It`s the best day of the season when you are cheering for the 30th place team two years running. The Oilers enter the game undefeated. Tom Gilbert is as good as anyone on paper. Memories of last season`s opener echo in our minds and hearts.
Not only is it game day bitches, but it is also time to talk the 2011-12 Stars on the Oil.
STARS THRU THE AGES
It has been a long and tortured path for your ol`pal Wanye when it comes to picking stars on the Oilers every year. Don`t believe us? Take a look:
2005-06: Chris Pronger (that went well until that thing at the end of the season which caused us to cry tears of rage)
2006-07: Ryan Smyth (traded at during the season, caused a grief so strong OilersNation.com was born and caused us to cry tears of bitter disbelief)
2007-08: Shawn Horcoff (lit the lamp like crazy, got hurt, caused us to cry tears of revenge for the ultra violent 2008 All Star game)
2008-09: Erik Cole (played like crap, demanded to go back to Carolina, caused us to cry tears of shock as Brownlee called the trade like months in advance)
2009-10: Mike Comrie (led the league in preseason scoring, spent majority of the year on the shelf, signed elsewhere in the offseason causing us to cry tears of – er no, this actually wasn’t that bad)
2010-11: Jordan Eberle (was awesome right out of the gate as an NHL rookie scoring a goal in Game 1 that was so sick our hair stood on end and caused us to cry tears of redemptive joy)
It was only the wise selection of young Jordan Eberle as our star – though he had not appeared in a single NHL game when we made the call – that has redeemed 5 years of heart ache on the star front. And even though our favorite modern Oiler of all time has returned to the lineup we are calling the following audible:
2011-12 STAR: JORDAN EBERLE
But seriously.
You think this Jordan Eberle fan worship business is a joke? You think we squee all over hells half acre only to punt him aside when our hero Ryan Smyth comes home? Shame on you. We are far more loyal than that.
As seen above in a crudely drawn artist`s impression we would imagine that this honor inspires Eberle to the point he pots another jim dandy of a season opening goal tonight. We will be in attendance in our finest Eberle attire, smashing Rexall "Beers" and dancing about wildly.
And whom do you pick?
Star shall be Hemmer. First 82 game season. Extends for Christmas. 100 Points overall. Oilers win the cup.
I love October Optimism.
GO Oilers!!!!
Hall for Premier, Prime Minister and Overlord
Maybe I should change my vote to Lennart Petrell. (Anyone who rocks a golden mullet into the NHL is obviously a star!)
Eberle is a safe pick. My star is Magnus freaking Paajarvi, the forgotten man.
deck the hall (of fame) with hall
Barker is my goat
Star will be Devan Dubnyk
Gord, love your haikus
*we can comment on pollz*
Thank you my good man
writing Haiku can be hard
Props to you, Well Done!
Smyth, man I wanna pick him. Taylor Hall, he will know doubt be a star, but we all know that. The reason wre watch playoff hockey this year, the reason I drive to Edmonton and drive home deaf and hungover worse than that movie “The Hangover” is because of DD, Devan Dubnyk!!!! That is all!!! Now lets play already!
Taydan Eberall for king of Canada! Squeeeeeee!
Hemsky
I think I’m with Wanye on this one, Eberle is going to rip this league a new one with the amount of goals he scores and how he’ll score them. I predict close to 40 over the season, except I won’t be looking for hair clippings or the like. I’l just be screaming with joy from my coach at home and high fiving my imaginary buddies after my 5 year old goes to bed.
couch, dammit couch! doh! maybe I do need a coach?
I’m picking Belanger. I’m not saying he is going to lead the team in goals or even be noticed most nights. But, he is going to contribute in the little ways with his two way game. Further, if the oilers haven’t completely ground Horcoff to paste, his play should improve now that he isn’t the only player who can take a face-off. Belanger will make space for the rest of the team to succeed.
I think that Belanger is the most important acquisition for the reasons you mentioned. He will make the team better.
Of course, “important” as he may be he isn’t my star.
Wanye is being a little safe with Eberle. Last year the pick was ballsy but this year I expect Jesus H. Eberle to bring it big.
My star is Hemsky. Stay healthy big guy and sign that extension that I want so badly. With no Regher around he should be able to do his thing without hearing quite so many footsteps.
*Honourable mention to Gagner
**SQUEE BITCHES!
Wanye, that is your best artwork to date. I’m thinking MoMA will be picking up your collection shortly.
Hall is the easy pick, and that’s why I’m picking him. I like things that are easy*
*especially girls
Taylor Hall. Not sure about goat, I’ll say Omark. Like the guy but he didn’t play great last night.
just updated my star and goat.
Barker is my goat and Hemmy my star.Second star will be Dubnyk
If Eberle continues playing with Smyth and Belanger, he won’t break 40 points, let alone 40 goals. What a waste of skill and talent putting Eberle with those two grinders. For shame Renney. I cried when I saw that line combo and nearly offed myself when I saw it in action last night.
It’s only until Gagner gets back, then there’s a little more skill on the line.
I will go with Ryan Jones.
Updated my Star and Goat… Eberle (same as last year) and Barker