comes over then there would be 4 Swedes on the team.
A natural to start the season in Stockholm.
LT: The first person to be pissed upon in my household was Tom Renney, for benching 23 and 91 for the 6 on 3 and going with the same tired old guys who did fuckall the entire game. Does the coach actually watch the fucking game? Makes me wonder.
ReplyDeleteI know Hemsky has the track record and all, but geez, isn't he supposed to be the powerplay whiz? 0-for-11 games suggests that it isn't working. He was still passing the puck with 1 second left on the clock FFS.
HBomb - No problem with that.
ReplyDeleteClarkinstien - you could learn from HBomb
To be honest, none of us have any idea how good or bad of a coach Bucky is. The Oilers are not big on letting us know who is responsible for what part of the game. All we do know is that the 'buck' stops with the head coach.
If Renney doesn't like what Bucky brings, then he should get rid of him.
Dennis: What makes me rage is that they ain't fucking moving. It's always get the puck and then freeze.
ReplyDeleteIt's disheartening when this roster fights hard enough to give you chance at even strength and the special teams fail to deliver.
ReplyDelete@Slipper: I thought Gagner was struggling still for about the first half of tonight's game, but that line absolutely caught fire in the second half. Unconscionable that they weren't given a chance at the end to tie it up, they were by far the most likely group to do so. Unless ... arson for Larsson? Hmmm.
ReplyDeletePetry, Mags, Omark and Gagner seemed to have good games. I think Khabi let the team down more then anyone else. He gift wrapped the first goal for Selanne.
ReplyDeleteHemsky seemed off his game tonight. So frustrating when he plays like that.
I thought I saw in the Oil Change episodes that Krueger ran the special teams.
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure that Kruger is the 'Star Trek guy in the Red Uniform'
for the Oilers. I am pretty sure a massive brained blob of tar is going to blast him with a ray gun during the off season.
It even sounds right
Kirk "Scotty, Spock, McCoy, Kruger come with me, we are going down to the Planet"
If Renney doesn't like what Bucky brings, then he should get rid of him.
ReplyDeleteLast year there was a power struggle between OTC and Renney.
Bucky sided with OTC.
Renney won the war and Bucky stayed on staff.
Renney can't fire him or he would have been gone.
Props to MBS for picking Omark in the 4th round (97th overall) in 2007.
He has covered the bet.
In MBS we trust.
Amen.
91 doing a pretty good Marion Hossa impersonation tonight. Impressive.
ReplyDeleteIt could be a 6 on 1 power play but if you can't EVER win a fucking faceoff you piss away half the clock. Penner finally won one at the end that turned into a 6 on 2 1/2 as someone said and all 6 guys stand still!! If I'm the GM I go into the room before anybody gets undressed and rip a strip off anybody within a half mile. But our GM is probably glad they lost so they can get a good pick... mind boggling.
ReplyDeleteWell, the Oilers have the worst PK % since the lockout, and the 4th worst PP%.
ReplyDeleteIf Captain Switzerland walks the plank for it, I won't be too upset.
Maybe they weren't shooting on the powerplays bacause they're so used to Foster being the only guy to do it.
ReplyDeleteHiring someone just to fire them is a time-honored CYA tactic.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, it usually results in the real problem surviving.
When does the shit land on the guys that deserve it?
It's about time they experiment with some new looks. Blow the whole thing up and try new things. This is the season to be re-tooling. What's the worst that can happen?
ReplyDeleteThey may go another 11 without a PP marker? They slip in the standings from 2nd last to last?
Less skating along the wall. More shots need to be generated.
Slipper - No no no no.
ReplyDeleteThe issue is not shots. It's that they're trying to force point play when they have players capable of excellent goal scoring plays down low. They need to shift strategy to a PP based off cross-crease passes and play behind the net.
The goal of the PP isn't to generate shots. It is to generate ONE shot that goes in the net.
Oilers lost 11 of last 13. Are 30th on the PP and 29th on PK and nobody is getting fired?? In what world could this happen. At your work? In any business that you have ever heard of?
ReplyDeleteNow I can see this happening if you inherited a mess from someone who was fired. But the people who have been driving this bus deep into the ditch are Lowe and Tambellini. I say KL and ST because they are at this point jointly responsible for the complete lack of success of this team. What is astonishing is that the NJD are able to stay behind us and NYI can stick with us
Heard Tambi's interview re Whitney ankle .....Doctor is going to "examine him". When I think on an examination, I think...take off your shoe, take off your sock...show me your foot. Whitney is having surgery tomorrow!!!!!!
Our MVP is having surgery tomorrow and the day before surgery our GM is having a presser, for the very first time, and is telling his customers that he is being "examined". Whitney has been a stud but if he has chronic feet/ankle problems........ And we traded for him whoever traded for him should be fired
Our young guys are making most games interesting but I think that is a product of our amateur scouting staff not management. And for a final cheap shot.......did anyone get a shittier pickup off of Chicago's SC roster than us with Fraser?
ReplyDeleteThe goal of the PP isn't to generate shots. It is to generate ONE shot that goes in the net.
Sorry, I can't hear you, I am too busy yelling SHOOOOOT through the entire powerplay.
LMHF: I politely disagree. Of course, I'm not talking about strictly point shots. You need the right shooters for that.
ReplyDeletebook - well played sir.
ReplyDelete@LMHF1 - Speaking in general terms, teams that generate more shots generate more good shots. Generating more shots is a useful proxy for generating more good shots.
ReplyDeletedid anyone get a shittier pickup off of Chicago's SC roster than us with Fraser?
ReplyDeleteYea, but Chicago was asking for more then one asset for some of those better guys. Two is bigger then one and we only gave up one asset to get Fraser. Win.
Oilers lost 11 of last 13. Are 30th on the PP and 29th on PK and nobody is getting fired??
ReplyDeleteThe thing is that this sort of thing was expected this year. Tambellini should have been fired after last year, when he put together a thirtieth place team while (by all appearances) trying to win. But I think firing coaches for this team's sucking would be extraordinarily unfair.
Big game tomorrow: NJ v. NYI
ReplyDeleteThat 6 on 2 1/2 was unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteBoth D collapse on the net.
... and the Oilers are trying to force a cross crease play? Really?
How in the blue fuck do you not have a shooter in the slot waiting to one time that puck? The entire slot. It was WIDE FUCKING OPEN. Just get #4 to fucking stand there.
Instead we're forcing the puck through the only two god damn sticks Anaheim even had.
Fucking insane.
Tambellini should have been fired after last year, when he put together a thirtieth place team while (by all appearances) trying to win. But I think firing coaches for this team's sucking would be extraordinarily unfair.
ReplyDeleteYes, the goal this year is to finish last all while not pissing off the players or the majority of the fans. In my estimation, they are doing very well on that front.
The metrics this year are different. Are they developing players? Did they fix the minor league team? etc.
Steve Smith
ReplyDeleteNot mad at the coaches at all. Astonishingly. Or very little. Am damn mad at the the people assembling this roster for absolute professional ineptitude. Am not sure of a single move made by management that I would call a success other than stocking a pretty competitive AHL franchise.
Just got a season ticket survey that asked, in part, what level of season ticket price increase I expected. Which I expect presupposes we are getting a ticket price increase. Replied I expected a refund.
Oilers and MSM emphasize positives.........Ignore Lost 11/13 and are worse at special teams in a game dependent on special teams
Hall was lost in terms of positioning tonight. Hemmer didn't really help him very much though.
ReplyDeleteOur PP has been shit for so long that I don't remember what getting exciting for a man advantage is like anymore.
Not mad at the coaches at all. Astonishingly. Or very little. Am damn mad at the the people assembling this roster for absolute professional ineptitude.
ReplyDeleteThat's fair. But again, the time to do that would be after last season. It would be really weird to have that season, announce a rebuild, decide to keep the same management in place for that rebound, and then fire that management halfway through the next season because the team sucked.
Not that I wouldn't support it, but I think when Tambellini didn't get fired after last year, it was a signal that he had at least another year, and probably two or three, to fuck things up as badly as he wanted to.
Time for the coaching staff to set up a few shoot-the-damn-puck drills.
ReplyDeleteOilers lost 11 of last 13. Are 30th on the PP and 29th on PK and nobody is getting fired?? In what world could this happen. At your work? In any business that you have ever heard of?
ReplyDeleteObviously you don't read the business section with much attention to detail. And perhaps you think that every firing in business is a vendetta against incompetence. It's not that simple.
Businesses are subject to the business cycle as well as the economic cycle. The revolving door at the top occurs for multiple reasons: A) personality conflicts (the usual BS politics wherever power is concentrated), B) the man in charge is poorly suited for the current business/economic cycle, C) you've already extracted the best of what the guy brings to the table (the problems that remain are the ones he can't figure out how to fix), D) scapegoating makes the world go round.
Renney isn't being asked to win hockey games and he wasn't given the tools to do so. His core directive is to maximize the asset value of young players. Looking at the rookie standings, it's hard to complain. We all know that eventually the players have to learn accountability, so winning needs to be part of the formula. I don't presently see any rookies being spoiled for the future by lack of Ws.
A sign a mile high was painted before the pre-season: the Oilers lack veteran depth. One guy who can win a faceoff. One D man who can reliably head-man the puck. Neither player dressing lately.
Before the cap, when your A and Ks when down, you asked your Q and J to step up. Post cap, you're asking T and 9s to play like K and Qs. Only elite teams have spare caviar in the pantry.
I'm not watching much lately, but maybe they're gun shy right now about passing through legs on the inner perimeter because their point men are doing a crappy job of corralling weak clearing attempts. CFP had Alomar range at shortstop. This is undervalued.
Do we have a decent pin-ball flipper on the PP lately? If not, the pinball play option might not be such a good idea.
I suspect Renney knows exactly what the problem is on the PP right now. If he hews to form, he won't spill his guts to the media until he's one foot onto the gallows.
MacT once blurted out that the real problem was that the team had no jam on the walls. That was his "my kingdom for the anti-Lupul / coke machine with crust" speech. Then he was gone.
SS
ReplyDeleteDid you or anyone think the Oilers would have as many holes in their lineup? Because I bought into the rebuild, just not this bad. What's even worse we intend to have the same basic group of top 6 or 8 FWDS as the core for the next 2 or 3 years.
I agree with everyone that the kids are promising but WOW is the balance of our roster iBAD.
Ribs: Yeah, nice job on the Hossa comparison because I sorta thought the same thing the other night:) A big guy who's a great skater and looks after his own end.
ReplyDeleteBut we gotta see him start to scoring on some wristers and slappers all the same.
Nice to see that line get it going tonight and we should be fun to watch up front when 10-14 get back.