Bleacher Report - Articles by Caitlin Schulz

Edmonton Oilers: Story Of a Comeback

Caitlin Schulz — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:38:24 -0400

Last night was a true testament to the talent and workmanship of the Edmonton Oilers. Two players had five points each in a game that boasted a 6-4 final score. While at times they faltered, the club certainly deserved the win.

Taking the lead early in the first, Edmonton looked poised to take on a team they had struggled against in the season prior. Halfway through the second, it was a completely different story. Down 4 to 1, the flu-riddled Oilers were on the road to a disappointing home loss. That's when the now assumed top line of Dustin Penner, Ales Hemskey, and Sam Gagner found a different road to follow.

Penner finally seems ready to take the role that has always been forced on him since making the move to Edmonton. He capitalized on his best chances, supported his linemates, and played the body. Hard. A five point night.

Hemsky, who was basically invisible in the first, shone through after what I can only imagine was an 'inspiring' intermission. A five point night for him as well.

Gagner, while partially riding the coattails of his more veteran linemates, looked like the rookie of two years ago, skating fast, smart and with a purpose. A three point night for the hardworking young guy.

It's hard to win a game when your team is missing seven regulars and even harder when half the dressed players are battling flu symptoms.

The story for Columbus revolves around two things. How do you give up a three goal lead and how does an ailing team keep your best player, Rick Nash, off the scoreboard that showed four goals for Columbus? Not an easy feat and I imagine coach Ken Hitchcock isn't to happy with his club.

The story for the Oilers is a juxtaposition. It's fantastic that they won a game 6-4 when the chips were down. On the other hand, how do you let a team get three goals up on you? Honestly, the team shouldn't have had to battle that hard. They came out strong, but disappeared by the end of the first. Divisions and Stanley Cups are won by teams who can play 60 minutes of hockey, not just 30.

The Oilers will take their win, and they should be celebrated and commended for the work they did last night. But they should use it as a lesson: "Don't let it get away or you might not get it back."

The Embarrassment of Phoenix

Caitlin Schulz — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:48:05 -0400

The future of the Phoenix Coyotes is up in the air, and now, so is their coaching position.

Wayne Gretzky announced today that he would be stepping down from his position as coach and director of hockey operations.

Now what?

For the past few months, the Coyotes have become the embarrassment of the National Hockey League. And it isn't because the the organization has been conducting itself poorly. The NHL, Gary Bettman, and Jim Balsillie are the root causes of this embarrassment.

Why you ask?

Bettman's American experiment is working in some places while failing miserably in others. Phoenix, Tampa Bay, and Florida are just a few places where the experiment has failed.

The NHL has not been able to latch hockey onto the sporting culture of Phoenix. People aren't watching.

There are several causes for this: The weather, the age of the population, the lack of winter sporting history in the region, and the desire to spend more time doing other activities.

The league should have been able to see this long before the organization went bankrupt. It was ignored and now, who knows where the team will be next year?

The sheer stubbornness of Bettman is the reason Phoenix is being thrown around like a rag-doll this season. The unbelievable solution suggested to fix the "Balsillie" problem is madness. The NHL cannot own an NHL team. It is an unavoidable conflict of interest.

And finally, Balsillie needs to share just about the same amount of fault for this situation. You don't start selling season seats for a team in Hamilton before you own it. It was a cocky, self-involved, narcissistic move to make.

Had he not done this, Pittsburgh would be in Hamilton right now, and Phoenix would probably be owned by a different investor, one the NHL and Bettman are on good terms with. Shame on you, Jim.

The Great One jumped ship, and as well he should have. How do you coach a team with no foreseeable future? How do you conduct the operations of a hockey team when you don't have an owner to report to?

This whole ordeal has just made the NHL look juvenile and unable to run its day-to-day operations in a way befitting a billion dollar industry.

Bettman needs to swallow his pride and fess-up to his mistakes.

The NHL needs to support failing teams by allowing them to find markets that can earn them a profit.

And Balsillie needs a hockey team, but also needs to get over himself and apologize for the way he's been conducting himself.

Low Blow From Heatley Leaves Oil Country Insulted

Caitlin Schulz — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:38:43 -0400

The way I see it, Dany Heatley may end up being another Chris Pronger, times three.

Heatley asked for a trade from Atlanta, and ended up in Ottawa. He’s asked for a trade from Ottawa and, at the moment, no one really knows where he is going to end up. It looks like Edmonton is off the radar, but one never knows.

The reason I compare this young Canadian player to Pronger is that both seem to hate the idea of playing hockey in the City of Champions. I think Ottawa should now ignore Heatley’s request to be traded, and force him to play out his contract, much like I believe the Oilers should have done with Pronger.

I know. Having a player on your roster and in your dressing room that would rather be anywhere else can be poison to a team. It’s hard to foster productive relationships when one party isn’t invested.

I know that every player has a right to request a trade; for family reasons, for personal reasons, for stress reasons, for whatever reason. But I look at it this way:

Pronger requested a trade after he had gone through one of the toughest losses and events a team can go through, losing the Cup in game seven. While he may have had legitimate reasons to request a trade, it’s a slap in the face to announce that desire days after the wind had been knocked out of the city.

Heatley requested a trade after a not too shabby season (to be honest, I didn’t really watch the Senators this year, so I don’t really know why he wants out).

I’m all for Heatley coming to Edmonton. He’d be a hero on the first line. But to request a trade and then refuse to waive your no-trade clause for the only legitimate offer made to the Senators is a low blow.

It’s a slap in the face of the City of Edmonton, and the Oilers organization. It’s a slap in the face of the Senators organization that tried to follow through on Heatley’s trade request.

It’s a slap in the face to all of his teammates in Ottawa who played hard beside him. It’s a slap in the face to the City of Ottawa, who supported him after being shipped from Atlanta, and rallied around him as a star player they had been looking for. It’s a slap in the face to hockey.

I have always believed that while there is fighting on the ice, and the regular brow-beating that comes with sports, hockey is a game of gentlemen.

I don’t mean let’s drink tea and comment on the weather in London sort of gentlemen, I mean guys who work hard, play hard, and act fair. With honesty. With pride and a sense of commitment. It’s like a war. You leave no brother behind in hockey.

But Heatley has left everyone behind.

And now it’s in the public and now other teams know that Heatley is going to come at a cost. Ottawa will have to recoup their $4 million somewhere, and it will either come with trades or by forcing Heatley to stay and play for that bonus.

But money isn’t the only cost. He’s liable to be a downer in the dressing room, and we know he’s willing to argue with/stick it to whichever team takes him. If anyone wants him now, he’s damaged goods.

As a writer, I try to be as non-biased in my articles as possible. Today, however, I am an Oiler fan. And as a devout Oiler fan, it’s hard to imagine me disliking a player more than I dislike Pronger. No one insults my city or my team.

However, I think Heatley may just become one of Oilers fans’ No. 1 enemies.

I just hope you come to the West where we will see you more than once a year. Better bring your earplugs.

After Eight Years, Craig MacTavish Is On His Way Out

Caitlin Schulz — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:35:05 -0400

It has been eight years since Craig MacTavish took the job of coaching the Edmonton Oilers. Eight years, zero Stanley Cups, and only three playoff appearances later, MacTavish is leaving his job behind the bench.

Now whether you believe this decision was mutual, or one-sided, the fact remains that it had to happen. It had to be inevitable.

After taking a team to the last game of the Stanley Cup playoffs, a coach cannot miss the playoffs three years in a row. Coaches on other teams have been fired for less.

But the Oilers organization owes MacTavish a lot. He played great, gritty hockey when he wore an Oilers uniform. He coached a mediocre team throughout the '90s when it was hard to find and keep fans, let alone owners.

He gave the city and the fans the greatest playoff run seen in a long time in 2006. And he took our criticism, armchair coaching, and smack talk all year.

Like Steve Tambellini said in his press conference yesterday, if MacTavish wants to coach somewhere, he'll find somewhere to coach. There will not be a shortage of teams looking for his kind of talent. And his talent seems to be the anomaly in the Edmonton equation.

MacTavish is one of those few guys who can actually see the game for what its worth. He know the intricacies, he knows what works, he knows what doesn't.

It just didn't seem to transmit to the players on the team. I don't know if that's because they weren't listening or if it was because he didn't know how to show them, but it didn't happen.

Oiler fans know from listening to his press conferences that he is a smart coach and has a smart hockey mind. I think the issue may have been the age of his team.

In 2005-2006, he had older, more seasoned veterans like Ryan Smyth, Jaroslav Spacek, and Chris Pronger to deal with. I think he works well with guys who already know the game.

The young ones, not so much.

So the question is now, where do the Oilers go from here? Do they stop there with the changes, or do they do a blitz: Bye bye Kevin Lowe, Bye bye seasoned veterans, Bye bye grit players?

Time will tell. MacTavish will take a much deserved break before deciding his future.

Oiler fans should thank MacTavish for the eight years he put into this team. Criticize, yes, worry about the Oilers' future, yes, but don't forget.

Don't forget all that MacTavish has given up for this team.

Edmonton Oilers: Coaching Woes Not Just An Eastern Ailment

Caitlin Schulz — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:27:11 -0500

In the last month, hockey teams across the NHL have been firing coaches who have had less-than-expected success. And whether you think it's a coincidence or not, three teams with new coaches all played in Europe for the opening of the season.

I think it's a coincidence, but it's a neat little statistic.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have dumped Michel Therrien for Dan Bylsma. The Ottawa Senators shipped Craig Hartsburg to the unemployment line and welcomed Cory Clouston into the family.

And just recently, the New York Rangers gave Tom Renney the pink slip and hired TSN analyst and former Tampa Bay Lightning coach, John Tortorella.

It seems like the turnover in coaches is a growing trend this season in the NHL, yet I am still perplexed by one coach's ability to hang on to his job. Barely over .500, Edmonton Oilers coach Craig MacTavish still remains the head honcho for the club after eight seasons and only one Stanley Cup appearance.

Therrien, Hartsburg, and Clouston, admittedly, had teams with troubles, but nowhere near as bad as say, the New York Islanders, last in the Eastern Conference with a mere 42 points. The Rangers are even in a playoff position right now.

The Edmonton Oilers, while still technically in the playoff formula, have struggled all season to maintain consistent play. They just can't seem to hit the back of the net when they need to the most. Already, three games this season have ended in complete blow-outs at the Oilers expense.

I've heard comments such as "We've seen that if given the right team, Craig MacTavish can get us to the Stanley Cup."

But that's not the point of a coach.

With the talent on the 2005-2006 team including Mike Peca, Chris Pronger, Jaroslav Spacek, Smyth, and break-through performer, Fernando Pisani, any coach could have gone all the way. A good coach takes a mediocre team and forces them into a great team.

Given the right talent, any coach can go all the way. MacTavish has proven that given any team, he can keep them in mediocrity.

Give MacTavish a job as a sports analyst. He sees the games great, and can really talk about it. Or give MacTavish a job as a consultant or a scout. He has a future with the NHL, and may even have a bright future coaching for another team, but things just don't seem to be working in Edmonton, and it's about time management and ownership realized it.

Take a page out of Pittsburgh's, Ottawa's and New York's playbook.

Edmonton Oilers: Ode to the Working Man

Caitlin Schulz — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:44:09 -0500

You can have your Sidney Crosbys, Jonathan Toews's, and Marc Savards. When it comes to hockey, there's nothing like a bumper and grinder—and I say this with absolutely no sarcasm or condescension.

This style of hockey, most often seen in Western Conference teams—and, as of late, with the Edmonton Oilers—is the spitting image of what stereotypical hockey is like.

If you ask a normal, everyday person, who does not watch hockey, what they think hockey is, the answer given usually has something to do with fighting, hitting, and checking. Meat and potatoes hockey.

Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin can be glorified and placed on the highest of pedestals for their sleek moves, amazing goals, and seemingly unbeatable talent. I am among those who are in awe of their skill. However, there are many guys who are passed over who play an undeniably important role.

Players like Zack Stortini, Jason Strudwick, Liam Reddox, Ethan Moreau, and Steve Staios are often overshadowed by their high-scoring teammates Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, Ales Hemsky, and sometimes Shawn Horcoff. But without them, a team that is already suffering would be dying in the depths of the Western Conference.

A good game of hockey cannot be played without a few strong hands and some hard-working grinders. Monday night's game against the New York Islanders is the perfect example.

First-line guys might get the media attention, but when the fourth line is the one able to do the work, the fans pay attention. The line of Kyle Brodziak, Stortini, and Strudwick was responsible for two of the three goals in last night's game, and was easily the best line on the ice.

On a team that is seriously lacking a competent and consistent forecheck, Stortini was able to produce a forecheck that was both consistent and competent. Strudwick was responsible for the first two goals, even though he was only credited for one, his first as an Oiler. Brodziak filled out the line with a talent that seems most productive between two hard-nosed grinders.

Never underestimate the power of a fourth line. They may get few minutes, but those that they do are usually played hard and played well. These are the players who have something to prove, after all, and are the most likely candidates on the theoretical chopping block to round out a trade. They have to play well or else risk not playing at all.

Last night, Edmonton's fourth line definitely proved that they want to play.

Edmonton Oilers: A Few Wins Don't Change a Thing

Caitlin Schulz — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:16:12 -0500

First and foremost, the Edmonton Oilers are playing decently and have now won three in a row and have not lost in regulation since December 19. That's great. It's a good streak that the Oilers need to keep going.

Every point counts in the Western Conference. At the beginning of April, one point might mean the difference between third and seventh place in the conference, or eighth with a playoff round and ninth with a golf round.

Second, this streak isn't likely to continue. Call me a pessimist, but I think I'm a realist. Nothing has really changed since the woes of October and November. Other than Steve Tambellini finally sending Jeff Drouin-Delauriers to the minors, the Oilers are still cursed with the same old issues. The only problem is, it takes a team like Chicago to bring it out in us.

The Oilers seem like a decent team when paired against the likes of Dallas, Calgary, and Vancouver, but as soon as we're faced with a dynamic team like the Blackhawks, the weaknesses begin to show.

I could beat to death the 9-2 loss on December 16th, but it won't do much. We all know that the Oilers were creamed. It wasn't surprising. With the likes of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Martin Havlat, and Nikolai Khabibulin, it was inevitable that Edmonton was going to get outplayed.

The Oilers need to re-evaluate what works for them. I hate to say it, but Craig MacTavish's style of coaching doesn't seem to be working. And I do hate to say it. I think he's a great coach, but I don't think he's a great fit in Edmonton. In the eight years he's been here, the Oilers have not won a Stanley Cup, have only made it to the Stanley Cup finals once, and have missed the playoffs every single time since their miraculous run in 2006.

There needs to be a significant change for the Oilers to begin to really and truly succeed.

The problem is, and the local radio station has tons of callers and analysts saying it, that MacTavish is well respected by the organization, and when he leaves, it will be on his own terms. The respect is well deserved. However, there comes a time when even a well respected man must be told what to do.

MacTavish needs to step down or be replaced. Teams across the league, most recently Carolina, have fired coaches for less. Why not give him a prestigious, off-ice spot with the organization like what was done with Kevin Lowe, or gracefully bow out like the Edmonton Eskimos coach, Danny Maciocia?

MacTavish won't be without a job for long. Even if he isn't coaching, he would make a great analyst for the likes of CBC, TSN, Sportsnet, or even an American network. He knows the game, he understands it very well, and can speak eloquently about it.

A small streak doesn't mean much. The Oilers have yet to win more than three in a row this year, which means statistically, they're due for a loss on Tuesday night. Hopefully, Ottawa's own problems will hinder their ability to win and Edmonton can string together four wins.

Until then, my optimism for this season seems to be hiding behind realistic pessimism.

Excitng First Round Play Leads to Unexpected Second Round Matchups

Caitlin Schulz — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:13:50 -0400

Alright, so I was wrong. Let me eat my words.

The Stanley Cup playoffs are through one round of play and the team I favoured to make it to the final round, but lose the Cup, is out. Anaheimhad all the potential to make a second appeareance in a row in the Final, but failed due to heinous first round play and a sparkling Dallas opponent. Dallas wanted it more. They played like they wanted it, they played like they meant if, and they played to win. And so, we'll see them next round as they face off against the San Jose Sharks.

This will be, in my opinion, the hardest series to judge. Dallas has speed, agility, skill, and Marty Turco. The Sharks, however, have speed, agility, skill, and Joe Thornton. While Calgary did a decent job of shutting down Thornton, I think Dallas will have a tougher time.

While I want to say Dallas will ride the thrill of taking out the Ducks, I think it's just as likely to see San Jose come out on top.

My assumption that the Colorado Avalanche might be the dark horse is still holding strong.

The boys from the mile-high city are playing like there's no tomorrow. The problem is, several times during the first round, they were outplayed by their opponent, the Minnesota Wild.

The Wild are a hard team to beat. They play a sick defensive style of hockey (ie: the Trap), and they work the body. The amazing play of Jose Theodore was the only thing at times keeping the Avs afloat. If they want to advance to the Western Final, they'll have to back up their goalie and play smart, fast, and hard.

They'll also have to beat Detroit. They have a lot of skill, but I don't expect much from the Red Wings. It's a miracle they made it past the first round, let alone accomplish a Western Final appearance.

In the East, there is an entirely different story being written.

Pittsburgh did as expected against the lowly Senators. Ottawa wasn't prepared, and just wasn't able to handle the young Pittsburghphenoms and the old stand-bys. It will be interesting to see how Sid the Kid will face the likes of Jaromir Jagr and the boys in New York.

North of the border, Carey Price is looking more and more like a Conn Smythe contender. He played fantastically during his first series. Some would point out the two 5 goal games he had as less than spectacular, but his bounce back in Game 7 to shut-out Boston showed real skill and poise. Look to him to be the big player in the series between Montreal and Philadelphia. Saku Koivu should also provide some offence now that he has returned.

There you have it. Second round play is set to begin on Thursday, and we're all ready for a new batch of rivalries, hits, goals, near-misses, and fresh, good, hockey.

Look to see Colorado and Dallas in the Western Conference Final and Montreal and Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference Final.

Until then...

Here's Stanley: Fearless Predictions for the NHL Playoffs

Caitlin Schulz — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:50:01 -0400

Playoff season. The longest two months of a hockey player's and a hockey fan's life. Hockey players will be battered, bruised, and left for dead. Hockey fans will be hoarse, heated, and ripped to shreds.

It's also a long two months for those of us who make predictions. Will we be right, wrong, or completely out in left field? But we bravely put ourselves out there for the abuse that comes with wrong predictions or the praise for brilliant foresight. It's my turn.

Montreal and Anaheim are my picks for the Finals.

Montreal has the right mixture of youth, talent, drive, and a yearning that hasn't been filled since 1993. They might run into issues early in the playoffs with their hopes riding on Carey Price. But if he keeps his legs and can move his regular season success into the post-season, then Montreal will fare well, and, I believe, will win the Cup.

Not to mention, Price will be the front-runner for the Conn Smythe Trophy. If Montreal wins the Cup, it will be because Price kept his cool.

Now, if Anaheim pulls it off two years in a row, not only will we see some modern-day history being made, but we will see what I believe would be an upset. While Anaheim is talented and has some good veteran experience, I think they'll tire themselves out playing some tough Western teams like Calgary and Colorado.

If they win, or even go for seven games in the Finals, Scott Niedermayer or Chris Pronger will try to pry the Conn Smythe away from Price.

Each team, however, has a player who could win the Conn Smythe if they reach the Finals.

Colorado has several: Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, and Ryan Smyth, if he can pull out of his minor slump to make a huge difference in the post-season.

You can count on Sidney Crosby to get it if Pittsburgh makes a good run. Ottawa, while a long shot for a final round appearance, has Wade Redden and Dany Heatley. Another possibility is Martin Gerber, who would have to play exceptionally well to get Ottawa to the final.

Calgary could count on Miikka Kiprusoff or Jarome Iginla, while Detroit - another long shot - has Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg.

Of course, if New Jersey could pull together for another Cup, Martin Brodeur would be a shoo-in.

So, will I eat my words? I have a dark horse pick just to cover my bases. Colorado could be an incredible surprise and upset. I think of all the teams, they might want it the most after Montreal.

In the East, the New York Rangers might be able to pull off a final-round victory. With rumors that Jaromir Jagr is close to the end of his career, you can bet that he would like to go out on a high note.

So, let's commence with the battering, the screaming, and the abuse. The Cup will be awarded, but who will take it home?

The Future is Coming to Edmonton

Caitlin Schulz — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:47:12 -0400

The future's looking brighter every day, just not the near future.

Of the last six games, three games went to overtime where they relied on young star Andrew Cogliano to bury the winner in all three games. They lost 5-1 Colorado after those three miraculous battles and then cinched another two points in the shootout last night.

The line of Cogliano, Robert Nilsson, and Sam Gagner has really picked up its game in light of the numerous injuries to veteran players. They have combined for 32 points in the last 11 games, and Gagner has five points in his last four.

Other young guys on the team have really be stepping up. Kyle Brodziak, is -1 in his last 11 games, and has really fit nicely into his fourth line position with Zack Stortini and new addition Curtis Glencross.

As I said, the future is looking brighter.

As for the imminent future, the horizon is a little more dark. While 9-2 in their last 11 games, the chances of a miracle run to the playoffs are slim. With their first round draft pick going to their conference rival, Anaheim, as long as the Oilers can keep above the bottom five, fans, and even management, might find some solace in the off season. They're preparing for the impact of missing the playoffs two years in a row.

July will be an interesting time with the free agency market re-opening. The Oilers have several restricted free agents to sign. It will be interesting to see how many offer sheets are used this year and the reaction from Kevin Lowe if one of his own is given one.

The Restricted Agents on the team are some pretty big names in Oil Country: Joni Pitkanen, Jarret Stoll, Nilsson, Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers, and Stortini. Marty Reasoner is unrestricted, but we can expect him to be wearing an Oilers jersey next year seeing as Coach Craig MacTavish has called him the "slow" Joe Sakic of the NHL. I imagine the other UFAs, Geoff Sanderson, and Glencross, will get good offers as well from the organization.

So, the game of hockey in Edmonton is more a "wait and see" game than a "prepare for a run" game.

The future is coming. Are we ready for it?

Edmonton-Calgary: Oilers Douse Flames

Caitlin Schulz — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:29:36 -0500

It was a game that really showed what a Battle of Alberta should look like; high scoring, a couple of fights, a brawl, and heightened hatreds.

Last night, the Edmonton Oilers dominated the Calgary Flames in a 5-0 shutout, one of four for goalie Mathieu Garon this season. Everything went right for the Oilers, and considering their season, it's about time something has.

Yesterday's game was preceded by coach Craig MacTavish's announcement that No. 1 center Shawn Horcoff would be out for the rest of the season, due to a shoulder injury that will require surgery.

After several months of heinous losing skids, copious amounts of shootouts, and off-and-on injuries to many of their key players, the tides seem to be turning in Edmonton's favour.

Ales Hemsky looked top-notch. The passes that usually go to where someone should be, but isn't, were finding people exactly where they were supposed to be. Garon was amazing in goal, stopping weak shots and potential game shifters alike. Captain Ethan Moreau showed exactly why he is wearing the "C" this year with an assist and a fight.

Not surprisingly, in a rough game like it was, Zach Stortini, leading man for the Oilers' muscle, had two fights and, when he needed to, refrained from getting into a third. This, despite Calgary's desperate and somewhat underhanded attempts to reel him into the third one.

As well, Garon showed a little grit after a cheap hit on one of his teammates. He went after the guy, and an all-out brawl ensued. Opposing goaltender Curtis Joseph came halfway down the ice to confront Garon, but the refs stopped the fight before it had even begun. However, it had the potential to be as exciting as the Atlanta brawl that Ty Conklin fought in.

With another matchup Saturday in Calgary, tempers will still be high, and Calgary will be looking to prove that they aren't pushovers. It should be intense.

Struggles In Edmonton: Veterans Need to Pick Up Slack

Caitlin Schulz — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:07:31 -0500

The days here in Edmonton are somewhat numbered and the countdown is going far too quickly. An up and down season does not add up to a winning season and mathematics are quickly becoming the worst enemy of the Oilers. Everyone in their division is reliably gaining points while the Oilers struggle to win most games in overtime. What's going on?

The biggest problem they're facing is that the veterans on the team are just now starting to pick up their game. Shawn Horcoff, while not off the radar since the beginning of the season, has just started to consistently light it up. Ethan Moreau has just re-entered the line-up after an extended injury streak. Four points in six games is about average for the new captain, but for being the player who has played the most seasons for the team, he has to be better. The loss of both Ryan Smyth and Jason Smith has hugely impaired the team and taken too much experience from it. After quick and flashy beginnings, Dustin Penner and Geoff Sanderson faded into the background. Penner has started to turn the goal light on and Sanderson still wows us with speed, but it's not enough to win games.

The bright-side for the young team is three rookies that were added to the line-up after training camp. Sam Gagner, while sitting at a -10, has played at a level above his years. Andrew Cogliano sits fourth on the team in points. The biggest surprise has been Kyle Brodziak who fought his way onto the roster and has played exceptionally. Calling up Ladislav Smid from the minors might have been the most intelligent thing the organization has done this season.

Much can be said about the rest of the team, but what Kevin Lowe has to look at is whether he's going to call this season what it is and start to build a roster for next year. He attempted to do that last year, trading Marc-Andre Bergeron for the young Russian Denis Grebeshkov, and Ryan Smyth for two rookies and a draft pick. The plan didn't work for this year, but the Oilers look as though they'll be building for a few more years to come. The addition of an NHL veteran or two could assist the team in teaching their young players what to expect as they grow up in the NHL.

Until then, fans can catch their kicks watching Daryl Katz offer exorbitant amounts of money to the Edmonton Investor's Group in an attempt to buy the team. They have rejected the previous three offers and an official answer for the latest one will come at the end of January. However, it looks as though the EIG is going to hold on for a little longer.

Optimistic fans are still hoping for another Cinderella run to the Cup, but it would seem the Fairy Godmother would have to pull a miracle out of her wand for that to happen.

The Puzzle of Hockey in Edmonton

Caitlin Schulz — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:11:47 -0500

Out of the 82 games the Edmonton Oilers will play this year, there are only 38 left, and they are sitting 5 points out of the playoffs. Most of the 44 games have been intense battles that came down to the final minutes of the hockey game. Some have been clinched well before the buzzer sounded, and 13 of them have needed the shootout to proclaim a winner. With an 11-2* record in the shootout, the Oilers not only have the most shootout wins, they have the most games that have gone to a shootout. You could say their season has been defined by the nail-biting concluder.

It seems all that needs to be done by the Oilers is survive long enough to make it to the shootout. But, regulation wins need to start happening . How can a team make a decent playoff run when for every two points they gain, they give one up to a divisional rival? The Western Conference is a hard place to gain points and by the end of the season, a single point can mean playing hockey in April or playing golf in Phoenix. So, every night is a test. Yes, a win in a shootout is better than a loss in regulation, but a win in regulation can cause a reaction that could possibly launch a successful playoff campaign.

For the first month and a half of the season, the top producers on the team were a couple of young guns, Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano, who earned their spots on the roster. The same could not be said for the veterans like Jarret Stoll, Ales Hemsky, Raffi Torres, and Shawn Horcoff. A surprise came with young Kyle Brodziak who got a little shot last year due to the pandemic of injuries that plagued the Oilers during the 20 game drought. This year, he's surpassed expectations, but due to the play of Gagner and Cogliano, he's been lost in the fray and forgotten, somewhat, by the local media.
Surprise successes are always nice and welcomed, and can really do wonders for a team, but at some point, the Oilers needed their veterans to step up and, slowly, that's exactly what they've been doing.

Horcoff has hit his stride as of late and is on his way to a having the best season of his career. The return of Fernando Pisani sparked a lethargic Oilers team. Sheldon Souray, finally off of his shoulder injury, has boosted a defence that, while not completely heinous, had been struggling. The captain, Ethan Moreau has finally played his first game since seven games into last season, and has four points in his first six games. He has definitely fit nicely into the "C" he now wears on his chest.

Goaltending is no longer a question in Edmonton either. The play of Mathieu Garon has been solid and has left Dwayne Roloson questioning his place as a number one goaltender. Garon is 12-9-1-3 compared to Roloson’s 7-12-3-0. It’s all helping finish the incomplete puzzle that is hockey in Edmonton.

Kevin Lowe, the controversial General Manager of the team, has been rather quiet since extending offers to Thomas Vanek (unsuccessfully) and Dustin Penner (successfully) this past summer. Fans here are wondering what he will do next to help bring the Stanley Cup back to E-Town. While the team has steadily been improving their game, there is no doubt that Lowe should be looking to stack up the defence of the team, or add a consistent scorer to the front. To find a solution to these problems, however, is easier said than done. Lowe is close to what he can spend on player salaries this year because of the inflated salaries of Penner and 38-year old Roloson. So, if he wants to bring in some bigger names before the trade deadline, he’s going to have to dump some salary in return. A guy like Duncan Keith on the Chicago Blackhawks is a good example of a steady defenceman and because he's young, he'd be perfect to help build a new team. The question is, will Chicago be willing to give up a young guy when they are still technically able to get into the playoffs. Time will tell for all situations. Two months of play before the trade deadline, there is still a lot that can happen in a closely matched NHL.

Speaking of young players, Lowe doesn't want to risk giving up another Joffrey Lupul, but most teams are looking for young guys to build the future, and teams who have no playoffs hopes can use them as powerful trading chips. There is the possibility that we may be one of those teams. Lowe made some unpopular decisions trading Marc-Andre Bergeron and heart and soul player, Ryan Smyth at the end of last season in order to build a team for this season. It sent the message he believed the team’s playoff hopes were non-existent. It didn't matter that they were still technically, mathematically, and willing to be in the playoff race. If Lowe decides to do something similar this year, fans, and maybe even the ownership, will be looking at receiving much more in return than they did last year.

Finally, these days, a conversation about the Oilers cannot happen without the mention of local tycoon, Daryl Katz and his most recent attempt to buy the team. The Edmonton's Investor's Group is having an internal debate about whether a sale of team to Katz would be in its best interests. Whether you believe it’s about money or whether you believe it’s about keeping the team in Edmonton, I wouldn't be surprised if the deal goes either way. I don't imagine however, that it will come before the January deadline Katz has given the EIG.

The Oilers are in for a rocky rest of the season, and possibly a similar one next year. The only way out is to complete the puzzle. The pieces are there, the Oilers just need to know how to arrange them.

* All stats were found or calculated using www.nhl.com, www.oilers.nhl.com, and www.tsn.ca