INJURY
I spoke to coach Todd Nelson yesterday and he was strong on several players. He told me that Hartikainen had worked very hard in his time in OKC, that Magnus Paajarvi had done everything asked and was making things happen. He also took time to sing the praises of Ryan O'Marra, Tanner House and Chris VandeVelde and we discussed the key to Phil Cornet's success (pretty much all of his goals are coming from in-close, those high traffic areas).
I'd estimate the recalls could come from that group depending on need, and don't forget Gilbert Brule (although he is coming back from a freak injury and just getting into the swing of things).
STARE DOWN
Ales Hemsky hasn't talked contract in awhile and in our hearts I think we know this is going a certain way. The return will be interesting, and Hemsky is the feature player for the Oilers deadline '12:
- Ales Hemsky: Dennis King mentioned yesterday that Los Angeles and Nashville would be good candidates because they have miles of defensemen and need offensive help. I think LA, but would add in Detroit because it makes so much sense. His value will be reduced, but my guess is that he'll bring back a defenseman with some NHL experience and still on his entry level deal.
- Andy Sutton: Laugh all you want, these are the guys who have surprising trade value at the deadline. Sutton has been riding an insane EV SP this season and has a solid CorsiRel against third pairing opposition, meaning he'd be a good candidate to move. I'll guess the return is about two rounds above what we're all thinking, so let's make it a 4th round selection.
- Nikolai Khabibulin: Jason Gregor said it best a week or two ago, if the Oilers aren't listening to offers on him then the club isn't doing due diligence. NK could garner a high draft pick (late first, early second) or perhaps a quality prospect in return. That might seem like a high price, but ask Tbay about the importance of goaltending.
- RNH, Horcoff, Belanger, Lander
- Hall, Smyth, Paajarvi, Eager
- Eberle, Gagner, Jones, Hartikainen
- Smid, Gilbert
- Whitney, Potter
- Peckham, Petry
- Plante
- Dubnyk
They should hang on to Sutton.
ReplyDeleteI half watched, more listened to the Flames game last night - always hate to see them win. However, they did mention an interesting stat. The Flames have used 11 different defencemen this year due to injuries.
ReplyDeleteAnd hear I thought the magic number we needed was 9 for a full season. This ups the ante for having NHL calibre dmen.
On another note, I'm a huge Hemsky fan and I will hate to see him leave, but the tea leaves seem to say it's going to happen.
ReplyDeleteI'm wearing my Hemsky jersey every chance I get until I have to put it in the moth balls where my Smyth jersey was stored.
Count me as one who believes we should resign him for a 2 yr deal at reasonable dollars.
What is "reasonable dollars"?
ReplyDeleteI am as big a Hemsky fan as they come and would resign him on most deals tbh, but who's to say what Hemsky is asking? What the market can give him?
Look at Marian Gaborik. I doubt the Prince gets that kind of a deal, but there really just is no guarantee in a league that includes Tambo, Tallon and Sather as GMs.
Beyond that, I would be shocked if we saw any Kings/Oilers trades in the near future. I'd say that bridge is pretty much burned to the ground.
Just going to point out that we don't know Hemsky would sign here again given an equal offer anyway. I probably wouldn't if I were him.
ReplyDeleteJust because he walks doesn't mean the management didn't try to hold on to him. It's possible he rebuffed contract offers, and so management is gearing up the media spin machine to make him look bad because of that, not because they want to trade him.
Adam: Los Angeles is sllllloow up front and honestly they need all kinds of help. The absence of alternatives clears the mind.
ReplyDelete@Adam, reasonable would be same dollars and a 2 yr term.
ReplyDeleteAs for LA, never say never. Sutter will have "seen him good" many, many games. If they review the medical file with a microscope they might consider it given their struggles this season.
Last week was really looking forward to seeing the Islanders game, but halfway through it I literally fell asleep.
ReplyDeleteTurned on the Stars game for the first 10 minutes yesterday, and it was so pathetically sad I turned the channel over to watch an old movie.
To tell the truth, I hope there's another strike. I found the last one a lot more interesting than these Oilers.
I mean it's fine to tank for a season or two, but wtf they've been at it for the past 5-6 years now, just not willing to admit it(well, it would cost them their jobs).
That seems to be another focus I've started to notice: hockey decisions taken more with an eye on job security by Renney/Tambo etc than anything to do with winning games.
What do I know? I'm only a fan. Come to think of it since the word fan is rooted in fanatic, I can't all myself a fan anymore either.
Brendan Smith! If we could manage to obtain this talented 22 year old kid from the Detroit organization, it would be spectacular.
ReplyDeleteYr Team Lea GP G A Pts +/- PIM
2011-12 Detroit NHL 3 0 2 2 -1 4
2010-11 Grand Rapids AHL 63 12 20 32 7 124
2009-10 Wisconsin WCHA 42 15 37 52 14 76
2008-09 Wisconsin WCHA 31 9 14 23 4 75
Apart from the obvious offense, note the PIMs. This kid is aggressive! I have watched him once on TV. He is very fast and jumps into the play with no fear.
By the way if we could hang on to Sutton for another year, I wouldn't be unhappy. I would have voted to keep Van der Meer for this year. Nice to have a little stay at home toughness as 6th or 7th D, IMO.
Gave me a Sunday morning heart attack, LT... I read "sail on" and kind of blacked out in rage that the organization actually proved that they were dumb enough to move Hemsky.
ReplyDeleteAnything for NK is a win. I think you're smoking the drapes thinking 1st rounder though.
ReplyDeleteOnly Sutton is UFA among Oiler D, so to not turn him into a 2nd or 3rd is horrid asset management.
Smythe might be open to being a rental and re-signing in the summer.
Yes the Oilers could get some assets that, if everything goes well, will contribute to the team in 5 or so years.
Just in time to watch Hall, MPS and Ebs go UFA and then have the Oilers talking rebuild just in time to move into the new rink.
I read "sail on" and kind of blacked out in rage that the organization actually proved that they were dumb enough to move Hemsky.
ReplyDeleteThey will.
They'll trade the most prolific playmaker this team has had since Weight and the MSM will spit on him on the way out.
Also,
I don't think DET trades Smith for anything less than an upgrade on the player. Certainly not for a rental.
Look at the Stanley Cup winners from the last couple of years there is a common denominator.
ReplyDeleteBoston
Chicago
Pittsburgh
Detroit
Management has not been following this formula.
Why not?
WG: Yeah, Kent Wilson, Tyler Dellow and Derek Zona have all tweeted pretty much the same. We'll see, Khabibulin's reputation and his Stanley cup ring with have some sway in certain GM offices.
ReplyDeleteI think the trade deadline is a time when true value takes a holiday. Khabibulin has enjoyed a solid season and the extra year is expensive but not crippling.
We'll see, maybe he goes for a 4th rd pick or not at all.
@Woodguy
ReplyDeleteYou are right, of course. However it would make some sense to send a fwd prospect (we seem to have a lot) along with the said Rental. It would be worth it! If we are going to lose Hemsky any way, at least try for something we can use in return.
"We think he's an NHL player," coach Mike Babcock said. "He's got to play, and we've got to find out."
"He's been waiting for this day," Kronwall said. "He's been looking good in practice and working hard and he's ready. I've practiced with him, and also watching him in training camp the last couple years, he talks a lot out there and makes it easy for his teammates."
"Smith played great for us," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "He gets back, he can move the puck, he competes. He is good with the puck. He takes some risks at times, but to me, he's a good player, and he's going to be a good NHL player."
Pretty good recommendations!
Get after it Tambellini!
A mention of Sather makes me think the Rangers as a trade partner for Hemsky
ReplyDeleteThey've road Lundqvist to the top of the standings and could use some offense to compete with the other Elite teams. Their D at the big league level looks to be in good shape and relatively young so Sather could sacrifice a D prospect and not miss a beat.
Erixon, McDonagh, or McIlrath would ease the pain.
I will be stunned if Khabby gets traded. He's not a rental and the Oil don't have an alternate plan for next year.
ReplyDeleteSutton will go for Staios value, maybe slightly better.
Smyth is a possibility to go (and return in the off-season), but it will only happen if he wants it.
Hemsky's agent could land Ales a monster contract because he is outshooting the opposition.
ReplyDeleteSame contract as Horcoff + inflation
I too doubt Detroit as a destination for Hemsky. That's a UFA move for them. If they're a good org, they won't move a serious asset for a rental.
ReplyDeleteI just want to join the chorus of voices vainly begging the heavens for us to please re-rign Hemsky.
ReplyDeleteI'd go as high as two years, the first at 6 the second at three. That way even if he doesn't regain his form he might still have trade value to salary-floor teams in year two. Of course, I have no way of knowing if he'd accept that.
Sadly I doubt Tambi is reading to find out what I think. All is vanity; all is chasing the wind.
I could see the Rags in play for Hemsky though. Pittsburgh too (depending on Crosby's health and whether they're willing to make a serious run.
ReplyDeleteKhabibulin is a lot less expensive for Yzerman than any of the alternatives.
ReplyDeleteIf Crawford is a lousy in Chicago as he was against the Oilers in the last two games...
Those are about the only two possible destinations I see though.
Boston traded Kessel. Sure hurt that team. To live is to chose. You can only have so many small forwards. I choose Nugent-Hopkins, Eberle, and Gagner (or Omark if someone offers a good defenseman for Gagner).
With Hartikainen, Paajarvi, and Omark, (and Pitlick at most 2 years away), trading Hemsky is not that big a deal.
Sutton is big and can kill penalties. He should bring a draft choice at the deadline, unless the Oilers need him because of all the injuries.
The list of players that edm might look at trading could well be pretty long, depending on value might the following all be available?
ReplyDeleteSmyth, jones, Potter, Sutton, Whitney, hemsky,
Speeds, at that level I think you would have to include Gagner, Omark, Peckham too.
ReplyDelete(As possibilities, but would take a good deal)
Sutton will go for Staios value, maybe slightly better.
ReplyDeleteI think Sutton has a better reputation in terms of hockey player than Staios did. I could be wrong.
I think the trade deadline is a time when true value takes a holiday.
This is very, very true.
It seems that the value of draft picks in June are roughly double, perhaps triple what they are in February.
Never underestimate the need to make the playoffs for extra revenue for a lot of GMs.
Never underestimate the motivation to do dumb things to keep a GM job.
Hemsky's agent could land Ales a monster contract because he is outshooting the opposition.
Same contract as Horcoff + inflation
Given the lack of depth of Free Agent forwards this summer, I think Hemksy signs for minimum $5MM/yr.
Other notable free agent forwards:
Semin, Alexander » $6,700,000.00
Smyth, Ryan » $6,250,000.00
Parise, Zach » $6,000,000.00
Rolston, Brian » $5,062,500.00
Huselius, Kristian » $4,750,000.00
Doan, Shane » $4,550,000.00
Langkow, Daymond » $4,500,000.00
Penner, Dustin » $4,250,000.00
Hemsky, Ales » $4,100,000.00
Boyes, Brad » $4,000,000.00
Selanne, Teemu » $4,000,000.00
Blake, Jason » $4,000,000.00
Avery, Sean » $3,875,000.00
Ruutu, Tuomo » $3,800,000.00
Stoll, Jarret » $3,600,000.00
Hecht, Jochen » $3,525,000.00
Jagr, Jaromir » $3,300,000.00
Kostitsyn, Andrei » $3,250,000.00
Hejduk, Milan » $3,000,000.00
Jokinen, Olli » $3,000,000.00
Whitney, Ray » $3,000,000.00
Hagman, Niklas » $3,000,000.00
Kotalik, Ales » $3,000,000.00
Grabovski, Mikhail » $2,900,000.00
Arnott, Jason » $2,875,000.00
Hudler, Jiri » $2,875,000.00
Langenbrunner, Jamie » $2,750,000.00
Pahlsson, Samuel » $2,650,000.00
Jones, David » $2,500,000.00
Prospal, Vaclav » $2,500,000.00
Koivu, Saku » $2,500,000.00
Samuelsson, Mikael » $2,500,000.00
Gaustad, Paul » $2,300,000.00
Sturm, Marco » $2,250,000.00
Kelly, Chris » $2,125,000.00
Reinprecht, Steven » $2,050,000.00
Knuble, Mike » $2,000,000.00
Brunette, Andrew » $2,000,000.00
I don't see anyone getting more than Hemsky other than Parise and Semin.
Also,
You make it sound like no NHL GM's look at shot differentials.
You know they do right?
ReplyDeleteWith Hartikainen, Paajarvi, and Omark, (and Pitlick at most 2 years away), trading Hemsky is not that big a deal.
What have those guys done in the NHL to make Hemsky redundant?
Khabibulin to TBay? Really? Don't they already have an overpaid streaky G well past his prime?
ReplyDeleteWhat have those guys done in the NHL to make Hemsky redundant?
ReplyDeleteGodot's the same guy who said we shouldn't bother with Ryan Getzlaf because we have Tyler Pitlick.
(And I think, though I'm not sure, that he was on the "We don't need a veteran defensive centre because Anton Lander is crossing the Atlantic" brigade during the off-season.)
ReplyDelete//What have those guys done in the NHL to make Hemsky redundant?//
ReplyDeleteLike the stock market, assets are values on what they do going forward, not on what they've done in the past.
Hemsky has managed 20 goals twice in his career. Nugent-Hopkins, Eberle, and Hall are all better playmakers, so Hemsky is likely to get far fewer assists going forward on the Oilers as the premium ice time goes to others. No goals, fewer assists.
Hemsky hasn't shown much fight against Eberle stealing the #1 right wing spot. Hemsky couldn't get the same power play out of the bottom five last year, and has never run a top tier power play. An eighteen year old has the Oiler power play in the top five. Something Hemsky has never done, even with Pronger.
But it is better for Hemsky himself to see the world from a different place.
If you really "love" something, set it free.
I wanted to trade him last year, when he was producing at his normal rate. Look at all the stupid angst that dragging this out has caused, not to mention the lost value for the return.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLT,
ReplyDeleteCount me in with the group that really thinks we should keep Sutton. I like Sutton's play this year and I could see him as part of the mid-term plans for this organization.
//Godot's the same guy who said we shouldn't bother with Ryan Getzlaf because we have Tyler Pitlick.//
ReplyDeleteI'm consistent.
I didn't want Souray. I didn't want Nylander. I didn't want Heatley. I don't want Getzlaf. Big game hunting is in general is not a good way to build a contender.
The only big fish I sort of wanted was Hossa.
Once you are a legitimate contender, then you can dabble in big game hunting. When you are a lottery team, you want mid-tier value-for-money players. You need to build your culture and your own team identity first.
Wow, this season is even more frustrating than last year. This year they are competing but losing. Is that any more fun than last year?
ReplyDeleteI for one would be very sad to see Hemmer leave. He is the only guy who could make me sit up and watch every time he was on the ice. Strong entertainment value there. Looks like he is getting his health back. I think he is a tough little sob and has played hurt much more than we know over the years. Same with Horcoff, btw.
It is the 6 year thing that gets me the most. Kevin Lowe spoke a couple years ago at a function I was at and he stated then that they should have started the rebuild when Pronger left not waited till the thing crashed.
I hate to say it, but I do think these guys know what they are doing. The big league team has improved, the farm system is better, the communication with the players is better, the development team is better. We are just not getting the results we want.
Of course I might be biased, I am in the saw him good camp on Klowe.
On Sutton, I like him fine too (though he's a genuinely dirty player not named Mark Messier or Gordie Howe, which can make him a little hard to cheer for). But overpaid third-pairing defensive guys (possibly including Sutton himself) aren't exactly hard to come by in the off-season, so there's no good reason not to take value for him if it's offered.
ReplyDeleteI hate to say it, but I do think these guys know what they are doing. The big league team has improved, the farm system is better, the communication with the players is better, the development team is better. We are just not getting the results we want.
ReplyDeleteIf still being terrible in 2012-2013 was the initial plan (which it may well have been), why were Taylor Hall and Magnus Pajaarvi in the NHL last year?
Why would Hemsky sign a 2 year deal at this time? It's easy to say you would sign him to a 2 year deal, but I would bet that his agent is recommending he wait til the summer and try to get a 3 or 4 year deal. There is a precedent for signing talented, injury prone players to multi year deals (Havlat, Gaborik), especially if the UFA market is thin. So before we start skewering management for not signing him, we may want to consider whether we would want him signed for more than 2 years.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I suspect that after the trade we will hear rumblings that Tambellini doesn't even know who his agent is, let along have discussions with them beforehand.
Co-sign on Brendan Smith, but he would be hard to pry from the Wings.
ReplyDeleteHemsky + Sutton + Klefbom/pick(s) might get something done.
Seems like a pipe dream, though. If Oilers ever get a team's best prospect back in a trade, I'll eat my hat. If they get Detroit's best prospect, I'll eat a raw octopus wearing a hat.
If Hemsky is going (another stupid Lowe/Tambo move)Slats maybe the guy to deal with...I'd see Del Zotto in an Oiler uniform...with Klefbom and Musil in the system I can't see drafting a D-man and hoping and waiting the 5 year maturation process.
ReplyDeleteDoughty, Larsson, Pietreangelo, Bogosian, Fowler, Ekman-Larsson, Carlsson, Shattenkirk...not exactly taking 5 years.
ReplyDeleteIf still being terrible in 2012-2013 was the initial plan (which it may well have been), why were Taylor Hall and Magnus Pajaarvi in the NHL last year?
ReplyDeleteMarketing? To keep the fans satisfied? To keep Taylor Hall happy?
ss. Hall and MPS were here to try to appease us and to get them some experience. Of course, that only worked for a while.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that if we are following the Chicago model, we are on track. Too lazy to look up how many years they missed the playoffs before they finally made. Pretty sure that at one point they made a pretty big jump to get in.
I also think they are looking at how Calgary keeps hanging in around that last playoff spot, sometimes getting in but really not got the makeup to go on a cup run.
The deep and long fall should bring quality that will be here for a long time. Sure is not fun right now though.
Too lazy to look up how many years they missed the playoffs before they finally made.
ReplyDeleteChicago made the playoffs in the second year of Kane's ELC, and the third year of Toews'. They won the Cup the next year. If Hall and RNH are our Kane and Toews, we would need to make the playoffs next year and win the Cup the year after.
The Oilers are not following the Chicago model.
@godot: Doughty, Bogosian and Shattenkirk are in their fourth year...the jury is still out on Laarson; Fowler came up too early and probably should have played another year of Junior...but you are right about Pieterangelo, who had a breakout year last year (his third) but is staying home more under Hitch..still can't argue that D men take longer to mature and this team needs help now...
ReplyDeleteA few thoughts.
ReplyDeleteFirst, trading Hemsky is fine if there is good value for the return OR if Hemsky is refusing to talk extension. No evidence either way on that last one. Nothing worse than losing a guy to free agency while finishing out of the playoffs. I like Hemsky and would be happy to see him stay but not simply to see him play out the season.
With that said, I have some of LT angst about the situation as it may be that the Oilers are mismanaging Hemsky (I can see exit interviews with comments like "I tried talking to Tambellini but he never returned my calls, the coach never spoke to me", etc.)
Second, Trade Sutton and Khabibulin for whatever you get. These are not hard guys to replace. Trade Symth, but only if you have a good chat with him first asking him if he would like to go play for a contender for a couple of months and the playoffs before coming back to Edmonton for the offseason and entering the UFA market (wink wink).
Trade our 2014 first round pick for a good #3 or 4 defender who is still on his entry level contract. Doing so would at least give us fans an indication that 30th place isn't the plan for 2013/14.
Just think, if we get a true number one defenseman next year along with Hall, Eberle and Hopkins, teams will be talking about the Edmonton model for years.
ReplyDeleteAnd it does not look like we have our Lidstrom yet, but it does appear we have the highend forwards.
I'm OK with trading Hemsky as long as the team the Oilers are trading with takes Lowe, Tambellini and Renney along with him.
ReplyDeleteIt's time to clean house — out with the Lowe junta!
Like the stock market, assets are values on what they do going forward, not on what they've done in the past.
ReplyDeleteLike the stock market, what a player is going to achieve going forward can often be found in what they have done in the past.
None of your players have the history of a Hemsky, even in the lesser leagues, let along NHL.
Hemsky has managed 20 goals twice in his career. Nugent-Hopkins, Eberle, and Hall are all better playmakers, so Hemsky is likely to get far fewer assists going forward on the Oilers as the premium ice time goes to others. No goals, fewer assists.
Hemsky is a career 0.80pts/gm and last year got .92. He's coming off of major surgery.
You are banking on Hall and Hopkins playing only with Eberle as RW. That is a false assumption.
You are also saying that because the Oilers look to have a line that scores (against weaker comp as Renney hides them as much as he can), then that makes another playmaker redundant.
This is also incorrect. You need more good players, not less and as good as the kids are, real NHL players kill them right now. They are kids, only Hall has shown the ability to play toughs so far, but certainly not on his own.
They probably will be able to beat toughs, but I doubt its within the next 2 years.
Hemsky hasn't shown much fight against Eberle stealing the #1 right wing spot. Hemsky couldn't get the same power play out of the bottom five last year, and has never run a top tier power play. An eighteen year old has the Oiler power play in the top five. Something Hemsky has never done, even with Pronger.
Is Hesmky supposed to punch Eberle in the face? I don't understand the "fight" comment.
What RNH is doing as a rookie on the powerplay has never been done by a rookie before.
Ok so RNH and Eberle are killers on the PP.
Why get rid of what would be a good PPQB option for PP2?
Also, Hemsky is a better 5v5 player than PP.
You make no sense.
It doesn't matter what management does so long as Renney is the coach.
ReplyDeleteThis is a man who plays Josh Green instead of Hartikainen.
This is a man who plays Petrell over Omark and Eager over Paajarvi.
This is a man who thinks that putting Hordichuk in the lineup and then not playing him helps win hockey games.
This is a man who has no idea what it takes to win a hockey game.
Blame management for the horrible defense corps. I'm behind that. But that's a fixable problem. There is no fix for a man who doesn't understand that three scoring lines is an absolute must if you want to be a good hockey team.
The only positive this team had at the start of the season was scoring depth and Renney has single handedly put a torch to that strength. This team can't score goals at even strength and it is all Renney's fault.
I think everyone's being too harsh on Renney. In Sep 2010, he laid out his 1-3-5 year plan... http://www.torontosun.com/sports/columnists/terry_jones/2010/09/11/15319496.html . His plan is laid out below:
ReplyDelete2010-2011: "To fly under the radar with everybody saying we're not good enough and predicting us to be way down in the standings and to work from there" - Renney, Sep 2010
2012-2013: to contend
2014-2015: to win the cup
Granted, we're not contending this year, but a 1-3-5 plan doesn't specifically lay out expectations for years 2 or 4. You could make educated guesses, like the following, but these are only guesses:
2011-2012: presumably almost make it to the playoffs?
2013-2014: make it to the finals, but not win the cup, so the players can "lose in order to learn how to win"TM
But I digress. I think until we're not a playoff contender next year, we can't really complain about anything Renney does, right?
*smacks forehead
//You are banking on Hall and Hopkins playing only with Eberle as RW. That is a false assumption.//
ReplyDeleteNope. Why not....
Hartikainen, Nugent-Hopkins, Eberle
Hall, Gagner, Paajarvi
Smyth, Horcoff, Omark
Eager, Belanger, Jones.
//I think everyone's being too harsh on Renney.//
ReplyDeleteRenney only good years in the Eastern Conference were when he had Lundqvist and the conference sucked, and even then his team wasn't that good.
As soon the conference began to get competitive, Renney's Rangers began sinking like a stone.
godot10...
ReplyDeleteSorry, I forgot to add the "Bookiething," in my previous post.
All sarcasm & cynicism aside, Renney lost me with the treatment of Omark this year (and things have gotten worse in some areas since).
I totally expect better things from Renney... he's clearly off-the-rails from the 1-3-5 year plan, as we have no hope of being a contender next year. sigh.
Renney only good years in the Eastern Conference were when he had Lundqvist and the conference sucked, and even then his team wasn't that good.
ReplyDeleteAs soon the conference began to get competitive, Renney's Rangers began sinking like a stone.
Like the stock market, assets are values on what they do going forward, not on what they've done in the past.
I don't know that you can blame Renney this season. He did try to push Lander and lost Omark and Paajarvi but overall I'm not convinced he had the horses.
ReplyDeleteThis goes higher up imo.
LT - It's not that you can "blame him for the season", but his decision-making has been suspect save for about 5 games. That's unacceptable. If the game I got to watch from 10 feet from the bench is any indication, I don't agree with how he runs a bench either.
ReplyDeleteI am however, terrified that the old boys 'c' squad will put Buchberger in there...which would be an absolute disaster.
Renney's Rangers
ReplyDeleteThe year he arrived, way too late to make a difference they missed the playoffs.
6th in the east in his first full year, lost in eastern quarter finals
6th in the east in his second full year, lost in eastern semi-finals
4th in the east in his third full year, lost in eastern semi-finals
6th in the east the day he was fired
The year after under a new coach they didn't make the playoffs
I think Lowetide is right, Renney hasn't been perfect but he still doesn't have the assets he needs. That effects every decision he makes. Not to mention he seems still to have a mandate to let young players learn on the job.
ReplyDeleteI am however, terrified that the old boys 'c' squad will put Buchberger in there...which would be an absolute disaster.
This would be a far worse scenario than recycling MacT as head coach (which wouldn't be a good move, IMO), but still wouldn't be as bad as moving Lowe back into the GM's chair if they were to dust Tambellini.
If the game I got to watch from 10 feet from the bench is any indication, I don't agree with how he runs a bench either.
ReplyDeleteI think he holds his stick wrong.
As much as I hate to say it...if I were the GM of a team primed for a long playoff run, Hemsky is probably not someone I would want. Because if he were to play against my team in the playoffs, I would put a target on his shoulders and hit him hard & often to erase him from the lineup figuratively and perhaps literally. So question is, can he even last one round in the playoffs? I think my answer would strongly lean towards "no". If that's the case, why would I want to waste my bullets on a guy like that? Any trade must be tied to very stringent conditions based on games played and/or rounds achieved and must start with at a very low base.
ReplyDeleteI think the Oilers should try to sign him because I doubt there's as big a market for him as everyone else seems to think. I'm betting that any return on a trade will be abysmal.
Hemsky will fetch a 2nd round pick, no more. Too bad - once my fave player, but his jersey's gathering dust in my son's closet (he now prefers Stamkos or Eberle - kids, these days)
ReplyDeleteI'm watching the wings and hawks right now. The Oilers will never be this good. Even in the best case scenario in which all three young players become stars that team is still nowhere near as good. We are so far from where we need to be and there is no path that will get us there. Even another first overall pick won't help.
ReplyDeleteHemsky being the top offensive player and biggest "name" on the rental market alone makes him all but guaranteed to bring in at least a 1st. I hate to think about it actually happening, but I agree with LT and others that he's as good as gone.
ReplyDeleteI think reputation and being a veteran D with size will also see Sutton bring in at least a 3rd at the deadline. Especially when the "Big Bad Bruins" are the reigning champs that everyone every team will figure they'll have to beat to win. There's maybe even an outside chance they get a 2nd for him, but probably not.
I could see Khabibulin garnering some interest based on SC experience and the year he's been having. Unfortunately, I could also see Tambellini turning down an offer on him too. Y'know...MVP and all.
Lowetide said:
ReplyDeleteI don't know that you can blame Renney this season. He did try to push Lander and lost Omark and Paajarvi but overall I'm not convinced he had the horses.
This goes higher up imo.
This is a fair comment, especially the final sentence. As per my previous posts (sorry, I wasn't totally clear), I'm upset that the Oilers don't seem to be reaching the improvements necessary to achieve Renney's 1-3-5 plan.
I think the source of my frustration against the coach is that Renney told reporters that the Oilers would be competitive in the playoffs during the 2012-2013 season... a goal that right now seems impossible. As a result, even though Tambellini isn't supplying Renney with the players necessary for success, I'm holding most (too much?) of the blame against Renney instead of against Tambellini.
I suspect my feelings towards Renney would be less harsh if it had been Tambellini describing the 1-3-5 plan to reporters, and not the coach.
I'm also choked that Omark was sent down after 5 games, and MPS spent a lot of time in the pressbox. I realize this is largely circumstantial (e.g., team overachieving initially, Omark's injury in OKC, etc.), but I feel that playing MPS and Omark (instead of some of our other bottom six players) could have led to more success this season.
I do admit that RNH, Hall, and Eberle all appear to have been given excellent opportunities to succeed... this is a good thing Renney has been doing. Special teams have been a nice surprise, and so has the goal differential.
Finally, I was pleased with Renney's early line-matching. However, by my memory, he hasn't been quite as diligent or successful (rational?) with his line management during the last 20 games or so. Playing 4th lines at strange times, or playing an injured Horcoff with two AHL callups too much, are standing out in my mind (but maybe more than they should).
Am I unfairly re-writing history out of annoyance? Am I just picking an easy target for my frustration with this year? I honestly don't know which.
Renney can't line match in away games so he is slowly introducing the kids to tougher match ups. It's probably planned that way. A little tough love, (not too much).
ReplyDeleteWhat I find hilarious is the squawking about Belanger on the PP. I don't understand it but the results are amazing, so I have nothing to say.
On another note, the top two D and two top offense are hurt, the vets have played too much, the farm is two years old and the team is losing. Fire the coach.
Now there is a head scratcher.
I'm watching the wings and hawks right now. The Oilers will never be this good. Even in the best case scenario in which all three young players become stars that team is still nowhere near as good. We are so far from where we need to be and there is no path that will get us there. Even another first overall pick won't help.
ReplyDeleteHawks 6 Oilers 3
Oilers 9 Hawks 2
Oilers 4 Hawks 3
As far as trades go. I know that Minnesota is one of the teams interested in Hemsky, and Anaheim is looking at Gagner. Here are two deals that would help all teams concerned:
ReplyDeleteEdmonton trades Hemsky to Minnesota for Charlie Coyle (+ maybe a pick as well). The Oilers would get a prime 2nd line scoring prospect and the Wild would get more firepower up front.
Edmonton trades Gagner to Anaheim for Cam Fowler. Anaheim wants young talented forwards (that are not too expensive) and the Oilers get a defenseman with huge upside. Both players need a change of scenery.
I imagine this thread is dead now but it took me awhile to get to it but here goes in any case.
ReplyDeleteThere was a point where even I thought 83 was playing so lacklustre that he was quitting on the team and I wondered that aloud on twitter. But, now it appears that he's still playing hurt and yet the Oilers won't come out and defend him in the press.