THOUGHTS FROM THE LAST FEW DAYS

Taylor Hall...


It's so fun to watch this kid develop into a super-star right in front of our eyes. Hall has emerged into an impact player at he's played 27 games in the NHL. It's been suggested on the airwaves in Edmonton, that great players are the ones that find a way to come through in clutch situations.


For example...game winning goal in O.T. against St. Louis on Saturday night. Not only the game winner, but on Hockey Night in Canada to boot!


Last night against Anaheim, we had to score in the shoot-out to stay alive, Taylor is the guy that gets the goal and give Edmonton the chance to continue.


His game has also developed quite nicely so far on the defensive side of the puck as well. He is back checking, blocking shots, and he's been positionally sound.


Ryan Jones...


Management obviously saw something in this guy that I didn't coming out of training camp, when Jones "stole" the spot that was probably penciled in for Reddox. After scoring his 7th goal of the year last night to mount the come back being down two in the third....




Jones got to shoot in the shoot-out before a guy like Andrew Cogliano. And Cogs is now in the hall of fame for those three overtime winners in a row. Well at least his stick and gloves are anyway.


In my opinion, Jones has been the best surprise on this team, thus far. 


Khabibulin...


No matter what you can say about Khabby's injury woes, and his age...he's a great goalie. His numbers at the midway point of the third last was .937 SV% as per the jumbo-tron last night.


Now I get that he didn't play well in the first 10-15 games this year based on the stats. But, the way he game back from that groin issue has been phenomenal. There's a reason this guy is a Stanley Cup Champ for sure.


Injuries and Call-ups...


You all know by now that Hemsky is out foe the next few weeks. And now Horcoff goes down with what Tom Renney described as "an MCL issue" and will about a projected 8 weeks...Ryan O'Mara and Linus Omark have been called up form the farm. they will play on Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.


I don't know how much O'Mara will help, as I have not been impressed with him since he was aquired in the Ryan Smyth deal. We will need someone to take draws so I get why they made this call. But Omark, I think he should've made this team out of camp and was disappointed that he got sent down. Hopefully Omark will prove me right and make it tough for the coaching staff to send him back once Hemmer and Horc are back. 


I would've like to see Paajarvi go down for 10 games when he wasn't producing, and then Omark could've come a little sooner, but what do I know as Paajarvi now has 4 points in his last 5 games. All assists, but I think once he gets a good goal the flood gates on this kid will open. I was really pulling for him in the shoot out last night.


Next Game...


Stamkos and the Lightning are in Rexall on Friday night and I am hopeful that watching a prolific goal scorer like that in his third season, will inspire Hall, Eberle, Paajarvi and Gagner to bigger and better things.


GO Oilers GO!