Summer Slackin Already...

Yup I know avid reader(s?), I've tortured you by providing 0.0% new informational content for a whole week now. You must be numb from waiting! I must say, I'm so sorry. How on Earth can I ever make it up to you? Huh? Wha? What's that you say? Timmy's in the well? AGAIN? Goddamn it Timmy, you keep this up and we'll call the next one of your accidents "natural selection". Lassie needs her sleep you know.

Oops, went a little off the deep end there. Ok back to reality people.

I'd like to kick things off on this glorious Friday by lecturing all of the old, indecisive potential NHL retirees: SHIT OR GET OFF THE POT, YOU WANKERS! Yes, I'm talking to YOU Mr. Sundin, Mr. Sakic, Mr. Shannahan, and anyone else that I've forgotten.

Mats is killing me with this "will he, won't he" crap, so lets consider Mats Sundin for a moment here. He refused to be traded at the deadline (for a chance to win a cup) and stayed true blue. When I heard this, I thought to myself, "this guy must bleed maple syrup he's so bloody loyal". Either that or his chip shot needed some practice before hitting the links. Now summer's here, and he says that he's considering retiring, as well as considering offers from the Leafs and OTHERS. Well... what the hell.

Just for kicks, lets take a look at your options here Mats:

1. Retire: If he's done, well then ok. He's done. But if the guy has waited this long, lets be honest - he still has that urge suckerpunch Sean Avery or to pancake... well... ANYBODY into the boards one more time. (Can you blame him?) He knows that he still has some very good hockey left in him, and if you still enjoy it then I say: play while you can buddy. Also, as one of the greatest Leafs of all time he hasn't had a proper send-off... and to retire now would be lame. Very lame.

2. Sign with the (Insert other team name here): Leaf fans would want to lynch the guy if he does this. First he denies them some decent players/prospects/picks by refusing to be traded at the deadline (stating team loyalty as a reason), and now he signs elsewhere as a free agent? So much for your legacy as a Leaf, Mats. Not really the way a premier player should end his long career with a franchise! He'd go from beloved to beheaded pretty damn quick I'm guessing.

3. Sign with the Maple Leafs: I can only think that the reason he hasn't done this yet is that he is waiting to see what the hell Fletcher still has left to tinker/trade/screwup before summers over. If he wants to still play hockey I see this as his only realistic option (see above).

Anyhoo. Thats how stretched I am for relevant hockey talk today. The Mats Sundin Saga. Friggin Hell.

Fall Lineups!

I realize that it's still summer, but I haven't been this excited about an Oilers team and their upcoming season since we had Weight and Cujo. I know, its a bit sad. Strangely, I was never that enthralled when KLowe brought in Pronger three summers ago (in fact I've always had a hate-on for the guy dating back to his draft year with the Petes - although his contributions in '06 were outstanding, especially playoffs). This year promises to be one of speed and skill, with a couple of surprises coming out of camp as well.

I've put a lot of thought into lines lately. There are a number of factors/circumstances that will affect and change what happens, but it is still fun to play coach for a day. Here is the lineup as I see it:

Forwards:
Cole - Horcoff - Hemsky
Penner - Gagner - Nilsson
Cogliano - Brodziak - Brule/Stortini
Moreau - Pouliot - Pisani
Adds = Schremp, Potulny, Reddox

I see Penner in on the 2nd line for a couple of reasons. He provides a big presence down low and along the boards for the young skill, he can put the puck in the net, and most importantly he provides good faceoff support (and I actually see him taking 2/3 of them over Gagner). The Oilers have no shortage of Centers this year, but are (for the first time in a long while) looking very mediocre in the faceoff circle. Penner had the best faceoff numbers last year of returning players (55%, 189 FOs). Horcoff is solid at 52%, but took close to 1000 last year and I don't see him being able to take more than 1500. The departure of Stoll and Reasoner has left a large void for faceoffs that I can't see any of the kids stepping up and making up for this (other than Brodziak - a respectable 52% on 189 FOs last yr). Gagner: 42% on 299 FOs (one of the worst in the league last yr); Cogliano: 40% on 542 FOs (just awful); Pouliot: 48% and unproven; Brule: 52% on 78 FOs (small sample size). I'm not saying that MacT won't keep the kid line together for some situations, but I see a weakness on that line that MacT is bound to try to fix. This is just one of the possibilities, but probably most likely - as it allows Penner to have some top six time.
I see Liam Reddox pulling into the lineup occasionally if he has a good camp, as the coaching staff really has a hard on for him. Schremp is due for a tryout, and Brule may surprise at camp making things tough. MacT may have to juggle a few in and out for a while to see what fits best, and this likely means that only 2 goalies stay long-term. JDD through waivers, or trade Roly. It's going to be an interesting start!


Defence:
Souray - Visnovsky
Grebeshkov - Gilbert
Smid - Staios
Adds = Roy, Strudwick

I see Staios possibly moving up with Visnovsky, as he may provide better d support that big Sheldon. Smid and Souray may work, and MacT might play around with this a bit. Super Steve will see more minutes than this lets on, as he is the go-to guy for defensive situations, but I like him with Smid as I think they have decent chemistry and Smid could probably use the mentor beside him. Visnovsky will insist on the right side, especially on the PP. One of the most solid d-corps the Oil have started the season with in a while tho.


Goal:
Garon
Roloson
Droulin-Deslauriers

I see Roly stepping up to start the season and playing well. Probably a 60-40 split with Garon until one of them gets hurt. JDD is unproven and might be a bit shaky, although you never know with goalies. I suspect he will pass through waivers mid October unfazed, and remain in Springfield until one of the big boys is injured/traded. I can't see them hanging on to three goalies for long, as I think MacT will want the extra seat in the PB for a young forward (Potulny, Reddox, Brule etc). The other option is sign Garon and trade Roly and a kid (Pouliot? JFJ?) for a solid vet.


PP Unit 1:
Penner - Horcoff - Hemsky
Souray - Visnovsky

PP Unit 2:
Cole - Gagner - Nilsson/Cogliano/Schremp
Grebeshkov - Gilbert

I see a lot of shuffling/tinkering with the lineups here - particularly the second unit with the young skill. Cole and Penner may change places, and the RW is a crapshoot. Expect a tryout period. Visnovsky's numbers should increase from last year with his right side position back - this was his biggest complaint from last season. Breaking up Souray and Visnovsky might be a good idea as well... although it would seem a waste to put Souray's shot on the second unit.


PK Unit 1:
Horcoff - Moreau
Souray - Gilbert

PK Unit 2:
Brodziak - Cogliano
Grebeshkov - Staios

This is where we will suffer on d-zone faceoffs. Things really drop off below Horc. I see Brodziak stepping up in Nov-Dec and showing us decent faceoff numbers. Brule may slip in on the 2nd unit here as well - if he stays up with the team, that is.

Okee dokee, here we go!

Allll-righty then! I'm blogging. So (to my enthralled audience of one) lets not disappoint!

So... yeah. Blog. Bloggitty blog-blog-blog. The initial intent is to create another Oilers-based blog, and participate in the online Oilers community, contributing where I can. We're gonna have a great season this year... everyone chipping in... firing on all cylinders... and play with intensity... we had some bad breaks... the next game is a huge game for us... we're ready to take the next step... he stole two points for us tonight... we've got to take it one shift at at time... and give 110%... the next goal is gonna be a big one... it's gutcheck time!

So following the theme of above-inserted awfully-boring (and cliche) hockey quotes, here is a list of oddball, sometimes humorous comments from current and past Oilers. Try and guess who said what:

1. "We're going to do some damage!" - player quoted heading into the '06 playoffs;
2. "Part of the learning curve in Edmonton is learning to hate Calgary";
3. "Every goalie we play against seems to have the game of his life against us" - said Oiler during a particularly awful span of games in '06-'07;
4. "I just tape four Tylenols to it" - former player said about playing on injured ankle;
5. "I don’t like my hockey sticks touching other sticks, and I don’t like them crossing one another, and I kind of have them hidden in the corner. I put baby powder on the ends. I think it’s essentially a matter of taking care of what takes care of you";
6. "When we've got the puck, they can't score";
7. "There are similarities but I think [Bisaillon] is going to be better because he doesn’t turn the puck over as much as ‘Bergy’ sometimes did";
8. "If it’s sexy, let’s be honest, sex sells. I wouldn’t have a problem with that" - player said regarding the new tv show MVP;
9. "I just grabbed her Slurpee and started drinking and then gave it back to her. She was shocked." - former Oiler said about how he met his wife while playing in junior;
10. " You can have all the talent in the world, but if the pumper's not there, it doesn't matter".

Winner gets a bran muffin and 10 Stanley Nickels.