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UFA ENFORCER NEEDED: Why Do So Many Young Oilers Players Get Injured
I don't know, the Oilers have Sutton and Eager signed, maybe try and sign 2 of these free agents for a bottom 6 role and maybe one of these free agents for a #5/6/7 spot on defense
Forwards (2):
Jordin Tootoo
Brandon Prust
Adam Burish
Brad Staubitz
Okay, I guess I misunderstood the quote differently. He does say he has worked harder in Los Angeles, but not necessarily about how much the Oilers focus on it. Here are a couple quotes on him working harder last summer:
I take that more as Penner is finally getting serious than as the Oilers weren't good at conditioning their players.
I mean, we had some pretty well-conditioned guys in Moreau and Horcoff during Penner's time here, and I'm sure their workouts would have had the same effect on him if he'd chosen to go that route at that time.
Taylor Hall plays like the Tazmanian Devil on speed, so he's going to hurt himself. If you actually look at his injuries, though, it's a lot of freak accidents. Going down weird in a fight, getting stomped on by a skate, etc.
I'm not sure how an enforcer is supposed to help that type of injury.
Did he actually suffer a concussion on the Sarich hit? Or did they just tweak the shoulder injury he had been playing through?
Falls awkwardly in a fight that he instigates. Not much an enforcer can do about that.
Just a good, clean hit. It's unfortunate that his shoulder was injured on the play but an enforcer shouldn't have to step in.
Hall steps on a puck and a teammate steps on his face. Freak accident.
Hall loses his balance right before the hit. If he doesn't, it's probably just a routine hit. I think Hall smacking his head on the ice caused more damage than Sarich did.
Just a bit of grit in the top 6 would do wonders for them. Who cares about some guy who plays 5 minutes a night on another line? I know it helps but I think some big bodies in the top 6 would be a bigger deterrent, especially in the case of protecting Hall.
I don't know, the Oilers have Sutton and Eager signed, maybe try and sign 2 of these free agents for a bottom 6 role and maybe one of these free agents for a #5/6/7 spot on defense
Forwards (2):
Jordin Tootoo
Brandon Prust
Adam Burish
Brad Staubitz
Defense (1):
Scott Hannan
Bryan Allen
Stu Bickel
Staubitz is a joke. I'd hate to have him on the Oilers.
Wouldn't mind Tootoo though. Obviously not to protect the young players but it's been a while since the Oilers had a real pest. Stortini and Torres don't count.
If you believe Souray, the training staff leaves a lot to be desired.
What does Souray know about the Oilers training staff?
Most of the injuries to the Oilers young players have been bad luck. RNH didn't fall over the blue line all by himself because he didn't have enough enforcers on his team.
Staubitz is a joke. I'd hate to have him on the Oilers.
Wouldn't mind Tootoo though. Obviously not to protect the young players but it's been a while since the Oilers had a real pest. Stortini and Torres don't count.
Pass on Tootoo, he's not a enforcer, just a s*** disturber that knows he has backup, no backup in Edmonton.
So many injuries to young players? Outside of Hall, who was injured because of a hit? RNH tripped on the blue line and Eberle got tangled up with Benn. Gagner slipped in preseason and fell feet first into the boards and sprained his ankle.
Yeah getting over teenage awkwardness would probably help them more than an enforcer
When you continually break in 18 years old who are forced to play significant minutes and they go against the top competition game after game cause of the lack of depth maybe they're not physically mature enough to handle it as well as the top competition in the league they are forced to play against hit that much harder and are able to do things like close the gap that much quicker than these players than the 3rd liner other teams top young guns go against. If they were brought along just a little more slowly instead of going straight from junior where they could dominate and never had to really worry about a dman being able to close the gap on them extremely quickly to playing 17+ minutes a night I'm not surprised.
I take that more as Penner is finally getting serious than as the Oilers weren't good at conditioning their players.
I mean, we had some pretty well-conditioned guys in Moreau and Horcoff during Penner's time here, and I'm sure their workouts would have had the same effect on him if he'd chosen to go that route at that time.
That I can agree with, and sorry for misremembering the quote
Honest question, as I might be misremembering this as well, but did the Oilers fire their medical/training staff sometime this season?
Hopefully this doesn't stir up bad feelings, but I just can't help but recall the Fraser debacle last summer when Smyth was traded, and there were differences of opinion in the medical staff.
Or do you feel like it's just bad luck that the players get injured? I don't know all the injuries, so I really don't know what the situation is in Edmonton. I'm just speaking from past experiences in the Kings organization mainly.
Carkner. Or anyone else that can take a regular shift.
It makes a huge difference to have a guy in the press box and have the guy on the bench. In the playoffs, it's not as much of a concern because you can usually wait till the next game, but in the regular season you it's far better to have someone who will step up immediately.
Also, you want someone who doesn't cost so much you feel like you can't sit him down or have him blocking a young player. You need a professional who knows his role and can still play a shift.
Exactly. The ratio of young players on the team... the number of young players (teenagers no less) means a few are bound to get hurt.
It's not conditioning. It's not the lack of enforcers.
It's the fact that teenagers are playing against men. Professional athletes. Wait until this Oilers squad matures. When they're approaching their mid-twentys this won't be an issue.
