When looking for possible solutions to roster problems, I believe it is always best to go and look at a GM’s past. Peter Chiarelli has fixed the blueline in two major hockey cities, Boston and now Edmonton. In each case, he made a big free agent signing (Zdeno Chara in Boston, Andrej Sekera in Edmonton) and a big trade (Dennis Wideman in Boston, Adam Larsson in Edmonton).
This summer, one of those players will hit the free agent market and could come at a bargain bin price. The last two years have not been kind to Dennis Wideman, but the right-shot offensive defender was once a huge help to Peter Chiarelli and could provide him with quality play again on a one-year deal.
Would the Oilers be willing to take a chance on a defender who has fallen on hard times? There are certainly some pros and cons.
Why Is He Out There?:
At the conclusion of the 2014-15 season, Dennis Wideman was basically untouchable in Calgary. He had just posted 56 points for the Flames and was a huge reason why Calgary made a return trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Since then, however, things have been ugly.
Wideman recorded just 19 points (2-17-19) in 51 games during the 2015-16 season and was suspended for his incident with official Don Henderson. This season, in only 57 games, Wideman posted 5-13-18 and was wildly inconsistent.
The Flames are in dire need of a top-four defender to play with TJ Brodie, Dougie Hamilton and Mark Giordano and are likely to look to someone other than Wideman to fill that spot after the last two seasons.
What Does He Do Well?:
When he is on his game, Dennis Wideman can be a very effective offensive defender. He has a tremendous point shot, can be a powerplay quarterback and is a more than adequate puck mover.
Wideman has enough speed to adequately join the rush and has strong offensive instincts that allow him to be a difference maker in the offensive zone when he is clicking. He can make and take a pass, can carry the puck up ice, and can be a weapon in the offensive zone.
Consistency is a huge issue here, and Wideman does have a knack for allowing mistakes to get in his head and impact him negatively. Confidence can be a huge issue with this player, in fact it is the reason Chiarelli traded him out of Boston at the NHL draft in 2010.
Wideman averaged 20:13 TOI per game last season with the Flames.
Where Will He Play/Where Should He Play?:
Wideman, at this stage, is likely a third pairing defender who plays on the powerplay. There is nothing wrong with that at all, but it could be a problem if he were to join the Oilers. Unless Matt Benning is able to jump up and take the second pairing RHD spot, the Oilers will need a top-four defender and Wideman isn’t that guy anymore.
Ideally he’s on the third pairing, but I can see Wideman starting on the second pairing if he signs with Edmonton. That could become an issue.
What Will He Cost?:
The five-year, $5.25 million per year deal that Wideman signed with the Flames in the summer of 2012 will not be relevant this time around. Wideman is 34, coming off two poor seasons and has the Don Henderson issue in his recent past as well. His value could be at it’s lowest since his trade from Boston in the summer of 2010.
Would Wideman take a one-year contract at, say, $2.5 million for the season? I’m sure he’d like to get more, but I don’t think he has the value or leverage to get a bigger contract than that this summer.
Closing Argument:
One of the biggest reasons why Edmonton lost game seven to the Ducks this spring was because the team couldn’t transition the puck out of the defensive zone quickly or cleanly enough. While Dennis Wideman isn’t a top-four defender anymore, he is a solid offensive defender that could help in a depth role.
If the Oilers can get him on a one-year “prove it” contract, he could provide excellent value. You’d have to think that Wideman’s numbers would benefit from playing with a more dangerous forward group in Edmonton and getting more powerplay time. Will he score 50 points? No, but I don’t think a 30 point season would be out of the question.
Dennis Wideman is an interesting option that could provide the Oilers with some offensive depth, but he certainly shouldn’t be the only addition if Peter Chiarelli goes this route in July.
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