--
I wonder how many times the Oilers will change their head coach during Jordan Eberle's entry level contract. Sam Gagner has completed his 4th NHL term with his third NHL coach. That's some juggling.
--
This Oiler bunch can't score and they get scored on a lot. They've been outscored 34-7 in their last 8 games, all losses. They were outshot 30-12 in a 4-0 loss to St. Louis (also a poor team) on Thursday.
--
Game 1 of the Rebels-Oil Kings game turned into the RNH show and it may be the same in game 2 tonight. Game time is 7:30 and it's on Shaw cable 10 again.
--
We're running out of things to look forward to in regard to the 10-11 Oilers. Omark is fun to watch and you can see Eberle has a lot of try (and is the one guy who can score during this slump) but beyond that we're stretching for good news. The kid Petry is emerging and Pääjärvi is a delight. There's a lot missing from this club and good health next season would be a fine idea.
--
The latest edition of Nation Radio goes today at noon. You can email questions to several guests, including Doug MacLean from Sportsnet, Derek Zona of the Copper and Blue, Greg Ballentine from the Puck Stops here, Kent Simpson from the Oil Kings radio broadcasts and two excellent Flames bloggers--Kent Wilson and Matt Fenwick to nationradio@theteam1260.com.
The last few games have been like an extended dental appointment.We've got last place locked down so it would be nice to cheer for a win-you can see that Renney has them working hard and it would be nice to see them rewarded for their effort.
ReplyDeleteTough times for Oilers fans,with little hope for next year already.
ffs
I must confess that I have lost a lot of interest in the team since Hall and Gagner went down. Since then I've maybe watched a total of 3 periods worth of hockey. Thankfully there's still lots of good reading on the blogosphere, despite the lack of good hockey.
ReplyDeleteI didn't see the Rebels-Kings game last night. Was RNH's performance as impressive as the scoresheet suggests?
Recap after game 1 of the CHL prospects (From best to worst):
ReplyDeleteZack Phillips 4 G 1 A 5 PTS +2
RNH 2 G 2 A 4 PTS +1
Jonathan Huberdeau 0 G 4 A 4 PTS +2
Gabriel Landeskog 2 G 1 A 3 PTS +3
Doug Hamilton 1 G 1 A 2 PTS +2
Sean Couturier 1 G 0 A 1 PTS +1
Ryan Murphy 0 G 3 A 3 PTS -1
Ryan Strome 0 G 0 A 0 PTS -1
Hmmm...Tencers lines...
ReplyDeleteEberle - Vande Velde - Hartikainen
Paajarvi - Cogliano - Omark
Jones - O'Marra - Reddox
Jacques - Fraser - MacIntyre
Some interesting changes there. Does this mean we'll see more of the 50's kids?
Doug McLean, you say? I'm thinking you plan to ask already, but who would he choose first overall in the draft?
fpb-re:last thread..fill me in on Bogo...what do you see..?what's the problem with him..?
ReplyDeleteGerta: He just seems to regress, since he's had a severe injury (Broken Leg).
ReplyDeleteThis year again his numbers are going down. Major red flags.
Saw him play a couple of times, the Trashers seemed more or less interested in implicating him. Neither did he do anything to force theyr hand.
He's getting overwhelmed by 2nd pairing opposition.
I'm not saying he's COMPLETE garbage. But right now I wouldn't pay more than a 2nd for him.
Doug McLean, you say? I'm thinking you plan to ask already, but who would he choose first overall in the draft?
ReplyDeleteWhomever he names should be immediately eliminated from consideration.
It's Doug McLean after all....
undeod: zombie who always failed his spelling tests in zombie-school.
Earlier this week MacLean told Stauffer that he thought Brule would score as many as 25 goals this season.
ReplyDeleteYou could ask MacLean
on what would he base that projection?
The man is a clown.
who is the first guest?
ReplyDeleteAnybody watching the Bears-Redmen game? Apparently if the Bears had won 3-0, there would have been an immediate shootout between them and St-FX for a berth into the University Cup playoffs. Moot point now, since McGill's up 2-0 (the Bears need to win by four to advance).
ReplyDeleteI don't ask for much as an Oilers fan: 1) one more Cup before I'm dead; 2) for the Oilers to ensure the Flames miss the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteI realize both wishes seem, in fact, like too much to ask at this stage in our lives.
Grato = Son of the Grate One, Esa Tikkanen
really Doug MacLean?
ReplyDeleteLT??????????
ok then shoot on the net for the stats...way to go Doug
ReplyDeleteBohologo,
ReplyDeleteHow old are you? lol
nice to see Doug MacLean criticizing Howson
ReplyDeleteDidn't get a chance to listen to the show, but maybe Howson's rebuttal is ... you should see the results of the previous 5 drafts before I took over ? If it wasn't for Nash, we wouldn't have crap - and anyone would have taken Nash in that spot.
ReplyDeleteLOL
In fairness to McLean, he admits he wasn't able to get the job done either and his criticisms revolved around what is undoubtedly a poor crop of FA signing by Howson. He might be a clown but the NHL is a circus and I think a lot of what he says now is part of his act. If relevant, insightful commentary were required for one to be a hockey personality there would be about 6. Instead there are about 1000. People just like to hear stories about being in the game.
ReplyDeleteBTW good job managing that interview LT, I've heard a few difficult ones with him.
@Ed,
ReplyDeleteI heard McLean a couple years ago on McGowan's show talk about the salary cap and revenue's for an expansion franchise. It was interesting how much under a microscope the revenues, costs, etc were being monitored in Columbus because they needed to be very conscious of the bottom line.
He was very open and descriptive of how much of that affected the day to day operations and budget for the team.
The type of discussion you don't really hear much about and I am certain Bettman cringed when he heard about it.
Ah, shoot. My dad came over and I've missed most of the show. I guess I'll have to catch it once it's posted.
ReplyDeleteI was reading in The Hockey News an article on Bogosian where Ron Hainsey claims "Byfuglien has taken a lot of that ice-time - powerplay and offensive situations, faceoffs in their end." and then went on to say..."When Tobias Enstrom went down with a fractured finger late in January, Bogosian's ice time went up and he started playing the best hockey of his season, earning the praise of his teammates and coach."
..the article went on to say, not Hainsey.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteRibs: Was still doing poorly the season before.
ReplyDeleteThen he just got shifted by a forward.
As for the Icetime it's more or less true.
ReplyDeleteHe got actually has more time per/60
then last year
Hey guys, semi-regular reader but first time poster here.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the draft goes, if it was tomorrow I'm taking Larsson, but I'm willing to be convinced and I'm going to wait until after the CHL and SEL playoffs are over before passing my final judgement. I live in Victoria so I don't have an opportunity to watch RNH, but just hearing about what he's been doing over the past few weeks I may jump on the Hopkins bandwagon.
If I'm Tambellini I'm moving heaven and earth to get another pick in the top 8, not just top 10, but top 8. What are the chances of Couturier still being available at 7 or 8? Or a guy like Dougie Hamilton? I just think that if we can walk away from the draft with some combination of Larsson/Couturier, or Larsson/Strome or RNH/Hamilton then it accelerates the rebuild greatly.
How would you guys feel about maybe parting with a prospect such as Curtis Hamilton or maybe even Tyler Pitlick if that's what it took to land another top pick? Would a package of Hemsky/Cogs, LA's pick and a guy like Hamilton or Pitlick be enough to convince a team like Atlanta or St. Louis to give up their first round pick? Or is that too much of an overpay in your mind?
Just my 2 cents. Thoughts?
Melancho: You know, the point of trading for picks, is actually to have Odds of getting better than what you have.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see the value McLean gave up to get his first overall pick (Rick Nash). It was the second overall pick and the option for Florida to trade places with Columbus the in the following years draft.
ReplyDeleteFlorida won the lottery the next year so they kept their pick.
It's hard to see the Oilers finishing better than Colorado or Ottawa next year so a move like this doesn't make much sense for them if they end up with the first overall. I wonder what other kinds of value trading down a sport or two would have.
MacLean. All of you "Macs" need to get on board with the "Mc"Train. It's 2011 for crying out loud.
ReplyDeletefpv: So if Tambo's talking trade with, say, St. Louis and offers Cogs and LA's pick in exchange for their first round pick, and St. Louis comes back and wants Curtis Hamilton or Tyler Pitlick thrown into the pot, you wouldn't do it?
ReplyDeleteSo you would rather have Curtis Hamilton or Tyler Pitlick in the system than Sean Couturier, Ryan Strome, or Dougie Hamilton?
Melancho: Well, you put Hemsky/Cogs. Those ain't exactly the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind Pitlick, and Cogs, since I think they're the ''weakest'' we got.
Tough Hemsky's another story.
Loved your work in Home Alone Culkin.
ReplyDeleteI think your original proposal looked like Hemsky was included as well.
If it were Cogliano and LA's first and a prospect I would consider it.
Problem for Tambo is it would probably cost more unless some team rates Cogliano very highly which I cannot see or they have no interest in whoever is still on the board at, say # 7 or # 8.
Tambo's biggest issue is the two guys who may be on their way out, Hemsky and Gagner (if they have a centre in their sights) are both damaged goods. I'd trade for neither until I saw them play next fall.
fpv and BD: Sorry, Hemsky/Cogs was meant to be shortform for one of Hemsky or Cogs.
ReplyDeleteCheer up Culkin.
ReplyDeleteI think your offers are a tad rich for a top 15 pick.
Tambo was offering up Hemsky to Boston for Seguin last draft so he might try and move him again.
He might let him got for a top 12-15 pick plus a second rounder and maybe a former #1 pick. The problem is that he is coming off an injury, in an injury plagued career. This coupled with the fact that draft picks have their highest value at the draft, means he would be best served trading Hemsky at the deadline.
To move up I wouldn't mind trading Cogs or a prospect like Martindale, or Plante. I would not want to move Pitlick or Hamilton. They are exactly what this team needs.
In an 8-7 loss to the Sudbury Wolves, Ryan Martindale scored a hat-trick (2 PP markers and a shorty) and ended up -2 on the game.
ReplyDeleteHe was also named 1st star.
Hunter1909 2010 prediction: Taylor Hall
ReplyDelete2011 prediction: Ryan N-H (if available).
What times the game on? I have no life this weekend, so might as well at least watch the first period :P
Blain scored his second goal in as many playoff games tonight. Kid is looking like another inspired selection by Stu.
ReplyDeleteKopitar out 6 weeks with a broken ankle. Damn.
ReplyDeleteWhy couldn't that have happened two weeks ago?
ReplyDeleteLowetide: You're kidding about Kopitar, right? You don't really want the Kings, who stole Gretzky and half the current team to win the cup, right?
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm cheering for the Kings alright. No doubt about it.
ReplyDeleteAt the start of the season I picked the Canucks to come out of the west if not win the cup - losing Malhotra might lose that for them.
ReplyDeleteIf they do manage to win, it's got to shut up those idiot fans they have. Most of that bluster comes from not knowing the meaning of a winning team.
hunter1909 said...
ReplyDeleteLowetide: You're kidding about Kopitar, right? You don't really want the Kings, who stole Gretzky and half the current team to win the cup, right?
Don't you want to see what competent management can accomplish with the same players?
Stoll, Greene, Penner and Smyth were all deemed expendable by the Tweedles and they got some guy named O'Sullivan, a defenseman the Oilers turned into an injury prone former first round pick who is already on his third team, the Kings 4th best defensive prospect and a low first round pick.
School's in.
Lombardi is the head master.
Morey Gare was just interviewed in the UNB-Western intermission. He strongly suggested they would try to sign one or more players from the tournament. Mentioned the need to strengthen the foundation of players in OKC.
ReplyDeleteDSF: Oilers players might be on the Kings indeed, but they're generally considered role players by the LAK faithful - unlike Oiler fans who deify these guys.
ReplyDeleteI think it's safe for you to shift gears now LT and hope LA misses the playoffs altogether, because theyre going nowhere with Williams and Kopitar done for the season.
ReplyDeleteLupul just killed the Red Wings.
ReplyDeleteTurning into one of those nights. 3 teams so far with major injuries.
ReplyDelete-125 for the flames in regulation.
ReplyDeleteI'll take that bet.
Eberle and co. certainly looked good in puck possession there, even if they couldn't finish it off.
ReplyDeleteBertuzzi kills the leaves.
ReplyDeleteblue angel flames playing nervous. so far.
Eberle and co. certainly looked good in puck possession there, even if they couldn't finish it off.
ReplyDeleteI think we have to call that the Harski & Clutch line.
Decent save there.
ReplyDeleteLT - a true master of understatement.
ReplyDeleteI do want to know what was going through Jokinen's head there, roughing it up with Mac. Does he not remember the season opener?
Jokinen goated our goon into taking 2.
ReplyDeletehunter1909 said..."
ReplyDeleteDSF: Oilers players might be on the Kings indeed, but they're generally considered role players by the LAK faithful - unlike Oiler fans who deify these guys."
No argument from me.
Widely different expectations.
Nice play by Omark, then a solid play from Cogs and then some Finnish. Yeah, baby.
ReplyDeleteI'm liking Paajarvi's play so far.
ReplyDeleteLT: Been sitting on that one long? ;)
ReplyDelete"Perry should be right up there for the Hart trophy. I'm telling ya Corey Perry has leadership skills coming out of his ying-yang!"
ReplyDelete- Kelly Hrudey
Thanks Kellys
Corey Perry scores his 43 and 44th goals. The guy really is looking for a late run at the hart methinks. As for the Oil if they were going to win any games for the rest of the season this is the one to win. Go Oilers.
ReplyDeleteI don't know that anybody's deifying Stoll or Greene - they're hardly unique players, but they're the kind of player that is so lacking on the Oilers that it's hard not to recall them fondly. Penner's similar - it's not that he's one of the top wingers in the league, it's just that he's one of the top wingers we've had in the last decade or so, and it hurts to see him jettisoned at a time we're supposed to (as I understand it) be getting better, not worse. Smyth's aging and overpaid, but there's that emotional attachment.
ReplyDeleteCgy seems to be a team playing with the understanding that they're playoff hopes are done.
ReplyDeleteI had the chances 5-4.
Terrible news for LA with both Williams and Kopitar out. It certainly makes the WC less interesting to watch.
Weekes has no idea who he was referring to.
ReplyDeleteMacIntyre with the smart play there.
ReplyDeleteLove that F*&king Finn!
ReplyDelete56!
ReplyDeleteGeaux Harski!
ReplyDeleteAnyone care to describe the play for a poor sucker stuck working the night shift?
Temu! MBS - you magnificent bastard, you!!
ReplyDeleteSeemed like it was only a matter of time for Harts tonight.
ReplyDeleteI hope that looked as ridiculous on TV as it did live.
ReplyDeleteWow can this kid play.
I'm glad I got to see that. Hartikanenlineden and Eberle both get great first goals against the Flames. Just nice.
ReplyDeleteJames L: Hartikainen came out of the corner, swerved a little wide and beat both defenders to the net. However, they had good sticks and both of them tied up the puck.
ReplyDeleteWhich meant nothing: Hartikainen won the day and beat the holy man.
Damn, nice breakout pass from Harski to Eberle.
ReplyDeleteThis guy looks like the real deal, eh?
Bless you, LT.
ReplyDeleteLove the Harski.
Give me a team full of 56's.
ReplyDeleteGive me a team full of 56's.
ReplyDeletegreat shift
ReplyDeleteO'Marra actually showed a little skill there with the quick stickhandle and touch pass.
ReplyDeleteFor those not able to see, the hit #56 just landed was HUGE.
ReplyDeleteIt sort of looks like the Flames have the remains of six defensemen that are taking the rest of the season off.
ReplyDeleteWe are watching Teemu eat JFJs lunch. He better polish up his resume for next year. He'll be looking for a new job.
ReplyDeletePowder needs a goal tonight.
ReplyDeleteVox: JFJ's lunch has been out to be eaten for so long it has mushrooms growing on it.
ReplyDeleteIf Fraser can score so can Powder. And Smid.
ReplyDeleteIf Fraser can score Jason Strudwick can score.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying this game. I suddenly remember what that used to be like.
ReplyDeleteMy captcha, presumably in honour of the Finn, is sjusled.
Big grin there on Fraser. Good for him, its been some time.
ReplyDeleteUh, let's not get carried away here (Struds)...
ReplyDeleteLt - nice description of the goal.
ReplyDeleteI hope that Harski has you a little more optimistic than you were when you posted.
Also, as an oil fan I thunk you are obliged to cheer against the kings (draft pick).
Also, as an oil fan I thunk you are obliged to cheer against the kings (draft pick).
ReplyDeleteFuck that - that's the kind of thinking that leads us to cheer for Oiler losses. I want Smytty to win a Cup, and I want Penner to win another one.
Good game so far. Oilers are throwing their weight around. Hilarious listening to Weekes and Lee describe how wonderful the Flames are.
ReplyDeleteA fun game to watch, actually gave a little fist pump when Fraser scored there.
ReplyDeleteFlames are going to come hard but the kids have given a good account of themselves. Its been an awful year but its clear that we have players in Hall, Eberle and Paajarvi but more importantly guys like Dubnyk, Peckham, Omark and now Petry and Teemu also look like they may be able to play in the NHL. The emergence of those guys is the huge story.
Guys like Strudwick and Jacques are done.
What's with all the Jacques-talk re: Hartikainen? His game in the NHL has 2nd line written all over it.
ReplyDeleteI suspect the amount of Oilers under contract that should have been playing ahead of Jacques and have been below him this year is 8-10.
Nice power move by 56 on that goal. The shot leaked through Kipper but the biggest play was the fact that 56 already has an idea about how needs to be done and namely working down low and going to the net.
ReplyDeleteSome guys never get that and others do but just don't have the power to pull it off.
But young 56 seems ahead of the curve in this regard.
BTW, even before 16's SH goal I would have said there's no way Cgy could have won this game in reg. This is purely anecdotal but I believe that if DD settles in he's very unlikely to give up a softie in the third period.
and Cgy isn't playing nearly well enough to score two earned goals in the final period.
Its been an awful year but its clear that we have players in Hall, Eberle and Paajarvi but more importantly guys like Dubnyk, Peckham, Omark and now Petry and Teemu...
ReplyDeleteI do not think that word means what you think that it means.
Reddox made 2 brilliant plays behind the net there.
ReplyDeleteI know Reddox is the modern Ron Boehm but there HAS to be room for him in the NHL.
ReplyDeleteI'm conflicted with regards to LA, I would absolutely love to see Smytty win a cup but I think I would rather have them tank this year and then make a long run next year, when it won't have any effect on our drafting.
ReplyDeleteAs for JFJ and Hartikainen... I know theres a lot to be said about small sample sizes, but the fact of the matter is that I've seen more from Hartikainen in 2 games than from JFJ in 2 years. Its really not a fair comparison
That's another $250k on Jones' next contract for those of you scoring at home.
ReplyDeleteGoing to be an interesting contract conversation with Jones this summer.
ReplyDeleteCan someone tell me how that's interference?
ReplyDeleteElbowing i can see, interference not at all.
ReplyDeleteThe officiating this year has me more baffled than ever. I don't remember the last time I've seen so many questionable calls over a whole season.
ReplyDeleteBy the Three Hairy Balls of Jesus, Mary and Joseph that Swedish kid can skate.
ReplyDeleteThis is like the Gordie how hat trick for Oilers fans...
ReplyDeleteBeat the flames on HNIC
Stay last overall
Snuff cow towns playoff hopes.
The Finnish kid was a bowling ball in a past life.
ReplyDeleteMy kingdom for an NHL defenseman. Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThat Glencross guy is pretty good. We should get him to play with Jones.
ReplyDeleteThis is where you need a vet to settle them down...but who's left to do that? Struds???
ReplyDeleteI want a better angle of that hit.
ReplyDeleteNugent Hopkins with another goal in the 5-1 win tonight over the barons. I hope Paajarvi is ok.
ReplyDeleteMagnus has 42 points?
ReplyDeleteAckled
So invoking the new GM rule, the refs tell the Oil's bench Paajarvi he needs to leave the bench to be evaluated for a headshot they didn't call?
ReplyDeleteYou're about to see a grown man cry.
ReplyDeleteJeez. One more bullshit call and Calgary gets the points they need. Bettman was a basketball guy, wasn't he?
ReplyDeletePetry has the yips bigtime.
ReplyDeleteTambellini's greatest trade with the gtg.
Magnus has returned FYI
ReplyDeletePretty sure Weekes came all over the announcers booth when Staios scored.
ReplyDeleteFuck me HNIC Edmonton is still in Canada last time I checked.
Tanguay whines for a penalty for a game in which his team has been assessed none.
ReplyDeleteThey eventually had to call something.
ReplyDeleteMark Lee is absolutely full of it. The freaking irony my behind. How about the late hit on Paajarvi for crying out loud.
ReplyDeleteGuy who hasn't played center since midget wins draw clean from NHL Edmonton Oiler center.
ReplyDeleteThe Oilers are the worst team in the NHL so I guess they get the announcers they deserve, but these jokers are brutally insulting.
ReplyDeleteIt is their first fucking powerplay in a game they dominated for 50 minues! you twits.
VV is getting a lot of trust from Renney tonight. Or a good looksee.
ReplyDeleteergatom describes the commentary on this game pretty well.
ReplyDeleteMr Bean Giordano
ReplyDeleteQuite the pp unit Renney put out there....
ReplyDeleteI think we can all agree on one thing.
ReplyDeleteNo one pimps an episode of Heartland like Mark Lee.
the HNIC boys obviously want to call an additional canadian team series in the first round of the playoffs, o obviously they want calgary to win : \
ReplyDeleteCalgary is gonna finish 9th and it'll own.
ReplyDeleteDennis: lol.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mc79hockey.com/?p=3615#comment-317268
ReplyDeleteDubnyk looks like someone has killed his dog
ReplyDeleteThis shootout is reminding me of the one where they didn't record an actual shot on net.
ReplyDeleteRemember that year Garon and the SO was our friend?
ReplyDeleteuh no Omark?
ReplyDeleteWow. The Flames beat an AHL team in a come-from-behind fashion.
ReplyDeleteSlow clap.
n'Omark ?
ReplyDeleteRenney with some questionable decisions in OT and shootout.
ReplyDeletePretty sure Weekes is sponsored by the Flames.
ReplyDeleteMan what a homer.
"Epic comeback" indeed.
To be honest, I think it's more an indictment of the Flames that they could fall behind 4-1 to the Oilers in the first place rather than it is a credit that they could overcome it.
ReplyDeleteBig comeback for the Flames. I think them making the playoffs would be good for the Oilers. A little more heat upstairs is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteAwesome game from 85. 56 was decent too. 91 was overrated tonight - I know he scored but way too many muffins from very acute angles.
Well that was a Gillooly to the shins.It was fun to watch for a while.
ReplyDeleteThat Anaheim win tonight was kind of a nutcracker for the Flames. Hawks are in 8th but they have several games in hand on the Flames.
ReplyDeleteIf they're chasing the Hawks, Calgary is extremely likely to run out of racetrack.
The determining factor in Calgary's season is how poorly they have played Van and Anaheim, and that they still have to play them to end the season. They're done.
ReplyDeleteAnd for what I saw, Reddox was fabulous tonight. Oh to magically add 2 inches, and 20 pounds to that guy.
Calgary's vets turned it on the last 16 minutes of the game, but that's against an AHL team, not an NHL team.
ReplyDeleteStill have to give them credit. They don't have many games, but only Anaheim is one where they'll be playing someone with something to play for. Hope they come up short.
Been a lot of those heart breaks for the kids this year - and this is just one more. No morale victory in a point, and another lesson this team has not yet learned - how to close out a game.
It would be interesting to hear Renney's explanation for why went with Vandermeer instead of Petry or Omark on the PP. And, I guess, why Jones in the SO instead of Omark.
ReplyDelete2nd night results for the prospects:
ReplyDeleteJonathan Huberdeau G 3 A 1 PTS 4 +1
Zack Phillips G 0 A 3 PTS 3 +1
Sean Couturier G 0 A 2 PTS 2 +2
RNH G 1 A 0 PTS 1 Even
Ryan Murphy G 0 A 1 PTS 1 -1
Gabriel Landeskog G 0 A 0 PTS 0 -1
Hartikainen's play has been a massive and pleasant surprise. I didn't think they made em like this anymore.
ReplyDeleteInconsistent goaltending. A couple of 5-star saves followed by a couple of weak goals. DD's development is glacial.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I think the reason why so few comments are showing these days has more to do with the crappy captcha system LT has installed. I get approved on 1 out of 10 tries, and it gets old, fast.
Yeah that commenting system is pretty standard, the reason there are less comments is because nobody is watching the shitty team anymore. Other than seeing what Teemu is made of (and now we know) there's no reason to do so.
ReplyDeleteWeekes and Lee make it even more painful. I really don't care that they're homers but Weekes is such an incompetent dullard. His cliched comments about heart and leadership and veteran presence are the absolute worst. They could put a block of cheese in the booth in his place and the quality of the call would improve.
Its hard to agree with Renney's reasoning on Hartikainen in the shootout (or Jones for that matter - what was he going to do? wait for the next shooter and bang in the rebound?) as Teemu would have made a better 4th shooter than third, and Omark at least gives you the chance to score.
ReplyDeleteIt is another in the long parade of weird bench management decisions this season that leave me with little confidence in Renney going forward. I guess next season will tell the tale more accurately (ie. line changes, goaltenders, player managment during games, etc) but I don't think what we saw this season was done out of necessity, but by choice, which leaves little optimism he will change.
Renney has the kids playing hard and not mailing it in. That's it in a nutshell. The rest is just Negative Nellies and Boy is there a lot of that. Life is tough.
ReplyDeleteLT: totally off-topic but I was watching TSN this morning and saw that Cliff Floyd and Pedro were in a private box at the Bell Centre last night.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was how much I miss the Expos.
My second was just how neat it is that the boys still go back to visit Mtl.
My third was that I bet last night was a good time to be a stripper.
Dennis: Classic. Made me spit coffee. Yeah, I'm on the missing the Expos train again this spring. Red Sox preview show in about 10 mnutes, I have stuff to do but maybe 10 minutes or so.
ReplyDeleteDennis. Classic! You gave me a good chuckle not to mention bringing back more than a few fond memories.
ReplyDeleteI think Renney's probably making the decisions most conducive to developing the kids, which is good. But he's not making the decisions most conducive to winning, even where those don't conflict with developing the kids. It doesn't much matter this year, since those decisions are probably the difference between a close thirtieth and a distant thirtieth, but it's a little concerning going forward.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not sold on Renney just yet. I understand we're not competing but when we did have a full compliment Renney was at times loathe to line-match and I say fuck any coach that won't do that.
ReplyDeleteRiv: I think that's 91's deal, though. And he doesn't have a crackling shot from the outside either. He's gonna have to work on that and cut to the inside and drive to the net.
LT: I had major '94 flashbacks when I saw those guys together because we know what a huge prospect Floyd was and of course Pedro was Pedro before he went to Boston because that '97 season was something else.
BTW, is there any reason why the Journal's Hockey World page isn't updating? I missed last week's and now nothing's up today either.
FBV: thanks for the playoff stats, it's appreciated.
ReplyDeleteDennis
ReplyDeleteThis is it:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Voice+prepares+goodbye/4510967/story.html
Most interesting point is that Matty is sure that the Oilers will package the Kings pick and their second rounder to move into the top ten for another impact prospect.
@ Dennis
ReplyDeleteHere ya go:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Hockey+World/4510641/story.html
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Langkow+comeback+stalled+Flames+salary+woes/4510331/story.html
Weekes being a non-white ex hockey player guarantees him a job for life with the CBC.
ReplyDeleteCalgary are ecstatic about storming back to beat...the Oilers LOL
ReplyDeleteIt's the Torment of Tantacles for those losers. Every time they get a point, the opposition matches them and since they're already outside looking in and with more games played...
I don't see how the LA pick + the 31st pick gets the Oilers into the top 10. Best case scenario for the LA pick right now is they drop to 7th-8th and get beat first round. So a high teens pick, but more likely a low twenties pick. Add on the 31st and I doubt you get better than 12-15 in the draft.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, be prepared for another "we tried to move up to pick up X, but teams weren't biting."
Okay, yes Renney sometimes makes gut decisions. My point is that he has managed to have the team play without many "Screw It" periods from the players or going off the deep end himself, borders on genius. So I'm totally in his corner. The other is the kvetching by good people on this board. Yes, it's the pits but Goddamn, Harts goal last night was worth the price of admission. Zip, nada celebration So, everytime you go into Debbie Doom punch up Harts goal. Spirit lifter upper guaranteed.
ReplyDeleteWeekes being a non-white ex hockey player guarantees him a job for life with the CBC.
ReplyDeleteI love watching Pokey Reddick and Sean Brown on the intermission panel.
Seriously, Traktor, try to tone down the offensive ignorance a little. Kevin Weekes is not very good at his job. Neither are any number of white people the CBC's hired over the years.
Dennis said...
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not sold on Renney just yet.
Neither am I. He's forced to tow the company line but the sun shining out of TH's ass while the Eberle's of the world are ridden hard is hardly a productive environment for some of these kids to mature in. I'm not in the camp that thinks Hall is so far ahead of Eberle that he should get special treatment due to draft position.
Gog: Yep, that's how I see things as well.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how a combination of those picks moves the Oilers into the top 10.
But, you know, they will have tried so that's good enough!!