Hey, knock it off. You are a leafs fan. You should be tough enough by now after enduring so many years of pain.
- leonkennedy

burn

This blog could use some of Cloutiers witty sarcasm and comical references to basically anything, he was good at throwing in a few play on words or other little bit of entertainment.

Hey, knock it off. You are a leafs fan. You should be tough enough by now after enduring so many years of pain.
- leonkennedy

I'm endured years of psychiatric counseling to subdue those memories.

Having Horcoff gone is 75% of the battle won already! He was not the right guy to be captain. Simply put, a team leader has to either be one of the very best players (lead by example) or a very vocal, while at the same time intimidating presence. Horcoff was probably the hardest worker on the team and he was very well liked. A team captain cannot be "the nice guy" though. I think Horcs didn't get the resepct that a team captain needs and I also feel that this was at the very heart of the Oilers' problems.

This team needs the reincarnation of Mark Messier to lead it, someone who does have a lot of skill, but more importantly someone who holds EVERYONE accountable for EVERYTHING. If Mess was your team captain you didn't screw up...period.

A Joe Sakic type captain works also, but the intimidating ice-cold stare of a leader who will call you out in front of the boys, who will take matters into his own hands physically...is what this group needs.

It was an impossible situation with Horcoff because he simply did not possess the skill to handle the "game" of Hall, Eberle, Yakupov, RHN, Schultz, et al. After Horcoff was single handedly responsible for killing a rush by booting a tape to tape pass, you would see him back at the bench "teaching" the kids. In one ear and out the other, was what it looked like. THey didn't respect him skill-wise.

So, given that the Oilers do not have an absolute warrior, beast, a-hole that immediately commands everyone's respect physically and vocally, I would say the default should go to Taylor Hall, who I believe WILL become that guy. He actually reminds me of Messier, but without all of that angst. I think he's the best guy on the roster to do the job and skill wise he is right there.

Eberle, RNH, Schultz are all too soft, Yakupov is too flashy, and Gagner is just not the guy (he's got the heart, but just not someone that causes others to listen when he speaks).

Whoever it is, he has to break a few sticks over the table, eye-to-eye and nose-to-nose with the Hemskys, Omarks, and Yakupovs of the team. Someone who can pot 60-90pts and someone who "kicks aaasss" when he has to. This team has been coasting for too long and no one is accountable enough.

Look at young guys like Gallagher, Galchenyuk, Saad...they are so focused and so mentally prepared NOT to make a mistake for EVERY SHIFT because they are accountable to their teammates. The kids in Edmonton are having too much fun. It's not fun...it's a WAR and it should be fought for, as in football, every "inch".

Put a 30yr old Mark Messier on this team and they challenge for the cup.

Taylor Hall, team captain, named well BEFORE camp starts...is what I'd do.

I'm endured years of psychiatric counseling to subdue those memories.
- Yeti1181

But is it working?

But is it working?
- HouseArrest187

Nope

Nope
- Yeti1181

ya, mine nether

All you losers that are criticizing this guy for his spelling ability and lack of hockey knowledge are pathetic. Good on the guy for putting himself out there. A lot more than most of you cowards would do. Put your money where your mouth is with your own entry, or shut the phuck up.

ok my oiler peeps, poll time:

Best Finn ever?

Jari Kurri or Teemu Selanne?

Kevin Lowe: "That’s ridiculous,” he said. "Selanne has had a great career, but he pales compared to Jari. To hear somebody say Selanne is the best Finn ever ... it’s not even close,” he said of the first Finn to be inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame and the 19th place NHL scorer all-time with 1,398 points whose number has been retired by the Edmonton Oilers, Finnish national team and SM-liiga’s Jokerit. "Selanne is getting recognized now for his longevity. But Kurri was in his own league. How many players in the NHL were the best offensively and defensively?”

Regular season
GP G A PTS PPG
Kurri 1251 601 797 1398 1.12
Selanne 1341 663 743 1406 1.05

Playoffs
GP G A PTS PPG
Kurri (5 Stanley Cups) 200 106 127 233 1.17
Selanne (1 Stanley Cup) 111 41 38 79 0.71

Discuss

ok my oiler peeps, poll time:

Best Finn ever?

Jari Kurri or Teemu Selanne?

Kevin Lowe: "That’s ridiculous,” he said. "Selanne has had a great career, but he pales compared to Jari. To hear somebody say Selanne is the best Finn ever ... it’s not even close,” he said of the first Finn to be inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame and the 19th place NHL scorer all-time with 1,398 points whose number has been retired by the Edmonton Oilers, Finnish national team and SM-liiga’s Jokerit. "Selanne is getting recognized now for his longevity. But Kurri was in his own league. How many players in the NHL were the best offensively and defensively?”

Regular season
GP G A PTS PPG
Kurri 1251 601 797 1398 1.12
Selanne 1341 663 743 1406 1.05

Playoffs
GP G A PTS PPG
Kurri (5 Stanley Cups) 200 106 127 233 1.17
Selanne (1 Stanley Cup) 111 41 38 79 0.71

Discuss
- mykokes

Kurri... That is all.

Who wants me as the blogger?

Who wants me as the blogger?
- Oilers4Life14

this guy. What up jailbait, long time no see.

(frank)kkk

ok my oiler peeps, poll time:

Best Finn ever?

Jari Kurri or Teemu Selanne?

Kevin Lowe: "That’s ridiculous,” he said. "Selanne has had a great career, but he pales compared to Jari. To hear somebody say Selanne is the best Finn ever ... it’s not even close,” he said of the first Finn to be inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame and the 19th place NHL scorer all-time with 1,398 points whose number has been retired by the Edmonton Oilers, Finnish national team and SM-liiga’s Jokerit. "Selanne is getting recognized now for his longevity. But Kurri was in his own league. How many players in the NHL were the best offensively and defensively?”

Regular season
GP G A PTS PPG
Kurri 1251 601 797 1398 1.12
Selanne 1341 663 743 1406 1.05

Playoffs
GP G A PTS PPG
Kurri (5 Stanley Cups) 200 106 127 233 1.17
Selanne (1 Stanley Cup) 111 41 38 79 0.71

Discuss
- mykokes

Temmu

ok my oiler peeps, poll time:

Best Finn ever?

Jari Kurri or Teemu Selanne?

Kevin Lowe: "That’s ridiculous,” he said. "Selanne has had a great career, but he pales compared to Jari. To hear somebody say Selanne is the best Finn ever ... it’s not even close,” he said of the first Finn to be inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame and the 19th place NHL scorer all-time with 1,398 points whose number has been retired by the Edmonton Oilers, Finnish national team and SM-liiga’s Jokerit. "Selanne is getting recognized now for his longevity. But Kurri was in his own league. How many players in the NHL were the best offensively and defensively?”

Regular season
GP G A PTS PPG
Kurri 1251 601 797 1398 1.12
Selanne 1341 663 743 1406 1.05

Playoffs
GP G A PTS PPG
Kurri (5 Stanley Cups) 200 106 127 233 1.17
Selanne (1 Stanley Cup) 111 41 38 79 0.71

Discuss
- mykokes

Kurri

Temmu
- Oilers42

Why ???

Why ???
- Reveen

guess an argument could be made that Gretzky had a huge hand in many of Jari's biggest seasons, that without Gretzky, like Bernie Nichols, Kurri was more a 80-90 point player and Teemu did his big season of 70 goals more on his own. But counter would be as Wayne/Coffey were up in the offensive zone, Kurri was handling most of the defensive coverage..........he just happened to go to the net or in the slot at the right moments to rack up his goals.....and he was an underated play maker.

But those playoff numbers for Kurri are too ridiculous to ignore.

To me, Kurri is probably one of the most underated players I've ever seen. Absolute stud. Teemu isn't in his class.

guess an argument could be made that Gretzky had a huge hand in many of Jari's biggest seasons, that without Gretzky, like Bernie Nichols, Kurri was more a 80-90 point player and Teemu did his big season of 70 goals more on his own. But counter would be as Wayne/Coffey were up in the offensive zone, Kurri was handling most of the defensive coverage..........he just happened to go to the net or in the slot at the right moments to rack up his goals.....and he was an underated play maker.

But those playoff numbers for Kurri are too ridiculous to ignore.

To me, Kurri is probably one of the most underated players I've ever seen. Absolute stud. Teemu isn't in his class.
- mykokes

Agree with all you said

Yakopov? Really?
Do you really want your Captain sliding down the ice after a goal

The Captain should be someone a little more mature leading on and off the ice.
- Captain_Quiffe

He did it once.

Once, as in one time. You know something similar to doing something and never ever again.

Another way to look at it as doing it twice, except not doing it the second time. In France they would call it a monague e one.

Once, he did it one time.

No need to define him over it.

Also Nyet to Yakupov as captain. Da to Ference.

Why ???
- Reveen

Today's nhl is way harder then back then

guess an argument could be made that Gretzky had a huge hand in many of Jari's biggest seasons, that without Gretzky, like Bernie Nichols, Kurri was more a 80-90 point player and Teemu did his big season of 70 goals more on his own. But counter would be as Wayne/Coffey were up in the offensive zone, Kurri was handling most of the defensive coverage..........he just happened to go to the net or in the slot at the right moments to rack up his goals.....and he was an underated play maker.

But those playoff numbers for Kurri are too ridiculous to ignore.

To me, Kurri is probably one of the most underated players I've ever seen. Absolute stud. Teemu isn't in his class.
- mykokes

Sellane didn`t score on his own in his rookie yr. he has Tkucuk as his left winger, and Zhamnov who was good, and Housley and two other offensive defensman feeding him the puck right on his stick at close to full speed on the fly.

Nobody compares to Hously when it come to the breakout pass.

Well good shot at the blog it's sad to say but due to the hits from the past 4 years the trolling and the witty comments this is a huge hole to fill for hockey buzz. Good luck in the blog off

Today's nhl is way harder then back then
- Oilers42

How so?

Today's nhl is way harder then back then
- Oilers42

See, it's funny you say that....I used to buy that argument, until I saw a 36 year old Mario on one hip contending for a scoring title, and a 30 plus year old Jagr ripping off a 120 point season. I'm not so sure that the two eras were all that different if you know what I mean. Teemu played in an era where many d-men in the NHL were big and slow, Kurri played in an era where the d-men were the best skaters on every team. Thats just a bit of a counter point to the whole goaltending equipment differences. Either way, it's neat to hear an Oiler fan have a different opinion on the Jari vs Teemu discussion. Would love to hear from some of the oldtimers. I was pretty young during much of the 80s, didn't stay up late to watch games out west on the weekend, but when I was out there visiting my aunts during the winter months I went to my share of games. Was a huge Coffey fan.

How so?
- Dangles13

Ummm, 30 teams, you dont see players getting 200 points a season, goalie equipment was (frank)ing piece of crap back then, it was alot easier to score goals.