Let the Oil flow - an Oilers Blog

The Oilers are currently stacked with prospects.  Reading The Copper and Blue’s top 25 under 25, you get a good picture of how many good young players the Oilers have already on the big club, toiling in the minors, or steeping in junior or overseas[1].  The Oilers also have what should be a top 5 pick in the next draft, netting the team another good prospect.  It almost seems like there isn’t even enough room for lots of the players coming down the pipe.  Of course, most of them won’t make it, even some of the guys playing in the NHL right now might turn out to be nothing much.  But the sheer amount of quality prospects means that some should end up being pretty good.

Maple Leaf Darkumentary

Since my colleague wrote a post on his favorite team, the Vancouver Canucks, benefiting from a Parise deal, as any spirited hockey fan would do, I felt the need to over react in kind. Aaron wrote about the need for a first place team to acquire a superstar. Certainly, and again I defer to his creative writing prowess, this is hogwash!

Should the Canucks Aquire Parise?

Unlike many writers, who hide their inner fan behind a thin veneer of professionalism, I enjoy the world of the possible…and impossible.  Rumors, the life blood of any fantasy artist.  I often hear local radio hacks suggesting a show about rumors and potential trades is a show wasted on the lowest common denominator.  I say hogwash!  It is you sir’s who are a waste.  Imagination you lack, and thus I will attempt to shame you by creating something beautiful out of nothing more than my own idea of the possible. 

Managerial Musings: State of the Union Part 2

Well, as we plow towards yet another February 28 NHL trade deadline, I hope that you will join my in plowing through another instalment of Managerial Musings.  A quick hit examination of all 30 NHL teams, part two.  Enjoy.  Actually, on second thought this one isn't so quick...a little more bloated than quick;)

Dark Horse MVP

Enough with the Jack Adams trophy already! Fine, I give in. Let us call a spade a spade. The topic of last weeks discussion may have been a bit dull to distinguish itself among the areas of interests on my own hockey palette, no less yours. But if your still reading on I trust that it was somewhat stimulating. After all, even the smallest of itches ought to be scratched. So If you please, allow me to satisfy another itch.

Letang not Crosby the Penguins MVP

First off, while I love broadcasting legend Bob Cole, Mike Emrick of NBC and Devils radio is the best in the business at the moment.  I love the creativity and dark tones Emrick brings to the games, while his sidekicks, Eddy Olczyk and Pierre Mcguire are always amusing and insightful.  I say this as I enjoy taking in the NBC game of the week:  Pens V. Caps!  Sure to be a battle.    

Watching the Penguins I feel compelled to comment on a few things. 

First, the Penguins have done a great job of retooling during the 2010 offseason.  And make no mistake, they have retooled.  This team is not about Crosby.  I know Canadian pundits everywhere love to gaggle about the brilliance of Sir Sid.  But the reality is, no matter what he does, no matter how he improves, or how much he scores, he is not the straw that stirs the drink in Pitt.  For that matter, neither is Malkin.   

Superbowl Week! My All-NHL-NFL team

As a society we are obsessed with comparison.  Our insecurity is palpable and on display in very public ways.  Social media like Twitter and Facebook while marketed as tools of openness and connection provide greater concealment as they are devoid of real intimacy, an essential component of most meaningful relationships.  However, while they allow us to hide behind a veil they meet our need to compare and objectify.  On Facebook we fret over who has more friends, cooler pictures, or the best online persona.  On Twitter we tweet every little thing that comes to mind hoping to sound original, to stand out, often with disastrous consequences for our personal relationships.  Being a child of this age I will succumb to my need to compare, to hold objects under the cold light of scientific analyses!  Thus, I give you my All-NHL-NFL team...in honor of the Superbowl of course.      

Is it possible to Grade Coaches?

     Concerning NHL year-end awards, deciding who is the most deserving candidate to take home (x) awards, is always a fickle question. Take the James Norris, for example. Some people would argue that unless a younger player was unquestionably the most dominant patroller of the back end, the trophy should otherwise be awarded to a previous winner. In other words, in tight races past performance matters. When it comes to the Hart purists say that it should be awarded based on the definition of the trophy (it should be awarded to the most valuable player to his team, as opposed to others who say it should go to the leagues most dominant player). But no award, in my opinion, is murkier than the Jack Adams.