Game Day "Coyotes"

After a few days off, If I may say so myself, us Oiler fans are craving some Oiler action. Of course not the same kind of action as displayed against Calgary on Saturday (Or should I say lack of action, on the part of the Oilers?)

Hall is back tonight and rumour has it Potter may be as well. Hall will help pick up the tempo that has been surely lacking and Corey Potter 'Powerplay', will be a welcome sign and some good puck movement from the backend will be a welcome addition. Not too much can be expected from these two, as they may not be quite as game ready, as they have been off anywhere from 2-3 weeks.

Shane Doan (the above picture) was a draft pick that never became reality for the Edmonton Oilers. Instead they bypassed him to pick up another player that never did pan out (not even worth mentioning the name). Maybe the team would have taken a different direction had he been a Edmonton Oiler, maybe not. Bottom line is, we now have some great top end talent that is bursting at the seams here in Edmonton.

Players that will be a part of the future include...Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordon Eberle. Those are stone cold locks, any others will be expendable even if they do have high upside. Until the Oilers and these young guns can learn how to consistently produce on the road, they will not be contenders though. My guess is, come next year at this time, we will see a greater consistency that has not been seen in quite some time. This team can score. This team can produce stellar goaltending on occasion. This team can shut a team down defensively. Now the question remains, 'how long till we see a consistent package of these area's?'

Looking forward to tonight's game with anticipation (If only I was able to watch a game without PVR'ing) Anyway, at least recording the game means I can break the game plays down much better.

Go Oilers!

My predictions for today's game

Gametime 7:30pm CHED630am/Sportsnet-Edn

REV'S Edmonton Oiler

Gameday Predictions Dec 15th/11

1. 1st game back and Hall collects a point or more himself tonight.

2. Inspired by the return of Hall and possibly Potter the Oilers are motivated to win this road game. Expect a Oilers win tonight.

3. The Oilers after a aweful PP against Calgary score tonight on the PP once again.

4. Eberle with a goal tonight to light the lamp.

5. RNH gets back on track and comes up with a road point or two.

(EV'S PREDICTIONS TO DATE: 66 for 124=53.2%

Man, that game against Calgary really was a kick in the backside of us Oiler fans. Hurts the predictions too when your team fires blanks. Here's hoping to a more fired up Oilers team.

As the great Ed Whalen used to say "In the meantime and in between time, that's it, for another edition of...REV'S PREDICTION" (bolded words are not Whalen's words)

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

Tyler Bunz Cut??? What???

Just before I go to sleep after an exhausting night shift on a drilling rig, I scan twitter and I find out that Oilers prospect Tyler Bunz has been cut from Team Canada?!?

What the hell?

I thought he'd be a lock for sure. I guess I was wrong. It's too bad. I feel Tyler could have been a big part of a gold medal in a city that not only drafted him, buy support him as well.

Try not to be too sad Tyler. Your still a good goalie no matter what. Someone fu*ked up with the decision making that's for sure.

Remember this... The Nuge never played for Canada and look at him now.

-Written by Smokin' Ray Burnt-

What's The Problem?

I don't get what the big deal is. Why not send Magnus Paajarvi down right now?

He's clearly struggling and the Oklahoma City Barons could use a talent like Paajarvi right now.

I say send him down now and it will work out best for both parties. MPS needs to find his groove.

-Smokin' Ray Burnt-

Oilers 2012 Draft Watch "Griffin Reinhart"

REVS 2012 Prospects List (Oct 3rd/11)

1.Nail Yakupov

2.Mikhail Grigorenko

3.Ryan Murray

4.Alex Galchenyuk

5.Morgan Rielly

6.Mathew Dumba

7.Nick Ebert

8.Filip Forsberg

9.Griffin Reinhart

10.Martin Frk

11.Derrick Pouliot

12.Cody Ceci

13.Olli Maatta

14.Zemgus Girgensons

15.Jacob Trouba

Today we examine the #9 ranked player from REVS 2012 Prospects List . Each player is unique in their own right and full of talent. The ranking does not reflect a mock draft of who a team may actually pick but rather who I would place as the best player available in that spot.

Pos: D

HT:6'3 ft
WT:200

Born: Vancouver, B.C.

 

2010/11 Oil Kings  WHL  Games 45 G 6 A 19  PTS 25

2011/12 Oil Kings  WHL  Games 24  G 6 A 10 PTS 16

This six-foot four, two hundred pound blueliner from the Edmonton Oil Kings has all the tools needed to have a successful pro career. A strong point is his shot, which isn't too surprising given his size. But scouts also tell say his mobility is another strength.  Reinhart says he likes to think that he could be the next Shea Weber. A high expectation but even half as good as Shea Weber would be a blessing in disguise for the team who selects him.

Sad news for Oilers fans is that Griffin is also a big Vancouver Canucks fan. But since Calgary was Hall's favourite team he can be excused for that, growing up in BC. RNH also was a Canuck fan as well. Griffin is expected to go fairly early in the first round in 2012, and the team that drafts him will certainly be glad to get him.

 Something limiting Griffin from being ranked higher in draft rankings is that, he’s not great at using his size to play a physical game. It’s not like he avoids all contact but scouts would like to see him be more aggressive to take pucks away from opponents. Griffin’s still a very raw prospect, and he will likely need a few more years of development before he can step into the pro game. Current Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson is being used as an example of what not to do with Reinhart, as Johnson was brought into St. Louis too early, and some say that as a result his career has already been ruined.

(both are fight videos but show Griffin is a strong customer)

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

Game Day "Flames"

As the Oilers take to the ice at the Saddledome in Calgary tonight, I can not but help remember back to those vicious battles that took place between these two teams in the 80's. As a fan of hockey back then, we never really realized until it was too late, how we should have soaked up that bitter rivalry with every ounce of hockey passion we could muster.

I wonder who today's Glen Anderson is on the Oilers? Is it possible maybe a player like Hartikanen will turn into that player? Nope, not likely he has the scoring touch or the speed. Maybe we will never see a player who closely resembles Glen Anderson. All I do know, is our current team that we call our 'Oilers' is as Bi-Polar as they come. Granted, last night's game was against a struggling club. But the previous few games to that one, were against struggling clubs. Sometimes this team has its 'wheels flying' and is 'hell bent' but other times this team has a 'flat' and their play becomes 'childlike' on the ice.

At this moment, the Oilers are trying their best to resemble a playoff competitive team and good on them. To change the mind of the critics though will require a winning percentage of 60% or better. Their has been some struggles with our defence but in whole, if they are to play a simpler game (like last night) and limit the mistakes, they have a chance each night to win a hockey game.

Yes,  Teubert last night made a bad line change and was out of position on a couple shifts that almost cost him but at least he is a rookie making mistakes. No raw rookie will come in to a NHL club and be flawless, even the best defencemen will make mistakes. What I do like about Colten, is his rugged play and how he takes his man out of the play. He is strong on the wall and covers his man well. On one shift last night, he must have made 3 big hits then eventually caused the puck to be turned back over to the Oilers, and all because of his strong body work on the boards. Maybe this is not his year were we see Teubert become a full-time NHL player, but we are getting closer, and that means another player of his sort will become expendable next year or the next. Who do you think it could be, who should be looking over his shoulder? Or do you think Teubert is bound to be a 7th defencemen in this organization?

Khabby continues to play well and showed some early season form last night. Here is hoping he can keep this up and help this team gain some respectability once again. Dubynk has started to fade some and looked shaky in his last few starts, but confidence is a big factor in success. If it were me (and I am sure many of you are glad it is not me), I would run the goalie rotation based on stellar and hot goaltending. If Khabby has a hot hand, run with him. If Dubynk excels, let him play the next game. There is pros and cons to this, but it does have some merit.

time to do battle with the hated Flames of Cowville!

Go Oilers!!!

My predictions for today's game

Gametime 8:00pm CHED630am/CBC

REV'S Edmonton Oiler

Gameday Predictions Dec 10th/11

1. Now that we have the Nuge playing more time on the PP and Belanger finding his rightful place off the PP, I see the PP putting up another goal or two tonight.

2. How can I not pick the Oilers to win this game? Exactly, as a Oilers fan, it would be against my better judgement even if I thought Calgary was the better team. Oilers win!

 

3. Gagner has been flying as of late and while he is, I am still banking on him putting up more points as well. Gagner will collect a point or better on the PP tonight.

4. Belanger has not been his usual high facoff % self as of late. However he has been putting points up. Last nights game he fared ok and against a better FO% team he will be in tough but should still finish 52% or better in the dot tonight.

5. Nuge continues to prove he belongs in the NHL. 30 Games and 33 points or more? Bank on it!

(EV'S PREDICTIONS TO DATE: 65 for 119=54.6%)

Was shocked Teubert was given so many mins in last nights game, but good on Renney who used this opportunity to rest some vets and give ice time to some rookies. What's up with Smyth's lack of scoring prowess? Thought he was a lock every game to score?..lol As a famous actor once said "I'll be back!"

As the great Ed Whalen used to say "In the meantime and in between time, that's it, for another edition of...REV'S PREDICTION" (bolded words are not Whalen's words)

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