Get Old Man Smyth to retire and help Eakins behind the bench.

Was a great leader for the Oil, all heart, but he looks done IMO.
- Byfuglien Ate Me

I'm a year older than Old man Smyth

Welcome back, Ryan! I've missed your blogs. The Sharks boards are far less exciting without you.

I'm a year older than Old man Smyth


- PeterThePuck

Don't break a hip going down the stairs.

welcome back, ryan

after mulling over the rajala fiasco I've realized they were sort of painted in to a corner. Rajala was getting money in Europe that he wouldn't have gotten anywhere in NA, so trading was likely off the table. They could retain his rights, but that's just wasting a contract space. Not much they could have done. The finger should be pointed at Rajala for being a greedy wiener, not MacT

Gotta make you wonder if guys like Lander, Marincin, Gernat, (worst case scenario) even Klefbom could flee.

Harti, Omark, Rajala. Those were 3 pretty good players and left because of staying in the minors to develop.

welcome back, ryan

after mulling over the rajala fiasco I've realized they were sort of painted in to a corner. Rajala was getting money in Europe that he wouldn't have gotten anywhere in NA, so trading was likely off the table. They could retain his rights, but that's just wasting a contract space. Not much they could have done. The finger should be pointed at Rajala for being a greedy wiener, not MacT
- TheNugeIsHuge

I think one could point it at Tambo, but more info would be needed.

Gotta make you wonder if guys like Lander, Marincin, Gernat, (worst case scenario) even Klefbom could flee.

Harti, Omark, Rajala. Those were 3 pretty good players and left because of staying in the minors to develop.
- TheNugeIsHuge

Meh, those 3 that left were borderline NHLers that proved themselves in lessor leagues. Not like they were major loses to the club.

We still have time with Lander, Marincin, Gernat, Klefbom etc..

Great blog. Welcome aboard... Hopefully not the Andrea Gail.

Simply put, losing Rajala sucks. He was, without doubt, one of our best prospects. Losing him, Harti, and tragically Kristians Pelss hurts our prospect depth incredibly.

All three were players that for some reason I had that gut feeling could make the NHL and stick.

Generally speaking the Oilers have been considered to have one of the best prospect pools in the NHL for awhile now. Once Yak and Shultz are officially taken off the prospects list we will drop right near the bottom I am thinking.

Our defensive prospects are still strong but after that... nothing.

The Oilers have really gone with a high risk high reward style of drafting. With our Europeans leaving in droves and our Russians a long shot at best I can't help but feel we are in some serious trouble on the prospect front.

Losing Rajala hurts short term and long term but hopefully the spot will open up opportunities for guys like Pitlick.

Also a bit ironic that Rajala was pissed about Stockton and probably had a large part in why the Oilers switched to Bakersfield. Then he just ups and leaves. Blah.

Meh, those 3 that left were borderline NHLers that proved themselves in lessor leagues. Not like they were major loses to the club.

We still have time with Lander, Marincin, Gernat, Klefbom etc..
- Lahey

Hartikainen's an upgrade on 3LW IMO. Omark and Rajala could become top 6Fs somewhere eventually. I mean Omark proved himself in the KHL, SEL, AHL, Swiss league.

Anyway. 3 pretty good players lost to Europe. Gotta think unless Lander wants nothing in his life more than to play in the NHL, there's a good chance he could flee if he's sent down. Same could happen for Marincin or Gernat. Klefbom, Nurse ahead of them on the LHD prospect list. Smid, Ference, Belov, Grebeshkov, N Schultz all on the left side right now.

People criticize EDM's drafting in the late rounds, but there were some pretty good prospects that fled and one that unfortunately died.

Pelss, Hartikainen, Omark, Rajala. I could seriously see Gernat being next

Generally speaking the Oilers have been considered to have one of the best prospect pools in the NHL for awhile now. Once Yak and Shultz are officially taken off the prospects list we will drop right near the bottom I am thinking.

Our defensive prospects are still strong but after that... nothing.

.
- Aerchon

I'm not sure what people should exactly expect though. Of our last 7 1st rounders, 4 are on the club, one was dealt for a top 6 proven forward, 1 was just drafted 3 months ago and the other is going to fight for a spot on the defense this year.

When the majority of your 1st rounders aren't in your prospect pool and are in the NHL you are going to have a week overall prospect pool. We don't need high end offensive talent in the prospect pool anymore, it wouldn't hurt but given our NHL roster that isn't the need.

If Green can do his job and lure one of the top college prospects and some others we will quickly re-stock our prospect pool.

Solid blog.

Good to see the faithful Oiler fans with a quality writer/blogger they so deserve.

Hartikainen's an upgrade on 3LW IMO. Omark and Rajala could become top 6Fs somewhere eventually. I mean Omark proved himself in the KHL, SEL, AHL, Swiss league.

Anyway. 3 pretty good players lost to Europe. Gotta think unless Lander wants nothing in his life more than to play in the NHL, there's a good chance he could flee if he's sent down. Same could happen for Marincin or Gernat. Klefbom, Nurse ahead of them on the LHD prospect list. Smid, Ference, Belov, Grebeshkov, N Schultz all on the left side right now.
- TheNugeIsHuge

That means nothing at all to me. Apparently most GM's are thinking the same. No one ever steps up and offers a pick for the guy.

They just aren't hard to replace. Harti does really nothing, plays with the puck behind the net but does nothing with it. At least when Laraque did that he'd score from time to time, that and he'd fight.

It's also worth mentioning that MacT said not one NHL team was willing to give Harti's agent a one-way deal, so it really shows you how good of a player he was.

People criticize EDM's drafting in the late rounds, but there were some pretty good prospects that fled and one that unfortunately died.

Pelss, Hartikainen, Omark, Rajala. I could seriously see Gernat being next
- TheNugeIsHuge

Sign Gernat to a contract and he can't go.

Rumor is he wanted out of his contract so he would be free to play elsewhere..hearing Europe.

Ryan Garner: Rajala Swallowed Up By The Perfect Storm
- Ryan Garner

First.

And welcome.

I didn't read it all, but I noticed that the paragraphs were not too big, and not too small -- This was fairly consistent throughout the entire blog, so I appreciate that. Also, I noticed that there were many words, and if you wish to be a blogger, words are one of the most important thing you can add to a blog -- So 2 for 2 so far. Additionally, your first blog title had "swallowed" in the title... You sir, just went 3 for 3. Good job... I look forward to winning your heart in the future.

Sign Gernat to a contract and he can't go.
- Lahey

rajala was under contract, no?

Welcome back, Ryan! I've missed your blogs. The Sharks boards are far less exciting without you.
- micah555

I can't believe that massive guy in your avatar died from a small scrape... That's it I suppose... No matter how big you are, infections will get ya.

That means nothing at all to me. Apparently most GM's are thinking the same. No one ever steps up and offers a pick for the guy.

They just aren't hard to replace. Harti does really nothing, plays with the puck behind the net but does nothing with it. At least when Laraque did that he'd score from time to time, that and he'd fight.

It's also worth mentioning that MacT said not one NHL team was willing to give Harti's agent a one-way deal, so it really shows you how good of a player he was.
- Lahey

if Joensuu was given a 1 way deal, then Harti should have been given a 1 way deal. 13P in 52 career games is better than what Joensuu has done. Harti was great at the grind game and it's worth noting that part of his lack of production came from playing with Vandevelde or Belanger during the 13 game stretch horc was out

I see Omark eventually making his way back to the NHL

Gotta make you wonder if guys like Lander, Marincin, Gernat, (worst case scenario) even Klefbom could flee.

Harti, Omark, Rajala. Those were 3 pretty good players and left because of staying in the minors to develop.
- TheNugeIsHuge

I can understand Omark and Rajala... I think they should have made a commitment to Harti.

rajala was under contract, no?
- TheNugeIsHuge

Sure, but we could've forced him to stay here. Fact is MacT didn't see a NHLer in Rajala. The rest of the league also thought so highly of him that no one offered anything for the kid. Maybe someone takes him on waivers, but the fact still remains he is a longshot.

If Gernat shows he has value the Oilers will keep him.

if Joensuu was given a 1 way deal, then Harti should have been given a 1 way deal. 13P in 52 career games is better than what Joensuu has done. Harti was great at the grind game and it's worth noting that part of his lack of production came from playing with Vandevelde or Belanger during the 13 game stretch horc was out

I see Omark eventually making his way back to the NHL
- TheNugeIsHuge

Harti did nothing with the skilled players as well.

I wouldn't doubt Omark coming back eventually, but he won't last long.

I can understand Omark and Rajala... I think they should have made a commitment to Harti.
- laughs2907

Door is still open for Harti, he realizes his game needs work if he wants to be an everyday NHLer.

Sure, but we could've forced him to stay here. Fact is MacT didn't see a NHLer in Rajala. The rest of the league also thought so highly of him that no one offered anything for the kid. Maybe someone takes him on waivers, but the fact still remains he is a longshot.

If Gernat shows he has value the Oilers will keep him.
- Lahey

can players under contract only flee to the KHL? i.e. Radulov?

I think MacT didn't see Rajala as an NHLer this year. Which is why he didn't offer him a 1-way. Could sure as hell be a regular somewhere down the road.

Good read, very entertaining.