POST DUSTIN PENNER ERA

The Trade...

I've had a lot of people ask what my thoughts on the Dustin Penner deal are. So here goes...I like the deal. Having said that, it is really hard to judge it based on the fact that we didn't get a roster player back.


Lets' face it, it's obvious the Oilers management has come to the realization that our defense is the issue. You can see that based on the fact that we traded for Colton Tuebert. I also see this from the other minor deal we made that saw Shawn Belle traded for Kevin Montgomery, a 22 D-Man that plays in the minors and was on team USA. this was more of an AHL deal, but...I don't know enough about Montgomery to comment on whether he will turn into something the Oilers can use in the future.


I do like the fact that we paid a first, second and a third round pick to get Penner, and we got essentially two firsts and a third when we dealt him in return. If we could use the first round pick and another asset (pick or prospect) to move up in the upcoming draft, then I think this will then become a better deal. Also, the fact that we cleared 4+ million dollars off the salary cap without taking any salary back, which allows Tambellini some flexibility to get veterans, and plug holes in the next couple of years.


Being that Tuebert has played with Eberle on both the Regina Pats of the WHL and Team Canada at the World Juniors, Hopefully will allow Tuebert to transition into this team a little easier. Jason Gregor had Tuebert's head coach on yesterday afternoon to get an idea of Tuebert is at. The Coach (can't remember his name) said that Tuebert has had 5 or 6 fights this year and is definitely someone who WILL be an NHL'er in the near future. The Coach was also sad to see Tuebert leave as it put a big hole in his D, that he doesn't know how to fill. That tells me that this is an important piece that will be missed. That's all good.


I heard the boys this morning on the team1260 refer to this team as the Post Dustin Penner Era Oilers. I thought this was kinda funny based on how this town wanted to run Penner out on a rail two years ago. The funny thing to me about this deal, is it now makes all the Penner-Haters out there have to cheer for LA and Penner if they want that conditional pick we got, improve to a second rounder. HA!


The Play Lately...


Lets not even discuss the St. Louis game....

However the Boston Game I thought the boys held their own. Yeah, they got out shot and dominated in the first two periods, but they kept it a one goal game (Dubnyk) and were alot more physical in the game.

Vandermeer has a great tilt with Lucic. Cogs and Pecham both had fights in this game as well.


All in all we have played better lately going 4-2 in the last 6 games. Hopefully we can pull out a win against Nashville as we have a nice 3 point cushion for last place.


GO Oilers GO!