He also played in the NHL as recently as last season, on emergency recall to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
LeNeveu is not technically an Edmonton Oiler, but as with Columbus a year ago I believe he'll get another cup of coffee.
NHL prediction for 11-12: 2, 3.50 .880
- You're sure about this? I think it's reasonable to expect an emergency recall of some sort, so it's either LeNeveu or Tyler Bunz. They could recall Olivier Roy but my guess is he gets a full season in the minors.
- Is he any good? Not really. He hasn't had a SP above .900 since 07-08, although he did play well in Salzburg for which there is no SP (that I can find).
- Has he been a successful goalie? I'd say he has been a decent AHL goaltender over the years. His first season at that level was 03-04 and he has played 273 games with a .908SP since then. He played only 4 AHL playoff games during his career.
- Under what circumstances do you believe he'll be recalled? My guess is that Khabibulin gets hurt and that one of Dubnyk or Danis has a period of injury/ineffectiveness. These things happen and the Oilers have everything happen to them.
- Can we talk about the Oilers now? Sure.
- You have them sucking again. I have the Oilers scoring 223 goals and allowing 247. That's a goal differential of -24 goals; that represents a massive improvement.
- How bad were they a year ago? Goal differential of -76.
- Wow, so they'll be better? Yes, that's my prediction.
- Where will they be better? Well, I have the Oilers improving in goals against by 22. I think most of the improvement there will come from Khabibulin's flushing and improvement on the PK. Their 74 goals against on the PK can be improved by shunning the diamond, running Ryan Smyth, Shawn Horcoff, Eric Belanger and other veterans (like Sutton) out there. I am guessing the penalty kill will be one of the major areas of improvement.
- What about the offense? I think this team will be better at even strength. The powerplay should improve a few goals (they scored 44 a year ago, the league average was 52) but if coach Renney can find some chem between the C's and the three sets of glory wingers (Smyth-Hemsky, Hall-Eberle, Paajarvi-Omark) then one of those lines should romp some nights. I think they'll be better.
- Where will they finish? I'll say 13th in the western conference, 27th overall.
- Damn, tough league. The 09-10 and 10-11 teams were awful, just deplorable. This one should improve by a lot and still be miles behind.
It is going to be helpful to remember the last two seasons when we watch some bad hockey this season. That way we can remember "its bad, but man, this is no 2010!"
ReplyDeleteStill, it is hard to reconcile a 13th place expectation with the level of talent available at forward.
The last few seasons the Oilers have gone into big time slumps losing many games in a row. If they can fight that off and regain some consistency, it's an entirely different season.
ReplyDelete2010-11 season in a 16 game stretch, March 8th to April 10th, the Oilers only won 2 games.
2009-10 season in a 21 game stretch, December 15th to January 30th, the Oilers only won ONE game.
2007-08 in a 14 game stretch, October 7th to November 7th, the Oilers only won 3 games
2006-07 season in a 20 games stretch, February 25 to April 7th, the Oilers only won 2 games
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Poor losing streaks that had them spiraling out of control led them to the recent draft picks imo. Nip these streaks in the butt by staying healthy and having the better leadership should get them close to the playoffs.
However, the way the last few seasons have gone - we can expect a 20 game stint where the Oilers lose 16-18 of them.
There are still a couple of capstrung teams. Buffalo, if NHL Numbers is correct, is about 5% over the cap for example. A decent Dman might still shake loose. Emery might become available. Bogo is still unpaid. Bra and Panties has the Oilers not content, but whether a move can be made is another story. I can see Chorney going to BUF for a higher paid Dman, or maybe Winnipeg refuses to pay Bogo what he wants and accepts Gagner back. Nashville still looks thin and that can't be impressing one Mr. Shea Weber too much, with Rinne, Weber and Suter to pay next year and a serious lack of scoring up front.
ReplyDelete...Still 50 goals off the differential is a vast improvement for our lads, despite whatever the finishing position might be. And at 27th, LT, I don't think you will be far off.
I do get the sense though that there is some urgency on the part of the Braintrust not to finish dead last again. I think they would do anything to ensure it doesn't. We could see the chute pulled on players a lot quicker this year.
BPL comment:
Bolton has Man City, Liverpool, Man U the next three straight weekends. That is a triple derby from hell. They won magnificently last weekend on opening day, but could easily be 1-3 in short order.
One of those no name goalies that the Oilers always seem to have problems with. Made 32 saves for his 4th (of 5) NHL wins against the Oilers back in '06.
ReplyDeleteI have low expectations for this years team but part of me does wonder what will happen if the injured parade doesn't make another turn around the block and the goaltending is better than those little blow up robot goalies that you could get at Canadian Tire back in the day.
I believe it's as likely that he will end up in the ECHL as it is that he gets a 'cup of coffee' with the Oilers.
ReplyDeleteThe only way he gets into an Oilers uniform is as a bench sitter if the Oilers #1 or #2 are down and they want someone to sit in the backup spot without taking Danis away from the farm.
I think that if Khabibulin or DD are found to not be viable, the Oilers will seek out a better goalie to fill the void via trade or FA. There are options out there. The Oil could flip a 2nd round pick for somebody to perform well enough to avoid a team rebellion.
Khabibulin is getting his chance this fall, but I suspect that his rope is not that long. I don't blame the team for 'trying' Khabi this fall. He could turn it around and be a decent backup with a 0.915 or something like that. If not, you flip a pick and get somebody that can fill the void. Send Khabi down or home. If you send him down, LeNeveu's contract allows him to be sent to the ECHL.
Are you really expecting so much improvement in the east that the western conference will be providing the majority of the lottery teams, and not the east? Seriously? 13th in the west, but finishing ahead of only one eastern conference team? I just don't see that as possible. I could see 14th in the west, 27th overall.
ReplyDeleteClassic Oil v. Flames Gm 7 1983 on NHLTV, Shaw 158. Oilers win this puppy 9-1. No goals yet in the broadcast but that's about to change.
ReplyDeleteFunny, that's about where I keep telling my friends they'll finish when they tell me the Oilers will make the playoffs.
ReplyDelete@ Paper Designer
ReplyDeleteThe Panthers, Islanders and Leafs have all made significant upgrades to their teams leaving Ottawa and the Jets as potential targets for the Oilers to bypass in the standings this season.
I can see the Oilers finishing ahead of the Senators but who else other than a team suffering catastrophic injury can you see the Oilers being better than?
Khabibulin makes another list:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/worst_20_players_by_goals_versus_threshold1/
Sure, when you look at things like GAA or SV%, Khabibulin looks bad, but if you look at total number of saves Khabibulin was a top 30 goalie in the league last year and when you think about it, all that really matters in this game is how many saves you make.
ReplyDeleteThe Panthers, Islanders and Leafs have all made significant upgrades to their teams leaving Ottawa and the Jets as potential targets for the Oilers to bypass in the standings this season.
ReplyDeleteLeafs and probably Panthers I would agree, but the Isles? Was their "significant upgrade" trading for a washed up Brian Rolston or signing Marty Reasoner?
I suppose you could say having Nabokov report to camp, but he's really just Khabi but a couple years younger. And I'd much rather have Dubnyk than DiPietro as the backup.
I got you, Old Man...
ReplyDeleteLTs Broken Link
Thanks, Ribs. Do you fix 8-tracks?
ReplyDelete@dwillms
ReplyDeleteNot only are the Islanders adding Nabokov, they'll likely have Niddereiter, Wishart and DeHaan in the lineup.
And of course, Ryan Strome may make the lineup
But the biggest boost will come from full seasons from Streit, who missed the entire season last year and Okposo who played only 38 games.
I also wouldn't look down my nose at signing Reasoner either.
He managed a career high 14 goals and 32 points last season playing in Florida's bottom 6.
As for Nabokov, his last season in the NHL he posted a .922 save percentage.
Khabibulin only hit level once...back in 1998/99.
Al Montoya will likely be the backup.
In 20 games last season, he went 12W 5L 5O with a 2.39 GAA and a save percentage of .921.
I'm not sure they'll be a playoff team but I think they'll be close.
Well, I did attempt to repair an old box of them from my parents basement many years ago. Crazy glue and tape seemed to do the trick for some of them. Temporary fixes, mostly. I'm probably not your guy there. Betamax tapes are really my specialty! (No, not really).
ReplyDeleteOkay. My son is trying to explain Ubuntu, Linux and open sourcing.
ReplyDeleteI miss 8-tracks.
Trooper "Hot Shots" would probably be my all time favorite 8 Track. Damn did that thing get run.
ReplyDeleteBeing forced to listen to Trooper must be on my top three all time terrors - like Garth and Kenny G.
ReplyDelete@DSF
ReplyDeleteI think the Isles are neck-and-neck with us for stockpiling good young talent. However, they have the same weakness: Lacking actual NHL players.
You could make the argument that they will benefit from Streit & Okposo just as much we will from full seasons of Whitney & Hemsky (but odds of that happening are somewhere between slim & none).
Nabokov had a .922 in his last NHL season, but slumped to a .907 in the playoffs. He followed that up with an .888 in his brief KHL stint last year.
Montoya posted a .921 in 21 games, but also posted an .891 in 21 AHL games. Still has yet to prove himself as a capable NHL backup.
I think they're on the right trajectory, but still a year or two away.
Ribs said...
ReplyDeleteBetamax tapes are really my specialty! (No, not really).
I spent a few months repairing video cassette recorders and paraphernalia, I left a betamax II and a combo betamax II/III as well as several new fangled VHS players in the old country when I immigrated. There was a pair of 8 track players and vinyl record players as well, I'm not too familiar but I'm sure I could give fixing either of them a whirl haha.
Lowetide said...
Okay. My son is trying to explain Ubuntu, Linux and open sourcing.
LT, tell your son that real men use Fedora =).
DSF, sadly I think you're spot on with your assessment of the Eastern teams. Streit alone is a huge improvement if healthy. Then again the same could be said of Hemsky I suppose. I'd be shocked if the Isles don't improve significantly this year as well. The Leafs could make a run of it too, especially if Lombardi somehow manages to return, and regain his old form. Lots of ifs and buts though, we'll see what happens.
regame: what the Oilers need to do.
uni: Just stick a hat in your hard drive.
ReplyDelete...A real fancy hat.
ReplyDeleteBetamax II/III, even. Awesome.
@dwillms
ReplyDeleteThe Isles are, I think, about 2 years ahead of the Oilers in "stockpiling good young talent".
Start with guys who already have tasted the NHL:
Tavares
Okposo
Grabner
Bailey
Comeau
Wishart
Hamonic
De Haan
And then throw in the guys on the cusp:
Nino
Kabanov
Strome
Petrov
Joenssuu
And, apparently their 21 year old goalie prospect Kevin Poulin is looking good.
That group is both wide and deep and, while I'm sure there will be some detours on the way to Grandma's house, it's pretty hard to argue the Oilers group is equal.