Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it good news that Gagner got the MRI today? Isn't there usually problems with swelling that would've pushed it to tomorrow like first mentioned this morning?
Yes, I thought of this immediately. Hopefully this is a good sign, sometimes they wont do the MRI for a week or more.
I researched high ankle sprains last year (because of Hall) and they can be determined by x-ray and/or physical examination due to the separation of the two leg bones, the tibia and fibula, intersecting at the ankle.
Meaning, they usually know if it's a high ankle sprain before the MRI. The MRI reveals the extent of the damage.
But I also think Hordichuk is going to be well ahead of Eager in 2 weeks time.
And thats a 180 for me...because when they signed him...I thought it was a waste of time & money.
Based on what? Eager hasn't even had a chance to play, they didn't sign him to a 3 year contract to have him sitting in the pressbox on most nights. He's a lock for that 4th line spot for the majority of the season unless he completely falls out of favor with the coaches.
Based on what? Eager hasn't even had a chance to play, they didn't sign him to a 3 year contract to have him sitting in the pressbox on most nights. He's a lock for that 4th line spot for the majority of the season unless he completely falls out of favor with the coaches.
I'm confused, are you saying that Hordichuk will wind up well ahead of Eager on the depth chart based on better play or that Hordichuk will take over Eager's spot because Eager will still be injured in 2 weeks?
But I also think Hordichuk is going to be well ahead of Eager in 2 weeks time.
And thats a 180 for me...because when they signed him...I thought it was a waste of time & money.
Yeah, Hordichuk has impressed me with his ability just to make the smart steady play. Get it deep, or make the deft safe pass. He's showing a lot of confidence out there and a surprisingly crisp passing/transition game.
I watch Brule out there not having a clue what to do under pressure then watch Hordichuk who seems to have the game mapped out. Hordi is looking reliable . Not even taking into account the physical play and accountability on the ice.
He's playing smart, tough, veteran hockey.
I think we don't even remember what that looks like.
Last edited by Replacement: 09-26-2011 at 06:51 PM.
I'm confused, are you saying that Hordichuk will wind up well ahead of Eager on the depth chart based on better play or that Hordichuk will take over Eager's spot because Eager will still be injured in 2 weeks?
Hordichuk is playing like he's in mid season form and Eager won't even have had a chance to knock an offseason of rust off.
Rust never sleeps.
ps (To Joe) Hemsky and Whitney have a much higher baseline game and so they would have to be appreciably worse not to be of any value. Rust in a player like Eager renders him not very useful in the moment.
Hemsky and Whitney would still find a way while they reconnect their game.
Sorry for speaking on Everest's behalf(If I am) but I think I have his take on this.
Hordichuk is playing like he's in mid season form and Eager won't even have had a chance to knock an offseason of rust off.
Rust never sleeps.
ps (To Joe) Hemsky and Whitney have a much higher baseline game and so they would have to be appreciably worse not to be of any value. Rust in a player like Eager renders him not very useful in the moment.
Hemsky and Whitney would still find a way while they reconnect their game.
Sorry for speaking on Everest's behalf(If I am) but I think I have his take on this.
Exactly.
And add in the fact its not a broken finger Eager is dealing with. Its a concussion & everyone shudders at that word these days.
Therefore...the first & really only priority for him over the remainder of pre-season (at least) is going to be his health.
And like I said...its no problem...because as you acknowledge, Replacement, Hordy has come in here and taken a load off the mind(s) of the coaching staff.
And add in the fact its not a broken finger Eager is dealing with. Its a concussion & everyone shudders at that word these days.
Therefore...the first & really only priority for him over the remainder of pre-season (at least) is going to be his health.
And like I said...its no problem...because as you acknowledge, Replacement, Hordy has come in here and taken a load off the mind(s) of the coaching staff.
Understood and i like what Hordichuk has brought in the preseason as well but make no mistake, when Eager is healthy and ready to go, he will be playing on most nights ahead of Hordichuk.
Isn't it better to break your ankle than it is to come back from a high ankle sprain? A busted ankle is usually 6-8 weeks, compared to a high ankle sprain can take as long as 6 months before it's 100% again.
I think the Oilers are better off with Lander in the lineup compared to 89 anyways, no big deal really.
Well I think that clears the path for RNH to get his 9 games for sure now.
After that, they'll probably send RNH down to Red Deer and alternate between bringing up Lander or O'Marra until Gagner can go again.
I'm no Gagner fan but if we send RNH down and have O'Marra in a top 9 role at any point of the season we could very well be fighting for dead last again. Could we see RNH and Lander making the big squad with O'Marra in the PB and Brule on waivers?
I'm no Gagner fan but if we send RNH down and have O'Marra in a top 9 role at any point of the season we could very well be fighting for dead last again. Could we see RNH and Lander making the big squad with O'Marra in the PB and Brule on waivers?
I don't necessarily think RNH or Lander are going to lift us out of last place if that's where we're going to finish anyway.
By 9 games in, Gagner should be a lot closer to returning. Remember this year there's basically a week off in between the pre-season and regular season, so Sam's got some time to heal.
I don't necessarily think RNH or Lander are going to lift us out of last place if that's where we're going to finish anyway.
By 9 games in, Gagner should be a lot closer to returning. Remember this year there's basically a week off in between the pre-season and regular season, so Sam's got some time to heal.
I think that RNH has a shot to help pull us out of last if he steps in seamlessly. Lander alone might not, but if the Swede line as a whole does well that could also help to pull us out of dead last. I'm not so sure that either of their total contributions would be all that much less than Gagner's would be to be honest.
So you think that he'll be back for game 1 of the season? If so he had better not rush back because a poor showing this year could punch his ticket out of town.
So you think that he'll be back for game 1 of the season? If so he had better not rush back because a poor showing this year could punch his ticket out of town.
Well his name isn't Brule so I don't know about one way tickets quite yet but this is an important year for many Oilers.
I think that RNH has a shot to help pull us out of last if he steps in seamlessly. Lander alone might not, but if the Swede line as a whole does well that could also help to pull us out of dead last. I'm not so sure that either of their total contributions would be all that much less than Gagner's would be to be honest.
Honestly at this point I'm resigned to another bottom 5 finish, so I'm not really stressing out that much over the roster.
They can play RNH for 9 games, then bring up Lander for a couple and O'Marra for a few. By then Gagner is hopefully ready to go.
I'd be more concerned about Whitney at this point to be honest.
Honestly at this point I'm resigned to another bottom 5 finish, so I'm not really stressing out that much over the roster.
They can play RNH for 9 games, then bring up Lander for a couple and O'Marra for a few. By then Gagner is hopefully ready to go.
I'd be more concerned about Whitney at this point to be honest.
I agree that we probably end up bottom 5 again. That said this will be a good test for RNH. I also agree that Whitney is a much bigger loss than Gagner.
Honestly at this point I'm resigned to another bottom 5 finish, so I'm not really stressing out that much over the roster.
They can play RNH for 9 games, then bring up Lander for a couple and O'Marra for a few. By then Gagner is hopefully ready to go.
I'd be more concerned about Whitney at this point to be honest.
I'm starting to not be concerned about Whitney because i honestly expect little from him this year even if he is deemed to be "healthy". At this point, if he's truly 100%, it's a bonus.
It's going to be another loooong year, we should just hope for some improvement from the youngsters because the positive results in the standings will likely not occur AGAIN this year.
Expect the worst, hope for the best. That should be the Oilers slogan.
I think Dubnyk honestly would make the biggest difference this year in terms of wins/losses. If he can bring his game up to another level, then I see a 10-14 point improvement, but even that ... doesn't exactly take us out of the lottery.
It won't matter a whole lot if you shuffle around the centres if indeed Gagner is hurt for a moderate/long period....
Horcoff
Gagner
RNH
Belanger
vs
Horcoff
RNH
Belanger
Brule/Lander/Petrell/O'Marra
Those different centre lineups aren't going to make much difference compared to the **** show on defense on the Oilers. There is decent depth at the forward positions on the team with a good amount of legitimate talent to work with... not so on the d-core.
