tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-146805042011-12-27T10:44:45.464-07:00Now with 27% more disdain for Kevin Lowe.mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.comBlogger8621100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-5112055735988789082009-08-20T15:57:00.004-06:002009-08-20T16:15:41.939-06:00

As you can probably guess from the musty Dustin Penner entry below, this blog is about as defunct as a pair of Hartford Whaler Cooperalls (barring some sort of miracle resurrection, of course). I figured I'd throw up a post saying as much, but hey, whenever you're feeling nostalgic feel free to browse through the archives -- you'll need proof when your kids stare at you in disbelief after you

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-9877275094844523662008-11-17T08:45:00.010-07:002008-11-17T14:29:34.028-07:00

"When we signed Dustin we thought he'd be a top-two-line player," said MacTavish as the team prepares to face the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night. "We thought the contract ($4.25 million average for five years) was a starting point for him, but he views it as a finish line. I can't watch it, certainly not for another 2 1/2 years," he said.Actually, it's 3 1/2 years. — Edmonton Journal, Nov. 16,

Chris!http://www.blogger.com/profile/11484215962971930186noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-87382038593554549192008-11-15T12:52:00.009-07:002008-11-15T14:02:06.582-07:00

“It’s just the mental mistakes and the stubbornness, I don’t get it.”— Coach Craig MacTavish, on recurring mistakes that have haunted the team all season.It's never a good sign when the guy whose exact job it is to make his team "get" why they keep losing doesn't himself seem to get, you know, why his team keeps losing. I mean, sure, I understand that part of the reason you go into interviews and

Chris!http://www.blogger.com/profile/11484215962971930186noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-44526900611062979332008-11-15T11:46:00.008-07:002008-11-15T12:04:39.460-07:00

A bat-winged steed rears! Mighty space dragons thrash! Falcons swoop in for the kill as some kind of mushroom-headed dude looks on! And as if these things weren't cool enough, they're all inside a labyrinth in motherfucking OUTER SPACE! If I ever own a house, I will have no problem airbrushing the entire front façade with this exact scene. Money will be no object.Real post coming later. I just

Chris!http://www.blogger.com/profile/11484215962971930186noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-62039289101676383072008-11-13T09:24:00.006-07:002008-11-13T21:45:31.055-07:00

WUH-BOOM! Fuck yeah! Look at those world chunks fly! Well, that's space for you. Just two planets floating around, going about their own planetary business, their little planet minds preoccupied with their myriad planetary hopes and dreams and insecurities and fears until one day fucking BAM! Instant prog-rock LP cover. Only ashes and silence remain. Just another day in the cold, unknowable

Chris!http://www.blogger.com/profile/11484215962971930186noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-13471895276938805652008-11-12T12:58:00.003-07:002008-11-12T13:05:42.626-07:00

Now THIS is interesting. The Anaheim Ducks have called a press conference for 3:30 p.m. ET today, and apparently Brian Burke is expected to announce his resignation. From the National Post:Brian Burke's path to Toronto might be a little clearer.As first reported by Fan 590 reporter Howard Berger, the Anaheim Ducks general manager is in the process of resigning from his position with the team. The

Chris!http://www.blogger.com/profile/11484215962971930186noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-2601967020119658272008-11-11T14:15:00.014-07:002008-11-11T17:26:15.128-07:00

Huh? What? Isn't this blog dead or something? Who knows what the future holds! For now, let's just revel in the Oilers' acquisition of Jesse Boulerice, the latest AHL thug to be claimed by the Oilers this season.With The Safe Word now on IR, Boulerice will be called upon to assume face-smashing duties until a suitable replacement can be found. He looks up to the challenge.In the meantime, please

Chris!http://www.blogger.com/profile/11484215962971930186noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-49295804513614626072008-11-08T11:17:00.013-07:002008-11-08T13:32:02.554-07:00

Considering that this blog hasn't been updated since October, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I haven't been "feeling it" as of late. I tried to re-double my efforts on the blog as the season began, but I found my mind wandering to other things like making tasteless animations, Sarah Palin and not spending a Mormon's tithe's worth of salary on NHL Centre Ice. I still like watching Oilers

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-39417039227138360712008-10-28T13:35:00.007-06:002009-05-14T16:50:43.146-06:00

What's the Oilers' record when wearing these jerseys in the last two years? 1-8?Ouch. Going by the one reliable measure of a team's worth, the Oilers goal differential in the last week has been 3 GF -14 GA, something even the 1992 Ottawa Senators might cluck their tongues at (I can even see Norm MacIver taking a step back, sucking air between his teeth: "Jesus Christ... dudes"). The powerplay has

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-12584525831053379192008-10-23T22:38:00.005-06:002008-10-23T22:57:18.911-06:00

Having PVR'd tonight's game, I was at the bar telling my Blackberry friends "Don't tell me the score!" which went to "Okay, I just saw Colorado players celebrating by accident on the bar's TV, what's the score?" to "Jesus Christ, 4-1!?" Pints followed... liquid pints of gold.So yeah, what a rain of poo. I find myself in the uncomfortable position of hoping that Shawn Horcoff suffered a

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-56035250789907676682008-10-22T20:22:00.006-06:002008-10-22T21:43:20.479-06:00

Dozens upon dozens take in a mid-week Toronto Marlies game at Ricoh Coliseum. An illicit blogger, setting up a post-game threesome on MSN Messenger.A bona fide Easterner, thinking about stealing your hard-earned oil dollars.Coming home I see that the Oilers are coughing up a hairball against the Blackhawks, which makes feel even better about catching some quality live AHL action tonight here in

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-48280064255303284272008-10-20T11:13:00.006-06:002008-10-20T11:23:41.559-06:00

Steve McIntyre fails to even resemble a human being during a fight in last Saturday's game against the Flames. Whatever you do, don't ever sleep with this man's girlfriend.

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-12287594062566607332008-10-19T09:43:00.010-06:002008-10-19T12:31:21.598-06:00

Ahhhhhhhh. Yes. Yes. You just keep doing that, Steve MacIntyre. No, it's okay — don't be shy. Listen, I'm going to turn down the lights and go sit down in that armchair in the corner, okay? Just pretend I'm not even here. You don't mind if I smoke, do you? No, you don't mind. You just keep doing your thing. Yeah. That's nice. That's real nice.Look, people, I'm not going to lie to you — even 12

Chris!http://www.blogger.com/profile/11484215962971930186noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-27642388754784818432008-10-18T23:01:00.002-06:002008-10-18T23:13:14.945-06:00

That's actually Edmonton's most happening part of town, Ron MacLean. And we're actually quite proud of that Esso station on 99th. Thousands showed up for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Thousands.

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-86041429317712864152008-10-18T13:56:00.007-06:002008-10-19T14:08:13.554-06:00

A lot of things have come up in the space of 24 hours, so I thought I'd address a few of them.First of all, thanks for all the responses, for or against. I've never actually felt properly overwhelmed, but the depth and breadth of reactions to this is absolutely incredible, to the point where I'm honestly not sure how to react to it all. I've included a list of the fellow bloggers who have

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-20519431881058833172008-10-17T13:29:00.005-06:002008-10-17T18:15:20.998-06:00

This is slower coming than I would have hoped, but things happen, and it wasn't really something I was eager to do. Anyway, I wanted to explain exactly what happened to the live blog of last Sunday's game against Colorado, and why it means I won't be posting on the blog for an indefinite while. It's going to be a bit involved, so settle in.First, the background: I was employed to cover Oiler

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com116tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-25442935446551233602008-10-16T06:07:00.011-06:002008-10-16T08:20:09.410-06:00

Just before Alexei Cherepanov went off on a road trip from which he would never return, he wrote an entry for his new blog. My friend Corrine is taking Russian at the U of T and has kindly provided a translation for us (this being her second contribution to CinO; the first being a tawdry piece of Leafs erotic literature, entitled "A Parting Averted").It's somehow touching, especially as a final

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-44686752846738619272008-10-12T12:14:00.003-06:002008-10-12T13:37:51.116-06:00

So, the NHL season officially gets underway tonight, which is to say it's the first real Oilers game of the season. Now it's for real boys, leave it all on the ice, make your mommas proud, rah rah rah, et cetera.As always, the beginning of the season carries with it many questions, such as...-How long before MacT fires up the blender? I'd wager a frosty one on him letting the boys play for the

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-834886679955415912008-10-11T23:19:00.005-06:002008-10-11T23:40:05.259-06:00

Now I hate Todd Bertuzzi, The Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks as much as anyone, but this dive very late in the game by Ryan Johnson is so lame that I'm forced to point it out. He flies upward. Of course, it almost decided the outcome of the game, which makes it extra lame. I suggest a puck bunny boycott until he learns to play the game like a man.

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-49865059101433824202008-10-11T12:11:00.005-06:002008-10-11T15:26:21.258-06:00

Is there a lot of money in getting hockey players to sign hockey cards and 8x10 glossies? There must be. I walked by the usual gang of parasitic middle-age nerds blocking every entrance to the Air Canada Centre on my way to work today, with their Sharpies and clipboards in hand waiting to accost Dominic Moore or whoever. "There's Nick Kypreos!" one called out, and sure enough there he was,

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-77493639313311587622008-10-09T20:34:00.003-06:002008-10-09T21:04:31.329-06:00

What happened? Why haven't I been blogging? After a week and a half - an eternity in internet time - I don't even know how anymore. Just a jumble of thoughts about the Oilers new slugger Steve MacIntyre, Ladislav Smid dropping a notch in the depth chart, the "new" third jersey and about how the media here in Toronto is completely irrational when it comes to the Maple Leafs. Or how about those

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-63050819597479475342008-09-30T13:00:00.008-06:002008-09-30T16:12:40.687-06:00

Yes, so: what do you call a team captain who doesn't get to wear the "C," is unable to take ceremonial faceoffs, can't skate to centre ice to argue calls with the refs, and basically won't be doing anything captain-related whatsoever except muttering vaguely inspirational platitudes to a dressing room full of AHLers and real, live, actual captain-eligible players who can't figure out why the

Chris!http://www.blogger.com/profile/11484215962971930186noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-26784522379713969092008-09-29T16:44:00.004-06:002008-09-29T17:45:56.173-06:00

What the hell are you doing here? You should be at Hot Oil, voting in their annual Hot Off.My odds-on favourite this year is the man to the left. If the Oilers ever employ a sexier human being, I am going to petition for assless hockey pants.

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-78679748692802639512008-09-27T10:01:00.004-06:002008-09-27T11:41:32.700-06:00

I was actually kind of hoping Paul Newman would live forever, but I guess it wasn't meant to be. When I was young and stupid I was bored by pretty much any off-ice scenes in Slap Shot, but it's of course a great movie in its own right, not just the greatest hockey movie of all time (and also one of Newman's few favourites). Plus, lines like "they brought their fucking toys" still makes me

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-70323471061306115002008-09-24T17:27:00.059-06:002008-09-24T22:59:24.581-06:00

Thanks to a part-time gig with a company that shall remain nameless, I've managed to luck my way into the press box for tonight's Oilers-Panthers tilt. In an effort to kill two birds with one stone, and avoid awkward small talk with Terry Jones, I think I'm going to give a live blog a shot. So, on the off chance you can't figure out the online feed—and aren't one of the monocle-wearing dandies

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-81901041140365915622008-09-24T17:00:00.007-06:002008-09-24T20:00:46.028-06:00

7:00 PM MTNWebcast: Oilers' siteRadio: 630 CHEDThis is the exciting part of the pre-season where we learn the answers to all of our most pressing questions. Do either Michael Frolik or Shawn Matthias have any hope of making the Panthers straight out of Juniors? Do Stephen Weiss, Nathan Horton and David Booth have the balls to take this team by its post-Jokinen reins and put up some numbers? Is

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-7281152353158398732008-09-23T14:54:00.005-06:002008-09-23T19:40:45.725-06:00

8:00 PM MTNTV: Sportsnet Pacific (also try Centre Ice or the regional Sportsnet package)Radio: 630 CHEDWebcast: yep, on the Oilers' siteTonight's lineup for the Oilers has not been set yet, but expect a less potent roster. Dwayne Roloson will get the start and expect Jordan Eberle, Jason Strudwick, Andrew Cogliano, Zack Stortini and Gilbert Brule to play. The Canucks will be suiting up the

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-581006298821320282008-09-22T23:03:00.007-06:002008-09-23T00:03:27.075-06:00

Nice game tonight. Interesting how similar and yet so far apart Sam Gagner and Robbie Schremp are, as both are about the same size, have good hands and aren't the fastest skaters and yet Schremp is still banging his head against a wall trying to make the team. From what I saw tonight, the guy really needs to get some first-step acceleration and a better sense of what to do when he doesn't

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-90232686093495365442008-09-22T17:31:00.008-06:002008-09-23T00:04:44.589-06:00

Yesterday Team Blue beat the hated(?) Team White for the Joey Moss Cup, but now we're looking down the barrel of four pre-season games in four nights. I am both eager and made nervous by this in-your-face test of my fandom. Meanwhile the team has made some easy cuts to their training camp roster:Assigned to Springfield: (G) Glenn Fisher, Bryan Pitton; (D)Jordan Bendfeld, Rob Bina, Mike Gabinet,

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-65972027786017184722008-09-20T12:05:00.010-06:002008-09-20T16:25:27.007-06:00

New Oilers' blogger "Bruce," as what I assume he looks like...I'm bummed to hear that Jes Golbez has decided to hang up the keyboard and retire from blogging. Although it's hard to imagine in today's crowded blogworld of mega-dollars and sex groupies, Hockey Rants was one of only a handful of decent, pre-lockout blogs about the NHL. Now of course there's a million great blogs, but Jes' site has

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-50458264405469954682008-09-18T18:24:00.004-06:002008-09-18T19:05:21.113-06:00

I have no idea why I wrote that headline. Who cares. For those of you that don't know how to click on the Oilers' website once in a while, tonight's final-final rookie game is being webcast on their site at 9PM MTN. Playing against the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference All-Stars, the Oilers' roster is so thin that the entire lineup could be cut and sent away on a bus to the minors immediately

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-52000605605320127502008-09-16T15:24:00.007-06:002008-09-16T18:16:15.398-06:00

A Las Vegas Wranglers game during the playoffs. This is what happens when it's not bobblehead night.Let's see, the banking industry is crumbling in the US thanks to a huge credit crisis, the stock market has had its biggest drop since 9/11 and tens of thousands of Americans are losing their jobs. What shall we talk about today? NHL expansion, of course. And when I say "NHL expansion" let's all

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-45376037068177527192008-09-15T10:00:00.005-06:002008-09-15T11:41:57.822-06:00

After months of talking about Oilers hockey without being able to actually watch any of it, seeing the Oilers' rookies play last night (against the Flames' rookies in Camrose, via webcast) had an almost lecherous quality to it, not unlike a degenerate gambler eyeballing horses at the track.Theo Peckham looked great. Most guys with any pro experience stood out (including Colin McDonald), but

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-18447768273501935062008-09-13T11:27:00.012-06:002008-09-13T18:43:53.028-06:00

In an interview with Dan "whiz-kid" Tencer earlier this week, Kevin Lowe mentioned that the Oilers were looking at signing a particular player, although it wouldn't be a "earth-shattering move." Tencer guessed that it was Yannic Perreault, but seeing how the Oilers are "flush down the middle," Lowe said he wasn't really looking for a centreman.Best guess is Lowe's after a good role winger for the

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-63008448092821646502008-09-08T11:49:00.001-06:002008-09-08T11:52:22.059-06:00

Man, I never thought I'd get a chance to link to that video. This is already a great day.Anyway, I'm a touch behind on this (story of my life), but Staples has a fairly interesting post up about the battle tension between "traditionalists" and "stat guys," or those who, broadly speaking, prefer to rely on their own observations versus those who like to rely on numbers and shit. Lowetide has, as

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-67019118325843540962008-09-07T16:20:00.006-06:002008-09-07T21:16:27.907-06:00

Ever look at a park full of children playing on a beautiful, sunny day and think "What's the point? We are all just going to die and turn into dust..."? Welcome to A Pessimist's Guide to the Oilers' Upcoming Season*. As an Oilers fan, I expect the worse, am surprised by success, and thus completely prepared for the mediocrity that often lies between. The one thing I especially try to keep the

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-27873108657195123652008-09-04T16:41:00.006-06:002008-09-04T18:48:45.066-06:00

"You really don't think my ample power play time inflated my stats in 06/07?"Poor Rachel Hunter: if only she would have waited a month or two, she could have got an engagement ring almost two-thirds bigger than the one her mildly concussed boytoy dropped on her former-supermodel finger.Word from the land of movie stars and swimming pools is that Jarret Stoll just got a nice little raise, signing

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-27493602627254714362008-09-02T13:28:00.013-06:002008-09-02T16:25:14.590-06:00

Rodin's The Thinker, with hockey glove.This t-shirt is actually cool again.So it's official. Former Oilers on-ice bouncer Louie DeBrusk is the team's new colourman for Sportsnet regional coverage, filling in the gaping analyst hole left behind with Ray Ferraro's departure to TSN. Just to show you how out of the loop I was, Global's Kevin Karius and Sportsnet utility man Sam Cosentino were also in

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-89737621910063288932008-08-30T12:31:00.008-06:002008-08-30T16:53:26.448-06:00

I've decided to be last blogger on the internet to take on Greg Wyshynski's "Five Ways I'd Change the NHL" challenge, so here it goes:1. Bigger Nets. I agree with Jonathan, let's make the nets smaller and wider by a few inches. It's not too radical for a league that has moved away from the stand-up style, Darren-Pang sized goalies of the 1980s. Watch any old game and witness the appalling amount

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-62774689358958355132008-08-24T20:42:00.005-06:002008-08-24T22:43:03.771-06:00

The following is a dramatization based on real events.Georges Laraque: "The Lat Pulldown is really two movements; the first movement is pulling the bar down without bending the elbows. A very subtle movement. Only then do you pull the bar down to your chin and engage the back muscles."Daryl Katz: "How many reps should I do?"Georges Laraque: "The question is, how many can you do? Just like the leg

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-78188133529034494022008-08-22T11:23:00.005-06:002008-08-22T11:53:22.730-06:00

Although I've had the pleasure of meeting some fellow Oilers bloggers in person, I realized that I don't really know much about the people who regularly comment on this blog. The always-welcome names of Doogie2k, Lord Bob, Garyb and doritogrande come to mind, but there are plenty of others. In the spirit of trying to blog during the summer, I'm going to pull up just short of "Animal, Vegetable,

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com63tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-74187657608348868302008-08-20T18:57:00.008-06:002008-08-20T19:51:50.092-06:00

Any Canadian used to watching the same commercials over and over again on the CBC should be familiar with this Bell ad, which I think is about their wireless service but is ostensibly about a dad and his redhead masturbating son. Having watched this ad a few hundred times, I always felt like it missing something, so I added one last line of dialogue to make its message more clear:Dad: "Matthew,

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-16697639199143407952008-08-19T13:36:00.006-06:002008-08-19T15:50:10.431-06:00

- For anyone who wanted to celebrate the Canadian Men's Eight rowing team win gold, they also had to be confronted with a different kind of glory: the exact size and shape of the team's dinks, practically in every shot. A nice treat for their families, no doubt.As a dude who's been running 30+ miles a week, I have a special interest in track events (aside from well-executed piaffe, of course),

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-72816692195931361822008-08-16T10:17:00.005-06:002008-08-17T19:05:48.380-06:00

Soon there will be plenty to talk about with regards to the Oilers, but for now I think it's fair to say that everyone is trying to squeeze the last droplets of fun from the final weeks of summer. The only pressing item comes from Jim Matheson in the Journal:Former Oilers SportsNet colour commentator Ray Ferraro is going to work for TSN, replacing Glen Healy, who took a paying position with

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-37297552217889943102008-08-09T11:46:00.011-06:002008-08-09T17:05:41.648-06:00

Looking back at a the David Staples "Public cool to new arena" survey story in the Journal, I noticed that the once-quoted $250 million for a Rexall renovation somehow jumped up to $300 million in passing reference.Something isn't right here. I realize that the one proposed plan for renovating Rexall involved some kind of donut concourse wrapping the existing site, which sounds extensive, but the

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-49599346340163340802008-08-05T10:12:00.008-06:002008-08-05T17:05:00.878-06:00

You know the Edmontonian phrase "Everyone knows where they were when Gretzky was traded?" Well, I have no idea where I was twenty years ago ― Aug. 9 to be exact ― and it's a disappointment that ranks right up there with sleeping through all of 9/11 (eventually I heard a radio report about the collapse of the twin towers as I bought a Dairy Milk bar ― hardly a flattering portrait of my lifestyle

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-79161100724629310112008-08-02T16:53:00.006-06:002008-08-02T17:11:09.434-06:00

My rejected design for Phoenix's "leaping coyote" third jersey.More leaks from the air-tight NHL marketing department, this time courtesy of the blog icethetics, which somehow got the big scoop on some of the new third jersey logo designs. Toronto, Boston, Pittsburgh and Buffalo can't go wrong by echoing past logo designs, although the jury is still out on the plain text approach shared by

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-87623176989742630892008-07-31T18:22:00.005-06:002008-07-31T21:56:31.938-06:00

Oddly, he never played for the Oilers in the 1980s.Spending a couple hours reading up on Steve Tambellini in the news archives, the one thing that stands out is how often newspaper writers simply repeat what's been written before, which is summed up by the following: Steve Tambellini emerged from under the shadow of Brian Burke as a highly respected executive with a keen eye for player

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-63429483689989525052008-07-31T11:36:00.012-06:002008-07-31T18:09:47.447-06:00

Excuse me, I just sprayed my computer screen with coffee. Just like that, the Oilers have a new GM. And Steve Tambellini steps in? Buh?I have no clue what this is about, whether it's all Darryl Katz's idea or Kevin Lowe simply deciding to take on a less stressful job, or both, as backroom politics in the Oilers office isn't my bag. I thought Laforge was canned at first, which would have been

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-65706938756635756652008-07-30T23:01:00.004-06:002008-07-30T23:36:39.283-06:00

Just because I'm going to stab my eyes out with a car flag if I read another potential Oilers lineup, I thought I'd toss up a little hockey bon-bon to while away the summer.For all of us who will never even get the chance, a celebration of the biggest dream a hockey-playing could have.Evgeni Malkin, October 18, 2006A pretty dirty goal for a guy who might be the Mark Messier to Crosby's Wayne

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-47439891368712374002008-07-29T16:47:00.003-06:002008-07-29T17:16:15.099-06:00

In case you haven't heard, there's this new search engine out there called Cuil (a stupidly unintuitive, unpronouncable moniker that they want you to refer to as "cool"). Created by former Google engineers and sent live yesterday, this spry young newcomer debuted with a web index of 120-billion pages, more than triple the index maintained by their former employers, while using a fraction of the

Chris!http://www.blogger.com/profile/11484215962971930186noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-30407532190650918222008-07-28T11:05:00.010-06:002008-07-28T11:48:29.669-06:00

Howard Berger, who is burdened with the great torture of being the Leafs beat reporter for the Fan 590 in Toronto, apparently has had a first look at the new third jerseys for this upcoming season.Here's his description on what the Oilers are going with:The Oilers are going back to their glory days with the predominantly blue jersey Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier et al wore on the road while winning

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-72896589743173333882008-07-27T14:17:00.008-06:002008-07-27T20:39:32.231-06:00

Starting today, you may notice a new addition to our sidebar, down to the right: fake advertising, which will be updated every once in a while. (Hey, what can we say? The sub-prime mortgage crisis hit us harder than we thought).First up is a bar chain known as Hudsons, which everyone knows is the worst thing that has ever happened to the city since Bob Layton began appearing on local television.

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-35050226909155535952008-07-26T11:45:00.009-06:002008-07-26T15:25:01.796-06:00

Mike York in a better time. Also: bring back the old uniforms!Anybody catch that riveting exhange about blogging between HF Boarders and Oilers Bloggers lately? It's interesting because when you throw in what it means to have a blog in today's modern society, what with MSM also having blogs, and the blogging line between blogging amateur and blogging professional becoming ever more blurried and

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-43863630984352232512008-07-19T11:38:00.007-06:002008-07-19T15:55:22.252-06:00

Aaaaaah! I'm not sure whether the Oil should sign Mathieu Garon to a long-term contract or not. For one thing, my fantasy league selections have proven that I have no knack for picking out future starting goalies in the NHL. Just when I think Niklas Backstrom is a bonafide Number 1, that punk kid Josh Harding comes along and starts to steal his job way sooner than I thought he would. In 2006, I

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-74882223283206991812008-07-17T12:18:00.005-06:002008-07-17T12:45:44.792-06:00

It's a testament to hockey fandom's absurdist sense of humour — not to mention the failings of online democracy — that this ridiculous cacophony of screaming babies, screeching cats and shotgun blasts is currently the front-runner in CBC's ill-conceived "Canada's Hockey Anthem Challenge" to become the new Hockey Night in Canada theme song:Here's the thing I wrote at that place I work for. But

Chris!http://www.blogger.com/profile/11484215962971930186noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-72790638216773397482008-07-17T07:34:00.007-06:002008-07-17T22:46:26.308-06:00

Shawn Horcoff thinks about blasting his quads.I like the deal ($33 million over 6 years = $5.5 million) although it's by no means a bargain. That said, did we really want to wait until next July to see what kind of pile of money the Thrashers or Leafs might throw at him?A few thoughts: - In terms of offensive production, Horcoff has averaged .83 points per game over the last three seasons,

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-20124703260503216432008-07-12T12:27:00.014-06:002008-07-12T18:37:19.121-06:00

A depiction of a metaphor found in this post. • As we witness the owner-fan boy destruction of Tampa Bay's franchise, along with the absurd imbalance of bad free agent signings to the badder ones (Jeff Finger leading the pack, of course, although Naslund's contract makes me titter), I have no problem believing that given a nice mahogany desk, a working phone and a Rolodex full of player agents

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-51212682785249959812008-07-08T15:36:00.004-06:002008-07-08T15:51:32.678-06:00

Word from TSN is that the Sens have signed Jason Smith, former Oilers captain and all-around gentleman badass, the type of man potent enough to impregnate the entire Edmonton Eskimos cheerleading squad with nothing but an arched eyebrow and a smile and stand-up enough to raise every last one of those children to full maturity, ensuring they grow up with solid morals and a healthy respect for

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-58117559297905904902008-07-02T12:21:00.004-06:002008-07-02T12:54:06.710-06:00

Curtis Glencross is now a member of the Calgary Flames (there wasn't a specific story on it yet; I'll update the link when I begin to care).The signing certainly makes a lot of sense from the Flames point of view, given that the man they call GlenX basically wrecked up the place any time he played the Flames (5 of his 15 goals in 5 games, never mind the fighting and hitting and swearing and

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-24147354612399420362008-07-02T11:06:00.006-06:002008-07-02T11:14:20.502-06:00

Surprise! Marian Hossa has signed a one-year, $7.4-million deal with the Detroit Red Wings, TSN reports. This, despite the Olympic-sized swimming pool packed to the brim with $100 bills that Edmonton was said to be offering.Oiler fans, welcome back to Earth; you may recognize it as the planet where elite players take less money to skate with teams that win.

Chris!http://www.blogger.com/profile/11484215962971930186noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-28232544351713699362008-07-01T10:28:00.004-06:002008-07-01T10:48:20.924-06:00

Raffi Torres is gone. Joni Pitkänen is also gone. Gilbert Brule and Erik Cole are in.First off, I'm incredibly glad to see Raffi go. I know he could "keep his head above water" against "tougher opposition," but that doesn't change the fact he was a dirty motherfucker with a chin landing strip who consistently failed to produce offense in almost any situation (excluding the one year he had 27

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-52149875679180353202008-06-29T22:57:00.004-06:002008-06-30T10:20:06.462-06:00

Now, as a straight-up trade, Jarret Stoll and Matt Greene for Lubomir Visnovsky (pictured left, using his Slovakian charm to get himself out of a speeding ticket, or something) is of course incredible, the kind of trade the Oilers always used to be on the other end of, happily gobbling up middling players with question marks or unproven youngsters with potential (say, when was the last time we

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-92106672029766535292008-06-20T20:22:00.006-06:002008-06-20T21:05:45.455-06:00

The Oilers have picked up Jordan Eberle, a gap-toothed pip-squeek that scored 42 goals last year in the WHL. By drafting yet another Centre, the Oilers are now ever more clogged up in that position (making Ryan O'Marra, what, they're 15th option?), although surely some of these guys can be converted to wing, or just as likely, traded (Stoll, Schremp, Pouliot?). Still, Oilers fans have to be happy

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-66187975193814845112008-06-09T16:27:00.003-06:002008-06-09T16:50:11.762-06:00

So, it appears that CTV has gone ahead and bought the rights to "The Hockey Song" up until this point known (and only known) as the theme to Hockey Night in Canada. CTV Spokesman Rick Brace had this to say:"It is an iconic tune, embraced by Canadians everywhere, and we felt it was imperative to save it." (Emphasis mine)Right, of course: gigantic media conglomerations are always worried about

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-30129392137074921962008-06-06T12:10:00.006-06:002008-06-06T14:03:58.719-06:00

Hey.HEY.HEY! BLOG NERDS! Wake the fuck up and smash this through your eyeholes: it's a real, live, actual, honest-to-Pisani, mothertouching BLOG POST from your deliquent pals at the presumably defunct CinO!Are you FEELING IT? Yeah? Could you maybe feel mine for me? Great. See you at 7. BYOB.Anyhow, check it, fools: the Oilers indulged in some hot third-rounder-on-third-rounder action today,

Chris!http://www.blogger.com/profile/11484215962971930186noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-67117160624288824502008-05-25T20:13:00.004-06:002008-05-25T21:15:37.105-06:00

For those of you that missed it, Matt and Andy from BoA were just on a "Kiss Cam" segment during their appearance on CBC's Test The Nation. What started off as a funny little moment actually became a bit awkward, as they kept going at it for ten minutes, outlasting all applause until the only sound came from the audience shifting uncomfortably in their seats.Actually, it was a fun show to watch,

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-41572133783459630292008-05-16T22:49:00.003-06:002008-05-16T22:50:55.910-06:00

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-91540693401245602712008-05-03T19:18:00.003-06:002008-05-03T19:28:29.152-06:00

Not only does ex-Oiler Georges Laraque get his fourth career playoff goal the other night against the Rangers...... he follows it up by kissing a FSN reporter during the intermission (video quality is not so hot).Antics like this will keep you in the CinO banner forever, Le GG.

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-50454498408504836822008-04-28T22:21:00.001-06:002008-04-28T22:22:12.736-06:00

One of the things that makes hockey so damn Canadian is that, even when people are making fun of it, you still get excited that they even bothered to mention it at all.NHL Star Called Up To Big Leagues To Play For NFL Team

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-14035865841528205962008-04-22T20:06:00.006-06:002008-04-22T21:01:50.034-06:00

Joffrey Lupul scores the series-winning goal in Game 7 OT? Double You Tee Eff. Well at least ex-Oilers Patrick Thoresen and Jason Smith get to move on to the next round, although the Flyers also have that that little snot-nosed punk Steve Downie. But then again Washington has Matt Cooke... Man, it's so hard to keep track of all of these different bits of hate.Tough way to lose: on a total

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-45368013646756655592008-04-20T19:14:00.000-06:002008-04-20T20:46:55.327-06:00

Inspired by Rock Deputy's advocation of military-style groin protection for NHL players, I thought I'd take a look at exactly how hard the puck would hit an NHL player when compared to an actual, no shit bullet.Now, this comes with the caveat that my ability to perform basic physics calculations has diminished greatly since I was the valedictorian of Ardrossan High School's 2002 graduating class

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-80872212939893366092008-04-12T15:15:00.005-06:002008-04-12T18:06:31.877-06:00

- If I was a pro hockey player, I think I'd rather have my carotid artery sliced with a skate and die on the ice with my parents watching instead of getting a slapshot directly into the nuts like Patrick Thoresen did last night. Luckily, Patrick is out of the hospital today, although I hear he doesn't believe in God anymore.- We've seen some truly Toronto Maple Leafs-esque defensive zone coverage

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-67275929462646585752008-04-11T10:58:00.008-06:002008-04-11T16:34:42.678-06:00

$4 million over six years, per TSN. I especially like the six years part of the deal. $4 million is a bit much for a guy that's played one full season in the league, but what can you expect? As an Oilers' defenceman of the future, he's already a better bet than what we had with Eric Brewer (currently making $4.5 million) and the Oilers have him locked up through most of his prime. A nice,

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-74790370988667372312008-04-09T17:54:00.009-06:002008-04-09T20:21:44.058-06:00

THE EASTMontreal Vs Boston: I'm picking Boston. You know why? Because I'm bonkers. Screw their goal differential! It seems like every year a number one seed gets knocked off, and I'll take Montreal over Detroit. With injuries plaguing their best forwards, Boston surprised everyone by even making the playoffs - why not win four more? And hey, it's not a stretch to think that spazzlord Tim Thomas

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-43275348277322582132008-04-07T19:46:00.008-06:002008-04-07T21:11:03.885-06:00

Not much to care about in another playoffless spring, but there is Pierre McGuire (seen above in his brief cameo in Schindler's List) embodying every bad sports commentator stereotype in his picking of the Monsters of the Year at TSN.The highlights:On Steven Valiquette: "A guy that can make big-time stops at the right time..."The right time, presumably, is whenever the goddamn puck is shot at

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-35488190925228637002008-04-03T17:28:00.005-06:002008-04-03T20:19:14.444-06:00

I remember in 2003, when the Oilers made the playoffs only to lose to Dallas for the thirteenth time in a row (the ubiquitous bench shot of Mike "game winner" Modano, always with his mouth open, was as much a era-defining image for me as anything between 1997-2003), Oilers fans were reduced to talking up Marc-Andre Bergeron in the post-series radio chatter after a highlight reel hit on Brendan

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-31722036521221973992008-04-01T23:38:00.003-06:002008-04-01T23:39:52.714-06:00

(Cries.)

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-4671256581860154972008-03-31T01:01:00.000-06:002008-03-31T01:54:13.926-06:00

(Spits.)

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-53757427927925136292008-03-27T08:13:00.010-06:002008-03-27T10:47:26.335-06:00

The death trap known as Rexall Place..."On Tuesday, when members of the feasibility committee met with the Edmonton Journal's editorial board, there were already dark hints that without a new arena, the Oilers could leave town when their current lease expires." — Paula Simons, The Edmonton JournalThat makes it the second time in four years that the Edmonton Oilers and their minions have

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-63015673829496322742008-03-25T12:56:00.010-06:002008-03-26T20:54:16.615-06:00

An artist's rendition of an arena downtown. A new sports and entertainment facility can and should be the heart of a revitalized, urban district downtown.” - City of Edmonton press release . "It has to be downtown." - Feasibility Committee Report.Well, no surprises today. According to the Arena Feasibility report, the arena is feasible dammit. And guess who will foot the bill? The City. Aside

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-68138920066936709452008-03-24T23:42:00.003-06:002008-03-31T00:20:18.882-06:00

I want to start this off by saying that I have nothing but respect for David Staples: I think he does fine work over at The Cult of Hockey, and his willingness to both engage with internet communities like the Oilogosphere (who are basically little more than a collection of concerned fans) and question conventional hockey logic sets him ahead of most of his mainstream peers, and make him a

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com90tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-69336990864421534832008-03-24T17:56:00.013-06:002008-03-24T18:32:28.509-06:00

OKAY...So the Oilers have only won six of their last 23 games against the Minnesota Wild, and just two of six games this year.GRANTED...Dwayne Roloson has kind of sucked against his former team, going 4-9-2 with an .895 save percentage since coming to the Oilers.YES...At the other end of the rink, Nicklas Backstrom has walled up the net Cask of Amontillado-style, posting a perfect 8-0 with three

Chris!http://www.blogger.com/profile/11484215962971930186noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-27452102329224722642008-03-23T13:48:00.001-06:002008-03-23T14:52:43.346-06:00

(Update: through Saturday night)This thing has kind of become a moot point of late, what the Great 2008 Dinktease and all, but it's worth remembering what's really important about this season, people: not giving Coiffy McAsshole a lottery pick.Before we go on, though, I will say that the really bizarre thing about this year's version of our last-gasp push for mediocrity is the fact that we can

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com66tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-46788170789843894572008-03-22T12:06:00.008-06:002008-03-22T12:45:47.032-06:00

Amazingly, improbably, and despite getting our asses handed to us by the Canucks in an almost identically important matchup on Thursday, the Oilers still have a chance of pulling within three points of a playoff spot with a win over Colorado this afternoon, if you can believe it. Couple that with a Nashville loss to Chicago (game will be going on at the same time, you can follow its progress here

Chris!http://www.blogger.com/profile/11484215962971930186noreply@blogger.com85tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-91004118827731257312008-03-20T20:50:00.008-06:002008-03-20T21:40:33.233-06:00

Trying to catch on to the "positive vibes" and "optimism" of Oilers fandom these days, I invited the gang over to my creepy apartment for beer and a screening of tonight's pivotal Canucks game. Big Mistake. We're now in the second intermission, down 2-0, and have resorted to looking up semi-nude pics of Ron Hextall.Beer, however, is delicious.**UPDATE!** Oilers lose!

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-49132037246302159632008-03-18T18:39:00.005-06:002008-03-18T19:59:09.574-06:00

As much as anyone, I'm enjoying this little late season playoff dink-tease by the Oilers, but let's not forget that this is a bad team. According to my highly complicated pythagorean projections, the Oilers' goal differential is -31, 5th worst in the league, which almost always means that they will suck (as Tyler predicted, luck ran out on the Islanders and their dreadful -45 differential this

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-67983307968429427162008-03-14T06:41:00.002-06:002008-03-14T06:50:12.701-06:00

30-game suspension:0-game suspension:

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-18746665100497452952008-03-13T14:39:00.007-06:002008-03-13T16:52:05.632-06:00

Ah, Toronto. After two straight wins against the 8th place Flyers, the local buzz of "we're not dead yet" has turned into a low murmur of playoff talk, as if Leafs were capable of winning almost every single remaining game in the season. Never mind that there's three other teams in the way, two of which have a game in hand.Meanwhile, with the Oilers lagging 7 points behind in the West buried

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-1081503597940961732008-03-13T10:33:00.003-06:002008-03-13T11:26:00.966-06:00

And the Oilers Masterton Trophy Nominee, as voted by local media, who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey is... Robbie Schrem...er... Fernando Pisani!Generally, the annual award is given to a player who has lost an eye, is an alcoholic or who has the most cancer that particular year, so you have to guess that Fernando Pisani is a front-runner after his truly

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-59253419539021882242008-03-11T21:34:00.004-06:002008-03-11T21:44:25.055-06:00

This goofball has won three straight games with three straight overtime winners. Anyone care to calculate odds on that? The kids were flying tonight (including Laddy Smid, who was skating well). Is Sam Gagner already the best passer on this team?PS: We'll just stay in the moment and kindly sidestep the blown 3-goal lead, along with the Oilers being badly outplayed for most of the game. Mathieu

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-71109969795640293282008-03-09T12:18:00.004-06:002008-03-09T12:28:45.330-06:00

I've been waiting for months for someone to post this clip on youtube. Fun Fact: I lost my virginity on Wye Road to this song.Don't forget that today's very important game with all sorts of Brian Burke Push implications starts at 1:00 PM MTN, folks!

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-9385652123090418102008-03-07T06:58:00.006-07:002008-03-07T07:58:28.927-07:00

You remember this week's 10-2 loss by the Boston Bruins against the Washington Capitals? That was me. By placing a $20 bet on the Bruins at the MGM Grand sportsbook in Las Vegas, I think I broke the Gambling-Time Continuum somehow, as I'm now 0-5 when betting straight up on hockey games. The Caps were up 4-0 in the first eight minutes of the game, before I even had time to get back from the bar

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-69162867999776141402008-03-04T15:55:00.003-07:002008-03-04T16:09:23.004-07:00

Well, the Skittles and root beer will surely flow freely in the rookie house tonight, as Oilers teen angel Sam Gagner has been named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for February. February! It's like two Family Days in one year!Anyhow, Gagner racked up three goals and 10 assists in 12 games to edge out the Rangers' Brandon Dubinsky (12 GP, 6-5-11), the Coyotes' Peter Mueller (14 GP, 4-7-11) the

Chris!http://www.blogger.com/profile/11484215962971930186noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-82824998633375926592008-02-29T20:51:00.005-07:002008-02-29T20:58:28.654-07:00

Ah, the GO Train. Contained within this video are a few reasons why the Toronto Maple Leafs don't deserve either a Stanley Cup or that "selfish" bum Mats Sundin...

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-21589138944718838152008-02-25T15:46:00.003-07:002008-02-25T16:06:55.077-07:00

Well, I was certainly mildly heartened my our comeback win over Colorado last night, even if it was, as most of our wins, due mostly to some stellar play by Garon: lead mostly by the kids, it showed we have some spark, and even if the playoffs are a distant dream, it's indicative that we perhaps have enough to avoid handing Anaheim a lottery pick.Before we could really enjoy any of that,

DMFBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05463455511639436351noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-84691724632887146772008-02-22T10:56:00.005-07:002008-02-22T11:19:21.096-07:00

Great Óðinn! Patrick Thoresen has been snapped up from waivers by the Philadelphia Flyers. This leaves the Oilers with one less contract to worry about, but the team loses a pretty good little plugger with hands of stone so far in the NHL (although he's almost scoring at a 1 PPG pace this season in the AHL). Good luck, Ëlectric Nörseman, I'm sure you'll have a 30 point run as Joffrey Lupul's

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-83040829835632833452008-02-21T18:38:00.006-07:002008-02-22T06:20:28.933-07:00

This is Jason Arnott coming out of the Tropical Typhoon waterslide in West Edmonton Mall's World Waterpark, the most funnest place on the planet. I have a near-identical photo of myself coming out of the same waterslide, although from a side angle. (I wonder if Jason Arnott ever got around to touching the the hair and Band-Aid encrusted grates at the end of the wave pool).This is part of

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-11016316845061015132008-02-20T19:50:00.004-07:002008-02-20T21:12:44.988-07:00

Unless it's a package deal for Sheldon Souray and Dwayne Roloson, of course.The buzz from the GM meeting in Naples today is that Jay Feaster is hard-selling Lightning Centre Brad Richards and his hefty $7.8 million contract that expires in 2011. What's that? He has a no-trade clause? Apparently the rather literal-sounding no-trade clause means nothing these days, or at least it seems that way in

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14680504.post-83348453872220288842008-02-18T00:05:00.005-07:002008-02-18T00:48:44.126-07:00

Dwayne Roloson and Ritch Winter think that putting prominent corporate logos on jerseys will add $30 million in revenue for the league. Under Gary Bettman, the NHL has proven time and time again that nothing's sacred, least of all the silks of your favourite hockey team. Me? I'm still recovering from the "apron string" piping that adorns the current Oilers jersey. Clearly, uniforms are a bit of

mike whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12425527059185667388noreply@blogger.com28