All Entries in the "Edmonton Oilers" Category
Rink Recollections: Jeff Odgers, NHL, 1991-2003
By Brian D’Ambrosio Jeff Odgers played every NHL game as if it were his final. He never took a game for granted –scared that his career could fade away at any moment. Odgers scrapped and gritted his way onto the roster and he made sure he never provided his coaches with a sufficient reason to [...]
Honey, I Lost the Kids (part 2 of 2)
In the first part of this epic, we promised three pieces of evidence to explain how Garth Snow does things with the sole intention of job preservation. We pointed out how he is relatively awful at drafting in part one. Part two will speak to other shortcomings, starting here: Two- Garth Snow uses salary cap [...]
Honey, I Lost the Kids – part one of two
It’s almost like a reflex when you ask hockey fans about the best way to build a winner “It’s the draft!” Drafting allow you to develop players or trade for established ones. Since the Isles have had no playoffs since 07-08, they’ve been in rebuild mode. We’re going to look at this draft rebuild with [...]
Hockey Myths Exposed – Defensemen Need Time to Develop
Anyone who has watched more than a handful of hockey games gets serenaded with statements that are undisputed in the hockey world, but in reality it doesnt make a lot of sense. We’ve already disproved the myth that power forwards need years to develop in our article “Ninogate,” in which we use the “talent is [...]
Jim Agnew: Ex- NHL Tough Guy Turned Missoula, Montana Sheriff
By Brian D’Ambrosio Jim Agnew is a man in uniform who is most deeply proud of being a wholehearted team player. These days, he buttons up a beige and brown shirt before excitedly starting his work time as a deputy sheriff in Missoula, Montana. In earlier years, he wore another type of distinguishing outfit, [...]
Destination Unknown, part four
Part Four: The most important rebuild of all After covering all aspects of the Snow rebuild – the on ice acquisitions, the redevelopment of a minor league system, the new arena’s impact on free agency- there is one area that is in DIRE need to a rebuild, more than even the outdoor concession stands at [...]
Destination Unknown, Part 3
Part Three: Free Agents aren’t actually Free Chronicling the failures of the Garth Snow regime takes time, energy, and ideally, beer. In fact, watching the Islanders play is best done through a haze of sudsy goodness. We suggest that if you’re looking for a Belgian Style ale that’s full of deliciousness, you’d be good to [...]
Destination Unknown, part 1
When it comes to the Islanders, there are two storied histories. One is the epic run including 19 consecutive playoff series wins, something not done by the likes of Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Terry Bradshaw, or whatever teams you associate with winners. Speaking of associating with winners, one team that is universally not associated [...]
The Lamentation of the General Manager
The lamentation of the general…manager. In any sports organization, there are people whose job it is to overlook the daily grind of all levels of operation. And there are people whose job it is to create a long term vision for the organization so that prospects will develop in time to replace roster players. [...]
Hockey Independent Roundtable: Preseason Stanley Cup Predictions
Hello everyone and welcome again to the Hockey Independent Roundtable. In today’s piece, five HI writers will provide you all with their early picks for the playoffs ad the Stanley Cup. This piece will double as Part III of my five-part 2013 NHL season preview. Part I –> Northeast Division Preview Part II –> Eastern [...]
Jay Wells: Rugged Defenseman Reflects on Scrappy 18-Year NHL Career
By Brian D’Ambrosio Jay Wells selflessly battled numerous enforcers of substantial note: Bob Probert, Jay Miller, Dave Brown (a few times) and Marty McSorley, among the list. One of the game’s exemplary teammates, his career spanned from 1979 to 1997, a period in which Wells stood up to the roughest individuals to ever to patrol [...]
Hockey’s Christmas: 10 Predictions For 2012 Free Agency
In many ways, July 1 and the opening of unrestricted free agency is much like Christmas for hockey fans. Puck heads wake up early and rush to their living rooms early in the morning. But instead of checking underneath a Christmas tree, they’ll make a beeline straight towards the nearest computer. As the clock strikes [...]
2012 Hockey Independent Mock Draft: Final Wrap-Up
The Hockey Independent crew has come together again; this time to piece together a 2012 NHL Mock Draft for your reading pleasure. The contributing authors to today’s piece will be Cris Cohen (New York Rangers), Seth Levin (New Jersey Devils), Alex Muscat (Detroit Red Wings), Bill Philp (Tampa Bay Lightning) and myself, Benjamin Woodward [...]
2012 Hockey Independent Mock Draft: Selections 1-5; The Future Stars
The Hockey Independent crew has come together again; this time to piece together a 2012 NHL Mock Draft for your reading pleasure. The contributing authors to today’s piece will be Cris Cohen (New York Rangers), Seth Levin (New Jersey Devils), Alex Muscat (Detroit Red Wings), Bill Philp (Tampa Bay Lightning) and myself, Benjamin Woodward (Boston [...]
CONCUSSIONS KILLING HOCKEY
Speed and offense are now the kings in the present day NHL. A focus on players with those very attributes took over drafts and team on-ice strategies. Slower skaters have slowly been fazed out, especially those pugilistic specialists who all too often didn’t quite have the same skill sets and strides of their respective teammates. [...]
Taylor Vs. Tyler: The Debate Rages On
Both are 19 years old. Both lead their OHL squads in points a mere two seasons ago. Both have won Cups. Both were selected at the top of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles, CA. More importantly, both are currently staples on their respective team’s first line. For months leading up to the [...]
GOON: The Hockey Movie Preview
GOON: In our support of the lack of hockey movies, comes this info from the movie company to us. “We have a great throwback hockey movie coming out and we would love to get your support. Its violent and insanely funny.” Starring Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill and Liev Schreiber Written by [...]
PAT LAFONTAINE AND STEVE WEBB TO RIDE 550 MILES FOR CHARITY
We here at HI support this effort by Pat LaFontaine and Steve Webb, and personally implore you to give just anything you can in support of this…. HOCKEY LEGENDS PAT LAFONTAINE AND STEVE WEBB TO RIDE 550 MILES FOR W20 FOUNDATION AND COMPANIONS IN COURAGE FOUNDATION NEW YORK (September 19, 2011) –NHL alumnus Steve Webb [...]
Ethan Moreau ready for LA, moving on from Edmonton and Columbus
Last week, Ethan Moreau got his first taste of being inside Staples Center as a member of the Kings. It between observing the work being done to the ice and taking photos with other guests, he shared several thoughts about signing his recent deal with Los Angeles. First off, even though it’s a one-year contract, [...]
Season Predictions Part 2: Canucks Poised For A Repeat?
Hello again, and welcome to Part II of my 4-Part NHL season preview. In part I, I gave you all my Eastern Conference Predictions. In part 2, I will give you my predictions for the Western Conference. I will approach these predictions a bit differently than I did those for the Eastern Conference. Today, [...]
