O'Marra was sent down to start the season but was recalled in early December and played 21 games with the Oilers. O'Marra was signed today by the Oilers (reportedly $735,000/$70k split), but I'm struck by how much things have changed for this player in 12 months. He still has a chance to make the big club, but several names are either past him now (RNH, probably Lander) or more in the conversation for possible callup than they were a year ago (VandeVelde, Kytnar, House).
A year ago, the depth chart looked like this:
- Shawn Horcoff
- Sam Gagner
- Andrew Cogliano
- Colin Fraser
- Ryan O'Marra
- Brad Moran (AHL vet)
- Chris VandeVelde
- Milan Kytnar
- Sam Gagner
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
- Shawn Horcoff
- Eric Belanger
- Anton Lander
- Ryan O'Marra
- Mark Arcobello (AHL)
- Chris VandeVelde
- Tanner House
- Milan Kytnar
O'Marra is a right handed center on a team with several lefties and the Oilers have hung onto him this long because they clearly see a player. We'll see.
I think O'marra makes the team out of camp as an extra forward, especially if theNuge is sent back to Red Deer.
ReplyDeleteI think your Gagner love is showing, LT. No way he's at the top of the depth list. Perhaps by the end of the year, perhaps not. And RNH is a great-looking prospect, but with ZERO games in the NHL, he's not #2 on the depth chart, either. With all due respect, Horcs remains on top.
ReplyDeleteMagisterrex: Yeah, I don't think either RNH or Gagner will be playing the tough minutes (both Horcoff and Belanger should be doing that, although Gagner played some tougher opps a year ago) but I do think that the guys at the top of my list will get the push.
ReplyDeleteThere's no reason to keep RNH in Edmonton unless he's going to get a shot at posting.
We'll see
ReplyDeleteWe've seen.
mmm...Filler...
ReplyDeleteWhat would happen to that depth chart if the Oilers acquired a real first line centre?
ReplyDelete1) Real first line centre.
2) Sam Gagner
3) RNH
4) Shawn Horcoff
5) Eric Belanger
6) Anton Lander
7) Ryan O'Marra
And a bunch of junk.
While RNH MAY become the real first line centre, it's likely 50-50 that will occur.
If he doesn't, the Oilers will need to acquire one and, if that is the case, removing Sam Gagner from the batting order makes a whole lot of sense.
Horcoff, Belanger and Lander are then in a dog fight for 3-4.
Ryan O'Marra is a non-entitiy in either scenario.
Should have bee time to cut ties with him.
I would of walked away from this guy and Chorney but whatever...
ReplyDeleteSB: Why?
ReplyDeleteAt worst O'Marra will be a good AHL'er. At best a serviceable grinder.
They could've signed O'Marra to an AHL contract.
ReplyDeleteHunter Tremblay is probably ahead of House.
They liked him big time in OKC last spring.
Tremblay's a winger, correct?
ReplyDeleteWhat would happen to that depth chart if the Oilers acquired a real first line centre?
ReplyDeleteOh good. A chance to have the valuable "what counts as a first line centre debate". Because the best part of that is you get to move the goal line to exclude (or include) whomever you wish.
How 'bout this? The Oilers have a good forward corps (with many and obvious flaws, but still good) and will continue to develop. Gagner will get the chance to show how able he is with a strong supporting cast and we will dream of the day RNH plays regular shifts. But we will spend all our time gnashing our teeth at the blue on back.
Personally I don't have an issue with O'Marra as a depth signing, and I don't think he hurts this team at all.
House had 5 points in 6 games for +3
ReplyDeleteHunter had dust in 3 games for -2
Doubt the latter impressed more.
Sign of the Apocalyspe:
The Pirates are leading their division in July.
Run. Hide your wife, hide your kids.
Do you mean the Gastonia Pirates? Surely not the Pittsburgh Pirates?
ReplyDeleteNL Central is shit.
ReplyDeleteHorcoff has murdered 2nd and 3rd toughs. The only seasons he's been ineffective has been as the #1 match-up guy.
ReplyDeleteBelanger would have made a huge difference in Horcoffs last few seasons.
danny said...
ReplyDeleteHorcoff has murdered 2nd and 3rd toughs. The only seasons he's been ineffective has been as the #1 match-up guy.
Of course, he will still be the #1 match-up guy and will get murdered.
Unless you think any one of Belanger, Gagner or RNH will be the #1 match-up guy.
Which they won't.
Until the Oilers find that #1 match-up guy, they'll get murdered.
DSF, just curious, but despite many ppl asking, you still quote other peoples posts without the italicizing.
ReplyDeleteIts not like its a bourgeois formality that caters to elitist tradition or such that I can understand your blatant exclusion and such... its just a courteous measuer so that people can understand what you are saying and what youre responding to.
I know thats your thing, fly by buzzes that stir the nest, but I respectfully put forward to LT that your blatant disregard for everyones wishes should be considered when his new site laucnhes, and theres extra control on moderation and banning.
abuse it and lose it.
until then? be srepectful of eveyrones wishes?
MacT has used Horcoff as a 3rd toughs behind Stoll and Reasoner repeatedly.
ReplyDeleteYou may be right that Renney sees thinsg differently, but that doesnt make your point any more valid, simply projection at this stage.
I could've sworn Tremblay was a Center. But according to the Timmins Daily Press:
ReplyDelete"The Edmonton Oilers announced late Thursday that they have inked the left winger to a one-year two-way contract."
I sit corrected.
But on the impressing front,
Tremblay dressed for 5 play-off games,
House for 1.
Danny
ReplyDeleteNot a lot of guys in the NHL making $5.4 m till they are aged 36 that a team has to run out against the other teams 2nd or 3rd lines to get production.
If the argument is that he is a decent smurf killer. Not sure that's what we were signing him for on a 7-8 year term
I like Horcoff as. 3C on a very good team (Vancouver) or a 2C on a good team but he is still a noticeably overpaid player in the NHL.
Expect that it is everyone's goal in life to be overpaid, Rarely does it happen. With the Oilers it happens frequently. Conventional wisdom says it's because we have to. Other teams in similar circumstances don't have to.......maybe it's just Edmonton
ReplyDeleteGagner 1st? I disagree.
ReplyDeleteHorcoff is still #1. (Sorry horcoff haters)
FPB: my impression listening to the radio and reading some blogs was that generally, Tremblay made a better impression than house during the development camp last week.
What do I know though.
I think there's enough evidence to suggest that Gagner has passed Horcoff as an offensive player.
ReplyDeleteMagisterrex said No way he's at the top of the depth list. Perhaps by the end of the year, perhaps not. And RNH is a great-looking prospect, but with ZERO games in the NHL, he's not #2 on the depth chart, either. With all due respect, Horcs remains on top.
ReplyDeleteI think we all know about LT's irrational and unrelenting hate for Horcoff.
//They could've signed O'Marra to an AHL contract.//
ReplyDeleteNo they couldn't. To retain the rights to O'Marra and Chorney the Oilers had to make qualifying offers. They signed their qualifying offers.
Retaining O'Marra and Chorney on two-way NHL contracts is about maintaining a quality OKC program.
O'Marra, looking at Lander and RNH, and the signing of Belanger, certainly would have looked at another NHL organization for a job before the Oilers.
O'Marra is probably a really useful AHL veteran for OKC.
I see Horc playing with Hall & Ebs. Gagner playing with Hemmer & Paajarvi or SMytty. Belanger will anchor the the third line. I truly think Brule could & should step into the 4th line pivot spot. He's perfect for it especially with Eager & Jones on his wings. He's excellent on the dot, has skill & speed. That would be a lot of jam on the 4th. I have nothing against Sammy but I'll be honest, I think Brule is a more complete package at the same size.
ReplyDeleteRNH will be better served with another year in junior to develop physically, no need to rush him. Experiencing the world juniors won't hurt him one bit as well. Look what it did for Ebs.
ReplyDeleteBoth Chorney and Omarra will count as AHL veterans this season I believe. How many vet spots do the Oilers have left on the farm?
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing they brought back ROM as RNH/Lander insurance.
ReplyDeleteThree of the pivots appear to be locks and then there are questions like how much more Hopkins has to learn or if you'll let Lander start in OKC so you can feed him AHL team.