bucbrett

a new name could join the list.
Urban Meyer may be available !!  Looks like he's gonna be OUT at Ohio State. GEEZ.
not following the drama in Buckeye world -- not sure what got Urban Meyer in hot water.
 

Boy, don't I look stupid for my optimism.

A very brief review of what happened in 2016-17:
-THE EDMONTON OILERS MADE THE PLAYOFFS.  It happened.  I saw it with my own eyes.  Not only that, but they won a playoff series vs. San Jose before bowing out in seven games against Anaheim in the second round.
-Connor McDavid won the Hart Memorial Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy with a 100 point regular season, and the Ted Lindsay Award for being awesome.  At least I'd like to think that's why he was awarded the Ted Lindsay Award.
-Cam Talbot played 178 games.  I believe that's accurate.  I guess when the alternative is Jonas Gustavsson playing goaltender like Roberto Aguayo kicks, there really isn't another option.  Oh, wait... there IS another option: send Gustavsson packing and bring Laurent Brossoit up from Bakersfield.  Brossoit was solid in eight games played, posting a 1.99 GAA and .928 SV%.
-For the first time since 2006, I did not attempt to bludgeon myself unconscious with my remote control at any point during the season.
 
This offseason:
-Jordan Eberle is traded to the NY Islanders for Ryan Strome in a trade clearly made to make some financial room.
-Connor McDavid signs an 8 year, 100 million dollar contract.
-Leon Draisaitl signs an 8 year, 68 million dollar contract.
-FANTASTIC. Peter Chiarelli needed to get these done, and while it came at the cost of trading Eberle when his value was lowest, locking 97 and 29 up long term was priority no. 1 this offseason.
 
Random Thoughts:
-Defensemen Oscar Klefbom and Darnell Nurse need to keep progressing.  Klefbom in particular showed he's a legit top-pairing guy, although being paired with Adam Larsson certainly doesn't hurt.  Hopefully Nurse stays healthy all season and is a solid second pairing guy with some of that grit we hockey fans love so much.
-Eric Gryba needs to suck as little as possible until Andrej Sekera returns from his torn ACL around Christmas.  "I can't wait until Sekera comes back" are words I never thought I'd type, but then I remembered Eric Gryba would get regular playing time until Sekera is back.
-Cam Talbot cannot start 73 games again this season.  That's absolute lunacy.  Chiarelli must feel Brossoit is a capable backup and although I'm just some dude who likes watching hockey and doesn't know much, I'd agree.  Brossoit played well enough in his appearances last season that I believe he has earned the backup role with the big club.  Now get him some time and give Cam a reasonable amount of rest.
-If Kailer Yamamoto doesn't make the final cut, he most certainly will be up at some point this season.  Hopefully he can put a bit more muscle on, as he's all of 5'8" and 155 
-Patrick Maroon will continue to thrive on McDavid's line.  I love Big Rig and hope he's the next to sign an extension.
-Oscar Klefbom... still dreamy.
 
Expectations:
I'm trying really hard to keep expectations in check.  Really hard.  The previous ten seasons have me struggling to accept seeing success.  I expect Kevin Lowe to appear at any time on my tv, flip me the double birds and scream "IT'S ALL A DREAM, BITCHES!"  Then I wake up and see Connor in a Coyotes jersey and poor Hall, Yakupov, Eberle and Nugent-Hopkins looking like zombies on yet another death march to April.
But let's assume that this is in fact not a dream.  Conference Final is the expectation this season.  I cringed a little bit while typing that because it seems so strange to have these expectations and have them be legitimate.  It seems like it was just yesterday that I was on these boards claiming that the Oilers had "lowered property values in Detroit simply by playing there."  Ah, memories.
 
It's good to have hockey back.  Here's to a fun season.
 

 

Reasons why Oilers lost:
Lack of depth on their blue line after their Top 2D, unless ur #1 D-man is named Doughty or Keith than you shouldn't be overplaying him in overtime.
Note the Larsson mistake in game 5 that led to a overtime goal, they overplayed him & since he's not guy like Keith or Doughty that can handle it, it doesn't work.
The Ducks could send out anyone of Vatanen, Montour, Theodore etc & they kept Edmonton on their knees with their speed from the blue line & ability to move puck.
Bieksa being out was kinda a blessing in disguise.
McDavid being a virgin to NHL playoffs was also a factor too, but also alot of their other guys never seen May hockey either.

I'm spent.

indeed. edmonton played great.  no shame.

Great Series Buck.  Nothing to be ashamed of there.  And your team will be absolutely tough and filthy next season.

Amazing series.  Congratulations everyone! Good luck against Nashville.

Amazing series.  Congratulations everyone! Good luck against Nashville.

Plan to steal star Edmonton Oilers Center.

Step one: Hook up McDavid with a hot aspiring Hollywood actress. Or actor. Or both. We don't judge.
Step two: They get married
Step three: They demand to live in LA year round to further their career.
Step four: Graciously offer Edmonton a "fair" trade
Step five: Profit

 

I am happy to see a franchise with great tradition finally rise again. I think part of the blame was they drafted too many of the same type of players. Everyone wanted to skate around the slot and be fed the puck, but nobody wanted to go in the corner and get it. I think the Lucic signing was very underrated.
Happy to see my guy Talbot doing well in goal. He was a good guy, stuck behind a HOF goalie, so It's great he got his chance.  

No, that will go to the Vancouver Canucks.  they need to spread the wealth around in Canada.
But good for the Oilers.  May the Ducks not have to face them till at least the conference finals.  They are a tough fast team. 

Great for them and the fans - been a long time since they've put a quality product on the ice.
If only they hadn't kept all those cronies around running things for years, would have happened much sooner.
Nice to see them in the playoffs - a battle vs Calgary would be insane.
Gonna be interesting to see how the league gets them the #1 overall pick this year, but I'm sure they'll find a way. They always do.

The Edmonton Oilers are in the playoffs.  I'd type out a long message about how happy I am, but I think I'm just going to read those seven words over and over for a while.  The Edmonton Oilers are in the playoffs!!!!!

1. make sure you go to the louisville slugger factory/museum. pretty awesome place, in case you haven't been yet.
2. you have to say it like a local - it's L'ulville. anything less identifies you as a foreigner.

Lucic was the best offseason pick up. Oilers keep drafting the same type players, so having Lucic around to go into corners to dig the puck out was so needed. He also gives his line mates a lot of open ice. 
Happy to see Cam Talbot doing well. 
Lets go Rangers

Trading Hall for Larsson and Yakupov for... nothing seemed insane at the time but thus far it's worked out well for everyone involved.  Larsson has been a really nice 1st pairing with Klefbom and Hallsy is tearing it up in NJ.  And Yak looks so happy to be playing in St. Louis.  Seeing Yak smile is pretty cool in my book.  He needed that change in scenery.
Kris Russell has been well worth the flier the Oil took on him.  Lucic has been worth every penny.  There's been a noticeable difference in how much the younger guys get messed with compared to the past, oh, ten years.  It helps when your designated tough guy can also play legit top 6 forward hockey.
Also, Cam Talbot absolutely owns.  This season has been so wonderful and I don't want this to stop.  I'm extremely grateful for how it's started.

Trading Hall for Larsson and Yakupov for... nothing seemed insane at the time but thus far it's worked out well for everyone involved.  Larsson has been a really nice 1st pairing with Klefbom and Hallsy is tearing it up in NJ.  And Yak looks so happy to be playing in St. Louis.  Seeing Yak smile is pretty cool in my book.  He needed that change in scenery.
Kris Russell has been well worth the flier the Oil took on him.  Lucic has been worth every penny.  There's been a noticeable difference in how much the younger guys get messed with compared to the past, oh, ten years.  It helps when your designated tough guy can also play legit top 6 forward hockey.
Also, Cam Talbot absolutely owns.  This season has been so wonderful and I don't want this to stop.  I'm extremely grateful for how it's started.

Hey guys, you know what's pretty neat?  Seeing competitive Oilers hockey.  And it's a whole week into the season!

Hey guys, you know what's pretty neat?  Seeing competitive Oilers hockey.  And it's a whole week into the season!

This post is a template to describe multiple teams I root for.

This post is a template to describe multiple teams I root for.

Fvck the 76ers
how do they still suck after all these top picks

ESPN should consider filing for bankruptcy and then killing themselves.

It moved further down the list.  It's approaching the muff of the homepage, if you will