Roster, Roster, Roster! The New Look Edmonton Oilers

Here is the Oilers roster before the big change. Steve Tambellini had a very busy summer and did quite a lot of work around here.
LAST YEAR OILERS ROSTER

He did some real wonderful stuff like getting rid of the three terrible Oilers from last year, Ethan Moreau, Patrick O'Sullivan and Robert Nilsson.

He managed to re-sign all the Restricted Free Agents that were needed to be signed, except Cogliano. From the reports that I have heard, Cogliano's camp has a contract and they, so far, have not signed. It's completely in their court now. Just sign the damn thing and have a great year to prove them, and us, wrong.

The Oilers still seem hell bent on running the team this year with a bunch of rookies and it's looking more and more like I am wrong. I said that Hall and either Pääjärvi or Eberle would be on the team. It does appear like all three have a legitimate chance of making the team. Training camp should be fun, especially if you throw in Linus Omark. That's four potential rookies on the roster. Can't wait to see what happens.

Tamby signed Martin Gerber for more than just insurance reasons. That is one hell of a deal and a two way contract to boot. Gerber will be called upon more than once this year so this one will end up being a great signing.

I suppose the biggest shocker was the Potulny/Pouliot walking. I was a little shocked that they weren't brought back. I really liked Potulny and I thought he played well enough last year to get another shot this year. I guess it wasn't meant to be.

I never really liked Pouliot, but still didn't think the Oilers would give up on him like they did. He did deserve a real solid chance that MacT never gave him.

Ryan Stone also left and went south (to Calgary). He also played well IMO, and once again, it will be strange to see an ex-Oiler in a fLames (I'm looking at you Glencross) uniform.

Mike Comrie was left to leave as well. The New Mrs. Duff has just signed with the Penguins so good luck to him.

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So let's now take a look at the roster that the Oilers might start the year with.


FORWARDS

Dustin Penner          Sam Gagner        Ales Hemsky
Taylor Hall             Shawn Horcoff      Jordan Eberle
Magnus Pääjärvi  Andrew Cogliano    Gilbert Brule
Ryan Jones               Colin Fraser        Zack Stortini

SPARES: Steve MacIntyre, Linus Omark, Liam Reddox, Alex Giroux

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DEFENCE

Ryan Whitney      Tom Gilbert
(Souray Trade)   Ladislav Smid
Jim Vandermeer  Kurtis Foster

SPARES: Jason Strudwick, Theo Peckham, Shawn Belle, Taylor Chorney, Jeff Petry, Johan Motin

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GOALIES

Nikolai Khabibulin
Devan Dubnyk

OKC Barons:
Martin Gerber
Jeff Deslauriers

SPARES: Bryan Pitton (Stockton Thunder), Olivier Roy (Juniors)

-Written by Smokin' Ray-

Show Me The Money / OKC Barons Edition

Today we look at the amount of projected dollars the Edmonton Oilers/OKC Barons will spend this year on Barons players. Let me tell you this, if I am correct, this is going to be a very expensive team.

Read no further if you are squeamish to large numbers.

PRODIGAL HOCKEY OWNER: Bob Funk Jr.

AFFILIATE TEAM: Edmonton Oilers

GENERAL MANAGER: Bill Scott
ASSISTANT GM: ????

HEAD COACH: Todd Nelson

ASSISTANT COACH: Gerry Fleming

TRAINER: Brandon Dionne

EQUIPMENT MANAGER: ????

MASCOT NAME: Derrick

WEBSITE: http://www.okcbarons.com/
TWITTER: www.twitter.com/okcbaronshockey
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/okcbarons

PROJECTED OKC BARONS ROSTER*

*Players subject to change. All dollar figures below are 2010-11 AHL dollars only.

Go to CapGeek.com for the full list NHL contracts.

FORWARDS:


C - Ryan O'Marra ($70,000)
C - Chris Vande Velde ($62,500)
C - Brad Moran ($225,000)
C - Teemu Hartikainen ($65,000)
C - Milan Kytnar ($55,000)

LW - Linus Omark ($65,000)
LW - Alexandre Giroux ($500,000)
LW - Gregory Stewart ($105,000)
LW- Phillipe Cornet ($60,000)
LW - Matt Marquardt ($62,500)

RW - Magnus Paajarvi/Jordan Eberle** (MPS $67,500 / JE $65,000)
RW - Colin MacDonald (??? will update)
RW - Ben Ondrus ($130,000)
RW - Toni Rajala ($55,000)

**(Projecting that one of the two will be in OKC)

DEFENCEMEN:

Shawn Belle ($150,000)
Richard Petoit ($105,000)
Jake Taylor (??? will update)
Alex Plante ($65,000)
Jeff Petry ($62,500)
Johan Motin ($55,000)
Jordan Bendfeld ($60,000)
Taylor Chorney ($62,500)
Theo Peckham ($65,000)

GOALIES:

Martin Gerber ($200,000)
Jeff Deslauriers ($1,050,000 if he clears waivers)
Devan Dubnyk ($800,000 if he clears waivers)
Bryan Pitton ($55,000)

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So there we have it. Now let's add up some numbers.

Forwards Total not including MPS, Eberle & MacDonald: $1,455,000

Defence Total not including Jake Taylor & Theo Peckham: $560,000

Goalie Total not including Deslauriers & Dubnyk: $255,000

OKC BARONS GRAND TOTAL: $2,270,000 AHL dollars

Now add Deslauriers or Dubnyk to that number. WOW! That's some big bucks.

This team better be a Calder Cup contender, if not the champs.

-Written and Updated by Smokin' Ray-

The Edmonton Oilers Roster, Before The Big Change

I had an idea after talking with some of my tweeps on Twitter. Maybe we should take a premature look at what the Oilers roster may look like next season.

This is a look at the Oilers they way they stand starting July 1st, plus/minus a few additions.

Fernando Pisani, Mike Comrie, Jason Strudwick and Aaron Johnson are Unrestricted Free Agents and we will assume that none of the get signed by the Oilers except Aaron Johnson. He played well and I could see the Oilers signing him for this next season as they need the help on defence.

Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, Marc Pouliot, Gilbert Brule, Ryan Potulny, JF Jacques, Devan Dubnyk and Jeff Deslauriers are all Restricted Free Agents and we will assume they all do get contracts from the Oilers. At this time, I have no idea on what will happen with JDD and DD. Both won't be on the Oilers and will one of them clear waivers and play in OKC? Will one of the be traded?

Also for the exercise, I'm going to include Taylor Hall (we all know he will be #1) and Magnus Pääjärvi-Svensson. Judging by the way MPS had his season end, I think it propels him enough to concentrate this summer on working hard and he makes the team at the start of the year. Mind you, if he doesn't sign a contract, he won't be in North America next season as I'm sure he'll elect to stay in Sweden. But for this exercise, he signs a contract and makes the team (which I think will happen).

Even though I just said the opposite a few days ago, Jordan Eberle will have his and all his admirers hearts broken (mine included) when Tambellini sends him down to play with the Barons to start the year. Unless Eberle works his butt off all summer and comes to camp stronger, I don't see him making the team over MPS. On the plus side, the OKC Barons will need some hype to get people in the seats and Jordan Eberle can do that. He may just be the leader down there for the time being. The Oilers want winners at all levels and including Eberle to the Barons roster helps. I guess I just needed a day or two before I said that Eberle will be on the Oilers team. Oops! In my opinion, MPS just looked so great at the Worlds, it made me rethink that whole scenario that I talked about a few days ago.

We will also assume that Robert Nilsson, Ethan Moreau and Patrick O'Sullivan are not on the Oilers next season. They will either go to the OKC Barons or they are bought out.

**Unless changes are made -- and Tambellini said there will be -- this will be close to the opening day roster IMO.**

FORWARDS

Magnus Pääjärvi    Shawn Horcoff      Ales Hemsky
Taylor Hall               Sam Gagner        Dustin Penner
Gilbert Brule           Ryan Potulny     Andrew Cogliano
Ryan Stone              Marc Pouliot        Zack Stortini

SPARES: Ryan Jones, JF Jacques, Jordan Eberle, Liam Reddox

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DEFENCE

Ryan Whitney      Tom Gilbert
(Souray Trade)   Ladislav Smid
Taylor Chorney  Aaron Johnson

SPARES: (edit:) Jason Strudwick, Theo Peckham, Dean Arsene, Jeff Petry, Johan Motin

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GOALIES

Nikolai Khabibulin
Devan Dubnyk or Jeff Deslauriers

SPARES: Bryan Pitton, Olivier Roy

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Now that I actually spent the time writing it all out, the Oilers look terrible.

Losing Souray is going to hurt. The defence crew doesn't look very promising at all. If you really try to win games with a Chorney/Johnson pair then you are in trouble. I'm curious to see who the Oilers get back in the Souray trade. But regardless, the Oilers should pick up a 3-4 pairing guy on top of who they get in the Souray trade. They will need experience to teach the kids and his name is NOT Jason Strudwick.

Goaltending has some issues to work out as well. That's a mess I won't get into.

Judging by the Oilers forwards, they still need a good defensive type center who can win draws. Unless the Oilers find a guy for the top two lines, it appears that the 3rd line center won't be Shawn Horcoff (even though I think that's where he belongs).

By looking at this list, it very clear the Oilers have a lot of work to do this summer. I'm sure glad that my name is Smokin' Ray Burnt and NOT Steve Tambellini. At least my summer is going to be fun.

-Written by Smokin' Ray at Oilers Jambalaya-