Oilers camp Day 1.

[Sectionq]

Re: Oilers camp Day 1.

I truly believe that at the NHL level there isn't necessarily going to be a TON of skill level difference between a lot of teams.

That's why it comes down to mental sharpness...

And that's why I love the Quinn / Renney hiring.

I agree. I think just the fact that there are different guys coaching, take who they are out of it, alone is good for an extra couple of wins strictly because the players will have a different attitude.
The Oilers special teams were brutal last year, so having Renney in there will help a ton. I think this coaching staff will result in at least 3 or 4 more wins.

[Muley69]

Re: Oilers camp Day 1.

I agree. I think just the fact that there are different guys coaching, take who they are out of it, alone is good for an extra couple of wins strictly because the players will have a different attitude.
The Oilers special teams were brutal last year, so having Renney in there will help a ton. I think this coaching staff will result in at least 3 or 4 more wins.

That's what I'm pegging as well...although I certain think that the potential is there for another 5 - 7 wins...

[Steve Vale]

Re: Oilers camp Day 1.

That's what I'm pegging as well...although I certain think that the potential is there for another 5 - 7 wins...

And 8-14 more points means we make the playoffs last year. Here's to Quinn & Renney getting more miles out of the boys.

[PDO]

Re: Oilers camp Day 1.

I think Dustin Penner is going to have himself a very nice year.

My biggest hope is that Quinn and Renney get away from using PP time as a carrot like MacT did. I don't care if Penner isn't back checking one game... he has to be on the #1 PP unit.

And if he is, he'll have a big year.

[Sectionq]

Re: Oilers camp Day 1.

I think Dustin Penner is going to have himself a very nice year.

My biggest hope is that Quinn and Renney get away from using PP time as a carrot like MacT did. I don't care if Penner isn't back checking one game... he has to be on the #1 PP unit.

And if he is, he'll have a big year.

I couldn't agree more. What drove me nuts was Mac T using PP as reward time for the grinders and 4th liners that were having a good game. He is gone but as an example. All the times he would put Reasoner on the PP because he was flying around. Reasoner might score 10 goals a year and he is on the PP? Sometimes he would throw Pisani out there. Pisani in a good year is a 15-17 goal guy MAX.
You don't see to many other coaches putting their 4th liners on the PP in place of their front line players.

[Diesel]

Re: Oilers camp Day 1.

I'm expecting the oil to finish 11th. Surprise me for a change Oil.....

[Rayminator]

Re: Oilers camp Day 1.

As an interesting tangent - I've noticed the job offers are not flowing for MacT - not even as assistants. Minnesota denied interviewing him - and his new job is a broadcaster for TSN.

It would be comical to see him covering the Oilers.....he'd be complaining how Stortini isn't on the PP after scoring his 1st goal in 20 games.....

[Sectionq]

Re: Oilers camp Day 1.

As an interesting tangent - I've noticed the job offers are not flowing for MacT - not even as assistants. Minnesota denied interviewing him - and his new job is a broadcaster for TSN.

It would be comical to see him covering the Oilers.....he'd be complaining how Stortini isn't on the PP after scoring his 1st goal in 20 games.....

I heard he was on the list but I don't think that Mac is interested in coaching this season. The guy was burnt out and needs a break. PLus he is getting paid very well by the Oilers to not coach. If my company paid me my currently salary not to work, you sure as hell wouldn't see me pounding the pavement with resumes in my hand. Are you kidding me?

[stamphater]

Re: Oilers camp Day 1.

MacT will be coaching the Spengler Cup team in Switzerland. He was interviewed on Calgary radio last week and basically said he just wanted a little break from hockey seeing as he had - at this time of year - been preparing himself for another season for the past 35 years...

[PDO]

Re: Oilers camp Day 1.

MacT will be coaching the Spengler Cup team in Switzerland. He was interviewed on Calgary radio last week and basically said he just wanted a little break from hockey seeing as he had - at this time of year - been preparing himself for another season for the past 35 years...

Which makes a lot of sense, especially once you consider he's getting paid for this year anyway.

I expect him to end up in either Philly or NY in the near future.

[PDO]

Re: Oilers camp Day 1.

Good to see MacT is still the best quote in hockey...

""I'm happy to finally be among the experts where the issues are many and solutions obvious," said MacTavish, a native of London, ON. "I appreciate TSN providing a safe haven for unemployed coaches, as we rehabilitate ourselves towards future employability."



--

Lineup tonight:

Jacques - Horcoff - Schremp

Stone - Comrie - O'Sullivan

Moreau - Potulny - Minard

Stortini - Paukovich - Brennan


Chorney - Gilbert

Arsene - Staios

Strudwick - Plante


Dubnyk

Deslauriers

Jacques and Schremp - opportunity is knocking. Ditto Ryan Stone.

Potulny and Minard both with Moreau is interesting as well - have to figure they have both those guys pegged to be on the 1st line in Springfield, but seeing what they can do if injuries hit.

Chorney is also getting a hell of an opportunity to look like a gooder tonight.

[PDO]

Re: Oilers camp Day 1.

Game is being streamed on EdmontonOilers.com for anyone interested.

I'll have a summary up after.

[Hugoagogo]

Re: Oilers camp Day 1.

Game is being streamed on EdmontonOilers.com for anyone interested.

I'll have a summary up after.

Thanks for the heads up!

[PDO]

Re: Oilers camp Day 1.

Three points after 2 periods.....

#1) The NHL players... look like NHL players. There's not much on either side (though the Oilers have a handful more, for sure)... but the differences are obvious.

#2) JF Jacques is earning a roster spot tonight.

#3) Devan Dubnyk could end up being a starter in this league. He covers a LOT of net, and his reaction speed is passable.

[PDO]

Re: Oilers camp Day 1.

1st Period

18:30 Stone with a huge hit, sets off a string of events that leads to Arnse blowing up a Garth Murray and then a good 'ole scrap... pretty even along both sides, though the hit clearly went to Arnse.

18:00 Alex Plante with a nice play off a faceoff to prevent a scoring chance. Moreau now out Potulny and Minard. Nice cycle, leads to an icing.

17:00 the Oilers are playing damn physical.. Staios with a nice hit on Prust to rub him out along the ice. Checks are being finshed all over the ice and the Oilers are physically taking it to the Flames early.

16:00 the flames goalie Keetley looks very awkward... big lanky kid.

16:00 Strudwick with a dumb penalty. Should be interesting to see who gets sent out for the kill.

Staios, Horcoff, Gilbert and Jacques. The first two are a given. A little thing like effectively penalty killing could be a huge addition to a guy like Jacques though.

15:00 O'Sullivan on the ice now with #32. O'Sullivan is all over the place, very nice kill from him, his angles look sharp. #32 is the other Oil forward on the ice. Didn't catch his name, but I wasn't impressed.

14:15. #16 and Moreau on the ice now. #39 jumped the ice for the end of the PK, #16 stayed on for the duration... I'll find the names in a bit.

Looks like #32 is Minard.

12:45 Oilers consider to finish their checks, Strudwick has looked particular bad to this point, he just coughed the puck up the middle after his unnecessary roughing penalty.

12:20 Bad turnover by Horcoff at the blueline trying to skate in, Oilers have another PK coming up.

11:50 the Flames announcing (Peter Maher?) is pissing me off. He literally never says any Oiler names. Too many guys whose skating styles I'm not familiar with who won't turn the right way... Anyway, O'Sullivan and Minard out to kill the PK and have a nice start.

11:00 It's early, but the current PK looks a lot like the one we had back for our cup run. Moreau and Potulny. are out for this kill, and we're having a lot of pressure up ice. Nice to see, it's effective.

10:30 Horcoff and Jacques out to finish the kill. Bad turnover in our own zone, couldn't tell who it was though.

10:00 Nice hit by Gilbert to rub a Flame out.

9:50 and O'Sullivan with a nice shot for a goal. This goalie looks pretty bad. Nice shot, but an NHL goalie makes that save. Good on the kid though, I think he could have a huge year on al ine with Hemsky and Horcoff. Great breakout pass by Gilbert started that as well. Tough to get too much from Vets in these games though... most of them don't take it too seriously, and they're all going to make some AHL'ers and kids look bad at one point or another.

9:30 Stortini and Prust yapping a bit here. Stortini looks a bit thinner, but he still yaps.

And here we go.

Stortini just got called Huggy Bear by Kerr... and he's now absolutely dismantling Prust. What an absolutely terrible fight call by Kerr, wow. Stortini looked good, landed a good 5-6 big shots.

8:50 Bad turnover by #84 at his own blueline on a nice breakout pass from Staios. Looks like #84 is Paukovich. Nice of the Flames PBP guy to look up the prouninciation. Jesus.

7:50 Horcoff dishes to Schremp, and Schremp just about fed the needle on a beauty feed to Jacques... just missed, good vision though by Sugar Tits.

7:00 Another big hit, this time by Potulny ("Patolksi, according to the Flames PBP...).

6:40 Moreau appears to still be a jackass who won't trust his linemates to make a play.

6:20 Stone just set up Comrie for a nice scoring chance in the high slot. Decent shot, nice save, great pass. Keetley looked damn awkward doing it though.

5:40 Comrie just about set up Stone for a tap in.

5:30 Strhalman just got blown up by an Oiler, no idea who. And now Paukovich knocks over another Flame.

4:30 Jacques set Horcoff up for a nice chance.

3:00 Great play by Chorney to prevent a breakaway, and then he leads the rush back up the ice the other way. Very nice.

2:00 Stortini, Brennan and Paukovich is a hilarious line to watch. They're creating all kinds of hell... and words can't describe how bad Keetley is. Stortini just about scored on a wrap-around on him. Yeah, Stortini.

1:35 Paukovich is now "Paukalich." This is pretty sad.

JDD has looked sharp, but he hasn't really been tested, especially by anyone with an actual NHL shot.

1:05 Schremp just tried to score from well outside the blueline, and Keetley didn't look comfortable with it at all.

1:00 Gilbert walks the line nicely and Moreau almost scores on the rebound after a won faceoff by Potulny.

:20 Great play by Stone to pick off a pass and draw a penalty.

... and he's 32, so I definitely mixed him and Minard up a few times, my bad.

05: Gilbert hits the post on a nice point shot, he's been the best player on the ice.

2nd Period.

20:00 Schremp getting some first unit PP time with Jacques and Horcoff. The difference between NHL and AHL players is pretty obvious in this games... and Jacques this far has looked like the former. Guys with his size and speed get a million chances to amke it, it's looking like we might see why this season.

18:30 Comrie walks out and gets a lucky bounce off of Stone for a goal to go up 2-0. Keetley continues to look really bad.

Turns out that was O'Sullivans goal, I thought it hit both of 'em, ah well. It was a bad goal, but a good play on an inexperience goalie.

17:30 Jacques out killing another penalty with Horcoff. He looks fairly sure of himself, and that big frame lets him make some smaller mistakes as he can still get his stick into the apssing lane more often than not. He's dropped to block two different shots this PK... missed the penalty, but it was Kip Brennan.

15:40 nice rush led by Stone, gets it to Staios and he has a quality short handed chance. Stone's another bubble guy having a nice game in my estimation.

14:30 Gilbert just drew a penalty. He's flying.

13:50 Nice Clapper from Gilbert. He's had two this game that both had some heat... and there's a third one that Jacques almost got a rebound goal on.

13:20 Schremp just made a fantastic play at the blueline to keep it in. Setu p Horcoff, and Jacques just missed on another rebound attempt. Schremp is commanding the puck right now... jsut set Horcoff up cross ice for another good scoring chance, and then drew a penalty as a Flame defender gave in and broke his stick. That's the best shift I've ever seen Robbie Schremp play.

His big problem is, is he needs to set the house on fire because he's playing in the exact spot that both Hemsky and Gagner like to play on the PP.

12:30 Comrie buzzing... he's looking good here too, as are most of the real NHL players. Horcoff, Moreau, Gilbert... Staios everywhere but the PK, the skill gap is just too big.

11:10 This game could be 5 or 6 nothing, Oilers can't cash a rebound for their life, and Keetley is just bad.

10:40 Terrible shot select by Strudwick lead to an odd man rush for Colin Stuart... and JDD almost got caught out of position. Dubnyk should be coming in at this point.

10:39 and Dubnyk gets his chance to shine.

9:53 Jacques just got tripped.. no call, but it was because he kept his feet moving. Kid looks good tonight. Very good.

9:30 Jacques to Horcoff to Schremp.. and he just got checked or it was a tap in. Nice play. Jacques followed the play hard to the net too.

9:04 HUGE save by Dubnyk to start things off for his night in net. He looks very flexible for such a big guy. I've said it before and I'll say it again, but I think he's the real future in net...

7:30 I've lost it with the sound. I might miss a couple player names... but this is unbearable.

6:50 Jacques just drove to the net, got a decent shot out of it. Absolutely loving his game tonight. He's showing authority with the puck and using his body... and as I say this he forces a turnover to spring Schremp. Schremp tried to dangle, but Anton Strahlman was having none of it.. Schremp gets a penalty on a softish call.

5:25 Moreau just blew up a Flame on the PK... we've been down ice on it all night. I hope this is a system, and simply not because the team we're icing tonight is full of monsters. Horcoff now forechecking like a demon... he's made the Flames turn back 3 times before getting off the ice. O'Sullivan out with Stone now.

4:22 another big save by Dubnyk, and that does it for another successful PK. Down ice pressure is the key to success. You can never have enough PK'ers.

3:51 BRUTAL turnover by... I believe it was Strudwick, and Dubnyk makes his third big save of the night. I wish one of Peckham or Motin was playing - I think at this point they'll both be better options moving forward.

3:30 The Paukovich/Stortini/Brennan line raising hell again. Paukovich might have an outside shot at a couple cups of coffee if he can keep his nose dirty.

3:20 Jacques with a lazy hooking penalty. He has to know better than that, good night or not.

3:14 Another nice Dubnyk save.

1:50 Plante just buried a Flame on the PK who was crashing the net. Nice to see. He's a big boy, and he's had a decent night.

:48 Moreau still shooting from impossible angles when his linemates are open. Drives me absolutely-freaking-nuts.

:10 Potulny with a nice dish in tight, doesn't result in much though.

And that's the 2nd period.

Jacques is earning himself a roster spot tonight. He's aware of the puck, using his body, and doing some good work on the PK too. Schremp is sublime on the PP, but otherwise invisible. Plante looks like there's some potential there, and Dubnyk has been fantastic.

3rd period:

Sorry, missed the first 5 minutes... apparently Captain Penatly is back to his usual antics though. Christ.

15:00 Kip Brennan just made a nice poke check to keep the puck in Calgary's end... he could be another potential player at the bottom of the roster if he can break even. He brings the fisticuffs as well as anyone...

14:00 Paukovich with a deserved penalty. Too bad. He's had a decent enough night. We literally have a million options at the bottom of the roster, and he's naother guy trying to create space.

13:30 Horcoff and Jacques working a very nice forecheck on the PK, ragging off a good :25.

13:00 Lundmark just ripped one over the net, as Dubnyk continues to be surprisingly quick and gave him nothing to shoot at. Very impressed with teh big kid, look for him to rip the AHL up thsi season.

12:30 BRUTAL turnover by O'Sullivan on the PK at Calgary's blueline... luckily leads to nothing bad, and Arsene sends it down.

11:40 Paukovich gets out of the box, runs a Flame, and sets up a one-timer for a decent scoring chance from outside the slot.

11:10 Gilbert just got an interference penalty for a decent hit (he's had more than a few tonight). Poor call, but it happens.

11:10 It really can't be understated how bad this Calgary team is tonight. Langkow, Jokinen, Bouwmeester, Regehr, Iginla, Kipper... even guys like Bourque, Glencross and Sarich are out tonight. Phaneuf too.

9:30 Oilers have a defensive breakdown after a pretty good kill, and Jason Jaffray gets loose on a breakaway on a busted transistion... nice shot, right under the blocker but over the pad... one of the toughest saves to make against an NHL quality release. Wish the kid would've had it, but it was a good shot from a guy with a good track record.

7:30 Ice has definitely shifted in the wrong direction since that goal.

6:52 Alex Plante is hurt... collission at centre ice, looks like he's bleeding. Not woozy or anything, just a cut... no replay yet, don't think one is coming either. Draws a penalty... now would be a good time to put a puck in the net Robbie. It's a 4 minute PP, so I'm assuming it was a high stick.

6:40 amazing pass from Gilbert to Moreau for a good scoring chance.


5:40 Watching Staios and Arsene on the point right now on the PP makes me want to gouge my eyes.

5:21 Comrie circling, moves the puck well to O'Sullivan... a lot more movement on this PP than we've seen in recent years.

4:52 Schremp is on the ice with 2 minutes to go in the PP. He needs to make an impact here for his own good.

4:33 And he does. Very nice pass to set up Gilbert (who has unquestionably been the best player on the ice all game) in the slot for a geno. 3-1 Oilers. Comrie picks up another assist.

3:35 And another Calgary penalty, this time drawn by Horcoff. Pardy headed to the box.

3:30 O'Sullivan isn't afraid to shoot. Be nice to see him pot a hatty here.

2:45 Schremp is buzzing, him and Comrie look like they have a bit of chemistry. Gilbertl ooks great on the point on the PP.

2:20 HUGE save by Dubnyk. VERY fast for a big man.

:28 Horcoff ends it with an empty netter.

4-1 Oilers.

The big things to be remembered:

#1) The Flames lineup was REALLY bad.
#2) Robbie Schremp can contriubte to an NHL powerplay, that's for sure - I have serious doubts he can contribute anywhere else though, and I have serious doubts he can contribute on more than the 2nd unit... but we'll see.
#3) Devan Dubnyk looked very good.
#4) JFJ looked very, very good.
#5) Gilbert looks healthy. He's also developed a slapshot. He's a keeper, and that contract will be a beauty starting next season.