'Hockey Depression'

I have been in hockey limbo for some time and my gravest apologies to all my readers and followers on twitter. After a year of blogging, sometimes depression can claim even the fanatical follower of hockey. My original plan was to do a small write up on key Oiler prospects in the organization in the month of August and while it started ok, I tuckered out with the depression blues of potential lock out of NHL hockey.

Last time around, the lock out I felt was needed to change for the survival of the franchises that existed. Since then the NHL owners have made a lot of money as have the players. Idea......what about 50/50 of Hockey related revenue to figure your salary cap each year? Anyway, the whole business side of hockey is really ticking me off and there seems to be no consideration for the fan who pays the bills. I say 'screw them all!' Boycott purchasing merchandise and tickets and watching games I say, except for one thing......."I am so addicted to the game of hockey"!!!!

Instead of anticipating another awesome year of Oiler hockey, I have been walking around all sad face. It's like a daze each day I am wandering around in. I have seemingly been a step behind in gathering information that most often I have been two or three steps ahead of others on. What can I attribute that to? CBA between the NHL and NHLPA!

This whole CBA has does nothing but dominate the hockey blog boards, the newspaper articles, local sports radio and has diminished what should have been 'incredible excitement' over Justin Schultz and Nail Yakupov coming to Rookie Training Camp for the Edmonton Oilers this year. Instead? We sit here, hearing of players preparing other options around the world so they can still play for a pay cheque. Who am I angry at for causing this hockey depression I am going through? I will answer that and some more thoughts and opinions in some future blogs as I gear back up for more hockey excitement here at Oilers Jambalaya.com

So will we be waving goodbye to part of a season or a whole season? Or will we see a last minute deal and only eliminate a few pre-season games and jump quickly into the regular season of NHL hockey? There is arguments for all the sides. Possibly another question we can discuss here at Oilers Jambalaya.com?

Instead of already watching and evaluating players growth from the off-season , I have been catching up on local roller hockey at Millennium Place in Sherwood Park, or local recreation league hockey around the city. Just recently joined the a new hockey team and played first pre-season game so hockey juices have started flowing once again.

I have been gathering all my information on this years 2013 NHL Draft Prospects and while some were a shoe in to be in the top 10, not all were as easy to rank. So my blogs this month will not only be the unveiling of my "REVS TOP 15 2013 NHL DRAFT PROSPECTS" but also a write up on each player over the next while.

In addition, I am planning on continuing some more with updates of  'Oiler prospect or Suspect'? In addition I will be adding by popular demand from last year my Q&A of topics of hockey interest, including line combinations, coaching decisions, possible trades and thoughts on prospects in the system or just all around questions about hockey in general including the 2013 NHL Draft prospects.

With the mind cleared, cob-webs out of the way, I feel I am back and raring to go. After all, I am a follower of prospects and no lock-out looms on that front. The season has gotten underway with pre-season games across the CHL and elsewhere. Time to pick up the pen....I mean laptop and start typing away.

For Oiler prospect news and the 2013 or 2014 NHL draft watch, follow me on twitter

 www.twitter.com/revingev

Eberle maybe getting a extension.

Hello readers my last post was about Hall maybe getting an extension which he did (7 years 42 million.) Anyway this Post is about Eberle maybe getting an extension.

Eberle is great young hockey player that will probably get close to Hallsy contract dollar wise.  He will probably get close to 7 years. Here are the negatives and the positives about signing Eberle to a long term extension.

Positives

• He's got some of the softest hands in the game today and could there's a slight chance he ends up being more productive than Hall.

• He has shown the element of clutch or where others have called puck luck.  He just seems to have this calmness to his game which is really comes to the fore when the game is on the line.

Negatives

• He's had some injures (Oiler's curse) in his first couple years and some have questions his size and toughness which never is a good sign.

• He can't keep up his shooting percentage because he was scoring on every fourth shots.

TSN'S goal of the year in 2011 and Finalist in who's better.

Resume or highlights of his Hockey career.

Draft day.

Picked 22nd overall 2008 (steal.)

Scored 106 points, in his last season in juniors with the Pats.

First season in Edmonton 18 goals, 25 assists, 43 points.

Second season (sophomore slump?) 34 Goals, 42 assist, 76 points.

Deep thoughts

When the Oilers sign Eberle hopefully between Hall and Ebs the Oilers will have an internal salary cap.  This will become more important as the other young guns contracts become due. After the next wave of  entry level contracts are over and with Horcoff, Hemsky and KHABIBULIN off the books there's a chance the Oilers can keep all the young guns together. 

your truly NHL Rumors Guy.

The Future Is Getting Locked Up

After the huge Taylor Hall signing yesterday, - he signed a 7 year extension at $6 million per year - we are all waiting for the next announcement.

Jordan Eberle is the next one to be signed long term by the Oilers and it's good timing to be doing this now with the new CBA negotiations going on right now.

It's possible Eberle will get about the same type of deal that Hall has. I have heard it could be a little less than Hall's coming in around $5.5 million a year over 6 years. But we won't know till the deal is done.

These two contracts will setup the future for the rest of the Oilers. Don't expect Nugent-Hopkins or Yakupov to ever get paid more than Hall is now. That's the benchmark going forward and rightfully so. The kid is future captain.

Even if all 4 players have roughly the same contracts, the Oilers should be OK down the road with staying within the cap space.

I like the Hall signing and I'll like the Eberle one as well once it's done.

The future of this team gets better every single day we wake up. Get ready Oil Country. Our time is near...

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY BURNT-

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