Oilers Place Pisani on IR; Recall Jacques and Gilbert

[Smerri1029]

The Edmonton Oilers have placed Fernando Pisani on the NHL Injured Reserve List and recalled defenceman Tom Gilbert and left winger Jean-Francois Jacques from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League.

Pisani has missed the first three games (February 13-17) of the Oilers current season-high seven-game road trip due to a concussion suffered in Edmonton’s 5-1 win versus Atlanta on February 11th at Rexall Place. Pisani has scored 11-10-21 with 28 PIM in 56 games this season and leads the Oilers in plus/minus at +5.

Gilbert and Jacques are both among the top ten scorers with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season. Gilbert, a 6’3”, 210-pound native of Bloomington, Minnesota, who signed a two-year contract with the Oilers on July 20, 2006, is currently eighth on the Penguins scoring list with 4-23-27 and 32 PIM in 45 games. He is third on the team in plus/minus at +10 and has scored one shorthanded goal.

This is Gilbert’s second recall to the Oilers this season. He was first recalled on January 9th and made his Oilers/NHL debut on January 10th at San Jose. He also played at Minnesota on January 16th before being returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on January 20th. He is scoreless and +1 in his two games with Edmonton this season.

Jacques began the season with Edmonton and has split the season between the Oilers and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Oilers third choice (2nd round) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, was scoreless with 14 penalty minutes in 19 games with Edmonton this season.

He ranks 10th in scoring with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with 9-15-24 in 22 games with the AHL Penguins. Three of his nine goals have been scored on the powerplay and he is +5 with 34 penalty minutes.

Both Gilbert and Jacques will join the Oilers in Ottawa, where Edmonton plays the Senators on Tuesday, February 20th in the fourth game of the team’s season-high seven-game road trip.

[pondhockey]

Stortini and Crazy Train playing together is good news for Oiler fans

[Flames_Suck44]

I call J.F. Jacques "The Slug." Heard Rod Phillips say it once and it stuck. He's played 20 games and done nothing except get beat by Kevin Bieksa.

Pisani got rocked by Sutton, so that isn't anysurprise there, but it was a bad move bringing up Jacques with Stortini around. I love Stortini, but he has stolen Winchester's thunder a considerable amount since he came around, and although I don't care about J.F., my guess is that Stortini will do the same to him.

With the playoffs out of reach, I say bring up someone new. We don't need to give the non-offensive players a shot anymore; they got us where we are today. Cut your losses and plan ahead for next year.

[DynamiteK]

man, the season aint over yet. we have plenty of games left against minn, keep the faith man

[Flames_Suck44]

I should probably correct myself...

I come off sounding pessimistic, but you have to think back to last year and how a few breaks can get you somewhere.

I just think that the Oilers need another approach to winning, even if they need to take a big risk this year,

[CanadianCrusher]

Originally Posted by DynamiteK

man, the season aint over yet. we have plenty of games left against minn, keep the faith man

Its nice to see someone else still holding out hope.
THe Oil have a limited fan base on these boards and half of those are the bigest naysayers(Reminds me of Barry Melrose)When the Oilers are up , theyre the greatest thing since sliced bread.When theyre down, its like theyre the old version of the LA Clippers.

[Brash_Fan]

This will probably mean that Bonvie will get more icetime down in WBS

[IhateLindros]

I was at the Soundtigers/Wilkes Barre game last night and JF Jaques nearly killed Tomas Malec with two huge checks. The guy was out there running people like it was his buisness. He even took out Malec and the ref in one shot. I haven't seen much of him, but after watching him play yesterday, I'd say it's a good move for the Oilers.

[Thrillhouse]

Originally Posted by IhateLindros

I was at the Soundtigers/Wilkes Barre game last night and JF Jaques nearly killed Tomas Malec with two huge checks. The guy was out there running people like it was his buisness. He even took out Malec and the ref in one shot. I haven't seen much of him, but after watching him play yesterday, I'd say it's a good move for the Oilers.

He was somewhat disappointing with the Oilers. He had a few big checks but wouldn't keep it up on a consistent basis. After seeing what Stortini has done to keep his job, you gotta think JFJ will do what it takes to win a spot; that means lots o' hitting.

[Flames_Suck44]

Jacques is a less than mediocre grinder. Forget him. Stick with Stortini in that role.

...And if the Oilers did make the playoffs (somehow), like the almost always manage to do, they wouldn't be as deserving as other teams in the league. As much as I would love to see them go on another run, as it easily was the greatest time period of my life, the Cinderella team usually loses (One of the few Mike Brophy points I agree with). It is all about who wants and deserves it more.

And what's the point of having just another "Squeek into 8th and lose in the first round" season? Let's reform the roster, and who knows, if they do it fast enough the team might get the help it needs (Think Roloson, Samsonov, and Spacek last year) and go on a legitimate run.

It would just be a shame, though, to keep on trudging through the last quarter of the season with the lack of offense they have now.

[Smashing Machine]

I had a feeling Pisani got his brain rattled by the Andy Sutton hit.

He looked like he was dead.

[Flames_Suck44]

Originally Posted by Smashing Machine

I had a feeling Pisani got his brain rattled by the Andy Sutton hit.

He looked like he was dead.

Evaluating his play this year, it doesn't make much of a difference.

[Snipes19]

I'm glad they recalled Jacques. He's a big guy and he can play a physical game of hockey night in and night out. He's known for throwing his body around and making a few big hits every game, so let's hope he does exactly that while he's up in the NHL. Not to mention he can also drop the gloves, and he's not a bad fighter... with Stortini and Jacques on that 4th line, the Oilers should be dishing out a few big hits every game. Their team is starting to look pretty tough.

[OilersHockey]

Originally Posted by Wes McSnipes

I'm glad they recalled Jacques. He's a big guy and he can play a physical game of hockey night in and night out. He's known for throwing his body around and making a few big hits every game, so let's hope he does exactly that while he's up in the NHL. Not to mention he can also drop the gloves, and he's not a bad fighter... with Stortini and Jacques on that 4th line, the Oilers should be dishing out a few big hits every game. Their team is starting to look pretty tough.

On any given night, the oilers can now dress six legitimate middleweight/light heavies:

Jason Smith
Matt Greene
Brad Winchester
JF Jacques
Zack Stortini
Mathieu Roy


I'd put those six guys up against ANY other team's top six in a line brawl... sure, we don't have a true heavy... I understand that... but in a physical game with 5 of those 6 guys dressed, I'm not worried at all...