Welcome to the age of An Oilers Refinery.

The Refinery and Strange Deadfellows Oilerblog have combined to become “An Oilers Refinery.” I hope you enjoy it.

Farewell readers, and see you on the new blog.

Plan the parade route.

Oilers future

Yeah, not being in the playoffs sucks. But there is much to look forward to Oilers fans.I don’t know what it is about Jeff DesLauriers and Theo Peckham, but I am way more excited about their debuts during this season as full-time Oilers than I have been with other prospects in the past. Something about them… makes them more interesting than the Robert Nilssons, Ryan Potulnys, and Dany Sabourins. No offense to them, but there’s something about this Peckham fellow.

Hell, it might just be because they came up through the Oilers system and strutted their stuff. With specific emphasis on DesLauriers, who has endured worse than Dubnyk or Fisher, and has the battle wounds to show it. Peckham is a special player and his intensity is much welcomed. And heck, even Samwise “Gamgee” Gagner is starting to look like a real leader too.

The major change I’d say in the Oilers dynamic over the past few years was from low expectations to high expectations. This started as the Oilers’ cinderella story danced its way to a Game 7 heartbreak in 2006. And yet, its not just the fans who are getting sick of the disappointments with 3 straight seasons out of the playoffs. Heck, even the players are starting to show the frustration too.

The one main difference I see in the younger players coming up is a willingness to play through adversity. Sam Gagner, I was hard on him all season, and now he’s emerged a real leader on the team. Andrew Cogliano, has taken a reduced role to center a third line vacancy and has even asked Shawn Horcoff for help on faceoffs. Theo Peckham, will not backdown from the Evgeni Malkins or the Claude Lemieuxs of the league: save the respect for off-ice situations, please. And don’t forget Jeff DesLauriers, who sat through 36 Dwayne Roloson starts before he had a chance to guard the crease.

I think combined with the players’ higher expectations, a renewed willingness to battle through adversity, and a forward-thinking perspective, the next Oilers season will be much more fun to watch.

A few points to consider for next season:

• There’s no question: Ales Hemsky is a heckuva player. But Ales Hemsky disappears for too long of stretches during the season. The only reason he isn’t given the same doghouse treatment as Dustin Penner is because his name is Ales Hemsky. There’s nobody on the net spreading rumours about his “fatness.” Consider Hemsky’s stats, Penner’s stats, and the fact that one of them has substantial playing time on the PP and one of them has had substantial playing time on the PK, 3rd line, 4th line, and not to discount time in the press box. I suggest the Oilers treating everyone with equality next season. I’ve heard enough about Hemsky’s frustration with linemates and as a fan I’m no longer statisfied with giving Hemksy the preferential treatment. He’s one of my favorite players but he needs to understand that the time is ticking on how long Oilers fans can expect him to become the elite player everyone expects him to be. If it turns out he’s not going to be that guy, then it’s time to turn the team in a new direction. Hemsky is a part of the plan, but making him happy is not the end goal – it should instead be building a team that can win the cup. Does Hemsky really make the players around him better? I’m starting to wonder about the answer to that question.
• Dwayne Roloson played amiably during the stretch run. He will make a great tutor to DesLaurier – but as a backup.
• Under Visnovsky’s tutelage, Taylor Chorney can become a pretty useful defenseman. He is the kind of defenseman who makes smart decisions with the puck but sometimes suffers brain lapses. Right now I think its obvious he’s just getting a taste of NHL hockey until the season winds down. Before he can play full time in Edmonton, he needs to either (a) prove that he’s a leader in Springfield or (b) show that he can replace Grebeshkov, who can potentially be dealt this summer. No special treatment for anyone, not for Schremp, Hemsky, or for Chorney.
• So what is the deal with having Brule, Potulny, Trukhno, Omark, Eberle, Kytnar, and Schremp? We already have Gagner, Nilsson, Cogliano, and O’Sullivan. Somebody’s gonna lose out this off season – or else Springfield better compete for the Calder Cup.
• Speaking of the Calder Cup: another season for the Falcons without playoffs. The Oilers have to renew the affiliation with Springfield which expires this off season. With limited success in their time together, I’m sure both sides are considering ways to make the partnership work better if its going to work in the long run.
• The Oilers gotta hire a better PR staff. Jen Sharpe has a drier personality than a used up marker. A dried out Sharpie – to be exact. On top of that, when faced with the Oilogosphere’s “negativity” was antagonistic to the fans. The fans live and die with the Oilers season, we don’t need a middle man – or woman – to make things worse. PR is supposed to make things better – aren’t then?

As of 10:50 PM GMT -7 MTN time in Edmonton, Alberta, we hit 1000 unique visitors.

Yay.

The sad part is, nobody is willing to drive the net in the final minutes except Grebeskhov. Way to show that you care, Oilers. Penner spent a substantial amount of time in front of the net too. But only god knows why Hemsky and Horcoff decided to pass off shooting opportunities instead of utilizing the Penner screen.

Say goodbye to the season, Oilers’ fans.

Okay, so Erik Cole didn’t draw a plethora of prospects the way the Keith Tkachuk and Ryan Smyth deals did in recent years. But that’s fine, I’m pleased with Steve Tambellini’s moves in that for the price of a pending UFA and a low 5th round draft pick, he managed to get two guys who are ready to step into the lineup right away.

Ales Kotalik, a pending UFA RW is a rental, and he cost the Oilers a 2nd round pick that they acquired from Carolina. Patrick O’Sullivan was acquired as part of the Cole deal. All in all, the Oilers won this trade by a mile. Later Erik Cole; sayonarra Justin Williams.

The great thing about Kotalik is that he’s not only a skilled player, but he brings that grit element too, which is rare for a skilled European player. He may not be an Erik Cole type of player, but that may be to the benefit of Gagner and Nilsson/Penner as well.

Patrick O’Sullivan, presumably the Oilers’ new 1st line LW, was one of the highest touted prospects in the past decade. He was drafted in Minnesota and flipped to the Kings in exchange for one Pavol Demitra. He has a tendency to shoot the puck – A LOT. Trust me, he is in my hockey pool and he really racks up the shot totals. On a line where the tendency in the past has always been to pass first (see Horcoff, Hemsky), having a sniper with a shoot first mentality is something the Oilers haven’t had since Ryan Smyth, Anson Carter, and Bill Guerin left town. It will be interesting, to say the least. The best part – he’s sign for the next two years at an affordable rate.

Watch your kojones Nilsson, your job security is failing by the minute.

Here are 4 simple changes I believe will improve the competitive dynamic on the roster of your Edmonton Oilers, including explanations as to why I think they would be effective changes.

1. No line changes when the other team has puck possession in your zone

Ales Hemsky and Ethan Moreau and a few other players do this sometimes. I know they’re tired from work in the offensive zone. But if you’re going to the bench – hustle to the play or hustle to the bench.

Ethan Moreau’s decision to drag his feet back to the bench caused the J.F. Jacques too many men penalty – a needless amount of time wasted in penalty killing.

I remember this happened to Jaroslav Spacek in Chicago a few years ago too when he ended up diving off the bench to break up a play and he injured someone (Matthew Lombardi? Byron Ritchie? I know it was a Flame) and he ended up getting suspended for it.

2. Fix the D-situation -NOW

The Oilers did well with Matt Greene a few years back in the playoffs. But I don’t think it’s wise going into the playoffs with the pairings Souray-Staios and Strudwick-Peckham. Why?

Staios is a giveaway machine. Strudwick is a giveaway machine. With Souray playing extra minutes defensively, his offensive abilities are wasted. Peckham is great – but still a tad green. This is inefficient use of the defense.

It would be wise to acquire a big minute D-player to pair up with Souray or Strudwick/Smid. This way, Smid, who has tons of ability for a guy with so little NHL experience, can get some valuable defensive minutes. With Souray, this player would allow Souray to play the role he played before Visnovsky was injured and when Gilbert was his defensive partner. A guy like Derek Morris or another pending UFA rental (Jordan Leopold?) will probably fit the bill.

3. Acquire veteran energy-line players

With Cole being a pending UFA and all, it might be wise to deal him for one of our weaknesses instead of losing him for nothing like we did with Peca. The difference between dealing a guy like Salmelainen for Spacek or Jani Rita for Dick Tarnstrom or Reasoner and Stastny for Samsonov when compared to giving up a lot of assets for a guy like Tkachuk or Hossa is that what you give up for rentals should always be less valuable than what you acquire. Spacek and Samsonov were guys who helped the Oilers in the short run. Reasoner was expendable due to the roles played by Stoll, Horcoff, and Peca. Salmeilanen and Rita wore out their welcome in E-town and were not going to help the team on any terms, long or short.

Thus, if Cole is to be traded, it will be for equal value and comparable salary (pending UFA, RFA skilled role player) or for a package of lesser assets. It’s inevitable. So we might as well try to fill other voids by dealing him now.

In 2008-09 our own list of players who are wearing out their welcome in Edmonton is once again full since we’ve had an inconsistent season with inconsistent players – guys who play no particular role on the team:

• MA Pouliot
• Jason Strudwick
• Rob Schremp
• Mathieu Roy
• Robert Nilsson

With the exception of Strudwick who is somewhat useful as a versatile depth player (LW/D), there is no particular use for the other players on this team. Nilsson has been playing better as of late, but his inconsistency means that he is neither to be counted on in the short term or the long term. He has lots of talent – don’t get me wrong. But so does Rob Schremp – and that pretty much sums up what I think about Nilsson.

Mathieu Roy may not have much of a trade market considering his injury-prone ways. He may come in handy as a depth D-man if the Oilers fail to acquire one.

It is obvious that outside of the Oilers core group, Cole has the most trade value to a playoff bound team. But if we trade Cole, we will need to replace that physical presence. The Reddox-Brodziak-Stortini line has been playing well as of late. MacIntyre, Jacques, and Pisani are roaring in the wings. But are these the depth guys who will take you far in the playoffs – if you even make the playoffs?

Penner – Horcoff – Hemsky

Nilsson – Gagner – Cole

Moreau – Cogliano – Jacques

Reddox – Brodziak – Stortini

MacIntyre

Pouliot

I think energy line players like Steve Begin, Chris Neil, Matt Cullen, Darcy Tucker, Dan Hinote, and Jon Sim would make good depth additions and potential short-run replacements for Cole – kind of like a Todd Harvey fix. I think Begin could be had for a guy like Pouliot – who may flourish in his homeland of Quebec.

I think Jacques will be a lot more valuable player than MacIntyre in the playoffs since he actually knows how to play hockey. I would just send Big Mac down to Springfield after the trade deadline.

Adding Marty Reasoner wouldn’t hurt. (Pretty pretty please?)

4. Scoring depth

Offense is always an issue: doesn’t matter if your the Oilers or the Red Wings. It’s just a bigger issue with the Oilers is all. Therefore it would be smart to either get an upgrade on Nilsson or Penner and to do it quick. This needn’t be a better player than Penner or Nilsson in the skill department: most importantly it needs to be a player with pluck and desire. Someone who wants to play and loves to play – someone with desire. Skill is a bonus.

Brian Gionta, Glen Metropolit, Mike Knuble, Nik Antropov are possibilities. I know – Nik Antropov – what are you thinking? He’s mostly a skill upgrade, but I’m sure a change of scenery wouldn’t hurt him or the Oilers. It would certainly help the size dynamic on the second line.

I would play the line like this:

Nilsson – Antropov – Cole

And yes, I would sit Gagner in the playoffs.

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman:

“What is this Mickey Mouse shit?”

Quite possibly one of my favorite cinema lines of all time, straight outta Full Metal Jacket. This is exactly what came to mind when Ethan Moreau made his comments about the fans, about consecutive sell outs, offering no apology for the 10-2 loss to Buffalo.

“We sell out every night, so no complaints as long as we continue to do that,” Moreau said.

I think he owes us a lot more than an apology.

I think he owes us an explanation.

With the injury to Ales Hemsky it soon became apparent how little depth the Oilers had. Sure, Sam Gagner and Erik Cole finally came around – but where were they for the Islanders game. Okay, let’s be fair, they practically played 3 games in 3 nights with that skills competition added in.

But how about the rest of the team? Where the hell have they been? With Pisani and Hemsky out, there is no longer any offensive and defensive balance on this team, and Horcoff is no longer looking like the super-balanced leader that Kevin Lowe has been making him out to be. Yeah, Shawn Horcoff is a character guy. But collecting good feelings and hauling ass are two different things.

What happened to the Shawn Horcoff who leapt into a shot in the playoffs in ‘06? Is he missing? Weighed down by a fancy new career-security contract?

With all the talented youth on this roster it sometimes hurts when nobody is around to give direction. The Oilers are getting plenty of leadership from Hemsky, Cole, Souray, and Visnovsky, and this has rubbed off on the Horcoff’s, Gagner, Gilbert, and Grebeshkov, but HOW IMPORTANT Hemsky actually is to this team has never been more obvious with how Penner and Horcoff have seen their play drop off.

The true mark of a veteran player is knowing how to pick up their game when times are down. Erik Cole  may have struggled all season but he has never picked a better time to start cashing in on his chances. Now if Horcoff, Nilsson, and Penner had anything to learn from Cole, it is consistency.

If the Oilers could add more guys like Cole, it would offset the effect of losing guys like Hemsky, at least in the short run. We’re talking about guys like Shanahan, Smolinski: guys who have a defined role and plug straight into that role and know what to bring to the table, night-in, night-out.

Not offensive consistency mind you, since MacTavish has had a revolving door of linemates for Cole this season, and not all of them offensive (Moreau, Brodziak, and others come to mind). The kind of consistency I’m talking about is a professional courtesy to the Oilers organization, to the fans, and to themselves.

Mostly, you can’t call yourself a professional if you don’t show up every game – win or loss.

So let’s see you play better, Horcoff, Penner and Nilsson. And to be honest, Penner is playing a lot better than the other two. Horcoff looks really bad without Hemsky, and I mean that in a good way because Hemsky is a world-class player. Penner, at least, has shown that he can play with Gagner.

If Cole, Gagner, Cogliano, Pouliot, Penner, and Moreau can suck it up and perform on different lines when injury hits, then Horcoff definitely needs to learn how to do the same.

And he should know this better than anyone – he who missed 29 games last season.

We’ve achieved OilersNation Blogroll status.

Yay!

Perhaps we will not be relocating to Google Blogger after all.

I also felt like organizing a list of my favorite players. It happens to make for good posting material.

Enjoy.