QUICK HITS

• David Shoalts reported Rogers Media is planning to replace George Stroumboulopoulos with Ron MacLean
  as the main host on Hockey Night In Canada. I think Strombo is an incredible interviewer, but his strengths didn’t come out as often in this setting. They should have let him interview players in a long-format interview. I think he could have brought out more of the personality of the players, but I believe the NHL culture is still too set in their ways of not promoting personalities or letting fans see the real person, not just the player. It is too easy to blame Strombo. I don’t think they put him in a great position to succeed.
• The theory that a young host would attract a younger audience isn’t a good business model. I don’t think the majority of fans watch the games to see what is happening at intermission. A good panel will keep the viewers, however, and I believe this is the bigger issue on HNIC. Look at NBA and NFL panels. They are mainly Hall of Fame players. Guys who see small subtleties of the game that most of us don’t. They can educate, or in the case of Charles Barkley and Shag, entertain. Don Cherry is an entertainer. He can get a reaction from the viewer, and even those who don’t agree with him still watch. Having a few well-spoken Hall of Famers on the panel would make it better in my eyes.
• I understand the slight trepidation to sign Milan Lucic to a deal longer than four years, but I can’t understand why the same people worried about that are willing to sign Jason Demers to a long-term deal. Demers could sign a contract similar to Andrej Sekera, and if you believe Lucic’s deal would be an issue in four years you should feel same way about Demers. The Oilers can’t have two second-pair defenders making $5 million+ for the next five years.
• It is too early to worry about which player the Oilers might lose in the expansion draft. If Chiarelli adds two quality defenders and the Oilers have more than three competent D-men this is a good problem. It shouldn’t be looked at as a negative. He could trade Brandon Davidson, for instance, before the expansion draft if necessary. The Oilers need to improve now, and suggesting Chiarelli only add one defender to protect others in the expansion draft is a loser mentality in my eyes. This organization needs to improve today, not worry about which player they might lose to Las Vegas in 12 months time.
• Eskimos fans should expect another dominant season from the boys in Green and Gold. The Eskimos offence is poised for a big season. The no-huddle offence will produce a lot of plays, yards and points. Defences can’t rotate players in as often as they like and they will fatigue. I expect they will finish first in the west.
• I’ve yet to read one Taylor Hall trade scenario that makes sense for the Oilers. None.
• Over the last five NHL seasons Jordan Eberle (288) and Taylor Hall (286) are 24th and 25th in total points. Tyler Seguin is the only player in the top-25 younger than Hall, while Eberle is 5th youngest. Erik Karlsson (15 days) and John Tavares (four months) are younger than Eberle. Both Oilers forwards are elite scorers and still young. I’ve read many articles and comments recently that overlook the talent of Eberle, and only focus on what he doesn’t do well. I believe what he does well trumps his areas of weakness. Finding a RW who can score like him will not be easy.
• The NHL became a lot less exciting with the Pavel Datsyuk’s retirement from the NHL. He was incredible to watch. He and Patrick Kane have been the two best stickhandlers during the past decade. Magic could happen when they had the puck. I respect his desire to return home and be more active in his daughter’s life. Smart decision.
• The Oilers home and season opener will be Wednesday, October 12th against the Calgary Flames, and then travel to Calgary for the Flames home opener on Friday, October 14th. The one major change to the schedule this year is each team gets a bye week. The full schedule will be released tomorrow.
• I will be doing an AMA with OilersReddit today at 11:30 MDT. Ask me anything. You can join in here.

THE DRAFT PARTY

 

There are few certainties in life – we can always count on the sun coming up in the morning, Edmonton winters being dreadful, and the Oilers missing the playoffs. As such, we present the annual OilersNation Draft Party! It’s time to honour the the anniversary of drafting our beloved Connor, celebrate the rewards of another failed season, and raise some money for charity.

Here’s what you need to know…

The party is happening at the Pint Downtown on Friday, June 24th. The goal is to raise as much money as possible for the Red Cross and their efforts to bring normalcy back to Fort McMurray, and have a little bit of fun while we’re at it. For $30 you get a Draft Party t-shirt, a $10 Pint GC, a $10 Oodle Noodle GC, a draft party collectors cup, and a chance for prizes and eternal glory.

All proceeds from tickets sold will be donated directly to the Red Cross so bring your friends, get involved, and help us support a community in need. Tickets are still available here.

One day, the Oilers will be a good hockey team and we’ll all be able to laugh about this. Until then, we party.