Team Meeting:

I'm not saying that there was a team meeting following last game's poor effort, because there probably wasn't. Mostly because this is still early in the season, and way too early to be either sulking or gloating about standings and win/loss records. Here is my issue: In all of the games we played prior to this past weekend we made an effort. We stayed in the game and we didn't give up, even when down 4-1 to Columbus. The team that I saw, and I'm sure you did too this past weekend, was last year's team. Last night's game was the worst we've played thus far, and the weekend combined had me looking for MacT behind the bench.

That was the excuse, was it not?

Alright, listen, I'm not saying that I don't think that was a major contributor to the problem last year. MacTavish was a grudge holder, from what I could tell, and in sports that can't happen. As a coach you cannot favor a player simply because of who he is, and you certainly can't hate on one. These are the methods of second rate coaches who are too comfortable with their positions, and are likely on their way out the door, or so that has been my experience in my meager time as a hockey and football fan. By holding grudges against a player on a team you're running you could very well be overlooking things that said player does particularly well, and possibly better than the person you've got doing that job. In favoring players you can be blinded to shortfalls and bad habits that need to be dealt with, and that's detrimental to the player itself as well as the team.

What I'm saying is that I was running the streets chanting for MacT's head too, but what the hell happened this past weekend? I understand, the flu has been ripping through the dressing room kicking ass and taking names, and we seemingly have been unable to stop it. But seriously? Some of these guys who had terrible games this past weekend aren't those rumoured to have flu symptoms.

Guys I've heard have the flu and/or symptoms: Gilbert Brule, Dustin Penner, Ales Hemsky, Ladislav Smid, Tom Gilbert, and Mike Comrie.

Guys who were brutal this past weekend: Practically the whole freaking team. Exceptions: Dustin Penner, Ales Hemsky, Khabilulin, Deslauriers, Ladislav Smid, Lubomir Visnovsky. There might be others, but the good performances in losses are rarely those that stand out.

I don't think that flu symptoms can explain away the quality of Gilbert's game, as he has been playing poorly from season's beginning. In fact, though I've never been a fan of his, I don't think I've ever been so frustrated with him. Grebeshkov has been okay, but it seems like the first 10-20 minutes of any given game he forgets how to play hockey. Nilsson, not that I want to beat a dead horse, but Nilsson just is not cut out to play the game. I'm not saying that he can't, because he wouldn't be playing the the NHL right now if that were the case, but he has no drive. A player who is unable to motivate himself when he needs it will not succeed in this league. Plus, if he gave the puck away any more I'd think he was conspiring against us. And I won't even comment on Ethan Moreau, because at this point I'm just too damned biased to discuss his play through a lens that even remotely resembles an objective one.

Please tell me that this was a weekend that sucked because of the flu bug, and not because of some underlying issue...

I still love you guys, but please stay at two meter's length until you're all healthy again, okay? I'm almost at the point where I'm thinking of watching the games in one of those 'SARS' masks...

Dallas @ Edmonton

So, now that we've got the first loss of the season dealt with, should we not also get the first win of the season? I mean, that's the way it goes right?

In all seriousness I was pretty happy with the Oilers' game on Saturday. For the first period we were less than perfect, but the rest of the game we battled hard and did a lot of things right that I liked. The one thing that we managed to do in the first that we slowly stopped doing as the game went on was be physical. If the Oilers want to win games against teams that are faster and/or more skilled than they are, they're going to have to make a commitment to burying as many guys into the boards as they can manage without getting too many penalties. I haven't seen Dallas play yet this year, in preseason or regular season, so I don't have much of an idea as to what kind of game they want to play, but a physical game is never a bad idea.

Cogliano moves to play with Gagner tonight, and Nilsson is in and Moreau is out. This means that my normal goat isn't playing... I'll find a new one to sub in I'm sure.

Khabibulin will also be looking for a chance to redeem himself after a brutal play to end Saturday night's game. I really hope he can bring it together because if he can't we may be a tad bit screwed here guys...

Go Oilers Go!

Finally!!

Today it all begins. The season is fresh and new, and it's time that the Oilers get into the action.

The Calgary Flames will be entering Rexall Place tonight with a 1-0 record, thanks to the Vancouver Canucks, and I'm hoping to see that same record from the Oilers come about 10:30-11:00 tonight, which of course means that the Flames will then be 1-1.

Lines aren't posted yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing a few guys play:

The Comrie-O'Sullivan pairing - These guys seemed like they were dynamite in the preseason, and I hope to watch them continue dominating in the regular season.

Penner: I love this guy, and it sounds like a coaching change might have been just what this guy needed, because in the preseason games he played in he was easily one of the best guys on the ice.

The Kid line (or parts of it): While Nilsson for the most part was entirely disappointing in the preseason, he seemed to get a fire under him once the Kid line was reunited. While these guys are a legitimate option for a line, it's difficult to say whether they'll play due to lines that are already existing, and fitting other players in. Considering that we already have lines (presumably) of Horcoff centering Jacques and Hemsky, and Comrie centering O'Sullivan and Penner, where does the Kid line fit? The don't check, and they're not terrible good defensively. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

Ladislav Smid: His preseason wasn't the best, but I'm holding out hope that he's improved. I'm almost positive that this will be a good year for him, just like the last. However, I think that pairing him with Staios is a mistake of monumental proportions. Stop it Oilers, now.

I'm so excited!

Go Oilers Go!

I Can Taste It...

The hockey season is so close I can practically taste it. I'm unbearably excited for a new season despite the lack of change on the roster from last season. Here are a few things that I think will be interesting to see play out over the season:

The Return of Lubomir Visnovsky: I was really impressed with Lubo last season before his injury. I'm hoping that he can come back and continue to dominate like he was last season. I missed his breakout passes at the end of last season, and I'm pretty sure Ales Hemsky missed them too. Looking forward to seeing #71 back on the ice.

Is Penner The Player I Think He Is?: I have a lot of faith in Penner. It's a bit strange because there isn't much to go on as far as fuel for my belief, but I've always had a feeling that this guy was something more than what most seem to think he is. I've seen glimpses, and I'm hoping that Quinn will be a good motivator to get the player I think Penner is out of the player that Penner has been.

Will Ales Hemsky Step Up?: For several seasons past the question has always been, 'will Hemsky break out this year?' I don't think that's the question to ask this season. Phrase it a little different and I think the question that more accurately portrays what we're looking for from Hemsky is whether or not he will step up. This team is his for the taking, but if he doesn't grab it soon; Gagner isn't too far behind.

Will the Kids Start Out Right?: It seems like the kids; Gagner in particular, have an issue with starting the season off on the same foot that they left the last one on. Now, granted, the sample size for such an assumption is a small one, but if the Oilers are hoping to be successful with the same roster they had last year then the kids need to start the season right.

Will the Powerplay be Resurrected?: New personnel behind the bench will hopefully take the ugly system that we iced last year on the man advantage. Lack of diversity on our attack was almost sad to watch last year, and hopefully we won't be watching what will seem like reruns of last season.

There are others to think about, and I'll post my thoughts more as the season nears. One thing is for sure: I can hardly wait until the first preseason game this coming Tuesday.

P.S.: Nice job Esks. Way to blow your lead in the last minute of play.

It Seems Like Every Season...

Or should I say off-season?

Either way, there is this threshold that I have. It details just how long I can go without Oiler Hockey before I bloody well go crazy. Every season that we miss the playoffs this 'threshold' of mine seems to become shorter and shorter. This off-season is no different.

I've been running around the Oilers' blogging community brushing up on everyone's opinions, options, ideas, and general nattering about the team, and I've got to say that it isn't helping a whole lot. In fact, I'd say it's making it worse. I'va already begun watching old youtube highlites, checking out next season's schedule, and taking preliminary scrutinizing looks at our division rivals.

This is bad.

Why is this bad? Because this is exactly the kind of hype that lets me down more often than not. The Oilers haven't been a great team out of the gate for some time now, but year after year I get myself so worked up that I can hardly stand myself.

You know why that is? Because in actual reality my love for the game over-rides the Oilers' game when they're playing poorly. When they're playing well it's irrelevant, but boy does it help when the boys are dragging their butts in the mud.

I mean, let's be honest here: this offseason has not been exciting. Free Agency was a let down, and the only change we've made is swapping Roli for another aging goaltender in Khabibulin. The changes behind the bench? Yeah, it will be interesting to see how that plays out, but it wasn't exactly shocking, was it? We all had a feeling that MacT was on the out, and though Quinn and Renney were a bit of a surprise, they were both on the fan base's radar for a new coach.

Oh, and the Heatley thing. Kill me now.

There are rumblings about other possibilities, in say Kessel for example, but as this goes on it looks like we're going into TC with essentially the same team we left the season; minus a 35 and plus a 39.

I'm dying here. I need hockey. Two months? Hope I make it that far....


Okay, so that was a little over-dramatic, but you get the point.

Loose Ends...

There are some players that were here last year that may not be here this coming year, and it won't be because they're traded.

UFAs: Ales Kotalik, Dwayne Roloson, and Jason Strudwick.

There are some players here that were key pieces of last year's puzzle. And unsuccessful puzzle, but a puzzle nonetheless. Ales Kotalik had some pretty decent chemistry with Hemsky last season, especially heading towards the very end; once they seemed to get the hang of each other. A lot of people like to point out the fact that Kotalik apparently had a lot of goals and assists that 'meant nothing' because they were late in a game where we had barely any chance of coming back. Since when is a goal meaningless? If the whole team itself was better than it is possible that perhaps that goal wouldn't have been meaningless. Goals are goals, and on a team that had trouble scoring last year I don't see how the Oilers think it's alright to not even send an offer his way. If we end up letting another guy go because we're chasing a 'big fish' and then coming out with nothing I will not be impressed.

Dwayne Roloson... What to say about Roli... Here's my issue: He will probably want a contract at around the same value as his last contract. I just don't know that he's worth it at his age. Say what you want about the 'lack of miles' on his engine, he's getting up there in age. I don't know that I'm comfortable with Roli as our starter next year, though it seems that the organization has a different idea because rumour is that they've already offered him a contract. I think the money could be better spent elsewhere; there are other options on the market.

About Strudwick: If we sign him as an occasional player I'm fine with it, but god damnit if he takes a starting spot out of camp I'm going to kill someone. End of story.

RFAs: Liam Reddox, Ladislav Smid, and Denis Grebeshkov.

As far as Liam Reddox is concerned I'm not sure if there's a place for him on this team. He is a hard worker, so that's a major plus that he's got going for him, but if we're going to retain him then he has to be comfortable with the role that he fits into: and that most certainly is not a top 6 spot, no matter what MacT thought.

It seems like we don't have much to worry about with Grebeshkov, although the fact that this is going a bit late is a little strange. There was a rumour a while back that we had already signed him to a contract, but clearly this isn't the case, as there weren't any official releases on the matter. It would seem that he's a top priority, but I suppose we'll have to see how it plays out.

If Ladislav Smid is not on the Oilers roster next year I will be splitting my loyalties between the Oilers and whatever team he signs with. That is all.

Bye, Bye, Brodziak.

During the Draft we did a few interesting things: We somehow managed to draft Paajarvi, also drafted his linemate, and then we traded Brodziak and a late pick for two other late picks.

Now, Pajaarvi is a great choice. Great choice. I've heard nothing but good things about him, and he's got some size on his side, which is something that the Oiler organization has stayed away from in past years. Particularly in the first round it seems. Lowetide has a good quick glance at Paajarvi here.

In the second round we drafted his team mate and friend Anton Lander. This creates a bit of concern for Oiler fans. These Euros occasionally decide to make certain requests if they are to come to play in North America. One of those requests can, and has been to come across and play with a friend/desired team mate. I'm not too concerned at the moment, as the organization has stated that their team mate and/or friendship status is a coincidence. We shall see, Oilers, we shall see.

Then, out of the blue, we trade Brodziak for a couple of late picks...

From what I've read around it seems like people are expecting Gilbert Brule to come into Brodziak's empty slot next season. Our PK was brutal enough last year with a PKer as skilled as Brodziak, and I can't recall Gilbert ever taking a major role as a penalty killer. He's also yet another small young forward with little to no NHL experience. In exchanging Brodziak for Brule we lose 4 inches in height and about 30 lbs of weight. Personally I was under the impression that we were attempting to head in a new direction: one that involved a team that could compete physically and didn't need to rely on it's speed and it's production off the rush. A team that could cycle down low and crash the net.

Also we've got how many guys with contracts that just aren't being met production and/or performance wise, and we decide to toss away one of our value contracts? Unless Brodziak was expecting too much money I don't see how this makes sense. If they wanted to make room for the up and coming, then there were more viable options out there in my opinion. Pouliot anyone?

Now, clearly there's more to this. There has to be someone else coming to town, or at the very least a player that management is chasing after.

And if the player booking a flight to Edmonton this coming season is Dany Heatley then this club is in trouble defensively.