The Sheldon Souray Show: Souray joins the Hershey bears

  Five million dollar defenseman Sheldon Souray has confirmed he will be reporting to the AHL's Hershey bears for the next season (link to the news article). Souray's troubles started last season when he requested a trade, on more than one occasion. While demanding a trade not only did souray blast management in a couple different interviews, he also diminished his own trade value. Here is an interview Souray had with Mark Spector on the situation last season (link). This scenario can play out in two ways Souray plays good ups his trade value and we find a trade for him. However this creates a problem with Souray having to clear re-entry waivers. If Souray was to be traded he would have to be called up giving all 29 teams a crack at him at half the salary. The question is does the Edmonton oilers want to be on the hook for half of that salary on the cap at about 2.7 for the next two years. The other scenario would be leaving Souray in the AHL for the next two years.  We still would pay the full salary but not have it counts against the cap. This would ultimately be up to Daryl Katz as he would be on the hook for 9 million dollars (that’s how much is left on his contract for the next 2 years).  This is a tough decision the oilers brass has ahead of them and it needs to be giving a great deal of thought, to see what is best for the team. I don’t see the oilers putting him on re-entry but we shall see what we’ll be the next turn of events in the Souray show. For now he will be grinding it out in the AHL.

Edmonton Oilers Game 1: Round 1 of the battle of Alberta

Tonight the Edmonton oilers laced them up for their first game of the season and it was a good one. The oilers thrashed the Calgary flames 4-0, With solid contributions from the young guns in particular Jordan Eberle and from veteran goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, Who stopped all shots faced tonight for the shutout. Some of the players that really stood out for me are

Jordan Eberle: Cant point out any negatives in his game tonight. As a rookie in his first NHL game he looked like a seasoned veteran. Scoring his first goal where he deked his way past a defenseman and went backhand roof on Mikka Kipprusoff. Also on the power play he sets up Horcoff for a goal with a shot that deflected off Horcoff and got into the back of the net. Defensively he was solid as I noticed him strip players of the puck more than a few times. It’s early in the season but this kid looks like he could have a very good year.

Nikolai Khabibulin: Khabibulin coming off a season ending back surgery and an embarrassing dui charge he got late last year towards the end of the season was looking to come back strong this season and he did tonight.  Facing 37 shots tonight he was perfect stopping all opportunity thrown his way from the flames. For a guy that hasn’t played in a regular season game since early last year in November he did not show any rust what so ever. His reflexes were perfect and he looked confident and I believe that gave the players out there the confidence to try and take some chances. If Nik can stay healthy and keep up his play obviously not shutting out everyone every night but give a consistent effort and play 50 games it could be all the difference for the season.

Ales Hemsky: Ales looked fresh and rejuvenated and made some beauty passes one setting Penner up for a goal which got disallowed. He was dangling all night showing off his effortless skating. Ales was injured all season last year with a shoulder injury but it looked all healed up as he ripped a slapper home for his first of the season. Hemsky needs to stay healthy for the season we all know what he brings to the table but this year has to be the year for him to break out and play the full season.

Honourable mentions going to Shawn Horcoff who had a solid 2 way night cashing in a goal from an Eberle shot. Taylor hall was flying around taking some solid shots and showing his speed, one thing that I did not like was the slashing penalty he took but he is an 18 year old kid and those things are going too happened throughout the year. Ryan Whitney looked composed and picked up 2 helpers played a solid game the best outta the bunch tonight for sure.

It’s the first game of the season and it’s great to start it out with a win but I believe we got to take it a game at a time as there is going to be up and downs but certainly the best way to open the 2010-11 season. I have feeling it’s going to be a much more fun season in oil country

CAPTAIN HORCOFF

Shawn Horcoff was named the 13^th captain of the Edmonton Oilers on October 6 2010. From what I’ve taken outta the different responses from the fan base is kind of torn on the decision made by the Oilers to name the 10 year veteran the captain of this team. I wanted to take a look at both sides of the coin the good and the bad of this decision.

First starting off with why this decision might have been taken negatively by some of the fan base. Shawn Horcoff had the worst year of his 10 year career last season ending with only 37 points and a -29 which is only second to then teammate Patrick Sullivan. With the new vision set for the Edmonton Oilers to reward results and no more having player entitlement when it is not earned. After the season that he had last year it would seem that he was rewarded for the lowest point in his career to this point.

As many people were against the decision there were just as many people who agreed with the naming of the new captain. Shawn Horcoff has always been known as one of the hardest working players on the team and a good work ethic should set a good example for all the highly touted rookies coming into the dressing room. Given his new position on the team could work as a positive motivator for Horcoff and maybe help rejuvenate his career and get him back to the solid two way play that he built his career around. Comments from other players on the team all had Horcoff pegged for the captaincy and no one was surprise when the announcement was made. First overall pick Taylor Hall also was happy with the decision as Horcoff has taken hall and Eberle under his wing in teaching them what it takes to be a pro.

My vote was also for Horcoff to be made captain as he is an established vet who seems to be vocal in the dressing room and genuinely liked by all of his teammates. This should lead the way for a younger player to emerge as a leader as Shawn’s career winds down in the next 4-5 years.

Also Ales Hemsky and Ryan Whitney were named the alternate captains for the season.