Game Day "Red Wings"

For those those of you who have been following my game day blogs for the Oilers, I am back from a 1 game absence. Thought Hockey Karma would have the Oilers win, if I stayed away, but to no avail, the Oilers still lost. Next up as of today, I will no longer be doing a game day prediction. Here is hoping that it brings changes and the Oilers start winning. No use in having a routine tradition if your not winning anyway. What I will be doing in each game day thread is staying true to my roots and giving some focus on a prospect who is a 1st year player on the club. Now onto our game day discussion......

Well, the atmosphere and excitement in Edmonton on this season certainly has changed in the past few weeks. As the Oilers prepare to do battle on the ice tonight against the powerful Red Wings, several fans are now starting to focus in on smaller victories. Some just want to at least see Hall/Eberle/RNH get a point each game and finish the year with a point a game. Would be good for their confidence and for the confidence of the team as they build around those three cornerstones.

Some fans just want to see Smyth score 30 or more this year and would be content. Others are just looking to see Ryan Whitney regain that scoring prowess he had last year before going down with his injury. And then their are others like myself who are watching the prospects of the 2012 Draft coming up in June this summer.

All in all, doesn't matter what any of these individual fans want, the Oilers will not be able to continue this path of rebuild. Granted, this is only year two of a rebuild, but a rebuild also means you are getting better each year without abandoning ship and re-routing half way in. This years team is only 2 points greater then last years team at the exact same point. Sure they have a better goals for and against then last year, but that is in large part to some stellar goaltending and shot blocking in the first 13 games. The other difference this year has been this team is usually in a place to still be in reach of at least a tie in every game and the Oilers have done well at getting on the scoreboard first. What is alarming is their inability to stop this rash of horrid turnovers each game.

The Red Wings are a team who will capitalize even more on the Oilers weakness of turnovers, so if they hope to be even close in this game, it will require some smart play moving the puck out of their own end. The PP has looked noticeably different with Potter back out there and the PK has been doing much better as well.

A couple concerns I am having is the play of Peckham and the playing of our fourth line. On defence, Peckham should not be making those blueline pinches he so often makes to keep the puck in play. Why? Because he is a defensive defencemen and can't usually make that play work. Too often he loses his feet out from under him and then is taken out of position. Also if Peckham wants to hit, he needs to remember not to take himself out of position to do that. This many games into his NHL career is looking bad on Theo. I like the toughness he brings and the passion but too many bad penalties, and at least one bad error every game, resulting in a goal has big worry signs up for me.

Prospect Focus:

Petrell is a weird character. I know you Finnish fans love this guy and I do too. He is a excited one and a damm good penalty killer, but 5 on 5 he is hurting big time. One of the strengths we heard was his aggressive forecheck. His forecheck is good, but seldom does he seem able to keep control of the puck and is usually just dumping the puck back in. Good attitude, apparent great character, awesome penalty killer but you have to wonder when the light will go on and his puck control will begin to show itself. I'm rooting for ya Petrell! Hurry up and bring your whole game around soon though, cause there is some good talent coming up from the minors soon enough that can take your spot.

Gametime 7:30pm CHED630am/Sportsnet-West

For Oiler and Baron news and 2012/13 NHL draft watch www.twitter.com/revingev

Game Day "Coyotes"

After a few days off, If I may say so myself, us Oiler fans are craving some Oiler action. Of course not the same kind of action as displayed against Calgary on Saturday (Or should I say lack of action, on the part of the Oilers?)

Hall is back tonight and rumour has it Potter may be as well. Hall will help pick up the tempo that has been surely lacking and Corey Potter 'Powerplay', will be a welcome sign and some good puck movement from the backend will be a welcome addition. Not too much can be expected from these two, as they may not be quite as game ready, as they have been off anywhere from 2-3 weeks.

Shane Doan (the above picture) was a draft pick that never became reality for the Edmonton Oilers. Instead they bypassed him to pick up another player that never did pan out (not even worth mentioning the name). Maybe the team would have taken a different direction had he been a Edmonton Oiler, maybe not. Bottom line is, we now have some great top end talent that is bursting at the seams here in Edmonton.

Players that will be a part of the future include...Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordon Eberle. Those are stone cold locks, any others will be expendable even if they do have high upside. Until the Oilers and these young guns can learn how to consistently produce on the road, they will not be contenders though. My guess is, come next year at this time, we will see a greater consistency that has not been seen in quite some time. This team can score. This team can produce stellar goaltending on occasion. This team can shut a team down defensively. Now the question remains, 'how long till we see a consistent package of these area's?'

Looking forward to tonight's game with anticipation (If only I was able to watch a game without PVR'ing) Anyway, at least recording the game means I can break the game plays down much better.

Go Oilers!

My predictions for today's game

Gametime 7:30pm CHED630am/Sportsnet-Edn

REV'S Edmonton Oiler

Gameday Predictions Dec 15th/11

1. 1st game back and Hall collects a point or more himself tonight.

2. Inspired by the return of Hall and possibly Potter the Oilers are motivated to win this road game. Expect a Oilers win tonight.

3. The Oilers after a aweful PP against Calgary score tonight on the PP once again.

4. Eberle with a goal tonight to light the lamp.

5. RNH gets back on track and comes up with a road point or two.

(EV'S PREDICTIONS TO DATE: 66 for 124=53.2%

Man, that game against Calgary really was a kick in the backside of us Oiler fans. Hurts the predictions too when your team fires blanks. Here's hoping to a more fired up Oilers team.

As the great Ed Whalen used to say "In the meantime and in between time, that's it, for another edition of...REV'S PREDICTION" (bolded words are not Whalen's words)

For Oiler and Baron news and 2012/13 NHL draft watch www.twitter.com/revingev

Tyler Bunz Cut??? What???

Just before I go to sleep after an exhausting night shift on a drilling rig, I scan twitter and I find out that Oilers prospect Tyler Bunz has been cut from Team Canada?!?

What the hell?

I thought he'd be a lock for sure. I guess I was wrong. It's too bad. I feel Tyler could have been a big part of a gold medal in a city that not only drafted him, buy support him as well.

Try not to be too sad Tyler. Your still a good goalie no matter what. Someone fu*ked up with the decision making that's for sure.

Remember this... The Nuge never played for Canada and look at him now.

-Written by Smokin' Ray Burnt-

What's The Problem?

I don't get what the big deal is. Why not send Magnus Paajarvi down right now?

He's clearly struggling and the Oklahoma City Barons could use a talent like Paajarvi right now.

I say send him down now and it will work out best for both parties. MPS needs to find his groove.

-Smokin' Ray Burnt-

Oilers 2012 Draft Watch "Griffin Reinhart"

REVS 2012 Prospects List (Oct 3rd/11)

1.Nail Yakupov

2.Mikhail Grigorenko

3.Ryan Murray

4.Alex Galchenyuk

5.Morgan Rielly

6.Mathew Dumba

7.Nick Ebert

8.Filip Forsberg

9.Griffin Reinhart

10.Martin Frk

11.Derrick Pouliot

12.Cody Ceci

13.Olli Maatta

14.Zemgus Girgensons

15.Jacob Trouba

Today we examine the #9 ranked player from REVS 2012 Prospects List . Each player is unique in their own right and full of talent. The ranking does not reflect a mock draft of who a team may actually pick but rather who I would place as the best player available in that spot.

Pos: D

HT:6'3 ft
WT:200

Born: Vancouver, B.C.

 

2010/11 Oil Kings  WHL  Games 45 G 6 A 19  PTS 25

2011/12 Oil Kings  WHL  Games 24  G 6 A 10 PTS 16

This six-foot four, two hundred pound blueliner from the Edmonton Oil Kings has all the tools needed to have a successful pro career. A strong point is his shot, which isn't too surprising given his size. But scouts also tell say his mobility is another strength.  Reinhart says he likes to think that he could be the next Shea Weber. A high expectation but even half as good as Shea Weber would be a blessing in disguise for the team who selects him.

Sad news for Oilers fans is that Griffin is also a big Vancouver Canucks fan. But since Calgary was Hall's favourite team he can be excused for that, growing up in BC. RNH also was a Canuck fan as well. Griffin is expected to go fairly early in the first round in 2012, and the team that drafts him will certainly be glad to get him.

 Something limiting Griffin from being ranked higher in draft rankings is that, he’s not great at using his size to play a physical game. It’s not like he avoids all contact but scouts would like to see him be more aggressive to take pucks away from opponents. Griffin’s still a very raw prospect, and he will likely need a few more years of development before he can step into the pro game. Current Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson is being used as an example of what not to do with Reinhart, as Johnson was brought into St. Louis too early, and some say that as a result his career has already been ruined.

(both are fight videos but show Griffin is a strong customer)

For Oiler and Baron news and 2012/13 NHL draft watch www.twitter.com/revingev