Oilers 2012 Draft Watch "Derrick Pouliot"

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 #11 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.

Derrick Pouliot

Pos: D

HT:6'0 ft
WT:192

Born: Weyburn, Sask, CANADA

2009/10 Games 7 G 0 A 1 PTS 1

2010/11 Games 66 G 5 A 25 PTS 30

2011/2012 Games 35 G 5  A 22  PTS 27

 

Pouliot’s season started hot but has tapered off a bit as Joe Morrow came back from the Penguins camp to take back his #1 spot on the team. Pouliot has some offensive ability, but his greatest strength comes as being a point man on the power play. Pouliot’s game is played better when he is the #1 option.

Derrick off the ice is nothing like the Derrick Pouliot you see on the ice. Off the ice, they say he's a shy, reserved young guy with impeccable manners. On the ice that disappears. To be fair, it's hard to be polite when you're causing your opponents fits.Pouliot is usually in complete control when on the ice. He has elite vision, sensing when to feed his teammates and when to carry the puck himself, almost always makes the right decision.

Before entering into the WHL his list of awards and honors he took home were.....
-Tournament MVP and a member of the tournament's "All-Star Line" at the Graham Tuer Bantam AA Challenge in Regina, Saskatchewan.
- Selected as the Top Defenseman and a member of the tournament's "All-Star Line" at the Hockey Hounds Major Bantam Tournament in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
- Called up by the Moose Jaw Warriors AAA midget team to play in the prestigious Mac's Midget Hockey Tournament in Calgary, Alberta, and recorded three goals and two assists for five points in four games.
- Selected to the tournament's "All-Star Line" at the GSHL Bantam AA Invitational in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
- Selected as the "Top Defenseman" and a member of the tournament's "All-Star Line" at the Western Canadian Bantam Championships in Weyburn, Saskatchewan.

 Pouliot is the first to admit he still has work to do in his own end. He acknowledges he is trying to work on that a little bit more. Positioning and things like that. Derrick is considered a very special player, very smart with the puck. He sees the ice well, skates well, rushes the puck and jumps into the play. He’s an offensive defenseman, but he’s good on the back end, too. Pouliot is very consistent and pretty much brings it every game, so there’s not much negative. To date he’s been able to play at a higher level of hockey as he has progressed in his hockey career.

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

Oilers 2012 Draft Watch "Martin Frk"

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 #10 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: F

HT:6'0 ft
WT:198

Born: Karlov Vary, Czech Rep

2010/11 Games 62 G 22  A 28 PTS 50

2011/12 Games 7  G 1 A PTS 1

Martin Frk was injured in pre-season and has only recently returned to the lineup. Those close to him say he is still trying to get his game legs and his timing together but he has recently pulled out from the World Jr U20 Championships to which has raised some controversy. Some say it will hurt his ultimate draft status while others feel the scouts think they have a good read on his ability already. Only time will tell, but for me, warning flags are going up all over. Wish nothing but the best for Martin but wonder if this will end up in him falling around the same place Jurco fell last season. Could be one great late round pick up for one team if he did have his draft status fall. Martin just recently was selected to play in the annual CHL/NHL prospects game for Team Cherry. A good showing could go a long way for scouts alike.

Frk is a player in the mold of a power forward who has some slick hands and very agile. His height is average but already sits at pretty much 200 lbs. His ability to cradle the puck is elite level and his puck protection crossing the blueline is second to none. Frk has been known to have some doubt his work ethic on a occasional night but when his game is on, he plays the 200 foot game very well. His skating is not real agile but he is a strong skater very above average speed. Plays more of a north/south game on the ice. When paired with a playmaker Frk can snap a shot like it's a bullet coming out of a 7mm magnum. Martin will need to show some improvement in his game so Scouts know he still has it and his head injury is not still lingering but I still think he will be drafted regardless in the top 15 in the 2012 NHL draft

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

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-