OIL CHANGE: Restoring the Glory of the Edmonton Oilers (NHL 14 Sim)

[SENS_AK27]

OILERS PURGE SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM - BRING IN NEW FACES
Neil Mackenzie - Edmonton Journal (C) 2014

Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz took advantage of the Olympic winter break to make a signification announcement. He announced that he has terminated the contracts of his entire Senior Management staff including General Manager Craig MacTavish and VP of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe. The teams scouting team and coaching staff were spared as Katz mentioned in his press conference that changes need to be made at the top first and he will reevaluate the other positions at the end of the season.

The change came as a shock to many, but to some there were signs that a change was coming. Katz was quick to bring in a replacement General Manager, naming Tim Murray as the new General Manager a week later. Murray comes complete with a hefty resume, including working with his Uncle as the Assistant GM for the Ottawa Senators and GM of the Binghamton Senators for the past 7 years.

One of Murray's first tasks will be to evaluate the talent in the organization and prepare for the upcoming Trade Deadline. With several contracts expiring at the end of the season, the Oilers are expected to offload some players to teams looking for a rental player.

[Braeden]

Time for Tim to take over and bring this team back to the glory years!

[SENS_AK27]

OILERS CLEAR OUT LOCKERS AFTER ANOTHER DISAPPOINTING SEASON
Neil Mackenzie - Edmonton Journal (C) 2014

Another season has ended for the Edmonton Oilers. After the Olympic break and under the watchful eye of new GM Tim Murray, the Oilers started to play a bit better; including a 4 game winning streak.

Perhaps it was a respite from injury as the team finally seemed healthy for the first time since the beginning of the season, or perhaps it was the desire to impress the new management team, the team started to play a little bit better. However, it was too little too late and the team was in 28th place by the time the NHL Trade Deadline rolled around.

With several contracts expiring at the end of the season, Murray decided to get as much value from them by trading these players to teams looking to load up for the playoff run.

Murray first traded gritty LW Ben Eager to Pittsburgh for a 2014 6th Round Pick.

Murray then traded D Denis Grebeshkov to the Atlantic leading Florida Panthers for a 2014 3rd Round Pick.

Although his contract was not expiring, the Flames were hoping to bolster their blueline and made several offers regarding D Corey Potter. Eventually, Murray settled for a 2014 3rd Round Pick.

The last trade came late in the day, close to the end of the deadline. After fielding multiple offers for the services of RW Ales Hemsky, Murray agreed to a trade with his Uncle Bryan (Ottawa) in exchange for RW Buddy Robinson and a 2014 5th Round Pick.

Most of the media outlets in Edmonton were disappointed that Murray wasn't able to secure a high profile player at the deadline but realized the moves that were made were necessary to improve the team. Before the end of the season, Edmonton was able to pick up D Radko Gudas off waivers from Tampa Bay. Gudas was assigned to Oklahoma and began playing on the second pairing with Marincin.

The Oilers finished the season in 29th place with a 34-40-8 record and finished with a -42 goal differential. Center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Right Wing Nail Yakapov were assigned to Edmonton's AHL affiliate the Oklahoma City Barons to finish the season.

The Barons are currently sitting in 1st place in the AHL, with 8 games left to play. Backed by the top line of Hartikainen, Horak and Robinson, the Barons are projected to make a deep playoff run this year.

OKLAHOMA CITY BARONS
Projected Lines

HORAK - NUGENT-HOPKINS - YAKAPOV
HARTIKAINEN - ARCOBELLO - ROBINSON
CORNET - LANDER - GREEN
C.HAMILTON - HUNTER - MACINTYRE

KLEFBOM - R.JONES
GUDAS - MARINCIN
PLANTE - MUSIL

LABEBERA
HOVINEN

Injured: JOENSUU (4 weeks), PINIZZOTTO (2 weeks), FEDUN (9 weeks)

[capergamer90]

nice seeing somebody really try to build the oilers instead of just buying a better team

[bthomp05]

Quote: Originally Posted by SENS_AK27

Glad to see your following BT. Good to see you on these forums once again.

Thanks, glad to be back

[bthomp05]

Quote: Originally Posted by capergamer90

nice seeing somebody really try to build the oilers instead of just buying a better team

Totally agree

[SENS_AK27]

OKLAHOMA CITY BARONS LAY CLAIM TO THE CALDER CUP
Neil Mackenzie - Edmonton Journal (C) 2014

Tim Murray was all smiles as he watched his AHL affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons win the Calder Cup in an unprecedented playoff run. The Barons won after sweeping the Springfield Falcons in 4 games. Despite the sweep, the series was very close with 3 of the 4 games going into Overtime.

Oscar Klefbom scored the Game 1 winner with a point shot, Nail Yakupov was unstoppable in Game 2, registering 2 goals and 2 assists in a game when the Barons powerplay burned the Falcons 4 times in a 6-0 win. Mark Arcobello scored the double OT winner on a rebound in Game 3 to give the Barons a comfortable 3-0 series lead.

The Barons had to rally back from being down 4-1 in the 3rd period of the 4th game. The first and second lines were relied heavily on during that period to get the team back in the game. First it was Nugent-Hopkins setting up Yakupov in the slot to give the team some life early into the period. Then Arcobello scored 2 minutes later to pull the team within a goal. Midway through the 3rd, Arcobello scored again on the powerplay to tie the game. Teemu Hartikainen scored the go ahead, and eventual game winner with 1:20 left in the period off an Arcobello pass.

Arcobello was named the Playoff MVP after registering 21 points (11g, 10a +5) in 18 games. The line of Hartikainen-Arcobello-Robinson was dominant all playoffs, combining for 49 points and 9 game winning goals. Veteran Goaltender Jason Labarbera filled in admirably after Niko Hovinen was injured in the opening series.

The future certainly appears bright for the Oilers as the playoff run will bolster the confidence of many of the young players and help with their development.

PLAYOFF SCORING LEADERS

M. Arcobello 11 goals, 10 assists +5
N. Yakupov 8 goals, 11 assists +9
R. Nugent-Hopkins 4 goals, 15 assists +10
B. Robinson 5 goals, 10 assists +5
R. Horak 6 goals, 9 assists +12
T. Hartikainen 6 goals, 7 assists +6

J. Labarbera 1.52 GAA 92.81SV% 3SO

PLAYOFF SERIES

WCQF Defeated Lake Erie (4-0)
WCSF Defeated Rockford (4-1)
WCF Defeated Hamilton (4-1)
CCF Defeated Springfield (4-0)

[bthomp05]

Congratulations on the Calder Cup.