The Fall For Hall Has Finally Fell

Well well well.

The Edmonton Oilers have done it. They went with Hall. I gotta say I was leaning towards the Seguin camp coming into this draft; but let's be honest, either kid is a great pick. I don't think the Oilers could have gone wrong either way.

I look forward to this kid leading my favorite hockey squadron to victorious victory!

P.S. Tambo couldn't get anything else done in the first round? Bummer.

Taylor Vs. Tyler

OHhhhhhhh MAN!!! Only one more sleep!!!

-TB

UPDATE:

No more sleeps. SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

The Day Of Reckoning Is Near

Have you looked at a calendar recently? Do you realize what this Friday is? That's right lady and gentlemen, it's NHL Draft Day!

A little team I like to call "The Edmonton Oilers Of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, North America, Earth" or "Oilers", for short, will be smoothing things over with their fan base by selecting first overall in the Entry Draft on Friday. It's a small token of appreciation shown to us fans by the team after last season's something something that I don't want to talk about. *COUGH* LAST *COUGH* PLACE *COUGH* SHITTIEST TEAM EVER *COUGH* FML *COUGH*

Basically, unless you live under a rock and haven't heard, there's two kids hoping to be selected 1st overall: Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin.

"Who do you think the Oilers will pick?" you ask.

Well, since you brought it up, I believe the Oilers will select Taylor Hall. Here's a list of reasons why I think this way:

1. Bob McKenzie from TSN said he thinks Hall is the best pick for 1st overall.

2. ....that's all I've got.

Basically I don't have a clue which kid the Oilers should take. I've seen Hall play a couple times on TV and I have never seen Seguin play. I can't base my judgement of which kid is better based on my drunken hockey watching so I have to rely on people that have seen the kids play multiple times, with their own eyes. Bob McKenzie doesn't just spout off his opinion based on which kid he "thinks" will be better - he actually uses linear regression analysis and statistic baselines to formulate an accurate projection of who the best pick will be. ...ok, that's total bullshit....but what Bob does is interview scouts from all over the damn place and get their opinions of who the best pick is. So, by doing this he gets a broad spectrum of opinions and I think a more accurate "projection" of who should go first and why.

Honestly, I don't care which kid the Oilers take. Either one of them will be a nice cornerstone piece to initiate an honest to god rebuild of this team. No more chasing old balls free agents that want to sign in some city with palm trees. No more trading away youth for "experience" which we've all learned is just a euphemism for "10 to 13 games before a season ending shoulder injury occurs." No, it's all about the draft and developing the youthful core nucleus of a team that will grow and learn together from here on out.

One more thing - did you guys know that TSN is showing a behind the scenes documentary about the Oiler Brass and their trials and tribulations as they prepare for the upcoming draft? It's called "Oil Change". It will have footage of the Oiler big wigs interviewing the top prospects Tyler and Taylor as well as behind closed door meeting footage of the GM arguing with his scouts about who's the better pick. It will also supposedly show footage following Tyler and Taylor around from their visits to Edmonton over the past couple of weeks. Rumor has it we'll also see the inside of the Wayne Manor (Daryl Katz's house). I can't wait to see it. It's going to air Thursday night (June 24th) at 7PM MST on TSN.

-TB

Eberle Mancrush Starts in 5, 4, 3, 2...

Photo above: Canadian Players huddle around Jordan Eberle for warmth.

Most likely because he was on fire in the 12-1 romp over Norway

at the WHC in the southern German city of Mannheim on May 14, 2010.

1G, 4A, +3

Team Canada Player of the Game

I love this kid. I know...I know...It's only Norway. I will hold off on the statue and parade for now.

Still, I think the future looks bright in Edmonton with MPS, Eberle and Hall/Seguin knocking on the door.

-TB

ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG

*swoon*

Eberle gets his big shot this morning. I honestly don't expect anything crazy. I'm just happy to get to see him play with some real NHLers. I'm curious how he'll look.

Giddy up!

-TB

Is This Thing On?

Hello there.

Where do I begin?

Well first off, how about a little story as to where in the hell this lovely corner of the Internet went over the past few months...

Our story begins around month two of the 2009/2010 Regular Season of my beloved Edmonton Oilers. Up to that point, there was still the annual hope in the air that the Oilers could somehow churn out another mediocre-barely-make-the-playoffs-in-fact-not-even-make-the-playoffs-but-give-a-good-showing-over-the-final-twenty-games effort. Turns out that was nothing but a pipe dream, as the Season From Hell™ was gathering steam...and lots of it.

Injuries, the flu, mono, concussions, surgeries, DUI's, general malaise, constipation, urinal tract infections...you name it, it happened. Not to mention what the Edmonton Oilers went through! Ok...kidding...that was all them. The team could not buy a break, even with the billions of dollars in Katz's piggy bank. They sucked. I grew weary.

As the losses mounted and the roster took on an ECHL flavor this feeling of "I don't give a shit" began to take a hold of me. It was rough. As a die hard Oiler fan for many many moons I can tell you this feeling of not caring about my team was quite foreign to me. As a result of the Oilers' Shitshow™, the "Who Saw This Coming!?!" you all know and love took a direct blow to the post count. My posts came further and further apart, eventually with me not even caring enough to post something like "at least we have the 1st overall pick!1!!" But no. A picture I found of Jordan Eberle was my last post...World Juniors? Seriously? WOW.

It's sad, because I'm the guy that buys all the PPV games no matter what...even after the Smyth Trade™. Not this year. I'm the guy that plans his social calendar around off-nights of the Edmonton Oilers. Not this year. I'm the guy that plans his social calendar around on-nights of the Edmonton Oilers. "Let's meet for drinks at (insert name of place with TV's that show Oiler games)" I would say. Not this year. I'm the guy that goes to as many games as I can possibly afford. "I don't need to eat this month." I would say. Not this year. I went to two games ...and they were free.

Now that the Season From Hell™ is long over and I have had some time to heal. I feel my love for my team creeping back in. There's a lot to look forward to for next season. I mean...they can't get any worse, really. There's a pretty good draft pick coming in. Some young prospects will be knocking at the door. Tambo is supposedly done assessing and plans on cleaning some house this summer. It can't possibly turn out any worse. Can it? I don't think so. I don't expect them to be a playoff team next season, but I do expect them to not be DEAD FUCKING LAST again.

So, with that all in mind, this place is NOT dead. It is still here. I will still toss up my beautiful photoshop creations. I will still spew what ever is in my head out into this blogging machine and I will do it a little more regularly. I am, afterall, The Towel Boy. I have fans. (Thanks Mom!)

Speaking of The Pint - NationDraft Playoff Editions.... Have you seen where I currently sit?

That's right. 7th. Who saw this coming!?!

But I'm gonna admit. I am royally fucked after this round of the playoffs is over. Look at my team:

Yeesh.

Well, it was good while it lasted.

-TB

A Real Canadian Hero

I stumbled upon this gem on the old internets today. Classic.

Two Words: 1. AWE. 2. SOME.

There's been a lot of talk in the Oilogosphere since the end of the World Junior Championship about Jordan Eberle. Some fans think he is the savior that this team needs. Some have a more measured outlook that we should wait and see how he looks playing in the NHL before we plan the ticker tape parade. Then there are other absolute buzzkilling trolls that call him a bumb and a loser. We ignore those guys. Well, I do at least.

I'm in the "let's wait and see how he does against NHL players" group. I'm not stupid and I realize that good Jr. numbers don't always translate into elite level NHL numbers. For that reason alone I haven't ordered my Oiler jersey with "EBERLE 14" on the back. That being said...I wouldn't hesitate to get a Team Canada jersey with "EBERLE 14" on the back.

Nobody can question the ability of this kid to score clutch goals in very tense situations on the world stage in the name of Canada. He's a gamer. I just hope he can translate some of the magic he's performed on the Jr. stage in the NHL. Time will tell.

GOILERS! (DFF)

-TB