Thursday, January 26, 2006

Oilers acquire Tarnstrom, Spacek


Deal One: Edmonton trades Jani Rita and Cory Cross to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Dick Tarnstrom.

- Excellent deal by Lowe. Rita for all intents and purposes has been a bust in Edmonton since 99. Maybe due to not being in the MacT style of play, maybe laziness, whatever... he hasn't done shit in Edmonton and time to move him. He may discover himself in Pittsburgh, probably not.

Cory Cross is the worst defenseman in the NHL. Period. I don't know how Edmonton handed him to Pittsburgh after being stuck with this guy like the Old Maid card for years since Toronto laughed hysterically after losing him. This day has been on my wish list for years. Cory Cross is gone.

Dick Tarnstrom I'm a little skeptical of, this is a guy that was waived by the Islanders and had one decent year in Pittsburgh probably due to the fact Pittsburgh's defense blew so much that year he got that much ice time. Who knows, I'm looking forward to seeing him in Edmonton and I'll reserve my judgment until then. Another powerplay anchor and you can never have enough.

Deal Two: Edmonton trades Tony Salmelainen to Chicago for defenseman Jaroslav Spacek.

- This deal was robbery. Tony was a decent prospect but couldn't convert his AHL success to the NHL. Nothing against the guy, but he was never going to play for the Oilers again - and will remain in Finland for this season anyways. Spacek is a player how can also anchor the PP, giving Pronger and Bergeron much needed rest, and help the team out in all aspects of the defending zone. The defense is shored up for this season, and I'm excited to see how this turns out.

Both Spacek and Tarnstrom are UFA's at the end of the season so even if they don't amount to a fucking thing, no real loss. I would have rather they took a shot at Brendan Witt, but it doesn’t matter. This is a chance well worth taking and I applaud Kevin Lowe today.

The Oilers now have the ability to focus on a goalie and a goal scorer. I expect these to be addressed sooner than later with the news the ownership has given Lowe the green light to go over the team imposed salary cap of $35 million. With the trades today, the Oilers are sitting at $34.3 million, so there is room to spare.
Hopefully moves are made and the team can get itself together for the stretch and deeper in the playoffs than we've seen since 1997.

Good day for Oiler fans. More to come.

Monday, January 23, 2006

The score of the night.



Yeah, I could talk about the 3-1 loss Edmonton got from Calgary. Or how Ryan Smyth kept ripping down the Left Wing and getting denied with his patented and expected slap shot from the top of the circles. Or talk about how Iginla on the Right Wing scored at will on the Oilers.

But just like the Oilers/Flames tonight. The Right Wing won and the Left Win lost. The Conservatives have knocked out the Liberals in our federal election.

Finally, change has come to Canada; and Ontario has awoken from their slumber. Stephen Harper is the new Prime Minister of Canada.

I didn't vote for him personally, I went NDP, but I'm happy to see the Liberals go down and be held responsible for their corrupt ways.

Congratulations Harper and the Conservative Party. Bring on the new era in Canadian politics. Could be ominous for the future, could be hopeful, we'll see in the end.

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Petr Nedved to Philadelphia


I know I'm late with this one, but being an avid watcher of the great Philly Flyers - I have to comment on this.

Or do I? Edmonton fans know how Nedved can control a PP, the struggle in Philadelphia lately. Or was until today.

If the Cup had a smell, and it might due to Dan Boyle's ugly hands molesting it all summer - it reeks in the city of Philadelphia.

To all the people with "hate" comments


You act like you hate me, and my blog. Yet, I know my only link to this place has been disabled along with all other sigs on edmontonoilers.com for the last week.

Which means, you either wrote the address down, or have it in your favorites. I know. It sucks doesn't it?

But you can pretend to hate all you want, I just pasted an autograph for you. ^^^See above. Print it off and put it in your scrapbook.

Thanks for dropping by.

RaoulDuke

Friday, January 20, 2006

Quick message

I don't know why advertising started to show up here. I can only swear on the life of Eric Lindros - I never did it myself. Ignore it, never click on it, and hopefully it'll go away.

My views on potential Oiler goalies via trade


and before "Smyth2Hemsky" steps in and starts crying like a bitch that I'm not a fly on the wall and "how dare I say anyone is on the trading block".... we'll go with assume they are on the block, due to all word out of any NHL news.

And before the same clown cries about "assuming" let's just clear the air for the bitch and give him a dictionary definition:

as·sume ( P ) Pronunciation Key (-sm)tr.v. as·sumed, as·sum·ing, as·sumes
To take upon oneself: assume responsibility; assume another's debts.
To undertake the duties of (an office): assumed the presidency.
To take on; adopt: “The god assumes a human form” (John Ruskin).
To put on; don: The queen assumed a velvet robe.
To affect the appearance or possession of; feign.
To take for granted; suppose: assumed that prices would rise. See Synonyms at presume.
To take over without justification; seize: assume control.
To take up or receive into heaven.


OK?

Good. Goalies to supposedly available and my take on their validity on the Oilers:

Jose Theodore [MTL] - great goalie, fell out of favour in Montreal management. Former Hart winner having a tough year under the most intense scrutiny of any NHL city. He has great positioning, great awareness, and proven NHL allstar, I have no problem with Theodore in Edmonton. The rumour holds Shremp would have to go, but small price to pay for a goalie that can not only steal you a game, but a playoff series.

Andrew Raycroft [BOS] - 03/04 Calder Winner. Another Jim Carey? Why assume this shit? Because he's a Bruin? He's on the most brutal team in the NHL for letting shots on net, only since Stuart came into play they've tightened up. Chicago's Anderson was picked up today by the Bruins, so if anyone - expect this guy. And for Raffi Torres, who gives a shit? We have other prospects coming up and Raffi can disappear for months on end. Better to trade him to the East than West

Marc Andre Fluery [PIT] - Pipe dream, but Craig Patrick has shown his man love for all players "proven". Hell this muthafucka signed Thibault, a continual loser in his career, instead of handing the reigns to Fleury. He'll trade anyone, anywhere. The NHL's new Milbury. Rumour of Laraque, Bergeron and a 1st... take it, but they just got Cairns, lost the salary of Palffy... so this will never happen.

Marc Denis [CBJ] - there's a lot of hype around this kid. But there has been for how many years? And if he's not the #1 in Columbus, a shitty team by anyones standards - why would he fit in here, and not be their #1?

Dwayne Roloson [MIN] - A nobody who plays behind the trap. His numbers speak to this.

Manny Fernandez [MIN] - See above.

Martin Biron [BUF] - A quality goalie who should by all means be Buffalo's #1 guy by now. Backup to Hasek, but due to spectacular play by Ryan Miller on the #2 spot again. Teams are bidding big for him, and the Oilers would give up too much. Pass.

Miika Noronen [BUF] - Another 1st round pick goalie by the Sabres riding the pine... or rather the comfy press box. He wants out, he's a great goalie with great potential. The Sabres have no use for him and he wants out - take this fucking guy. Cheap and ready to play. Edmonton's answer to Kiprusoff? Probably not, but worth that shot.

Patrick Lalime [Waivers] - Yeah he sucked in St. Louis, but who wouldn't? Worst team in the NHL giving up the most shots a game. This is still the same guy who carried the Sens to #1 in the East Conference on a worse team than they have ahead of Hasek.... and #1 in the NHL in the same situation. What ever happened to second chances? I say if Lowe wants to be a cheap prick - this is it.

Felix Potvin [Free Agent] - desperate move.

Mike Morrison [Edmonton Oilers] - what? We don't have to make a move for this guy? Well... fuck it's time to let him play as a real #1 goalie and see what happens. 6 and 1. Single handed win over San Jose tonight. Why not give this kid a chance and say "he's our #1 guy"? He earned it.

Thursday, January 19, 2006

"buddy's" view on Ryan Smyth


The problem is that it HAS happened. A lot of people have said relevant things here, but you haven't been interested in giving any meaningful replies.But let's try again, and I really hope you're willing to read this, because this time I'm really taking time to respond:First, you've emphasized that this isn't about comparing Smyth with Ovechkin (or Crosby). I've re-read your entry a few times, and for the most part I STILL have trouble interpreting it as a commentary on Smyth's decline rather than as a comparison of the two players. If nothing else, the sheer number or responses on this entry suggest that your intended point in this entry was unclear. But I don't expect you to concede even that.Nonetheless, to your 'point', i.e. that this is about Smyth, and the fact that he hasn't been effective since he scored 39 goals. I sincerely doubt that ANY NHL coach/gm etc. would say that the 39-goal Smyth is a better player than the 25-30 goal Smyth we've seen in many of the past several seasons. Why? Partly because of this: when he got 39 goals, he was a horrible defensive player and he finished -7. I remember thinking "39 goals but such a bad +/-, what gives? Thing is, 20 of those were on the pp so had no impact on +/- (incidentally his 20 pp goals tied a record held by Gretzky).So really, he's not a 39 goal player. The problem is that his 39 goal season has been imposed by some as an idea of what he should have been since. I'll take the 25-30 goal Smyth who has a defensive conscience. The first 4 years of his career he was a minus player. Since then, he's been a minus player once in 6 seasons (I admit he's -3 as I write this, however). Nonetheless, the point: he's generally a more well-rounded player, and he's a consistent 25-30 goal scorer. When he plays a full season, he's been a LOCK for 25-30 goals (2003-04 was an exception with 23). I'll take that consistency in a second.This says nothing of his 'leadership' qualities. Yeah, we all know he's not the brightest guy in terms of eloquence, but winning so much with various Canadian teams isn't just a fluke. He has an extraordinary work ethic, and is the prototypical 'leading by example' player.Finally, I want to just drag in a couple of other guys you mentioned (while I know you keep saying this is about Smyth, the comparison here is worthwhile). You mentioned a couple other 'real NHL All-Stars', Guerin and Weight. I like them both, and this is not meant to criticize them, but lets consider what they've done lately in terms of points, and for how much:Games Goals Assists Points SalaryGuerin:2003-04 82 34 35 69 $8.8 million2005-06 45 8 16 24 $6.7 millionWeight: 2003-04 75 14 51 65 $8.5 million2005-06 42 10 29 39 $5.7 millionSmyth:2003-04 82 23 36 59 $3.45 million2005-06 40 19 18 37 $3.5millionAgain, don't get me wrong, I like Guerin and Weight (even more), but who is the better deal here?




The reason I post this - is so his relevent views can be heard, and not buried into some deep comments of people who reply to me as "Your dead".
People that have actual comments, I can respect that, and I'm not trying to ignore them. Therefore, I'll let buddy's views on Ryan Smyth take the front stage and I'll post my response reply in the comments section. Only fair.

I apologize for it being one long ass paragraph, but the copy and paste wouldn't allow it another way, and I hope you don't blame me for not wanting to sit and do all the paragraph breaks like a newspaper editor. This isn't buddy's writing style... just a computer thing. His original comments can be read, in normal paragraph style in the deal with Ryan Smyth comment I made earlier.

Blue Jackets Berard tests positive for steroids


During the summer's US Olympic team evaluation Berard tested positive for the substance nandrolone, an anabolic steroid which is on the IOC banned substance list.

Makes you wonder how much more of a pussy he'd be clean.

But in all seriousness it has horrible implications for the NHL. It may not just be the guys you'd put money on - the Scott Stevens' (pre-retirement), the Paul Laus, Eric Cairns, etc. It could be any random player including skilled offensive defensemen.

I can't see this turning out very well for the NHL. Testing will probably go through the roof and shocking revalations to follow.

I could be wrong.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Jose Theodore to Edmonton?


Now that other people have seen this shit flying around - I can safely put up a rumour without getting my car bombed.

To EDM: Jose Theodore
To MTL: Georges Laraque, Robbie Shremp, Ty Conklin

Other rumours have it with Shremp being replaced by Pouliot or Deslauriers (without Conklin), Dvorak, MA Bergeron being tossed in the mix - etc. etc.

The point is the rumour mill is flying and the word seems to be that they're talking. I'm not a big fan of losing Shremp or Bergeron, but this team needs something done immediately. And for an NHL MVP goaltender, shit, who cares? He can bring the Hells Angels with him from Montreal and I would still be dancing in the aisles of Rexall.

Enough losing games when the Oilers could really be a top tier NHL team. Get this shit done Lowe.

At any cost. Or hopefully the cost is your job at the end of the season.

The deal with Ryan Smyth


Yeah, everyone still remembers his 39 goal campaign for some reason. Not to mention his linemates were Doug Weight and Bill Guerin, real NHL allstars that commanded bigger salaries as soon as they could get it.

This is the thing to ponder.

When Ryan Smyth was a 39 goal scorer... not a 40 or 50 goal scorer in the NHL... Alexander Ovechkin was a 10 year old kid in Russia, but at the half way point of this year, he's sitting at 32 goals. 7 less than Smyth in 96/97.

OK, well, Smyth had 61 points that year (his third in the NHL). Ovechkin is at 58, three less at the half way point.

I know what you're thinking. "Fuck you RaoulDuke, you're comparing a star to Ryan Smyth". But this is stats at Smyth's third year - his best ever stats... vs. a 20 year old kid...

Who WAS 10 YEARS OLD WHEN SMYTH DID THIS. Think about that. Ovechkin was a child running around playing Pogs or Pokemon or whatever was cool at the time. But when Smyth was last effective, Alexander Ovechkin was 10 years old.

Again, you're second train of thought - "Yeah, well fuck you RaoulDuke, Smyth pumped home 31 goals and 70 points in 2000/2001... Half a decade ago.

OK, Ovechkin was 15. Crosby was 13.

Tell me what he's done lately. Oh yeah, at that time of the hockey card picture... Ovechkin was 9, Sidney Crosby was 7.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Game: Edmonton Oilers at Pittsburgh Penguins - Jan 10/06


Well, the Oilers won. As they should have, but it's a slight shock considering they usually lose to the perrenial bottom feeders of the league, while kicking the living shit out of contenders. The Oilers are the weirdest and most frustrating team in the league for it.

Although, I figure if Conklin was in net, the score may have resulted in a different decision. Like a 18-3 loss.

I'm not going to review the entire game, that's a tedious process and probably bores anyone to read it. I'll just point form my thoughts:

- MA Bergeron looked like a complete jackass at the hands of Crosby. That sort of "where is he?" pirouette spinning is usually reserved to the likes of Kurt Browning in Canada.

- Peca looked like a pussy at the hands of Crosby. Being shoved off the puck as a great vetern of this game that Peca is by an 18 year old kid has to be demoralizing. Crosby pushed Peca off the puck the way Lindros would on the likes of Haley Wickenheiser.

- Hemsky... I don't know if this is just a result of playing the Penguins defense, but he was on an equal dominance par with Sid. If only he had the vision to see past 1 second - he would have scored the greatest goal for the Oilers since Dvorak's vs. the Dallas Stars in the playoffs a lifetime ago.

- Horcoff - about fucking time buddy. He needed a breakout game on the sniper side, we all know he can pile the points up like a banshee without ever scoring a goal. Nice to see him breakout on the goal side, this is why games against shitty teams are needed - morality.

- MA Fleury - poor bastard. What a prodigy except in the worst position for an upcoming superstar. No wonder his mind frame is as frazzled as Dave Lewis looked as a Redwings coach.

Oilers win. Good enough.

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Better than a 1st round pick heading into 06/07


The Edmonton Oilers... obviously need a real goaltender, but the fact shitty sieves are being played over Morrison and Markannen (not much better their damn selves) - figure out the missing link... is squarely on the coach.

This is a team that continually sits Rita, a skilled RWer with 3 goals in the minimal amount of playing time he gets.... Yet Laraque dresses every god damn game and doesn't hit, fight, score or do anything. Raffi Torres is the new enforcer of the Oilers, and he himself sits too much fucking time on the bench. Regardless of his scoring ability.

A team that has Pisani out for what seems like 40 minutes of every game. A clutch player like Peca gets 10. Cross is still on the team, Syvret is in the minors and Schremp is on pace for what? 20,000 goals in the OHL this season?

Fire MacTavish... his only coaching ability or resume came when he was assistant coach in Philadelphia when the Flyers were run into the ground during the 1998 playoffs. That ill advised playoff run, take a trivia question on who on the team amounted the most penalty minutes? - McGillis? Lindros? Nope. The team bench. They committed probably the most bench penalties in NHL history in a short playoff run, consistantly putting too many men on the ice.

Yet, he was worthy of head coach in Edmonton.. while the Flyers cleaned house. Go fucking figure.

Brent Sutter is the answer to the Oilers. He runs a small market CHL team (small market in the CHL is small) and consistantly takes them to playoff runs and Memorial Cup championships. He's undefeated as a coach in Canada junior history - the winningest coach in Canadian junior history...

He will be an NHL coach next year. Time to make him an Oiler coach, and keep Alberta boys in our city. It'll be the only time since Messier that plan has worked.

I encourage every fan of the Oilers attending games for the rest of this season to start/or continue the chant "BRENT SUT-TER".

Time for a change.

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Canada Wins Gold


My prediction was wrong, but I could care less - my country wins and that's all that matters.

For all the anonymous dipshits stepping up trying to rub it in my face - OK... I'm happy about being wrong. And you're still gay.

Peace out bitches.

Ok... people want an entry...

I'm all for Team Canada... I love the team, Steve Downie will be a Philly Flyer...

Russia/Canada.

Russia will win, for good or ill. This is the outcome, and I apologize for saying it.

They kicked the shit out of the Americans, who we barely beat... so honestly prepare yourself for the Star Spangled Banner being played in such a weird way, like American born - but Vancouver raised Jimi Hendrix playing the US national anthem at Woodstock. Oh wait, we beat them only by an empty net goal... My apology, Team USA should really have given us a royal asskicking earlier.

It's just the weird sort of trip we should deal with... and if they never pulled their goalie we wouldn't be in this cocky situation. Russia will win.

Selah.