For sure. He seems to have all the tools but just can't stay healthy. I like his game when he plays but I find it hard to get excited about him on the roster. I think he's basically a 14th or 15th forward at best. In and out of the line up kind of player. Hopefully he proves me wrong though. It would be nice to see some of these picks become players that we can count on going forward.
One of the best energy guys when he is playing. Great emotion and speed. This guy really has a strong future if healthy. I've gone to games where he is the best Oiler.
He's an NHLer, imho. Unless he completely bombs in the training camp, he will make the opening day roster.
Until the day after camp he sneezes, and his spine flies out of his body.
Love his game, but he's gotta stay healthy one of these years.
He has one of the weirder stories in recent history. Drafted high 2nd round out of high school, goes to College, goes to the WHL, goes to the AHL, sucks, stays and sucks some more, gets an NHL chance for some reason, does better in the NHL than he ever did in the AHL, gets injured, rinse and repeat.
I think the 4th line RW spot competition will end up looking like Pakarinen > Pitlick > Klinkhammer.
Might as well keep him around for at least another year. Not really expecting much from him though.
I think the 4th line RW spot competition will end up looking like Pakarinen > Pitlick > Klinkhammer.
Might as well keep him around for at least another year. Not really expecting much from him though.
Completely forgot about Pakarinen. He's definitely a wild card to make it to the opening night roster.
Hope he can stay healthy. Seems like a great kid.
Last year the Oilers had a $5.5M 4th line. (And yes I know they did not really play the role of a true 4th line). If you want to keep all the top players you need some very cheap guys to fill in the last 4 forward slots. Home grown is the best way to do this I'd say. I'd keep Pitlick over Gazdic for sure even though I am a fan of Gazdic.
Honestly why can't you go out and sign Fehr at this point for 1mil? Those are the kinds of players we should be going after if we are worried about cheap guys on the 4th. Even Glencross.
Honestly why can't you go out and sign Fehr at this point for 1mil? Those are the kinds of players we should be going after if we are worried about cheap guys on the 4th. Even Glencross.
Maybe because they don't want pay cuts to be 4th liners?
Honestly why can't you go out and sign Fehr at this point for 1mil? Those are the kinds of players we should be going after if we are worried about cheap guys on the 4th. Even Glencross.
Exactly. Proven veteran players who played on the 4th line before and then moved up the depth chart. Ideally signed to cheap one year contracts.
We aren't a legit cup threat, we continue to spin tires in the basement because we don't bring enough competition for spots. There is no reason not to bring guys in to be pushing for spots, especially when guys like Fehr aren't just 4th liners. He is a 15 minute a night player on a playoff team.History suggests that the answer is no you can't. Hendricks makes $1.8M, so does Letestu. Gordon made $3M. Fehr made $1.6M last year with a cap hit of $1.5M
If the Oilers are a legitimate cup threat when McDavid's deal is up maybe you get some of these guys like Fehr to sign at a discount. But look at teams like Chicago and ask whether $300-400K makes a difference for your fourth line guys. Especially if you pay an additional $400k for each of your three guys.
That said here are some of the signings from last year of the type you suggest:
Joe Vitale (Arizona) 3 years $1.16M
Marcel Goc (Pitts) 1 year $1.2M
Brian Boyle (Tampa) 3 years $2M
Dominic Moore (NYR) 2 years $1.5M
Shawn Thornton (Flo) 2 years $1.2M
Manny Malhotra (Mon) 1 year $850K
Only Malhotra is under $1M and he is pretty much done.