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I've been saying for a while now that I've wanted to write a recap of Oil Change. For those who don't know, Oil Change is a documentary/propaganda (depends on who you ask) series about the Edmonton Oilers, aka: the failiest hockey-playing frat in the Canadian North. Like HBO's 24/7 Road to the Winter Classic, it actually airs on television during the season instead of showing all at the end after everything has wrapped up.
The first season is available on the Oilers website here and eventually I might recap it but since it's available won't for a while. Go, watch it, and fall in love with this faily team.
The main thrust of the series is that the Oilers are a team in the middle of a rebuild- the have finished last in the league two years in a row and have been able to draft two firsts and other high draft picks. This makes them very skilled, and very young. Add in one of the most motivational coaches in the league (TOM RENNEY, I LOVE YOU!!!), a city crazy about hockey and a legacy of winning and basically, even if you don't like hockey you have a good story about a group of young guys learning to be a great team and growing up together.
And so, Season 2, EPisode 1
Opening sequence! Familiar faces! New guys! To distinguish this from the first season, it is now "Oil Change: Overdrive" Things are getting serious, you guys. Overdrive.
A plane touches down in Minnesota for the draft. 2 first round picks: #1 and another they picked up in the Dustin Penner trade from last year. (AHAHAHAHAHAHA man, we made out like bandits there.) They're looking at another move to get a third top round pick, and it really is interesting to see all the strategizing that goes in to the draft but I just want to shout "DON'T GET GREEDY!" because man. We're doing okay with those two picks already. They talk about how Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is their choice and how he separated himself from the pack, but they love how somebody was willing to stand up and suggest somebody else too. Stu Macgregor says "if we walked away with somebody else, I'd be thinking we'd left something special on the table.:
The draft war room, they announce their choice but ask to keep it in the room to keep it special for everybody. Tom Renny (TOM RENNEY! I LOVE YOU!) is excited. "He can probably play! :D" Tambellini says that yeah, people are going to ask and it's okay if RNH doesn't play in his first year. They don't want to pressure him, and want him to develop into a good player- that said, if he blows the doors off then hell yeah he'll stay up.
Dave Semenko: "And for the record, I'll allow him to wear 27." Bwah! Also, a reminder that Once An Oiler, Always An Oiler.
Draft floor! Taylor Hall is part of the Oilers entourage. He's at the table, and Renney is joke!grilling him about his offseason training. "The nerves belong to someone else," the narration intones. Shots of all the expected high draftees. Hall and somebody are standing with the jersey that they hand to the player, and Taylor jokes "why don't you just unfold it and how everybody?" and dude is all "I like working for the Oilers." Aww dude. So would I. Tambellini announces their choice, RNH makes it to the podium, Bettman asks Hall if he remembers this and he tells him it was all a blur, and when RNH makes it up there Hall congratulates him and says it will be great playing with him. eeeeeee!
Tambellini and Hall talking "what do you think this kid's going to be like for us?" "I think he's going to be awesome. Him passing me the pick is going to be sweet." Oh Taylor Hall. Tambo is all "he does things with the puck that I'm up in the stands and I don't even see." Basically, the sense is that RNH is totally awesomesauce and everyone is excited. Tambo GMs at Hall that there are more pieces coming to the team, they're adding some veterans. They draft yet another Swede, a defenseman, and then comes on of my favourite bits of the entire episode, part of the whole Once An Oiler, Always An Oiler.
Narrator narrates that it's a special moment for the players, but it's also special for their parents. Damn right it is. Three former Oilers have their kids being drafted- Kevin Low and his son Keegan (going to Carolina) "it's like when your children gets married or has a baby or goes off to university," Craig Simpson (son Dillon) "he wanted to be an Oiler, and seeing him put on that jersey was a real special moment," And Frank Musil (son David) to the Oilers as well.
Oilers still trying to get a third first rounder, but no go. You can hear "Go Jets Go!" being chanted in the background. RNH signs autographs, and saying he wanted to go first to Edmonton. He hugs his mom.
(Commercials)
July 1st! Canada Day! Or, more specific tro hockey, the first day of free agency. Oilers HQ is buzzing. Tambo and Lowe are wheeling and dealing. Oilers need to get gritty on the front end, help in the face-off circle and help on defense. Rick Olczyk is on the phone making deals. It's weird because they intercut the deals for at least three different guys here. They want Eager and Belanger for different reasons, and like both as a fit for the team. There's another unnamed player that Tambo definitely doesn't want. "I don't want that guy with our kids. I have not heard good things about him." Aww. I mean, I understand it's mostly about the organization and everything, but aww. Kevin Lowe talks about the weakness of the front end, compared to with how gritty Vancouver is. Basically, it sounds like Burrows will slash you in the face while Eberle will hug you to death. That... sounds about right.
They make a deal with Ben Eager. Yay? He has the grit. Tom Renney call him to say hi, Tambo talks about his emotion and how he's unpredictable and how the Oilers need some of that. Ooooookay. It's a good start to the day this early. Semenko says they still need more for pushback. Of course Semenko wants more toughness, I'd expect nothing less. Renney looks concerned. They lost both JF Jacques and Stortini who, to be honest, didn't push back all that well anyway. They need another guy.
Lowe on the phone "Eager definitely doesn't put Darcy (Hordichuk) out of the box." Renney offers what he's learned, which is pretty much what they knew already: knows how/when/who to fight, will stick up for teammates, knows he needs to be tough, is good with the young players. Seriously guys, I love that the organization is concerned with making sure they young guys will be okay. Ricky is on the phone to try and get Belanger, they're looking at a multi-year deal. He's durable, he sees the ice well.
They sign Cam Barker. ...yay? They trade Kurtis Foster for Andy Sutton. Barker is excited to come to town.
Tambellini walks into the room and is excited. They've signed Belanger to a three year deal, and it seems like an endorsement to the Oilers rebuild- he wants to be here not just for the first year, but is committed to what will be happening in years two and three. People are starting to see that the Oilers are bulding something special and want to get involved. It's been a good day.
(Commerical.)
Early September. The rookie tournament in Penticton is a chance for all the prospects to make an impression on opponents, fans and management. We get our first shot of Taylor Fedun :D: It then cuts back to Edmonton where Ryan Smyth is teaching his son how to skate, and it's one of the most adorable things ever. Smyth says that the city is home, and it's it's been great for them in the past, and they want to get the kids into the schools and part of the community. It's a great place to play hockey and raise a family. Narrator narrates that his return to Edmonton, while a little bumpy, was much better than when he left 5 years ago and it's a happy reunion for everyone concerned. (well, LA was pretty pissed, but whatever. Enjoy Dustin Penner!) He's excited to play with the young guys, and get to the playoffs with them. Tambellini says you can never have enough leadership and that's what Smyth brings to the table.
Everyone assembles for the start of training camp. Renney talks and there are shots of all the players. God, you guys. Listening to Tom Renney talk is amazing. I would go to war for him. 'We made huge steps last year, as much as you could probably argue that, but we did with respect to our culture, our attitude, our point of every single day on what we tried to be, what we wanted to try to do, and what we wanted to be recognized for. When I look at the Oilers and I wonder what the obstacles are for our success. If you're not willing to sacrifice [shot of Ryan Jones on the Vox2 test] , if you're not willing to put yourself out there [fight at the rookie tournament], if you're not willing to lose a little bit of your own identity [training camp] in order to make this team better, in order to help all of us win, if your expectations are just to go out there and do your best, if you think good enough is good enough then quite honestly you won't be here. This is a process now where you're not just sitting on top of the stove, now the element has been turned on. We have to make sure that we take our game, as the cliche would suggest, to a brand new level. And that's everybody- there's nothing like winning, there's nothing like doing something that noone thought you could do, but for God's sake pay attention to why you're here. This is not just good enough any more. We're here to make a statement on behalf of the Edmonton Oilers. If you want to be a champion, take a championship attitude to your game every day no matter what it is you're doing and we'll be fine. Hold yourselves accountable, and be ready to go to work."
Damn. I need a moment. Partly because Tomr Renny talks a lot, and partly because the jaunty music signifies that SHENANIGANS are coming up. \o/ That was getting way too SRS BZNS.
Darcy Hordichuk is putting on the Oilers awesome home jersey, and talks about growing up in rural Saskatgchewan and loving the Oilers. Shots of traingin, fitness testing, picture taking and joking around. A shot of Magnus Paajarvi in his team Sweden sweater, and Ralph Krueger joking about the colour and how they (team Switzerland) could never beat them. Ryan Smyth tells Nycki (I LOVE YOU NYCKI) that Ryan Jones should cut his hair. They go back and forth, and then brohug. RNH has a DVD of the first season of Oil Change, and is texting and Curtis Hamilton (the hipster) is hanging out with him.
Even though everyone's in the organization, there are key battles for certain spots. They interview Corey Potter and, damn. He's an incredibly handsome fellow. I keep getting distracted by the handsomeness.
Sorry. Anyway. Key battles for spots, you know that some guys are guaranteed spots because of their contracts. Taylor Chorney's dream is to play in the NHL and he's very close and knows that this year is going to be the make or break year. Linus Omark want to prove that he should stay up.
Joey Moss Cup! I love Joey Moss.Even though it's an inter-squad game, they seem to be playing for keeps. Tulupov checks Eager in to the boards, resulting in a concussion.
(Commerciala. Damn, this episode is only half over?)
Tulupov says he needs to play tough, and that seems to be how everybody is going forward. It's intense. "Earning a spot on the team means taking it from somebody else," the Narrator narrates. Renney interviews that it's partly because of the youth of the team, and partly about how the Oielrs are redefining themselves. They're learning how to win, even in practice.
First round of cuts, 57 player remain. Preseason games on the same day, split the team up and see what they've got. Games in Edmonton and Saskatoon, and a concert at Rexall place the night before means that the equipment managers have even more work to do. They show Saskatoon, and oh boy. It's Oil Country, and oh man. Narrator narrates that you see everything from "this year's number one draft pick humping equipment," and thank god it just means moving it around because that was more than I'd be willing to watch for this team, seriously. Also, local hero JORDAN EBERLE. Sask!bro tells the camera "he's from Saskatchewan! He's a hometown hero!" in his incredibly thick Saskatchewan accentt.
They show both games, talk about hw everything from coaching, players and training staff are stretched. Tom Renney talks about how the preseason doesn't really give enough time to get much in the way of systems down, and you get a chance to see the free agents still remaining and decide on them. Young players get their first taste of the NHL speed and talent, veterans getting back up to speed and getting the instincts back. Oilers lose a close game to the Wild in Edmonton, and win over the Blackhawks in Saskatoon. Chorney is excited. Trainers haul gear back to Rexall, the OKC Barons staff return home.
They play the Canucks. They figure out lines, they reassign players to the AHL, ECHL and junior teams. They show the exit interview with Tanner House, and he's happy that even if he's getting reassigned, he had a good first camp and knows what he has to do in the future to make it to the NHL. Tom Renney seems impressed, and stresses that it's up to him to keep improving to make it in the future.
(Commercial)
Narrator narrates: "In Edmonton, things re heating up. [shot of the cheerleaders] A home and home against Calgary also finds the Great One in town." guys, GUYS. what happens next is another one of my favourite things. Smyth, Eberle and Hall are dressed up to meet Wayne Gretzky and Ebs tells Smytty that he almost wore the same tie, and jokes that he would have been devastated. Smytty tells him that it's his wedding tie. the narrator tells us that Ebs would have been 8 the first time Smytty wore the tie. SUBTEXT: THE KIDS ARE REALLY YOUNG AND RYAN SMYTH IS OLD. Ebs and Hallsy are introduced to Gretzky. Wayne tells... I'm pretty sure that's Glen Sather, but I don't think it is. Anyway, he says "See! They're young and good looking! What more do you need?" And the other guys says "I said the same thing about you."
Kelly Buchburger says to Gretzky hey, do you want my autograph now or later? Once An Oiler, Always An Oiler.
First Battle of Alberta. I don't think Cam Barker was expecting it to be so... battle-y. Sam Ganger gets a high ankle sprain, worries about last year's plague of injuries returning. They win. The trip down to Calgary in ENEMY TERRITORY. Rematch. Tambellini is really impressed by Taylor Fedun. Many shots of Corey Potter doing things. Oilers win. Shots of the Oilers afterwards chatting with fans, friends, and family. An adorable shot of a little kid meeting Ladislav Smid. Back to Edmonton.
More roster cuts. Tyler Pitlick talks about the text about meetin with coaches. Ready to start the season in OKC. He is adorable in his glasses. Everone is going, and it's bittersweet.
You know what time it is? It's BELANGER TIME. Shot of him walking through the halls of hte arena and getting grabbed by the trainers and them introducing him to the camera. He's adorably embarassed while being manhandled- I guess when he was thinking about the future of the Oilers, he didn't realize that meant being manhandled by everybody. Ooops.
They interview him at home with his wife and his adorable daughters. They're so French-Canadian with cans of maple syrup. He wants stability for his girls since the oldest is in the third grade and has already been in 4 different schools. Rough. They have dance class that night, and he's playing the Coyotes, one of his former teams. The girls are sad because they wanted to go, but they know that there's no hockey on school nights. 85% of the time he can't be there for his girls and it's rough. Seriously, the first time I saw this, I fell in love with the Belangers and I want Eric to stay here long term and have all kinds of success. He leaves to go to the arena, and talks more while driving about how he's going to be called on to be in a leadership role and to teach the young guys, and about making Rexall one of the hardest places to play.
Game time! For the first time in 5 years the Smyth, Horcoff Hemsky line is reunited, but it's the trio of kids that make the big impression. "Up front, at least, the future is looking bright." Shot of RNH smiling.
(Commecial.)
Focus shifts to defense- the team is stacked up front with lots of talent, should have no problem scoring goal, but what of the defense? How will they ever stop the puck from going in to their net???Ralph Kueger: with the speed of the game now, defensemen have to be smarter, know how to think the game and anticipate. when to attack, when to position yourself. There's more experience in the defensive core this year, a higher game and offensive intelligence.
Back to back road games agains Minnesota and Vancouver, they need to pare it down from 9 defensemen, not counting Ryan Whitney who is still recovering from ankle surgery. St. Paul, from the start of the game it gets ugly: Chorney tweaks his knee, Smid injures his shoulder, and oh god. I knew it was coming. They show the Fedun injury, they get him on a stretcher and Tambellini says "no one wants to see an athlete getting injured." and when you see something like that you feel sick to your stomach. You know he's going to have a long, hard road to recovery.
Shot of Tambellini in the hallway arranging for Fedun's family to be flown out to Minnesota. I HAVE ALL THE FEELINGS, you guys. ALL THE FEELINGS.
They fly out to Vancouver with only 6 healthy defensemen so at this point it is only a tryout for the last few forward spots. Unlike the first pre-season game agains them, the Canucks are actually icing a team of NHLers. The young kids prove they can compete, and take the hits- RNH gets trucked, the team jumps to his defense, and he gets all up on Ballard. The next game will count.
Renney, Tambellini and others figure out who's staying up, who is going down, figuring out lines for both the NHL and AHL. Renney is willing to send a message if the third or fourth line is outplaying the top two. They want to get rid of the stigma of the AHL being a demotion instead of a training ground, and Renney asserts that that message is getting through in their organization. Tambellini interviews about how hard it is for players who want to be in the NHL to go to the A even though they know it's what needs to happen for their development. A shot of Ryan O'Marra looking sad and pensieve as he's on his cell, then turning and walking away with his equipment. Aww.
Banff! Teambuilding! Golf!.Tom's all "we have a number of young players here still, and there's an awesome shot of Linus Omark and Anton Lander being all Sweddish bros all over each other. There are still more cuts to be made, but these are the guys that will probably see the most NHL action this year. They'll be evaluating everybody throughout the year. We see everybody hanging out at a lodge in the gorgeous Rockies. Renney "At the end of the day you need to make a decision on who should stay and who should go." Shot of RNH.
(Commercial)
October 9th! My birthday! Game day! Horcoff, being the captain "that's the best thing about the start of the season, there are thirty teams that think they have a chance to win the Stanley Cup, so everyone starts from the same spot and we brought in some more experience.: Basically, there are more veterans around to be leaders so it's not just him, Whitney, Khabibulin and Gilbert.
And again, ALL THE FEELINGS. ALL OF THEM. Narrator narrates "But the opening night dreams of one young man have been put on hold." Talor Fedun is wheeled in to Rexall to meet with the coaches, staff and players before the game. Fedun tells us that he can't think about how great his preseason and training camp had been going, but instead look at his rehab as another challenge and something to test him and to make him better. ALL THE FEELINGS. His dad talks about how when your children are injured you feel the pain as much as they do, and how everyone in the family would have taken his injury for him if they could and oh god, I'm crying again. Taylor shows Renney and the coaches images of his break an the rod in his leg, and tells us about how it's a challenge but if he's committed to it he should be able to be completely recovered eventually. As he's saying this, it's panning over all of the Oilers doing their pregame preparations and basically, THIS WILL BE THE THEME FOR THE SEASON.
Renney, pregame speechifying. The camera pans over they keys for the game with the last one being BUILD A SEASON. "No matter what's going on out there stay comitted to the game plan, to each other, and do that right there *points up* and you'll be in great shape. Let's go." The camera pans up to what's written on the locker room wall above the boards. Relentless Together
OILERSSSSSS I LOVE YOU
First game, shots of the fans. Dude bros in Smyth uniforms and fake mullets.Narrator "Hope springs eternal. The players and the fans begin another year." They're playing the Penguins, and are down by a goal for most of the game. The penalty killers, Smid especially, block shots like mofos. RNH scores his first NHL goal- not as pretty as Eberle's last year, but the same kind of goal he's scored since- greasy in front of the net. Smyth is going to love him. Speaking of Smytty, Kunitz takes a run at him and he gets his elbow up and is tossed from the game Everyone in the stands is pissed. It goes to a shootout, Dubnyk stands tall and they win it.
Whitney starts the lockerroom chanting "NUUUUGE!!!" The camera pans over RNH tossing around his first NHL goal puck. Narrator "In this game, expect the unexpected." RNH smiles at the camera.
to be continued...
The first season is available on the Oilers website here and eventually I might recap it but since it's available won't for a while. Go, watch it, and fall in love with this faily team.
The main thrust of the series is that the Oilers are a team in the middle of a rebuild- the have finished last in the league two years in a row and have been able to draft two firsts and other high draft picks. This makes them very skilled, and very young. Add in one of the most motivational coaches in the league (TOM RENNEY, I LOVE YOU!!!), a city crazy about hockey and a legacy of winning and basically, even if you don't like hockey you have a good story about a group of young guys learning to be a great team and growing up together.
And so, Season 2, EPisode 1
Opening sequence! Familiar faces! New guys! To distinguish this from the first season, it is now "Oil Change: Overdrive" Things are getting serious, you guys. Overdrive.
A plane touches down in Minnesota for the draft. 2 first round picks: #1 and another they picked up in the Dustin Penner trade from last year. (AHAHAHAHAHAHA man, we made out like bandits there.) They're looking at another move to get a third top round pick, and it really is interesting to see all the strategizing that goes in to the draft but I just want to shout "DON'T GET GREEDY!" because man. We're doing okay with those two picks already. They talk about how Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is their choice and how he separated himself from the pack, but they love how somebody was willing to stand up and suggest somebody else too. Stu Macgregor says "if we walked away with somebody else, I'd be thinking we'd left something special on the table.:
The draft war room, they announce their choice but ask to keep it in the room to keep it special for everybody. Tom Renny (TOM RENNEY! I LOVE YOU!) is excited. "He can probably play! :D" Tambellini says that yeah, people are going to ask and it's okay if RNH doesn't play in his first year. They don't want to pressure him, and want him to develop into a good player- that said, if he blows the doors off then hell yeah he'll stay up.
Dave Semenko: "And for the record, I'll allow him to wear 27." Bwah! Also, a reminder that Once An Oiler, Always An Oiler.
Draft floor! Taylor Hall is part of the Oilers entourage. He's at the table, and Renney is joke!grilling him about his offseason training. "The nerves belong to someone else," the narration intones. Shots of all the expected high draftees. Hall and somebody are standing with the jersey that they hand to the player, and Taylor jokes "why don't you just unfold it and how everybody?" and dude is all "I like working for the Oilers." Aww dude. So would I. Tambellini announces their choice, RNH makes it to the podium, Bettman asks Hall if he remembers this and he tells him it was all a blur, and when RNH makes it up there Hall congratulates him and says it will be great playing with him. eeeeeee!
Tambellini and Hall talking "what do you think this kid's going to be like for us?" "I think he's going to be awesome. Him passing me the pick is going to be sweet." Oh Taylor Hall. Tambo is all "he does things with the puck that I'm up in the stands and I don't even see." Basically, the sense is that RNH is totally awesomesauce and everyone is excited. Tambo GMs at Hall that there are more pieces coming to the team, they're adding some veterans. They draft yet another Swede, a defenseman, and then comes on of my favourite bits of the entire episode, part of the whole Once An Oiler, Always An Oiler.
Narrator narrates that it's a special moment for the players, but it's also special for their parents. Damn right it is. Three former Oilers have their kids being drafted- Kevin Low and his son Keegan (going to Carolina) "it's like when your children gets married or has a baby or goes off to university," Craig Simpson (son Dillon) "he wanted to be an Oiler, and seeing him put on that jersey was a real special moment," And Frank Musil (son David) to the Oilers as well.
Oilers still trying to get a third first rounder, but no go. You can hear "Go Jets Go!" being chanted in the background. RNH signs autographs, and saying he wanted to go first to Edmonton. He hugs his mom.
(Commercials)
July 1st! Canada Day! Or, more specific tro hockey, the first day of free agency. Oilers HQ is buzzing. Tambo and Lowe are wheeling and dealing. Oilers need to get gritty on the front end, help in the face-off circle and help on defense. Rick Olczyk is on the phone making deals. It's weird because they intercut the deals for at least three different guys here. They want Eager and Belanger for different reasons, and like both as a fit for the team. There's another unnamed player that Tambo definitely doesn't want. "I don't want that guy with our kids. I have not heard good things about him." Aww. I mean, I understand it's mostly about the organization and everything, but aww. Kevin Lowe talks about the weakness of the front end, compared to with how gritty Vancouver is. Basically, it sounds like Burrows will slash you in the face while Eberle will hug you to death. That... sounds about right.
They make a deal with Ben Eager. Yay? He has the grit. Tom Renney call him to say hi, Tambo talks about his emotion and how he's unpredictable and how the Oilers need some of that. Ooooookay. It's a good start to the day this early. Semenko says they still need more for pushback. Of course Semenko wants more toughness, I'd expect nothing less. Renney looks concerned. They lost both JF Jacques and Stortini who, to be honest, didn't push back all that well anyway. They need another guy.
Lowe on the phone "Eager definitely doesn't put Darcy (Hordichuk) out of the box." Renney offers what he's learned, which is pretty much what they knew already: knows how/when/who to fight, will stick up for teammates, knows he needs to be tough, is good with the young players. Seriously guys, I love that the organization is concerned with making sure they young guys will be okay. Ricky is on the phone to try and get Belanger, they're looking at a multi-year deal. He's durable, he sees the ice well.
They sign Cam Barker. ...yay? They trade Kurtis Foster for Andy Sutton. Barker is excited to come to town.
Tambellini walks into the room and is excited. They've signed Belanger to a three year deal, and it seems like an endorsement to the Oilers rebuild- he wants to be here not just for the first year, but is committed to what will be happening in years two and three. People are starting to see that the Oilers are bulding something special and want to get involved. It's been a good day.
(Commerical.)
Early September. The rookie tournament in Penticton is a chance for all the prospects to make an impression on opponents, fans and management. We get our first shot of Taylor Fedun :D: It then cuts back to Edmonton where Ryan Smyth is teaching his son how to skate, and it's one of the most adorable things ever. Smyth says that the city is home, and it's it's been great for them in the past, and they want to get the kids into the schools and part of the community. It's a great place to play hockey and raise a family. Narrator narrates that his return to Edmonton, while a little bumpy, was much better than when he left 5 years ago and it's a happy reunion for everyone concerned. (well, LA was pretty pissed, but whatever. Enjoy Dustin Penner!) He's excited to play with the young guys, and get to the playoffs with them. Tambellini says you can never have enough leadership and that's what Smyth brings to the table.
Everyone assembles for the start of training camp. Renney talks and there are shots of all the players. God, you guys. Listening to Tom Renney talk is amazing. I would go to war for him. 'We made huge steps last year, as much as you could probably argue that, but we did with respect to our culture, our attitude, our point of every single day on what we tried to be, what we wanted to try to do, and what we wanted to be recognized for. When I look at the Oilers and I wonder what the obstacles are for our success. If you're not willing to sacrifice [shot of Ryan Jones on the Vox2 test] , if you're not willing to put yourself out there [fight at the rookie tournament], if you're not willing to lose a little bit of your own identity [training camp] in order to make this team better, in order to help all of us win, if your expectations are just to go out there and do your best, if you think good enough is good enough then quite honestly you won't be here. This is a process now where you're not just sitting on top of the stove, now the element has been turned on. We have to make sure that we take our game, as the cliche would suggest, to a brand new level. And that's everybody- there's nothing like winning, there's nothing like doing something that noone thought you could do, but for God's sake pay attention to why you're here. This is not just good enough any more. We're here to make a statement on behalf of the Edmonton Oilers. If you want to be a champion, take a championship attitude to your game every day no matter what it is you're doing and we'll be fine. Hold yourselves accountable, and be ready to go to work."
Damn. I need a moment. Partly because Tomr Renny talks a lot, and partly because the jaunty music signifies that SHENANIGANS are coming up. \o/ That was getting way too SRS BZNS.
Darcy Hordichuk is putting on the Oilers awesome home jersey, and talks about growing up in rural Saskatgchewan and loving the Oilers. Shots of traingin, fitness testing, picture taking and joking around. A shot of Magnus Paajarvi in his team Sweden sweater, and Ralph Krueger joking about the colour and how they (team Switzerland) could never beat them. Ryan Smyth tells Nycki (I LOVE YOU NYCKI) that Ryan Jones should cut his hair. They go back and forth, and then brohug. RNH has a DVD of the first season of Oil Change, and is texting and Curtis Hamilton (the hipster) is hanging out with him.
Even though everyone's in the organization, there are key battles for certain spots. They interview Corey Potter and, damn. He's an incredibly handsome fellow. I keep getting distracted by the handsomeness.
Sorry. Anyway. Key battles for spots, you know that some guys are guaranteed spots because of their contracts. Taylor Chorney's dream is to play in the NHL and he's very close and knows that this year is going to be the make or break year. Linus Omark want to prove that he should stay up.
Joey Moss Cup! I love Joey Moss.Even though it's an inter-squad game, they seem to be playing for keeps. Tulupov checks Eager in to the boards, resulting in a concussion.
(Commerciala. Damn, this episode is only half over?)
Tulupov says he needs to play tough, and that seems to be how everybody is going forward. It's intense. "Earning a spot on the team means taking it from somebody else," the Narrator narrates. Renney interviews that it's partly because of the youth of the team, and partly about how the Oielrs are redefining themselves. They're learning how to win, even in practice.
First round of cuts, 57 player remain. Preseason games on the same day, split the team up and see what they've got. Games in Edmonton and Saskatoon, and a concert at Rexall place the night before means that the equipment managers have even more work to do. They show Saskatoon, and oh boy. It's Oil Country, and oh man. Narrator narrates that you see everything from "this year's number one draft pick humping equipment," and thank god it just means moving it around because that was more than I'd be willing to watch for this team, seriously. Also, local hero JORDAN EBERLE. Sask!bro tells the camera "he's from Saskatchewan! He's a hometown hero!" in his incredibly thick Saskatchewan accentt.
They show both games, talk about hw everything from coaching, players and training staff are stretched. Tom Renney talks about how the preseason doesn't really give enough time to get much in the way of systems down, and you get a chance to see the free agents still remaining and decide on them. Young players get their first taste of the NHL speed and talent, veterans getting back up to speed and getting the instincts back. Oilers lose a close game to the Wild in Edmonton, and win over the Blackhawks in Saskatoon. Chorney is excited. Trainers haul gear back to Rexall, the OKC Barons staff return home.
They play the Canucks. They figure out lines, they reassign players to the AHL, ECHL and junior teams. They show the exit interview with Tanner House, and he's happy that even if he's getting reassigned, he had a good first camp and knows what he has to do in the future to make it to the NHL. Tom Renney seems impressed, and stresses that it's up to him to keep improving to make it in the future.
(Commercial)
Narrator narrates: "In Edmonton, things re heating up. [shot of the cheerleaders] A home and home against Calgary also finds the Great One in town." guys, GUYS. what happens next is another one of my favourite things. Smyth, Eberle and Hall are dressed up to meet Wayne Gretzky and Ebs tells Smytty that he almost wore the same tie, and jokes that he would have been devastated. Smytty tells him that it's his wedding tie. the narrator tells us that Ebs would have been 8 the first time Smytty wore the tie. SUBTEXT: THE KIDS ARE REALLY YOUNG AND RYAN SMYTH IS OLD. Ebs and Hallsy are introduced to Gretzky. Wayne tells... I'm pretty sure that's Glen Sather, but I don't think it is. Anyway, he says "See! They're young and good looking! What more do you need?" And the other guys says "I said the same thing about you."
Kelly Buchburger says to Gretzky hey, do you want my autograph now or later? Once An Oiler, Always An Oiler.
First Battle of Alberta. I don't think Cam Barker was expecting it to be so... battle-y. Sam Ganger gets a high ankle sprain, worries about last year's plague of injuries returning. They win. The trip down to Calgary in ENEMY TERRITORY. Rematch. Tambellini is really impressed by Taylor Fedun. Many shots of Corey Potter doing things. Oilers win. Shots of the Oilers afterwards chatting with fans, friends, and family. An adorable shot of a little kid meeting Ladislav Smid. Back to Edmonton.
More roster cuts. Tyler Pitlick talks about the text about meetin with coaches. Ready to start the season in OKC. He is adorable in his glasses. Everone is going, and it's bittersweet.
You know what time it is? It's BELANGER TIME. Shot of him walking through the halls of hte arena and getting grabbed by the trainers and them introducing him to the camera. He's adorably embarassed while being manhandled- I guess when he was thinking about the future of the Oilers, he didn't realize that meant being manhandled by everybody. Ooops.
They interview him at home with his wife and his adorable daughters. They're so French-Canadian with cans of maple syrup. He wants stability for his girls since the oldest is in the third grade and has already been in 4 different schools. Rough. They have dance class that night, and he's playing the Coyotes, one of his former teams. The girls are sad because they wanted to go, but they know that there's no hockey on school nights. 85% of the time he can't be there for his girls and it's rough. Seriously, the first time I saw this, I fell in love with the Belangers and I want Eric to stay here long term and have all kinds of success. He leaves to go to the arena, and talks more while driving about how he's going to be called on to be in a leadership role and to teach the young guys, and about making Rexall one of the hardest places to play.
Game time! For the first time in 5 years the Smyth, Horcoff Hemsky line is reunited, but it's the trio of kids that make the big impression. "Up front, at least, the future is looking bright." Shot of RNH smiling.
(Commecial.)
Focus shifts to defense- the team is stacked up front with lots of talent, should have no problem scoring goal, but what of the defense? How will they ever stop the puck from going in to their net???Ralph Kueger: with the speed of the game now, defensemen have to be smarter, know how to think the game and anticipate. when to attack, when to position yourself. There's more experience in the defensive core this year, a higher game and offensive intelligence.
Back to back road games agains Minnesota and Vancouver, they need to pare it down from 9 defensemen, not counting Ryan Whitney who is still recovering from ankle surgery. St. Paul, from the start of the game it gets ugly: Chorney tweaks his knee, Smid injures his shoulder, and oh god. I knew it was coming. They show the Fedun injury, they get him on a stretcher and Tambellini says "no one wants to see an athlete getting injured." and when you see something like that you feel sick to your stomach. You know he's going to have a long, hard road to recovery.
Shot of Tambellini in the hallway arranging for Fedun's family to be flown out to Minnesota. I HAVE ALL THE FEELINGS, you guys. ALL THE FEELINGS.
They fly out to Vancouver with only 6 healthy defensemen so at this point it is only a tryout for the last few forward spots. Unlike the first pre-season game agains them, the Canucks are actually icing a team of NHLers. The young kids prove they can compete, and take the hits- RNH gets trucked, the team jumps to his defense, and he gets all up on Ballard. The next game will count.
Renney, Tambellini and others figure out who's staying up, who is going down, figuring out lines for both the NHL and AHL. Renney is willing to send a message if the third or fourth line is outplaying the top two. They want to get rid of the stigma of the AHL being a demotion instead of a training ground, and Renney asserts that that message is getting through in their organization. Tambellini interviews about how hard it is for players who want to be in the NHL to go to the A even though they know it's what needs to happen for their development. A shot of Ryan O'Marra looking sad and pensieve as he's on his cell, then turning and walking away with his equipment. Aww.
Banff! Teambuilding! Golf!.Tom's all "we have a number of young players here still, and there's an awesome shot of Linus Omark and Anton Lander being all Sweddish bros all over each other. There are still more cuts to be made, but these are the guys that will probably see the most NHL action this year. They'll be evaluating everybody throughout the year. We see everybody hanging out at a lodge in the gorgeous Rockies. Renney "At the end of the day you need to make a decision on who should stay and who should go." Shot of RNH.
(Commercial)
October 9th! My birthday! Game day! Horcoff, being the captain "that's the best thing about the start of the season, there are thirty teams that think they have a chance to win the Stanley Cup, so everyone starts from the same spot and we brought in some more experience.: Basically, there are more veterans around to be leaders so it's not just him, Whitney, Khabibulin and Gilbert.
And again, ALL THE FEELINGS. ALL OF THEM. Narrator narrates "But the opening night dreams of one young man have been put on hold." Talor Fedun is wheeled in to Rexall to meet with the coaches, staff and players before the game. Fedun tells us that he can't think about how great his preseason and training camp had been going, but instead look at his rehab as another challenge and something to test him and to make him better. ALL THE FEELINGS. His dad talks about how when your children are injured you feel the pain as much as they do, and how everyone in the family would have taken his injury for him if they could and oh god, I'm crying again. Taylor shows Renney and the coaches images of his break an the rod in his leg, and tells us about how it's a challenge but if he's committed to it he should be able to be completely recovered eventually. As he's saying this, it's panning over all of the Oilers doing their pregame preparations and basically, THIS WILL BE THE THEME FOR THE SEASON.
Renney, pregame speechifying. The camera pans over they keys for the game with the last one being BUILD A SEASON. "No matter what's going on out there stay comitted to the game plan, to each other, and do that right there *points up* and you'll be in great shape. Let's go." The camera pans up to what's written on the locker room wall above the boards. Relentless Together
OILERSSSSSS I LOVE YOU
First game, shots of the fans. Dude bros in Smyth uniforms and fake mullets.Narrator "Hope springs eternal. The players and the fans begin another year." They're playing the Penguins, and are down by a goal for most of the game. The penalty killers, Smid especially, block shots like mofos. RNH scores his first NHL goal- not as pretty as Eberle's last year, but the same kind of goal he's scored since- greasy in front of the net. Smyth is going to love him. Speaking of Smytty, Kunitz takes a run at him and he gets his elbow up and is tossed from the game Everyone in the stands is pissed. It goes to a shootout, Dubnyk stands tall and they win it.
Click to viewWhitney starts the lockerroom chanting "NUUUUGE!!!" The camera pans over RNH tossing around his first NHL goal puck. Narrator "In this game, expect the unexpected." RNH smiles at the camera.
to be continued...