Saturday, August 20, 2011

RE 11-12: Yann Danis

Heaven smiled upon Yann Danis. He's in exactly the same spot as Martin Gerber a year ago but any reasonable projection of the current goaltending situation in our town suggests he'll play much more than Gerber did at the NHL level.

The possibilities for recall are endless: Khabibulin injury, Khabibulin tweaked something, Khabibulin struggling, Khabibulin flu, Dubnyk looks tired, Dubnyk trying to get back to last year's form. I could list many more.

The Oilers are overflowing with forwards who will get better, have worked hard to address their weaknesses on the blue and should be able to add talented players annually by 2013.

Goal? If there's a plan it's deep, deep underground.

NHL prediction for 11-12: 30, 3.00, .905
  1. Is that good or bad? Well, it isn't replacement level but you're asking a lot of Danis to perform at NHL average in front of this defense. I think he'll be better at stopping pucks and staying healthy than Khabiblin this season.
  2. There are still 2 games not accounted for by goalies. Are the Oilers going to play a couple of games without one or is there another name to come? Stay tuned.
  3. Why Danis? I can't just pick some name they might trade for, there are 5 goalies in the system and Danis is third on the depth chart. He's next up.
  4. So you think he'll be the backup then? I believe he has a tremendous opportunity. A big chance to play again in the NHL.
  5. Is he really any better than Khabibulin? I don't know. What I do know is that injury and ineffectiveness and age make Khabibulin unlikely to last the season. So the GP for Danis may be incorrect but I think it's reasonable to assume he'll play quite a bit this season.
  6. Can Danis have a career in the NHL? I think so. There are some things in his resume that suggest there might be something there. Good (but small) seasons with the Islanders and Devils.
  7. He wasn't a smashing success in the KHL. Well, the team he played for was outscored by 61 goals in a 54 game schedule. That's a crappy team.
  8. How many good to very good seasons has he had in a row? I think the last three seasons have been strong. It's certainly earned him a real NHL shot.
  9. And you think he'll get it? Is Nikolai Khabulin the Oilers starting goaltender?
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11 comments:

  1. DuceySaturday, August 20, 2011 at 5:18:00 PM MDT

    You are smoking the drapes on this one LT. 10 games for Bulin and 30 for Danis?

    Won't happen.

    ReplyDelete
  2. LowetideSaturday, August 20, 2011 at 5:54:00 PM MDT

    We'll see. I don't think Khabibulin can be counted on.

    ReplyDelete
  3. flamingpavelbureSaturday, August 20, 2011 at 6:03:00 PM MDT

    Being harsh on Danis.

    Last time he's had such a low sv% wa s 07-08.

    I hope he will play a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  4. spOILerSaturday, August 20, 2011 at 6:56:00 PM MDT

    Yeah, I suspect Khabby will play more too. In the end I think it will come down to injury, but I think the best we can hope for, barring injury is a 40-30-10, Doobie-reKhab- Jann the Man.

    ReplyDelete
  5. RegwaldSaturday, August 20, 2011 at 9:17:00 PM MDT

    the one comment that wasn't said over at the Khabi post or here is that the Oilers can get cap relief for Khabi if he goes on long term injury list.

    ReplyDelete
  6. RichSaturday, August 20, 2011 at 9:24:00 PM MDT

    Hmmm - 2 games unaccounted.

    Maybe they decide to play 2 games w/6 skaters the entire way?

    Or a trade is coming to save 3.1's tushy??

    The last act of a desperate GM???

    ReplyDelete
  7. commonfan14Saturday, August 20, 2011 at 10:01:00 PM MDT

    I'm really hoping we're not at the point with our goalie situation where LT thinks it's reasonable to predict that those two unaccounted for games will be started by Roy.

    ReplyDelete
  8. BruceSunday, August 21, 2011 at 12:37:00 AM MDT

    It's more like 10 games unaccounted for, given the number of goalie pulls that are apt to happen.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousSunday, August 21, 2011 at 12:12:00 PM MDT

    I admire the optimism (?) of those that think Khabi will not be hurt this year, and won't be bad this year.

    He is older, his personal life a shambles, he is injury prone, has had surgery, and has had a million things to distract him from the level of work and focus it takes to maintain a career in the best hockey league in the world.

    The only hopes he has left for his career are that he holds a contract, and that "The Plan" involves losing this year, and that is an ability he retains.

    ReplyDelete
  10. BloggyMonday, August 22, 2011 at 4:56:00 AM MDT

    ""He is older, his personal life a shambles, he is injury prone, has had surgery, and has had a million things to distract him from the level of work and focus it takes to maintain a career in the best hockey league in the world.

    The only hopes he has left for his career are that he holds a contract, and that "The Plan" involves losing this year, and that is an ability he retains.""

    Ouch!! Well he's not injured, his DWI will be reconciled... How is his personal life in a shambles? Without getting into it too much because LT rightly frowns on that, he's married with a daughter, and they seem a happy family, eh?

    ReplyDelete
  11. the 0 in 0rca is for 0 cupsTuesday, August 23, 2011 at 11:47:00 PM MDT

    Martin Gerber really blew it by going 3-0 last year.

    I hope Yann Danis doesn't blow it by trying to win games.

    He's gonna need a really good sport psychologist to play fro this team.

    ReplyDelete