Is Linus Omark Bored?

One should never read too much into NHL exhibition games because at the end of the day, they do not mean a thing. That being said, I am still somewhat stunned at the lack of jump Linus Omark has shown. During his rookie campaign the Swedish forward showed inconsistencies in his effort level on a game by game basis. I have little doubt that much of that was brought on by the frustration of having his ice time limited and not always being given the opportunity to play with linemates that suited his skill set.

**Updated** Game Day: Flames vs Oilers

Calgary vs Edmonton


Time:     6:00pm
Where:  Rexall Place
Watch:   edmontonoilers.com
Listen:   630 Ched

Exhibition: Canucks 2 Oilers 1

 

The Edmonton Oilers are two for two this pre-season, when it comes to delivering underwhelming performances on home ice. Even though Vancouver decided to dress a roster full of rookies and minor league vets, they still managed to beat Edmonton by a score of 2-1. While these games do not count in the standings, this club continues to struggle with their game at Rexall Place and that has to change if they seriously intend to be battling for a playoff spot this season.

*Updated* Game Day: Canucks vs Oilers and Camp Updates

Vancouver vs Edmonton



Time:     7:00pm
Where:  Rexall Place
Watch:   TSN, TSNHD
Listen:   630 Ched

Around the NHL - Eastern Conference Updates

Exhibition: Wild 4 Oilers 3

With the season Nikolai Khabibulin had to endure last year, you knew he would be looking forward to getting back in to the nets for the Edmonton Oilers. Unfortunately, his performance in the Oilers home pre-season opener did not look like much had changed. The veteran netminder was beat on three of the first seven shots he faced and before the first period was done, Minnesota had a 3-0 lead. To the Oilers credit, they fought back in the second period to tie it up but eventually lost 4-3 on a late third period goal by Edmonton boy Jared Spurgeon.

Exhibition: Oilers 4 Blackhawks 2

If one game is any indication of what's to come from the the trio of Ryan Smyth, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, it looks like they are headed in the right direction. The top line lead the way as the Edmonton Oilers split squad defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 in both teams first pre-season game.

**UPDATE** Game Day: Wild vs Oilers and Blackhawks vs Oilers

Wild vs Oilers

Time:      7:00pm
Where:   Rexall Place
Watch:   edmontonoilers.com
Listen:    630ched

**Lineup vs Minnesota**

EDMONTON OILERS

FORWARDS

4 Taylor Hall
16 Darcy Hordichuk
20 Eric Belanger
23 Linus Omark
28 Ryan Jones
46 Ryan Keller
57 Anton Lander
60 Tanner House
68 Tyler Pitlick
73 Cameron Abney
75 Antti Tyrvainen
91 Magnus Paajarvi
 
DEFENCE
13 Cam Barker
77 Tom Gilbert
80 Martin Marincin
81 Taylor Fedun
86 Kirill Tulupov
87 David Musil

GOALTENDERS 

1 Tyler Bunz
35 Nikolai Khabibulin

Blackhawks vs Oilers

Time:      7:00pm
Where:   Saskatoon
Watch:    edmontonoilers.com
Listen:    None

**Lineup vs Chicago**

EDMONTON OILERS

FORWARDS

67 BRULE, Gilbert
14 EBERLE, Jordan
12 GREEN, Josh
56 HARTIKAINEN, Teemu
70 HAMILTON, Curtis
55 EAGER, Ben
93 NUGENT-HOPKINS, Ryan
42 O'MARRA, Ryan
37 PETRELL, Lennart
94 SMYTH, Ryan
54 VANDEVELDE, Chris

DEFENCE

41 CHORNEY, Taylor
88 DAVIDSON, Brandon
24 PECKHAM, Theo
58 PETRY, Jeff
44 POTTER, Corey
5   SMID, Ladislav

GOALTENDERS

40 DUBNYK, Devan
30 ROY, Olivier

Around the NHL - Western Conference Updates

With training camps well underway in all NHL cities, I wanted to take a look around the league and see how things are shaping up outside of Edmonton. Today the focus is on the Western Conference and tomorrow I will do the same for all teams in the Eastern Conference.. 

Ryan Whitney's Health Changes Things

 

When camp opened last weekend, word came down that the Oilers are looking at reducing Ryan Whitney's ice time to start the season. Instead of  logging his usual 25 minutes a night, the club plans on using him 18 - 20 minutes a night, in order to lighten the load on his surgically repaired ankle. With that being the case, the coaching staff will have to think long and hard as to who they decide to fill the seventh D man slot with. 

Joey Moss Cup - Team Blue 5 Team White 4

Team Blue scored three goals in the third to defeat Team White and win the annual Joey Moss Cup 5-3, in front of many starved Edmonton hockey fans. Goal scorers:

Team Blue  - Magnus Paajarvi, Philippe Cornet, Ryan Keller, Lennart Petrell and Antti Tyrvainen (en)


Team White - Jeff Petry,  Teemu Hartikainen, Tanner House

In all honesty, not much to take away from the scrimmage but a few things that stood out:

1. Jordan Eberle is an absolute joy to watch on a breakaway and his hands are unreal.
2. It really sucks that Hartikainen has very little chance to make this roster out of camp.I can not wait for this kid to be here full time and the more I see him play, the more I believe that he'll be able to score at this level. His has soft hands in tight...not a skill that many players possess.
3. Ryan Nugent - Hopkins did pull over a sweater that had number 93 on his back
4. Theo Peckham  has ditched number 49 in favour of 24
5. Could be very difficult to keep Jeff Petry off the opening night roster...especially if Ryan Whitney's minutes, as has been hinted at, are going to be reduced to start the season.
6. Classy move by Oiler fans to make Ryan Smyth feel like it was old times, nearly every time he came over the boards. Smyth will have a major impact in the room with this group while still being productive out on the ice.

Watch The Highlights
Post Game Comments

Game Day: Joey Moss Cup - Team Blue vs Team White

Time:      2:00pm
Where:   Rexall Place
Watch:    edmontonoilers.com
  

Camp Begins

As on ice sessions began Saturday morning at Rexall Place, it was evident the Edmonton Oilers coaching staff want to push the envelope from the get go...while putting together four lines that will get no complaints from yours truly. The trios I was hoping to see upfront seems as though they will be given a shot to start camp, be it at the Joey Moss Cup or in the clubs first couple of exhibition games.