I was thinking about this situation last night and wonder if there's any chance they just bring Souray back and see what he can do in training camp. Several of the young players (including Hall and Eberle) and at least one of the older guard (Horcoff) told the media that adding quality veterans to the club should be a priority over the summer.
If Souray has been a good soldier--I don't think he's sneezed near the media for over a year now--perhaps the Oilers can do themselves a favor on the blue and in the public relations area by having Sheldon work out his final year with the big club.
Over the last decade, Edmonton has become known as the NHL franchise that asked a player for money back (Comrie), quibbled over pennies with the face of the franchise (Smyth) and publicly ripped a guy they signed to an offer sheet (Penner).
Wouldn't it be a wonderful, wonderful thing if the Edmonton Oilers forgave Sheldon Souray? Wouldn't that send a message to possible free agents of the future? I think it would.
Oiler fans like me are quick to point out the arrogance of the Vancouver Canucks organization, but the truth is the Edmonton Oilers display arrogance AND are spending a generation in the basement. Giving Sheldon Souray a new lease on life might do the same damn thing for a hardened and seemingly heartless Oilers organization.
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Busy day on Nation Radio today at noon on Team 1260 radio. Scheduled to appear:
- Kirk Luedeke has established himself as a draft authority and we'll talk about the movers and the downers as we get close to draft day. We'll also weep openly over the lost to Vancouver last night.
- Kent Simpson from the Oil Kings radio broadcasts will drop in to give opinion on the WHL kids and I'll ask him a few questions about the SCF.
- AJ Haefele from Mile High Hockey will discuss Colorado's draft and how it could impact what the Oilers do this year.
- Cam Moon from the Red Deer Rebels will visit us too as we devote a portion of the show to the next Oiler star, Ryan-Nugent Hopkins.
Iirc, Souray didnt exactly blow anyone away with his play in the AHL, and he got injured while he was there. Obviously hes not going to lose his talent in one season, but its quite probable he took a step backwards. If this is the case, how much would he really help us?
ReplyDeleteIf they did bring him back, the other benefit would be improved play could lead to a solid trade deadline deal for the Oil (assuming we are on the outside looking in again...not exactly a long shot).
ReplyDeleteAs has been said before on this blog...those vet defensemen (especially with only 1 year left on the deal) fetch a decent premium in Feb.
Is Souray a better option than Vandermeer right now? If so, then I'm okay with it. His durability is non-existent, but as #7 guy he might last a season.
ReplyDeleteIf the incident with management hadn't happened, would we still be thinking about buying out Souray?
Turning him into an asset would be delightful. Slim chance though. Anorexic maybe even.
ReplyDeleteLT, you're likely thinking of a Souray 5 years ago. That's not the player of today. He's N.F.G.
ReplyDeleteanymore!
Clarkenstein: Even if he's no good, bringing him back imo tells NHL players the Oilers aren't Mr. Wilson anymore.
ReplyDeleteHey, maybe they've already talked to Souray and it's a non-starter. However, it seems to me that this is yet another opportunity missed for this organization to take the high ground.
Yes, Souray with a decent attitude is much better than Jim Vandermeer. He is everything Vandermeer is except he brings his cannon with him.
ReplyDeleteHas the organization ever taken the high ground since Tambo took over? Pretty sure they just want to cut ties and put it behind them.
ReplyDeleteIt would appear that all the regulars on here are about as interested in Souray as the Oil are.
ReplyDeleteGood deal. Don't stop there, Steve, ditch Khabibulin too.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of it (potential +ve PR) but what is Souray's role in the kiss and make-up? Not sure what went down leading up to his comments last year but he did go public. The Oil also can't be seen as an organization that will be walked on. I see merits of both the buyout and kiss and make-up, ahh sitting on this fence is stress-free.
ReplyDeleteI think the Oilers have done a pretty good job of villifying the guy (if you were to ask the average fan of the team their opinion of SSouray they would rip him like Pronger or Heatley) and so I suspect the management feels no pressure to take the high road.
ReplyDeleteThe question remains: would he help? Absolutely, especially after they sell Gilbert down the road for peanuts. Will they recognise the looming vacuum on D and try to fill it with assets they are already paying for? A snowball's chance, I think.
if they can get over everything and fold him back in now, why couldn't they last year?
ReplyDeleteas much as i agree with the optics LT presents, it's obvious the team didn't want to risk tampering with the kids.
we've had a year of discontent with souray already over his perceived attitude and locker room issues and i can't see tambo changing his mind about this (ignorant as it might be).
if i were souray, i'd have a big "go fuck yourself" t-shirt on when i'm talking to tambo. i think souray wants to be in edmonton about as much as i want the flames to win the stanley.
Bringing Souray back would be stupid.
ReplyDeleteThe $1.5 million in real dollars that can be saved buying him would be better spent on a physical bottom six forward.
At 1.5 million real dollars saved, can I bring a defenseman in with as much possible upside as Souray?
ReplyDeleteNope.
Last year of a contract, looking for redemption. Pretty sure the guy would go out there and play his arse of. Find it hard to debate why we'd sell him down the road when he can at least help our single biggest issue (defense).
They did a great job of vilifying him. It really confuses me how people bought it. Especially coming from a place proven to be as poorly managed as the local shop is.
Souray sucked in the AHL, I'm not exactly sure he's a better option than the free agent Ds, or even Jumbo Jim. People ragged on VDM a lot, but his underlying numbers were actually okay most of the season.
ReplyDeleteDale Tallon began his rebuild last time around with defenseman. I wouldn't be surprised if he'd be willing to try and cut the grass underneath Colorado's feet.
ReplyDeletePortzline tweets...
ReplyDeleteThis will surprise nobody, but #CBJ have informed D Craig Rivet, LW Ethan Moreau, RW Chris Clark - UFAs all - they won't be resigned by #CBJ
Ribs: Probably because of those ''so-called'' skilled players.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing about Souray if he's not playing well, then tell him to get more physical out there and protect his team mates. Recipe for an injury and LTIR.
ReplyDeleteThat said, Tambo is a pretty proud guy. He will never change his mind and eat crow. Especially for an aging, oft-injured dman with 1 yr left on a deal.
Hope we go after Moreau! Could use some real leadership on this club. Maybe Shayne Corson can coach.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that all three guys were thought to be brought in for their leadership qualities/veteran presence. I wonder if any of them find work with another NHL club next season.
ReplyDeleteall things aside about Moreau and his attitude of entitlement, I believe it is the eye injury that has done in his game. I don't think he can follow the puck and recognize plays, etc or see what's happening on the ice with the bad eye.
ReplyDeleteI would be very surprised if he didn't retire.
Funny tidbit....watching the Bluejays...Jays getting blown out 16-4 by RedSox. Only 2 innings where a Jays pitcher went 1-2-3 inning, Morrow the starter in 3rd and McCoy, the 2nd baseman brought in to pitch the 9th, got a standing ovation. Hilarious.
ReplyDeleteRe: Aaron Portzline article
ReplyDeleteHemsky for the 8th doesn't do it for me. I doubt we could draft an equivalent player in return.
Gilbert for the 8th sounds cheaper, but relative to depth at the position, likely is not. Wouldn't we then have to find a replacement, either by FA or further trade?
I suppose Souray could be that guy, but that would be a serious step down from Gilbert, IMO. And it's an exchange of durability for fragility.
If they have a plan for replacing Gilbert, I'm okay with it, otherwise the price seems to high to get an undeveloped but very good player out of the second tier of the top eight players. If MBS and the Oil are super high on a guy like Murphy though, and are thinking Coffey to RNH's Gretzky, I can see them going after such a trade.
Spoiler: Are you suggesting someone could take Gilbert for the 8th?
ReplyDeleteI think he's barely worth a 2nd right now. Let alone a top 10 pick.
Souray had 19 points in 40 games in Hersey. Helmer, Petry and Belle each played around 40 games in OKC this season and had 25, 24 and 20 points respectively.
ReplyDeleteEarlier in the year 29 NHL teams decided that even with the Oilers paying half of his salary and absorbing half his cap hit, Sheldon Souray could not help their team.
He is not an NHL player anymore. He is a mediocre, injury prone AHL player with a horrible contract.
I don't think having Souray on the team next season makes a statement that they are a classier organisation than they have been in the past. I think it makes a statement that they are an organisation that has inexplicably put a mediocre, injury prone AHL player with a horrible contract on their roster instead of an NHL player
wrintr - a cold and bleak time of year in wrinnepeg
I too doubt Gilbert would fetch a significant first round pick. Might be an error on the part of GMs but I don't see it happening.
ReplyDeleteKaberle brought a first round pick.I'd take Gilbert over him anyday.
ReplyDeleteNo, FPB... I'm responding to the suggestion of Gilbert for the 8th in Portzline's article. Dead obvious I know with the whole Re: thing at the top of my post.
ReplyDeleteMy bad. I'm with Marc on Souray. Doubt he's anything good these days.
ReplyDeleteThe buyout IS the generous option. The oilers are not going to hit the cap this year. If they wanted to 'not forgive' they would leave him to play in the AHL
ReplyDeleteMaudite- I don't understand what you mean by people being 'fooled'. I heard Souray's two interviews and it was clear to me that he totally screwed himself. No need to fooled about anything.
ReplyDelete"Oiler fans like me are quick to point out the arrogance of the Vancouver Canucks organization, but the truth is the Edmonton Oilers display arrogance AND are spending a generation in the basement."
ReplyDeleteTruer words have never been written. Too bad the arrogant Oilers aren't paying attention.
Matty' s Hockey World is up.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/edmonton-oilers/hockey-world/index.html
Not much in there for player rumours this week.
Luedeke has also finished 10 and 11 on his list: Grimaldi and Morrow respectively.
http://bruins2011draftwatch.blogspot.com/
I've been thinking about this lately...
ReplyDeleteGiven the schizophrenic nature of GMs around the trade deadline and the draft, would it not make sense to do the following?
1) At the deadline, unload all players of value at the trade deadline for first round picks.
2) At the draft, trade those picks for actual NHL players.
Seems to me you could turn second liners into first rounders, and then flip that for first line players. It's like alchemy.
If we can get someone better than Penner for the 19th pick this year, then go nuts with that.
ReplyDeleteSchitzo, I like it. Very clever.
ReplyDeleteFirst Gregor mentions it at ON, then Matty posts it in his story on Hockeyworld. I think the Oilers can sew Konopka's name bar onto a jersey at this point. It sounds like he is the guy they want (my sympathy to the underlying numbers fellas on that one).
ReplyDeletesoncry - what the son do at the worst possible time
And the Edmonton Oilers have their new JFJ:
ReplyDeleteZenon Konopka!
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ReplyDeleteIf ST decides to buy-out Souray then he cannot seriously say that he wants the compete for a playoff spot this year or next year. If he was serious about competing for a playoff spot he would not waste $2.7 million in cap space this year and next year on a non roster player. If you're gonna blow that kind of money, you might as well take Kotalik off of Calgary's hands or Drury from the Rangers instead, or even better Huet from Chicago. At least they could be a decent roster players.
ReplyDeleteI remain optimistic that Konopka would be a better bottom 6'r than most of the last 3 year's crop. From what I read, he at least brings the physical/energy game and combines it with some leadership and an ability to win faceoffs. If his Corsi is bad, then that just makes him an even better fit for this team.
ReplyDelete