Edmonton Oilers News and Rumors
NIKITA
Source: Lowetide
Date: 2013-05-18
I have a friend who grew up in the Kremlin. Seriously. I always tell people his story because it’s pretty cool. He loves Canada (except for the winters) and is an Oiler fan which I find to be a fascinating fact. After all, the Oilers are NOT aggressive in the Russian hockey market. I’ve been reading Jim Matheson since I was a teenager. Matheson was writing long before many of you were born and can still hit the ball hard when the opportunity presents itself. Something tells me the recent management change might have opened up a trickle of information for the veteran newspaper man. Matheson is writing some interesting stuff for draft fans, and specifically has his finger on the
IIHF World Championships - Semi-finals
Source: Edmonton Oilers official website
Date: 2013-05-18
The Edmonton Oilers have six players participating in the 2013 IIHF World Hockey Championships in Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden: Devan Dubnyk, Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Justin Schultz (Canada), Ladislav Smid (Czech Republic) and Jef...
Edmonton Oilers’ UFA targets: power forwards Brian Bickell and Viktor Stalberg of Chicago
Source: Edmonton Journal - Cult of Hockey
Date: 2013-05-18
One of Craig MacTavish’s highest priorities for the Edmonton Oilers this off-season has to be finding a forward or two of sufficient size and skill to change the look of the top nine. When surveying the market of potential unrestricted free agents, two names near the top of the list are Chicago Blackhawks teammates Brian Bickell and Viktor Stalberg. It may be a perfect storm developing there in Chicago, who according to CapGeek already have salary commitments of about $62.7 MM in salary against the 2013-14 cap of $64.3 MM. That makes the Hawks a prime target for both a trade of an established player to shed salary, as well as causing them all sorts of problems re-signing their unrestri
A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER?
Source: Oilers Nation
Date: 2013-05-18
Long-time observers of the Edmonton Oilers at the draft table know the club has a tendency to go "walkabout" during the second and third rounds of the draft. Recent comments by the GM perhaps give hope that the club will go in a new direction for picks 31-100. THE 2009 DRAFTAn excellent example of the Oilers "walkabout" at the draft table occurred in 2009. The club ended up with four players from Bob McKenzie's final list but went about it in unusual fashion. Here's how it actually went down:2009 Oilers draft Magnus Paajarvi selected #10 overall, ranked #10 (attended combine) Anton Lander selected #40 overall, ranked HM (attended combine) Troy Hesketh selected #71 overall, unranked
1988 Stanley Cup Final: Edmonton Oilers vs Boston Bruins (Game One)
Source: Oil Drop
Date: 2013-05-18
Today marks the 25th Anniversary of the opening game of the 1988 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins. It was a series that would put the finishing touches on what was arguably the most dominant single playoff run in Oilers history and ultiamtely earn them their fourth championship in five years.
San Jose Sharks G.M. Doug Wilson (smartly) stands by Raffi Torres
Source: Edmonton Journal - Cult of Hockey
Date: 2013-05-18
The San Jose Sharks generally don’t get enough credit for it, but they are one of the better organizations in the NHL. Their response to the NHL’s suspension of Raffi Torres is a small example of the team getting things right. Torres is a Sharks forward, and he’s being suspended for a hit that falls in the grey area of NHL suspensions. Because of his history, Torres doesn’t get much slack when one of his hits falls into that zone, so understandably the NHL chose to suspend him. The Sharks, however, have an obligation to one of their own to make the opposing case – and they do so here with clarity and vigour. At the same time, it’s dangerous for any team to get too strident in cri
Is the Oilers farm team properly developing players?
Source: Oilers Nation
Date: 2013-05-18
Under head coach Todd Nelson, the Oklahoma City Barons have been a consistently competitive club in the American Hockey League. However, many of the Edmonton Oilers’ young prospects have struggled to make the jump to the professional level. Is Nelson finding the right balance between winning and developing players? Nelson’s TakeA few weeks back, Nelson was asked a question along this line during an appearance on Oilers Now. Here’s what he told host Bob Stauffer:It’s a very delicate balance, Bob. One form of development is just the player himself, physically, learning the pro game, just trying to manage his life as a pro. The second part of it is, I think having success is a form of
JUSTIN SCHULTZ RE 12-13: BACKSTREETS
Source: Lowetide
Date: 2013-05-18
Along with the #1 overall picks, this era of Oiler procurement will be best remembered for the incredible: a real live impact defense prospect deciding to join the Oilers department of youth for an adventure. I still don’t think it’s hit us. (photo courtesy of Rob Ferguson. All rights reserved). Justin Schultz 12-13 5×5 points per 60: 0.96 (2nd among regular D) 5×4 points per 60: 5.06 (1st among regular D) Qual Comp: 3rd toughes faced among regular D (2nd pairing) Qual Team: best available teammates among regular D (1st pairing) Corsi Rel: -1.2 (4th best among regular D) (-12.19 CorsiON) Zone Start: 48.1% (2nd easiest among regular D) Zone Finish: 49.5% (3rd best among regula
Which goaltender should start for Team Canada at the Sochi 2014 Olympics?
Source: Edmonton Journal - Cult of Hockey
Date: 2013-05-18
Less than a year away from the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics, there is no clear consensus choice for the role of starter for Canada’s Olympic team. The incumbent starter has been reduced to the backup role on his own team, the man he supplanted is in the twilight years of a legendary career, and the young third-stringer with a Stanley Cup ring has imploded in the playoffs in four consecutive seasons. So what happens now? Canada can’t claim to have a dominant starter compared to other teams in the tournament, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a strong cast of options to choose from. Five-year even-strength save percentage table: Three and five-year averages The incumbent: Robert
SAIL ON SUMMER?
Source: Lowetide
Date: 2013-05-17
I spoke to James Mirtle today, we talked about the Leafs and the decisions they have to make this summer. James feels the Leafs can return the roster intact if they choose, but that’s about it–there isn’t a mile of money to add help, so they’ll need to shuffle someone out of the deck to improve. Could be Grabovski leaving, but beyond MacArthur and (buyout) Komisarek they can return intact. The cap difficulties come from RFA’s Tyler Bozak ($1.5M and expecting a raise), Nazem Kadri ($1.72M with bonuses and expecting a raise), Cody Franson ($1.2M and expecting a raise) and Carl Gunnarsson ($1.325M and expecting a raise). The Oilers have RFA’s Sam Gagner ($3.2