Oil Kings Go For Jung-ular

OK so it's not the best headline ever but it seemed better than my second choice: Dalyn Flette Takes One in the Jung-k!

For the second time in a week, 19-year-old netminder Torrie Jung has been dealt. First it was from the Kelowna Rockets to the Lethbridge Hurricanes for a 6th round pick in 2010 and now today to the Edmonton Oil Kings for the exact same thing. Official details on the trade can be found here.

I mentioned very recently that I thought the Oil Kings needed to upgrade their goaltending ASAP if they wanted to stay in contention for a playoff spot. In conversation with Millard yesterday, he agreed as long as doing so didn't cost the team a chunk of it's future - like a roster player.

Well The Pipeline Show officially gives this deal two thumbs up because GM Bob Green has addressed the biggest flaw on his roster and has done so without sacraficing anything for the future.

The interesting part now will be to see what the team does with Flette who apparently is out with a foot injury (see update below)... but might now be the 4th best goalie on the team behind Jung, 16-year-old Cam Lanigan and equipment manager Rogan Dean. Millard and I both figure that Flette will end up getting released but he's checking that theory out with GM Green later today.

As for Jung, his career stats aren't exactly earth shattering despite being on a pretty strong Rockets team last year. In two seasons he hasn't had a save percentage over .896 and his best goals against average came last year with a 2.80 in 33 appearances.

Still, it simply has to be a step up from the status quo and that's all you can ask from a GM is to make improvements. Jung was a 7th round pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2007 so at least one NHL franchise believes he has some potential.

I haven't heard if Jung will play tonight against Vancouver but I wouldn't be surprised to hear that play-by-play voice A.J. Jakubec would be willing to drive to and from Lethbridge himself if it would help. The Oil Kings have allowed 5 or more goals in 7 consecutive games (6 or more in the last 3)... and that's got to have been painful on the broadcast crew.

The Giants have had their way with the Oil Kings in their only meeting last year, a 7-0 wedgie which was broadcast on Shaw TV... as is tonight's affair. You can watch the game or hear the terrific play call of Jakubec and Kent Simpson on the TEAM 1260 starting with a pre-game show at 6:30.

Update: Millard had a chance to speak with GM Bob Green a little while ago... Dalyn Flette is expected to be out for about a month with an ankle injury. He's had a MRI done, surgery has not yet been decided on. Cam Lanigan will play in goal tonight for the Oil Kings.