Edmonton Oilers make changes, change nothing.

The Oilers made a high profile move today, acquiring Derek Roy from the Nashville Predators in exchange for Mark Arcobello. I assume the main goal was to bring in some veteran leadership to help push those young kids along.

I understand Arcobello isn't a major prospect, and an undersized forward isn't something you build your team around, but it's not like he's a total slouch.  A defensively responsible forward, he can handle minutes on the power play and penalty kill.  Plus, he's only in his second season and he's shown some signs of success in the NHL so far. And his 28 points in 15 AHL games while the NHL was locked out show his potential could actually be pretty high. Small Sample Size, I know...minor league, I know. This isn't the basis of my argument. Still, two points per game over double digit games is impressive, and it's not like this was in junior hockey when stats like those are more common. He was playing against professional hockey players.

Edmonton is full of young players, but that's exactly what a rebuilding team needs.  Just because it hasn't worked so far doesn't mean the solution is to get rid of young, cost controlled players for aging veterans(who are also undersized).  Arcobello is an RFA after this season and I can't imagine he'll demand a high cap hit. When your team already has $22 million locked away for Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Benoit Pouliot(!!!) for the next four plus seasons, a guy like Arcobello is exactly what they need, especially considering they'll need to worry about a Draisaitl contract extension in a couple years(and the Yakupov contract that expires this season). That's not even including the David Perron, Teddy Purcell, and to a lesser extent, Boyd Gordon contracts all expiring after next season.  They're going to be in some trouble financially pretty soon. Because there's only so much money you can devote to a group of forwards, especially when it's obvious their main problem is defence.

Plus...plus...Roy just finished clearing waivers. Like...JUST finished clearing waivers. If Edmonton wanted him, they could've just...had him. Without giving up anyone in the process.


Josh Cooper from Puck Daddy has a different opinion. He thinks the move was good for both teams(he was half right).  Using an Oilers Nation quote, he writes this:

Wait … but if Roy was on waivers, why did Oilers GM Craig MacTavish trade for him?

There is actually solid reasoning behind this says Oilers Nation:

 Arcobello is on a cheap, one-year contract worth $600,000; Roy is on a cheap, one-year contract worth $1.0 million. Arcobello has 12 points in 36 games; Roy has 10 points in 26 games ...

 ... For one thing, this reduces the dollars the team is taking on significantly

The team SIGNIFICANTLY reduces the amount of dollars it's taking on? The difference between $600,000 prorated and $1,000,000 prorated is going to be like $200,000. How is that significant? I know I mentioned earlier that the Oilers might be in trouble financially, but not this season. And if the difference between $200,000 is make-or-break, that's some kind of financial trouble.

and for another it doesn't add a contract to the 50-man list.

Ok, well that part makes sense, I guess...

And ...

They get a player who has been a more effective scorer at even-strength this season.

They get a veteran with 692 games of NHL experience rather than a sophomore who has yet to reach 82 games

When you put it that way it sounds like Edmonton got what it needed in this case.

Ok. I get it. Right now, Derek Roy might be a little bit better than Mark Arcobello. But your team is 7-22-7. You're ten points behind Buffalo. The Buffalo Sabres that are last place in shots per game AND shots allowed per game. BUFFALO. Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.  The BUFFALO!!!! SABRES!!!!!!!! RIVET!!!!!!

 

This seems like the kind of move a contender would make to bolster their roster before their playoff run. It's not going to do anything for Edmonton. First of all, it's been five years since Roy has had any sort of legitimate success in the NHL, and now that he's on the wrong side of 30, I can't imagine this will help resurrect his career. But more importantly, he signed a one year contract in the summer. I doubt very highly he's going to re-sign with Edmonton if he could potentially spend his twilight years on a contending team.

So what does this move do? Marginally improve the team now while hurting their future? Cool. Nice job. I mean, at this point the season's a total wash, so what's the upside to a slight roster improvement? Best case scenario with this deal is they move from 30th in the league to 29th or 28th, and then their odds at McDavid/Eichel go down.

But acquiring Roy wasn't all Edmonton did. No, no, no. They also acquired Matt Fraser from Boston in a waiver deal. Wow! Matt Fraser!  You might remember him as the centerpiece of the deal that sent Tyler Seguin to Dallas. Or, maybe not. Anyway, here's a picture of Matt Fraser whiffing on a slap shot and breaking his stick.

Nice form.

Apparently this is the only thing he's ever done, otherwise I assume they would've found a better picture of him.

A quick recap of what out buddy Matt brings to the table:

51 NHL games. 6 goals, 2 assists, 8 points. 17PIM, 65 hits 10:27ATOI, 25 career seconds short-handed, 13:22 career powerplay. So, a 4th liner who doesn't contribute on special teams, doesn't provide offence, and isn't overly physical.  Nice. A good depth move, says Oilers Nation. Hey, at least he's not undersized!

The only problem I see with this is that he adds a contract to the 50-man list.......

and for another it doesn't add a contract to the 50-man list.

Oops.

The King hath returned.

I've been catching a belly full of Hell from my fellow blogettes recently. And fair enough, it has been some time since I last posted. But it's the summer and the NHL doesn't have as much going on. Plus, my usual blogging computer was limited in the services it offered which didn't afford me convenient blogging opportunities.

Well, for now, those days are over. So let's make fun of someone.

You know it’s nearly August when Max Talbot saying he hates Alex Ovechkin before calling him a “real douche” while on Pittsburgh radio to promote the Winter Classic gets more publicity than the fact the Pens and Caps will actually play the Winter Classic Jan. 1 at Heinz Field. But that’s the way things go during the dog days of summer in NHL Land.

::panting:: Trying to...catch my....breath...from that....run-on sentence. Whew. Ok, yeah. First sign of nearly August: Max Talbot is on the radio.

So Talbot has added some fuel to what is essentially the best recent rivalry in hockey. But the question is which is the better team? In my mind there’s one clear answer: Pittsburgh.

Sure, there's an argument to be had there. It goes something along the lines of more depth, especially defensively. And, yes, I'll even say better goaltending.

Obviously Washington can boast oodles of talent – you don’t win the Presidents’ Trophy by eight points and score 45 more goals than the next best team without good players. But a loss to the Pens in Round 2 of the 2009 playoffs and an ouster at the hands of Montreal in the opening round last April proved the Capitals vulnerable.

And then Pittsburgh showed their veteran poise and captaincy and leadership and grit and heart and hustle and grind and eye-fire and eye-look and North American and put the whooping on Montreal in the very next round.

Also, what a blowout series that was in 09, too. I bet if they played game 7 in 2009 over and over and over again, Pittsburgh would always win. You think anything can happen in game 7?! That isn't why they play the game.

While Pittsburgh did lose to those same Canadiens one round later last May, the Pens also have a run to the 2008 Cup final and the 2009 Cup itself under their collective belt, no small feat in this day and age of NHL parity.

Why, pray tell, mention the Montreal series at all? It doesn't help your argument, which I may've mentioned earlier (I can't recall), and then you openly admit it.

And it took Pittsburgh 3 consecutive seasons of playoff qualification to win the Cup. Last year was Washington's third, so I guess they are a year behind the curve. I understand they lack a deep playoff run in "this day and age of NHL parity" but how much parity is there really? There are more teams than 15, 25, 50 years ago. With 6 teams and a lopsided system for obtaining amateur players, yeah, there might be some imbalance.

Pittsburgh, of course, has one or two talented players itself. But the Penguins’ post-season successes have steeled them to the rigors of hockey in springtime; they know how to win when it counts. Run ’n Gun will get you far in the regular season, but playoff hockey is a game unto itself. And the Caps have yet to learn how to play it.

How about explaining why? No? Yeah, fuck that. All you have said thus far, Mr. Grigg, is that Pittsburgh wins in the very shortened post-season and Washington does not. Is that your argument as to why the Penguins are a better team? That's wafer thin, sir. Or this is a monumentally long set up to the evidence. I'm biting my nails with anticipation.

Now, this may be Washington’s year. This could be the season Ovechkin’s sublime skills net him more than just the individual accolades he’s become accustomed to. This could be the year Alexander Semin starts going to the net and Mike Green remembers he’s a defenseman. But I don’t think so. Although Washington is still a team to beat in the East, Pittsburgh is the team to beat.

Sven: John Grigg, will this be Washington's year?
JG:This may be Washington’s year.
Sven: Oh, you think so?
JG: But I don’t think so.
Sven: Why not?
JG: But I don’t think so.
Sven:: Wait. You don't think so or you don't think you don't think so?
JG:: Washington is a team to beat.
Sven:: Well, uh, yeah, I guess. As are the Ducks, Thrashers, Bruins, Sabres, Flames, Hurricanes, Blackhawks, Avalanche, Blue Jackets, Stars, Red Wings, Oilers, Panthers, Kings, Faygosota Wild berry, Canadiens, Edmont-accidently-still-a-team Oilers, Devils, Rangers, Islanders, Flyers, Coyotes, Blades of Steel, The Landfill, Here a team, there a team, everywhere a team team, Rossman Health Care, KOYO Heat, Kyoto Heat, MSE, My Fist Your Face, LAGNAF, Salon Joelle, Rob Deer Pro Shop, Honky Tonk Badonkadonk, and the Penguins.
JG:: The Penguins are the team to beat.
Sven: You might be dumb.

Sorry, Caps fans. But the team you watched wilt under pressure in the post-season – the one that refused to go to the hard areas of the ice and fired volley after volley from the outside – is the same one GM George McPhee, so far, has on the 2010-11 menu. And that despite more than $5 million in cap space to play with.

First off, we don't know if Washington has a self-imposed salary cap. No one is looking at Atlanta and saying, "C'mon, you dumbass bums. You've got over $22 MILLION in cap space! Sign everyone!" We might assume that Washington has a limit, but then we make an ass out of John Grigg.

Also, again, we saw Pittsburgh "wilt under pressure" as well. Having 2 games to eliminate the daunting physical presence of the oversized Montreal Canadiens and failing to do so.

Yes, I know, Washington ran into the hottest goalie of the playoffs in Jaroslav Halak, but the team scored once – Once! – with the man advantage in 33 opportunities and lost to a squad that finished 26th in goals-scored with 103 fewer during the regular season. The Caps did manage 17 scores in a three-game span that series, but when the offense was silenced, the defense and goaltending was exposed.

In the final two games of the Montreal/Pittsburgh series, Pittsburgh was 1/11 on the power play including 0/6 in Game 7. Small sample size be damned. 8/28 in the series all together. But get this, their "defense and goaltending was exposed" no matter how the offense did. 7 game sample! Hoorah!

And that’s essentially the same defense and goaltending that’s back for another kick at Stanley’s can again this year. Not good enough, especially when your two current goaltenders have a total of 19 games of NHL playoff experience and zero beyond the second round.

Unlike the goalies in the 2010 Cup finals, who I think each have 19 CUPS. Fleury had 25 invaluable, experience-gaining games before the '09 playoffs and 5 before the '08 playoffs when Pittsburgh lost in the finals. Then there's Emery in '07. And Ward and Roloson and Markkanen in '06.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, suffered a similar fate against the Habs; the difference being GM Ray Shero went out and did something about it. Rather than overpay the aging Sergei Gonchar to stick around, Shero first took a stab at Dan Hamhuis by trading for his negotiating rights, then inked Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek.

While those two aren’t the flashiest of names, Martin is smart as a whip and about as underrated as they come, while Michalek is a hard-nosed, defense-first, shot-blocking machine. All of a sudden, Shero has assembled a blueline that looks more like the ones the Pens had in the 2008 and ’09 post-seasons than the one that crumbled in Round 2 of the 2010 playoffs. Couple that with Pittsburgh’s strength down the middle and the Pens are once again looking like the class of the conference.

Paul Martin is fast becoming one of those players where it is mention so often that he is underrated he is now overrated. Paul Martin is a what you see is what you get kinda player. He's decent. He's not going to be Gonchar on the power play and now there might be some injury potential there, just as there is with Sergei.

Also

08 Penguins Playoff defensemen: Gill, Gonchar, Letang, Orpik, Scuderi, Whitney
09 Penguins Playoff defensemen: Gill, Gonchar, Letang, Orpik, Scuderi, Eaton
10 Penguins Playoff defensemen: Goligoski, Gonchar, Letang, Orpik, Eaton, Leopold

That's a turnover of 2 each season. And Martin/Michalek > Gonchar/Leopold? Probably. Yeah. Nice job, Ray Shero.

That’s not to say everything is perfect with Pitt, there’s still a dearth of scoring wingers and bottom-end blueline depth, and not a lot of money to rectify those problems. But GM Ray Shero has shown a knack in the past for working those sorts of problems out as the season rolls along.

In the meantime, I’ll take Sid, Geno, Jordan, Fleury and the Pens’ blueline over Ovie, Backstrom, Semin and Green anytime – except in my regular season fantasy league.

Oh, you'll take 10 players over 4? Are you sure?

For the 09/10 record:
Ovechkin+Backstrom+Semin+Green=370 pts.
Sid+Geno+Jordan+Fleury+the Pens' blueline=401 pts.

Having 4 players seems unfair, but then when you look at it...

I still can't believe this guy used the Montreal series' in his argument. Pittsburgh is probably a better team and signing Martin and Zbynek were well moves. Washington only has 6 defensemen under contract and there has been major talk of them trading Fleischmann for either Bieksa or Souray which would certainly upgrade them at the back end.

Anyway, for now, I'm back.

I know nothing about stick and puck. This time I'll talk about stick and ball.

Armando Galarraga pitched against the Indians tonight. The last time he squared off against them it ended up being a memorable evening. This is what he had to offer about that game in an interview tonight.

“I will always feel happy about that game—it was a great moment for me,” Galarraga said. “I’d change the last call so I pitched my perfect game, but I’d never change anything else about that day.”


Would you? That's bold, Armando. Thanks for that.


Sorry, but that's all I've(That sounded like Sven. Something has to I guess. He sure doesn't anymore. Yeah. I called you out.). If I get bored I'll come up with my fantasy hockey roster, but don't count on it.

The trade deadline expired today

so let's make fun of a couple people!

First up, Darren Dreger...GIMME SOME NONSENSE!

When looking at who came away as winners on Trade Deadline Day, I think you have to mention the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Edmonton Oilers, with an honourable mention to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Carolina got zilch for The Wizard. I suppose it may've had something to do with his no-move clause, but at this point, send him to wherever he wants to go get anything in return. But I'm sure big double-D is going to justify his sentiment later in this piece.

He goes on to talk briefly about Pittsburgh. They made a nice move getting Ponikarovsky. No issue there.

For the Edmonton Oilers, you look at the swap of Olympians with Lubomir Visnovsky for Ryan Whitney.

Whitney isn't the offensive player that Vishnovsky is, but Whitney is a bit younger and has the potential to develop with some of the youth that exists in the Oilers organization. Perhaps that's key in the process too because it is all about the rebuild in Edmonton through the draft and free agency, and Whitney will be a big piece of that rebuild.

I have two bananas. One is getting a little brown for my liking, but still probably tastes pretty good. The other I just pulled out of the bunch and is plenty ripe and also I rammed it up my constipated asshole. GIMME THE RIPE.

When Whitney was getting top power play time in Pittsburgh, he put up some cute numbers. Easy to do when 3 of the game's best players are standing there waiting to either pass to or receive a pass from you. In Anaheim, he's been more-or-less invisible. By the time the Oilers complete the re-build, Whitney will be Visnovsky's age.

Also, I am a huge fan of giving yourself the odds. Is there an "H" in Lubo's last name? Just spell it once with and once without, that way you'll be 100% right 50% of the time one way or the other!

Another aspect of this deal is the finances. If you look across the board for Edmonton, truly this is why they are a winner. They could have as many as 10 draft picks this year and with expiring contracts, as much as $10 million to spend on unrestricted free agents.

Indeed the finances of this deal is another aspect. If you look across the board for Edmonton, truly this is why this was really fucking stupid. Whitney is due $4.5, $5, and $5.5 mil over the next 3 seasons. Lubo is due $6/$5/$3. After that both become UFAs. Whitney, over the next 3 years, is actually more expensive than Visnovsky. So unless Edmonton's big "rebuilding plan" is expected to take place ONLY next season, then this is double stupid. You got a lesser player who you'll have to pay more in the long run.

And yeah, they sure do have some "expiring contracts" which include but is not limited to, Sam Gagner, Gilbert Brule, J.F. Jacques, Andrew Cogliano, and Ryan Potulny who are all RFAs after this year, younger than Ryan Whitney and certainly part of their young, rebuilding process.

Unless, of course, we're considering those 10 potential draft choices as part of the process as well. It'll be years down the road before any of them start to make any type of impact. And Ryan Whitney will be well into his 30s by that point. And still bad at hockey.

On the other side of the spectrum is the Vancouver Canucks.

It's difficult on this day to identify a true loser, but the Canucks needed depth up front and didn't get that in Yan Stastny. He'll play in the American Hockey League and does provide depth in the organization.

However, the Canucks desperately needed depth on their backend on the blueline and I'm not sure they get that in Andrew Alberts.

Desperatley needed depth?

Bieksa (who is skating with the team and very close to returning)
Salo
Ehrhoff
Edler
O'Brien
and they sent down Lukowich to make room for Andrew Alberts.

Mitchell being out hurts them, but that's a pretty good blue line. One of the best in the League, I'd say.

The Canucks needed depth up front? Fuck the heck?

Vancouver is T-H-I-R-D in the NHL in goals for. Not third in the conference. Not third in the division. Not third in Canada. Not third from the bottom. Not the nerd on third with the knees like a bird. Third in the National Hockey League of National Hockey. They've got a 20 goal scorer on each line and Demitra who, if they gave individual medals during the Olympics in ice hockey, would probably get my vote for silver (behind Miller.)

And how about that hono(u)rable mention for Carolina? Gonna try and support that one? No, because you can't? OK!

Enough of Dreger's Drivel, let's hear some McKenzie Poppycock!

It was interesting to see the Nashville Predators' approach to the NHL trade deadline.

They had a 140 yards to the hole, over a pot bunker and into a 5-mph headwind. They used an 8-iron and left it pin high but way left and had to 3-putt from 65 feet out. What are we talking about?

The Predators got Denis Grebeshkov from the Edmonton Oilers and it paid immediate dividends, as they beat the Oilers and Grebeshkov provided a goal and an assist.

What a great pick up! If he get's his leg blown off by a Cody Franson slap shot tomorrow, it won't matter. Immediate dividends!

I heart me some Grebeshkov, but one nice game against the Edmontaccidently-still-in-the-league Oilers isn't exactly flattering.

They picked up Dustin Boyd who is a solid NHL forward. As they battle for a playoff spot, that certainly helps.

Yes, having players on the ice and not like at the barber shop or out enjoying a frozen custard certainly helps and, coincidentally by definition, being a forward and playing for the Nashville Predators makes you an NHL forawrd. Great analysis, thank you, Mr. McKenzie.

I really like David Poile. He is given nothing to work with and is able to field a competitive team each season. But I really don't understand this move. It's not like they gave up a ton (4th rounder), but this move just looks like adding bodies to add bodies. Maybe their plan is to replace Tootoo with absolutely anyone. Then, nevermind. Great job, David Poile.

Perhaps most important was what they didn't do, they did not trade defenceman Dan Hamhuis. I think that is an important consideration for the Predators. They could have traded him, and was certainly a market for him, but they decided to hang on to Hamhuis because they want to make a push to make the playoffs.

Word is the Flyers were offering up some fine T-day fixin's for old Honey baked Hamhuis, but Nashville's asking price was too high. Just curious what was on the Thanksgiving day trade table. Some Cran-Briererry sauce? Turkimmo Timonen? Chris Prongreen bean casserole? Some chicken Nodl soup? Draft'd potatoes? Ok, I'm done.

With Grebeshkov, Hamhuis, and Boyd in the lineup, the Nashville Predators are a much better team today than they were a few days ago.

Much better? With a player nobody cares about, a solid two-way defenseman, and a player they already had Nashville is "much" better?

Tough not to give Pittsburgh the nod as the team that made the best moves. Ponikarovsky might really tear it up with the Penguins. I know this shocks everyone who reads this, obviously I like who Phoenix added. Now, it'll depend on how they use them. Stempniak is flexible he can score, he can kill penalties, he can park in front of the net on a power play or play the left point. Wolski has a reputation for being lazy. I don't know how true that is as practice ice is rarely seen.

Don't overlook Atlanta picking up Clarke MacArthur either. He's on pace for 17 goals in just over 14 minutes/game which isn't bad. Same as last season, playing on the 2nd powerplay unit and third scoring line. Put him with some talent and he could blossom.