Stanley Cup Finals to Bottom Feeders.

Work has blogs blocked at work, but, I came up with this little piece of wonderfulness while I was there and figured I would share it with you. It's just a joke...so don't take it too seriously.

Steps on how to go from the Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 to one of the worst teams in the league in only one season!

1. Trade away your star defenseman and in turn get a young forward and some draft picks.
2. Trade away a promising young defenseman.
3. Trade away your heart and soul player…at the last minutes of the deadline; souring the taste of Edmonton in just about every Unrestricted Free Agent.
4. Have a bunch of injuries.
5. Trade away your Captain and also that young forward you got when you lost your star defenseman.
6. Nobody likes you so you can’t sign any free agents.
7. You finally are able to sign a free agent but unfortunately he’s one of the worst defensemen in the NHL.
8. Start throwing out ridiculous offer sheets to unproven players in the NHL.
9. Sign a forward who had his first full season in the NHL to a HUGE contract and hope that he works out.

Sit down and take a look at what you have done. You should be ashamed. BAD KEVIN LOWE BAD!!

Oh Kevin Lowe...

So, I found this little doozy on one of the facebook groups that is anti Kevin Lowe and thought it was quite entertaining. Anyway, Kevin Lowe got his man. Dustin Penner is officially an Oiler. It's kind of weird to think of him that way. The Ducks will receive a first round, a second round, and a third round pick in the next Draft. Over the next 5 years Dustin Penner will receive $21.25 million. Penner had 29 goals and 16 assists last season. Dustin Penner will go to Edmonton being one of their top forwards. I'm kind of speechless. Burke's reaction was typical of Burke

''We don't believe these salaries make sense,'' Anaheim general manager Brian Burke said on a conference call. ''If I believe these salaries don't make sense and I match then I'm just as dumb as the team that extended the offer.''

The friendship between Lowe and Burke seems to be over. But, I think that Lowe put it best when he said this:

"I have not (called him) and I don't plan on it," Lowe said on a conference call. "I have one responsibility and one responsibility only - and that's to the Edmonton Oilers fans and the Edmonton Oilers ownership.

"I'm not in the business of trying to make friends. Never have, never will be."

Dustin had this to say about the pressure that was about to be put on him.

"The pressure that I receive from the media and fans won't be near the pressure of what I put on myself," said Penner. "I know myself I didn't peak this last year as a player in Anaheim.

"I don't know what my potential is, but I think in the next five years I'll find out."

Just a random thought though if Brian Burke and Kevin Lowe were to duke it out...who do you think would win? My money is on Burkie.

Get a good hard look Dustin, you won't be holding that for a long long time.

Dustin Penner

I really wanted to wait to write something about the 'Large Human' until he was officially a Duck or officially an Oiler, but, I can't wait anymore. Penner is one of my boys. He started his career with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks...so I got to watch him develop from his first game as a pro into the NHL player he is today.

Penner was tendered an offer sheet by the "desperate" Kevin Lowe. Is he really desperate? Well, yeah. But, if Dustin Penner continues to develop into a great NHL talent then the deal will make Lowe look like a genius. However, it is entirely possible that Lowe could have another Lupul situation on his hands.

Penner was always the Cinderella Story of the NHL. The kid that got cut from every team he tried to play for. The kid that went and played club hockey eventually earning a spot on the University of Maine's hockey team. Which then earned him a professional contract with the Ducks. I can't say I blame him for signing the five year $21.25 million dollar offer sheet. Although, selfishly I wanted him to stay with the Ducks because I think they have the potential to repeat. In about 24 hours we will know where Mr. Penner will be going...but wherever he will be I will be cheering for him. So listen up Jordi you better take good care of the kid and be nice if he ends up playing for the Oilers!!

I know that Kevin Lowe is staying with the rules in tendering these offer sheets however do you think this will affect his trading abilities? I mean given Buffalo's reaction saying:

"As it comes to the Edmonton Oilers," pledged Sabres managing partner Larry Quinn, "if there is an opportunity for us to put an offer sheet on a player any time as long as we're alive, we'll be very comfortable doing that. And they can expect that."

Those are some pretty big words...Larry Quinn wasn't too happy about the offer sheet. And, now with Burke's reaction was somewhat similar:

"I have no problem with offer sheets, they are part of the CBA," Burke said on a conference call. "I think it's a tool certainly a team is entitled to use. My issue here is this is the second time this year in my opinion Edmonton have offered a grossly inflated salary for a player, and it impacts on all 30 teams and I think it's an act of desperation by a general manager who is fighting to keep his job."

Here's some other bloggers take of the Penner situation.
Sleek's Ode to Penner
Finny already says goodbye
Mirtle pokes a little fun at Burke
Shmee has her take up

ATTENTION

Kevin Lowe is an idiot.

How did I miss this?

I was reading through Arace's blog...and apparently the Jackets offered Zherdev for Lupul...I'm not gonna lie...I like it. I like it a lot. Anyway, that's it just thought it was interesting.

Scott who??

Scott Howson who is said to be another candidate for General Manager for the Columbus Blue Jackets, is currently the Assistant General Manager for the Edmonton Oilers. I went to the Oilers website and found a little bit of a bio on him so here it is.

Scott Howson enters his sixth season in the Edmonton Oilers’ front office in 2005-06 after serving as the General Manager of the Edmonton Oilers’ American Hockey League affiliate in Cape Breton and Hamilton for six seasons. Howson was named to his current position in June of 2001 after joining Edmonton’s front office in the position of Assistant to the General Manager on June 21, 2000.

The 45-year-old native of Toronto, Ontario, works closely with General Manager Kevin Lowe and Kevin Prendergast, the VP of Hockey Operations. Howson is responsible for all aspects of hockey administration, including players’ contracts and personnel decisions.

Howson joined the Edmonton organization in 1994-95 when he was named the General Manager of the Cape Breton Oilers. After two seasons in Cape Breton, Howson oversaw the franchise move to Hamilton in 1996-97. During their tenure in Hamilton, the Bulldogs made three runs at the AHL championship, advancing to the Calder Cup Final in both 2003 and 1997 and the championship semi-finals in 2002. In 2002-03 the Bulldogs compiled the AHL’s best record at 49-19-8-4 before losing in the seventh and deciding game of the Calder Cup Final.

A forward during his playing days, Howson skated three seasons for the Kingston Canadians of the Ontario Hockey League from 1978-79 to 1980-81 where he served as team captain and earned OHL all-star honours in 1980. Signed as a free agent by the New York Islanders on August 25, 1981, he made his NHL debut with the Islanders in 1984-85 and scored five goals and three assists in 18 career games. His first season in the pro ranks saw him named the Rookie of the Year in the International Hockey League as he scored 55-65-120 in 71 games to finish second in the IHL scoring race and help the Toledo Goaldiggers win the league championship. It was the first of two league titles for Howson as he won a Central Hockey League championship as a member of the Indianapolis Checkers in 1982-83. A CHL all-star that season, Howson finished seventh in the league scoring race and led the CHL in playoff goal scoring with 12 in 13 games.

A 1990 graduate of the Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in Toronto, Scott and his wife Antoinette Mongillo have three children, Max (8), Rebekah (7) and Joanna (3).

Bio Link Here

Meet the love of my life

Oh the Oilers...

Are they ever going to win again?! And not sure how many of you all watched the Anaheim Canucks game last night...but...I am still in shock...and I think I am going to go watch it again. (And just so you know Canucks had 4 hits...and the Ducks had 22) pretty crazy night.

I heart Stortini

Alright, here we go, me liveblogging the Battle of Alberta. Don Cherry has already pissed me off. Can’t anyone get this stupid old man to shut up?! My gosh. I’m pretty antsy to get this started. To be honest I am cheering for the Oilers…I want them to recover from this trade. Not trying to take anything away from Calgary they are a good team…and I understand that both of these teams need this win. Calgary to show people they can win on the road and for Edmonton they need to show people that no they aren’t going to make the playoffs but they are still going to play with their hearts…and not skate around like idiots. This is going to be a very physical game…and I love it. Edmonton seems to be playing better than they have the past two games. I keep wondering why Jason Smith is the Captain of the Oilers…I mean…shouldn’t Ryan Smyth have been? I mean the team has fallen apart since he is gone. Ok, that’s all for my Ryan Smyth rant. Calgary just got the fist foal of the game. Moss got it...it was his 8th of the season. Hopefully Oilers can stay with it…and settle themselves. The Flames got the first penalty of the game a charging penalty against Zyuzin. We’ll see if Edmonton can take advantage of this power play. Their power play seems to be really good…and Pisani scores…so it’s 1-1. Great power play by the Oilers. And, the Flames scored again…Tanguay got the goal. 2-1 Flames. I am waiting for Phaneuf and Stortini to throw down. I absolutely love both of these guys. I am hoping that the Oilers will keep him up the rest of the season so he can be a permanent fix in Edmonton. Both of these teams are playing so hard…I absolutely love hockey games like this…but the Oilers can’t seem to get the puck out of their zone. What an amazing first period though…these guys are playing their hardest. At the end of the period there was a bit of a tiff…should set up for a very exciting second period. Wow, they are going into really deep detail about the Oilers power play…even Mark Messier said it was great…so yeah I was right haha.

Hemskey got hurt in the first period with an upper body injury. You know what else is going to happen to this poor Oilers team? I mean they have most of their key players out of the line up. And, I just have to say I absolutely adore the vintage jerseys…they should go back to those for sure. Eric Godard got something. Hamrlik got a delay of game penalty…so there is about 1:30 seconds of 5 on 3. McGeough is such an idiot. Stortini got a diving call. I have no clue what the penalties are I’m trying to get them up on NHL.com and it’s not coming up. Kipper is being amazing…he saved the Flames on that 5 on 3. Kipper keeps making save after save. Lupul is having such horrible luck this year. He was getting ready to receive a pass and he just slipped and fell…he is kind of having one of those…are you kidding me…well seasons. Pisani scored again…Kipper looks pissed. I am hoping that there will be some kind of fight…I mean it IS the Battle of Alberta…and my first one at that…I am trying to see what it’s about. (I really just want to see Stortini fight) At this point I just turned it off…and am watching the final minute of the Jackets game. Wayne Gretzky is pissed…real pissed. I have never seen him like this. Oh well Jackets are winning. Goooooo Jackets.…uhm…and Gretzky got a bench minor…ouch. That one hurts. Since Im from Kentucky…I don’t know about CBC…but uhm…is it a Calgary coverage because it seems like they are focusing a lot on Calgary. The score going out of the 2nd period is 2 all.

Alright, third period scoring is open with a shot from Langkow. So the score is 3-2 Flames. AND, Iginla scored so the score is now4-2. I don’t care who you are…you have to feel bad for this Oilers team…they are falling apart. They are getting the shots…but Kipper is just so good. Alright I am done liveblogging mainly because I am falling asleep and because I want to enjoy the rest of this game…night.

Liveblogging the Battle of Alberta!

So I will be liveblogging tonight...not the Columbus game although I do plan on doing a game recap afer I watch it. I am going to be liveblogging the Edmonton Oilers vs Calgary Flames. I have heard so much about this rivalry and I want to see what it is all about. So that's the plan for the night!

Ok so here is what I have to say looking back...

I have gone back and fourth on this stupid Ryan Smyth trade. He is one of my best friends favorite player so I do have a certain amount of knowledge about him…and what he was to the Oilers and what he meant to that team. You saw last night the Oilers were lost without him…getting shut out at home to one of the worst teams in the NHL. So, here's what I now think about it.

Could it be that "Captain Canada" really is just another money hungry hockey player…like Zdeno Chara or Jaromir Jagr? I think it's quite possible. You look at a guy like Smyth and you think oh the face of the Edmonton Oilers right? Every team has the face of the franchise…for Columbus it's Rick Nash…for Washington it's Alexander Ovechkin…and for the Devils…it's Martin Brodeur. The first two are so new to the hockey world that I can't really talk about how they compare to Ryan Smyth because quite frankly we don't know that they will be franchise players. Martin Brodeur however will never play for another team. He made sure of it. Brodeur in fact on the last contract he himself negotiated took LESS money in the beginning so that his team could have more money to build a stronger team. Now, granted towards the end of his contract he says he will be making more money than what he is worth. (In my opinion you couldn't give this guy enough money but that's just me) But, Smyth wanted too much money. He is in his prime right now…and 5 years from now he'd be far into a down hill spiral. I am not trying to take away from Smyth at all. He is an amazing player and a great player who plays all heart every night. If Smyth really cared about this franchise don't you think he'd be willing to sacrifice some money so that the Oilers would be able to sign other skilled guys? I do. I really don't think that Smyth will go back to the Oilers. It's a nice thought but highly unlikely. He will go to whoever offers him the most money. So now I wonder…is this the end of all the heart and soul players? Are there any more left other than Marty? I don't think so…and that's a sad thought. I do wish Smyth the best of luck on the Island…and for the Oilers fans…I'm really sorry you lost him.

Captain Canada to...the New York Islanders?

I was going to do a big post on all the trades of the day...but why bother since the only one anyone really cares about is the Ryan Smyth trade. I am in shock. Smyth is set to be a free agent at the end of this season. So he is going to the Islanders...a team that as of right now is only a point out of the playoffs with some games in hand. I know people are saying this is a huge move on Lowe and a great move by Snow...I just don't think so. Smyth is a rental. I seriously doubt he will sign with the Islanders at the end of the season. In all honesty what if the Islanders are out first round they sent 3 guys to Edmonton for a rental that they didn't even use...he doesn't sign with them in the off season...he signs back with the Oilers. I mean how bad is Snow gonna look? I just checked in on the Oilers game...and they are getting shut out...at home...the night they retire Messier's number. I mean...how ironic. This team is known for giving away their heart and soul. I just can't believe it and don't have much else to say. I am sure more will come out about this tomorrow when Smyth talks to the press.

TRADE DEADLINE DAY!!

Ok everyone I know I said I would do all of this when I got home tonight but I figure why not start now?
* DOMINIC MOORE went to the Minnesota WILD for a third round pick.
* BILL GUERIN was sent to the San Jose SHARKS for a first round pick and future considerations
* GEORGES LARAQUE was sent to the Pittsburgh PENGUINS for DAN CARCILLO and an eigth round pick
* TY CONKLIN went to the SABRES...still waitin on what CBJ got for him
* MARTIN BIRON went to the FLYERS for a draft pick
* GARY ROBERTS went to the PENGUINS for NOAH WELCH
I will be writing more about these trades just trying to get them up for now. No worries...I know everyone is probably blogging these right now...but I just don't have the time today.

*****Just a note...the Edmonton Oilers still have not signed Ryan Smyth*****

Fredrik Norrena > Pascal Leclaire

If I see that Leclaire is injured one more time this season...I am going to freak out. I have never seen the kid play an entire game...and well frankly I don't know that I want to. Norrena has proven to be a more than confident goalie for us (yes I realize we lost 4-0 tonight...but I will get to that later) he just struggles on one on one situations...which he CAN improve on...BUT at least he's not injured for the entire season! I seriously hate this. UGH!! Send Leclaire down and let's keep Conklin up...maybe he can play more than 30 games for us.

Alright, I apologize for that but man I am so sick of hearing Leclaire is injured. Anyway, so I missed the game tonight due to the fact that I was at work doing nothing basically but had to stay anyway. But, when I got home I saw that my boys had been shut out AGAIN. Just for the record that's the 13th time this season. Alright so when I got home I turned on the tv and our little announcer guys are there talking about the refs...so I simply shut off the tv and grabbed my computer and hopped on NHL.com to check out the score sheet...and well what I saw were a lot of penalties for my Jackets...a total of 14 to be exact and let me break these down for ya...there were 5 roughing calls...3 hooking calls...2 fighting majors...and a 10 minute misconduct along with a few other ones. We gave up 2 power play goals...and 2 even strength goals. Norrena stopped 24 of the 28 shots he faced. But, I don't blame him for this loss at all because to put it quite frankly...you don't win hockey games if you don't get the puck to the net. I am not sure how of the quality of chances we got...but I'm sure we made Roloson look a heck of a lot better than he actually is. Anyway, since I didn't watch the game I can't really talk too much about it...but I found it really interesting the penalties we took tonight...we're not one of these rough and tumble teams.

On a happier note...the Preds lost tonight...and Forsberg still has yet to record a point down there...he even got a chance to shoot in the shootout and he was stopped...for some reason this makes me happy. And, it's not because I don't like Forsberg...because I agree with everyone he is a great player...I have seen all his highlight videos on youtube haha and I am impressed however I hate the Preds so much and do not want them to win the Cup this year...so whenever they struggle I am happy. That's all for the night!

Phil Kessel

So Thursday night Phil Kessel got the winning shootout goal to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. The final score was 5-4 Boston. This kid is amazing...he got testicular cancer...had surgery...and is back less than a month after it. I mean honestsly...that's insane...and he is playing well. Since he has been back he has appeared in 6 games...and has 2 goals and an assist...and then the game winning shootout goal. Such a great story.

Another game that I don't want to spend a lot of time talking about that happened on Thursday was the Jackets vs Preds....my Jackets lost...4-0...they were shutout for the 11th time this season...I hate the Preds. So I'm done talking about this game.

Then my last game from Thursday night is the Anaheim Ducks vs the Edmonton Oilers...Oilers won 4-1. I am really proud of the Oilers for winning this game. It was an impressive win for them. I personally didn't get to watch it...but from what I read and heard it was pretty brutal. There were 2 fights. Travis Moen vs Matt Greene and Mathieu Roy vs Shawn Thornton. Pretty impressive for Roy to take on Thornton in my opinion. Pretty decent fights though I must say. I know that MacT said before the game that they needed to have a more physical presense on the ice...because guys were taking too many hits on their good players...Boogaard put a hit on Hemsky and now Hemsky is listed as day...anyway they stepped up. So good for them...don't get me wrong I still love my Ducks...but without Prongs...it's not going so well.

I was going to talk about Chris Mason tonight and do a little salute to him but I watched the Red Wings Blue Jackets game tonight which is not something I normally enjoy doing because I absolutely love the Red Wings...but I decided to be a true Jackets fan and watch it anyway and cheer on my boys...and well something wonderful happened...we won!!!! 3-1...it was an amazing game and Fredrik Norrena was absolutely amazing!!!! He stopped 41 out of 42 shots on goal...how amazing is that...he really stepped it up. After the game he was sooo happy. You could see it through his mask. I was so proud. He did get 2nd star of the game...which personally I think he should have gotten 1st...but Foote got it...which is ok because Foote did do amazing.

Anyway that's all I have for the night...I'll write more this weekend...maybe....