a·cu·men [ak-yuh-muhn] noun: keen insight; shrewdness

Welcome to Oil Acumen. All Oilers, all the time... Occasionally other stuff.

Tuesday 31 July 2012

07/31/12 Jason Arnott and the Great Eberle Debate


An off season debate is swirling around Jordan Eberle's shooting percentage. To some, Eberle has reached his high water mark; to others he's only just begun. Another Oiler had a similar problem in the early part of the 1990s and it created expectations that contributed to him eventually being sent out of town. That player was Jason Arnott.

Sunday 29 July 2012

07/27/12 Rising: Taylor Hall


Taylor Hall is the first subject of a new series of rising and falling players and teams. Injuries have cut Hall's first two seasons short, but he's ready to explode offensively. Here's why.

Tuesday 24 July 2012

07/24/12 Can Yakupov Score 30?


It's hard not to look at a young Russian first overall pick and think: Alex Ovechkin. Ilya Kovalchuk. These are some of the most prolific scorers in the NHL today, but only Kovalchuk scored 30 before his 20th birthday, and that 2002-03 season was his second. Can Yakupov accomplish the feat as a 19 year old rookie?

Monday 23 July 2012

07/23/12 Thoughts On A Paajarvi/Erixon Swap


Rick Nash is in New York at last, and the Blue Jackets received a defenseman in the deal who could be deemed as an extra. Already Tim Erixon is being linked to the Oilers, but would he be a good addition if it cost Magnus Paajarvi?

Sunday 22 July 2012

07/22/12 Weber's Offer Sheet Could Be Good For the Oilers


At first glance it seems that Shea Weber's $110 million offer sheet will limit the speculation about where he will end up to just two teams. But if the Predators match the offer, as the Tennessean reported that they will, there's a chance that he still ends up elsewhere.

Saturday 21 July 2012

07/18/12 Trading Jordan


That title didn't cause you to throw the computer against the wall? Well then by all means, read on.

Tuesday 17 July 2012

07/17/12 Bad Contracts and the Cap Floor


At the time of this writing, twelve NHL teams are sitting below the current salary cap floor. Eight of them have at least $3 million to spend to reach the lower limit, and five of those need to spend at least $5 million more. The opportunity exists for some teams to shed a bad contract or two.

Monday 16 July 2012

07/16/12 Theo Peckham Vs. Ladislav Smid


Theo Peckham accepted his qualifying offer on Monday, and has been a bit of an afterthought for the Oilers. He showed potential in 2010-11, and one of his teammates should give him hope for returning to form.

Sunday 15 July 2012

07/15/12 Oh, How The Depth Chart Has Changed


A lot has changed since the 2008-09 season. It's hard to get a grasp on all the players that have come and gone without looking back at the depth chart and seeing how it has transformed. In 2012-13 the Oilers will do battle with a group that is in many ways superior to the class of 2008-09.

Saturday 14 July 2012

07/14/12 Perception Vs. Reality: Tom Gilbert


Tom Gilbert was the whipping boy of Oilers fans for a significant chunk of his time in Edmonton. Never able to replicate his 45-point season in 2008-09, many fans weren't sad to see him go. Apparently management wasn't either, and that's extremely worrisome.

Friday 13 July 2012

07/13/12 Minute Munchers


How do you define a number one defenseman? He should be able to play in every situation and probably log 23 minutes or more per night. That's the type of player the Oilers need, but how many of those are there?

Monday 9 July 2012

07/09/12 The Case For Cody Franson


Twenty-four years old. Six feet and five inches tall. 213 pounds. Right-handed shot. Given those factors it's amazing that this player was traded already, let alone that he could move a second time in as many years. But there's more.

Sunday 8 July 2012

07/08/12 What Would It Take To Get JayBo?


According to The Fourth Period, the Oilers are believed to be one of five teams who have inquired about Jay Bouwmeester's availability. In many ways Bouwmeester would be a good fit for the Oilers, but what would Edmonton have to give their arch rivals to get it done?

Friday 6 July 2012

07/06/12 Corey Potter's Future


Corey Potter had a strong enough season in 2011-12 to earn himself a new two year contract with a $775,000 cap hit. It's a bargain if he lives up to expectations, but will he play for Edmonton?

Thursday 5 July 2012

07/05/12 Petry, Dubnyk Sign and the Picture Begins to Focus


Devan Dubnyk's new contract gives him the 22nd-highest cap hit of NHL goalies. There was always going to be pressure for him to perform next season, but now it's on another level. Some analysis of the Oilers' recent signings after the jump.

Wednesday 4 July 2012

07/04/12 Wild Make Big (Huge) Splash


Seeing that the Minnesota Wild signed both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, it seemed at first like a practical joke. No offense to the Wild, but if any team had a chance at both, it should have been Crosby's Penguins. Of course, the Wild had to pay.

Tuesday 3 July 2012

07/03/12 Odd & Ends: Hordichuk, Suter, Parise, Smyth


We're still waiting on the two biggest UFA names to choose their new homes. On the Tuesday edition of Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer, Steve Tambellini was asked if the Oilers were in pursuit of Ryan Suter.