The current group of Oilers is a little shy of Krushelnyski's. They have a big LW in Dustin Penner, but he's not as chippy and is more skilled. The kid Pääjärvi will be capable of doing damage someday, Shawn Horcoff and Ryan Jones can play a physical style and play with skilled men.
After that, the Oilers up front grit comes from bit players like JF Jacques, Steve MacIntyre and the banished Zack Stortini.
--
The St. Louis Blues ooze grit. You could put this forward group in the middle of the 1970's and they'd survive. A guy like TJ Oshie is a buzzsaw, David Backes has size, grit and determination. David Perron can hit and score goals on the same shift when healthy and newly acquired Chris Stewart is an absolute power forward. The Blues do have some softer forwards like Brad Boyes and Matt D'Agostini, and Andy McDonald is undersized and injury prone. Alexander Steen gives them a 2-way presence and the club has some nice prospects coming along up front. They aren't quite Boston west, but the Blues are getting there.
--
Jim Matheson suggests not much is happening for the Oilers this deadline and that's fine by me. Tambellini had a solid deadline one year ago (dealt Grebs for the pick that became Curtis Hamilton, sent Lubo to ANA for Whitney and got a pick for Staios) and added a solid NHL winger in Ryan Jones via waivers. A quiet deadline with that kind of subtle move would be welcome.
--
A quick look at 5x5/60 scoring rates (via Desjardins) has some interesting results:
- Ales Hemsky 2.98 (having a fine season)
- Linus Omark 2.27 (HS a mystery, so says math and saw him good)
- Jordan Eberle 2.12 (sublime talent)
- Dustin Penner 2.07 (math loves him way more than saw him good)
- Sam Gagner 1.97 (a solid number)
- Taylor Hall 1.75 (young man is coming on strong, getting many chances)
- Liam Reddox 1.69 (motor runs all day and all of the night)
- Ryan Jones 1.69 (lots of power from the bottom of the batting order)
- MPS 1.58 (steadily improving)
- Andrew Cogliano 1.57 (getting huge push with two gifted kids on the wings)
- Shawn Horcoff 1.47 (working in a coalmine and posting decent numbers)
- JF Jacqes 1.04 (this is probably as good as it gets)
- Steve MacIntyre 0.94 (terrific number for the big man)
- Colin Fraser 0.59 (I thought he'd be way better)
The kids are more than alright; they're diamonds.
Apparently Lombardi is offering Simmonds AND Schenn for a first-line winger right now. Parise is probably the target. All things considered, I could see Tambellini holding out for that package if Hemsky is the asset being moved.
ReplyDeletejon k,
ReplyDeleteSource?
Friday morning standings as per pts%
Bottom 5 NHL
FLA .475
NJD .467
NYI .435
OTT .408
EDM .393
Its a 2 horse race. Chances Oilers pick 1st or 2nd is probably over 85s% at this point.
The GM that was happiest with the Anderson for Elliott trade was Tambellini.
Western Conference Standings
VAN .705
DET .656
SJS .613
PHX .605
LAK .590
DAL .574
CHI .574
MIN .574
----------
NSH .574
CGY .565
CBJ .559
ANA .557
STL .525
COL .484
EDM .393
Crazy close. This is going down to the last day/tie breakers.
Eastern Conference Standings
PHI .705
TBL .642
PIT .629
BOS .625
WSH .607
MTL .573
NYR .548
CAR .533
-----------
BUF .525
TOR .500
ATL .492
FLA .475
NJD .467
NYI .435
OTT .408
As it stands today the 6-8th teams in the East wouldn't make the playoffs in the West (using pts%)
jon k: source is right, because as much as I like Hemsky, that would be hard to turn down.
ReplyDeleteLT: wonder how the average for the past 2 years would go? Horcoff so desperately needs help to take off the pressure, i wonder if they still think Lander is that player. he may be a rookie next year, but he'll be a 20 yr old rookie and is a solid replacement for Fraser or maybe Cogs.
- Add Lander to bottom 6.
- Trade Cogs for Neil (solves our grit and nastiness bottom 6 problem)
- Sign or deal for that white whale that is a tough minutes PK centre (of which we have had and let 3 go in the last few years in Stoll, Brodziak and Reasoner). Any chance of prying Ott out of Dallas. yes he is paid a pretty penny, but he is a monster on the dot, kills penalties and is nasty. Would be fun to see a 3rd/4th line of Ott with Neil and Jones.
Hall-Horc-Eberle
Penner-Gagner-Hemsky
MPS-Lander-Omark
Jones-Ott-Neil
WG, I believe there's a website that works that all out. At least it does for last playoff spot; I'm sure it does for last too. I'll see if I can find it when I get to a computer.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Omark goes, perhaps his 50n5/60 AGAINST is the issue.
ReplyDelete(The old MacTavish "what you make v. what you give up" argument).
As much as I want Penner to stay, if the offer was Schenn and Simmonds for Penner I'd take it. I don't think Lombardi would do that for Penner at all.
ReplyDeleteIf it was for Hemsky, I'd at least have to think long and hard about it, toss in a 1st and lordie.
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=882869
ReplyDeletethis might be the source you re looking for.
I dont think Penner is valued as much by whos who od the hockey business as he is by us fans. I was watching the TSN panel talk about potential Oilers being traded and Bob Mckenzie did not look enthusiastic when talking about the return for Penner and even called the extra year at 4.25 million a detriment to his trade value. Whereas us fans see it as an asset!
ReplyDeleteKhabby injured, Gerber recalled as per Stauffer on TEAM1260 morning show.
ReplyDeleteSumOil: it's pretty obvious (to me, at least) from some of the comments about Penner that he is NOT universally loved in the MSM.
ReplyDeleteThe continued argument that he's not worth a 1st round pick in return (while guys like Mike Fisher and Kris Versteeg were) is somewhat perplexing. I thought big guys with skill were supposed to be generally over-valued - what's wrong here?
Gerber recalled? Dubnyk/Gerber tandem!? Oh no! Cue the winning streak.
ReplyDelete@ Hbomb
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I love Penner. TO be fair, his value should be higher than Versteeg and Fisher.
My point was more in reference to a poster above who was talking about schenn and simminds for penner!
I think us fans are right to value Penner this highly and Bob Mckenzie is wrong at least here.
What I was saying is that if we trade Penner, there is a good chance the return will not be satisfactory. So if that is the case, ST should try hard to resign Penner than trade him.
Penner is still tarred by the lunatic rantings of MacT.
ReplyDeleteThe gang that couldn't shoot straight.
People that supposedly were watching very closely (fans here) still think Penner changed between his first and second seasons in Edmonton. All that happened is that he got his coach off his back and he started getting better assignments. His play was just as supportive of his linemates in the first season. He got to play with better linemates in his second year.
To clarify, it seems that Hemsky and Penner are considered second line wingers, whereas players such as Gaborik or Parise are the top talents Lombardi is seeking. That's not my opinion but just generally seems to be the consensus.
ReplyDeleteSumOil: Agreed. I'm an advocate of the whole "keep your good players" approach of signing both Penner and Hemsky (assuming this is possible in that they both want to be here).
ReplyDeleteBoring for those who love trades and lots of shiny new things in the prospect cupboard, but I'm interested in seeing this team compete for a playoff spot ASAP (read: next spring).
I go back and forth in my mind with regards to trading Pensky and Hemner. I cringe when I hear a draft pick option because it just kicks the can down the road. I cringe when I hear a Simmonds and parts trade. But I smile when I think of a Shenn+Simmonds trade. As long as its a deal for higher end talent that fills a gaping hole then I'm fine with it.
ReplyDeleteDumping snow here in Tahoe. Off to ski some deep powder... and think about trade scenarios.
I don't know where the Schenn plus Simmonds speculation came from, but that runs counter to the repeated talk that Lombardi would loathe giving up even one of them, let alone both.
ReplyDeleteBecause IF he was to offer those two for Hemsky plus even a small top-up (Smid), I'd say that's the kind of package that might get Tambellini's attention. I have a hard time believing it's actually on the table though.
At the other end of the scale though, Brownlee suggested Hemsky for "Kyle Clifford, Slava Voynov and a SWAP of first rounders" or something to that extent. It wouldn't be a sufficient package if it was just LA's first rounder, let alone if we were moving down in the first round this June from the top five to somewhere around #20....
At this point, I'm scared of all the possible negative scenarios. 1pm MST on Monday cannot arrive soon enough.
Ales Hemsky 2.98 (having a fine season)
ReplyDeleteA fine season that is 10th overall among skaters that have played at least 10 games.
Behind The Net
Those are some good players he's behind and theres just as much quality in the player's in the rear view mirror. I hope we can keep Hemsky.
I love and hate the trade deadline. Hate it cause Im not in the know and speculating gets old. But if the package is Schenn plus Simmonds, I say pull the trigger. Hemsky is a sublime talent but comes with durability issues.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I know the Oilers need another Horcoff, not less. But I am surprised there hasn't been a Horcoff to Washington rumor.
too high a cap hit sean
ReplyDeleteAs good a player as Horc is, he is overpaid too. With a lot years left in the contract as well.
Damn, that will give you last in the conference probability, but not league.
ReplyDeleteWhere did my post go?
ReplyDeleteTrying again:
ReplyDeleteWoodguy, here's the site. Hope that's helpful, although, as you can see it is focused more on making the playoffs than anything else.
Oilers can go 21-0-0 and have a 7% chance at 8th! 20-0-1 and no chancey.
98% chance to finish last in conference it appears.
Oilers Chances Through 61GP
ReplyDeleteBoss is out this morning and I'm not particularly busy so figured I'd update this.
Whomever is coaching the special teams needs to be fired, shot and then fired again. I'll buy the PK being a personnel issue, but there's no way our PP should be this bad.
Thanks, quain. We miss you around these parts.
ReplyDeleteI'm still wondering why no NHL team has offered MacT a job yet.
ReplyDeleteWow, Omark bleeding even more chances against than I had thought.
ReplyDeleteWho had Feb.25th in the Khabibulin pool? I guess it only counts if it's a season-ender. He teased us with that last injury by coming back. Sigh..
ReplyDeletespOILer:
ReplyDeleteFantastic site, but making the playoffs isn't much of an issue with the Oilers.
If they had a "finishing 30th out of 30 teams" chart I'd have it bookmarked and read it twice every day.
Sumoil: Yeah I wont argue that. But Horcoff would give the Caps a chance against Philly or Pitts. And teams like Det/Chi paid the price of winning. It may not be smart for either team but its just such an obvious need. I'll concede ... you win ;)
ReplyDeleteHemsky isnt the issue here. sign the guy, move Gagner and Penner!
ReplyDeleteU wont get a Hemsky in any deal being offered out there.
Nice post LT, However, I recognize Horc's value to the Oilers, but I would not include him in the forwards with grit discussion. If your definition of grit is he goes to some dirty areas, I'll give you that, but he initiates no physicality.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Sean. If the caps got Horcoff they would be instantly better but I don't think they like his cap hit. If he were signed for say 3-4 mill a year maybe they would be able to swallow that.
ReplyDeleteDuhatschek on Hemsky and his perceived
ReplyDeletevalue.
Maybe I/we are biased because we see Hemsky every night,but the opinion expressed by the author strikes me as someone who only sees Hemsky a hanful of times a year.
Screw Duhatchek
ReplyDeleteas of today Hemsky>Iginla
If anything Iginla's value keeps going down
I'm pretty sure those hoping for a schenn trade will be disappointed. It's not gonna happen.
ReplyDeleteLA is on a pretty ridiculous run, taking 15 of 20 possible points. I just don't see why they would make a move now when they are already beating quality teams.
I was hoping for a well timed 3 games losing streak for them, but it didn't happen that way. No big trades for LA imo...
Hunter, it kind of gives that too, at least for the conference...
ReplyDeleteFor eg. It looks to me that the Oil would have to go 14-5-2 to have a 50% chance at finishing 14th in the conference.
But yeah, I haven't used that site much in the past 4 years. nice to see it's still operating.
ReplyDeleteWaiver fun from Bob...
ReplyDeleteMore waivers: Kris Newbury (NYR), Nick Boynton (CHI), Wade Belak (NSH), Todd Ford (WAS). Also, Mike Smith (TB) cleared re-entry.
I think Cogs will be one of the most interesting stories to watch at the deadline. If this push has been all about pumping and dumping, it's a big fail if they can't deal him for something decent.
ReplyDeleteBut are we sure they're not seeing him as part of the solution now?
And what do people think he could realistically bring?
ial-I said the same thing late in yesterday's thread.That 10 game road trip they just finished had the potential to sink them heading into the final stretch but the Kings just kept winning and there really isn't any pressure on Lombardi to make a desperation move.
ReplyDeleteI'm fine with a quiet deadline provided they can get a bullet or 2 for Vandermeer/whatever...that means the heavy lifting is left to the draft/July 1-this team still needs a lot of work before we can start winning games.
I was just thinking about what I'd do as GM this deadline, and I found that there are nine roster players that I would deal for a seventh rounder (jointly or severally, frankly).
ReplyDeleteThis is a bad team.
Frelbo
ReplyDelete-26 in the Whistler alpine this morning-we had a couple meters of snow over the last 10 days but it's been clear and freaking cold the last 3 days.
Have fun up there.
Oilers tweet...
ReplyDeleteKhabibulin has an eye infection, which is why he was placed on IR.
Well, that's a new one.
Gregor says he got an ice chip in his eye.
ReplyDeleteGR
ReplyDeleteI agree, the one guy that must be moved for anything is JVM. He's not coming back and any return is welcomed. Maybe they can convince someone that Foster is worth a chance on the PP, but I'm not holding my breath.
Looking like it's gonna be real quiet this deadline. Then we can focus our discussions on the June draft and other moves that Tambo won't make happen there. After that, July 1st and little or no free agent moves to fill needs.
Then the cycle starts all over again with the "assessment period" after 2 months of losing next year. Who's Going? Penner or Hemsky? Should we get a third line center or can Cogliano become one?
Rinse and repeat
the cycle of Tambellini
Somewhere, on management's orders, Khabibulin is rubbing his hand in his eyes and then wiping it on Gilbert Brule.
ReplyDeleteRE: Quain's Scoring chance charts
ReplyDeleteMan... there's some good stuff there.
The Powerplay section caught my eye. Going by the numbers, our 1PP should be built around the trio of Gagner-Paajarvi-Omark. I guess being high event on the powerplay is a good thing.
Another interesting number is Jordan Eberle's PK CD/60 - Best on the team.
ReplyDeleteI love that there are names passing down and back through waivers that might be worth a look at but we're holding on to SMAC, JFJ and Strudwick with three roster spots.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see a couple 20 game auditions handed out on some of the pre-deadline fodder.
Another interesting number is Jordan Eberle's PK CD/60 - Best on the team.
ReplyDeleteBruce addresses that here.
Could it be that Jacques is the one driving the bus on the fourth line?
ReplyDelete%CF
Jacques - 46.2%
Stortini - 42.5%
Fraser - 39.2%
MacIntyre - 30.3%
Khabby out with a eye injury as per Oiler PR.
ReplyDeleteHe just couldn't see him self working for next two weeks.
Actually an eye injury is a great nebulous thing to keep him on IR for the rest of his contract.
"Honest Doc I can't read the chart"
Could it be that Jacques is the one driving the bus on the fourth line?
ReplyDeleteOur fourth line's bus is on cinder blocks, and lacks an engine in any event. I'll concede that Jacques may be sitting in the driver's seat making horn noises with his mouth, though.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"Steve"
ReplyDeleteI thought I making a comment to that extent immediately after posting :)
One more number:
PK CD/60
Gilbert - (56.16)
Smid - (44.52)
TOI
Gilbert - 2:22:06
Smid - 1:34:21
Smid should probably be getting some of Gilbert's PK minutes in exchange for EV icetime, as Gilbert fares better there (probably against tougher comp. too).
23 is on the list 2x. I'm assuming its the lesser number?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJimmy,
ReplyDeleteFixed.
Thank you.
Woodguy
ReplyDeleteAnother typo - you left out Teddy Peckman.
got an ice chip in his eye
ReplyDeleteIt flew out of his glass when he hit a bump.
I was just going to say, before anyone thinks negatively of 49 because his Scoring Chance numbers aren't the greatest, he is facing the toughest opposition of all Oiler defenders:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.behindthenet.ca/nhl_statistics.php?s=11&f1=2010_s&f2=5v5&f4=D&f5=EDM&f7=20-&c=0+1+3+5+11+12+13+14+15+16#
Jeff Sagarin's computer models @ USA Today are the closest to 'probability of finishing last' that I have found. He has 2 algorithms. One is based on wins and losses, the other is based on goal differential in games. It is updated every night.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, Quain is awesome. Thanks for the work.
ReplyDeleteHere is the Scoring Chance For - Scoring Chance Against differential per 60 5v5 in order from highest to lowest.
Thought would be easier to spur discussion if it were posted:
Forwards
4 +1.89
10 +1.05
27 +0.37
14 +.012
83 -1.10
22 -2.61
89 -2.96
46 -4.60
85 -4.69
13 -4.81
67 -6.77
16 -6.87
91 -6.90
23 -6.93
28-10.80
42-12.02
33-14.30
Defence
58 +3.74
6 -1.07
77 -1.78
41 -2.23
5 -3.06
43 -3.56
26 -4.37
45 -7.16
49 -7.32
2 -7.62
Goalies
29 -1.26
40 -2.09
35 -5.06
Looks like the team plays worse (or tougher opponents) with Khabby behind them.
This is now version 4.0. :p
Here's a confounding stat. TB is 35-18-7 & has a goal differential of -1. Is that wild or what?
ReplyDeleteTB seems to have a solid team this year, their goaltending is what's been killing them, but Roli seems to have stabalized things.
ReplyDeleteAs per Behind the Net, the Corsi QC for Oiler Fowards (Corsi QC is most accurate as per Gabe)
ReplyDeleteNUM CORSI QoC
42 2.36
14 1.35
67 1.22
10 0.96
83 0.76
91 0.75
4 0.67
89 0.63
27 0.45
13 0.42
28 0.42
16 0.25
22 -0.12
46 -0.21
23 -0.28
33 -0.91
85 -1.54
Defense
NUM CORSI QoC
43 1.81
6 1.78
77 0.74
5 0.56
49 0.47
2 0.36
26 0.35
45 0.15
58 -0.94
41 -3.11
Sure but they're 17 games over .500 & are minus 1. It's quite an accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Jordan Eberle and I have the 2nd best Scoring chance differential while playing the toughest competition on the Oilers (42-O'Marra played only 9 games)
ReplyDeleteI am a rookie.
I am have my own brand of cologne coming out called "I'm So Freaking Awesome You Cannot Speak"
Unreal.
Hunter: You've been told the reason MacT hasn't sought another full-time coaching position. You just refuse to believe it.
ReplyDeleteFroese: I noticed the other day that Peckham is facing the toughest competition on the team, and is also posting the highest Corsi relative to QC. That's a pretty good sign that he's making strides this season.
I might have heard a rumour that Oilers are negotiating with Hieronymus Bosch to paint their 2011 end of season group portrait.
ReplyDeleteWho is this 43 that is 6th among D on scoring chance differential while playing the toughest comp?
ReplyDeletePlus I hear he is good in the room.
Nice signing Tambo!
I would love to see a couple 20 game auditions handed out on some of the pre-deadline fodder.
Hey, you're getting Marty Gerber, what else do you need?
Hunter: You've been told the reason MacT hasn't sought another full-time coaching position. You just refuse to believe it.
ReplyDeleteThat losing the Spengler and hanging around with Bobby Mac is more fun?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was because MacT was finishing his MBA and wants to be a manager?
ReplyDeleteI think LA is more likely to make a big deal if they feel they have a real chance to win the Cup.
ReplyDeleteIf Lombardi feels that this year isn't their best shot I don't think he deals Schenn, Simmonds his 1st rounder or any of his D prospects. However, if he feels they have a shot at making a deep run then I think he makes a deal.
Lombardi might feel that his team is still a year or two from being Stanley Cup favorites. He has a ton of cap space going forward. However they are thin up front after Brown, Smyth and Kopitar in terms of quality offensive forwards.
He'll have less room when he has to pay guys like Doughty.
ReplyDeleteGoalies
ReplyDelete29 -1.26
40 -2.09
35 -5.06
Looks like the team plays worse (or tougher opponents) with Khabby behind them
I wonder to what extent Khabbi is the author of his own misfortune. I'm assuming that juicy rebounds often turn into scoring chances against...
Schitzo,
ReplyDeleteExcellent question.
Khabby's padding seems to be made of Indian rubber as opposed to the enveloping pillowy softness that DD seems to have when a puck hits him.
Wolfie, you stole the words I was about to type. If you read about Lombardi and listen to his quotes, he's a guy who doesn't believe in making big deals until his team has a chance to win.
ReplyDeleteThe better they play the more chance he pulls the trigger.
If LA has any concerns about cap hit, we should just offer them a set of deals wherein they get Penner this year for futures and next year we take Smyth off their hands. Viola, they get Smyth for the playoff run, but get cap space for 2011-12; we get a couple of extra bucks to let Smyth retire an Oiler and maybe even help make us competitive next season, a season when we don't need the cap dollars.
ReplyDeleteCall it something like Penner, Smid and a third for Simmonds, Schenn and Smyth (not even pretending this is reasonable, just illustrating.) Penner for Schenn right now, and then Smid and picks for Simmonds/Smyth. LA keeps a very nice roster for the playoffs and receives cap relief next season to pay their guys,extend Penner and hunt down a FA or two.
Again, not saying the deal in question is reasonable, but I think we could structure deals that actually improve a team in the short-run, but get us roster players for the long-run.
Considering Handzus, Williams, Ponikarovsky and Sturm all come off the books. I don't think he'll have any trouble finding money for Doughty.
ReplyDeleteHe has approximately $20 - $23 million in cap space next year depending on the official cap number.
I think a Duncan Keith type deal is reasonable for Doughty. So let's pencil Doughty in for somewhere between $5.5 to $6 million per year cap hit and the Kings still have plenty of room to add pieces and flesh out the roster.
There might be some internal pressure for Moller and Loktionov to make the roster.
LA has some work to do but their core will be locked up long term at reasonable rates.
Lombardi just waived Sturm to make room on roster......
ReplyDeleteAs per Pierre LaBrun Lombardi is making room on his roster "in case" he makes a trade this weekend.
ReplyDeleteWolfie - unless of course Lombardi's boss thinks they should make a run for the cup this year.
ReplyDeleteThere is speculation that Lombardi is under some job pressure.
We better not claim Sturm. He's not good enough to play #3C on this team.
Deano
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely hilarious!!!!! Unfortunately it may also be true
Ducey
ReplyDeleteIf you think Strudwick is anything above a very mediocre signing, is he your brother?
Bob McKenzie tweets
ReplyDelete.......Marco Sturm on waivers.
Pierre LeBrun on twitter-
Kings don't have a trade in place right now. Sturm on waivers created roster flexibility in case they do make a move between now and Monday.
----------------------------------
Looks like Lombardi is clearing some cap space. It's gonna happen folks. Someone take Dennis's torch and pitchfork away right now.
Sturm does not fit agewise, but he is +6 w/ 9 points in 17 games. Surely he would make better use of Fraser's chair in the pressbox.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the consensus among Oiler fans is that Schenn should be worth considerably less than Seguin. I agree he's worth less, but not the considerably part. And obviously Hemsky alone isn't gonna get you Seguin, let alone Seguin +.
ReplyDeleteIf Tambo added to Hemsky to get Schenn+pick I wouldn't be upset so long as the + pieces were picks/players that don't figure into the plans going forward (Cogliano, Brule, Martindale, maybe even Omark). I know my opinion will be unpopular but Schenn is an A+ prospect and Lombardi is not stupid enough to sell low on a guy under his control for 7 years who will likely put up 60-70 points most of those years. I mean, Schenn's NHL equivalency this year is something like 55-60 points. Admittedly, small sample size and context is required.
csimpson - Points tomorrow are not worth near as much as points today.
ReplyDeleteIf you think Strudwick is anything above a very mediocre signing, is he your brother?
ReplyDeleteI was joking. Well, half joking.
It is interesting that we rely on numbers like Corsi to say guys like Penner are good. But when those numbers say Strudwick is a decent NHL defenseman, we tend to ignore them.
Sruds was signed for peanuts to be the 7th Dman. He seems to have covered the bet. From that perspective it was a good signing.
But I would't want to see him in the top 6 next year.
Sturm is only 1/1 on draws in 17 games so it looks like he has not been playing C.
ReplyDeleteHemsky is an Oiler for life, as far as I'm concerned. So the way for the Hall + company brigade to win the cup is, according to some, to make sure he's the oldest player?
ReplyDeleteI always thought most cup winners have kept a few veteran players with skill around, and by skill I'm talking about Hemsky/Penner levels - not washed up plugs reacquired from the dismal MacT era.
Hunter:
ReplyDeleteYou're gonna jink it. Stop!!!
Am checking expedia now. I will not be happy if they move Hemsky unless they can convince me that he was not going to re-sign.
This guy has been right before but he's also definitely been wrong:
ReplyDelete"incarceratedbob incarcerated bob
**NHL BREAKING NEWS**Source: Kings have a DEAL in principle with Oilers 4 Hemsky (That part is done) more work to be done on other players
20 minutes ago Unfavorite Reply"
According to the Urban Dictionary:
ReplyDeleteThe term "Craig MacTavish" means to have unprotected sex with a girl. (ie. sexual intercourse without your "helmet" (a condom).
"Hey bro, did you Craig MacTavish her last night?"..."No man, turns out she wasn't a fan of Craig MacTavish".
You can't make this kind of stuff up.
You want grit and need grit to win trade
ReplyDeletePenner and Smid for Nikolai Kulemin.
@hunter
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! lol
Could also be JBo for Schenn. Who the frick knows anymore.
ReplyDeleteLOL @ Craig MacTavish
ReplyDeleteMy mind is racing now.
Linus Omark
- slick moves and great with your hands but pay absolutely no attention to the back end.
Nikolai Khabibulan
- horrible drunken performance that everyone keeps saying was great.
Andrew Cogliano
- Rushes the girl into bed very quickly, tears her clothes off and sticks it...... on her hip.
The one and only good thing about trading Hemsky is that it could come with such a negative backlash that the Braintrust is lobotomized en masse. If Tambi fails to get adequate return, he would be, should be, run out of town.
ReplyDeleteThis situation has different optics than an older Smyth failing to come to terms on a big contract.
"incarceratedbob incarcerated bob
ReplyDelete**NHL BREAKING NEWS**Source: Kings have a DEAL in principle with Oilers 4 Hemsky (That part is done) more work to be done on other players
20 minutes ago Unfavorite Reply"
Incarcerated Bob, eh?
Want lots of hits to your site? Just spread rumours about Hemsky trades. Works for Eklund and works from jail (not that those are mutually exclusive).
Ducey: It's Pierre's ''Inside'' info.
ReplyDelete"Penner and Smid for Nikolai Kulemin."
ReplyDeleteTerrible.
Ducey, I don't even know why people bother to repost that drivel. Throw enough excrement at the walls and something's bound to stick eventually I suppose.
ReplyDeleteAnyone see that little blurb about Lupul losing his iPhone and posting a reward of Leaf tickets and a jersey as reward? It apparently worked, but some wissenheimer commented "Leaf game tickets? How is that a reward?".
Despite being a fan that list is not very flattering to Horcoff. His wingers this year have been either Hemsky and Penner or Hall and Eberle and yet he is way down the list. I know he is being asked to take on a big defensive job but the offensive numbers really look quite week.
ReplyDelete"got an ice chip in his eye
ReplyDeleteIt flew out of his glass when he hit a bump."
Genius, Deano.
LF - that deal is actually not too far off the mark. I would consider it.
Kulemin is a terrific player. One more year on his deal at 2.35 then he'd be RFA I believe.
6'1 225 and plays like it.
21 goals, 21 assists
Very good in his own end, hard on the puck etc etc
Why not Nikolai Kulemin is a power forward just 24 yrs old and should be in his prime when Oilers are a legit playoff team Toronto need a D-man and Burke like Penner.
ReplyDeleteHunter: I'll respectfully decline to respond to your "response", despite the fact that you rarely, if ever, extend that courtesy to others.
ReplyDeleteKhabibulin has an eye infection, which is why he was placed on IR.
ReplyDeleteThere are other reasons than an eye infection to explain dilated pupils and bloodshot eyes...
The entire idea of non- playoff teams trading on deadline day is for desperate GM's of playoff teams to bend over offering to overpay, not GM's of .393 winning hockey teams desperate to bend over for the GM's of playoff teams.
ReplyDeleteTambellini had better be very careful, because he might end up getting Craig MacTavished.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe entire idea of non- playoff teams trading on deadline day is for desperate GM's of playoff teams to bend over offering to overpay, not GM's of .393 winning hockey teams desperate to bend over for the GM's of playoff teams.
ReplyDeleteThat's certainly true of guys like Penner and Hemsky, but as I said, there are nine roster players I'd accept a seventh round pick for, if that was what was available. I hope Tambellini takes any opportunity that arises to get rid of dead weight/impending UFAs.
"Steve",
ReplyDeleteI'm curious which nine players you mean.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if Khabby's injury was a cover because they have a deal in the works and they had to get Gerber on the plane?
ReplyDeleteJones, Fraser, Brule, MacIntyre, Jacques, Vandermeer, Strudwick, Foster, Khabibulin
ReplyDeleteBrule's certainly debatable, but I feel pretty comfortable with the rest of the list. You could probably also make a case for Horcoff and maybe Cogliano, though I'm not going to be the one making it.
Khabibulin's on there primarily for the contract, and Vandermeer and Jones primarily because their contracts are expiring. The rest are on there strictly on the demerits (though Foster's contract doesn't help).
I'm fully aware that nobody will offer even a seventh round pick for many of those guys.
Vandermeer has been pretty decent lately. He's worth something to a playoff team.
ReplyDeleteI think so too. I wouldn't object to the Oilers signing him at a drastically reduced salary to fulfill the Strudwick role (the on-ice part, that is). And I think that his services are going to be in little enough demand that trading him wouldn't limit the Oilers' ability to do that (unlike with, say, Ryan Smyth). And even if his services are in high enough demand and we don't get him, oh well.
ReplyDeleteFor these rumours being tossed around, what are the sources? Sorry if I missed it while skimming.
ReplyDeleteeither Matheson is fucking with us or the Oilers are fucking with him.
ReplyDeleteFirst he lays it all out there last week and it looks like we can see for miles and miles but today he writes that nothing's happening.
but then Lombardi clears some room.
hopefully it's for Richards though there's no way you can turn down Simmonds plus Schenn; though I don't expect that to be offered.
SS: nice work on the 22/bus joke:)
ReplyDeleteSS: nice work on the 22/bus joke:)
ReplyDeleteIt's what I do. Like, all I do.
I'm also going to provide you with some free advice: You should watch what you call people on the internet. The veil is easily pierced and statements of claim are surprisingly cheap for someone with legal training.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, you're a real lawyer, and I'm not, so I'll defer to you on this, but is it actually possible for somebody to sue for defamation of their internet pseudonym, when their internet pseudonym is not publicly linked to their real life identity? It seems intuitive to me that you couldn't, but, as is usually the case, I don't actually know what I'm talking about.
Jones and Vandermeer are the two that I'd like to have back for next year, but only at bargain contracts. Otherwise I like your list. I was counting on my fingers and forgot about Brule. I think you might get a mid-round pick (4-5th round) for 67, who knows.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting legal question actually. I don't know the answer myself without looking into it. I imagine such a claim would be bolstered in factual circumstances where the defamed party has tied their online persona to their true identity. I use my real name here in shortened form and in full on other blogs so the extent to which my online persona is distanced from true identity is minimal.
ReplyDeleteTo be clear, I'm not threatening Hunter, though I think the things he says are rude and stupid in a completely unqualified sense. I think he honestly could use that advice with the way he carries himself.
Despite his good size and skating abilities, the physical game was approached reluctantly by Mike. He preferred to stay away from the corners and slot. Although he'd take a hit to make a play, he generally didn't enjoy the physical game. It's too bad. With his speed and shooting abilities, not to mention his incredible supporting cast in Edmonton, he could have been a really good power forward.
ReplyDeletehttp://oilerslegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/mike-krushelnyski.html
OK, LT, I am with you most of the time, but I don't remember the same Krushelnyski that you do. In fact, my admittedly often hazy recollection from those years have Mike as being criticized in much the same manner as Penner for not using his big body enough.
The forward crust brigade in the 80's started with Kevin McLelland and worked it's way down through Dave Hunter and Mark Messier. Mike Krushelnyski may have cracked the top 10 in team PIM in his "best" years. Krushelnyski is a good a comparison from that era as you can find for Penner, though, but I think Penner is the better player and almost as jamworthy.
Don't trade Penner/Hemsky unless you have confirmed their future intentions to go UFA; if so Schenn + Simmonds/1st round pick for Penner/Hemsky + pickasmurf/pickaDplug
Jon, would you care to quantify your avatar's economic loss?
ReplyDeleteDidn't we originally get Krushelnyski in the hope he would be our Otto?
ReplyDeleteDennis "hopefully it's for Richards though there's no way you can turn down Simmonds plus Schenn; though I don't expect that to be offered."
ReplyDeleteWhy not? There's still an argument to be made that if Hemsky is going to re-sign, he plus the remaining salary not paid to the LA guys is worth more to this team than those 2 players.
I'm not exactly on the Schenn for Mayor bandwagon...I think people might be confusing what he did at the WJCs with what Eberle did. Schenn's a good player, but as of right now I don't think he's Eberle #2.
As if anyone couldn't guess, I'm firmly in the keep Hemsky camp. Keeping him means we're still on track. Ditching he and/or Penner (though Penner to a lesser extent) means that we're back to having massive holes in important positions upfront that aren't easily filled.
There. Now I feel clean again.
ReplyDeleteHere's to the Oilers going on a nice .250 winning run for the next 20 games, and finishing 30th in the NHL.
LMHF 1,
ReplyDeleteI see your point. "Loudmouthed Horcoff Fan" doesn't have the same cachet as the original.
For the record, I find the Craig MacTavish "jokes" repulsive. And MacT has been too busy getting his Master's to be looking for work. He is a very intelligent man, and I expect once he is open to taking on new responsibilities, he will.
ReplyDeletePerhaps no one noticed, but the Oilers have not been playing better hockey in the post-MacT era.
I'm not exactly on the Schenn for Mayor bandwagon...I think people might be confusing what he did at the WJCs with what Eberle did. Schenn's a good player, but as of right now I don't think he's Eberle #2.
ReplyDeleteWell his age 19 season is killing Eberle's so he has that going for him.
I wish people here wouldn't be so lazy as to think Schenn appeared on the radar because of his World Junior performance.
Krushelnyski was a good hockey player, but unfortunately for him he was burdened with the "big guy" curse of being expected to use that size. (See Frank Mahovlich/Punch Imlach, Dustin Penner/Craig MacTavish, etc.)
ReplyDeleteI was always left wanting more from that guy, since he wasn't on the level of Kurri & Gretzky or Messier & Anderson. When he couldn't make plays with them or provide a physical presence it was frustrating to watch.
Suing pseudonyms. It just kind of rolls off the tongue. I like it.
ReplyDeleteSt. Louis is the ultimate vanilla team. They've been around forever but you can't tell from looking at them. Have you ever met a St. Louis Blues fan? I seem to recall some easterners being fans because of Al MacInnis but that was quite some time ago. They're among the top ten in attendance rates every year somehow and yet I get the feeling that if the entire team were to suddenly vanish from the face of the earth, hardly anyone would notice.
As if anyone couldn't guess, I'm firmly in the keep Hemsky camp. Keeping him means we're still on track. Ditching he and/or Penner (though Penner to a lesser extent) means that we're back to having massive holes in important positions upfront that aren't easily filled.
ReplyDeleteI don't know. Lets take the rumours. Adding Kulimen, Schenn, and Simmonds up front (for Hemsky, Penner, and Smid) adds more speed, a better work ethic, more grit, more size, better health, and fills a hole at C.
There is a drop off in experience but there would be much more depth and balance.
Is there in fact a Kulemin rumor?
ReplyDeleteI'm able to tell who Jon is, as I have his email address through my own site and could link it to his Facebook profile. I used to think he was the equivalent of some sort of Buddha Jesus; now I see him as more of a Stalin type. My opinion could not be lower. I was prepared to enter into a business transaction that nobody else can offer him, making mitigation impossible, worth tens of millions of dollars with him but will no longer do so.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how much of a hit tsn.ca's homepage takes with McKenzie and Dreger breaking everything on twitter these days. Not many reasons to visit it any more.
ReplyDeleteThere was rumour of the Leafs wanting Smid...Never heard what the return was supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteTyler: the inability to mitigate was a nice touch.
ReplyDeleteTyler: Haha touche. :)
ReplyDeleteRibs,
ReplyDeleteI still go to tsn before I check anything on twitter. Infact call me old fashions but I hate twitter. I wish they would just post on TSN the stuff they put on twitter.
Mr Smitty - I'm relatively new to the twitter world, myself. I was holding out as long as I could, really. It was just very annoying in it's infancy. I was checking the twitter pages instead of logging in and that did the job for a while but I think smart phones have changed things completely (Damn, I'll have to get one of those eventually, too).
ReplyDeleteThere's lots of interesting info being shot out there through twitter these days and I can't imagine it will slow down any time soon. The damn phones just make it so accessible for everyone.
It is kind of surprising that TSN does'nt stream it's tweets on the main page somewhere though.
I am old fashioned too, but I like twitter on the deadline days.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to wait for the scribe to write the whole story. The facts I want easily fit into the 140 character limit.
I don't see much use for it otherwise.
Is there in fact a Kulemin rumor?
ReplyDeleteYeah, here. Little Fury 2:14
Its not exactly John 3:16, but John spent little time worrying about the Oilers.
There is no Kulemin rumour - there is an anon who keeps popping up everywhere saying the Oilers should trade for him.
ReplyDeleteHe is the Leafs' best player and he is cheap. No way Burke trades him unless it was for one of the golden boys and by that I mean Hall or Eberle.
I knew a guy who was a Blues fan because when he was a kid Inge Hammerstrom got traded to them from the Leafs. That was his favourite player so he became a St. Louis fan.
So there's him, Ma and Pa Plager ....
Jim Matheson tweets there are 23 scouts at the Oiler game tonite.
ReplyDeleteJim Matheson tweets there are 23 scouts at the Oiler game tonite.
ReplyDeleteHuh. Does St. Louis have anybody likely to move?
Hmm..This is the actual tweet...
ReplyDeleteI don't know if we get 23 scouts in an entire season to the pressbox in edmonton.
Does that mean there are 23 scouts there? I don't know. He posted that earlier in the day, too. Do 23 scouts show up hours early to a game?
Inge Hammarstrom. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's somehow numerological.
ReplyDeleteBallard ruined him. Hammarstrom was very skilled but lacked Salming's brave heart. Ballard gathered the press around, made his eggs in pocket comment and he has been tarred with that brush since.
ReplyDeleteOf course, as with all Leafs stories, karma is a bitch.
quoting various sources: Most famously, Hammarström is credited with being the scout who pushed the hardest for Philadelphia to select Peter Forsberg with the sixth overall pick of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. At the time, the pick was considered a surprise -- and a bit of a gamble. Forsberg had been ranked considerably lower by The Hockey News in its 1991 Draft Preview, and most observers expected the player to be taken late in the first round or early in the second round of the draft.
So there's him, Ma and Pa Plager ...
ReplyDelete..and the bass player from Triumph.
Who's 'Comment deleted?' He's very active on this thread, albeit a man of few words.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of old timey stories, I was reading through the cgy herald last sat looking for the old gems that always pop up when oldtimers get together - I love that stuff - and there were some gems about Sergei Makarov questioning the coaching acumen of Terry Crisp.
ReplyDeleteEven Crisp loved the stories:)
Damn you Ribs,
ReplyDeleteYou convinced me to sign up and follow Dreger and Mckenize
Yeah I was irked earlier because I saw some Anonymouse post the Penner+Smid for Kulemin on Lebrun's ESPN article today, clicked over here and saw the same damn thing. Maybe it's Burke?
ReplyDeletePat: So the Ayatohlla Kulemini is a younger, lesser Penner? Maybe I'd do that deal straight across, but I don't know about Smid as well. Not that it'll ever happen. Trade proposals are such bullshit.
MrSmitty - One of Us! One of Us!
ReplyDeleteIt's not too bad if you're just following people and don't expect anyone to read what you have to say.
whenever I see the phrase 'old timey' i find myself fighting the urge to start quoting O Brother Where Art Thou
ReplyDeleteDefamation is a horrible cause of action.
ReplyDeleteTruth is a complete defense and worse, much worse, the successful plaintiff has to quantify their damages. It is where most defamation suits result in either a loss or no damages (Lougheed v CBC).
30th overall, twice, last in PP, last in PK,........ I would run the truth defense first
LF - LeBrun, really? That's weird.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah trade rumours, cripes put one on Twitter yourself and it can take off.
I don't even know if I would call Kulemin a lesser version. His motor is always running. I like Penner but I've liked Kulemin since last year, the guy is excellent. Weird thing is that he is a Leaf and he's an unknown.
Penner would not be enough because of his contract status imo.
MrSmitty - you'll enjoy it, follow columnists and the like, make sure you follow Terry Jones, he's a riot
Matheson is a riot too, he's like my Dad. Every email I get from him starts with "You probably won't get this ..."
I'm sure Matheson meant a Boy Scout troop is attending.
Dennis - yeah those Crisp / Makarov stories were great
Sorry if I missed it, but recall or emergent recall? I'd not emergency-why and what else is in play?
ReplyDeleteTSN has Brule listed on IR with an "abdominal injury".
ReplyDeleteEver since he broke into Lowe's free drugs cabinet he's been walking around Rexall Place thinking he's Harry Houdini.
Goodfellas is on AMCHD now. I kinda want to finish watching it for the 20th time, but honest to god, I have this nagging feeling every time I might miss a game that I'm going to miss something special from HallBerle.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOilers "hockey"...or a rock concert with the new love interest?
ReplyDeleteDecisions decisions.
Gene Principe is monumentally terrible at his job. However the guy seems like such a harmless innocent, the guy that gives his ex a ride to her new lovers party, so she would realize how sweet he is... That guy
ReplyDeleteSo now he's kinda like Rudy. I watch his performances, hoping against all hope that he knocks this one out of park.
It's safe to say that Gene is welcome to any thanksgiving dinners my family will have during my tenure on earth.
...and we're back.
ReplyDeleteStewart...that's a Jewish name right?
ReplyDeleteBecause the Oilers just parted like the Red Sea.
taylor didn't pick up his man on that one
ReplyDeletedorito: get the girl. Hockey will be here waiting when you get back.
ReplyDeleteYakety Sax on that GA.
ReplyDeleteMarchand With Hands And An Inner Ear Infection with some classic work in the neutral zone.
Stortini scores for the Barons!!!!
ReplyDeleteCan someone help a new twiterrite (twit?) out, what's Matheson's twitter account?
ReplyDeleteIsn't that why Lowe retired? An inner ear disorder ?
ReplyDeleteExplains some GM stuff too.
LT:
ReplyDeleteOh sorry, it was never a question of do I pick the team or the girl. I'm not an idiot. She's at work for another hour so I get the first period.
dg, think they're called 'tweeps' :)
ReplyDeletedorito: Ah, gotcha. I knew you were smarter than that. :-)
ReplyDeleteHey Showerhead or IceCastles, either of you checking out Festivale tonight for the Inward Eye show?
ReplyDeleteanyone have a feed?
ReplyDeleteOilers "hockey"...or a rock concert with the new love interest?
ReplyDeleteOr, watch the game with the girl. If she goes for it, she's a keeper.
atdhe's showing a bunch of fairies prancing around???
ReplyDeleteAnd no, the Oilers aren't the fairies ;)
I was going to say twats danny but this is a family blog:)
ReplyDeleteSo what time does the game start?
Oh.
HallBerle are getting their show run.
ReplyDeleteNow atdhe's got the game showing, but brutal quality. Better feeds anyone?
ReplyDeleteSmarmy
ReplyDelete- I wish people would look beyond that as well. I believe they are focussing on it AND exaggerating it.
I had a long response typed but it disappeared...??
dg - I don't have the twitter open but there is a find function - just type in Matheson's name and you'll find it
ReplyDeleteOmark would have buried that chance.
ReplyDeleteor you can follow Tyler (mc79hockey) or myself (blackdogpat) or any of the usual suspects - then check the folks we follow - you'll find all of the hockey guys there
ReplyDelete23 scouts are seeing 83/27 good tonight
ReplyDeleteBlues announcer just described "Edmonton's number one shutdown unit - Smid+Gilbert".
ReplyDeleteNHLbyMatty if you haven't found it yet, Dorito.
ReplyDelete"Mitigate"....yes, a nice touch, especially appreciated if you're a member of the "club" and like to lord it over others.
ReplyDeleteActually I did like the humour in MC's post.
Or, watch the game with the girl. If she goes for it, she's a keeper.
ReplyDeleteYes, but think hard about procreation.
Hemsky's flying and Penner seems to be looking a little better. He actually took the puck to the net.
"Jacques was right there, but he didn't get it".
ReplyDeleteYou can't make this up.
Much appreciation Ribs:
ReplyDeleteAll: She's said she's not much for watching hockey. Which brings her down from a 10 to a 9.9998 from my perspective.