Offer Sheets

Over the last number years, it has almost become an annual tradition for fans of the Edmonton Oilers to concoct a list of potential restricted free agents for the organization to target by going the route of the always popular offer sheet.  During each and every one of those occasions, there has always been a so-called primary target and this year that appears to be Boston Bruins blueliner Dougie Hamilton.

Close But No Cigar

Despite being severely hampered by the absence of Taylor Hall and Benoit Pouliot from their starting lineup and coming off what was just a dreadful performance in losing 5-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, the Edmonton Oilers have responded with a pair of splendid efforts against the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders. 

Belov and Rimmer impress in debut

On a night in which the Vancouver Canucks had just one of their regular core players in the lineup, that being Alex Edler, the Edmonton Oilers had little trouble in earning a 5-2 victory over their Pacific Division rival in Saturday night NHL exhibition action. Defenceman Anton Belov made his long-awaited debut in Oilers silks, as the free agent signing was paired with fellow Russian blueliner Denis Grebeshkov.

Eakins may need Perron and Hemsky to play a different role

Heading into training camp, almost everyone felt the Edmonton Oilers top six forwards were pretty much set in stone. While Ryan Nugent-Hopkins may end up  missing a handful of games to start the year, the spots on the Oilers top two lines looked to be earmarked for Jordan Eberle, Sam Gagner, Taylor Hall, RNH, David Perron and Nail Yakupov.

Joensuu steals the show, as Oilers spilt with Flames

On a night in which the Edmonton Oilers opened up both the home and road portions of their 2013 exhibition schedule, a pair of late rallies from the Calgary Flames sent both teams home as winners and losers on the night. 

Opportunity knocks for Ryan Hamilton and Linus Omark

The Edmonton Oilers kickoff their eight game pre-season schedule on Saturday night, with a pair of split squad games against the Calgary Flames. Head coach Dallas Eakins has wasted little time in seeing how Taylor Hall adjusts to playing centre, slotting the Oilers leading scorer between Ales Hemsky and Ryan Smyth for tonight's opener at Rexall Place. However, the most intriguing combos on the night will see Linus Omark, Mark Arcobello and Nail Yakupov lineup together in Edmonton, while the trio of Ryan Hamilton, Sam Gagner and Jordan Eberle will lead the charge down south

2013-14 Preview: Jones will get his opportunity to rebound

After putting together a pair of very productive campaigns during his first two years in Edmonton Oilers silks, the 2012-13 season was one Ryan Jones would love to forget. It started with the NHL Lockout, was followed by a freak eye injury that ultimately required surgery and nearly cost him his career. Upon returning to the Oilers lineup in late February, Jones struggled with his confidence and never found his game.

Joensuu will be given a real shot at earning a top nine spot

Of all the moves Craig MacTavish has made during his first off-season as general manager of the Edmonton Oilers, none have been more surprising than the signing of Jesse Joensuu. While bringing in the likes of the former second round pick of the New York Islanders is by no means a shocker, inking him to a 2 year/$1.9  million deal, raised more than a few eyebrows.

Oilers add Jones to a suddenly overcrowded forward group

2013 was a tough year for Edmonton Oilers winger Ryan Jones. Thanks to the NHL Lockout, Jones was unable to start what would have been his third full season in Orange and Blue and final year of his contract, on time. To make matters worse, he suffered a freak eye injury in late December, delaying the start of his year even further and ultimately cost him the first month of the season.

MacTavish starts reconstruction of Oilers roster

 

It started with the trading of captain Shawn Horcoff on Thursday evening and continued early Friday morning. Everyone was expecting Craig MacTavish to be busy on the opening day of unrestricted free agency and the Edmonton Oilers GM did not disappoint. The organization wasted little time in announcing a trio of the signings, veteran defenceman Andrew Ference, centre Boyd Gordon and goaltender Jason Labarbera.

Game 55: Edmonton 4 Ottawa 3 (OT)

It seemed rather fitting, that on the day the Ottawa Senators honoured # 4 Chris Phillips, it was the Oilers # 4, Taylor Hall, who would be the difference maker. The former first overall selection scored seventeen seconds into OT and propelled  the visitors to a 4-3 victory to kick off CBC's coverage of Hockey Day in Canada. Netminder Nikolai Khabibulin stole the show stopping thirty-nine shots and forward Magnus Paajarvi, scored his first goal of the season after being held off the score sheet the previous thirty-four games.

Young Stars Tournament: Oilers 7 Canucks 2

It was nice to finally get a chance to watch hockey again...that involved the Edmonton Oilers silks. While Edmonton's 7-2 victory over Vancouver did not tells us much, as the Canucks "Young Stars" were awful, I am always up for an Edmonton drubbing of Vancouver.

In what turned out to be a very one sided game, the Oiler youngsters simply imposed their will on the Vancouver prospects. What really stood out from an Oilers perspective, was the shear size of the team and the fact that they dominated the physical side of the game...if not the fisticuffs. It is clear that finishing out of the playoffs the last five seasons, has allowed the organization to fill its cupboards with an abundance of quality prospects and fans are starting to see signs of what the future may hold. While first overall selection Ryan Nugent-Hopkins looked very good at times last night, a trio of players stood out: Anton Lander, Curtis Hamilton and David Musil.