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