That comment about a training camp invite really got me thinking. What could the Oilers possibly need? They have an abundance of top-six forwards, they've got 7 capable NHL defensemen including two elite offensive dmen. So the last part is goaltending. The Oilers have made it clear they want to start the year with three goaltenders. There aren't any good goalies in the free agent pool. So what could we possibly need?
Lots of fans may say we need that star shutdown defenseman. But those guys don't grow on trees. We would likely have to develop one. Others say we need an experienced center, who is reliable in his own end and can take key faceoffs. Perreault has been taken out of the equation according to Lowe (and personally I don't think the addition of Perreault would help this team a whole bunch). Bryan Smolinski is another guy, personally, I think Smolinski improves the team right now, but I also believe a kid can step up to the plate.
We passed up a chance at getting star, Zach Parise for Marc Pouliot and JF Jacques. I would hope Pouliot could at least develop into a 3rd line center. And judging by the way he played at the end of last season he could be a late bloomer. But that's a bit optimistic. However, last season Pouliot proved to me and the Oilers organization that he is a legit NHL player. His faceoff percentage was 47.7% in very few tries last season. So he will need to improve his faceoff ability. However, he can play the wing as well. Pouliot can play on the PK if needed but we have a lot of quality PK'ers so he likely won't get any time there. But it proves he's reliable defensively.
Kyle Brodziak was a late round, 19-year-old choice by the Oilers. Smart move as he scored 14 goals last season, which I believe could've been 17-18 goals if he hadn't missed so many open nets, or hit so many posts. His 51.5% faceoff percentage is impressive. Considering how he played center the whole season, he did well. That percentage is higher than Horcoff's. So, he seems like a prime candidate to play that 3rd/4th line center role. He is going to be on one of the PK unit's and is very reliable defensively.
The hole of shutdown defenseman will likely not be solved this year. Steve Staios is our closest thing to shutdown dman. He's not terrible at it, but he's not getting any younger and he's not getting any faster. Tom Gilbert and Denis Grebeshkov are reliable defensively, but aren't the "shutdown guys." Perhaps, in a few years the Oilers will develop Theo Peckham into that shutdown guy. But right now we don't have it.
To answer the question, what do we need to add? Well, a shutdown defenseman would be nice. Someone like a Komisarek or a Volchenkov. But we're never gonna get one. So, we've got to develop someone.
Time will tell whether or not this team really needs to add something or if the new NHL favours the Visnovsky's of the world and high tempo, puck-moving defensemen. It's not as if all of our players are terrible defensively. Gilbert, Grebeshkov and Staios can all play against top lines.
Showing posts with label brodziak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brodziak. Show all posts
12.9.08
Expectations for 2008-2009: Forwards
I'm being EXTREMELY optimistic for the coming season in case you haven't been able to tell already.
Ales Hemsky-can he break out and become a superstar? My answer, yes. I like him a lot though.
Projected numbers: 75 GP, 25G, 65A, 90 points
Shawn Horcoff-he has to prove last year wasn't a fluke. Just signed a big deal. Will he live up to the hype?
Projected numbers: 80 GP, 40G, 45A, 85 points
Dustin Penner-will he be on the 1st line or not? The MacBlender is likely to come out, he will see some time on the 1st line. But he strikes best on the powerplay where he should get 1st powerplay minutes.
Projected numbers: 80 GP, 30G, 30A, 60 points
Erik Cole-one of the premier power forwards in the NHL. Where does he fit in? He will be in the top six through out the year. Expect big things in his contract year.
Projected numbers: 65 GP, 30G, 40A, 70 points
Sam Gagner-had a sensational rookie campaign. He has to shake off a sophmore slump but will likely get first powerplay minutes. He could also get an upgrade in linemates but will the chemistry of the kid line be ruined? I think he has another great season this year.
Projected numbers: 80 GP, 15G, 45A, 60 points
Robert Nilsson-he was a main part of the Ryan Smyth deal. The shoes were big to fill and he had a little bit of a rollercoaster ride last season. Was in MacT's dog house for the first half of the year but hit his stride with Gagner and Cogliano. He has a new contract, let's see if he can exceed the expectations of that contract.
Projected numbers: 78 GP, 18G, 40A, 58 points
Andrew Cogliano-the comparisons to Todd Marchant are not very accurate in my opinion. As a 20-year-old rookie Cogliano scored 18 goals including 3 game-winners in OT. He will definately develop into at least a 20-goal scorer with great wheels and can occasionally kill a penalty or two.
Projected numbers: 80 GP, 22G, 35A, 57 points
Ethan Moreau-everyone says how last year we wouldve been better with Souray and Horcoff. They're both great players but they never really remember Moreau. Moreau has missed so much time in the past two seasons it's almost as if the team doesn't need him. But when Moreau is in the lineup he definately brings something to the table. He's a great penalty killer and can pitch in a goal every now and then. I hope to see a full season out of him but I'll be happy with 65 games.
Projected numbers: 65 GP, 12G, 18A, 30 points
Fernando Pisani-his contract looked bad when it was first signed. A 3rd-liner who had one good playoff run. The fact of the matter is, is that he scored 18 goals that season. A 20-goal scorer is worth a lot to a team, especially if he can kill penalties. He is one of the most underrated players and I want to see big things.
Projected numbers: 78 GP, 17G, 25A, 32 points
Kyle Brodziak-had a great season last year. He had great chemistry with Stortini and Glencross but Glencross is no longer here. He scored 14 goals and hit about 12 posts. I can see him being a 20-goal scorer in the future as well as a solid penalty killer.
Projected numbers: 82 GP, 18G, 25A, 33 points
Zack Stortini-"Huggy Bear" isn't exactly the most skilled player in the league, or the best fighter. But he somehow manages to impress the Oilers coaches with his work ethic. He definately needs to work on his stickhandling, shooting and speed (the 3 s'). But he can lay out the body and provide a spark when needed. With the addition of Strudwick he might get a birds eye view of the game more often than last year.
Projected numbers: 65 GP, 1G, 2A, 3 points
Who does the last roster spot go to?
Marc Pouliot-during the tail end of last season Pouliot showed a little bit of his 1st round form. Deemed a bust by a lot of Oilers fans, Pouliot is slowly moving his way up the Oilers depth chart and could see himself as the 3rd line center on opening night. I have never been too high on Pouliot but I believe he is a legitimate NHL player and his upside could be as high as a 2nd-3rd line center (depending on the team).
Projected numbers: 65 GP, 10G, 15A, 25 points
Ryan Potulny-I don't believe he will clear waivers and he has proven he can play at an NHL level. It gives me reason to believe he will be the 13th forward at the end of camp. The Oilers gave up 2nd-3rd pairing AHL dman Danny Syvret for him, so if he's the 13th forward it'll show to be a great deal for the Oilers.
Projected numbers: 25 GP, 6G, 8A, 14 points
Too lazy to italicize and bold.
Ales Hemsky-can he break out and become a superstar? My answer, yes. I like him a lot though.
Projected numbers: 75 GP, 25G, 65A, 90 points
Shawn Horcoff-he has to prove last year wasn't a fluke. Just signed a big deal. Will he live up to the hype?
Projected numbers: 80 GP, 40G, 45A, 85 points
Dustin Penner-will he be on the 1st line or not? The MacBlender is likely to come out, he will see some time on the 1st line. But he strikes best on the powerplay where he should get 1st powerplay minutes.
Projected numbers: 80 GP, 30G, 30A, 60 points
Erik Cole-one of the premier power forwards in the NHL. Where does he fit in? He will be in the top six through out the year. Expect big things in his contract year.
Projected numbers: 65 GP, 30G, 40A, 70 points
Sam Gagner-had a sensational rookie campaign. He has to shake off a sophmore slump but will likely get first powerplay minutes. He could also get an upgrade in linemates but will the chemistry of the kid line be ruined? I think he has another great season this year.
Projected numbers: 80 GP, 15G, 45A, 60 points
Robert Nilsson-he was a main part of the Ryan Smyth deal. The shoes were big to fill and he had a little bit of a rollercoaster ride last season. Was in MacT's dog house for the first half of the year but hit his stride with Gagner and Cogliano. He has a new contract, let's see if he can exceed the expectations of that contract.
Projected numbers: 78 GP, 18G, 40A, 58 points
Andrew Cogliano-the comparisons to Todd Marchant are not very accurate in my opinion. As a 20-year-old rookie Cogliano scored 18 goals including 3 game-winners in OT. He will definately develop into at least a 20-goal scorer with great wheels and can occasionally kill a penalty or two.
Projected numbers: 80 GP, 22G, 35A, 57 points
Ethan Moreau-everyone says how last year we wouldve been better with Souray and Horcoff. They're both great players but they never really remember Moreau. Moreau has missed so much time in the past two seasons it's almost as if the team doesn't need him. But when Moreau is in the lineup he definately brings something to the table. He's a great penalty killer and can pitch in a goal every now and then. I hope to see a full season out of him but I'll be happy with 65 games.
Projected numbers: 65 GP, 12G, 18A, 30 points
Fernando Pisani-his contract looked bad when it was first signed. A 3rd-liner who had one good playoff run. The fact of the matter is, is that he scored 18 goals that season. A 20-goal scorer is worth a lot to a team, especially if he can kill penalties. He is one of the most underrated players and I want to see big things.
Projected numbers: 78 GP, 17G, 25A, 32 points
Kyle Brodziak-had a great season last year. He had great chemistry with Stortini and Glencross but Glencross is no longer here. He scored 14 goals and hit about 12 posts. I can see him being a 20-goal scorer in the future as well as a solid penalty killer.
Projected numbers: 82 GP, 18G, 25A, 33 points
Zack Stortini-"Huggy Bear" isn't exactly the most skilled player in the league, or the best fighter. But he somehow manages to impress the Oilers coaches with his work ethic. He definately needs to work on his stickhandling, shooting and speed (the 3 s'). But he can lay out the body and provide a spark when needed. With the addition of Strudwick he might get a birds eye view of the game more often than last year.
Projected numbers: 65 GP, 1G, 2A, 3 points
Who does the last roster spot go to?
Marc Pouliot-during the tail end of last season Pouliot showed a little bit of his 1st round form. Deemed a bust by a lot of Oilers fans, Pouliot is slowly moving his way up the Oilers depth chart and could see himself as the 3rd line center on opening night. I have never been too high on Pouliot but I believe he is a legitimate NHL player and his upside could be as high as a 2nd-3rd line center (depending on the team).
Projected numbers: 65 GP, 10G, 15A, 25 points
Ryan Potulny-I don't believe he will clear waivers and he has proven he can play at an NHL level. It gives me reason to believe he will be the 13th forward at the end of camp. The Oilers gave up 2nd-3rd pairing AHL dman Danny Syvret for him, so if he's the 13th forward it'll show to be a great deal for the Oilers.
Projected numbers: 25 GP, 6G, 8A, 14 points
Too lazy to italicize and bold.
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