JF Jacques Isn't Roster Filler, He's a Big Part of the Oilers Future, Honestly!

Quite frankly, I'm tired of constantly seeing people crap on the kid. Yeah he had an O for forever in terms of points, and yeah he may not have been very good in his time with the Oilers for a few seasons, but he is what the Oilers need going forward, and he is the opposite of what the Oilers have had too much of. What he brings to the table is a BIG and powerful winger on a cheap contract that is willing to play a physical game. A young Ethan Moreau if you will, minus the dumb penalties, maybe a little leaner on the offense, but a lot bigger and stronger.

And unlike Ethan, he doesn't cost over $2 million a year. He is what we need, a guy that makes an honest living while knocking heads and allowing the lions share of the pay to go to the offensive impact players, our solid blueline, and Shawn Horcoff :)

Going forward we need size and toughness in the bottom 6, he is a great compliment to Stortini, and he's young enough to grow with our core. Unlike Liam Reddox, he can really change the tempo of a game with a monstrous hit or a fight.

Before running this guy off, let's enjoy having someone that can knock some heads and doesn't cost so much that we are relegated to playing scrubs in the top 6 because our bottom 6 is seen as the teams biggest keys to wins and losses.

If he plays a regular shift across from Stortini next year, I expect to see both hit double digits in goals and combine for 2/3's of a hell of a 4th line going forward. Let's all remember that he played his best hockey after being out for an eternity with a major back injury and the resulting surgery. The Crazy Train maybe running late, but he's on his way to better things as a player, and hopefully better things as an Oiler.

The Crazy Train is Set to Roll Again

I got some great news yesterday, Jean Francois Jacques is set to return to the ice as early as next week. Jacques has been sidelined with a back injury that required surgery. He hasn't played a pro game in more than a year. The injury occurred in a fight on January 21st 2008 against former Worcester Sharks defenseman Brennan Evans.

Ironically the game that he could be returning in on Friday is against the same Worcester Sharks. Brennan Evans has since moved on to Anaheim's farm team the Iowa Chops, and one would have to anticipate that Jacques will slowly work himself back into the physical game to see how his surgically repaired back holds up.

The Falcons could certainly use a healthy Jacques in the lineup as outside of Guillaume Lefebvre they don't have any big and physical forwards that can really terrorize opposing d-men. I would also like to see Jacques in front of the net on the PP. The Falcons PP is a putrid 15% and change and sits in the bottom 6 in the entire AHL.

The game on Friday will be a huge one for the Falcons of they expect to gain any traction heading forward as a potential playoff contender. The Falcons dropped a heartbreaker to Worcester on Friday after giving up the tying goal late and then the GWG in OT while short handed.

I would assume that Jacques is on a 2 week conditioning stint although it might make the most sense for the Oilers to waive him to send him down right now as a team might be more hesitant to pick up a guy that's been out with a major injury for over a year than a guy that was out over a year and looks good after a 2 week conditioning stint.

Either way it is a great time for JF Jacques and for the Falcons to get one of their best players back from last year. Best of luck to the big guy, and may he feel healthy again and continue his quest to reach the NHL on a fulltime basis.

Oilers Top 20 Prospects, #11 Lw Jean-Francois Jacques

The forgotten one this season, Jacques either has had or will have back surgery soon. This has stalled his development and NHL aspirations for the moment. The Falcons could certainly use his size, physical play, and presence in front of the net this season.

While Jacques hasn't translated any offense to the NHL, his mix of size, speed, and willingness to look for the big hit still has him looked upon as one of the Oilers most intriguing prospects. His upside may be that of a 3rd line banger, but being part of a organization that has a 3rd line banger who wears the C on the big club, is that such a bad thing?

Jacques back injury could scare other teams from trying to claim him on waivers after he likely gets sent down for conditioning duty upon his potential return from injury. That could be a very good thing as this season and next training camp will probably be the determining factors in his future or lack there of with the Oilers.

Unlike many people who have given up hope with "The Crazy Train", I still believe that he will be a serviceable player that eventually plays a similar role to Ethan Moreau or Mike Grier with the Oilers.

For now, we will have to wait and see whether or not The Crazy Train will roll again and demolish everyone in his tracks. For his sake and the Oilers, I certainly hope that the 6'4" 217lb. train will be rocking the boards in the near future once again like only JF Jacques can.