Bliss or Bust? Oiler’s 2010/11 Pundication

Well it's that time of year again, its hockey time and excitement is high in Edmonton for the "new" Edmonton Oilers! A very exciting Young Stars tourney is complete, season tickets have been sent out, and training camp has started with many new faces and missing a few others.

I am posting this early as with most of us work gets in the way and I will be out of town for the start of the season and not return until game 3 at home. Mrs. Oil will be enjoying our seats at Rexall for opening night when we start the season tied for first overall. I will have to keep up to date on the Oilers by the internet and following the great blogs listed on my site.

There have been many changes since the end of last year; Souray is paying the price for his selfish play and arrogant whiny rant, looks good on him. Khabibulin is here, sober and apparently with a healthy back and the attitude to get back on track. Some of the problem players are gone and of course what I feel is the most exciting group of rookies, prospects in the NHL. Despite the huge disappointments of the past few years one has to hand it to the Oiler scouting staff as they have assembled an amazing group of kids, the future is bright what with our first ever #1 Taylor Hall, dynamic Jordan Eberle, extremely talented Magnus Paajarvi , Linus Omark and pleasant surprise in Tyler Pitlick. Some the second and third year guys still trying to break into the Oiler fulltime lineup are going some great pressure from these "kids" The same is true with the goalie position. Khabibulin will in all likelihood be the #1 goalie but as for backup it looks like it may well be Gerber but do not count out Jeff Deslauriers and Devan Dubnyk with a very impressive Olivier Roy who sent a message at the young stars tourney. Personally I feel Dubnyk is our goalie of the future. He reminds me of the good aspects of the much overrated Loungo of the much hated, over hyped and arrogant team in the NHL, the Canucks.

There have also been some very good pick-ups by Tambellini and company at the trade deadline and during the summer. Ryan Whitney fits into the oiler culture very well and I expect good things from him as well with Kurtis Foster and James Vandermeer who we got in the summer. Then we have the fan favs, Gagne, Cogs, Penner, Hemsky, Gilbert and a personal favorite and under rated Smid.

So what will the 2010/11 Oiler season be? It will be mostly bliss! I fully expect to have one of the most enjoyable, fun seasons in a long time here in Oil Country! The reasons are as follows;

1. The NEW attitude of the team. No more chasing dreams and the "one" magical free agent. I really like this "build the team from within" attitude and if you don't want to play here get lost re: Souray.
   
2. The promise of a new team attitude which I feel is just as important to be a winning club as is talent. If the guys on the ice do not play for each other and put the team first you will go nowhere.
   
3. I also feel with a new positive team first attitude we should much less injuries than the incredible amount we had the past few years. I honestly believe that a major cause of those injuries the crap attitude the team had the past few years and NOT the past training staff. When you are frustrated, not playing for the team being selfish your head is not in the game and you open yourself up to injuries.
   
4. No false and over the top expectations that was very prevalent here after the magical '06 Stanley Cup run by not only the fans and media but also by the Oiler organization itself. Most in Oiler country doesn't have any expectations of us even making the playoffs, which is great!
   
5. The opportunities to watch our young base of Oilers grow and develop and our veterans knowing that there is a group of very talented young very eager to bump our out of the lineup. Internal competition is a great motivator for all concerned! I remember back in the glory years, players from all over wanted to be part of the Oilers, many tried and few were successful of that goal. That is what we are getting back to.
   

So that's it's in my view, it will be a great, fun year to be an Oiler fan! I think we will surprise a lot of people by being better than most think regardless of where we finish but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if we do squeak into the playoffs, I doubt it but will not be surprised.

My advice to Oiler fans all other is to sit back and enjoy, don't get too high after a few wins and don't get too low when we are losing. How much you enjoy or get frustrated during this year is entirely up to you and your attitude. If you focus on a false dream that we are a contender you will be disappointed, in a few years maybe but not just yet. Enjoy the development of our new stars, support them when they are down and not only when up. Don't over analyze things, if it was that easy to put together a winning team we would all be doing it for a living. Sit back, relax enjoy the re-birth of the Oilers- the good, bad and ugly of this new Oiler era and enjoy the best game in the land – NHL Hockey; in the best hockey town in the world-Edmonton!

Now, drop the puck already!