Complete Rebuild

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 7, 2008 5:55 PM MDT

It can be easy, when constantly following a team, to miss the sheer volume of change that occurs over a couple of seasons. Take 2005-06. The Oilers came out of the lockout with tons of cheap, young talent, and immediately made big moves to transform the team into a contender. Mike Peca and Chris Pronger were acquired via trades, and as the year went on, more pieces (headlined by Dwayne Roloson) were added to a team that ultimately went to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Few knew it then, but a massive overhaul of the roster was to take place the following summer that would launch a rebuild that so far has engulfed two seasons.

Here is what that 2005-06 team looked like (bolded players are still here):

Smyth - Horcoff - Dvorak
Samsonov – Stoll - Hemsky
Torres - Peca - Pisani
Moreau - Pouliot - Laraque
Murray – Harvey – Winchester

Pronger – Smith
Spacek - Staios
Tarnstrom - Bergeron
Greene

Roloson
Conklin
Markkanen

7 survivors of the 25 players who appeared in the most games and finished the year with Edmonton (note that Morrison, despite being pictured, wasnt one of them. I just felt that he deserved to be recognized based on a nice bounce-back season with Bridgeport of the AHL).

The rebuild is nearly over.

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Two contracts are over next season, one hasn't been qualified as of yet, two veteran forwards got inflated contracts as a result of a great playoff run.

Two servicable and impact players remain who have the chance to outperform their contracts once Horcoff's ends.

And yet, the management remains the same. Odd, usually takes a firing of the GM/coaches for a rebuild to take effect.

by doritogrande on Jul 7, 2008 7:05 PM MDT reply actions

...speaking of makeovers, just how many players have the Lightning added since last year's trade deadline anyway?

Recchi signed today to put it at about 17, give or take, since Brad Richards went.

by doritogrande on Jul 7, 2008 7:08 PM MDT reply actions

Yeah nice moves by the Bolts. At the very least they will have a bunch of rentals available for picks at the deadline.

by Traktor on Jul 7, 2008 9:16 PM MDT reply actions

Yeah nice moves by the Bolts. At the very least they will have a bunch of rentals available for picks at the deadline.

Thats the most accurate analysis of Tampa Bay that I have heard to date.

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 7, 2008 9:41 PM MDT reply actions

Why do peeple continually state that Pisani is an overpay?

Takes tough minutes. Handles clutch situations. Elite PKer. Scores at about a 20 goal a year pace. Helps out with shootouts. How is this not worth $2.5M per year?

He should be paid better than 21 year old kids who are still developing.

I call it the "3rd line" mentality.

Coach puts the lines in order of difficulty of opposition. I find that method to be a far better reflection of reality.

by spOILer on Jul 9, 2008 2:57 PM MDT reply actions

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Northwest Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	54	34	15	5	73
Minnesota Hockey Wilderness	54	25	21	8	58
Calgary Matchsticks and Gasoline	55	25	22	8	58
Colorado Mile High Hockey	55	27	25	3	57
Edmonton The Copper & Blue	54	21	28	5	47

(updated 2.10.2012 at 1:26 AM MST)

21 - 28 - 5

Streak: Lost 2

Oilers Schedule

Next 5 Games

@ Ottawa Silver Seven	Sat 02/11	12:00 PM MST
Toronto Pension Plan Puppets	Wed 02/15	8:00 PM MST
Colorado Mile High Hockey	Fri 02/17	7:30 PM MST
Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	Sun 02/19	7:00 PM MST
@ Calgary Matchsticks and Gasoline	Tue 02/21	7:00 PM MST

Last 5 Games

@ Detroit Winging It In Motown	Wed 02/08	L 2 - 4
@ Toronto Pension Plan Puppets	Mon 02/06	L 3 - 6
Detroit Winging It In Motown	Sat 02/04	SO - W 5 - 4
Chicago Second City Hockey	Thu 02/02	W 8 - 4
Colorado Mile High Hockey	Tue 01/31	W 3 - 2