Centers Of Attention

It’s been an area of concern in Edmonton the last number of seasons, and it’s looking to be an area of concern again for the 2013-14 season. With injury question marks and a lack of depth, one could argue the center position is the weakest spot in Edmonton’s lineup. How will the Oilers look down the middle this season? Let’s have a look.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins:

The Nuge, the 2011 first overall pick, has had an interesting first two NHL seasons. He had a very good rookie season, posting 52 points and having a -2 on a very poor team. Nuge had shoulder problems during the season, but clearly showed he was a solid offensive player and had great potential.

The 2013 shortened season saw Nuge struggle points wise, scoring just four goals in 40 games. He had 24 points total, not exactly great numbers for a top line center. That being said, we all found out late in the year that RNH was suffering from the same injury that had held Taylor Hall back, so his lack of points was kind of excused. He also really improved his two-way game, and played very well against the top lines of the opposition.

Overall, RNH’s two way game has taken strides, and his offensive game is primed for a big time bounce back this season with two healthy shoulders. RNH as the top line center is a good bet for Edmonton, and I believe he will have a Hall-like third year in the NHL.

Sam Gagner

Fresh off of a new contract, Sam Gagner returns to the Edmonton Oilers looking to finally solidify himself as the long term second line center. Sam has very good offensive instincts, evident by his consistent 40 point seasons throughout his young career. He’s a smart offensive player and has great passing ability, arguably the best on the team.

He’s a stand-up guy and brings tons of character to a locker room looking for an identity, and while he is a small player, he isn’t afraid to stand up to bigger and tougher players.

Sam does have his faults, as he is a weaker two-way player and is largely ineffective in the face-off circle. That being said, he does score at a top-six forward rate and is the best option Edmonton has. The center unit is fine with him in this spot, but would look that much better if he can improve his all around game this year.

Boyd Gordon

Shawn Horcoff’s replacement could very well be a cheaper and younger version of the former captain. One of the best defensive centers in the game today, Gordon comes in on a new three-year deal. Boyd took most of his draws in the defensive zone in Phoenix and still put up good underlying numbers.

He’s great in the dot, terrific on the PK, great defensively, and he brings the effort and compete that GM Craig MacTavish was looking for. He was described as “a beast” by Jason Labarbera, his teammate with the Coyotes and now the Oilers. He’s willing to give his body and block tons of shots. He’s a reliable defensive center, and will be a huge asset to Dallas Eakins. I’m very excited by this signing and think it really helps Edmonton’s bottom six forward unit.

Gordon is going to take a lot of defensive zone draws and be relied on heavily to secure leads and finish off games.

Anton Lander

If you’re going to put money on someone to win the fourth line center job, this is your guy. I believe Anton Lander finally becomes a full time NHL’er this season, and does so centering a fourth line that most likely features Jesse Joensuu and Ryan Smyth on his wings. Lander doesn’t have much in the way of offense, but is an extremely competitive player that brings it almost every night.

He’s always been described as a hard working and defensive center, which is what Edmonton needs in that spot. Lander isn’t the ideal fit (for me, a guy like Malhotra is), but he is still one that can work. He doesn’t need to worry about offense, just playing sound two-way hockey. If he can do that, then Edmonton’s fourth line will be improved over last year in a pretty big way. He’s got the potential, let’s see if he can handle it.

Will Acton

A minor league center from the Leafs organization, Acton has been on Edmonton’s radar for a few months now. He has almost nothing in the way of an offensive game, but Will Acton is another one of those hard-working and defensive centers. He’ll get a chance under his former coach to make the NHL roster, and I think he’s got a pretty decent chance.

Acton isn’t a great player, but being a responsible defensive center with good face-off ability and a knowledge of the system will give him a chance to stick in a fourth line grinder role. I think he starts in OKC, but he does give Edmonton a decent option for a veteran bottom six call-up during the season.

Marc Arcobello

Maybe the most interesting name on the list, Marc Arcobello is poised to start the season on the big club, and maybe even in the top six if RNH isn’t ready come October 1st. Arco is a three-year veteran at the AHL level,and is coming off of a career year where he posted 68 points in 74 games.

Arco followed up his career year with a great playoff performance, leading the Barons to the West Final. He had great chemistry with Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle, and is a smart offensive hockey player. He’s okay defensively, not terrific in the face-off circle and isn’t a big player, so there are some set backs. That being said, I would think Arco makes the opening night roster as an extra forward, and fills in as an injury replacement as time goes on.

Arcobello has a real chance this season to win a full-time NHL job, and if RNH misses time to start the year, he’s going to be handed the chance of a life time. This is a guy worth watching during camp and early into the season.

Andrew Miller

There isn’t much to say about the rookie, who signed with Edmonton after four very good years with Yale. The captain of the National Champion Bulldogs brings a smart and mostly offensive game to the table, and is pretty much what Marc Arcobello was when Edmonton signed him. He projects to be that same kind of player.

Craig MacTavish mentioned how he is a smart player and plays a smart game. From everything I have read on this kid, it looks like he has a very strong hockey IQ, and has some offensive upside. He’ll get a look in camp, but I suspect he starts the year in OKC and is at best an offensive depth call-up as the season progresses.

Edmonton, like every team, has it’s strengths and weaknesses. Center, most can argue, is Edmonton’s biggest weakness. RNH is a great talent, and is a future top notch center in the NHL. He’s fine. Gagner fits as a second line center on most teams, and Boyd Gordon is a pretty good third liner. That being said, it’s pretty weak everywhere else.

Anton Lander is a solid prospect, but is very unproven at the NHL level. Marc Arcobello, Will Acton, and Andrew Miller are all solid AHL options, but none of them have proven anything at the NHL level. The Oilers have depth in terms of bodies, but they have a lack of experience.

The Oilers have a few pretty solid pieces at the center position, but still lack depth, which was a problem last year for the team. Edmonton will have to hope one of the unproven players takes a step forward this year, and their best bet is on Lander.

For Edmonton, it wouldn’t hurt to add a center, but I think what we see now will end up being the centers of attention for Oilers fans all season long.