7:53AM June 25th, 2010
Woke up at about quarter to five this morning to the sounds of cats fighting, either over whether or not the Oilers should select Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin with the first overall pick or Merlin was taking umbrage with Buster's rape attempts.
The power was back on after being out all evening due to lightning storms, so I decided to get up and check out all the TSN pre-draft overhype I'd missed. Watched a few of Pierre Maguire's and Craig Button's mock draft and all of their 45 minute documentary on what has led the Oilers to today (watch the video called Oil Change). After all that, I'm still not sure who I want them to take. It's really a no-lose situation, which is a nice change of pace for an organization in which being losers has completely infiltrated the system. Good times ahead, though, with Eberle, Paajarvi-Svensson, and now Hall/Seguin.
Time to get ready for a final day of statistics/GIS training.
8:29AM
Gotta leave for training in a few minutes. The weather forecast is threatening me with possible thundershowers this afternoon. These electrical storms have taken us out twice this week already. Monday night, our power was off for about 7 hours and, last night, for about 8 hours. I will flip out if the power goes out before the Oilers make their pick. Like drive down to SaskEnergy and punch a random guy in the back flip out. I've been waiting for this draft for MONTHS. Fuck you, climate, you fucking prick. Stop playing with my emotions.
Time to go learn about hierarchical linear modeling for some unknown reason.
10:06AM
My instructor is a fast-talking Venezualan who looks like Madeline Stowe. I love her. I hope my bride-to-be will understand.
10:17AM
Quiet morning on the NHL front, especially considering how much activity there has been recently: Arnott going back to the Devils, Horton to the Bruins, Beefcake to the Thrashers (if that's not Byfuglien's nickname, it should be), and the Sharks declaring they wouldn't be resigning Nabokov. Some names being bounced around as being available include Jeff Carter, Tomas Kaberle, and anyone who wore an Oilers jersey who's old enough to grow a moustache.
Darren Dreger is reporting on Twitter that the 4th, 8th, and 15th picks might be in play. I'd love it if the Oilers were able to nab one of those picks and either take a defenceman or American goalie prospect Jack Campbell, both areas being significant weaknesses in their prospects depth.
10:28AM
There are a few websites I frequent for hockey rumours, and some of them are so ridiculous. Stevie Y, the new GM of the Tampa Bay Lighting, recently made a public statement that he is not going to trade Lecavalier. Today, an infamous anonymous blogger named Eklund is reporting that Lecavalier trade talks are heating up. I think he's been copy-and-pasting the same sentence for about three years now. Sportsnet once had Eklund on during their day long trade-deadline coverage (behind frosted glass so his identity wouldn't be revealed, of course), at which time he excitedly reported that the Oilers had re-signed Smyth to a multi-year contract!!... about ten minutes before reporters were interviewing a just-traded and sobbing Smyth while he waited to catch a plane to Long Island. He's like the Perez Hilton of hockey (except without the legal trouble for posting pictures of Miley Cyrus' pixelated snooch). What a maroon.
12:14PM
This is the most excited I've been about an unveiling since Y2J.
The importance this draft is going to have on the Oilers' organization can't be overstated, especially if they're able to land another first round pick (which is something they're reportedly trying very hard to attain). Paajarvi-Svensson/Hall or Seguin/Eberle has the potential to be one of the most explosive lines in the league in a few years. That's not hyperbole. But man do they need more depth in defence, goaltending, and toughness if they're going to give that line adequate support.
Need. More. Picks.
2:52PM
Severe thunderstorm warning for Regina... goddammit!!
Apparently Tambellini tried to get the 2nd overall pick out of Boston today. Hall AND Seguin... that'd be something else. Can't imagine they could get that done, though. At least they're dreaming big.
5:02PM
It has begun!
Where the hell is my draft preview mag??
Tambellini still going hard for the #2 pick. I'm "going hard" right now as well.
5:14PM
Bettman, you twitchy little turd, get to the draft!!
5:17PM
I'm guessing they don't have 2nd or it would have been announced by now...
5:18PM
It was a fall for Hall!
Hall with Eberle... that's fucking exciting.
5:25PM
Heh. Burke.
5:31PM
Man, this is fun. I hope the Oilers suck just as bad next year and get another top pick (which is very, very likely).
They just need a good d-man prospect or two and they'll be scary good in a few years. I don't think they're quite like the Blackhawks or Penguins were before they exploded, but really not too far off.
5:58PM
Nino should look great with Tavares on the Island.
Yzerman up to pick. Love seeing him as an NHL GM.
Dreger saying the Oilers are still trying hard to get another relatively high pick. Awesome, awesome, awesome.
6:02PM
Hedman, Stamkos, and, if he pans out, Brett Connolly, who analysts say would have been in the mix with Hall and Seguin if he hadn't hurt himself this year. Tampa Bay is going to be scary good.
6:45PM
I was hoping the Oilers would have drafted the goalie Campbell.
It'll be difficult to get a mid-round pick with those two d-men still hanging around.
8:19PM
Drafts are pretty boring once all the good prospects are gone and no trades of significance are being made...
9:13PM
All in all, I can be nothing but satisfied with the Oilers today. They now have an impressive stable of offensive prospects. It might take a while to win games on a regular basis, but it should be a very exciting squad next year. I just need to figure out who's jersey I want to get (I'll likely be going to watch the Oilers in Ottawa in November and want to represent).
They weren't able to get any more picks in the first round, but it was a relatively inactive group of GMs today, and by the sounds of it they were definitely making a strong effort, even striving to get both Taylor AND Tyler.
Down the road, the Ducks will probably be the big winner of the day. Two good prospects who both slipped down to them. Lucky Ducks.
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14 comments:
I just heard that on OTR. I was excited about the idea of drafting 1 and 2, but it's kind of ridiculous. What could they possibly give up? Hemsky + Eberle or Paajavi-Svensson+ 1st round pick next year?
Agree completely. The price to get Seguin would be more valuable to the organization than Seguin. Either Eberle or P-S would have to be in the package, and who's to say Seguin ends up better than either of them? They're both top prospects already. Reminds me of the big package to get Lindros that included Forsberg. One step forward, two steps back.
They just said on TSN that Edmonton's last offer was Hemsky and Eberle for the 2nd pick. Boston turned them down.
I don't see them offering P-S in the deal, but I wonder if Hemsky + Eberle + 1st next year would get it done? Tambellini is still trying, crazy if he gets it done. I like the Lindros trade comparison, but it's still an exciting idea.
Hemsky and Eberle is too much. I hope that wasn't the actual offer. If they want to trade Hemsky, fine, but Eberle has been great in the AHL, played great against pros in the World Championships, and is arguably the best competitor EVER in the WJCs. He's just playing too well to trade.
Hemsky, Cogliano, and a 1st I could live with.
I am excited about the Oilers NOW for the first time in a long time. I hope Hall pans out because from a fans perspective, Hall and Eberle is the best duo you could hope for from this scenario, especially after watching them both this year at the WJC.
After watching Pete Chiarelli talk after drafting Seguin, these picks kind of don't make sense. In Oil Change you see the Oilers trying to convince themselves that Hall can play center. And now you see Chiarelli saying Seguin can play wing. Since they are so equal, why didn't the team that needed the center draft the center and the team that needed the winger get the winger?
Nino Niederreiter was an impact player at the WJC. He single handedly beat the Russians. If he was Canadian he might have been the player of the tournament. Too bad he wasn't a center because it would be great if the Oilers also got him. I know they are trying to get another high pick.
Yeah, I don`t fully get it either. I actually had a slight preference for Seguin due to position.
I have a feeling the Oilers would have taken Seguin if the OHL playoff series were reversed, or at least not a complete domination for Hall and the Spitfires over Seguin and the Whalers.
Tambellini is apparently pretty high on Niederreiter, but I have a feeling they`ll focus on size if they get another pick.
Supposedly the Oil offered Cogliano for the 15th overall pick but were turned down.
And in old guy news, I am happy to see that Recchi will be back next year signing a one-year deal with Boston today. I'll draft him again next year, if we have a regular season draft.
Wow this is a deep draft. Fowler not gone yet after 8 picks. All year I heard about him going 3rd, but you can't really argue with any of the picks so far.
Noooo exciting trades...
Well, the Oilers do have the top pick in round 2 tomorrow and there are still some good players left. Who do you want them to draft?
I'd be happy with goalie Calvin Pickard, assuming they scouted him highly. Otherwise, they need big tough d-men who aren't sluggish.
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