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Oiler35
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Just 4 years ago to last night, the Edmonton Oilers won off of a Fernado Pisani goal in overtime, that sent the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals to a game 7. The underdog Edmonton Oilers, the only 8th seed to ever make the Cup Finals, against the Carolina Hurricanes, the 2nd seed from the East.
Now, as we all know, Roloson got hurt, he's now an Islander, and he's never been the same 'Roli' everyone knew him as. Many key players have aged, and left the City of Champions, and have left the team to begin a rebuilding stage, which puts key young players, who will have quite the future, on showcase. Players like Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, Gilbert Brule, and Patrick O'Sullivan, all of which are under or right on the age of 25, going into the season.
A big thing that will be huge to this rebuilding stage: the 2010 Draft, where the Oilers have the first overall pick. The decision to be made: Tyler or Taylor?
Don't get me wrong, they're both great players, who will go on to have great careers, but the Oilers must draft Taylor Hall, the offensive defensemen.
Hall, who lead his OHL team, the Winsor Spitfires, to a Memorial Cup this year, had 106 points in 57 games played during the regular season, and lead the playoffs with 35 points.
Hall, who always shows great leadership, even in big stages (Memorial Cup finals, U18 finals, U20 finals), and has always been able to light the lamp, and create chances, even as a defensemen.
But, is he the answer to the Oilers prayers? Could he be the reason the Oilers will be back to glory, like in the '80s?
Probably not. I mean, he's a great player, that will help the Oilers greatly, but he doesn't help the main problem: goaltending. Sure, he brings scoring, which the Oilers also lacked last year, but he doesn't help the fact that the average GAA of the Oilers is over 3.00.
The Oilers have quite the future, but I wouldn't say that this year is there year. Give them a few more years, for players like Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson to develop, and you'll see a real contending team, that has a change to bring the Stanley Cup back to the city of champions.
-SG.
Now, as we all know, Roloson got hurt, he's now an Islander, and he's never been the same 'Roli' everyone knew him as. Many key players have aged, and left the City of Champions, and have left the team to begin a rebuilding stage, which puts key young players, who will have quite the future, on showcase. Players like Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, Gilbert Brule, and Patrick O'Sullivan, all of which are under or right on the age of 25, going into the season.
A big thing that will be huge to this rebuilding stage: the 2010 Draft, where the Oilers have the first overall pick. The decision to be made: Tyler or Taylor?
Don't get me wrong, they're both great players, who will go on to have great careers, but the Oilers must draft Taylor Hall, the offensive defensemen.
Hall, who lead his OHL team, the Winsor Spitfires, to a Memorial Cup this year, had 106 points in 57 games played during the regular season, and lead the playoffs with 35 points.
Hall, who always shows great leadership, even in big stages (Memorial Cup finals, U18 finals, U20 finals), and has always been able to light the lamp, and create chances, even as a defensemen.
But, is he the answer to the Oilers prayers? Could he be the reason the Oilers will be back to glory, like in the '80s?
Probably not. I mean, he's a great player, that will help the Oilers greatly, but he doesn't help the main problem: goaltending. Sure, he brings scoring, which the Oilers also lacked last year, but he doesn't help the fact that the average GAA of the Oilers is over 3.00.
The Oilers have quite the future, but I wouldn't say that this year is there year. Give them a few more years, for players like Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson to develop, and you'll see a real contending team, that has a change to bring the Stanley Cup back to the city of champions.
-SG.