CopperAndBlueGM
Registered User
- Mar 9, 2017
- 119
- 41
Oilers management has been in the unenviable position of being spectators this season as all they can do is watch as their hands are tied both in terms of adding players to improve their fate (going bankrupt and very few assets) nor selling (close to the cap floor). Therefore their fate is tied to the performance of the players on the ice to win.
After a disastrous start the Oilers have climbed back to mediocrity where in a very tight conference +/- 2 games is the difference between a play-off spot or a top 10 draft pick. Nearing the mid-point (39 games in) the team is just a half a game back of the last wildcard position but has a long tough road trip coming up.
At mid-season two good news stories have emerged for the Oilers that have kept the team afloat. First is Troy Grosenick who is having a Bill Masterton Trophy worthy season. At 27 years old, a relative young guy on the oldest team in the HFNHL, he is not only playing his first HFNHL pro-season but has supplanted Chad Johnson as the starter with 21 starts and is 4th overall in save percentage in the league – he was tied for 2nd until last night’s off game.
The second performance of note has been from Paul Stastny who, despite being hampered by frequent nagging injuries, currently leads the team with 45 points in 34 games. Stastny has been the set-up man on many goals averaging nearly an assist per game.
One of the largest challenges for the team, and the Finance department, has been the constant parade of injuries. It has only been the last couple of games the full starting roster has been on the ice together. Through much of the season it has been common for 3 or 4 players to be out at any given time which resulted in many call-ups and more expenses the team could not afford. In total 24 skaters have played for the team at one point but most recently the number one sub on the Oilers blueline, Nate Prosser, was lost to waivers.
GM Niece is reported to have ordered a case of Zantac to get him through the second half of the season.
After a disastrous start the Oilers have climbed back to mediocrity where in a very tight conference +/- 2 games is the difference between a play-off spot or a top 10 draft pick. Nearing the mid-point (39 games in) the team is just a half a game back of the last wildcard position but has a long tough road trip coming up.
At mid-season two good news stories have emerged for the Oilers that have kept the team afloat. First is Troy Grosenick who is having a Bill Masterton Trophy worthy season. At 27 years old, a relative young guy on the oldest team in the HFNHL, he is not only playing his first HFNHL pro-season but has supplanted Chad Johnson as the starter with 21 starts and is 4th overall in save percentage in the league – he was tied for 2nd until last night’s off game.
The second performance of note has been from Paul Stastny who, despite being hampered by frequent nagging injuries, currently leads the team with 45 points in 34 games. Stastny has been the set-up man on many goals averaging nearly an assist per game.
One of the largest challenges for the team, and the Finance department, has been the constant parade of injuries. It has only been the last couple of games the full starting roster has been on the ice together. Through much of the season it has been common for 3 or 4 players to be out at any given time which resulted in many call-ups and more expenses the team could not afford. In total 24 skaters have played for the team at one point but most recently the number one sub on the Oilers blueline, Nate Prosser, was lost to waivers.
GM Niece is reported to have ordered a case of Zantac to get him through the second half of the season.
