Copper and blue: the big gulp
Robin Brownlee
October 02 2009 06:03PM
Of course the Edmonton Oilers are going to make Western Conference playoffs. It just won't happen this season, contrary to what Jason Gregor, Wanye Gretz, Amber McCormick, Jonathan Willis and Bingofuel, their lips stained with Copper and Blue Kool-Aid and their hearts once again swollen with the hope October brings, would have you believe.
I'm not sure how my, ahem, colleagues have come to the conclusion the Oilers, a team that adorns their bed sheets, pillow cases, pajamas and lunch kits, deserve the benefit of every doubt and will finish anywhere from fifth to eighth, but I guess faith and wanting it to be so really, really badly is enough.
Please, please, please, plus the addition of three grey-haired geezers named Pat Quinn, Tom Renney and Wayne Fleming, Nikolai Khabibulin, who was absolutely outstanding in the pre-season, and a penalty-killing unit that is obviously vastly improved, will apparently get it done.
Well, no.
Nag, nag, nag
Sorry to be Mr. Poopy Pants -- I'm actually not, but it's the polite thing to say -- but there's a lot of questions I haven't had answered through eight pre-season games. They nag me.
-- What have the Oilers done to address the need for a defensive centre who can win face-offs? Is Gilbert Brule that guy? What about Marc Pouliot, assuming at some point his pubic bone stops feeling like somebody dropped a can of lighter fluid and a lit match down his pants?
-- Barring the addition of somebody who can approach 50 per cent on the dot, is Shawn Horcoff going to have to take 93,056 face-offs again this season? And what will that do to Horcoff as he tries to bounce back from a 53-point campaign?
-- What marked improvement have we seen in penalty killing units that finished 27th last season? Can the PK, with the "new systems" in place and overseen by Kelly Buchberger, improve 10 spots? That would be 17th.
-- Is J.F. Jacques really a first-line left-winger? Really? While I liked what I saw in four of the five pre-season games he played, the 60 regular season games on his resume tempt me to reserve judgment he's the answer.
-- Khabibulin, 36, has played more than 55 games once in the last five seasons. Are you comfortable that Jeff Deslauriers is ready to play 25-27 games this season after getting into 10 in 2008-09?
-- If you've listened to Quinn the past couple off days, it's clear he's preaching patience when it comes to implementing new systems, seeing the team blend into a cohesive unit and develop an identity. How long will that take? Two weeks? Two months? And the Oilers record when this takes place will be . . .?
-- What team is going to drop out of the playoff picture so the Oilers can get in? St. Louis, which made it last season despite being riddled by injuries and played most of the season without Paul Kariya? Columbus, which has Derick Brassard and Nikita Filatov for a full season? Anaheim? Maybe Dany Heatley will bugger up the Sharks good and plenty.
No sale
Obviously, the Oilers can address some of the above questions by making personnel moves between now and trade deadline day, assuming they can create some salary cap space by then.
How, by the way, does a team mismanage its money and contracts so badly that it spends to the cap limit and remains a fringe contender looking to slide into the post-season in eighth-place? I digress.
Could the Oilers make the playoffs? Yes. They aren't so far off that it's inconceivable, if they get some breaks. The problem, obviously, is that having all the breaks fall your way seldom happens.
And if things work against them -- if Lubomir Visnovsky's shoulder isn't 100 per cent, if Khabibulin isn't a marked upgrade on Dwayne Roloson and Deslauriers isn't ready to pick up the slack, if Dustin Penner, Horcoff and Sam Gagner don't have bounce-back seasons, if it takes a month to get the hang of what Quinn is pitching -- what then?
There is always, I suppose, faith.
-- Listen to Robin Brownlee every Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. on Just A Game with Jason Gregor on Team 1260.
What is the address of the site for Oiler fans to talk about their team? I keep thinking that Oilersnation.com might be it but clearly it's not. Maybe your site should be anti-oilersnation.com!
Last year all we heard was "dump the coach" .... that's been done and now the nation found another issue or five. If there were so many issues that haven't changed since last year why was it all Mac T's fault?
I am really wondering why as an Oiler fan that wants to support our team and get some enjoyment out of the season that I keep coming back to this site for more abuse. You are right .... I guess I am stupid but I am also forgiving as well and will make room on the bandwagon (right behind the horses tail) if all you experts are wrong and are looking for a spot to eat some crow. Go Oilers!
C/P
NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay reports via his Twitter account the Rangers don't have a contract with defenseman Alexei Semonov. Apparently the team and the player had an agreement in place but his wife nixed the deal, so the Rangers search for a seventh defenseman continues. Women have the power
Not to be a Cornflake soaker but isn't picking who is going to be in and out of the playoffs in October as asinine as picking who is going to be on the team day one of training camp? Wasn't there someone here who poo-pooed such a ridiculously futile endeavor?
I agree with you Mr. Brownlee, there are questions that need to be answered but there are also 82 games left to find out the answers. To write off the team before they have played their first game is premature.
Guessing Game: What's the hurry?
Westy wrote:
@ Westy: You're right, lets not write anything
I hate that we are OVER the cap and don't even have a guy who can score 25 goals.
Sandra wrote:
~Makes sense. I mean, who in their right mind would want to live in a city like New York.~
Westy wrote:
Nice try, but you're stretching it a bit, a lot actually (and you're missing the point of the origional item). While fans pick their team two games into an eight-game pre-season, coaches shouldn't. Fans draw up line-ups that include Jaromir Jagr, Dany Heatley or pick-player-just-obtained-by-brilliant-move. Coaches have to select a team based on who they actually have to work with. That was the "what's the hurry" reference -- but you knew that, smart guy.
HOFFA wrote:
raffi torres you putz
trying to be a fan wrote:
There is NO better site where fans can discuss the Oilers than right here, Bub. -- You've got your experts with inside info and access like Gregor. -- You've got well thought-out analysis from Willis. -- You've got mindless cheerleading, twisted ramblings and Comrie scoops from Wanye. -- You've got Bingofuel monitoring swears and dirty talk and cleaning up Wanye's puddles of vomit. -- We have very cool pictures. -- We make you laugh (even when we don't mean to). -- We make you mad (almost always on purpose). What more, aside from a PLAYOFF SPOT*, could a fan possibly want? *Lack of success these past three years is the underlying source of your discontent, not the glorious entity that is ON.
@ Robin Brownlee:
I see your name attached to the Canadian Press artcile in the Sun today. That usually doesn't happen does it?
Anyway, why haven't the Oilers traded for or signed a third line centre? that can't be too tough can it? Does Tambellini not read this site? He must knoe they nedd one.
One glaring detail you over looked. Based on the pre season Mike Comrie should get 100 points.
@ Cool Beans: Actually, The Sun and SLAM always leaves my byline on CP articles, which is a bit odd considering. It's TSN, NHL.com, SI etc that usually just go with the CP byline.
Tambellini needs a dance partner to get a third-line centre. He obviously needs to try harder to find one. As for Comrie, my best guess is a full season translates to 55-60 points.
Robin Brownlee wrote:
Robin,
Because of roster spots. Same reason they let Brodziak go for nothing. The roster spot is more valuable than the player in that case.
If the Oilers were to sign a Betts, then they would have an even deeper roster problem than they do now (which is being coverd by the LTIR for now)
If they give up on Brule to make room then President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe traded NHL'er Raffi Torres for nothing.
If they give up on Nilsson to make room then President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe traded 20 games of very good NHL'er Ryan Smyth for nothing.
If they give up on Pouliot to make room then President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe go jack squat in the first round of the deepest draft in decades. (yes I know Pouliot was rated high, I'm just talking about results)
I know that Tambo is the GM, but he freely admits he asks President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe for input. Lowe is a proud man and if he has any influence he's hanging on to his previous decisions with both hands, much to the detriment of the team.
Top 10 in spending, bottom 14 in results. Ladies and Gentlemen, Kevin Lowe's legacy of ineptitude!!
There's nothing wrong with Robin being realistic. And in October this is all just speculation. The one glaring point Robin made that no one can dispute is the fact that why isn't the Oilers seeing better results when they spend so much? One thing for sure is this team is better off now without Lowe's hands on the wheel. He spent like a drunken sailor and the team is still paying for it.
Yeah Brownlee are you retarded or just stupid. You think all the oilers need is one guy to win faceoffs? There is four lines on the team they need two faceoff guys. So for your comments against the Oil I would love to see you at the game tonight.
Your a wannab reporter on a sjhit show on 1260.
I'm donbe with this site.
Good thing they play the game on ice not paper. I'll stay optimitic and see what Quinn can do with this team, my money, they make the playoffs.
@ ryan:
C'mon, Dad. Robin's just giving his opinion...
@ Robin Brownlee:
You're damn right this site is wonderful. People need to realize that it's OKAY to criticize the team.
Westy wrote:
Right on good sir. Here's betting that Mr. Brownlee doesn't have a response to this one (I'd say methinks but we know what RB does when someone brings out that one). Of course it's ridiculous to gaze into the crystal ball at this stage but that's what we want and that's what the media does for us.
Don't get me wrong, I like listening to RB on the radio and really respect his written and verbal analysis (and in this case I also tend to think the mighty Oil are in trouble) however I think he is guilty of a little bit of hypocrisy here.
I love the insight from the kool-aid addicts.
"Robin you're wrong AND a big stupid head!"
10th AT BEST for the current compliment of players that just about no one would want AND the GMs across the league look at and go "Sucks to be you Steve, Ole #4 sure screwed you for a long, long, LONG time". Four years in a row this year.
Great article.
And people like "trying to be a fan" should direct their angst at Oilers' management, not the people trying to make an honest assessment.
I put this team in eighth in my preseason standings, but while I try to be unbiased I have to admit I was questioning myself as I did so.
Given what the free agent market looked like, there's no reason for this team to be a bubble team. Their real problems are relatively simple to fix: veterans to take defensive zone draws, kill penalties, add some size and play against guys like Jarome Iginla so that Sam Gagner can play against guyas like Brandon Prust.
Those problems weren't addressed, and while I think they can get more from the kids, they're very much a maybe team.
@ rubbertrout: @ Westy:
No hypocrisy.
The coach doesn't have to decide his lineup until after the preseason.
The G.M., on the other hand, must have his team ready for Game 1.
Thus, (and while I disagree, since I think contracts and past performance have more to do with anything than the preseason) I can see an argument against picking the lineup until some preseason games have been played - putting the prognosticator in the same position as the coach.
In this case, though the prognosticator needs to be in the same position as the G.M. - ready for Game 1.
Thank god we still play the good ol game of hockey on the ice and not in the press box. There are no absolutes in the game of hockey and everything is not black and white Mr. Brownlee! Guys have off years, breakout years and thats why at the start of every season it is so exciting because of the unknown. How many people predicted Boton's breakout last year? I know none. That why reporters are reporters, they blow hard thinking they know all, but they really just like to rehash the past and beat on dead horses. If they were really that brilliant and had a crystal ball, they would be employed with a NHL team and not making peanuts in the press box!
Does anyone know what exactly is happening at RX1 tonight, before the game? I heard there's a 20 minute pre-game show or something? If so, will the game start a little later or do you have to be there earlier?
@ Robin Brownlee:
Did they even kick tires on Manny Malhotra? I realize cap/roster spot issues but if they signed him, I'm sure they could find somone willing to take Nillson,Pouliot/Brule.
ryan wrote:
Yes, you are.
rubbertrout wrote:
What's the bet, smart guy? I responded several comments before you made your comment suggesting I wouldn't. Tsk, tsk. Methinks you should pay attention.
@ Ryan:
Thanks Ryan. We're done with you too.
@ billmad: Puck drop is at 8:17 p.m. They'll introduce the Oilers one-by-one etc.
Cool Beans wrote:
Yes they did, but the Oilers were lukewarm because Malhotra was asking for stupid money at the time the inquiries were made.
Democracy, who needs it? Why dump on Robin because he gives his opinion? What would be the point of this forum if everyone acted like sheep by predicting the same results and agreeing with everything everyone comments on.
I may just be an optimist, but i believe the Oilers are a playoff team this year. They underperformed last year, and still almost made it in. if the new staff can get a bit more out of these guys, then we definitely have ourselves a playoff team.
That said, I'm 100% a kool-ade drinker (switch to beer on game nights).
@ bingo. None of these comments show up on my computer, just my cel. WTHeck
gdawg wrote:
No worries. You give some, you get some. That's part of the deal. What you can't do is suggest to any of our writers that, because of something they've written, you'd love to see them at the game tonight. What's the implication with that? I'm afraid our friend Ryan would have to come up with a Plan B in a hurry if he got his wish.
bingofuel wrote:
lol, hilarious.
@ Robin Brownlee: Ya, Ryan took it way too far. I'd like to think this site is for fun and good banter.
@ Robin Brownlee:
Seems to mde the old saw applies in this case: It doesn't matter what the critics say just as long as they spell your name right.
@ gdawg:
This is a moderated site and the rules of democracy don't apply. Might makes right.
@ bingofuel: Please delete #84
BarryS wrote:
But it's more fun knowing who you are . . .
@ bsaipe@telusplanet.net: Is this site run by the Chinese Government? Do you face a death squad if you don't like the statements made by the writers? My point is that when someone writes something negative on this site, others who don't agree can't stand the fact there isn't 100% consensus. But bottom line is we will all know come April who eats crow. Will it be Amber and her 5th place prediction or Robin and his missing playoff forecast. Only time will tell.
Robin Brownlee wrote:
Its not I'm ashamed to be known but everytime i make a foolish mistake like this i get spam in Russian.
@ gdawg: @ gdawg:
This is a moderated site and the rules of democracy don’t apply. Might makes right
No my point was, people are allowed to say whatever the moderator considers appropriate. Unlike the Chinese, we have regulated free speech, not no free speech. Them's the terms, live with them and get over it or go away. There are plenty of ways to make a point without getting moderated into oblivion.
@ BarryS: We will only send you spam in Latin.
What happened? Im back on the old site?
@ BarryS: Easy Barry. Just joshing around.
Robin Brownlee wrote:
Well as long as you remember not to put spaces between the words and use no puncutation then okay. That way the spam filter will catch it.
gdawg wrote:
Actually the reply was meant for those who complain abouit getting moderated which happens a lot lately.
Are we ever getting the "I'm an idiot" edit key?
Back to hockey. Anyone hear if Schremp is playing tonight? Any predictions out there?
gdawg wrote:
"PAIN."
gdawg wrote:
Last I heard he was to be a healthy scratch to give him a few extra days of practice until their next game.
I looking forward to Schremp and Travaris playing together with whatever goon will be their winger. the slowest top line in the history of hockey.
I see the Sun hyped the Pens-Isles game as one of the must see of the season. That's a lot to expect out of Tavares. Wonder if he'll the crap and abuse Croz got all his first year? Get the ice bags ready.
As for Robbie,"healthy scratch" may become his nickname on the island.
Austin Ayala wrote:
When did get him back??