lingzi
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Holding the first pick in the draft for the third straight season, the Edmonton
Oilers are accumulating plenty of high-end talent, but remain a long way from a
playoff berth. Coby Fleener Jersey . Off-Season Game Plan
examines the Oilers roster and what moves they might make this summer as they
try to start moving out of the lottery process. Already stocked with skilled
young forwards, the Oilers are more likely to listen to trade offers for their
number one pick, but its not going to be easy to pry away a young, top pair
defenceman, even for the possibility of landing Nail Yakupov in the draft. That
doesnt mean that GM Steve Tambellini shouldnt investigate the possibilities,
however. Ask the Ducks about Cam Fowler, the Devils about Adam Larsson, the
Coyotes about Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the Islanders about Travis Hamonic and so
on. (While were tossing out fanciful names, how about the Rangers Marc Staal,
Winnipegs Zach Bogosian or Washingtons John Carlson?) Those calls may go
nowhere, but if the Oilers are prepared to part with the top pick, it would have
to be a for defenceman that can be a part of their core going forward and,
ideally, a first-round pick that the Oilers can use to stock the prospect
shelves. Of course, the Oilers also have assets, other than the first overall
pick, that they could move in order to improve their blueline. Surely there
would be a market for Sam Gagner, Magnus Paajarvi and Linus Omark, among others,
that could yield a defensive upgrade. While the Oilers are killed for their
defence, they allowed 30.7 shots per game, which ranked 19th in the league and
that average was down to 29.3 per game in the last 24 games of the season, so
there is some progress. That doesnt mean there isnt plenty of room for
improvement, just that the top pick in the draft doesnt have to be the only chip
played in order to achieve that improvment. After winning the draft lottery,
Tambellini said, ””We articulated a plan two years ago that we felt we had to
develop and draft our own. We knew that in our market that we werent going to
attract the A-plus free agents just to come without us being a good hockey club.
We know that this is our only way to really, as a core, to get better.” The
Oilers core is exciting and there is potential for long-term success, but at
some point, the potential needs to become reality. “If I have an option to get a
solid pick and someone to help the current club, I have to strongly look at
that,” Tambellini told the National Post. “You listen to comments from players
post-season. I think Taylor Hall was saying, Yeah, weve got these good young
kids, but I want to win. I want to show we can win in this city now. Thats
leadership.” The other issue for the Oilers to deal with is whether or not Tom
Renney will still be the one calling the shots behind the bench. That decision
hasnt been made public yet, so there remains a door open to possible change but,
considering how much the Oilers need to improve to catch the playoff teams in
the West, the coach isnt likely to make or break this team next season. That
means the Oilers shall continue their process of upgrading the talent on their
roster and hope that the 2012-2013 season shows at least the same kind of
improvement that they registered last season (a 12-point improvement from 62 to
74 points). The TSN.ca Rating is an efficiency rating based on per-game
statistics including goals and assists—weighted for strength (ie. power play,
even, shorthanded)—plus-minus, hits, blocked shots, giveaways, takeaways,
penalty differential and faceoffs. (Stats are listed in this format: G-A-PTS,
/, PIM, GP). Generally, a replacement-level player is around a 60, a top six
forward and top four defenceman will be 70-plus and the biggest stars will be
over 80. Evgeni Malkin finished at the top of the regular season ratings with a
93.12. Salary cap information all comes from the indispensable www.capgeek.com.
GM/COACHSteve Tambellini/Tom Renney Returning Forwards Player Rating GP G A
PTS / Cap Hit Jordan Eberle 77.35 78 34 42 76 4 $1.158M Taylor Hall 75.36 61
27 26 53 3 $3.75M Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 72.45 62 18 34 52 -2 $3.775M Ryan Jones
64.17 79 17 16 33 -7 $1.5M Ales Hemsky 63.10 69 10 26 36 -13 $5.0M Shawn Horcoff
60.95 81 13 21 34 -23 $5.5M Ben Eager 57.37 63 8 5 13 -1 $1.1M Eric Belanger
56.76 78 4 12 16 -13 $1.75M Anton Lander 53.29 56 2 4 6 -8 $900K Free Agent
Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS / Class 11-12 Cap Hit Sam Gagner 67.65 75 18
29 47 5 RFA $2.275M Ryan Smyth 67.16 82 19 27 46 5 UFA $6.25M Lennart Petrell
55.38 60 4 5 9 -10 UFA $900K Darcy Hordichuk 52.38 43 1 2 3 -3 UFA $825K While
talk of the Oilers bright future centres on their first overall picks, their top
scorer last season was Jordan Eberle, drafted 22nd overall in 2008. He had some
good fortune, scoring on 18.9% of his shots, but there is a lot to like about a
slick, skilled winger who can get to the net like Eberle. Taylor Hall is more of
a driving force than Eberle, a stronger physical presence who drives hard to the
scoring areas, but the overriding concern with Hall is that both of his first
two seasons have been shortened by injury. Hes undergone shoulder surgery and
his recovery could take him right up until training camp, so its conceivable
that early returns next season may reflect a summer spent on rehab rather than
training for the upcoming season. Last years number one pick,
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, played very well in his rookie campaign, though shoulder
injuries left him on the shelf for 20 games. As he matures, Nugent-Hopkins
should better be able to handle the NHL grind, but his vision and instincts seem
to assure that the poised teen will always be able to put up points. An energy
winger who has contributed 35 goals over the last two seasons, Ryan Jones is a
valuable checker who enhances his value with his nose for the net. The Oilers
took a certain amount of risk by deciding to sign RW Ales Hemsky to a contract
extension. Hemsky had one of his worst seasons, certainly his least productive
since the lockout, yet his experience allows him to handle tougher assignments
than those that have been typically assigned to Edmontons trio of young scorers.
If Hemsky can rebound, hes the kind of playmaker that can make those around him
more productive. Veteran centre Shawn Horcoff gets paid big money and gets
saddled with more defensive zone starts and high quality of competition (via
www.behindthenet.ca), but the results havent been great. Until the Oilers are
willing to let young centres take on more responsibility, though, Horcoff is the
guy who gets those minutes, for better or for worse. As enforcers go, Ben Eager
is skilled enough to take a regular fourth-line shift. He moves well for a big
man and can bang bodies on the forecheck as a result, with decent enough hands
around the net to chip in 33 goals in the last four seasons. Checking centre
Eric Belanger had been rather consistent, scoring between 33 and 41 points for
eight straight seasons, before managing just 16 points in 2011-2012. Hes 34, so
maybe its fair to expect a decline, but Belanger should be able to provide more
than he did last season. Of course, that can be dependent on linemates and
opportunities, but Belanger gives the Oilers some flexibility down the middle.
Anton Lander was overmatched as a 20-year-old in the NHL and could probably use
more time in the AHL to polish his game and prepare for a role as a third-line
centre. There will be other young forwards competing for a spot, including
Magnus Paajarvi, Teemu Hartikainen and Linus Omark, so Lander might develop more
playing significant minutes in the AHL for a season. On February 2, 2012,
Sam Gagner had a night for the ages, netting eight points against the Chicago
Blackhawks, prompting talk of a breakthrough for the talented 22-year-old.
However, after finishing the season with seven points in the final 23 games,
Gagner ended up with 47 points on the season, falling between 41 and 49 points
like he has in every one of his five NHL seasons. As it is, Gagner is a capable
second-line centre. 33 centres scored 50 points or more, so if Gagner is just
outside that group, hes still doing enough to fit in the top six. At the same
time, since he scored 49 points as an 18-year-old, expectations are that Gagner
should be able to score more than he has and maybe its a matter of finding the
right mix among Oilers forwards. Whether the Oilers welcome Ryan Smyth back into
the fold could come down to cost, again. Smyth wanted to return to Edmonton last
year and was very productive early (scoring 24 points in his first 25 games),
but as the season went on, his production faded. Even though Smyth logged heavy
minutes for the Oilers, there may not be room for him in the top six if Edmonton
selects an NHL-ready forward with the first pick. If Eberle, Hall,
Nugent-Hopkins, Hemsky and Gagner are top six forwards, that leaves one more
opening and if Smyth isnt going to be the one filling that spot, it could be
difficult for the Oilers to justify his price tag, whatever it may be. If
Yakupov is added to that mix, well, the Oilers would certainly be young up
front, but there would be many options to mix and match between scoring lines.
Adding to the youthful mix, Edmonton also has prospects Magnus Paajarvi,
Teemu Hartikainen and Linus Omark bucking for regular duty. There is reason for
hope and optimism with all these young forwards, yet there is also a lot more
risk, so it wouldnt be shocking to see the Oilers add an inexpensive veteran or
two on the lower end of the forward lines. Returning Defence Player Rating GP G
A PTS / Cap Hit Corey Potter 66.60 62 4 17 21 16 $775K Ladislav Smid 66.24 78
5 10 15 4 $2.25M Andy Sutton 64.66 52 3 7 10 +5 $1.75M Ryan Whitney 64.63 51 3
17 20 -16 $4.0M Nick Schultz 60.60 82 1 6 7 -12 $3.5M Free Agent Defence Player
Rating GP G A PTS / Class 11-12 Cap Hit Jeff Petry 66.95 73 2 23 25 -7 RFA
$1.0M Cam Barker 60.75 25 2 0 2 0 RFA $2.25M Theo Peckham 60.32 54 1 2 3 0 RFA
$1.075M There are few areas on any team in the league with such a glaring need
as the Oilers defence corps. That isnt to suggest there arent NHL-calibre
defencemen on hand, but none of them is particularly suited to be top pair
defenceman, so the need to somehow acquire a premier blueliner hangs over the
team. Of those already on the roster, the Oilers got nice value out of
Corey Potter, a 28-year-old puck-moving defenceman who had played a total of
nine NHL games prior to last season. He could play less, but is currently an
inexpensive 20-minute-a-night option. Ladislav Smid is developing into a quality
shutdown defender. He scored a career-high 15 points last season and was a plus
player despite taking on the oppositions best lines on a nightly basis.
37-year-old Andy Sutton can be a suspension waiting to happen, but there are
benefits to having a 6-foot-6, 245-pound defenceman with a nasty disposition.
Hes not playing 20 minutes per game anymore, but Sutton can do his part on the
third pairing. Ongoing ankle problems have derailed Ryan Whitneys career,
limiting him to 86 games over the last two seasons. When healthy, Whitney is the
best quarterback for the Edmonton power play, only the risk that hell be out of
the lineup has to drive the Oilers to keep improving the defensive unit as a
whole, so that they dont miss a beat without Whitney. In the Oilers efforts to
upgrade their blueline, they traded to get Nick Schultz from Minnesota. While
Schultz has played in a defensive role against tough competition for a long
time, he didnt come cheaply, costing Edmonton Tom Gilbert who, for all his
flaws, still might have been Edmontons most reliable blueliner. If Edmontons
defence is going to show improvement, they will need Schultz to be a big part of
their shutdown effort. Jeff Petry played his first full NHL season and the
24-year-old impressed. Hes a strong skater with good size and made better
decisions with the puck as the season progressed and he was handed more
responsibility. If there is someone on the Edmonton defence that could be a
25-minute per game defenceman, Petry is the most likely candidate. Being the
third overall pick in 2004 is something that Cam Barker cant escape and it makes
his struggle to stick as an NHL regular so noteworthy. Considering his price tag
and minimal contribution, it would seem likely that Barker doesnt receive a
qualifying offer from the Oilers. As a seventh defenceman who provides
toughness, Theo Peckham can fill a role for the Oilers and hes 24, so he could
still develop into a solid regular who packs a punch when need be. Returning
Goaltender Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV Cap Hit Nikolai Khabibulin 68.47 40
12 20 7 2.65 .910 $3.75M Free Agent Goaltender Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV
Class 11-12 Cap Hit Devan Dubnyk 70.32 47 20 20 3 2.67 .914 RFA $800K The record
shows that Nikolai Khabibulins 2.65 goals against average and .910 save
percentage were his best marks since joining the Oilers three years ago, though
he put up great numbers early (.935 SV% through the end of November) and then
fell back significantly for the rest of the season, eventually losing time to
Devan Dubnyk. With one year remaining on Khabibulins ill-advised contract, he
could be shopped, but is most likely an insurance policy in case Dubnyk cant
handle the number one job. Dubnyk has taken some time to develop since being
selected in the first round in 2004, but a .915 save percentage in 82 games over
the last two seasons suggests its time to take off the training wheels to find
out if he can handle a starters workload. With a heavier workload after the
All-Star break, Dubnyk posted a .919 save percentage in 24 games and, at
6-foot-6, hes got the imposing size of the modern goaltender. There is always
unpredictability with goaltending, particularly with young puck stoppers, and
how Dubnyk plays could go a long way towards determining the Oilers fate. If he
stops 92% of the shots he faces, they could make dramatic gains in the
standings. If he stops 90%, the Oilers could be lining up for another first
overall pick, so whats most important for the Oilers, long-term, is finding out
if Dubnyk is the guy that they can count on to carry this team for 55-60 games.
Top Prospects Player Pos. Team/League Stats Magnus Paajarvi LW Oklahoma City
(AHL) 7-18-25, +8, 34 GP Oscar Klefbom D Farjestads (SEL) 2-0-2,-1, 33 GP
Linus Omark RW Oklahoma City (AHL) 6-10-16,+4, 18 GP Teemu Hartikainen LW
Oklahoma City (AHL) 14-18-32,+1, 51 GP Tyler Pitlick C Oklahoma City (AHL)
7-16-23,-1, 62 GP Martin Marincin D Regina (WHL) 11-29-40,-7, 58 GP David Musil
D Vancouver (WHL) 6-21-27,+9, 59 GP Colten Teubert D Oklahoma City (AHL)
2-8-10,+7, 46 GP Martin Gernat D Edmonton (WHL) 9-46-55,+41, 60 GP Tobias Rieder
LW Kitchener (OHL) 42-42-84, +22, 60 GP Magnus Paajarvi went through a sophomore
slump, not scoring a goal in his first 33 games, which resulted in a demotion to
the AHL, but all is not lost. Paarjavi is a strong two-way player already, so he
can contribute even if hes not scoring. It would be nice if he would score
20-plus goals (he tallied 15 as a rookie), but in the meantime, there should be
a role for Paajarvi to fill in Edmonton again next season. Defenceman
Oscar Klefbom has been playing against men in the Swedish Elite League for two
seasons and while reports have been favourable on his combination of size and
skill, Klefbom has a total of four points in 56 games over the last two seasons,
so more seasoning is likely required before he can be an impact player, even for
the defence-hungry Oilers. Linus Omark played sparingly in 14 games for the
Oilers, scoring three goals and, after being sent down to the AHL and missing
time with a broken ankle, is growing frustrated with Edmonton, it seems. Hes
skilled enough to play in a scoring role. The question is whether it will be in
Edmonton or elsewhere. Big winger Teemu Hartikainen has compiled 10 points in 29
games with the Oilers over the last couple seasons and he should have a leg up
in competition for a job next season. Hartikainen can be a physical presence and
that alone can earn him playing time on a checking line. Hes only 20-years-old,
so theres no rush to judgment, but Tyler Pitlick may not be a scorer at the next
level after managing 23 points as an AHL rookie. Pitlick still has time to
develop and earn a scoring role in the minors before hes given a chance in the
NHL. A lanky defender with lots of skill, Marincin has high upside, but plenty
of risk if he cant refine his game. A few years in the AHL should tell the tale.
David Musil is a safer prospect who doesnt have the potential of Marincin, but
is easier to project into a shutdown role when he is ready for the NHL. Physical
blueliner Colten Teubert got an extended audition with the Oilers, seeing action
in 24 games, but his ice time was managed so that he didnt have to face the most
difficult opposition. The 22-year-old is closer to the NHL than any other
blueline prospects, so he could see time this season, but he could also use
another full year of AHL development. Tall Slovakian defenceman Martin Gernat
could be a bargain, taken with a fifth-round pick in last years draft. He needs
to round out his defensive game, but he has time and the skills to make it worth
the wait. German-born Tobias Rieder was a fourth-round pick in 2011 and enjoyed
a strong season in the Ontario Hockey League, scoring 84 points in 60 games,
then adding 13 goals and 27 points in 16 playoff contests. He has skills to
potentially be an offensive contributor with a few years of seasoning.
Goaltender Tyler Bunz, left winger Curtis Hamilton and defencemen Jeremie Blain
and Brandon Davidson also add to the Oilers organizational depth. DRAFT1st –
Nail Yakupov, trade down. FREE AGENCYAccording to www.capgeek.com, the Oilers
have approximately $41.0M committed to the 2012-13 salary cap for 14 players.
Check out my potential 2012-2013 Oilers roster on Cap Geek here. Needs: One top
six forward, one or two top pair defencemen. What I said the Oilers needed last
year: Two top nine forwards, depth forwards, one top four defencemen. They
added: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Eric Belanger, Ben Eager, Lennart Petrell,
Anton Lander, Darcy Hordichuk, Jeff Petry, Corey Potter, Cam Barker. TRADE
MARKET No. 1 pick, Sam Gagner, Magnus Paajarvi, Linus Omark, Nikolai Khabibulin.
Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter
at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on
Facebook. Andrew Luck Elite Jersey . The right-hander
will miss his scheduled start for the Texas Rangers on Saturday at Toronto due
to personal reasons. Pat Angerer Jersey . Zhu Jun, who reportedly
visited Drogbas native Ivory Coast last week, said the 34-year-old was joining
the club, but said no date for his arrival has been set and refused to discuss
terms of his contract, the official Xinhua News Agency said. http://www.coltsteamstore.com/andrew-luck-jersey
. —Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia doesnt expect Bobby Abreu to be a
distraction in the clubhouse this season. Reggie Wayne Jersey . Cam Fowler and Bobby
Ryan each added a goal and an assist for the Americans, while Alex Goligoski and
Jeff Petry also scored. Ivo Ruthemann and Morris Trachsler replied for the
Swiss. Andrew Luck Womens Jersey . – Steven Shipley
scored the lone shootout goal and Jordan Binnington made 46 saves as the Owen
Sound Attack beat the Windsor Spitfires 5-4 in Ontario Hockey League action
Thursday.EL SEGUNDO, Calif. —The seed was planted in Drew Doughtys mind long
before he got this close to the summit. As a kid who grew up worshipping the Los
Angeles Kings, the slick defenceman always envisioned himself helping lead the
organization to a Stanley Cup. In fact, general manager Dean Lombardi made it
clear that was part of his expectation when he selected Doughty second overall
in 2008. “Before I was even drafted I had a ton of meetings with the L.A. Kings
staff,” Doughty recalled Sunday at the Kings practice facility. “Every single
one of those meetings, Dean always brought it up to me: `Are you going to be
that guy to help us win that first Stanley Cup in franchise history? “My answer
was always Yes.” The Kings are oh-so-close to making it a reality. With a pair
of 2-1 overtime victories over the New Jersey Devils to open the championship
series, Los Angeles flew back across the continent with an opportunity to wrap
it up at Staples Center. This is bordering on fantasyland stuff for Doughty, who
grew up in London, Ont., as a Kings fanatic and owned small black-and-silver
replica sweaters bearing the names “Gretzky” and “Hrudey.” Those two men were
key players in the Kings only other previous trip to the Stanley Cup final,
which ended with a five-game loss to Montreal in 1993. The current group has
gone further than any team in the franchises 44-year history, having won 14
games this post-season. Doughtys contributions have been impossible to ignore
throughout the playoffs and hes taken it to another level at the most important
time—logging a team-high 32 minutes of ice time in Game 2 and scoring a
highlight-reel goal to boot. “Im having a lot of fun right now,” said Doughty.
“This is the biggest time of the year. I know in order for our team to be
successful, Ive got to be the best defenceman on the ice every night. “Even
though I put that pressure on myself, Im having fun. I think thats when Im at my
best.” Of course, this has been anything but a fairytale season. A contract
dispute kept Doughty out of training camp—the US$56-million, eight-year deal
he eventually signed made him the NHLs third highest-paid defenceman—and some
predictable early-season struggles were compounded by a shoulder injury. But the
2010 Canadian Olympian eventually regained the form that made him a Norris
Trophy finalist in his second NHL season and credits coach Darryl Sutter, who
replaced Terry Murray in December, for helping get him back on track. The Kings
are thankful he did. “Hes unique,” teammate Mike Richards said of Doughty.
“Theres not a lot of guys that have that skillset. Its scary that hes only 22
years old; that hes going to continue to improve. Ive enjoyed playing with him
this yyear. Dwight Freeney Jersey. “I won the Olympics
with him and I think hes playing better now than he was there.” These are
exciting times for a Kings team that has steamrolled its competition and only
dropped two games since the regular season ended in early April. It would take
an upset of historic proportions for New Jersey to win the series. Of the last
six Stanley Cup finals that began with the road team winning the opening two
games, five ended in sweeps. The other was over in five games. However, Devils
coach Pete DeBoer wanted no part of that discussion. He pointed out to his
players that they havent been dominated by the Kings and actually had a good
effort in Game 2—essentially falling one Ilya Kovalchuk crossbar short of
tying the series. “Thats stuff irrelevant,” DeBoer said of the gloomy stats. “We
really believe we can win a game tomorrow night. If we do, its a different
series.” Added veteran goalie Martin Brodeur: “I think were heading in the right
direction.” The Kings have ridden their current wave of success to previously
unseen heights in a city more famous for its beaches and celebrities than ice
rinks. Los Angeles seemed to be bracing for a party as the Kings arrived back in
town early Sunday morning, with a host on the local KTLA morning news boldly
predicting “were going to have a parade by Friday.” That means she was
projecting victories in Mondays Game 3 and Wednesdays Game 4 for a four-game
sweep. Players have already started to see a number of changes around town.
Numerous electronic billboards reading “Go Kings!” dot the streets while the
anonymity they once enjoyed has started to disappear. “Now that were winning,
you can just see how the fanbase is turning,” said Doughty. “Were the talk of
the city, were getting recognized everywhere. The fans are going crazy and its
turning into a hockey town.” Imagine what might happen if they actually get to
lift the Stanley Cup. The organizations championship drought dates back to its
birth in 1967 and matches the Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues for the
longest in the NHL. “Its been a long time for these guys,” said Kings forward
Jeff Carter. “I think it would mean the world to this franchise (to win). Theyve
had some good times and bad times, some ups and downs, and theyve done a great
job of sticking to the plan here and building within the organization.” Doughty
experienced many of the downs as a fan and is enjoying the ups a player. Two
more wins would not only get his name etched into the Stanley Cup, it would also
come with a place in Kings folklore. “Now that were here, were not finished,”
said Doughty. “We want to do everything we can do to win that Cup.” ’ ’ ’
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