Introducing: The Erstwhile Oilers

by Bruce McCurdy on Apr 27, 2009 3:30 PM MDT in Analysis

Given the absence of the Edmonton Oilers from the playoffs for a third consecutive year, I have once again taken up the bittersweet pursuit of following the Erstwhile Oilers, that group of former home-town heroes who, like Ray Whitney (pictured twice here), are contributing elsewhere. There are a few dozen Erstwhile Oilers scattered around the NHL, but come playoff time there usually seems to be just enough to fill a regulation NHL roster. So it is in 2009, where I have identified a "roster" of 25 active players with historical ties to the Oilers organization.

Here's that imaginary roster including 2008-09 stats (playoff stats through Apr 26):

Goal:

-----
T.Thomas,BOS

54 GP, 36-11-7, 2.10, .933

(4, 4-0, 1.50, .925)
T.Conklin,DET

40 GP, 25-11-2, 2.58, .909

(0, all zeroes)
S.Valiquette,NYR

15 GP, 5-5-2,,, 2.84, .907

(2, 0-0, 0.00, 1.000)

Defence:

--------
C.Pronger,ANA

82 GP, 12-36-48, EV (5, 1-1-2, +6)
J.Pitkanen,CAR

71 GP, 7-26-33,, +11(6, 0-3-3, +3)
R.Hamrlik,MTL

81 GP, 6-27-33,, +4 (4, 0-0-0, -5)
J.Hejda,CBJ

82 GP, 3-18-21,, +23(3, 0-0-0, -5)
T.Poti,WAS

52 GP, 3-10-13,, +2 (6, 2-4-6, +1)
J.Woywitka,STL

65 GP, 3-5-8,,,, +8 (4, 0-0-0, -1)

Forwards:

---------
Ra.Whitney,CAR

82 GP, 24-53-77, +2 (6, 2-4-6, -1)
J.Lupul,PHI

79 GP, 25-25-50, +1 (6, 1-1-2, +1)
B.Guerin,PIT

79 GP, 21-27-48, -12(6, 2-1-3, +3)
S.Samsonov,CAR

81 GP, 16-32-48, -8 (5, 0-1-1, EV)
E.Cole, CAR

80 GP, 18-24-42, EV (6, 0-0-0, -1)
C.Glencross,CAL

74 GP, 14-26-40, +14(5, 0-3-3, -1)
D.Cleary, DET

74 GP, 14-26-40, EV (4, 2-3-5, +6)
M.Satan,PIT

65 GP, 17-19-36, +3 (2, 0-0-0, EV)
M.Grier,S.J

62 GP, 10-13-23, +8 (5, 0-0-0, -1)
J.Chimera,CBJ

49 GP, 8-14-22,, +8 (4, 0-1-1, EV)
M.Peca,CBJ

71 GP, 4-18-22,, -6 (4, 0-0-0, +1)

B.Winchester,STL

64 GP, 13-8-21,, -1 (4, 0-0-0, -4)
R.Torres, CBJ

51 GP, 12-8-20,, -4 (4, 0-2-2, -3)
T.Marchant,ANA

72 GP, 5-13-18,, -2 (5, 0-1-1, +2)
K.Maltby, DET

78 GP, 5-6-11,,, -9 (4, 0-0-0, -2)
G.Laraque,MTL

33 GP, 0-2-2,,,, -6 (4, 0-0-0, -1)

Not the most balanced of rosters, especially up front where there are just two full-time centres in Peca and Marchant; so happens that Arnott, Weight, Stoll, Reasoner and Comrie all missed the playoffs this season. No Smytty either. Such is the nature of the "filter"; these aren't the best of the ex-OIlers, merely the ones who have played (or at least dressed) in the post-season. Which, of course, is more than one can say about any current Oilers.

I'm sure I missed a couple along the way, especially of the Tim Thomas type, who was Edmonton property for a time without ever playing an NHL game for the Oil. Please post any names that come to mind in the comments section.

Only the Devils, Canucks and Hawks don't have any ex-Oilers, while the Hurricanes and Scott Howson's Blue Jackets each have 4.

While the list speaks for itself, I certainly do not mean to imply that all of these guys moving on represent mistakes by Oilers management; indeed several of them were moved for each other so there is no way we could have kept all of them. Of particular note is the sequence Woywitka-begat-Pronger-begat-Lupul-begat-Pitkanen-begat-Cole-begat-O'Sullivan, all trades which have occurred since the lockout. All but Woywitka (who is standing in for the injured Eric Brewer) were the primary player in their respective trades both coming and going. The key point seems to be the Oilers have never been able to stabilize what should be an important asset, with each guy arriving with high expectations but moving on to greener pastures after a year or even less. Need I add, all but O'Sullivan have played in the 2009 post-season.

I'll leave it as an exercise to the reader to establish imaginary line combinations for the Erstwhile Oilers, such as the Pennies-on-the-Dollar Line of Whitney, Satan and Chimera ...

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Comments

Did not know Thomas once was an Oiler. Learn something new every day.

I have a bunch of Flames buddies who loath the Lightning but I have a hard time cheering against the Hurricanes. They skate, hit, play an up-tempo game and have a couple Edmonton kids in Whitney and Ward (who grew up 4 houses down the road from me but is apparently from Saskatoon). Pitkanen, a guy I'm could care less for, has also looked real good this playoffs.

by Sean on Apr 27, 2009 5:23 PM MDT reply actions

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Northwest Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	54	34	15	5	73
Colorado Mile High Hockey	56	28	25	3	59
Minnesota Hockey Wilderness	54	25	21	8	58
Calgary Matchsticks and Gasoline	55	25	22	8	58
Edmonton The Copper & Blue	54	21	28	5	47

(updated 2.11.2012 at 6:02 AM MST)

22 - 28 - 5

Streak: Won 1

Oilers Schedule

Next 5 Games

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
Philadelphia Broad Street Hockey	Thu 02/23	7:30 PM MST

Last 5 Games

@ Ottawa Silver Seven	Sat 02/11	OT - W 4 - 3
@ 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