Why Schremp Needs to Stay Up When Gagner and Nilsson Return

Rob Schremp is more receptive to criticism and working hard than ever before. He is on the right path. The Oilers need to be rewarding him and molding him at the NHL level. Mactavish has a player that is dying to be in the NHL and is trying to go beyond the call to do just that. If Mactavish keeps him up, I would be VERY surprised if Schremp doesn't bust his tail for him each and every night.

What I don't want to see is Schremp playing well and getting a ticket back to Springfield. It is his contract year, and he has been working very hard to curb his deficiencies. The Oilers should be looking at keeping #88 in the lineup unless his play really drops. He was superb in the AHL and was an ES producer while also being a decent 2-way player.

Robbie will learn far more at the NHL level this year than he will back in the AHL. It is time for this team to reward Schremp for buying into their plan and working on the areas that he's been asked to work on.

If the coach does this, IMO it will encourage Rob to keep working hard and to become the player that the coach wants him to be.

The kid needs to be given a long look with the Oilers.

Schremp Deserves an Extended Look at the Very Least

Rob Schremp has been dying for a chance to live his dream as an NHL player. He has taken more hard knocks than any Oilers prospect that I can recall in recent memory. But the kid stayed the course, learned from his mistakes, and at the moment looks like one hell of a good young NHL hockey player.

It has long been my belief that what has held Schremp back in the AHL in terms of not producing gaudy numbers was that very few players could think the game at his level offensively. Although I never got to see the Schremp/Nilsson duo in WBS, that was the only guy that Schremp has played with in the AHL that could be considered a similar talent.

Often times I would see him make a smart and quick play that would be wasted because those surrounding him couldn't keep up mentally with his quick decision making skills. He is where he belongs, in the league with the most highly skilled players in the world. And he will only get better, because Schremp has brought his work ethic up to the point that he will be a very successful player in this league. The NHL hasn't seen the best that Rob has to offer yet, but he is coming along.

Watching him grow as a player wearing the Oil drop is something that I had wondered if it would ever happen some days not all that long ago. However I knew that he would be an NHL player, and I knew that he'd be a solid offensive contributor to boot.

But I am so happy that as it stands he could be that player for MY team.

Hana Hou #88!

Hana Hou is Hawaiian for "do it again", or "encore". Rob Schremp certainly opened up some eyes with his play less than 2 days ago, but if he really wants to grab a hold of a roster spot like a Pit Bull grabs its victim, he will need to show more of what he did against Dallas.

Facing friend and former Mississauga and US WJC's teammate Patrick O'Sullivan and the LA Kings could be the defining moment in Schremp's young NHL career to this point. Often times a player plays well in their first NHL game or right after a call-up, however when you can string together a number of good games in a row, it looks more like a pattern than an anomaly.

Here's to hoping that Schremp can do just that and he continues to ignite this teams offensive spark. He definitely got himself some slack from a superb 1st game this season, hopefully he can lengthen that slack to Petersen or Gagner-esque proportions!

Hell Hath Frozen Over, and I Couldn't Be Happier!

It will help global warming, and Rob freaking Schremp SHOULD get a shot in a top 6 role with the Oilers! Emphasis on SHOULD, he deserves it. For all of the crap that he has gotten for having a lone goal in 18 AHL games, he has been a playmaking wizard. To boot, in his last 6 games he's been looking to shoot the puck, and IMO if he gets at least 3-4 games in the clubs top 6 and PP time, he will pot his first NHL goal. He is overdue, and hopefully the Oilers can reap the rewards of Schremp's recent shooting gallery mentality.

While it looks like a temporary callup with Robert Nilsson going down, it is up to Schremp to take advantage of his ice time and make himself a fixture on the team. He will need some help, like not playing with Zack Stortini, but if he gets a chance with some offensive minded linemates, he could really put on a show.

Go get 'em kid, your chance is here, now make the most of it. If you want to be done with the AHL, then play like a mad man full of confidence and refuse to take no for an answer!