The Edmonton Oilers have some fine talent at left wing, old and young. Taylor Hall and Magnus Paajarvi represent the future, and that future will have a mentor and receive guidance from an ideal warrior, Ryan Smyth. Edmonton should be solid plus at the position, in fact we could see a huge jump in GF from LW in 11-12.
EVEN STRENGTH TOI/G & 5X5/PTS 60
- Taylor Hall 15:07/1.78
- Ryan Smyth 14:45/1.62
- Magnus Paajarvi 13:25/1.36
- Ben Eager 10:41/1.36
- Darcy Hordichuk 5:06/0.93
Hall and Smyth should supply most of the EV offense at the position, although the toughest opponents are likely to be Smyth's (if coach Renney decides to line match this fall). Smyth was cherry picking (by eye) more this past season but I'd have to believe he will be a better matchup for the Oilers at EVs this season. Paajarvi should have no problem holding off Eager at even strength, but I'd guess Eager spends some time in the top 9 this season.
PK TOI/G
- Ryan Smyth 0:19
- Ben Eager 0:03
- Taylor Hall 0:01
- Magnus Paajarvi 0:01
Smyth has killed penalties over the years but it hasn't been a big part of his game since he left Edmonton. I think MP might be a candidate for the role as he matures but that probably isn't this season, so #94 would seem to be the logical solution. However, the Oilers are going to need someone on LW to serve as a PK man (likely centers Horcoff and Belanger, likely RW? Ryan Jones).
PP TOI/G & 5x4/60
- Ryan Smyth 2:57/3.37
- Taylor Hall 2:43/3.27
- Magnus Paajarvi 1:50/3.45
- Darcy Hordichuk 0:28/nil
- Ben Eager 0:06/nil
Interesting numbers here. Paajarvi had a better number (let's not get carried away, but he shows well compared to the number one overall pick and the veteran) and might get another chance sometime this season. I do believe Hall and Smyth will probably get the lion's share of time on the powerplay this season, but if he's required on the PK and at EVs Smyth might be forced into a secondary offensive role with the man advantage.
In this way, it's not Ryan Smyth's team anymore.
With that as a backdrop, who would you nominate to play on the PK with Horcoff, Belanger and Jones? IS there a candidate beyond Ryan Smyth?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'd use Eberle, Belanger, Paajarvi, Horcoff and Hemsky on the PK. By the end of the season I might even use Omark and Hartikainen.
ReplyDeleteBut then again, I'm crazy. I see serious potential for giving the opp fits through intelligent hockey players who can learn a system.
I think you think like Glen Sather did about the PK. :-) Which is a compliment.
ReplyDeleteI think MPS gets some time on the PK this year.
ReplyDeletePaajarvi, Horcoff, Belanger, Jones would be my top 4 PKers.
Three pairs of F. Smyth, Eberle and Paajarvi would join Horcoff, Belanger and Jones.
ReplyDeleteThree vets, two kids and Jones.
LT - Thank you sir.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to what it changes about the PK, I like the options it creates 5-on-5 when combined with divvying out the PP minutes. You've gotta look bigger picture when arranging icetime.
Looks like 1st overall again next year.
ReplyDeleteHorcoff hasn't been good on the PK in ages, and an aging Smyth doesn't have the legs for it either.
Funny that Gagner doesn't receive a nomination(shocking with a bookie sign). How was Doug Gilmour on the PK?
Agreed with LMHF that Edmonton will likely have to do something unorthodox.
I suspect crowds will be campaigning to being in MacT and Huddy by Christmas.
With Smyth and Hall getting the majority of the powerplay time (Hall is the franchise, and Smyth is the best in the business in front of the net), Paajarvi seems like a reasonable bet to get a bump in PK time. He's responsible defensively for someone his age, and speed is a huge bonus when killing penalties.
ReplyDeleteThat, and all Oilers GMs have done since Pronger was let penalty killers go without replacing them.
If Gagner's going stay long term, he is going to have to learn to PK.
ReplyDeleteThis is not to say he should be one of the main options this year, but he should be tasked by Renney to become a viable option over the course of the season, particularly if Nugent-Hopkins makes the roster.
Doug Gilmour was small and slow, but compensated with brains and heart. Now Gagner will never be as good defensively as Gilmour, but he got to get from below average to average.
Man, if the Oilers could get MacT and Huddy back I'd be pretty happy about that turn of events.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Smid uses a different stick playing forward than he does on defense?
ReplyDeleteDoes it matter?
ReplyDeleteSpec reports on Twitter that Big Mac signed with the Penguins. 2 way deal, $600K in the NHL.
ReplyDeleteAgreed godot.
ReplyDeleteThat's one of the reasons I've been saying Gagner doesn't complement RNH at all.
RNH was the guy that statzies were saying was nothing but a PP performer (not sure I agree) and I suspect he's going to be a 5 minute per night guy 5v4 in the future to go along with 1st line 5x5 minutes.
It would be nice to have a two-way player in the #2 spot that can PK and I don't think that's ever going to be Gagner.
The other terrible thing is between RNH, Gagner, Horc and Belenger we don't have a single physical center. Not even average. Considering Horcoff and Belenger's contract terms Gagner's days have to be numbered.
I don't know about Smid and two pairs of sticks.
ReplyDeleteDoes a guy need a second pair for 8:12 spread over a week?
I'd like to see Smid use Smyth's Gretzky blade.
ReplyDeleteLT: Sometimes it's just a matter of half-steps.
ReplyDeleteWisniewski shortened his stick and made his offensive output go rocket high.
Sometimes having too much of a long sticks annihilates your shot.
I clocked my shot once before a season, it averaged 65-70 MPH. (Wristshot) I switched to defense so I could play a higher level (cluster of forwards) and my wristshot just went down terribly because I played with a d-man stick.
As for PK. I believe that anyone can do it. It so much simpler than it looks. Limit movement and move as a unit. Some guys just get it.
I suspect that once Lander gets himself called up mid-season to replace some guys, he spends more than a few minutes on the PK. In the meantime I think Eberle would be great (of course), with a smattering of PRV/Jones and Smyth.
ReplyDeleteDoes Gagner + Hemsky get us Jordan Staal? Probably not.
ReplyDeleteThat's who we need though. The ultimate complement to RNH.
It'll be interesting to see what happens at center in the fall. RNH is imo extremely likely to get 9 games and it's probably a good bet he'll show enough offense to stay (these aren't the '27 Yankees after all).
ReplyDeleteSo you've got RNH and Gagner as the skill guys and Horcoff and Belanger as the checkers.
The question is: who gets called up or stays when someone gets hurt? I'd guess that the replacement for Horcoff/Belanger might be any of O'Marra, Lander or VandeVelde. Or House.
But for the skill guys? It has to be one of Horcoff or Belanger. I don't see a real offensive candidate in OKC. Do you?
Makes sense for 91 to play PK given his speed and long reach. Hope he learns it quickly.
ReplyDeleteWhoever 4C is will probably play 4v5 too.
I like the theory of playing your best players on the PK like Sather did, but its a different game today.
Everyone is in great shape and having different sets of players play 4v5 than 5v4 makes sense to keep everyone in the game and to keep from overplaying your best players.
LT: Arcobello?
ReplyDeleteKytnar had a decent season. Or Lander might be just good enough to fit the bill.
At worst Belanger still popped 40 last year.
Idk why we'd pick someone to be ''RNH's complement''. He'd have to prove he can actually score first.
Belanger & Jones 1st pairing & Horc & Smytty the second pairing. I would also use Brule (nice faceoff % with a RH shot) & he's very quick with a hard shot & good skills which will back the PP up.
ReplyDeleteThe other guy in the mix is Brule but you can't count on him at all.
ReplyDeleteNL is up in the AS game. This is the end, my friends. The End.
LT:
ReplyDeleteI would consider starting the season with Hall centering Smyth and Hemsky.
You like leaving Hall at LW?
speeds: I think it might be a topic of conversation at TC, but the organization doesn't seem to be looking that way.
ReplyDeleteIf you're asking my opinion of what they should do, it would be to send RNH back to the WHL and find a center who can play with Paajarvi and Omark (and it isn't Gagner).
The top 9 imo should be Gagner, Horcoff, Belanger with wingers Hall, Eberle, Paajarvi, Omark, Smyth and Hemsky.
I think they all fit fine except Gagner isn't good with the two Swedes.
But no, I'd keep Hall on the wing for another year, maybe try him at center after the playoffs fade.
I like the idea of more balance throughout the lineup ala Phoenix so I wouldn't mind them trying something more radical like this.
ReplyDeletePaajarvi-Horcoff-Hemksy
Hall-Gagner-Eberle
Smyth-Belanger-Jones
Eager-Omark-Hartikainen
At the end of the day, lineups on paper seem kind of pointless thought cos you never know the players that will actually find some lightning in a bottle with each other.
@ Traktor:
ReplyDeleteDid all this rain wash away your nesting grounds under a bridge?
(Only half serious)
Oilers tried 14 as a PKer early on last year and the abandoned it so I'd say that's a non-starter for 2012.
ReplyDeleteI think 91's an obvious call for his speed and smarts and 10-94-28-Belanger should be the first four guys.
I imagine Lander or VDV will be the other guy if they are the 4th line pivot but if the Oilers keep RNH as a centre then I think they'll go primarily with four PKers.
Which I think is just super-stupid but then again maybe that's a bad hunch on my behalf.
One thing's for certain and that's the Oilers have gotten rid of just about everyone that killed penalties for them last year and that, yes, 10 hasn't been a great PKer for awhile now.
BTW, what were the Oilers PK splits for the first and second half last year? and how did they look league-wise in the second half? I'm gonna guess they were top 14 in the league in the last half of the season.
It's not enough that Cogliano's progression was hampered due to having a skill forward forced into a defensive role, now you want Gagner and Omark to do so as well??
ReplyDeleteWe just went out and spent $7+M on defensive oriented players. Why do we need to continue to assume that defensive roles need to be nailed onto skill forwards' feet?