2011/12 vs. 2013 Roster

[Mowzie]

I was trying to figure out what our opening day roster last season was to compare to this year. Anyone remember what our roster was like to start last year?

Edit: Found them.


Taylor Hall / Ryan Nugent-Hopkins / Jordan Eberle
Ryan Smyth / Shawn Horcoff /Ryan Jones
Magnus Paajarvi / Eric Belanger / Linus Omark
Darcy Hordichuk / Anton Lander / Lennart Petrell
D
Ladislav Smid / Tom Gilbert
Andy Sutton / Corey Potter
Cam Barker / Theo Peckham
G
Devan Dubnyk
Nikolai Khabibulin

Looking back, we really only had 2 bonafide NHL caliber defenseman last year, what a huge upgrade on D this year, the difference can't be understated.

Upfront we went from having a first line, a third line and 2- fourth lines, to arguably having 2- first lines a third line and a fourth line.

Big difference with this club, and to think we were a top 5 team for the the first 3 months last season.

Click to read more...

 

[tv14]

Hall-Horcoff-Eberle
Gagner-RNH-Hemsky
Jones-Gagner-Smyth
Paajarvi-Belanger-Eager


would be my guess for the forwards.

 

[DrDrai]

Hall-Horcoff-Eberle
Gagner-RNH-Hemsky
Jones-Gagner-Smyth
Paajarvi-Belanger-Eager


would be my guess for the forwards.

yep i would agree

 

[Arpeggio]

Hall-Horcoff-Eberle
Smyth-Gagner-Hemsky
Paajarvi-Belanger-Jones
Petrell-Lander-Eager

would be my guess for the forwards.

Missing RNH, and Gagner was out with a hip thing I believe. So...

Smyth - RNH - Eberle
Hall - Horcoff - Hemsky
Paajarvi - Belanger - Jones
Eager - Lander - Hordichuk/Petrell

..is my guess.

 

[Mowzie]

Missing RNH, and Gagner was out with a hip thing I believe. So...

Smyth - RNH - Eberle
Hall - Horcoff - Hemsky
Paajarvi - Belanger - Jones
Eager - Lander - Hordichuk/Petrell

..is my guess.

I found them and edited my original post. Gagner had an ankle issue I think.

 

[Insta]

That lineup sucked

 

[Arpeggio]

That lineup sucked

Yes, and I don't think we'll be looking back at this year's lineup and saying the same thing. I mean, this year's top six is legitimate on paper, no question. I think it's safe to say that every player on this team today is/will be a NHL player for years to come, which is something we couldn't say about our roster before. So the Oilers are moving forward!

 

[Draiskull]

@ OP..

No Petry and no Hemsky??

Last year it seemed everyone was playing 1 line\1 pairing too high..

Smyth and Horcoff should be excellent 3rd liners.. Hemsky should be a good 2nd liner..
Whitney should be good on 2nd pairing. Fistric should be good 3rd pairing

 

[GretzkytoKurri9917]

Yes, and I don't think we'll be looking back at this year's lineup and saying the same thing. I mean, this year's top six is legitimate on paper, no question. I think it's safe to say that every player on this team today is/will be a NHL player for years to come, which is something we couldn't say about our roster before. So the Oilers are moving forward!

Talent wise ,the top 6 looks great;but our top 6 looks awful, size/grit wise.

 

[Diamondillium]

Looking at that lineup, wow.

Think how pathetic it is that it was the best lineup we had iced in a few years at that point.

 

[Mowzie]

@ OP..

No Petry and no Hemsky??

Last year it seemed everyone was playing 1 line\1 pairing too high..

Smyth and Horcoff should be excellent 3rd liners.. Hemsky should be a good 2nd liner..
Whitney should be good on 2nd pairing. Fistric should be good 3rd pairing

I think Petry started in OKC, Hemsky was injured I guess. I got the lines from a Dan Tencer tweet, So think they're accurate.

 

[gooilgo]

There is a jump in quality for sure when you compare the roster with the one from a year ago.

My concern is a lack of grit. We will still have plenty of struggles when we are up against the likes of Phoenix, Minny, Dallas etc.

 

[Diamondillium]

There is a jump in quality for sure when you compare the roster with the one from a year ago.

My concern is a lack of grit. We will still have plenty of struggles when we are up against the likes of Phoenix, Minny, Dallas etc.

I don't think Dallas will be as big of a struggle anymore in that category. It seems they have recently replaced a lot of their tougher guys with softer players since last year.

Hell, one of them was even given to us.

 

[Insta]

Oilers could use a bit more toughness and sandpaper but imo it is overrated if you have legitimately good players.

 

[McShogun99]

2012 opening lineup:

Taylor Hall / Ryan Nugent-Hopkins / Jordan Eberle
Ryan Smyth / Shawn Horcoff /Ryan Jones
Magnus Paajarvi / Eric Belanger / Linus Omark
Darcy Hordichuk / Anton Lander / Lennart Petrell
D
Ladislav Smid / Tom Gilbert
Andy Sutton / Corey Potter
Cam Barker / Theo Peckham
G
Devan Dubnyk
Nikolai Khabibulin

Probable 2013 opening lineup:

Hall / RNH / Eberle - Same 1st line
N64 / Gagner / Hemsky - Huge upgrade on second line
Smyth / Horcoff / PRV or Hairtikanen - More experience
Eager or PRV / Belanger / Petrell - upgrade at C

Smid / Petry - Petry's a slight upgrade on Gilbert
Schultz / Schutlz - Huge upgrade from last years second pairing
Whitney / Fistric - Another huge upgrade from last years third pairing

I honestly think that if this team can remain mostly injury free that they can finish second in their division and as high as 5th - 6th in the conferance.

 

[Insta]

You guys forgot about poor Jeff Petry.

 

[McDeepika]

Hemsky was actually in the opening night line-up and he was on the top line with RNH and Hall. He got hurt against the Wild which was the second game of the year.

I also really want to say that Eberle was playing with Belanger and Smyth on the 2nd line to start but I might be wrong.

 

[jsho]

TSN has Petry as playing the first two games, and Potter as not playing until the 3rd game last year.

 

[Insta]

Oh ya Hemsky is missing too haha. Those lineups need a bit of work

Petrell didnt play either