Player Discussion Mark Letestu

[tiger_80]

Since two forwards need to be exposed that either a) played in 40 games this season, or b) 70 combined the previous two, Khaira doesn't fit the bill, at least to meet that criteria. So he's probably worth protecting. Pouliot would fill one slot, but it would probably have to be Kass/Letestu/Ebs for the second.

With regards to Letestu, I think he's an adequate 3rd/4th line center, and that doesn't take into account his proficiency on the PP. It would hurt to lose him for sure.

He's replaceable. Though I like his contribution. If Letestu is the player you lose in the expansion draft, you are laughing. Some teams will be losing legitimate top 6 forwards/top 4 d-man.

 

[ImmuneEH]

So how are we feeling about Letestu vs Gordon?

I will say though, as much as I love having him, I imagine his value will drop significantly when someone like Slepyshev/Puljujarvi takes his spot on the power play.

 

[Arturs Irbe]

So how are we feeling about Letestu vs Gordon?

I will say though, as much as I love having him, I imagine his value will drop significantly when someone like Slepyshev/Puljujarvi takes his spot on the power play.

Letestu:
Special teams guy with a PP lean. Decent at face-offs. Do not put out defending a lead if you want to keep it. He's actually very anti-clutch.

Gordon:
Special teams guy with a PK lean. Great at face-offs. You can put him out defending a lead.


Would prefer Testu though. He has a better personality and fits this team.

 

[BlowbyBlow]

He's replaceable. Though I like his contribution. If Letestu is the player you lose in the expansion draft, you are laughing. Some teams will be losing legitimate top 6 forwards/top 4 d-man.

I like Letestu and I hope the team keeps him. Local guy, loves the team, dad has been on radio and has also said that. You will get a good soldier. Kassian fits a need and every team has there Chris Neil/Nolan in L.A. You can usually draft these guys, but I think he's a good locker room guy. I hate to say this but I think you let Ebs go to Vegas. His value is at the ultimate low. Believe me all the things soft, and inconsistent will follow him now. I'm also the last guy who thinks reputation follows a person but in his case he will have to reevaluate and reinvent his game. As for losing him, look at Draisaitl people were in love with Hall last year, Drai could have been given to Montreal if it was less players in the Subban deal. Now, I would say most would say Drai is untouchable. In two years, you could say Puljuljarvi is untouchable.

This simply a case of what you see is what you get. Just like Hall, there wasn't a 40 -90-100 point season and very well likely the less likelihood. Also if you look at how the Oilers develop now and how they CAN develop they can actually see a player make progress. Hall/RNH/Eberle are the same players they were years ago. They have not gotten any better there at a plateau. and the plateau is not even a high level. Really what the Oilers have with those 3 is what you see is what you get, and you also get need to be in a best case scenario or situation that fits. I said last year and years before they only perform well in the situations where less adapting to, that's how they can get points and have on the surface somewhat productive looking stats.

Chia will build a team that this guy can play first line minutes or play third line and be effective or this guy can slide down and switch this guy and change things up. The former big 3 your always in a situation if there not in a prime role there useless. Not everyone is Mcdavid who will make a player a star, but at the same time these guys are non existent and counter productive. Letestu/Kassian actually (regular season included) have actually played prominent roles.

 

[Aceboogie]

Enjoy these type of runs while you can, but be very weary about mid term and long term ability and implications

 

[BlowbyBlow]

Enjoy these type of runs while you can, but be very weary about mid term and long term ability and implications

Every team will fall into the Chicago situation where you have core guys and the rest of the team is free agency. Oilers core guys most likely will be Draisaitl/Mcdavid/Lucic (for now) & insert x big name player (possibly Puljuljarvi) the rest is guys like Maroon and those type. On D it will be Klef/Larsson and maybe Nurse. Talbot in goal.

You hope you don't end up like Boston or L.A. where you end up with Eberle/RNH contracts cause those contracts you take em off the books it's 12 mil going to Draisaitl & Mcdavid. Personally I look at it this way 10 mil for Mcdavid, 8 for Draisaitl - 12 million for those 2 and your spending 6 million more but your also looking signing impact players that can benefit a Maroon or someone who makes less.

 

[Paralyzer]

Letestu took a lot of grief when he was traded here, and for the first year after. Mostly, it was because the team wasn't well rounded yet, and he was asked to play out of his role. Too many minutes, too far up the food chain. He's in his element now, and slotted in perfectly. He's taken the spot on the PP mostly because Eberle failed to grasp that opportunity and he's run with it. Always had big time skill, but under appreciated. Good that he's finally getting some love now.

Letestu wasn't traded here. He signed here. Gordon for Korpikoski was the trade that opened that spot up for Letestu.

 

[FlameChampion]

Hes had a great year, no doubt. Hes very opportunistic. He has been great special teams. Hope they keep him next year.

My only complaint about him is 5 on 5. But I think its just as much on TM as it is on Letestu. TM puts him out there too much when the game ins on the line. Puts too much weight on his faceoff ability rather than just going with Drai or McDavid.

 

[BlowbyBlow]

Letestu wasn't traded here. He signed here. Gordon for Korpikoski was the trade that opened that spot up for Letestu.

Can't even remember that trade. My major beef with all fans on here is when you here all the minor trades being made out to being huge deals. I would say 80% of trades don't affect the teams that drastic. Look at Boston they traded Seguin about the same team. The Oil traded Hall better team. CBJ traded Johanssen better team. Nashville now a better team as well.

It takes a lot of bad moves to destroy a team. Not just one guy.

 

[Stoneman89]

Letestu wasn't traded here. He signed here. Gordon for Korpikoski was the trade that opened that spot up for Letestu.

Thanks for that, forgot. But, the rest of my comments about him stand.

There was a lot of love for Gordon, but he was more than done by the time he was dealt, quite frankly. Letesticle has been a marked improvement on that 4th line centre slot, as well as all the other things he does.

 

[Mr Positive]

Hes had a great year, no doubt. Hes very opportunistic. He has been great special teams. Hope they keep him next year.

My only complaint about him is 5 on 5. But I think its just as much on TM as it is on Letestu. TM puts him out there too much when the game ins on the line. Puts too much weight on his faceoff ability rather than just going with Drai or McDavid.

To me that's more of a problem with our other centers than with coaching. They need to get better so we dont have to put Letestu out there too much

 

[tiger_80]

I like Letestu and I hope the team keeps him. Local guy, loves the team, dad has been on radio and has also said that. You will get a good soldier. Kassian fits a need and every team has there Chris Neil/Nolan in L.A. You can usually draft these guys, but I think he's a good locker room guy. I hate to say this but I think you let Ebs go to Vegas. His value is at the ultimate low. Believe me all the things soft, and inconsistent will follow him now. I'm also the last guy who thinks reputation follows a person but in his case he will have to reevaluate and reinvent his game. As for losing him, look at Draisaitl people were in love with Hall last year, Drai could have been given to Montreal if it was less players in the Subban deal. Now, I would say most would say Drai is untouchable. In two years, you could say Puljuljarvi is untouchable.

This simply a case of what you see is what you get. Just like Hall, there wasn't a 40 -90-100 point season and very well likely the less likelihood. Also if you look at how the Oilers develop now and how they CAN develop they can actually see a player make progress. Hall/RNH/Eberle are the same players they were years ago. They have not gotten any better there at a plateau. and the plateau is not even a high level. Really what the Oilers have with those 3 is what you see is what you get, and you also get need to be in a best case scenario or situation that fits. I said last year and years before they only perform well in the situations where less adapting to, that's how they can get points and have on the surface somewhat productive looking stats.

Chia will build a team that this guy can play first line minutes or play third line and be effective or this guy can slide down and switch this guy and change things up. The former big 3 your always in a situation if there not in a prime role there useless. Not everyone is Mcdavid who will make a player a star, but at the same time these guys are non existent and counter productive. Letestu/Kassian actually (regular season included) have actually played prominent roles.

Eberle has value, especially if they decide to retain some salary. There is no need to give him up as a free candy. Ideally, it's Pouliot who goes to Vegas.

 

[HockeyGuy1964]

Pretty nice article on Mark.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...comes-a-force-for-the-oilers/article34939774/

 

[Pointteen]

Letestu is our real Pisani. Almost a PPG now.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Letestu:
Special teams guy with a PP lean. Decent at face-offs. Do not put out defending a lead if you want to keep it. He's actually very anti-clutch.

Gordon:
Special teams guy with a PK lean. Great at face-offs. You can put him out defending a lead.


Would prefer Testu though. He has a better personality and fits this team.

Honestly I would want both of them. A nice little ying-yang combo for the bottom 6.

 

[John Connor McDavid]

Letestu is a specialist. The guy would thrive if we had a legitimate 3C (which he is not) to play behind and be insulated by. You hold onto this guy till he retires and just find a guy to play ahead of him during that span.

I don't mind him on the PP - I don't mind him on the PK.

Where I can't stand him being used is 4-on-4 (he's atrocious here) - but because he's our top faceoff guy he often ends up in this situation. Same with 3C situations at 5on5, where he's barely treading water.

If you get a guy like Hanzal to assume these responsibilities and let Letestu become that secondary guy (the Devereaux to Hanzal's Draper) - he will thrive at even-strength situations even more than he already does. Secondary defensive-zone faceoff guy who gets to moonlight on the PP/PK because he's a specialist that excels in such situations.

 

[duxfan1101]

Hello guys, I'm coming here to inquire about Mark Letestu.
What kind of player is he? I understand he is good on the dot and on the PP. Is he useful at even strength or on the PK? Is he defensively responsible? What kind of linemates does he tend to thrive with? Strengths? Weaknesses?
Also, as far as his future goes, do you guys see him staying in Edmonton after this season? What kind of contract do you think he's going to get?
Sorry for the amount of questions, just wondering if he's someone I'd be interested in the Ducks going after either at the TDL or after this season.

 

[FlameChampion]

Hello guys, I'm coming here to inquire about Mark Letestu.
What kind of player is he? I understand he is good on the dot and on the PP. Is he useful at even strength or on the PK? Is he defensively responsible? What kind of linemates does he tend to thrive with? Strengths? Weaknesses?
Also, as far as his future goes, do you guys see him staying in Edmonton after this season? What kind of contract do you think he's going to get?
Sorry for the amount of questions, just wondering if he's someone I'd be interested in the Ducks going after either at the TDL or after this season.

Letestu is a fine 4C. He has a pretty good shot and has a nose to put himself in positions to succeed. Hes good on faceoffs. Seems like a good veteran. His weaknesses is mainly that he is too slow which makes him less effective on the PK and 5 on 5 in general. I think he has pretty good defensive awareness but he just doesnt have the footspeed to keep up.

Problem on this team is simply that he is used too much on special teams and the coach uses him in situations where he shouldnt. I.E. last 2 minutes of the game. Thats more on the coaching staff than the team. Hes a 4C nothing more, nothing less.

 

[duxfan1101]

Appreciate the response, thank you.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Mark is starting to heat up a little bit...

But why no "Oh hi, Mark" anytime he scores?