Well, the Oilers Got One Call-up Right Anyway

Congrats to Ryan Potulny on his 2nd promotion to the Oilers. However from where I sit, I'd still like to see Schremp AND Potulny up top. They are Springfield's top 2 forwards, and they could flank Erik Cole while Nilsson shifts to the RW on the Moreau and Pouliot line.

Potulny was the Falcons best player last weekend and deserved the call ahead of Reddox, however Gagner's status was still up in the air and Ryan had an All Star game to participate in. I have to wonder though, if Schremp had been playing and he was the best player on the ice last weekend would it have even mattered?

Prior to missing his last 2 games, Schremp was coming around nicely and he could very well have been the teams top player last weekend. Will there be room for promotion for a player like Schremp is he plays dynamite in Springfield? The Oilers got it right with Potulny, he was the teams top forward so he deserves the shot.

Now it's time for the Oilers to get it right if Schremp plays well and Reddox doesn't. Reddox belongs on the farm, Potulny and Schremp belong with the big club. Get it right management.

Ryan Potulny Scouting Report

When everyone is at their best Potulny is the Falcons 2nd best forward behind Rob Schremp. Everyone knows my feelings on the Schremp situation, and ironically this is my 2nd post on Saturday and the first was making a case for Schremp to get the call.

Now onto the matter at hand. Potulny has been recalled, the Falcons lone representative for the AHL allstar game, and also the teams leading goalscorer and point getter will get his first taste of Oilers hockey. Potulny has been a rock in Springfield since day 1. ES, PK, PP, he's seen it all in Falconland.

Potulny is a pretty good but not great skater, is pretty average in a number of areas including passing, strength, and size. He does a lot of things well, but only a few things really well.

What he does really well:
He gets into scoring position very well.
He goes where he needs to be to put the puck in the net.

Put the puck on net.
He looks to shoot every chance that he gets, he's never met a shot that he doesn't like.

What to expect from Potulny:
A solid but unspectacular player who can be invisible for stretches but then gets into position and pots a goal or gets a good chance.

A better current option that Brule or Reddox. It is my opinion that he has been deserving of the callup before Brule and Reddox. His game will translate better to the NHL than either of the other 2 players at the moment.

Who does he compare to on the Oilers?
2 players come to mind, Shawn Horcoff and Marc Pouliot. Like the 2 players that I'm comparing him to, he loves to get the puck on net. It is my opinion that he doesn't have as good of a shot as Horcoff, but he has a better selection of shots than Horc and isn't as limited to onetime goalscoring as Horcoff is. Unlike the 2 players that I've mentioned above, he isn't in their league in terms of passing ability.

What position has he been playing?
For most of this season he has been a center.

What position will he be playing in Edmonton?
Anything but goal would be my guess under the current coach. He should do well as a winger or center as long as he has a playmaker on his line.

Who would be his ideal Oilers linemates?
A number of players would be solid compliments to Potulny. Penner, Nilsson, Gagner, and Pouliot would be the 4 players that I would see him having the best chemistry with.

Best of luck to #17 Ryan Potulny as he gets a much deserved call from the big club.

Potulny Power!

Ryan Potulny has been the Falcons unsung hero. Playing in the shadow of 2 former 1st round picks, the 24 year old Potulny has gone about his business playing in all situations. And he's done a pretty damn good job at it too.

Once again in the top 10 in AHL goalscoring, Potulny has really looked to put the puck on net and leads the team in goal (13) and shots (82). He has also recently picked up his offensive production with 5-8-13 in his last 10 games.

Potulny is a guy that has a good shot, a shooters mentality, is decent defensively, has a bit of an edge to his game, and is also a respectable 2-way player. I believe that he could be on an NHL roster that isn't as deep as Edmonton's is up front. However he has been biding his time while checkers and offensive players have gotten the call ahead of him.

Like Gilbert Brule, Potulny thought that a new start with a new team could be just what the Dr. ordered. However with 1 measly preseason game under his belt, Potulny hasn't really fared any better with the Oilers than he did with the Flyers.

At this point would it really hurt to give him a shot in Reddox's spot? He's not as fast, but he will pt the puck on net, and you know that he's hungry for an NHL job. Hopefully he'll get a chance this year, if not someone should take a flyer on him next year.