NHL Mock Draft Rankings January 19th/12

For fun, I continue today with a weekly post of an "Oilers Mock NHL Draft Status". While it in no way is any indicator as to who the Oilers would select if they were to finish the season in that exact number, it gives us a idea as to what is available for them to select come that position. There are alot of Rankings out there, that get released continually. Of course since this is my blog, I am going to use my REVS 2012 NHL Prospect List for a drafting order.

With another week gone by the Oilers moved up in the standings. No, not the overall standings, but the Draft order. The worse they do, the better prospect they get to pick at the NHL Entry draft the end of June 2012. This week they moved from 4th pick to now sitting at 2nd pick. The Oilers also lost to the two teams who were below them in the standings, in the Ducks and the Blue Jackets.

 Here is the 2012 top 15 NHL Mock Rankings as of Jan 19/12

1. Nail Yakupov

 

2. Mikhail Grigorenko

 

3.Ryan Murray

4.Morgan Rielly

5.Matthew Dumba

 

6.Alex Galchenyuk

 

7.Derrick Pouliot

 

8.Filip Forsberg

9.Griffin Reinhart

 

10.Cody Ceci

11.Zemgus Girgensons

12.Nick Ebert

13.Brendan Gaunce

14.Martin Frk

 

15.Olli Maatta

1st Round Traded Draft Picks

Washington receives Colorado's 2012 1st round pick and a 2012 or 2013 2nd round pick (Capitals choice) for Semyon Varlamov.

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

Edmonton Oilers On The Move?

Going by what I'm hearing on the radio and websites, there us a good possibility that some of the Oiler players will be on the move from now till the NHL trade deadline.

Bob Stauffer says that Ryan Smyth's agent is in Columbus today talking with Steve Tambellini. It could be about an extension or it could be about moving him to a cup contender and seeing him return to the Oilers in the summer. This late in his career it would be nice to see Smyth hoist the Stanley Cup. While it may not happen, there is that distinct possibility it will.

It's no secret that Ales Hemsky could be on the move as well. He's a free agent this summer and if Tambellini is smart, you don't let him walk for nothing. If Hemsky doesn't want an extension, he will be moved.

Sam Gagner has been very good lately and that could be reason enough to move him. I would think he's at his highest value right now. If the Oilers don't want to keep Gagner for the long term, now might be the best time to get max value for him. Me personally, I'd keep him.

Can the Oilers get anything for Nik Khabibulin? Possibly. Not sure how legit it is, but rumor has it Tampa Bay might want him back. He's been pretty good this year, but good enough a team wants him? Wait and see.

It also sounds like the Oilers might want to move Andy Sutton. He's a good teammate, but it's not looking like he's part if the future in Oil country. Possibility that he's traded soon too.

What will the Oilers get done and who's on the move? Stay tuned to www.OilersJambalaya.com

-Written by Smokin' Ray Burnt-

"Oilers VS BluJackets" Rebuild in motion

Today as the Oilers take to action on the ice in Columbus, it's a battle of the cellar bottom dwellers. OK that does not sound so appealing. I know in Columbus it may suck, but if they look at the two picks that are available in Yakupov and Grigorenko, they should not be all that worried. I still wonder if they trade off Carter as he never really wanted to go there anyway. If I am a Oiler fan (which I am) I am not happy my team keeps losing year after year (cause that is embarrassing) but how can you not be happy knowing a top 5 pick will be a incredible pick once again? 

This is a rebuild no question and instead of seeing which team we want to rebuild like, what if we rebuild in a new fashion, a way we know this franchise won't be doing this for a minimum of another 15 years? I see no reason we need to look like Chicago, Pittsburgh etc. Nor should we look like Ottawa, New York, Atlanta, Florida etc..  These last couple draft years have really brought some good talent into the fold that will be good for trading or possible players for this team for awhile. Sure we got holes still, but no other last place team consecutive years has had this much talent injured year after year to finish lower in the standings then they should, like the Oilers.

The young people we have been bringing in through drafting are excelling and on track. It's the trades and or veterans that are failing this team more then anything else. While it's not easy seeing your team lose so many games, it's also pretty exciting seeing the high end talent that is being stockpiled on this team. Talk to GM's in Detroit, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, New York, and even Chicago and you will hear the same thing. They will all tell you this team in Edmonton will be a scary team to play real soon.

In this rebuild, the real question will soon become, how do we pay all these high draft picks when they come out of their entry level contracts or will we be trading off elite talent cause we can't pay them all within the salary cap? That is where, this will have to be the last year we can be a bottom 5 team in the lottery or else we will become like those teams who drafted high but never can put the bigger package together. This team at year end will need to be a minimum 80point team next year or heads will roll. Guaranteed their will be changes in management and coaching should this team not improve next year.

We hear that a rebuild is about development and all our young talent is developed and doing well or at least treading water. Where the failure comes in is the veterans on this team.  It is with that reason, come trade deadline, I truly believe those decisions in who goes and who stays will be decided. Veterans who improve development of younger players stay, those who do not contribute to the development of younger players will be traded or let go eventually.

As much as I want to be frustrated and mad at the amount of games this team is losing, I still find myself watching every game and til the end regardless of score. Play hard, play tough, show some development and improve next year, Oiler fans will be patient. I fully expect a win tonight in Columbus, as the Blue Jackets "Fail for Nail". btw....It's just a guess, but I think your looking at the last season for Rick Nash as he will become a part of a new rebuild in Columbus. Just a hunch, nothing more.

Go Oilers!

for further news on 2012 and 2013 Draft picks and Oiler Prospects you can follow me on twitter at
www.twitter.com/revingev

NHL Mock Draft Rankings January 12/12

For fun, I am going to weekly post a "Oilers Mock NHL Draft Status". While it in no way is any indicator as to who the Oilers would select if they were to finish the season in that exact number, it gives us a idea as to what is available for them to select come that position. There are alot of Rankings out there, that get released continually. Of course since this is my blog, I am going to use my REVS 2012 NHL Prospect List for a drafting order. While some of you may disagree with my selections and rankings, I have been fairly accurate not only in ranking the new talent each year at the NHL Draft but also have been fairly close on the exact players each team selects at the draft. Now of course, that is me telling you I have done well and asking you to take my word for it. So why not throw it out there so the blogger world can see? It's all in fun anyway.

So without delay here is the 2012 top 15 NHL Mock Rankings as of Jan 12/12

1. Nail Yakupov

2. Mikhail Grigorenko

3.Ryan Murray

4.Morgan Rielly

5.Matthew Dumba

6.Alex Galchenyuk

7.Derrick Pouliot

8.Filip Forsberg

9.Griffin Reinhart

10.Cody Ceci

11.Zemgus Girgensons

12.Nick Ebert

13.Brendan Gaunce

14.Martin Frk

15.Olli Maatta

1st Round Traded Draft Picks

Washington receives Colorado's 2012 1st round pick and a 2012 or 2013 2nd round pick (Capitals choice) for Semyon Varlamov.

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

Game Day "Oilers VS Devils"

"Beginning of the End?"

Just like you can see in this picture above, several of our video games or movies today destroy our cities greatest monuments that represent who we are. In hockey's version of the movies and video games, it destroys our greatest players bringing them right back down to reality.

No, I am not blogging about how bad a team we are because of Tamby, Renney or Klowe. I am not complaining about the bad decisions I feel get made on a weekly basis from Oilers ownership, management and coaches. The real reason behind the crumbling year after year has been our star "monuments" are being destroyed by injury, year after year.

Granted, we have many other problems, but should our star players (maybe not star players to other teams, but they are our best players) not be falling to injury, this team would be on a different course for the future. Maybe a course that some think would be a better one, maybe it would be a worse course to be on. All I am saying is, should our best players be healthy most of the season, we wouldn't be feeling the curse so early in a NHL season.

While this team may be falling once again into the basement of the NHL, there is always the upside. I plan to take more time in detail and cover that further in another blog soon. For today, the Devil is in the house and Rexall needs a

 "Exorcism".

You want to beat the Devils? Then quit playing their game! In fact quit playing the game of any NHL team the Oilers face. We need to identify what kind of game the Oilers play and stick to that regardless of how or who plays for another team. Win or Lose, but play to your greatest strengths of players and coaching. No more quick fixes or players who act as props. If they don't play our kind of game, then ship them out for something, someway. This is a rebuild right? We are developing right? Then if we are going to do this, let's do it right.

As far as what kind of team the Oilers are...that I have no idea. I think I have a idea, but it could be wrong. If our management and coaching can't tell you what kind of game we play, then maybe they don't know either. It's time to decide what kind of players we want to work with and how this team should be built. However, Mr.Tambellini, please explain that to us fans who are the true employers. Without us, Katz would tire of his little toy and sell it off at the next garage sale. As fans we deserve to be able to hear exactly what this team should be looking like. Are we a defensive minded trap team (or should I say left wing lock?). Are we a fire wagon hockey team that is about reckless abandon? I really don't care anymore which we are, but maybe let's just play that way.

I will be the first to say what no one wants to say about tonight. "No more injuries! It's over! Now, let's play some HOCKEY!"

Oh yeah, forgot to mention, Paajarvi is back. Good to hear and I will be rooting for him from the top of my lungs tonight. Thumbs up to Magnus and his beginning to a awesome new year!

Go Oilers!

Gametime 7:00pm, CHED630am/TSN

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