Sunday Prospect Report
February 10th, 2008 by jstainerAfter a new addition to my family, a bit of vacation and a life and death battle with the flu, I am back. I’ve watched a lot of hockey, but not been able to write about it. Looking forward to being back now.
Chris VandeVelde - Certainly not one of the most talked about Oiler prospects in the system, VandeVelde is quietly creeping his way up the depth chart with some stellar play with the Fighting Sioux. With professional sports in his blood (his grandfather played baseball with the Reds back in the day), VandeVelde has made the most of his increased responsibility at the University of North Dakota, putting up a very respectful 23 points in 27 games. What is reassuring about these points is that a lot of them are coming even strength as VV is just proving he can put the puck in the net when not on the Powerplay as well. He is going to be a player to watch down the road and with some luck could end up as a legit second liner for the Oilers in a few years. Another great player coming out of the USHL!
Ryan O’Marra - One of the more talked about pieces coming back in the Ryan Smyth trade, Pierre McGuire figured O’Marra would never account to anything more then a 3rd line grinder at best. Fans scoffed at Pierre (a regular occurance) and then waited to see how O’Marra would develop. What they found was a player who got quickly injured, sent down to the ECHL and then only recently brought back up to the AHL. Between his two stints in the A, O’Marra has put up a modest 7 points in 20 games after being almost a PPG player with Stockton in the ECHL. Injuries can really slow a player’s development and the Oilers need to hope that this is a case much like Schremp’s where he’ll pick up his game as he feels better. O’Marra has a long way to go to prove that he can be a first liner like he has claimed he feels he can be. In fact I’d say he has a long way to go to even become a regular NHLer.
The Oilers next game is Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild. Garon has been playing very well but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see MacTavish go with Roloson in net against his old team. It’s one of those decisions that only MacTavish would make. Much like sticking Marty Reasoner (who he recently compared to Joe Sakic) on the first line with Hemsky and Penner.
At this point the Oilers are playing for pride, and the right to not give the Anaheim Ducks of Anaheim of Los Angeles, a top pick this year. With no Horcoff, no Souray and an injured Hemsky, the kids will need to step it up every night and guys like Pitkanen, Gilbert, Stoll and Moreau are going to be relied on even more. Goaltending is going to need to be more then solid every single game as well, which means starting Garon and not Roloson.
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