News Article: Oilers are missing the boat when it comes to Jeff Petry

[Eirhead*]

I really don't see how this is an argument. It quite obvious to me, from watching the games, that Petry is a giveaway king. My observations have been affirmed with many other Oilers fans of whom I watch games with, or converse with about Oilers hockey. I was so sure that the stats would back my argument, that I looked it up, and did the math for you comparing him to all the other major Oilers defencemen. And indeed, that stats back my observations.

You need to concede that the weakness in Petry's game is that he gives away the puck too much. If he fixed that, he'd be an excellent defenceman. If he doesn't, he'll probably be on the trade block this spring.

EDIT: And at the end of the day, it's not necessarily about how much you create, but about how much you give up. Especially once you get to the playoffs.

EDIT2: One other thing, his hits and blocked shots totals. They could be a bit telling, and not in a good way. Why is he playing so much defence? Ya he retrieves the puck, but maybe if he didn't giveaway the puck so damn much, he could be playing a little more offence and a little less defence.

 

[Replacement*]

I really don't see how this is an argument. It quite obvious to me, from watching the games, that Petry is a giveaway king. My observations have been affirmed with many other Oilers fans of whom I watch games with, or converse with about Oilers hockey. I was so sure that the stats would back my argument, that I looked it up, and did the math for you comparing him to all the other major Oilers defencemen. And indeed, that stats back my observations.

You need to concede that the weakness in Petry's game is that he gives away the puck too much. If he fixed that, he'd be an excellent defenceman. If he doesn't, he'll probably be on the trade block this spring.

EDIT: And at the end of the day, it's not necessarily about how much you create, but about how much you give up. Especially once you get to the playoffs.

EDIT2: One other thing, his hits and blocked shots totals. They could be a bit telling, and not in a good way. Why is he playing so much defence? Ya he retrieves the puck, but maybe if he didn't giveaway the puck so damn much, he could be playing a little more offence and a little less defence.

Many oiler fans lump on a player and spit him out. hf isn't really an effective context on a player.

lets not leave out the consideration, either, that Petry often makes the right play, teammates not applying themselves properly? I think Belov also fell into that category. Amazing how much Better Belov looked in Olympics playing a system and guys adhering to it. Sometimes the best coached players (Hello N Schultz) will have the most difficulties within a chaotic environment.

What we need first is competent NHL coaching. When we have that we can properly evaluate which D, or players are garbage.

 

[Eirhead*]

I'm still undecided on Eakins. But we do have a young team and higher risk hockey is an inevitability. Hopefully these new signings will level out the team a bit.

One thing I am really hoping for, is that Nurse and Draisaitl make the team. Rookies on hotstreaks always give a spark to teams that I don't know how to quantify. As long as they're difference makers like MacKinnon or Gallagher. The youthful energy becomes a rallying point. I think we can make a step this year with the right roster choices... that maybe some people here won't agree with from a development standpoint.

 

[McArthur]

I'm still undecided on Eakins. But we do have a young team and higher risk hockey is an inevitability. Hopefully these new signings will level out the team a bit.

One thing I am really hoping for, is that Nurse and Draisaitl make the team. Rookies on hotstreaks always give a spark to teams that I don't know how to quantify. As long as they're difference makers like MacKinnon or Gallagher. The youthful energy becomes a rallying point. I think we can make a step this year with the right roster choices... that maybe some people here won't agree with from a development standpoint.

lets say that there is some merit to that. I'm hoping that we can finally limit the amount of projects that get called up or into NHL roles. assuming we can find a 2C, we may have no projects outside of Yakupov or Marincin.

 

[Eirhead*]

lets say that there is some merit to that. I'm hoping that we can finally limit the amount of projects that get called up or into NHL roles. assuming we can find a 2C, we may have no projects outside of Yakupov or Marincin.

Definitely, I'd still love to find a #2C. We're an injury away from another disaster.

... but I digress

 

[Aerchon]

Many oiler fans lump on a player and spit him out. hf isn't really an effective context on a player.

lets not leave out the consideration, either, that Petry often makes the right play, teammates not applying themselves properly? I think Belov also fell into that category. Amazing how much Better Belov looked in Olympics playing a system and guys adhering to it. Sometimes the best coached players (Hello N Schultz) will have the most difficulties within a chaotic environment.

What we need first is competent NHL coaching. When we have that we can properly evaluate which D, or players are garbage.

Despite the many times I have had to point out his faults I consider myself a Petry fan.

I have to point out your first sentence works both directions. Many Oilers fans will lump on a player and focus on only how good his puck moving is. Personally I think fans, especially on this board, are blindly in love with Petry's puck moving skills and somehow miss his terrible mental gaffs.

Petry may make up for some of his mistakes by pushing the play up the ice well but I think many of his mistakes are just poor judgement calls. He does need to clean those up.

However I can also very strongly agree that coaching can make a huge difference, and with a decent coach/system Petry would probably not end up in as many situations where he an make mistakes.

 

[guymez]

Despite the many times I have had to point out his faults I consider myself a Petry fan.

I have to point out your first sentence works both directions. Many Oilers fans will lump on a player and focus on only how good his puck moving is. Personally I think fans, especially on this board, are blindly in love with Petry's puck moving skills and somehow miss his terrible mental gaffs.

Petry may make up for some of his mistakes by pushing the play up the ice well but I think many of his mistakes are just poor judgement calls. He does need to clean those up.

However I can also very strongly agree that coaching can make a huge difference, and with a decent coach/system Petry would probably not end up in as many situations where he an make mistakes.

When a player is expected to play above his ability for extended periods of time then gaffes are sure to come. Its inevitable and Petry is no exception.

Its not a measure of how bad the player is...its more about the misuse of a player.

 

[Aerchon]

When a player is expected to play above his ability for extended periods of time then gaffes are sure to come. Its inevitable and Petry is no exception.

Its not a measure of how bad the player is...its more about the misuse of a player.

I can see that and agree with this in principle but watching the games it is hard to remember that when Petry gets beat by all levels of competition. AHL scrub call ups to super stars all can and have feasted upon Petry easily enough when Petry's brain cramps up.

Bad timing? Bad read? Bad coach? Bad system? Bad partner? Bad back checking? Bad Petry?

I like a lot of what Petry brings but I honestly do not think he brings enough of it consistently.

I want him an Oiler and I think with experience his consistency will come. Hopefully coaching takes a turn for the better, and Petry gets more support from his teammates as well.

But I would defiantly have to point out that even if all that happened I see Petry's top end being a solid #3 anchor at best. His game is a far cry from even being as good as say Phanuef, a questionable top pairing type.

If anyone follows my Petry rants they know I consider him a solid #4 guy moving forward and hopefully eventually deep into the playoffs.

 

[guymez]

I can see that and agree with this in principle but watching the games it is hard to remember that when Petry gets beat by all levels of competition. AHL scrub call ups to super stars all can and have feasted upon Petry easily enough when Petry's brain cramps up.

Bad timing? Bad read? Bad coach? Bad system? Bad partner? Bad back checking? Bad Petry?

I like a lot of what Petry brings but I honestly do not think he brings enough of it consistently.

I want him an Oiler and I think with experience his consistency will come. Hopefully coaching takes a turn for the better, and Petry gets more support from his teammates as well.

But I would defiantly have to point out that even if all that happened I see Petry's top end being a solid #3 anchor at best. His game is a far cry from even being as good as say Phanuef, a questionable top pairing type.

If anyone follows my Petry rants they know I consider him a solid #4 guy moving forward and hopefully eventually deep into the playoffs.

I think there is a slight element of hyperbole in your conclusions.
Petry did have some gaffes and they were no doubt worse toward the end of the season. That pretty much validates my point.

The Petry I saw early in the season differed greatly from the Petry I saw later on. He wore down and being expected to punch above your weight class night in and night out will do that.

If the Oilers get rid of Petry without using him appropriately for at least 1 season then it would be seriously bad judgement IMO.

Then again this team has a history of not using players properly and then trading them only to have them thrive with another team.

I am willing to bet that if the team was to slot Petry in a proper 3/4 role for the season he would flourish.

The question is...do they have the depth to allow them to do that?

 

[Replacement*]

^ Never dismiss either, that this playing ground here is a factory of out of control learned helplessness training. Look up the paradigm if unsure. When situations and circumstances are out of your control and you can't change the resultant no matter what you do sentient organisms GIVE UP. With even the most resilient people/species shown to do this.
This is worst team NHL and has been for several years and as long as Petry has been here. hell guys like Horc, Hemmer, Gilbert, Gagner probably get therapy for PTSD..

Everybody has their limit before snapping like a pencil. We've seen even guys like Hall, Yak, best in the world players snap at times in this environment.

Key is to differentiate what the individual player is able to do, and what the team is doing to him and around him. Its hard to do but why keying on players involves watching the same video over and over getting information. Also helps to know what the team schemes are and where players are supposed to be at any given time and situation.

Really though I challenge whether anybody on this board has this information on last years team. Because any discernible system was so in flux from one group of games to another. When the team even cared enough to resemble playing it. Yet people are easy to blame the player for the play that might have been the *right play* according to the system, fwiw..

 

[Eirhead*]

Really though I challenge whether anybody on this board has this information on last years team. Because any discernible system was so in flux from one group of games to another. When the team even cared enough to resemble playing it. Yet people are easy to blame the player for the play that might have been the *right play* according to the system, fwiw..

Overall, I agree with what you're saying. But on the topic of Petry, I've seen the same gaffs in his game for the last 3 years now. In 2011-12 when he was playing fairly well, and making Tom Gilbert redundant I was optimistic in thinking "well as long as he improves on his rookie mistakes, he'll be a real good d-man." Now he has made improvement in his game - particularly with his strength and hitting and shot blocking. And overall, I'd say his defensive positioning is probably better, but my memory is hazy there. But the one thing that he really hasn't improved on, is those "rookie mistakes."

I'm not sure if it's because he's looking down too much and making blind passes; or if he's simply misreading the opposition; or what exactly. But by this point, I'm getting worried that we're just going to have to take it as it is. I hope I'm wrong and you're right, and maybe coaching can fix the problem... but from the amount I've focused on Petry in replays, picking him apart every time he costs us a goal, I tend to think it's just him.

 

[Aerchon]

Reply's in bold

I think there is a slight element of hyperbole in your conclusions.
Petry did have some gaffes and they were no doubt worse toward the end of the season. That pretty much validates my point. I actually think Petry was considerably worse in his first 40 some games without Marincin than he was with Marincin. A few TV panelists even ripped his play early in the year.

The Petry I saw early in the season differed greatly from the Petry I saw later on. He wore down and being expected to punch above your weight class night in and night out will do that. See above.

If the Oilers get rid of Petry without using him appropriately for at least 1 season then it would be seriously bad judgement IMO. Agree 100%. You and Replacement have the right of this and that Petry CAN most likely be better in a better situation and with a bit of coaching and more experience.

Then again this team has a history of not using players properly and then trading them only to have them thrive with another team.

I am willing to bet that if the team was to slot Petry in a proper 3/4 role for the season he would flourish.

The question is...do they have the depth to allow them to do that? Yes they actually do right now. Nikita/Fayne and Marincin/Petry could share the top 4 minutes and match ups to greatly reduce the amount of bad situations Petry will be in. Not a perfect scenario but much much better. Schultz and Ferrence can also work into those hard minutes as well. Our defense is not a powerhouse and lacks a true #1/2 but we have a solid top 6 + depth. Not all teams have that 1/2 punch and we now fall somewhere into league average for defense rather than dead last. Of course I am not sure really what kind of opportunities Petry is going to get now that we have a legit NHL level defense. Following your points of mismanagement I wouldn't be surprised if Petry was moved after showing well for ten games into the season. With Ramsay in charge of the defense that should also push us closer to average.

 

[Eirhead*]

Reply's in bold...

Yes they actually do right now. Nikita/Fayne and Marincin/Petry could share the top 4 minutes and match ups to greatly reduce the amount of bad situations Petry will be in. Not a perfect scenario but much much better. Schultz and Ferrence can also work into those hard minutes as well.

Oh man, it will be so nice if everyone stays healthy and we can afford to use Schultz more as a PP/O-zone specialist.

 

[Aerchon]

Oh man, it will be so nice if everyone stays healthy and we can afford to use Schultz more as a PP/O-zone specialist.

Its certainly enough to get one excited. With a good coach (cringe and hope Ramsay has a lot of input) we have 6 mostly proven NHL defensemen that can share and swap responsibilities. In theory we should be much improved on the back end... and our team in general. Pouliot and Purcell are both considered upgrades in 2 way play on our roster as well.

Too early to say if it will "work" but just maybe it could.

 

[oilexport]

Its certainly enough to get one excited. With a good coach (cringe and hope Ramsay has a lot of input) we have 6 mostly proven NHL defensemen that can share and swap responsibilities. In theory we should be much improved on the back end... and our team in general. Pouliot and Purcell are both considered upgrades in 2 way play on our roster as well.

Too early to say if it will "work" but just maybe it could.

biggest gain has been on D, not sure we did better up front yet. Biggest need is a Center now and I'm very dissapointed that has not been addressed or given high priority like chasing Wingers and D were.

Our D may be deep enough to deal someone like Petry for quality player, even if LD plays, were thin and I don't like Arco and Lander and coach's boy.