The Oilers? On The Rise?

Now to some news that feels like should've been here a couple months ago. Players around the NHL are believing that the Edmonton Oilers are on the rise and will one day become the Penguins or the Blackhawks. That's according to USA Today Sports who surveyed 29 NHL players and asked them to choose a team that will rise up to be a powerhouse. 16 votes were penned toward the Oilers and no other team picked up more than five votes.

Okay, seriously, I get why everybody would pick the Oilers. They're starting to become a team that looks like it's playing together and the offense seems to be clicking around the guys like Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle. But I need to see some proof. Honestly, they looked good at the end of the season, and they should've done this before they started losing all those games in January and February. And right now, I think I see potential to see winning games early. But I don't know. It could be like a Virginia Tech-type situation, where they start out good and then start flopping once January or February rolls around. I like the Oilers. I really do. But I don't know if they're going to be a powerhouse team this year or the next. I want to see what happens. I'm not ready to say that the Oilers are a team to beat in this conference, but I do think they have that potential.

The Oilers are on the rise, I do agree. But before we jump into conclusions and give them the Stanley Cup title, let's see how well they do in September or October. We can then try to make a case to see if they really got the goods to match the Blackhawks and the Penguins.

Should Chris Pronger Play Again?

When was the last time Chris Pronger played? Well, it's been a while, but he was on the ice a couple weeks ago practicing with the Philadelphia Flyers. But he wasn't playing. Instead, he was just skating with his sons and daughter. Pretty happy family memory, right? Well, sort of. Chris Pronger said it didn't go well. He mentioned he was moving in a straight line OK but once he started turning, he mentioned feeling dizzy and started having some of the symptoms that he had when he got injured on Oct. 24, 2011. Since then, he hasn't been on the ice or felt the same. He has suffered an ocular concussion, which could be career-ending.

So should Chris Pronger hang up the gloves?

I don't know how to answer this. Honestly, with types of concussions like this, it's easy to say that he should retire and prevent this from happening more regularly to him. I mean, look at Marian Hossa, because I'm still surprised that after two concussions, he is still on the ice and playing. And it seems that there are no concussion symptoms lingering with him.

I guess my honest answer would be to hang it up for good. Look, you suffered a concussion and you feel you want to return to the game, because this isn't how you want to go out. But I think once you get a sort of concussion like this, it's hard to find that the Flyers would want him back in the shape that he's in. I really don't think it's safe for him to go out there and play well. And if he's feeling dizzy, that'll make it worse for him to play. He won't be able to see the puck straight. He'll have problems shooting, perhaps too far wide or so. Either way, I don't want a great player like Chris Pronger having to suffer any more concussions like this. I think it's time, and it's the right thing to do. You can still be a part of the team, but your playing days at this point are pretty much behind you.

Can the Blues Make Ground with Alex Pietrangelo?

Looks like the Blues will be without Alex Pietrangelo when training camp starts and the top defensemen for the Blues and a key player for Team Canada this season is so far unsigned.

A contract dispute has placed a hold on Pietrangelo's season as talks have now broken off and we are waiting for a future date when the two sides will come together again.

Pietrangelo led the Blues in ice time last season, averaging 25 minutes, 6 seconds. He has 24 points in 47 games played last season. The Blues are not sure how long he will be out but they hope that they can get him signed as soon as possible. Ryan Whitney has been invited to try out.

Let's face it. Without Pietrangelo, the Blues are going to be having problems at defense. Ryan Whitney is not exactly a replacement who can match Pietrangelo's top tier status as the Blues' defensemen. They're going to need to get Pietrangelo signed soon. Without his presence, I'm not sure how the Blues can compete in the tight and new Central Division, especially with the Blackhawks in their division and being as elite as they are.

Let's hope the Blues sign Pietrangelo soon. The Blues need a top defenseman and Pietrangelo fits the bill for them.

Can the Hurricanes Win Without Joni Pitkanen?

Injury news. Apparently it comes at the wrong times for teams, especially when training camps are opening up. And the Carolina Hurricanes are one of the teams dealing with injuries and this is terrible news for a team trying to rewrite itself as a great team.

They have lost Joni Pitkanen for the entire season with a broken heel, meaning that the defense will have to be readjusted in order to cope with his absence. He was initially hurt when he slid into the boards on April 2 during a puck race on an icing call. He missed the rest of last season.

GM Jim Rutherford has a lot to contend with. This summer, he traded for defenseman Andrej Sekera and signed Mike Komisarek. And they have prospects like Brett Bellemore and Ryan Murphy who can take Pitkanen's place, but do not have the experience or the defense much like Pitkanen had.

This news comes just as hybrid icing is being tested, which would prevent such injuries as this. Hybrid icing means that if the defensive player gets to the faceoff dot first, the whistle would be blown. It could become adopted into the regular season if the NHLPA and the league sign off on it.

But, meanwhile, Rutherford has a bunch of pieces to deal with it. With the loss of Pitkanen, I'm not sure how the Hurricanes will cope. They didn't exactly do well last season and I don't expect a really strong season for them. I hope that Pitkanen recovers fully and is able to get back into the NHL next year. In the meantime, get well and recover and hope that the Hurricanes can be able to pick up the pieces and continue on.

Can Jonathan Toews be a life-long Blackhawk player?

The 2014 NHL season is upon us, puckheads, and I'm sure you all had a good summer. But as the preseason rolls around and teams start heading to training camps, the news of injurys, players, and teams starts circling the net. And a bit of interesting news out of the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks camp comes from the captain here Jonathan Toews.

On the opening day of Blackhawks camp Toews says that, "Right now, it would be tough to find any reason to want to play somewhere else. I don't think there is any place better to play in the league or around the world."

While everyone is titled to their opinions, Jonathan Toews really makes a good case about why he is a Blackhawk for life. First off, he confirms GM Stan Bowman's expectations that Toews (and maybe Kane) would be Blackhawks for life. No word about Patrick's Kane reaction to the comments, but this is Toews talking.

His contract is extended through the 2014-15 season, but based on what I heard from Toews, it would be an expectation that his contract might be extended to the point where he would retire if he wanted to. Hey, he can follow the Teemu Selanne route if he wanted to.

Since being in Chicago, Toews has been named captain, won two Stanley Cups and became one of the league's most respected players. Hell, he could be king of the league if all the talks wasn't always on Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin. But he is very popular in Chicago and so that sits well with him.

Again, he has the potential to be a Blackhawk for life. However, I don't know how the money situation stands with this. If the Blackhawks can afford him, that's great. If not, that might change things quickly. After all, they have Patrick Kane they'll have to deal with as well. And if he wants more money, perhaps Toews can either take a pay cut or walk. But for right now, he'll enjoy his time in Chicago. Hey, he deserved it.