What an amazing season opener for the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers laid a smackdown on the Calgary Flames, winning in decisive fashion 4-0. Jordan Eberle had the goal of the night and will be mentioned at the end of the season as one of the best. It was also his first NHL goal and that will be considered one of the best first NHL goals ever as well. Oh did I mentioned it was a short-handed goal too? Taylor Hall did not hit the scoresheet but had 4 shots on goal and some very nice chances in the game.
I honestly can’t say any Oiler had a bad game. Hemsky was dangling and scored a slapshot goal. Penner was using his body to create chances. Brule scored a nice powerplay goal. There were numerous fights by Fraser, Jones and Smacintryre!!
The Oilers had a tough second period where they gave up lots of chances and were back on their heels. However, they buckled down and came out on fire in the third period. This was a great game.
The big 3 (Hall, Eberle, Paajarvi) are in training camp right now, trying to make the team. I believe all three will make the Oilers and start the regular season in Edmonton. The Oilers beat the Canucks last night in the first pre-season game in which the Oilers left most of their starters at home except Horcoff and Eberle who played well together. Tonight is the first home pre-season game and first Taylor Hall game. The town is excited and ready to cheer for Hall and the entire team. Myself? I love me some Hemsky. He is the best player on the team and he needs to rebound from shoulder surgery last year. He is very important to the team. Hemsky is now a veteran and needs to lead this team.
Khabibulin will not play quite yet. Maybe on Sunday? They’re going to have to get him in for three or four games. He needs the work. He hasn’t played since last November. He was convicted of extreme DUI last month and sentenced to 30 days in jail. He is appealing his sentence and therefore is in camp and ready to play. We don’t know how long the appeal process will take or if he will play the entire season. So the Oilers are in limbo and can only hope he can return to form and play the entire season, and if necessary, serve his jail time in the off-season. We wait.
It’s almost hockey time. It’s been a looooooooooooong five months.
As a side note, I’ve been asked to write a weekly blog/article for The Fourth Period on the Oilers. I’m honored to be asked and look forward to continue writing for this blog, contributing occasionally to Oilers Jambalaya and now to The Fourth Period. My first article went up a couple weeks ago on the Oilers off-season.
I want some hockey. Look at this poor dog, he wants some Oilers hockey too!!! So our Oilers have been quite busy in the off-season from drafting Taylor Hall first overall, signing third and fourth liners for the Oilers and bulking up their AHL team. Check out all the signings at the Oilers website here. Tambellini is not done yet as he still has several restricted free agents to sign with the two most important being Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano. I’m surprised they didn’t sign Gagner right away but I’m not sure which side is dragging their heels on this. I’m sure it’ll get done but would prefer this sooner rather than later.
Next up is our goalie situation. Deslauriers has elected for arbitration but the Oilers rarely go this route and will likely resign him before his hearing as they did with Brule. I’m surprised JDD thinks arbitration is a good idea. Did you really have a good year? You went 16-28-4 with a save percentage of .901. Yeah sit the fuck down.
So with Deslauriers going to arbitration and Dubnyk signed, we’re left with Nikolai Khabibulin or as I like to refer to him now as Boozy Bulin. After trying to worm his way out of the charge (my back hurts) and the jury trial postponed several times, Boozy is going to a judge trial at the end of August. So at least we’ll know what is going on before training camp starts but what happens if he is convicted? The maximum penalty is 6 months in jail (minimum is 30 days). We are left with the unknown at this point. If convicted, when will he be sentenced? Will he have to do much time? Will he miss training camp? Can he even enter Canada? Can we void his contract? The only thing going for Boozy is this is his first offense so maybe he can wrangle a plea bargain for a lesser charge (Arizona is very tough on DUI’s so that is unlikely).
I searched online and found this regarding conviction of extreme dui:
In Arizona there are specific laws and penalties for people who fall under the category of “Extreme DUI”. A person is said to be an Extreme DUI if their blood alcohol concentration is 0.15 or higher within two hours of driving or being in actual control of a vehicle. A person convicted of Extreme DUI is convicted of a criminal misdemeanor.
However this site says Canada views misdemeanor DUI convictions as felonies so he would have to apply for a waiver or something to enter Canada but that will take time and he will likely miss part of the season. So if you don’t show up for training camp, does that void your contract or something? A few months back I thought a plea bargain was likely but that probably would have happened by now, non? It’s possible. We’ll have to wait and see.
So while we wait for news on Boozy, July is almost over and August will be here and closer to the hockey season. I need hockey sooooooooooooooo badly.
I forgot to post after the hockey celebration at Commonwealth last month. Most of the gold medal winners from the men and women’s Olympic hockey teams were in town (although a certain Devil, aka Pronger, did not have the balls to show up). They showed highlights from the gold medal games (did I tell you that I was in Vancouver at both games? Oh yes, I saw Canada win gold in hockey) and they chatted with some of the players too! Anyway, here are a couple pics my friend took of the Kid and the Moose.
2010 NHL draft is only a few hours away and the debate still rages. Are you Team Taylor or Team Tyler? The winger or the center? The beauty or the beast?
The Oilers will pick first for the first time in their history. Yes that’s what happens when you finish 30th. After moving Quinn upstairs, Renney is the man. He will coach a very different team this fall. The team has already traded for Colin Fraser (Hawks) who is the elusive third/fourth rugged centerman who can take draws and kill penalties. There will be more moves before the puck drops in October. In fact, there could be many moves made today and tomorrow. Moreau and Souray are locks to be moved (Moreau will be bought out if he can’t be moved) along with scary rumors of moving Hemsky.
DO NOT TRADE HEMSKY.
Hemsky is signed for two more years. You don’t trade someone who is your best player, is on a cheap contract and has two years to go. Next summer is the only time you entertain this thought if he refused to sign an extension. Then trade away. Hemsky should not be traded for prospects or draft picks. It’s not necessary and you don’t know what you’d be getting in return.
Anyways, I’m heading to the draft party at Rexall very soon.
Taylor vs Tyler. I have no clue who is the better player or who will be. Hall seems to be better right now but Seguin may end up being better. I’m confused. Just make the pick and we’ll debate this for another ten years. I hope they pick the right one!
Philadelphia vs Chicago – The final has the Flyers vs the Blackhawks and this is a surprise. The Flyers clinched a playoff spot with an shootout win over the Rangers on the last day of the regular season. They’ve had about twenty goalies this year so they’ve been crazy inconsistent. I picked the Hawks at the start of the playoffs so I’m sticking with it. I think Niemi will out-play Leighton and the Hawk forwards will use their speed and take over this series. I don’t think this is going to be the close and hard hitting series some are predicting. Hawks are going to control the series and not even Chris F’in Pronger can do anything to stop them.
My second round predictions were not on the mark but most predictions were not on the money. I went 1 for4. Yikes. So along with round one, I am 6-4 so far. Not bad.
Chicago vs San Jose – I hate SJ. I don’t want them to win. Heatley is a punk. Sure Thornton showed up a bit in round two but you can’t count on him. It’s the other Joe that has saved the playoffs for them. But I like the Hawks young guns better. The biggest question mark is Niemi who has been up and down during the playoffs. Hawks win only if he plays well. He has to. I think he does. I want him to play well. Hawks in six.
Philadelphia vs Montreal – thanks Boston for CHOKING. Thanks for blowing a 3-0 games series lead. Thanks for blowing a 3-0 lead in game seven. Thanks. I now have to cheer for the Habs. I hope Philly crashes and burns. I hope Pronger actually burns. The devil is someone I cannot cheer for and Philly itself is someone I’ve never liked. Their history is filled with dirty players and just plain douches. Yeah Bobby Clarke. You too Ron Hextall. No way he should have won the Conn Smythe in ’87. I do not believe a player from the losing team should win the Conn. Anyways, this series. Halak is channeling Roy and Dryden, and I think we’re watching something really special. It’ll be a tight series. Habs in seven again.
So I’m calling for a Hawks – Habs final. I think Hawks go all the way. I was picking them at the start of the playoffs so I’ll keep with it.
Here are my picks for round two. I did okay in round one, went 5-3 (stupid west).
Boston vs Philadelphia: Philly lost Gagne, Lapierre, Carter and and that should do it. That is a lot of lost fire power and Boston will get Savard back for round two. Boston in five.
Pittsburgh vs Montreal: Halak played amazing in round one so can he do it again? I think the Pens are getting their game together again after a lackluster regular season. Crosby the golden child takes this team to the conference final again. Pens in six.
San Jose vs Detroit: I think San Jose chokes again. Thornton is Mr. Invisible again and they just don’t have it. Detroit had a tough close first round and didn’t play great until game seven. I think Detroit will take San Jose. Wings in seven.
Chicago vs Vancouver: rematch from last year, Hawks took out the Canucks last year so can they do it again? Once again, this depends on which Luongo shows up. Who shows up? I will go Hawks in seven but this is an iffy call.
Here are my quick predictions for this year’s 2009-2010 NHL playoffs. The first round has started and these will be my picks.
Pittsburgh vs Ottawa – Pens in seven but Ottawa has a good chance to upset the defending champions. Pens has not looked sharp lately and their goalie has been a pile!
New Jersey vs Philadelphia – Devils in five. Philly has underachieved all year and they will continue to do so. Major issues in goal too.
Washington vs Montreal – Caps in six. Halak will have to channel Roy to even have a chance in this series. He has to steal a couple games outright and hope the defense helps him keep the Caps out of the game. I do not think this happens.
Boston vs Buffalo – Sabres in five. Boston couldn’t score goals to save their lives this year and with Miller having a good year, they will continue to struggle to light it up. Boston has no chance in this series and this is the guarantee bet of first round.
San Jose vs Colorado – Sharks in five. While the Avs have game, they are too young and inexperienced to put up much of a fight against the juggernaut that is San Jose and there will be no early round exit for them.
Chicago vs Nashville – Hawks in five. Preds do not have enough of anything to really put up much of a fight in this series. Hawks will dominate even with their young and inexperienced team. They will not be going home early in these playoffs.
Detroit vs Phoenix – Wings in six. Detroit has been on fire since the Olympic break and will continue to dominate in the first round. Yotes have surprised everyone this year but there will be no upset. They may win a couple games because of their MVP Bryzgalov, but won’t pull it out.
LA vs Vancouver – toughest series to call simply because we do not know which Luongo shows up. He was great in leading Canada to Olympic gold but since the break, he has been straight up horrible. Luongo has yet to lead his team to any playoff success so the pressure is on him. I’ll go out on a limb and say he finds his game just enough to help his team. Canucks in seven.
Stanley Cup – Hawks. Why? I have no idea but if their goaltending holds up, this is the team to beat. SJ should choke again, Pens struggled down the stretch and Caps won’t get to the next step yet because goal is an issue along with secondary scoring.
The NHL draft lottery takes place tonight at 6 pm (Mtn) and all Oiler fans will be tuned in! The Oilers have a 25% chance of winning the lottery and a 48.2% chance of retaining the first overall position. Lottery odds for all the teams are here. The 30th place team has retained the first overall pick 3 times in the past 4 years.
After a horrible year and finishing 12 points from the 29th team, the Oilers are hoping for a lottery win. If any team deserves a lottery win, it really is this team. They had 530 man games lost to injury (I can’t find a list of all team’s injury count but this is very very high) and after the loss of our goalie early on, the two backups could not keep the team afloat.
Anyways, there are two very good players in this draft and they’re rankings by scouts have flipped between first and second all year. TSNput up their ranking chart and has Hall sitting in first, but Sequin is listed first by Central Scouting.
I’m off to Hudson’s for the Oilers draft lottery party and let’s hope the Oilers finally win something this year. In any case, the Oilers will draft higher than ever before.
Also, here are my thoughts on Souray and his temper tantrum the other day. I still do not like the public thrashing he does of the Oilers, but if management did pressure him to return from injury early, clean house. But the responsibility should remain with the player….if you’re not ready to return, do not. A gun was not held to your head.
