Rink Rat ponders the off-season
With the Oil now extinct from the race to the cup. We had an opportunity to sit and chat with the oil GM Rink Rat.
OI: So what’s up these days now that the Oil are done for the year?
Rink: Well, if there is a puck dropping somewhere, chances are I am there. I was down in Minny last night to watch the Wild and the Wings ……… what a game. 12 goals and the Wings had to tie the game three times……. Makes for good hockey to watch….. It’s a great series to watch as a fan. The Trash and the Rangers is turning into a series as well with the Rangers finding the net as of late, scoring 12 in the last two games. Not hard to see both series going the distance.
OI: What’s the Oil focus now the off-season is upon you?
Rink: Well we took a week or so to re-evaluate our club, take a look at what we would like to achieve this off-season. The 2006 entry draft June 11 is obviously a focus right now, considering we hold the #7, 31, 34 and 52 pick over-all we feel we have a chance to add some good talent to our prospect base, and perhaps steal a player with that 7th pick.
OI: What can we expect from the Rat this off-season?
Rink: We would like to make a move or two to improve our defense; we feel we have the offensive power need to succeed in this league. And Martin is as good as it gets between the pipes. We have a very good collection of good young players producing at this level. We talked with Brian (Leetch) about his return to play out his final year, speculation at this time I would say he is done. So that will be our main focus, finding a Dman who can play 25 mins a night for us.
OI: Can we expect to see any youth inserted into the line-up next season from the Roadrunners?
Rink: We are already fairly young, but with Ray Emery, Meszeros, Upshall and Cam Barker playing very well for us, it is very possible to see one maybe even two of them hit the big team next fall.
OI: The knock on the Oil all year was “not enough depth”, “not enough leadership”. Will these areas be addressed this off-season?
Rink: Hmmmm “not enough depth” I do not see that issue being addressed on my watch. When you hand out 9.5 mill to Martin and bring in Iggy at 8 mill it becomes a numbers game. I would rather bring in a horse like Iggy for 8 mill than bring in 3 ham n’ eggers at 2.5 mill each (if you can find 3 ham n’ eggers at 2.5 mill each). And leadership is an area would like to improve sooner than later, more than likely on the blue line.
OI: Can we expect to see the Oil go to the podium with the # 7 pick overall obtained from the Sharks last off-season? Or will you be looking to move that pick?
Rink: We have been evaluating our top 50 or sow prospects since the Christmas break, and I tell ya, I like what I have seen in a few players. We will be inviting a few prospects to participate in a small evaluation camp following the play-offs. And we will go from there. If the right offer comes our way, we would obviously consider all our options.
OI: Last question…. Hows the play-off going to work out?
Rink: Wild in 7 over the Thrash
Rink: Ohhhh while I have the mike …….. I would like to again congratulate Martin on his second consecutive Mike Vernon Award.
Ya, Ya ............... OILERS SUCK!!
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