Post by Kevin on Sept 20, 2009 17:56:39 GMT -5
Tie goes to the winner.
By Edmonton Oilers.
Sept 20th '09
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On the heels of a big win we check into the basement with the Edmonton Oilers
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Indeed, in the midst of a season of disappointment the Oilers are coming off one of their biggest wins of the season, recent acquisition Tie Domi likes to think that it’s a sign of things to come and feels he can bring as much to the locker room as he can on the ice. Domi, who was claimed off waivers this past week by the Oilers, is well known for his sandpaper style of play but his experience and leadership are among the reasons he is wearing copper and blue
“Yeah, no question… We knew we were getting a character guy in Tie, I mean there is no secret about where his skill set is most effective. It keeps guys honest both on their team and ours. When Tie speaks… guys listen.” Said head coach Steve Stirling about the diminutive enforcer
Posting an impressive 5-3 win over the Whalers the Oilers looked like a more relaxed team than the underperforming squad that fans have become less than enthusiastic about. “Ya, having Tie out there helps, I think other teams will know to respect out young guys, We’ve got a bright future out here and I think Ernie(Lapointe) has brought in some experience to make sure, the future of this team goes as planned.”
GM Ernest Lapointe, brother of Penguins boss Kevin Lapointe, has done much to change the climate of the locker room since being brought in on an interim basis, acquiring the likes of Peca, Blake, Norstrom, MacCauley and Savage.
“It had to be done… I mean we had Bondra and Curtis trying to hold this team on their shoulders… In many ways we had been playing the boys versus the men. And that was the approach teams had been taking, playing the strength card. Obviously, one of the biggest reasons we talk about a player’s prime is that they physically mature into their game. We have a pile of young stars just hitting that point, and I brought in stars who are able to play a physical game to demonstrate how to get it done in all aspects of the game… I think if you ask other teams how they prep for us, their game plan has shifted, it’s not as simple as get the kids off their game. They have to play against us now.”
Currently the Oilers sit last in the league in the standings, a situation that is not particularly advantageous to team without their own pick in this year’s draft. Blake and Bondra have been leading by example and believe that their team is capable of playing against any team in the league. Both of the stars are UFAs at season’s end but don’t expect to see either player leave, without going as far as committing to signing on the dotted line, but each seemed confident that a deal was in the cards. Perhaps the thoughts of Bondra who has taken many of the budding young stars under his wing – in particular young Parise who plays on his wing- put it best : “We are on the way up here, this team is way better than our record shows, I feel like we are just getting started on something special. Rob and I have discussed the long term vision for this team and I can honestly say I hope to be a part of it. I’m sure it’ll get done.”
Maybe things aren’t as grim as they may seem in Edmonton? If they can build on the momentum of their last win then maybe Tie will focus his attention on the other team rather than his own. Either way, as we look around the league the only place for the Oilers to go is up!
By Edmonton Oilers.
Sept 20th '09
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the heels of a big win we check into the basement with the Edmonton Oilers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indeed, in the midst of a season of disappointment the Oilers are coming off one of their biggest wins of the season, recent acquisition Tie Domi likes to think that it’s a sign of things to come and feels he can bring as much to the locker room as he can on the ice. Domi, who was claimed off waivers this past week by the Oilers, is well known for his sandpaper style of play but his experience and leadership are among the reasons he is wearing copper and blue
“Yeah, no question… We knew we were getting a character guy in Tie, I mean there is no secret about where his skill set is most effective. It keeps guys honest both on their team and ours. When Tie speaks… guys listen.” Said head coach Steve Stirling about the diminutive enforcer
Posting an impressive 5-3 win over the Whalers the Oilers looked like a more relaxed team than the underperforming squad that fans have become less than enthusiastic about. “Ya, having Tie out there helps, I think other teams will know to respect out young guys, We’ve got a bright future out here and I think Ernie(Lapointe) has brought in some experience to make sure, the future of this team goes as planned.”
GM Ernest Lapointe, brother of Penguins boss Kevin Lapointe, has done much to change the climate of the locker room since being brought in on an interim basis, acquiring the likes of Peca, Blake, Norstrom, MacCauley and Savage.
“It had to be done… I mean we had Bondra and Curtis trying to hold this team on their shoulders… In many ways we had been playing the boys versus the men. And that was the approach teams had been taking, playing the strength card. Obviously, one of the biggest reasons we talk about a player’s prime is that they physically mature into their game. We have a pile of young stars just hitting that point, and I brought in stars who are able to play a physical game to demonstrate how to get it done in all aspects of the game… I think if you ask other teams how they prep for us, their game plan has shifted, it’s not as simple as get the kids off their game. They have to play against us now.”
Currently the Oilers sit last in the league in the standings, a situation that is not particularly advantageous to team without their own pick in this year’s draft. Blake and Bondra have been leading by example and believe that their team is capable of playing against any team in the league. Both of the stars are UFAs at season’s end but don’t expect to see either player leave, without going as far as committing to signing on the dotted line, but each seemed confident that a deal was in the cards. Perhaps the thoughts of Bondra who has taken many of the budding young stars under his wing – in particular young Parise who plays on his wing- put it best : “We are on the way up here, this team is way better than our record shows, I feel like we are just getting started on something special. Rob and I have discussed the long term vision for this team and I can honestly say I hope to be a part of it. I’m sure it’ll get done.”
Maybe things aren’t as grim as they may seem in Edmonton? If they can build on the momentum of their last win then maybe Tie will focus his attention on the other team rather than his own. Either way, as we look around the league the only place for the Oilers to go is up!