So with the season wrapping up for the Oilers, and still 5 points away from the organizations worst season total of 60 points in 92-93. That draft year the Oilers drafted 7th overall. They took Jason Arnott. Not bad for their worst season. This year, the Oilers will pick 1st overall (barring the draft lottery which they have a 50% chance of winning). There are two possible candidates as it stands. Windsor Spitfires power winger Taylor Hall, and the Plymouth Whalers star center Tyler Seguin. Here is a breakdown of each player.
Taylor Hall:
Number: 4
Position: LW
Shoots: L
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 185lb
Born: November 14, 1991 Kingston, ON
40 Goals 66 Assists 106 Points
Tyler Seguin:
Number: 9
Position: C
Shoots: R
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 186lb
Born: January 31, 1992 Brampton, ON
48 Goals 58 Assists 106 Points
Either way, the Oilers will be getting an All Star player. To me, for the Oilers, Seguin is the more optimal pick. He is a center, which the Oilers need an All Star center pretty bad. He also isn't small, being 6'1" and 186lbs before even bulking up for the NHL. He is slightly younger then Hall, but that's fine. Another reason I'd give Seguin the one-up, would be because he plays on a team without much else for talent. While Hall is surrounded by talent (Cam Fowler, Ryan Ellis, Greg Nemisz, and Adam Henrique). So with all that said, you never know, they may even go off the board and take the now #3 rated pick in Cam Fowler, if they really want a defensman. With that said, let us consider the Oilers lineup, season end (take away UFA's, keep RFA's).
Dustin Penner Shawn Horcoff Ales Hemsky
Robert Nilsson Sam Gagner Gilbert Brule
Ethan Moreau Andrew Cogliano Ryan Potulny
Zach Stortini Marc Pouliot Patrick O'Sullivan
Ryan Whitney Tom Gilbert
Sheldon Souray Ladislav Smid
Taylor Chorney Theo Peckham
Nikolai Khabiboulin
Jeff Deslauriers
Those that are RFA's over the summer are highlighted in red. UFA's over the summer are:
D- Aaron Johnson
D- Dean Arsene
D- Jason Strudick
RW- Fernando Pisani
C- Mike Comrie
C- Ryan Stone
So minus the RFA's and UFA's, the Oilers total cap hit (as per nhlnumbers.com) is: $41.82 million.
At the draft, the Oilers will add a top 6 forward. They will also, most likely, get the injection of Jordan Eberle, and Magnus Paarjavi-Svensson. Thats 3 top 6 forwards that they will have to make room in the lineup for. Here is a possible lineup combo:
Svensson Horcoff Hemsky
Penner Gagner Eberle
Cogliano Seguin Brule
Moreau O'Sullivan Nilsson
Stortini Pouliot Potulny
Whitney Gilbert
Souray Smid
Chorney Peckham
Khabiboulin
Deslauriers
Either that, or they will have Seguin play on the farm, or with his OHL club again. As for Eberle and Svensson, there may be a good chance of them playing on the farm as well. Moreau's spot on the team is in contention, and there is a good chance he may not be here next September, same for Nilsson, Pouliot, and Horcoff. Horcoff is kinda untradeable though, so pretty much count him one the team for next year, barring a miracle. Penner, Souray, and Hemsky are being talked about as good trading chips on draft day, as the Oilers would love to grab at least another top 5 pick. There certainly aren't any guarantee's as to who will be in the opening lineup next year, but count Gagner, Brule, Whitney, Gilbert, Deslauriers, Eberle, Horcoff, Smid, and possibly Svensson as probables.
On defence, the Oilers swapped Vishnovsky for Whitney, not a bad deal at all, especially moneywise. Whitney is bigger and plays a tougher game. Souray could be on the block, especially on draft day. Smid and Chorney should be in the lineup opening night. As for Peckham, a trade, or free agent signing could very easily have him playing on the farm again. The Oilers resigning Aaron Johnson is the most probable move on defense, as he has showed up pretty good for them down the stretch.
In goal, the Oilers will have a goalie battle on their hands. With the veteran Khabiboulin coming back from injury, youngster Deslauriers has shown pretty good, but will have to fight to get games. Khabiboulin should get the nod, at least for 60% of the games, but who knows, maybe we will see a split, though those never really work out. Dubnyk, barring any moves, will be Oklahomas starter.
The team will be a young, exciting one, hopefully ridden with rookies. They could show up and be really good, or have major growing pains, either way, Oiler fans should be in for some exciting, fast, upbeat hockey, but be prepared for lots of rookie mistakes!
-Sporer
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
State of the Union....(how bad the Oilers are)
The Oilers knack for the worst luck in the league continues with Khabiboulin's recent DUI arrest. What an absolute horror story that contract has turned into. Horcoff is playing the worst hockey of his career, meanwhile earning a paycheck of $7 million. Sheldon Souray decides that since he is on the trading block, he might as well put himself on the IR as well, so much for wanting to help the team. Then to just place the cherry on top of the giant pile of shit the Oilers have amassed, Gagner goes down with a knee injury just as he is playing his best hockey all season. With the Oilers luck the way it is, MPS and Eberle will be on their way to training camp in August, and being on the same plane, it crashes and they die. *Fingers Crossed*. Anyways, gonna give you my "Stars Align" Oilers future lookout, and the "Hole gets Deeper" future lookout....
The Stars Align
With three days from the end of the Olympic trade freeze, til the trade deadline, Steve Tambellini will be a very busy boy. Dealing away both Ethan Moreau and Fernando Pisani, receiving a 3rd rounder and a prospect. Then he deals Sheldon Souray for a roster player and a prospect/pick (to WAS for: Alzner and David Steckel). Then in the most shocking deadline deal of all, Tambo sends Deslauriers, Cogliano, and Grebeshkov to Montreal for Carey Price and Ryan O'Byrne.
Post Trade Deadline Lineup:
Penner Gagner Nilsson
Potulny Comrie O'Sullivan
Steckel Horcoff Reddox
Stortini Pouliot Jacques
Visnovsky Gilbert
Smid Staios
O'Byrne Strudwick
Price
Dubnyk
Season ends, Oilers finish dead last. Win the draft lottery and have first overall pick. On draft day the Oilers send Lubomir Visnovsky to Carolina for the 3rd overall pick. The Oilers select Taylor Hall first overall. Then Boston selects Tyler Seguin, then the Oilers select Cam Fowler with their 3rd overall pick. Post Draft Lineup:
MPS Gagner Hemsky
Hall Horcoff Eberle
Penner O'Sullivan Nilsson
Steckel Potulny Stortini
Fowler Gilbert
Smid Staios
O'Byrne Strudwick
Price
Khabiboulin
With all the trades the Oilers have made, they bring their total cap hit to $31.2 million. They use the leftover money to resign Sam Gagner to a 6 year $20 million deal (cap hit of just over $3 million). Then they sign Carey Price for a 4 year $14 million deal ($3.5 million per year). They sign Jason Strudwick to one more year at $.700 mill. They sign Ryan Potulny to a 2 year 3 million deal (1.5/year). Now they sit at $40.23 million before free agent season.
Free agent season begins with the Oilers dipping into the KHL and signing Jaromir Jagr for a 2 year $8 million dollar deal ($4 mill/year). They also sign Nashville defensman Dan Hamhuis to a 3 year $11.5 million deal (3.8 mill/year).
Post Free Agent Season Lineup:
Jagr MPS Hemsky
Hall Gagner Eberle
Penner Horcoff O`Sullivan
Steckel Potulny Stortini
Fowler Gilbert
Hamhuis Smid
Alzner Staios
Strudwick O`Byrne
Price
Khabiboulin
Dubnyk
Cap Hit:~$50 million
The Oilers then sign MPS, Eberle, Fowler, Hall, all to entry level deals. Same Lineup as above. 2010-2011 season begins.
"Hole Gets Deeper"
After the Olympic trade freeze, the Oilers are unable to find any takers for some of their veterans, trading away only Ethan Moreau for a 5th rounder. They finish dead last at seasons end, however lose the draft lottery to Boston. Boston then selects Taylor Hall 1st overall, and the Oilers take Tyler Seguin.
Post Draft Lineup:
MPS Gagner Hemsky
Penner Seguin Eberle
O'Sullivan Horcoff Pisani
Potulny Cogliano Brule
Stortini Pouliot Nilsson
Visnovsky Souray
Gilbert Grebeshkov
Smid Staios
Strudwick
Khabiboulin
Desaluariers
Before the free agent season begins the Oilers manage to sign Gagner to a 6 year $24 million deal. They also sign Cogliano to a 4 year $10 million deal. They sign Potulny to a 2 year $4 million deal, and Deslauriers to a 3 year $3 million deal. Gilbert Brule gets a 3 year $6 million deal. Cap hit now sits at: $55.725 million. Pisani retires.
The Oilers then sign Pouliot, Jacques, Stone, and Dubnyk to 2 way deals and send them all to Oklahoma City. They Release Grebeshkov, Strudwick and Comrie.
Post Free Agent Season lineup and Cap Hit:
MPS Gagner Hemsky
Penner Seguin Eberle
O`Sullivan Horcoff Brule
Nilsson Cogliano Potulny
Stortini
Visnovsky Souray
Gilbert Chorney
Staios Smid
Peckham
Khabiboulin
Deslauriers
Cap Hit: ~$55 million
The Oilers then sign MPS, Eberle to entry level deals, and assign Tyler Seguin to Oklahoma City.
-Sporer
The Stars Align
With three days from the end of the Olympic trade freeze, til the trade deadline, Steve Tambellini will be a very busy boy. Dealing away both Ethan Moreau and Fernando Pisani, receiving a 3rd rounder and a prospect. Then he deals Sheldon Souray for a roster player and a prospect/pick (to WAS for: Alzner and David Steckel). Then in the most shocking deadline deal of all, Tambo sends Deslauriers, Cogliano, and Grebeshkov to Montreal for Carey Price and Ryan O'Byrne.
Post Trade Deadline Lineup:
Penner Gagner Nilsson
Potulny Comrie O'Sullivan
Steckel Horcoff Reddox
Stortini Pouliot Jacques
Visnovsky Gilbert
Smid Staios
O'Byrne Strudwick
Price
Dubnyk
Season ends, Oilers finish dead last. Win the draft lottery and have first overall pick. On draft day the Oilers send Lubomir Visnovsky to Carolina for the 3rd overall pick. The Oilers select Taylor Hall first overall. Then Boston selects Tyler Seguin, then the Oilers select Cam Fowler with their 3rd overall pick. Post Draft Lineup:
MPS Gagner Hemsky
Hall Horcoff Eberle
Penner O'Sullivan Nilsson
Steckel Potulny Stortini
Fowler Gilbert
Smid Staios
O'Byrne Strudwick
Price
Khabiboulin
With all the trades the Oilers have made, they bring their total cap hit to $31.2 million. They use the leftover money to resign Sam Gagner to a 6 year $20 million deal (cap hit of just over $3 million). Then they sign Carey Price for a 4 year $14 million deal ($3.5 million per year). They sign Jason Strudwick to one more year at $.700 mill. They sign Ryan Potulny to a 2 year 3 million deal (1.5/year). Now they sit at $40.23 million before free agent season.
Free agent season begins with the Oilers dipping into the KHL and signing Jaromir Jagr for a 2 year $8 million dollar deal ($4 mill/year). They also sign Nashville defensman Dan Hamhuis to a 3 year $11.5 million deal (3.8 mill/year).
Post Free Agent Season Lineup:
Jagr MPS Hemsky
Hall Gagner Eberle
Penner Horcoff O`Sullivan
Steckel Potulny Stortini
Fowler Gilbert
Hamhuis Smid
Alzner Staios
Strudwick O`Byrne
Price
Khabiboulin
Dubnyk
Cap Hit:~$50 million
The Oilers then sign MPS, Eberle, Fowler, Hall, all to entry level deals. Same Lineup as above. 2010-2011 season begins.
"Hole Gets Deeper"
After the Olympic trade freeze, the Oilers are unable to find any takers for some of their veterans, trading away only Ethan Moreau for a 5th rounder. They finish dead last at seasons end, however lose the draft lottery to Boston. Boston then selects Taylor Hall 1st overall, and the Oilers take Tyler Seguin.
Post Draft Lineup:
MPS Gagner Hemsky
Penner Seguin Eberle
O'Sullivan Horcoff Pisani
Potulny Cogliano Brule
Stortini Pouliot Nilsson
Visnovsky Souray
Gilbert Grebeshkov
Smid Staios
Strudwick
Khabiboulin
Desaluariers
Before the free agent season begins the Oilers manage to sign Gagner to a 6 year $24 million deal. They also sign Cogliano to a 4 year $10 million deal. They sign Potulny to a 2 year $4 million deal, and Deslauriers to a 3 year $3 million deal. Gilbert Brule gets a 3 year $6 million deal. Cap hit now sits at: $55.725 million. Pisani retires.
The Oilers then sign Pouliot, Jacques, Stone, and Dubnyk to 2 way deals and send them all to Oklahoma City. They Release Grebeshkov, Strudwick and Comrie.
Post Free Agent Season lineup and Cap Hit:
MPS Gagner Hemsky
Penner Seguin Eberle
O`Sullivan Horcoff Brule
Nilsson Cogliano Potulny
Stortini
Visnovsky Souray
Gilbert Chorney
Staios Smid
Peckham
Khabiboulin
Deslauriers
Cap Hit: ~$55 million
The Oilers then sign MPS, Eberle to entry level deals, and assign Tyler Seguin to Oklahoma City.
-Sporer
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Reporting from the Western Conference basement.
"Hello this is Sporer, reporting live from the NHL's western conference basement. Yes folks, that's 15th place. Right here in snowy, cold, bitter, once-a-time, city of champions."
So for the two people who voted in the poll that they thought the Oilers would be in last place at this time, congrats on being awesome. The Oilers sit in the oh so not coveted 15th seat.
Pretty bad when Ales Hemsky hasn't played in 14 games, yet still sits 3rd in team scoring. Dont anyone tell me we don't miss him.
A 7-2 bashing at the hand of the Blues?! Didn't they just play last night?! Oh I forgot, the Oilers go easy on teams when its their second game in 2 nights...(i.e. Nashville).
Shawn Horcoff is a -16, Patrick O'Sullivan is a team leading -17, Denis Grebeshkov is a -11, Bobby Nilsson is a -10, and J-F Jacques is a -13. That's $14.1 million, paid out for a combined -67. That's just not NHL calibre whatsoever. If I were GM Tambellini, Id get rid of each and every one of the players named above.
Ethan Moreau's guide on how to be an NHL captain:
Take 7 minutes in penalties, going after a kid both half your size and age, then fighting his grampa, taking only 1 measly shot on net, and all of this in 15:49 of ice time!
I'm pretty sure that Zach Stortini, against Tampa Bay, scored a goal, assist, got in 2 fights, had a minor penalty for roughing, took 1 shot (which he scored on, now that's making em count), and was a +1. All in 6:22 of ice time..................and Ethan Moreau dons the "C".
Best shooting % on the team? Mike "mono" Comrie. Worst? Try and guess....
I'm 36 years of age, I have a measly 6 apples, which I guess weighs out my -6. I wear an "A" because I'm a "leader". All of this I provide for only $2.7 million a season....as much as Zach Bogosian, Joe Corvo, Matt Greene, Anton Volchenkov, Adrian Aucoin, Luke Schenn, and Mathieu Schneider.
My name is Steve Staios...
Rumor has it, New Jersey is interested in Sheldon Souray.
The Oilers asking price:
-Some of your drive and determination
-Also taking on Shawn Horcoff's contract
-Also taking our "wily" old vets: Steve Staios, Ethan Moreau, Jason Strudwick, and Nick Khabiboulin
-A new shoulder for Ales Hemsky
-Tips on how they made the Prudential Center so awesome.
Now, what would all the Oilers like for Christmas?
Ales Hemsky: a new shoulder, then someone that doesn't spoil his passes.
Andrew Cogliano: goal scoring/hands
Denis Grebeshkov: heart+a stick with extra sticky grip on the blade...
Dustin Penner: some thanks, and a team Canada sweater with his name on it
Ethan Moreau: A punching bag for frustrations, and early retirement
Fernando Pisani: a cure for Ulcerative Colitis (coulda been a great hockey player)
Gilbert Brule: all the respect he lost, given back (this young man, is a player)
Jason Strudwick: a couple concussions (so he quits playing....forever)
Jeff Deslauriers: bigger shoulder pads, and the Oilers goaltender of the year award
Jean-Francois Jacques: HANDS, and maybe just skill in general
Ladislav Smid: a bigger BBQ, another goal, and a good pat on the back
Lubomir Visnovsky: a couple inches of height and a little weight
Mike Comrie: for Hilary Duff to magically make his mono go away
Nikolai Khabiboulin: a 20 years olds back, and less money...
Patrick O`Sullivan: some REAL testicles, and maybe some guts too
Robert Nilsson: some thanks, then a new seat cushion, for those cold night up in the rafters....
Ryan Potulny: better linemates, and a new start with the big club
Ryan Stone: HANDS, and goal scoring
Sam Gagner: the player he is supposed to be to take over his body, and some DRIVE
Shawn Horcoff: a $3 million pay cut
Sheldon Souray: his real self back, and for blocking shots to become illegal
Steve Staios: skating speed, and just hockey sense
Tom Gilbert: some of those guts Patty`O got, and maybe a harder shot
Zach Stortini: the unsung hero award, and more icetime
Pat Quinn: a team with more heart
Tom Renney: more paper, and a new drawing board
Kelly Buchberger: plastic surgery on his lips and nose, hair plugs, and a deeper voice
Steve Tambellini: the heart to tell Kevin Lowe he did a shitty ass job, and pull the trigger on all his experiments...minus Penner of course.
Merrry Christmas from all of us here at SmithSporerHockey (its kinda just me these days)
-Sporer
So for the two people who voted in the poll that they thought the Oilers would be in last place at this time, congrats on being awesome. The Oilers sit in the oh so not coveted 15th seat.
Pretty bad when Ales Hemsky hasn't played in 14 games, yet still sits 3rd in team scoring. Dont anyone tell me we don't miss him.
A 7-2 bashing at the hand of the Blues?! Didn't they just play last night?! Oh I forgot, the Oilers go easy on teams when its their second game in 2 nights...(i.e. Nashville).
Shawn Horcoff is a -16, Patrick O'Sullivan is a team leading -17, Denis Grebeshkov is a -11, Bobby Nilsson is a -10, and J-F Jacques is a -13. That's $14.1 million, paid out for a combined -67. That's just not NHL calibre whatsoever. If I were GM Tambellini, Id get rid of each and every one of the players named above.
Ethan Moreau's guide on how to be an NHL captain:
Take 7 minutes in penalties, going after a kid both half your size and age, then fighting his grampa, taking only 1 measly shot on net, and all of this in 15:49 of ice time!
I'm pretty sure that Zach Stortini, against Tampa Bay, scored a goal, assist, got in 2 fights, had a minor penalty for roughing, took 1 shot (which he scored on, now that's making em count), and was a +1. All in 6:22 of ice time..................and Ethan Moreau dons the "C".
Best shooting % on the team? Mike "mono" Comrie. Worst? Try and guess....
I'm 36 years of age, I have a measly 6 apples, which I guess weighs out my -6. I wear an "A" because I'm a "leader". All of this I provide for only $2.7 million a season....as much as Zach Bogosian, Joe Corvo, Matt Greene, Anton Volchenkov, Adrian Aucoin, Luke Schenn, and Mathieu Schneider.
My name is Steve Staios...
Rumor has it, New Jersey is interested in Sheldon Souray.
The Oilers asking price:
-Some of your drive and determination
-Also taking on Shawn Horcoff's contract
-Also taking our "wily" old vets: Steve Staios, Ethan Moreau, Jason Strudwick, and Nick Khabiboulin
-A new shoulder for Ales Hemsky
-Tips on how they made the Prudential Center so awesome.
Now, what would all the Oilers like for Christmas?
Ales Hemsky: a new shoulder, then someone that doesn't spoil his passes.
Andrew Cogliano: goal scoring/hands
Denis Grebeshkov: heart+a stick with extra sticky grip on the blade...
Dustin Penner: some thanks, and a team Canada sweater with his name on it
Ethan Moreau: A punching bag for frustrations, and early retirement
Fernando Pisani: a cure for Ulcerative Colitis (coulda been a great hockey player)
Gilbert Brule: all the respect he lost, given back (this young man, is a player)
Jason Strudwick: a couple concussions (so he quits playing....forever)
Jeff Deslauriers: bigger shoulder pads, and the Oilers goaltender of the year award
Jean-Francois Jacques: HANDS, and maybe just skill in general
Ladislav Smid: a bigger BBQ, another goal, and a good pat on the back
Lubomir Visnovsky: a couple inches of height and a little weight
Mike Comrie: for Hilary Duff to magically make his mono go away
Nikolai Khabiboulin: a 20 years olds back, and less money...
Patrick O`Sullivan: some REAL testicles, and maybe some guts too
Robert Nilsson: some thanks, then a new seat cushion, for those cold night up in the rafters....
Ryan Potulny: better linemates, and a new start with the big club
Ryan Stone: HANDS, and goal scoring
Sam Gagner: the player he is supposed to be to take over his body, and some DRIVE
Shawn Horcoff: a $3 million pay cut
Sheldon Souray: his real self back, and for blocking shots to become illegal
Steve Staios: skating speed, and just hockey sense
Tom Gilbert: some of those guts Patty`O got, and maybe a harder shot
Zach Stortini: the unsung hero award, and more icetime
Pat Quinn: a team with more heart
Tom Renney: more paper, and a new drawing board
Kelly Buchberger: plastic surgery on his lips and nose, hair plugs, and a deeper voice
Steve Tambellini: the heart to tell Kevin Lowe he did a shitty ass job, and pull the trigger on all his experiments...minus Penner of course.
Merrry Christmas from all of us here at SmithSporerHockey (its kinda just me these days)
-Sporer
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