Based on Dennis King scoring chances and Gabe Desjardins' Qual Comp the Edmonton Oilers have their soft minutes, piss cutter scoring line. These kids are putting the pointy end of their boots where the sun don't shine in what can only be described as dominance.
What does this mean? Well, the Sabres went a long way with the French connection line, but they also had a tough minutes trio (Don Luce-Craig Ramsay-Danny Gare) who made the entire 'soft parade' possible.
I think Shawn Horcoff and Ryan Smyth are up to the task, and Ryan Jones hasn't looked out of place on the line. With the Oilers having only two lines that have scored this season, is there any appetite for moving Petrell or Paajarvi onto that tough minutes line?
What say you?
Nice picture! I had that album on vinyl. Not the greatest album but nice in sleeve art. I agree. Try Paajarvi on the hard minutes line. He has the backchecking instincts.
ReplyDeleteI think Jones has done a fine job on the tough minute line - but I would absolutely LOVE to see Paajarvi play a more prominent role on this team 5v5.
ReplyDelete"H-Bomb" is okay, but way better than "The Kid Line" or Bruce's new "The Pipe Line"
ReplyDeleteAny word on when Hemsky can join Horc and Smyth? Paajarvi until Hemsky gets back.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see PRV on that line. He is faster and a better defensive player than Jones. He also would benefit from the offensive opportunities.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see Paajarvi on that line, yes, but only because a healthy Hemsky would make the Gagner-Belanger-Hemsky line a real threat at evens and hopefully allow Renney to hide the Hall-Hopkins-Eberle line on the road behind two NHL lines.
ReplyDeleteThe KKK line.
ReplyDelete3 Kids: Kash, Klutch and Klepto.
We're gonna live and die by how much rope they're given. Send Klepto back down to where he can't steal NHL pucks and there's gonna be a lynching.
Watching them get some great chances against Kesler's line last night was brilliant!
ReplyDeleteNot as much of a soft parade as some of the other games...
Not as much of a soft parade as some of the other games...
ReplyDeleteHopkins didn't take a dzone draw last night.
How come Hbomb gets a line named after him? I'd rather go with Black Dog, that guy's been killing it for some time now.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see Paajarvi succeed at LW before giving him another position to learn.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there's anything in thinking he will play on the off wing or we would have seen a hint of it from the coaching staff by now. Yet it keeps getting repeated here. Hopium?
I'd like to see Omark draw back in and positioned on that line. He replicates Hemsky more closely. He can add some creativity to the directness of Smyth's play. The two vets wil help him defensively and on the cycle. He actually plays the position. And there's an opportunity for pump and dump if it works.
I'm not quite as much of a Jones hater as some here, but I think his warts will show more strongly this year because of the improved talent in the forward ranks. It was harder for the casual observer to find fault with a hard skating and checking winger like Jones (not to mention someone who scored some goals) while MacIntyre was playing 30 seconds a night and JF Jacques was being generally useless. If this team can manage to get most of its forwards healthy at the same time, guys like Gagner and Hemsky will push his playing time down pretty quickly.
ReplyDeleteUnless RNH staying in Edmonton has already been determined (and if so, why haven't they announced it?), then Renny made a mistake playing RNH in this game.
ReplyDeleteWe already know RNH can play at home. What we don't know is if he can survive on the road. And if he can't play on the road, he's not NHL ready yet. Renny should have held RNH out and dressed him for games 8 and 9 on the road.
Happy for the win, but seems like poor resource management to me.
Cheque's in the mail uni.
ReplyDeleteThose guys are too good to be named after me. If you've seen me play it would be Petrell/Lander and probably Thoresen who would deserve the moniker Black Dog. And Lander is probably too good too. Grinding PKers with a penchant to fire it into the crest.
Jones has done a decent job but ideally you''d have someone else there imo.
Just as an aside you know what's exciting? The depth up front this year. You can talk about replacing Jones with Gagner or Omark or Paajarvi and we're not even talking Hemsky yet. That's pretty cool.
Until Ales comes back I think maybe you look at Gagner for the toughs and then have Omark draw in on Belanger's right for now, see if those guys can get some offence going.
When Ales returns I think you run him with Belanger and Paajarvi for starters. That gives them two lines with two veteran guys on each, the kids to kill the soft and a fourth line that is pretty good as fourth lines go.
And you still have two NHL players in the pressbox. Real NHL forwards.
Crazy.
I have no opinion on this matter.
ReplyDeleteHopkins didn't take a defensive zone draw, but at least he held his own overall at 50% (Horc went 2/10 in defensive zone draws). The H/H/E line was in the right end of the rink pretty much all game, which is more than can be said for the "tough minutes" line of Horcoff/Smyth/Jones.
ReplyDeleteThe tough minutes group did not shut down much of anything, even with the goal they did get, they still ended up -1 for the night. There was something amiss with that group last night, and while I don't hate Jones, I think they desperately need someone who can move the puck on that line.
The other two lines looked decent, but I am starting to worry about Paarjavi. He must be missing his Irish cousin, O'mark, because he looked invisible last night.
I'd like to see Paajarvi succeed at LW before giving him another position to learn
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've read Paajarvi only started playing LW in the NHL.
Has played RW his entire career up to now.
You see off handed wingers much more often on the big ice than the small ice.
I said in the Linus-thread I wanted MPS on the Smyth/Horc-line.
ReplyDeletespOILer: MPS played as much on the right as he did left in Timrå and if you think of it, most of his scoring chances tend to come on the right flank. His neutral position is obviously the left but I very much doubt it would be uncomfortable for him to play RW with the Oilers, especially with Horc and Smyth and his experience from Timrå.
WG
ReplyDeleteDon't know about the SEL but I don't recall him playing RW on the world stage even once.
And as I said, if there's something in it, there's been plenty of opportunities for coaching to try him there since Sept 2010 and they have yet to take the bait once.
Not saying it won't work, but we have little evidence for it to be doggedly raised.
"There was something amiss with that group last night"
ReplyDeleteThey were playing against one of the best lines in the league all night. They need Hemsky on that line to run it that hard.
"The other two lines looked decent, but I am starting to worry about Paarjavi."
Agreed. But more generally, there is a growing problem finding secondary offense anywhere: Gagner, Belanger, Omark, MPS should all be scoring more. Some of that is bad luck in cashing their chances, which will turn around. Some of it the fact that the kids are getting the cherry minutes.
"We already know RNH can play at home. What we don't know is if he can survive on the road."
He should be fine. If needs be, put him on a line with someone more defensively responsible for road games and deploy him less in the third period if he's struggling defensively in close games. (You could play him with Smyth early and not starting much in the Dzone. Then give more of his minutes in the third, in close games, to Gagner, Horcoff, and Belanger.)
His PP contributions alone make him a very valuable player, even on the road.
He will still get plenty of minutes even if you hide him a bit at ES in close road games.
Thanks, dohfos.
ReplyDeleteAnd agreed that most dangerous spot I've seen him is the right post, (and cruisin the slot) but I'll be happy if he can get to any post.
In the post game interview with Principe last night Hall linked their ice time late in the 3rd with their responsible defensive play in their zone.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful thing.
I think the key difference on the road will be the defensive pairing behind 4-93-14
At home Renney has been deploying 13,25 often, to shelter them as well I'm sure.
If opposing coaches are going to try to take advantage of these guys (not sure that they are even that weak defensively if they all work hard without the puck, they are all pretty good at hockey), then Renney will probably put 6-44 or 5-77 behind them when he can.
Most likely 6-44 as 5-77 is getting the heavy lifting with the 94-10-28 line.
Marincin was thrown out the game last night after he started a line-brawl against the Giants.
ReplyDeleteNice to see that WJC performance was not an isolated incident. Kid might have a little nasty in him.
Fact is, opposition coaches will be keying on the Kid Line from now on.
ReplyDeleteThe comedy is, that old Smyth/Horcoff/Hemsky(whoever) line isn't being counted on anymore, which imo is a beautiful thing. After all, now when they do score it doesn't particularly matter.
Last night in the 2nd, Barker made a nice move by the side of the goal to strip the puck off a Canuck, then clear it. :P
The comedy is, that old Smyth/Horcoff/Hemsky(whoever) line isn't being counted on anymore, which imo is a beautiful thing.
ReplyDeleteHorcoff, Smyth, Jones are starting in the Dzone/Neutral zone over 75% of the time.
I'd say they are being counted on for a lot of things.
True Woodguy, but I was talking about scoring goals.
ReplyDeleteIf Belangers line isn't going to score I say embrace it. Run a 2nd checking line and try to get some scoring from the Lander line. Drop MPS down with Lander and Eager, and let the two swedes play together. They may get some chemistry and MPS I think doesn't mesh with anyone in the O zone because no one understands his game. Move Petrell up and drop MPS.
ReplyDeleteKid line
HOrc line
Petrell-Belanger-Gagner
Eager-Lander-MPS
I like DBO's combo's. Lander and MPS have Chemistry.
ReplyDeleteBut where does Jones go when Hemsky comes back?
Rich - likely back to the fourth line I would guess. You'll have Hemsky and Gagner as RW with Horcoff and Belanger.
ReplyDeleteAnd we're still missing Omark in the equation.
I wonder if they remain competitive if Tambellini moves a forward or two for a Dman or if he lets Renney use icetime as the carrot for these guys to keep them going. Competition is good and so far Potter and Sutton have been better than expected.
Of course the road may tell a different tale but until then may as well enjoy.
spOILer
ReplyDeleteI agree. While it has been a great start to the year, this team is a ways off contending. Playoffs would be nice, but let's not lose sight of the prize.
This year should be about readying the team for next year and beyond. Players need to go to make room for what's coming from the farm soon.
They may as well go at max value. There are a few panic spots around the league, some deals are going to get done. Pump and dump.
I'd say they are being counted on for a lot of things.
ReplyDeleteYeah, sure, I guess if you consider defence and shutting down the other teams top lines a part of the game, or scoring 40% of the goals that the forward lines have scored, but if you ignore all of that, they are pretty much irrelevant.
You message board cops make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteOne of these days I'm going to have to take that secret internet course on how to say every possible thing to every possible argument, instead of simply telling it the way I see it.
Of fucking course the Horcoff line has been useful. But with the Kid Line, it's been demoted to 2nd line status.
Bite me.
How come Hbomb gets a line named after him? I'd rather go with Black Dog, that guy's been killing it for some time now.
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to lie, I'd have to demand royalties if it did end up getting named after me. Because I'm a greedy bastard and not afraid to say so.
cogglund: Andrew Cogliano's Swedish equivalent.
ReplyDeleteBut where does Jones go when Hemsky comes back?
That's some low hanging fruit right there that I'm just leaving alone.
Peace, Harmony and no Hate on LT's beautiful site.
"C'mon people now, Smile on your brother. Ev'rybody get together. Try and love one another right now."
If a line was actually named after Hbomb there would be booze in the name.
ReplyDeleteThat, or an alcoholic would be on the line.
I would run two lineups based on home or away when everyone is healthy. At home with last change I think you run two kid lines and run two tough minute lines
ReplyDeleteHAll-Nuge-Eberle
Smyth-Horcoff-Hemsky
Jones-Belanger-Gagner
MPS-Lander-Omark
Road, protect the kids and a bit more physical
Hall-Nuge-Eberle
Smyth-Horc-Hemsky
JOnes-Belanger-Gagner
Eager-Lander-Petrell
Injuries change everything of course, but I would like to see the Swede line a bit, and rotate the "toughness" in Eager and either Jones/Petrell based on matchup.
If a line was actually named after Hbomb there would be booze in the name.
ReplyDeleteThat, or an alcoholic would be on the line.
A Mr. Khabibulin holding for you on line 2, WG.
Rumour is that the Flamers are looking to acquire holdout Kyle Turris.
ReplyDeleteKypreos tweets...
ReplyDeleteDespite #Oilers Ryan Whitney's sprained knee being described as "nothing significant" he's still expected to be out 1-2 weeks.
Wonderful.
I think it'd be nice to see Paajarvi get some time with Horcoff and Smyth but I think I'm also the only other person besides the coach that thinks Paajarvi and Gagner play well together. Gagner and Jones....ehhh..I don't know if that works.
If we ever get completely healthy:
ReplyDeleteHall - Hopkins - Eberle (1st round line)
Smyth - Horcoff - Jones (Grind Line)
Paajarvi - Lander - Hemsky (Eurorail Line)
Eager - Belanger - Petrell or Hordichuk (Banger Line)
I think soon there will be a trade & Gags or Linus or both will be front & center.
A Mr. Khabibulin holding for you on line 2, WG.
ReplyDeletelol
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFurther to the bit on Marincin, here is the video. Hit comes around the 1:00 mark. Who gets 2 and a game for interference? I anticipate some supplemental discipline will be forthcoming...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vancouvergiants.com/video/index/id/87ecc7127352fb6058b1fe712e8c671e
"Kids and the Hall" line is the best name I've seen so far. Saw it on Twitter this morning.
ReplyDeleteIf a line was actually named after Hbomb there would be booze in the name.
ReplyDeleteThat, or an alcoholic would be on the line.
The H in HBomb would stand for Hunter (as in Dale) in that case.
I still remember a good story from the 80's that was told years later, about how Paul Coffey went to the local remand centre to visit said player when he was serving a DUI sentence, and he was told by the guard he would have to wait, as the inmate ball hockey game was going into overtime.
Coffey's response? "Why should that matter? Hunter never plays in overtime".
Gold.
I'd say if MPS doesn't get his Offense going soon...
ReplyDelete(or Barker doesn't pan out)
Renney wouldn't be off his rocker if he tried MPS out on D for a game or two... You know there will be the injuries to make it work out sooner or later
Hunter - the point is that if the Horcoff line were playing the soft minutes and the kid line were playing the tough minutes, the roles would be reversed, but the kid line would probably be bleeding a lot more than the vets are.
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt the kids are loaded with talent and will be top players in the league, but this season, they are being carried a bit by the vets.
I suspect we will see the Horcoff line do better on the road (as they will face more 2nd and 3rd line competition) and the kids stuggle a bit.
With all that said - it is awesome to see what the kid line can do with the puck!
Renney wouldn't be off his rocker if he tried MPS out on D for a game or two... You know there will be the injuries to make it work out sooner or later
ReplyDeleteI think he would be off his rocker.
Why for Bookie?
ReplyDeleteMPS played the majority of his junior hockey as a defenceman.
At least that's what he said.
I think he's got the right tools for it.
Shame to pull all that speed off the forward line though.
Hbomb,
ReplyDeleteAre you sure that wasn't Dave Hunter? Not that Dale was an angel, but I don't think Coffey played with Dale. (I could be wrong)
Also,
Dreger said on Team 1260 this morning the "among the GMs I talked to, its well known that Tambellini is looking to add a Dman, but isn't in a hurry"
This was before 6 went down (again)
Good to know he sees what we see.
Glimmers of hope.
Woodguy: Crap, you're right.
ReplyDeleteDave, not Dale. I mix those two up all the time.
andarqs: A mountain range in the southern United States.
Wrath - MPS has proven successful as a forward - its been 8 games and I don't see the need to panic, particularly given that many good players struggle in their 2nd year.
ReplyDeleteI tend to think that players have the forward/defence position thing figured out by the time they reach the NHL and swapping them is not likely to be successful, particularly for talented players as opposed to workhorses.
So... Matheson has named the kid line the Lotto Line.
ReplyDeleteDiscuss.
Bookjie: Yeah I noticed that. The Horcoff line is doing very good work, but...but...
ReplyDeleteI think my point was, that this season there's little need to fret whether or not that line scores, unlike previous seasons when they were the go- to line for MacT.
Insofar as leading the scoring charge, there doesn't seem to be much doubt that if you subtract the Kid Line from the season thus far, Oilers would surely not be playing 100+ point hockey(which amazingly after a mere 8 games, they are).
This year, when Smyth/Horcoff etc enter the zone, I can relax, safe in the knowledge that despite the fact they might score, as a fan i feel no pressing need for them to, like I felt obliged to in many a season past. In other words, no more worries over Horcoffian flubbed chances in the slot.
Oilers in 6th place in the West!
"Kids and the Hall" line is the best name I've seen so far. Saw it on Twitter this morning.
ReplyDeletebut Hall is one of the kids?
sometimes the twitter is just stupid!
Hunter - I agree, its nice to have two lines that can score - particularly when Hemsky comes back.
ReplyDeleteBoth lines will benefit from one another in that opposing teams will have to face one line or the other.
Its good!
As Derek alluded, I'm going to flow with the Pipe Line for 4-93-14.
ReplyDelete1) Oilers have already had AT LEAST two Kid Lines in Gelinas-Graves-Murphy 20 years ago, and Nilsson-Cogliano-Gagner just five years ago. There have been approximiately 3000 Kid Lines in NHL history due to a general lack of imagination in the modern MSM. Whereas I don't recall Pipe Line ever being used in that context. (LT? you remember one?)
2) Pipe Line fits the hockey tradition of using a meaningful term from everyday language, eg. Production Line, Punch Line, Party Line, Bread Line, HEM Line.
3) It is absolutely Oil-centric, unlike, say, Lottery Line (or Kid Line) which means nothing team-related.
4) These youngsters are the product of the Oilers' own pipeline of talent.
5) The Pipe Line is smokin'
That's all I got. :)
Bruce throws down like the Guy on a Buffalo.
ReplyDeleteI hereby declare Bruce to be Buffalo Bruce!
Announcer: "There goes Hall, laying some pipe with Eberle."
ReplyDeleteNot so good, Bruce.
Don't force the nicknames. They will come in time.
ReplyDelete"The Pipe Line" was used to describe the Bernie Nichols-Joe Murphy-Vinnie Damphousse line back in 92
ReplyDeleteHow about "LSD" - they make you see crazy psychedelic shit that you haven't seen since the mid '80s.
ReplyDeleteHappy for the win, but seems like poor resource management to me.
ReplyDelete@gcw rocks: RNH went +2 in a 3-2 win and it was a mistake to play him? Wow.
I think the plan is for him to play 82 games. This Oiler fan is sure glad he played last night, we may well not have won the game without him. For sure said game woulda been a lot more boring without him.
This just in: Nugent-Hopkins leads the Oilers in goals and points. He leads all NHL rookies in goals and points. He leads NHL rookie forwards in TOI/G and PP TOI/G. He is already an integral part of this team, and Oilers will need to hang on to him to ice their most competitive line-up. He won't be going anywhere.
@Kris: I dunno if there's any announcer dumb enough to say that, mind you I've been proven wrong on that score more than once. At such time as announcers do drop a clanger, we all laugh about it and move on.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite Oiler broadcaster for malapropisms was Garry Unger, who would say stuff like "Don Jackson pulled his groin three weeks ago and he's still playing with it!"
@FrankenOil: I don't recall that, they were a short-lived trio but you could be right. There's no record of such a named trio here but that's hardly a complete source as it only references a handful of the 3000 Kid Lines that we've been subjected to over the years.
ReplyDeleteMore than anything, I just want "Kid Line" to be capped. AFAIC it belongs in the cliche bin with "The goalie would like to have that one back". Just make it stop.
When it come to Paajarvi, I think we're looking at more of a Sedin time line. And I have no problem with being patient. Kid is gonna take some time to figure out how he's gonna score at this level. He could probably use some teaching wrt his shot, like Eberle and Gilbert have had this off season. For now, as long as he keeps learning to keep the bleeding to a minimum, I'm happy. Our fingers should be nowhere near the panic button.
ReplyDeleteI will add two more names to the hat:
ReplyDeleteThe WOW line (two WHL kids and one from the OHL)
I also saw someone on here call them the HUGE line (Hall-Nuge-Eberle) which I thought was awesome because they're coming up huuuuge!! Haha. Plus rhymes with Nuge which I'm glad has caught on for Ted.
@book¡e: I cannot believe there is actually an Episode 2¡
ReplyDeletespOILer said...
ReplyDeleteWhen it come to Paajarvi, I think we're looking at more of a Sedin time line. And I have no problem with being patient. Kid is gonna take some time to figure out how he's gonna score at this level.
He hasn't scored much at any level and has now been called out both by Renney and his WC coach for playing on the perimeter,
Worth noting that he started the season playing around 18:00/game and is now averaging less than 15:00 with a season low last night of 11 minutes including 1:26 on the PP.
DSF I swear that you must be the guy, when confronted with a field of strawberries, would spend all day searching for a rabbit turd so you could complain about it. Shaking my head.
ReplyDelete@DSF
ReplyDeleteSo according to you, the Canucks rock all the time, and all of the Oilers will suck forever. Sheesh!
It sure would be nice if you could make an objective comment from time to time...
@book¡e: I cannot believe there is actually an Episode 2¡
ReplyDeleteBruce, there are four epic episodes and the last one is a classic. Guy on a Buffalo would totally kick Chuck Norris' ass - with his buffalo!
Brings back fond memories of Grizzly Adams.
Bruce, I believe I heard the 92 playoffs line of Murphy, Nicholls, and Damphousse referred to as the Pipeline?
ReplyDeletePoor Marincin, sent to the shithole of hockey, AKA the Prince George Cougars. Hopefully he gets so sick of losing and inept management here that when he gets to the show, he will do anything to win.
ReplyDeleteBrett Connolly is the happiest hockey player on the face of the earth today after Yzerman said he stays with the big team and not having to return here.
DSF I swear that you must be the guy, when confronted with a field of strawberries, would spend all day searching for a rabbit turd so you could complain about it. Shaking my head.
ReplyDeleteIt was easy to spot rabbit turds yesterday. They were wearing Canuck jerseys.
And that Keith Ballard contract? An elephant turd. 12 minutes last night! -7 on the season and all for only $4.2 million for 4 years.
BTW the arena vote happens after 1:30. Even Caterina is coming around. Looks like Sloan and Diotte are the main holdouts against.
When I told my squeeze about the Schneid on Eberle via the tip pass from Nugent, she goes "Nugent? That's the kind of name we give the pigs out at the barn." I guess if she were naming them, it would be the Porschinies.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately we beat the wrong Dys with our soft minute action, or we could call them the Calgonites.
The other day I was reading the comment thread on one of Kerri Fraser's better posts about how assists are awarded (basic stuff too rarely comprehended). The comment thread was rife with glory hogs: if two guys pass the puck back and forth on the way to potting an EN (a la Horcoff/Jones) this should negate the assist awarded for the feed pass as the puck has been touched more than twice since.
Hunter falls willingly into this camp when he pours adulation on the snipers while neglecting the zone starts. It's extremely corrosive in a team sport to oversell the bright spikes of sexual vindication. The Canucks' radio feed last night pointed out that Sutton took a bit of an owie off a Salo blast in the first period. Gotta share some love for the guys out there doing what it takes, even if he's the slowest boat in god's creation. I saw a quote from Khabi recently talking about Sutton the way a QB talks about his favorite offensive lineman. Khabi feels for the unsung limpers.
The Nucks feed during the first Nuck PP repeated the line "Gilbert clears the zone" three times in short succession. On the radio, you can't tell if a dog has all his teeth. I think the man was born to play in radio days.
Even more incredible among the glory hogs on the KF forum was the perspective that we should eliminate 2nd assists altogether to give our GMs more bargaining power. Sounds good to me. If we fired all the statisticians, we could pay them nothing at all and we'd never run into cap problems.
Going the other direction, I wouldn't be averse to splitting assists into 1st and 2nd assists based on where the player was involved in the play. Goals would stay the same, and the same players would be awarded assists, but the assist would be labelled a primary assist if you touched the puck with your stick in the offensive zone, and a secondary assist otherwise (breakout feeds and the butt pass of greatness standing in the paint).
I also think the laser shot / deflection should be divided between the two players as 0.5 goals and 0.5 assists each, but obviously you can't do that in an abacus league. It would help to eliminate some of the stupid goal-drought streak reportage. You don't actually know that the deflection was critical or invoked by the karma gods.
It would also be nice to credit the hulking screen of black and blue ankles who never touches the puck, but I see no clear way to do so, short of installing a brain-wave hairnet under the goalie's lid and training up the recognizer of steamy frustration with and without Smyth's hockey pants decorating the sight lines.
You would think that statistics are just an aid to what you already know, but then the arbitrators think they are doing you a favour by leaning on that which is most easily quantified. They don't want to be glory hogs, but the CYA instinct makes them do it.
Paajarvi's lack of production and dwindling ice time look pretty "objective" to me.
ReplyDeleteCan't see Renney doing what most coaches do and that's staying with what's working. If/When Hemsky returns odds are he slides back in with Smyth and Hans Kluumper to give us a solid one two punch.
ReplyDeleteSad thing for Belanger in that he more than likely inherits Jones on his right side. Peronally I'd like to see MP there instead with Hartikainen on the LW.
Don't ask for whom the bell tolls Linus/ Samweiss.
monatio: solo oral?
When it come to Paajarvi, I think we're looking at more of a Sedin time line. And I have no problem with being patient. Kid is gonna take some time to figure out how he's gonna score at this level.
ReplyDeleteThe "Sedin time line" included the elimination of clutching and grabbing, which happened right before their scoring really took off and helped them enormously.
PRV isn't going to get that kind of help in boosting his production.
Further to the bit on Marincin, here is the video. Hit comes around the 1:00 mark. Who gets 2 and a game for interference? I anticipate some supplemental discipline will be forthcoming...
ReplyDeleteGame sheet says five and a game.
It would be nice to have both 6 and 83 back before the Oil start a six game roadtrip on Nov 3rd that takes them to LA-Phx-Mtl-Bos-Det-Chi.
ReplyDeleteHoly fuck, that's some tough sledding right there.
I don't think 28's playing terrible with 94-10 but we know those guys are old hands at playing the toughs so we know they're pulling the rope. I think the RW on that line would be a great place for young 91 because he already knows his way around his own end and both 10-94 are good in the corners and boards and he could hang out in the slot.
Then we could have a 89-20-83 third line. Basically, anyway you set it you're gonna have two lines and then keep putting guys with 20 to try and craft a third line from that. Hopefully 83 could gel with 20 because it doesn't seem to be happening with 91.
What I like so much early on is the D; inasmuch as it's a total surprise. 44-25 looks like it would be a very good third pairing and 77's off to a great start and so is 5. So, get someone else to play with 6 and as long as we have health then it's gonna be fun for a change.
But, because these are the Oilers, I'm just sitting back waiting for the injuries. For now we are outchancing and the PK has been great and the only problem has been third period sagging in terms of shot and chance differential. I'd like to see how we look with a healthy 6-83 back in the lineup but recent history tells me this won't happen.
Commonfan: the Sedins' rise is often attributed to the rule changes and while that may have had a part in it, a lot of the hooking and holding has come back into the game in the last few years and they're still scoring (just watch any Minnesota game - it's not as bad, but they're still doing everything they can to slow things down).
ReplyDeleteAs for Paajarvi, he'll be fine. Keep in mind, he's still young and he's been compared to what could be two absolutely elite talents in RNH and Hall. That's tough company to keep and will lead to impatience unless we ground our expectations in reality.
More prodigious second-rate musings on the theme of quick studdies, but all I could come up with was The Joshua Three.
ReplyDeleteEnder's Jeesh was a potent threesome at a tender age, and looked the part (scrawny, not potent). Never read the original, but I read the sequel from the Bean perspective. Hardly your standard issue fist-pumping super hero.
Renney knows more hockey than me of course, but I heard him say pre game he would let "the hostages free" once the team had defense down first.
ReplyDeleteI think Pajaarvi needs the opposite. He is too cautious and responsible and needs to barn storm for a while.
Gagner MPS Omark
Let them go wild and pump the offensive numbers, take some GA's, and create some short of stature trade bait.
I think Bob & Doug would heartily endorse a "Beauty Line."
ReplyDeleteAs in; "That's a beauty line, eh?"
Or, we could not have a cheezy made up nickname at all...What does Gene Principe have to say about this?
David Staples just tweeted that the arena deal was approved, 10-3. Guess that resolves one debate. Back to over-analyzing actual players instead of real estate deals!
ReplyDeleteI keep thinking something's gotta shake loose from the Calgarys, Columbi, and Montreals of the present standings. That win over the Wings last night probably bought Howson some time, but if the Flyers blow out the Habs tonight, or the Avalanche bury the Flames, there's gotta be some increased pressure to do something.
ReplyDeletespOILer: did you have a particular deal in mind? Or a player the Oilers should be looking at?
ReplyDeleteI still think we won't see anything till after the roadtrip (at least for Edmonton). If the Oilers survive it in reasonable shape, that could lead to a different outlook in player acquisition than if they get killed and drop to the bottom of the standings.
Sorry cats, or Katz, but The Kid Line is the only term that currently fits these guys.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes Bruce, I'm certain Luongo would like some of those goals back, lol.
Trying to force some fantastic name on these kids just comes off as lame. Maybe if we dug up some 1940's reporter...thats it! call Red Fisher!! He'll know what to call them!!
Paajarvi's lack of production and dwindling ice time look pretty "objective" to me.
ReplyDeleteWriting a player off based on an 8-game sample size is about as intelligent as declaring another young player to be "just another Kyle Wellwood", when said player has already played four full seasons prior to turning 22, and Kyle Wellwood didn't even hit the NHL until, what, age 23?
But whatever fills your boots, I suppose. I don't think worrying about Paajarvi at this point is a good use of time or energy - he'll be fine.
Hbomb,
ReplyDeleteGood to see you posting often again.
You (and your drink recipes) were missed.
Are you on twitter?
Even LT had his grandkids show him how to sign up.
The comedy is excellent.
Wouldn't it be easier for Paajarvi to be pulling the Soft Parade, like the title says?
ReplyDeleteI mean rather than facing the qualcomp and zone starts that 10-94 get?
That doesn't sound like a recipe for success to me, and he already has a vet centre (who scored well last year) and an brainy talent on the wing in Gagner.
HBomb... As you can see, I didnt even bother with a reply. ;oD What's the point?
I floated the name "Flash, Dash, and Crash" a couple times here and there.
ReplyDeleteThere are multiple possible interpretations, but:
Eberle gets his shot off in a flash;
RNH with the puck causes a mad dash to get open;
and Hall as crash needs no explanation.
myler - term used by obsessive fan in place of Taylor.
I heard it pointed out that the reason the Sedins took off a few seasons ago was the emergence of Kesler to do all the heavy lifting for them (no power vs power for those guys). Paajarvi needs another season to get over his sophmore slump and will find his way. The coach isn't sitting him, so obviously Renney feels the same.
ReplyDelete@ Hbomb
ReplyDeleteYou, of course, are free to worry about whatever you like.
Paajarvi has had a well below shooting percentage at every level of hockey he has played and his last two coaches calling him out for being a perimeter player who seem to indicate they see there is an issue.
Sure the season is only 10 percent gone but you don't get that 10 percent back.
Since you brought up Wellwood, he's having a very nice season with the Jets having scored 3 goals and 5 points in his 10 percent.
As for Gagner, sometimes 4 years' experience is one years' experience four times.
2014 line.
ReplyDeleteOlympic Gold and Stanley Silver.
Book it! and book 3 bronze statues while you're at it..
Perry Pearn fired by the Habs.
ReplyDeleteThis is a feller the Oil should consider talking to.
I also like 'Our Scoring Line'
ReplyDeletePaajarvi is a victim of circumstance. He's good enough to bat in the top of the order but he's hitting 8th with the pitcher behind him and nobody's on. In other words he won't see anything good to hit.
ReplyDeleteBruce... I like "The Pipe Line".
DMW.... I would say deflections are full credit for goals unless they're off a leg or butt. NHL goalies are too good to get beat from past the top of the circles unobstructed and if they are set. Also, the hand-eye co-ordination of NHL players is exceptional which just goes to show how hard it actually is to do.
As for Gagner, sometimes 4 years' experience is one years' experience four times.
ReplyDeleteSee Cogliano, Andrew.
Gagner's done just fine to this point. My worry is that this high-ankle-sprain is going to be a lingering issue this season and the GM isn't going to recognize it, sending the kid away for 30 cents on the dollar and watching him flourish elsewhere.
As for Paajarvi - he's shown enough of a 200-foot game that they're going to have patience with him. I do like how he and Gagner fit together, although I also think they need to find a piece to round out that trio. Personally, I like the idea of them getting Smyth just not on the powerplay.
If I had my way and Hemsky was healthy, I'd roll this out:
Hall-RNH-Eberle
Hartikainen-Horcoff-Hemsky (yes, you read that right, Woodguy)
Smyth-Gagner-Paajarvi
Lander-Belanger-Jones
No designated "tough minutes line" per se, but lines 2-4 could all take some of the slack. If need be, they could flip 56 and 94 at times.
Woodguy: seems like now that the season has started and the craziness of summer has ended, there's more to discuss.
water: precursor to ice-cubes.
Oh the lengths people will go to support iffy year-old Corsi numbers...
ReplyDeleteDon't fuck with what works. Jones works. That match-up is also outchancing playing a ridiculously hard zone-start, and it's given us (no shit) the best GA in the league.
Make a second scoring line out Paajarvi, Gagner and Hemsky when he's back and let a Petrell-Belanger fourth line give you a real-minutes fourth line.