Dan Tencer: Pisani's Fitness "Average"

Good for Fernando. Glad he is able to come back and play this year. He will fit in nicely on that line with torres and stoll.

Still good news for an Oilers team that really needs some. After the initial reports that Pisani could be out all year, 25-30 games is great news.

Hey Dan, could you post a little more frequently, I like reading your posts but I wish there were more of them. I missed the game last night and had to read the crappy tsn page to find out what happened.
Do you see the Oil making any trades before Christmas or are they waiting to see what kind of team they have when more of the injured are healthy?

After a piss poor performance they get a day off. I thought they had yesterday off too.

As for Pisani, don't bring him back until he is 100%. Don't need him risking anything this early in the year.

Is a conditioning stint in Springfield a possibility?

After what Pisani has been through, I think average is pretty impressive. I can't wait for him to take to the ice once again

any news about returning players is good news in my book. maybe fernando can come back and motivate torres and stoll. their performance so far this season has been less than average. it's confusing too because they actually looked pretty good during the preseason playing alongside nilsson.

Is a conditioning stint in Springfield a possibility?
- OILTHEWAY

On either tsn or sportsnet they reported that would probably happen, either way I thought he was a goner this year, so even if he doesn't come back for another month I'd be happy.

He won't have to clear waivers if he is on a conditioning stint.

Is a conditioning stint in Springfield a possibility?
- OILTHEWAY

He made a comment the other day about how he had spent enough time in his career in the minors (3 years I think it was) and he wasn't anxious to go back any time soon. So I think with that in mind, they will just continue to let him work out here on his own. I hear he has been bag skating himself to try to get his fitness level up. Like everyone else here, I'm just happy he will be back soon, so whenever he is ready is fine with us.

He won't have to clear waivers if he is on a conditioning stint.
- jpinto_99_19

No

He made a comment the other day about how he had spent enough time in his career in the minors (3 years I think it was) and he wasn't anxious to go back any time soon. So I think with that in mind, they will just continue to let him work out here on his own. I hear he has been bag skating himself to try to get his fitness level up. Like everyone else here, I'm just happy he will be back soon, so whenever he is ready is fine with us.
- kleinnel

That may be what he wants, but in reality this team has to deal with the salary cap and if they can get a couple more days to work a deal or find a loophole they will.

Need Pisi bag like no ones business. Hopefully it will spark a couple of players and maybe put the pressure on some other ones in that they may lose their spot in the line-up (Torres, Nilsson, Stoll) even for only a game or two.

He made a comment the other day about how he had spent enough time in his career in the minors (3 years I think it was) and he wasn't anxious to go back any time soon. So I think with that in mind, they will just continue to let him work out here on his own. I hear he has been bag skating himself to try to get his fitness level up. Like everyone else here, I'm just happy he will be back soon, so whenever he is ready is fine with us.
- kleinnel

I was more concerned with him getting up to game speed than with his physical conditioning...A game or two in the A couldn't hurt....

That's great news for Pisani regardless about how I feel about the Oilers recovering from his illness is great news.

Hey Dan


Good to hear about Pies!

On to other matters:

Is there no concern within the Oil organization about the state of things right now? This team flat out sucks, I dont mind that we are rebuilding and because of that I dont mind watching them lose. However, what drives me crazy is the lack of passion and motivation displayed by this team! Regardless of win or lose I expect to see 100% effort EVERY NIGHT, we got 5% last night...

Is anyone EVER going to be held accountable for this mess or is Lowe using the "not unitl we are healthy" mantra as an excuse for the insane amount suck that this team has displayed this year? Is everything going to remain staus quo as long as we have excuses to draw upon?

Hey Dan


Good to hear about Pies!

On to other matters:

Is there no concern within the Oil organization about the state of things right now? This team flat out sucks, I dont mind that we are rebuilding and because of that I dont mind watching them lose. However, what drives me crazy is the lack of passion and motivation displayed by this team! Regardless of win or lose I expect to see 100% effort EVERY NIGHT, we got 5% last night...

Is anyone EVER going to be held accountable for this mess or is Lowe using the "not unitl we are healthy" as an excuse for the insane amount suck that this team has displayed this year? Is everything going to remain staus quo as long as we have excuses to draw upon?
- Red Tide

I'd tend to agree I know we are injured, but even before the injuries we sucked. MacT seems to get guys motivated some nights, but not every night. Make him an assistant and bring in someone else. This team is the players are at fault team, and until that changes no one will sign here.

Hey Dan


Good to hear about Pies!

On to other matters:

Is there no concern within the Oil organization about the state of things right now? This team flat out sucks, I dont mind that we are rebuilding and because of that I dont mind watching them lose. However, what drives me crazy is the lack of passion and motivation displayed by this team! Regardless of win or lose I expect to see 100% effort EVERY NIGHT, we got 5% last night...

Is anyone EVER going to be held accountable for this mess or is Lowe using the "not unitl we are healthy" mantra as an excuse for the insane amount suck that this team has displayed this year? Is everything going to remain staus quo as long as we have excuses to draw upon?
- Red Tide

i was about to write almost the excact same thing. i think we need a coaching shake up personally.

in all seriousness though PLEASE MAKE STORTINI THE GUY WHO GOES BACK TO THE 'A' when pisani comes back.

I think the biggest issue is how nobody seems to play "pissed off" hockey. They are professionals so I know they don't like losing. The thing here is that they should be playing like they hate what happens instead of playing like they accept it. IMHO, the only player that seems to do that to any degree is Cogliano, believe it or not.

Instead of the lazy-man's penalties like holding, hooking or tripping, I would LOVE to see some roughing or instigator penalties. Things have gone wrong for so long over the past season and 1/2 that I really think they have to some degree accepted it. Nothing this team currently does on the ice fires them up aside from a big penalty kill or something. This team is too soft at the exact time that many say Springfield is too grit-laden. There should be a better way to mix it all together.

The thing here is that they should be playing like they hate what happens instead of playing like they accept it. IMHO, the only player that seems to do that to any degree is Cogliano, believe it or not.
- Mikey71

I seem to be watching a different team than y'all. They've taken a couple nights off in 25 games. One of them was at 10,000 feet, last night when they got hammered by a team that played an excellent game. They played well in the third. And they played a lot of shorthanded hockey early.
Garon is lazy? Roli? Smid? Pitkanen? Gagner? Reasoner? Stoll? Staios? And I could go on, but I think you get my point.
They're fun to watch and they're still in the hunt for that playoff spot nobody expected them to get. Now if I was a Calgary fan, with those pre-season expectations, I'd be little less comfortable.
This could turn into an excellent stretch team. Have faith.

I cannot really say what I mean any different than I posted, but it is obvious you missed what I was saying. Playing "pissed off" hockey is NOT what they have been doing this year. They have not played or reacted in any way that shows that they hate what has been happening. I will try it this way........they need to "vent" a bit on the ice.

I cannot really say what I mean any different than I posted, but it is obvious you missed what I was saying. Playing "pissed off" hockey is NOT what they have been doing this year. They have not played or reacted in any way that shows that they hate what has been happening. I will try it this way........they need to "vent" a bit on the ice.
- Mikey71

Have you considered that being POd isn't the answer? They shouldn't hate what's been happening. They are developing, on many nights they've kept up with teams that, in the opinion of many posting here, are better on paper, better coached, managed, etc.
I see a glass that's a little less than half full, with a probability that it will be more than half full a month from now. I can't guarantee that the return of Moreau, Souray, Pisani, Roy is going to get them a playoff spot, but I haven't given up on the possibility, either.
Relax, enjoy! Remember March and April? Yikes!

WOW! Am I ever glad you are not running the team. Simply accept everything as it is since we are developing and growing? You have to be kidding me. Over a long period of time if you don't hate what is happening, you eventually accept it. Guys are losing battles all over the ice. NOBODY on the other team has been paying any kind of price playing the Oilers. Watch how many time an opponent chases a puck in the corner and either looks around and makes a pass, or takes the puck and skates with it knowing they are not going to get hit. Now watch how many times an Oiler fires the puck around the boards or at least dumps it in the other corner, usually resulting in a turnover. Call it taking a hit to make a play, call it paying the price..., it has become the norm for Oiler players to not do either.

You think the opinion of many here is that they are better coached, managed, etc? This isn't April 1st, so I don't get that either. I will leave the coaching alone for now and ask about the managing. How can one consider this team that is near the top in payroll and near the bottom in standings managed well? Lowe has absolutely fluked into the current situation of season ticket sales and advertising being so high due to a couple of seasons ago. He would likely be gone if the dollars were not currently rolling in. Hey, the money is rolling in so he must be doing something right, right? Wrong. 2 seasons ago was a fluke, an enjoyable one, but a fluke nonetheless. The Oilers under Lowe's command have been barely squeaking in the playoffs or missing them entirely for years, including that miracle run. Of course recent injuries play a role, but there are avenues in place to address the on-ice situation by using the LTI scenario.

Successful GMs are proactive. Moderately successful GMs are reactive. The rest are neither and find excuses for everything. Lowe has proven to fall into group #3. Not my opinion, rather what he himself has proven it. I too have not given up on making the playoffs, but an entire philosophy in Oilerville has to change, from the top down. One can throw out the glass 1/2 full, glass 1/2 empty thing but at the end of the day, there is a glass that has as much water in it as there is empty space. If nothing is done to that glass, the water will eventually evaporate. Again, not my opinion, rather it is a fact. If nothing chances, the once proud organization will have nothing to hang their hats on other than being once proud, way back when.

I still watch every game I can and hope they win each time. I am not going to switch loyalties to another team since the Oilers are my team. That still doesn't mean a spade all of a sudden stops being a spade.

WOW! Am I ever glad you are not running the team. Simply accept everything as it is since we are developing and growing? You have to be kidding me. Over a long period of time if you don't hate what is happening, you eventually accept it. Guys are losing battles all over the ice. NOBODY on the other team has been paying any kind of price playing the Oilers. Watch how many time an opponent chases a puck in the corner and either looks around and makes a pass, or takes the puck and skates with it knowing they are not going to get hit. Now watch how many times an Oiler fires the puck around the boards or at least dumps it in the other corner, usually resulting in a turnover. Call it taking a hit to make a play, call it paying the price..., it has become the norm for Oiler players to not do either.

You think the opinion of many here is that they are better coached, managed, etc? This isn't April 1st, so I don't get that either. I will leave the coaching alone for now and ask about the managing. How can one consider this team that is near the top in payroll and near the bottom in standings managed well? Lowe has absolutely fluked into the current situation of season ticket sales and advertising being so high due to a couple of seasons ago. He would likely be gone if the dollars were not currently rolling in. Hey, the money is rolling in so he must be doing something right, right? Wrong. 2 seasons ago was a fluke, an enjoyable one, but a fluke nonetheless. The Oilers under Lowe's command have been barely squeaking in the playoffs or missing them entirely for years, including that miracle run. Of course recent injuries play a role, but there are avenues in place to address the on-ice situation by using the LTI scenario.

Successful GMs are proactive. Moderately successful GMs are reactive. The rest are neither and find excuses for everything. Lowe has proven to fall into group #3. Not my opinion, rather what he himself has proven it. I too have not given up on making the playoffs, but an entire philosophy in Oilerville has to change, from the top down. One can throw out the glass 1/2 full, glass 1/2 empty thing but at the end of the day, there is a glass that has as much water in it as there is empty space. If nothing is done to that glass, the water will eventually evaporate. Again, not my opinion, rather it is a fact. If nothing chances, the once proud organization will have nothing to hang their hats on other than being once proud, way back when.

I still watch every game I can and hope they win each time. I am not going to switch loyalties to another team since the Oilers are my team. That still doesn't mean a spade all of a sudden stops being a spade.
- Mikey71

Good post, I agree with most everything in it except for the part about 2005 being a fluke. Lowe was very proactive in going after Pronger, Peca, Samsonov, Roloson, Tarnstrom and Spacek and it seemed that everyone of those moves became a home run. The problem IMO is that after Pronger let management know that he wanted out, Lowe has made some gigantic errors, none bigger than the Souray contract. As far as the Oiler's coaching goes, no one could possible be watching the majority of these games this season and come to the conclusion that we have been "outcoaching" the other teams. Even when the Oilers are at home, MacT can't seem to match lines properly AND THAT"S WITH THE ADVANTAGE OF LAST CHANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Against Calgary a couple of weeks ago on HNIC, Keenan consistently was able to get Iggy's line out against Cogs, Gagner and Penner. It was pathetic to watch but not at all surprising. At the end of this season, I think the Oiler's should look at making some wholesale coaching changes and hopefully, they will be replaced by an experienced hockey man who has no former ties to this organization (read : not Buchberger).