Game Day "Oilers VS Stars"

"Rising STARS, or Seeing STARS?"

Here we go with another one of those whacky times for a hockey game on Saturday. In fact I almost forgot that we had a game today, so getting this blog out real late for a game day post. Regardless of the fact, the Oilers are in a tail spin and I mean a bad tail spin. Lots of excuses, lots of comments about playing a better game but until this team can at least put a consistant game together for 50% of the games they play, they WILL be a lottery team again.

These last games, the team has played well, worked hard and got some timely goals. The PP continues to do well as does the PK usually but the penalties dont stop coming, the stupid decisions at important times are what are costing this team games.

I know some are pouring out the excuses like, no defencemen depth left with injuries. Key forwards with offence are hurt and not playing, Goalies are struggling, not working hard enough, need more intensity. The list goes on. I will comment more on this in a "REVS Oilers Rant and Raves" to be posted at another time.

In the mean time these players need to put in a 60 minute effort, take less chances in their road games and stick to the system they have been taught. I do enjoy at least we are in every game, but not enjoying losing every game. Over the last month, the Oilers ARE the worst team in the entire NHL. That is not acceptable by me or many other fans. I know we are in a rebuild, but what I hate is how we wasted 3 years doing nothing before a rebuild even was considered. Now we are in year 2? Opps, need to get back on topic, this is intended for another blog to be later posted in a " "REVS Oilers Rant and Raves".

Ok all joking aside, the Oilers need to pick up another win here this afternoon in the big D. Today's game hopefully will see some different line up combo's but have heard nothing new on that front. Hartikanen must be dogged from 5 games in 6 days, but at least got another day off , so after today only 6 games in 8 days.  Hopefully we soon get to see him playing with some skill. Afterall, isn't it a good idea to put some skill out with a good checker who can score with soft hands and is a beast on the puck in the offensive zone?

Unfortunately as much as I want to see a win today in Dallas, I think the Oilers will be seeing Stars rather then be the rising Stars! Go Oilers! Prove me wrong!

Gametime 12:00pm, CHED630am/Sportsnet-West

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

Oilers 2012 NHL Draft Watch "Zemgus Girgensons"

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 #14 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.

Zemgus Girgensons

Pos: F

HT:6'1 ft
WT:184

Born: Riga,Latvia

2010/11 Dubuque Games 51 G 21 A 28 PTS 49

2011/12 Dubuque Games 22 G 12 A 14 PTS 26

 Coming over to North America in 2008 and  playing in the Selects Hockey program, a summer hockey organization whose alumni include Sam Gagner and Greg Nemisz,he played for Vermont’s Green Mountain Glades of the Eastern Junior League. 

His coach has commented “He’s dominant down the middle,” Montgomery said. “He’s a complete player who works as hard defensively as he does offensively.” Prior to arriving his coach also said “There was a buzz around the Northeast about him, I knew he was committed to Vermont and that he could be an impact player even at 16.” Zemgus is a powerful center, passion is not a problem whose own coach even brings up names such as Jonathan Toews and Mark Messier to describe the youngster’s will.


Zemgus does not give up in pursuit of the puck or while carrying it. He is considered a relentless player. Zemgus when asking for a comparrision for his game style, he brings up the likes of Ryan Kessler but some say he plays like Rob Brind'Amour. His all out skill is considered great but not elite which may hinder his ability to sneak into a top 8 at the NHL 2012 Draft. On one ranking out there he is listed at #2 behind Nail Yakupov. I personally think that is a little too high but some scouts like the drive and heart this young player shows.

 

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

Game Day "Oilers VS Blues"

"SINGING THE BLUES?"

Sorry for the late game day post oiler family, but was a busy day at work and a early one too. Off to pick up the wife who is sick from work. Did I say, sick at work or sick from work?..(haha!) Then off to pick the SUV up from detailing and then off to a local sports establishment to catch tonight's game VS the St.Louis Blues.

With RNH out for 3-4 weeks, how will this affect his run for the Calder Cup trophy? I hope it doesn't , cause their is not much good news this year in Oilerland and I sure hope to see him back soon. Good news is, the Oilers did play well in Buffalo and deserved a better fate. I am calling for a Oiler win tonight but stranger things have happened.

All I ask for tonight is a non-injury game to our players. Is it too late for Santa to deliver that a year early? The boys are ready and raring to go tonight, so here is hoping they can pull off the win, they so desperately are seeking. Sorry for the short blog folks, but time is a wasting and I need to get my backside moving.

Go OILERS!

Gametime 6:00pm, CHED630am/Sportsnet-Edm

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

Our Prospect Pool at the Juniors

The Oilers have quite a few prospects in the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championship. None of them played for our beloved Team Canada but they played some pretty important roles on their respective teams. These players include Oscar Klefbom, David Musil, Kristian Pelss, Martin Gernat and Martin Marincin. Over the course of the tournament I decided to take short notes on what I noticed from each player.

Klefbom - He is one great positional player, he may not be the most physically strong man out there but he knows how to separate the man from the puck, simply with his positioning. Klefbom also has a great read on the play, he is constantly alert and knows where to be. A slight problem of his however is to make good, but fairly chancy plays, that can be costly to his team.

Musil - He is also a brilliant player at reading plays, very alert. Musil is also great with the stick, he is very capable with his poke checks. One thing I had noticed is his unmistakable ability when in front of the net, his physical dominance and shot blocking.

Kristian Pelss - To be honest I have not seen much of his play, but from what I have heard he was one of the best players on Latvia's team.

Martin Gernat - Great skater with great stick work. Aggressive offensively in the attacking zone but can sometimes be a little too offensive. With his size comes a hard shot, but for his size he is also very mobile on his feet.

Martin Marincin - He can very much be like his fellow team mate, Martin Gernat. Another large sized defenceman with a booming shot and great mobility. He can however make some risky plays with his stretch passes.

On another note: I'm proud of Canada, of course we all wanted gold, but the boys played with heart and soul, obviously they didn't want to end up in the bronze game either.

GO Canada GO!

I don't know about you guys, but tonight I'm rooting for the Swedes, I just can't bear to see the Russians win again.

Let's Go Oilers!!!

http://twitter.com/realgrass#

Oilers 2012 NHL Draft Watch "Olli Maatta"

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 #13 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.

Olli Matta

Pos: D

HT:6'2 ft
WT:198

Born: Jyvaskyla, Finland

2011/2012 Games 33 G 1 A 16 PTS 17 Plus/Minus 14

Olli is a physical d-man who has good positioning and a good first pass. Usually plays with calmness and makes smart plays. Likes to skate the puck to the offensive zone. Olli also has a good shot and accurate too. His biggest asset is how consistent he is. Can play at all situations but his skating will need some work, lacks immediate acceleration and is a bit lacking in his pivots and turns

 

 

He was also the youngest player ever to make the Finland WJC team (same age as Reijo Ruotsalainen, Janne Niniimaa and Mikael Granlund, but with an August birthdate, younger than any of them) he played only sparingly (in last preliminary round game against Slovakia), but showed off why he was on the team in the first place. One NHL scout said: "He's two-way, all around defenseman. He does a little bit of everything and has a lot of enthusiasm. His first shift was full of excitement; he had courage to show up and play and he wasn't panicking with his feet."


Olli is London's top scoring defencemen along with Scott harrington (Penquins draft pick). Some who watch and observe his game say he is more of a quiet kind of guy but his teammates consider him more of a talkative young man inside the dressing room and off the ice.

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