Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Out "At Least Two Or Three Games", Gilbert Set To Return
by Derek Zona on Jan 4, 2012 8:30 AM MST
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Tom Renney told the media yesterday that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is out of the lineup for "at least the next two or three games", but no other information is available for the short term. They are waiting on a further diagnosis to determine if Hopkins can play any additional games on the road trip, and will send him home if he doesn't improve. Rumors circulated that Hopkins was being sent back to Edmonton for evaluation by the Oilers' doctors, but that doesn't appear to be the case at this point.
Tom Gilbert, on the other hand, is set to return to the ice. Gilbert left the United Center in a large boot, but doesn't appear to be seriously injured as Renney indicated he would go for a light skate on Wednesday to see if he's ready to go. The "light skate" sounds suspiciously like Renney's fitness test, a test Ryan Whitney was able to pass.
Given the Oilers' history of rushing injured players back to the ice, there should be concern about Gilbert. He's been a rock on the top-pairing for four years now, and is their best defenseman by a wide margin. It would be a large mistake for management to risk his health on a lottery team they aren't willing to improve.
In other news, Daniel Carcillo will be suspended at least five games for his hit on Tom Gilbert, maybe more. The NHL announced today that Brendan Shanahan has offered an in-person hearing for Carcillo, which clears the way for a lengthy suspension, as Oilers' fans are well aware due to Andy Sutton's dirty play this season:
Chicago Blackhawks forward Dan Carcillo has been suspended indefinitely pending a hearing with the Department of Player Safety regarding his hit on Edmonton's Tom Gilbert on Monday night.
...
Carcillo, who was offered an in-person hearing, has already been suspended previously this season.
I'd like to see Carcillo get ten games or more for that hit, but I'm still betting on five.
One interesting note, brought up by Jonathan Willis, is that with Taylor Chorney serving a suspension for the Oklahoma City Barons, the Oilers have no defensemen under contract available to them if someone else is forced from the lineup.
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the Oilers have no defensemen under contract available to them if someone else is forced from the lineup.
So, if it became necessary, they’d get someone from OKC on a try-out deal, I’m assuming?
I agree entirely on not hurling Gilbert back into the mix too quickly. If it were up to me, I’d keep him out on Thursday anyway just to be safe, and look to get him back on Saturday at the earliest.
They’d have to sign someone off their OKC team i assume, like the Sabres signed Joe Finley when they ran out of defensemen (not named Shaone Morrisonn)
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: Free to roam the blueline.
"Ville Leino may stink but he’s still way better than Matt Ellis."
Isn’t Martin Marincin under contract with the Oilers? I believe this is a case where the emergency basis recall from junior would be available but I could be wrong.
Yeah, they could get Marincin on an emergency recall just like they got Bisaillon in 2006-07.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 4, 2012 10:16 AM MST up reply actions
Where’s Chris Hajt when you need him?
And poor Motin… he might have been next in line.
In theory, there is little difference between practice and theory, but in practice there is!
Tactical contributor to the Copper & Blue and just as boring on the twitters... @dawgbone98
That team didn’t even finish last overall.
In theory, there is little difference between practice and theory, but in practice there is!
Tactical contributor to the Copper & Blue and just as boring on the twitters... @dawgbone98
That team had Smytty for the fist 60 games, it was only the last 20 where the wheels came off completely.
Whereas the current team … oh, never mind.
Oilers fan through thick, thin and anorexic. Writer for The Cult of Hockey.
by Bruce McCurdy on Jan 4, 2012 2:37 PM MST up reply actions
And poor Motin… he might have been next in line.
I think at this point he almost certainly would have been. He should perhaps should have a quiet word with his agent…
Not that I want the Oilers to call up any more Barons players right now
But Chorney’s suspension ends after the Barons game tonight.
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