This is Charlie Huddy. He played some huge games for the Edmonton Oilers back in the day, providing rugged play and impressive skill along the blue. The Oilers could use about 6 of him.
During Huddy's time coaching in Edmonton, he helped along a long list of diverse talents. Men like Eric Brewer, Marc-Andre Bergeron, Matt Greene, Tom Gilbert, Denis Grebeshkov and Jan Hejda.
The same thing is happening in Dallas. Their defensemen are efficient at getting the puck up and out, guys like Jeff Woywitka look like they've figured out the NHL game and a no-name defense is right in the middle of the playoff mix. Good for Charlie Huddy, nice to see good people succeed.
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It looks like Brad Richards and Jamie Benn are out for tonight's game; that's a lot of offense not on the ice. Horcoff is apparently good to go and that should do a lot for the center positon this evening.
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Steve Tambellini spoke to the troops yesterday. It wasn't exactly Ike's D-Day speech (The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!) but ST wants the team to win and win now. Stay close to your radio's people, Tambellini is about to add players at the deadline! Not.
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As near as I can tell, the solution from fans is to add toughness to the roster. I don't get that at all. Hey, the Oilers have talent and some of these rookies (Hall, Eberle) really do appear to be capable of playing straight up and winning against some tough NHLers.
That said, adding Steve MacIntyre and J-F Jacques to the roster every night isn't going to help the Hall-Eberle fashwashes. You know what would? A powerplay that clicks. I refuse to believe that the Oilers can't put a good PP group out there every night. I know Tom Gilbert gets no love, but putting him on the 1PP gives you a quality decision maker back there. Omark is excellent at puck retrieval and Penner should be the other winger. Horcoff for the faceoffs and Hemsky on the point with Gilbert.
That leaves Gagner, Hall, Eberle, MPS, Cogliano, Foster, etc for the 2PP.
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No trades yet for the Oilers, but Brian Burke made another solid deal with Philly yesterday. That's two impressive trades for the Leafs in less than a week. Nicely played by Himself.
Two decent trades within a narrow context. The trades also signal that Burke is quietly extending his "quick" rebuild. That Kessel trade is going to be even more of a beauty when Seguin is coming on next year and Boston picks Duncan Siemens.
ReplyDeleteBurke has been relatively quiet this year, aside from his ASG and NHLPA player poll antics. Next year we might even forget he's around.
Burke played w/by himself a lot.
ReplyDeleteLosing Huddy as the D coach was a huge loss for this club IMO.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how any trade with you aquiring Lupul can be that positive, but trading Versteeg for picks is a sign that the Leafs are finally facing reality.
ReplyDeleteI am a day late on the Chorney story because of travel (speaking of Toronto), but I think there is an apt car analogy to be made. Those who enjoy a more sporting ride during the summer months often fall back on a "winter beater" to get them around when the bad weather hits. Something cheap to drive and maintain, just a notch above a complete wreck (ala Chorney vs Strudwick?).
Thus you park your future sports car (Petry) in the AHL for a few months while the Oil careen back and forth from ditch to ditch. If Chorney gets a bruised bumper (or confidence) the loss is much less than if happened to your prized Petry.
Burke will clear cap space then make a huge offer to Richards and a dman. He won't wait another year since he keeps saying they are close. Differing styles to tambellini. One is decisive, one is patient, Or put another way: one is trying to rebuild like he's on playstation, and one is in a coma. Which would we rather have?
ReplyDeleteAnd another minor deal for Burke just in. Voros from Anaheim(who just got waived) for a 7th rd pick. Guess Burke feels they aren't tough enough???? Well, he sticks to his guns I guess.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.behindthenet.ca/nhl_statistics.php?s=30&f1=2010_s&f2=5v5&f4=D&f5=DAL&c=0+1+3+5+29+30+31+32+33+34#
ReplyDeleteI dont think the Dallas D is very good at moving the puck up that efficiently
Furthermore, Dallas has been riding some serious percentages just like Colorado last season
@DBO
ReplyDeleteIt does look like Burkw will make a run for Richards. With him, the team will be more formidable.
@ LT
I think Philly did overpay for Versteeg. That said, he might be an upgrade over JVR and Zherdev as of today. This trade screams that the Flyers really want to win the cup now!
Then again looking at their roster they look set for a few more years. However, briere and others are getting old
Huddy was outstanding at building our d-corps. Can only hope that one day Steve Smith has the same success.
ReplyDeleteAside from the interest in Penner and Hemsky, it does not seem like there's any interest in our extra spare parts - at least not until we get right to the deadline.
A trade that includes Vandermeer, Brule, Foster for anything more than a bag of pucks is probably a good thing.
So it seems like most of us are in agreement in what we need. Actual NHL players that fill missing roles. Does Tambellini not see this? Or does he just feel his guys will grow in to those roles?
ReplyDeleteIs this what he hopes
- two way 3rd line centre: Cogliano
- gritty winger with size who agitates and fights: Jacques (only explanation I can come up with for why he's still here)
- shutdown dman: Peckham (he's progressing, but would be helped by playing 2nd toughs and not 1st for a few years) or Smid (when will he finally make that step?)
So how much do we improve if we replace those 3 (Smid for D) with Marty Reasoner, Chris Neil and Mark Stuart. All could be had. Doesn't make us a playoff team,. but it settles us down a lot.
I like Mark Stuart. I would like Oilers to go ahead and sign him in the off season.
ReplyDeleteSo tell me Mr. Tambellini what did you actually expect would happen with this "shit sandwich" of a team you and your incompetent boss KLowe have put together? Your goal at the beginning of the season was to get #1 pick again so don't try and bullshit the fans and moreover the team with your Knute Rockne crap. With all the deficiencies you've built into this lineup you didn't actually expect to be any better than you are did you? Altho' you two have your heads so far up your arses maybe you did. That's the scary part.
ReplyDeleteI don't like Tambo as a gm but I don't see the point in even listening to a word he says, much less analyzing it in depth. Telling his players not to worry about a #1 pick is a no-brainer and makes absolutely no difference in how this season ends up.
ReplyDeleteAnything he says in the media should be taken with a grain of salt. It's pretty clear he didn't expect the team to crawl out of the basement this year. His goal was a #1 pick and that's what we're getting. If he claims the team will win in the future well,that's a no-brainer too as far as giving the MSM shills something to talk about. When all your coverage is good you can pretty much say water is wet and end up looking smart, so why wouldn't you.
Everyone knew that getting rid of Huddy and keeping Buchberger was a horrendous idea...except the couple people making the ultimate decision...yippee.
ReplyDeleteAdding toughness isn't the answer at all. Adding players that should be in the NHL (specifically a top 3 defenceman, a large center who can play well in both ends, and a couple decent wingers as well as that goalie who's inexplicably playing in OKC) would work.
As near as I can tell, the solution from fans is to add toughness to the roster.
ReplyDeleteWhich fans are saying this? I've not seen this anywhere.
Our powerplay has been awful for at least 10 years. It's hardly Bucky's fault, but it doesn't seem like he's helping it much.
ReplyDeleteWe kept Buchberger over Huddy.... and Buchberger runs the powerplay, HUH?? Two bad decisions right there.
ReplyDeleteThe only way we are going to move forward with this team is as been said a million times cut the ties to the past. Buchberger, Smith, are they really no other good coaches out there? Lets get rid of those horrible orange and blue jersies, the 80's are over its 2011 bring back the midnight blue, those at least were easy on the eyes from the upper blue seats while I watch the team lose.
I might sound a bit negative today but reading Tambelli's comments of more effort for the team. He needs to practice what he preaches. 3rd and 4th line players who play a role and are actual NHL players would help this team, whats needed is better 'stop gap' fill ins. There are players like that around look at Nashville, Phoenix, two examples have such players.
Anyways, not liking the GM today or even the day he was hired but that is another story. Lets just hope when I go to the game tonight it is entertaining.
The PP was decent last year (not great, but then nothing was), whereas this year it is abysmal. I put that on coaching, and the mandate to not be too good this year. The aberrant and bizarre decision-making has been debated here, but when it comes to ST play, we can really see the tank job at work.
ReplyDeleteWhich is insane, considering if the Oilers wanted to develop players in the bigs, then they should at least develop them somehow.
BTW, Tambellini's Patton impersonation was all for show, since he is starting to see blow-back from his blow-up plan.
Pretty early to start protecting Richards for the trade deadline....Something in the works?
ReplyDeleteHe's listed with an undisclosed injury after taking a hit in the last shift of the game. I guess they could be hiding an injury (concussion?)for trade purposes as well.
The Oilers powerplay is a mess and has been a mess for a long time. This is an area where I wish Sam Gagner would take the wheel but that hope diminishes with every game.
LMHF#1,specifically which goalie in OKC?
ReplyDeleteRe Buchburger, I can only surmise that he's replaced Huddy because the Pres. and GM don't want underlings who are smarter than them around.
I also think that is one reason Dahm is no longer on staff.
Buchberger and Huddy weren't competing for the same job.
ReplyDeleteHuddy was an experienced D-men coach. It was good for him and his long term coaching career to get a job away from MacT and away from the Oilers.
The Oilers dropped MacT and Huddy because they wanted to change the coaching staff.
Buchberger is an "apprentice" coach who is holding the spot on most staff's for a former player.
I don't know why people give Buchberger so much grief. He did better in Springfield than the two guys who succeeded him. Peckham and Reddox made major strides under him in Springfield. And he is not a major decider in his current role.
Have to say that Clarkenstein really sums it up. 3.0 did not deliver a sermon on the mount yesterday.
ReplyDeleteAnd for all those words, it's hard to see this management group (exception being the scouts) do anything other than re-arrange the deck chairs on the Titanic between now and the end of the season.
The D is bad, we're bad on the PK and last year's MVP is a sieve. Now who's really surprised by any of that?
The 'manics' are down today. Sounds like a win is in the cards tonight to revert to the mean.
ReplyDeleteLebowski - Gerber. On play in both the preseason and NHL, he should not only be here but our starter.
ReplyDeleteFrom Gene...
ReplyDeletePenner-Horcoff-Hemsky
Hall-Cogliano-Eberle
Paajarvi-Gagner-Omark
Jacques-Reddox-Jones
Looks like Fraser-MacIntyre sit.D the same.Khabby in
They should have let Quinn run the power play. His teams have always had decent ones. (Even last seasons was alright)
ReplyDeleteMy nickel on the petry move:
ReplyDeleteAren't the barons in a tight playoff run? Just barely making the cut still?
Take worst young defender on OKC and replace with one of your best. Try to do everything you can to get into the playoffs and build up fan base in OKC (especially when Omark and others end up as ringers).
Maybe Dithers isn't such a bad manager...for an AHL time with unlimited resources!
Brendon Nash (Riley's brother) will play his first NHL game before his bro vs the Sabres tonight.
ReplyDeleteQuite funny.
Terry Jones has a great line in his column about v3.0 talking to the troops:
ReplyDeleteYou can make the case that maybe it should have been the players talking to Tambellini, because if management really doesn't want them to finish 30th again why haven't they done a damn thing to fix the defence, the penalty killing, the power play and find somebody to win a faceoff?
I used to dislike most of what Jones wrote about the Oilers because I thought he's often point the finger in the wrong direction and was mis-informed.
Since he's been on twitter (which he is awesome at, well worth following) his articles have been much better.
I wonder if he's reading more about what others say (MSM and non-MSM) about the Oilers via twitter links.
Convergence of blogosphere and MSM continues.
I barely saw the OTT game and didn't see the ANA game, but based on reading here v3.0 was talking more about effort than results.
I'd like to see some effort out of v3.0. If he adds crappy players in the summer again and doesn't get full return for either 83 or 27, I'm done buying season tickets.
I can't believe MacIntyre sits this one out after the last couple of games against the Stars. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteAnd for all those words, it's hard to see this management group (exception being the scouts) do anything other than re-arrange the deck chairs on the Titanic between now and the end of the season.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what you are expecting. They should move some guys like Vandermeer, Jones, Foster for picks. If they don't get what they want for Hemsky/ Penner then they shouldn't do anything there.
As far as getting tougher, I would like a lot more hitting/ ability to forecheck/ intimidate. The Oilers have been smacked around on the scoresheet and otherwise all season.
SMac is a sideshow (Sideshow Mac). JFJ won't be back next year. They need guys like Dave Lumley (my all time favourite), a young Ethan Moreau, Jason Smith - guys who could fill out the bottom 6 and take an occaisional shift in the top 6.
The team would be better, and the average fan could at least take some solace that the Oilers gave the other team a rough ride.
Yeah, and I know Detroit gets by without a lot of bigger players, but most of the other teams in the league have them. Until Sam Gagner turns into Zetterberg (about 4 years) and Larsson turns into Lidstrom (about 6) we should follow the majority.
Burke initially traded Viktor Stalberg, Chris DiDomenico and Philippe Paradis for Kris Versteeg and Bill Sweatt.
ReplyDeleteNow he flips Versteeg for a first and third. I don't know any of those three guys he dumped in the summer to get Versteeg. Maybe that means the trade this week was a good one.
Little different level of desperation between CHI and TOR there Ducey.
ReplyDeleteDucey
ReplyDeleteRealise you preach patience. The problem is Lowe and Tambellini do not have 4 years . The reason they trot it out is to buy time. We're losing, no problem, our plan is to win in 3 years. Not now.
It is about pushing accountability out as far out as humanly possible.
Reason they do not have 4 years is the NHL is gate driven league and Katz is not getting a season ticket increase this year after this fiasco. That is real money. I also expect they will get a number of nonrenewals this year. Next year they could be back down to 14,000 or 13,5000 season tickets. At that point Katz will turn to Dumb and Dumber and tell them to get lost.
Great dismissal case though: Employer says he has cause for dismissal, 850,000 Edmontonians agree!!
I can't believe MacIntyre sits this one out after the last couple of games against the Stars. Ugh
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
They keep a lug like 33 on the roster to "protect the kids", then when they play the team that has beaten them up the most, he sits.
Brutal decision making.
Its impossible to defend them.
Assholes.
SMac makes zero difference. When they figure out how to stop Hemsky getting flattened like a bug on a windshield against the boards every game - THAT's when it will make a difference.
ReplyDeleteIt happens every game. The opposition zeroes in on Hemsky and squishes the poor fucker like a bug. No wonder he's 'injury prone'.
ReplyDeleteNice player management, retards.
@theotherJohn:
ReplyDeleteYeah maybe Katz gives them the sack, but what's to say Lowebellini don't just turn around and say "time to pull the threat to leave Edmonton card" out of the drawer.
As near as I can tell, the solution from fans is to add toughness to the roster.
ReplyDeleteNo, the solution from fans is to get rid of the guys who are dragging us down, like Penner, Horcoff, and Gilbert. I assume they also want to get rid of Whitney and Hemsky, since that would fit the pattern of their thinking.
Re Buchburger, I can only surmise that he's replaced Huddy because the Pres. and GM don't want underlings who are smarter than them around.
I also think that is one reason Dahm is no longer on staff.
Come on, that's taking conspiratorial thinking to a new, and entirely stupid, level. Stupid managers don't deliberately avoid smart subordinates; they're generally unaware of their own limitations, which prevents them from realizing that their subordinates are smarter than them in the first place. As for Daum, I think the results in Springfield probably have more to do with his being gone than deliberate buffoonery on Lowe and Tambellini's part does. The above is kind of stupid accusation that sometimes drags the Oilogosphere dangerously close to TSN's comments sections.
I'm in favour of sitting MacIntyre tonight, incidentally, but I'm in favour of sitting him every night. It's also nice to see Fraser sit - that's his first healthy scratch of the season, no?
hunter - if Katz chooses TambeLoweni in another city over someone competent in Edmonton he is a fool.
ReplyDeleteEdmonton has demonstrated that it will support a franchise to the level that it pays into revenue-sharing.
Another franchise would move here ASAP.
I don't think anyone has stated the obvious about the stepbrothers than Tyler's latest post on his site. Great stuff.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't help that Hemsky has that 'no fear' approach to the game, little blighter will go to the hard areas to make a play, and then a douche like Regehr will jam his stick under the helmet and launch Hemsky head first into the boards. The refs will call a minor penalty if anything, and Hemsky gets to stagger to his feet and try to continue playing.
ReplyDeleteDucey, two of those guys are 06-07 6th rounders, the last is a late 1st rounder. Stalberg is likely n NHL player, he certainly has the size and the speed, but he's a 3rd liner at best, and I don't know if he'll ever crack a top 6.
Chris DD is a smallish forward, who doesn't skate all that fast, he was a dominant offensive player in the Q, but he's now in the ECHL after 1 point in 15 games in the AHL. His scouting report shows a very aware, hard working player, who's excellent on faceoffs and the penalty kill though, so it's hard not to pull for guys like that, but he'll likely never make the show.
Paradis is the most interesting, but he's just under a PPG in his 3rd full season in the Q, so he's likely to never be a scoring machine. He's a big, gritty forward, with some but not much scoring ability. Likely future 3rd liner. Leafs earlier traded Tlusty, a former 1st round pick and quality AHL scorer currently playing for Carolina, for him so oh wells.
Since they have smac on the roster this is the sort of game you play him.
ReplyDeleteIf for any reason then to pound on Barsch and let him know its for Storts.
why would we trade Pneer for the Kings first round pick this year? cmon Tambo would be nuts to accpet anything less then what we paid for him? hthat signing cost us 3 picks! why would we trade him for only ONE? when he is OUR top scorer. anything less then 2 solid prospects and a pick should be welcomed with a no thanks guys! come back with a better offer if yer serious about a playoff run!
ReplyDeleteWe're never going to get the return for Penner similar to what we gave up. For starters, we have had 2.5 years of Penner, and that has been valuable to us. Second, we gave up a lot for him.
ReplyDeleteThe first round pick for the Penner offer sheet (12OV) turned into 6'8" 20yo stud dman Tyler Myers. My oh my would I rather have him than whatever we are going to get for Penner. Again, I ask, did the RFA offer sheets really advance this organization? Thankfully Buffalo matched the Vanek offer sheet.
Buffalo was nuts not to accept 4 1st round picks.
ReplyDeleteThey'd have a dynasty, given the Oilers incompetance.
If for any reason then to pound on Barsch and let him know its for Storts.
ReplyDeleteI believe Barch is injured at the moment. That wouldn't stop me from sending MacIntyre after someone else.
Ah, hired thuggery. Its what makes the NHL so great and worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteLet's not stop with the suggestion that we send out the least useful member of the team to randomly assault people, but why don't we suggest that he look them up off-ice too? Then he can have a camera crew follow and post it to Youtube/Hockeyfights.com.
Bruising our way to moral victories is not going to make this team better. No matter what kind of bloodlust it satisfies. I enjoy a good fight, but I enjoy a well-earned victory even more. The two are not connected, imo.
OT, but baseball related (so totally on topic)
ReplyDeletegreat video of a 4th grader and his science project which is to determine the worth of Pujols.
http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/244066/3/4th-grader-figures-out-Albert-Pujols-worth
Let's not stop with the suggestion that we send out the least useful member of the team to randomly assault people...
ReplyDeleteOh, it doesn't have to be random. When a guy crosschecks Gagner in the face, he answers to MacIntyre. At least that's how it's supposed to work.
LT, you like the Beauchamin deal? Lupul is not a good player, has a terrible contract, and I would bet Gardiner will never be as good a pro-d-man as Beauchamin.
ReplyDeleteLike the Versteeg trade though. Anytime you can get a 1st and a 3rd for a good 3rd line player you have to do it.
I'm stuck at home today because the hot water heater went. Watching EDM vs. COL from 2007 while I get some work done. The team I'm watching on TV is playing a fair bit better than the one we currently have despite not being very good...it's really weird to watch.
ReplyDeleteAh, hired thuggery. Its what makes the NHL so great and worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteLet's not stop with the suggestion that we send out the least useful member of the team to randomly assault people, but why don't we suggest that he look them up off-ice too? Then he can have a camera crew follow and post it to Youtube/Hockeyfights.com.
Ah yes, building straw men. Good stuff.
The Oilers suck and the only kind of victories they have at this point are moral ones.
You know the Oilers are bad when fans are resorting to watching old games of other bad albeit less bad Oiler teams.
ReplyDeleteFunny, but the dynasty Oilers had a lot of players both willing and able to goon it up at the drop of a hat.
ReplyDeleteOh right. Lowe and Tambo are waiting for Taylor Hall to morph into Mark Messier. How silly of me.
Renney pre game
ReplyDelete-Fraser out not an injury..performance related
-SMAC out...looking for team toughness
-more Chorney discussion
-funny moment around the 8 minute mark...somebody's cell phone goes off with good,bad,ugly ringtone...Stauffer follows up with quip...
Ah yes, building straw men. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteNot strawmen, hyperbole.
It is just me ranting about how little is accomplished by seeking 'revenge' for the thumping the Stars gave the Oilers last time out. If there were a good team then the Stars might have to respect them because they knew they would be outplayed by deviating from quality hockey. But the Stars know they can destroy the Oilers with a half effort, and spend the rest of their time hammering them into the ice, because the Oilers are a terribly constructed/coached team.
Putting Smac out there doesn't fix that problem.
JB, that works out to essentially Beauchemin for a decent prospect D man, and a 3rd round pick (or 2nd).
ReplyDeleteLupul had to be taken back to balance the books I'd guess, decent deal, especially since Beauchemin has been banged up, and likely wouldn't be around when the Leafs get good, if they ever do. If they could have somehow gotten Schultz that would have been a scorcher.
I don't like Zack Stortini but Barch is totally not cool about mocking him.
ReplyDeleteMy desire to see him punched in his dumb face repeatedly is a correct one.
not really sure why LT would think that Lupul trade was a good move.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that old homer Lain who defended the Pronger move has taken over the sensible Lain's body:)
Regarding Tambo going in the dressing room, who really gives a fuck? It's not like he Tried to make this team better so his lipping of is just that: lip service.
It's clear him and his boss Lowe wanted the team to suck so for him to try and pretend he wants the team to win is just him talking out of the other side of his mouth.
What I'm worried about with all of this is losing games in this fashion is what Lowe and Tambo wants just because then it's much easier to grease the skids on a deal for 27 or 83 because you can always say, "hey, were were terrible With these guys so what's the difference."
@Dennis:
ReplyDeleteOnce they trade away Hemsky and Penner, Oilers effectively become the Quebec Nordiques.
as per Mackenzie:
ReplyDeleteDustin Byfuglien's contract extension with ATL is 5 years, $26 million. AAV is $5.2M.
That's steep, and may set the minimum standard for Seabrook and Weber.
Burke has already talked about trading those picks he got (and already attempted to trade the 3rd pick, by his admission). So i wouldn't be too quick to pat him on the back. But I did like (well, from an outsider's view) the deal for Beauchemin... mainly the young D prospect they picked up. That was smart.
ReplyDeleteBut we'll see what Burke does with those picks...
Yeah, maybe we'll get really lucky and Burke will give up philly's first and Lupul for Hemsky...
ReplyDeleteJordan:
ReplyDeleteDeal, but Burke has to throw in a conditional when the Leafs make the SCFs.
We should acquire someone completely insane like Dan Carcillo.
ReplyDeleteA guy who wouldn't ask to fight, just do it, and scare the others.
I know Gregory Stewart (Farm) didn't ask Steve Ott if he wanted to fight last time he fucked around with his teamates.
It's times like this, when people are talking about needing some awesome insanity-based physical intimidation that a man has to ask where is Stan Weir when you need him?
ReplyDelete(actually he's at home impregnating your mom, sister, wife, and ex-gf while doing coke-lines with Fuhr, but that's another story...)
I don't think that Byfuglien's contract will affect Weber's contract negotiations. They're not really in the same class of defender.
ReplyDeleteWeber will be looking at between 6.0 and 7.0 million per year on a long-term deal (6-8 years). If they opt to go with a shorter term or he reaches UFA status he could be looking at a 7.5+ cap hit.
Seabrook on the other hand is looking at something comparable to Byfuglien.
KABERLE!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteApparently Kaberle will only agree to go to the Bruins.
ReplyDeleteSo Leaf fans automatically assume they're getting their first rounder back.
What's this about Tomas?
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I don't think that 33 deters anything either.
ReplyDeleteMy issue is that the Head Coach and Management tells the fan base that he DOES deter and that is why he is on the roster.
Now tonight the Oilers play the team that has "taken the most liberties" and "run their show" the most.....and 33 sits.
If the coaches and management actually believe what they tell us about Smac, then he wouldn't sit tonight.
Waste of roster space with nothing but bullshit hollow explanations from those in charge.
Showerhead,
ReplyDeleteLots of twitter buzz that Kaberle would waive NTC to go to BOS, nothing confirmed.
Tyler Dellow proposed Kaberle + PHI 1st to BOS to get their own 1st back.
He deters wins.
ReplyDeleteKhabby encourages losses.
ReplyDeleteTyler Dellow proposed Kaberle + PHI 1st to BOS to get their own 1st back.
ReplyDeleteSounds pretty awful for Boston.
Woodguy: Thank you. I saw the "Kaberle!!" post and then the TSN article about him not having waived his no-trade clause yet. First instinct based on past history? That he had rejected a trade to Edmonton.
ReplyDeleteThank you for showing me a new layer to my Oiler induced cynicism.
If they want to stop teams taking libeties against them, the only "deterence" is to start scoring on the ensuing powerplay.
ReplyDeleteWith the majority of the league in the playoff race, they aren't as likely to run playersif the result is a goal against.
Macintyre is a waste of money and a roster spot. The oilers have lots of those.
Boston would be dumb to give up TO's 1st -especially given that their recent player dumps will guarantee it to be a very high pick- for Kaberle +. The + will be a late, late first. (Really, that's no better than a second, or a good, but somewhat flawed prospect more generally.)
ReplyDeleteBoston might give up their own first rounder for Kaberle though. That makes more sense. And Burke seems to value these late round 1sts.
Maybe if someone from the Oilers front office stepped up and ran their own show like they were supposed to do, other teams would not be able to.
ReplyDeleteI like that Gardiner kid, that's why the Lupul trade made sense for me. If he doesn't work out, well nothing ventured.
ReplyDeleteBut if he does, you've helped your future in a big way--in a season you've traded your first round pick.
Would anyone be opposed to getting a guy like Chris Kelly? He's young isn't he?
ReplyDeleteI could be wrong but I think Boston has already traded their 1st round pick for this year in the Horton trade.
ReplyDeleteYep you be wrong. They traded last years I believe.
ReplyDeleteBruins have their first and TOR's first this season according to Bruins Draft watch.
ReplyDelete"I don't like Tambo as a gm but I don't see the point in even listening to a word he says, much less analyzing it in depth. Telling his players not to worry about a #1 pick is a no-brainer and makes absolutely no difference in how this season ends up."
ReplyDelete+1
SH: nice work:)
ReplyDeleteLT: I remember Mckenzie talking to that kid's coach after the trade and he wasn't sold on him being a real NHLer so I didn't think much of that.
Plus, you have to watch Lupul play and you have to pay him.
Dennis: Gardiner? Well the kid's a PPG defender and 6''4. A lot to like there.
ReplyDeleteSomeone said:
ReplyDelete"Lots of twitter buzz that Kaberle would waive NTC to go to BOS, nothing confirmed.
Tyler Dellow proposed Kaberle + PHI 1st to BOS to get their own 1st back."
---
So Tyler is now a douchebag twitter rumour mongerer? Say it ain't so, Someone. Say it ain't so.
The last few games have proven one thing: This years edition of the Oilers have mailed it in. All that's left is playing out the string.
ReplyDeleteThe clubs are getting polished, and vacations booked.
Everything else is propaganda.
Oil Change has shown me that the clubs are already polished and in use.
ReplyDeleteLowetide, I know you have a soft spot for Horcoff and he will help out tonight playing regular strength against the stars top line. But he does not belong anywhere knew the first PP. IMHO Penner centre I don't have the stats but from what I have noticed he as as good as Horcoff on the draws. Penner should park his big frame and finisher hands two inches in front of the Dallas goalie.Hall and Erbarle should patrol the wings. Defence of Omark and with the personal available tonight Gilbert.The PP should try incorporating some movement. Have the defence cut to the net and have a winger drop back and cover for him.Play with some movement and flow.Instead of Hemsky standing flat footed on the half wall passing to another flat footed player.
ReplyDeleteIsn't Gardiner like a minus 30 or something? In college?
ReplyDeleteOr am I making that up?
Tambellini can eat it. I mean really. He and Lowe have put this franchise in the ditch, how they are even employed is beyond me.
The best part about this whole Tambo era is going to be when he gets canned, never to get near a GM's job again.
No, the best part will be when they give the GM job back to Lowe.
ReplyDeleteOh God, kill me now.
"I don't like Zack Stortini but Barch is totally not cool about mocking him.
ReplyDeleteMy desire to see him punched in his dumb face repeatedly is a correct one."
Shit, forgot there is actually a reason to watch this game...
Oh I hope Smac takes it to him and I can watch it on Youtube repeatedly...
BD: He's +18, you made that up.
ReplyDeleteOh I hope Smac takes it to him and I can watch it on Youtube repeatedly...
ReplyDeleteRead up - MacIntyre's scratched.
So is Pat Quinn just rubbing one out somewhere?
ReplyDeletePat shows up for Canuck 40 year celebrations and thats about it.
ReplyDeleteThat twitter comment was a trade suggestion from a buddy of mine. Nothing more or less.
ReplyDeleteSure bud.
ReplyDeleteWe'll just call you Tyler Eklund from now on.
Dennis: I think you must have read about a different player. Gardiner (unless the Leafs traded for a difference guy) is 32gp, 8-24-32 +20 and is 2nd in shots on the team with 114 (5PP goals btw).
ReplyDeleteHis coach is Mike Eaves. Here are some quotes from the coach:
“Jake is having a very good season for us,” Eaves said. “He’s our third leading point getter on the team and he plays defence, so that’s worth noting. He’s an excellent skater. He sees the ice well in terms of being able to skate the puck and make the first pass to get a team on its way. He’s our shooter on our first power-play unit. What Jake needs most now is to get stronger. He’s a good size (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) but the challenge for him will be to see what he can do when he’s playing against men in the NHL. If he makes it (as an NHLer), I think he’ll be a top four defenceman because of his skating ability and his first pass.”
That's not too terribly far from what they were saying about Petry not so long ago.
fpb - ah I thought I read it somewhere but that just shows you why you can't believe everything you read!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't really get how that makes sense for ANA. They probably could have gotten a similar younger D for a 2nd round pick.
ReplyDeleteReturns have been incredibly high so far.
I saw the headline on the EJ site the other day, what was it? GM wants more from Oilers.
ReplyDeleteChecked the comments, was waiting for some wag to say 'Oilers and their fans want more from GM'
Beauty comments though, all kinds of folks talking about the club being just months into the rebuild and how Tambo has been saddles with all of these bad contracts and so on.
So there you go. A good part of the fanbase is either in denial or are just too blind to see that the guy who bequeathed the contracts is still there, the new guy has made some beauty moves of his own and the club has been out of the playoffs for five years.
Horcoff and Gilbert and Hemsky are the problems.
So what can you do. Fans get what they deserve. Same as Toronto. Forty four years without even making it back to the Final and they sell out every game at just outrageous prices.
Oh well.
The Gilbert stuff this year is as confusing as the Horcoff was a year ago imo.
ReplyDeleteI mean, anyone who has followed a sport knows that there are dips and upward swings and injuries and confidence crashes.
So, what exactly is Gilbert doing wrong? He's a finesse defenseman in a hard rock town.
fpb - its the devil they know thing, they know Beauchemin, probably scouted the hell out of him and figure he is a far better player than he has shown.
ReplyDeleteIf he bounces back then its a good trade, basically they get a top four Dman for a good prospect. Plus they dump that piece of shit Lupul.
They're probably confident he's going to bounce back. They saw him good for years after all.
I don't know Black Dog. I suppose fans get what they deserve but it's sports which are pretty dumb so I don't really get bothered by people that don't put a lot of thought into it.
ReplyDeletefpb - by the way I've seen a lot of the Habs lately and your man Max looks pretty good
ReplyDeleteHonest question: Has Beauchemin ever, even briefly, looked like a top level defenseman when not paired with Scott Niedermayer? I've seen him level people but have heard about him underperforming for long enough I begin to wonder.
ReplyDeleteSmarmy - yeah I agree - I'm just an awful snob when it comes down to it. I like to pretend that I'm not but I am.
ReplyDeleteTerrible thing.
Mc79,
ReplyDeleteHave you heard any rumors about whether they will deal Hemsky?
Beauchemin has been playing the toughest minutes in Toronto and doing reasonably well, according to an G&M article mirtle wrote not to long ago referencing advanced stats from an entry on the Pension Plan Puppets blog....I think anyway.
ReplyDeleteWas that Kaberle rumor an MC 1, an MC 2, an MC 3, or an MC 4?
ReplyDeletegodot10: Thank you. I'll look up that Mirtle article for sure.
ReplyDeleteIf TO deals Kaberle for prospects and picks, they better get their first round back, because they're not going to win another game all season. Kaberle, Beauchemin, and Versteeg were a big part of the core of that team.
ReplyDeleteOh, and how many people think Burke isn't going to throw the whole pension fund/cap space at Richards now?
LT: C'mon you know he was absolute garbage last year, and his conditions didn't tell the whole story because he was as bad as them.
ReplyDeleteBD: Yeah, honestly at this point I think it would just be stupid to trade him away for a guy like Penner or Hemsky.
Khabibulin in net and then the screen goes black. Honestly, if the game was lost to technical difficulties it might be the best thing for the city of Edmonton.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-beat/beauchemin-is-leafs-mr-dependable/article1873704/
ReplyDeleteMIrtle artcile on Beauchemin from January.
Sportsnet is fucking blowing it
ReplyDeleteFPB: Horcoff didn't have a good season a year ago by the boxcars but the advanced stats (Own zone, quality of linemates, etc) were a mountain to climb.
ReplyDeleteHe was a man alone last season and the numbers were below his own established levels. Situational stats explained a lot of it, and Horcoff was the best they had.
And it's the same now.
LT: He was so bad you could say the same for a guy like POS who played with him.
ReplyDeleteFPB: Here's what I wrote about Horcoff's season a year ago.
ReplyDeletehttp://lowetide.blogspot.com/2010/08/re-10-11-shawn-horcoff.html
I know you'll disagree, most do. I remain convinced he was the best available option and that he gutted it out as best he could a year ago.
That's miles and miles from Patrick O'Sullivan.
In small I admit he had bad conditions but the results were ''Worst possible'' area.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have a watchable feed for the game? This is a new low, even from Sportsnet. I can handle Gene and I can handle them praising Khabbi, but this is just awful. The feed on ATDHE was showing the Leafs last I checked
ReplyDeleteHmm... never mind, it looks like Sportsnet gave up and is leeching off the local Dallas feed.
ReplyDeleteJust heard the announcer say "Nobody beats me 15 times in a row!!" Then he laughed. Sigh
LT: Well I think he still failed as a ''Best option''. He just seemed as helpless as the others.
ReplyDeleteAnyway I recall we had a similar conversation, I pointed out Joel Ward who seemed to had hell conditions too but made something good.
But anyway we'll have to agree to disagree.
FPB: Let's try it this way. Horcoff's season a year ago including monster own zone starts, playing against the toughest opposition and very little qualified help for long stretches (remember 83 was hurt and they put Penner on another line).
ReplyDeleteSo, it's like going to home plate every night and facing a fresh pitcher who can throw a 110 MPH, a sick curveball and a splitter that breaks late and then dips to the earth's core.
And that was Horcoff a year ago. Every night. It could have been worse.
Horcoff could have shut it down and left it for Gagner or Cogliano.
Bad season? I'd say brave season.
do you have that dallas link?
ReplyDeleteLT: Some other guys in the league had similar conditions and didn't go down like that.
ReplyDeleteThere's a difference between getting striked out on 3 balls and getting a strikeout with 5 foul balls.
2009-2010
ReplyDeleteShawn Horcoff
QualComp: 0.068 (second among forwards with at least twenty games)
Relative Corsi QualComp: 1.127 (first)
O Zone faceoffs: 45.3% (fifteenth)
ES TOI/60: 13.68 (first)
PP TOI/60: 2.50 (fifth)
PK TOI/60: 2.12 (third)
Rel Corsi: 0.6 (ninth)
Patrick O'Sullivan
Qualcomp: -0.009 (fifth)
Relative Corsi QualComp: 0.444 (fourth)
O Zone faceoffs: 49.9% (fourth)
ES TOI/60: 12.75 (fifth)
PP TOI/60: 2.45 (eighth)
PK TOI/60: 1.54 (fifth)
Rel Corsi: -3.9 (thirteenth)
(All stats ES except as otherwise noted.)
Shawn Horcoff was run ragged against tough competition starting in his own zone, and still put up a (barely) positive relative Corsi (and yes, on a team as bad as last year's Oilers, you have to emphasize the "relative" part of that). Patrick O'Sullivan was not given very good conditions either, but they were a fair margin better than Horcoff's, and his results were a whole bunch worse. There's no comparing the two.
FPB: May I see your list of centermen who played in front of JDD, have linemates the calibre of the 09-10 Oilers and had the laundry list of injuries that club experienced?
ReplyDeleteWell it's that time of year again. Basically I watch the games hoping the crowd finally loses it and starts booing the Oilers off the ice between periods. It's getting to be familiar.
ReplyDeleteDecline the penalty?
ReplyDeleteLike what I see from Linus on the left PP point so far. Draws the top defender quite high - opens up alot of ice.
ReplyDeleteTake Foster off of the right side and they might have something.
I missed 14
fpb has finally lost his mind.
ReplyDeleteSweet goal.
If these kids ever get some help it's going to be fun. That was a beauty goal in any era.
ReplyDeleteNot bad, LT. I guess I was wrong and that wasn't a bad little bit of sass from you:)
ReplyDeleteyou should probably save it for the dummies over at ON though:)
I know Hall is projected to be the better player, but i can't help but think that Eberle has more talent. The kid is ridiculous. Rookie in the NHL, gets injured, comes back and doesnt miss a beat. 7 points in 7 games now since coming back.
ReplyDeleteflamingpavelbure said...
ReplyDeleteLT: Some other guys in the league had similar conditions and didn't go down like that.
Let's see those numbers. I wanna see the players you mean, their linemates and FO%.
Dennis: Not attempting to sass, Gardiner has one of those names that is pretty common and often misspelled. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteIt's like if the Oilers dealt for a guy named Barry Smith and you went to hockeydb and did a search.
LT: if you did then I would certainly deserve it:)
ReplyDeleteCraig Ludwig can go fuck himself.
ReplyDeleteas can his son.
as can all former Cuntreal alum.
Will Jon Lovitz play Jack Michaels in the movie?
ReplyDeleteLT: Yes! I knew he looked familiar!
ReplyDelete306 caps in and 5 is still making plays that want to make you vomit.
ReplyDeleteand 41 had three jim fucking dandy head-turners.
this D corps is one for the ages.
LT:
ReplyDeleteFranz Nielsen
Joel Ward
Jason Spezza (to a certain extent)
Nik Antropov
Samuel Pahlsson
Rene Bourque
Some guys who seemed to have stiff competition and little help. Altough there's diminishing factors (Nielsen Qual Team is up but it's the Isles, or NSH's goaltending).
Nik Antropov looks exeptional from the conditions he had.
godot: Thanks for the Mirtle link. The on/off shot differential looked fairly telling, while Beauchemin's +/- was definitely respectable too. It didn't go deep enough for me to be completely satisfied (that's what she said) but I'm definitely open to the idea of him being better than I thought/heard over the years.
ReplyDeleteAre the HD cameras in RExall of a shitty quality? The Setanta HD soccer feeds are terrible and they look better than this.
ReplyDeleteDennis: you have a Horcoff quote up in the comments at Tyler's site. Do you think he's blue skying on spending, full of shit, or in the know?
ReplyDeleteThere were audio and visual difficulties earlier and im guessing the HD was completely cut out because it wasnt this bad at the beginning of the game.
ReplyDeleteGod sportsnet sucks. I wonder if they even realize how awful this looks. Is this supposed to be HD? Anyone have any idea what the hell is going on?
ReplyDeleteNormally I rely on the numbers to look at things like zonestart but that last 27-10-83 shift where they started deep in Edm's zone following the Gagner line and ended their shift by chipping it (again, not deep enough) into Dallas' end was a picture perfect example of what real NHL talent can do even without affecting the stats sheet.
ReplyDeleteMan Sportsnet HD feed is total ass.
ReplyDeleteI've still got the FSN feed on bell expressvu
ReplyDeletethe announcers are going to town on the Oilers
-gagner worst defensive center on the team
-ice is not what it used to be
-mocking khabi "not going to beat me 15 times in a row"
-hemsky is small and cant avoid getting hit
-heartless pathetic loss to ducks
-won just 3 times in past 17
-just 3 pp goals in forever
Laforge would not be happy with these 2 guys.
Chorney!
ReplyDeleteBoom Taylor!
ReplyDeleteThe less one. :)
Like I said earlier, Chorney is magic beans on the PP
ReplyDeleteSo LT is that the seventh Oiler to get his first NHL goal this year?
ReplyDeletePetry, Chorney, Peckham, Hall, Eberle, Paajarvi, Omark.
ReplyDeleteChorney from a coupla bums
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine, The Dirty Russian and the Soft Non-Leader each get a assist.
Dallas' Power Lay is as bad as mine
ReplyDeletedallas commentators making up oiler fan history on the spot!
ReplyDeleteWow Dallas must suck pretty hard because the Oilers are really beating on them.
ReplyDeleteTy: I've found the quality to be good when I've watched the games on TSN and HD.
ReplyDeleteBTW, what a joy it is to watch the Oilers on another feed whithout Quinn and Co feeding me all the lies and company lines and of course the puns.
I just watched a computer blow a couple of very smart humans out of the water on Jeopardy!. I wish the Oilers were playing more typically, so I could make a joke about it being able to beat them at hockey.
ReplyDeleteThat Irish bum O'mara had one too.
ReplyDeleteMy nephew has been trying to show me how pull off that deke on the xbox for the past 5 years. I'm about one coordinated thumb manoeuvre away from pulling it off, except every time I reach the critical moment I get a sensation like a screwdriver has been plunged into my brain. I consider it the closest thing to experiencing a stroke without the actual brain bleed.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, every time Hemsky dangles like that the whole left side of my body goes numb.
That's a pretty poor effort by the defenders there.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the Soft Non-leader stayed right and Peckman didn't close on Louie
ReplyDeleteLoui Erikkson's hair was stunning at the NHL fantasy draft.
ReplyDeleteI know the Euro's have different sensibilities but it was off the chain, yo;)
That was the second play tonight where 27 didn't look - how can I say it - interested in making much of an effort.
"And Khabibulin has been perfect so far." - Jack Micheals.
ReplyDeleteWe knew where that was going.
I know it doesn't effect the game, but could the guy just shut up about shutouts halfway through the game. I mean, just shut up.
Wow, I think every Oiler on the ice gets a Staples error on that one.
ReplyDeleteThe Oil D make it look so easy...for the opposition.
I know Peckham was the primary culprit there, but what the hell was Gilbert doing moving over to the side boards??
That's so weird. We put out that sucky powerplay full of geezers and they keep scoring. Put out the youth! Trade Hemsky and Penner!
ReplyDeleteWhy is there a player coming out of the penalty box when the Oilers score? I don't understand this rule.
ReplyDeleteThat dirty russian Horcov finally scored.
ReplyDeleteThese commentators bet against the oilers tonight.
ReplyDeleteBeuty pass by 83
ReplyDeleteWho da thought: movement on the PP = goal.
Chorney with the A - Tambi you genious.
@Dorito: Ha!
ReplyDeleteYeah, usually the Oilers like to make the guilty party suffer the full sentence.
"Don't do the crime if you can't do the time."
Peckham's game is passable if i) the puck isn't on his stick, and ii) the play isn't going north/south.
ReplyDeleteSH: that 10 quote almost deserves it's own column, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteWhat he said about all the salary cap room is something that a few of us have been throwing around and especially to the point where we say you could Truly overpay a guy or two for a couple of years and/or until the kids really start to earn.
At best you'd like to think he's saying it because he knows something. At worst it's because he's been asked to stick to message.
Somewhere in the middle it's probably him looking at the roster and the payroll going forward and saying something to the effect of, "Dear Jesus, we've been so bad for so long and now we have all this room on the payroll. There MUST be help on the way somewhere, right?"
The thing about Horcoff in the media is you know he's a pretty astute guy. He is smart enough to keep his message within the party line. To me, the question is whether this is a line he's being fed or the reflection of an honest conversation or two he's had somewhere. As you said, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. The Oilers will try to spend like drunken sailors on two year contracts, sign a couple of people and also get shot down by a few people. In the end, I'm thinking we're looking at modest improvement and playoffs only if quite lucky, or so looks the view from here.
ReplyDeleteGetting some help on the out of town scoreboard to help minimuze the damage of this potential W.
ReplyDeleteToronto wins and the Islanders beat the Sens in a shootout. Big 3 point game there.
That's too bad about the Oilers playing atypically. I was so looking forward to being treated to another sparkling witticism from he who elevates the Oilblogosphere to dizzying heights.
ReplyDeleteSH: it's certainly something that some of the MSM media should pick up on.
ReplyDeleteEspecially considering that "four to six more years" bomb that Lowe dropped on HNIC this past Sat.
Those obviously don't jive and I'd like to someone to dig around a little bit.
I know people will laugh at this because his contract can't be moved but if I'm 10 and they pull this shit next year and leave open all the cap space he's talking about? Well, I'm asking out.
Minn, TBAY, Boston, Los Angeles and some other team represented by scouts tonight.
ReplyDeleteSo, there you go. What team did I miss?
That Lowe comment might also speak to how out of the loop he is.
ReplyDeleteThat would be a relief in and of itself.
That info from Spector on Principe's intermission for dummies.
ReplyDeleteLT: H also said Philly
ReplyDeleteHemsky stock is on the rise
ReplyDeleteBTW, the Oilers have two PPG "on the books" but that 14 goal was pretty much a PPG as well so this is a night to behold.
ReplyDeleteAlso, 2 is 6/0 in the SC metric after 40 min and the 2/26 tandem are a combined 10/1.
So, Everything is coming up Milhouse tonight.
If the game ended now 41 would be a big story with a goal and an assist but if this were baseball he'd be a 3B who made two errors with two outs and the baserunner didn't score so everyone forgot about them.
But then he'd have a double in extra innings to drive in the winning run and that's what everyone would talk about.
And for those who don't have the joy of a night off from SN and aren't listening to the Stars crew, here's an interesting thought from them in the second period.
Reaugh was talking about the rumour of 83 being available for another asset and Reaugh says, "he might be a pretty good asset to keep around."
The PBP man jumps in to say, "you can't have all prospects and picks, you need some real players."
At this point I wish we'd see an Office Space situation where the DAL TV crew are The Bobs and they come in to do an independent assessment and discover that 83 is the Peter Gibbons of the Oilers.
Vets have had themselves a good game.
ReplyDeletelooks like a "saw him good" night for Hemmer.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the price just went up with those scouts in the stands
and the idea of Lowe OR Tambo being Bill Lumbergh is also very rich.
ReplyDeleteDennis: You know, I'd like to listen to that 4-6 more years quote a couple more times within the context of the interview. My first impression was that it wasn't nearly as scripted as a "Well luckily I've won some Cups" sort of thing but the guy should be experienced enough with media to prep enough so as to not drop something so specific if he doesn't mean to. I've taken maybe 5-10 hours of media training in my life but I can tell you the concept of preparing a message box must have come up in the first 5 minutes - one can only hope your President of Hockey Operations is aware of such things.
ReplyDeleteIt would definitely be nice if someone connected the dots between these quotes as you say, but what do you suppose the odds are?
Dennis: When talking about Chorney previously, you went baseball and perfectly described a guy named Butch Hobson. I mean it is spot on. :-)
ReplyDeleteand the idea of Lowe OR Tambo being Bill Lumbergh is also very rich.
ReplyDeleteI work with the real life Bill Lumbergh. I'm not kidding.
Last week he started wearing a leather vest. (He hasn't stopped wearing it since)
Oh wait Horcoff flubbed an easy one. Back in my doghouse.
ReplyDeleteNow seems like a good time for Penner to score some Meaningless Goals. Unless, of course, there's a partial comeback and they one of them winds up standing as the game winner, in which case it's a Key Goal.
ReplyDeleteBeen a long time since Horpensky looked this good.
ReplyDeleteTime to trade them before eveyone finishes planning the parade?