C-C-C-hanges

The Edmonton Oilers sent out Liam Reddox today and recalled Ryan O'Marra. With waiver rules and time spent in the show impacting them, this sort of move can be described as "routine."

What is unusual about today is the callup of Colin McDonald. That 2003 Oiler draft just keeps paying off. McDonald was taken early that year and his development has been timed by sundial. However, as we mentioned a few times in the summer and fall (click on his name below to read through the posts) McDonald appears to be getting some career traction.

It's funny how these things go. Daniel Cleary's signal for an exit was the arrival of Fernando Pisani, and young McDonald would have to be considered a possible (if not ideal) replacement for the role Fernando served so well in his time with the Oilers.

We all hope Fernando can return, but McDonald's skill set and career track matches a "small p" Pisani. It looks like he'll start his NHL career in the next few days.

Floor it!

When Dan Rather used to read the CBS Evening News he ended each newscast with a word or phrase. Sometimes it was "freedom" or "courage" and people started to make stuff up and then it got funny. You'd hear people mock him by saying things like "I'm Dan Rather, discombobulate."

We know Ales Hemsky is injured and that Pat Quinn looked three days into The Lost Weekend at the media conference last night. As unhappy as some of this season has been for Oiler fans, it could be (and might be) worse.

So, instead of worrying over the lineups at practice or how the spin machine is going to work this angle, I think we should come up with a word of the day in true Dan Rather fashion. Today's word: Courage!

Kings at Oilers, G25, 09-10

The Los Angeles Kings won 42 games in 1974-75, 43 games in 1980-81, 42 games in 1988-89, 46 games in 1990-91 and 42 games in 2005-06. The club is on track to be "in the range" for that kind of total in 2009-10. Among their leaders is Ryan Smyth (currently injured) who is having a wonderful start to the season (22gp, 9-14-23 +5). As an aside, the leading point-getter on that 2005-06 team was Lubomir Visnovsky (80gp, 17-50-67).

That's Yvan Cournoyer for the Habs in the photo, his former teammate Vachon in the LA net (notice the actual net, interesting) and Sheldon Kannegiesser trying to stop the madness. Vachon is probably the best goalie no one remembers from the era and the Kings have had two wonderful goalies (Vachon & Hrudey) in their history.

You get the feeling this team could make some real noise if they could get goaltending somewhere along the way. Jonathan Quick (.894SP in 22gp) is the starter and Erik Ersberg (.808SP in 3gp) is the backup.

The Oilers could be getting some of their injured forwards back tonight. Ryan Stone and Robert Nilsson skated yesterday so we'll have to watch closely as the day rolls on to hear about lineup changes. It'll be interesting to see if any of the kid forwards can impact the game offensively tonight, they haven't done a lot in the last while.

Last Chance Texaco?

Robert Nilsson skated with the Oilers today and may play tomorrow night against Los Angeles. His boxcars (12gp, 1-3-4 -12) stand out for some bad reasons (minus 12 is a team worst, there are men like Ryan Potulny who have been more effective) and many fans believe the Oilers need Ryan Stone more than Nilsson back in the lineup tomorrow night.

Can this really be how this ends? Robert Nilsson has an exceptional amount of talent and has in fact had a good NHL season with the Oilers. Is this a case of lost confidence or something more? Robert Nilsson's 5x5/60 number in 2007-08 was 2.37.

What the hell happened?

Pubitis Thing Update?

In mid-October we were told Marc Pouliot had "lingering pubitis" and really haven't heard much since. I understand the need for privacy, after all this isn't a groin injury. However, we're about 6 weeks into the deal and it was estimated to be an 8-to-10 week injury.

So, any updates? Have you heard anything? The last words we heard from Pat Quinn about MP had to do with the organization's belief in him:

"He got hurt early in camp so we didn't see him a lot. But our management likes him. They had him in their mind as part of our roster moving forward so that did create some numbers problems."

With Gilbert Brule scoring enough to stay in the lineup it would seem his job is safe. But what about Reddox? Potulny? Pouliot probably has a spot on this roster after a rehab but this fall would have to be considered an opportunity missed. Again.

Coyotes at Oilers, G24, 09-10

The Phoenix Coyotes (13-9-1) come into Rexall with some traction (5 points in the last 3 games and a win over the Flyers). The Oilers (9-11-3) should be better tonight after losing to Chicago on HNIC on Saturday night. The Coyotes traditionally do poorly at Rexall and the Oilers are awful on pay-per-view so we'll call it a wash.

Phoenix is rumored to be shopping struggling C Peter Mueller but the Oilers have lots of young centermen who are having a hard time of it so that doesn't seem like a match. Coyotes are apparently looking for scoring and help along the blue and based on their start this might be a season to offload youth to acquire some experience for a playoff run.

Not much to say about the Oilers. They are a team in need of a winning streak and they appear to have exactly three forwards they can count on offensively. Pat Quinn had a 9AM meeting Sunday morning with the key veterans, if they lose tonight maybe he'll make it 6AM for the Tuesday get together.

Dubnyk gets the Call

News this afternoon that the Edmonton Oilers have recalled Devan Dubnyk from Springfield (AHL). Dubnyk is having a solid year in the minors (SP .924) and there's a chance he'll see some action because of Nikolai Khabibulin's injury and Jeff Deslauriers recent lack of effectiveness.

If he does play, Dubnyk will be the 4th Oiler pick from 2004 to play in the show. He'll join Liam Reddox, Rob Schremp and Bryan Young as picks from that year to play in the NHL. There are 3 first round picks from that season who have yet to make it: AJ Thelen (12th to MIN) who is in the ECHL at this time, Andy Rogers who is a depth player in the AHL and Dubnyk.

No word yet about what Springfield will do to replace Dubnyk on their roster. They play Wednesday and then three games on the weekend so there's a chance the club will need someone to spell the Falcons other goalie Aaron Sorochan.