Kukla's Korner Hockey

Category: Edmonton-Oilers

Better Roster- Oilers Or Leafs?

by Paul on 02/06/12 at 10:32 AM ET
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from Michael Grange of Sportsnet,

In the copper-and-blue corner you have Kevin Lowe’s Oilers, card-carriers for the NBA-style burn-it-to-the-ground-in-the-hopes-of-drafting-enough-franchise-players-to-make-it-worthwhile school.

In the Blue-and-White corner you have Brian Burke’s rebuild on the fly approach; where he tests his belief that you can construct a Stanley Cup winner without touching bottom or waiting for the draft to bless your franchise with riches—or is that fool’s gold?

Each approach is in its fourth season—both Burke and Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini (who moved Lowe into the president’s role) were hired in 2008. But as the 2012 trade deadline approaches only the Leafs look to be buyers as it’s only the Leafs that have a realistic chance at making the playoffs this year.

So by that measure, the Leafs and Burke would seem to have the upper hand. But which roster would you rather have?

The Leafs—deep and young but minus the kind of franchise-defining players that teams like Chicago and Pittsburgh built Cup winners around?

Or the Oilers—who just might have the elite talent in the form of No. 1 picks Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins—but lack the organizational depth at this stage to leverage it?

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Edmonton Has Some Decisions To Make

by Paul on 02/04/12 at 10:16 AM ET
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from John MacKinnon of the Edmonton Journal,

A report out of New York City suggested Smyth would be prepared to waive his no-movement clause to enable a trade to the first-place Rangers.

Which certainly was news to Smyth.

“I’ve moved four times in the last five years,” Smyth said. “I think I wanted to come back here for a reason, didn’t I?”

Of course, in theory, Smyth could OK a trade, perform as a rental in New York, perhaps even have a shot at a Stanley Cup, then re-sign with the Oilers.

“There’s no guarantees in life, is there?” a skeptical Smyth retorted. “No one has mentioned anything to me….

Smyth wants to stick around and finish his career in Edmonton, he believes there is tremendous potential with the young Oilers.

So does Hemsky.

“I feel that I’m just coming into my prime,” said Hemsky, who has scored four goals and amassed 20 points in an injury-marred season. “I’m 28 years old and I have lots of hockey in front of me.”

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Report- Rangers, Ryan Smyth Have Mutual Interest

by Paul on 02/03/12 at 10:23 AM ET
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from Larry Brooks of the NY Post,

If Rangers general manager Glen Sather is interested in reuniting with Ryan Smyth by acquiring Edmonton’s veteran left wing to bolster the attack, the feeling may well be a reciprocal one, The Post has learned.

A well-placed source told The Post that Smyth, who was drafted sixth overall in 1994 by Sather and then played the first five years under his direction while he was general manager of the Oilers, would give serious consideration to waiving his no-move clause in order to pursue a Cup on Broadway.

The Eastern Conference-leading Rangers, who have scored 17 goals in their last nine games and have been limited to two goals or fewer in 20 of their 49 matches, are seeking to add both scoring punch and a defenseman in advance of the Feb. 27 trade deadline.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Ryan+Smyth,

What A Night For Sam Gagner, 4 Goals & 4 Assists!

by Paul on 02/03/12 at 12:28 AM ET
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from NHL.com,

Sam Gagner had a night worthy of Wayne Gretzky—or any of the other legends whose numbers hang from the rafters at Rexall Place.

Gagner scored four of Edmonton’s goals and assisted on the other four for the first eight-point game in the NHL in more than 23 years as the Oilers routed the Chicago Blackhawks 8-4 on Thursday night.

Gagner is the 11th player in NHL history to record eight points in a game—a list that includes Gretzky (twice) and Paul Coffey—but the first since Pittsburgh’s Mario Lemieux did it on Dec. 31, 1988. Gagner joins Lemieux, who also had two eight-point performances, as the only players to get eight points with one on each of his team’s goals.

continued

added 12:38am, Watch the Gagner highlights…

added 1:00am, Watch Sam Gagner below as he discusses his fabulous night…

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Sam+Gagner,

Is Subban Available?

by Paul on 01/25/12 at 11:08 AM ET
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from David Staples of The Cult Of Hockey,

Is Pernell Karl Subban, the mobile, attacking defenceman of the struggling Montreal Canadiens, on the trading block?

Fans and commentators of the Montreal Canadiens are abuzz with such talk, but it’s not clear that Montreal GM Pierre Gauthier has a trade of Subban in mind, as much as team management has sent out signals it’s unhappy with this young defenceman.

In mid-December, Jack Todd of The Gazette reported that Gauthier and Jacques Martin were “bitterly disappointed” with the development of Subban. Just before Christmas, Gauthier suggested to his coach that Subban should be benched.

The belief that Subban is a young superstar who will help lead the Habs back to the top does not bear scrutiny,

continued and Edmonton could use him…

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: P.K.+Subban,

Hall Shows His Frustration

by Paul on 01/23/12 at 09:48 AM ET
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from Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun,

Taylor Hall’s meltdown came in front of a national television audience on Saturday.

So did the questioning of his coach’s decision to pull the goaltender in the later stage of a game when they were already three goals down.

It was a reaction the Edmonton Oilers sophomore was regretting the next morning, even though many thought it was refreshing to see someone upset with the circumstances.

“It was just a bit of frustration,” said Hall. “We all want to win, we all care, and to have that kind of result and the effort that we put in (Saturday) night isn’t what we wanted it.

“After that goal, I was just so frustrated at the whole sequence of events and I wasn’t singling out Tom by any means. I respect everything that Tom does and it was kind of embarrassing on my part to say that. But we moved on, we talked about it and everything is fine.”

Even the worst lip-readers could make out Hall’s questioning the whereabouts of his team’s goaltender as Lee Stempniak scored into an empty net to seal the Calgary Flames 6-2 victory Saturday. He then wondered aloud why the Oilers would pull the goaltender in that situation.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Taylor+Hall,

It’s The Battle Of Michigan Too

by Paul on 01/20/12 at 09:51 AM ET
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from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

Considering it’s a meeting between the Western Conference’s 11th and 14th place teams, it may be overstating matters to describe Saturday’s matchup between the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers as the Battle of Alberta. For now, call it the minor altercation of Alberta, which has a new oddball subtext, thanks to Calgary’s recent Mike Cammalleri acquisition.

The Flames now have three University of Michigan alumni on the roster - Cammalleri, plus the injured Brendan Morrison and David Moss. The Oilers, meanwhile, feature three of their arch rivals, former Michigan State stars Shawn Horcoff, Corey Potter and Jeff Petry. Maybe if no one’s paying attention locally, the TV numbers on Hockey Night In Canada can be bolstered by the overnights from the Windsor/Detroit area.

Still, rivalries - any kind of rivalries - always enhance match-ups and goodness knows, Calgary-Edmonton needs some enhancing these days, with the Oilers plunging fast, their top young players all injured, and all the early excitement of the season vanishing amid the hard reality of an 82-game schedule.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Taylor Hall Update

by Paul on 01/19/12 at 01:04 PM ET
Comments (8)

via NHL Oilers tweet,

“I’m feeling better. I’d like to thank our trainers & the Columbus medical staff.” - (Taylor) Hall

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Taylor+Hall,

Video- Taylor Hall Cut By Skate In Warm Up

by Paul on 01/17/12 at 07:44 PM ET
Comments (8)

Multiple reports state he is being treated for a cut above his eye and it could be a pretty serious one that may require more than stitches.  Reports also state this work is being done at the arena.

added 7:59pm, A slightly better quality video can be watched below…

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Taylor+Hall,

Is Rich Winter Right, Should The Oilers Be Playing Their Young Dmen?

by Paul on 01/17/12 at 09:55 AM ET
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from David Staples of The Cult Of Hockey,

Prominent Edmonton player agent Ritch Winter says Oilers coach Tom Renney is making a big mistake by not developing young defencemen like 18-year-old David Musil, 19-year-old Martin Marincin and 18-year-old Oscar Klefboom on the Oilers this year.

Writing on The Agents of Change blog, Winter points out that when Glen Sather led the Oilers to Stanley Cup glory in the 1980s, he did it with a group of young d-men. “Sather’s 1980/81 edition of the Oilers featured 5 defensemen 25 years of age or younger (Kevin Lowe, 21; Charlie Huddy, 21; Lee Fogolin, 25, Paul Coffey, 19 and Risto Siltanen 21). By the time the Oilers won their Stanley Cup in 1984, the team’s top 4 D had more than 1,000 NHL game, and two playing in the NHL as teenagers.”

These current Oilers are going a different route, Winter says. “Not a single regular defenseman under the age of 24. Two playing at 24 in Peckham and Petry. And none, other than Ladislav Smid, showing any sign yet of being a top NHL defenseman.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Rich+Winter,

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