The Quest for Lord Stanley's Cup

[Alan]

damn straight...YOU'RE IN OIL COUNTRY hehe...

Did you see the interview they did with Nieminen after game 4? Announcer asked him what the team has to do for game 5 and he says "we have to get out of Edmonton as fast as possible". I had a good chuckle when I heard that and kinda surprised he'd say that out loud.

I'm hoping that the play of others may rub off on Samsonov and Hemsky and they start committing themselves more fully to the team and playoffs. I did see Samsonov drop to block a shot last night so there's hope.

 

[Chris F]

Hemsky is young yet and needs to learn from some veterns like Pronger / Peca / Rolo about work ethic and focus. He has really come a long way this year so that is very promising. You just can't expect every to progress like Stoll.

Samsonov is a player I have not seen much over the years since he was in Boston and his exposure to me was limited. From what I have seen, I have not been blown away. Maybe it is just an adjustment period that he is going through..who knows.

I am just glad Dvorak is not playing! completely useless he has been

Alan,

Spoke to soon about the truck...light came on again and dealer said to wait a week to see if light distinguishes again. I just had the Cats and O2 sensors replaced in addition to the passenger side manifold replaced and best part was they paid for it while I am out of warranty

 

[mikeyb]

very annoyed stars season ticket holder here, but still enjoying the playoffs. as long as denver and detroit are out, i can handle dallas being out.

i placed 5 bets before the season started (one longshot and four goodshots) and all that remains is the sabres.

so, go sabers, go...

man, how as a stars fan did i find myself cheering the sabres???

 

[Alan]

I'm just glad the Oilers didn't have to play the Stars again in the first round.

I'm not sure Samsonov was all that enthusiastic about coming here when he got traded so that might be a factor although if he looks at it objectively, the Oilers play a style that is more suited to his game and if these playoffs are any indication, the Oilers may be becoming a Stanley Cup contender if not this year over the next couple years. They are starting to gather all the pieces they need to make runs at the cup. Samsonov can be a handfull when he gets his feet moving and I've seen some impressive stuff from him this regular season when he got here so there's hope.

As for Hemsky, I'm still out on him. I've watched him play a lot this year and he seems soft and floats a lot. You can see he has talent, there's no doubt about that but he's always looking for the perfect play. I'm surprised he hasn't been clocked yet because he seems to always have his head down. Maybe these playoffs is what he needs to grow. I just think he would be more effective if he simplified his game a bit and toughed up a little. If he did that, I suspect he'll become a very effective player. Stoll has impressed the hell out of me. He's very composed and carries himself like a seasoned vetran. Hard to find in someone so young...and he likes to shoot plus he seems to find the holes very well.

I doubt Peca will be back next year. He's an expensive player for what he offers and Dvorak I think should be traded as he doesn't seem to be fitting in that well.

Chris - I have a code reader so if you are going to be in Edmonton, give me a shout and I can read the code for you and reset it if you want.

 

[Chris F]

I think I would have shot myself if they had to play Dallas again! I would hate seeing Modano fly past the D.

I hate to say it this way and I know i may offend a few people but when it comes to Czechs, it is almost like thye have no heart when it comes to playing in the NHL. If you look players like Jagr, Nedved and Dvorak and so on, they only seem to bring their A game when it is in the Olympics or Worlds or when they simply want to. Jagr this year had some fun with all the other Czechs and had a great year. I would think that would be different. Hemsky, I hope is different.

Peca will be gone unless he takes a cut like Turek did here in Calgary before the lock out.

Roloson I think is on the bubble as well. I think they may give the reigns back to Jussi and Ty again next year unless one is moved this summer.

Stoll and Torres are fantastic...you can thank Milbury for giving up on the one and the Flames for the other.

Thanks for the offer, but I am stuck working 7 days a week on this big project and the others that have popped up in the meantime. It is really hopping down here and I see no rest for me until August - September. I am going to milk the dealer for more!

 

[mikeyb]

I'm just glad the Oilers didn't have to play the Stars again in the first round.

those were hella games, huh? i never knew how to feel about seeing the oilers in the first...you were either baptised by fire for all teams to come, or so beat up and worn out to go much deeper. those games were streetfights.

oilers are looking good indeed. pronger was a good selection (although it pains me to say anything good about him), but i agree that peca is not worth the money. not anymore.

cant wait till saturday to see how my money team does.

good luck to you guys...till the finals, anyway! that could be worth 600 bucks to me...

 

[ID_Disco_II]

In the new NHL, guys like Samsonov have a chance to make a big impact. I think, though, he needs a good playmaking centre to feed him. Right now he is trying to take on 4 guys at a time and it just ain't workin.

I am a big Mike Peca fan. He plays the game hard every night, does all the little things well, is great shorthanded, a natural leader, and can give opposing centremen fits. He is a great fit for this Oilers squad because of how he plays the game and I would really hate to see him go. He has never been a natural goal scorer or gifted playmaker and his intensity does occassionally lead to penalties, but I definitely his departure would leave a big void in the lineup. I would retain him over Samsonov any day of the week.

As for Czech players, you can say similar things about many of the Russian-born players: enough skill to make a blind man weep, but as enigmatic as the San Francisco fog. Alexei Kovalev and Sergei Fedorov both come to mind.

 

[Alan]

Except at $3.99M USD a year, that's a bit expensive for a character player. Peca does fit well but not for that kind of cash in my opinion. Dvorak makes $1.6M USD a year so he's not cheap either. Don't forget, Ryan Smyth's contract is up so they have to resign him in the off-season and he's not going to come cheap. Neither is Horcoff or Stoll.

"As for Czech players, you can say similar things about many of the Russian-born players..."

I think Tretiak might be an exception. He was good.

I'm not so sure on the Oil keeping Jussi and Conklin for next year. I think Conklin is gone. I'm not sure they were real impressed with him especially after that tantrum he had after getting pulled. They'll probably keep Jussi around as a backup for Roloson...unless they can't sign him this off season. Oilers have had a history of looking for laid back goalies and I don't think Conklin fits that bill. If he wowed them, then they may make an exception but if you look through the Oilers history, they've usually gone after quiet laid back goalies. I can't even think of one who wasn't certainly no one like Ron Hextall or Billy Smith.

I'm not really sure it will be even up to the Oilers if Samsonov is back next year but you're right ID_Disco_II, he needs a playmaking center like Joe Thorton.

 

[Chris F]

ID,

I did not want to offend to many people by saying anything about the majority of Russian players. Fedorov, moliginy, malakov and Pavel Bure were amongst the biggest big slackers and I have heard that Pavel Bure was a cancer in the dressing room! Samsonov has always fit this profile too. I did enjoy watching the ethic in Ovechkin this past year and Malkin would be an incrediable player here too.

Anyways Go Oilers tonight!!! Should be a very interesting night in the Chuk!

Alan, enjoy Whyte Ave / Blue Mile after the game!

 

[Chris F]

Alan,

It all depends what Roloson wants at the end of this season as well. Jussi is staying, he had a bad year and I am sure when they part at the end of the season they will mention it to him and to bring his game face to camp. Conklin deserved to be pissed after being pulled on several occassions. After playing a great game and being pulled for the SO is kind of stupid for many reasons. They have some good young kids waiting so it may be interesting.

Hexy was the greatest!!!! One who could inspire his team with his team with his tantics.

 

[Alan]

LOL, I remember when Hextall hacked Kent Nilssen in the playoffs. He got so worked up and it probably didn't help with Glen Anderson running the net all the time. Hehe...he was awesome for that. You could see it coming too. See him go wide, put his leg out and you knew he wasn't going to slow down or try to avoid the goalie. Drove Billy Smith nuts too.

Chris - The city has put a ban on parking on Whyte Ave after 6pm tonight and I'm guessing there's going to be a lot of police pressence there. I just hope no one boos the American anthem tonight.

I always liked Pelle Lindberg. Too bad to see his career cut so short.

 

[ID_Disco_II]

You're right, Alan, Peca is a bit high at nearly $4M. I think the Oilers should try and lock him in long-term and try to get him to come down off his salary demands. Ideally, I would put him at about $2.75-3M per.

And yes, Tretiak was a noted exception. So was Vladimir "Vlad The Impaler" Konstantinov.

Lol, Chris. I have a bad tendency to speak my mind, regardless of whether it offends anyone. I think Samsonov would be a great fit for Pittsburgh. Players like Sergei seem to thrive in their wide-open, free-wheeling offensive game. Besides, Crosby really benefitted from having a talented scoring winger to work with (he developed great chemistry with Ziggy Palffy before he retired). The Pens may have to find a taker for Sergei Gonchar's salary first...

As far as Oilers goalies, I think Roli definitely deserves to be brought back. Kevin Lowe was concerned enough about the goaltending situation to make the move in the first place, and Roli has really grown into a great fit. The team plays with a lot of confidence in front of him, which speaks volumes. Pencil Roli as the starter, and see who is the better of Jussi or Conklin out of camp to platoon with him.

 

[Alan]

LOL...when's the last time you saw a player take a pay cut? I'd be impressed if Peca did but I think the mentality of most NHL players is to get as much as you can for the short careers they have. I could see that happening if it was a player who had been with the same team for a long time (like Yzerman) and had established his roots there so took a pay cut to keep his family intact but in Peca's case, he really has no roots here and hasn't been with the Oil long enough to develop any kind of loyalty. Who knows, he may surprise everyone but my feeling is he's gone after the playoffs are over unless they go all the way or get to the finals, then he may reconsider... if the cup is what he really wants.

I don't get the feeling that Roloson will be making huge, huge salary demands in the off-season. As good as he's been so far, he struggled quite a bit when he first got here and the guys have given him a fair amount of support. He's come around since the playoffs started but he's also had a lot of help. I haven't seen this many players block shots in a long time. The one off Steve Staios's face was crazy.

 

[Chris F]

Alan,

being a long time Flyer fan - from before the Oilers and Flames existed, Lindbergh was my Favorite Flyer of all time - Hexy is up there too. I play goal and when I was younger I tried to model myself like both. I was 3rd in penalty minutes on my team one season.

That hexy - Nilssen slash was classic... LOL. Hexy was getting ran all the time in that game from everyone so he took it into hands. Anderson whacked his glove and Nilssen followed and he paid the price.

Id disco II,

With that being said, Samsonov would be a good fit in the Pitt so they can drain what is left of his talent like they did with the other dead weight on that team.

I think there is an abundace of tenders out there so if Roli is gone, then some one else will come along, not really a big deal. just as long as they do not sign Hasek...Opps again with the Czechs

The City of Edmonton probably looked at what happened here in Calgary a few years ago and put their plan in order. We actually have a Reno project on Whyte Ave and the Police asked our client if they could use a roof and steeple as a look out. Kind of funny I guess.

 

[Alan]

Chris,

I loved watching some of those old time goalies like Richard Brodeur, Pelle Lindbergh, Mike Palmateer, Ron Hextall, etc. Billy Smith was fun to watch just to see how riled the Oilers could get him. My all time favorite goalie is still Grant Fuhr. That guy was a clutch goalie if there ever was one and the more shots the better it seemed but then again back then the Oilers weren't all that concerned with defense. If you scored 6 goals on them, they'd go out and score 8 or something silly like that.

Man, I wished they'd put some of the old playoff classics on DVD.

Yea I think Hasek is done. Not the best way to end your career.

Yikes, steeple look-out? I get visions of some sniper swat guy picking off rowdys with rubber bullets.

 

[F18Guy]

Ahhhhhhhh....I just settled in on the couch to watch the Oilers / Sharks.

 

[Alan]

Man, I might have to reconsider my comments about Peca but the Oilers have to stop taking penalties. Glad to see the fans cheer and sing along during the American anthem.

 

[Alan]

Holy crap, that play/nonplay by Roloson to shake his helmet off to stop the play during that 5 on 3 was brilliant! Talk about veteran experience. Glad the refs didn't notice it or that could have been a delay call.

 

[F18Guy]

Sweet, the Oil scores again via Horcoff.

 

[F18Guy]

Let's hear it for old style, hard nose hockey! Congrats to the Oil!

Now, I wonder if they can match ANA's speed.