TAMBELLINI'S TAKE
Robin Brownlee
January 06 2013 05:15PM
I went out on a limb (critics will say I sawed it off) by suggesting a shortened season would benefit the Edmonton Oilers two weeks ago and went as far as to say my gut-feeling was that they'd have enough gas in a sprint rather than a marathon to make the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.
While we'll obviously have to see that play out (not even knowing as of writing this if the season will be 48 or 50 games) and there'll be plenty written about that post-season possibility as writers bash off season previews and prepare for an abbreviated training camp, GM Steve Tambellini met with the media today and answered a couple questions connected to my bold (foolish?) prediction. The entire interview is here.
Here's a quick hit from Tambellini's availability:
THE CORE
Tambellini was asked how much of an advantage the Oilers might have because core players -- Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, to name just three – have been playing at a high level in the AHL.
"Well, not only just the core players. The one thing I remember from the last work stoppage, I remember – I was managing Team Canada – and Ken Holland and I were sitting in the stands watching the first skate and the players who had been playing in Europe versus the players who hadn't been playing.
"The first couple days, there was quite a difference, so . . . I think there is an advantage for any player that's been playing whatever league for sure."
THE SPRINT
Tambellini was asked if a shorter season would be a benefit to the Oilers, given the aforementioned young core players, not to mention the likes of Ales Hemsky, Sam Gagner and Nail Yakupov, have been playing.
"I think it can be, but I think that's how most coaches and general managers are trying to position their team, hoping that most of them were playing. We've had a good amount of our young core playing for sure.
"I love the fact that they were playing in the American Hockey League, which is the same type of hockey as in the National Hockey League. It was tough for them, it was grinding for them and they had to work for everything they got. Their stats were outstanding.
"I was proud the way they brought themselves in the dressing room as a teammate. Now, it's time for them to get back to Edmonton. I was very happy with the players who played for the Oilers last year, how they contributed on and off the ice in (Oklahoma City)."
More, much more, to come.
Listen to Robin Brownlee Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Jason Gregor Show on TEAM 1260.
It will be so nice now, that instead of your fantasies and loose interpretation of reality, we get to start to deal with the facts as they unfold. Good luck with your Canucks. Sounds like they have a lot of great players developing down on the farm.
What happened 10 years ago is about as important as what socks you were wearing then.
In other words, not at all.
Hockey isn't about yesterday or tomorrow, it's about now.
For example, how many current Oilers were on the roster when the Oilers went to the finals in '06?
Why would they need "great players developing down on the farm" when they already have great players in the NHL?
Have you become so addicted to the draft that you can't see that there are other ways to acquire players?
The Oilers were gifted Justin Schultz...the Canucks signed Jason Garrison.
Over the next 2-3 seasons I would wager Garrison will be the better defenseman.
Watch those"facts"unfold.
Sorry - that was for DSPs Sedins AHL aspirations ..... Sedins have Rockets and President trophies but no CUPS! That's all the matters at the end if the season....
Your probably right. But after those 2-3 years it will be Schultz for the next 8.
BEAUTY! Can Minny buyout both Parise and Suter ;)
Agree Robin and understand its the HUNCH, your referring to. If I was to take a educated guess based on shortened season, more travel for Detroit and some other teams having very few players active , I am saying they still finish between 9th-12th overall in the west. I am hoping playoff but its only a feeling as you mention based on some assumptions.
All I know is the Top 10 provides some pretty good centermen in the draft again even if a year or two away.
Exactly, so you can't compare the Sedins in the AHL now. They have more experience.
And I like how you gloss over other people's points, and blast their logic. But will then use that same logic.
So, you can accurately predict which defensemen the Canucks will have three years from now?
Perhaps you should consider how the Canucks acquired the best shutdown D in the league.
Hint: they didn't draft him.
Why would they buy out two of the best players in the league?
I only gloss over points that are puerile.
Look it up.
Eberle>>>>>>>>Parise...and Sutter is the next redden now GTFO.
I didn't know the Canucks have Chara.
I don't need to know who Van will have, just know in a few years Schultz will be a sublime offensive d man.
Is it the same way they got Schultz?
Good grief.
Fanboy delusions.
I wouldn't be suprised if Eberle has a better season than Parise this year and the next many years. And if he's not it will be close. I don't think Suter will be the next redden though. But it will be interesting to see how he does without weber and how weber does without him.
But hey fans can dream right?
And who would that be?
ROFL!
You know what hypothetical means, right?
Three key players in order for us to have a chance at playoffs.
1. Dubdy - needs to become a legit #1 2. Whitney 3. J Schultz
If Dubby plays like a #1, then we'll be battling for a spot. If either Whitney or J Schultz play to their potential, coupled with Dubbys play, then we make playoffs. If all three play well, look out!
Me thinks we make playoffs but I like the koolaid.
Yup
Ya and the same thing will happen with Garisson he will revert back to being his old DFD with very little offence. DSF thinks he is Souray 2.1 haha will see.
Oiler Domination To Follow
Nick Schultz will solidify the PK and the defence. Justin Schultz will solidfy the PP and help the offense put up points.
Yakupov will provide much needed secondary scoring, and Hartkainen will add grit to the third line.
If Dubey shows hes a true #1 we will find ourselves in the playoffs. If he faulters - welcome Seth to the Oilers.
Im drinking the Koolaid- im thinking Domination to Follow...
Yea there is an advantage for players like Hall, Eberle, RNH.......but how long does this advantage last? Maybe a couple of games according to Tamby.
How about the guys who have not played being fresher towards the end of the season? How much of an advantage is that? Maybe by then Hall, Ebs, and RNH will be tired?
I think this advantage that everyone talks about is over stated.
That doesn't change the fact Schultz was a free agent just like Garrison was. They both got to choose the team they wanted to go to. The difference was 29 teams wanted Schultz making him harder to acquire.
You guys need to stop falling into the DSF zero-sum trap.
There is never a compelling reason to imply that one player's success = another's failure.
Only in the rare one-on-one hockey events -- a forward schooling a defenseman for example -- does this even make sense. And, even then we are talking about a fractional sample size.
The truth of the matter is there will always be lots of players. Some of them very good to great. People will always disagree about who is better and have their own preferences and occasionally even be able to give an account of their preference.
This is all very normal and interesting.
What is irritating and ridiculous is when these conversations devolve into DSF-land, i.e., two players are pitted against one another (often arbitrarily) in stark contrast in order to imply that there is a world in which these two players exist apart from the rest of the world stuck in a never ending zero-sum game of one-on-one.
It is a wholly false and asinine reality to construct.
The real difference between these players, their contracts and the method in which they were acquired is "media attention."
Schultz "enjoyed" an absurd amount of coverage because of his unique contract situation.
This difference tells us very little about the two players' reasonable projections, the mgt. of the two teams, or the quality of the two teams.
They are both very talented, young D prospects/players any team would seek out with vigor. Both the Oil and the Nucks are lucky to have them.
But we've reached the point of maximal absurdity in forcing this comparison (IMO).
and the very rare case picked edmonton.
crazy knows no bounds.
Oh DSF, you're so smart.
P.s. I accidentally props'd that fool trying to hit reply, so there's not anyone insane enough to agree with him. Just a mistake.
...David S
...it's the big brain thing I spoke of earlier
EDM even beats the Round 1 losers listed...
is there bloody anything he can't do?
...of all the tens of thousands there the day of the night of the infamous canucks fan riots...
copy paste this...it's a gigapan image so everyone in the picture is recognizable, as u scroll the image zooms larger and larger : http://www.gigapixel.com/image/gigapan-canucks-g7.html
and ask ... Is DSF in the crowd ?