Edmonton Oilers News and Rumors
FROM WHERE I SIT . . .
Source: Oilers Nation
Date: 2013-05-21
When I started with the Edmonton Journal back in 1989, columnist Cam Cole would fill days that didn't provide him with enough meat to churn out a full rant or rave with a bit he called "Items that might grow up to be columns, Volume XVI" etc.This, with the Edmonton Oilers scattered all over the place during a seventh straight post-season out of the playoff mix, the draft and free agency still many weeks away and new GM Craig MacTavish settling into the job, is that. I'm stealing it from Cole, with credit, of course.In no particular order of importance, some of the thoughts that have crossed my addled mind in recent days, grabbing my attention at least as much as the Stanley Cup playoffs and
RYAN WHITNEY RE 12-13: ATLANTIC CITY
Source: Lowetide
Date: 2013-05-21
Ryan Whitney arrived in Edmonton and tore up the blacktop for 35 games. Since then, it’s been a steep decline with no signs that encourage better days. Ryan Whitney is at a crossroads. Ryan Whitney 10-11 5×5 points per 60: 1.58 (1st among Oil D, 2nd in NHL) 5×4 points per 60: 2.91 (3rd among Oil D) Qual Comp: 3rd toughest among D Qual Team: worst available among D Corsi Rel: .6 (6th best among D) Zone Start: 53.4% (3rd easiest among D) Zone Finish: 50.6% (4th best among D) Shots on goal/percentage: 43 shots/2 goals 4.7% (4th best) Boxcars: 35gp, 2-25-27 Plus Minus: +13 on a team that was -52 Ryan Whitney 11-12 5×5 points per 60: 0.62 (4th among Oil D) 5×4 points per
NATION NETWORK HIRING
Source: Oilers Nation
Date: 2013-05-21
With all the fun and jokes and griping that comes with the territory here at the Nation Network we are going to be serious for a moment and talk business to the serious people that read this site.The Nation Network is hiring.BACKGROUNDUndoubtedly no one reading this site has ever thought of working for it. Let us tell you a little bit about us with some backstory potential applicant:Founded in 2007, the Nation Network is a privately held Canadian Media Company that creates premium professional hockey coverage online, in podcast and on the Radio. We are proud to have partnerships with some of Canada’s leading Media companies including Post Media and Vice.com.NOW HIRING - SALESWe are look
Big Oilers Data IX: Neutral Zone Faceoff Wins
Source: Mc79hockey
Date: 2013-05-21
This is part of a series looking for reasons for the Oilers Corsi% collapse in 2012-13 by examining things on a shift-by-shift basis. Part 1 can be found here. Part 2 can be found here. Part 3 can be found here. Part 4 can be found here. Part 5 can be found here. Part 6 [...]
UPDATE ON NUGENT-HOPKINS
Source: Oilers Nation
Date: 2013-05-21
There has been lots of speculation lately on the health of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The 2011 first overall pick had surgery on April 23rd to repair a torn labrum, and recently I've noticed some suggesting he will be out for a significant portion of next season.Rather than speculate, I decided to put in a call to his agent Rick Valette to get an update on RNH's shoulder. The main question we all want to know is what is the timeline on when he's projected to be ready to play next year, and Valette shed some light on that."If you look at where he is at today, I think there is a very good chance he'll be ready for opening night," said Valette. "If he's not ready to go, then we won't rush it, but h
How Much Should Sam Gagner Cost?
Source: Copper N Blue
Date: 2013-05-21
How much cap space should the Oilers be using to sign Sam Gagner to a new contract?
If Ales Hemsky has low value, does it make sense to trade him?
Source: Oilers Nation
Date: 2013-05-21
Yesterday, we considered former NHL general manager Craig Button’s point of view on Ales Hemsky – that his trade value is so low that even at a steep discount the Oilers might not get a second round draft pick. While that’s a debatable viewpoint, the truth is that Hemsky is not likely to yield a grand return. With his trade value low, does it even make sense to trade him at this point? Addition by subtraction?The temptation here is to say “don’t be an idiot” and move on to the next heading. There’s a vocal subset of the fanbase/media that says things like ‘the Oilers will keep losing as long as Hemsky is in the lineup’ because they’re under the impression that losing is
The 2005-06 Oilers: Not A Fluke
Source: Mc79hockey
Date: 2013-05-21
Change of pace today. I’m a big fan of the Marek v. Wyshynski podcast but those guys have, occasionally, discussed the 2005-06 Edmonton Oilers with something less than the reverence I believe to be appropriate. Indeed, the f word has been used: fluke. It always bugs me when people call that team a fluke because [...]
Shawn Horcoff’s play and his role have fallen off drastically in past two seasons
Source: Edmonton Journal - Cult of Hockey
Date: 2013-05-21
Should the Oilers try to trade or buy-out their team captain? Shawn Horcoff is a smart and gritty hockey player, skilled at getting and maintaining strong defensive position in his own zone. But the solid passing and shooting that Horcoff displayed earlier in his career are no longer part of his repertoire. Horcoff will be 35 years old this coming hockey season. He’s been banged up and missed big chunks of time in two of the past three seasons. He is still the Oilers captain, but he is no longer the team’s on-ice leader. He’s not the player he was even in two years ago. He’s not used in the same difficult situations on the ice. He’s not facing the same difficul
SAIL ON PARDUBICE PRINCE?
Source: Lowetide
Date: 2013-05-21
Jim Matheson’s article about Ales Hemsky this weekend gives us a chance to discuss trade value. The idea of dealing Hemsky has been around for some time–there was a rumor he was headed to Nashville leading up to the deadline a couple of years back (for a 2 and a 4, apparently)–and the two year contract (plus the time to fulfill it) hasn’t really changed the lay of the land. I wonder if Matheson either has inside info or has read the tea leaves (not difficult after MacT’s press conference), or maybe the organization has thrown out a trial balloon with the MacT verbal and Matheson is following things to their conclusion. Let’s review the exact wording of the