At least three times during preseason, 'the Petrell' has played ballhawk on the PK in the neutral zone and turned the puck over. For long suffering Oiler fans, the experience was new, wonderful and welcome.
I don't know how many times Petrell will do that, or how many goals he'll score. However, the Oilers pro scouting department appears to have delivered a useful player. A Hejda-type, we may end up calling him. It's too soon to call it a scouting and procurement victory, but it sure looks like it.
Now we just need another Hejda!
ReplyDeleteAnd a Jonas Hiller type wouldn't hurt either...
RNH strips the puck off the opposition in a blink of an eye.
ReplyDeleteWhat's to say he doesn't eventually end up killing penalties ala Gretzky?
@ shau_co
ReplyDeleteThere could be another Hiller type... His name is Leonardo Genoni and plays in Switzerland for HC Davos
Still can't figure out why no NHL team has approached this guy... What's the risk ? Is there something I am missing ?
Tsunami
ReplyDeleteI don't know him, but a quick look at hockey db and I'd say his size is a major factor - he would be very small for an NHL goalie. Also the league isn't that good, so his stats don't necessarily transfer well.
I am not saying he is the answer, but what's the downside to give it a try from a team's point of view ?
ReplyDeleteNot every good goalkeeper is 6.2 or bigger
The league is not comparable to the NHL of course, but I think the level of play is not bad at all... The very best teams in Switzerland can surely compete with the best ones in other european leagues such as Russia, Sweden, Finland, etc...
Is it really only a size factor or something else ?
Switzerland has produced quite a couple of good (good, not great :)) goalkeepers in the last 5-7 years so I am wondering why no team is willing to take a small risk which could have huge benefits
And of course EV Zug beat the Rangers yesterday. Road-weary Rangers and all, but a reasonable facsimile of an NHL squad.
ReplyDeleteWho do you believe this is the pro scouting department and not the Euro scouts?
ReplyDeleteVerification: horineer - Pat arguing about libido while drunk.
I have to confess, I havent watched him play as much, but how superior is he to ginger?
ReplyDeleteCoach: Well, I would assume this is Eklund's work. Right?
ReplyDeleteIn one of the post-game shows after a pre-season game, Tencer quoted that Petrell was recommended/found by STEVE SERDACHNY who was familiar with him due to working with teams/players in Europe.
ReplyDeleteHe was described as the best PK guy in the FIN league and possibly all of Europe.
"Lennard Skennard" AND "The Nuge"??? This should contribute to some better music at Rexall.. :P
ReplyDeleteSumOil: I'd say imagine if Gingerballs was 6'3" and 210lbs, and that would be your answer. There are more differences, but I like the Petrell not only has the same engine that Reddox had, but he's got the size to go along with it.
ReplyDeleteAll of the Oilers players cleared waivers.
ReplyDeleteAll of the Oilers players cleared waivers.
ReplyDeleteGood.
Maybe v3.1 can uncross his fingers now and pick up cheap short term D help off the waiver wire.
Note that I said short term help. Once everyone is healthy, just waive the player you picked up.
Matt Walker and Oskars Bartulis the latest blueliners dropped on waivers (by Philly).. don't think we'll be picking either up, however.
ReplyDeleteStu Bickel also looks tempting.
ReplyDeleteTravis Bickle would work for this blueline right now.
ReplyDeleteThis player represents the future of the Oilers.
ReplyDeleteHe may or not make it to the cup in five years;
It's great to see Taylor Hall, RNH, Eberle, MPS, best think Omark,
Then: Lander, Whitney, Gilbert, Smid, Dubnyk,
Then: lol Smyth, Horcoff, Hemsky :)
anyone else.
Discuss.
^Discuss what? Was that a series of thoughts or an acid trip?
ReplyDelete"Lennard Skennard" AND "The Nuge"??? This should contribute to some better music at Rexall.. :P
ReplyDeleteEvery time RNH scores at home, they should blast Stranglehold!
Regwald:Tencer quoted that Petrell was recommended/found by STEVE SERDACHNY
ReplyDeleteStauffer mentions that Skennard was highly recommended by Jari Kurri, which I tned to believe more since Kurri has Oiler and Finnish ties.
Hunter's clearly gone off the ledge.
ReplyDeleteOur depth, when we're healthy, is pretty good.
ReplyDelete-Steve Tambellini
That comes from his press availability in Jasper today. It's official, Toonces is hitting a stratosphere reserved for your Bushes, your Berras & your Quayles.
[i]Master Lok said.
ReplyDeleteStauffer mentions that Skennard was highly recommended by Jari Kurri, which I tned to believe more since Kurri has Oiler and Finnish ties.[/i]
So does Serdachny.
Our depth, when we're healthy, is pretty good.
ReplyDelete-Steve Tambellini
He must have been talking about his backyard pool and the combined weight of his family.
Well, I can't defend Tambellini's "decision" to see what Potter and Petry do with increased minutes rather than sign someone off the waiver wire.
ReplyDeleteInitially, I believed that another signing would end up taking away someone's spot in OKC. Now that I look at the organizational blueline depth, that wouldn't be the case:
EDM
Whitney, Gilbert, Smid, Barker, Peckham, Sutton, Petry
OKC
Potter, Chorney, Motin, Tulupov, Helmer, Lowery, Teubert, Plante
With bringing in another body to bolster the blue (alliteration much?) until Smid returns sends Potter into 7th defenseman territory. Once Whitney returns, it sends Potter to the farm and the depth addition/Sutton/Petry becomes the 7th defenseman. That's straight forward.
Potter goes down to OKC like he's supposed to, and the blueline depth looks exactly like it does above. If one of Motin or Tulupov ends up down in the ECHL, so frigging what? That's still a decent AHL defensive corps, and considering Chorney's injury there's plenty of room for another defenseman in Okieland.
I would say that I'm surprised and puzzled by Tambi's decision here, but only the latter applies.
Our depth, when we're healthy, is pretty good.
ReplyDelete-Steve Tambellini
Was he talking defense specifically? If so, he's beyond delusional. But I think the Oilers do legitimately have pretty good forward depth at this point.
LT had an article in years past that outlined how teams have 10 D that play significant minutes each year; based on that I would suggest we should be looking at two solid veterans that could split time between the bottom pairing here and the top pairings in OKC. I guess the trick is finding ones that won't get claimed but there seems to be lots of movement.
ReplyDeleteOur depth, when we're healthy, is pretty good. -Steve Tambellini
ReplyDeleteGood idea for a t-shirt...
Sam Crowe,
ReplyDeleteIf you claim a player on waivers, you have to keep them on your NHL roster, so there is no chance of them taking someone's spot in OKC, just pushing someone else down.
As it stands Whitney, Smid and Chorney are hurt so there are only 6 Dmen ready for opening night with Potter still in town.
If Whitney is ready, then they have the 7 they need for the roster.
Also,
Roy and Abney assigned to Stockton today.