Poddubny had two terrific minor league seasons before his Oiler cup of coffee and then success with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Imagine poor Marc Habscheid or Summanen or any number of those players trying to break into the NHL with the early 80’s Oilers.
Todd Ewen had barely finished up his junior career when the Oilers sent him down the line.Don Barber was still at Bowling Green when the Oilers shipped him off in 1985.Raimo Summanen was once touted as a natural winger for Gretzky before that other Finn came along.Marc Habscheid struggled mightily to make the Oilers several times before finding a home in Minnesota and then Detroit.Gord Sherven played about half a season with the Oilers before heading out of town.Walt Poddubny played 4 games as an Oiler, and 464 more in other NHL cities.Some of those players went on to have some impressive careers: The Oilers of the 1979-88 era (as described by my friend) sent away many prospects who couldn’t make the big team. the qualified players who aren’t being put to use sign in Europe (as Omark and Hartikainen have done recently).the qualified players who aren’t being put to use are lost on waivers.the qualified players who aren’t being put to use are traded for futures or a current need.
0 kommentar(er)
