Why Edmonton Is Screwed at Number One in the 2012 Draft, Unless They Do Something

By Daniel A. Marley

            The Edmonton Oilers have been awarded, yet again, the first overall pick in the 2012 National Hockey League Draft.

            Chances are they will draft Nail Yakupov, forward, of the Sarnia Sting.  From the game footage that I have seen, Yakupov reminds me of Alexander Ovechkin, before his game sagged to what it is now.  Nail can hit, shoot, make plays, and generate action at both ends of the ice.

            Also, he has the strength to break glass.  Remember his check on Brett Cook on January 21, 2011?

            If this guy is so great, why are the Oilers “dumb” if they draft Nail?  It’s because they have way too much offensive talent, and nothing to look forward to on the defensive front. 

            On offense, apart from Jordan Eberle, Sam Gagner, Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Linus Omark, they have players like Magnus Paajarvi and Tobias Rieder to look forward to in the future.

            Paajarvi had an up-and-down season this year, but continues to show a lot of improvement in his game.  With the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League as of April 10, he posted 23 points in 31 games with a plus-six rating.  As the Barons gear up for the Calder Cup Playoffs, Paajarvi will have the opportunity to continue to improve his game.  He will definitely come out of this slump as a top-six forward. 

            I have been keeping a close eye on the Kitchener Rangers’ Rieder since the beginning of the year.  Rieder is a great offensive player that has a lot of upside to his game, combining speed and great stick handling into goal scoring and smart playmaking.  He will fit well with Edmonton’s style of play, and fair well in a lineup with either Nugent-Hopkins or Gagner.  During the 2011/12 regular season, Rieder has posted 42 goals and 43 assists in 60 games.  With phenomenal improvement to his game, I expect Rieder to be competing for a roster spot next year.

            Even though they have this stockpile of offensive talent, the Oilers have no defensemen in their system to look forward to in their rebuilding process.  I am still shocked that Adam Larsson was not the first overall pick in the draft last year. 

            Andy Sutton, Ladislav Smid, and Ryan Whitney will be departing after next season due to the possibility of retirement and unrestricted free agency.  If Edmonton is not playoff contenders next year, there will be no luck resigning them.

            Defensemen like Corey Potter, Colten Teubert, and Alex Plante are on pace to become career minor leaguers.  The way they are playing now at their current levels are not what the Oilers organization had expected, which means their future status on the club roster is bleak if they do not improve their game soon.

            The only defensive prospects that Edmonton has to look forward to are Oscar Klefbom, Jeff Petry, and David Musil.

             From EliteProspects.com: “A big and strong defenseman with very impressive leadership qualities and character, Klefbom plays a good two-way game and is fairly good defensively, while probably being capable to chip in more offensively than he has in the past. He reads the play very well and has good enough positioning. He also has speed and a great passing game.”  Expect him on the roster next season.

             Petry is a smart two-way forward that can generate offense and shut down opponents at the blue line.  He still has some work to do to get his game at that NHL-level.  After next season, he will be a better-established pro player.

            Musil is a strong player who can shut down the opposition at the blue line.  His game is expected to evolve as his development progresses.  Expect him to compete for a roster spot next year.

            Klefbom, Petry, and Musil are the defensive future of the Oilers, and that is not enough.  If they still want to go after Yakupov, what the Oilers should do is make some moves for defensemen or picks in the draft to get those needed defensemen. 

            During the 2011/12 season, rumors speculated over a trade between the Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs, which would send Omark to the Leafs for defenseman Luke Scheen.  Even though Scheen’s production is in question after a somewhat peculiar year, his physical play is what Edmonton needs.  He can contribute offensively, but his ability to hit and block shots will help bolster Edmonton’s special teams.  The right deal can land Scheen to Edmonton and give the Oilers that needed defensive boost.

            Another option, which could upset Oilers fans, is moving Gagner at the Draft.  His offensive value can land the team a better quality defenseman plus a first round pick.  That first round pick, which should be between picks 15 and 22, can get them a goalie like Malcolm Subban at the draft.  The deal should be made with their provincial rivals, the Calgary Flames.

            The Flames too are in need of a rebuild and are looking for better top-six talent to add to their future plans.  Playing on a line with the likes of Sven Baertschi, Gagner can help turn Calgary’s luck around.  A brief truce can be made to help further excite the Alberta rivalry.

            With goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin aging, Edmonton needs to add some goaltending depth.  Subban has great positioning and is quick from post-to-post.  He also has incredible reflexes, making his glove hand and blocker valuable commodities.  He still needs to improve in screened situations, but he is already showing significant signs of improvement in that area.  In 39 games this year with the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League, Subban has allowed 94 goals on 1,215 shots against with three shutouts.   

            As for the other players involved in the deal, Edmonton could use a defenseman like Mark Giordano, a solid d-man that can block shots and use that talent to help prospects improve their blue-line defense. 

            There are more combinations of moves that the Oilers can make, but the point is that before they select Nail Yakupov as the first overall pick, they need to be aware of their specific needs before going after another player they do not need. 

Time to Rebuild the Calgary Flames: Who to Go After?

By Dan Marley

            Calgary fans are certain that the team is need of restructuring.

After losing in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, the Flames have failed to make their championship dreams a reality.  They have missed the playoffs their previous two seasons and have not made it passed the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the preceding four.

This year, they have very few pieces to make some kind of push, but not enough to make any kind of outstanding impact.

            With a weak farm system and a plethora of contracts ready to expire this upcoming season, the time is now to start from scratch.   If they want to compete, they need to emulate the moves and the meticulous patience that their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers, are utilizing.

            The Flames are in need of younger talent that can create an unstoppable core offensively and defensively, especially in a division that is now hard to compete in: Edmonton’s player development is so far a success, Vancouver and Minnesota are firmly established with their rosters and line combinations, and Colorado’s peculiar institution of prospects and veterans are keeping their playoff hopes alive on a daily basis.

            Currently, the Flames are ranked in the bottom five of player development, according to HockeysFuture.com (26^th) and ESPN as reported by Yahoo! Sports (28^th).

            In their farm system, they have prospects who show a lot of grit and heart.  Their known prospects do well on the defensive front and can be utilized on the third and fourth lines.  They are forwards Mikael Backlund, Roman Horak, Greg Nemisz, and Ryan Howse, and defenseman T.J. Brodie. 

            Backlund is probably one of the best young play makers on the Flames roster. He is at best a third line forward; however, he cannot be depended on for goals.

            Horak was acquired by the Flames this past off season in a deal which sent defenseman Tim Erixon to the New York Rangers.  He is having a decent year so far in Calgary, adjusting at a good pace to the team’s style of play.  He too is a future third line center and regular to the special team units; however, he needs to be more physical on the fore check.

            After two years playing for the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League and four years prior for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, Nemisz is becoming more acclimated with professional styles of play.  A player who could use another year or two of development in the minors, Nemisz has been counted on by his clubs to make plays and contribute at both ends of the ice.

            Howse was a goal- scoring beast for the Chilliwack Bruins of the Western Hockey League (now the Victoria Royals), averaging over 30 goals per season and a point per game.  After he left the league due to age and signed a minor league deal with the Flames, he has yet to show that he belongs on the big club.  As of January 8, Howse has yet to register a point in 17 contests.  It will take a lot of convincing and a mid-season personal comeback for the Flames to have him on the roster next year. 

            After Erixon was traded to the Rangers, Brodie became the number one defensive prospect for the Flames.  He has that all-around defensive quality that many teams yearn for: he has great puck-handling skills, can skate very well on the open ice and around his opponents, and cause havoc without being sent to the penalty box with how well he blocks shots and hits his opponents.  He will definitely be the perfect centerpiece for the new team’s defensive core.

            In net, the Flames also have a good prospect in Leland Irving, who is currently the backup at the pro level.  He is revered as the successor of Mikka Kiprusoff.

            According to scouts, he is one of the calmest goaltenders in the game.  His size and lack of aggressiveness may be an issue; however, he steps up and challenges any shooter that he faces with ease. Before he allowed six goals on 21 shots in a 9-0 loss to the Boston Bruins back on January 5, Irving was 1-0-2 with a 2.23 goals against average and a 94.2 save percentage. 

            Despite this upside, their downside is that they only have one prospect who is first and second-line worthy.  His name is Sven Baertschi, and he is still in juniors.

            The 2011 first- round pick Baertschi is a gritty player with an amazing offensive mind.  The Flames wanted him on their roster opening day; but because of full roster spots and his age, the organization felt that he would be better off improving his skills back at the junior level, which has so far proven to be effective.

            In 25 games with the Portland Winterhawks, Baertschi has scored 12 goals and assisted on 42 with 18 penalty minutes and a plus-9 rating.  Expect him on the team's roster at some point during the 2012/13 season.

            With no one else to look forward to, this upcoming National Hockey League Trade Deadline will provide an opportunity for the the Flames to seek the young talent that they need to develop a chemistry with the above prospects.

            To do this, they will need to part ways with fan favorites like Kiprusoff, forward Jarome Iginla, and defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.  All three have been in the organization for quite sometime, and they have collectively not been able to satisfy the playoff aspirations and expectations of the Flames' fandom.

            Kiprusoff is a good solid goaltender who deserves to be on a contending team that is in need of goaltending; Iginla has leadership that playoff hopefuls can use; Bouwmeester is a solid defenseman and special teams contributor that can help mature defensive cores that need that kind of veteran presence on the blue line.

            Potential and smart teams that should make a push for these three and give up a little extra for 2012 success are the Tampa Bay Lightning (Kiprusoff), Florida Panthers (Iginla), and Dallas Stars (Bouwmeester).

            Kiprusoff will be a perfect fit for the Lightning.

            Currently, their goalie situation is abysmal.  Starter Dwayne Roloson is not playing the style of net minding that the organization had anticipated in the beginning of the season and Mathieu Garon is not starter worthy come playoff time.  Tampa Bay might be able to turn their season around if they go out and get that solid net minder like Kiprusoff.

            Also, the Tampa Bay/ St. Petersburg market depends on winning.  Their consistent inconsistency of winning and losing seasons have created a fluctuation of attendance and popularity amongst their market and the NHL since they won the Stanley Cup back in 2004.  If this issue does not get resolved, long-term financial and player development issues are sure to arise.
            This bit of knowledge can make the negotiation process go in favor of Calgary.

            Two prospects that the Flames might target in a deal with Tampa Bay are forwards Brett Connolly and Vladislav Namestnikov.

            Connolly is a good goal scorer and a great play maker, someone that the Flames can use as part of their rebuilding process.  He is so far adjusting well to the professional level, registering eight points in 29 games for Tampa Bay.  He is projected to be a second line center.

              Namestnikov is a skilled forward who harnesses the power to shoot the puck accurately and create plays at both ends of the ice.  He is making the most of his development with the London Knights of the OHL.  He is a bonafide second liner, according to scouts, but has the potential to be an effective first- line center.

            For the first time in as many years, the Panthers have a chance to make a strong push for the Cup.  However, if they want this, they need to improve on their goal scoring.  The presence of Iginla on the Panthers can improve the team’s offensive output, as well as provide leadership for the younger players.

As of January 8, the Panthers are 24^th in the NHL in goals and have a goal differential of minus-8.  This is the worst in the league amongst division leaders.  In a first line that includes Iginla with Tomas Fleischman at center and Kris Versteeg on the wing, the Panthers can finally get the scoring touch that the future Hall of Famer can provide.

In exchange, the Panthers can offer the Flames their expendable prospects. Their desperation for goal scoring can too lead to a first round pick coming Calgary’s way.

Some expendable prospects in the Panthers organization that could fit well in the Flames farm system are prospects Quinton Howden, Rocco Grimaldi, and Alexander Petrovic.

Howden has been known for his speed and contributions to the special team units.  According to scouts, he has the potential to be an effective second-line forward with a chance of competing for a first line spot.  Currently with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL, Howden has registered 29 points in 22 games.

University of North Dakota forward Grimaldi has a lot of upside to his game.  He has an accurate shot and is one of the fastest players in the NCAA.  Because he is relying on college hockey to further his development, he is one of those perfect cases of “hit-or-miss” players.  This is a player that the Flames will be very careful with if they want to get the best out of him and his skill set.  

Petrovic is a solid defenseman and enforcer who is heavily relied on by his team to come up big in games.  Besides his physical strengths, Petrovic can too contribute offensively.  His shot at the blue line is one of the hardest in his league and can set up great passing plays to generate effective scoring chances.  With the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL, Petrovic has registered 26 assists and 59 penalty minutes in 36 games.

Dallas needs more help on the power play.  Their struggles on the man advantage hinder their chances of making it to the playoffs.
Also, with financial issues on the horizon with low attendances and desperation to sell tickets, something needs to be done.

Currently, they are 24^th in the league in this category at 14.4 percent.  Bouwmeester is a perfect candidate for Dallas’s power play woes.  The reason why is their absence of a player on their roster that can keep the puck into the offensive zone for the full two-plus minutes and feeding it to the open man cleanly and putting it on net.

With Calgary and Florida, Bouwmeester has been revered for his contributions to the special teams.  Since the 2002/03 season, Bouwmeester has registered 105 points with the man advantage, amongst the best for defensemen.
Not only can he be counted on during the power play, Bouwmeester can also be utilized on the penalty kill.  On the penalty kill, he can hit and block shots.

What also makes him a perfect fit in the Lone Star State is Dallas’ collection of veteran talent. 

After former captain Brad Richards left for the Big Apple, Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk dove into the free agent market and signed a collection of players who have playoff and leadership experience.  These players include forwards Radek Dvorak, Vernon Fiddler, and Michael Ryder and defenseman Sheldon Souray.  Each player contributed to the team's early season success. 

However, they are in need of a better defensive presence, given that their team's defense is filled with NHL journeymen and rookies.  Currently, four of their defensemen have a plus/minus rating of minus-1 or worse. 

Calgary, in exchange, can get those rookie defensemen and give them a chance to properly develop and not worry about rushing to become superstars.  

Two defensemen that the Flames should push for on the Stars roster are Philip Larsen and Mark Fistric. 

Larsen is a confident, solid defenseman who is not afraid to challenge his opponents and avoid the penalty box (2 penalty minutes in 19 games).  If the Flames do acquire him, he can see himself on the same pairing as Brodie.

Fistric is a physical player who plays well on the road.  A team like Calgary that has struggled on the road can use a guy like him.  As of January 9, Calgary is 8-14-3 on the road, and a player with great confidence away from his home venue like Fistric can help a team like the Flames regain lost ground in the standings.

Calgary has a lot of options to rebrand and fix this club for the future, but the time to do it is now.  If they continue to do what they are doing now, their chances of competing in the future will look bleak.

Proud playoff run and offseason happenings have Oshawa fans looking forward to 2012 season

By Daniel A. Marley

*This article was written back on August 25, 2011 and retrieved from my previous blog domain.  Enjoy.

            The Oshawa Generals have one goal for the 2012 season: translating a renewed team dynamic into Ontario Hockey League and Memorial Cup Championships.

In 2011, the Generals made the playoffs after missing the cut for the last two seasons, posting a 39-19-10 record for 88 points and reaching the second round of the playoffs.  

Last season also made history for one Christian Thomas, as he joined his father Steven “Stumpy” Thomas as the first father-son duo in OHL history to score 50-plus goals during their semi-pro tenures. 

            During the offseason, Thomas signed an entry-level deal with the New York Rangers, who drafted him in the second round of the 2010 National Hockey League Draft.  If Thomas does not make the cut with the Rangers during training camp, he will return to the Oshawa roster.  He also took part in the World Junior Championships camps with Team Canada, where his skills will continue to develop.

            The outcomes of the 2011 NHL Entry and OHL Priority Selection Drafts went in favor of the Generals, as they saw five current roster players drafted into the NHL and young talent replacing missing slots for the team’s future plans.

            On June 24, forwards Nicklas Jensen (No.29, Vancouver), Boone Jenner (No. 37, Columbus), Lucas Lessio (No. 56, Phoenix), Andy Andreoff (No. 80, Los Angeles), and defenseman Colin Suellentrop (No. 116, Philadelphia) were drafted into the NHL.  However, because of their rate of development and team needs, they will remain on the Generals roster for 2012.

            These skaters, along with Thomas, make up the new team dynamic that has brought the Generals out of the cellar.

             Second-year Danish forward Jensen has become well acclimated with North American hockey.  His improvements in speed, puck control, and shooting accuracy were shown in his 58-point performance last season.

            Jenner had a very productive year in 2011.  His playmaking mentality on the ice helped him earn career highs in goals (25) and assists (41).

            Lessio had a productive rookie year with the Generals, registering 27 goals and 27 assists with a plus/minus rating of eight. He ended the year on a poor note, receiving a two-game suspension for game misconduct against the Niagara IceDogs in the playoffs.  After his suspension, Lessio will spend the season working on his speed and perfecting his forecheck and power strides up and down the ice.

            Andreoff had a great 2011 campaign, registering 75 points and leading the team in penalty minutes with 109.  He will see more ice time, especially on the special teams units.

            Defenseman Suellentrop is a stay-at-home defenseman with great on-ice mobility.  His plus-21 rating and 70 penalty minutes show that opponents will find it difficult to score when he is on the ice.

            Open roster spots will lead to heavy competition amongst the prospects that were selected in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection Draft.  General Manager and Head Coach Chris DePiero’s intentions in this draft were to build a new core for the long term and enhance their defensive and goaltending depths.

            The 2011 Oshawa draft class included forwards Cole Cassels and Bradley Latour and goaltender Ken Appleby, who signed deals shortly after the draft.

            DePiero was relieved when he saw Cassels available by the time the Generals made their selection in the first round.  Son of former NHL forward Andrew Cassels, Cole is highly revered by DePiero for his “very skilled offensive game.”  In 48 games with the Ohio Blue Jackets Under-16 club, Cassels scored 22 goals and made 44 assists.  He also participated in the 2011 OHL Showcase Tournament, registering three points in four games.

            Latour’s too is revered by the Generals organization for his “hard work and dedication, as he pushes to improve his development.”  In 42 games with the Barrie Junior Colts, Latour registered 24 goals and 20 assists with 36 penalty minutes.  He too participated in the Showcase Tournament, recording four points in four games.

            Appleby will be competing with goaltender Peter DiSalvo for the starting role this upcoming season.  His size will be in his favor, however, has room for development and time in his favor to perfect his game.  With the North Bay Midget Trappers AAA, Appleby recorded a 2.19 goals against average in 21 games.

            The Oshawa Generals start their 2011/12 campaign against their division rival Kingston Frontenacs on September 23 and at home on the 25^th against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.