In the last 10 games the Edmonton Oilers are 7-3-0, but in the last 6 days a lot has erupted in Oiler Nation.
On what seemed like a sleeper of a trade deadline day, Oiler fans saw winger Dustin Penner, shipped unexpectedly to the LA Kings for 2 draft picks and rookie defenseman Colten Teubert. Many Oiler fans were upset by this deal saying that the oilers not nothing in return as far as an active roster player and that they should have never done this. I was one of what seemed a minority that believed that this was a FANTASTIC deal for the oilers who are REBUILDING through youth and development. The Edmonton Oilers don’t need a quick fix, or a filler player, they are not pushing for the playoffs therefore, that is not ideal. For the Oilers they needed picks and prospects to build through and they wanted to dump salary cap to leave opportunity for them to sign rookies or whatever they feel is necessary, it gives them options. Ohhh and to all those who believe otherwise, I am pretty sure that the Oilers are 3-0 without Penner so he can’t be missed TOO much.
With Penner being traded, this gave the players on the roster and in OKC opportunity to grow and develop.
In the first game post-Penner, the Oilers come out ready to prove like they have wanted to all season, to show that they have compete, passion and determination. To prove to Oiler Nation that the logo on their jersey is more than an emblem, it’s a culture, and an understanding of the responsibility that is bestowed on every player that dresses.
Yet, it seems that the injury bug hits the Oiler roster again, for a second time this season, alternate captain and leading scorer Ales Hemsky goes down with a shoulder injury. Oiler fans, or half ass fans, whomever, immediately get on the “we should have traded hemmer when we could have”, or “Penner doesn’t get injured Hemmer always does”. Whatever your poison it was flooding the air waves of oil country. Now, with hemmer out and Penner traded, it was time for Edmonton to test their depth, the call wasn’t placed to OKC, just yet. It was time to see the guys in the locker room, rise above this and competes, leaving everything out there and showing all that you have.
Now we come to last night’s game, 2-0 Oilers face a pushing CBJ team who is edging for the race for 8th in a very tough western conference. Now, the Oilers have had success against this blue jackets team this season, but every game is different. However NO ONE in the 17,000 seats at Rexall Place expected the game that came to be…
The Oilers came out guns a blazing, they came to play, at home, with the crowd behind them, they seemed……….unstoppable! Taylor Hall notches a goal in the first period, the kid was on fire. During intermission while talking to Dan Tencer, he says one statement, the statement only a star would say… “I’m not stopping at one tonight”.
Now had it been anyone else, well they would have just been happy with the goal but Taylor was NOT satisfied, he thrives on having the game on his stick and the weight of 17000 hearts on his shoulders. Start of the second period oilers continue to push back with CBJ and 0.14 secs into the period, staying good on his word, on a feed from Hall himself, Jordan Eberle scores a beauty. Oilers are up 3-0. T. Hall playing like a machine, making hits, taking hits, making playing and scoring goals. This game had me on the edge of my seat, rubbing thinking is this really my team, and then something happened that in retrospect grew the respect I had for a 19yr old kid from Kingston, ONT.
After an open ice hit, Taylor Hall picks a fight with CBJ tough guy Dorsett. You could see the passion in Hall’s eyes as he engaged Dorsett, however, in living rooms across oiler nation I'm sure we all had choice words for Hall, especially when we all saw him fall awkwardly. We all knew that he was injured, and like many, I was pissed at the initial thought, well the thought of Hall being injured made me want to vomit.
“Why didn’t the Oilers on the ice step in? Why didn’t someone help him out? Why was he fighting?” The answer to those questions comes right from the kid himself, “I hate being rescued, and I don’t like the feeling that someone else has to fight my battles.” “There is nothing in my contract that forbids me to fight.” “It’s embarrassing being rescued all the time. I hate being the target and not defending myself”
That folks is why he was selected first overall, why he was at the All-star rookie game, THAT is the player that got up after getting pummelled into the boards in the memorial cup, got up, got stitches and never left the game or missed a shift. Those words, that action, is something only a star does, only a star takes on more than the role he is expected to play.
Taylor Hall is not just a player that is good, Taylor Hall is star, who feels passion, heart and determination in every fibre of his being. Taylor Hall my friend is nothing short of his biggest praises, and if you weren’t a Hall fan up until this point after that fight, and after his comments, I don’t know how you couldn’t be.
Taylor Hall is a special player, the kind that doesn’t come around every draft class, and doesn’t come from every first overall pick.
Yes he is out for the remainder of the season, but he is going nowhere, and I cannot wait to see him lift that Stanley in 2013-2014.
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