My Oil Country

Brian Burke has continually and mercilessly ripped Kevin Lowe since last summer, when KLowe infamously signed RFA Dustin Penner to an offer sheet worth 4.25 mil a season.  Finally, KLowe fought back yesterday. 

Earlier this week, Burke spouted off in the media that Lowe had "eliminated the second contract" and was responsible for driving up NHL salaries.  KLowe responded with some harsh words for Burke on the Team 1260 yesterday.  Lowe called Burke a "moron" and also said that Burke left the Canucks in shambles when he left Vancouver (which I completely agree with, but that is a post for a different day).  Check out David Staples' Cult of Hockey to read more.

Here is a link to the complete interview for those who are interested: Lowe Rips Burke Team 1260 Interview

I am happy as hell to see Lowe stand up for himself.  Sure, he said a couple of things that were kind of harsh (ie. Bobby Ryan comments), but all in all, most of what was said is the truth.  Lowe has done a pretty good job containing himself for a whole year.  He and the Oilers have been consistently ripped by Burke in the media (ie. Lowe is a desperate GM trying to save his job; Lowe has run the team into the sewer; etc etc.).  It is nice to see KLowe fire back with such swagger and vigour.  Burke is nothing but an overflated blow hard, who likes to hear the sound of his own voice.

The Penner signing was a great move by Lowe, one that began the rebuilding process in Edmonton, and sent a message to the Oiler fans, the NHLPA, and the NHL that the Oilers were ready for business, and would do what it takes to win, even if it meant ruffling some feathers.

Burke should be mad at himself.  The Penner signing wasn't made until he had handcuffed himself by signing Todd Bertuzzi to a stupid contract.  Burke had seen the Vanek offer sheet earlier in the summer, and he should have protected his asset more effectively, instead of signing an over the hill and contreversial player like Todd Bertuzzi.  Brian Burke has only himself to blame for losing Penner - he misread the marketplace last summer, and was cocky after winning the Stanley Cup.

My favorite Lowe comment from the interview is the one about his rings: "He won a Stanley Cup? Great. I've won six Stanley Cups, you want to count rings? Who cares, it's just a little pathetic that he carries on." 

Burke is crap.  I really hope for the sake of all Leaf fans out there that he doesn't end up being your GM.  He is surely overrated.  I also loved KLowe's comment that Burke is "like the Wizard of Oz.  You pull the curtains away and there isn't much substance."

It is so nice to see Lowe stand up for himself, the team, and the city.  Good for you, Kevin!  You have made some great trades this off season, and clearly out performed some of the other GM's in the league.  We may have been rebuffed by Hossa and Jagr, but the NHL now knows that the Oilers are for real.  I guarantee that a superstar will sign in Edmonton in the next 2-3 years because of the ballsy work done by Lowe last summer and this summer.  He wants a contending team, and he is going to get us one, even if it takes a year or two longer.  Gaborik is UFA next summer folks!  Wouldn't he look good in Oiler silks? 

Update:

After reading a few more stories on this subject, I decided to check out KLowe's claim that the Ducks "don't have much coming."  That is very true.  The Ducks only have 8 NHL calibre players under contract in 09-10 (Getzlaf, Perry, Kunitz, Ryan, Carter, Pronger, Giguere, and Hiller), and not a lot coming from the minors - for the small cost of $31.8 mil.  The entire organization only has 14 players under contract in the following year!!!

Chris Pronger is currently the only NHL defenseman under contract for the Ducks in 09-10 - holy lack of experience after this season.  They don't have a single high calibre D-man signed past 10-11 - not even one!  The Ducks have 12 UFA's next summer. 

Burke had better stop worrying about Lowe and start restocking his cupboard, because it is pretty bare after this season.  Check out the Ducks Salary Structure.

This guy has a ton of work to do, but he'll probably just jump ship next summer to another team (***cough cough…. Leafs, cough***), and leave a huge mess for someone else to clean up there, too. 

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Wow - the Oilers start the day off with a bang!  After acquiring Visnovsky on Sunday, the Oilers have continued their moving and shaking by pulling off 2 trades already on UFA day.

Raffi Torres has been dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets for local product Gilbert Brule.

Joni Pitkanen has also been traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for Erik Cole.

Check out the Edmonton Journal for more details!

I like the Brule deal - the Oilers get some great potential, and unload Torres' contract.  I do love Raffi Torres, though, and I will miss his hard hitting style.  Just ask Milan Michalek and Jason Williams about Torres' shoulder…

I am not so sure on the Erik Cole deal.  Cole is a UFA next summer, and if an extension is not signed to remain in Edmonton, the team has essentially lost Joni for a one season rental.  Risky puck business, IMHO.

Eklund also has us talking to the Sens for Spezza, but I don't see this happening unless Cogliano or Gagner is going back the other way, which would be a bad trade, IMO.  Eklund does not have a great track record with the Oilers (re: Smyth resigns and Nylander an Oiler), so I certainly would not bank on seeing Spezza in the copper and blue.  He has also reported that Huselius is speaking to the Oilers - ugh - Huselius is a pretty skilled player, but an ex-Flame as of yesterday, and I would rather see Gagner and Cogliano get ice time before a player like Huselius.  If it were Hossa, it would be a different story.  

Speaking of Hossa, various sources also report that the Oilers are pushing for him hard, including 630 Ched.  TSN's Ryan Rishaug has reported that the Oilers are the chief contender for his services, and Hossa has decided to have a good night's rest tonight and make a decision by tomorrow or Thursday.  Apparently an unnamed Oilers forward made a call to Hossa on behalf of the organization and the city.  Very classy indeed - some believe the player was Hemsky, although that has not been confirmed. 

Sounds to me like KLowe still has several different 'irons in the fire', and business is certainly not yet finished.

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The Oilers have selected Jordan Eberle of the Regina Pats with the 22nd pick in the draft this evening.  Eberle is a long time Oilers fan, and looked genuinely thrilled to be selected by his team.  Last season, Eberle scored 42 goals for the Pats in 70 games.  He added 33 assists for 75 points.  Most scouts describe Eberle as an elusive and slippery player, with the ability to find the middle of the ice to score with a decptive wrist shot.

That sounds pretty damn good to me. 

There was a record amount of trades in the first round this year at 13.  The Oilers were inactive on the trade front today, but the rest of the draft is tomorrow and KLowe could swing a deal or two.  Eklund even has the Oilers after Jason Spezza.  Brian Murray dispelled any rumours regarding Spezza in an interview with James Duthie on TSN, however. 

The Oilers were also widely believed to be pursuing Mike Cammalleri, but he was scooped up by Darryl Sutter and the Red Menace in Calgary in a 3 way trade with LA and Anaheim.  Sutter also moved Alex Tanguay to Montreal for the 25th pick.

It is still believed that KLowe is considering moving Joni Pitkanen, Jarret Stoll, or Raffi Torres.  Rumours also continue to swirl around Thomas Steen of the Maple Leafs, who we all know KLowe has coveted in the past (he was included in a potential deal during Prongergate).  Tomorrow is a big day for the Oilers - they could possibly move bodies for picks, or make that 3 for 1 swap that Lowe has mentioned in the past couple of weeks.

I love this time of year!

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So, the annual NHL entry draft is in 2 days.  There is some speculation regarding the Oilers all over the net right now.

Here are some links:

- Eklund has the Oilers possibly dealing Pitkanen to Carolina.

- This has also been reported by Darren Dreger of TSN

As we all know, Pitkanen is an RFA and KLowe is worried that he may not be able to get the young Dman signed at a reasonable price.  With the emergece of Tom Gilbert and Dennis Grebeskhov last season, and Sheldon Souray's big contract, Pitkanen may be tradeable.

There is also a cool article on the Oilers website about the scouting process. 

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OK, so this is an Oilers site, but I am a hockey fan in general, and I love AO, so here is a great vid of a recent AO interview!  The following video is an interview done by George Stroumbolopolous on The Hour with Ovechkin, who we all know won the Hart and Art Ross trophies this season.  Enjoy!

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The Oilers have traded Danny Syvret to the Philadelphia Flyers for Ryan Potulny, as Sportsnet has reported.

I am happy for Syvret, because he is a good kid and will get another shot with the Flyers organization.  With the recent signing of Jan Hrabel, and the emergence of several young defensive prospects such as Chorney, Petry, and Peckham; Syvret didn't play into Edmonton's future plans.

Check out Ryan Potulny's career so far at Hockey's Future.

Ironically, Potulny was selected by the Flyers with the pick that was traded to them in the Jiri Dopita deal.  I think this is a good trade and it will create further competition between the up and comer forwards.  It may also make some forwards expendable.  Look for KLowe to make some kind of a deal in the coming weeks.  The draft is now only 15 days away, and KLowe is always busy this time of year.  If he can unload some of the log jam in the Oilers forward ranks, he will.

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I kind of fell off the map with posting on My Oil Country.  Sorry.

I am now back with a renewed resolve to post more throughout the off season and into next year.  As we all know, the Oilers finished the 07/08 season very strong.  The Tarnstrom trade brought in Glencross, who became an instant fan fav and seemed to boost the entire team.  We all know how it went.

Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal suggests today that Ryan Clowe would be a good fit for the Oilers and could be a target of an RFA offersheet.  Check it out HERE.

Also, I wanted to point out that the NHL might finally be getting the marketing side of the business right.  Check out this commercial from the NHL.  I love it.  It sends shivers down my spine and makes me remember the outdoor rink after school when I was a kid.

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The Oilers injury woes continue as Shawn Horcoff is done for the season with a shoulder problem.  Stupid All Star Game!

Source article from Edmonton Oilers.com.

I would say that this pretty much guarantees the Oilers status as sellers at the upcoming trade deadline.  I already believed that the playoffs were out of reach before Horcoff went down.  Now it is just a matter of time and math.

I believe that Roloson, Staios, and Stoll have the potential to be dealt at this year's deadline.  Don't be surprised to see any of the above three mentioned in trade rumours in the coming weeks.

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Dick Tarnstrom to Columbus for Curtis Glencross.  See more details at Edmonton Oilers.com.

Glencross is a 25 year old rookie who has 12 points on the season.  This looks like a salary dump to me.  Is it possible that KLowe is just getting started?

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So Shawn Horcoff won the fastest player competition this past weekend at the All Star game.  Congrats to him, as he deserves some recognition due to his diligent efforts over the course of his career on every aspect of his game.  David Staples suggests on his 'Cult of Hockey' blog that the Oilers should try and lock Horc up now, instead of letting him hit the UFA market after next season.  I completely agree.  Look at the ridiculous contracts signed by the likes of Scott Gomez and Chris Drury last summer; both comparable players to Horcoff.

Horcoff is every bit as good as Gomez, and more consistent than Drury, IMO.  He will command up to 7-8 million a season once he gets to UFA status, as long as the cap goes up as many predict it will.  Drury and Gomez got 10 million, and Horc fits their mould, just on a smaller stage in Edmonton.  KLowe has some serious considerations to make over the next year.  Should he commit big dollars to Horc now?  What if Cogliano and Gagner turn into true 'supah stars' and demand huge cash, but it has already been committed to Horc?

I think KLowe should start throwing some 'irons in the fire' now with regard to Horcoff's contract status.  It is well known that Horc loves Edmonton, so perhaps trying to get him signed now for cheap is an option?  Horcoff wants to win very badly, and wants to do it in an Oiler jersey.  And this blogger wants to see that happen.

The Oilers play the Sharks tonight at Rexall Place for the second time this season.  The Oil are 5 points out of a playoff spot right now, but several teams ahead of them have valuable games at hand.  The Sharks are tied with Dallas right now with 61 points, despite some of their offensive stars struggling this season.  Joe Thornton has been one of the only bright spots.

Thornton does lead the NHL with 45 assists, but some of the other Sharks have been more like goldfish this season.  Cheechoo only has 9 goals so far this season, and Marleau is a NHL second worst -20.  They have shown some life recently, however.  Evgeni Nabokov has started 48 of the 49 Shark games this season - he was phenomenal in the All Star game this past weekend, but how long can he keep it up before fatigue sets in?

Let's hope that Nabokov is tired tonight, as the Oilers desperately need to win.  The playoff hopes for the team are fading very quickly.

We'll see how the Oilers respond after a few days off.  My guess is that Horcoff, Hemsky, and Penner will be chomping at the bit tonight.  Jarret Stoll should be ready to go as well, after popping those two quick goals to force OT against the Panthers before the break.  Hopefully he will use those two quick goals as a starting point for turning around his season, which has been inconsistent so far. 

Sheldon Souray will not play for the Oilers tonight, as he has tweaked his shoulder again.  Does anyone else think that he should just get surgery done now instead of waiting for the off season?  He is a long term investment for the Oilers, and he could be potentially damaged in the long term to try and get us into the playoffs, which at this point, is a longshot.  I say get the surgery done, and look to next year. 

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