Brule surprise and a talk with Mike Comrie

The Oilers surprised me by putting Gilbert Brule on waivers late Sunday. I do think it was the right move for the club , just didn’t expect it. That nobody claimed Brule was not a surprise even though CTV was reporting that San Jose may have claimed him. His salary is just to high. Brule will most likely be called back up at some point in the first half of the season and I do not see him clearing re-entry waivers. At half price Brule is well worth the risk. Teams like Vancouver could give him a shot.

I chatted with former Oiler Mike Comrie last week and really there is nothing to update on his status on returning to the NHL. “I have been taking a break from hockey and really try not to think about it to much right now” Comrie said. “we have been very busy with life in general and I am enjoying myself”

I asked Comrie if he thinks he will be back this season and he told me even if he felt he could play sometime this year it would be hard to get a contract especially after so much time away from the game. If and when he feels he is ready then he will pursue them options. When asked if he thinks about retirement from hockey Mike told me “absolutely not, I will play again”.

When asked about his time in Edmonton Comrie told me “ I love Edmonton, always have. Its to bad how things turned out for me there the second time around but oh well”. No hard feelings? “nope, why would there be? There’s things I didn’t like but any team you go to you can find things you don’t like”.

I hope Mike has a great year getting ready for his first baby and a speedy recovery. When healthy Mike is a very talented hockey player.

You can follow me on twitter @friesennhl

COMING:Oilers 2012 Draft watch?

Welcome to 'Oilersjambalaya' 2012 Oilers Draft Watch.

As I had mentioned in some tweets as well in a previous blog I had done, I was going to be releasing a Oilers 2012 Draft Watch here at 'Oilersjambalaya' for you, the fans of prospects. I am quite certain there are some of you right now reading this and 'rolling your eyes'. I suggest you STOP READING and just click out and browse somewhere else. Maybe read a older blog one of us have done here.

The purpose of this watch is just that, were carefully going to follow and watch how several different prospects do throughout the year. The plan? I will be sharing my personal Oilers Draft Watch for 2012 that I have compiled. You can search and find many good scouting agencies who also do this as well. All you have to do is google search '2012 draft prospects' and you will find a ton of information.

For me, I have followed and read through several other scouting reports from last year and into this early 2011 season. I follow several scouting reports on twitter, I check out scouting websites, the list goes on. As well, I try as often as I can to get out to catch WHL games and follow what I can via streaming video or watch a game on Sportsnet when possible for the OHL and QMJHL. I will also occasionally watch some games of USHL or NCAA when opportunity exists.

Later today I am going to be releasing 'REVS 2012 NHL PROSPECTS LIST '. For the next weeks, I will be writing up a profile on one player a week and their progress to this point in their hockey career. Hopefully this will give you a better picture looking into the top prospects that are available next year. Upon the completion of the U20 World JR Championships here in Alberta I will be sending out a new and updated list. At that point we can see who has fallen and who has picked up and helped their cause for a higher selection.

You may be asking, 'what is the purpose of doing this so called 'Oilers 2012 draft watch'? Well, the way I see it is, the Oilers will in all probability, finish best at 15th overall in the NHL, giving them at the very least the #15 pick. The worst they could do is finish 30th overall and possibly receive another #1 pick. (Which I really don't see happening) So since we can assume they will be in that range of picking 15th to 1st overall in the 2012 NHL Draft, I decided it was good to follow the possible top 15 prospects that the Oilers could potentially pick from, in 2012. Also with the way things are being rebuilt here in Edmonton, what if we were to make another trade potentially, that brought us another top 15 pick? You just never know. STAY TUNED!

I will be releasing my list late afternoon on October 3/11.

For continued information on Oiler and Baron news and 2012/13 NHL draft watch, you can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/revingev

The Oilers Loss, Is The Barons Gain

Everyone is always sad when cuts happen after the Oilers training camp, and rightfully so. Watching a good player get cut sucks, especially if you believe he should stay.

Today is no different. Some cuts were made today like Ryan O'Marra and Teemu Hartikainen. I like both of those players and I'd like to see them full time in an Oilers uniform. But as of now, that's not going to happen.

However...

My other favorite team just gained some kick ass talent. Both players played in OKC last year and both were welcomed to the city with open arms. My friends in OKC have had nothing but good things to say about them. I'm sure they will be welcomed all over again this season too.

On a hockey side, the Barons gained 5 quality hockey players today. O'Marra, Hartikainen, Josh Green, Gilbert Brule and Ryan Keller.

Keller has proved he can play in the AHL and his experience is going to help propel the Barons into the playoffs. He showed the Oilers he can be effective and no doubt he will in OKC too.

Josh Green, the former Oiler, is a classic case of veteran leadership. He's been in the show, and he's played enough in the AHL to know how it goes. He going to help the young kids adapt to being a pro and that's valuable. If I was coach Todd Nelson, I'd give serious consideration on making Green the captain of the Barons.

There's two ways this is going to work for Gilbert Brule. Option 1, this will light a fire under his ass and he's going to lead the team in points. Tambellini says he needs to find his game, and I can't argue with that. Option 2, this demotion crushes his feeling and he fades away to the point of not being able to produce or be worth of ice time. The Stockton Thunder can use a forward.

Let's not forget that this team already has a good group down there, adding these five guys is a good thing for the Barons. Like I said. The Oilers loss... is the Barons gain.

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY-

Final Cuts Have Been Made By The Oilers

Gilbert Brule, Ryan Keller, Josh Green and Ryan O'Marra have all been put on waivers for the purpose of assignment to Oklahoma City. Teemu Hartikainen has also been sent to the Barons. Hartikainen doesn't need to be on waivers.

That spells the end for Brule with the Oilers. He played like crap during the preseason and it's deserving. I'm thinking they hope he gets picked up on waivers cause he's paid way to much to be hanging out in OKC.

With the cuts that did happen, that means that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Anton Lander and Lennart Petrell have all made the opening night roster. Quite the interesting look for the Oil. This should be an interesting year.

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY-

"Final Curtain Call"

What a night! Unfortunately none of us Oiler fans were able to watch this pre-season game on TV as it was only streamed via the Oilers website. However, good ol' Jack Michaels and Bob Stauffer had the call on the dial. (radio that means)

I was driving on the highway last night, so listening to the radio broadcast was good enough for me. My heart goes out to Taylor Fedun and his family. Sometimes, life is just not fair. Here is hoping that in some way, some form, his recovery is a quick one and not a career ending one. The card up Taylor Fedun's sleeve? He has a degree from Princeton. This is one great reason to have a already established education on top of a hockey background. Anyway, good luck to Taylor as he recovers.

Tonight is the "Final Curtain Call" for pre-season. Last night was to be a curtain call of sorts for some blue liners but two of the three auditioning went down with injury. The blueline looks set for opening night with the exception of any new face that Tambo may be able to wrangle up last minute. It was also a opportunity for that extra centre position that may have a opening coming up. I am looking forward to seeing a real telecast once again on the 'Big Screen' but more then that, I am mighty curious to seeing what line combinations we end the pre-season with. I am intrigued by a few things that may be happening in regards to assignments to OKC and how things are handled with some of the young guys like Nugent-Hopkins and Lander

REV'S HOCKEY THOUGHTS OF THE DAY

1.LINE COMBINATIONS: How many different line combinations is Renney going to continue trying? Hall has had almost no consistency with anyone. Hemsky has played two games with different players, Nugent-Hopkins has played with at least 3 different line combinations and the list goes on. Players will always tell you they would rather use the last couple games of the pre-season to start building chemistry with linemates before going into the season. Makes sense, or doesn't it? I know we finish the year with back to back games and they are meaningless and the management and coach's want to do some final evaluations before sending players to their respective teams but c'mon! I know Eager has been hurt, but why not then have Belanger playing with Jones if he is going to be playing your 4th line? If he will be your 3rd line Centre then have him with Omark and Paajarvi. It's just a personal frustration cause it usually means we need 10 games into the season mixing line combo's. I know it can't be fixed as easy as I make it sound but there can be a little more stability for some combinations.

2.BELANGER: Call be cynical and I know it's pre-season but last night was a opportunity for Belanger to show his faceoff abilities against higher end talent, yet he could not even manage 50% in the dot. Also Belanger on a couple occasions has had some talent to play with, yet I have yet to see where that offensive upside is. I know it's pre-season, but this is already how many games and some are slotting him in as at least a 3rd line Centre? The only reason, from what I have seen to this point to have him as your 3rd line centre is for faceoffs. We all know how that turned out last night.

3.RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS: Can we expect another good game tonight? This will be a much better test against what will most likely be the Canucks opening night line-up. I would say this is his toughest competition to date against the bigger more physical guys. I still don't think Gagner's injury has affected the status of Ryan. He was getting nine games regardless (unless he stunk out the place in pre-season) was what I already had heard from Oilers brass even back at development camp in July. It really is based on his play and if he is physically ready. So far, so good!

4.LANDER: To this point, everything I am hearing from the coach's and management has leaned towards Lander starting the year in OKC. That would not be bad. But Lander won't let it be that easy for them will he? The guy was crazy good last night. Sure he took some stupid penalties last night but he won faceoffs and scored goals. Not just goals but IMPORTANT goals. With the way the other centre's are playing, right now, I personally would put him into the third line slot. At least for a few games to start the year, see where he is at. Management, coach's say Belanger may need some time to learn chemistry with the team so why not let him start 4th line and earn his way up the line's? People make the argument that Lander has only played well pre-season against lesser all around team's. What about Belanger then? Should he not be performing at a higher level then Lander at this stage of the game? Truth is, Lander has risen to the occasion and really does deserve the chance. Or will he end up like Omark did last year? Being sent to OKC, cause of 'politics'? (Words of Omark's, not mine)

5.BRULE: While Brule didn't do anything wrong last night, he did not help his cause either. He seems to be a fish out of water. I don't see him being anything more then a spot player anymore as our 13th forward. I really believe he needs a opportunity with a organization that needs his kind of game and is lacking in their bottom six.

6.HARTIKANEN: Didn't hurt his case last night, but also didn't help it. Personally I find that Hartikanen plays much to the level of linemates he is given. I would think he is sent down to OKC right after the game in Vancouver, but he definitely will be called up barring any injury to the wingers.

7.OPENING NIGHT GOALTENDING: Ok, this is my take on who starts. Devan got the game in Minny while Khabi gets the start in Vancouver. Could it be because Devan has the most time off before the opening night game that he gets the nod? I know it's only one day difference, but it is possible. Devan did not hurt his cause last night. Sure one goal was questionable, but the other two he had no chance and on the penalty kill none less. Expect to see Dubynk get the start to the season (At this point, he is the goalie of the future and Khabi is the mentor)

8.EXPECTING ANOTHER DEFENCEMAN: I can not see a circumstance where Tambo is not bringing in another blueliner now. I would think, it's not going to be a trade yet. I would expect they will look at a free agent who is yet to sign. Should in a month time, Whitney not be back in the line-up , you could expect a trade for a defenceman.

9.HORDICHUK: This guy is showing why it will be hard to keep him out of the lineup. I am OK with that. He makes it hard for the other team to get much time and space with the puck. To this point, he has been picture perfect and exactly what the Oilers wanted and signed for.

10.STILL EXPECTING SOMETIME WITHIN A WEEK TO SEE A FORWARD MOVED OUT:

No, I don't have any inside information on this. Barring injuries, (with Gagner being hurt, this has slowed the idea of moving a player out down) there are too many forwards and not enough good defenceman. Something has to give, and I would think it's the forward position that will be giving.

For continued information on Oiler and Barons news and 2012/13 NHL draft watch, you can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/revingev