How goes it? Follow me on Twitter because you know you want to: @rdcloutier
It's Wednesday, so here comes another edition of Randoms. Basically it's me moaning about various subjects in point form, which is easier than me trying to write a real blog.
- I'll start by thanking you for your response to my last blog. How I do love chaos and disorder.
- Jaromir Jagr signing a one-year deal with the Devils...Why? This isn't a playoff team, especially with no Kovalchuk. Jagr is doing the Devils a favor though: Once it's trade deadline time and the team is completely out of the race, they can deal Jagr as a rental to a cup contending team for something like a 2nd round pick. Jagr is a difference maker...Look at the job he did for the Bruins. There will be teams willing to trade for him, so the Devils win even if they don't win. I suppose Jagr wins too, because he gets $4mil and a deal to a cup contender when the time is right. He'll likely even get to choose where he goes. What's nicer than that?
- Someone on my Twitter page sent a note suggesting Ales Hemsky could end up going to the Devils because he and Jagr are buddies. Maybe. I think the Oilers have several offers for Hemsky, it's just the return is awful and completely pointless. They could hang onto him, play him hoping he'll put up good numbers, and then deal him at the deadline for more than they're being offered now. That's the BCS. The WCS? Hemsky gets hurt and the Oilers get absolutely nothing for him, other than him being a huge distraction all season. Call it the "Roberto Luongo Effect".
- Seriously though, those Copper 'n' Blue guys have treated me like garbage for the last four years. Not sure why. Actually, I know why but I'm not going to put it in here because it will make me sound like the most conceited guy in history. I bet their page got an extra 1,000 hits thanks to my blog. There's no such thing as bad publicity.
- Note to Iggysbff, who continues to send me emails telling me to quit the site because I suck and nobody likes me: You may be right. I may be crazy. But it just might be a lunatic you're looking for.
- I'm surprised how little talk there is coming from Oilers-type media regarding any other potential moves this summer. Maybe MacT was right, and he's done? Where I get confused is, the Oilers still have no 3rd line wingers. At some point during the season, the opposition is going to notice.
- Randy!
- Trade Wars between Travis Yost and I has been epic so far. EPIC. God love the man, he sure can write. Eklund or Eric or someone who runs this show, can you make us a Trade Wars graphic to use on the blogs, please? It would be cool, especially if the logo looked like an original Star Wars logo in gold with the universe in the background. Thanks!
- I did something I shouldn't have done yesterday: I looked up all the teams in the Pacific Division. Ummm, I don't like the Oilers chances next season. The Flames are terrible, so they're no threat. And the Coyotes SHOULD be worse than the Oilers. You'd think. But after that? Canucks are better, Kings are better, Sharks are better, Ducks are better...Sigh. Another year with no playoff hockey...
- I say that, but if you listen to Oilers fans right now, there is plenty of optimism. That's going to be a problem. I mean, IF MacT finds two 3rd line wingers with size who can play two-way and bang, and IF MacT makes some sort of package to bring in a top pairing left-side defenseman without dealing away any of the core...then the Oilers have a shot. The only real difference quality-wise between the Oilers and most other "good" teams is three players. It makes me feel happy, and it should make fans feel happy, but it won't. Tolerance for this non-playoff business is completely exhausted.
- Lots of questions continue to swirl about whether or not Anton Lander is good enough to be the 4th line center. I don't understand them.
- The Oilers, after the Gagner signing, is dangerously near the cap ceiling. A defenseman who makes a decent amount of money needs to go if Ales Hemsky stays. Think about that. It might be in the best interest of the team to deal Hemsky for anything, just to get rid of the cap hit. Hey, not everything works out the way you want it to.
- Still trying to wrap my head around the Bobby Ryan trade. Ottawa absolutely fleeced the Ducks.
- I keep reading speculation about Hemsky going to Nashville, but I can't figure out why. It's like that Drew Stafford trade we`ve waited years for. Speculation folks. That`s it.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»