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About Mike Cook

Mike Cook spends much of his time writing about politicians and pucks. In addition to his full-time job covering the Minnesota House of Representatives, he does freelance sports writing – including pro and college hockey – for the Associated Press and other entities.

A lifelong resident of the State of Hockey, he grew up a fan of the Minnesota North Stars and still misses Met Center. He looks forward to when his three young children are on skates at 6 a.m. practices.

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2010-11 preview: Edmonton Oilers

Northwest

Written by Mike Cook

Monday, August 30, 2010 00:00

The expectations in Edmonton for rookies Taylor Hall, Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson and Jordan Eberle aren't as high as they seem: Coming off a 27-win season, the Oilers have nowhere to go but up.

• 2009-10: 27-47-8, 62 points, missed playoffs.

• Key additions: Coach Tom Renney, LW Taylor Hall, RW Jordan Eberle, LW Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, D Kurtis Foster, D Jim Vandermeer, C Colin Fraser, G Martin Gerber

• Key losses: LW Ethan Moreau, C Patrick O'Sullivan, LW Robert Nilsson, C Mike Comrie, C Ryan Potulny, RW Fernando Pisani

• Overview:
Now that the Oilers have hit bottom, there is only one way to go. After just one year as an associate coach, Renney takes over behind the bench from Pat Quinn, with the latter becoming a consultant to GM Steve Tambellini. Edmontonians are excited to see what the three recent first-round draft picks can show, including Hall, taken No. 1 overall in June. Paajarvi-Svensson (10th overall in 2009) and Eberle (10th overall in 2009) should help an offense that scored just 206 goals last season, fourth-fewest in the league. A return to health of Ales Hemsky, who played 22 games before shoulder surgery, has to help the offense. Dustin Penner scored 32 goals last year (the only player with more than 17 tallies), and could play with Hemsky and Sam Gagner. Colin Fraser, a talented two-way center acquired from Chicago, scored 19 points in 70 games for the Stanley Cup champions, but should get much more ice time in Edmonton. LW Alexandre Giroux comes to Edmonton as a proven AHL scorer, including 50-53-103 in 69 games with Hershey last season; however, the 29-year-old has just four goals in 31 career NHL games. Foster and Vandermeer will add more experience to an Oilers blue line that still includes the disgruntled Sheldon Souray. The oft-injured 34-year-old, who has appeared in more than 40 games just once in three seasons with Edmonton, asked to be traded in the offseason. Ladislav Smid, who missed the last 20 games with a neck injury, is ready to return. Edmonton lost a league-high 530 games to injuries last season.

• What they’re missing:
Snipers up front and a more clear goaltending picture. Signed to a lucrative four-year deal as a free agent before last season, Nikolai Khabibulin appeared in only 18 games because of a bum back. The 37-year-old is also awaiting sentencing for an extreme DUI conviction in Arizona. Backups Jeff Deslauriers and Devan Dubnyk gained experience last season, and will battle with Gerber for ice time. Gerber, 35, played last season in Russia but has spent time with Anaheim, Carolina, Ottawa and Toronto.

• Players to watch in camp:
Hall and Eberle scored plenty of points in junior leagues and Paajarvi-Svensson joins the club after playing three successful seasons against older players in the Swedish Elite League. Are they ready to lead the team? Gagner, the team's top pick in 2007, has yet to prove he can be the dynamic scorer the Oilers hoped. In his first three seasons, he's averaged 14.7 goals and 29 assists. However, it must be remembered that he is just 21.

HPT is counting down one team each day until NHL training camps open on Sept. 17. Tomorrow: Florida Panthers