Also on Friday Cornell lost out in the NCAA tournament, meaning the season is over for Oilers prospect Riley Nash. To me if Nash isn't on a plane to Springfield right now something is wrong. Nash has played 3 seasons with the Big Red, averaging a point per game during his tenure in the ECAC, in my opinion the 2nd weakest of the big 6 conferences of the NCAA. If Nash returns to school for a his senior season he'll continue to fall down the Oilers depth chart. Anton Lander is close to passing him by if he hasn't already. Chris Vande Velde might do the same with a strong pro season next year while Nash continues his NCAA career.
Now is the time for Nash to take the next step in his hockey development, if that's what he wants. Maybe he's more interested in a college degree then becoming a pro hockey player, and if that's the case then that's fine. But if he wants to eventually play for the Oilers the time is now to make a move. If he plays in the AHL next year, he might be ready in 2011-2012 to join a young hungry Oilers team as a checking/shut down centreman with the ability to chip in offensively.
The Oilers will likely also be watching to see how UND does this weekend, as if the Fighting Sioux are upset, then expect VandeVelde to end up in Springfield and begin his pro career. This is Vande Velde's senior season.
1 comment:
Really impressed with the amount of the talent the Oilers have in the system.
Everyone knows about players like Eberle, MSP, Hall/Seguin and Petry...but players like Nash, Lander and Vande Velde are going to catch some people off guard.
As an Avalanche fan, it's a bad thing, but as a Canadian hockey fan, it's a great thing. Looking forward to what the Oilers future has in store for us.
One thing they are lacking is that top end goalie prospect. Sorry to say, but I don't think Dubnyk or Deslauriers are the long term answer.
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