In the case of Gilbert Brule, that may not be the case.
Jim Matheson has an item up on Gilbert Brule's frustrating off-season and the steps he's taken to ensure there won't be a repeat of the events of 2010-11.
I think it is reasonable to assume that coach Tom Renney is going to need to see some evidence of good health from Brule. The depth chart is begging for someone to fall away up front, and Brule's history puts him in a spot of bother.
FORWARD DEPTH CHART, TC 2011-12
- Sam Gagner
- Shawn Horcoff
- Eric Belanger
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
- Taylor Hall
- Magnus Paajarvi
- Ryan Smyth
- Ben Eager
- Darcy Hordichuk
- Ales Hemsky
- Jordan Eberle
- Linus Omark
- Ryan Jones
- Gilbert Brule
- Anton Lander
- Ryan O'Marra
- Chris VandeVelde
- Teemu Hartikainen
- Lennert Petrell
I believe it'll come down to a conversation. Coach Renney is going to have to be satisfied that road flu is a thing of the past, and that deep in the season when all hands are needed Brule is counted among the men standing. I'm cheering like hell for Brule, and Matty's article shows that the young man is doing good things in an effort to reclaim his NHL spot.
Training camp is always interesting.
It is but this year looks to be a little less interesting than past years. If there are no trades and everyone stays healthy (the latter very unlikely I know) we're basically looking at Petry v Chorney and whether or not RHN can make the grade.
ReplyDeleteRight?
Of course what will be interesting is seeing how the kids look - Lander and so on. But in terms of battles not so much.
Good to hear he's ready to go just in time for the do-over trade with LA.
ReplyDeleteIt might not be unheard of for Brule's doctor to recommend against him flying, if he did indeed have some sort of recurring chest infection or ailment. That could possibly explain his "road flu". Matheson's article is probably as much information as we'll ever get, so we should probably just accept that we will never fully know what was eating Gilbert Brule last year.
ReplyDelete-----
I tend to agree that training camp this year will be very interesting. We've come to expect the mixed bag of results that come along with a rookie's first season. The sophomore year can be very interesting however, as we may see the player regress, tread water, or continue to improve.
I won't be disappointed if any of last year's rookie crop regress or stagnate, but I will certainly be very excited if any of them build upon last year's results. A better year goes a long way to nudging up the player's projected future level of play.
You know, looking back at the Brule - Torres Trade, from a hockey player stand point, what the team needed as far as player type, and how they have each performed since, it's not hard to argue the Oilers lost that trade by a margin.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the raw number of feel-good stories that have come out as a result of acquiring Brule might make the trade a win on the PR front alone. This is a town that LIVES on the stories of the underdogs overcoming adversity, and Brule is certainly that.
I'm with you LT - really hoping like hell the young man gets on a roll and keeps rolling.
Did anyone take notice of who is skating with the Oilers in that picture of Brule accompanying Matheson's piece. San Fernando! H is a UFA this season... not that there is room to breath for bottom six wingers on the Oilers at the moment.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is talking about The Brule this morning.
ReplyDeleteBrownlee’s ON headline reads “Gilbert Brule: Ready To Bounce Back?”
I didn’t read the piece, but I’m wondering, bounce back to what?
Here's the problem with Brule if you're the Oilers:
ReplyDeleteEven if he has a pretty decent year (whatever your definition of that is), do you really want to qualify him at 1.85 mil unless he's playing either in your top 6, or a leader on your 3rd line?
I really can't see any scenario that gets Brule requalified next year. Even if he scores 20 goals (highly unlikely playing 4th line minutes), there are prospects chomping at the bit to take this roster spot.
ReplyDeleteBest thing that could happen for him is to in fact force the issue, play way over his head and create value as a trade piece at the deadline. He could then use the rest of the season as an audition for a the balance of the year.
@speeds - exactly $1.85 is about $1M more than they need to pay to one of the younger guys who do the same things on the 4th line.
ReplyDeleteI like Brule, and wish him the best, but as good as his 09/10 season was, he's still prone to bad turnovers and missed defensive assignments. Of the rookie mistake variety.
Willis (I think) advocated for selling high on Brule a couple seasons ago. In hindsight....
Brule was a beast, so long as the opposition was 17 years old.
ReplyDeleteAgainst grown men, he's exposed as a smurf.
Sorry Gilbert, and in all sincerity, good luck on your next team.
Did anyone take notice of who is skating with the Oilers in that picture of Brule accompanying Matheson's piece. San Fernando! H is a UFA this season... not that there is room to breath for bottom six wingers on the Oilers at the moment.
ReplyDeleteA healthy Pisani would make this team a hell of a lot better. If there's a way to bring him on a training camp invite and make him beat out some kids on the roster, I'm all for it. His presence gives the Oilers an out-scoring checking line that can match up with the best of the West. For example, ranked in terms of quality of competition;
Smyth-Horcoff-Pisani
Hall-Gagner-Hemsky
Paajarvi-RNH-Eberle
Omark-Belanger-Jones
That gives us a chance at something better than bottom of the barrel for a third consecutive year.
Gilbert Brule? Wasn't he traded back in June to U2 for Larry Mullen Jr and a 2nd?
ReplyDeleteA healthy Pisani would make this team a hell of a lot better.
ReplyDeleteHe was dead last in Rel Corsi (-20.6 for 5x5) among CHI forwards (for anyone with more than 6 games played).
Ryan O'Mara was -21 in Rel Corsi for the Oilers.
I don't know that you can compare Rel Corsi across teams but it would seem Pisani is justifiably unemployed.
Last time Pisani was good Nilsson was still a prospect.
ReplyDeleteManner of speaking. He's old.
As for Brule if he can find some defensive awareness he might just cut it as a bottom 6'er. There'S definitely worst NHL'ers.
However, the raw number of feel-good stories that have come out as a result of acquiring Brule might make the trade a win on the PR front alone.
ReplyDeleteYeah...not in a million years.
His presence gives the Oilers an out-scoring checking line that can match up with the best of the West. For example, ranked in terms of quality of competition;
ReplyDeleteSmyth-Horcoff-Pisani
Good grief, hasn't that train sailed yet?
DSF,
ReplyDeleteDo trains sail in your world?