Conklin to the minors

[PDO]

http://www.edmontonoilers.com/news/index.php?id=137

Prior to beginning a three-game road trip, the Edmonton Oilers have assigned goaltender Ty Conklin to the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) on a conditioning assignment and have recalled goaltender Mike Morrison from the Greenville Grrrowl of the ECHL.

As well, centre Kyle Brodziak has been assigned to the Iowa Stars (AHL).

In two games with Greenville this season Morrison is 1-1-0 with a 3.01 goals-against average and .895 save percentage.

Conklin is 1-1-0 with a 4.39 goals-against average in four appearances with the Oilers this season, while Brodziak, who was recalled following injuries to Oilers? forwards Ryan Smyth and Shawn Horcoff, was scoreless in three games with Edmonton.

The Oilers depart today on a three-game road trip that will see them visit Colorado (October 25), Dallas (October 28) and Nashville (October 29). Edmonton returns home for their fourth consecutive one-game homestand when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, November 1st at 7:00 p.m. at Rexall Place.

The goalie who had the best training camp is back in Edmonton (Being Jussi was hurt). How to be Lowe, this outta serve as both a huge wakeup call to the team and to Conklin!

[Madferret]

Time for a goalie swap
TheFourthPeriod.com

The Oilers have lost six in a row and it appears as if that's about all management can take, reports the Edmonton Sun. According to the paper, Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe has gambled and lost on his goalies, Ty Conklin and Jussi Markkanen, and it's time for a change between the pipes.

As TFP reported earlier in the week, the Oilers had supposedly been speaking with the Washington Capitals regarding defenseman Brendan Witt, however the Sun suggests the Oilers are talking to the Caps about netminder Olaf Kolzig.

Kolzig, 35, is 3-4-0 with the Capitals so far this season, with a 4.09 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage. While the Oilers may also be speaking with the Buffalo Sabres regarding Martin Biron, it's believed that they are shopping the likes of Cory Cross, Radek Dvorak, Alexei Semenov and Georges Laraque, among others.

What do you think Oiler boys? Who would you rather, Kolzig or Biron?

[Max Power]

I like Biron but Oilers can't afford to lose much offence. Oilers are in a tough situation and hopefully they can turn things around soon. Witt and Kolzig would both be great pick-ups also but a what cost?

[MadDevil]

Not even a month into the season and they've already given up on their goaltending? Sounds like it could be a long season for Oilers fans.

Buffalo seems the most likely trading partner for any team looking for goaltending with Biron, Noronen, and Miller at their disposal. The Caps are a team in so much disarray that I think they'd be willing to take pick and/or prospects in return for Kolzig, to give Ovechkin some talent to play with in the coming years. I think the Oilers need to figure out if they're taking a serious run at the Cup this year or next year, or if they want to let some of the younger guys (Hemsky, Torres, Stoll, Semenov, etc) develop for a couple years before taking a run at it. If they think they can make an immediate run, I think Kolzig is a decent addition, but if they want to wait, I think Biron might be better.

[TimmyTabasco]

I like Biron but Oilers can't afford to lose much offence. Oilers are in a tough situation and hopefully they can turn things around soon. Witt and Kolzig would both be great pick-ups also but a what cost?

I'm not sold on Witt in the new NHL.

He is a tough, crease clearing sort of guy. As I mentioned before, check out his PIM. In todays NHL, you need to stay out of the box.

For edmonton..I don't think they need Kolzig, or Biron. Both are very overrated.

Prusek could be available, and could tandem with Markannnen. PLus, he is cheap at under $700,000. Another name mentioned before, is Denis.

[PDO]

Markkanen is 15th among starting goaltenders in SV% and ahead of guys like Brodeur, Turco, Kiprusoff, KOLZIG, Theodore and Nabokov.

Makes absolutely no sense to deal for a goalie, espeacilly an over-rated, old over-paid goalie.

We have 2 needs.. another PP Shooter, and a top 4 defenseman.

Similar to a deal being thrown around in the offseason as a possibility..

To Edm: Viktor Kozlov, Colin White
To NJ: Ethan Moreau, Jani Rita, 2nd rounder.

Your new Edmonton Oilers..

Smyth - Peca - Hemsky
Horcoff - Kozlov - Dvorak
Torres - Stoll - Pisani
Winchester - Reasoner - Laraque
Harvey

Pronger - White
Staios - Smith
Bergeron - Ulanov
Semenov

Markkanen
Conklin

Deal Cross for a pick.

That said deal gives NJ some needs (bigger forward who can pot 20 in Moreau, a guy they apparently like in Rita, and $2,000,000 in cap saves) along with a nice pick. Hard to say if they make the deal (posted at another board and got mixed reactions).

[MadDevil]

Similar to a deal being thrown around in the offseason as a possibility...

To Edm: Viktor Kozlov, Colin White
To NJ: Ethan Moreau, Jani Rita, 2nd rounder.


That deal actually sounds pretty reasonable. When Elias comes back, the Devils will need to get rid of some more payroll, and I think those two, based on the numbers could be on the way out. I'd hate to lose White (mainly because he's the only Devils defenseman who seems to care this year:mad: ), but I understand that this is the salary cap era. Kozlov has also been playing pretty well for the Devils early.

Moreau would help address the lack of depth on the left side, brings a bigger, more physical game to the table, and could be decent with Madden and Langenbrunner on a checking line. Rita seems to be a Devils-type player, and a draft pick is always a good thing with their scouting staff. I could see this one happening in the future...

[Canadian26]

I hope this does serve as a wake up call for Edmonton, but I think ive been saying that for the last 3 games now... I dont know if Lowe is looking to trade already, but that trade PDO does seem very reasonable.

[wildboy26]

With Morrison playing so well right now, it will be interesting if Edmonton even feels a need to bring Conklin back again. Unfortunately for them they are stuck with his NHL-sized contract.