Oil Country was decently excited back on July 5th when the Oilers signed a proven top-four defender in Andrew Ference. The former Bruins defender came to Edmonton bringing a physical, shut-down style of play and a lot of no non-sense leadership to the room. The new Oilers captain has come under fire from some fans, but how does he grade in on his report card?
Offensive:
Ok let’s get this out of the way now. Andrew Ference is a shut-down defender and does not score many points. With that in mind, Ference only has one point on the season, a goal back in October in Edmonton’s comeback win over the New Jersey Devils. That was way back during the third game of the season.
Ference obviously isn’t one to create chances offensively either, and it’s needless to say there hasn’t been much in that regard to this point.
No one is asking Ference to chip in on offense, and honestly to this point no one is upset that he hasn’t. Ference is the perfect number four defender for a team, and is a stay-at-home specialist. He has a role, and is expected to play it. He has, and that role doesn’t include adding offense. Therefore, he’s produced at the average clip for a player in this role with this skill set.
Ference’s overall offensive grade? 75, C.
Defensive:
A lot of people have ripped Andrew Ference to this point, saying he has been a bust of a signing and that he simply isn’t worth the assets given to him as a free agent last July. People expected too much here. People thought the Oilers were getting a legit top-pairing guy, when in reality Ference simply isn’t that player.
He never was that player, and quite frankly he never will be that player. It isn’t a shot at Ference, it’s just stating the obvious. That said, Ference is a perfect option for the second pairing on a team. He was the number four defender on a team that went to the Cup Finals last year, and that is the role we can expect him to fill in Edmonton.
Right now however, he is having to play higher up on the depth chart. Jeff Petry is a decent number two, while Justin Schultz a four/five option. Because there isn’t a number one, the Oilers are having to play these guys further up than ideal, and it is hurting everyone’s game.
Ference is a -6 on the season, and his advanced stat numbers aren’t exactly great. He’s been decent so far this season, but certainly can be better. Some of that is on him, but some of that is put on the fact that he is playing a role he isn’t exactly suited for and is having to step up because of a lack of top-four NHL defenders. That falls on the GM more than the player.
Ference needs to get back to his steady game that he played in Boston. He needs to play that hard-nosed, tough-as-nails defensive style. He does that, and he’ll improve back to his Boston level of play.
Overall defensive grade for Ference? 77, C+.
Team Play:
Andrew Ference is a leader through and through. No, I’m not just saying that because he is the captain either. Ference is the lone veteran leader on the defense, and is a guy who has won before. He is a calming influence in the locker room and is well liked by his teammates. He is willing to go beyond the call of duty and is a guy that brings guys together in the locker room. He is exactly what this team needs.
Ference on the ice is a physical guy and willing to stand up for his teammates. We’ve seen him answer the bell a few times this season and drop the gloves to defend a teammate or swing the momentum back in Edmonton’s favor. He’ll do anything to win, and is willing to put his body on the line. Andrew Ference is the elite team player, and the Oilers would be wise to go get a few more guys with his mentality and track record. It would go a long way.
Overall team play grade for Ference? 89, B+.
Overall Grade: 80, B
This grade seems about right for the captain. He’s been decent in my mind so far this season, but certainly has more he can give. Part of that is on him and his play, but as I mentioned above part of that is on the situation he is currently in. That my friends, that is a totally different topic for a different day. Lets just say the Oilers need to add to their blue-line in an impacting way before they can move forward.
Ference has been around average in his own zone and is handling top-four minutes. This is your typical number four defender, and he has done well when playing in that spot. The problems arise when he gets asked to go above that and play a role he simply isn’t cut out for. He’ll need to be better if the Oilers want success, but I don’t have too many complaints on his play so far.
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