My thoughts on Hall maybe getting a extension.

Hello Oilers Jambalaya readers this is my third blog post. I hope that the Jambalaya readers are enjoying them. Here's my last blog post http://www.oilersjambalaya.com/2012/08/yakupov-during-canada-russia-challenge.html which was taking a  closer look at Yakupov during the Canada-Russia Challenge. Check my last blog if you get the chance.  In this blog I am going to write about the rumored Hall extension.





Hall getting a long term deal done before the new CBA comes in to effect (if Bettman can do his job) in my mind is a smart move but, does have it's share of risk.  I will go over the positives and negatives of this extension below.

bye bye NHL season.

Positives

•  Even on one shoulder Hall was still playing really good hockey by driving the play when he is on the ice.
• He has great leadership potential which will be extremely valuable as the Oilers progress into a powerhouse.  He was one of the main players in the signing of free agent Justin Schultz.

Risky

• Injuries might take away from his long term potential (god forbid) although a lot those injuries were bad luck (Pronger curse).  Looking over his recent injuries history the Dorsett fight where he wish boned his ankle,  Potter using his face as skating rink and even the Sarich concussion he slipped just before the hit which position his head a lot lower than it would have been if he didn't slip. If these injuries take their tole worst case scenario he could end up being along the lines of Wendal Clark just below Eric Lindros.

• Depending on the new CBA the Oilers may be over paying on Hall's extension due to changes on when a player becomes a Unrestricted Free Agent.

Final thoughts.

My final thoughts are Hall has the potential to be the corner stone and future captain of the Oilers. He is a young talented player that will one day score around 80-90 points (no pressure Hallsy if you read that.).  And even if they overpay of his contract due to changes to the CBA I believe the goodwill shown by the Oilers will help with future negotiations. (Boys on the Bus part 2 the sequel)

Hall's resume.

• 2 Memorial Cups and 2 Memorial Cup MVP's.
• Picked 1 Overall

First season stats.

22 goals and 20 assist.

Second season.

27 goals and 26 assist.


Yours truly NHL Rumors Guy.

(This extension rumor originally came from Ryan Rishaug of TSN.)

PROSPECT OR SUSPECT? "Ryan Martindale"

Ryan Martindale

6’3 207 lbs

AGE: 21

Year         GP   G     A     P      +/-     Team

2007/08    64    9     8     17     -15    Ottawa 67's                       

2008/09    53   23    24    47     -7     Ottawa 67's 

2009/10    61   19    41    60      2     Ottawa 67's  

2010/11    65   34    49    83     38     Ottawa 67's

2011/12    16    0     2      2      -2      OKC Barons

2011/12    34    6     9      15    -13     Stockton Thunder

Ryan is a player who leaves you still wanting and 2 minutes later, your sitting in awe of some play he just made. He has world talent, good size but commitment level still appears to be the thing in question. He has a good knack for the net and great vision on the ice but can lack right decision making at times which was seen in Stockton and in OKC. Defensively Martindale is a good PK player and is decent on draws. 

Last August 2011 I wrote the following here at Oilers Jambalaya;

Ryan , with his size, strength and talent, will be amongst the tops again this season in the OHL. Trouble is, it can be completely offset by his lack of perceived desire and competitiveness.  At his size Ryan has great mobility and can be an offensive threat passing or shooting the puck. When Ryan is using his size, he protects the puck extremely well.  That bodes well for him to be a very effective player on the cycle. The downside is when he isn’t competing well, he is no different then any other player on the ice. In scouting reports before his draft year, it was being said he needed to improve his skating to have a chance at the pro level. Not sure if that area has improved much since. In any case, it looks like drive and foot speed will be what has to show improvement , if he is going to continue to show development.

REVS TAKE: Ryan's start to his professional career has been underwhelming and that is in playing minor pro. His offensive numbers are limited yet has greater high end then he has shown yet once again. While he is taking the hard road to the NHL, he is certainly learning about hard work ethic along the way. Likely this will truly be his make it or break it year.Having said all that, I say he is definitely SUSPECT.

For Oiler prospect news and the 2013 or 2014 NHL draft watch, go to

 www.twitter.com/revingev

Yakupov during the Canada Russia challenge.

Hello Oilers Jambalaya readers as some of you know i am the guy who wrote http://www.oilersjambalaya.com/2012/08/a-guess-at-2012-13-season-for-oilers.html check it out if you have the time. This Blog post is about Oilers First overall pick Nail Yakupov and how he is did in the Canada-Russia Challenge.




My thoughts on how Nail Yakupov is doing in the Canada-Russia Challenge.


The First Game.

The First game in the Canada - Russia series for Nail in my opinion was a slow pace game for what we are used to as he was playing sloppy.  I will give him that everyone was playing sloppy in that game after all its summer hockey.  Once he got the rust off he let go a ROCKET of a shot that everyone knew was going to him but, no one could stop. He started to play with more confidence not as many turn overs and more crisp pass's but again still summer hockey.

     at the 1;30 mark of the video is Nails goal.

Canada wins 3-2

Stats from Game one for Nail Yakupov 1 goal 0 assist.



Game Two.


Nail played well in game two but had no points he looked a little tentative and was cheating for offense.  Even without Nail contributing to the offense the Russian walked away with a 6-3 win.

Stats for Nail 0 points.



Game Three.

Nail has a two point day, he was cheating on the offensive zone again.  On the whole he was playing better than he has been just like the rest of the players on both teams (summer hockey). Nail played well in this game his passing skills are a lot better than people give him credit..

                                                                  Nail had 2 assist but no goals.

one of the assist.



Game Four

Yakupov played well with nice pass's and a couple good chances in the final game of the series.  He had  one really chance where he let go his amazing shot that grazed off a Canadian defender or Subban just got a piece of. 

Canada wins  the game and ties the series 2-2 (final game)

Nail had one assist.

Yeah mom their talking about me on Oilers Jambalaya                                                       

Overtime (they went to Overtime to decide who won the series) Canada won in OT and won the series


Things to work on.

- less cheating for offense.
- create space to get into shooting areas.
- smile more  (just kidding)

Things to keep an eye on.
- His quick release heavy shot (already NHL caliber)
- Above average play making skills



Overall.

Yakupov played well but cheated a little too often for offense.  He really impressed with his play making skills and showed off his quick release on his lone goal (sweet one-timer).  I have to say that Yakupovs best game was the last one when the Russians were down late in the game and was getting extra ice time.  With the additional ice time he started to play like we are used to.  He's the type of player that brings you to the edge of your seat every time he touches the puck.   Hopefully he will have a great NHL rookie season and maybe just maybe win the first Calder trophy in Edmonton Oilers History.

yours truly NHL rumors guy.

A Guess at the 2012-13 Season for the Oilers

Hello Oilers Jambalaya readers, this is my first blog ever edited because of some new developments and some new thinking.

The Oilers 2013 season through NHL rumors Guy's eyes.

Opening Day Lines

First Line RW Eberle C Hopkins LW Hall

Second Line RW Hemsky C Gagner LW Yakupov

Third Line RW Paajavi C Horcoff LW Symth

Fourth Line  RW Hartikainen C Belanger LW Eager

(Paajarvi and Hartikainen could switch and Jones is hurt)

I think that the Oilers will have the lottery line during at some point this season. (Yak Hop Hallsy.)

Defence lines.

First line LD Smid and RD Petry.

Second line LD Nick Schultz and RD Justin Schultz

Third line LD Peckham and RD Whitney.

The First half of the season (24 games in)

The first half of the season, I think the Oilers will be .500 and I think that the Oilers will have a lot of fun at this point of the season.

Leading points scoring being RNH with 13 and 25 assist for 38 points.

Leading the goal scoring will be Hall with 14 goals and 15 assists for 30 points.

Eberle will be right up there with RNH and Hall with 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points.

Nail Yakupov will have 10 goals and 15 assists for 27 points.

 Justin Schultz (which will probably being playing with some one like Smid or Nick Schultz) I think he will have 9 goals and 20 assists for 29 points.

Gagner's points could be 10 goals and 15 assist for 25 points.

The Last half of the season.

The Oilers will finish in 8th place to just make the playoffs, but will lose in 6 games of the first round. (26 wins 12 losses)

My guess for the final stats for 2013.

Leading goal scorer Taylor Hall 33 goals 29 assists for 62 points.

Leading point getter will be Jordan Eberle who just beats out RNH by one point with 30 goals, 40 assists for 70 points.

 RNH had one less goal than Eberle. I think he will have 29 goals 44 assist for 74 points.

Justin Schultz points; 11 goals, 33 assists for 44 points for a good rookie year.


Nail Yakupov's points 23 goals 27 assist for 50 points on the dot.

Sam Gagner 20 goals, 20 assists for 40 points.

I think that the Oilers will have good exciting year. But even though they make the playoffs, they get kicked out early. But still being an 8th place team is a big step up from second to last. Remember Oiler fans, this lockout might have hurt us in some way, but lets not stop cheering for our oilers just because we had a couple extra months to watch other hockey.

Go Oilers go!



Yours truly NHL rumors guy. Noah Fuchs

The FUTURE of Team Canada

Today RUSSIA vs CANADA continues on TSN2 at 8am Edmonton time. Two players are front and center yet have to be even drafted yet. Come this years World Jr's U20 , both will stand a high chance to be a important part of team Canada. 

Sean Monahan is a Centermen who fans need to take notice of, including the Edmonton Oilers should they falter this season once again. I highly doubt he is available when they pick next year, but fans will enjoy watching this player as a member of Team Canada as well as a NHL Prospect to watch this coming season.

Shinkaruk a winger and a pure goal scorer is auditioning in this russia vs canada series for the U20 World Jrs this winter. Another player who is likely a top 10 draft pick, he will be given every opportunity to shine and improve on a great season last year. 

Both these players are playing today. Watch them closely cause it is likely you will be seeing their names called early at the 2013 NHL Draft. This series of games you get to see them compete along side prospects already selected and against players much older already. Always nice to see some younger stars groomed by Team Canada. 

So sit back enjoy this series cause it's always a beauty when Russia takes on Canada, no matter the venue.

For Oiler prospect news and the 2013 or 2014 NHL draft watch, go to

 www.twitter.com/revingev