Steve-O:
Meh, don’t really see an issue with a guy wanting to play for his country rather than the minor league team.

I have a feeling that if it was a Canadian, and not in the Oilers system we wouldn’t have a problem with it.

Totally agree..I actually find his honesty refreshing..and to me I don’t blame him. The kids not stupid, and he does have options, and IMHO, the Oilers have utilized him very shittily, although the timing of his injury really hindered any chances he had this year to show any impact he may have had.

I personally believe Omark has the skill to be a very good NHL player…I cringe to think about losing him for next to nothing, but I can hobestly see him turning into a Martin St. Louis type player…maybe not quite as productive but definitely worth alot more than what we’re going to get for him.

Anyways, I digress…the calibre of hockey at the worlds should be just as high as the AHL playoffs and if he prefers to represent his country where he is hero worshipped than I can’t blame him. Big deal.

Steve-O:
Meh, don’t really see an issue with a guy wanting to play for his country rather than the minor league team.

I have a feeling that if it was a Canadian, and not in the Oilers system we wouldn’t have a problem with it.

If it was a Canadian then they’ve been playing on smaller ice, and been facing a more physical game their entire life.

Omark says how much he wants to be in the NHL, but he hasn’t proven enough to hold down a place, playing in the AHL playoffs helps him continue to adjust to the NA ice and physicality.

Either he wants to play in the NHL, or he wants to go back to Europe or Russia. If he goes to the Worlds then I think that he’s done with the NHL, his attitude has already raised questions, refusing to play for the farm team play offs would be the final nail in his NHL career’s coffin.

He can’t crack the roster of the 2nd worst team in the league, and he has an entitlement issue.

I hope he gets more time with Horcoff and Smyth, because they’re covering his ass on defence and he gets two players that will go to the net for garbage and open up space for him. It will be the best chance to evaluate him for the rest of the year.