2011-2012 NHL Predictions

It is that time of year. The 2011-12 NHL season is upon us. So many changes have happened since the Bruins hoisted the Stanley Cup in Vancouver.

1. Washington Capitals (115 pts)

Despite fantastic regular seasons year after year, Ovechkin and the Caps are unable to put it together come playoff time. Goaltending has been their Achilles Heel for some time, but with the acquisition of Tomas Vokoun, that issue may possibly be put to rest. A capable and experienced goaltender and depth players like Troy Brouwer, Jeff Harplen and Joel Ward added to their offensively dynamic roster, the Caps might get over the hump of past playoff disappointments. Superstar Alex Ovechkin had a career low in points and goals in 2010-11 and looks to bounce back and rekindle that scoring touch he had in previous years. With the Caps rebuilt, and Ovechkin hungry, look for them to go farther than they ever did before. All pressure is on coach Bruce Boudreau on whether he can get it done when it matters.

2. Buffalo Sabres (108 pts)
The Sabres came into the league as an expansion team in 1970 along with the Vancouver Canucks. Yet coincidentally, both teams have yet to win a Stanley Cup, though the latter came one game short last June. This season, as Vancouver suffers from the Stanley Cup run hangover, the Sabres are ushering in  a new era as Terry Pegula, the new owner of the Sabres, who is determined to bring change to this long-suffering franchise. Years of penny pinching days under the old regime of Regier and Quinn are over and  with the addition of Robyn Reghr, Christian Erhoff, and Ville Leino, the Sabres have shown signs of willingness to spend money in order to compete for the cup. With the backend loaded with Erhoff, Reghr, and youngster Myers, a formidable offense led by Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville, and a healthy Derek Roy, and arguably one of the top goalies in the NHL, Ryan Miller, look for the Sabres to reach the pinnacle of professional hockey as they bring Lord Stanley's mug to title-starved Buffalo.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins (100 pts)

Crosby and Malkin were both out with injuries yet the Penguins still remained in contention last year. The Penguins were up 3-1 against Tampa in the first round before losing the next three. If the Penguins are to have any chance of winning their fourth Stanley Cup, Crosby and Malkin need to be healthy! However, with Crosby's concussion recovery questionable, Crosby may be limited to a few games. Even if Crosby is cleared to play, post-concussion syndrome may have a negative impact on his play. During the off-season, the Penguins did lose Max Talbot, hero of the 2009 Stanley Cup win which could hurt Pittsburgh's depth. However, last season, Penguins added James Neal who should be a formidable winger that could play with Crosby and/or Malkin. In my mind, this team is way too deep to miss the playoffs.

4. Boston Bruins (106 pts)

Unlike last years Blackhawks, the Bruins didn't lose a significant chunk of their depth players from their Stanley Cup winning team. This year's version of the team could very well repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Zdeno Chara (King Leionidas) is still one of the top defenseman in the league and Tim Thomas is still kicking it in despite his age. Tyler Seguin, the 2nd overall pick from 2010, looks to take the next step in his development. However, with a short off-season and teams in the Eastern Conference all getting better, it would be hard-pressed to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions. The last defending champion to win a Stanley Cup was the 1997-98 Red Wings. Don't be surprised if the Bruins fall flat early in the playoffs to an upstart team. It just goes to show how hard it is to repeat as champion, especially in the post-lockout era.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning (103 pts)
It seems wherever Steve Yzerman goes, success follows. Ever since Yzerman took over the GM reigns in Tampa, the franchise has been turned around and brought back to respectability. Led by their young stars Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman, and the soon-to-be 42 year old goalie Dwayne Roloson, the Lightning are looking to to build off from their impressive playoff run where they finished one game short of their second Stanley Cup Finals appearance in franchise history. Losing Simon Gagne may hurt them depth wise but this is a very young team that can be very dangerous in the post-season, as shown last year. This is my darkhorse pick for possible Stanley Cup champions. Don't be surprised to see the Lightning skating off with Lord Stanley's mug next June.

6. New Jersey Devils (95 pts)
Coming off a very disappointing season last year, the Devils are going into this season determined to prove everybody that last season was nothing but a flukey bad year. Even I have to admit, I believe this is a good team that had a terribly bad season. The first half of last season was dismal to say the least for Jersey, but cranked it up a notch in the second half, almost bringing the team back into playoff contention. Kovalchuk's second half turnaround was key in the Devil's second half surge and he's looking to build off that momentum. With a healthy Zach Parise, and key acquisitions like Eric Boulton and Cam Janssen, the Devils are primed for a turnaround in 2011-12. However, Brodeur is showing signs of aging as the man who was the backbone for this organization is at the twilight of his career. The Devils do have a bright spot in rookie Adam Larsson, who was drafted by the Devils 4th overall and look for him to be in contention for the Calder. 

7. New York Rangers (93 pts)

The good ole New York Rangers. Spend, Spend, Spend. Acquire the most sought after free agent in the market in hopes of producing a championship caliber team. This off-season is no different as the Rangers signed the most sought after free agent in the market, Brad Richards to a lucrative 9 year worth $60 million contract. Adding Richards will give the Rangers a premiere number one centre to play with Marian Gaborik. With the talent added, the Rangers should be among one of the NHL elites but like so many previous Rangers team, signing a top free agent doesn't always equal success. This year, should be no different as the Rangers will again be a playoff bubble team. However, come playoff team, this Rangers team does have potential of causing uneasiness among the Eastern elites.

8. Philadelphia Flyers (91 pts)

Only a year after the Flyers made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, the Flyers decided to change directions and cut ties with their two biggest stars. Jeff Carter was dealt to Columbus for Jakub Voracek, 1st round pick in 2011 (Sean Couturier), and  3rd round pick in 2011 (Nick Cousins) and Mike Richards was dealt to LA for Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn and 2012 2nd round pick. Other additions include goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, a team need, Max Talbot, and Jaromir Jagr. GM Paul Holmgrem felt it was necessary for the franchise to change directions. Despite all that, the Flyers still possess strong veteran defenseman in Chris Pronger, scoring forward Daniel Briere, and many others. In addition, they finally added a capable goaltender in Bryzgalov. Look for the Flyers to struggle with the new chemistry but they sneak in the 8th and final spot in the East. And this Flyers team still possesses the ingredients to pull off an upset against the 1st placed Capitals and don't be surprised if that was to happen.

9. Montreal Canadiens (90 pts)
Ever since Pierre Gauthier dealt Jaroslav Halak to St. Louis after that amazing 2010 playoff run, all eyes were on Carey Price. Last season, Price proved his doubters wrong as he posted respectable record. With players like Markov and Georges healthy, the Canadiens look to build off a relatively successful season last season and hope to put a disappointing first round loss to eventual Stanley Cup winner Boston Bruins behind them. P.K. Subban looks to take his game to the next level as he becomes one of the leagues best young defenseman. However, with teams below and above them getting better and the Devils, bouncing back into the playoffs in 2012, it seems like the Habs are the most likely playoff team from last season to slip out of the top 8 this year.

10. Carolina Hurricanes (88 pts)

Jeff Skinner was a pleasant surprise last season as he out-performed fellow draftee and first overall pick Taylor Hall and won the Calder Trophy. This year, Skinner looks to build off his successful rookie season as he hopes to avoid suffering the dreaded sophomore jinx. Despite missing the playoffs four times in six years, it wasn't long ago that the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup. Eric Staal and Cam Ward, both of whom won a Stanley Cup back in 2006 are hungry to get the Hurricanes back to cup contention. With the addition of Tomas Kaberle, the Hurricanes hope to make the push for the Top 8. However, the East has gotten a lot stronger and the Hurricanes have work cut out for them. Look for them to be in the fight all year but fall short.

11. Toronto Maple Leafs (85 pts)
James Reimer has brought hope to a city that hasn't seen a Stanley Cup parade since 1967 and playoff hockey since 2004. This year, it will be no different. Reimer may have had a decent season but imagine the pressure and scrutiny he will be under all year from the Toronto fans and media. All eyes will be on him. Brian Burke may have gotten the Leafs "better", but there are still teams above them that are much better and it will be a challenge for the Leafs to make it to the top 8. An injury prone Tim Connolly as their first line centre might or might not be the solution. Too many question marks surrounding this team for the Leafs to be successful this year. Can Kessel and Phaneuf play consistent? Can Clarke MacArthur duplicate his successful season from last year? Can Reimer replicate his outstanding play from last year? Can Nazem Kadri make an impact? The Leafs have work cut out for them and a lot of factors have to go their way for them to reach the Top 8.

12. New York Islanders (84 pts)

This year, the Isles won't be pushovers. With this team brimming with young talent, the Islanders are looking to take the next step and bring this once proud four-time Stanley Cup winning dynasty back to glory. John Tavares, Nino Niederriter, Ryan Strome, Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, Michael Grabner, and Matt Moulson make up a good strong core for the future. Last season, the Islanders had a dismal first half but were able to put together a decent second half and this year, they're looking to build off and ride that momentum. The Islanders look like they are 2 years away but with the direction of the management (Wang and Snow), I sometimes question whether the Islanders potential could fully be reached. It will be interesting and fun to watch this team grow this season. However, the Islanders will be mired in off-ice issues as Charles Wang continues to search for a solution to find a new arena to replace the outdated Nassau Coliseum.

13. Winnipeg Jets (82 pts)

After a 15 year hiatus, the Winnipeg Jets are back in town. WELCOME BACK WINNIPEG! Years and years of speculation of when the Jets will come back has finally became reality. Although, it wasn't Phoenix, the original Winnipeg Jets franchise, Canadians are just glad that one of Bettman's southern US markets failed and moved to a market that embraces hockey. With all the excitement of having the Jets back, don't expect the season to be exciting as the Jets are forced to play in the Southeast division in place of the now defunct Atlanta Thrashers. Travel will be an issue for the Jets this year.The Jets will have plenty of young talent to work with and a good chunk of players from the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks team (notably Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien) so do not expect the Jets to be pushovers. The best thing about this Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets franchise is playing in front of sold out crowds. Finally a crowd that loves hockey.

14. Florida Panthers (81 pts)
As miserable this team has been over the past decade, I have to admit, Dale Tallon has pointed this franchise in the right direction. We can't forget that Tallon has built the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks Cup winning team and he's molding the Panthers in the same vision. Some players from the 2010 Hawks team include Kris Versteeg, Brian Campbell, and Tomas Kopecky. However, despite signing a good load of new players, they've also lost Tomas Vokoun who has been their number one goalie. Jose Theodore may or may not be the man, but look for the Panthers to improve but not enough as the Eastern Conference gets more and more competitive. On a positive note, attendance might go up due to the ongoing NBA Lockout which is expected to wipe out the 2011-12 NBA Season. Did I mention that Lebron James have the same amount of rings as the Florida Panthers franchise?

15. Ottawa Senators (71 pts)
The 2010-11 Season was a disaster in the Nations Capital. The Senators missed the playoffs for the second time in 3 years and are primed to miss the playoffs again this year as they embark on their rebuilding process. On a bright note, the Sens farm team, the Binghampton Senators won the AHL Calder Cup, which will give this franchise hope for the future, however, the road back to respectability is going to be long and hard as the Sens look to start off their rebuilding season with a high draft pick in 2012. Also expect, either Spezza and/or Alfreddsson to be moved at the deadline to contenders. Alfie deserves a cup, do the right thing Bryan Murray!

1. Los Angeles Kings (118 pts)
Back in Black! With the addition of Mike Richards their already deep roster with the likes of Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Jack Johnson, and Drew Doughty (barring contract negotations), the LA Kings are primed to make noise in the NHL by capturing their first division title since 1991 and their first ever President's Trophy. Mike Richards did come at a hefty price as they had to let go of promising forwards Wayne Simmonds and prospect Brayden Schenn. No doubt this will be a strong and exciting team as Lombardi has done a fine job tuning and rebuilding the Kings from scratch. However, with rebuilding over, the Kings are ready to contend for the Stanley Cup! But like many other teams that win championships, look for the Kings to encounter more playoff disappointment as part of their quest for their first Stanley Cup continues.

2. Vancouver Canucks (111 pts)
The Canucks will likely ice the same team as last year, but their biggest lost came from defense as Christian Erhoff signed a lucrative offer to play in Buffalo. The Canucks hope to use their cup loss last year as motivation to win it next season. However, don't be surprised if the Canucks show signs of playoff hangover come April as they face off Chicago in the first round, a team that is determined to get back in the Stanley Cup mix. Will Luongo finally shed his choker label or will the Canucks endure another season empty handed with zero cups? Can the Sedins and Ryan Kesler elevate their play in the playoffs? Still lot of questions surrounding this team on whether they can get it done in the playoffs. Time is ticking for the Canucks and their window of opportunity will soon close if the Canucks don't find a way to do it when it counts the most.

3. Detroit Red Wings (104 pts)
The wise old men from Motor City look to make a run for the cup one last time. Nicklas Lidstrom, the man who has been the anchor of the team's defense for 20 years look to make one final run for the cup. Don't be surprised to see the Wings skate with Lord Stanley in what could be Lidstrom's final hurrah. This is a veteran team, full of men who knows what it takes to win. Not to mention, this is a team that almost came back from a 3-0 deficit against San Jose. Look for Jimmy Howard to continue to build on his resume and become one of the leagues finest young goalies. Pavel Datsyuk is still one of the league's most exciting and explosive players and Henrik Zetterburg is still one of the league's best two way forwards. The Wings still have the pieces to make one final run for the cup and this year could be the last if Lidstrom does decide to retire next season.

4. San Jose Sharks (109 pts)

 After making it into the Conference Finals for two straight years, the Sharks shook things up by shipping Dany Heatley and Devon Setoguchi for Brent Burns and Martin Havlat. Adding Brent Burns will give the Sharks a dynamic defenseman to play with Dan Boyle and shipping off Heatley will alleviate cap space. Havlat may be injury prone but he comes cheap and is still a legitimate scoring threat that the Sharks can use. With youngsters like Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture on the rise and veterans Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau still part of the core, the Sharks look like they are finally ready to take the next step and reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Once they reach the Finals, anything can happen. Look for them to put behind years of playoff disappointment as the Sharks reach the Finals for their first time in franchise history.

5. Anaheim Ducks (102 pts)
Fresh off a career and Hart Trophy winning year, Corey Perry is looking to build off that in hopes of bringing the cup back to the West Coast. The Ducks have a solid group of forwards including Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Bobby Ryan. On defense, it consists of Lubomir Visnovsky, Francois Beauchemin, and youngster Cam Fowler. In net, Jonas Hiller who posted respectable numbers will look to build off those numbers in 2011-12. Look for the Ducks to have a respectable season as they try and recapture the glory of the 2007 Stanley Cup. However, work will be cut out for them as they play in a highly competitive Pacific Division. The Ducks definitely have the tools to make a run for the Stanley Cup and do not be surprised if they throw a scare at some of the top dogs in the West.

6. Nashville Predators (98 pts)

 It seems every year I predict the Predators to miss the playoffs, they find a way to sneak in. This year will be no different as the Preds look to build off their successful playoff run where they reached the second round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The Predators possess a strong group of defenseman including Ryan Suter and of course Shea Weber who is in his contract year. Pekka Rinne is one of the league's most underrated goaltenders. Part of the reason why the Predators have been successful in making the playoffs is due to one man, coach Barry Trotz who has been with the franchise since its inception in 1998. Barry Trotz has one of the smartest hockey minds, there has to be a reason why the Preds compete year after year despite sustainining losses via free agency. However, this could be the last season we see Weber in a Predators uniform as he only signed a one year deal as opposed to a multi-year deal.

7. Chicago Blackhawks (94 pts)
Blackhawks losses continue as Kopecky, Campbell, and Brouwer are all gone, making the current Blackhawks team a shell of the 2010 Cup winning team. The new version of the Blackhawks are hoping to recapture the glory of their 2010 Championship but that will be hard-pressed. The Blackhawks still have their main core in tact: Jonathan Toews, Pat Kane, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Dave Bolland and Marian Hossa. And with the rise of Corey Crawford and Brian Bickell, the Hawks still have the tools to be a playoff contender. The Hawks may be reduced to a playoff contender as opposed to a cup contender but do not be surprised if they pull a few upsets along the way. This team still has a core group of guys that won a Stanley Cup two seasons ago!

8. Edmonton Oilers (88 pts) - 40 wins
The kids are one year wiser. Dubnyk is going to take the next step and be a pleasant surprise. Ryan Whitney is healthy and looking to rejuvenate the blueline along with youngsters Jeff Petry and Theo Peckham. Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi, Sam Gagner, and Linus Omark are looking to build off last season and have career years. Ales Hemsky is back to add even greater offense. During free agency, Tambellini brought in Ben Eager, Darcy Hordichuk, Eric Belanger, Cam Barker, and Andy Sutton which adds toughness, something the Oilers lacked. And not to mention, the Oilers brought back Ryan Smyth, the heart and soul of the team. Look for playoff hockey to return to Oil Country after a five year hiatus. It will be a dogfight for the 8th and final spot as the Oilers come out on top.

9. St. Louis Blues (88) - 39 wins
The Blues have all the tools to be a playoff contender. Young talent, solid young defense, and solid goaltending Jaroslav Halak. However, this is also a team that gave up former 1st overall pick Erik Johnson, a trade they might regret down the road. The Blues offense consists of David Backes, TJ Oshie, Patrik Berglund, and Chris Stewart. Defense include Kevin Shattenkirk, Alex Pietrangelo, and Barret Jackman. The Blues have all the tools to make the playoffs but it will be an uphill as the Oilers and Blue Jackets vy for that 8th and final spot in a three way battle for 8th. Expect the St. Louis Blues to be in the playoff fight all season long and do not be surprised if the Blues do sneak in and throw a scare at some of the top teams in the West, especially when Halak is in net, who is especially dangerous and unpredictable come playoff time.    

10. Columbus Blue Jackets (88 pts) - 39 wins
Scott Howson finally realized that sitting idle and hoping for the best isn't going to bring respectability to a franchise that has only made the playoffs once and subsequently, that year, they were swept. The Jackets have built around Rick Nash and have finally found the number one centre in Jeff Carter to feed him the puck. However, Carter came at a price as they were forced to give up Voracek, and two draft picks in hopes of bringing this team into the top 8 in a very competitive Western Conference. IF Steve Mason can replicate his Calder Trophy winning season, the Jackets have a very good chance of being in the Top 8. Regardless, this Jackets team is improved tremendously and will compete for a playoff spot from start to finish.

11. Minnesota Wild (86 pts)
Dany Heatley and Devon Setoguchi will add offense, no doubt, but it came at a price of defense. The Wild's main problem last season was scoring and adding a player like Dany Heatley should alleviate some of those problems. However, in a strong and competitive Western Conference, it is going to take more than strong offense to make the Top 8. Losing Brent Burns will hurt defensively for the team. A team that was traditionally built on defense-first is going through an identity crisis as the Wild will struggle to cope with a new offense first system. Mike Yeoh will have his work cut out for him if playoff hockey is to return to the State of Hockey. Sadly, this team seems like its drifting nowhere and directionless.


12. Colorado Avalanche (81 pts)
The Avs were a surprise in 2010, making the playoffs a year after they finished with a franchise worst in 2008-09. In 2010-11, the Avs fell back to earth hard. The first half, the Avs looked decent, but the second half, the Avs fell apart. They plummetted all the way down to 2nd last but thankfully, they were able to acquire the 2nd overall pick in Gabriel Landeskog. In addition, the Avs acquired two goalies Semyon Varlamov and JS Giguere in hopes of solving the goaltending issue that's been plaguing this franchise since Patrick Roy's retirement. However, they will be hard-pressed because the West is too strong. Look for the Avs to be better but have its fair share of struggle as they continue with their rebuilding process. Bringing Joe Sakic to the management team might help but who knows.

13. Calgary Flames (75 pts)

This is it Calgary. The tide has turned in the Battle of Alberta. It is your turn to endure the long suffering last place finishes. This is your chance to rebuild. There is no elite prospects in the system, no young players that can step up and replace aging veterans. Kipper and Iginla are both in the twilight of their careers and have yet to win a Stanley Cup. Jay Bouwmeester has been a complete flop of a free agent signing. The best thing that can happen for Calgary is to let the bottom cave in, trade Iginla and Kipper to a contender and let the rebuild begin. Rebuilding is inevitable and since the Flames won't win a cup anytime soon, might as well "Fail for Nail". Feaster has his work cut out for him with all the mess Darryl Sutter left behind.

14. Phoenix Coyotes (66 pts)
It's not a matter of how the Coyotes are going to do this year, it's a matter of where the Coyotes will play after this season. I can almost assure you that the Coyotes will play one final season in the desert before they get moved to either Quebec City, Hamilton or Seattle. There is no chance in hell the City of Glendale is going to fund another $25 million dollars of public money to keep the Coyotes for another season. The clock is ticking to find an owner willing to bleed money for a franchise that doesn't have the fanbase to sustain it. Atlanta has shown the world it's not a hockey market and Phoenix is definitely not a hockey market. Bettman, do yourself and the league a favour and put this mutt out of its misery. The Coyotes will plummet down the standings due to lack of goaltending and off-ice distraction.


15. Dallas Stars (58 pts)

North Texans have plenty to cheer about. The Texas Rangers look like they'll be contending for a World Series. The Dallas Mavericks are fresh off a championship win. The Cowboys are..well America's Team. And then you got the Stars. At this point, the Dallas Stars are an afterthought in the Big-D sports scene. Brad Richards bolted to the NY Rangers for nothing. The Stars lack quality prospects. Lot of holes in this team. Jamie Benn may be the only bright spot on this dreadful team. The best thing for this Dallas team is to blow this team up and start afresh. Expect the Dallas Stars to suck! And when I say suck, I mean, they will suck!! HARD!!! Nail Yakupov, this is your new home!

PLAYOFFS 2012

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Washington over Philadelphia 
Buffalo over NY Rangers
Pittsburgh over New Jersey
Tampa Bay over Boston

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Los Angeles over Edmonton
Vancouver over Chicago
Detroit over Nashville
San Jose over Anaheim

Eastern Conference Semifinals
Washington over Tampa Bay
Buffalo over Pittsburgh

Western Conference Semifinals
San Jose over Los Angeles
Detroit over Vancouver

Conference Finals
Buffalo over Washington
San Jose over Detroit

Stanley Cup Finals 2012
Buffalo over San Jose 

BUFFALO SABRES ARE YOUR 2011-12 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS.

FIRST TITLE IN FRANCHISE HISTORY!

               


PLAYOFFS 2012
Conn Smythe: Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres 
Hart: Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Art Ross: Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
Maurice Richard: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Frank J. Selke: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Vezina: Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Calder: Brayden Schenn, Philadelphia Flyers
Norris: Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
Mark Messier: Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings 
Ted Lindsay: Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres  
GM of the Year: Dean Lombardi, Los Angeles Kings
Bill Masterton: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Jack Adams: Terry Murray, Los Angeles Kings
Plus/Minus: Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
Lady Byng: Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
William M. Jennings: Ryan Miller and Jonas Enroth, Buffalo Sabres

Potential Big Names to be Traded
Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators
Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators
Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes
Mikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames
Mark Streit, New York Islanders

Coaches to be Fired:
Brent Sutter, Calgary Flames
Ron Wilson, Toronto Maple Leafs
Joe Sacco, Colorado Avalanche

GMs to be Fired:
Bryan Murray, Ottawa Senators
Garth Snow, New York Islanders
Paul Holmgrem, Philadelphia Flyers 
 




 

I'm not dead.

I know I haven't been posting shit for a while because I've been busy with school, work, and social life (yes I do have a life) so this whole blog has been an afterthought. Hopefully as the offseason wanes and the season begins, I'll be posting more Oilers and hockey stuff. Can't wait! GO OILERS GO!

2010-2011: All Star Break - My Thoughts

The Edmonton Oilers have started the season with a lot of hype and promise, but reasonably low expectations knowing that this team is entering a rebuild year like none other. After a dreadful 30th place finish, the Oilers management set their eyes towards rebuilding. Gone are the long time veterans Steve Staios, Fernando Pisani, and Ethan Moreau. Gone are the cancerous players Patrick O'Sullivan, Robert Nilsson, and Sheldon Souray. It was time to inject some new blood into this once proud organization that won five Stanley Cups in 7 years and gave birth to one of the greatest and most respected Canadian franchises.

The rebuilding started at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft with the Oilers brass selecting Taylor Hall first overall. Prior to the draft, the Oilers brass, the media, and fans like ourselves were debating between Windsor Spitfires' Taylor Hall and Plymouth Whaler's Tyler Seguin. Taylor Hall had the hype behind him winning back to back Memorial Cup MVPs with his very stacked Windsor team and Tyler Seguin tying Hall in the OHL scoring race while carrying a not so strong Plymouth team on his back, contributing 48% of the Whaler's total offensive output. Taylor Hall is a winger that could play centre, with explosive speed, dynamic offensive skill, a lethal shot and a drive towards the net. Tyler Seguin is a centreman with incredible vision, underrated shot, amazing playmaking ability and good head on his shoulders. As we all know it, being the team with the first overall pick, we can't go wrong with either. So as the draft day approaches, Oilers pick Hall, the Bruins with Toronto's pick select Tyler Seguin.

Despite having Taylor Hall, the Oilers had other young studs in the making, namely Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, and Linus Omark. Additionally, these rookies were joined with the Oilers other young guns, Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano. All off-season, Oilers waited in anticipation for the 2010-2011 season knowing that this was the start of a new era in Oil Country and fans are eager for the change that has occured in this organization. Although expectations are tempered a little and that the upcoming season could be a long winter, it nonetheless generated a lot of excitement and hope for the future.

So the season began with a bang. The new-look Edmonton Oilers defeated Darryl Sutters "turn the clock back" Calgary Flames 4-0 in one of the most exciting Oilers games I've watched. Jordan Eberle, the kid who made destiny panic, scored a highlight reel goal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZYaIjvEqIA) and gave the oilers faithful a preview of their future. And how can anyone forget about Steve MacIntyre putting Ratis Ivanans in his place with a knockout punch that rang through Rexall Place? That game against the flames was literally a storybook opening for the Oilers but with all the hype and excitement comes the despairing notion of reality. Losses are going to come and they came in stampedes, some ugly, and some heartbreaking. As expected for the Oilers, or any other rebuilding team for that matter, teams aren't suppose to be built over one season. The Oilers were bound to take their lumps this season.


And the question everybody wants to know, how are the kids performing? From my understanding, the kids have performed well above expectations and we need to keep in mind that our expectations must be monitored and reasonable for players like Hall, Eberle, and Paajarvi and even Omark. They are the future of this team and there is no denying in that, however, expectations and patience can be tested when young players undergo long stretches of bad games and in a hockey hotbed like Edmonton, that is to be expected. From what I've seen, Taylor Hall and co. have really matured as individuals from the microscopy of scrutiny from the Edmonton media.

As for our other players, Dustin Penner, although not as dominant as last year, is still light years ahead of the Dustin Penner of the 2008-09 season where he was the favourite whipping boy of then coach Dustin Penner and the centre of scrutiny from the Edmonton media. Although Dustin Penner may be slow and at times, doesn't use his size to his advantage, he is a big presence up front and this is crucial especially for a team that lacks size up front. Shawn Horcoff who took a lot of criticism from last year's underwhelming performance and his atrociously overpaid salary has demonstrated leadership that will play a crucial role in the development of our young players. We cannot underestimate what Horcoff brings to the table. Not just leadership per se, but his solid two way play, his respectable faceoff percentage, and his penalty kill.

In the 2007-08 season, the Oilers welcomed two hot rookies: Andrew Cogliano and Sam Gagner, and at that time, we all thought they were the future of the Oilers. However, in 2010-11, they're more whipping boys than golden boys. Andrew Cogliano has regressed tremendously from a player that looked like he had potential of becoming a solid top 6 forward to a player that adjusted his role into a bottom 6 forward. His underwhelming performance last year has garnered a lot of support from the Oilers faithful into thinking his time with the Oilers are numbered. He signed a cheap serviceable 1 year, $1 M contract to give him a chance to prove himself and given his poor start, almost every Oilers fan wanted to chase the poor guy out of town. I really like Cogs, I really do, but at that time, I really started to feel maybe its best for Cogs to part ways with the Oilers and start afresh on a new team. However, in the calendar month of January of 2011, Cogs have started to pick up steam and is starting to look more and more comfortable and this might be attributed to the fact that he has finally accepted a role as a bottom 6 centre as opposed to a top 6 player. Despite Cogliano's tremendous speed, he lacks decent hands, low hockey IQ, subpar faceoff %, and weak long the boards have driven Cogliano down the depth chart. But with Cogliano's speed, I knew there was going to be a decent niche that Cogs will find in the NHL, and the question of whether that will be with the Oilers or not remains to be seen. Personally, I would love to see Cogs on the Oilers for the time being but in my honest opinion, I don't see him remaining an Oiler for long. But his performance as of late on the third line can change that and his play as a bottom 6 forward might give him a chance to be part of the rebuild.
In addition to Cogliano, we can't forget about Sam Gagner and what he has done lately. There is without a doubt that Gagner came to the Oilers with a strong junior performance with London and a MVP calibre tournament at the Super Series against the Russians. Samwise seems like a player that is going to have a bright future with the club. His rookie season saw him accumulate 49 points despite an atrocious -21 rating. In his sophomore season, he regressed to 41 points, however he did score 16 goals which is 3 more than his rookie's 13 goals. His third year remained at 41 points despite him playing only 68 games. So the numbers don't lie, he hasn't improved offensively. But looking at the big picture, he has improved marginally from a defensive standpoint. Part of the reason why his offensive production regressed is because he started to focus more on his defensive game rather than his offensive output which in my opinion is a smart thing to do. Good players know how to play the puck on both ends and he's worked hard to improve in those areas. One of Gagner's glaring weaknesses are his horrid faceoff percentages, his strenghth on the puck, and his not-so-blazing speed (however, with him losing weight, he's gotten faster and that's a good sign). But at the same time, he does get knocked off the puck plenty of times and it is frustrating to watch. Does that mean we should give up on Sam Gagner, the former golden child? Of course not. Four years may be a long time for a player to develop but for fuck sakes, it's the NHL. Let's not jump to conclusions and say Gagner has hit his potential at 21 and will be a mediocre player for years to come. Let's not forget that Gagner is one of the hardest working players on the Oilers team and with his work ethic, and his team first character, there is no reason to believe he won't improve. I believe Gagner is a late bloomer who needs time to get to the next level. And lastly, let's not forget the fact that Gagner was rushed into the league and that he's been developing under a non-ideal environment. The Oilers organization during Gagner's first three seasons were chaotic, lacked direction and an identity, and lacked stability within the locker room. Some fans believe Gagner has been ruined permanently because of it, I say that's balognie!
But I will say this, Gagner plays much more effectively with players with size that creates space for him to complement Gagner's lack of size. I'm tlaking about players like Dustin Penner, Ryan Jones, and Liam Reddox (although he's not big, he does create space for a player that needs it i.e. Gagner). Let's not forget that Gagner is a cerebral type player that requires the time and space to show his offensive creativity on the ice.

I also want to discuss about Ryan Jones emergence as one of the best bottom 6 forwards I've seen in a long time. When I think of hard nosed gritty third liners, I think of Ethan Moreau back in his prime (around the early 2000s). Up until last year, Ethan Moreau has been one of my favourite players because I admired his work ethic, his hard nosed no nonsense attitude, and overall his heart. Moreau epitomized what a true Oiler was and during his twilight days as an Oilers, that aura disappeared and I grew to hate Moreau, especially last year when he was known to me as Captain Momentum Killer. But now going back on topic about Jones, Jonesy does remind me a bit of Moreau back in the day and for a team that is known to be "soft", Jones' presence is highly valued. He does a good job of countering that with his hard hitting, bone crushing hockey style. You cannot argue the fact that he gives it his all every shift and he contributes on the ice every shift. Liam Reddox is also a player I absolutely admire because of his heart and work ethic. Although he isn't as talented as Jones, he is a prototypical third line grinder that can make a difference with every hit.

As for the underacheivers:
-Smid hasn't looked as great as I anticipated but knowing our supposed lack of defensive depth, I wouldn't mind signing him to a cheap contract of 2 or 3 years with regards to how our defensive prospects pan out (i.e. Petry, Marincin, Motin, etc.)
-Fraser has been a colossal disappointment. He was brought here to be a gritty and responsible 4th liner, however, he's been nothing but invisible and unnoticeable, so the question pose, why is he here in the first place. We might've overestimated his value as a 4th liner given that he just came off from a Stanley Cup winning team, Chicago Blackhawks.
-Gilbert "Creme" Brule: for a guy I thought surpassed Cogliano on the depth charts last season, it looks like he took a tremendous step backwards and further proof is he's a walking band-aid. In my opinion, Brule is now back in the dumpsters where he started and it is really looking like his career in the NHL is in jeopardy once again after it appeared to be on track given his strong performance in 2009-10. However, I wouldn't give up on him yet, he's had trouble staying healthy and it's only a matter of time before we see what Brule can do down the stretch.
-Turnover Tom Gilbert: Don't get me started, he's been an absolute turn over machine. For a guy who was thought to be the next up-coming star defenseman after that stellar season in 2007-08, Gilbert has looked like nothing but average at best and at worst, he's the oppositions best player. He gets knocked off the puck easily, lacks competitiveness, isn't very smart decision maker, and once again, TURNS THE PUCK OVER GAZZILLION TIMES! And worst of all, he's getting paid $4 million dollars per year and is signed for three more years after this one. Not a worthy investment on K-Lowe's part, that's for sure. So with his heavy cap hit and another three years, it looks like Turnover Tom will be an Oiler for a while. Although he does show glimpse of offensive potential, his horrendous defensive play is costing the Oilers and leading to almost 85% of the Oilers defensive breakdowns. For the love of god, he's got the team's worst +/-!
-Kurtis Foster has been a disappointing free agent signing as well. I expected a lot more out of him, knowing he is a veteran and I was expecting him to QB our PP the way Souray has, but that hasn't happened very often. He may have a booming shot but he's not very great defensively in his own end and tends to turn the puck over quite frequently. Not somthing I was expecting
-Zach Stortini: oh my, where do I begin. He's a nice guy, I'll give him that. He plays his heart out and gives 100% every shift, but effort along cannot make up for his immense lack of talent. He is an enforcer, a lousy one. An atrocious fighter and the rest of the NHL view him as a joke of an enforcer, ouch!

I wouldn't say Jason Strudwick is an underacheiver but man oh man, this guy just plain sucks. No hockey talent whatsoever. Nice guy if you're just nice and no skill, you don't belong in the NHL.

So by glancing over the standings and having a rough overview of what the season is going to entail, we can conclude with almost perfect certainty that the Edmonton Oilers will miss the playoffs for a franchise record 5th straight season. OUCH! Not something the 2010-2011 Edmonton Oilers are going to be pleased with. A team with such a proud history of winning, are now playoff-less for half a decade. It seemed like yesterday when the Oilers were playing in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals in 2006 against the Carolina Hurricanes, but as we all know, Pronger (and wife) fucked us over and we are here where we are because of it, ultimately.

As of January 27, 2011, the Oilers sit with 38 points with a record of 15-26-8 record, 15th in the West and 28th in the NHL, only ahead of the perennially dreadful New York Islanders and the ridiculously disappointing, yet surprising, New Jersey Devils. So what are my thoughts of the Oilers season going into the All-Star break? First of all, I can assure you that the Oilers will not make the playoffs and as big of a fan I am, I hate to admit this. I hate watching the Oilers miss the playoffs and I hate losing. I take pride in being an Oilers fan and I never am a fan of tanking a season for a high draft pick. A high draft pick is inevitable it seems but it should never be the goal, IMO. As a fan who takes immense pride in the Copper and Blue, I cannot fathom myself cheering against my beloved hockey team just for a draft pick. However, given the circumstances of this expectant poor season, the long term future of this team must be considered.

Given our place in the NHL standings, we are looking to draft another young hockey player that will take part of our rebuild.. The 2011 NHL draft isn't going to be a two player race (like last year's Taylor vs Tyler), but four young players have the potential of becoming the 1st overall pick! They are Drummondville Voltigeurs' centre Sean Coutrier, Swedish defenseman Adam Larsson, Kitchen Rangers' Swedish Left Winger Gabriel Landeskog, and Red Deer Rebels' centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. I will be talking about these prospects in a subsequent blog later on this month.

So in conclusion, the Oilers of 2010-2011 are just as bad as the Oilers team that finished 30th last season. The only difference, we have Taylor Hall lol. We are rebuilding like we should've done a while ago. The Oilers have a very bright future ahead of them despite the lowly record. This season is about growth and transition, not so much about winning and making the playoffs(which is the long term goal, not the short term goal). For the Oilers going into the second half after the all-star break, the Oilers have plenty to play for and I am not implying a playoff spot (although it would be nice ;)). Players need to realize that jobs for 2011-2012 are going to be on the line and if the players don't smarten up from here on til the end, they may find themselves out of work. As a rebuilding organization, the sense of entitlement must be shed and internal competition must be promoted so players that work hard and put the effort in are rewarded a roster spot to play for the Edmonton Oilers.

I believe this rebuild is going well and like I said, this is not a one year turnaround, but a multiyear process and it will take time. But don't fret Oil Faithful, the future is bright and better days are ahead of us. GO OIL!!!

2010-2011 NHL Predictions - Going into the All-Star Break

Before I make my predictions, this is what I predicted before:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Washington Capitals (110)
2. Pittsburgh Penguins (108)
3. Boston Bruins (104)
4. New Jersey Devils (106)
5. Philadelphia Flyers (103)
6. Ottawa Senators (99)
7. Buffalo Sabres (97)
8. New York Rangers (92)
9. Montreal Canadiens (90)
10. Carolina Hurricanes (90)
11. Tampa Bay Lightning (88)
12. Atlanta Thrashers (86)
13. Toronto Maple Leafs (79)
14. New York Islanders (75)
15. Florida Panthers (61)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Los Angeles Kings (116)
2. Detroit Red Wings (112)
3. Vancouver Canucks (108)
4. Chicago Blackhawks (108)
5. San Jose Sharks (108)
6. St. Louis Blues (104)
7. Nashville Predators (101)
8. Anaheim Ducks (98)
9. Colorado Avalanche (95)
10. Dallas Stars (93)
11. Phoenix Coyotes (88)
12. Columbus Blue Jackets (86)
13. Edmonton Oilers (85)
14. Calgary Flames (73)
15. Minnesota Wild (69)

PLAYOFFS
EAST
Washington def. NY Rangers
Pittsburgh def Buffalo
Boston def Ottawa
New Jersey def Philadelphia


New Jersey def Washington
Pittsburgh def Boston


Pittsburgh def New Jersey


WEST
Los Angeles def Anaheim
Detroit def Nashville
St. Louis def Vancouver
Chicago def San Jose


Los Angeles def St. Louis
Detroit def Chicago


Los Angeles def Detroit


Stanley Cup Finals 2011
Pittsburgh def Los Angeles

Conn Smyth - Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Art Ross - Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
Maurice Richard - Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Jack Adams - Terry Murray, Los Angeles Kings
Calder - Magnus Paajarvi, Edmonton Oilers
Vezina - Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins
Norris - Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
Hart - Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
Selke - Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Lady Byng - Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

Coaches fired:
Ron Wilson, Toronto Maple Leafs
Todd McLellan, San Jose Sharks
Brent Sutter, Calgary Flames
Bruce Boudreau, Washington Capitals
Alain Vigneault, Vancouver Canucks
John Anderson, New York Islanders
Todd Richards, Minnesota Wild

GMs Fired:
Glen Sather, New York Rangers
Darryl Sutter, Calgary Flames
Doug Wilson, San Jose Sharks
Brian Burke, Toronto Maple Leafs


So clearly I vastly overrated the Kings and Blackhawks. I didn't think the Blackhawks were going to be that impacted by the mass exodus of their role players (namely Byfuglien, Versteeg, Eager, and Ladd). This year, Chicago looked like a very mediocre team that was a far-cry from the team we saw that won the Stanley Cup in 2010. I had generally high hopes for the Los Angeles Kings given I was expecting them to take it to the next level from their great season in 2009-2010, however, the Kings didn't improve as I envisioned and are sitting out and fighting for that 8th and final playoff spot.

New Jersey Devils, who the fuck knew they would be this bad? Like seriously, 30th in the NHL! I thought that team was reserved for teams like us lol. Marty Brodeur has looked human, very un-Marty-like which is unfortunate for this once elite goaltender and future Hall of Famer. To give them a break, they are missing Zach Parise from a knee injury but that should be no excuse for Ilya Kovalchuk AKA the $100 million dollar man, to suck epically. He's on pace for less than 30 goals and 50 points, BRUTAL!! And speaking of underacheiving Russians, Alex Ovechkin is having the worst offensive output in his NHL career, with 19 goals and on pace for 34 goals this season. It seems the NHL have solved Ovechkin and his tendencies. St. Louis was also another very big disappointment for me because I really thought the acquisition of Halak was gonna put them over the top but I was wrong, they sit 14th but they still have a chance of making it. Nonetheless, every single team in the Western Conference except our beloved Edmonton Oilers will have a shot at making the playoffs.

Another huge disappointment this year is Buffalo. I predicted the Sabres to be in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race but due to sporadic underacheivers and a rash of injuries, the Sabres are looking to fall from the team that won the 2010 Northeast division to out of the playoffs. Ryan Miller has looked mortal most of the times, a far cry from last year's Vezina Trophy performance. I believe after this season, Buffalo will undergo major house cleaning starting from the top and with a new owner coming in, we can expect longtime GM Darcy Regier and longtime coach Lindy Ruff gone. Time for some new blood in Buffalo.

Teams that surprised the most were Dallas Stars, Atlanta Thrashers, and Tampa Bay Lightning. I had all three teams miss the playoffs in my pre-season predictions and all three of them except Atlanta are a sure lock to make the playoffs in 2011. Atlanta might drop out given how well Carolina has played led by super rookie Jeff Skinner (drafted 6 spots after Taylor Hall and a favourite to win the Calder). Even the Florida Panthers have turned some heads. I honeslty expected the Panthers to suck bad like an expansion team and I was reluctant to give them over 60 points, heck i was reluctant to give them even 50 points! The fact is the Panthers have a shot at making the Eastern conference playoffs although I high doubt their chances and it looks like they will be missing the playoffs for the 11th stright year (they haven't made the playoffs since 2000).

As for the Canadian teams, Vancouver is Canada's best chance of winning the Stanley Cup. It may be this year but as long as Luongo plays that choke dance in the second round, fans on the west coast might be given a dose of even bigger disappointment. And being an Oilers fan and knowing the Canuck fans sense of envy for the Oilers past history, I cannot help but hope for the Canucks failure to shut those arrogant and cocky fans up. But from a hockey fan perspective, the Canucks are a true Stanley Cup contender and they have a very good shot at winning it all this year. But I hope they lose though, I'll be the one cheering on the team that plays Vancouver! Montreal seems like a team that has a decent shot but given the amount of injuries the team is getting, its only a matter of time before the lever breaks. I don't see this team making the playoffs, I see them missing it right on the cusp, and Carey Price who is having a marvelous season won't be able to save the Habs fall from grace. And now to the rest of the four teams who are all dreadful. Calgary surprisingly are playing well as of late which is a bit of a surprise to say the least and they have a decent shot at making the playoffs but given the amount of strong teams ahead of them, I wouldn't bank money on them (PS, I hate the flames ;) ). Ottawa for some reason was a collossal disappointment. At worst, I thought Ottawa would finish 9-10th but not this bad. This season could be the year Ottawa bottoms out and rebuild from scratch. What a mess and I feel sorry for Senators fans for what they endured this year, but hey at least you have a first rounder! Edmonton, we all know their situation. As dreadful as their record speaks, its a rebuild year and they have a bright future ahead of them. I don't think there is a hockey fan alive that thinks otherwise and those who do are complete ignorant human beings. Lastly, the Leafs, my most hated team. How should I put this so my friends who are Leafs fans don't get upset at me lol? Good luck with Brian Burke, the man who traded Tyler Seguin, Jared Knight and potentially another lottery pick for Phil Kessel! LOL!

So here are my modified Preditions.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Philadelphia Flyers (112)
2. Washington Capitals (106)
3. Boston Bruins (104)
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (110)
5. Tampa Bay Lightning (106)
6. New York Rangers (94)
7. Carolina Hurricanes (92)
8. Atlanta Thrashers (91)
9. Montreal Canadiens (90)
10. Florida Panthers (87)
11. Buffalo Sabres (85)
12. Toronto Maple Leafs (76)
13. New Jersey Devils (72)
14. New York Islanders (65)
15. Ottawa Senators (63)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Vancouver Canucks (114)
2. Detroit Red Wings (112)
3. Dallas Stars (102)
4. Anaheim Ducks (100)
5. Nashville Predators (98)
6. Chicago Blackhawks (96)
7. San Jose Sharks (95)
8. Los Angeles Kings (95)
9. Colorado Avalanche (95)
10. Phoenix Coyotes (94)
11. St. Louis Blues (92)
12. Minnesota Wild (90)
13. Columbus Blue Jackets (88)
14. Calgary Flames (88)
15. Edmonton Oilers (68)

PLAYOFFS
EAST
Philadelphia def Atlanta in 4
Carolina def Washington in 6
Boston def NY Rangers in 7
Pittsburgh def Tampa Bay in 6


Philadelphia def Carolina in 6
Pittsburgh def Boston in 7


Philadelphia def Pittsburgh in 6


WEST
Vancouver def Los Angeles in 6
Detroit def San Jose in6
Chicago def Dallas in 5
Anaheim def Nashville in 7


Vancouver def Chicago in 7
Detroit def Anaheim in 5


Detroit def Vancouver in 7


Stanley Cup Finals 2011: Philadelphia def Detroit in 7



Conn Smyth - Chris Pronger, Philadelphia Flyers
Art Ross - Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Maurice Richard - Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Jack Adams - Marc Crawford, Dallas Stars
Calder - Sergei Bobrovsky, Philadelphia Flyers
Vezina - Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
Norris - Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
Hart - Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Selke - Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Lady Byng - Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

Coaches fired:
Ron Wilson, Toronto Maple Leafs
Todd McLellan, San Jose Sharks
Brent Sutter, Calgary Flames
Bruce Boudreau, Washington Capitals
John Anderson, New York Islanders (happened)
Lindy Ruff, Buffalo Sabres

GMs Fired:
Glen Sather, New York Rangers
Darryl Sutter, Calgary Flames (Resigned)
Doug Wilson, San Jose Sharks
Darcy Regier, Buffalo Sabres

So there you have it. The playoff races are going to be interesting to watch nonetheless and it will be interesting to see what the team makeup is going to look like after the trade deadline on February 27, 2011. Its going to be fun to speculate what will happen in the next few months. GO OILERS!

And being an Oilers fan, I have accepted my teams fate this year, no playoffs for a fifth straight year..booo

My first post

I guess with all the time I have in front of me, how about I just introduce myself as a first time blogger. This will be the first post of The Temple of Oil Country.

First off, I am a huge Edmonton Oilers fan. I'm 21 years old as of January 27, 2011 ( I was born on August 5, 1989, almost a year after Gretzky got traded so I never witnessed the dyansty era of the 1980s, how sad). I was born and raised in Edmonton, AB and not surprisingly I became a passionate fan of the Edmonton Oilers. My first memory of the Oilers was during the 1995 season and knowing the Oilers would always lose yet my father who immigrated to Canada from China not so long ago and fell so in love with the game of hockey got me into it. My father loved the Oilers and as a new Canadian, embraced the sport of hockey and passed it down to the next generation. It is rare for a son of a immigrants to love hockey as I do but I seem to be the one who took the love of hockey to the next level ;). Anyways, back to my life and less talk about my dad (sorry dad, if you are reading this), I've been an Oilers fan almost all my life living in Edmonton. I graduated from Harry Ainlay High School in 2007 and attended the University of Toronto the following year.

2007-2008 was a new year for me, I've moved to a new city, Toronto. Toronto, as we know it, is the largest city in Canada and is home to one of Canada's proudest and most popular franchises, the Toronto Maple Leafs. So thus begins my life as an Oilers fan living in the heart of enemy territory. While the Leafs and the Oilers were by far, not even close to being rivals, I generally always viewed the Leafs as a rival as sort.

Today, I'm in my 4th year of University and I will be taking a 5th year and be graduating in the year 2012 (assuming the world doesn't end lol). If you're wondering what I'm taking in school, I am studying Pharmacology. Don't mix Pharmacology with Pharmacy, pharmacology emphasis on the study of drugs and the effects it has on the body from a physiological standpoint. In addition of working, I work at a Muzik Nightclub.

Here's some quick facts about Kevin Yang:
Favourite team: Edmonton Oilers...duhh
Other favourite teams: Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning
Most Hated team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Other Hated teams: Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals
Favourite Current Oiler: Sam Gagner
Favorite Player in the NHL: Jonathan Toews (others: Sidney Crosby, James Neal, Ryan Smyth, Drew Doughty, Claude Giroux, Steven Stamkos, Cody Hodgson, Duncan Keith)
Favourite Oiler growing up: Ryan Smyth (others include Doug Weight, Janne Niinimaa, Tommy Salo, and Ethan Moreau).
Favourite player growing up: Wayne Gretzky, Patrick Roy, Teemu Selanne
Favourite teams other than hockey: Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Toronto Raptors (NBA), Toronto Blue Jays (MLB), Edmonton Eskimos (CFL).
Least favourite players: Dion Phaneuf, Alexander Ovechkin, Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows, Robyn Reghr, Rick Rypien, Kevin Bieksa
Favourite Oiler memory: 2006 Stanley Cup run
Least favourite Oiler memory: Ryan Smyth trade, missing the playoffs in 2004 right before the lockout