Monthly Archives: September 2015

Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL

The Cuts: A Second Wave

Well Oilers fans a second round of cuts is coming. By the time Monday morning rolls around we should see a vastly different looking group of players vying for a spot on the Oilers NHL roster and with that the Bakersfield Condors should start to take more shape.

Of course this is all hearsay and we won’t truly know until the cuts are announced but I’ve seen some chatter online regard specific names that are on their way down to Bakersfield. Hat tip to KD.

The rumored names:

  • Forwards: Greg Chase, Ryan Hamilton, Kale Kessy, Jujhar Khaira, Mitch Moroz, Tyler Pitlick, Kyle Platzer, Bogdan Yakimov
  • Defence: Martin Gernat, Brad Hunt, Joey LaLeggia, David Musil, Jordan Oesterle, Dillon Simpson
  • Goaltenders: Eetu Laurikainen, Laurent Brossoit

All of these players were long shots to make the Oilers this year apart from Tyler Pitlick but his training camp has not been amazing. It’s been pretty piss poor to be honest. He looks slower than he used to and more timid. I mean he’s probably afraid of getting hurt again but this hockey not lawn bowling.

So this leaves us with a small group of players looking to move from Group B to Group A, the players that Head Coach Todd McLellan was alluding to earlier in the week. This small batch of prospects include Anton Slepyshev, Iiro Pakarinen, Andrew Miller, Brandon Davidson, and Darnell Nurse. There are

At the moment the depth chart is looking like this (Players in red are what I consider the players that are fighting for a spot on the team):

Pouliot – Nugent-Hopkins – Eberle
Hall – McDavid – Purcell
Draisaitl – Lander – Yakupov
Hendricks – Letestu – Korpikoski
Klinkhammer – Miller – Gazdic
Slepyshev –               – Pakarinen

Sekera – Fayne
Klefbom – Schultz
Reinhart – Gryba
Nikitin – Ference
Davidson – Nurse

Cam Talbot
Ben Scrivens
Anders Nilsson

The forwards look pretty set. I reckon Klinkhammer is out of a job with the arrival of Draisaitl and Korpikoski and Gazdic will be kept around for “special occasions”. I don’t see Anton Slepyshev or Iiro Pakarinen making the opening night roster unless Yakupov or Purcell are injured. So for me they’re on the “A” list of call-ups if an injury does happen.

On defence we’ve got quite a different story going down. Griffin Reinhart and Eric Gryba are looking pretty darn good for a 3rd pairing shut down duo. Nikita Nikitin, despite making the one pass the other team didn’t intercept, and Andrew Ference are not looking like a great pairing. In fact I think one or both should be shipped out to Boston as I wrote here.

Brandon Davidson from what I recall had a good night in Winnipeg but I can’t see it being enough to stay with the team unless two other dmen are moved. Darnell Nurse seems to be hitting a bit of a wall here and there are still a few wrinkles in his game that will keep him from making the Oilers on opening night. He has all the physical tools but from what I’ve seen I reckon he rushes the puck a bit too much and finds himself around the other team’s goal line a bit too much. Look the kid is going to be an Edmonton Oiler soon enough but at this point in time I see him marinating in Bakersfield for a little while until Chiarelli can get the D sorted a bit better.

Speaking of Darnell Nurse, have you seen Ryan Robinson’s new Oilers Vlog!

That guy sure has a lot of Oilers swag but I can guarantee you that he doesn’t have this new 16-bit Moog shirt that was just released!

30% OFF for the next 48 hours!

Thanks for reading everyone and let me know how you feel about the rumored cuts coming up in the comments section below!

Take Care!

BLH

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Edmonton Oilers, NHL

Oilers vs Jets Part 2: What the hell just happened?

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So, that just happened.

I was ranting on twitter through basically 55 minutes of tonight’s game about how badly the Oilers sucked (and they did), and then suddenly the team decides to show up and score 3 goals in 3 minutes and 40 some seconds. Rob Klinkhammer tied it up with a shorty. ROB KLINKHAMMER. The Oilers then turn around and win it in OT off a wicked shot from Anton Slepyshev.

I’m still not sure how to feel. This game was easily the worst the oilers have played so far in the preseason, yet they somehow managed to make it enjoyable. Taylor Hall sucked. Leon Draisaitl sucked. Nikitin sucked badly (despite notching a nice assist on one of the comeback goals). Hell, the reffing sucked, even though Edmonton was the beneficiary of said suckage. The oilers struggled in their own end, struggled in the neutral zone, and struggled in the offensive zone. They were flat out awful for 90% of the game, and were atrocious on the powerplay (an area of the game which I believe will improve steadily under the guidance of Todd McLellan).

I’ve seen a lot of people on social media ripping Ben Scrivens tonight for the 3 goal deficit, but those people are either stupid, blind, or weren’t watching the game. Scrivens was the only player who seemed to show up until late in the 3rd, when the Oilers somehow turned a monumental failure into a ridiculously awesome comeback. I’d love to have been a fly on the wall in the locker room after the win, however. Something tells me this squad got an ear full from their coach, despite the comeback.

Bad turnovers. Bad “puck management”. Bad boardplay. Bad penalties (Who the hell is Phil Mcrae, anyway?). The Oilers were Oilering all over the place.

Yet somehow they won.

I know it’s only preseason, but I can’t help but feel like the comebacks are good news for the Oilers regular season hopes after watching them check out of so many games last year due to falling behind early, or showing up in the last 10 minutes of the game and falling apart. I’m also alarmed, because I’m seeing a lot of the same bad habits that have kept them in the basement for so long.

I have faith that Todd Mclellan can coach the crap out of this team. I even have faith that Peter Chiarelli can speed up the process of repairing the severe damage done by the previous managements asinine decisions. However, after watching tonight’s game, I have several doubts about how swift that process will be. I want to believe the late 3rd comeback is indicative of a new found desire by the players to find resiliency as a team, but at the same time they were still terrible for 50+ minutes.

I AM SO CONFUSED. For now, I will keep telling myself that it’s only preseason. Once we see the roster the Oilers are icing closer to the start of the regular season, maybe some of the kinks will be worked out.

PS:

Memo to Phil Mcrae: You’re cut.

Corey Mitchell, NHL, Prospects

Earning His Place

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It’s a bit of a tired cliché at this point. Every year, training camp begins, and coaches all across the league give the media some variation of this quote: “No one is being given anything. Everyone has to earn their place.”

Noble idea. It gives the impression that the coaching staff is giving everyone the same chance to earn a place with an NHL club. But let’s be realistic. There is no way the Oilers are starting the year without a Taylor Hall, or a Jordan Eberle in the line up, no matter how bad their camp performance may be. At best, there are maybe, MAYBE, 3-5 spots on any given team that some of the younger guys have a crack at.

But maybe it doesn’t have to be about earing a place on the big club. For lots of players, it’s really about earing a place, any place, in the organization. Enter Braden Christoffer.

After going undrafted, the 21 year old from Sherwood Park signed an AHL deal, following a 4 year career in junior, 1 with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL, and 3 years with the Regina Pats of the WHL. During his time in the WHL, Christoffer amassed an impressive 114 points in 202 games, including 50 goals. He added an additional 9 points in 13 playoff games.

I first noticed Christoffer at the Oilers development camp back in June. Brought in as a camp invite, he impressed with his work ethic he displayed, knowing it was a chance to get the attention of Oilers brass. Imagine the effort you would need to put in to be noticed while on the same ice as top prospects Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse, and of course, Connor McDavid. The effort paid off, as Christoffer was invited to join the Oilers rookies in Penticton for the annual Prospects Tournament.  It was another chance to get in front of Oilers staff, this time in an actual game environment. Christoffer had a very good showing, putting up 3 goals in 3 games at the tournament. Again, the effort paid off for him.

Christoffer would be invited to main camp, and hasn’t slowed down since arriving. The coaching staff seems to be very happy with the work that Christoffer is wiling to put in each and every day. He’s been giving significant playing time so far in the pre season, surviving the initial round of cuts that saw many players on AHL deals sent down to Bakersfield to begin camp there.

I was lucky enough to be at the game vs Winnipeg on Wednesday night, and what I saw from #61 is the exact same thing I saw at the development camp. Hard work, and dedication. He also seems to have Todd McLellan’s nod of approval as well. Despite taking a series of questionable penalties, the veteran coach didn’t stifle the youngster. Instead of having him ride the bench in hopes of sending a message, McLellan elected instead to send Christoffer out for his regular shift. It was a very refreshing visual, after seeing some young players punished a bit by the coaching staff last year for less.

I’m hoping Christoffer can continue to have a great showing at camp, and sticks with the team for as long as he can. Obviously, the odds of him making the Oilers are very slim. That being said, with a strong enough showing, Christoffer should have a very good chance to earn a 2-way contract with the club, and become an integral part of the Bakersfield Condors in their first AHL season. But regardless of the outcome, there can be no doubt that Braden Christoffer is truly earning his place in the Oilers organization. I expect this training camp won’t be the last time we see him wearing the Blue and Orange.

Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL

What’s Bruin in Boston?

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTx9q8CrLt4

Ohhhh BOY! Those Bruins are in trouble. Dennis Seidenberg just had lower-back surgery and is out for two months, Zdeno Chara played 4 minutes the other night before leaving the game and Joe Morrow took a slapshot in the leg during the same game. The Boston Bruins are having a fever of sorts and the only cure is a trade with the Edmonton Oilers.

Look, the Boston Bruins defence would look like this if the regular season started tomorrow:

Joe Morrow (maybe) – Torey Krug
Zach Trotman – Adam McQuaid
Kevan Miller – Matt Irwin
Linus Arnesson/Colin Miller/Chris Kasto

And these were the pairings for the last game on the 22nd courtesy of Dobber’s Hockey:

Chris Casto – Joe Morrow
Torey Krug – Adam McQuaid
Linus Arnesson – Kevan Miller

This would be a chance for Don Sweeney to mend some fences with Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli after F-ing him over at the draft in the Hamilton deal… I’m still miffed about that. The Oilers have a glut of men on the back end that could be of service to the Bruins.

Ship ‘Em Out!

Andrew Ference is a former Boston Bruin and one has to wonder if he’d be okay waiving his no-trade clause to go back to the place where he found success. I think the Oilers probably wouldn’t mind him heading that way as well so they could get this captaincy business off the table and so they could let Griffin Reinhart know he can find a place in Edmonton to live in. His value can’t be more than a 5th or 6th round pick right now.

Nikita Nikitin would be the ultimate apology from Sweeney. Even if the Oilers took on some salary to force this deal through, it would be a blessing for them. Nikitin has done jack shite this preseason so far despite what Jack Michaels and Bob Stauffer have been saying during their radio broadcasts. You can even hear it in their voices as they since Nikitin’s praises, it sounds like they’re going to puke. Nikitin’s value surely sits at “Steaming Pile of Rhino Dung”, so if Chiarelli could get a late draft pick I’d see that as a major victory.

Brandon Davidson, if I’m not mistaken, will have to clear waivers to go down to the AHL this year and there’s no way he’s making the team with Reinhart and Nurse sitting there. Personally I think he’s 50/50 to get claimed and he’d probably have the most appeal to the Bruins apart from maybe Ference. Davidson’s a young guy still and I reckon he’d probably go for a 4th rounder.

Mark Fayne doesn’t seem to be in the foreground of Chiarelli’s mind and I wonder aloud if he’s going to be one of the Oilers GM’s trade chips this year. Fayne doesn’t really standout when he plays but he’s a very steady Eddie type and at this point he’s still a serviceable NHL defenceman and the Oilers should hold on to them in fear of becoming what the Bruins are right now. But with all of that said, is he really a no.4 dman or is he more of a no.5/6? I could see Fayne’s value at around a Chris Kelly or a 3rd rounder.

A Bear Market

So what is it that the Bruins have that maybe the Oilers would covet? We know that Peter Chiarelli and Todd McLellan like heavy teams and Chiarelli said in his interview with Bob McKenzie that he’d like to acquire some “heavier” players. The way I read that is he wants some higher-end foot soldiers. Yes men that make it easier for the skillers to work their magic.

Unfortunately the only players that fit the description of “heavier” players are players that the Bruins just signed, have ugly contracts or will never leave the team.

Matt Beleskey is a gritty winger coming off a career season but he’s a recent signing and Benoit Pouliot is doing a fine job. Not gonna happen here.

Jimmy Hayes is an interesting character. He’s 6’6″ 220lbs, can skate and is a shooter. He put up 19 goals and 16 assists last year for the Panthers and would be a nice replacement for say Nail Yakupov if he were sacrificed. Not gonna happen here either.

Patrice Bergeron? Not unless Nugent-Hopkins is going the other way…

Loui Eriksson isn’t quite the player that comes to mind when I think heavy and his contract is ugly. But even then, as unfair as it would be, Nikitin for Eriksson straight across might rid each team of a headache as their contracts are identical ($4.5m for 2015/16). Do the Oilers really need him though? Somebody would have to be sacrificed to fit him in the top 9.

Chris Kelly… He’s probably the guy with the greatest potential of becoming an Oiler but how much better is he than say Rob Klinkhammer or Tyler Pitlick?

So as it looks, any deal that could potentially take place between the Boston Bruins and the Edmonton Oilers would most likely see the Oilers taking back draft picks or prospects that might never see the light of the NHL.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading! Take Care!

BLH

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NHL, Rob Cooke

Beer League Heroes 15 – 16 Season Primers: Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild are an interesting team to follow this season. Thanks to late season heroics from Devan Dubnyk the Wild managed to claw their way back into a playoff spot. Without Duby’s 38 consecutive starts, 27 of which were wins there is little to no chance that this would have been a playoff contender last spring. Not that the team is bad or anything but they are not a powerhouse by any stretch. They are solid if not spectacular offensively, top third defensively, very bad on the power-play and the number one ranked team on the PK.

Key Additions: LW Ruslan Fedetenko, C Zac Dalpe, D Mike Rielly, and D Tyson Strachan

Key Departures: C Kyle Brodziak, LW Matt Cooke, RW Chris Stewart, G Josh Harding

Roster Contenders: LW Brett Sutter, C Tyler Graovac, RW Michael Keranen, D Jonathon Blum

Last season the Wild finished with a 46-28-8 record, good enough for sixth in the Western conference and 11th overall in the league. As I already stated before though Devan Dubnyk and his herculean efforts are responsible for 27 of those wins. Just goes to show what kind of season the team was having prior to acquiring Duby from Arizona.

This is a team that could go either way this season. If Dubnyk can replicate his performance from this past season the team should be sitting pretty but should his numbers regress back closer to his career averages the WIld could be in for a long season.

The only real positives that I can see from the off-season additions is Mike Rielly. Granted I can’t help but think we could be looking at Justin Schultz 2.0. He sounds eerily similar to what we heard the summer that Justin was so highly sought after. I guess time will tell if there is more to Rielly’s game than there was Schultz’s because every Oilers fan knows how unhappy we are with his performance to date. Personally I am much happier with the Wild signing Tyson Strachan but that is for purely selfish reasons. Tyson is my first cousin so his return to the Western conference means I get to see him play more than twice this season!

Potential Lineup:

Zach Parise – Mikael Granlund – Jason Pomenville

Thomas Vanek – Mikko Koivu – Nino Niederreiter

Jason Zucker – Charlie Coyle – Justin Fontaine

Ryan Carter – Erik Haula – Jordan Schroeder

Ryan Suter – Jonas Brodin

Jared Spurgeon – Mathew Dumba

Marco Scandella – Christian Folin

Devan Dubnyk

Niklas  Backstrom

The Wild were fourth in the ultra tough Central division and will be looking to duplicate that finish or better. Their main competition this season is St. Louis, Chicago and Nashville. My money is on the Wild making the post-season but as a Wild Card team this year.

The player to watch, aside from Dubnyk is Mike Rielly. He will have to be lights out good to crack the opening night roster. I predict a season in the AHL with the farm team is his likely destination. Wild fans better hope he is closer to Karlsson than Schultz.