Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Kings at Oilers, G50 10-11

This is Dave Taylor. He was drafted in the 15th round (#210 overall) in 1975. He was skinny on his draft day (6.0, 150 according to Hockey draft central) but put on weight and was a strong winger as an NHL player.
--

The Los Angeles Kings have been struggling for awhile now and I think the Oilers could help them. Tonight the Kings skilled men should be able to bury a few chances and I also think there's a chance these two teams could do business again on the trade market.

GM Dean Lombardi pursued LW Ilya Kovalchuk heavily last summer and the club dealt for Marco Sturm earlier in the year. Currently (as I read their depth chart) they're employing young Andrei Loktionov in the position that could be occupied by a guy like Dustin Penner.

If the Oilers are shopping him, it might be a good place for the big man to land. I remain hopeful the Oilers will sign both Penner and Hemsky moving forward.
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A former Oiler is in the news here.
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Will Zack Stortini clear waivers? A quick poll of people I know suggests no one expects anyone to put in a claim but I think a team might do it. He's inexpensive, the guy has all kinds of heart and he has played well in a defined role. I think he lost his confidence because the coach didn't see him as a valuable part of a team he belonged to for quite some time.

I haven't spent a lot of time examining some of the end of the roster guys for most of the NHL teams, but am confident in saying Storts is better than a few of them.
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I hate the All-Star break. I love watching the Oilers, even during a season when there's a lot of profanity in my living room (I blame the kids, but everyone says it's me doing it). Either way, I'll be watching to see if Hemsky and Eberle draw back in and await the next Taylor Hall exploit.

298 comments:

  1. So any idea on lineup? I heard on team 1260 yesterday that in practice Hall was with cogs on a line. Wonder if that is going to be the line tonight. And did Eberle pass his "Renney" test?

    Sad to see Storts go. He is better then Jacques, but people should remember the Oil have always been enamored of speed, and while Jacques is not Hall, he is a much better skater then Stortini. I think with his size, they hope Jacques turns into a better version of Stortini, at least I think that must be it because there is no other reason for him to be in the lineup right now.

    So possible lineup when Eberle returns?

    Hall-Horcoff-Eberle
    Penner-Gagner-Hemsky
    MPS-Cogs-Omark
    Reddox-Fraser-Jones

    Small but fast and light on heavy hitters. I like the top 2 lines, but Renney better line match that 3rd line or they will get killed in their own zone. If you slide Lander into Cogs 3rd line spot and move Cogs to 4th line, then suddenly we have a more balanced team. Still lack ideal size, but we are better. Lots of decisions next year.

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  2. Very much doubt Eberle will skate tonight. But sure, one could hope. Think he'll be back for our next game.



    Btw LT, absolutely love that you always post early. It's a huge gap for a Swede like me with nothing new to read until around 3-4PM (over here) when you usually put your stuff up. Keep it up!



    Oh, how much do I have to pay you to get a link to my Swedish Oil up on your blogroll? :)

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  3. I believe the Oilers should've kept Stortini in the lineup, but I have little doubt he'll be claimed (though I've been wrong before).

    Stortini is still considered an enforcer, and an enforcer who gets laughed at by his opponents probably doesn't have a tonne of value.

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  4. "Stortini is still considered an enforcer, and an enforcer who gets laughed at by his opponents probably doesn't have a tonne of value.

    Tend to think YEGronaldo said it best on his Twitter:
    "I know everyone in the league makes fun of Stortini, but you know what they say about JFJ – nothing. Cuz he's useless & invisible".

    He has a very good point. Still, for all I know, JFJ could be the next sent packing once Brule is back. Not sad to see either one of them (or Big Mac) leave. But Stortini shouldn't have been the first one to go.

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  5. @dohfos

    I think one of the main reasons fr starts being waived was that the team expects eberle back tonight

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  6. Interesting the the local fishwrap scribes are questioning the Oilers.

    Terry Jones had a fact filled full page article on how much worse that Khabby has played compared to DD.

    Dan Barnes has a piece about waiving Zorg and that its good if it means he made room for 85 but bad if it means he made room for 22

    I've noticed a convergence of sorts in the last few months between the Oiloblogosphere and the MSM when it comes to questions about how the team is run.

    Whatever the cause of this, its a good thing for us fans as hopefully the management and coaching staff will asked questions that we want the answers too.

    Given that LA played OT last night in MIN, the Oilers have a good chance to win tonight if DD starts.

    They have been out-chancing decent teams over the last 10 games, and should make it competitive tonight.

    The latest info has 14 failing his "Tom-test", maybe he'll pass at the morning skate.

    Go Oilers!

    *clap,clap*

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  7. dofOs:

    Oh, you don't have to convince me that Stortini should've been kept over JFJ. I was simply saying why I felt Stortini would go unclaimed.

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  8. l.a. has a tonne of propects...
    and lombardi and the kings are kinda in limbo now!! its a good time to replenish OUR defensive prospects and allow us to focus on forwards at this years draft.

    PENNER AND FOSTER TO THE KINGS:

    SIMMONDS
    VOYNOV
    FORBORT TO THE OILERS


    U SHOP HIM AROUND

    ANY TEAM DANGLING AT THAT LAST PLAYOFF SPOT WILL LOOK AT THEIR AHL TEAM AND SAY HEY WILL GIVE U????


    PHX HAS A TONNE OF YOUTH AS WELL

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  9. ANY TEAM DANGLING AT THAT LAST PLAYOFF SPOT WILL LOOK AT THEIR AHL TEAM AND SAY HEY WILL GIVE U????

    Things don't suddenly become coherent just because you put them in capital letters, you know.

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  10. Things don't suddenly become coherent just because you put them in capital letters, you know.

    The opposite actually.

    I do hope there might be something the Kings want badly enough from the Oilers to overpay for. With the West as tight as it is, with everyone including the Falmes believing they can make the postseason, I would think this is the point where a savvy GM could make hay. I don't relish losing Hemsky or Penner, but if you are planning on them not being here long term, this is the time to get maximum value.

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  11. I've noticed a convergence of sorts in the last few months between the Oiloblogosphere and the MSM when it comes to questions about how the team is run.

    Woodguy: Maybe that's because the bloggers have infiltrated the MSM.

    j.k.! ;)

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  12. Bruce,

    I bet you are not far off.

    My guess is that some MSM writers have started to read the more sane and coherent blogs and this is influencing their writing.

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  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  14. @Woodguy: You missed my joke, but your view of MSM taking notice of the Oilogosphere as a whole is no doubt much closer to the truth.

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  15. @wg
    I believebruce was talking about himself...blogger infiltrating msm

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  16. Darren Dreger on why the Leafs should claim Zack Stortini (paraphrased):

    "If you're not going to make the playoffs you better be entertaining your fans on home ice."

    Uh, yeah.

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  17. Hall with Cogs? Lets hope Hall was in the middle then. Actually a line of Hall, Cogs and Paajarvi would have some serious speed and really back defenders off and Paajarvi has enough defensive sense to be responsible. Just thinking out loud.
    Perhaps Renney is so happy with his results of Cogliano he now figures he can turn JFJ into the next middle weight enforcer?

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  18. As per Ryan Aber:
    "Oilers Zack Stortini clears waivers"

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  19. "I think one of the main reasons fr starts being waived was that the team expects eberle back tonight"

    @SumOil: I believe so too, they expected him to get back in time. But hearing what Ebs had issues clearing yesterdays "Tom Test" I still doubt he'll play tonight.

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  20. Tencers lineup....

    Hall-Horcoff-Hemsky, Paajarvi-Gagner-Omark, Penner-Cogliano-Jones, Jacques-Fraser-Stortini. Looks like Eberle is still out.

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  21. We should know as of 20 minutes ago if Stortini got claimed, shouldn't we?

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  22. Ribs: Tencer wanna keep Stortini up it seems ;)

    4-10-83, 91-89-23, 27-13-28, 22-16-85 oughta be the correct ones. Shame on Eberle.

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  23. Part of the problem with the MSM was that they didn't have any source of information other than their eyes and what the team told them. As we've seen, any individual pair of eyes are prone to error and bias, especially confirmation bias, and group think. So, it's no surprise that a hallmark of local MSM coverage of the Oilers was group think and confirmation bias and blind repetition of management's spin. (The rap against Penner was a good example of group think and confirmation bias.)

    Now that the blogs are running with different sources of information, especially the underlying stats, media coverage should get a little better. I still don't expect much, as theyll just "report" -and often misreport- what the brighter folks around here conclude, but that's better than nothing.

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  24. Schitzo: We do know. He cleared.

    Also, "Khabibulin is first off the ice this morning & is expected to start in goal" as per Oilers Twitter.

    Bleh.. so much for Woodguys "the Oilers have a good chance to win tonight if DD starts".

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  25. Interesting that Tambellini said yesterday that he doesn't think Brule is even close to beeing ready to play.

    He told a reporter that yes, he is on the IR.

    Come on guys! What's the deal?

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  26. Man with most of the Oiler forwards healthy and we playing better off late, there was a real chance that we could have win one!
    But damn NK again...

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  27. LT i actually liked 2/3rd of the all star weekend.
    the draft and the skill competition.
    The draft was a real nice addition and made things interesting

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  28. I thought that Bruce's joke had a lot of truth to it.

    Guys like Bruce get a shot at writing MSM blogs and occasionally in ink and other writers would naturally check out their other stuff as well.

    LT going on Bob's show once in a while and not sounding like he's a pajama wearing, cheeto eating fanboy, but actually having very well informed opinions has given even more legitimacy to the Oiloblogosphere.

    Now that most MSM guys are writing blogs it only makes sense to check out other blogs and writers and they are probably finding there is very good stuff out there.

    Unless you are Damien Cox or John Mckinnon, then you just dismiss it all out of hand with zero research.

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  29. We should know as of 20 minutes ago if Stortini got claimed, shouldn't we?


    Or in the comment posted 14 minutes prior to your comment about 4 comments up.

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  30. I wonder if Brule has some kind of embarrassing or more serious illness that the team doesn't want to mention in the press?

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  31. Could the plan be to 'showcase' Khabibulin in the hopes to dump him at the trade deadline. There is not a chance in hell, but the team could be trying that.

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  32. Win one? As of last night Oilers are in 29th place, with the NJD's breathing down their necks to hand them...

    The Tambellini Top Spot!

    Sometimes I get the impression some of you would be happy with another 2007 style ending, and a 10th pick..sheesh.

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  33. Low expectations on management are the fan's enemy. The higher the Oilers finish this year, the higher management's going to be expected to finish next year. Another thirtieth place finish just means 2011-2012 expectations that management can't fall short of, and another year before the clock starts ticking on them.

    If we somehow finished, say, tenth in the west, management would be expected to make the playoffs next year, and if it failed to do so we'd be that much closer to new management.

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  34. Guys like Bruce get a shot at writing MSM blogs and occasionally in ink and other writers would naturally check out their other stuff as well.

    No doubt this is true. LT has had his blog linked up at the Journal for quite a while now as well.

    Also, MSM is doing the twitter thing and following links and hearing from guys like Tyler all of the time now (dude's a freak on that thing).

    More and more writers are starting blogs these days and it's pretty funny how the blog used to be portrayed as such a filthy device. It's a new age.

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  35. @ Steve Smith

    Not entirely true. I expect the Oilers to be at least a fringe playoff team next season

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  36. Not entirely true. I expect the Oilers to be at least a fringe playoff team next season

    Well, I'm more concerned with the expectations of people with hiring and firing authority (and sort of by extension, of the fans at large) than I am with yours.

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  37. Gene twitz...

    Tom Renney's father passed away last night. Tom was at the morning skate and will coach tonight vs. LA. Our condolences to the Renney's..

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  38. I think the Oilers might be riding Khabby hard in the hopes that the guy calls it quits. Yes the cap hit is still there but they won't have to pay him and if they need the cap space then they can likely move him to a team like the Islanders that is always at the cap floor. (They'd love cap hits without actual dollars attached)

    I think the Oilers and Kings are perfect dance partners. However, I don't think the Oilers should be targeting players currently on the Kings roster. They have plenty of NHL ready prospects and there are always picks.

    San Jose might be a dance partner as well since they're built to win now and they're floundering.

    It's really looking like this deadline will be a sellers market which is yay for us!

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  39. Or in the comment posted 14 minutes prior to your comment about 4 comments up.

    :(

    Why you gotta be like that?

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  40. @ Steve Smith:

    Re management: I want the best draft picks possible, like always. This season has been hell - and like it or not a top draft pick compensates for the torture.

    Oilers M.O. for a few of the last few years has been to mount a futile charge for the playoffs, mostly falling short and then the team perpetually blows no matter what. Followed by really poor teams like the Pens and Caps and Hawks making out like bandits in June.

    For what it's worth, I'd love to see real hockey men brought in, and K. Lowe and his stooges guillotined at centre ice in a 'thank you to the fans for suffering the last 20 years' night. But since no one cares what I think(Katz could do worse than hiring me as a consultant), the obvious road to excellence is the draft.

    I see your point, all the same.

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  41. In my opinion the quality of analysis on this blog overall trumps 80% of the fanboy/hype/KLoweaide emanating from the mainstream media.

    In fairness to the hacks, how many stories are there to write about a hockey team, and a lousy one at that which plays 82 games a season - most of which are meaningless?

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  42. Also, MSM is doing the twitter thing and following links and hearing from guys like Tyler all of the time now (dude's a freak on that thing).

    This is...good?

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  43. Hunter: well, there obviously has to be balance. Ten straight years of ninth/tenth (or even eighth, though that would look pretty good right now) place finishes is no good. But neither is ten straight years of fourteenth/fifteenth place finishes (draft picks notwithstanding), which I'm sort of concerned is what this management is going to deliver.*

    I see your point, too, though, as long as we're being reasonable.

    *Not literally. I'm sure there'll be a thirteenth place finish in there occasionally.

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  44. I must be on glue.

    I bet on the Oilers with Khabby in net.

    Hemsky usually plays like his hair is on fire when he comes back from injury and Khabby's strongest games are after a lot of rest.

    LA also flew in late from going to SO in MIN last night.

    I got +115 2 way and +175 for a regulation win.

    One unit on each.

    Go Oilers!!

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  45. Woodguy: "like his hair is on fire"? I'm having visions of Hemsky pulling the stop, drop, and roll method of hockey playing. Maybe this is what made Dominik Hasek so good?

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  46. Unless you are Damien Cox or John Mckinnon, then you just dismiss it all out of hand with zero research.

    Woodguy: After McKinnon's article last year on Maciocia, I think fanboy would apply to him. I give him zero credibility.

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  47. This is...good?

    Hehe, yea. It's a good thing. You seem to always be poking at the media guys, trying to get them thinking about things.

    We complain about the MSM around here quite a bit and twitter and comment sections offer outlets to speak with them somewhat directly. The voice of the masses can be heard a bit better these days.

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  48. usually I don't like Maciocia but I enjoy it if its paired with a nice Merlot, generally though I'll go with a steak and some grilled vegetables, asparagus preferably, even though it makes my pee stink

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  49. I'd like to see Penner signed but wouldn't like to see a 5 year contract with him. 2 or 3 years is the most I'd give him.

    Hemsky? Not so much. It seems clear that he is an ongoing injury risk. As much as he will not shy away from contact, his body can't take it.

    Deal him for:
    Schenn or Forbort
    Kyle Clifford
    Trevor Lewis
    and a 1st rounder

    The Kings get a ppg player without disturbing their lineup

    The Oilers get a top 2 C or Dman, two guys with grit, size, and upside for their 3rd/4th lines and a present for MBS

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  50. Tencer muffed up his lines earlier...He had Stortini instead of Reddox.

    Hall-Horcoff-Hemsky
    Paajarvi-Gagner-Omark
    Penner-Cogliano-Jones
    Jacques-Fraser-Reddox

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  51. BadSeed,

    I asked McKinnon about his lack of objectivity in that article on twitter one day.

    He replied that it was "an opinion piece"

    It was a piece all right.

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  52. The scoop on Brule (etc.) from Tychkowski at The Sun:


    Gilbert Brule, who’s been out since Jan. 6 with a variety of maladies (ribs, spleen, ankle and now flu) was at the rink Wednesday. “I was throwing up every day,” he said of his recent illness. “But I’m feeling a lot better now.” He still has to go in for more blood work to see what hit him... Ales Hemsky is back in the lineup Wednesday against the Kings, but Jordan Eberle isn’t. Neither is Steve MacIntyre. Nikolai Khabibulin is expected to start.

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  53. Black Dog said...
    usually I don't like Maciocia but I enjoy it if its paired with a nice Merlot, generally though I'll go with a steak and some grilled vegetables, asparagus preferably, even though it makes my pee stink.


    Have you been reading Half Asleep in Frog Pyjamas by Tom Robbins?

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  54. Naw the only Robbins book I ever read was the one that they made a movie of, it had Uma Thurman in it, she had these enormous thumbs.

    Kill Bill?

    Naw that wasn't it.

    Anyhow the book was good, the movie was meh but I don't know how you make a movie out of a Robbins book.

    And Uma wasn't even naked. nothing more glorious than a young Uma Thurman naked, my God the sight of her makes a man thank the gods he's alive.

    Anyhow other than that book I could never really get into Robbins, just a little too much for me to get my simple head around.

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  55. Why you gotta be like that?


    I thought after that I should have added a :) just to ensure that it came across as a fun poke and not meanspirited...

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  56. Gilbert Brule, who’s been out since Jan. 6 with a variety of maladies (ribs, spleen, ankle and now flu)

    Is Brule auditioning to be an episode of House?

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  57. Is Brule auditioning to be an episode of House?

    He certainly isn't auditioning for a spot on Legends of Hockey

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  58. Woodguy: I read the Journal everyday & I will read Mckinnon, just like I'll read anything else that pertains to NHL/CFL/NFL. I generally find that he's an idiot, though. My mind was made up when I read the Maciocia piece. He re-confirms it for every article he has written since too.
    I find it hard to believe that the msm should thumb their noses at bloggers since there isn't anything that the msm writes that's as good as Lowetide.

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  59. a young Uma Thurman naked, my God the sight of her makes a man

    a young Uma Thurman naked, my God the sight of her hands and throat makes makes me think she is a man!

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  60. a young Uma Thurman naked, my God the sight of her hands and throat makes makes me think she is a man!

    Pro-tip: when trying to determine a naked person's gender, ignore the hands and throat.

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  61. Actually, just generally ignore them when dealing with naked women.

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  62. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  63. "Steve Smith" said...

    Pro-tip: when trying to determine a naked person's gender, ignore the hands and throat.

    Actually, just generally ignore them when dealing with naked women."


    That's all well and good Steve, but if there is one, I'd like to notice the adams apple as soon as possible, before things start getting out of or in hand.

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  64. If I had my druthers I would have kept Penner over Hemsky, due to injuries etc. I always liked Penner - a good intelligent player.

    But now that he's gone and married a wannabe actress type, I'll change my position 180 and ask Hemsky to stay an Oilers for life(at a hometown discount), so he can set up the cup winning goal to Eberle in 2015.

    BTW good luck and all that, Dustin. You're going to need it.

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  65. I'm sorry did I miss something?

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  66. steve smith sorry for the capital letters!

    what im trying to say is! we may not get adam this draft!!! there are teams on this borderline playoff situation who have a plethora of NHLERS on there AHL team! have a look at L.A OR PHX!! LOADED! eceryday someone says Edmonton has no defensive depth!!! NONE! if we move Penner to a team desperate for him! and get that huge return of defensive prospects! we can sign HEMSKY long term and at this draft focus on getting LANDESKOG and With OUR 2ND rd pick Mcneill or St. Croix!

    not kiddin if we landed
    Forbert and Voynov from L.A.!


    people would say "holy shit Edmonton probably has the best defensive propsescts other then maybe NASHVILLE!!

    PETRY. FORBERT, VOYNOV, MARANCIN!

    noboby would boast a under 22 D crop like that!

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  67. steve smith sorry for the capital letters!

    To be clear, I wasn't complaining about the capital letters, but about the underlying incoherence. Your most recent post seems to have improved marginally in both of those categories, even as it did much worse in the field of superfluous mid-sentence exclamation marks.

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  68. Hey, who made "Steve Smith" the neofeudalist overlord of Lowetide to whom we must pay obeisance for every grammatical offense?

    Take! that! Steve!!!

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  69. Hey, who made "Steve Smith" the neofeudalist overlord of Lowetide to whom we must pay obeisance for every grammatical offense?

    The Liberal-Conservatives; they got tired of running nineteenth century Canada and decided to start meddling in blogs.

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  70. I told myself this year no cursing. I made it about 30 games in before it started. The worst was Sam was fed a stick the other game with no call. There must been 4 high hits with no calls.
    I hope the team can just finish out the season with no more injuries we can drop a few at the deadline. Jeebus Brule should just be waived the guy has more illness that anybody that age should.
    Go Oilers. And congrats to Penner as he tied the knot over the break good thing he was not picked for the game.

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  71. I find it funny that Penner would pick the All-Star weekend to get married. When I got married last year, it was moved to coincide with my playoffs for rec league.

    Honestly, if you don't think you're going to the All-Star Game, why even play the game?

    Even Wayne Gretzky told Walter to take off the jacket Wayne lent him before game 5 of the SCF.

    Penner, your lack of confidence disappoints me.

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  72. Teams desperate for penned
    Oilers
    Senators
    Leafs.....Burke connection

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  73. Wg
    I m rooting for the kings.
    I got quick in my pool and of course I am wishing for the first overall

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  74. Honestly, if you don't think you're going to the All-Star Game, why even play the game?

    Seriously? Aren't we having enough trouble with our bottom sixers already?

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  75. Lowetide is perfect for running this blog. It's like being in a wagon train and he's the wagon master.

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  76. Centre Ice brass laugh at me every time i watch a game where 35 starts. i thought the fix was in?

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  77. Sum,

    I never begrudge anyone for cheering who they want.

    I just see a little bit of value on the Oilers tonight for the reasons stated.

    If DD started it would be a slam dunk.

    SS,

    I thought it was the one and the same neo-conservative and neo-liberals who elevated you as the neo-feudalist overlord?

    Or am I getting my memes/narratives confused?

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  78. was just going through the standings and the devils actually have more wins than us. we have been getting a lot of loser points and that separates us from the Devils.
    meaning only DD stands between us and number 1 overall

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  79. Wagonmaster? More like the ringmaster.

    Send in the clowns I say.

    And rickibear I would guess you would not kick Uma out of bed for eating crackers, manhands or not. My God what she could do to a man.

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  80. WG

    its one of those games where the result one way or the other would make me happy. lol.

    Me rooting for LA doesnt mean me rooting against oil! in a perfect world a SO loss one way or the other will be the best!

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  81. Jeebus, Penner that sly devil. His wife looks like freakin Alyssa Milano in her wedding photos... Nicely done...

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  82. I am a neo-liberal paleo-feudalist. I am in favour of minimally regulated market-economies, with a moderate or weak social safety net, all located on land that I own where a large portion of the labor of local surfs (or smurfs?) goes directly to me and my descendants.

    Oh yeah, let's fuck the dog for Landeskog. Go Kings.

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  83. My television just told me we're in good hands with Harper. I feel better.

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  84. I sleep soundly knowing Hilary Clinton is there to represent my interests to the funny brown people(non- Americans).

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  85. "If men are honest, everything they do and everywhere they go is for a chance to see women. There were points in my life where I felt oddly irresistible to women. I’m not in that state now and that makes me sad."

    Jack Nicholson, 73.

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  86. @ Jay
    While Jessica Welsh is hot, she aint no Alyssa Milano.

    ReplyDelete
  87. LT: That new socialist guy seems nice... who is he called... Hitler?

    God this ruler is bad. International image downnnn the drain.

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  88. Yeah that Harper commercial is simply awful and vaguely insulting to.

    I think I'll bother my MP again.

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  89. The Tories are still bleating about that god-damned coalition too.

    They should try giving it a rest. Politics, Neo-Stupid and otherwise, sure is a pain somedays.

    A book I'd like to read:
    Uma Thurman: A Statistical Analysis

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  90. Since this is a gdt, shouldn't we be talking about uma in the context of that 5.5M cap hit? Is she really a 1C?

    Where is Traktor when you need him?

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  91. Where is Traktor when you need him?

    Not sure; it's never come up.

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  92. Traktor could have everyone on this blog shot, then go for a nice cup of coffee and donuts.

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  93. I wonder what this blog will be discussing this time next season, if Oilers continue to be out of the playoff race.

    Plato vs Socratic theory as applied to the Trade deadline?

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  94. I wonder what this blog will be discussing this time next season, if Oilers continue to be out of the playoff race.

    I'm hoping it's "how to run a criminal defense", because lord knows I'm going to need the help.

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  95. De Traktor is useful for stable cleaning.

    I don't buy the slowly tightening noose thing. A 12'th place finish buys you nothing. The expectation clock starts the moment the team reaches quorum of Actual NHL Players (spiked with upside).

    On my map, the road from bad to good does not pass through mediocre.

    Firing the management you hate is a very very very minor consolation if your team has been Burked at the draft table. Lately the Oil seems relatively Daigle proof, so we might as well continue fishing for aces.

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  96. On my map, the road from bad to good does not pass through mediocre.

    Can you show examples of teams that have followed your map? That's a sincere question to which I don't know the answer, but the Chicago model doesn't provide much support for it:

    2005-2006: 14th in the west
    2006-2007: 13th in the west
    2007-2008: 10th in the west
    2008-2009: 4th in the west, lost conference finals
    2009-2010: 2nd in the west, Stanley Cup champions

    They certainly didn't keep finishing 15th until suddenly they were a Cup contender.

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  97. To answer my own question, the post-lockout Penguins do indeed appear to have skipped mediocre, shooting from 15th to 5th over a single season.

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  98. Anyway, my concern is that the Oilers are poorly managed, and I would not be at all surprised to see them piss away the rookies' ELCs without ever qualifying for the playoffs. A tenth place finish this year (which is out of reach, but I'm speaking hypothetically), would force expectations up to a level where that would be a firing offense.

    Obviously I'd prefer it if Lowebellini put together a Cup winner rather than putting together enough sustained mediocrity to be fired; I just think that either is preferable to neither, and that the second is far more likely.

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  99. "Steve"

    Reading as you comment back and forth to yourself reminds my of the "Kliban" cartoon
    Last of the Mohicans

    "Running Bear? Little Wolf? Where are ya? C'mon guys this isn't funny...."

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  100. The Detroit Red Wings have to do something about their goaltending. It's terrible. As bad as bad can be.

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  101. @ Steve Smith:

    Insofar as Taylor Hall doesn't get injured, my theory of how champion hockey teams are formed sees him exponentially improving as early as next season, and literally dragging the franchise ahead with him towards real contention, within 1-3 seasons from now.

    Young impressionable players with(talent to start with) given a guy like Hall to lead them, tend to develop quickly. The team has got a lot of talent now, and should get even more this spring.

    I've never seen a player as good as Taylor Hall not win the Stanley Cup. He's a gamebreaker, that missing link in those game 7's which define winning teams.

    People might argue that Gretzky couldn't win in LA, but that team was gutted when they traded for him. Several 1st picks, and several more future 1st picks gave them zero chance of rounding out their team.

    So long as we don't get some idiot like Brian Burke who trades away our talent, the future is inevitably going to see Oilers winning 1 or more cups with Hall.

    I'm absolutely certain of it.

    Now please excuse me. I need to go and take my meds.

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  102. Reading as you comment back and forth to yourself reminds my of the "Kliban" cartoon
    Last of the Mohicans


    Stop interrupting me; it's impolite.

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  103. I'm hungry... for an Oiler win tonight!!!!

    1!1!!
    !

    This organization is taking my sanity, one game at a time.

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  104. You know who's a pretty good goalie, this Roloson fellow that Tampa picked up.

    Still.

    Shut Philly out last night and Philly is loaded up front. They're the team to beat in the East but Tampa is in the mix now. Yzerman has done a really nice job. Lots of low cost bets. If he could only figure out a way to dump #4.

    Maybe Feaster would take him. ;)

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  105. I'm sure others have noted this but both TSN and Sportsnet guys have mentioned Souray as a possibility to move at the deadline. The contract is an obvious issue but it sounds like he is in the mix.

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  106. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  107. Can a team call up Souray during the playoffs without placing him on re-entry waivers?

    Otherwise Souray isn't going to be moved until the draft.

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  108. Warmup commentary:

    - Khabibulin looks to have a pulse tonight
    - Hemsky moving well
    - Jacques might actually look worse in pre-game
    - Team as a whole looks pretty relaxed

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  109. Were Dan Tencer and Charlie McCarthy separated at birth?

    http://www.public-action.com/SkyWriter/WacoMuseum/burial/page/charley.gif

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  110. So now that atdhe.net has been seized by homeland security does anyone know a good feed?

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  111. Can a team call up Souray during the playoffs without placing him on re-entry waivers?

    It's my understanding that he can't even be traded without clearing re-entry waivers, which would seem to invalidate this talk from TSN and Sportsnet to which Black Dog refers.

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  112. Traktor - I think you're right, there's a window where he does not have to clear but its not until after the playoffs are over.

    It would be interesting, the Oilers will get negative value for him, so probably a poor contract back but better to spend the money on someone playing for you than riding the buses.

    For a team trading for him there is that gamble that they would lose him, I guess the question is if you can find someone who has the cap space to take him on and the money to pay him. And then you'd need another club to have the same to pick him up on reentry.

    I don't see them moving him until the summer but I found it interesting that he was being mentioned. Philips and Kaberle are the other top four guys who may be out there. Kaberle does not seem inclined to waive his no trade so pickings are slim.

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  113. Steve Smith, if that is indeed your real name, you mean he has to clear and then they can do a deal? Then does he have to clear again.

    Also are you implying that Nick Kypreos and Doug MacLean may not know what they are talking about? That in itself I find completely insane.

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  114. Steve Smith, if that is indeed your real name, you mean he has to clear and then they can do a deal? Then does he have to clear again.

    I'm not sure, and I could be wrong. But over on Copper & Blue, where smarter people than I am hang out, it seems to be the working belief that Souray being traded would necessitate him clearing entry waivers. It's possible that I misunderstood, and they were just saying that he'd have to clear entry waivers if the team that traded for him actually wanted him to play for them this year, but I don't think so.

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  115. I didn't expect Doughty to be such a whiny pussy, but there you go.

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  116. "Steve Smith" said: I'm hoping it's "how to run a criminal defense", because lord knows I'm going to need the help.

    Which "Steve Smith" might have said this at some point? That's meta-awesome.

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  117. What did 4 do to Dougerty?

    Didn't show a reply at the rink and Dougherty was screaming at the refs from the bench after the whistle.

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  118. Rickards Dark is so fucking gross.

    What's Doughty going on about? Lose a few pounds you fatty.

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  119. I like the out-of-control-stick-move-while-being-bodychecked. Something Messier would have done.

    Sorry, was that your face.

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  120. Hall did nothing. Doughty was leaning in for his check and caught hall's forearm.

    Not a penalty. Frankly it makes Doughty look like a puss.

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  121. WG-Hall made sure his forearm was leading as he made contact with Doughty...Doughty obliged by leading with his nose/face.

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  122. ial-I agree,no penalty...Glenn Anderson would have been proud.

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  123. I slowed the replay down and Hall does the equivalent if a boxers 3 inch punch with his forearm. POP right in the face. It was dirty and it was awesome. Best I have seen since Messier.

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  124. OH GOD! is Penner on the 4th cause he tendered his resignation over the break!!??
    OH GOD!!!

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  125. Besides the power-plays, this is one heck of a game.

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  126. Souray would be automatically put on re-entry waivers as soon as the league received the trade paperwork. If he clears the league would then approve the trade. All the risk is the Oilers.

    They will wait until the summer.

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  127. Quick looks real sharp tonight.

    The Oilers PP is unwatchable. From now on, I either make drinks or use the facilities everytime they they get a PP

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  128. I've seen Crosby try and take on an entire team the way Hall just did. That's something special.

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  129. Silly Foster. You don't bring the 9-iron out on the tee box unless you're drinking with Re-Khab.

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  130. Curtis Hamilton with a goal tonight. He's 1-4-5 +5 in his last 3 games and +36 on the season.

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  131. Whoa LT. I'm the Hamilton update guy. ;)

    Schenn with four primaries.

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  132. Foster is such a shitty pointman. The Kings are showing the points absolutely no respect at all because they've watched the tape and know they should sell out on the Oilers' forwards.

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  133. 4 def should have gotten a penalty there because he certainly knew what he was doing.

    He's got a bit of fire in him for a kid who seems to be the gentle type.

    Great period for the Oil at EV with the only real blemish coming when the Kopitar line got two chances vs 13/28 and one against 91 and then 27.

    The PP looks unwatchable and 83 seems off first game back so that's not a good sign for tonight.

    Nice wrister by 26 but Cam's right that the Kings go full out down low because they don't worry about the points.

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  134. I can't get past Tencer's eyebrows...I just can't do it.

    Didn't hear a thing he said.

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  135. I hope we draft Crosby.

    Hey, Foster hitting the net for a change. All he needed was for everyone to move out of the way.

    Really though, I think he should just stick to wristers.

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  136. Twice in that period the Oilers had a very tired winger start the PP since Renney uses different forward sets on PP.

    Once 4 was gassed and had to start the PP, the other time it was 27.

    That's just bad.

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  137. good to see the Power Play Glut is still in effect. I'm actually pretty amazed at how often they can weave through a bunch of guys though.

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  138. If you're LA, would you move Schenn for Hemsky?

    What WOULD it take??

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  139. It irritates me to no end that the Habs are in another Heritage Classic.

    Strangely I'd like to see the Flames in the playoffs because it will put pressure on the Oilers.

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  140. Which "Steve Smith" might have said this at some point? That's meta-awesome.

    Er, me. I'm articling with a criminal defense firm next year.

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  141. After Hall got shit-canned in the Memorial Cup last year and ploughed by Drew Doughhead earlier this year, he seems to have grown a mean streak.

    Glad to see it!

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  142. On the radio Tencer sounds like he attended the Bill Swerski School of Radio and Telecommunications. When he's on live TV, not so much.

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  143. It's plays like that that make me think twice about moving Gagner.

    Great play!

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  144. I would like to put a moratorium on Hemsky for Schenn trade proposals.

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  145. Yaw, jumpin' Jimminey Sven, Magnus scored a nice goool there.

    Make Noorshurping proud!

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  146. Anyone got a working feed? The ATDHE feed isn't working for me.

    Complete aside: how can Homeland Security being involved in seizing ATDHE not completely and utterly convince you that government is prone to mission creep? In WWII, did the US Government have some agency out arresting farmers who buggered cows in the name of national security? Were people living then as cynical about the government and national security as a chunk of us are now?

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  147. mc79..

    http://www.scorezone.info/p/chanel-iv.html

    here go

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  148. Are you trying ATDHE.me? its the one they have up since the gov't shut down the old domain. The links on there are working fine for me

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  149. Lombardi wants a LW, not a RW. He went after Gaborik and Kovalchuk.

    new LW--Kopitar--Brown

    So Penner is in more "danger" than Hemsky.

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  150. Man my rec league goalie could have stopped that.

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  151. Imagine paying 500 bucks to be at this game and you get to see Khabby just mail it in.

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  152. 35's lateral movement looks like someone who's had hip surgery.

    26 is awful at every aspect of hockey.

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  153. who saw Omark do exactly what he tried to set up Hall to do on that last PP. Give and __ ...

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  154. ReKhab has the lateral movement of the Vancouver version of Cesare Maniago

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  155. For the life of me I don't know why they come back with NK off the break. They must think they ruined JDD a year ago.

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  156. They must think they ruined JDD a year ago.

    Why can't Homeland Security get involved with this situation instead of ATDHE?

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  157. Jacques is the new PK weapon. What can't he do?

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  158. U.S. Government is only going to get involved in a Canadian issue if it's a guy selling marijuana seeds on the internet.

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  159. Nothing more beautiful then an Oiler center losing a defensive draw cleanly.

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  160. JFJ is now a penalty killer

    This suggests that everyone else on the team is dead; has anybody caught a glimpse of the bench recently?

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  161. Terry Jones and the MSM had picked up the Dubnyk meme at the most inopportune time, and the Oilers didn't want to reinforce the "time to throw Khabibulin under the bus" meme.

    The Oilers play frequently enough and Khabibulin is bad enough that Dubnyk should see a lot of action.

    But bad goaltending first game out just kills any momentum coming out of the break.

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  162. Gene Principe must have boiled his brain trying to think of a way to work the name Anze Kopitar into a pun.

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  163. After Doughty scored on the PP Renney left 16 and 85 on the ice to start the next shift.

    They weren't totally gassed, but they weren't fresh.

    Renney does some strange things sometimes.

    Awful period of hockey.

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  164. Why can't Homeland Security get involved with this situation instead of ATDHE?

    What would it take to get a wetworks operation on Kingsway? It's got to be easier than overthrowing your average Latin American dictator.

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  165. Omark has made some pretty nice passes out there this evening.

    It looks to me like on both goals by the Kings there was an un-bothered King standing in front of Khabibulin while the Oiler defense were off having tea or something.

    Khabibulin does suck, but the defence played a big part in both of those goals.

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  166. Foster is alsmot as bad as Studwick IMO but I'm sure bogas metric says he rocks because he directs pucks at the net. If any metric on the internet says Foster is a quality defensemen the metric should be abolished.

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  167. It's going to take me awhile to even catch up. Just got back to my shack on-lease.

    I agreen playing dubnyk is hurting 'the plan'

    Katz: So Steve how's the plan going?

    Dithers: Well I thought we should be a shoe-in for the bottom and it's coming along. Who would've thought Jersey could be as bad as us? My analysis had Kovalchuk being worth at least 2 million more than they got him for...

    Katz: so the trade deadlines coming up we having any irons in the fire?

    Dithers: Well I'm not 100% certain yet but I'm starting to think we may not be losing at a good enough rate to assure the 1st overall pick. It's hard to determine specifics but I think I see a pattern in our goaltending really effecting our chances. I've instructed Renney to only play the MVP but once in awhile he still seems to be sneaking that Deslaurier guy in there.

    Katz: Deslaurier? You mean Dubnyk.

    Dithers: Uhhuh, sorry I was analyzing some tapes from last year. I'm almost up to February!

    Katz: So what is going to get these suckers to build me a new arena?

    Laforge: WE'RE TALKING TO NISKU!!!

    Katz: Not now Laforge the press conference was over hours ago.

    Laforge: FORT MCMURRAY!!!

    Quinn: I think someone took my red stapler...

    Katz (closing the door): So what are we thinking Steve?

    Dithers: Well Renney has been starting to MACT on us but I think he is going to pull through. Our only chance is to trade Deslaurie..Dubnyk.

    Lowe: I'll call the sun and inform them that he is a pedophile.

    (Door opens)

    Dithers: TOM you're not supposed to be in here right now what is the problem?

    Renney: just wondering if any of you have come across some bullets? I swear I packed them in my napsack on the way to the office today...No? Ok, don't mind me then, kids are doing great!

    ---END SCENE---

    Chartleys

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  168. Does Bob's reason for not signing Smyth make sense to anybody? Please, help me out here.

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  169. I can't support Renney when I see all kinds of fuckery like this.

    He won't use six forwards on the PK or pimp any kind of shot-blocking approach and watching the Oilers try and kill a penalty is like being in the company of someone who's known to punch people in the nuts: you know sooner or later what's coming.

    I just can't stand bullshit like that.

    and the whole thing with Khabby starting tonight is more fuckery.

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  170. I bet he puts a hair net and Fop on those puppies. That's one finely sculpted manbrow.

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  171. Tencer finally contributed something by calling Stauffer a big fat blimp full of hot air on live TV. That's what I heard anyway.

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  172. Slipper, it made more sense back when Smyrh wanted 5.5 and the Oilers had the EIGs budget.

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  173. Nice chartleys. In the next episode, they take away Renney's belt and shoelaces and Tambo ponders the intricacies of the recipe for Kraft Dinner. Meanwhile, Lowe googles "bionic spine" in his never-ending quest to make JFJ useful.

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  174. Damn it am I angry that I can't get a feed to work. What's all this Stauffer business? Tencer sassed him? Sweet lord.

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  175. Kind of a weird play to call a penalty shot no?

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  176. I'd rather take the penalty shot. Takes longer.

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  177. Nice chartleys. In the next episode, they take away Renney's belt and shoelaces and Tambo ponders the intricacies of the recipe for Kraft Dinner. Meanwhile, Lowe googles "bionic spine" in his never-ending quest to make JFJ useful.


    Or Katz purchases Shaw and Telus and gets his techs to identify critical posters on the blog and sends his South African Mercenary gang to work purging the dissidents.

    Sorry - I have been watching too much about dictators in the Middle East this week.

    But he could do it!

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  178. We should employ Pat Falloon as a PP specialist. On the ice.

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  179. Did Stauffer fire back that Tencer looks like a fruity muppet wearing too much makeup? No? Hmm.

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