Half-way through yet another depressing season of Edmonton Oilers hockey, I pray again for ownership and management to adopt the "rebuild" mentality teams like Washington, Pittsburgh, and Chicago have recently used to rise up to Stanley Cup contention. You also have teams like St. Louis and Los Angeles slowly rising using the same strategy.
The time is ripe for such a move. We are assembling a strong cast of supporting prospects through drafting and development, all that remains is for us to acquire a legit superstar-potential player to anchor this team into the future (basically, let's tank the next couple of years and pickup some stud skaters).
Anyways, here's some positive news on the season, guys that aren't on the team:
AHL
The only real sore spot when it comes to our prospects, the Springfield Falcons unfortunately contain a large portion of our prospects. With yet another shitty season going down there, we've seen either stagnation or decline in all Oilers prospects. Guys like
Liam Reddox, Colin McDonald, Ryan O'Marra, and
Viacheslav Trukhno are scoring at similar or lower levels than last year, indicating that time is running out on these guys, as they're already 20-something's. However, each of them have performed admirably in short stints up with the big time. Again, the Oilers have always had bottom-6 depth at the AHL level, nothing new here. 20-year old behemoth defenseman
Alex Plante has been underwhelming offensively, with only 4 points through 30 games. But as has been said many times, he is a project, and it may be 2-3 years of dwelling in the minors before Plante can have a Jonathon Ericsson-like entry into the NHL.
A few bright spots:
Johan Motin (pictured) has played pretty impressively in his first North American pro season. The 19-year old has 5 points through 26 games (not to worry, he's a defensive stud), but is a surprising -2 on a team struggling to score at all. I honestly think Motin can become another Jan Hejda in another year or two. Another surprise has been the play of smooth-skating offensive defenseman
Cody Wild in his 3rd year. The 22-year old has 10 points through 23 games, and plays a lot like John-Michael Liles, however I doubt he reaches the same offensive output at the NHL level. Two of the Oilers' better prospects on the team,
Ryan Potulny and
Taylor Chorney, were having solid seasons, which is why they have been called up to play on the abysmal parent club.
Halfway through the season, Springfield is on pace to finish in the AHL basement once again, and you really got to wonder how this terrible play is affecting the mindset of the younger prospects. Creating a tradition of losing in the farm system does not bode well for their performance up with the big team.
CHL
The Oilers have had some great success with their prospects playing for Canadian junior teams, a lot being considered for WJHC spots on their respective nations.
Jordan Eberle has been a pure revelation as a 19-year old playing for the Regina Pats this season. He is the sole reason that team seems competitive this year in the WHL, and they hope to ride his coat-tails into the post-season. He has a whopping 60 points through 28 games, the highest point/game total in the WHL. And he does it playing against the opposition's top defensive units on a nightly basis. He has been named
HockeyFuture's Top Prospect TWO months in a row now, and seems poised to take it for a third in December. He has been a pure offensive force, and his play has translated into a key role for Canada in the upcoming World Junior's. He'll be called upon to produce heavily as Canada's key offensive weapon in the tournament. He is primarily a goal-scorer, yet he plays a Sam Gagner-like passing game when he wants to be a play=maker. His shot is definitely in the Parise-like range, as he shoots with great accuracy from everywhere. His favorite spot is operating off the half-boards in the opponent's end. He's on pace to hit 50 goals in 50 games, and is just ripping up the juniors. He's definitely NHL-ready at this point, but the Oilers have done a good job of not rushing him. Although he's kind of small (5'11, 180), and not exactly the fastest for someone his size, his hockey sense and hands make him a legit prospect. Look forward to this guy coming up next year. Apparently the Oilres already tried when they were hit with the spat of injuries earlier this year, but the NHL said no. I can't even think of a comparable for this guy, although all signs point to him being another Zach Parise.
has the stats of a future NHL star, but one must be cautious given the '08 draft pick's size and speed. Although not as small as Eberle, he doesn't have the speed of the WHL star. It's also probably why he got cut while trying out for Canada at the WJHC. It's odd, because he has more points than ex-teammates Jordan Caron and Patrice Cormier, two guys that made the team. Cornet was a late-round pick, and one of those high-risk, high-reward players. I'm not surprised Hockey Canada cut him, they were looking for more size, and this may be the fate of Cornet when looking for an NHL job. That being said, his stats haven't been overlooked, and many scouts have reported Cornet seems to dominate games featuring other high-level prospects in the Q. He's predominantly a playmaker, but his hands make him a good goal-scorer as well. With 49 points through 36 games, he's showing signs of being ready to turn pro. Don't be surprised if he makes it into a few games with the Falcons near the end of the year. He'll need at least 1-2 years of seasoning there before becoming an NHL regular. If he makes it, he'll be a top-6 player. If he's not at that level offensively, this guy won't touch the NHL. I compare him to Alex Tanguay in terms of style.
Young diminutive Finn
Toni Rajala came over to Canada to play for the Brandon Wheat Kings in a year in which they're expected to contend for the Memorial Cup. Although hampered by a knee injury early on in the season, he seems to have healed completely, leading Brandon offensively over the past month. His slow start has been compensated for, as he sits at 33 points through 31 games. Wheat Kings fans are starting to get excited about the much-hyped up prospect, and he should finish among the top scorers on the team (that already has top prospects Braydon Schenn and Scott Glennie) when all is said and done at the end of the year. At 5'10, 160 (probably an exaggeration), Rajala was once heralded to go in the top-5 of the 2009 draft. However, his lack of size saw him fall to 101th overall. His performance at the U-18's in the spring was awe-inspiring, as he broke Alexander Ovechkin's scoring record at the tournament. The skills and speed are there with this kid, it's the size they're worried about. He's got Cogliano-like speed, Kane-like hands, and a St. Louis-like shooting ability, but he is weaker than all those guys were at his age. Like Cornet, another high-risk high-reward prospect. We can only watch and wish this guy gets bigger in the next year or two. Finland picked him up for the WJHC, so it should be fun to see him play live. In terms of potential, we're looking at a Kane/St. Louis kind of guy if he pans out. The chances of him panning out like that are low. Real low. Its either boom or bust with him.
2009 late round goaltender selection
Olivier Roy has also logged heavy minutes in between the pipes for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL this season. He had a rough start to the season, his GAA at one point sitting at 7, but he's settled down and become more consistent over the past month or so. He's got a 2.98 GAA with a 0.898 save percentage, but also a 14-8-4 record, which is a testament to how offensive those games are. His recent play earned him an invite to the Canadian World Junior's Selection Camp, where his mediocre play saw him last till the last cuts for the team. At 18, that's a pretty impressive feat to achieve, seeing as how most goaltenders get that close when they're about 19. Should be interesting to see how another year logging minutes for the Screaming Eagles helps him improve his game. At 6', 170lb, he's not the biggest goaltender around, using his athleticism and positioning to help him out in games. But hey, if 6'1 200lb Martin Brodeur can break every goaltending record in the book, then why not Olivier?
2006 draft pick
Milan Kytnar was traded from Saskatoon to the Vancouver Giants this past year, where he's seen a smaller role with the much more talent-laden team. The 20-year old started the year injured, and has thus fallen into a third-line role as the season has progressed. Regardless, he has 10 points in 16 games, playing solid defensive hockey. Although his stats are down from last year, this kid seems to play at a high level at the WJHC for Slovakia, so I still hold some hope for him. He'll make the AHL. He is primarily a 2-way player in that third-line mould, except he has a monster slap shot. I'm talking Brian Rolston-esque.
Cameron Abney was a guy the Oil drafted in the third round this past year (I still wonder why). He's playing for the Everett Silvertips of the BCHL (their AJHL), and has 6 points through 33 games. He's 6'4 and close to 200 lbs, and is supposed to be a solid defenseman at both ends of the ice. I'm yet to see how he's showing it. In my opinion there were a ton of guys you could have taken in the 3rd round over this guy.
NCAA
The Oilers have quite a few older prospects playing college hockey in the USA, most of which will probably never see time in the NHL. But they also feature some of their recent higher-round selections as well.
Riley Nash hasn't really shown much growth in his offensive output since he joined Cornell in 2007. He's at the same point/game pace he was in his rookie year, although point/game playing in that defensive Ivy League system is pretty good as it is. The Oilers are somehow keen on this guy, and he reminds me a bit of Travis Zajac. They really want him to bulk up before they bring him into the NHL. He's probably going to be a solid third line player, but I could see him moving into that #2C spot a la Zajac with the Devils if he can bring the total package with him into the NHL. After getting cut from Canada when he tried out for the WJHC last year, I thought we'd see him slump, but the guy has remained consistent. He's the star forward for Cornell this year, and it won't be long before we see him sign a pro deal (maybe even after this season).
Jeff Petry, a 2nd rounder from 2006, has been my favorite prospect for a while now. He's 6'3, 200, and can skate like the wind. He brings the game offensively and defensively as well. He had a wicked first year of college, winning multiple rookie awards and receiving much recognition for going 3-21-24 in 42 games. That being said, he was playing on a very good Michigan State team. In the 08-09 season, he struggled as a sophomore, much of it being attributable to the terrible Spartan team he was playing on. Although MSU was poor, he did play solidly in the heavy minutes he was given, putting up 2-12-14 in 38 games. This year he's really emerged, playing heavy minutes on a mediocre team, yet putting up 2-14-16 in only 20 games so far. It's amazing in that he's almost at a point/game pace on a team not really laden with offensive stars. He will probably capture a lot of awards when all is said and done at the end of this year. A guy putting numbers like that up in his junior year is pretty rare. I'm talking guys like John-Michael Liles or Keith Ballard. And those guys were smaller too, in the 5'10-5'11 range. Petry is 6'3! And not afraid to use his body when needed.
has been quite a success story for the Oilers. After putting up 32 points in 45 games playing alongside star prospect T.J Oshie in 2007-2008, he has since gone on to mirror this output in the following seasons, without relying on current NHLer Oshie's star power for help. Right now, he has 15 points through 17 games of his senior year with UND, and is slated to sign an entry-level contract after this year is up. Unlike previous forward prospects we've brought in from the NCAA, he's put up some pretty good numbers. Guys like
Greg Paukovich and
Colin McDonald, who are currently producing with Springfield, have never put up numbers like that in their NCAA careers. Another thing to take note of is how Vandevelde is 6'2, 205 lb. He's a big body, likes to go to the front of the net, something the Oilers exactly need in this day and age. He's comparable to a guy like Rene Bourque in that department. It'd be wonder if he turns out.
Another guy having a pretty good year is 2005 3rd rounder
Robby Dee. After 2 offensively underwhelming seasons with the University of Maine, the 21-year old has put up 12 points in 15 games so far this season. I don't see much future for this guy, but maybe his performance this year gets him a spot in the AHL. At 6'1, 185, he's not too small for it.
2009 4th-rounder
Kyle Bigos was a guy the Oilers said out-right would be a project. A late-bloomer, he was drafted as a 20 year-old out of the BCHL (god i despise that league). However, he's put up some good numbers with Merrimack College, with 6 points in 15 games. However, Merrimack does play in a pretty easy conference, so I don't know if this is a real sign of how good he'll be. Either way, look for Bigos to go the full 4 years of college. We won't be seeing him in Oilers, let alone Falcons, silks for a long time.
High School
I don't know how this works, but the Oilers picked up 18-year old
Troy Hesketh in the 3rd round (a lot of teams said we got a "steal" with this) in the 2009 draft, yet the guy's yet to play his senior year of high school hockey.
At 6'2, 180, he shows potential to be a solid body at the NHL level once he fills out, but he is showing that same 2-way dominance Petry did at the same age. He has 5 points through 4 games playing for the Minnetonka High School Skippers, which I guess is pretty dominant so far. It's hard to really rate the prospect when he's playing in a league you have no experience from. I guess we can tell 2-3 years down the road after he joins the University of Wisconsin next year. Yup, Tom Gilbert's alma mater. I could see him blossoming there on a very good team in a very good division. He shows the same Petry/Gilbert-like ability to skate, but I don't think his offensive skills will transfer as much to the NCAA level. He is being billed as a stay-at-home type of defenseman, which isn't too bad given his frame. Hard to project who he's got the potential to become, but he plays a lot like Ladislav Smid.
Europe
Recent Oilers 1st round selection
Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson has had an up-and-down season so far with Timra of the Swedish Elite League. Although he started slow, a recent shakeup of the lines has seen his offensive numbers go up over the past 3-4 weeks. Now logging some big minutes, he's put up 19 points through 30 games, and is starting to get some steady powerplay time. At 6'1, 200lb, he's got the frame of a Marian Hossa, and plays like him too. He also skates like the wind, and may have been the fastest 1st rounder from the 2009 draft. He has a lot of dangles, and is more known for his playmaking than his scoring. I don't know if he has Hossa's shooting, and many have questioned his ability to finish (which caused him to fall in the draft). However with 9 goals in 30 games, he seems pretty much on pace to equal the goal-scoring pace of fellow Swede Nicklas Backstrom's 19-year old year in the SEL. Not bad seeing as how Backstrom has 12 goals through 36 games already this year. With his size and speed, I see him easily being able to transfer his style of play into NHL success, and if he can continue his recent offensive burst through the World Juniors into the second half of the season, I don't see how the Oilers can let him stay in Sweden one more season.
Playing alongside MSP in Timra is Oilers 2009 2nd round pick
Anton Lander. Unlike most Swedes, he doesn't play the high skill game you'd see in a dude like MPS. Instead, Lander plays a surprisingly effective gritty 2-way game. He really reminds me of the Swedish Ryan O'Reilly (recent Colorado pick). At 6', 195lb, the center has already equalled his point total from last season in the SEL, and his defensive game is strong as usual. Playing on the second line with MPS should help those numbers rise even faster over the second half of the season, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him come with MPS to North America next year either. I don't know if he'd be able to make it into the NHL right away, but I see him becoming at least the next Sammy Pahlsson, but with more offensive flair.
Former Lulea (of the SEL) standout
Linus Omark is starting to pick it up playing with Ovechkin's old team Moscow Dynamo in the KHL. He started slow, but has recently been scoring at a bit over a point/game clip, and with 15-9-24 through 35 games, he is scoring near the same pace as former NHL standout Jiri Hudler. It's really sweet to see this guy playing at high level in yet another league. Better known for his playmaking than his goalscoring, his production in the assist department this season has been hampered by the poor play of his childhood friend and linemate Johan Harju, a Tampa draft pick. Omark has recently seen more playing time with Dynamo stars Mattias Weinhandl and Hudler, and thus his numbers have improved across the board. He's recently joined the Swedish team at the Channel-One Cup, a tournament held annually in Europe, and has been producing well for them as well. Offensively he reminds me of Patrick Kane in the way he uses his strong lower body and slick skating to avoid being physically outmatched, as well as in the ability to use his speed and skill to score and distribute effectively. This guy is the real deal in my mind, and there's a lot of talk among Swedish fans that he may join Sweden's Olympic roster as the 13th or 14th forward. He really is an offensive dynamo, and could be useful on their powerplay. I hope to see him come over next year along with MSP and Lander to form an all-Swede line at training camp. It'd work perfectly, with him being a RW, MSP a LW, and Lander a center.
Another legit big man in the system is 19-year old
Teemu Hartikainen, a guy the Oilers drafted in 08. Last year, he broke Sami Kapanen's rookie scoring record in the Finnish National League, potting 17 goals in 51 games. This year, he's turned into more of a distributor, with 4-12-16 in 28 games. He's scoring at a point/game clip this year, and his lack of scoring may be of slight concern. We'll see how he looks at the upcoming WJHC, where he was Finland's leading scorer last year. It'd be sweet to see him teamed up with fellow Oilers pick Toni Rajala in that tournament. Both seem to dominate the stage when it comes to international tournaments. Hartikainen was 6'1, 200lb when the Oil drafted him. He's probably closer to 6'2 215lb right now. He loves to crash the net, where he scores most of his goals, but he has shown the ability to use his hands to score. One big knock on him is his speed, which is a bit below average for a prospect his size. i don't know how he'll be able to translate his FNL success with KalPa Kuopio into a solid NHL game. He's not really defensively reliable yet either. However, one must keep in mind big guys take some time to develop. He is definitely a project in my mind.
Some other Oilers prospects playing in Europe include
William Quist, a 20-year old Swedish winger who has been playing with the Nybro Vikings of the SWE-2 league (below the SEL). After a lackluster 4-point outing last year, he's become more dominant, with 17 points through 23 games this year. This seems pretty decent based on analysis of other NHL prospects. Recent Flames 1st-rounder Mikael Backlund scored a little bit below that clip as a 19-year old in the same league. At 6'3, 195lb, Quist has the size of an NHL player, but most of the qualms about his game have to do with his skating, which I've heard is lackluster. If he can pick that up, I'm sure the Oilers would be interested in bringing him over.
Russian prospect
Alexander Bumagin has shown a slight increase in output playing for Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik of the KHL. With 12 points through 32 games, he's by no means a superstar in that league, but keep in mind he's only 21 and it's tough for guys his age to get legit minutes playing in that league. I don't think the Oilers expect this guy to turn out for a while (if he does), but at 6' 180lb and with a solid 2-3 years experience in the KHL, he seems like he's got a chance. Production like that at that age in the KHL is pretty decent. But like most Russians, it's hard to crack the NHL if you're not going to be a top-6 player. I don't see that in Bumagin, regardless of the succesful WJHC tournaments he's had int he past.
These guys may be the only bright spot in this organization right now, and their performance in their respective leagues and tournaments are a testament to an improved scouting department the Oilers have created over the past 3-4 years. Regardless, there are no franchise backbones on the team's roster nor their prospect pool, and I still think it'll be 2-3 years of tanking before we're capable of really moving forward with a group of players.
RUSSIA
Zdeno Chara - Lubomir Visnovsky
Niklas Hagman - Mikko Koivu - Teemu Selanne
So, there's a 90% chance you haven't heard of this man. To be honest, when I read the news about Time Magazine's pick for 2009 Person of the Year, I thought it was just Time sucking the Obama Administration's dick. But then I started reading, and it turns out that this guy's quick decision-making and brilliancy has effected essentially every American since the recession began full force in September 2008. His name is Ben Bernanke, and he's the Federal Reserve Chairman of the United States. From what I know, the Federal Reserve is possibly the least known yet most powerful force shaping American lives. Time Magazine issued a brief statement, explaining their choice:
