NHL Off Season

[Flubber]

I agree in that I thought they would do better last year as well and was disappointed that they weren't more competitive. Every team has injuries, and I hate to make excuses, but I think one of their key injuries last year was Ryan Whitney. He had 2 Goals and 25 Assists in 35 Games last year, and I think when he went down (just after Christmas?) the Oilers were lacking a puck moving defensemen to get the puck to their forwards.

With Whitney in the first 35 games:
35-12-17-06-30 Winning % .428

Final Record of the Season:
82-25-45-12-62 Winning % .378

Record Without Whitney in the last 47 games:
47-13-28-06-32 Winning % .340

While a lot more happened last year then just Whitney getting hurt, I think any team obviously needs defencemen capable of getting the puck out of their own end, and getting the puck to the forwards, hopefully he is back to 100% this year.

I'm excited about this season...but then again, I was excited about last year too. I am now much closer to Edmonton then I used to be, hopefully I can get to see at least a game live this year (if not in Edmonton, then in Calgary maybe....which I am closer to).

/me

Interesting assessment-- while the record with Whitney was not great, that without Whitney record is downright depressing

I think they will be better this season as with that much raw talent they simply cannot be worse . . .

Whereabouts are you these days? Are you in Alberta somewhere or are in Sask or BC or somewhere relatively close to here

[Sparrowhawk]

Whereabouts are you these days? Are you in Alberta somewhere or are in Sask or BC or somewhere relatively close to here

You must not be a Hitmen fan or you could probably guess by my avatar The Ice beat up on the Hitmen all last year....though everyone beat up on the Hitmen last year

I am currently living in Cranbrook, BC (about a 4 hour drive from Calgary). Still not an easy road trip to watch a game, but much closer than where I was in Manitoba (kind of ironic that they got the Jets back after I left Manitoba....though I am closer to Calgary now than I was to Winnipeg...and I lived in Winnipeg in the 90's when the Jets were there, and didn't think they deserved to get a team back). I think I am even closer to Edmonton now than I was to Winnipeg.

/me

[notyoueither]

I agree in that I thought they would do better last year as well and was disappointed that they weren't more competitive. Every team has injuries, and I hate to make excuses, but I think one of their key injuries last year was Ryan Whitney. He had 2 Goals and 25 Assists in 35 Games last year, and I think when he went down (just after Christmas?) the Oilers were lacking a puck moving defensemen to get the puck to their forwards.

With Whitney in the first 35 games:
35-12-17-06-30 Winning % .428

Final Record of the Season:
82-25-45-12-62 Winning % .378

Record Without Whitney in the last 47 games:
47-13-28-06-32 Winning % .340

While a lot more happened last year then just Whitney getting hurt, I think any team obviously needs defencemen capable of getting the puck out of their own end, and getting the puck to the forwards, hopefully he is back to 100% this year.

I'm excited about this season...but then again, I was excited about last year too. I am now much closer to Edmonton then I used to be, hopefully I can get to see at least a game live this year (if not in Edmonton, then in Calgary maybe....which I am closer to).

/me

Injury to Whitney.

No goalie.

No centre who could win face offs.

No ability on special teams.

There were a lot of things wrong with that team. It was glorious!

[Flubber]

Injury to Whitney.

No goalie.

No centre who could win face offs.

No ability on special teams.

There were a lot of things wrong with that team. It was glorious!

Interesting reaction-- Do you have any hopes for Dubnyk?? Could he be a #1 backstop for a decent team at some point?

I had thought Oilers management had been idiots for letting Rollie go in favor of Khabibulin and last years events proved that up

[notyoueither]

I think Dubnyk could well become a starter. We won't know until he shows us. He has to get the chance though. Last year the coaches kept going back to Khabi even though Dubnyk was clearly playing better. It may have been that they viewed it a development year for Dubnyk (along with the rest of the team) and did not wish to risk breaking him if he was not really ready.

Don't quote me on this, but I think Rolie had to go for reasons other than hockey. He was seen, often, at clubs in the company of quite young women. That wouldn't be a problem in Dallas or San Jose. It was a possible image problem for the Oilers due to the fish bowl. He is a 40yo, married, man.

[notyoueither]

As for the reaction. I think it's clear management built a team for the lottery. They were happy to let the younger players get a lot of ice time and let the chips fall where they may. Nobody seriously thought they were competitive for the playoffs even before camp started (although hopes may have been there).

If giving rookies ice time is the plan, and another round of high picks is desirable, the team did about as 'well' as could be hoped. There was plenty of ice for young players as older ones went down to the hurts, and the Oilers 'won' the race.

[Sparrowhawk]

Apparently the Kings have now filed a formal grievance against the Oilers over the Fraser / Smyth trade. It brings to mind a question I have (and if the answer is obvious please forgive me )....why can't an injured player have their contract bought out? It seems that regardless of who Edmonton traded to LA (Brule, Fraser), they planned to buy out the contract, but if the player is injured they cannot according the to CBA (I think). Does it have something to do with insurance or the injured players medical? Probably something obvious, but I don't see it.

/me

[Asher]

It's probably a demand the union made, to guarantee they collect their full paycheque even if injured long-term.

[notyoueither]

I would think Asher is correct.

[Flubber]

It's probably a demand the union made, to guarantee they collect their full paycheque even if injured long-term.

THis seems right. A healthy player can try to get on elsewhere. If long term injured, it seems a buy out could be a cheaper way to dump people and it seems an obvious union ask that players not be discared in that fashion

[Guynemer]

Any guesses on where the Islanders will end up?

[notyoueither]

Probably somewhere else in NY. I've read that there are developers or developments in Queens (?) that would like to accomodate them.

[Flubber]

Flames sign Scott Hannan--shuit down guy-- A CHEAPER REPLACEMENT FOR Regehr perhaps

[Flubber]

OH and while new leagues are some ways off I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on who I should keep in my keeper legaue

we have 14 teams with 25 man rosters with the ability to play 3C, 3RW, 3LW, 4D and 2 utility each day along with two goalies.--weekly H to H

OH and its a tiered league-- If I win my division I go up to the next tier and inherit the last place team

14 stats in all -- For players its G, A, +/-, PIM,PPG PPP SHG GWG and SOG. For goalies its W, GAA, SV, SV% and SHO

WE can keep 8 with no limits by position

My team

Offense
Player G A +/- PIM PPG PPP SHG GWG SOG
Anton Babchuk 11 24 14 32 6 13 1 2 132
Danny Briere 34 34 20 87 6 15 0 6 246
Andrew Brunette 18 28 -7 16 8 18 0 3 117
Danny Cleary 26 20 -1 20 5 8 0 8 192
Matt Duchene 27 40 -8 33 3 15 0 2 202
Pascal Dupuis 17 20 16 59 0 0 4 3 171
Jonathan Ericsson 3 12 8 87 1 1 0 0 89
Mike Fisher 19 17 -17 43 4 14 0 2 192
Dan Girardi 4 27 7 37 2 7 0 1 110
David Jones 27 18 -2 28 6 9 0 4 153
Patrick Kane 27 46 7 28 5 24 0 2 216
Mike Knuble 24 16 10 36 7 12 1 1 203
Mike Modano 4 11 -4 8 1 6 0 0 79
Dominic Moore 18 14 -12 52 6 7 0 3 175
Chris Neil 6 10 -14 210 0 0 0 2 105
Theo Peckham 3 10 -5 198 0 0 0 0 41
Rich Peverley 18 23 -17 37 6 12 2 3 201
Teddy Purcell 17 34 5 10 3 21 0 1 196
Bobby Ryan 34 37 15 61 5 10 1 5 270
Shawn Thornton 10 10 8 122 0 0 0 2 151
Shea Weber 16 32 7 56 6 17 1 3 254
Goaltending
Player W GAA SV SA SV% SHO
Craig Anderson 24 2.83 1411 1546 .913 2
Nikolai Khabibulin 10 3.40 1236 1389 .890 2
Henrik Lundqvist 36 2.28 1813 1965 .923 11
Michal Neuvirth 27 2.45 1173 1283 .914 4


My take

Kane
Ryan
Weber
Duchene
Briere
Lundeqvist
Anderson

(I know I lack superstars but I drafted 13th last year in our initial year

With goalies comprising 5 of 14 categories I feel I need all 3 of those guys. I know Neuvirth is a platoon at best in Washington but he's young and I am hopefull he will be stellar. Plus with 14 deep rosters, goalies are at a premium and commanded high trade values. I even had a passing fancy to keep Khabi but I sobered up.

Can anyone make a case for any young guys like Jones or Purcell over anyone I have chosen? I actually thought its pretty clear and am salivating at the prospect of drafting away someone else's 9th best player

Oh and mock my lineup if you want-- I had given up 8 depth players for Bobby Ryan when I realized I could not make the playoffs so I really had to mstruggle in ther consolation round

[notyoueither]

You're keeping Neuvirth then?

I wouldn't keep either Jones or Purcell over the other players on your list.