Comic Book Guy*
Guest
Reading through the boards, I get a sense that most people believe that the Oilers are missing two key pieces:
1. A second line center that scores 50-60 points
2. A top 4 defenseman that can play 22-25 minutes a night
Well I have some bad news. Last year, only 39 NHL centers had 50 points and over. That means with 30 teams, there are only 9 centers that would fit this description: Craig Smith, David Desharnais, Brad Ricahrds, Jeff Carter, Tyler Johnson, Nazem Kadri, Brandon Dubinski, Henrik Sedin.
Assuming "first line centers" never get traded, the top 30 scorers would be untouchable to their teams. Unless the Oilers trade for a center like the ones above, we need to find another solution.
As for defensemen, last year, the top 60 minute munchers logged 21:30 mins or more per game. Mathematically, the top 60 in minutes played would represent top pairing minutes. Ther Oilers have two defensemen that qualify for this distinction: Jeff Petry (21:35) and Justin Schultz (23:20). If the Oilers need to add another player of this ilk, here are a few that could be attainable by trade: Andrew MacDonald, Paul Martin, Andrej Sekera, Justin Faulk, Kris Russell, Francois Beauchmin, Zach Bogosian, Jan Hejda, Jared Spurgeon.
Looking at that list, these players may be too expensive to acquire or are too rich from a cap perspective. So if MacT cannot improve our team via trade, what is the one thing he can do to make the team better? Make moves to increase the effectiveness of Hall, Nuge, Eberle, Yakupov, etc.
THE SHUTDOWN LINE
Andy Strickland was on the radio yesterday and he said that the reason why the Blues offensive players can be offensive players is because one guy is pulling the entire team's weight defensively. David Backes starts 70% of shifts in the defensive zone. That is insane. That means that the offensive lines are starting in the opposing zone, while Backes carries the weight of the counter-attack.
There is a fallacy that all good teams play both ways. While logically, this may be true, I thinking a more realistic sentiment is: Superior teams are compartmentalized into functioning work groups with different roles.
Hall, Ebs, Nuge were drafted as offensive players. Hence, they need someone to get them there. They need a defensive group that will take the puck out of our zone, and cycle it in the opposing end - thus generating an offensive zone faceoff. From there, you would expect the kid line to do the rest.
If we take MacT's model to heart of a 3 scoring line and 1 defensive line, we would get:
Hall RNH Nuge
Perron Draisaitl Purcell
Pouliot Lander Yakupov
Joensuu Gordon Hendricks/ Gazdic
The most troubling thing going into the season is that our equivalent line to the Backes line is: Joensuu - Gordon - Hendricks/ Gazdic.
Joensuu and Gadzic are not defensive stalwarts. They are not possession players who will cycle the puck down low causing offensive zone starts. If we throw Hendricks and Joensuu against opposing top lines, we are going to lose a lot of games.
If we're going to trim the fat, we need to get rid of the Joensuus and Hendricks oof the world. We need to trade for guys like Helm, Abdelkader, Fiddler, etc. to complement Gordon. We need a counter-punching line that we can lineup against the other team's first line. We can't expect the young guys to do this just yet. We haven't hada line like this since Moreau - Marchant - Grier. We need one again.
For me, the idea scenario would be:
#1 scoring line (primary scoring)
#2 scoring line (secondary scoring)
#3 checking line (counter-attack)
#4 energy line (possession and cycle)
The Oilers can check the first box. We have a 1st line in Hall RNH Ebs.
Of our secondary scorers, these players fit the description of a second line: Perron, Draisaitl, Yakupov, Purcell. We have an odd man out because we don't need Purcell.
Only two players would fit the role of counter-attacker: Boyd Gordon and Benoit Pouliot. No one else really would fit this.
More than a #2 dman and #2 centre we need a winger that can effectively counter attack with Gordon and Pouliot. Who will it be?
1. A second line center that scores 50-60 points
2. A top 4 defenseman that can play 22-25 minutes a night
Well I have some bad news. Last year, only 39 NHL centers had 50 points and over. That means with 30 teams, there are only 9 centers that would fit this description: Craig Smith, David Desharnais, Brad Ricahrds, Jeff Carter, Tyler Johnson, Nazem Kadri, Brandon Dubinski, Henrik Sedin.
Assuming "first line centers" never get traded, the top 30 scorers would be untouchable to their teams. Unless the Oilers trade for a center like the ones above, we need to find another solution.
As for defensemen, last year, the top 60 minute munchers logged 21:30 mins or more per game. Mathematically, the top 60 in minutes played would represent top pairing minutes. Ther Oilers have two defensemen that qualify for this distinction: Jeff Petry (21:35) and Justin Schultz (23:20). If the Oilers need to add another player of this ilk, here are a few that could be attainable by trade: Andrew MacDonald, Paul Martin, Andrej Sekera, Justin Faulk, Kris Russell, Francois Beauchmin, Zach Bogosian, Jan Hejda, Jared Spurgeon.
Looking at that list, these players may be too expensive to acquire or are too rich from a cap perspective. So if MacT cannot improve our team via trade, what is the one thing he can do to make the team better? Make moves to increase the effectiveness of Hall, Nuge, Eberle, Yakupov, etc.
THE SHUTDOWN LINE
Andy Strickland was on the radio yesterday and he said that the reason why the Blues offensive players can be offensive players is because one guy is pulling the entire team's weight defensively. David Backes starts 70% of shifts in the defensive zone. That is insane. That means that the offensive lines are starting in the opposing zone, while Backes carries the weight of the counter-attack.
There is a fallacy that all good teams play both ways. While logically, this may be true, I thinking a more realistic sentiment is: Superior teams are compartmentalized into functioning work groups with different roles.
Hall, Ebs, Nuge were drafted as offensive players. Hence, they need someone to get them there. They need a defensive group that will take the puck out of our zone, and cycle it in the opposing end - thus generating an offensive zone faceoff. From there, you would expect the kid line to do the rest.
If we take MacT's model to heart of a 3 scoring line and 1 defensive line, we would get:
Hall RNH Nuge
Perron Draisaitl Purcell
Pouliot Lander Yakupov
Joensuu Gordon Hendricks/ Gazdic
The most troubling thing going into the season is that our equivalent line to the Backes line is: Joensuu - Gordon - Hendricks/ Gazdic.
Joensuu and Gadzic are not defensive stalwarts. They are not possession players who will cycle the puck down low causing offensive zone starts. If we throw Hendricks and Joensuu against opposing top lines, we are going to lose a lot of games.
If we're going to trim the fat, we need to get rid of the Joensuus and Hendricks oof the world. We need to trade for guys like Helm, Abdelkader, Fiddler, etc. to complement Gordon. We need a counter-punching line that we can lineup against the other team's first line. We can't expect the young guys to do this just yet. We haven't hada line like this since Moreau - Marchant - Grier. We need one again.
For me, the idea scenario would be:
#1 scoring line (primary scoring)
#2 scoring line (secondary scoring)
#3 checking line (counter-attack)
#4 energy line (possession and cycle)
The Oilers can check the first box. We have a 1st line in Hall RNH Ebs.
Of our secondary scorers, these players fit the description of a second line: Perron, Draisaitl, Yakupov, Purcell. We have an odd man out because we don't need Purcell.
Only two players would fit the role of counter-attacker: Boyd Gordon and Benoit Pouliot. No one else really would fit this.
More than a #2 dman and #2 centre we need a winger that can effectively counter attack with Gordon and Pouliot. Who will it be?
