Post by oilbaron on Jan 31, 2007 14:25:01 GMT -5
Being a fan of the Edmonton Oilers these past threes seasons has certainly seen its share of ups and downs. Season 1 saw a young team that had lots of potential but no real chance to win. Season 2 saw vast improvements as the expected re-rates kicked in and the Oilers began to compete. It was a team on the rise. Unfortunately, just as the forwards matured, the goaltending went south, when Jocelyn Thibault never returned to form after a serious injury.
In the off season, an attempt was made to sign Tomas Vokoun, but the asking price got too high. At that point the realisation was made that with no proven goaltender for the upcoming season, to re-think the process and go young. Veterans were traded for packages of young players. As the season wore on, the future of the team began to show itself.
As they take to the ice in their season and home opener against the Nashville Predators tonight it is a vastly different team - and a much improved team overall than the one that ended last season.
Gone is franchise player Dany Heatley who was shipped down highway 2 to Calgary with Tom Preissing for a bevy of players and prospects centered around the Forsberg-lite (injuries included!) Tuomo Ruutu. In free agency, General Manager Barnes opened the wallet and signed Glen Murray to a large, long-term contract. He also signed Alexei Ponikarovsky away from the Washington Capitals for a hefty compensation package.
Coach Jari Kurri is said to be excited about the talent he has up front. "We were a one-trick pony last year with Dany Heatley and teams focused on him and it was too effective. We're deeper now and the team is more defensively aware, which is quite good given that our defence isn't. But that's what we expect with Coffey coaching them back there."
There is a lot of young talent on this team at all positions, but up front, it appears ready to explode upon the scene. This is a team searching for a superstar, and there are guys at both levels that have the potential to put it together. Olesz, Semin, Stewart, Armstrong, Roy, Ruutu, McClement and Campbell all look ready to begin long NHL careers. It's just a matter of when they break out and if they can feed off of each other and gel together.
There is also some help on the way on the back-end, but it's a year or two off. Coburn, Burns, Michalek and Babchuk could be regulars as early as the All-Star break in the case of Michalek, but more likely next year for the rest. In the meantime, the team will have to do with a pretty thin blueline. A lot is being expected of the recently acquired Paul Mara who will have to be the Oilers top d-man game in and game out.
In goal, the future is bright with the tandem of Miller and Toskala. Goaltending has always been a sore spot for the Oilers, but this appears to be a thing of the past now in Edmonton... if the defense can be even average.
A playoff position is within reach again this season, but the team's youth could make it so unpredictable that finishing anywhere in the conference would not be a major shock to more armchairs coaches.
Get ready for a wild winter in E-town!
Jaroslav Pouzar
In the off season, an attempt was made to sign Tomas Vokoun, but the asking price got too high. At that point the realisation was made that with no proven goaltender for the upcoming season, to re-think the process and go young. Veterans were traded for packages of young players. As the season wore on, the future of the team began to show itself.
As they take to the ice in their season and home opener against the Nashville Predators tonight it is a vastly different team - and a much improved team overall than the one that ended last season.
Gone is franchise player Dany Heatley who was shipped down highway 2 to Calgary with Tom Preissing for a bevy of players and prospects centered around the Forsberg-lite (injuries included!) Tuomo Ruutu. In free agency, General Manager Barnes opened the wallet and signed Glen Murray to a large, long-term contract. He also signed Alexei Ponikarovsky away from the Washington Capitals for a hefty compensation package.
Coach Jari Kurri is said to be excited about the talent he has up front. "We were a one-trick pony last year with Dany Heatley and teams focused on him and it was too effective. We're deeper now and the team is more defensively aware, which is quite good given that our defence isn't. But that's what we expect with Coffey coaching them back there."
There is a lot of young talent on this team at all positions, but up front, it appears ready to explode upon the scene. This is a team searching for a superstar, and there are guys at both levels that have the potential to put it together. Olesz, Semin, Stewart, Armstrong, Roy, Ruutu, McClement and Campbell all look ready to begin long NHL careers. It's just a matter of when they break out and if they can feed off of each other and gel together.
There is also some help on the way on the back-end, but it's a year or two off. Coburn, Burns, Michalek and Babchuk could be regulars as early as the All-Star break in the case of Michalek, but more likely next year for the rest. In the meantime, the team will have to do with a pretty thin blueline. A lot is being expected of the recently acquired Paul Mara who will have to be the Oilers top d-man game in and game out.
In goal, the future is bright with the tandem of Miller and Toskala. Goaltending has always been a sore spot for the Oilers, but this appears to be a thing of the past now in Edmonton... if the defense can be even average.
A playoff position is within reach again this season, but the team's youth could make it so unpredictable that finishing anywhere in the conference would not be a major shock to more armchairs coaches.
Get ready for a wild winter in E-town!
Jaroslav Pouzar