"All HAIL for Mikhail"

Mikhail Grigorenko has been touted by many scouts, coaches and former players alike, to be a great player in the making. Even before his decision to come over to play for the Quebec Remparts in the CHL, Mikhail was considered one of the best in the world in his age group.

While few people even knew much of him (including few in the Mainstream media) I had the luck to notice the player while he was still 15 years old playing in the MHL. Originally, it was thought he had no interest in playing in the NHL, however it is sometimes funny how things get lost in the interpretation of languages. Mikhail is a honest, humble guy and not a player who will complain regardless of the role he is asked to play. Recently during the World Jr. Championships, he was asked to play a third line role, and did so well in the games he played. He still put up some points, but he was given the role of defensive checking center and flourished at it. Even with a injury, Mikhail pushed things to get back in the line up as soon as it was possible.

While disappointed in their overtime loss to Sweden, Mikhail still was able to show the world, he is not only a offensive player but he does have defensive abilities as well. The Remparts coach and legend, Patrick Roy and his coaching staff have been working with Grigorenko to develop his all around game. He also plays on a team with several smaller but quick and offensive players who will occasionally need that defensive center support. Even with that, Mikhail still continues to continue scoring a point or more every game regardless of the team they play.

Recently, there have been reports out there that are saying Mikhail Grigorenko is not a player who plays with passion, he is sometimes lazy and takes a night off. Some scouts are trying to tell us, he is only excelling offensively against the weaker teams and does not rise to the occasion when the pressure is on.

I don't agree with these reports and actually believe they are more biased to either a different type player or even a league (i.e.: WHL or OHL vs QJMHL). TSN posted a article recently saying one team scout went as far as saying he would not even pick him top 10 and he could fall to the 25 slot in the 2012 NHL Entry Level Draft. What? Is this guy smoking something? 25? Myself, when a scout talks like this, everything else he says, i take with a grain of salt. OK, maybe he does drop a few, but to 25? This is someone to me who lacks hockey common sense. Some scouts see him play once and then comment he played a ok game so leave unimpressed. Got news for those scouts, some scouts have been only at 1 or 2 games that Sarnia Stings Nail Yakupov played and left thinking his defensive game lacked big time and said they believe he won't be able to dominate as a power forward with the big boys of the NHL. It's all perspective and that's how you need to look at things.

At 6'2-6'3 and getting close to 200 lbs Mikhail is a big center and with that, comes a different skating style. While he does not possess the speed of Yakupov, he is very quick and agile for a player his size. Interesting enough, the Great Mario was even considered a slow skater and had low work ethic. Try telling that to Mario's coaches and players who played him and they will tell you, your crazy. Grigorenko will do just fine. Maybe he does not go in the top 2, maybe he falls to 3 or 4 but mark my words, any team passing on him will be regretting they did.

Truth is, Mikhail will need to show his playoff game with better performance should he convince his greatest critics stating he is a player who shows apathy on the ice. Perform at the highest levels of hockey, you will turn heads pretty quick.

I say, LET THE PLAYOFFS BEGIN!

 

For Oiler ,Baron and Thunder prospect news and the 2012 & 2013 NHL draft watch www.twitter.com/revingev

Linus Omark Recalled To The Oilers

The flashy swede has been recalled. I'm really interested to see him in the blue & orange again. Has he found that fire inside to keep him around? We will see.

GOILERS!!!

Oilers 2012 NHL MOck Draft Rankings March 3rd/12

The Season is coming to a close real soon and there has been a definite trend in the rankings for draft picks. Columbus and Edmonton are looking poised to pick 1 and 2 overall. I will be doing another revision this week to my REVS 2012 NHL Entry Draft rankings before the season's end. At that point there will be a small change to the order but not lot's of movement.

The Oilers are really looking like a team who will be picking in the top 3 of the lottery again this year. Should the order of final standings look like it does today the following players would be picked by the following teams. Of course that is only if they were to follow my 'REVS 2012 NHL Entry Draft rankings'.

Oilers 2012 NHL Mock Draft Rankings March 3rd/12

( I am going to assume Los Angeles misses the playoffs and both Washington and Columbus elect to use their draft pick option in 2012)

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.

 Columbus receives Los Angeles' 2012 1st round pick (lottery protected in 2012. If the Kings miss the playoffs, Columbus decides if they want to use the pick 2012 or 2013 ) and Jack Johnson for Jeff Carter.

 

For Oiler ,Baron and Thunder prospect news and the 2012 & 2013 NHL draft watch www.twitter.com/revingev

"Galchenyuk a Consideration at 2012 NHL Draft?"

Alex Galchenyuk is really close to getting back on the ice this season. Hopefully he will get a chance to strut his stuff by playoff time for the Sarnia Sting of the OHL. Combine him once again with likely 1st overall draft pick Nail Yakupov and the odds of the Sting getting to the OHL Championship will increase by 4x I am sure.

Alex more then likely, will not be able to just step in where he left off. Being out of hockey with such a injury can take time to get your game legs back under you, not to mention the timing that is needed for chemistry with his team. The playoffs are close around the corner and the teams will only be that much tougher then earlier in the season.

Hemsky has resigned here in Edmonton. We now have our lines looking more like this...

Smyth/Gagner/Eberle

Hall/RNH/Hemsky

Paarjarvi/Horcoff/Eager

Now before you shut this idea down, hear my thoughts and take time to really think about this possibility. I don't think there is much argument should the Oilers finish in 29th or 30th spot overall, Nail Yakupov or Michail Grigorenko will be selected. But what if they finish better? I really thought they were going to let Hemsky go at the trade deadline meaning the team very likely would have less chance of winning some games down the stretch. That has all changed, and now the Oilers very possibly could finish as high as 23rd overall (I am thinking they will be a bottom 5 team regardless)

So if this is a rebuild, are we really willing to go after the defencemen who will be a min of 3 years away from being a defencemen in the NHL that is a difference maker? Our top lines are not solid yet, especially if a top 6 forward is available in this NHL Draft year. Biggest question this next year will be Sam Gagner. Will his progress continue or will he return to the former player we all complained about? Is he a fit for the wing or does he need to be a center in the NHL?

Enter Alex Galchenyuk. He was considered a top three possibility before the season began but his injury this season may very well set him back further down the draft line. Several scouts I have spoken with in the OHL and fans from their have told me, they see no reason for him not to go top 5 pick, even though teams have very little to go by this year. While I do have a my REVS draft list on the top 15 players ranked at the 2012 Draft, I personally have my own preferences.

I would rate my Oiler draft list as...

Nail Yakupov

Michail Grigorenko

Alex Galchenyuk

Ryan Murray

Morgan Reily

Griffin Reinhart

So what if the Oilers were to select Alex Galchenyuk? Due to his injury year, it would almost be certain they would want him back in the OHL one additional year to continue to grow after missing a critical development year. That would allow the Oilers one additional year to figure out what they really have in Sam Gagner and spread some of the entry level contracts apart in addition to seeing the development of some of the young d-men to continue. It is even possible that should Gagner continue his growth at center , Galchenyuk could end up playing on the wing. 

Alex comes from hockey bloodlines. His father played for Dynamo Moscow and was a decent player in his own right. Young Alex looks to be a much better skilled player then even his father but with a tough rugged edge. He plays very much like a big Center who skates and works like a power forward out there on the ice. He isn't afraid to go into the tough areas of the ice and works out like a madman. 

It may not be the popular idea around Edmonton with all the past injuries we have seen but IMO it very well could be a match made in "Oiler Heaven". Is it possible our top 9 could look like this to start the 2013/2014 season?

Hall/RNH/Eberle

Galchenyuk/Gagner/Hemsky

Paarjarvi/Lander/Hartikanen

More food for thought then anything, but regardless of any decision made, the scouting department will have their hands full making a difficult decision as who to pick this year should the Oiler finish 27th overall or better for the 2012 NHL Draft

for further updates on Oilers, Barons, Thunder and 2012 and 2013 prospects

@revingev

Lets have some excitement!

Hands up if you are as fed up with the NHL's point system. Personally I am sick and tired of of some games being worth 2 pts and others, for no REAL good reason, are worth 3 pts. For as long as this assinine system has been in place, I have said "give regulation winners 3 pts to even the playing field". This is not the CORRECT thing to do.

The NHL did away with ties because teams weren't trying to win games, in the last 5-10 mins, they would hold on for OT and then just skate around for 5 minutes and collect a point for their efforts or lack there of. I agreed with this as the games were becoming sooo incredibly boring, no one wanted to lose that single point. The theroy behind this change was teams would try and win to gain an extra point. Ok, but is that a fair playing field for those teams that win almost all there games in regulation? Nope! You could award an reg. winner 3 pts but then there is another stat column to add to papers, websites etc. This will never happen because people, naturaly, don't like adding to their work load. I get that.

The best and most logical solution to this problem, its a problem when better teams miss playoffs due to teams LOSING in OT or the SO, is to get rid of the LOSER point. You lost, deal with it. You want the points, its simple, WIN. This would also insure that the fans will not get ripped off. Teams will actually TRY to win for the WHOLE game. I know thats an insane concept with most coaches but it how the game should be played.


There have been over 113 points handed out for losses in the East and over 105 points in the West. That is a substantial amount of points that are undeserved. The NHL is attempting to "sell" parity, and to an extent there is some parity but not to the level the NHL would have you believe. In most cases it is false hope for some teams. The truely elite teams will not be affected, but thats not the point. Its the cutline teams that benefit from this more accurate reprensentation. Teams that win should be rewarded....properly.

With this new point system there may even be trades on deadline day as there will be more seperation and a clearer picture of who is a "seller" and who is a "buyer". There will be less teams with false senses of hope. Hence there will be more players "available" come deadline day, which really has devolved ever since the current point system was put in place with the last CBA. The anticipation is still there but the excitement isn't.

It's time to get rid of the LOSER point. Maybe then teams could actually play an entertaining "play to win" style in stead of the mind numbing "play not to lose" style that runs rampent in our beloved game. Teams may actually be able to catch other teams ahead of them in the standings and create exciting playoff pushes instead of the hopeless feeling teams get when a rival picks up a point in a loss. Keep overtime, keep the shootout, lose the loser point and gain excitement and respectabilty.