MEDICALS AND MORE
Jason Gregor
January 13 2013 09:13AM
The Edmonton Oiler players are up and at it early this morning as medicals started at 7:30 a.m. The usual eye test, VO2 max and overall checkups will take close to 90 minutes. Then the players will do a plethora of photo shoots and promo campaigns before they hit the ice tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. at Rexall Place.
STILL WAITING ON SCHED.... UPDATED WITH SCHED...
Jason Gregor
January 12 2013 03:17PM
You are likely sick of waiting for the NHL to release the 2013 schedule, and so is friend of the Nation, loyal reader and proud Albertan Evangeline Lilly. Lilly hails from Fort Saskatchewan and when she isn't busy staring in movies, she will be in part two and three of the Hobbit, she likes to read the nation.*
Here is what we know about the Oilers schedule that should be released later today. Of course it is the NHL, so there is always a chance you might have to wait until tomorrow.
KRUEGER: WE WILL PLAY WITH A HIGH PACE
Jason Gregor
January 11 2013 09:19AM
The Edmonton Oilers roster will have five new faces this year. Tom Gilbert, Anton Lander, Magnus Paajarvi, Andy Sutton (injured) and Tom Renney will be replaced by Nail Yakupov, Teemu Hartikainen, Nick Schultz and Justin Schultz, while the most important new face could be head coach Ralph Krueger.
Krueger inherits a young roster full of potential but also some veterans who underachieved last season. Many pundits and oddsmakers outside of Edmonton feel the Oilers are on the verge of a major breakout. Vegas gave them a mind-blowing 14-1 odds to win the Stanley Cup, while Sports Illustrated has them ranked #3 in their preseason rankings. Keep in mind those rankings change every week and are based on a belief the Oilers should get off to a quick start due to 12 players already being in game shape.
Krueger will be have to balance calming those expectations, while ensuring his team learns to compete every night and understand the sacrifice it takes to win regularly in the NHL.
It won't be easy.
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS YAKUPOV?
Jason Gregor
January 09 2013 09:24AM
Is Nail Yakupov staying in the KHL?
With Ilya Kovalchuk still on the roster for the KHL all-star game and Lubomir Visnovsky stating he's going to stay in the KHL rather than play for the New York Islanders, many Oilers fans are wondering if Yakupov will do the same.
DUBNYK HAS LOTS OF CONFIDENCE
Jason Gregor
January 08 2013 01:08PM
The Edmonton Oilers allowed 30.7 shots against per game last season, 19th most in the NHL, however, they only fired 26.7 shots per game at opposing goalies, good for 29th in the league. The Oilers were -4 in shots for/against ratio, and only Minnesota was worse at -4.9.
Many expect the Oilers to better offensively with the additions of Nail Yakupov and Justin Schultz, but solid goaltending will be the biggest necessity f they intend to compete for a playoff spot.
And that pressure falls on the shoulders of Devan Dubnyk.
