The first month of the year brought a huge snow fall for the city of edmonton and the Oilers have acting they got buried in it much the city has. It was 8 losses and 3 wins for the Oil in January but mind there is hope as most games were lost by 1 goal except for an embarrassing performance against the Canucks.
Injuries have played a role, Eberle and Hemsky have been out for most of the month but I say the loss of Eberle was much harder on the team than the loss of Hemsky.
It is a different team with Hemsky in the line up and it is not a good different. With Hemsky being a veteran and a leader on this team he brings a passiveness to their play, a pass first shoot maybe later attitude. This team needs more of the agressive , willingness to take the game over play by the likes displayed by T. Hall and the other kids of the future, not the pass first-try for the highlite goal instead of a good solid garbage goal that Hemsky brings. Yes he has talent but he is the poster boy of potential unrealized just as Dustin penner's inconsistent play has done for him. Both players need to be traded and the sooner the better. I truely believe most of the fans high opinion of Hemsky is a misplaced desire, dream that he is guy to take us to the promise land, well he isn't and it's time to move on and continue the rebuild, starting with a new, hard to play against, aggressive attitude. Hemsky and Penner do not bring that to the team, they bring passive play.
Here's the Grades for the Oilers January '11;
SPECIAL TEAMS "F" - Well what can you say. 0 - 50 on the PP WTF!? The Oilers PP has been about as effective as the city of Edmonton snow clearing effort, both a complete failures. The Oilers have left as many chances to win a games as the city has left 4 foot snow windrows. Any increase in productivity on special teams would translate into a lot more wins, watch out when it happens
ROOKIES "C+" - Still showing promise and responsible for most of the good play. I really like how Omark follows up his shot to the net and doesn't peel off. Peckham and Petry show promise on defense along with solid play by MPS. A lot to look forward to.
OFFENSE "C-" - Get ugly, crash the net, get aggressive and shoot the puck!!! I have to say they have been doing this more but again it seems to disappear when Hemsky is in the line up. Basics boys! ugly goals count the same as pretty ones.
DEFENSE "C-" - Getting better, getting tougher to play against and this can be seen by a change in us out shooting the opposition.
GOALTENDING "C" The defence is doing the job by allowing fewer shot but unfortunately Khabbi has been struggling and facing 12 straight losses. many are putting the blame on him alone but that is unrealistic. The defence and lack of offence is just as much to blame. many of the games he lost were close and the only reason they where close was due to his play. But, in saying that Dubnyk is showing he is our future #1. The Oilers need to play him more and give him the experience he needs.
COACHES "C+" Definite improvement despite the record, we are getting more shots and allowing less. Most of the games were 1 goal losses, the coaching staff needs to get this team to develop that killer instinct and put teams away. Finally as mentioned above the coaching staff needs to split the games evenly between goalies, play Dubnyk more!
OILERS AS WHOLE "C" More frustrating nights of watching them play and learn ahead but there are signs of what's to come. Potential, potential we just need it realized.
NOW DROP THE PUCK ALREADY!
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