I am a Jeff Petry fan, there I said it. I believe Jeff is Edmonton’s best defender, and the lone guy on the team that is both solid in his own zone and can move the puck and put up points. He’s a complete defender, and a perfect number two right-shot defender. He’s ideal for a second pairing.
Sadly, the Edmonton Oilers and Craig MacTavish do not agree with that assessment, and aren’t big on Jeff Petry. In fact, it looks almost certain that Petry is done in Edmonton, and will be moved by the NHL’s trade deadline. Petry is a pending UFA, and is going to market in a “meh” class of free agents.
The reason for this falls back on former GM Steve Tambellini, who hesitated in contract talks with Petry and set up the deal to where Petry would be a RFA just one season before hitting the open market. That was followed by Craig MacTavish failing to lock-up the solid blue-liner, signing him to only a one-year contract this past summer.
Petry Is Gone:
Like I said, Jeff Petry is done in Edmonton for all intents and purposes. Of course, he is still on the roster now and playing, but it’s only to up his trade value. The Oilers won’t let him walk for free, and Darren Dreger seems to think that Petry isn’t interested in re-signing with the club. Quite frankly, I don’t blame Jeff for wanting to leave the circus.
The Oilers will deal him around the March 2nd trade deadline, and likely get a minimal return. IF, and that’s a big if, teams begin to get desperate, Edmonton might be able to get a 2nd round pick out of this, heck even a late first if Detroit and a few others get bold and desperate enough. That said, pick wise it will likely be a 3rd or 4th rounder.
A player? It’s doubtful, but Edmonton could look at a prospect in return for Petry, even a lower-level roster player in the form of a Rob Klinkhammer, but I’d be surprised if Edmonton got that.
Likely, you are looking at a 3rd round draft pick that, at best, will see the NHL in four-to-five seasons. It’s a top-four defender for magic beans here.
What Does Edmonton Do?:
I’m glad you asked. The Oilers, smartly, signed Mark Fayne last summer to a multi-year deal. Fayne is in the prime of his career, and is a very solid defensive defender. He’s a good second-pairing player, and is a top-four guy on the right side. Edmonton will also have the RFA rights to Justin Schultz, who has regressed every year since turning pro.
That said, Edmonton LOVES Schultz for some reason, and he’ll likely get a bridge contract and return to Edmonton next season, ideally on the third pairing and playing heavy, heavy power-play time.
That leaves one spot open on the right-side, open to a prospect, free agent or player via trade. Edmonton doesn’t have many prospects on the right side, so it’ll likely be an added veteran from over the summer.
The obvious fit? Pending UFA Johnny Boychuk, who is a physical, veteran shut-down defender still in the prime of his career. Boychuk also possesses a bomb of a shot, is from Edmonton, and is a legit top-four defender. Not to mention, he also fits the mold of the player type Edmonton has loved FOREVER.
To me, it seems almost way too Oilers to trade Jeff Petry and sign Johnny Boychuk, it’s something everyone can see them doing. We know they had interest in Boychuk last summer, and it is highly unlikely that that has changed to this point.
The Oilers:
It’s too bad, really. The Oilers drafted and developed Jeff Petry, only to send him away right before the prime of his career. Petry is a solid player, and will only be better when traded to a team that appreciates him and uses him correctly. He isn’t Chris Pronger, he has his faults, but he’s a solid player, and Edmonton needs more of those, not less.
Petry will likely end up in New York, Detroit, Boston, Pittsburgh, Montreal or even Florida and have a solid career. It’s what happens with the Oilers, who have turned into a feeder team for the rest of the NHL.
The only good out of this? We know the Oilers realize that their defense isn’t good enough, and we know they are searching for help at this position. We also know they really like a proven player who can help them, but trading one out for another is, at best, a small upgrade.
It’s pretty much set in stone, but trading Jeff Petry is a mistake. I’d love a surprise extension between the sides, but I fear Edmonton will be going into the summer with only Mark Fayne as a proven top-four defender.
MacT is going to have a lot of work to do this summer.
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