Early expansion--and the WHA--have all kinds of stories like this one. From all accounts of the day, Binkley was among the best expansion options during those first seasons after the NHL doubled in size.
The Penguins after expansion were not a winning organization. They had one outstanding scoring line in the early to mid-70s (Syl Apps Jr centering Lowell MacDonald and Jean Pronovost) but they mostly traded away high draft picks for fading stars. At one point in their history, the Penguins main claim to fame was that their star winger (Greg Polis) would go to the All-Star game and win the car as MVP.
--
The current Penguins have a lot of horsepower but most of it is in the shop for repair. The club is playoff bound, but heart and soul Penguin Sidney Crosby has been out for two months with a concussion. He still leads team scoring by a whopping 20 points and this team has gone just 3-3-4 in their last 10.
The Oilers are 4-5-1 in their last 10 and played well against Detroit in their last outing. The Oilers leading active goal scorers at this point (Jordan Eberle and Ryan Jones) are tied with 15; the Penguins current leader (Chris Kunitz) has 18. This may end in a 0-0 draw.
--
One of the things I'm waiting for is the recall of Teemu Hartikainen. The big Finn's first NHL action will be a late season story worth following. Hartikainen is tracking well compared to other Oiler 20-year old forwards making their AHL debut over the last decade:
- Rob Schremp (06-07 SWB Penguins) 69gp, 17-36-53 .768ppg
- Jarret Stoll (02-03 Hamilton Bulldogs) 76gp, 21-33-54 .711ppg
- Marc Pouliot (05-06 Hamilton Bulldogs) 65gp, 15-30-45 .692ppg
- Jean Francois Jacques (05-06 Hamilton Bulldogs) 65gp, 24-20-44 .677ppg
- Teemu Hartikainen (10-11 OKC Barons) 66gp, 17-25-42 .636ppg
- Kyle Brodziak (04-05 Edmonton Roadrunners) 56gp, 6-26-32 .571ppg
- Jani Rita (01-02 Hamilton Bulldgos) 76gp, 25-17-42 .553ppg
- Slava Trukhno (07-08 Springfield Falcons) 64gp, 14-21-35 .547ppg
- Ryan O'Marra (07-08 Springfield Falcons) 31gp, 2-7-9 .290ppg
- Zack Stortini (05-06 Iowa/Milwaukee) 64gp, 2-8-10 .156ppg
I am also excited to watch Neal tonight. If I am not wrong he would be thier leading scorer no? or is he injured too
ReplyDeleteThats a sobering list. BTW, Trukhno has 46pts in 43 games this year as 24 yr old!
ReplyDelete- for the the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL.
Hope the Oilers don't do anything stupid, like win this game. COL is dropping faster than Charlie Sheen's credibility.
A 3-2 loss in regulation, would be "grait".
I wonder if Brian Elliot looks to Binkley for inspiration. Tencer and the boys are sure rough on that guy.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of the Pens I think of how strange it is that they, for a good number of years now, have had the Art Ross winner in their lineup. I mean, not every year, but Mario, Jagr, Malkin, Crosby...
Just checked... 13 years since 1988. 7 years in a row at one point. That is one heck of a percentage.
I get my hopes up that perhaps, one day an Oiler might win an award again. Heck, even a nomination would be nice. And, no, the Masterton does not count.
Maybe in a few years.
I am going to the Colorado game on Saturday. But other than that I am done for the year. They don't have much chance of beating anyone else and I haven't been to a game that they have won in 2 years and its starting to wear on me. Hopefully we have high scoring affairs in which we lose for the rest of the season.
ReplyDeletePiyush: I never count the guys who are added. Neal has I believe 1 goal for the Pens.
ReplyDeleteI think every kid growing up had a version of Les Binkley's story go through their head at one time or another.
ReplyDelete"Hey Kid, player X is hurt, can you go in for him"
Then you would win first star of the game and your Hall of Fame sports career would be off to story book start.
I love the holes in the leather on Les' blocker.
I remember making a blocker for street hockey out of an old real estate sign. Dad was a realtor after bursitis made him quit being a journeyman Drywaller and always had signs lying around.
I used the drill press in the garage to put holes in the blocker. Why? Dunno, but every blocker had them, so mine had to have them too.
I'm sure Bruce knows why the old leather blockers have holes.
Ahh fond memories of the Penguins of the 70s. Ryan Malone's dad, Greg, #12, grew up in Chatham NB about 300 feet from my house and had some good years with that team. Needless to say, he was the town hero, making the NHL.
ReplyDeleteFriends of the family, the Malones called to let us know that Greg would fix his helmet with his thumb before facing off to say hi to us on a rare HNIC game vs. Montreal in 1978 I think it was. For an 8 year old kid, that was the cat's meow I tell you.
Pierre Larouche, Malone, Dennis Herron in net...good times.
I'm still in the club that thinks there exists a possibility that Pouliot can have a few more years as a third line NHL'er...
ReplyDeleteUnlikely at this point after Tampa but I would honestly rather have him around then Fraser.
tediesi - The WWIF (world wrestling Ital Federation) version of the million dollar man.
Khabby gets the start.
ReplyDeleteThank god.
Doobie might have pulled out a win here.
Arson for Larsson.
I watched yesterday's Habs-Pens game. Probably would've been safe to turn it off after Fleury was pulled at 3-0: the Habs went into a shell, Price was brilliant, and the Pens without Crosby and Malkin are a true-.500 (Bettman-.550) team.
ReplyDeleteNow, on the other hand, the Oilers' defensive shell is soft like a leather helmet and Khabibulin hasn't been a Vezina-calibre goalie in a decade, so...
Woodguy
ReplyDeleteCertainly hope you never gave guys crashing the net the "real estate sign" blocker to the throat, might just be out of jail now! LOL
LT
Another very good radio show! Loved Luedeke,Staples greatly underplayed the risk to the City on the arena but he has been doing that since day 1, have to say Krush is an absolute genius but he talks about stuff I do not understand....at all. Expect if he trained the Oiler kids over a 5 year period as they develop we would be 5% better.
Would love to see if you could get David Conte on the show. He will not spill beans on his own draft board but would love to see what he says about guys projected to be clear #1 and falling back to pack.... Tavares, Couterier etc
I hope Teemu does better than the guys ahead of him on that list, who are even strength black holes offensively at this level. Stoll, of course, can do lots of other things but I doubt Teemu has that range of skill, and his calling card is likely going to have to be getting pucks in the net. Oh and playing Finnish hockey. ;op
ReplyDeleteAs Doogie said the Pens weren't pretty to watch last day. The habs let go off the gaz pedal but it didn't seem like the Penguins could (Or wanted) to take advantage of it.
ReplyDelete1-0 and Smac scores the game winner. Book it.
Tencer tweeted that Doobie starts.
ReplyDeleteDamn, they might win.
Toj,
Those games were awesome and brutal. Montreal based Air Canada Executives would have been disgusted.
Actually they wouldn't have been because no one wore a Habs jersey except for this one kid Richard, who was *always* "Richard Sevigny"
He was actually better than the real Richard Sevigny.
WG: And you wouldn't get suspended because you always picked Colie's kid heh?
ReplyDeleteI felt bad for Dubnyk after Detroit. He seems to be getting more poised every game. The phrase "economy of movement" comes to mind. If he indeed gets the start tonight, then f**k it, I hope they win, and I hope he gets a shutout.
ReplyDeleteBtw, anyone else think he looks like a Wookie with pads? Dubacca the Goalie.
One slam-dunk prediction for tonight? Cogliano will bleed from the mouth. Jesus, but that kid's been smacked about the face this year.
Nice job putting DD back in. Let's see if he can run with it a little bit.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to watch this. Against all of my better judgment, I am committing my Sunday afternoon. With just 16 comments so far I wonder if I'm the only one.
ReplyDeleteThe Showerhead Monologues!
Interesting. The Oilers blatantly trapping to start. Actually now that I think about it, Renney has this team trapping quite regularly. Exciting last place hockey.
ReplyDeleteSH,
ReplyDeleteI'm at the office catching up and streaming the radio broadcast.
So with my normal work/post ratio I'll get it up to 200 posts myself.
Honest question: If you poured and pounded a tequila shot for every shift Edmonton spent in the other team's zone... would you get drunk by the end of an average game? My money says no.
ReplyDeleteA little off-topic for today, but wanted to add a little more fuel to the fire of "Couturier has a big body but doesn't use it" debate.
ReplyDeleteI submit for your consideration Exhibit A.
RQ
ReplyDeleteRenney has been trapping since Game 1.
Hmm sportsnet has a raptors game on for me rather than the Oilers. Not that I blame them but wonder if they are cutting to the game after the last couple moments of the Raptors.
ReplyDeleteExhibit A - I liked Stromes fight vids a lot more.
ReplyDeleteMy god this game is horrible to watch. Hey, they finally got a shot...kind of.
Greg,
ReplyDeleteThat's a fight.
I think they are talking about using his big body while playing hockey.
"pubst": apt description of Crosby's mustache
I guess this is sportsnets way of saying I don't have enough Sportsnet channels in my cable package. Greedy bastards.
ReplyDeletespOILer: Every team in the league traps at some point in a game. First shift though? That's not something you see everyday.
ReplyDeleteChris - This is the feed I'm watching..it's decent. Link
ReplyDeleteThe Oilers' away jerseys are inspired by the white flag of surrender and the doves of peace.
ReplyDelete...and toilet paper.
ReplyDeleteELPH probably requires Hemsky, Hall, and Whitney.
ReplyDeleteWithout them it's like a cake without the sugar.
That was pretty from Omark.
ReplyDeleteChris,
ReplyDeleteShaw channel 302 or 320 I think.
If you get SNW, you get these.
Engelland plays D (on that Omark chance) like France.
ReplyDeletePenguins announcers are awfully diplomatic: "The Oilers, who have been waiting for the right chance..."
ReplyDeleteCan the Oiler break the Oh fer on the 5 on 3????????
ReplyDeletea 5 on 3
ReplyDeletethey are scoreless for the season...
They are unwatchable. Can even get control 2 men up
ReplyDeleteNice giveaway by Gilbert...
ReplyDeleteNot even a fucking shot on a 5 on 3 for almost 2 minutes.
ReplyDeleteSomeone should be fucking fired for the horrendous ST play.
Smid, buddy. Nap time is over.
ReplyDeleteDubnyk has trouble with the last minute of any period...
ReplyDeleteThe Oilers need to win this game just to shut these FSN announcers up.
ReplyDeletepeest: what these FSN commentators are, with an added e for emphasis.
@ WG,
ReplyDeleteYes, that was a fight, but of more relevance was the sizable check he laid that begat the scrap.
From what I have seen, the criticism is that, like Dustin Penner, Couturier is a big-bodied player who doesn't use that size to play physically. My concern is that many of these views are based on limited viewings and a vacuum of evidence. I merely presented some evidence to the contrary.
Greg:
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't skate well enough. That's the problem. Maybe he will get better. Im not taking a guy #1 overall that has skating issues.
RQ
ReplyDeleteAgreed, they all do. But the Oil have been doing it from shift one of game one. I distinctly remember bitching about the one man forecheck and lack of up pressure at the beginning of the season.
My concern with Couturier and I've heard it from some of draft watchers is his skating. A skilled guy who can't move fast enough to translate his skill to the NHL gives you an AHL allstar...like Giroux.
ReplyDeleteJason Allison had a pretty decent career, but then he had a nasty contract dispute, and the new rules came out and he was done. He had a decent season with Toronto, but injury and a large minus. I still wonder what happened to that guy afterwards, and why no teams gave him a chance.
ReplyDeleteBig guy who could put up points, but had trouble skating, and wasn't a ruffian.
ressisti: as in ressisti the urge to pass on Larsson?
Greg...
ReplyDeleteI had SC with two bodychecks and plenty of puck battles in that Remparts matchup. Problem is, he was losing the puck battles. I don't see the level of determination in his play that I see in Hall's and Eberle's. I would like to see him in another meaningful game though.
Aption: the innate beauty of Gene's puns.
I had the chances at 3-11; 2-9 at EV.
ReplyDeleteGood shift, no finish.
ReplyDeleteNice muffin, Jacques.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm being generous, that's 3 tequila so far. Barely even a hangover cure.
ReplyDeleteJersey Shore is on MTV at 630 NST.
ReplyDeleteRIP Rick Martin. You were a helluva player.
ReplyDeleteIts hard to watch these games...even on a Sunday afternoon where the options otherwise involve video games or movies.
ReplyDeleteWell that sucks. Richard Martin was a helluva player. Big time shooter.
ReplyDeleteThat PP was painful to watch.
ReplyDeleteexhanne: how insanely bad that PP by the Oilers was.
At least the PK is getting lots of practice.
ReplyDeleteDustin Penner is having a nice game. Goal for him in the second period, 2-0 Dallas.
ReplyDeleteLT: Are you suggesting he scored on his own net? Because I'm pretty sure Penner plays for LA.
ReplyDeleteAaaah, 2-0 for LA, not Dallas.
ReplyDelete2-1. Richards just scored for Dallas.
ReplyDeleteLT,
ReplyDeleteNow that you are "MSM certified", I would like to hear you interview:
1) Morey Gare - Head Scout Pro, Edmonton Oilers.
Their track record acquiring pros through trade and FA signings stinks. Would like to hear him interviewed to see what they actually do.
2) Sean Draper - Director of Research, Analysis & Software Development at Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club
Coachpb had his info up at C&B. He is the Oilers' advanced stats guy. Would like to know what they track and look at (if they would share some of that) Would also like to know who Sean gives his info to, Gare or v3.0?
Left foot injury for JFJ, won't return.
ReplyDeleteIf he were a horse he would have been dog food and shoes a while ago.
It's days like these when it's easy to feel like the club's hopeless but then I remember that I grew up in edmonton and that's why I should believe in kevin lowe.
ReplyDeleteJF Jacques, playing in his 42nd game of the season, left the game with a left foot injury and will not return.
ReplyDeleteDum dum dummmm....
But JF Jacques doesn't have 42 points!
ReplyDelete10 bucks says Jones never scores as many goals as he does this season.
ReplyDeleteJones is a one man Colorado Avalanche.
ReplyDeleteIs anyone else completely disgusted by the blatantly obvious sales job Gene P is doing regarding a new arena? I mean, look at the shots they're using and the comments being made. It's pathetic.
ReplyDeleteIf we won a game or two more than once a month you might find people more interested in supporting the project as far as I'm concerned.
Brutal. My earliest memories involve the Oilers and even I am starting to lose interest. I've been a fan since I was 4. Now, I feel pretty 'inglame' for being a fan.
anyone have the stream for 5-10 years from now?
ReplyDeleteStay down Horc!
ReplyDeleteBrule hurt after his big hit? You have to be kidding me.
ReplyDeleteDallas scores with 42 seconds left. Langenbrunner with the goal, 2-2.
ReplyDeletelol. Kings score with 20 seconds left! Handzus! GREAT GAME!
ReplyDeleteThis team? You have to be kidding me.
ReplyDeleteHave we reached the "Cheer for Columbus Blue Jackets" stage of the season again, LT?
ReplyDeleteGo Kings!
I'm on the Kings bandwagon this year. If the Kings win the Stanley this year, Kevin Lowe should be named the king of California.
ReplyDeleteHaha...Omark leaves the puck on the blue paint after the whistle...nice.
ReplyDeleteFor anyone who cares about this sort of thing, I think this is the loss that officially eliminates Edmonton from the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteThat was a funny thing to say.
Omark sure generates a lot of chances, at least he produced a couple of exciting moments for the Oilers.
ReplyDeletegerdr: what you'd like to do to this Oilers season.
Gene tweets...
ReplyDeleteReason Brule left game was that he hit helmet to helmet with Letang and that's why he didn't finish. He felt fuzzy but now is feeling fine
RNH on Sportsnet at 5pm MDT.
ReplyDelete@spOILer: RNH has been on fire. With ten games to go in the season he was on pace for 101 points. Now with 6 games to go he's GOT 101 points. Two hat tricks, 7-7-14 in last four games. Got to 100 points with a hat trick goal before the home crowd last night, finished the night 3-2-5 in a 5-0 Rebels victory.
ReplyDeleteThey don't come any "emater" than that.
My concern with Couturier and I've heard it from some of draft watchers is his skating. A skilled guy who can't move fast enough to translate his skill to the NHL gives you an AHL allstar...like Giroux.
ReplyDeleteThe Sedins and Perry couldn't skate either when they were drafted. It's not nothing, but its not the end of the world for a guy that has the size to play in high traffic areas.
Heck, Gagner is in the NHL despite not being able to skate well at the NHL level.
None of the top picks are perfect pakages this season, so I wouldn't have a problem with the Couturier selection if the Oilers scouts think he is the best bet.
Memo to Derek Zona, if he is reading this:
ReplyDeleteI've got a friend who is arguing that the Oilers should give Ryan Jones a 3-year deal based on the fact "he's an exact replica of Curtis Glencross".
My first instinct is that this is a BS statement, in that I seem to recall Glencross' underlying numbers not being an absolute abortion during the stretch he spent with the Oilers 3 years ago - he did ride a hot shooting percentage, but there were at least signs of competent two-way play.
Anyways, if you're looking for a way to extend the topic you're already discussing and would like to take time to perhaps disprove this reasoning, I would be quite interested to see it.
menes: Spanish plural form of 'men'.
Another big loss for the Kings today. That's pick's looking better and better.
ReplyDeleteThis post was meant to be in the last thread but it looks like this thread is more up to date so here it goes:
ReplyDelete---
From what I've seen at the best prospects game, I like RNH. But even I have to agree that there's a bit of concern regarding his ES production.
Below is the ES Point/Game of the top 60 WHL scorers (plus Schenn) as of Saturday:
ESP/G Player
1.04 Brayden Schenn
0.98 Linden Vey
0.97 Sven Bartschi
0.94 Jonathan Parker
0.94 Brendan Gallagher
0.93 Marek Viedensky
0.93 Brendan Shinnimin
0.90 Josh Nicholls
0.88 Nino Niederreiter
0.88 Craig Cunningham
0.88 Quinton Howden
0.87 Ty Rattie
0.87 Jordan Weal
0.85 Curtis Hamilton
0.85 Ryan Johansen
0.83 Cody Eakin
0.83 Mark Stone
0.82 Brendan Ranford
0.82 Dylan Hood
0.79 Dylan Wruck
0.78 Michael St. Croix
0.77 Adam Hughesman
0.76 Justin Maylan
0.75 Brett Connolly
0.74 Scott Glennie
0.73 Tyler Pitlick
0.73 Tyler Johnson
0.72 Mark McNeill
0.71 Kevin King
0.70 Spencer Edwards
0.70 Brayden McNabb
0.69 Taylor Stefishen
0.69 Levko Koper
0.68 Charles Inglis
0.68 Brandon Herrod
0.67 Brad Ross
0.67 Jake Trask
0.66 Stefan Elliott
0.66 John Persson
0.66 Tyler Maxwell
0.65 Matt MacKay
0.65 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
0.65 Carter Ashton
0.65 Max Reinhart
0.65 Emerson Etem
0.64 Ryan Howse
0.64 Kellan Tochkin
0.63 Matt Fraser
0.63 Andrej Kudrna
0.63 Wacey Hamilton
0.62 Justin Dowling
0.62 Spencer Bennett
0.59 Kevin Sundher
0.58 Jordan Hickmott
0.57 Roman Horak
0.56 Thomas Frazee
0.56 Shayne Wiebe
0.54 Brenden Kichton
0.48 Shane McColgan
0.46 Burke Gallimore
0.43 Byron Froese
The kid is kinda far down there at .65. What's more, there's not much separation between him and his teammates:
0.66 John Persson
0.65 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
0.63 Andrej Kudrna
0.43 Byron Froese
Now compare this with Strome in the OHL:
ESP/G Player
1.08 Tyler Toffoli
1.07 Shane Prince
1.00 Anthony Luciani
0.98 Ryan Strome
0.97 Justin Shugg
0.97 Nail Yakupov
0.96 Zack Kassian
0.94 Ryan Ellis
0.93 Taylor Beck
0.93 Phil Varone
0.92 Jason Akeson
0.92 Joey Hishon
0.90 Gabriel Landeskog
0.90 Mike Cazzola
0.86 Greg McKegg
0.86 Christian Thomas
0.86 Andy Andreoff
0.85 Brett Thompson
0.84 Ryan Martindale
0.81 Robbie Czarnik
0.79 Garrett Wilson
0.78 Ryan Spooner
0.78 Kale Kerbashian
0.78 Stefan Noesen
0.78 Andrew Agozzino
0.77 Casey Cizikas
0.77 Shawn Szydlowski
0.75 Alexander Khokhlachev
0.74 Michael Latta
0.73 Alex Galchenyuk
0.73 Devante Smith-Pelly
0.72 Freddie Hamilton
0.71 Thomas Nesbitt
0.69 Daniel Erlich
0.68 Boone Jenner
0.68 Vladislav Namestnikov
0.67 Nathan Moon
0.67 Colin Behenna
0.65 Michael Sgarbossa
0.65 Andrew Fritsch
0.64 Tom Kuhnhackl
0.64 Daniel Catenacci
0.64 Alex Friesen
0.64 Matt Puempel
0.63 Peter Holland
0.62 Vern Cooper
0.62 Nicklas Jensen
0.61 Jordan Szwarz
0.60 Matthew Tipoff
0.60 Josh Shalla
0.60 Jared Knight
0.58 Darren Archibald
0.57 Mark Scheifele
0.56 Taylor Carnevale
0.54 Austin Watson
0.51 Nick Cousins
0.50 Ryan Murphy
0.49 Seth Griffith
0.49 Steven Beyers
0.38 Josh McFadden
Strome also shows good separation from his teammates:
0.98 Ryan Strome
0.78 Andrew Agozzino
0.72 Freddie Hamilton
0.64 Alex Friesen
0.58 Darren Archibald
Of course, this type of analysis is far from being definitive. And if RNH were in his last junior eligile year, I would be a lot (in fact, VERY) concerned. But the kid is very young and gaining some bulk to fill his quite acceptable 6 ft frame is perhaps all he needs to succeed at ES.
Sunday, March 13, 2011 4:30:00 PM MDT
Hbomb: His SH% only seems crazy high because he's historically a crazy high shooter.
ReplyDeleteHe's 15% right now and his life SH% is 13%.
Bruce: Even with the Hot streak he's still under Couturier and Strome, and Huberdeau's PPG. While having lesser EV numbers.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Red Deer rebels GA thingy, Saint John's as pretty much the same. So the same arguement could be made for picking Jonathan Huberdeau.
ReplyDeleteI've been working this PM, but have the game on PVR. Is there any reason at all to watch?
ReplyDeleteDerek van Diest tweets...
ReplyDeleteShawn Horcoff left the game with a medical boot on his left ankle. He'll get it looked at tomorrow in Edmonton.
Henry: No. Terrible game.
ReplyDeleteRibs: the hits just keep on coming. The kid was maybe two feet from Horcoff when he ripped it. Man.
Shawn Horcoff left the game with a medical boot on his left ankle. He'll get it looked at tomorrow in Edmonton.
ReplyDeleteAs LT would say. Lordy.
Dear lord...soon we will be playing the entire Oklamhoma City roster and calling them the Edmonton Oilers.
ReplyDeleteYea, that was pretty bizarre how MPS unloaded the shot while Horcoff was standing right in front of him. I guess Cogliano can take all of the faceoffs now. Haha..oh no.
ReplyDeleteScary thought.Cogliano is, by default, now the best center on this team.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mc79hockey.com/?p=3606
ReplyDeleteLT: Thanks for the advice. Game was going to be my weekend treat. Talisker will have to suffice.
ReplyDeleteDid Brule play or is his syphillis acting up? Someone has to take draws if Horc is out.
Brule hurt himself on Letang's face.
ReplyDeleteDishers: Hemsky, Omark and Gagner.
Lt. Have you interviewed or do you have plans to interview OKC HC Todd Nelson in the near future? Me asking is totally self serving as he's my cousins kid, but it would be nice to hear his opinions on who he thinks is NHL caliber or could be in the near future.
ReplyDeleteDraft Strome and Landeskog
Henry: Brule plkayed most of the game but left after his huge hit on Letang, feeling woozy.
ReplyDeleteBy my body count, that's three guys who didn't finish the game today - JFJ, Brule and Horcoff. Does this mean MacIntyre is now in the top nine?
Time for the return of Zorg, surely.
RNH does a nice job tying up his man in the slot on the back check. At the other end, his wrister looks weak though.
ReplyDeleteBruce: Or not. Guy has 2 points in 15 games.
ReplyDeleteFroese has 40 goals, 23 on the powerplay. Otherwise he and RNH play on different lines. Do you suppose both of the could have padded their stats if they played together? Indubitably. Do you suppose Red Deer might be a better team by playing them apart? Very likely.
ReplyDeleteGod damn that Jesse Wallin anyway for putting his team first¡
*tallike* - hockey fans affection for longer players.
ReplyDeleteWithout discounting all of the calculations popping up proving RNH is an absolute bust already, wouldn't ice time statistics make the numbers more reliable?
Until they track ice time even strength vs PP/PK, all assumptions have to be given an asterix.
Hop on the Hoppy for Hopkins bandwagon while there is still room.
Bruce: I've noticed that as well. I watched a Red Deer game a few weeks back and thought that RNH's numbers would benefit greatly if he placed at ES with Froese, who has an incredible shot.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be a really tough call for the scouting staff this year.
It might seem odd, but RNH's lack of size might help his draft stock in the eyes of some. He is 4 months younger than Couturier and 5 months younger than Larsson. Based upon a closer analysis at the draft combine, some might conclude that he is less physically developed.
If the conclusion is that he has room to grow, scouts might get stars in their eyes thinking about how he could improve with more size and strength. Especially if he continues to increase his scoring rate as the year continues.
RNH just scored a pretty goal. Let's take him!
ReplyDeleteLT: You forgot the "¡".
ReplyDeleteAlso, not watching the game, but noticed that the assists on the RNH goal go to Tyson Ness and Locke Muller, they of 21 combined points on the season. Haha?
ReplyDeleteEven if RNH developps he still would be where he is now.
ReplyDeleteA not small, not big guys whose size doesn't bring any particular value, or weakness.
I'm going to flop permanently into the Ryan Nugent-Hopkins camp.
ReplyDeleteMight go check him out on Friday at Rexall as well.
cabbiesmacker: I'll see if I can get him.
ReplyDeleteWoodguy: I don't know who would have access to those Oiler employees but it's certainly not me. :-) I'll ask, though.
The thing about Nugent-Hopkins (and Couturier last week) is we're watching these games and looking for tells. A week ago SC played against a highly competitive team and didn't have a huge impact.
In tonight's game RNH is doing something of note every shift. He's an outstanding passer, has good speed and scored a wonderful goal.
But what does it all mean? Hell if I know, I'm not a scout. I'm reminded of Craig MacTavish's quote at the 2003 draft:
"When you watch them walk down the stairs, they all look like they can play," MacTavish said after seeing youngsters like Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Colin McDonald and Jean-Francois Jacques pull on Oiler jerseys in Music City. "Especially with the size of them. Most of them look good in suits."
Jon...
ReplyDeleteIf we're going by B-day, shouldn't we be taking Strome?
LT: That's the thing. One game.
ReplyDeleteOne game Ryan Jones can look better than Dustin Penner.
RNH looks just like Hemsky. Holds the stick the same way. Skates the same way. If he were a righty, I might actually be fooled into thinking that I'm watching Hemsky's old junior footage.
ReplyDeleteFPB...
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure LT is aware of the limitations of one game. He's only been writing about it for 11 years or so.
Warryter: Dick Cheney
Well-spoken young lad.
ReplyDeleteKey RNH factoid: His hockey idol is Maurice Richard.
ReplyDeleteThis is not your average kid, he takes his hockey seriously.
Maurice Richard was 5'10". Would he go first overall in 2011?
***insert tiresome condition here for simplistic folk that struggle with comprehension that this in no way implies that RNH will ever be fit to mow the lawn at the Rocket's graveyard***
Hoil: Maurice Richard wasn't drafted.
ReplyDeleteHell even the army wouldn't let him draft himself.
I've said it before and I will say it again...
ReplyDeleteLoubardias is the Gilbert Gottfried of hockey announcing.
And by Rocket going first overall in 2011, that means if he was magically transported in time to 2011 as a draft eligible player of the correct age, without the Montreal territory provisions.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to take him hoil, but only because it's a weak draft year for top end talent.
ReplyDeletefpb: obvious much?
ReplyDelete*iness* the normal kind of belly button.
Spoiler, so for Maurice Richard we go with BPA instead of need? Since he is a RW and all, and not the big centre or franchise D.
ReplyDelete*quindog* - Vishnovsky
We'll convert him to C.
ReplyDeleteWell Loubardias speaks, I swear to god babies cry.
ReplyDelete*when*
ReplyDeleteRebels PP is waaaaay better coached than the Oilers' PP.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't touch that Richard kid. Word is he's got weak ankles.
ReplyDeletespOILer with the big fly.
ReplyDeleteLT, are you referring to that fluff job of a lesbian orgy bit?
ReplyDeleteI hit reset about 20 times trying to come up with a Principe worthy pun to match it, but no luck.
My *applogis*
RNH won a face-off, TAKE HIM.
ES Points/Game of the top 60 scorers in the Q:
ReplyDeleteESP/G Player (Team)
1.07 Tye McGinn ( Gatineau )
1.05 Jonathan Huberdeau ( Saint John )
1.05 Philip-Michaël Devos ( Gatineau )
1.05 Jonathan Audy-Marchessault ( Québec )
0.95 Zack Phillips ( Saint John )
0.95 Sean Couturier ( Drummondville )
0.89 Stanislav Galiev ( Saint John )
0.86 Ondrej Palat ( Drummondville )
0.85 Joël Champagne ( Québec )
0.83 Guillaume Asselin ( Chicoutimi )
0.82 Gabriel Lévesque ( Acadie-Bathurst )
0.82 Andrej Nestrasil ( PEI )
0.81 Ryan Bourque ( Québec )
0.80 Ben Duffy ( PEI )
0.79 Michael Kirkpatrick ( Saint John )
0.78 Philippe Maillet ( Victoriaville )
0.77 Yanni Gourde ( Victoriaville )
0.76 Steven Anthony ( Saint John )
0.76 Phillip Danault ( Victoriaville )
0.76 Étienne Brodeur ( Lewiston )
0.75 Dave Labrecque ( Shawinigan )
0.74 Jonathan Hazen ( Val-d'Or )
0.73 Marek Hrivik ( Moncton )
0.72 Brandon Hynes ( Victoriaville )
0.71 Benjamin Casavant ( Shawinigan )
0.71 Philippe Paradis ( PEI )
0.71 Trevor Parkes ( Montréal )
0.70 Charles Hudon ( Chicoutimi )
0.70 Jean-Gabriel Pageau ( Gatineau )
0.70 Zach O'Brien ( Acadie-Bathurst )
0.68 Alex Saulnier ( Moncton )
0.67 Tomas Filippi ( Québec )
0.65 Alexandre Lavoie ( Chicoutimi )
0.65 Tomas Jurco ( Saint John )
0.64 David Gilbert ( Acadie-Bathurst )
0.62 Alex Belzile ( Rimouski )
0.61 Louis Leblanc ( Montréal )
0.61 Viktor Hertzberg ( Montréal )
0.59 David Rose ( Montréal )
0.58 Michael Chaput ( Lewiston )
0.58 Félix Lefrançois ( Rimouski )
0.58 Jérémy Gouchie ( Montréal )
0.58 Sébastien Trudeau ( Acadie-Bathurst )
0.57 Olivier Archambault ( Val-d'Or )
0.57 Allain Saulnier ( Moncton )
0.55 Michaël Bournival ( Shawinigan )
0.55 Jean-François Leblanc ( Val-d'Or )
0.54 Guillaume Goulet ( Victoriaville )
0.53 Jonathan Lessard ( Acadie-Bathurst )
0.53 Olivier Dame-Malka ( Lewiston )
0.53 Jonathan Brunelle ( Drummondville )
0.52 Carl Gélinas ( Halifax )
0.50 Samuel Morneau ( PEI )
0.48 Jérôme Gauthier-Leduc ( Rimouski )
0.46 Marc-Olivier Vachon ( Drummondville )
0.44 Frédérick Roy ( Québec )
0.41 Martin Lefebvre ( Québec )
0.40 Francis Meilleur ( Montréal )
0.38 Ryan Kavanagh ( Shawinigan )
0.32 Jean-Philippe Mathieu ( Drummondville )
St John:
1.05 Jonathan Huberdeau
0.95 Zack Phillips
0.89 Stanislav Galiev
0.79 Michael Kirkpatrick
0.76 Steven Anthony
0.65 Tomas Jurco
Drummondville:
0.95 Sean Couturier
0.86 Ondrej Palat
0.53 Jonathan Brunelle
0.46 Marc-Olivier Vachon
0.32 Jean-Philippe Mathieu
RNH with even strength goal, ends up +1 on the game.
ReplyDeleteTake that, doubters.
Hoppin' on the Hoppy bandwagon!
Another "saw him good" for Dumba from me.
ReplyDeleteAs I said last time, he looks like a player. Wonder where he will end up on the scouting rankings next season? Though the last Dumba the Oilers drafted didn't work turn out.
"When you watch them walk down the stairs, they all look like they can play," MacTavish said after seeing youngsters like Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Colin McDonald and Jean-Francois Jacques pull on Oiler jerseys in Music City. "Especially with the size of them. Most of them look good in suits."
ReplyDeleteMacT's great. His way of saying "who the fuck knows?" if they'll be players.
Of course he may have also been hinting at the demands on them as Oilers. If they look good in suits maybe they can sell jeans.
Anyone can tell me the title of that movie, where a bummed out guy goes to play ball in Japan and breaks all kinds of records?
ReplyDeleteOnly real problem I have with RNH is the anecdotal stuff about him KILLING the bad teams. Everybody on this site played with someone who killed the cripples. I have zero idea if that is RNH but there are 20 guys who regularly post here who can screen out the killed against really really bad teams and letus know if that is a fact.
ReplyDeleteNo difficulty taking a Daniel Briere type but if RNH is killing bad competition, I would like to know that. If so, he ain't worth a top 15 pick. Seriously quit telling me RNH killed the Calgary Hitmen. What did he do against the Saskatoons and Portlands? If the answer is nothing, just know what we are getting.
To put it into NHL language he has 3 goals and 6 assists against the Oilers and is 0-0-0 against Vcr, SJ, Det and Chicago. Not sure he helps HOPE win a Stanley Cup. Good stats though
And Jeff Stoughton, the Steve Yzerman of curling, picks up the 2011 Brier.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFWIW, Brayden Schenn's ESP/G in his draft year was 0.69 (compared to RNH's 0.65 as stated earlier).
ReplyDeleteSchenn's team (Brandon) had similar win%, scored more goals, and yielded A LOT more than RNH's Red Deer.
Eberle in his draft year scored at a ESP/G rate of 0.63. Eberle's team was just a notch lower in quality but scored significantly fewer goals and also yielded significantly more
Johansen's was 0.62. His team (Portland)'s GF was almost identical to Red Deer's but GA is by far the worst in this comparison.
Seeing it in this light, maybe RHN's ES production is really not something to get too worried about?
That's 3 for Stoughton, right?
ReplyDeletefpb - Are you talking about Tom Selleck and Mr. Baseball?
ReplyDeleteAnd Jeff Stoughton, the Steve Yzerman of curling, picks up the 2011 Brier.
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested to hear the analogy of this one. Is this praise or some sort of backhanded compliment?
Yzerman was great and all, but for the record...Sakic was better.
blarg: The sound of Oiler fans whenever Strudwick is on the ice.
John: I think I only played against guys that could kill the cripples. Probably why I never went anywhere.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen SC or RNH except on youtube, but Larsson is seeming like a nice hedge against making a mistake.
@HBomb: Yeah, but Sakic was only 5'11, 195. Screw that.
ReplyDelete@HBomb: Yeah, but Sakic was only 5'11, 195. Screw that.
ReplyDeleteBruce: I'm as wary about RNH as the next guy. However, my worry is always just that: "What if they pass on this guy and he IS the next Sakic?" I'd be ill about that - the first three guys on my personal Mount Puckmore are Gretzky, Messier and "Burnaby Joe", which tells you how highly I hold Sakic in regard. And considering the 4th guy on there would probably be one Jonathan Toews, well, you can tell how highly I hold him in regard.
HBomb...
ReplyDeleteStoughton is Stevie Y coz he kind of looks like him, he plays with a certain grace, is a gentleman of the game, and has the misfortune to play in the shadow of greater lights.
Hbomb
ReplyDeleteDon't know if you caught the game tonight but RNH is not Sakic. He can raise the puck. When he wants, but his release and power are not Sakic-like. He craves space too, like Hemsky. Nice game though.
ahh crap, officially out of the playoffs:). what was it like when games after daylight savings time changed mattered again?
ReplyDeleteAs per Finnish media source (and actually straight from Teemu Hartikainen) Hartikainen has been called up. In Finnish:http://yle.fi/alueet/savo/2011/03/iloisia_uutisia_nhl_odottaa_2431369.html
ReplyDelete(some work for Google Translator)
I only saw part of the RD - CGY game last night, but I wasn't that impressed with RNH.
ReplyDeleteHe scored that nice goal while wide open in front. The RD PP runs through him too. He looked good here.
On the forecheck he is late into the zone and stays high. He had some trouble handling a guy who cycled out of his corner to his goalies left.
I didn't see him carrying the puck up ice on an ES rush. I didn't see him go into traffic.
He is a counter puncher who likes to find space and wait for the puck to find him.
I saw some Rob Schremp hockey. This is not necessarily a criticism as Schremp's abilities have never been in question - his heart has.
Maybe I missed all the good RNH stuff. I am sure someone will let me know:-)
I'd rather have Strome at this point if I had to take C. Seems like more of an initiator/ aggressive player. Strome also has that one timer from his knee, similar to Stamkos.
spoiler: Maybe. The numbers look good for Strome but I don't really know anything about him as a prospect, so I can't comment intelligently about him.
ReplyDeletechoppystride: I agree about RNH looking a lot like Hemsky. It's eerie actually.
ReplyDelete