Showing posts with label Chris VandeVelde. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris VandeVelde. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

For 2011/12, Remove Jacques and Fraser, Insert VandeVelde and Hartikainen

Just watching VandeVelde and Hartikainen these last few games, they have been really making Fraser and Jacques look like stumps. Holy hell those two stink!

Fraser has been pitiful this season and he never really did improve at all. I waited for it, but it never happened. In 67 games played he only has 5 freaking points?!?

Jacques... well... he's just not very good. At all. And to think that Stortini was shafted by being placed on waivers for this slug. Good grief!

Enter VandeVelde and Hartikainen. Both guys have made strong cases for themselves to be here next season. They play with hustle, heart and grit. They back down for nothing. They are beyond hungry for an NHL job and they are proving themselves to us with each passing game.

VandeVelde has been playing tough and he's been great in the faceoff dot. The last 5 games he went, 52.9%, 68.2%, 85.7%, 44.4% and 50%. That's damn good compared to the other Oilers players who played most of the year. Sure O'Marra has some wicked games on the dot too, but VV has been pretty consistent so far. Either way, O'Marra or VV is a huge upgrade over a disappointing Colin Fraser. I'm OK with either.

Teemu Hartikainen had a little hype when he was called up and so far he's impressed. He uses his big frame to pound guys and he even scored a nice goal the other night. As each game is played he's far more comfortable with the puck. I hope he plays out the year with the Oilers. Sorry OKC. I want to see more of Hartikainen.

Maybe it's just me, but that's how I feel.

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY-

Friday, March 4, 2011

The Future Of The Edmonton Oilers

I`m working today and I`m a little bored. I started thinking this morning about the Oilers and what lies ahead. The more I thought, the more I got fired up. Forget last year and even this year. The future is where it`s at. I know... that has been promised for the last 10 years. But the future is close. Last night watching the Taylor Hall revelation, I couldn`t help but think he`s finally arrived. It`s been a long time since I was sold on a young player so quickly. But how can you not embrace what he represents? The kid wants to be a winner and you know what? I believe him. Combine Hall with the other young players and you get a gnarly young core group to lead this team to Lord Stanley`s cup. Want to know the future? Here it is. Hall, Eberle, Paajarvi, Lander, Dubnyk, Peckham, Teubert, Petry, Vande Velde, Hartikainen, Omark (plus other players not named) and the two 1st round draft picks from 2011. Now if that doesn`t set this team up for years to come, then really.... nothing will.

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY-

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Vande Velde Signs ATO With Falcons (AHL)


--Falcons re-assign Jordan Bendfeld To Stockton--

April 5, 2010 – The Springfield Falcons, proud members of the American Hockey League, announced today they have signed forward Chris Vande Velde to an Amateur Tryout Agreement. The Falcons also announced that defenseman Jordan Bendfeld has been re-assigned to their ECHL affiliate, the Stockton Thunder.

Vande Velde recently concluded his senior season at the University of North Dakota where he set a career high in scoring with 16 goals and 25 assists for 41 points in 42 games played. The 6-foot-2, 204-pound native of Moorhead, Minnesota collected 52 goals and 65 assists for 117 points in 166 games at North Dakota.

Bendfeld played in 10 games with Springfield posting one assist and seven penalty minutes.


*Reprinted by Oilers Jambalaya with permission by the Springfield Falcons AHL Hockey Club. The Springfield Falcons are a proud affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers (NHL)*

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Chris VandeVelde and Jeff Petry Update by Dean Millard

Dean Millard was right about the Jeff Petry signing and I'm sure he's right about Chris VandeVelde going to Springfield. Dean Millard is very knowledgeable about College hockey and it's players.  Here is what Millard had to say about VandeVelde, Jeff Petry and the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club.

Is VandeVelde Off to Springfield?
Posted by Dean Millard

The upsets continue at the NCAA hockey tournament as UND fell to Yale 3-2. Meanwhile, RIT continues it's improbable run with a 6-2 pasting of Northeastern to earn a spot in the final four. Miami will meet Michigan tomorrow after both teams avoided upsets, while Boston College did the same.

The Fighting Sioux loss means that Chris VandeVelde's college career has come to and end, and should be on his way to Springfield to play out the string with the Falcons.

Meanwhile according to the Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson, Jeff Petry isn't eligible to play in the NHL this season because his NHL contract doesn't start until next year.

The Oilers also signed a couple of college players this week, inking Matt Becca from Clarkson and Eddie Del Grosso out of Omaha Nebraska.


It appears that the Springfield Falcons are going to have a full team now to finish off the season. Stay tuned for more details.

-Smokin' Ray-

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