Friday Morning Hot Links: Goodbye

Good morning, I have some links for you.

First, Central Scouting’s draft rankings will be released on April 15th, this is a good time to start thinking about that #8 pick. (NHL.com)

Derek Van Diest is pushing for Bill Guerin as the next Oilers General Manager. I have a feeling that we’ll see lots of interesting names popping up before any interview takes place. (Edmonton Sun)

Jesse Puljujarvi’s old team wants him back next season if he doesn’t sign a contract with the Oilers. Water is also wet. (Oilers Nation)

Tyler Benson and Shane Starrett have been named to the AHL All-Rookie team. It’s a great accomplishment for those two. (Edmonton Journal)

Lastly, this is my last post on Copper&Blue. I thank everyone who has read anything I’ve ever posted, be it comments, articles, or recaps. I’ve very much appreciated the support, emails, messages, comments, etc that I have received over the past two years here. I thank Jeff for the opportunity to blog, and the other writers for being so welcoming. The entire experience has been a pleasure.

I still like writing, but my interest in hockey has been fading. It’s funny to blame the Oilers for that, but although they sure didn’t help, that’s not what it is. The game just seems to have passed me by, systems have changed, new stats keep coming out faster than I can keep up, and generally I don’t feel like I can keep putting in the effort to stay informed enough to blog. I’m sure I’ll still watch a game here and there, but the obsessive following, drafts, off-season, prospect watching is coming to an end.

So again, thank you all for reading.

PS, for some self promotion, these were the posts I had the most fun writing in my time here:

Jesse Puljujarvi - A fun piece getting to know one of the better prospects.

Connor McDavid took too much money - This is still what people sound like when they complain about his contract.

Oilers Front Office - The longest piece I’ve ever written.

A Sharks and Oilers recap - The one in which the NHL cancelled a game and someone tweeted at me a little too seriously. This was also the one-day most-read post this year some how.

Positional Ramblings - This was me flexing a bit.

Oilers Best Moments - This was easily my favorite. A video breakdown of the hilarity involving Kevin Lowe and Craig MacTavish being introduced as GM a few years ago.

That’s all for now. Enjoy your weekend.