mario r

To the following for a hot month when the team really needed it. Since Feb
4:

Smyth 7 9 16pts 13g His best hockey since 97 hands down.
Devo 2 7 9 9g Doing well coming back from injury
Horc 5 6 11 13g A much needed, vital center combo with Smyth
Staios 3 6 9 13g Isn't this guy ALWAYS there when it matters?
Stoll 2 5 7 12g Huge #'s, and under duress, for a rookie.
Moreau 4 2 6 13g Greater contribution thn just the #'s indicate
Chimera 1 6 7 in his last 9 games. He is finally starting to play
with the speed that is his forte.

Thanks to all the above for contributing offence on nights when due to
injury you had to wonder where it would come from. Significantly the team
managed to get 42 goals in the 13 games which works out to 3.23/game. To put
this accomplishment into perspective only two teams this year have a chance
at averaging 3 goals/game.

--
--
Re: ESPN fan satisfaction survey I would say that if Edmontonians are
*happy* with the OIL then fans of other Pro sports teams must be more
inclined to dip the players, coaches, management,owners in tar, roll them in
feathers, and dog shit and take them to the town square for an ol fashioned
public flogging


Mario R

bort

Absolutely. Since that rumour of him getting traded to Montreal, he's been
on fire.

Getting him from the Rangers was brilliant. I think we've learned to take
Lowe for granted.

Good on him. Lots of people in here were always ready to squash this guy.
Nice to see him "bring it" when it matters.

Yes. I love Ryan Smyth, but if Jason Smith is gone after this season, I say
make Staios the Captain.

Brilliant for a rookie. Rita should take a lesson (or two) from him.

The Oilers' Heart and Soul. If anyone deserves the 'C' more than Staios,
it's Moreau.


Nice to see him get his legs underneath him. However, I can see him being
traded away sooner than later.

dave k.

It's nice to see some people actually complimenting the team for once
instead of having to constantly read about how bad they are I'd agree
with everyone on that list. I'd add Laraque--his line has been pretty
dangerous over the last stretch...he could've folded, packed it in, when he
was challenged by his coach and by the media and the fans...instead, he's
responded very well and played some very good hockey.

Dave

dave k.

And Ulanov too.

Dave

mario r

So glad he was able to turn it around. Real hard to get guys of his talent
level that WANT to be here.

Definitely, all the NY deals have been awesome, I just didn't agree with the whole commie saga.


He's been awesome with Smyth, and looks very much like he is supposed to right now.


Another guy who seems to want to be here.

Stoll is gonna be a good one, the org was right on this one.


Really? I don't feel that way at all. Trading Chimera would not bring very
much and certainly not the type of player that Chimera himself is capable of
being. I see a potential Madden, or Marchant type here (and bigger!) with
some more attention to two-way detail and experience at the NHL level.
Chimera could still be a good one, he's playing like it right now. I think
he could learn to be a talented role/counterattack player. He's starting to
find his form and where he fits with his speed and thats exciting to see as
you mention.

mario r

Thanks Dave, I end up giving positive or negative comments depending on the
situation and the effort has really been there the last month. The players
are definitely bringing it and in Dallas last week it was evident that the
Oil were somehow contraprepared for the 3rd period. Can't fault the players
for that one IMHO. Plus they were playing a REALLY good team that can
dictate what they want to do to you virtually at will. I'd agree

Oh definitely, a couple of weeks ago I started a Laraque thread where I
praised him and pointed out his more recent stats. He's bringing it
everygame and Bishai was starting to look really good with him.

..he could've folded, packed it in, when he

Laraque and Horc, and Smyth have really responded to adversity. The whole
team has. I don't know that the fans in Edmonton and Calgary realize exactly
how much we are getting from the players on the ice. Look at the lineups for
either team and theres no way you could expect them to be in the running
especially given our depleted lineup and serious problems at center.
I have been very critical of the team going into the season with a limited
amount of centers but the problem has been compounded by injuries to York,
Reasoner, and a subpar Oates addition. Lowe probably had his fingers crossed
re: center and it definitely didn't work out. At some point the Oil should
have figured out the situation with commie and acted accordingly by getting
some veteran center.(Not a star obviously but just a journeyman) This lack
of experience at center, and Salo is why we are in the position we are in.
HOWEVER look at what this season does for Horc, Stoll even Bishai with them
getting experience that otherwise wouldn't be there to the same degree. You
can tell I've changed my tune a bit on Bishai as the last few games he
looked really competent so maybe there is someplace for him here the next
hockey season.

bort

Don't get me wrong... I think he's playing great, and is a definite asset to
the team. But I can see how he would turn the heads of a lot of other GMs
in the league, who want a speedy checker.

For some reason, I see Detroit wanting him... and have him learn from Draper
and Maltby.

bort

mario r

hmmmm, Detroit had liked our Maltby and Boyd but Scotty Bowman was actually
a bit of an Oilfan so he followed our team more. Not sure anybody in Detroit
would still notice the likes of Chimera.

bort

We shall see, my friend... we shall see. ;-)

tj

YOUR CRAZY...Smitty should have had it before Jason, just to young and
imature in an "essence"
Smitty as Captain...Staios with an "A" of course with Ethan.


AGREED....except Rita should be trade bait......


AGREED\DISAGREED

Smitty for Prime Minister...whose longer serving....like I said above,
Staios and Moreau with "A" 's

AGREED

You missed out on York and Torres by the way.....

T.