Apples and Oranges or a Juicy Steak?

There have been many comparisons done between the Oilers and Blackhawks rebuilds. Here's my take on which pieces the Oilers have in place. These are not position for position but more player type and role analogies.

Blachawks(Cup Winners)     Oilers(Now)

Toews                                       Eberle

Kane                                   Nugent-Hopkins

Hossa                                        Hall

Sharp                                      Gagner

Keith                                        Smid?

Seabrook                                    ?

Niemi                                     Dubnyk?

I believe those were the key pieces to the Hawks Stanley Cup team. There were other guys that stepped up and had big games and/or moments that also helped, but these guys were the keys.

I also believe the Oilers have most of these pieces in place. Providing Smid continues to progress as a shutdown d-man and Dubnyk can continue his recent play on a more consistent basis. I also think Gagner has an important role on this team. He has really come into his own over the course of this season and I personally think the Oilers Nation has Mr. Pat Quinn to thank. If it wasn't for that rough ride he gave Gags back in 08, would Gags be the multi dimensional, "crusty" player that he is today? I don't think so.

We still need that PP QB, maybe he's in the system, maybe not. Either way, this team looks like a great steak. Just needs one more spice and some marinating time. The more patience the better the flavor. Enjoy Oilers fans!

-WRITTEN BY PAQ TWINN-

Life after Hemsky

Life after Hemsky is becoming a real possibility for the Oilers. The trade deadline is fast approaching and Tambillini knows he needs to do something with the star winger. The question is what is the right decision for the Oilers long term future? To determine the answer to this question we must look at the past, present, and future.
In the past Hemsky has always been the bright spot to the Oilers lineup. Hemsky has shown he can be a top playmaker in the league.When healthy he has proven he is a point per game player in the NHL (or very close to it). But there lies the issue. The past few seasons the Oilers have not seen a healthy Hemsky. Just 22 games 2 seasons ago and 47 games last season. This season hemsky has also had shoulder problems and admitted he was not 100 percent until just after Christmas. Since then I see Hemsky again as the high skill player he has been throughout his career. The points may not show it but his play does.
Everyone in Edmonton knows Hemsky has not been a happy Oiler this season. Being dropped down to 2nd and sometimes 3rd line duties has hit his ego and effected his play. It wasn’t until the Oilers put Hemsky back into important roles that he started to shine once again. Hemsky has also shown his displeasure with Edmonton media, once even walking away from an interview basically telling the media to (insert word here) off.
Could Hemsky once again become happy as an Oiler? I have to say yes. Playing a bigger role and seing the coaching staff have faith in him again he has already looked much happier on and off the ice. In order to sign another contract with the oilers though Hemsky is going to need to see a commitment from the team. He will want to know the team is behind him and will continue to put him in a role where he can help the team succeed as well as have success himself.
Having said all that I do still believe the Oilers will move Hemsky at or before the deadline. In my opinion teams in play would be LA, Det, Pitts, and Nash. I could see the Oilers offering up Hemsky and a pick or prospect to Nashville for Suter. Some will say im crazy, that Nashville would never do that but lets remember that both players are UFA at seasons end and both players are what the other team in the deal needs.
My final thoughts regarding Hemsky is the skill is there, the will on the otherhand has yet to be determined. The “will” can only be determined after a trade or a commitment from the Oilers to his long term future.

Oilers 2012 NHL MOck Draft Rankings Jan 26/12

There are going to be some real happy teams in the 1st round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, as this group of talent runs quite deep the top 20 players could swing a lot of different directions. For the Edmonton Oilers, I really only have a few players I believe can make a impact on this team within 2 seasons. They are in no particular Order...Nail Yakupov, Mikhail Grigorenko, Alex Galchenyuk, Ryan Murray, Griffin Reinhart and Matthew Dumba. There are questions mark with each player and all different. But just as with these players , there is always a question on a prospect. These are the players I believe the Oilers would be most interested in as well.

The players in the top 15 I have listed I would stay away from would include, Filip Forsberg, Nick Ebert, and Martin Frk.

It will be a interesting to see where the Oilers place as time continues but this fan would much rather have a high end pick then a spot two places higher in the standings and a player who won't have half the potential. On the other hand, I don't want to lose every game either. Dilema's!


Here is the 2012 top 15 NHL Mock Rankings as of Jan 26/12

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 prospect news and the 2012 & 2013 NHL draft watch www.twitter.com/revingev

Oilers VS Canucks "Rebuilding in Riot City"

My apologies for such a late blog on a game night. If your reading this now before the game, your probably thinking "Man, am I glad there is something to read before the game that will be more interesting then the game itself". If your reading this after the game, your thinking "Man, do I wish I had read this during the game!". 

Without question this team is in full rebuild, but is it a rebuild we can trust in?

Ok, the game may be a snorefest, but on the other hand, what if these guys kick it up a gear and start challenging for a playoff spot? Your right, they might just do that. Just as soon as a Politician admits he lied or mislead you in his election campaign promises. Yeah, this is not easy to watch game after game, but at least they showed some spunk last night. All signs point to a disappointing game and results for Oiler fans tonight. But what if something exciting happens? What if they can actually beat the Knuckleheads? What if, just maybe, just maybe, they come out with a big upset tonight? Exactly....that's why we are all still watching, reading and talking.

The Canucks are a good team and no Oiler fan is dumb enough to think they are not. (we still will say they suck, they choke and etc...) but they are a well built team. Tonight, the story line is much more then the game itself. It's about many moving parts. Whitney is back in the lineup tonight testing out the bad ankle. Poor guy, this must really suck and especially for a top end talent like him to have this keep reoccurring. It's about Tamby and Renney. Will Tamby get a contract extension and not Renney?  Should he get a extension? Is their valid excuses for the fact this team is not playing meaningful games? Who's fault is it really? Like I said, there are stories within the stories. To me, instead of "As the World turns" we have "As the Oilers Lose".

Do we have the right tools in place for this rebuild?

Ever try to work on your car or truck only to have the wrong tools? Sucks , doesn't it? Is that what Renney is saying to Tamby? Or is Tamby looking at the tools and saying, "Only two more parts Tom. This draft , you will have the last big tool you will need". Or, are we tools, for believing this rebuild will even work to begin with? Do you have faith they actually know how to do a rebuild? Do they have experience doing this? 

This team is slowly putting together a collection of stars that will hopefully rival any team in the current NHL. But at what expense?

This rebuild may very well work, and you are looking at the beginning of something very special indeed. The bigger question for me is...How can we tangibly see this rebuild is working? There is no proof, we are just told it is a rebuild and they are building something great. There does need to be some kind of accountability IMO for this rebuild to the fans. The ones who support this team are the ones who deserve to be shown some support. How can that be done? Don't treat the fans like infants who don't know anything. Treat them like adults who are well educated and tell them straight up what the process is going to look like. I understand, there are some things you can not say as management. But they need to find a way to appease the fans with some vision and hope that , this is going to work. Give the fans a bone, and they will chew on it for weeks....and if your lucky, maybe years!

Go Oilers!

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

Oilers VS Sharks "Two Headed Monster"

Which team is going to show it's face tonight is anybodies guess. Tom Renney says the players need to be responsible to show up. The fans say it's the coaches job to motivate, the truth is, it is a combination of both. Renney is responsible for icing the right line combinations that have chemistry. It's his job as well to send the right players out at the right time.

I wonder sometimes as a fan, when will we really be able to see the real identity of this team? What's it really supposed to look like or act like? This Oilers team has been pieced together by the GM to resemble what? That's a question that only our Management team can answer.

Currently all fans now see is small glimpses of what looks to be a very bright future. It's like seeing the babies head pop out, only to be completely disfigured in the rest of the body. I know a gruesome thought, but is it any more gruesome then the display we see as Oiler fans at least every second or third game? Lately far more often then not. I know this team is hurting having Whitney and Gilbert out of the lineup. I know Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is badly missed on the PP. I also know both Hall and Eberle are currently banged up some and are most likely not playing at high end proficiency.

The good news? Call it a hunch, but the recent shuffle of players in OKC with the Barons could very possibly be a tell tale. The management has to be looking long term for the development of this organization. The coach and the GM know they have no contract into next season. Renney has got results from the young developing players to date. With this season now a distant cry from the playoffs, the Oilers are preparing for next year. I know it's pretty sad even saying that but it is the truth and we need to look at this objectively if we don't want to go insanely mad.

I am guessing we will see at least two veterans being moved out at the deadline who are not fitting the big picture and or enabling the development of the young players of the future. I also think we can see the possibility of more playing time for the younger players. It happened last year as well. They want to see what they have in a Paajarvi, Petry, Hartikanen, Chorney and the likes. 

This is their chance to shine. I fully expect the PP to show the rising crop of young stars more and the PK reserved more for the veterans as they press forward with this season. Truly right now we have a collage of players being assembled and they are trying to see where they fit best into the puzzle. Question is, "Can Renney help accomplish that?" For Renney's sake and for the sanity of Oiler fans, I hope so!

Enjoy tonight's game on TSN at 7:30pm vs the Sharks of San Jose. Let's hope instead of San Jose taking a bite out of the Oil, it will be the Oilers downing the Sharks. Here is hoping the "Hungry head of the Monster shows up"

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