Sunday, September 9, 2012

Oilers and Flames Players Might Not Be Locked Out?

I came across this story by Sportsnet and I thought I'd share the link with you. Very interesting read. Something similar is happening in Montreal as well.

There is hope that the lockout may not happen. At least in Canada anyways.

Or... an Oilers/Flames Stanley Cup final. (just kidding)

http://www.sportsnet.ca/iphone/hockey/nhl-lockout/2012/t09/08/oilers_flames_legal_snag_lockoutr/?regiony=WEST

If link doesn't work, here is the entire article below;

"Flames, Oilers could hit lockout legal snag

Saturday, September 8, 2012

The Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames could hit a legal snag if the National Hockey League locks out its players on Sept. 15, according to the Edmonton Journal.

A lockout vote is required in the province of Alberta by the NHL owners in order for Daryl Katz, owner of the Oilers, and the group of businessmen who own the Flames, to legally lock out their players if there is no new collective bargaining agreement in place by the deadline.

The NHL has to request Alberta to appoint a mediator, under the provincial law, who theoretically could work to have an agreement in place between the warring sides before the NHL owners can hold a lockout vote. A mediator was appointed on Aug. 21.

However, the Players' Association has filed a challenge to this -- arguing that the NHL's lockout vote would be defective because the league failed to take certain steps when it asked for a mediator for the dispute.

The law requires the mediator to wait 14 days but the NHLPA contends the league has shown no interest in using the mediator to try to get a resolution. It says the league insisted the mediator leave his task after three days with no meetings convened between the two sides.

The NHLPA is arguing the league is trying to rush the clearance for a lockout without following the necessary steps in Alberta and if the Alberta Labour Relations Board agrees, the league couldn't legally lock out Oilers winger Ryan Smyth or Flames captain Jarome Iginla or any other Edmonton or Calgary players."

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY BURNT-

We Want You! Oilers Jambalaya On A Mission

It's that time of year where we try and think of what we can do to OilersJambalaya.com for the upcoming season to make it a better site and to continue to be a voice for Oilers fans. We strive to be one of the best Oilers blogs out there, and we will continue to try and stay with the top guns of the Oilogosphere.

It's time for a new look and new ideas. This site has always been based on the fact it's for the readers and not for our own egos. We've always tried to accommodate everyone's wants and needs and this year isn't going to be any different.

Back again this year leading the charge is Brent Huska, better known as Smokin' Ray Burnt. He's providing a unique look on all things Oilers since the creation of OilersJambalaya.com in 2008. The blog creator has a few tricks up his sleeve once again this year. You'll have to come back to find out.

The ever popular prospect guru Evan Renaerts also known as Revinev will also be back providing us tons of news on Oilers prospects and the upcoming 2013 NHL Entry draft. Evan has become a staple at OilersJambalaya.com and we are proud to say he's ours.

We've found a new recruit for this season. Noah Fuchs (also known as NHL Rumors Guy) is fairly new to the blogging scene and with some hard work, he will emerge as a must read blogger. We look forward to seeing him grow as a writer.

Lastly, I'd like to introduce... You!

If your interested in having your voice heard on a blog like ours, send me shout out via email or twitter. We are always looking for writers that love the Oilers as much as we do to help contribute here. The only qualification you need is a passion for Oil Country and a serious drive to write. Too many times we've had people wanting to write, but after only a couple posts, they seem to give up. Not everyone is cut out to be a blogger. So if your really interested, let us know and we will sign you up and help guide you along. There has been a few good people get their start here like Eric Rodgers and Todd Cordell.

We are also looking for your opinion from the readers on what kind of content we should have here at OilersJambalaya.com. We want to suit our readers needs, and if you have any ideas or suggestions, let us know. We are always willing to try new things.

Back on November 29th, 2008 this blog started with a dream and a hope. Thanks to you the readers, this dream continues today...

GOILERS!!!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

'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

Sunday, August 26, 2012

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.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

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-


Two Guys & Hockey Talk NHL News (CLICK PIC FOR LINK)

The Faithful Followers

Oilers Jambalaya is in no way, shape or form associated with the Edmonton Oilers or the Bakersfield Condors. This is a fans blog for fans. We happen to love those teams, so we write about them.