Final Cuts Have Been Made By The Oilers

Gilbert Brule, Ryan Keller, Josh Green and Ryan O'Marra have all been put on waivers for the purpose of assignment to Oklahoma City. Teemu Hartikainen has also been sent to the Barons. Hartikainen doesn't need to be on waivers.

That spells the end for Brule with the Oilers. He played like crap during the preseason and it's deserving. I'm thinking they hope he gets picked up on waivers cause he's paid way to much to be hanging out in OKC.

With the cuts that did happen, that means that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Anton Lander and Lennart Petrell have all made the opening night roster. Quite the interesting look for the Oil. This should be an interesting year.

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY-

"Final Curtain Call"

What a night! Unfortunately none of us Oiler fans were able to watch this pre-season game on TV as it was only streamed via the Oilers website. However, good ol' Jack Michaels and Bob Stauffer had the call on the dial. (radio that means)

I was driving on the highway last night, so listening to the radio broadcast was good enough for me. My heart goes out to Taylor Fedun and his family. Sometimes, life is just not fair. Here is hoping that in some way, some form, his recovery is a quick one and not a career ending one. The card up Taylor Fedun's sleeve? He has a degree from Princeton. This is one great reason to have a already established education on top of a hockey background. Anyway, good luck to Taylor as he recovers.

Tonight is the "Final Curtain Call" for pre-season. Last night was to be a curtain call of sorts for some blue liners but two of the three auditioning went down with injury. The blueline looks set for opening night with the exception of any new face that Tambo may be able to wrangle up last minute. It was also a opportunity for that extra centre position that may have a opening coming up. I am looking forward to seeing a real telecast once again on the 'Big Screen' but more then that, I am mighty curious to seeing what line combinations we end the pre-season with. I am intrigued by a few things that may be happening in regards to assignments to OKC and how things are handled with some of the young guys like Nugent-Hopkins and Lander

REV'S HOCKEY THOUGHTS OF THE DAY

1.LINE COMBINATIONS: How many different line combinations is Renney going to continue trying? Hall has had almost no consistency with anyone. Hemsky has played two games with different players, Nugent-Hopkins has played with at least 3 different line combinations and the list goes on. Players will always tell you they would rather use the last couple games of the pre-season to start building chemistry with linemates before going into the season. Makes sense, or doesn't it? I know we finish the year with back to back games and they are meaningless and the management and coach's want to do some final evaluations before sending players to their respective teams but c'mon! I know Eager has been hurt, but why not then have Belanger playing with Jones if he is going to be playing your 4th line? If he will be your 3rd line Centre then have him with Omark and Paajarvi. It's just a personal frustration cause it usually means we need 10 games into the season mixing line combo's. I know it can't be fixed as easy as I make it sound but there can be a little more stability for some combinations.

2.BELANGER: Call be cynical and I know it's pre-season but last night was a opportunity for Belanger to show his faceoff abilities against higher end talent, yet he could not even manage 50% in the dot. Also Belanger on a couple occasions has had some talent to play with, yet I have yet to see where that offensive upside is. I know it's pre-season, but this is already how many games and some are slotting him in as at least a 3rd line Centre? The only reason, from what I have seen to this point to have him as your 3rd line centre is for faceoffs. We all know how that turned out last night.

3.RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS: Can we expect another good game tonight? This will be a much better test against what will most likely be the Canucks opening night line-up. I would say this is his toughest competition to date against the bigger more physical guys. I still don't think Gagner's injury has affected the status of Ryan. He was getting nine games regardless (unless he stunk out the place in pre-season) was what I already had heard from Oilers brass even back at development camp in July. It really is based on his play and if he is physically ready. So far, so good!

4.LANDER: To this point, everything I am hearing from the coach's and management has leaned towards Lander starting the year in OKC. That would not be bad. But Lander won't let it be that easy for them will he? The guy was crazy good last night. Sure he took some stupid penalties last night but he won faceoffs and scored goals. Not just goals but IMPORTANT goals. With the way the other centre's are playing, right now, I personally would put him into the third line slot. At least for a few games to start the year, see where he is at. Management, coach's say Belanger may need some time to learn chemistry with the team so why not let him start 4th line and earn his way up the line's? People make the argument that Lander has only played well pre-season against lesser all around team's. What about Belanger then? Should he not be performing at a higher level then Lander at this stage of the game? Truth is, Lander has risen to the occasion and really does deserve the chance. Or will he end up like Omark did last year? Being sent to OKC, cause of 'politics'? (Words of Omark's, not mine)

5.BRULE: While Brule didn't do anything wrong last night, he did not help his cause either. He seems to be a fish out of water. I don't see him being anything more then a spot player anymore as our 13th forward. I really believe he needs a opportunity with a organization that needs his kind of game and is lacking in their bottom six.

6.HARTIKANEN: Didn't hurt his case last night, but also didn't help it. Personally I find that Hartikanen plays much to the level of linemates he is given. I would think he is sent down to OKC right after the game in Vancouver, but he definitely will be called up barring any injury to the wingers.

7.OPENING NIGHT GOALTENDING: Ok, this is my take on who starts. Devan got the game in Minny while Khabi gets the start in Vancouver. Could it be because Devan has the most time off before the opening night game that he gets the nod? I know it's only one day difference, but it is possible. Devan did not hurt his cause last night. Sure one goal was questionable, but the other two he had no chance and on the penalty kill none less. Expect to see Dubynk get the start to the season (At this point, he is the goalie of the future and Khabi is the mentor)

8.EXPECTING ANOTHER DEFENCEMAN: I can not see a circumstance where Tambo is not bringing in another blueliner now. I would think, it's not going to be a trade yet. I would expect they will look at a free agent who is yet to sign. Should in a month time, Whitney not be back in the line-up , you could expect a trade for a defenceman.

9.HORDICHUK: This guy is showing why it will be hard to keep him out of the lineup. I am OK with that. He makes it hard for the other team to get much time and space with the puck. To this point, he has been picture perfect and exactly what the Oilers wanted and signed for.

10.STILL EXPECTING SOMETIME WITHIN A WEEK TO SEE A FORWARD MOVED OUT:

No, I don't have any inside information on this. Barring injuries, (with Gagner being hurt, this has slowed the idea of moving a player out down) there are too many forwards and not enough good defenceman. Something has to give, and I would think it's the forward position that will be giving.

For continued information on Oiler and Barons news and 2012/13 NHL draft watch, you can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/revingev

Edmonton Oilers Defence Roster Set?

After tonight's massive loss on the blueline, it appears the Oilers defense crew has been determined. Not out of choice, but out of necessity. Smid, Chorney and Fedun all were hurt in tonight's game.

That leaves the team with Barker, Gilbert, Petry, Sutton, Peckham and Potter as the only healthy players for opening night. Not a great way to start the 2011 season.

I'd assume a call up will be made in morning. I'd expect it to be Colten Teubert.

Other options include claiming a defenseman off of waivers. There is a few out there right now, and there will be more to come as camp cuts happen.

Stay tuned...

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY-

Calder Trophy Candidate?

 Could Ryan Nugent-Hopkins be as good as advertised? Is it possible, he is the missing ingredient to what stirs the greater success of Taylor Hall and Jordon Eberle? Can Nugent-Hopkins continue to elevate his game as the competition heats up with bigger and more veteran men? These are questions we can only guess at, but what we do know, is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has only answered the skeptics questions with success his whole life.

 Right from his early beginnings, until last night, Ryan has done nothing to show even the greatest of skeptics that he is not a elite player. If Ryan plays beyond his 9 game stint he is sure to get, will he have enough elite level skill to become Edmonton's '1st Calder trophy winner'? I know it's early, I know, Hall was unable to do it, Tavares was unable to do it, no Oiler has ever done it. The competition for the Calder will be fierce this year. Should Nugent-Hopkins be sent back to Jr hockey for one more year, IMO , he would be a lock providing no injuries were to occur. However sending him back, may actually slow down his growth. I hear how some believe, being sent back to Jr can not hurt a players development, but there are many factors not taken into consideration when doing so. There are some (and only a few) that only increase and grow according to the level of talent they play with. I believe Ryan is one of those players. His game elevates as his competition elevates. That is not to say he should stay with the Oilers, I say let his game dictate if he is ready or not.

 People have said Nugent-Hopkins was able to score and play the way we see in the highlights in this video, only because he was playing against Jr's. That may be so, but he played that way as a rookie his first year at every level. Now entering this season, he played this way against other prospects at the rookie tourney in B.C. Now he continues to play the same way throughout his pre-season. Yes, we are getting closer to regular NHL competition, but my point is , he is only playing better as time goes on.

The praise this guy gets from veteran NHL players is amazing. He has already had praises from even Ryan Smyth saying how is vision is so much like 'Gretzky' on the ice. Taylor Hall has even come out now and said how he can play with the big boys. Eberle being more cautious with his words has pretty much said the same. he's a elite level talent, and his ability to think the game at a elite level, is even more important then his elite level skill. He can forecheck well, backcheck well, is incredible in puck pursuit and can come out of the corners with the puck against much larger and more veteran players. His ability to retrieve the puck back upon loosing possession is incredible. Ryan is not afraid of going into the tough places if needed. He is a total package, and the only question that remains, is he 'Calder Trophy' candidate material? Could there be a better candidate to bring home a trophy that has eluded the Oilers franchise their entire existence?

It's early, real early, but how can you not get excited about the future, when you see a game like you did last night out of a barely turned 18 year old player. Oh yeah! He just happens to be a EDMONTON OILER!

For continued information on Oiler and Barons news and 2012 NHL draft watch, you can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/revingev

Tonight's Oiler Lines vs Coyotes

Tonight's lines vs Coyotes:

Smyth-Horcoff-Hemsky
Hall-NugentHopkins-Eberle
Tyrvainen-Belanger-Jones
Green-Lander-Keller

Chorney-Petry
Sutton-Gilbert
Potter-Fedun

Khabibulin
Danis

The old school line of Smyth/Horcoff/Hemsky is back together. I suppose this is the best way to ease Hemsky back into the lineup after being out forever with the shoulder injury. Excited to see them out together again.

I also look forward to seeing the #1 line of the future. Hall/RNH/Eberle should be a dynamic line for the Oilers.

GOILERS!!!

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY-