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Oilers Send Two Down, Oilers Fans Sent To Therapy |
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ROSTER MOVES
The Edmonton Oilers sent farmhand Brandon Davidson down to the OKC Barons today along with Dennis Grebeshkov who will be on a conditioning stint with the AHL club. They have also recalled Philip Larsen back to the big club.
Grebeshkov has been out for so long that there’s no doubt he needs to see a little game action to knock the rust off before he could be conceivably inserted into an NHL lineup. He didn’t have a strong camp, in my opinion, so the longer he stays away from the Oilers the better it will probably be for the team. Davidson didn’t get into any game action while he was here and he needs ice-time if he is ever going to develop into an NHL player. You always like to see stories like Davidson's have happy endings, but its not his time yet.
Philip Larsen was really good by my eye in the pre-season so I’m happy the Oilers have another puck moving, mobile defender back in the fold as an option. Maybe the Oilers reviewed those primo chances that Nick Schultz had last game and thought they needed someone who might be able to keep the shot lower than 10 feet. Who knows? He gives the club options that other callups would not. I hope he gets into some game action and Schultz the Elder takes a seat for a night or two.
PANIC
The Oilers go 1-3 and everybody seems to be in full on panic mode. Dubnyk is brutal, Yakupov is MIA, Eakins new system isn’t working, and the Oilers will come back with a 1-9 record after this road trip!
Deep Breaths, People! There are 78 more games to go.
The goals against Dubnyk last night weren’t his fault. He looked like an NHL goalie out there. There is no way you watched that game and came away blaming the big guy (The Goalie, not the Deity). Despite the result, the performance should be enough to give you all a little peace of mind. His numbers will even out. He looked terrible in the first 2 games, no doubt, but the history is there to suggest he is at least an average NHL starter.
But what about Yakupov? We are 4 games in. He is struggling, absolutely. Maybe it’s the new coach and system, maybe it’s the 3rd line ice-time and team mates. Whatever the problem was that started him down this path it’s his problem now. He needs to earn his ice-time now, and I expect that sooner or later he will. Hemsky’s early resurgence has robbed him of some very talented linemates and quality icetime. Yakupov isn’t helping it when he tries to go solo into a group of defenders either, but it’s hard to make a pass in that situation when Ryan Smyth is still somewhere in his own zone. He wants to score so bad that if he grips his stick any harder it will turn to dust. It’s going to come eventually. Step back from the crazy Yakupov trade proposals for a minute and give the kid a break.
And Eakins new system? Doing just fine. The Oilers were outclassed by Vancouver and other than that have posted respectable team Corsi numbers in their other 3 games. The team was hopelessly outshot in almost every game last year. They are already better at keeping things even or better in the shot/chance department. Last night the Habs had great performances by Gallagher, Galchenyuk, and Budaj. That’s just how hockey works. Sometimes the bounces go your way, sometimes they don’t. If Eakins’ system is responsible for keeping the shot differentials respectable then it is Mission Accomplished for him.
1-3 is bad, but there is no reason to panic yet. If Oilers fans hadn’t been subjected to 6 years of torture and the Tambellini era (not quite synonymous, but close) I doubt we would be drawing up trade scenarios and checking up on who the consensus 1st Overall pick will be in the 2014 Draft before Thanksgiving. Keep your fingers off the EJECT button on the bandwagon a little longer.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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