"Destined for?"

Everyone wants to see their favourite team hoisting the Stanley Cup, but few get to see or experience it in their lifetime. This city was truly spoilt in the 80's with the team that was assembled by Glen Sather. Make no mistake about it, it was not a magic formula that made that team so good. With a salary cap era, no team can afford to have the talent the Oilers once held together, but don't make the mistake of thinking you can't keep a really good team together for 10 plus years.

The Red Wings and Penquins are two teams that despite injuries, change in player management and local economic struggles, seem to stay among the elite of the league regardless. Why you ask? I believe it has more to do with management. Which brings us to the question. Is Edmonton's problems in management, coaching or the players? Well let's look at this...

Players: Some are improving and growing while others seem to be falling off the face of the earth.

Management: Have produced a top end farm system in OKC with the Barons but looking to be a bottom 3 team in the NHL for the 3rd straight year.

Coaching: The players appear to love this current coaching staff and we hear how much Renney is a incredible teacher for these players. So let's look at a couple things about Renney. Is our head coach the problem? 

Personally, I don't like some of his decisions regarding line combinations, who he puts out on the ice at important times or even goaltending decisions. In spite of all that, this team is rebuilding and the most important aspect of this team is about development. So, with that being said, I think the most important question is, "Are we seeing development from the players who are in the long term future of this team?"

Who is improving? Gilbert, Smid and Potter we can all say we are happy with this year. Hall, Eberle and Nugent-Hopkins we can say we are happy with this year. 

Who is struggling? Horcoff, Belanger, Hemsky, etc..  Not sure you notice like me, but I am seeing our young talent improving and the veterans failing at this point. Could it just be, we need to reshuffle the veterans who are filling spots on this team as we continue to grow and develop? 

IMO , I really think you make no move on Tamby or Renney until seasons end. If Tamby can do something between now and the end of the season maybe a 1 year extension. If Renney can continue to grow and develop the important players who will be here in the future give him one more year as well. However, should Tamby do nothing to make this team better between now and season end, it is time in this fan's opinion to bring in new management before the draft in June. If Renney at this time next year is not getting better improvement in systems play from this team as a whole, it will be time as well for a coaching change.

I like all of these guys on a personal note, but not liking what we are seeing on a development note. Patience will be tough for fans as this season wears on. I think all Oilers fans really care about now, is to see some compete, each and every night. Give us a hard honest night's work of effort and we'll be more patient.

For more info on Oiler, Barons and Thunder hockey in addition for info on 2012 and 2013 NHL Draft prospects  you can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/revingev

Oilers VS Flames "In for a Hall of a Game"

Tonight should be a splendid game to watch, after all, who doesn’t get up for a  game against the Calgary Flames? Who really knows what to expect from this Oilers team at this time right now.  Just when you expect to see this team rise from the cellar, they self explode. When you think the Oilers are dead in the water, they come storming out of the gates. 

(which does not happen often anymore.)

I fully expect this city to be watching their favourite hero in his return to the ice tonight against the dreaded team red from the south. With his passion that he plays this game with and a return from almost a near fatal fluke accident, people will tune in just to see how he responds. Eberle in his second game back will enjoy some more time and space to maneuver out on the ice, as Hall will take some of the attention from the top defencemen and backcheckers. The PP will be where it truly shows the difference IMO.

Going into tonight’s game the rumours are really starting to heat up of who is available on various teams. I see some real potential BIG changes coming for the Oilers between now and July 2^nd. Something WILL happen before the trade deadline just not sure what kind of look it will mean. Instead of touching on players going out, lets look at players who are being rumoured available , if for a high price.

Here are some possibilities between now and July 2nd with players that could be obtained possibly for the Oilers. Not saying they WILL be, just saying their is talk of movement but as to who and where, no one can really say other then the GM's and they are not telling.

Goalies:

Ryan Miller

Evgeny Nabokov

Anders Lindback

Johnathan Bernier

Brent Johnson

JF Giguire

Defencemen:

Ryan Ellis

Ryan Suter

Shea Weber

Tyler Myers

Matt Niskanen

Vladislav Voynov

These are the most obvious goalies or defence that have possibilities, but in no way means would actually happen. There are deals to be had, but it will cost us players and not players who no one wants. Maybe a Paajarvi or a Hartikanen will be the minimum in a trade but no matter what, it will be players with upside and future potential that are requested in trades. 


Make sure to catch the "Battle of Alberta" tonight on HNIC at 8pm Mountain time.
www.twitter.com/revingev

Oilers VS Blues "It's all about the future"

Oiler fans should start getting used to seeing this picture of Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. Not only is it one of the buildings we may model our new RX2 facility after in Edmonton, but it also is the location of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in late June. 

The injuries just keep getting stranger as the days go by. Never in my life (and I am 41 years old) have I seen so many injuries to key players let alone freak injuries these past few years. Instead of looking at these latest injuries as a sign of a curse or some theory that our trainers are not preparing the players properly, I am looking at this as a blessing in disguise. 

Without these injuries the last few years there would be no Taylor Hall, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. And now this year, it is very possible that late June you can either add Yakupov, Grigorenko or Murray to that fold as well. Do I think the Oilers can finish higher and not receive one of those players? Possible, but not very likely. Even with our three young stars performing well, this team is struggling on the backend and especially in goal. Unless something happens and the Oilers swing a deal for a Ryan Miller or something, this team will place likely bottom 5 this year at best.

Now here is my thought. What if this team could boast of having a dynamic duo? I know some of you see that already. What I am talking about is a dynamic duo down the middle.......

Pittsburgh is not only where we are drafting this year but a big two way centermen is available in that top 3. Maybe, just maybe, we are able to draft that big Russian to play with our Canadian in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. RNH and Grigorenko down the middle looks pretty good in my eyes. Imagine having a combo of  lines 1a and 1b with two elite centermen.

I myself would love to see a line combo as follows in next couple years....

HALL/NUGENT-HOPKINS/EBERLE

HARTIKANEN/GRIGORENKO/PAAJARVI

Place whichever player develops accordingly or even move those guys around and you have a pretty nice front loaded team up top. Even if Grigorenko takes a extra year to develop, this is one fan who would like to take the gamble and see this. Some may think I am jumping the gun on this, but mark my words, Grigorneko is the real deal and is a difference maker down the middle.

One more season working on development defencemen and 1 trade for a top 4 defencemen will see this team change drastically. So tonight as I watch this game against the blues, what is it I am looking to see? Truly, just looking to see some development out of the younger players as they continue to grow and learn. No more sour milk here for this blogger and fan. From here on in, gonna get back to focusing on prospects and development in this Oilers organization. Which brings me to something...almost time for some updates on the development of players in the organization. I will be on holidays for a couple weeks coming up soon, so will be posting some updates of development and thoughts on whats happening outside the big NHL club real soon.

In the meantime, here is hoping to see some continued good work from Lander and Paajarvi tonight. As I have mentioned on twitter and will do so on here, Paajarvi is really starting to be driving to the net well and gaining some confidence in each game. With the stars missing, IMO Renney needs to see if Magnus can rise to the occasion. The Blues are becoming a good team and it goes to show what patience gets you.

Go Oilers!

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

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-