Last Chance for Mascot Submission

Today is the last day for submissions to Prodigal Hockey for the "Name the Mascot" contest. You have until 11:59pm to make your submission. If you are the winner of the "Name the Mascot" contest. You will receive a trip for 2, down to watch the Edmonton Oilers take on the Dallas Stars in 2010-11 season.

Adios My Friends, I'm On Holidays

I'm finally going to take a holiday. That's right, Smokin' Ray is taking a break. I'm taking the wife and kids and we are heading to the big town of Williams Lake, BC for my cousin Dan's wedding. We are a very large Ukrainian family (over 300 in Canada and another 150 or so in Ukraine) and that means we eat, drink, sing and we drink some more. So as always, we will have a good time. ; )

So you won't see me around here for a few days and I'll trust the other two stooges, I mean good guys (Eric Rodgers and Scott from OilFieldHockey.com), to take care of this joint. Let me know if they mess things up while I'm gone. *wink*

I will tweet all weekend so follow me and my drunken shenanigans at www.twitter.com/OilersJambalaya

See you all back here on Wednesday. GODRUNKGUY! WooOOooOOooOOo!!!

-Written by Smokin' Ray-

Who Will it Be?

Just about a week after the "Official" announcement of the Oklahoma City Barons. The Oilers are still looking for a General Manager to over see the Barons. There have been a couple of names mentioned in the Edmonton media. On who just might replace Kevin Prendergast as the Oilers assistant GM. Scott Bonner of the Vancouver Giants was the lead candidate to take the position. But a report from CKNW in Vancouver, is stating the Bonner will remain with the Vancouver Giants. After meeting with Oilers GM Steve Tambellini, just a couple weeks ago. Bob Tory and Gavin Hamilton are also candidates for the position. No word if Tory or Hamilton have been contacted by the Oilers in regards to the vacancy . With the rapidly approaching date of July 1st, when AHL free agency starts. And no head coach named for the Barons, even though Rob Daum is likely to remain as head coach. It remains to be seen on how long this process will take to get a GM, and a head coach in place for Oklahoma City. Let's just hope it gets done before the middle of June, because after that Oklahoma City just might start out being behind.

Update: Oilfieldhockey tweeted to Prodigal, and asked the question about a time frame of filling the GM and Head Coach positions. And we were told that there is no timetable to fill those positions.

Stockton Thunder Fan Contest / Enter Now

''How All Out Are You?'' Let Us Know!

05/24/2010 4:26 PM - Contest winners get VIP treatment through StocktonThunder.com, all entries eligible for game-worn Thunder jersey from 09-10
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GET YOUR SUBMISSION IN: CLICK HERE TO ENTER

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, a two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," has launched an online contest titled "How All Out Are You?" through the team's official website, http://www.stocktonthunder.com/, inviting Thunder fans to get creative and show their Thunder allegiance.

Where were you when Ryan Constant was mobbed by his teammates in triple OT? What does it mean to you?

(photo by George Steckler)

The contest, already underway, awards a handful of prizes to lucky winners with the most unique, remarkable and exhilarating story of the season. Among the giveaways will be a grand prize which features a V.I.P. experience for a night, topped off by luxury suite and pizza party accommodations at Stockton Arena at a Thunder home game in 2010-11.

Every submission is automatically entered to win an authentic, game-worn Thunder player jersey from the 2009-10 season. Fans can enter by accessing the contest link at the home page of StocktonThunder.com, where they will be asked to show their spirit by written submission, video, or photo.

Fans are asked to tag their submissions on Twitter, YouTube and Flickr with the tag, #thunderallout.

Fans may also submit on the Thunder's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/StocktonThunder

Whether it's a story of how you celebrated each Thunder playoff victory, a photo of you and your favorite player, or a video of a road trip you went on to show off your loyalty and passion for Thunder hockey, virtually any creative expression of fandom is welcome to be shared and is eligible for the contest.

The runner-up will receive first prize honors which include six tickets for a Thunder home game in 2010-11 special "on-the-bench" access to view pre-game warm-ups before the game and an invitation to drop the ceremonial puck before the game's opening faceoff.

The second prize winner receives six tickets to a Thunder home game in 2010-11 and a private, "meet-and-greet" with a Thunder player of their choice before the game while the winner of the third prize receives an authentic game-worn jersey from the 09-10 season.Submissions will be shared on the Thunder website and winners will be announced on July 12.

The Thunder recently toppled the 30-win plateau for the third time in five seasons, advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the fourth consecutive season and completed their deepest playoff run in club history - their first trip to the Conference Finals - where they were defeated by the #1 Idaho Steelheads, 4-2 in a best-of-seven series.

The proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the fifth consecutive season in 2009-10. Season tickets for 2010-11 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/

*Reprinted by Oilers Jambalaya with permission from Stockton Thunder Professional Hockey Club, ECHL. The Stockton Thunder are a proud 'AA' affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers (NHL)*

The Edmonton Oilers Roster, Before The Big Change

I had an idea after talking with some of my tweeps on Twitter. Maybe we should take a premature look at what the Oilers roster may look like next season.

This is a look at the Oilers they way they stand starting July 1st, plus/minus a few additions.

Fernando Pisani, Mike Comrie, Jason Strudwick and Aaron Johnson are Unrestricted Free Agents and we will assume that none of the get signed by the Oilers except Aaron Johnson. He played well and I could see the Oilers signing him for this next season as they need the help on defence.

Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, Marc Pouliot, Gilbert Brule, Ryan Potulny, JF Jacques, Devan Dubnyk and Jeff Deslauriers are all Restricted Free Agents and we will assume they all do get contracts from the Oilers. At this time, I have no idea on what will happen with JDD and DD. Both won't be on the Oilers and will one of them clear waivers and play in OKC? Will one of the be traded?

Also for the exercise, I'm going to include Taylor Hall (we all know he will be #1) and Magnus Pääjärvi-Svensson. Judging by the way MPS had his season end, I think it propels him enough to concentrate this summer on working hard and he makes the team at the start of the year. Mind you, if he doesn't sign a contract, he won't be in North America next season as I'm sure he'll elect to stay in Sweden. But for this exercise, he signs a contract and makes the team (which I think will happen).

Even though I just said the opposite a few days ago, Jordan Eberle will have his and all his admirers hearts broken (mine included) when Tambellini sends him down to play with the Barons to start the year. Unless Eberle works his butt off all summer and comes to camp stronger, I don't see him making the team over MPS. On the plus side, the OKC Barons will need some hype to get people in the seats and Jordan Eberle can do that. He may just be the leader down there for the time being. The Oilers want winners at all levels and including Eberle to the Barons roster helps. I guess I just needed a day or two before I said that Eberle will be on the Oilers team. Oops! In my opinion, MPS just looked so great at the Worlds, it made me rethink that whole scenario that I talked about a few days ago.

We will also assume that Robert Nilsson, Ethan Moreau and Patrick O'Sullivan are not on the Oilers next season. They will either go to the OKC Barons or they are bought out.

**Unless changes are made -- and Tambellini said there will be -- this will be close to the opening day roster IMO.**

FORWARDS

Magnus Pääjärvi    Shawn Horcoff      Ales Hemsky
Taylor Hall               Sam Gagner        Dustin Penner
Gilbert Brule           Ryan Potulny     Andrew Cogliano
Ryan Stone              Marc Pouliot        Zack Stortini

SPARES: Ryan Jones, JF Jacques, Jordan Eberle, Liam Reddox

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DEFENCE

Ryan Whitney      Tom Gilbert
(Souray Trade)   Ladislav Smid
Taylor Chorney  Aaron Johnson

SPARES: (edit:) Jason Strudwick, Theo Peckham, Dean Arsene, Jeff Petry, Johan Motin

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GOALIES

Nikolai Khabibulin
Devan Dubnyk or Jeff Deslauriers

SPARES: Bryan Pitton, Olivier Roy

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Now that I actually spent the time writing it all out, the Oilers look terrible.

Losing Souray is going to hurt. The defence crew doesn't look very promising at all. If you really try to win games with a Chorney/Johnson pair then you are in trouble. I'm curious to see who the Oilers get back in the Souray trade. But regardless, the Oilers should pick up a 3-4 pairing guy on top of who they get in the Souray trade. They will need experience to teach the kids and his name is NOT Jason Strudwick.

Goaltending has some issues to work out as well. That's a mess I won't get into.

Judging by the Oilers forwards, they still need a good defensive type center who can win draws. Unless the Oilers find a guy for the top two lines, it appears that the 3rd line center won't be Shawn Horcoff (even though I think that's where he belongs).

By looking at this list, it very clear the Oilers have a lot of work to do this summer. I'm sure glad that my name is Smokin' Ray Burnt and NOT Steve Tambellini. At least my summer is going to be fun.

-Written by Smokin' Ray at Oilers Jambalaya-