Teemu Hartikainen To Play With Edmonton Oilers?

Today local scribe Rob Tychkowski tweeted that the Edmonton Oilers want to call Hartikainen up to the show before the seasons end to get a glimpse of him in the NHL. Hartikainen has 62GP 16G 22A 38P & 27PM while playing with the Oklahoma City Barons this season. He`s been turning heads down there and I`d like to see him for a game or two too up here. He`s a left wing who`s 6`1" and weighs 215lbs. The native from Finland was selected by the Oilers 163rd overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft. -WRITTEN BY SMOKIN` RAY-

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Oklahoma City Barons: Happy Clear Day

March 7th was the set deadline by the AHL for each team to submit it's 22 man playoff roster. From the AHL:

"Only those players listed on a team’s Clear Day roster are eligible to compete in the remainder of the AHL regular season and in the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs, unless emergency conditions arise as a result of recall, injury or suspension.

Teams may also add signed junior players or players on amateur tryout contracts after Clear Day, but only once their respective junior or college seasons are complete."

Ryan Aber of the Oklahoman reported earlier today that Alexandre Giroux, Linus Omark, and Alex Plante would be included on the Clear Day roster, with Phillipe Cornet, Matt Marquardt, and Anthony Aiello being left off.

The Barons forwards are Giroux, Brad Moran, Colin McDonald, Omark, Ryan O'Marra, Teemu Hartikainen, Andrew Lord, Zack Stortini, Milan Kytnar, Greg Stewart, Ben Ondrus, Chris VandeVelde and Mark Arcobello.

The defensemen are Plante, Richard Petiot, Jake Taylor, Colten Teubert, Kevin Montgomery, Bryan Helmer, and Jeff Petry.

And the goalies are Martin Gerber and Jeff Deslauriers.

As the Junior seasons roll on and come to an end, I'm sure we'll be seeing some of those prospects as the playoffs come closer. The Barons currently sit in a tie for 6th with San Antonio, 1 point out of the 5th place crossover spot. The Barons and Rampage both have played 62 games, and have games in hand to all the teams in front of them. The Barons take on the Manitoba Moose on Tuesday night.

-Written by Eric Rodgers-

Sam Gagner... Can He Surpass 50 Points?

At this point in the season I always seem to track Gagner`s progress. He`s yet to play an entire 82 games and it`s either because he`s been benched at some point or he`s been injured. I always hope for a player to play all 82 games so it`s fair to judge him to the rest of the NHL. Sure you can figure out a players points per game average and do the math, but in some cases, would that said player really keep that pace? Probably not. But for the sake of Gagner, it`s the only way to judge him. His 1st season he played 79GP 13G 36A 49P -21 for an average of .620 PPG. His 2nd season he had 76GP 16G 25A 41P -15 for an average of .539 PPG. His 3rd season he was 68GP 15G 26A 41P -8 for .602 PPG. So far this year he has 66GP 15G 27A 42P -15 for an average of .636 PPG. This season Gagner is on pace to have his best season yet. If he continues this pace he could get 52 points beating his high of 49 points. The big question now.... can he do it? -WRITTEN BY SMOKIN` RAY-

Colten Teubert Hero?

The OKC Barons had a game last night versus the Abbotsford Heat and the game wasn`t short of dramatics. The Barons were down by one goal late in the 3rd period and it was newcomer Colten Teubert who provided the dramatics. He scores the game tying goal with only 17.1 seconds left on the clock to send the game to overtime. Brad Moran eventually scored the winner to win the game for the Barons. Teubert just isn`t a big guy who can play. It turns out he can score sometimes too. WoOoOOoOo! Did the Oilers find a keeper? Check out www.okcbarons.com for more of the game highlights. -WRITTEN BY SMOKIN` RAY-

Alex Giroux Has Been Recalled By Oilers

With the season ending injury to Taylor Hall, the Oilers have recalled Alex Giroux from the OKC Barons. Good for Giroux. He`s had a decent season in OKC and if fully deserving of the call. Can`t wait to see him in an Oilers jersey. -WRITTEN BY SMOKIN` RAY-