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Hordi Chucked; Leafs Raked; Smyth Miffed |
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A bunch of randoms for you tonight...
Hordichuk Waived
The Oilers placed Darcy Hordichuk on waivers on Monday. Considering a player is on waivers for a 24 hour period, Hordichuk has time to take 720 unnecessary penalties in the offensive zone while waiting to find out what happens to him. Why the Oilers re-signed this guy is anyone's guess.
The 23-man roster thing is the issue here. I'm guessing the Oilers want to bring someone else up, and they can't until someone else goes down. Maybe it's Chris Vandevelde, or maybe it's Theo Peckham, who's been in the AHL on a conditioning stint. I'm guessing the Oilers are begging for someone to grab Hordichuk from them on waivers, but I'm not confident it will happen. Hordichuk might be a nice guy, but he doesn't belong in the NHL.
Oilers/Leafs Deal in the Works?
The Fourth Period Magazine reported on Monday evening that Oilers scouts have attended the last several Leafs games. Hmmm...So who are we looking at, boys?
As usual when I hear this sort of stuff, I offer an opinion. Because obviously, Oilers scouts wouldn't be there to prepare for a game. Oilers...Leafs...different conferences. Won't face each other unless it's the cup finals (and, as if that's gonna happen). Okay, names...
Tyler Bozak - Obviously the idea here is for the Oilers to acquire their long-term 3rd line center answer. Bozak is set to become a UFA this summer, so you'd think the Leafs would give him away. Nope. Bozak might be their best all-around player. I'm not sure why the Leafs haven't re-signed him yet, to be honest. Maybe he doesn't wanna?
Nikolai Kulemin - Big Russian forward who has forgotten how to score goals. The only way dealing for him makes sense is if the Oilers plan on shifting Ales Hemsky. While Kulemin would be a bigger option (and the Oilers need size), Kulemin for Hemsky makes the Oilers worse, not better. Nail might like having a countryman around, though.
Phil Kessel - Don't even think it. Dear God no.
Cody Franson - The Oilers have liked this guy for years, so no surprise his name has come up. But the problem here is, he's right handed. The Oilers really don't need another right handed defenseman. Franson's work ethic has been questionable before, so they might not want him for that reason either.
Dion Phaneuf - Here's another name I've mentioned before. I think Phaneuf is a great hockey player, but most people hate him and would punch themselves in the face if he became an Oiler. I don't see the bad side of Phaneuf when I consider him. I see a big, physical defenseman with a huge shot who use to play with emotion when he was a member of the Calgary Flames. The good news in acquiring Phaneuf would be he's a contract dump for the Leafs (low asking price in a trade), and he'd be a tremendous partner for Justin Schultz on the top pairing. The down side? That $6.5mil per season cap hit, and the legendary Phaneuf "swagger". The type of guy who could completely destroy the chemistry in the dressing room if he wanted to. A risky player to bring in, and Steve Tambellini doesn't like taking risks.
James Reimer - He's playing really well right now, so the scouts are getting a show if they're in TO to see him. If Reimer was dealt, it would be so the Leafs make room for Roberto Luongo. Good for the Oilers, who would have a powerful 1-2 punch in net with Reimer and Dubnyk. Not sure what the asking price would be, but it might be more than we'd like.
Colton Orr - Maybe the demotion of Hordichuk indicates the Oilers want a different tough guy? I think Orr is brutal and pointless, but some teams still cling to this illusion that having someone who is only there to fight is has relevance in the modern NHL.
If I had to pick an option...I know I'm alone on this, but I'd want Phaneuf. Actually, Bozak is the right answer, but I can't see why the Leafs would deal him unless they know he won't re-sign with them. Bozak is an excellent player. Phaneuf, on the other hand, is a player whom the Leafs definitely would want to unload if possible. Perhaps you have something like Ryan Whitney and a 2nd round pick going back in return? Look at it this way: If Phaneuf disappoints, he's only here for the rest of this season and next. If he turns back into the Dion that was a Flame, the Oilers are laughing all the way to the playoffs.
Smyth Miffed
Rumors flying all over the net on Monday that Ryan Smyth is extremely unhappy with his recent demotion to the fourth line. His level of play suggests something is seriously wrong in Smyth's world.
Okay, I'll talk about something I likely shouldn't. What the hell.
I heard plenty of talk last season that Smyth wasn't exactly the hero everyone made him out to be. When he returned to the Oilers, I think he expected to take over as leader. Some people actually believe their own hype. It hasn't happened.
As everyone knows, Oilers management had a number of attitude issues they felt they needed to clear out a few years ago (Moreau, Souray, Smith)...I've heard a number of times that Shawn Horcoff was also a player with a bad attitude (and no one seems to realize it) and the Oilers have been trying for a few years to move him, but no one will take him. Smyth was dealt more or less to teach him a lesson, even though Kevin Lowe knew the entire fan base would be furious with him over it...so what does that tell you?
The Oilers brought Smyth back because the fans wanted him. Smyth wanted to come back for "personal" reasons...use your imagination...Once he returned, he found out in a hurry that the guard has changed on the team. Shawn Horcoff effectively stopped being the Captain last season when Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle became annoyed at Horcoff's nonchalant attitude towards winning and losing.
Oilers management were not prepared to strip Horcoff of the "C" because doing so would look terrible publicly...but it's absolutely no secret that he will be bought out at the end of the season, not only so the Oilers can rid themselves of his cap hit, but also so they can rid themselves of a leadership issue that exists. I'm starting to think the 2nd compliance buyout will be used on Ryan Smyth, because his game and his attitude stink. The wonderkids don't need to be around players who care more about complaining than what line they are on or if they are winning.
Oilers/Stars on Tuesday evening. If a trade happens before that, you'll see a blog from me.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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