OKC R-E-S-P-E-C-T

11 years ago

OKC training camp is underway and the Barons have a lot of natural talent down on the farm. However, there’s always room for one more. If Taylor Hall does play in OKC this season? Holy hell it’s a minor league murderer’s row.

As if there isn’t enough firepower in Okla City as it is, word today has the Oilers looking for a way to get Taylor Hall to OKC on a fast train. Wow. Double Wow. That would mean the Oilers could boast two #1 overalls, Ebs and Justin Schultz BEFORE getting to names like Josh Green, Magnus Paajarvi, Teemu Hartikainen and the rest.

Now all of this would come after Hall gets the ‘all clear’ from the doctors, but this is something that is now a real item on the Oilers agenda.

I don’t think a Hall-led Barons team would have room for all of the legit prospects, meaning a player like Curtis Hamilton might end up in Stockton (as an example). Of course injuries would have their impact on who plays, but for Oiler fans and Baron fans this is a huge item.

The powerplay alone could set fire to Canadian County.

WHAT DID TSN SAY?

We’ve been focused on men like Anton Lander (photo) so far, but the Hall story has been around in one form or another for a couple of weeks. tsn’s article (it is here) suggests he is "expected" to join the OKC club. That’s a step up from "could" or "might" and in the world of splitting-hairs one would have to think that tsn has gotten the actual word that this will take place.

Hall: "When (the Oilers doctor) sees fit that I’m ready to play, he has to clear me and that’s when I would get sent down," Hall told The Edmonton Sun. "We’re also working on a couple other things where I would go down to Oklahoma City before I’m cleared and skate with the team there. I’m going to be down there sooner rather than later, hopefully."

WHAT ABOUT WAIVERS?

I’m no Jonathan Willis when it comes to a sliderule and ciphering, but from what I can tell Hall falls short of the waiver eligibility rule by a season. I stand to be corrected on that, but believe it to be true. Beyond that, if Hall and the Oilers mutually agree to #4’s being sent to OKC then it should happen without any delays (as far as I know).

OH, BOTHER

I think the only real negative is that Hall is a worry in terms of injury. You can’t wrap him in bubble wrap, so having Hall on the farm is about as good as it gets in terms of lockout hockey. Monitor progress, rest him when necessary and then stand back and see how many goals these kids can pot together.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Adding Hall to the current roster is so nasty it should be illegal. This is sinister, beyond sinister, it’s diabolical!

WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN?

Some AHL goalies are going to start acting like Travis Bickle, and these Edmonton Oiler kids will be responsible.