Sure, there’s a chance that I could end up on the cover of GQ Magazine. Impossible as it might seem, there is a chance. Of course, it’s not going to happen. Same goes for the Edmonton Oilers missing the playoffs this season. Yes, there’s a chance they could miss. It’s not going to happen.
After a decade out, they’re in. They. Are. In. The only question now is where they finish in the Western Conference. I got that through my thick, cynical skull about a month ago. While that should be abundantly clear today as the Oilers, 32-19-8 for 72 points, prepare to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning, I understand the cold sweats some fans are experiencing and why.
That said, it’s past time to put that decade of the Lucy and the football thing behind. Time to get over it. You could put Steve Tambellini in Peter Chiarelli’s chair and Dallas Eakins behind the bench right now with 23 games to play and the Oilers would still make the playoffs. OK, that might be too much. The hair on the back of my neck just stood up. Still, you get my drift.
The problem with fixating on the rear-view mirror to see who might be gaining on you, what could possibly go wrong, is that all you see is where you’ve been, not where you’re going. It’s past time for the Oilers, from Chiarelli on down through the hockey-ops staff, the coaches, the players and for the long-suffering who pay to get into the building, to focus on what’s ahead, not behind, on the road to the 2017 playoffs.
THE TWEAK
We all heard what Chiarelli said in his availability with media about the approaching March 1 trade deadline a week or so ago. Chiarelli downplayed the possibility that he’d be a big player when the cell phones get busy. While I prefer a GM who under-sells and over-delivers instead of vice-versa, and while there’s a chance he has the framework for something significant in place, I don’t think he’s blowing smoke.
Why would Chiarelli do anything more than tweak a line-up that has managed 72 points going into Tampa Bay tonight? There is no need to fix what isn’t broken. Might big centre Brian Boyle, lining up with the Lightning tonight, be that tweak? Makes sense to me. Boyle’s name has been out there for weeks now and the Bolts will be sellers unless they string together some wins. The question as always, is the ask by GM Steve Yzerman.
Given the depth, yes, the depth, on the blueline, I don’t foresee Chiarelli making a move for a defenceman. Kris Russell will be back in the line-up against the Lightning and Darnell Nurse will be back from an ankle injury – perhaps as early as tomorrow against Florida or Friday against Washington – this week. Coach Todd McLellan can go seven or eight deep on the back end.
Goal, as in finding a back-up for Cam Talbot, remains an area where a deal can be done. I’m a bit surprised that Laurent Brossoit will start against the Lightning, but as Jason Gregor pointed out yesterday, how Brossoit performs between now and the deadline could have an influence on what Chiarelli does. In any case, we’re talking about finding a back-up, not a throwback to landing Dwayne Roloson in 2006.
With just nine days until the NHL trade deadline, what Chiarelli does will all come out in the wash. What we do know now, or we should know now, is that for the first time in a long time, the Oilers won’t be selling off bits and pieces as they begin the stretch drive with no skin in the game. The Oilers aren’t missing the playoffs and GQ Magazine won’t be calling.
WHILE I’M AT IT
- With the Calgary Flames out of the trade deadline gate early with the acquisition of D-man Michael Stone from Arizona, Coyotes’ GM John Chayka is obviously ready to talk with his team rebuilding through youth and hopelessly out of the playoff picture. Chiarelli should be one of those calling. From where I sit, big pivot Martin Hanzal would fill the same hole in the middle Boyle does.
- Word out of Dallas is Ales Hemsky is back skating and close to returning from hip surgery that has kept him out of all but one game this season. It follows, then, there’s speculation about Hemsky being available at the deadline. Might the Oilers have an interest in an encore for the 33-year-old right winger? That’s a trip down memory lane to the 2006 playoffs that sounds warm and fuzzy, but beyond that?
- If you’re interested in looking at Oiler trade deadline moves over the years, you can find a compilation of that, courtesy of the Oiler website, here.
Listen to Robin Brownlee Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Jason Gregor Show on TEAM 1260.
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i’d be fine with a Hemsky rental.
Me too. Could you imagine the chemistry he would have with McDavid.
It could not be any worse than the chemistry between Eberle and McDavid.
Benning has good ol’ 83 now. Hemmer in 38 is just too weird. loved him but pass.
Mr.Hemmer is the veteran
He would get 83 .however im
In the “pass” group
Hemsky is probably #3 on the list of RW I would want to acquire from Dallas. The memory would be nice but realistically he isn’t a great choice for Chia.
how about Fayne for hempsky?
“After a decade out, they’re in. They. Are. In. The only question now is where they finish in the Western Conference. I got that through my thick, cynical skull about a month ago”
Well after 9 consecutive seasons of correctly predicting the Oilers would miss the playoffs – reading you say this has made my month Robin.
BRING ON PLAYOFFS BRING ON UNLIMITED BOOZE FOR WANYE
I imagine Hemsky would welcome a return… I’d pass. Let’s not get nostalgic. New group, new mindset.
So everyone agrees, if the unthinkable happens and they do miss the playoffs we’re going to have to blame you. You never say shutout till the games over. Haha. Team looks good to buck the last 10 years
I get tired of the locals wanting to bring back the oldies…I guess that’s why there are so many classic rock stations. Hemsky?…just say no
Lets get someone new for a change.
Remember when Mctavish took over as GM and he promised huge changes and then all that happened was Dallas Eakins?….oh man those times were evil…
Hey! He also brought in Belove, Nikitin, Fayne, Ference, Gordon, Hendricks, Perron, Roy, Fistric, Broisiott, and helped on the Schultz deal. Not to mention all the picks he got back for Petry, Hemsky, Horcoff, Perron, Smid, and others. Plus there was that time he got back in the coaching game, fired Krueger via skype, and played out the end of his GM career by introducing fans and the NHL alike to the worlds best looking used car salesman in Todd Nelson.
Why would you take us back there? I’d just started to block those memories out…
Lol.
Dallas Eakins will never coach in the NHL again.
Not fair to sum up someone’s coaching career with a 50 second clip, but man it’s hard to watch this and feel any charity towards Eakins:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22r3Rpbu9-M
Dark times, indeed.
in fairness he helped the oilers become so bad that they drafted McDavid. What did he get for that…$12 million? I wouldn’t work again either.
Move Connor around as much as possible tonight.
Avoid Hedman. Juggle things.
OMG BOOOO BROWNLEE
“You could put Steve Tambellini in Peter Chiarelli’s chair and Dallas Eakins behind the bench right now with 23 games to play and the Oilers would still make the playoffs.”
We dont talk about that.
That MAX HEADROOM on the bolts is pretty good at D isn’t he. Meet Connor Max !!
If Hemsky can skate, I’d rather him over Iginla.
Ultimately I’d prefer a right-handed centerman, but the options might be costly.
No to Hemsky.
Remember when Hall Ebs and RNH barely had their feet wet in the NHL and theres old Hemsky standing in front of the media saying “its their team now time for them to take over”.
Made me sick. Heres a guys who at the time was in his prime and contributing nothing to the team in terms of getting wins and his solution was to deflect and throw the 3 young kids under the bus.
If you would rather have Hemsky instead of Iginla you need your head examined. Yes Iggy is older than dirt but theres no doubt in my mind the fire lit under his butt if he came to Edm would be twice the size as the one under Hemsky.
So no to Ales “its not my fault blame the rookies” Hemsky.
“You could put Steve Tambellini in Peter Chiarelli’s chair and Dallas Eakins behind the bench right now with 23 games to play and the Oilers would still make the playoffs.”
Ice shivers followed by cold sweats, a feeling of something swarming you, and everything going black.
Post Traumatic Eakins Disorder.
We don’t need a guy who just “started” skating
We don’t need a guy who just “started” skating
Sweet Mother of all that s Holy——Tambo and Eakins in the same sentence as it would relate to the success of the Oilers, almost made me barf a little. Thank God they are gone, and the reign of terrible decisions, and decision makers are now a thing of the past. The Oilers have finally arrived, and everywhere you go and everything you read–excitement is back. Chia is doing an awesome job, and McLellan has made believers out of all of us. I can’t wait for the rest of the season and post season to play out.
MY oh my; how things change. Tampa Bay goes from contender the last two years to sweating about who is going to cover Drai after Hedman gets run ragged by McDavid.
If the choice is have Hemsky or Pakarinen on the ice I’d have to lean towards Hemmer
Get Patrick Eaves. $1 million dollar cap hit. 21 goals. Him and a decent backup and I really like our chances
No Hemsky! We are moving forward not looking back. There is a reason why he is not still here to start with.
No no no no to Hemsky…c’mon we all know he’s get back in our line up get one goal then BOOM …injured list.
Probably will get trashed for this but not liking McDavid’s game tonight. He could’ve had a couple of goals tonight if only he keeps it simple and just shoots the puck.
My kid has a harder shot than the puff balls oilers’ D keep putting on net.
I’d be interested in Hemsky because he’s a veteran right-winger who would come *cheap* at the deadline.
I can’t imagine they’d expect more than a 5th rounder for him.
$18 million tied up in Lucic, Eberle, and RNH. That’s a lot of dough for 3 players that are supposed to be the top 6 forwards.
Well, hope the jinx isn’t started. They looked like an Eakins coached team tonight and were flat out awful. The WOM line (Waste of Millions) is really painful to watch. The NHL sure hates goal scoring and will do anything to keep the goals down. Do away with the dam offside reviews.