just wondering about something

[Puckhog]

I have loved hockey and followed it for a very long time but the way the minors works kind of makes me scratch my head.

I think it is great that our guys have been getting called up, I mean that is why they are here. But why is Edmonton not moving people up from Stockton to fill in, other than Pitton.

We seem to have to sign guys to PTO contracts instead of moving guys from Stockton.
I know injuries have kept the Oilers from moving people down but I just don't understand the other side of it. I was hoping someone on here had an opinion on the subject.

[Brett]

I have loved hockey and followed it for a very long time but the way the minors works kind of makes me scratch my head.

I think it is great that our guys have been getting called up, I mean that is why they are here. But why is Edmonton not moving people up from Stockton to fill in, other than Pitton.

We seem to have to sign guys to PTO contracts instead of moving guys from Stockton.
I know injuries have kept the Oilers from moving people down but I just don't understand the other side of it. I was hoping someone on here had an opinion on the subject.

I've kind of wondered this myself. I think it's maybe the duration of the callup. If they expect a player to be gone only a week or 2 maybe a short term PTO is the best way so they prospects can play on their normal team.

Really dont know though --- anyone else know?

[Racki]

I was of the understanding that it would be the Barons' GM's responsibility to initiate the call-ups from Stockton. But I could be wrong. I would think that at the very least, he would recommend that to Tambellini. But at any rate.. this organization has a long history of picking the farm team apart. Not intentionally.... we've been plagued with injury problems the past 4 years or so, and have been forced to do it. Last year, our Springfield Falcons were in good shape, competing for the Conference lead (much like the Barons were). Call-ups pretty much crushed that possibility. I'm hoping that next year, the Barons will be stockpiled with a few more solid AHL-lifers to help keep that team afloat when we need to pick it apart.

Just as a heads up, I don't think there is a single player in Stockton we really consider a prospect... with all due respect to them, if the players are any good they're either going to be in Edmonton or in Oklahoma City (or still in Junior/College/Europe). So I can't see them wanting to keep Stockton intact really.

I think right now, the big priority is doing anything we can to ensure that our legitimate prospects are able to develop as best as possible. At this point, I'd say the NHL season is a write-off. They want to keep the team trying to be competitive though, rather than being complacent like we were last year at this same time. In some cases that means having to call up a player or two to ensure that the kids on this team can have a fighting chance and competing in a game.

On a good note for you Barons fans... in my unprofessional opinion, I would expect Linus Omark back before too long. He was benched last night and criticized heavily for a botched clearing that led to a goal against (rather than take the safe play to get the puck down the ice, he tried to play keep away, came back into his own zone and lost the puck, leading to a goal against). Mistakes happen, but he seems to be making them at a pace that won't be made up for by good plays. I think he'll be a good player soon, but I think he'll be the first player sent down if for nothing more than being a redundant body right now.

[Brett]

On a good note for you Barons fans... in my unprofessional opinion, I would expect Linus Omark back before too long. He was benched last night and criticized heavily for a botched clearing that led to a goal against (rather than take the safe play to get the puck down the ice, he tried to play keep away, came back into his own zone and lost the puck, leading to a goal against). Mistakes happen, but he seems to be making them at a pace that won't be made up for by good plays. I think he'll be a good player soon, but I think he'll be the first player sent down if for nothing more than being a redundant body right now.

EXACTLY how I felt when he was here in OKC. Way too many times he tried to stickhandle thru 3 guys rather than take the safe play and get it out of the zone.

Agree though - once he tightens up defensively he'll be a good NHL player.

[Racki]

Oh haha.. and here I thought he was a completely different player in Oklahoma City. I hate to bash players, but right from training camp, I noticed he is pretty selfish with the puck. Well, maybe selfish is a strong word. But it seems like he feels he has a lot to prove and tries too much. Taylor Hall does that a lot too, but I'd say 4/5 it'll work for him, and he generally is doing it in areas where making a mistake won't be such a big deal.

My biggest criticism for Omark from game #1 in training camp was that he doesn't use his teammates anywhere near enough. The puck moves up ice faster when you pass it than when you skate/dipseedoodle it up.

[Brett]

Oh haha.. and here I thought he was a completely different player in Oklahoma City. I hate to bash players, but right from training camp, I noticed he is pretty selfish with the puck. Well, maybe selfish is a strong word. But it seems like he feels he has a lot to prove and tries too much. Taylor Hall does that a lot too, but I'd say 4/5 it'll work for him, and he generally is doing it in areas where making a mistake won't be such a big deal.

My biggest criticism for Omark from game #1 in training camp was that he doesn't use his teammates anywhere near enough. The puck moves up ice faster when you pass it than when you skate/dipseedoodle it up.

Yep. I was on the Omark bandwagon until I saw him play for a month. WAY too many neutral zone turnovers that led to scoring chances the other way.

You always hear how the goal scorers can be selfish players. That's fine when you are in the offensive zone. But when you are in your own end or neutral zone use your teammates to get the damn puck out.

[Racki]

Yah that's exactly it, Brett. There's a time for selfishness.. and well, he got benched for choosing the wrong time to be selfish.

[Racki]

On a good note for you Barons fans... in my unprofessional opinion, I would expect Linus Omark back before too long. He was benched last night and criticized heavily for a botched clearing that led to a goal against (rather than take the safe play to get the puck down the ice, he tried to play keep away, came back into his own zone and lost the puck, leading to a goal against). Mistakes happen, but he seems to be making them at a pace that won't be made up for by good plays. I think he'll be a good player soon, but I think he'll be the first player sent down if for nothing more than being a redundant body right now.

Hmmm, sooner than I thought...

So, I hope that means that Vandermeer is back (which would put Strudwick back in the press-box). If not, then as much as I hate to say it, I'm hoping they're calling Reddox up.

[Puckhog]

Racki, surely you can't be saying that Stockton does not have anyone that could be considered a prospect that would not be worth a call up?

I am not ragging, I know nothing of the players at Stockton so I really don't know.