Travis Ewanyk Is Now A True Edmonton Oiler

by Derek Zona on Sep 15, 2011 10:30 AM MDT

Photo by Ex13 via Wikimedia Commons licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution

The fellows at The Pipeline Show brought Oil Kings and Oilers fans some bad news on Travis Ewanyk last night via Oil Kings coach Derek Laxdal:

"Travis has a bit of a nagging injury. He came in to camp and skated with us, he then went to the Oilers camp to get ready for Penticton and through the physicals they came across the nagging injury, which we knew about, and basically what they are going to do now is get consulting with an orthopedic surgeon just to see what they can do."

Laxdal went on to say that if Ewanyk does have surgery, he would likely miss four to five months.

He would follow in the grand tradition of many who have come before him.

I've written previously about injuries and how they derailed Doug Lynch's career, and how they might affect Theo Peckham's career. Lowetide has written at length about the extent injuries have played in thwarting the development of prospects like Dan Baum, Jesse Niinimaki, JF Dufort, Marc Pouliot, J.F. Jacques, Mikhail Zoukov, and Alex Plante. While fans thought Oscar Klefbom was going to be the 2011 draft choice to follow in a deep and rich legacy, it turns out that Travis Ewanyk might carry the mantle.

Laxdal's quote does bring up a point though. If the Oil Kings were aware of Ewanyk's nagging injury, why weren't they actively seeking an orthopedist prior to sending him to camp? Further, the Oil Kings and Oilers are owned by the same people, why weren't the Oilers alerted to the injury prior to his physical? The Oilers have struggled something fierce with injury diagnosis, with disclosure and even moreso with treatment, and it's a bit of a letdown to see that same shortcoming perpetuating itself into the lower levels of the organization.

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But the Oilers drafted him because he’s close to home so this just gives them more time to assess him with their own eyes, albeit from the weight room.

by Joe Girth on Sep 15, 2011 12:30 PM MDT reply actions

in the combine interview.
ST: Can you get injured right before training camp and miss most of the season?
TE: ummmm ummmm ummmm
S.T: We need a ‘yes’ if you want to be drafted…..

So TE is just keeping his promise.

Success is not a goal..its a byproduct

by SumOil on Sep 15, 2011 1:16 PM MDT up reply actions

So what I’m hearing from this is that the organization is communicating with the players!?

Sounds like this management group is doing everything right!!

by Joe Girth on Sep 15, 2011 1:25 PM MDT up reply actions

FFS

Writer for The Cult of Hockey, The Copper & Blue, and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg

by Bruce McCurdy on Sep 15, 2011 2:38 PM MDT reply actions 2 recs

What does Facial Feminization Surgery have to do with anything?

"When you find yourself rooting for mediocrity – you might be an Oilers fan." - Neal Livingston

by proxy on Sep 15, 2011 6:45 PM MDT up reply actions

Is that because he’s out, or because the Oilers organization hid his injury from…themselves?

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Sep 15, 2011 7:30 PM MDT up reply actions

Communication

This is a management problem. It’s called coordination. It’s also called communication. As hard as it may be to believe, it would appear that in 2011 there does not exist the most simplistic of chain of command. It’s either that or someone dropped the ball. . .Hockey clubs are normally not “B School Studies.” If they were, and if the Oilers were analyized, part of it would land in the “what not to do,” department. Just may be that too many good ole boys have their hands on the throttle. Linear is not that difficult boys, just ask MBS, in my opinion a man with the potential to be the second coming of Sammy P.

by Harbinger on Sep 15, 2011 8:05 PM MDT reply actions

We’ve criticized the team before about communication problems, but this was an internal issue. The organization is so poorly managed that it’s nearly unbelievable.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Sep 15, 2011 8:11 PM MDT up reply actions

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