Most Recent Blog Posts

• Admin9 Admin9

  • From: Admin_10
  • Description:

    Is a huge vag and banned me.

    Discuss

  • Blog post
  • 11 months ago
  • Views: 143

• Get Rid Of Nikolai Khabibulin Get Rid Of Nikolai Khabibulin

  • From: melissameyers
  • Description:

    OK Oilers seriously it is time to use your heads. I am an Oilers fan through and through and always will be but please start using your head. You have a goalie on your team that "used" to be good as in Nikolai Khabibulin, and now he is old, washed up with booze and is putting Edmonton down in the dumps. It is either time to trade him or bench him. Dubnyk is not the best either as he is a back-up goalie and has no had his chance yet but seriously i think the people and fan of the Oilers are really getting pissed off when you guys put Gerber (a great goalie) in net who wins the games for us in net and then once once Nikolai Khabibulin thinks he is sober enough and his groin is good enough that he can come back and loose some more for us we send the golaie that has been winning the games for us back to the AHL. What is wrong with that picture people. Come on now...i think it is time for the fans, the people, the coaches, the management, and most of all the team members to stand up and see what is being done here. Gerber is a great player with great potential who is not going to want to come back if he keeps getting thrown around like this just casue Mr. Nikolai Khabibulin is ready to play "again". Nikolai Khabibulin is a waste of a lot of money that we could be using of Gerber and a lot of other key players to build this team back up to a Stanley Cup winner. Yes i know some people are going to hate this comment but i don't care i have rights to my own opinion and i do know that most likely 75% of people out there are going to agree with me. Edmonton Oilers stand up and rid yourselves of Nikolai Khabibulin and bring back Martin Gerber so we can win some games and show the people of the world that we still are the "City Of Champions".

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 203
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• No touch icing No touch icing

  • From: jackthedogg
  • Description:

    The proposed icing rule change is a hot topic but does anyone know when the NHL adopted the touch icing rule?

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 199
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• My 25th Birthday/Training Camp My 25th Birthday/Training Camp/Pre-Season

  • From: SAVEMEX29
  • Description:

    Hey guys... Russ here, bringing Oil Country my second blog, from the UK.

    In less than an hour's time (my Time Zone), will mark my 25th Birthday - how I made it this far is beyond me, but I've done some real growing up this last year or so... I've become a husband and a father this year - I love my wife and my daughter SO much (not forgetting my step-son too)!

    I'm looking forward to tomorrow, my wife has made me a very special cake for my 25th (pics below):

    

    

    AWESOME CAKE, HUH?

    So... What do you guys make of the latest updates, concerning the Oilers roster? Colin Fraser, Kurtis Foster & Jim Vandermeer have been assigned their jersey numbers for the season, picking #16, #26 & #2, respectively... Leaving two guys (on the main roster page) left to pick their numbers, one being goalie Martin Gerber, and the other being... You guessed it... Taylor Hall!

    I'm expecting Hall jerseys to fly off the hangers they're kept on, for sure. Taylor Hall will be the face of our franchise for many years to come. There's a lot of pressure that rides on the shoulders of the young man from Kingston, ON, but he loves it - Hall's that kind of guy that gets up in the morning and eats pressure for breakfast, and still has an appetite for more. This kid is fearless, he's tenacious, he's hungry, he's ready and most of all... He's OURS!

    We STILL haven't re-signed Sam Gagner or Andrew Cogliano yet... I don't expect Cogs to remain an Oiler for much longer, as it's quite clear we have enough depth offensively. Defensively, it's a different story... We lack depth still in our defensive areas, but I had a thought occur to me... I think sometimes people forget that "Big Mac" Steve MacIntyre was originally a Defenceman, before switching to the Left Wing position. It wouldn't kill us to play him there if needed, right? You never know... Mac could see more ice time for it, though I doubt it... He's here to do a job - to protect guys like Eberle, Hall etc, and Big Mac will do his job well.

    Not long now until Training Camp! I can't wait to see who'll play with the big boys, and who'll go to OKC, and hopefully give the fans in Oklahoma City something to talk about! I'm expecting a surprise from Training Camp, there's some hungry guys there... I think it's safe to say Hall will make the team for sure - with sending him back to Windsor the only viable option, it'd be a waste of his time, and talent, Hall has nothing more to prove at junior level. I'd also say Jordan (Eberle) will make the team also - a phenomenal talent, at every level he's played at - would sending him to OKC have any purpose? I don't think so... His point totals for Springfield (in the 11 games he was there in 2009-10) speaks for itself. Jordan would be a goalscoring machine for the Barons, but isn't that why we've signed Alexandre Giroux? Giroux scores goals in the AHL better than anyone on our roster - Eberle will play with the big boys this season. OK... So, I've covered Hall and I've covered Eberle, so what about our 3rd man, Magnus Paajarvi(-Svensson)? Well guys, I think a little differently about MPS' chances of making the team - he's played in the Elitserien, for Timra with the big boys for the last three years or so, but that doesn't necessary make him NHL-ready, does it? He's played in some big match environments, but he's not played (what you guys like to refer to as) the "North American" game, which may hinder his chances of making the Oilers roster immediately. However, I believe Paajarvi himself has stated "if he had to play a season in the AHL, he would do" - I think this is a wise move, all parties concerned - Paajarvi can get accustomed to playing NHL-style hockey, whilst making himself a force to be reckoned with, in Oklahoma City (possibly with fellow countryman Linus Omark also).

    Well... That'll be it, for this edition. I hope you enjoyed reading. I'll write another blog a little further down the line, just before training camp, and I'll hopefully try to discuss some Barons hockey, our goaltending situation and any signings we make between now and then (if we make any, that is).

    GO OILERS GO!

    Russ

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 790

• Home Town Boy off to the Windy Home Town Boy off to the Windy City

  • From: TBOZ
  • Description:

    This is really just a short good-bye note. Around the water cooler all summer we have traded and assembled and re-assembled our team. Most of the changes fell through in real life and many of the 'key' players we coveted are still on someone else's roster. All summer I have felt that Fernando would stay, if offered a small contract. It's about home, it's about family, it's about history... it was the one story that would not have been about money.

    I think that, in a smaller role, and a mentoring capacity Pisani could have finished a year or maybe even two here. That could just be sentimental, but rather that then just plain stupid. We are young, scarey young. We are young with next to no continuity and/or seasoned players. It was piled on last year that management would like to structure this team after Detroit's success formula..... boy was that crap. Which year was it that Detroit threw their fans under the wheels of the bus, gambled with the development of their rookies and turned their backs on their roster? The fact is for 500g Fernando is a bargain, even if health issues cost him half the season. There is only one forward over the age of thirty and that is Horcoff, lest we forget how badly he ws crushed under the weight ofexpectations and his own contract last year. Yes, I might be off the track and in league with Hallmark but who on this team right now shows these children HOW to be an NHLer .. a star.. a captain... ? Zetterburg and Datsyuk had time with Yzerman, and neither were a part of a whole scale youth movement. The only time that it has worked in the near past was Chicago where the Toews/Kane era was ushered in with only Robert Lang, Martin Lapointe, Tuomo Ruutu, Sergei Samsonov and Yanic Perreault as chaperones up front. Of course that is still six veteran forwards in the dressing room, on the bench and on the plane. We have Horcoff..... whose whole claim to fame here is that on a bad team in the circle he CAN be decent, that and of course he is the only good third line center earning 7.1 mill.

    But I digress, I am sure Tambelini has a plan, I understand that Kevin Lowe had built a horrible team and one saddled with moderate players and exorbidant contracts. I get that Steve Tambelini had to clean house. He wants his stamp on this team, he wants to start anew, and I agree with that on almost all levels. Fernando was another of Lowe's bad signings, not the player just the amount.

    Now at a more than realistic amount we let someone go who probably should still have a stall in our house. I hope Chicago does well and Fernando plays a healthy and feisty season. He was a good Oiler.

    Best Wishes

     

     

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 199
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• Get Out the Gear Get Out the Gear

  • From: TBOZ
  • Description:

    We are back, and none too soon. Am I the only one tired of extended Oiler summers? Has our team become more interested in golf than hockey? Will next April send us packing back to the garage to clean up the clubs and hope for the draft to arrive soon? I hope not, two months into last year I was despondent and quit taking pen to keyboard. But we are back, and as anyone who has followed good old our team we need to have huge hearts and short memories.That is short memories not a tiny first two lines!

    First some housecleaning, to all that read this blogspot last year thanks, to the few that shilled it, thanks to you for at least trying to make it better with your input, and for those that had kind words... many thanks, may we both get better together. Lastly, to any new people that get lost on their way to somewhere really important and decided to rest here on my cyber couch...please be my guest, share the chips and the beer and I hope we have many a night of good hockey. I would suggest if you are looking for a well written personal insight into the Oilers stop in with Tom Gilbert, his blog makes all of the rest of us worth suffering through. Personally, once the season starts I will write once a week, usually from the hip, always from the heart and unfortunately by November last season from the curb. This is just my form of training camp, dusting off the cobwebs that arise from being stuck with my daily installments of the Journal, ESPN, Yahoo sports and NHL.com..

    My promise to all is that I will try and get back weekly, I will try and stay positive, and mostly I will try not to vilify Kevin Lowe more than once a week for the mess he has made and the damage it continues to do going forward. We are not a 'good' organization anymore but we are trying to get back to being one. On the ice at least. From my heart I want to thank Pat Quinn for being here last year, for hanging in with a poor installment of ladies and for handling good and bad with honesty and class. I am sorry Kevin and his team have branched out from just screwing up the cap, our contracts and our ability to move forward and moved into yanking around good people to misdirect our attention away from their mistakes. I do however wish Tom and crew the best and feel he is more than an adequate man for a tough job. We have to move forward and we are doing so with an elite coach

    That is exactly what we shall do... and the sooner the better. While I have thoroughly enjoyed another summer on the best golf courses around, it is time to get back to my couch, my hockey and my team. Bring it on.....

    DL

     

    Schtuff:     :) you know it was coming after last year.......

     

    You will never be able to ram accountability and responsibility for your actions down a team's throat when the people who are really to blame for the mess are unpunished or worse, promoted even further past their abilities. If all it takes is a good stay at home defenceman and the ability to talk in an interview to build a team we should have dropped Lowe four years ago and replaced him with Jason Smith who is better in all categories and did not get the benefit of being elevated in stature on the backs of the real Oiler elite. If you never actually have to prove that you can do the job you are getting paid for, if you never have to suffer the repercussions for destroying a team and hampering its growth for oevr ten years then you have the right man for team president but understand the team will NEVER win a cup under Lowe. If you, as fans want the Oilers to fully embrace change and growth and success then talk with the only power you have... if by the end of this year no growth has started, if we are still cowed to people that do not want to be here, if we are still strapped with insane contracts... don't bitch and complain... choose Shoppers Drugmart for each and every one of your purchases. Become the true source of hockey power in Edmonton.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    stop by and say hi through the yr @ tbozoil@yahoo.com

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 198

• drop khabi sign emery drop khabi sign emery

  • From: Whyteboi87
  • Description:

    get rid of khabibullin and sign ray emery for a one yr deal and look at a goal tender situation next year for free agents and i know ray emery could play well in edmonton with our younng team and get gagner between eberle and taylor hall for line two which will really be our big scoreing line let them play all year and gain chemistry and get those sweeds in the mix two

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 172
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• Gearing up for the season Gearing up for the season

  • From: SAVEMEX29
  • Description:

    Welcome one and all Oilers fans!

    My name is Russell Jericho, but just call me Russ, and I'm writing my first blog here in Oil Country, from all the way in the United Kingdom.

    There's not really that big of a following for ice hockey here in the UK - we're all into football (soccer), but not me. I love hockey, I love Canada and when it came time to choose a team to follow in the NHL, I thought of two things:

    1. The hockey team I follow has to be CANADIAN.

    2. The same hockey team has to be the embodiment of pride, passion, belief - it's not about success, but sometimes it helps...

    It was these two things that led me to the Edmonton Oilers, whose fans are more passionate about their sport and about their team than any other NHL team.

    I've been a passionate Oilers fan for years now, watching games and listening to radio broadcasts at silly times of night. I really can't wait to do it all over again, although I'm sure my wife won't share my enthusiasm.

    I just want to say how well I think the much-needed rebuild is coming along, we've turfed out some deadwood in Ethan Moreau, Patrick O'Sullivan and Robert Nilsson and how bright our future looks again - with the emergence of Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, & Taylor Hall.

    I expect to write a little more about the upcoming 2010-11 season, recent summer signings and our future prospects in the coming weeks.

    But for now, that'll just about do it.

    Can't wait for pre-season and the Oct. 7 opener at Rexall vs. Calgary!

    GO OILERS GO!

    

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 182

• Rant Rant

  • From: PaulSimonds85
  • Description:

    We have no, get up and go, we are standing around and watching the play around us, we think that we can shoot pucks thru defencemen

    We are reaching with our sticks instead of attacking the puck, we look scared to get involved in the play.  Our defence, as depleated as they may be need to understand they are not goaltenders, they are responsible to pick up the man in front and pressure the man in the corner, and it is ok to slam them into the boards, not just poke at them with their sticks.  I ask is this a coaching issue?  Or is this a on-ice Leadership issue?

    Gluten Free Cooking

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 164
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• Good Job Good Job

  • From: jgebran
  • Description:

    Great selection Oilers (Hall)!

    Please treat the new group of players right.  Lets not loose them to other teams because our system does not adapt to their skills, abilities and strenghts (ie. Arnott, Satan, Hemsky, Mike Comrie, many defencemen, etc).

    Remember that our real success in the 80's came because all the players brought different attributes and Glen Sather was smart enough to adapt so that each could shine.

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 166
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• Draft....again I'm sure Draft....again I'm sure

  • From: ricklear9
  • Description:

    Yo Folks;

                 I AM VERY PISSED about the draft. We could have traded 1st pick and a disgruntled Captain for 2 PROVEN players and (a couple of maybe Buffalo's 9 picks) that could help us NOW. They went after buddy for what a 7 year 35 million buck contract. We could have gotten him. I'm not sure what Tambellini is doing....Helping Toronto and Vancouver? This guy may be good( I watched world championships) BUT he is NO Lemeiux, Yzerman, Crosby or even an Alexander Daigle. BAD crop this year. WE lost again!!!!!!

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 158
  • Not yet rated

• OILER BLOG! OILER BLOG!

  • From: Leisen1104
  • Description:

    Im a leafs fan but Oilers are my favorite team in the West. It was kinda terrible seeing edmonton and Toronto come 1st and 2nd last! But i look forward to Edmontons future! and the Leafs! 

     

    Im gonna make a whole lineup for your next years team, i think you guys should get one more draft pick and have a bad year to be honest. I know that sounds bad but i believe thats what you should do. You could make your team good right away but if you wait one more year you can pickup a good goalie or a good D. Edmonton needs both a Goalie and a main D man. Edmontons got Souray but apparently you guys want him out. Makes a little sense i guess. But here is my lineup for you guys, this team will be a playoff team this season, and heres how you can do it...Well i cant guarantee it will be a playoff team but it will be better!

     

    Now, this roster involves alot of trading so its not forsure because you dont no if the GM's will reject the trade or accept it.

     

    Dont Sign:

    Mike Comrie

    Fernando Pisani

    Dean Arsene 

    ( A few other trash players )

     

    Resign: 

    Marc Pouliot 

    Gilbert Brule

    Theo Pekham

    ( and a few others )

     

    TRADES:

     

    To Ottawa:

     rights to Andrew Cogliano

    Sheldon Souray

    2nd Round Draft Pick

     

     

    To Edmonton:

    Jason Spezza

     

     

    Jason Spezza is clearly not happy in Ottawa and he knows there not going in the right direction. Spezza will be a great first line center for Edmonton. I feel ottawa will do this because they desperately need defense, especially offensive defense like Sheldon Souray. A big body and a slapshot like Sourays is just what ottawa needs, and Cogliano has shown that he has talent even with his bad season. Its not quite enough for OTtawa so you need to throw in the 2nd round pick because of Coglianos recent failures.

     

     

     

    NEXT TRADE

     

     

    To Philadelphia: 

    Nikolai Khabibulin

    Patrick O'sullivan

    Ladislav Smid

     

     

    To Edmonton:

    Kimmo Timonen

    Danny Syvret

     

     

    I believe this trade is very realistic because Philly desperately needs a goalie and Khabibulin is a veteren goalie who has a cup under his belt. Because i think that Toronto is going to trade Kaberle for Jeff Carter because of Phillys offensive power and Carters non fit on the team, they can move Timonen because Kaberle is a better puck mover. This is basically an even trade money wise, and philly gets a goalie a 3rd line centre for them or maybe second because O'sullivan has skill when he plays well. And Smid is also a good D man for them. They give Edmonton Syvret just to make it so its not a 3 for 1 trade.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Next Trade

     

     

    To Montreal:

    Shawn Horcoff

    rights to Sam Gangner 

    
    

     

     

    To Edmonton:

    rights to Carey Price

    Jaroslav Spacek 

     

     

    I believe this trade is realistic because Montreal will stick to Halak and Horcoff and Ganger helps them Montreal alot on offense, which is what they need. Spacek is just a salary dump for Montreal because Subban will take his place next year and they dont need him, but he actually helps edmonton. This gives Montreal a tad more salary then before but not by much. Basically Montreal gives up 2 players they dont need for 2 players that will score goals for them. Edmonton can afford giving up these 2 players and the players from the other trades. Carey Price might be shaky in montreal but i believe in Edmonton with the starting job he will be consistent. 

     

     

    THE DRAFT!

     

    So as everyone knows Edmonton has the 1st overall pick in the NHL rookie draft. I believe they have to take Taylor Hall. He is probably a bit more talented and i believe he has more value. With Spezza they already have a first line centre and dont need Seguin.

     

    The Edmonton Oilers select Taylor Hall.

     

    After all these trades The Edmonton Oilers would have about 5 M in cap space with there team that seems to be amazing. Of course this is not going to happen exactly and some GM's might not by this because of the Oilers bad season, but most of the players we traded away from the Oilers are very talented they just had a bad season.

     

    Sign:

    Raffi Torres 2 years 5 M (2.5 M)

     

     

     

     

    FORWARD LINES:

     

    Penner-Spezza-Hemsky

    Hall-Eberle-Svensson

    Moreau-Nilsson-Torres

    Brule-Pouliot-Stortini

     

    Before you say ohh Hemskys bad, he actually has 22 points in 22 games and is VERY talented, he just had injury problems. THIS IS A VERY GOOD TEAM! The second line will be the rookie line. 

     

    DEFENSE LINES:

     

    Timonen - Whitney

    Gilbert - Spacek

    Pekham - Syvret

     

     

     

    thats some pretty decent defense right there.

     

     

     

    GOALIES:

     

    Carey Price

    Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers

     

     

    Overall a lot of you might think this team is unrealistic but i think its possible, this team would be the best oilers team since Messier and Grextky. Even better then the Oilers team that made the Finals and lost to Carolina.

     

    
    

     

    
    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    
    

     

     

    
    

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 154
  • Not yet rated

• Vedette Shapewear Vedette Shapewear

  • From: bevz2010
  • Description:

    The Vedette Shapewear blog brings you the latest news about shapewear, body shapers, lingerie, health, beauty, fashion and diet tips.

     

     

    click here

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 74
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• Bostons Pick Bostons Pick

  • From: gagnerhemsky
  • Description:

    Boston : Penner Gagner Smid Khabibulin 2nd rounder 2010 and Conditional 1st round in 2011( If we make the Playoffs they get it, if we dont they get a 2nd 2011)
    Edmonton : Thomas Ryder Wideman 2 Overall

    Think about it Penner/Ryde=Penners better
    Khabibulin/Thomas=Khabibulin better and they save 1.5 mill
    Smid/Wideman=Smid 10x better andd the save 3 mill
    Then Gagner, Hes not goin to be Seguin but he's about to start hitting 65-70 points every year
    Then our Second Rounder theyll have a 17 pick, 31 pick and 32 pick and get the chance to take 2 guys who should of gone in the First Round (Kirill Kabanov,Jeff Skinner etc.)

    We Draft Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 102
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• trade HEMSKY! trade HEMSKY!

  • From: mikedubs
  • Description:

    Trade hemsky to Floridia for their 3rd overall pick

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 224
  • Not yet rated

• Time For Iggy To Return Home Time For Iggy To Return Home

  • From: Corko333
  • Description:

    Living in Calgary and being an Oilers Fan is great.  The bandwagoner's are in full grieving mode right now and their future looks bleak.  Now is the time to make the cou de gras!  With all the dumping on the Sutter's, Kiprusoff and Iggy, Tambellini et al should trade away our eventual number one draft pick overall (with some other incentives) for Iggy!  He would be allowed to become the offensive allstar he has never been allowed to be in Calgary (except during the Olympics) and provide Calgary with some hope in the future.

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 262
  • Not yet rated

• Pay Per View Pay Per View

  • From: Brian-P--Charette
  • Description:

    I hope that all the faithful fans who subscribed to the Oilers' pay per view season and endured the tough season will get a break in costs next season by being allowed to commit for 2010-11 early!

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 197
  • Not yet rated

• Boys Will Be Boys: my thoughts Boys Will Be Boys: my thoughts on some of the newer rules and respect in hockey

  • From: misshockeypants927
  • Description:

    As a hockey fan I was very happy to see the National Hockey League and the NHLPA finally take a stand against headshots and blindsided hits from behind.  Not waiting until next season to bring in changes, giving guys like Matt Cooke the idea that it is okay, at least until the end of this season, to knock a guy out of his career.  It is something that I have discussed on numerous occasions over the past few years, that something had to be done about these headshots and hits from behind.  It looked as if everyone was on the same page and these cheap shot artists would finally have to pay severally for their shenanigans.  Repeat offenders would be even worse off.  Finally instead of guys getting a slap on the wrist for these dirty hits they would get harsh punishment.

    So everything is fine then in the world of hockey right?  This rule came in a few nights ago and all the players are happy and feel safe on the ice right? WRONG.

    I just finished watching the Hockey Hot Stove on CBC during the Leafs and Rangers intermission and it was discussed between these analysts that players are actually complaining to the NHLPA about this new rule.  They want to know if the penalties are going to be really harsh, how much of their salary are they going to lose and is Colin Campbell really going to enforce this as severally as he says he will?

    Why are players questioning this? DONT PUT YOURSELVES IN A POSITION THAT YOU MAY BE SUSPENDED OR FINED.  And if, as a player, you are worried that your hits maybe questionable, well maybe you should take a few personal days, and go back to Atom or Bantam or Midget hockey, where you were first taught how to hit and learn how to hit again.

    Now granted, watching some of these hits over the past few weeks that have been described as ‘vicious hits’, I can’t help but notice that players are certainly not as strong on their skates as they used to be.  Players are dropping like flies in a wild fire out there and it really makes me wonder if this rule will hurt hockey more than it will help it, just as rules such as the instigator rule and the delay of game rule for putting the puck over the glass in your own zone has.

    I’ve been spending a lot of time lately watching games from the 70’s and 80’s, as this east coast girls system seems to be on Mountain time with all the late Oilers games, and there’s not much on late night TV.  It was good hockey.  I mean, there probably wouldn’t be a 5 on 5 shift the whole game with all the ‘new’ rules, someone would be in the box for something.  But it was nice to actually see guys hit each other, stand up for their teammates without the fear of being handed an instigator minor, or thrown from the game for a 10 minute misconduct because instead of letting the opposing teams goon take liberties with your best player, you took your fists to his face.  Hockey used to be about strong, hard working men, following around a little piece of rubber and scared to death to go into the corners because they knew they would pay for it.  It used to be men sacrificing their bodies to score goals and prevent them from being scored on them.  Today’s hockey makes me think of figure skating with an edge.  A bunch of highly skilled players running around, being welcomed into the offensive zone with open arms as the defensemen are not allowed to hit them anymore or they would be called for interference.  Now I understand what interference is and I have no issues with an interference call being made when a player goes out of his way to prevent the other player from doing his job but COME ON.  Have you seen some of these calls?  Scott Neidermayer tripped and his foot fell in front of Dany Heatley going into the Ducks zone, therefore Heatley was interfered with?  I don’t think so.  If it’s not the pretty boys skating around like they own the ice it’s a bunch of goon wannabes, guys who have little to no skill, running around taking headshots and dirty hits on the players that do have talent.  So when Dustin Brown throws his elbow into the face of Robert Lang and knocks him out, it won’t be Bertuzzi (although not the greatest example of a fighter but Detroit doesn’t’ really have a fighter) and Matt Green dropping the gloves to let each other’s team know that they will not be putting up with this, it will be Brown getting jumped by Draper and not having a choice but to drop the gloves. So all of a sudden instead of two guys being paid to answer the bell when liberties are taken on their teammates, you have two guys that would not normally fight have to do the dance.  How many times since the league introduced the instigator or third man in rule have we seen guys like Sam Gagner and Mike Comrie drop the gloves with guys who will kick their ass, just to prove a point, just to keep a roster spot.  Too many guys think they have something to prove.  Long gone are the days when roles on the team were simple.  You get paid to score goals; you get paid to pass the puck.  You get paid to hit the crap out of anyone who wants to cross our blue line; you get paid to stop the puck.  And the most respected role, you get paid close to nothing to have your face used as a punching bag to stand up for your teammates.  Players are now expected to play EVERY role. Oh and back to the Dustin Brown subject, I’ve taken some heat going after him the last few days, and in my defence. Don’t tell me he was finishing his check.  Brown seems like a nice guy, has done great things off the ice for the LA community, but on the ice, 99% of his hits are to the head.  (And if you want proof of that, take a look at his Hit Reel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tfMeuDpJn0 )  Now don’t get me wrong, Brown has skill, he has some talent, he’s not a superstar by any means but he can easily earn a spot with the best of them, but he has got to take this out of his game.  These hits WILL NOT be tolerated anymore, so I’m sorry Dustin Brown, I guess you will be one of the guys going back to your minor league coach for some tips on how to hit someone without going for their face and learning how to use your shoulder instead of your elbow for momentum.

    Instead of the GM’s meeting with Gary Bettman and Colin Campbell and reps from the NHLPA a couple of times a year to discuss ‘new rules and rule changes’ maybe they should take the money spent on meals and fancy hotel rooms and first class airfare to and from these meetings and put programs in place to retrain these players not on new rules but on respect.  Players should not need new rules put in place every year for safety.  These players have been playing hockey their whole lives and they all know the difference between a clean hit, a dirty hit and a borderline hit, they’re not stupid.  But because players today seem to think they have some type of entitlement they have no respect.  You don’t need to spell out to Matt Cooke that if he hits a guy a certain way he could be suspended.  Sit down with him and give him a good lesson in respect, if that don’t work, don’t suspend him for a game or two, throw him out of the league.

    There is no respect left in the league.  Where it went is as good your guess as it is mine.  Once upon a time players feared guys like Bob Probert and Dave Semenko, they knew better to take liberties with one of their teammates because they would have to pay for it.  Guys didn’t have to go out like attention-starved children and take on guys they could not beat just to get some cheers from the fans; there was always a guy on the bench whose job it was to do that.  Scorers could be scorers, but they had to earn that blue line, it wasn’t given to them.  The players were able to police themselves.  Players knew who they had to watch out for on the ice, they didn’t have to worry about some call up, trying to get the coaches attention, jumping you from behind and ending your career.  They didn’t have to worry about guys like Tomas Plekanec high sticking their eyes out, because Plekanec would know his job was to score goals, not worry about the other players on the ice.

    Hockey has not been the same since Gary Bettman came calling.  He has brought in rule after rule after rule; defending it by saying this is what the players want.  Well I’m sorry boys but it’s time to grow up and stop crying because someone put their arm on your shoulder.  If you were a real man and deserved to play the greatest game of hockey, you’d push through it.  You wouldn’t fall to the ice like you were shot and put on the greatest Oscar winning performance of your life, you’d man up, use your strength to beat your opponent and then hit him on the other side.  Hundreds of players did it before you, so why can’t you?  I remember watching interviews with players proudly displaying their missing teeth and gashed up faces, battle wounds.  Heaven forbid if someone’s hair gets messed up during the game now a day, whets next?  Are you going to start crying over a broken nail?

    And although I won’t dwell on it here, let’s not forget that the reason there are no roles anymore is because of the great salary cap that Bettman introduced.   Now in order to get a franchise player, you have to pay him ridiculous amounts of money for him to have one or two decent years out of a ten year contract, which leaves no money to pay the guys who are going out there sacrificing their bodies so that the superstars take their careers for granted and show up to play when they want to, not game after game like the muckers and grinders do.

    This is hockey, it’s not figure skating.  Enough with the rules.  Let the guys go out and play, restrict some of the equipment that has become harder and bigger and is probably the main reason there are so many injuries and worry about the real issues.  The hits from behind, the kneeing, the hits to the head, the slew foots, the DIRTY aspects of the game that are ending players careers.  I don’t know about you but I don’t know any player who has had a major injury from being obstructed, or any player who has ended someone’s career by accidently having the puck go over the glass when he tried to clear it from his zone.

    I think the players, owners etc need to sit down and REALLY get on the same page.  Time to get your priorities straight boys and stop worrying about how much money is going into your bank account.

     

    miSShockeyPants...
    NOTE: I do have an online blog at sites/google.com/site/misshockeypants9
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• Oilers Oilers

  • From: princessB
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    The Oilers are so cool!! They don't play as good as I wish, but every player is so gr8!! My fav is Dustin Penner, he rox!

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  • From: nick-eo1
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    Does anyone have a list of impending UFA's? Who does everyone think we should try and sign we all know we have to get tougher and bigger I really like the idea of Armstrong from Atlanta but who else is available? You know it sucks to be a fan when in March all you have to look forward to is the Draft and July 1 for UFA season to open up.

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  • 2 years ago
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