August Smörgåsbord

HUMBLE PIE
So it seems the coaching staffs (staves?) of the NHL have been settled. And Jason Smith doesn't have a job. This goes directly against my bold prediction (based on Gator's own words) that the former Oilers captain would be prowling a bench somewhere in the Bigs this season. I don't want to reveal my source, despite the rumour being unsubstantiated, because I still think Gator was convinced he was going to be hired. It didn't happen and my creditibility's sunk (not that I had any to begin with).

Sometimes you et the bar, and sometimes the bar ets you.

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HORSE MEAT
At the Draft, I picked three guys I was bullish on. For those who care, here's a brief follow-up:

Devante Smith-Pelly
drafted 42nd overall by the Anaheim Ducks
Smith-Pelly covered his bet, getting drafted a good ten picks higher than his most generous ranking (BobbyMac had him at 52). All signs point to ANA having a great 2010 draft with their first three picks consisting of Devante, Cam Fowler, and Emerson Etem. For me, as much as I like the Major, Pitlick > Smith-Pelly. 2010-11 should see DS-P play another solid year for St. Mike's with the slim possibility of a trade to a more stacked team in the O.

Jordan Weal
drafted 70th overall by the Los Angeles Kings
The Pocket Pat was pegged as a slider from Jump Street and slide he did. Weal watched sequoias like Martin Marincin, Curtis Hamilton, and Ryan Martindale stroll up to the podium for the better part of a weekend until the Purple Crowns called his name. A steal of a pick that should pay dividends sooner rather than later for the Kings.

Patrik Nemeth
drafted 41st overall by the Dallas Stars
Going a pick prior to Smith-Pelly, the big Swede should be happy to be headed to Big D. They love Nemeth's type of game in the Lonestar State and, if all goes as planned, he could end up forming a killer shutdown pairing with RFA Nicklas Grossman (assuming he signs). Time will tell.

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EATING LOCALLY
When trying to distract one's self from the summer wasteland that is hockey news in August, it helps to turn to those who make the best of it: the Oilogosphere. While many blogs are in radio silence for much of August, the guys over at Copper'N'Blue have been knocking it out of the park with almost every at-bat. Bruce McCurdy's most recent post, Retro Rockets is yet another dinger. They've added an OKC correspondent and a weekend link aggregator to the team, while the core posters have been dropping gems all month long. If you haven't been reading them, go take a perusal through their archives. Quality stuff.

Elsewhere, LT & J-Dub have made Oilers Nation much more bearable of late and they have even converted some of the braying farm animals that manage to work keyboards with their hooves into a near-thoughtful community of commenters. Key words being more bearable, some, and near-thoughtful. Keep up the good fight, gents!

Also a major shoutout to David Staples over at Cult of Hockey. He ranked SlowFreshOil a generous 35 out of 38 Oilers blogs based on readership, clout, and professionalism. How we didn't make dead last, I'll never know. Quite frankly, it's an honour to even be included in the same breath as some of the finest hockey bloggers on the planet. But look out Doritogrande, SloFreO's gunnin' for ya this season. Haha-- riiiight. Anyway, Staples also put up an intriguing piece on defensive mistakes today, which is well worth a read.

Lastly, BoA alum Andy Grabia is doing good work over about the Arena boondoggle at his new site: Why Downtown? A quick thanks to Andy for the glove-tap he gave my alter ego in a link dump citing the Internets Celebrities doc Stadium Status. Go read Andy's site and get angry, it's for a great cause.

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CHICAGO DEEP DISH WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE
Shaugger broke the news on Friday: Fernando Pisani is a Blackhawk. Hell of a team gets a hell of a player (when healthy) and a hell of a guy (full-time). In return, Fern gets another crack at Stanley (Hockey Gods-willing) and another season in the NHL. As usual, BDHS says it best:

Good luck and the best of health to [Fernando] and thanks for the memories.

Amen, brother.

D-Day 2010

It's hard for me to blog these days.

I could say that it's because work is the busiest it will be all year. I could say that it's because I've begun a new workout plan. Hell, I could say it's because Red Dead Redemption is out. But it's not any of that.

While the above is all true, I'm simply too busy reading all the fantastic draft coverage out there in the O-sphere and beyond. I spend all day at work on the computer, shifting stealthily from work to the endless stream of prospect reports, mock drafts, trade rumors, and on, and on...

A quick trip through our Required Reading over on the left could take hours just because it's all so damn interesting. From our little corner of the Oilogosphere, I would like to extend a genuinely earnest "Thank you" to all the bloggers that make this time of year a hockey nerd's wet dream.

So for D-Day, almost one full year after we started this thing, I'm just going to make a post out of some odds and ends that have been running through my head for the last week.
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MY HORSES

While debate over The Pick rages, I try to spice up the later rounds of the draft by picking a few horses and rooting for them to finish strong. While they may not all be in the Oilers' wheelhouse, I'll cheer if I see them go to good Orgs and I'll groan if they drop too far... Unless the Oil get them.

Here's my horses for this year:

Devante Smith-Pelly
5'11" ~200 lbs. (most sites list him at 180, but he's gotten stockier this year)
CSS: 76 / ISS: 69 / THN: 65 / BobbyMack: 52
Profile@HF
From a Yahoo interview: "[My best asset is] combining the physical part of the game as well as the offensive aspect. I get most of my offence by being a bang-and-crash guy, finishing my checks, working the cycle. Running a guy over, then contributing with the offence, I’d say that is my biggest asset."



Devante here is my thoroughbred. The longshot champ. Secretariat. I've tracked this guy since he was a late addition to Team Cherry. A bulldog on the ice with a nose for the puck. Not afraid to make hard plays and, in fact, seems to relish the opportunity to make one. Low center of gravity and thicker than he's given credit for. With his spot in the draft, I'm really hoping the Org gives him a hard look at 61, but I'll enjoy tracking his progress to the Bigs regardless of where he lands.

Jordan Weal
5'9" 165 lbs.
CSS: 30 / ISS: 32 / THN: 41 / BobbyMack: 48
Profile@HF
From Remmerde: Great instincts for the game. Excellent creativity. High compete level... Very good inside the offensive zone. Very creative and makes things happen with the puck. Really distributes the puck smartly... Really competes and isn't afraid of battling physically or taking a hit to make a play.



Jordan Weal is a smurf. We hardly need another one, but there's something about this guy's motor. A pest in the offensive zone with a penchant for turnovers. Eberle's linemate could be a great addition (see: Lander, Anton) and could be had late in the second. I like him at 48, but here's hoping he'll slip much farther down due to his size concerns and the Org takes a chance on a potential steal. Again, should be fun to see what he can do for whichever club that picks him.

Patrik Nemeth
6'3" 212 lbs.
CSS: 11 (Euro) / ISS: 37 / THN: 61 / BobbyMack: 42
Profile@HF
From Copper & Blue: He's a physical force on the ice who moves well and will likely be a shut-down-type defender and penalty killing expert, yet he's going to last well into the second round because he has zero offensive ability. The closest comps that come to mind are Matt Greene and Jason Smith, prior to his knees totally failing him.



Opinions on this Swede are scattershot, but there is consensus on his high-grade defensive skills. Another potential slider, Nemeth could be a steal if his mean streak and physical presence translate to the pro leagues. I think he'd fit into the Oilers' prospect pool just fine and might be on the radar due to StuMac's taste for Swedish meatbal--err--talent. IMHO, he'll be knockin' heads around in the NHL sooner than expected.
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THE PICK

"I have to go to those places."

Those seven little words, spoken earnestly by Hall in Oil Change, have converted me to preferring the winger. While as hardline Seguin as a guy can be through this whole process, it's hard to ignore the fire that Taylor has in every word, every play. I masking taped "HALL" on the back of my jersey today and I'll be wearing it to the Draft Party. Of course, I'd be thrilled with Seguin, but the 8-year-old inside me wants the Spitfire.
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WHAT IF...

...Deslauriers gets traded in the first round? I heard he'll be at the RX1 Draft Party. Am I allowed to yell, "Pack your shit!" at him? Is it rude to start a chorus of "(Na Na Hey Hey) Kiss Him Goodbye"? Can I throw things?

That last one's probably over the line, but anything I threw would probably sail over his shoulder anyway.
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So here we are: T-minus 5 hours until the big moment. The Pick will be the climax of a depressing season and happy days will be here again. Looking forward to the offseason going full bore once D-Day settles all the prospect talk and, assuredly, gives way to some big trades. We'll get a GM and Head Coach in OKC, an Assistant GM with the big club, and the rounding out of the Oilers coaching staff (something has to happen after the Quinn move). While shallow, the UFA market will be intriguing and we'll have a long summer to relish the anticipation for that first day of Training Camp.

We here at SLOW FRESH OIL have had a blast blogging the Oilers' travails this year. We look forward to doing so in the future and maybe even gaining another reader!

...Well, a guy can dream, can't he?

GOILERS!