BIG WEEKEND
As if they’re in a High School romance with Nail Yakupov, the Oilers are completely unable to avoid Drama. Whether it be jealous rivals or overbearing parents (agents) trying to meddle in the relationship it just seems like nobody is willing to leave things alone so they can develop naturally. In the event that you missed what unfolded to create this mess, you can read up on it here. Coles notes version is that Yakupov’s agent is heading to Edmonton to talk to the Oilers about Nail’s usage and has publicly stated that he is open to a trade if the Oilers have soured on the young Russian.
Here is what he had to say after practice yesterday.
"I just want to help my team win every game... I love this city and I want to play for this team." - Nail Yakupov pic.twitter.com/nAYPc07jo7
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 12, 2013
He wants ice time and thinks he has deserved more than what he’s getting. Agree or disagree about whether that’s true but I don’t think it’s a bad thing when your players want to play. Yakupov wants the game on his stick. If he didn’t then the Oilers would have a bigger problem.
On Friday the Oilers signed Ilya Bryzgalov and traded away a defenseman despite their own lack of depth and experience at that position, and yet here we are on gameday Wednesday talking about Nail Yakupov. Let’s ignore Yak for a moment if we can and talk about that Smid trade again now that the Oil have played a few games without him. Does anybody still question his value to the team now that Larsen has been elevated to his spot in the pairings? The Oilers are a complete scramble in their own zone and they were exposed often by first a terrible team and then a powerhouse team. When even the Flyers are having their way with you, there’s a problem. When you leave the Blackhawks completely unattended in your own zone, there’s a problem.
The team is undoubtedly worse today than it was on Friday morning, and Eric Tillman has forcefully removed the part of me that is willing to say “There has to be more coming.… No, there does not have to be more coming. MacTavish allowed a depleted club to play the reigning Stanley Cup champions. If he had another deal ready to go he would have made it. Until he does, in fact, make a deal that bolsters the blueline then he may as well have traded Smid for Steven Jyles, a place-kicker, and a CFL 1st. There’s no defending it until MacTavish actually does something to make the team better.
THE CAPTAIN
Former Captain Shawn Horcoff is going to make his return to Edmonton tonight for the first time since the trade that saw him leave to start new in Dallas. Horcoff served as the Oilers Captain from 2010-2013 taking up the duty after Ethan Moreau left the team. Horcoff was an Oiler draft pick who worked his way up the system onto the 4th line and eventually, at the peak of his career, to the 1st line. At his best he was a faceoff winning centerman who put up 73 points in 79 games and helped take the team to within 60 minutes of winning the Stanley Cup. At his worst he was an overpaid center whose faceoff skills were diminishing and whose offense had dried up.
No matter where he was in the arc of his Oiler career, however, he was always considered a Pro’s Pro by his peers. He is a fitness freak who got everything that he has made from hockey through hard work and dedication. Yes, he was overpaid by the Oilers after an almost point per game season was cut short due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. He was never the same after that point and he took a lot of heat from the fans for it. His one-timer disappeared from his arsenal and the Oiler crowds took to booing their Captain.
Now he will come back onto the Rexall ice wearing the Green Dallas sweater. Considering the reception he got when he was wearing Oiler Blue I wouldn’t hold my breath for a classy welcome from the home crowd tonight. I hope to be proven wrong, but the Oilers are so dysfunctional that the crowd may be charged with a very negative energy tonight.
LINEUPS
The Oilers have recalled Potter and sent Fedun back down to OKC. Fedun’s play was pretty solid and he may well take that 6/7 spot in the future. Now it’s Potter’s turn to show what he can do. Can it hurt? Not likely.
Hall Gagner Hemsky Perron RNH Eberle Smyth Arcobello Yakupov Joensuu Gordon Jones
Ference Petry Belov Larsen N. Schultz Potter
Dubnyk
The Stars are 8-7-2 on the season and while their 18 points would put them in playoff position in the East, in the West that’s only good enough for 11th. Seguin and Jamie Benn lead the Stars with 16 points each and Kari Lehtonen sports a 2.18 GAA and .928sv% to lead them in the crease. Despite being 11th in the West, the Stars are not a poor team, they are just behind a number of great teams ahead of them.
Benn Seguin Nichushkin Chiasson Eakin Cole Horcoff Fidler Peverley Roussel Morin Garbutt
Dillon Robidas Goligoski Daley Benn Gonchar
Lehtonen
OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME
1) Know The Plan. I don’t know how we are 20 games in and the team still has no idea what to do when the puck is in their own end. There are 2 defensemen in the corner and nobody covers the front of the net. The puck is deep and the winger is taking off for a breakaway pass. Why are these things still happening? Eakins needs to get the team on the same page and fast.
2) Be Physical. The Oilers re-inserted Joensuu and Perron into the lineup but neither really brought a physical game. Both and the rest of the team needs to bring it tonight. I don’t mean a non-stop hit-fest either, but they do need to show some muscle getting into the corners and into the front of the net.
3) Ignore The Media Circus. Between the losses, the signings, the trades, and the Yakupov situation the hockey world has its eyes on Edmonton. The players need to move past this and just play their game. Get back to winning hockey games and the buzzards will go away.
Puck drops at 8:08PM Mountain time on TSN. Game On!
MOVEMBER UPDATE
I have been shaving since the 7th grade but it’s my chin that’s the real star. My upper lip hair is nowhere near where I want it to be, but it’s not Bearduary, it’s Movember. Check out my progress and donate to support Prostate Cancer initiatives here at www.mobro.co/MattHendersonHB
Follow me on Twitter @Archaeologuy