Oiler Evaluations and Development

Starting tomorrow August 1st/2012, I will be rolling out a new Oiler prospect each day. The idea is not to break down and compare each player to player or even rank the top 20 or 25 players in the system. The idea is to take a closer look at each player in the system and consider if they are a legitimate Prospect or are Suspect. 


Let's be honest, the Oilers have players in the system who fill some roles and will never see the light of day in the NHL. Sure they can hold out hope for a chance, and you can never say never but c'mon. Any player can have a 1 year breakout season and then disappear into the MIST. Players who make it to the NHL are players who continually show the growing curve. Rob Schremp is one of those examples. I loved Schremp, but his progress slowed coming out of Jr's and he was never able to gain the speed on the ice that was needed.


Within the Oilers development system, I bet there are maybe 8 players who will ever even play more then a half a season in the NHL. In fact, that is even probably high. Just consider that the Oilers have been getting high draft picks for years, what would others teams %'s be?


So starting tomorrow, stay tuned in for a daily look in the month of August as I examine players in the Oilers system and evaluate if they are a PROSPECT or SUSPECT?

For Oiler prospect news and the 2013 or 2014 NHL draft watch, go to

 www.twitter.com/revingev

Prospect or Suspect? COMING in AUGUST

Last year I made my debut here at Oilers Jambalaya in August with a opening series called Prospect or Suspect?. I walked through the prospects within the system of the Edmonton Oilers and evaluated and gave my take on their potential future with the organization.

This August I will once again put out such blogs however at the same time I will re-visit some of my evaluations of the players I spoke of last year and see just where they are today. How accurate was I? I can't really say, cause I have not re-visited those posts. 

For some of you hockey fans, this may not be a series of posts you have any interest in, for others you like to follow and see the development of players within the organization. There is a lot of players so it will most likely be broken down into a FORWARD series, DEFENCEMEN series and a GOALIE series of blogs.

At the beginning of September I will also be releasing my 

REVS 2013 TOP 15 NHL PROSPECTS list for the first time. Their is a group of 7 players that I am confident in, and 4 who I feel strong about but then there is about 6-8 other players to place in that mix. Last year, of the 15 players selected in the 2012 NHL Draft I had 12 in my REVS 2012 TOP 15 NHL PROSPECTS list released the beginning of October 2011. It will be hard to duplicate that one or improve on.

Stay tuned for more prospect information as the summer presses on.

Go Oilers! Go Barons! Go Thunder!

For Oiler prospect news and the 2013 or 2014 NHL draft watch, go to

 www.twitter.com/revingev

Mid-Summer Thoughts

Well, it’s the middle of summer, and hockey fans are clamouring for anything about hockey. Myself, I’ve been on Youtube searching up old WHA videos, which will probably explain why I am writing this article today.

I have come to the conclusion that the Edmonton Oilers need to honor their past history from the former WHA more than they have, as they are the final WHA franchise remaining active. This season also marks the 40^th Anniversary of the founding of the World Hockey Association, which was on June 10^th, 1971.

The franchise is one of the Charter Franchises of the WHA, beginning operations as the Alberta Oilers in 1972. They went on to become one of the most prominent and stable franchises in the league, and attracted many fans to their games throughout the years. They signed stars such as Jacques Plante, Al Hamilton, Jim Harrison, Ron Chipperfield and more. They also have the distinct prestige of having played the first and last games ever played in the WHA. The Oilers also scored the first and last goals in WHA history as well. This team has so much history and prestige behind it, that it is kinda puzzling why they don’t flaunt it a bit more.

So, how could they honor that part of their history? Well, here are some suggestions of mine, feel free to make your own suggestions at the bottom of this page. I am eager to hear them.

One would be to introduce (or re-introduce) this jersey as an alternate;

This was the first jersey ever worn by the Oilers, which was in the first game played in the WHA, in Ottawa, where they defeated the Ottawa Nationals 7-4 on October  11^th, 1972. The Oilers’ Rob Anderson scored the first goal in WHA history in that game. I personally think that this jersey is a classic and should be worn once in a while by the club.

Another option would be to retire Jacques Plante’s #30 which he wore during his tenure with the Oilers. I cannot understand why they haven’t done this yet. Plante is a legend to hockey and its fans, and his contributions to the Oilers’ legacy MUST be recognized. To me, it almost feels like Plante is being snubbed by the Edmonton Oilers organization. His number deserves to be in the rafters of Rexall Place.

A third option could be to put the WHA logo on the ice of Rexall Place or on the shoulder of the Edmonton Oilers’ jerseys, with a script reading “40^th Anniversary” across the top or bottom of the logo.

   Whatever the case, it seems to me that the Edmonton Oilers should call more attention to their WHA history, as without the World Hockey Association, Edmonton would not have the Oilers, and would not have the reputation as the City of Champions. Let’s give the WHA and the Oilers’ the credit and the accolades they so deservingly ought to have.


By Paul Neumann

The Ridiculousness Of Hockey Insiders

Yesterday it was reported by a couple anonymous hockey insiders that Oilers forward Sam Gagner had signed a 4 year deal worth $13 million.

Bob Stauffer went on record saying that report was false. I trust Bob so I'll go out on a limb and say the so called insiders are wrong.

Ok. I didn't need Bob to tell me those guys are wrong. Those types of people don't fall far from the Eklund tree.

Where do they get their made up information? Its easy apparently. POOF! and idea is born and said on twitter. Next thing you know 10,000 gullible people are either retweeting it or repeating it as their own info.

I love twitter for the most part, but for this reason alone, I hate it. Too much false info gets passed around as the truth. It's pathetic.

While I won't tell you what douchebag(s) spreads this kind of crap (no need to gain them more followers), I will tell you I don't pass on info unless it's from a good source like Stauffer, Jason Gregor or others close to the Oilers.

The insanity of anonymous insiders will continue to grow as long as people keep repeating what they say.

I for one, hate them.

You can however trust www.OilersJambalaya.com

No bullshit from us. GOILERS!!!

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY-

The Waiting Game Sucks...

As we all know, the Oilers still have to try and swing a few deals to get some better upgrades on players. Obvious 1st choice is to get another top 4 defenceman. Given the market, it's shouldn't be that hard to pull off. Or is it?

What's Steve Tambellini waiting for? Probably a sweet deal. I'm sure he has a few irons in the fire, but all of Oil Country is starting to get impatient.

Realistically though, I say what's the rush? Summer has just begun. Let's let the man do his thing and by August We should see a deal possibly done.

But if he hasn't by then, HURRY THE HELL UP TAMBY!!!

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY BURNT-

OILERS Development Camp FINAL CHAPTER 2012

The Oilers 2012 Development Camp ended on Monday with applause and cheers from Oilers fans and big smiles from the prospects and coaches on the ice, especially one, Nail Yakupov. The story of this camp was of course Mr.Yakupov, but what has been transpiring within the depth of the Oilers organization is what is even more impressive.

The Oilers should be producing depth picking so early in each round of the last 3 years NHL Entry drafts,  but it's also the free agent signings of prospects from college hockey and European leagues as well. The culture being developed and the attention to detailed personal development of each player has been astounding and credit should be given to this organization for staying true to the course and putting money where it's needed most. (In the foundations of development for players)

A couple observations I noticed during todays 4 on 4 tourney. The Twin Towers, Marincin and Gernat were usually paired with one another. Taylor Fedun shows all positive signs of his leg being fully healed with no ill effects on the ice. Kyle Bigos looked impressive in his scrimmage and will be a interesting player to watch this year in his development. Klefbom looks like a well poised and smooth skater who has excellent passing skills and good positioning. Roy and Bunz show no signs in their goaltending development of being behind the 8 ball. 

And of course the team 'clown' at training camp is the Oilers very own #1 OV Draft pick Nail Yakupov. Some watching camp were not impressed with his ability to perform some drills well, but what can be forgotten is this camp is for teaching and developing not for evaluating someone on a skill they have not yet learned. When the scrimmage came on and Yakupov could control the puck, he showed he has GAME, and a sense of humour to boot. 

DAY 6 ON ICE DEVELOPMENT CAMP:

4 on 4 full ice game tourney on #oilersdevelopmentcamp

#martindale sets up #Yakupov who one times it but stopped by #Roy#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#tobiasrieder with a chance hits post #oilersdevelopmentcamp

#Yakupov misses top corner but he and #marincin look like have chemistry #oilersdevelopmentcamp

#joeylaleggia sets up beauty goal #oilersdevelopmentcamp

#Yakupov clears puck from going in net and back to goalie.#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#bigos lays out #zharkov in corner and barely touched him#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#Sami flashes the glove with sweet top corner save on a 2on1#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#fedun 3x breaks up play #oilersdevelopmentcamp

#klefbom wearing a camera on his helmet today #Oilers

#Hamilton back checks #legault I to net smashing into back boards#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#tobiasrieder is stopped cold by #samuperhonen#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#tobiasrieder with breakaway in close on #Roy is stopped , rebound he hits post #oilersdevelopmentcamp

#bunz now with kicksave #oilersdevelopmentcamp

#Yakupov nailed against boards by #gustaffson #Oilers

#Yakupov sets up a beauty pass but #roy saves it#oilersdevelopmentcamp #breaktime

#Roy with nice kick save #oilersdevelopmentcamp

About 700 fans here in Sherwood Park, to watch#oilersdevelopmentcamp and 4 on 4 tourney today.


#franstuohimaa stones #Hamilton on a excellent shot#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#bigos moving pretty quick today #oilersdevelopmentcamp

#gernat stops a play that could have been a breakaway#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#zharkov has breakout pass but stick breaks, crowd laughs#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#martindale doing some good back checking


#Yakupov with a blast through #samuperhonen celebrates goal to crowd. Crowd cheers and laughs.major crowd pleaser


#moroz with a breakaway and dekes out #samuperhonen#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#Davidson with slapped and deflected past #franstuohimaa#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#bigos moving puck well and creating opportunities#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#Yakupov with another goal and big celebration. #wanttobebestcrowd pleaser #oilersdevelopmentcamp

#gernat #tobiasrieder and #Yakupov team up for another goal by#Yakupov #Yakupov looks to fans to hear cheers. Crowd goes nuts!!!


#Yakupov is Definately a shooter , excels at quick shots in right spots#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#samuperhonen now getting beat quite often#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#jujharkhaira High sticks #bigos but play continues. #Yakupov slaps a one times, misses net by inches. #Oilers

Probably 800 fans now in building. #Yakupov has hat trick so far, how many more??? #oilersdevelopmentcamp

#Roy stops a slapped from the point on nice kick save#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#martindale gets breakout pass and dekes out defencemen and#Roy to score back handler #oilersdevelopmentcamp

#Yakupov getting rough with #74 and then back checks and throws hip check #oilersdevelopmentcamp

Play starting to get rough out on ice #oilersdevelopmentcamp

#samuperhonen with nice blocker save on breakaway#oilersdevelopmentcamp

Little #joeylaleggia blocks out big #bigos in front of net well#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#Roy stops #martindale point blank #oilersdevelopmentcamp

#Yakupov playing good defence in this tourney as well. #goodsign#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#tobiasrieder strength appears to be sense of where to be on ice at right time #oilersdevelopmentcamp

#klefbom missing in action. Not seen almost all morning ?????#oilersdevelopmentcamp

#zharkov in shoot out impressive deke #oilersdevelopmentcamp

#oilersdevelopmentcamp is over. #Yakupov finishes with#beautygoal and celebrates for fans

SHORT VIDEO CLIP

For Oiler prospect news and the 2013 or 2014 NHL draft watch, go to

 www.twitter.com/revingev