Line Combinations (next season)

Ok, So I want to go over the line combinations I would like to see for next year. Keep in mind that it will depend heavily upon the training camp. Oh, and who they draft of course. I'll start by throwing out the lines first, and then explaining them.

Eberle - Gagner - Penner

Hemsky - Hall/Seguin - Jagr/Brule

MPS - Horcoff - Cogliano

Jones - Pouliot - Stortini

Pisani

Whitney - Gilbert

Smid - Souray

Johnson - Peckham

Arsene

Ok, starting at the top:

 Eberle - Gagner - Penner.  This in my opinion is the line of the future here. Eberle should be an impact player during his tenure, Gagner has already shown (barring injury) that he can handle the minutes implied with a first line role, and well Penner is penner. he is large enough to help keep the smaller two protected, while doing some damage of his own. Gagner and Penner are proven in the NHL even if Gagner has to take another step forward. and Eberle simply makes that line more dynamic. A very solid combo with a power forward, a quality playmaker and a slippery finisher. It may not rank up there "skill" wise with the best the NHL has to offer, but it is definatly compeditive.

Hemsky - Hall/Seguin - Jagr: This is a secondary scoring line that is just as deadly as the first. For the line to work a few things have to happen. First is Hemsky has to move to the left wing. Yes yes, he has been a RW for many years. well im sorry but being a right handed shot and the fact that he consistantly moves to the left side of the ice, play after play. Means it would benefit him AND the rest of the line if he just stayed there. He would no longer have to swing around the net every time he wanted to set up, his plays would come much faster and he would still have alot of ice to play with. People say that he needs a sniper to make the next step. I think he also has to make changes to his own game to make that step.

Now the center position is up for grabs but in all honesty it should be one of the two available draft picks. Hall used to play center and only moved to the wing recently when there was no room for him at the center on his new team. Seguin plays center already (and does a good job of it I might add) so IMHO this position is going to be filled with either guy. Jagr. well alot of people are high on this guy coming next year. honestly im not and I would actually prefer that Brule filled that position instead. But there IS a solid reasoning behind this so I left him there for now. Jagr would not only be able to play with Hemsky, he would be a solid guy to have next to the new prospect. He takes some much needed pressure away from the new group and that alone is worth signing him short term.

MPS - Horcoff - Cogliano: This is the defacto "shutdown line" but it is also one of the fastest lines in the NHL. MPS is the most ready to play in the NHL right now out of all the prospects. and when this might lead for him to be slotted in the top 6. I think he would be better utilized on the 3rd. The reason for this is because of his blazing speed and the fact that he has been developing in one of the most defensive leagues in the world. I think he will bring a little bit of natural abillity to be defensive. His speed and abillity to break away from the play will make him a much needed punch for the 3rd line. Horcoff, we all know what he can bring. He is best used in a shutdown role with a little bit of offense. No more big minutes and giant role for the guy and he may very well be able to win some fans back. He has the abillity to pot some "sniper esc" goals while being a solid two way player. Not much needs to be said about him, we all know what he has in the toolbox. Cogliano is the wild card here. He has the speed to be a very good 2 way player and he even has the stick skills to be a shutdown type player. The key is for him to embrace the role. He must realize that he has been passed on the depth chart and its time to hone other skills before he gets left on the wayside. I think he is build perfectly for this role, especially with that specific line. If he can bring some defensive qualities and still pot a few goals I will be very happy with his staying power on this team. All together, this line is all about speed and a sneak attack. every one of those players can break from the play, and if they develop the chemistry I think CAN be developed with those particular skillsets they could be a very effective line.\

Jones - Pouliot - Stortini: There is one glaring problem with this line, nobody can take a faceoff. I have Pisani as the 13th forward but I dont think he fares all that well as a center either. I like Jones and I like Stortini, I think Pouliot is a servicable center, but really can be replaced easy enough. especially if they are able to get a hold of a player that can take faceoffs AND be a solid PK'er. (If thats the case there is no real reason to keep Pisani either and they can cheapen up the forwards by letting him go)

Whitney - Gilbert: What can I say? these two have shown that they are more than capable of hoding their own as the top Pairing. They have an ability to move the puck up ice very well, and Whitney shows that calm poise that the defence has been lacking for a while now. These two have been dynamite since the trade and I see no reason to pull them off the top pairing.

Smid - Souray: First, I really dont think Souray will be here anyway next year, but due to the current contract and the fact that they were unable to unload him at the deadline, I think he will at the very least start the season on the blueline. I think he will benefit from having some reduced minutes, and he may even be able to help Smid along in his own development. Smid on the other hand may not be completely due as a second pairing defenceman and Johnson may very well take him over in that position, but he does bring some toughness and I think he would be a good compliment for Souray on that line. They wouldnt eat too many minutes together, but it would be an upgrade for Smid and I think that will go a long way for him to taking a more "shutdown" role later with this team.\

Johnson - Peckham:  These guys are both very green. I can see Johnson taking over for Smid at some point in the season, but at the moment I think it would be best for him to take a backseat and learn more before jumping up in the lineup. e brings a little offence and alot of jump. Peckham has that much needed jam the team needs on the back end. He also brings a little bit of the "crazy" element. He has had a couple of bad years due to injury, but I think he has the ability to fit in right away and grow with the team as it goes through this transition time. Smid and Peckham could make a very good tough line should Johnson make that jump, so its not like Peckham will be stuck with an odd match should the lines get juggled. Arsene is in the mix too. I like how he plays but he has a ways to go before he can be relied upon to be an honest presence out there. But again, thats what training camo is for. Some guys suddenly get a clue and change over the offseason and if thats the case the Oilers have even more choices to make going forward.

So here it is. I think that there will be a lot of growing pains moving forward, and there will be changes that have to be made before this team can call itself elite, but this is a good lineup moving forward. By the end of next season they should know exactly what they have and will feel comfortable making whatever moves need to be made to move forward yet again. This is rebuilding at its finest. If done right, they could be the next Chigago. I for one am excited to see what will come of a good house cleaning. 

Until next time

A Franchise Record

Wow,

So the Oilers go out and break a record. They have never in franchise history gone out and won 5 in a row on the road. Yet in a season where it appears that all is lost very early, they pull it off. Crazy! Now the one thing to keep in mind is that they werent exactly facing the elite teams out there. And when they come home for the game on Tuesday, they are gong to have their hands full with the Kings. Although not an ELITE team, the LA Kings have been considerably better this year, and have the ability to win games against even red hot teams.

If the Oilers want to keep the streak alive the first thing they have to do is make sure they DO NOT underestimate their opponent.They have to go in understanding that if they start making mistakes the Kings are going to walk all over them. The Oilers are still going through some hardships with injuries, and they have to keep the game simple. Forecheck hard, Hit everything in sight, and above all else, get pucks to the net. No fancy dancy plays, Just keep it simple.

I am really liking Stone back in the lineup. It makes no sense, a player that wouldnt make most teams this year, and isnt exactly puting up big numbers, is haveing a HUGE impact on the team. Maybe its his style that rubs off on the rest of the team. Maybe its the fact that his game is as simple as it gets. Or maybe its just blind luck. But whatever the case, Keep It Up!

Well, I for one am looking forward to see just how far this team can go. Is it possible that they actually make it back into playoff contention? And if they do, can they actually keep the spot?

Only time will tell.

Where is this team heading?

As the title suggests I want to look at the direction this team is heading in. Other than the apparent downward spiral of injuries... what is the excuse for the way they have been playing? I have looked at as many factors as I can imagine, and the only thing that sticks out for me is that the team has lost something. Confidence is one thing for sure. ALL the players seem to be honestly lacking in any confidence. Another that I want to touch on is the "head for the game"

A little tricky to define, but a factor non the less. One incindent that caught my eye recently was Hemsky getting creamed into the boards and losing the rest of the year. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!! Lets be completely clear, it WAS Hemsky's fault. Dont they teach you from midget up, that it is up to you to protect yourself? Screw this idea that you can take advantage of the rules and make yourself vulnerable to draw the penalty. And not only is this Hemsky's fault, but Quinns aswell. Oh I'm well aware he wasnt out there making the hit, but he sure the hell hasnt been teaching his boys about protecting themselves either. How many injuries have there been this year? How many man games lost to injury? Thanks to James Mirtle we have THAT answer. Now I ask....how many of those injuries could have been prevented if they were taught a system that allowed them to protect themselves better? Speed and puck pressure is a great way to play the game, I am well aware. I have been openly glowing about the new system put in place. BUT there has to be a balance. There are too many peewee players on this team to be reckless in the way they approach the game.
Quinn is getting no help from Tambellini in regards to bigger stronger players. So it is up to him to create a system that reflects the players he has to work with. That "speed and puck pressure" style suits them, but it can also be a detriment if those same players are putting themselves in a position that makes them vulnerable. I think instead of "team meetings" Quinn should be working on the aspect of "head games" And dont just tell them "keep your head up" Start showing them HOW to protect themselves against the bigger stronger players of todays game.

Stauffer made a comment a season or two ago, in regards to Smid getting run by Boogard. He said that "the next time the "boogyman" comes a runnin, you put your stick out and hit him right in the teeth." Yup, there would be a penalty, probably a suspension and everyone would think there may be a bit of a "dirty" streak in you. But by god they would think twice about making a run at you.

This team needs an edge, NOT another enforcer. It needs a way to protect itself from being run,and they need to develope a strategy for playing the puck while being safe. Now I dont suggest they go out and start running others or being flat out dirty. But I AM saying that they need to find that balance. They need to send a message that they arent going to be pushed around, and they HAVE to play with that swagger. Penner is a prime example. This year he has shown that his big frame isnt going to be pushed off the puck easy. The change from last year (since he didnt exactly put MORE weight on) was attitude. There is an air of entitlement when he is out there. The rest of the team needs to take notice and start stepping it up. No more backing off whenever they are touched, and start playing with the mind to protecting themselves.

The skill is strong, but the mind is weak. Time to change that Quinn....it's all on you!