Some of today's moves were obvious and predictable, but others give us a glimpse of pecking order in Oklahoma City.
Juniors Travis Ewanyk and Drew Czerwonka were sent back to their WHL teams; both were injured leading up to and during TC and didn't get much of a chance to show their skills. Not a huge deal, their time is down the line. The interesting demotions revolved around the Barons:
- David LeNeveu is clearly behind all of Dubnyk, Khabibulin and Danis. He'll play in front of Olivier Roy too, but the organization will elevate the kid as soon as he's ready.
- Johan Motin is dive bombing in this organization and I don't think he'll see another summer as an Oiler prospect. It'll be interesting to see if they keep him should that big Russian win a contract.
- Mark Arcobello signed a pretty good contract with the club, but he was headed for the AHL no matter how well he played. It is interesting that Arcobello really didn't have a chance to showcase his abilities during camp.
- Hunter Tremblay will get a chance to show his skill in Oklahoma City this winter, the Oilers sending him down now doesn't reflect on him negatively. He's a long shot for NHL employment.
- Cameron Abney is probably headed to Stockton, at least for part of the season. The Oilers will probably bring him along slowly but as long as the organization values this player type we should expect Abney to make steady progress through the system.
- G Devan Dubnyk
- G Nikolai Khabibulin
- G Yann Danis
- G Olivier Roy
- D Ryan Whitney (injured)
- D Tom Gilbert
- D Cam Barker
- D Ladislav Smid
- D Theo Peckham
- D Andy Sutton
- D Taylor Chorney
- D Jeff Petry
- D Corey Potter
- D Colten Teubert
- D Alex Plante
- D Taylor Fedun
- D Kirill Tulupov
- D Martin Marincin
- D Ryan Lowery
- C Sam Gagner
- C Shawn Horcoff
- C Eric Belanger
- C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
- C Anton Lander
- C Ryan O'Marra
- C Chris VandeVelde
- C Tanner House
- C Milan Kytnar
- C Ryan Martindale
- L Taylor Hall
- L Ryan Smyth
- L Magnus Paajarvi
- L Ben Eager
- L Darcy Hordichuk
- L Teemu Hartikainen
- L Lennart Pettrell
- L Curtis Hamilton
- L Josh Green
- L Phil Cornet
- R Ales Hemsky
- R Jordan Eberle
- R Linus Omark
- R Ryan Jones
- R Gilbert Brule
- R Ryan Keller
- R Antti Tyrvainen
- R Tyler Pitlick
The skill of the forwards is very good if a little young, I think the defense is going to be an adventure and the goaltending is not clear. I think they'll finish 13th in the conference, but if the Oilers added another NHL calibre goalie and some defensive insurance at the top of the blue this team could do some things.
Just saying.
Maybe Marincin is hanging around to help him with his work out programs and continue to stuff him full of lots of Alberta Beef to help him put on some muscle and strength.
ReplyDeleteReally wished they'd cut a lot deeper and get the guys who WILL be here some more playing time together. Theres some pretty obvious flotsam and jetsom in those numbers.
ReplyDeleteLiked what Petrell showed last night. Hard worker with speed to burn, some size, and not afraid to take the body. Didn't look out of place at all.
If the Oilers don't want someone like Motin, when can they buy him out?
ReplyDeleteLT, If you see this team maybe being able to do something this year, I suspect the Oil will try to make a few upgrades by January if they feel they have a legitimate shot at making it into eighth.
ReplyDeleteTom Gilbert: Steady hand, plays all three disciplines (EV, PP, PK) but Oiler fans don't think he's a top 4 option. Meanwhile, the other defensemen dealt horribly with the pressure applied by Canucks forwards, but all we hear is about Gilbert's poor play. Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteLT, I always respect your opinion. I certainly wouldn't put myself in the , "trade Gilbert NOW camp because he's too soft," that you often refer to with respect to the fan base.
That being said, I think it's a fair question to wonder how biased your thoughts are towards him given how favorably he compares to our very ragged d corps.
I've been consistent in not being a big Gilbert fan for the prior 2.5 seasons at this blog.
Obviously, with our current roster, there's no reason to consider moving him.
That being said, outside of the rabid Oiler fan base, I haven't found Gilbert to be in any particular demand by my friend's who're fans of other teams.
Over the past few years, most were surprisingly neutral to Gilbert, but none of them historically would have touched him at his current contract.
At this point, his contract is not an issue with the current market and paucity of RHD or availability of reasonable quality dmen in their prime.
He's no Kris Letang ($3.5 to end of 2014), Duncan Keith ($5.51 to end of 2015), etc.
It's pretty hard if not impossible to find a comp that's reasonable and paid more--outside of obvious contract bobbles or maybe this past UFA market inflation.
So sure, he's definitely not the problem, but I just don't share your revere for Gilbert. :p
Agree on Petrell looking good.
ReplyDeleteLooks like we have a bunch of blossuming forwards who may do something in this league in 2/3 years time.
Trouble is that the D and G need so much help that we're kinda stuck; little available amongst the reamining free agents, whilst if we were to trade a forward prospect or two for help on the backline, we might lose something special later on.
A quandry, I'd suggest. Do we have a decent GM?
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ReplyDeleteA number of podcasts are up on the Oilers website-
ReplyDeleteRenney
Whitney
Hemsky is cleared for contact so we'll see him soon-the news on Whitney is less encouraging.
Renney chose his words carefully when asked about Petrell-the kid sure looks like he belongs but I'm not sure there is room on the 23 man roster for him.
Renney also mentioned he sees Brule as a center.
Hemsky:
ReplyDeleteThose guys are good,” he said. “Eager and Hordichuk can play, too. It's great for us.
“I'd much rather have those guys on our side than having to play against them. ”
I agree with cabbie,
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how keeping this many players in Training camp helps the guys that are actually going to be here. It's just taking away from the individual focus and coaching the actual current roster needs.
The Oilers have back-to-back games this weekend, and three games in 4 nights, which is why the roster has not been cut down dramatically yet.
ReplyDeleteThey also have back-to-back games on the road the final weekend of preseason, so the roster is going to be abnormally big right up to the end.
[i]Gerta Rauss said...Renney chose his words carefully when asked about Petrell-the kid sure looks like he belongs but I'm not sure there is room on the 23 man roster for him.[/i]
ReplyDeleteThere is Gerta but we'll never see it happening. Petrell for Hordichuk. Petrell for Brule. Simple enough.
Don't like what I'm hearing though. Worried they'll send RNH back to RD (which is fine), and Lander to the A...leaving Brule as #4 C. Showcasing a lost cause?
Love how this season the team already showing it's mid season form, so instead of my perennial 6th place prediction now I can double that and call 12th.
ReplyDeleteWhich management will announce is a big step forward(translation: their kids stay in private schools).
Per Matty:
ReplyDelete- Martindale likely to be signed this weekend and will not be sent back to the OHL
- Roy likely to go the ECHL so he can get lots of games
- Oilers not yet sure whether Pitlick is a center or a winger going forward
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Hemsky+cleared+contact/5452839/story.html
Also, Lowery has been signed to an AHL contract.
ReplyDeleteWhere is curtis Hamilton? Wjc player to where exactly this year??
ReplyDeletei actually figure that Tulupov will make the team and Chorney will be placed on waivers.
ReplyDelete