If the sentence is for a longer duration, the Oilers will have a case to drop Khabibulin's contract. This is something the Oilers should examine to it's fullest extent, there is enough distraction with a disgruntled Sheldon Souray who will likely be attending training camp. They don't need to be going into the season with more blunders in goal and putting on another shit show performance in which we witnessed last year. It doesn't matter what changes they have made up front, it will not be enough to deter poor goaltending. If the net-minding isn't up to sniff it will be a disastrous year in Etown.
Sure it's easy to say we want another high draft pick, but throwing a young group to the wolves can't be good for development or confidence, never mind the attempt of trying to gain fans support for a new Arena. It's important the Oilers are at least competitive this year, to prove they are on the right track for success. They can't afford a repeat.
I guess we will be seeing a lot of Gerber this year. The Oilers knew what they were getting into, and that is why they signed the guy in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteNiemi is too obvious for the Oilers. Have the Oilers ever done anything obvious???
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly who the Oiler should be targeting. Explore the possibilities of dropping Khabibulin...hell even if he does come back a couple months into the season, he won't be prepared for the season. He will need another month to get back into the game - especially with his age and back problems. He's old, he's broken, he's done.
Move on Tambellini.
Apparently there are clauses in a standard player contract for conduct unbecoming of a team.
ReplyDeleteA prison sentence is a conduct unbecoming of a team, is it not?
But, this won't be resolved until the Oilers know the duration of his sentence and what effect it may have on traveling across the border.
If history repeats though, nothing major will become of this. Heatley was drunk, speeding and killed a team mate. Nothing happened to him, not a damned thing. Khabibulin didn't hurt anyone but himself in this case; I don't see this being a big deal. He will get 1 month, he will be an Oiler this year. Niemi is a pipe dream.
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