News Article: Oilers sign Gambardella

[Shathar]

https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/oilers-sign-gambardella/c-288172444

Discuss!

By that I mean, please tell me who this dude is.

Click to read more...

 

[AIexisLafreniereNYR]

I know him personally, my brother played hockey with his older brother and our families became pretty close over the years.

Joseph is Ryan Callahan esque

Oilers are instantly my second favorite team now

 

[Tw0Shoes]

Top Scorer on UMass-Lowell(11th in the NCAA). Was given the Walter Brown award as the top American Born div 1 player this year. Also has won the Hockey East Sportsmanship award the last 2 years.

 

[McMozesmadness]

Wow. Awesome news.

 

[Diamondillium]

Neat!

 

[Panda Bear]

Gambardella is 5'10" and 200 lbs, which means he's stocky.

His linemate:

"We get pucks in the corners. If you’ve ever watched Joe play, he’s always first in there and I don’t think the kid has ever lost a battle. I know he’s going to come out with the puck. I have a lot of trust in him. He knows where I’m going to end up being. It works well together," Smith continued.

 

[Forgot About Drai]

From descriptions of his play style it seems like he could easily slide into a bottom 6 role. Love signings like this.

 

[Panda Bear]

A grinder at heart, Gambardella has one goal with each shift.

“I try to go out, and be hardest worker on the ice for each shift,†he said. “When I get back to the bench my goal is being able to say I did that.â€

http://americansportsnet.com/news/g...umass-lowell-is-the-team-nobody-wants-to-play

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

From everything i'm reading here he sounds like a similar style to Horcoff.

 

[Panda Bear]

Junior defenseman Tyler Mueller knows how hard is to battle Gambardella. He does it all the time in practice -- and Gambardella plays all-out even in practice.

"He has a special talent for hounding pucks. You can see that during games. If he gets to 100 points this weekend obviously that's a phenomenal accomplishment. Not many guys can do that," Mueller said.

http://www.lowellsun.com/news/ci_30642404/gambardella-one-point-from-no-100

 

[Panda Bear]

"He has become one of the elite offensive threats in Hockey East due to his work ethic and persistence. He is a true example of what a student-athlete should stand for on and off the ice. He is very deserving of this award."

In the final voting, Gambardella won by a slight margin over Northeastern senior forward Zach Aston-Reese, also of Staten Island, and New Hampshire senior forward Tyler Kelleher of Longmeadow, Mass.

http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2017/03/22_Lowells-Gambardella-Wins.php

 

[McDNicks17]

Looks like a good signing. Sounds like a stocky spark plug type of player.

Rough go for Evan Campbell though. He was looking like a decent prospect a couple seasons ago, but has **** the bed since then. Now he has to watch his (much better) teammate sign a contract with the Oilers while he won't have one offered to him.

 

[Panda Bear]

Seems to ooze character.

----------------

"It definitely stings really bad right now," said Gambardella, UMass Lowell's leading scorer with 52 points (18 goals). "I'm still pretty speechless. Honestly, it's very sour. It's very fresh and it's going to be for the next few weeks and months. It doesn't feel good at all.

"But I'm extremely proud of everyone in that locker room. There's not a thing I would have changed -- minus today -- with my entire time here. We didn't get that bounce at the end. But I'm extremely proud of not only the season we had, but the four years. The coaching staff, and all the people who were apart of it, helped make these the best four years of my life."

"I couldn't be happier or prouder that the coaching staff brought me in," said Gambardella. "I can't thank them enough, not only for the player they made me, but the person that they made me off the ice. I'll be forever thankful. It's tough to say now, but I'm a proud alumni."

https://www.uml.edu/News/news-articles/2017/sun-hockey-seniors.aspx

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

 

[Aceboogie]

So this guy is going to step right into the NHL from day 1? or were we just blessed with Benning and Cagguila?

 

[Panda Bear]

He seems to have some Ryan Smyth in him: grind as hard as possible along the boards, plant in front of the goalie as hard as possible, drive the net as hard as possible, and generally try as hard as possible.

Apparently he's been playing centre for the past season or two. I'm guessing that he's been earmarked as a potential bottom six left winger or centre.

 

[Panda Bear]

So this guy is going to step right into the NHL from day 1? or were we just blessed with Benning and Cagguila?

We'll find out, but he's definitely not stepping in this season with how our team is rolling.

 

[Niet]

Out of curiosity. It seems we have been signing more college players since Chiarelli. I don't have the numbers but is there any truth to that?

 

[Panda Bear]

Out of curiosity. It seems we have been signing more college players since Chiarelli. I don't have the numbers but is there any truth to that?

There's truth to it.

We're a more desirable organisation now with Chiarelli, McDavid, McLellan, and the arena. I'm not sure if we're targeting more free agents, but I wouldn't be surprised if the organisation has placed greater emphasis on college signings since Chiarelli was very active with them during his time with the Bruins.

 

[LemmyUlanov55]

Know nothing about him, but that first impression you get is "that guy has some character".

 

[CornKicker]

seems raffi torresish before he went full tard

 

[Panda Bear]

Drinking too much Coca Cola can do that to you.

 

[Jumptheshark]

We need more depth so i like it

 

[CupofOil]

So this guy is going to step right into the NHL from day 1? or were we just blessed with Benning and Cagguila?

I'm also wondering about this. Aston-Reece is doing well for the Pens AHL affiliate so I'm guessing he'll get his shot soon so I'm wondering if the same will apply to Gambardella. At the very least, he should aid Bakersfield's playoff push.

 

[LastWordArmy]

Short Scouting Report here.

http://lastwordonhockey.com/2017/03/05/top-2017-college-hockey-free-agents-part-2/