Oilers 2006 & Beyond

[skoch]

Rosters: EHM_RTafts_rosterupdate-savefile_(09-12-06).zip
Start Date: September, 2006
Salary Cap (finances): 56.7 million -> I know that's not accurate, but I wanted a solid middle number. However, I will not be adjusting this for here on out.

Description: In real life the Oilers tailed off and dwindled to the bottom of the hockey world for a decade thanks to abysmal play both on and off the ice. The last time the Oilers made the play-offs I was in grade 11. I'm here to change their fortunes.

Let me set the stage...

The Oilers just lost a heart-breaking 7-game Stanley Cup finals series to Carolina, and now Chris Pronger is gone. But, the Oilers are the defending Western Conference champions, and a banner raising ceremony awaits - what happens from here on out who knows, but I do know one thing is for certain - it won't be as bad as reality.

As for some rules I've set out for myself, I'll be using the ratio rule. I can only claim players off waivers if one of mine get claimed, I can only sign an UFA to replace a retired player or if I lose a player of my own to another team, trades can only be conducted if a team comes to me OR if I see a rumour in news - I can pursue it.

BTW Smytty isn't going anywhere.

[skoch]

News & Notes:

- brought on Paul Coffey to coach the AHL team.
- set all the team's finances to 55 million.
- I lost a bunch of players from the 2006 Stanley Cup run to free agency including Peca, Dvorak, Harvey, Murray, Samsonov, Tarnstrom; however I will not be signing any UFA's to replace them as that's how the game set things up by default.

Hope to get the season underway soon

[skoch]

Alllllright here we go...

Preseason came and went, finished near the bottom of the standings.. all good. Altered Joffery Lupul to centre and Toby Peterson to right-wing. No waiver draft, so no one has been added or subtracted.

2006/07 Opening Day Line-up:

Dwayne Roloson -> Veteran's skills are starting to dwindle
Jussi Markkanen -> Dependable back-up

Jason Smith (C) - M.A. Bergeron -> Captain with our most offensive minded Dman
Steve Staios - Daniel Tjarnqvist -> Hard nosed with a Euro
Matt Greene - Danny Syvret -> 2 young guys who hopefully won't have to draw into the top 4 this season

Ryan Smyth - Jarret Stoll - Petr Sykora -> Captain Canada with 2 awesome shooters
Raffi Torres - Joffrey Lupul - Ales Hemsky -> A little bit of everything on this line
Brad Winchester - Mary Reasoner - Toby Peterson -> My neutral zone trap line that plays 30 seconds
Ethan Moreau - Shawn Horcoff - Fernando Pisani -> Energy line, hit and grind, make things messy for the opposition

Regular Season:

Wouldn't ya know it... after 10 games the Oilers are in 1st place in the league with a record of 7-2-1, 15 points. Jarret Stoll leads the team and the league with 16 points (3G, 13A). Sykora, Hemsky, Horcoff and Torres are all scoring at a point per game pace or better. Dwayne Roloson has 5 of the wins, Jussi with 2. Robbie Schremp is lighting things up in the AHL with 16 points through 10 games. It's all rainbows and butterflies for the defending Western Conference Champions. In league news Alexander Ovechkin was traded to L.A. for Mathieu Garon and Lauri Tukonen - gotta love that EHM trade comp.

[skoch]

Regular Season:

After 20 games; the Oilers sit at 11-7-2. Sitting 4th in the NHL, and 4th in the Western Conference thanks to Vancouver's 11-4-2 record. Dwayne Roloson is starting to show his age with a .874 SV% and a 3.45 GAA. The power-play is one of the main reasons for early positive start sitting at 22.5%, one of the best in the league. Jarret Stoll remains our leading scorer with 8 goals, 19 assists, good for 27 points. Ryan Smyth, Petr Sykora and Ales Hemsky are still producing over the point per game ratio.

News & Notes:

Brad Winchester and Danny Syvret struggles cost them a roster spot, both were sent down to the farm team. J.F. Jacques and Ladislav Smid have been called up; however both of them have not really taken advantage of the opportunity and may be on the way back down.