Nice game last night....minus the fact I to listen to the game broadcasted by a cast of Leaf homers....damn guys the Pronger fiasco is old news why not discuss the fact your team has been shit the last few years...damn Harry Neale...nice to see the Oilers win in the end....they are looking fucking fast this year....Sanderson is stupifying fast....lots of depth this year...good to see....#44 suits up against the 'Nucks on Thursday hope Luongo (if playing) wears a throat protector because Souray is going to be blasting them.....
Nice game last night....minus the fact I to listen to the game broadcasted by a cast of Leaf homers....damn guys the Pronger fiasco is old news why not discuss the fact your team has been shit the last few years...damn Harry Neale...nice to see the Oilers win in the end....they are looking fucking fast this year....Sanderson is stupifying fast....lots of depth this year...good to see....#44 suits up against the 'Nucks on Thursday hope Luongo (if playing) wears a throat protector because Souray is going to be blasting them.....
Was Bob Cole with Harry?...Can't believe those guys have not been put out their misery yet! Did hear that Jim Hughson is now part of the CBC crew with Craig Simpson maybe they will be the ones to unseed Neale and Cole.
As for Luongo not sure if he is playing tonight against Calgary..... probably as he did not play Monday night.....so if he plays tonight probably wouldn’t suit up tomorrow......I'm actually hoping to see Cory Schneider play tomorrow....don’t know if you have heard much about him he is a highly rated goaltending prospect out of Boston College. As for Souray he can blast away as long as he maintains his stellar + / - that he maintained or the Habs last year!
Van 92.07.21 / Van 98.07.19 / Sea 98.07.22 / Tor 98.08.22 / Sea 00.11.06 / Van 03.05.30/ Van 05.09.02/ Gorge 06.07.22 & 23 / EV Van 08.04.02 / Tor 09.08.21 / Sea 09.09.21 & 22 / Van 09.09.25 / Van 11.09.25 / Van 13.12.04 / Pem 16.07.17 / Sea 18.08.10
Was Bob Cole with Harry?...Can't believe those guys have not been put out their misery yet! Did hear that Jim Hughson is now part of the CBC crew with Craig Simpson maybe they will be the ones to unseed Neale and Cole.
As for Luongo not sure if he is playing tonight against Calgary..... probably as he did not play Monday night.....so if he plays tonight probably wouldn’t suit up tomorrow......I'm actually hoping to see Cory Schneider play tomorrow....don’t know if you have heard much about him he is a highly rated goaltending prospect out of Boston College. As for Souray he can blast away as long as he maintains his stellar + / - that he maintained or the Habs last year!
I do not buy into the fact that Souray/Pitkanen had horrible +/- numbers....Souray played with a horrible Montreal team that could only get PP goals (which is why we needed him cause ours was a joke last year) and Pitkanen played with the Flyers.....also Souray has always been a + player prior to last year....I doubt either will be in the negatives this year...plus together they will have 80+ points between them (take it to the bank)....
I am not trying to be a homer (last year I was worried about the Oil....they were missing so much) but this year we enter into the year with a team that has not under-went emotional drama in the offseason, we have depth at every position (too much if you ask me I think we will have to trade some of it), nine guys who can play defence right now in the NHL (kinda of like the 'Nucks this year as well), and offensive minded D-man (we had zero last year...now we have Souray/Pitkanen/Tarnstrom/Gilbert) all who love to jump into the play (see last nights OT winner with Grebs). We are so under-rated that we will surprise people....and that is I want to enter the season...at the very least I want to finish ahead of the Flames....:)
Oh yeah no Bob Cole (TUCKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and I hear Hughson/Simpson will be replacing them very very soon (there is talk they may do the finals). Bob has asked for less games this year I understand as well.....
I do not buy into the fact that Souray/Pitkanen had horrible +/- numbers....Souray played with a horrible Montreal team that could only get PP goals (which is why we needed him cause ours was a joke last year) and Pitkanen played with the Flyers.....also Souray has always been a + player prior to last year....I doubt either will be in the negatives this year...plus together they will have 80+ points between them (take it to the bank)....
I am not trying to be a homer (last year I was worried about the Oil....they were missing so much) but this year we enter into the year with a team that has not under-went emotional drama in the offseason, we have depth at every position (too much if you ask me I think we will have to trade some of it), nine guys who can play defence right now in the NHL (kinda of like the 'Nucks this year as well), and offensive minded D-man (we had zero last year...now we have Souray/Pitkanen/Tarnstrom/Gilbert) all who love to jump into the play (see last nights OT winner with Grebs). We are so under-rated that we will surprise people....and that is I want to enter the season...at the very least I want to finish ahead of the Flames....:)
Oh yeah no Bob Cole (TUCKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and I hear Hughson/Simpson will be replacing them very very soon (there is talk they may do the finals). Bob has asked for less games this year I understand as well.....
I do not buy into the fact that Souray/Pitkanen had horrible +/- numbers....Souray played with a horrible Montreal team that could only get PP goals (which is why we needed him cause ours was a joke last year) and Pitkanen played with the Flyers.....also Souray has always been a + player prior to last year....I doubt either will be in the negatives this year...plus together they will have 80+ points between them (take it to the bank)....
I am not trying to be a homer (last year I was worried about the Oil....they were missing so much) but this year we enter into the year with a team that has not under-went emotional drama in the offseason, we have depth at every position (too much if you ask me I think we will have to trade some of it), nine guys who can play defence right now in the NHL (kinda of like the 'Nucks this year as well), and offensive minded D-man (we had zero last year...now we have Souray/Pitkanen/Tarnstrom/Gilbert) all who love to jump into the play (see last nights OT winner with Grebs). We are so under-rated that we will surprise people....and that is I want to enter the season...at the very least I want to finish ahead of the Flames....:)
Oh yeah no Bob Cole (TUCKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and I hear Hughson/Simpson will be replacing them very very soon (there is talk they may do the finals). Bob has asked for less games this year I understand as well.....
Yeah the Flames situation is going to be fun to watch......they are definitely putting all off their eggs in the basket for this year.....given that there is no way they will be keeping both Kipper and P-Nuff next year! How do you think Keenan and Kipper are going to get along? Kipper seems to me like he would not take to kindly to be pulled out of games! Could be a melt down in Cowtown
Van 92.07.21 / Van 98.07.19 / Sea 98.07.22 / Tor 98.08.22 / Sea 00.11.06 / Van 03.05.30/ Van 05.09.02/ Gorge 06.07.22 & 23 / EV Van 08.04.02 / Tor 09.08.21 / Sea 09.09.21 & 22 / Van 09.09.25 / Van 11.09.25 / Van 13.12.04 / Pem 16.07.17 / Sea 18.08.10
Yeah the Flames situation is going to be fun to watch......they are definitely putting all off their eggs in the basket for this year.....given that there is no way they will be keeping both Kipper and P-Nuff next year! How do you think Keenan and Kipper are going to get along? Kipper seems to me like he would not take to kindly to be pulled out of games! Could be a melt down in Cowtown
Time will tell how they get along...I think it was a big mistake bringing in Keenan....time will tell.....as for the Flame i believe they are weaker this year than last....lost Stuart/Hamerlik for Aucion/Sarich...they lessened on the D from last year...pretty good up front still if they maintain the good balance they had last year (top ten in goal production) however I feel that this years Amonte will be Nolan.....why teams keep dragging up these golden oldies just dumbfounds me......
27 Dustin Penner - 89 Sam Gagner - 83 Ales Hemsky
18 Ethan Moreau - 42 Jonas Almtorp - 51 Kyle Brodziak
8 Geoff Sanderson - 13 Andrew Cogliano - 28 Patrick Thoresen
22 Jean-Francois Jacques - 48 Ben Simon - 46 Zack Stortini
44 Sheldon Souray - 77 Tom Gilbert
73 T.J. Kemp - 36 Mathieu Roy
5 Ladislav Smid - 2 Matt Greene
32 Mathieu Garon (starting goaltender)
38 Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers
Tonights line-up expect JDD to play half the game....
I love the fact that some of the Oilers prospects went through my city, Sam Gagner and Robbie Shremp, Dany Sevret, i just wish one of them would crack the Oilers lineup once lol.
London 2005
Toronto 2011 night 2
Hamilton 2011
London 2013
Canucks-Oilers tonght....the debut of Souray.....I think it is available through center-ice on-line.....
I'll be there to witness this first hand......based on what I have heard of our line up tonight I think you Oil fans will be happy with the result....apparently the plan is for the Canucks most experienced D man to be dressed is Lukas Krajicek, combined with Loungo and Schneider playing last night in goal so doubtful to play tonight...Anyways I'm just pumped to be going back and seeing hockey first hand
Van 92.07.21 / Van 98.07.19 / Sea 98.07.22 / Tor 98.08.22 / Sea 00.11.06 / Van 03.05.30/ Van 05.09.02/ Gorge 06.07.22 & 23 / EV Van 08.04.02 / Tor 09.08.21 / Sea 09.09.21 & 22 / Van 09.09.25 / Van 11.09.25 / Van 13.12.04 / Pem 16.07.17 / Sea 18.08.10
I'll be there to witness this first hand......based on what I have heard of our line up tonight I think you Oil fans will be happy with the result....apparently the plan is for the Canucks most experienced D man to be dressed is Lukas Krajicek, combined with Loungo and Schneider playing last night in goal so doubtful to play tonight...Anyways I'm just pumped to be going back and seeing hockey first hand
I have to say our line-up is the weakest yet this pre-season...but I am stoked to see Gagner and Cogliano dressing up tonight....fucking love these guys....it will be a good game....you will have to give your analysis after the game....I trust your opinion as you don't seem to be a disillusioned homer like the Leafs announcers for example.....or most Flames fans
Well we took a lose last night due to a last second goal....hi-lights:
- Souray is money and barring him killing someone he is going to be the most feared shot in the western conference....still has rust but he has only skated twice before the game and has not played since April and just came off shoulder surgery. To quote Penner on Souray:...."Hardest shot I have ever seen in the league, although I never really saw it, I just heard it"....."on the PP when I am in front of the net I will pray I do not get hit in the face".
- Brodziak.....just solidifed his spot along-side Moreau/Reasoner....looking great....keep it up....
- Cogliano - is so fast and I am thinking he may make the team....this kid has a tonne of potential....looks small but is acually a pretty big guy......
- Gilbert - Needs to get into the line-up on D....but it is tough given we have six guys ahead of him.....they need to move someone to get him in the line-up full time.....
- Truhkno - Loving this kid....as much as I love saying his name....I would like to see against the last RW postion over Pouliot (aka Pull-It)
Low-lights:
- Gagner - his weakest effort yet....HOWEVER he still has time to prove himself worthy of the inital nine games of the season.....
- Thoreson - love the heart my Norweigian friend but it takes more than heart to crack the line-up....will be returning to Springfield soon I hope....
The fourth line of Jacques/Stortini/?????? (some Ben guy I have never heard of)...awful line none of these guys will make the team...flying Stortini is just not the right man......
D-man consists of Souray/Smid/Steady Steve/Tarnstrom/Greene (although Gilbert deserves his spot IMHO but we need a hard-nose guy back there so that may give him the spot by default)/Pitkanen...Gilbert as a 7th man....Also expect Roy (maybe even Grebs but I doubt it) to be traded for some picks as the on-way contract makes them heading down to the AHL tough as they would have to clear waivers...
Overall a sub-par performance but with only five regulars in the line-up and a fourth line of bruisers what can you expect.....
Well its only the pre-season and we beat the Flames and it still feels fucking great.....5-4 win with Cogliano with the OT winner....people we have so many prospects right now it really is absurd......Cogliano/Schremp/Gagner/Brodziak/Trukhno all of whom could see duty this year and we have 9 d-men who are NHL ready....I have been saying before the pre-season who are VASTLY under-rated......some tough decisions for MacT in the next week.....which is such a good thing.....and to think our two best players were not even playing last night.....
Well its only the pre-season and we beat the Flames and it still feels fucking great.....5-4 win with with the OT winner....people we have so many prospects right now it really is absurd......Cogliano/Schremp/Gagner/Brodziak/Trukhno all of whom could see duty this year and we have 9 d-men who are NHL ready....I have been saying before the pre-season who are VASTLY under-rated......some tough decisions for MacT in the next week.....which is such a good thing.....and to think our two best players were not even playing last night.....
Cogliano looked good on the highlights how fast is that guy, i saw him on the juniors where he had flashes of brillance.
London 2005
Toronto 2011 night 2
Hamilton 2011
London 2013
Cogliano looked good on the highlights how fast is that guy, i saw him on the juniors where he had flashes of brillance.
He has been nothing short of brilliant in camp/pre-season....so freaking fast and with great hands....I guess a very smart player too....MacT said he has been so quick to learn the systems and is very impressed by that.....
Cogliano sets Saddledome on fire
Rookie ties game and pots overtime winner
CALGARY - The writing has been on the locker-room wall since training camp opened.
Still, Oilers centre Shawn Horcoff has done his damndest to carry on with his warm-up to the regular season.
When he has looked at the pairings board and seen Dustin Penner-Sam Gagner-Ales Hemsky scribbled in on the first line, he has told himself that the move makes sense. He can see that Gagner is the future of the franchise and understands that the young star needs to showcase his game.
Horcoff has also told himself it is early, that things could change between now and Oct. 4. In the meantime, he has been zeroing in on his game, no matter who he is playing with, just as he did Saturday in the Oilers' 5-4 overtime win against the Flames in Calgary.
Horcoff skated with Ethan Moreau and Kyle Brodziak in his second outing of the pre-season, and 13 minutes into the second period he put away his second goal, a short-handed marker that was set up by Robert Nilsson.
"I view myself as a player who can give more than third-line-centre minutes, but I understand the situation," said Horcoff, who now has two goals and a pair of
assists. "And it's early in camp. I've proven what I can do in that spot. I know I'm ready this year.
"We'll just have to see. At this point I'm just getting myself ready to start the season. That's all you can really do at this point."
When Penner came to the Oilers from Anaheim, it was assumed that Horcoff would play on the top line, just as he has for most of last two seasons, and centre the new winger. But given the free fall that saw the Oilers finish 25th, changes were imminent.
Securing Penner was a start.
The next step is rolling the dice on a youngster like Gagner or Andrew Cogliano, who upped his stock again when he zipped up ice and put away his own rebound to tie the game 3-3.
He then put away the winner in the dying seconds of the overtime period.
"What we're talking about is five-on-five ice for (Horcoff)," head coach Craig MacTavish said. "Maybe his role will be more important, more impactful for us if he is playing on a second or third line.
"The minutes will be there ... but maybe at the start of the game his name isn't with Hemsky and with Penner.
"We need a dynamic scorer, and Horc, for all his strengths, is not a 100-point guy, so we're going to entertain thoughts of looking at somebody else, at times, five-on-five."
That somebody will be Gagner or Cogliano, but just to make sure he didn't take himself out of the mix, Rob Schremp put in his best performance against the Flames. Either way, Horcoff will be on the first power-play unit and he will kill penalties. And he will skate with Hemsky and Penner in Phoenix on Tuesday.
"He's a good kid, he has lots of skill, and he's obviously the future of the franchise," Horcoff said of Gagner. "With a young kid like that, you have to play him with skilled players and you have to see what he can do.
"I see myself as a top six forward, and in order to produce, you have to play with guys who are offensive-minded players. Having said that, I have pretty much played in every situation and in every role. It's not like I'm not going to be comfortable. It's going to be interesting.
Published: 6:31 am
"But right now, I'm just getting myself prepared and ready."
If Cogliano or Gagner did make the grade, Horcoff could end up skating with Moreau and Brodziak. Marty Reasoner would play on the fourth and Jarret Stoll would stay with Raffi Torres and Robert Nilsson.
That trio was out again in Calgary and kicked off the scoring for Edmonton.
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Font: ****"Ideally, what we'd like to have happen is for one of those young guys to step up and really play well in that position," MacTavish said. "Then whether it's Horc on the second line or Stoll ... those two are going to get 20-plus minutes a game. You just need a guy (on the first line) who is going to be at least a 90-point guy."
OIL DROPS -- Defenceman Denis Grebeshkov had a solid night's work. He was moving the puck and was plus-three by game's end.
The Flames, already down to 27 active players, got power-play goals from Adam Pardy and Alex Tanguay and even-strength goals from Jarome Iginla and Marcus Nilson.
Miikka Kiprusoff, in a game that wasn't going to net either goaltender a star selection, went the distance for Calgary. Dwayne Roloson put in his first full game of the pre-season for Edmonton and saved his best work for the later stages of the tilt -- including a four-on-three in overtime. Calgary outshot Edmonton 37-28.
THE LINEUP (last night)
Forwards
Ethan Moreau-Shawn Horcoff-Kyle Brodziak
Raffi Torres-Jarret Stoll-Robert Nilsson
Frederik Johansson-Rob Schremp-Marc Pouliot
JF Jacques-Andrew Cogliano-Troy Bodie
Defencemen
Joni Pitkanen-Steve Staios
Sheldon Souray-Matt Greene
Denis Grebeshkov-Dick Tarnstrom
Goaltenders
Dwayne Roloson
Devan Dubnyk (back up)
Indeed the writing is on the wall for Horcoff.....and its a great decison my MacT to put a Cogliano/Gagner (Schremp is still in the mix) at the #1 role and use Horc. where he belongs a 2a/2b (as I see line 2 and 3 getting similar minutes) center position.......
The nerd in me hopes that one day the journal will quote from this thread and if they do....its a post like this they should quote.
They could probably find that quote on a million boards about now...you can just see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice...he plays for the wrong reasons.
I am going out and saying this right now (which i have said before the pre-season started) that people who knock Souray/Pitkanen have no clue.....they will be outstanding players this year....right Pitkanen is our best D-men....he is incredible....a point last night with multiple crisp break-out passes (something that we had none of last year), blocking shots, and played 29 minutes effortlessly....
Souray combined with Hemsky is going to allow Souray ample opportunity to beat his own PP goal record he set last year.....that shot is un-fucking-believable.....last night WOW!
These guys will prove all the pundits that they are grade A material...Oilers will be back in the play-offs this year....and don't even get me started on Cogliano that kid is amazing.....
I am going out and saying this right now (which i have said before the pre-season started) that people who knock Souray/Pitkanen have no clue.....they will be outstanding players this year....right Pitkanen is our best D-men....he is incredible....a point last night with multiple crisp break-out passes (something that we had none of last year), blocking shots, and played 29 minutes effortlessly....
Souray combined with Hemsky is going to allow Souray ample opportunity to beat his own PP goal record he set last year.....that shot is un-fucking-believable.....last night WOW!
These guys will prove all the pundits that they are grade A material...Oilers will be back in the play-offs this year....and don't even get me started on Cogliano that kid is amazing.....
It's still preseason man, don't get too excited I hate getting pumped about young guys early on like this....but if even just one or two play to their potential (meaning Cogliano/Gagner/Penner), we should be back in the playoffs....barring injuries...
And I really hope you're right about Souray and Pitkanen.... they are in a similar spot as Smith was last year (like we spoke about yesterday)...they were a bit out of their element, on shitty teams, being asked to do more than what their normal role entails...I just hope we have enough defensive d to cover for their offensive rushes/pinches/etc. I think Staios and Greene will be up to the task tho. And you are sooo right about the outlet passes...after watching Pronger for a year here, it was brutally obvious how much we missed that last season.
Do you think we need an enforcer? Fucking Boogart scares me...I don't want to play that guy 8 times with all these young guys and no one to stand up to him....the team toughness thing is one thing...but no one on our team will stand up to him....nor should they.
It's still preseason man, don't get too excited I hate getting pumped about young guys early on like this....but if even just one or two play to their potential (meaning Cogliano/Gagner/Penner), we should be back in the playoffs....barring injuries...
And I really hope you're right about Souray and Pitkanen.... they are in a similar spot as Smith was last year (like we spoke about yesterday)...they were a bit out of their element, on shitty teams, being asked to do more than what their normal role entails...I just hope we have enough defensive d to cover for their offensive rushes/pinches/etc. I think Staios and Greene will be up to the task tho. And you are sooo right about the outlet passes...after watching Pronger for a year here, it was brutally obvious how much we missed that last season.
Do you think we need an enforcer? Fucking Boogart scares me...I don't want to play that guy 8 times with all these young guys and no one to stand up to him....the team toughness thing is one thing...but no one on our team will stand up to him....nor should they.
Ummm...I am not too excited like I said last year I was not that optimsitic about our chances after a decent pre-season...we look like a different team on so many levels....we are not the same team as last year....not remotely....
MacT has stated that he will take 8 d-men on the roster on opening day until he determines how much they are willing to gamble...I think deep down MacT really likes the pinching d-men....so he wants to see how bad the reprecussions our for mainly offensive d-men....therefore I expect to see Souray/Staios/Pitkanen/Smid/Grebeskov/Gilber/Greene/Tarnstrom all on the roster opening day (of course all will not dress) and Roy will be traded as he would have to clear waivers to send him down.
Only Gilbert/Smid can be sent down without the worry of them being picked up by another team....interesting problem for the coaching staff but a good one...
As for enforcer I think guys that can dish it out include Moreau (who said he will not back down from a "needed" fight...we missed his intimidation last year a lot!), Staois, Greene, Souray (who can kick some serious ass by the sounds of things he was leveling Flames last night...he is a super tough dude).
Honestly Jacques/Stortini can dish it to but they suck and by suck I mean suck horribly last night our 4th was complete and utter trash....
Also Cogliano is here to stay that kid is nothing short of amazing and he could be a candidate for the Calder....the verdict is still out on Gagner though....very skilled and may get his nine games but I am thinking he will be sent back to juniors for another year....but I expect this team to compete this year.....
Ummm...I am not too excited like I said last year I was not that optimsitic about our chances after a decent pre-season...we look like a different team on so many levels....we are not the same team as last year....not remotely....
MacT has stated that he will take 8 d-men on the roster on opening day until he determines how much they are willing to gamble...I think deep down MacT really likes the pinching d-men....so he wants to see how bad the reprecussions our for mainly offensive d-men....therefore I expect to see Souray/Staios/Pitkanen/Smid/Grebeskov/Gilber/Greene/Tarnstrom all on the roster opening day (of course all will not dress) and Roy will be traded as he would have to clear waivers to send him down.
Only Gilbert/Smid can be sent down without the worry of them being picked up by another team....interesting problem for the coaching staff but a good one...
As for enforcer I think guys that can dish it out include Moreau (who said he will not back down from a "needed" fight...we missed his intimidation last year a lot!), Staois, Greene, Souray (who can kick some serious ass by the sounds of things he was leveling Flames last night...he is a super tough dude).
Honestly Jacques/Stortini can dish it to but they suck and by suck I mean suck horribly last night our 4th was complete and utter trash....
Also Cogliano is here to stay that kid is nothing short of amazing and he could be a candidate for the Calder....the verdict is still out on Gagner though....very skilled and may get his nine games but I am thinking he will be sent back to juniors for another year....but I expect this team to compete this year.....
Hey, I totally agree that our team is a lot different….esp. on the back end. I wouldn't be overly sad to see Roy go, but if it comes down to Gilbert/Smid outplaying tarnstrom or Grebs…that could put management in a tough spot for sure. I still think they will move one of the bigger names as the season progresses and our needs become more clear.
The enforcer thing - Staios, Greene, Souray, Moreau are all tough and don't back down…but I really don't want to see any of those guys fighting Boogard. But if no one does, he's going to be head hunting again all year….which scares me considering 1/10th of our games are against them. How many of our players did he single-handedly put on the shelf last year? Gawd he's a killer. 5 minutes per game of mass destruction….
...and damn it would be nice to have a calder contender.
Comments
Was Bob Cole with Harry?...Can't believe those guys have not been put out their misery yet! Did hear that Jim Hughson is now part of the CBC crew with Craig Simpson maybe they will be the ones to unseed Neale and Cole.
As for Luongo not sure if he is playing tonight against Calgary..... probably as he did not play Monday night.....so if he plays tonight probably wouldn’t suit up tomorrow......I'm actually hoping to see Cory Schneider play tomorrow....don’t know if you have heard much about him he is a highly rated goaltending prospect out of Boston College. As for Souray he can blast away as long as he maintains his stellar + / - that he maintained or the Habs last year!
I do not buy into the fact that Souray/Pitkanen had horrible +/- numbers....Souray played with a horrible Montreal team that could only get PP goals (which is why we needed him cause ours was a joke last year) and Pitkanen played with the Flyers.....also Souray has always been a + player prior to last year....I doubt either will be in the negatives this year...plus together they will have 80+ points between them (take it to the bank)....
I am not trying to be a homer (last year I was worried about the Oil....they were missing so much) but this year we enter into the year with a team that has not under-went emotional drama in the offseason, we have depth at every position (too much if you ask me I think we will have to trade some of it), nine guys who can play defence right now in the NHL (kinda of like the 'Nucks this year as well), and offensive minded D-man (we had zero last year...now we have Souray/Pitkanen/Tarnstrom/Gilbert) all who love to jump into the play (see last nights OT winner with Grebs). We are so under-rated that we will surprise people....and that is I want to enter the season...at the very least I want to finish ahead of the Flames....:)
Oh yeah no Bob Cole (TUCKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and I hear Hughson/Simpson will be replacing them very very soon (there is talk they may do the finals). Bob has asked for less games this year I understand as well.....
were coming for ya around new years !!!! be ready
Yeah the Flames situation is going to be fun to watch......they are definitely putting all off their eggs in the basket for this year.....given that there is no way they will be keeping both Kipper and P-Nuff next year! How do you think Keenan and Kipper are going to get along? Kipper seems to me like he would not take to kindly to be pulled out of games! Could be a melt down in Cowtown
Oh we will be more than ready.
I was hoping to end up at the game, and I just may, either that game or the Devils before Christmas...going to be a toss-up....
Time will tell how they get along...I think it was a big mistake bringing in Keenan....time will tell.....as for the Flame i believe they are weaker this year than last....lost Stuart/Hamerlik for Aucion/Sarich...they lessened on the D from last year...pretty good up front still if they maintain the good balance they had last year (top ten in goal production) however I feel that this years Amonte will be Nolan.....why teams keep dragging up these golden oldies just dumbfounds me......
>
...a lover and a fighter.
"I'm at least half a bum" Rocky Balboa
http://www.videosift.com/video/Obamas-Message-To-American-Indians
Edmonton, AB. September 5th, 2005
Vancouver, BC. April 3rd, 2008
Calgary,AB. August 8th, 2009
Canucks-Oilers tonght....the debut of Souray.....I think it is available through center-ice on-line.....
18 Ethan Moreau - 42 Jonas Almtorp - 51 Kyle Brodziak
8 Geoff Sanderson - 13 Andrew Cogliano - 28 Patrick Thoresen
22 Jean-Francois Jacques - 48 Ben Simon - 46 Zack Stortini
44 Sheldon Souray - 77 Tom Gilbert
73 T.J. Kemp - 36 Mathieu Roy
5 Ladislav Smid - 2 Matt Greene
32 Mathieu Garon (starting goaltender)
38 Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers
Tonights line-up expect JDD to play half the game....
>
...a lover and a fighter.
"I'm at least half a bum" Rocky Balboa
http://www.videosift.com/video/Obamas-Message-To-American-Indians
Edmonton, AB. September 5th, 2005
Vancouver, BC. April 3rd, 2008
Calgary,AB. August 8th, 2009
I love the fact that some of the Oilers prospects went through my city, Sam Gagner and Robbie Shremp, Dany Sevret, i just wish one of them would crack the Oilers lineup once lol.
Toronto 2011 night 2
Hamilton 2011
London 2013
I'll be there to witness this first hand......based on what I have heard of our line up tonight I think you Oil fans will be happy with the result....apparently the plan is for the Canucks most experienced D man to be dressed is Lukas Krajicek, combined with Loungo and Schneider playing last night in goal so doubtful to play tonight...Anyways I'm just pumped to be going back and seeing hockey first hand
I have to say our line-up is the weakest yet this pre-season...but I am stoked to see Gagner and Cogliano dressing up tonight....fucking love these guys....it will be a good game....you will have to give your analysis after the game....I trust your opinion as you don't seem to be a disillusioned homer like the Leafs announcers for example.....or most Flames fans
- Souray is money and barring him killing someone he is going to be the most feared shot in the western conference....still has rust but he has only skated twice before the game and has not played since April and just came off shoulder surgery. To quote Penner on Souray:...."Hardest shot I have ever seen in the league, although I never really saw it, I just heard it"....."on the PP when I am in front of the net I will pray I do not get hit in the face".
- Brodziak.....just solidifed his spot along-side Moreau/Reasoner....looking great....keep it up....
- Cogliano - is so fast and I am thinking he may make the team....this kid has a tonne of potential....looks small but is acually a pretty big guy......
- Gilbert - Needs to get into the line-up on D....but it is tough given we have six guys ahead of him.....they need to move someone to get him in the line-up full time.....
- Truhkno - Loving this kid....as much as I love saying his name....I would like to see against the last RW postion over Pouliot (aka Pull-It)
Low-lights:
- Gagner - his weakest effort yet....HOWEVER he still has time to prove himself worthy of the inital nine games of the season.....
- Thoreson - love the heart my Norweigian friend but it takes more than heart to crack the line-up....will be returning to Springfield soon I hope....
The fourth line of Jacques/Stortini/?????? (some Ben guy I have never heard of)...awful line none of these guys will make the team...flying Stortini is just not the right man......
So my re-vamped lines are this:
Penner/Horcoff/Hemsky
Torres/Stoll/Nillson
Moreau/Reasoner/Brodizak
Sanderson/Cogliano/Truhkno
D-man consists of Souray/Smid/Steady Steve/Tarnstrom/Greene (although Gilbert deserves his spot IMHO but we need a hard-nose guy back there so that may give him the spot by default)/Pitkanen...Gilbert as a 7th man....Also expect Roy (maybe even Grebs but I doubt it) to be traded for some picks as the on-way contract makes them heading down to the AHL tough as they would have to clear waivers...
Overall a sub-par performance but with only five regulars in the line-up and a fourth line of bruisers what can you expect.....
Cogliano looked good on the highlights how fast is that guy, i saw him on the juniors where he had flashes of brillance.
Toronto 2011 night 2
Hamilton 2011
London 2013
He has been nothing short of brilliant in camp/pre-season....so freaking fast and with great hands....I guess a very smart player too....MacT said he has been so quick to learn the systems and is very impressed by that.....
Rookie ties game and pots overtime winner
CALGARY - The writing has been on the locker-room wall since training camp opened.
Still, Oilers centre Shawn Horcoff has done his damndest to carry on with his warm-up to the regular season.
When he has looked at the pairings board and seen Dustin Penner-Sam Gagner-Ales Hemsky scribbled in on the first line, he has told himself that the move makes sense. He can see that Gagner is the future of the franchise and understands that the young star needs to showcase his game.
Horcoff has also told himself it is early, that things could change between now and Oct. 4. In the meantime, he has been zeroing in on his game, no matter who he is playing with, just as he did Saturday in the Oilers' 5-4 overtime win against the Flames in Calgary.
Horcoff skated with Ethan Moreau and Kyle Brodziak in his second outing of the pre-season, and 13 minutes into the second period he put away his second goal, a short-handed marker that was set up by Robert Nilsson.
"I view myself as a player who can give more than third-line-centre minutes, but I understand the situation," said Horcoff, who now has two goals and a pair of
assists. "And it's early in camp. I've proven what I can do in that spot. I know I'm ready this year.
"We'll just have to see. At this point I'm just getting myself ready to start the season. That's all you can really do at this point."
When Penner came to the Oilers from Anaheim, it was assumed that Horcoff would play on the top line, just as he has for most of last two seasons, and centre the new winger. But given the free fall that saw the Oilers finish 25th, changes were imminent.
Securing Penner was a start.
The next step is rolling the dice on a youngster like Gagner or Andrew Cogliano, who upped his stock again when he zipped up ice and put away his own rebound to tie the game 3-3.
He then put away the winner in the dying seconds of the overtime period.
"What we're talking about is five-on-five ice for (Horcoff)," head coach Craig MacTavish said. "Maybe his role will be more important, more impactful for us if he is playing on a second or third line.
"The minutes will be there ... but maybe at the start of the game his name isn't with Hemsky and with Penner.
"We need a dynamic scorer, and Horc, for all his strengths, is not a 100-point guy, so we're going to entertain thoughts of looking at somebody else, at times, five-on-five."
That somebody will be Gagner or Cogliano, but just to make sure he didn't take himself out of the mix, Rob Schremp put in his best performance against the Flames. Either way, Horcoff will be on the first power-play unit and he will kill penalties. And he will skate with Hemsky and Penner in Phoenix on Tuesday.
"He's a good kid, he has lots of skill, and he's obviously the future of the franchise," Horcoff said of Gagner. "With a young kid like that, you have to play him with skilled players and you have to see what he can do.
"I see myself as a top six forward, and in order to produce, you have to play with guys who are offensive-minded players. Having said that, I have pretty much played in every situation and in every role. It's not like I'm not going to be comfortable. It's going to be interesting.
Published: 6:31 am
"But right now, I'm just getting myself prepared and ready."
If Cogliano or Gagner did make the grade, Horcoff could end up skating with Moreau and Brodziak. Marty Reasoner would play on the fourth and Jarret Stoll would stay with Raffi Torres and Robert Nilsson.
That trio was out again in Calgary and kicked off the scoring for Edmonton.
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Font: ****"Ideally, what we'd like to have happen is for one of those young guys to step up and really play well in that position," MacTavish said. "Then whether it's Horc on the second line or Stoll ... those two are going to get 20-plus minutes a game. You just need a guy (on the first line) who is going to be at least a 90-point guy."
OIL DROPS -- Defenceman Denis Grebeshkov had a solid night's work. He was moving the puck and was plus-three by game's end.
The Flames, already down to 27 active players, got power-play goals from Adam Pardy and Alex Tanguay and even-strength goals from Jarome Iginla and Marcus Nilson.
Miikka Kiprusoff, in a game that wasn't going to net either goaltender a star selection, went the distance for Calgary. Dwayne Roloson put in his first full game of the pre-season for Edmonton and saved his best work for the later stages of the tilt -- including a four-on-three in overtime. Calgary outshot Edmonton 37-28.
THE LINEUP (last night)
Forwards
Ethan Moreau-Shawn Horcoff-Kyle Brodziak
Raffi Torres-Jarret Stoll-Robert Nilsson
Frederik Johansson-Rob Schremp-Marc Pouliot
JF Jacques-Andrew Cogliano-Troy Bodie
Defencemen
Joni Pitkanen-Steve Staios
Sheldon Souray-Matt Greene
Denis Grebeshkov-Dick Tarnstrom
Goaltenders
Dwayne Roloson
Devan Dubnyk (back up)
Indeed the writing is on the wall for Horcoff.....and its a great decison my MacT to put a Cogliano/Gagner (Schremp is still in the mix) at the #1 role and use Horc. where he belongs a 2a/2b (as I see line 2 and 3 getting similar minutes) center position.......
Just came out on the Edmonton Journals Website. Robbie Shremp is being sent back down to the minors .......AGAIN.
>
...a lover and a fighter.
"I'm at least half a bum" Rocky Balboa
http://www.videosift.com/video/Obamas-Message-To-American-Indians
Edmonton, AB. September 5th, 2005
Vancouver, BC. April 3rd, 2008
Calgary,AB. August 8th, 2009
bah....I gave up on that putz a while ago. He just doesn't have the heart.
Cannot wait for tonight....Gagner/Cogliano/Horcoff all playing for the number one centre spot....
The nerd in me hopes that one day the journal will quote from this thread and if they do....its a post like this they should quote.
>
...a lover and a fighter.
"I'm at least half a bum" Rocky Balboa
http://www.videosift.com/video/Obamas-Message-To-American-Indians
Edmonton, AB. September 5th, 2005
Vancouver, BC. April 3rd, 2008
Calgary,AB. August 8th, 2009
>
...a lover and a fighter.
"I'm at least half a bum" Rocky Balboa
http://www.videosift.com/video/Obamas-Message-To-American-Indians
Edmonton, AB. September 5th, 2005
Vancouver, BC. April 3rd, 2008
Calgary,AB. August 8th, 2009
Souray combined with Hemsky is going to allow Souray ample opportunity to beat his own PP goal record he set last year.....that shot is un-fucking-believable.....last night WOW!
These guys will prove all the pundits that they are grade A material...Oilers will be back in the play-offs this year....and don't even get me started on Cogliano that kid is amazing.....
It's still preseason man, don't get too excited
And I really hope you're right about Souray and Pitkanen.... they are in a similar spot as Smith was last year (like we spoke about yesterday)...they were a bit out of their element, on shitty teams, being asked to do more than what their normal role entails...I just hope we have enough defensive d to cover for their offensive rushes/pinches/etc. I think Staios and Greene will be up to the task tho. And you are sooo right about the outlet passes...after watching Pronger for a year here, it was brutally obvious how much we missed that last season.
Do you think we need an enforcer? Fucking Boogart scares me...I don't want to play that guy 8 times with all these young guys and no one to stand up to him....the team toughness thing is one thing...but no one on our team will stand up to him....nor should they.
Ummm...I am not too excited like I said last year I was not that optimsitic about our chances after a decent pre-season...we look like a different team on so many levels....we are not the same team as last year....not remotely....
MacT has stated that he will take 8 d-men on the roster on opening day until he determines how much they are willing to gamble...I think deep down MacT really likes the pinching d-men....so he wants to see how bad the reprecussions our for mainly offensive d-men....therefore I expect to see Souray/Staios/Pitkanen/Smid/Grebeskov/Gilber/Greene/Tarnstrom all on the roster opening day (of course all will not dress) and Roy will be traded as he would have to clear waivers to send him down.
Only Gilbert/Smid can be sent down without the worry of them being picked up by another team....interesting problem for the coaching staff but a good one...
As for enforcer I think guys that can dish it out include Moreau (who said he will not back down from a "needed" fight...we missed his intimidation last year a lot!), Staois, Greene, Souray (who can kick some serious ass by the sounds of things he was leveling Flames last night...he is a super tough dude).
Honestly Jacques/Stortini can dish it to but they suck and by suck I mean suck horribly last night our 4th was complete and utter trash....
Also Cogliano is here to stay that kid is nothing short of amazing and he could be a candidate for the Calder....the verdict is still out on Gagner though....very skilled and may get his nine games but I am thinking he will be sent back to juniors for another year....but I expect this team to compete this year.....
Hey, I totally agree that our team is a lot different….esp. on the back end. I wouldn't be overly sad to see Roy go, but if it comes down to Gilbert/Smid outplaying tarnstrom or Grebs…that could put management in a tough spot for sure. I still think they will move one of the bigger names as the season progresses and our needs become more clear.
The enforcer thing - Staios, Greene, Souray, Moreau are all tough and don't back down…but I really don't want to see any of those guys fighting Boogard. But if no one does, he's going to be head hunting again all year….which scares me considering 1/10th of our games are against them. How many of our players did he single-handedly put on the shelf last year? Gawd he's a killer. 5 minutes per game of mass destruction….
...and damn it would be nice to have a calder contender.