It's warm enough in Edmonton right now to wear shorts. At least, that's what the fool I saw tonight at the grocery store thought. And, these weren't Bermuda shorts. They were like, sitting-around-the-pool-drinking-beer-and-if-I'm-not-careful-my-package-is-going-flop-out shorts. The endless line of stunned shoppers, mouths agape, watching Spicoli saunter through the store in his shorts and sandals was priceless. Certainly, a potential 2010 Darwin Awards candidate.

On the bright side, Wanye will be happy to know that PowerAde is on sale again, at a drastically reduced price.

Nice story, you just inspired me to visit peopleofwalmart.com again

As an American citizen and a Canadian hockey fan, last night was every bit as fantastic as I could have hoped for...regardless of who won, I was going to come home from the bar drunk and happy. Fast, intense hockey with a ridiculous amount of drama late in the 3rd and in OT. For me, it's ten times better than watching the NHL at this time of year.

To put this win for Team USA in perspective, however, consider this: The only reason the local Ohio bar I was at put the game on was because I, along with 5 Canadians who just happened to be passing through town, asked for it. No one else had a fricking clue what was going on...and that continued throughout the night, as even Carlson's beauty winning goal evoked no sort of emotion from any local folks present. Everyone else was too busy watching Iowa-Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl.

It's hard to be such a diehard hockey connoisseur, as people down this way could give a damn less. It's probably why I find myself cheering for Team Canada over my native country in olympic and world junior hockey. It means so much more to everyone up North than it does State-side. As I put it to my new-found Toronto friend at the bar last night when he asked why nobody cared that their country just won a Gold medal, "Canada losing the Gold is bigger news than the USA winning it."

And as for Eberle, all I can say is CLUTCH.

Willis already did his best to piss on everyone's parade, guess you couldn't resist either, eh?

pissing on what parade? everyone and the dog is circle jerking around their eberle posters now, thumping their chests because he is oiler property.

some are just trying to suggest that perhaps a little caution is in order. maybe let the kid see if he can actually make the NHL and start to produce.....

dont get me wrong, i really, really, hope eberle turns into a great NHL player. problem is, a great junior career or great world juniors does not always equal NHLer...

good point cableguy. Is this city going to overwhelm eberle before he even plays here for real. Nothing like telling a kid everything is riding on him. He's Terry Joneses sweetheart topic right now but what happens when ole TJ turns on the boy? Too many junior players tear it up there, have all these expectations they have a hard time living up to (Alex Daigle) and become footnotes in history. But I can tell already this town is going to ask way too much from this kid from day one. Hope I'm wrong, but history tends to repeat itself.

I'm not into circle jerks, I like to handle that chore myself (I know how I like it!), so count me out of that group. Call it optimism on my part and liking what I see, but don't call it ridiculous expectation that he's the second coming because that's not the case. For once, I see a prospect to really get excited about...and I didn't get very excited about Gags.

We're all well aware that there is caution in order, but why is it that articles like this always seem to come out when the mainstream media speak highly on a certain player/prospect? It's the never-ending fight between the MSM and the bloggers. While I enjoy critique and other theories/opinions out there, it's getting out of hand.

We're all well aware that there is caution in order

have you read some of the stuff on here and other boards? "caution" isnt even in the equation for some, and to raise the thought that maybe, just maybe, eberle might not be the greatest thing since sliced bread is almost looked at as grounds for the bobbit treatment.

perspective tends to go out the window. how many have seen eberle play more than the couple games on TV during the junior tournie? I, for one, can say i have seen him play live once. can i make my stance based on what the talking heads say?

maybe its the years of mediocrity that have jilted my views on things. maybe its all the robbie schremp flashbacks that make me leery.

That's exactly what this city needs again. Every second caller into the radio shows asking "When is Eberle getting called up?" It will be Schrempy mania, the sequel.

Let me know if I have this right...

Eberle is arguably the best player in all the CHL this year; he was Canada's best player in the final last and this year; he was the tournament MVP this year; Tambo claimed him to have created the most in all his time here this preseason; but because Gagner has not lived up to te unreal expectations put on him as a teenager and Schremp was a bust fans are not allowed or supposed to be excited that we may see him in the NHL next year. OK.

we're all sitting here bashing Robbie Shremp, but did anyone see his goal tonight?

"goal of the year so far" - Sportsnet

Gunner, don't think that people who are questioning things aren't excited. What's wrong with a little caution mixed in with anticipation? No one is questioning that the guy has talent, but lets not elect him to the Hall of Fame before his first NHL season.

not right at all.

fans, myself included, should be excited about eberle and what he MIGHT be able to do in the NHL.

SOME are taking it to far. SOME are not even entertaining the idea that maybe, just maybe, it might not work out. SOME are heaping all sorts of stuff on a kid that is 9 months away from MAYBE cracking an NHL lineup for the first time. Hell, some are saying Yzerman should put him on the taxi squad for the Olympics (no lie).

tempered excitement...cautious optimism....

What has EBERLE shown to think that it won't work out? Why do certain people, specifically on this site, have to find the negatives in the few positive things this franchise has going for it right now? The glass doesn't need to be half-empty all the time.

Gunner, you are confusing being realistic with being negative, two different emotions.

"We're all well aware that there is caution in order,"

No, no we aren't. I had to listen to half a dozen guys last night on my beer league team talk about the merits of giving Eberle the C next year.

"Crosby got it pretty quick, so did Toews. Why shouldn't Eberle??"

fair enough.

i dont really view the caution as a negative though. i havent seen anyone suggest he wont make it, but to dismiss the thought is probably foolish as well.

nobody knows the future, and dont get me wrong, i do hope eberle turns into the sniper the oilers have been looking for. i deeply want the oilers to succeed, i wouldnt still be hanging around as a fan after only 1 great season in the last 20 if i didnt hold out some hope.

Because when you don't look at the big picture you get a Rob Schremp situation, which was beyond embarrassing.

Bingo, I think that's the main issue here.

You're lumping us in with the beer leaguers who have no idea what they're talking about? I'm talking about the "we" as in the readers of this site, apparently we aren't on the same page.

Again, those of us with half a brain don't need to have this stuff shoved down our throats. I think you can agree with that, no?

You didn't answer my first question?

Again, those of us with half a brain don't need to have this stuff shoved down our throats. I think you can agree with that, no?

sweet jesus YES!!!

Just because the guys on your beer league team are idiots does not mean every fan is one.

PS. I'm not confused at all.

I don't know about the other sites I've only been looking at this one and from what I've seen the so called realists for the most part on here are actually being negative not realistic looking for any damming evidence they can find to try to come up with a reason Eberle or MPS or Hall will fail and actually seemingly enjoying when they come up with anything.

So what has Eberle, not Schremp, not Gagner, not O'Sullivan, not Pouliot, shown that leads you to be so cautious? Each player is different. Each person is different. I suppose that is why I am not as "cautious" as you.

21 teams passed on him before the oilers picked him 22nd.

go back through the last 20 years and see the % of players picked 20-30 that turn into legit NHL players.

yes, absolutely it happens. there are great players now that have been picked in that range. mike richards, for example, was picked 24th overall, and now makes the olympic team.

problem is, for every mike richards, there is 2 Joe Finley's...

i havent seen eberle play enough in person to make the call either way, hence my caution.

if you have season tickets for the Pats or something and have seen him play first hand enough to make your call, fantastic. If you are basing your view on seeing 10ish junior games on TV over 2 years, thats fine to.

You'll most likely see Eberle in the NHL next year. There's no doubt Oil Fan should be pumped about Eberle. BUT you know there's people thinking he'll probably put up 60-65 points next year. Maybe set the bar a bit lower, say 30-40 points next year. That's doable. And hey, IF he put up mass points, then BONUS RUM's for everybody! Just dial it down a notch (not you specifically, just generally speaking)..

Maybe the past few seasons have made some people a little jaded. I read all the comments and one thing resonates out of all of them, that people still care about the Oilers. If they stopped then sites like this would be empty. Do some of you truly believe that some guys would rather see the Oilers fail just so they could be negative. I think not.

It's not about positives & negatives. It's about reality.

No way that statement is true. No way. Seriously? You're kidding me, right? You did not have to listen to that convo, you're making it up. I don't believe you.

You didn't really answer the question. Also, I haven't really stated any sort of opinion on Eberle but I questioned why people, such as yourself are so cautious. Eberle is not Schremp. He is not Gagner. So maybe, just maybe he will be an impact player. Maybe he won't. Nobody can make that call today.

You mean opinions of reality.

I see I've echoed some sentiments as I catch up. Carry on.

Gunner, what do you expect from Eberle next season in your realistic opinion?

the "why he might not work out" question?

size....footspeed....3rd testicle...

i find it interesting you said "So maybe, just maybe he will be an impact player. Maybe he won't. Nobody can make that call today."

isnt that being cautious?

To make the opening day roster.

~No. That's realistic.

Fair enough Gunner. First goal, make opening day roster and see where it goes from there. I can definitely buy into that.

Schremps awesome goal tonight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfVyrTNESeE

The only reality we have at the moment about Eberle is that he has had a memorable 2 world junior tournaments in a row, that he played 9 games in the AHL and averaged a point per game. That he has 60 pts in 28 games in the Dub this season. That he has been a clutch player, that he was selected by his coach at this years world junior tournament, that he was selected as the top forward and the tournament mvp, that many, many observers who have been around the game longer than any of us are saying he will be impactful in the NHL sooner rather than later...

So what am I missing, what reality are you talking about?...isn't it realistic to think that Eberle will have a successful NHL career?

Thank you for putting what I'm thinking into words.

i think we are on a similar page, just with different views on what cautious and realistic are.

my cautious=your realistic

i think... i dunno... f-ing oilers

I like how the ref is standing right there watching the play and initially waives the goal off...it's becoming an assumption with NHL officials to make that sort of call whenever a borderline no-goal situation occurs. The "intent to blow" rule and the recent phantom goaltender inference calls are further proof of their collective ineptitude. I don't see any intent to blow on the part of officials, I just see them blowing, period.

Problem with that is if the replay is inconclusive, then the call on the ice stands. I would think the NHL would have officials leaning the other direction, more towards calling a good goal.

We are definately on the same page about that last sentence.

Well I tried but as I read it back I see I didn't complete one of my sentences, lol. It should have read his world junior coach chose him as one of the top 3 players on the team.

****marks it on the calendar****

"i think... i dunno... f-ing oilers"

LOL!

I think that sums it all up perfectly. Well done.

These friggin refs better get their crap together before the playoffs start. Not here in Edmonton per se, but in 16 other cities.

see post 77.

I may be confusing talk about career with talk about next year.

WITH EBERLE WE WILL WIN THE CUP!!

there, I said it.