http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/teams/edmonton_oilers/114 Recent articles about Edmonton Oilers en-us This week in America, we get down and dirty in the roots of The U.S. We’ll talk Homestead and Honest Abe, The Spirit of St. Louis and America’s favorite fugitive couple, Bonnie and Clyde. Even though Gretzky, Messier and the Edmonton Oilers are Canada based, we’re also going to hit you with some puck and the beginning of an NHL dynasty. May 19th 1984: Gretzky and Messier lead Oilers to Stanley Cup Championship On this day in 1984 one dynasty ends while another one begins as the Edmonton Oilers defeat the New York Islanders 5-2 to win the franchises first Stanley Cup.  The young and fast paced Oilers were just too much for the aging Islanders as they won the series four games to one.  In the 1983-84 season Messier and Gretzky would amass a combined 306 points (205 points from Gretzky and 101 from Messier).  Mark Messier’s brilliant play on both ends earned him the Con Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs (classic picture below).  Gretzky would later say, “I’ve held women and ba... Mon, 20 May 2013 10:06:45 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/lets_talk_about_america_for_a_second_this_week_in_us_history/13654249 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/lets_talk_about_america_for_a_second_this_week_in_us_history/13654249 Lets Talk About America For a Second: This Week in U.S. History http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/lets_talk_about_america_for_a_second_this_week_in_us_history/13654249 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The Edmonton Oilers need help on their blueline. And not soon, but now. While draft picks alone cannot remedy the situation, the team has been aware of the gaping holes in their depth and roster while making their selections on draft day year after year. While defencemen tend to take longer to develop and to prepare themselves physically those who have been in the system for a few years, are inching their way closer to making an impact. The defenceman most recently added to the list is 6’5” 191 lb Slovakian Martin Gernat. Continue reading "Martin Gernat and the Edmonton Oil Kings look to last year’s WHL finals for this year’s challenge" Tue, 07 May 2013 01:15:49 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/martin_gernat_and_the_edmonton_oil_kings_look_to_last_years_whl_finals_for_this_years_challenge/13564661 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/martin_gernat_and_the_edmonton_oil_kings_look_to_last_years_whl_finals_for_this_years_challenge/13564661 Martin Gernat and the Edmonton Oil Kings look to last year’s WHL finals for this year’s challenge http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/martin_gernat_and_the_edmonton_oil_kings_look_to_last_years_whl_finals_for_this_years_challenge/13564661 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Nail Yakupov: Lead all rookies in points and goals. He's a natch to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie, right? It became obvious by the last 10 games of the season that Yakupov is going to become a 40+ goal scorer per season in the NHL. Or what about Justin Schultz? How many first-year NHL defensemen played top-line minutes the entire season? Schultz was tied for 12th in defensive sc... Mon, 06 May 2013 16:33:43 -0400 http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=51401 http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=51401 Richard Cloutier: Yakupov; Schultz Jilted in Calder Race http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/richard_cloutier_yakupov_schultz_jilted_in_calder_race/13562006 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Coke Zero Canada has released an epic short film detailing the triumph of Kevin Wheeler, a hockey player looking to have his one shining moment. Wheeler, an amateur hockey player, is played by Edmonton Oilers forward Jordan Eberle.  The saga details the true story of Eberle...er, Wheeler, forgetting his gear before a big game. Hours away, Wheeler calls on a neighbor to pick up his gear for him and meet him halfway between the rink and his house. Coke Zero calls this "Moment Zero", or the moment that makes a great triumph possible. After a brief encounter with the police, played by Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole, Wheeler makes his game and turns the tide by lighting the lamp.  This is an incredible short from Coke Zero. Aside from the terrific cameos from Onrait and O'Toole, Eberle makes an incredibly convincing youth hockey player. The real shining star of this spot is the dialogue. Upon forgetting his gear, the narrator indicates Kevin could throw in th... Fri, 03 May 2013 15:41:35 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/jordan_eberle_jay_onrait_and_dan_otoole_star_in_a_coke_zero_film/13545446 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/jordan_eberle_jay_onrait_and_dan_otoole_star_in_a_coke_zero_film/13545446 Jordan Eberle, Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole star in a Coke Zero film http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/jordan_eberle_jay_onrait_and_dan_otoole_star_in_a_coke_zero_film/13545446 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/0/f0e03003cc6fc632d3493c671317b934c7ef3e07/mini/5879330.jpg Nail Yakupov recorded his first NHL hat trick in the Oilers’ final game of the season. Yakupov was all the offense Edmonton would need in a 7-2 thrashing of the Canucks. Jordan Eberle scored twice in the finale as well for the Oilers. Edmonton broke open a 2-2 game with five goals in less than four minutes. SPIN: In an utterly meaningless game, Edmonton shows what they can be capable of. Keep it in mind when getting ready for a full-length 2013-2014 campaign. Vancouver also sat a big part of its starting lineup for this game as well. Hopefully Edmonton can find better success next season. Phoenix knocked off Anaheim 5-3 with Radim Vrbata racking up a hat trick for Phoenix. SPIN: The Coyotes went through a massive goal drought in early March and it cost them a playoff spot. Anaheim gets Detroit in a 2-7 matchup in the first round. Minnesota clinched a playoff spot by beating Colorado 3-1. Niklas Backstrom made 29 saves to get Minnesota in the playoffs for the first time in five years... Sun, 28 Apr 2013 11:00:39 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/about_last_nightoilers_nail_canucks_with_yakupovs_hat_trick/13504652 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/about_last_nightoilers_nail_canucks_with_yakupovs_hat_trick/13504652 About Last Night…Oilers Nail Canucks WIth Yakupov’s Hat Trick http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/about_last_nightoilers_nail_canucks_with_yakupovs_hat_trick/13504652 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Nail Yakupov scored his first career hat trick and the Edmonton Oilers closed out their season with a 7-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. The Russian rookie scored all three of his goals in a high-flying third period for Edmonton, which scored five goals in a span of 3:35. Justin Schultz had a goal and three assists, Jordan Eberle two goals and Jerred Smithson got the another goal for the Oilers, who won their last two games of the season but only three of their last 12. Derek Roy and Tom Sestito scored for the Canucks, who rested several of their key players in advance of the playoffs. The Canucks will play the San Jose Sharks in the first of the playoffs. The Canucks lost two in a row to finish the regular season and four of their last six. The Oilers have missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons since losing Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals to Carolina in 2006. The first goal of the game came three minutes remaining in the first when the Canucks struck on the power play. Vancouver e Sun, 28 Apr 2013 02:43:02 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/yakupov_trick_caps_dreary_oilers_year/13503632 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/yakupov_trick_caps_dreary_oilers_year/13503632 Yakupov trick caps dreary Oilers year http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/yakupov_trick_caps_dreary_oilers_year/13503632 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Nail Yakupov scored his first career hat trick and the Edmonton Oilers closed out their season with a 7-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. The Russian rookie scored all three of his goals in a high-flying third period for Edmonton, which scored five goals in a span of 3:35. Justin Schultz had a goal and three assists, Jordan Eberle two goals and Jerred Smithson got the another goal for the Oilers, who won their last two games of the season but only three of their last 12. Derek Roy and Tom Sestito scored for the Canucks, who rested several of their key players in advance of the playoffs. The Canucks will play the San Jose Sharks in the first of the playoffs. The Canucks lost two in a row to finish the regular season and four of their last six. The Oilers have missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons since losing Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals to Carolina in 2006. The first goal of the game came three minutes remaining in the first when the Canucks struck on the power play. Vancouver e Sun, 28 Apr 2013 01:37:54 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/oilers_7_canucks_2/13503233 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/oilers_7_canucks_2/13503233 Oilers 7, Canucks 2 http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/oilers_7_canucks_2/13503233 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The Edmonton Oilers feature many budding stars. Most of those young players have enjoyed notable team success at lower competitive levels.So don’t expect them to settle into a loser’s mentality in the NHL. At some point they draw on their past success“We’ve definitely addressed that in the lockerroom,” forward Jordan Eberle told the Edmonton Sun. “It’s something that at the start of the year, and throughout the year. You can’t have an ‘it’s acceptable to lose’ mentality. But I don’t think anyone in there really has it. As professional athletes, most of us in there are really competitive people. We want to win. I don’t think that’s really creeping into the room. And I know, as a leader of the team, it never will, we’ll never let it.“That’s when things go south. I can’t see it happening, we’re just too competitive in here, we want to win.”Yeah, but the Oilers didn’t win this season when many expected them to enjoy a breakout season.“Nobody wants to lose, it’s pretty Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:36:45 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/edmonton_oilers_insist_theyre_not_a_bunch_of_losers/13473964 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/edmonton_oilers_insist_theyre_not_a_bunch_of_losers/13473964 Edmonton Oilers insist they're not a bunch of losers http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/edmonton_oilers_insist_theyre_not_a_bunch_of_losers/13473964 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/0/f0e03003cc6fc632d3493c671317b934c7ef3e07/mini/5879330.jpg from David Staples of The Cult Of Hockey, There’s been a certain charm around the Edmonton Oilers tanking these past three seasons, the thought that better times were on the way, the notion that the Oilers were being smart with the tanking, finding the best and quickest route to bringing in premier talent to this NHL wasteland. Today, much of that charm is lost. Tanking feels like  another word for losing big, losing bad, losing forever.  This franchise doesn’t have that Chicago in 2009 or Pittsburgh in 2006 feel to it, does it? It’s got more of that Kim Campbell in 1993 feel to it. Right now with the Oilers ranked 25th overall in the NHL and dropping fast, my head still says, “Might as well tank again.” My heart says it can’t take it any more. Just win Oilers. Enough with the losing. continued Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:49:56 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/tired_of_losing_in_edmonton/13463626 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/tired_of_losing_in_edmonton/13463626 Tired Of Losing In Edmonton http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/tired_of_losing_in_edmonton/13463626 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Ryan Nugent-Hopkins delivered a brilliant effort in his rookie campaign -- even though his season was ultimately cut short by 20 games due to injury. Still, when the dust had settled, he had mustered 52 points in 62 games -- all as an 18-year old. His sophomore year wasn't nearly as productive though, as he managed just four goals an d 20 assists in 40 games.  Those 20 assists aren't bad, but the Edmonton Oilers need more from the talented youngster if they plan on finally making their way back into the playoffs next season. And they just might get it. Nugent-Hopkins is wrapping up his 2012-13 season early to get his left shoulder fixed surgically this would mean he'll be out for close to six months.  So how could this possibly be good news? As it turns out, the shoulder has been bothering Nugent-Hopkins since he was playing junior hockey for Red Deer. It's not like this is an injury that just popped up, and it makes sense that having a fully healthy shoulder next ye... Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:30:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/nugent_hopkins_a_better_hockey_player_after_surgery/13456618 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/nugent_hopkins_a_better_hockey_player_after_surgery/13456618 Nugent-Hopkins: A better hockey player after surgery http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/nugent_hopkins_a_better_hockey_player_after_surgery/13456618 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/0/b02ac941fa17e4e99273af772e7eb629e0139b1e/mini/6157036.jpg Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will miss the final five games of the season with a shoulder injury. The team says Sunday on its Twitter account that Nugent-Hopkins is flying to Cleveland to have his shoulder examined and that surgery is likely. After an impressive rookie season, Nugent-Hopkins' numbers were slightly down this year with just four goals and 20 assists in 40 games. He had 18 goals and 34 assists in 64 games in his first NHL season after being drafted first overall by Edmonton in 2011. His left shoulder has caused problems for the center who missed 20 games last season because of it. He had to leave the Oilers' AHL affiliate last December for strengthening and conditioning on the shoulder before playing for Canada at the world junior championships. Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:17:43 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/oilers_nugent_hopkins_out_for_season/13449763 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/oilers_nugent_hopkins_out_for_season/13449763 Oilers' Nugent-Hopkins out for season http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/oilers_nugent_hopkins_out_for_season/13449763 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/d/8d938948373c2df8eafc8b2dcc30ca69cdcbddbd/mini/6034744.jpg Ryan Jones must stay with Oilers It looks like unrestricted free agent-to-be Ryan Jones is playing for his future with the Edmonton Oilers. The Edmonton Sun reports Jones has the final six games of the regular season to prove he's worth re-signing.  "It's very important for us to take a really good look at Ryan Jones," said Oilers coach Ralph Krueger. "Give him the opportunity to be the player he can be for the Edmonton Oilers."  But Jones also has to want to re-sign with the Oilers ...   "It's a two-way street," the player said. "It's a matter of the team trying to decide whether or not I have a role here, and also me trying to decide whether or not this is going to be a place that's best for my career moving forward ... I like being here and I'm passionate about the organization, but it has to be healthy for me as a person and moving forward in my career. It's not an automatic. It's a two-way street and we'll d... Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:25:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/ryan_jones_must_stay_with_oilers/13445365 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/ryan_jones_must_stay_with_oilers/13445365 Ryan Jones must stay with Oilers http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/ryan_jones_must_stay_with_oilers/13445365 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/c/5c7b5f2bd6191403704db5e645c3b6a0c3ecc191/mini/Nashville_Predators_v_b574.jpg from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal, New Edmonton Oilers GM Craig MacTavish said Monday he’s up for a bold move (trade), which to me would mean dealing of one of their kids: Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, Justin Schultz or Nail Yakupov but not, say, Sam Gagner, even if Gagner is almost a point-a-game player this season. But I would say Hall, RNH and Schultz are untouchable. The other two wingers Eberle and Yakupov are close to it unless one of the NHL’s top two or three defencemen Shea Weber is in the picture. Eberle isn’t having a good statistical season (28 points, 12 goals) after 34 goals and 76 points last year, but he’s a one-shot scorer, and there aren’t many of those in the NHL. He starts a six-year, $36 million contract next season. continued Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:33:28 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/will_edmonton_trade_one_of_their_young_guns/13415329 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/will_edmonton_trade_one_of_their_young_guns/13415329 Will Edmonton Trade One Of Their Young Guns? http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/will_edmonton_trade_one_of_their_young_guns/13415329 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Congratulations, Craig MacTavish. You are the new general manager of the Edmonton Oilers, replacing Steve Tambellini.So what are you going to do now? And you have much autonomy in your decision making?After all, Kevin Lowe remains team president. Some critics see this GM move as simply shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. “Maybe there are some skeptics out there,” MacTavish told reporters during his introductory news conference. “There are going to be in this business. You don’t take a position like I’m taking right now with rose-coloured glasses on. It’s not for the faint of heart.”The Oilers kept this hire in the family. MacTavish played for the Oilers. He has served as an assistant coach and head coach. He has also been a scout and vice president of hockey operations.He remains good friends with Lowe, a former Oilers player and GM. That appears to be his primary qualification for this job, given the franchise’s inability to remain in Stanley Cup contention.“I don’t know that I’v... Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:58:08 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/edmonton_oilers_keep_gm_hire_within_the_family/13411054 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/edmonton_oilers_keep_gm_hire_within_the_family/13411054 Edmonton Oilers keep GM hire within the family http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/edmonton_oilers_keep_gm_hire_within_the_family/13411054 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Steve Tambellini is out as general manager of the Edmonton Oilers. Oilers President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe announced Monday that the team has fired Tambellini. Tambellini was in his fifth season with Edmonton and was named the club's fourth general manager July 31 2008. The 54-year-old succeeded Lowe as Oilers' GM following Lowe's promotion. Edmonton is the verge of missing the NHL playoffs for a seventh consecutive season. The Oilers currently stand 12th in the Western Conference with a 16-18-7 record, eight points behind eighth-place Detroit. Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:25:02 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/struggling_oilers_fire_gm_tambellini/13403173 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/struggling_oilers_fire_gm_tambellini/13403173 Struggling Oilers fire GM Tambellini http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/struggling_oilers_fire_gm_tambellini/13403173 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Apparently Taylor Hall is a Braves fan, because he's very much fond of doing a tomahawk chop when he has to. But not a typical one-handed one. Oh, no no no. Hall does nothing halfway. He uses two hands. And a hockey stick (the chop is about 11 seconds in). Look, I understand that Hall is probably upset about the fact that the Oilers' playoff chances are somewhere between nil and "no way in hell," but that's no excuse to take out his frustrations on Zbynek Michalek. Understandably, the Coyotes were more than a little upset with Hall's antics. Shockingly, no penalty was called on the play in last night's game, and no hearing is scheduled to discuss with Hall his beheading technique. Honestly, it was a little brutish. More Mary, Queen of Scots' axeman than Anne Boleyn's fancy French swordsman. And frankly, it was more "petulant child" than "professional NHL hockey player." [follow] Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:05:43 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/taylor_hall_avoids_suspension_for_two_handed_slash_chop/13382185 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/taylor_hall_avoids_suspension_for_two_handed_slash_chop/13382185 Taylor Hall avoids suspension for two-handed slash chop http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/taylor_hall_avoids_suspension_for_two_handed_slash_chop/13382185 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/3/a3bd71743dcb8b631260796039192e4ee411a624/mini/calgary-flames-edmonton.jpg Prior to the Edmonton Oilers game on Wednesday night against the Phoenix Coyotes, Oilers young star Nail Yakupov was caught on camera performing a trick shot.  Sportsnet West was preparing for a pre-game segment when Yakupov was standing on the bench and sent a backhand saucer pass from just over center ice and hit a water bottle that was standing up on the goal line.  This was an incredible display of skill and you can tell that Yakupov was excited he hit it.  Yakupov carried the momentum into the game and scored his team’s only goal in a 3-1 loss to the Coyotes. [Puck Daddy Blog] Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:52:42 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/nail_yakupov_performs_pre_game_trick_shot/13376503 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/nail_yakupov_performs_pre_game_trick_shot/13376503 Nail Yakupov performs pre-game trick shot http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/nail_yakupov_performs_pre_game_trick_shot/13376503 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The Edmonton Oilers have signed defenseman Ladislav Smid to a four-year, $14 million extension. Smid has a goal and two assists in 34 games with the Oilers this season. He had a career-high five goals and 15 points in 78 games in 2011-12. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound native of the Czech Republic is in his seventh season with the Oilers. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. A physical presence on the blue line, Smid leads the Oilers in blocked shots (91) and hits (103). He led the club with 184 blocked shots and 186 hits last season. Smid was Anaheim's first-round selection, ninth overall, in the 2004 draft. He was part of the 2007 trade that sent defenseman Chris Pronger from Edmonton to the Ducks. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:36:47 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/oilers_give_d_smid_4_year_extension/13289608 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/oilers_give_d_smid_4_year_extension/13289608 Oilers give D Smid 4-year extension http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/oilers_give_d_smid_4_year_extension/13289608 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/7/07f3d2c73ad03a9b537248fbb8178846a24c74cc/mini/Calgary_Flames_v_2231.jpg Edmonton Oilers goalie Devan Dubnyk was pulled at the end of the first period after allowing a goal on a gentle one-hopper from center ice during Friday night's game in Nashville. Predators center David Legwand dumped the puck down the ice towards the Oilers net on one hop, and somehow it bounced over Dubnyk's glove and into the net to give the Predators a 2-0 lead. Yann Danis replaced Dubnyk in goal, but didn't fare much better, giving up four goals as the Predators pounded the Oilers 6-0. Video via NHL.com. H/T Puck Daddy. Visit us at holdoutsports.com and follow us on Twitter @HoldoutSports. Sat, 09 Mar 2013 16:28:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/devan_dubnyk_yanked_after_allowing_goal_on_shot_from_center_ice_video/13096588 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/devan_dubnyk_yanked_after_allowing_goal_on_shot_from_center_ice_video/13096588 Oilers goalie allows goal on shot from center ice http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/devan_dubnyk_yanked_after_allowing_goal_on_shot_from_center_ice_video/13096588 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/a/aa5a1170f104013a02663fd92da9ede5ad9dad9d/mini/go.jpg