Oilers Jambalaya / Random Thoughts, Not The Website

This (Oilers Jambalaya - The Random Stuff) is a column that I started when this little blog started up. I only did it a few times (but I liked it) and it kind of faded away for some reason. But what the hell? It's back.

Mmmmmm.... Jambalaya

Oilers Rookie Development Camp is going on right now down at the Clareview Arena till Friday. It goes from 10:00am till 12:00pm. The place gets packed so if you are going, go early. For all the latest news and info regarding the camp, stay tuned to Oilers Jambalaya. Plus we will have a special fans report from guest writer Steve Schulte a little later in the day plus the LIVE tweets from http://twitter.com/_gelsomino.

Magnus Paajarvi Interview From Today

Khabibulin had his court case postponed today. It appears the courts were to busy to proceed with his trial or something like that. It has been rescheduled for 2 weeks from now. If convicted, he could spend up to 30 days in jail. With a delay and other court procedures, it's possible that Khabi might miss training camp if he does have to do the whole 30 days and this does drag out longer. I would expect him to try and plea bargain.

Taylor Hall's number. What is taking so long to decide? I really do think he really waiting for #44 to get traded. I mean, become available. I hope not, it's cursed. He did say a few days ago that he would think about possibly taking either 44 or 91. God I hope he takes 91 (my choice for him is #84. He could easily be the greatest #84 in the history of the NHL) instead of the 44. *fingers crossed*

That rumor that TSN's Ryan Rishaug started is quite the conversation piece today. He thinks that if the Kings land Ilya Kovalchuk (still possible), they might be willing to part with Ryan Smyth. Souray for Smyth is what he suggested. I'll be honest, I'd make that trade right now. I would even include Cogliano. I would love nothing more than to see Ryan come back and be the mentor for the kids and finally wear the captain's C. He deserved it years ago and I believe he has a lot left in that tank of his. BRING BACK SMYTH!

Wow! The Oilers seem hell bent to have some experienced guys down in Oklahoma City for next season. They have been spending money for OKC Barons like crazy and they have only picked up a few guys so far. Just paying Alex Giroux $500,000 and $225,00 for Brad Moran is whacked out. Three quarters of a million dollars for two guys. If only I could hang out with Katz for a day. He must have $10 dollar bills in the bathroom for toilet paper. Unbelievable amounts of wasted money! I hope for the OKC Barons fans sake, these veteran AHL players are worth the cash. Defenceman Jake Taylor was also signed recently for the Barons.

I'm starting to think that Bob Funk jr. and the Barons have no say in the "hockey operations" department. It appears like the Oilers are sorting out their own problems first without considering the fact that the Barons are new and the fans were hungry for anything related to the team. Yes I did say were. The excitement is over. I don't know what they have in store next, but you couldn't beat the hype that a couple of bloggers (OilFieldHockey/CopperandBlue/OilersJambalaya) created a while back. As of this moment they are looking to sell seasons tickets. They do pay for a sponsored link on google to be found.

So here are my questions to the OKC Barons. Why is it taking sooooooooo long to pick the name the mascot winner? (My suggestion was Edmond Von Derrick) Where is your GM? (He's important to build a team) Where is your Head Coach (Kelly Buchberger??) and his Assistants? Where is your pump-up on Twitter and other social media? Where is the fan involvement? How about another live chat?

I have asked the Stockton Thunder if there has been any progress on if they will resign with the Oilers, as their current agreement is expired. So far they tell me they are working on it and they would love to still be apart of the Oilers family. I really hope they continue being apart of the Oilers organization because here at Oilers Jambalaya, we are going to ramp up our coverage of the Stockton Thunder starting this season. So I will keep you posted if an agreement is reached. We hope so.

**Cool new changes at Oilers Jambalaya and over at OilFieldHockey.com are coming soon.

We can't wait for next year to start!

LET'S GO OILERS! LET'S GO BARONS! LET'S GO THUNDER!**

-Written by Smokin' Ray-

Oilers Rookie Development Camp Day 2 Quick Update

Thanks again to @_gelsomino for the great LIVE tweets during the development camp.

Here are her tweets from today;

1. It is even busier here today.
2. After being herded like cattle from arena B to A, we are underway. Starting with stick handling drills.
3. Abbey (32) and MPS (28) owned at the 'ice plies' (for lack of a better term).
4. Hall is looking much better today, nerves gone maybe?
5. Pass around the circle. #Oilers http://twitpic.com/238nc4
6. I spy Ladislav Smid.
7. One on ones, Abney (32) trying his hand at defence.
8. Today was a lot more passing, shooting, stickhandling.
9. I am adding Abney (32) to my 'ones to watch for list.
10. Magnus Paajarvi Svensson really impressed me today. Him and Eberle both shined brighter then Hall.
11. Hall started out really strong but was looking tired towards the end, to many media tours as of late potentially?
12. Hall and Eberle are looking like 'BFF's.
13. The 'Jones Twins' with any luck future 'Sedin Sisters'.
14. He (Hall) is skilled, that is for sure, however a tad out of shape (just a tad). I bet after a few bag skates he'll be golden.
15. Honestly they all looked pretty even, the true test for them will be on Friday for the 3 on 3 games.

Well there you have it. If a fan like Jasmine is happy with these kids, well so is Oilers Jambalaya. The future looks bright for the Edmonton Oilers.

Come back tommorow and check out the LIVE TweetCast of Day 3 of the Oilers rookie development camp.

-Written by Smokin' Ray-

Bryan Pitton Attends Oilers Rookie Development Camp

Pitton Gets Oilers Development Camp Invite

07/06/2010 1:26 PM -

Bryan Pitton stops a shot on the opening day of the Edmonton Oilers 2010 Development Camp in Edmonton. (photo by Andy Devlin/EOHC)

Two-year Thunder goaltender looks for next step, joins prospects in Edmonton

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MORE: Edmonton Oilers Development Camp roster
MORE: Full coverage - Edmonton Oilers Development Camp

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers, announced goaltender Bryan Pitton (PITT-in), who has played the last two seasons with the Thunder, is one of 28 players selected by the Oilers to participate in their 2010 Development Camp, from July 6-9 in Edmonton.

The camp, featuring the Oilers top prospects and 18 players drafted by Edmonton in 2009 or 2010, including this year's first overall selection in Taylor Hall, is being conducted with on-ice sessions at Clareview Arena and off-ice workouts at Rexall Place, the Oilers home ice.

Pitton, 22, was selected by the Oilers in the fifth round (133rd overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and is 18-28-6 with a 3.18 goals-against-average and .901 save percentage in 56 lifetime games with the Thunder.

Last season, Pitton earned two separate recalls directly to Edmonton and left the ECHL on Feb. 1 on a recall to Springfield of the AHL by ranking second in the league with a .921 save percentage. He won eight of his last 12 ECHL games to finish 9-9-3 in the regular season with a 2.85 GAA and one shutout - a 34-save effort in a 1-0 shootout loss to Victoria (stopped 14 of 16 shooters) on Jan. 30.

The 6-foot-2, 176-pound goaltender broke a Thunder playoff record last year with 49 saves in Game 3 of the National Conference Final, a 1-0 win in triple overtime against the Idaho Steelheads which was the first playoff shutout of his career. He was also twice named Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week (Dec. 21-27 and Jan. 25-31).

The complete roster can be found at http://www.edmontonoilers.com/. Pitton is one of 15 players with experience in a Thunder uniform who have participated in development camps at the NHL level since 2008:

- James Bates (RW) - 2009
- Jordan Bendfeld (D) - 2009
- Sebastien Bisaillon (D) - 2008
- Troy Bodie (RW) - 2008
- Glenn Fisher (G) - 2008
- Igor Gongalsky (RW) - 2009 (Buffalo Sabres)
- Stephane Goulet (LW) - 2008
- Adam Huxley (LW) - 2008
- Ryan O'Marra (C) - 2008
- Geoff Paukovich (C) - 2008, 2009
- Andrew Perugini (G) - 2009
- Bryan Pitton (G) - 2009, 2010
- Les Reaney (C) - 2008
- Tyler Spurgeon (C) - 2008
- Cody Wild (D) - 2009


ABOUT THE ECHL
- The ECHL celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2007-08 and is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League. ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league with 19 teams in 14 states and British Columbia in 2010-11.
- 443 players have played in the NHL after playing in the ECHL including a record 53 in 2008-09. 35 ECHL players made their NHL debut in 2009-10.
- ECHL had a record 78 players on NHL opening-day rosters, surpassing the 71 from a year ago and marking the seventh year in a row that there have been over 50 former ECHL players on opening-day rosters.
- Every ECHL team has an affiliation with an NHL team and the league has affiliations with 28 of the 30 NHL teams, marking the 13th consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL.

OPENING NIGHT AND TICKET INFORMATION
Opening Night is Friday, Oct. 15, when the Thunder opens the 2010-11 regular season at home against the Ontario Reign, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena.

The Thunder are freezing Season Ticket Prices for the 2010-11 season, which are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (209) 373-1500 or by visiting http://www.stocktonthunder.com/. Thunder Season Ticket Holders enjoy the highest-demanded seating locations in Stockton Arena, preferred parking options, benefits including admission to Season Ticket Holder-only events, discount opportunities on Thunder merchandise, a free e-newsletter, an exclusive gift, admission to the first two rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs and more. Information on individual and group tickets will be announced soon.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," 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 and mini-plans 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 with permission by Oilers Jambalaya. Stockton Thunder is the ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers*

Oilers Development Rookie Camp Update (Thanks @_gelsomino )

Today was the first day of the Oilers rookie development camp. The skaters were doing mostly skating drills today (but no parachute). Players included today are Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi, Temmu Hartkinen, Anton Lander and many others.

These were the tweets that @_gelsomino sent out so we could follow along.

1. Eberle is a better skater then Hall.
2. Some pretty decent skaters and some not so good skaters.
3. Petpeeve; When people start dissing on player and the team when they have NO idea what they are talking about.

4. First half of the camp, all power skating. Second half, 3 on 0's, 3 on 1's, etc. And finished up with a quick game of rebound.
5. Overall Eberle looked stronger then Hall today. Hall looked kind of tired actually.
6. Ones to watch for: Hall (19), Eberle (25), MPS (28), Petry (5), and Pitlick (21).
7. They didn't do a whole ton of puck work today. Lots of skating.
8. No parachutes today either.

9. I'm guessing it (edit* the players numbers) means nothing, there was a bunch of forwards with goalie numbers. I think they were randomly assigned.

So there you have it. Thanks to Jasmine for the updates and she will be tweeting all week so follow her on Twitter. She loves her Oilers and so do we. Come back tomorrow for more updates.

-Written by Smokin' Ray-

Gilbert Brule, Jeff Deslauriers & JF Jacques File For Arbitration

As per Pierre LeBrun's tweet today, the following players have filed for arbitration. Three of these players are Edmonton Oilers. Gilbert Brule, Jeff Deslauriers & JF Jacques have all filed for arbitration.

Here is the tweet;

On Monday 5th July 2010, @Real_ESPNLeBrun said:

NHLPA announces 31 players filed for salary arbitration today: James Wisniewski, Ben Eager, Andrew Ladd, Clarke MacArthur, Greg Campbell,Blake Wheeler, Tim Kennedy, Ian WhiteAntti Niemi, Jared Boll, Anton StralmanFabian Brunnstrom, Derek Meech, Gilbert Brule, Jeff Drouin-DesLauriers,Jean-Francois Jacques, Brad Richardson, Mark Fraser, Matt Moulson, Daniel Girardi,Chris Campoli, Peter Regin, Daniel Carcillo, Cam Janssen, Nate Thompson, Tanner Glass, Jannik Hansen, Mason Raymond, Eric Fehr, Tomas Fleischmann, Jeff Schultz

That's quite the list. Anyone else shocked that those three Oilers have chosen arbitration?

Gilbert Brule may have a case but even so, he wasn't THAT good last season. Take what you get and play better for a year or two. The money will come with production. He made $800,000 last season.

Then we have JF Jacques. Can someone explain what JF Jacques is going to say in his defence? "Uhhhh... me play hockey." I don't know why he's trying to fight anything? Last season he made $550,000. Not bad for not really playing all season. And he wants more?

Lastly we have Jeff Deslauriers. Deslauriers chose arbitration and Dubnyk didn't. I'd say another edge for DD. Jeff made $625,000 last season and I think that's pretty fair. If he is awarded more than $1 million, that's highway robbery. I'd expect him traded by the start of the season (depending on Khabi's condition).

These three should have elected to negotiate with the team privately as feelings will get hurt. I really hope that these guys settle before arbitration starts because it never ends on great terms.

Arbitration runs from July 20th and goes till August 5.

-Written by Smokin' Ray-