Thursday, December 6, 2012

NHL Lockout is Affecting the Oilers in 3 Good Ways





Please stand by while greedy people fight.



If there is a sliver lining for this NHL lockout, it's that the Edmonton Oilers have three things in this NHL lockout going for them!




Number one;


Letting Taylor Hall have more time to recover, because if the NHL season would have started on time, he might have been rushed in a little bit to fast then he would have liked.





Number two;


Developing their farm team by getting their players that will hopefully be in Edmonton someday to hang out and play with some of the great young faces of the Edmonton Oilers. Hopefully most of the kids playing in OKC will be playing someday with guys like Ebs, Hallsy and RNH on the Oilers. This is great experience to have them "gel" ahead of time.








Justin: Thanks for signing me

Steve: No problem. It's fun locking out people after I sign them. Yakupov, Hallsy, Eberle and now you.




Number three;


Getting Schultz time in the AHL so it's not as big of a step from college to the NHL. That's a big leap and if I may say my thoughts on him, what a player he is turning out to be. He's better than anyone could have thought, even with the high expectations people had on him.



This article is written by Noah Fuchs.

Monday, December 3, 2012

"Oilers 2nd Team Prospects"


As mentioned in my previous post on OILERS 1ST TEAM PROSPECTS , sometimes taking time to look through a NHL franchise system can be a good indicator of exactly what areas look strong and what areas need improvement in. I do really believe you can see the real depth at a position of need by the depth in the organization. What stood out loud and clear in the 1st Team Prospects list is that, the Center position is one of weakest and MUST be remedied as soon as possible. Goaltending may not be all-star quality but their is some potential and we all know the Oilers have now great future depth on the blue even if the current big Club lacks somewhat today.

As far as who is eligible and who isn't for the Prospects, I am going to make it simple. A player can not have played more then 60 games in the NHL and not be over 25 years of age.

Introducing your Oilers 2nd Team Prospects!
Starting at Right Wing, at 6'2 and weighing 193 lbs. 
Tyler Pitlick

I have been closely observing Pitlick's career since being drafted by the Oilers and while it doesn't all look good, Tyler is a strong worker, has size and strength and while he has not been producing much offence, I have seen his shot and it is accurate and hard. I wish he would have been groomed as a Center but both Tyler and the Oilers organization seem to have settled in on him being a RW player. He appears to be looking at a high end of third line checker who can plug in some goals here and there.

On Left Wing, standing 6'3 and weighing in at 202 lbs. 
Curtis Hamilton

Curtis has struggled so far in his Minor pro career but he continues to work hard and is starting to sign the signs that the Oilers drafted him for. Until the NHL boys move out of OKC we will really not get a chance to see what Hamilton can do at the AHL level. He is working the PK recently and was a specialist in jr. While he as well has not shown the offence, Curtis is more likely looking at a 4th line hard nosed player role who can be a effective penalty killer in the NHL, possibly covering in on the 3rd line on occasion. Likely is still this year and one more season away of development before trying out in the NHL.

At Center, Standing 6'3 and coming in at 207 lbs...
Ryan Martindale
Ryan had a tremendous offensive career in jr hockey but was known to be lagging behind on occasion. His first year in minor pro in the ECHL was underwhelming and despite his limited progress came into AHL camp and impressed coaches and oilers brass. He started the first few games exceptionally well with limited errors but has fallen on a bad stretch again as of late. He has been the odd man out of the Barons line up on some nights and like other players developing there, his chance will come soon enough when RNH is no longer on OKC. Is big, strong, creative but needs to show consistency. Highest potential would be a #2 Center but low end could be no better the a career ECHL'er. It's all in Ryan's hands when it comes to his future. His time is running out, so he will need to make a move real soon.

On Defence, standing at 6'4 and weighing 187lbs...
Martin Marincin


Martin came on the Oilers Radar with a incredible 1st season as a import player in Prince George with the Cougars. Later in the year he tuckered out probably due to not playing the amount of games in a season and the adjustment he encountered with all the wear and tear of travel. His second year went ok, but he still didnt seem to put on much more muscle and strength and caused some concerns with critcs of his game. He was traded before the WHL trade deadline and while not scoring at earlier paces did seem to start working more on his defensive game. This year being his 1st as a minor league pro has had some downs but most of all ups. His quality playing time with the 'phenom' Justin Schultz was a perfect storm for him in his being mentored into the pro game of hockey. A good player who has potential to be a 2nd line defence pairing but should at least settle into a 6th or 7th defencemen role in the NHL.

On Defence, at 6'5 and 191 lbs...
Martin Gernat

Gernat won a WHL Championship and just when everyone was saying 'what's he going to do for a encore in year 2?', he came down with a injury and is just about ready to take action in 2013. Hopefully this injury does not stall his progress, but like Marincin, Gernat is a tall player and has some good offence from the backend and has a great stick on the ice. At his height, that long reach will only be a assest in his future pro opportunity. Until he can show this injury will not stall his progress it will be difficult to measure his top end but I put him around the same range as Marincin.

In Goal and standing at 6'0, weighing 170 lbs...


Olivier Roy

Olivia Roy had a stellar year with the Stockton Thunder last year and is honing his skills this year as back up in OKC. He has had a couple shaky starts but in all fairness the games he got the opportunity the team played like crap on the backend and forwards not seemingly back checking. Roy is still adjusting and my guess is, by february we will see his game improving in leaps and bounds as he adjusts to the next level of pro hockey. A good prospect but has his work cut out for him.

Oilers 2nd Team Prospects
Hamilton/Martindale/Pitlick
Marincin/Gernat
Roy

Not a terrible group for a 2nd team of Oiler prospects but nobody will be writing rave reviews on this group either. Other then Marinicn all their chances are low in making the NHL one day but each one has potential and still has time for development.

My bet? Just like last post on the 1st team, I still see Center as the greatest need for this organization. What they need is a good 2nd line Center at this years next draft or they need to trade for a good one.

Continuing to look at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and if there is no season, there is a strong possibility the Oilers could land a Sean Monahan, Aleksander Barkov or at least a Curtis Lazar. Of these names, I would say their is a good chance we could see one of them putting on a Oilers Jersey at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

For Oiler prospect news and the 2013 or 2014 NHL draft watch, go to www.twitter.com/revingev 

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

MOVEMBER Update in " OIl Country"



Movember is coming to a end very soon. Only 9 days to go and upper lip growth is in full growing mode for some. For some maybe little growth but you got to admire the efforts of anyone who wants to raise awareness for men's health. The NHL is still in CB negotiations (or lack of) and very little focus has been on the raising funds  

Brandon Davidson
Brandon one of the Oilers prospects has been under going some treatment himself and we wish him a speedy recovery. Brandon has always been a fighter when it comes to overcoming adversity and we here at Oilers Jambalaya stand firmly behind Davidson and his family.


Alex Plante
Its been a tough early start this year for Plante but I always appreciate a hard working player regardless of the results on the ice. Plante has always been a good supporter of Movember.

We here at Oilers Jambalaya are trying our best to raise funds and awareness. If your able to donate anything to our cause just click on our cause for movember and donate to the team. If your unable to do so, all we ask is you continue to spread the word for awareness around your community. Is it silly growing a stache in a community where many people think they look awful? It may be, but in the end, that is the point. What a better conversation piece then growing a funny looking mustache? All donations are tax receiptable and can easily be donated to with our above links on our page. 

Here is my personal update as promised when this month started. Day 1 was clean, Day 11 was a start, now today is Day 21...I would like to take this time to not only thank you for your continued support of our blog site  but also in your continued support in this awesome cause of raising awareness for Men's Health!

Evan "Revingev" Renaerts 
DAY 1
Evan "Revingev" Renaerts 
DAY 11
Evan "Revingev" Renaerts 
DAY 21

For Oiler prospect news and the 2013 or 2014 NHL draft watch, go to www.twitter.com/revingev 

Monday, November 19, 2012

REVS 2013 Top 15 Draft Prospects #5. Hunter Shinkaruk


#5. Hunter Shinkaruk
As a late birthday, left winger Hunter Shinkaruk has been on the draft radar longer than other players but like Seth Jones will be one of the older prospects in this draft class.  Hunter had a impressive rookie campaign that saw him net 42 points in 63 games. Then he exploded for 91 in his full sophomore season. This year at his current pace he could possibly top the 100 point mark and that is without Etem Emerson who was a linemate of his last year in route to a successful year. Hunter has recognized the attention on him this year comes with great difficulties. He is no stranger to adversity. Hunter states “I was getting hit after whistles more than before whistles,” he said. “But that’s what I want, to have that spotlight and to be the best player I can be.” 
 
Shinkaruk will need to tighten up defensively scouts will agree. “He has a lot to learn, as all young kids do,” said one scout. “Hunter was always so gifted growing up that he was allowed to get away with some things defensively. Now he needs to learn to play a team game.” Hunters speed is his greatest assest. He is listed as at 5-foot-11, 175 pounds but most scouts aren’t worried about him handling the rigors of the pro game. “He’s not that small anymore,” said one scout. “Look at Patrick Kane or Sam Gagner; they had elements that brought them success. Hunter’s element is his speed. He’s a highly skilled kid and a very explosive skater.”
 
  
 SeasonTeamLeagueGPGATPPIM+/-    Postseas.GPGATPPIM+/- 
 2007-08 Calgary Royals Gold Bantam AAA AMBHL3310304024
| Playoffs32240
 2008-09 Calgary Royals Gold Bantam AAA  AMBHL2732316310
| Playoffs101111226
 2009-10 Calgary Royals Midget AAA AMHL30110
|
 2010-11 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL6314284224
| Playoffs144590
 Canada Pacific U17 WHC-1765492
|
 2011-12 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL664942913817| Playoffs829116-4 
 Canada U18 WJC-18644863|
 2012-13 Medicine Hat Tigers  WHL2215183382|
I have Hunter ranked to start this year at #5 but he will be in tough to stay in that top 5 lottery position at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. It is less of what is wrong with Hunter and more of what is happening with the other players ranked around Hunter. Hunter has the possibility of going anywhere from #4 OV to dropping to #8 OV. As much as they say his size is not a issue it is still a consideration in the overall game of selecting a top draft pick. 



For Oiler prospect news and the 2013 or 2014 NHL draft watch, go to www.twitter.com/revingev

Sunday, November 18, 2012

High Skill Isn't All You Need / OKC Barons Need Some Help

What nice Jerseys eh!
The OKC Barons have lots of skill on their team brought about by the work stoppage and there has been HUGE expectations for this team early on.

In my opinion, they really haven't hit their stride with Taylor Hall (coming off injury), Jordan Eberle, RNH, and Justin Schultz. At this point, they should be better. There are reasons for this and its not all because of their young guns not putting up the points. Schultz is leading the league in scoring with Eberle trailing not far behind.

The Barons biggest weakness is defensive depth. Especially with the veteran defensemen. I think, because of the hype of the young guns, the forward depth players have been passengers instead of adding secondary scoring. Even the young guns have on occasion, made some errors defensively which is bound to happen. The only cure being more experience.


Hopefully we will see the trio of Hall, Eberle and Nugent-Hopkins on Rexall ice soon. But when its all said and done in OKC, this team is doing well. But they could still do more with all their talent.

I hope they make some kind of AHL trade for more experienced D.

-WRITTEN BY NOAH FUCHS-

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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.