Another Awesome Oilers Post...just for Drew

So as everyone knows, the Oilers have taken a swan dive out of playoff contention and don't look like they will be making a great big push towards making the post season. Even Pat Quinn seems to be dumbfounded at what is wrong with this team. He has had some pretty harsh comments as of late, which sound like a very frustrated coach;

"We have a group that stares at the puck and doesn't recognize danger, doesn't recognize open people,"

"Were not ready to win yet, I guess"

"A lot of times when the shot comes, we got 5 people in the picture not doing anything"

That's pretty deep. This team seems to be on the very precipice of being blown up. When I say blown up, I mean, players traded, let go, ecetera ecetera... With that said, I thought it would be interesting to group the players, based on performance, into who would stay, who would go, and who is on the fence.

Ales Hemsky: 7G 15A 22P +7 KEEP: Hemsky is not an expendable player for a team that lacks true raw talent. Adding a sniper for Hemsky to play with, would be hugely beneficial.

Andrew Cogliano: 3G 5A 8P +4 ON THE FENCE: Cogliano shows huge efforts some nights, and other nights he is invisible. Not only that, but he needs to bring more offence to be worthy of keeping around.

Colin Mcdonald: 1G 0A 1P 0 KEEP: Mcdonald has shown in just two games that he is a keeper. His goal on Luongo was an absolute snipe. He'll make a great 4th/3rd liner.

Dene Arsene: 0G 0A 0P 0 KEEP: Arsene showed some promise when he was called up, he seems to be a good stay at home type, and should provide good leadership to the farm.

Denis Grebeshkov: 3G 7A 10P -7 ON THE FENCE: "Grebs" has some great offensive upside, however, in his own end, he seems to lack the shutdown quality that would keep him here. He is a minute muncher as well, which also helps his stock.

Dustin Penner: 14G 14A 28P +11 KEEP: Penner has finally found his game, weather it was the coaching change, or just getting the right frame of mind, his +/- has been good the last two seasons as well, which helps.

Ethan Moreau(C): 4G 3A 7P +2 EXPENDABLE: Moreau hasn't been all that bad, and in a 4th/3rd line role he does pretty good, however, having the C on his chest doesn't help when he takes bad penalties with 5 minutes to go. See ya chopper...

Fernando Pisani: 0G 0A 0p -3 EXPENDABLE: Pisani has never made good on his contract, injuries have been aplenty and I do feel bad for the guy in that fact. However, when he has been in the lineup, he hasn't been effective, oh and did I mention he makes to much money?

Gilbert Brule: 7G 8A 15P 0 KEEP: Gilbert has been a bright spot for the Oilers, as he has proven to be a quality player. He has made major strides and shown himself to be very effective, resigning him is in the Oilers best interests.

Jason Strudwick: 0G 3A 3P -2 EXPENDABLE: Strudwick is brutal with the puck, he leads the Oilers in giveaways. He isn't a top 6 defensman.

Jean Francois-Jacques: 2G 3A 5P -7 ON THE FENCE: To me, Jacques needs to better his +/- before Id consider keeping him around, however, leading the team in hits is definitely a good thing, and he has found his game as a power forward, he just needs to work a little harder on it.

Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers: 3W 2.58GAA .914SV% KEEP: Deslauriers is going to get his chance here really soon to be Edmonton's starting goalie, and considering his performances so far, it seems he will be ready for it, there will be growing pains, but it has to begin somewhere.

Ladislav Smid: 0G 6A 6P +8 KEEP: Smid's +/- helps his stock a lot, he has proven to be a quality shut down type. He just needs to find a little more offence to really complete the package.

Liam Reddox: 0G 2A 2P -2 EXPENDABLE: Reddox sucks. He is not NHL quality player. He is barely AHL quality. Absolute garbage.

Lubomir Visnovsky: 5G 13A 18P +6 EXPENDABLE: "Vish" is only expendable because of Souray, and because he is very soft. So many nights Visnovsky gets worked off the puck in his own end.

Mike Comrie: 5G 3A 8P -3 EXPENDABLE: Was Mike here to stay anyways? He has been hurt/sick for most of the season thus far, yet when in the lineup, he was sometimes invisible.

Nikolai Khabiboulin: 7W 3.03GAA .909SV% EXPENDABLE: Khabiboulin's age is showing, and with the way Deslauriers has played in his absence, the Oilers might as well move into the Deslauriers age in net.

Patrick O`Sullivan: 4G 9A 13P -9 EXPENDABLE: O`Sullivan is way to soft, and his +/- isn't very good either. For a guy that was supposed to bring offence, he has been a disappointment.

Robert Nilsson: 1G 3A 4P -12 EXPENDABLE: For a guy who has only played 12 games. Having a -12, is downright brutal. Not only that but he is completely ineffective offensively.

Ryan Potulny: 5G 2A 7P +1 KEEP: Potulny has 5 goals in just 10 games since being called up. He is probably the Oilers best call-up, and most surprising source of offence. Sending him down will be tough.

Ryan Stone: 0G 3A 3P -2 ON THE FENCE: I don't think anyone has seen enough of Ryan Stone to pass judgment, however, he just doesn't figure into the lineup anymore.

Sam Gagner: 5G 10A 15P -4 KEEP: Gagner's efforts have been way better this season. He gives 100% just about every night, and that will go a long way for both his offence and overall game.

Shawn Horcoff: 5G 6A 11P -8 EXPENDABLE: Horcoff`s offense has gone, and his utility play has also left. He hasn't been the leader in the faceoff circle the Oilers need, and hasn't been the first line center he is being paid to be. His contract makes him expendable.

Sheldon Souray: 2G 4A 6P -6 KEEP: Souray is a leader. He deserves to have the C on his jersey, and if Moreau leaves, it will be his. He brings it every night, and how could you give up a shot like that?

Steve Staios: 0G 6A 6P 0 EXPENDABLE: Staios has been expendable for the last 3 seasons. He is paid to much, and doesn't play well enough. He is liable in his own end all the time.

Taylor Chorney: 0G 1A 1P -6 KEEP: Chorney has shown that he can play at the NHL level, he has the offensive tools, he just needs to solidify his defensive game.

Theo Peckham: 0G 0A 0P -5 ON THE FENCE: Peckham can be replaced, he seems to be great on the farm and that would be the only reason to keep him around. With Plante and Petry in the wings, Peckham is becoming expendable.

Tom Gilbert: 1G 4A 5P -3 EXPENDABLE: Gilbert has been a let down for the Oilers offensively, and for a minute muncher and a big contract, his +/- has been unacceptable. He plays soft and it has started to show.

Zach Stortini: 2G 2A 4P 0 KEEP: Stortini is a great 4th line fighter type. He adds a few goals annually, and isn't a defensive liability. For the size of his contract, he is very easy to keep around.


Anyways, leave some comments, I`d like to hear who you would keep, and get rid of.

-Sporer

Team Canada... 40 days to go

So with 40 days to go til the naming of Canada's most anticipated entry in the Olympics, the men's ice hockey team. The NHL season has been pretty interesting for a lot of the players vying for their inclusion on the roster. Steve Yzerman has had his work cut out for him as he has to build from the most talented country in hockey. So I thought that I'd give my 40 day previous shot, at naming the Canadian roster. Last January I think I made an attempt and this team may be much different. For each player I will give a break down of their stats so far this season, and why I have included them. So bear with me, this may be a lengthy post...

1st line Center: #87 Sidney Crosby

10G 12A 22P

"Sid the Kid" will center team Canada, because he is Canada's star. He is the best player our country has to offer. End of story.





1st line Right Wing: (A) #12 Jarome Iginla

15G 7A 22P

Jarome will be one of Canada's leaders, both in age, and skill. He brings to the team some of the NHL's best goal scoring and leadership. Without a doubt "Iggy" will be on Canada's first line.




1st line Left Wing: #61 Rick Nash

14G 11A 25P

Rick has represented Canada at a couple of national events now, and has excelled each team he donned the red and white. Now Nash will take on the burden of being on Canada's top line.




2nd line Center: #19 Joe Thornton

7G 25A 32P

Big Joe leads all Canadian players in points right now, however, it is his post season/ "crunch time" play that will have him heavily scrutinized, however all this shouldn't keep him from being a prolific play maker for team Canada.




2nd line Right Wing: #15 Dany Heatley

18G 10A 28P

Dany has endured some interesting hype over the summer, but that shouldn't keep him off the team Canada roster, he has already proven no slowing as he and Joe Thornton have proved to be one of the NHL's top pairings.




2nd line Left Wing: #91 Steven Stamkos

14G 8G 22P

Steven Stamkos will make his Olympic debut a little earlier then most thought. This young man has certainly excited and amused most Canadians so far this season. Lets hope he can keep the magic going on the world stage.




3rd line Center: #18 Mike Richards

9G 10A 19P

Richards will be Canada's second coming of bobby clarke. This young man will be the grit and driving force even from the third line. He brings it every night, weather it be killing penalties, scoring goals, or making big hits.




3rd line Right Wing: #4 Vincent Lecavalier

4G 15A 19P

Considering his lack of play in the spotlight in Tampa Bay, maybe a third line spot will be well suited for Vinny. He should prove to be a very use full tool and clutch performer for team Canada.




3rd line Left Wing: #17 Jeff Carter

7G 12A 19P

Carter is a big boy, and clutch performer. Last year Carter exploded for 46 goals, and showed the league just how good a player he is, now he must show the world. Which shouldn't be to much of a problem, this kid got game.




4th line Center: #51 Ryan Getzlaf

3G 22A 25P

After a little bit of a slow start to the season, the "Great Getzy" will headline Canada's "energy" line, and with him there, energy is what they will get. He fights, hits, scores, makes plays, and dangles like a true Canadian.




4th line Right Wing: #10 Corey Perry

13G 14A 27P

Perry has shown time and time again to be a very effective and powerful forward. He has some crazy sick dangles, and in around the net, he is downright deadly. Oh and did I mention he is 6'3" 208lbs.




4th line Left Wing: #37 Dustin Penner

13G 12A 25P

Okay, so I know I'm gonna get eaten alive for this one, but how can you leave this guy off the team?! He has been downright awesome, just about every night for Edmonton, plus, his size would be a huge weapon against the other smaller national teams.



Taxi Squad: #94 Ryan Smyth #92 Brad Richards

Richards and Smyth are both use full players for Canada, if need be. Captain Canada is of course, well, lets leave it to the name, and Richards is a powerplay master. Both kill penalties, and both are integral parts to each others teams.





Defensive Pairing #1: (C) #27 Scott Niedermayer- (A) #44 Chris Pronger

Niedermayer: 2G 14P -4 Pronger: 4G 18P +13

Niedermayer gets the "C" as Canada's most prolific "winner" and as its biggest leader. Pronger will be Canada's stalwart, again. Both of these two players will bring leadership and all-star defense to their national team.



Defensive Pairing #2: #52 Mike Green- #2 Duncan Keith

Green: 3G 23P +4 Keith: 5G 18P +8

Green is Canada's most prolific scorer, he scores like a forward, and should be Canada's #1 powerplay quarterback. Keith will be the steadiness to this pairing, as he is continuously one the NHL's best +/- players.



Defensive Pairing #3: #22 Dan Boyle- #4 Jay Bouwmeester

Boyle: 4G 21P +8 Bouwmeester: 2G 12P +6

Again team Canada will have a prolific scoring defender in Dan Boyle, balanced by one of the NHL's best shutdown defensemen, Jay Bouwmeester. These two round out possibly one of the best defense's team Canada has ever assembled.



Taxi Squad: #8 Shea Weber

#1 Goaltender: #30 Martin Brodeur

12W .920Sv% 2.22GAA

Who ever doubted this man would be Canada's go-to goalie? He is right there next to Patrick Roy as the best goalie this country has ever seen. Even if his NHL numbers sucked, there is no doubt that once that Canadian jersey was on his shoulders, he would become that hero.



#2 Goaltender: #1 Roberto Luongo

8W .907Sv% 2.64GAA

Probably the last time Roberto plays second fiddle for team Canada. His goaltending prowess has helped Vancouver to be competitive every season thus far, and if Brodeur gets hurt, Luongo would help the team to play on without skipping a beat.



#3 Goaltender: #29 Marc-Andre Fleury

12W .902Sv% 2.63GAA

His Stanley Cup win helps bump him into this class of player, as before, he had never win anything, including a losing performance in his world junior championships. However, those days are over and Fleury will be on board with Team Canada.



So leave your comments as its always fun trying to name this team and I'm sure Ive pissed a few people off, maybe surprised and delighted a few of you, or maybe just dumbfounded some. Anyways, Go Canada Go. Those stupid Pepsi cheers suck...

-Sporer

Qucik Hit ideas

So I was bored last night and came up with an idea for the NHL to shake things up, and maybe even help team sales, help a few teams out by evening out the amount of travel for each NHL team. My idea: reformatting the divisions/conferences. This way, we get away from some of the same old matches we have seen now for over a decade, keeping a few of the major rivalries, and creating a new level of competition and possibly evening things out a little (no more southeast division). So here is my new conferences and divisions:

Campbell Conference:

Div 1
Edmonton
Vancouver
Calgary
Chicago
Columbus

Div 2
Dallas
Tampa Bay
Florida
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia

Div 3
Colorado
Washington
St Louis
Buffalo
New Jersey


Wales Conference:

Div 1
Montreal
Toronto
Ottawa
Minnesota
Carolina

Div 2
Boston
Phoenix
San Jose
New York R
New York I

Div 3
LA
Anaheim
Detroit
Nashville
Atlanta

So with this, my new NHL, there is a little more travel between division, then in the old NHL (new jersey, pitts, new york, new york, philly all in one div). This should even things out for all the teams like Vancouver and Florida. Also, this may help in ticket sales, as now teams are playing different teams more often, and yet, some of the good rivalries, are still intact. Competition within conferences should be interesting as superpowers have switched sides, and now team building may become a huge factor.

Anyways, just thought I`d throw out an idea.

-Sporer

A leak in the tank?

Happy "Movember" everyone. As this is the month to grow the ever so awesome "stache". The Oilers are doing it, boys at my store are doin it, everyone is doin it. Here are a couple good pic's of the Oilers awesome "staches".


So, enough of all the fun and happy stuff, lets get down to business. So the Oilers ended their 5 game road trip with just 4 out of a possible 10 points...that's not all that fantastic. They were however 2 goals away from ending with 7 out of 10 points. However, that's clearly the past.... Looking to the future (the Oilers next 10 games), here is what the schedule looks like:

Nov 18: Colorado
Nov 21: Chicago
Nov 23: Phoenix
Nov 25: LA
Nov 27: San Jose
Nov 28: @Vancouver
Dec 3: @ Detroit
Dec 5: @ Dallas
Dec 7: @ Florida
Dec 9: @ Tampa Bay

So a 5 game homestand and then a 7 game road-trip (2 games un shown). So seeing as how their home record sits at 6-3-1, and their road record at 2-7-2, lets say they go 3-1-1 at home, then 1-3-1 on the road. That's 10 points out of a possible 20... based on their current record. Not good. So here is hoping that they can put their record behind them, and put some wins on the board... Winning 4 out of 5 at home would be a good start. Now, lets consider this seasons meeting with these teams. Colorado: Shut out the Oilers in game #1, 3-0, Oilers win 5-3 in Denver in game #2. That leaves this game right up in the air, however Colorado's recent performances point to an Oilers home win. Chicago: The hawks beat the Oilers in Edmonton in the only meeting of the year 4-3, and Chicago is playing pretty good right now.... Phoenix: The Oilers haven't played the "Yotes" yet this season, but considering they usually own the desert dogs, put down a win for the OIL. The next two teams the Oilers haven't played yet either (San Jose, LA) and Ryan Smyth coming back to town playing so well lately isn't good, and Dany Heatley's arrival for the first time since the summers bull-shit, will spell another exciting night....

Now to the road, Vancouver: the last time the Oil entered GM place, they got shutout 2-0. So going back will hopefully be a better outcome. Dallas: Oilers beat the Stars, end of story. Florida/Tampa Bay: doing the Florida trip is hard on teams, but the Oilers are one that usually do well, so here is hoping that they can keep that up.

So all in all, there is a lot hanging on these next 10 games. The Oilers sit in 12th, only 3 points out of a playoff spot, even though they have been brutal lately. So putting together a string on wins now, would be huge. They could easily put this horrible road-trip, and last 10 games behind them and never look back. There are shining lights in the Oilers lineup: Hemsky has 19 points, Penner has 23, Visnovsky has 13... Then the "not -so shining" lights: Horcoff 7 points and -6, Souray 5GP 2 points. Souray has been hurt, which in turn, hurts the Oilers.

A little more on Horcoff: his faceoff % sits at 50%. That number doesn't even give him the argument that he brings that intangible to the team. His stats suck, and he has been in and out of the lineup lately. He is the Oilers leading forward for time on ice per game. Yet, just 7 points. He is normally on the #1 powerplay, yet, just one powerplay goal. This guy has to pick things up, and soon. He is being paid out $7 million this season, his contract works out to be a $5.5 million cap hit, for the next 6 seasons! He will be 36 by the end of that contract! Yikes! Lowe left his mark on the team with that one.... Now trading Horcoff would be one of the best routes for the Oilers to take. Especially this year. With Gagner, Cogliano, Brule, Stone, Grebeshkov, and Deslauiers all becoming RFA's at seasons end, the Oilers will need some money to play with. Pisani's, Strudwicks, and Comrie's contracts will all come off the board as well. Trading Horcoff would free up that $5.5 million to tie down the Oilers young talent.

Here are a few more interesting stats on the Oilers right now:

Oilers are 18th in NHL in GF/G with 2.76, ahead of teams such as: BUF, NJD, TOR, MON, BOS
however, they are 23rd in GA/G with 3

The Oilers have the 11th best Powerplay in the league at 22.1%
Their PK is 24th, at 77.6% (something to improve on)

The Oilers are the 3rd worst team in the league for SF/G, with 26.7, ahead of Colorado and Calgary!
However their SA/G, is only the 5th worst at 33.2, with NYI, ANA, FLA, and ATL below them.

And the most hurtful fact: The Oilers are 29th in the league on Faceoffs with a team 46.1%, only better then the Avalanche.... not good....Horcoff.....

Now here is why the first goal is so ever important: When the Oilers score first, they are 7-2-2, when they don't score first they are 1-8-1. WOW! Pretty much know how the game is gonna go by the first goal....

Anyways, that's all for this Monday night, enjoy the rest of the week, and Go Oilers Go

-Sporer

p.s. Hemsky is on pace for 21 goals and 83 points, Penner for 46 goals and 89 points....

The Name Game

So at work we have an ongoing competition to see who can name the most outrageous, or just the most in general NHL players, may it be anyone from the great Wayne Gretzky to no name players such as Frans Nielson (sorry bud). So I thought that for my next blog post I would give the A-Z all time best names list. Going with last names, Illl give you some of the best names to ever show up in an NHL program or grace the sheets of NHL ice. Trust me, you will want to look up some of these players stats after this, because ya never know...

A) Alexander Andrijevski HM)Thommy Abrahamsson
B) Jason Bacashihua HM) Dustin Byfuglien
C) Mariusz Czerkawski HM) Dino Ciccarelli
D) Hnat Domenichelli HM) Wade Dubielewicz
E) Phil Esposito HM) Nils Ekman
F) Lou Francheschetti HM) Pat Falloon
G) Bernie Geoffrion HM) Brent Gretzky
H) Kari Haakana HM) Nicklas Hjalmarsson
I) Al Iafrate HM) Ralph Intronouvo
J) Pat Jablonski HM) Jaromir Jagr
K) Alexei Kaigorodov HM) Darius Kasparaitis
L) Jamie Langenbrunner HM) Guillaume Latendresse
M) Glen Metropolit HM) Kent Manderville
N) Evgeny Namestnikov HM) Antero Niitymaki
O) Roman Oksiuta HM) Selmar Odelein
P) Alexei Ponikarovsky HM) Konstantin Pushkarev
Q) Bill Quackenbush HM) Stephane Quintal
R) Branko Radivojevic HM) Reijo Ruotsalainen
S) Jaroslav Svejkovsky HM) Fred Sasakamoose
T) Rick Tabaracci HM) Oleg Tverdovsky
U) Igor Ulanov HM) R.J. Umberger
V) John Vanbiesbrouck HM) Vladimir Vorobiev
W) Matthias Weinhandl HM) Andy Wozniewski
X) NO NHL PLAYERS
Y) Jeremy Yablonski HM) Dimitri Yuskevich
Z) Zarley Zalapski HM) Valeri Zelepukin

Well folks, if that doesnt brighten up your day, i dont know what will.

So I need to address the Edmonton Oilers recent performance. As a few of my fellow employee's and friends, and family, and well, just about everyone, is letting me know, the Oilers have absolutley, positively SUCKED out loud. Dating back to October 24th in Calgary, is where the Oilers began their current slump. They had come off such an emotional defeat of the Columbus Blue Jackets two nights before, and then they go into Cow Town and get blown out 5-2. Lucky for them they have to go to GM place the very next night and Luongo puts up the wall and the 'Nucks win 2-0. Mark that, its shutout #1. Then the ever so lucky Oilers came home to play the Western Conference leading Colorado Avalanche, and get owned by Craig Andersson for shutout #2. Then the Oilers beat up on the Red Wings for the 1st period of their next game, leading 4-0 after a minute into the 2nd period. However, the Oilers then let the Red Wings be the Red Wings and come all the way back, luckily for the Oilers they got away lucky with a shootout win. Then the Oilers hit the Eastern seaboard with another shutout loss in Boston (#3), and a poorly played 3-1 loss to the oh so great Islanders. So if you have been paying attention, the Oilers have been shut out in 3 of their last 5 games. They have managed to only score 6 goals in those 5 games (5 of them against Detroit).

So yes the boys have had some trouble scoring. However, the Oilers are victim to a few unfortunate circumstances since the end of October. For one, the whole team has suffered the flu bug. Mike Comrie, Ladislav Smid, Lubomir Visnovsky, Gilbert Brule, Denis Grebeshkov, and who knows who else has suffered from the flu and continued to play thru. Smid is the only one who actually was diagnosed with H1N1. Sheldon Souray and Steve Staios have been out with cuncussions. Ryan Stone has a busted knee. Shawn Horcoff is now out with a shoulder injury, and Fernando Pisani just now has returned to the lineup. So the hockey gods havent been to nice to the Edmonton Oilers as of late, and it shows. Here is hoping that a slightly healthier lineup can bring home a win against the Rangers tomorrow night.