Monday night was a nice reminder of what winning feels like as the Oilers knocked off the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1. That said, we’re about a dozen games from the end of the season, meaning our focus now turns to the off-season. While we want to talk free agency and the draft, there is business to attend to before hand. What is that business? College free agency and prospect signings.
The Oilers have a number of prospects that they need to make a decision on this coming off-season, either sign these guys, or risk losing them to draft re-entry or free agency.
C Kyle Platzer OHL, Owen Sound:
Platzer has had a really good year for Owen Sound, scoring 75 points in 65 games to this point in the season. The fourth round selection has emerged as a real prospect of note for Edmonton, thanks to his ability to do a number of things. In addition to posting solid boxcar numbers this season, Platzer is prided on being more of a two-way center, something Edmonton could use.
He’s not overly big, but scouts said going into his draft year that he went to the greasy areas, something that still holds true today. He doesn’t have elite NHL potential according to scouts, but some believe he can be an effective two-way player who can put some points up. He’s been playing more physical lately too.
VERDICT: No doubt in my mind Edmonton should sign this kid and get him into the system next season. A year or two in the AHL will do him well.
RW Jackson Houck WHL, Vancouver:
I’m not sure how I feel about Houck, who seemingly has stunted in his development. This season, Houck has 50 points in 63 games, and hasn’t been as effective as hoped. Houck is an average sized guy and is willing to play physical, but he’s not an overly skilled guy. Houck says he likes to play a power-forward game, but he’s not overly big and doesn’t have the skill you’d expect.
It’s a disappointing draft +2 season, and Houck is looking like another Tyler Pitlick/Mitch Moroz/Travis Ewanyk player. The Oilers have enough bottom six prospects who struggle to score.
VERDICT: Offensively, I don’t think Houck has earned the contract. For me, Houck and Platzer both provide the intangibles, but Platzer looks much more pro ready. Edmonton can’t play around with contract space, so I’d allow Houck to re-enter the draft, he just hasn’t done enough in my mind.
D Ben Betker WHL, Everett:
The offense isn’t there, but what did you expect from a lugging shut-down defender? Betker stands in at 6’5” and 204 pounds, and plays a very physical style of hockey. He’s a shut-down defender in every meaning of the phrase, as he plays on the PK and provides a steady presence when he is on the ice. That said, he’s not an awful skater and has shown improvement in his game since draft day.
His boxcars actually aren’t that bad either when you consider everything, he has 30 points in 62 games thus far.
VERDICT: The Oilers always have loved big, physical, shut-down defenders. From what I’ve read up on Betker, he actually looks like a guy that might be something down the line. I’m on the fence personally, but I think it’s a slam dunk the Oil sign this guy.
F Marco Roy QMJHL, Quebec:
Roy is a small and skilled winger with some real speed to his game that was an analytics pick back in the second round in 2013. That said, he’s dealt with injuries since his draft day, and those have hampered his last two junior seasons. This year, Roy was traded to Memorial Cup host Quebec, but his numbers still don’t stand out.
He has 48 points in 57 games, which isn’t great for a skilled winger taken in the second round. That said, he’s on a very good hockey team and isn’t exactly getting prime minutes. Still, he’s in danger right now, because he hasn’t produced the way he probably should have.
He’s got skill, he’s got speed, but he can’t catch a break. Maybe some ECHL time followed by a lengthy AHL stint might get this guy’s career jump started?
VERDICT: He’s a second round pick, he’s going to get at least one pro contract. I think Edmonton signs him and puts him in every situation to succeed in both the ECHL and AHL in the next three seasons. With all this talk about wasted picks after round one, I can see Edmonton trying their hardest to save this kid. For the record, I would sign him.
College Graduates:
D Joey Laleggia, Denver:
The next Marc-Andre Bergeron? This kid can move the puck up ice with ease, has a great shot, is extremely creative with the puck, and has pro-level play-making ability. He’s the best puck-moving defender in College Hockey right now, and I’m not sure it is close. He’s dominated for the University of Denver, and has looked special in the games I’ve got to watch this season on TV down here.
That said, his defensive game is questioned. He gets by at the NCAA level, but there is some concern that he might struggle when he goes pro. I understand the concerns, but I think with some development time he’ll be okay.
VERDICT: Easy, sign this kid and don’t think twice. I’m really looking forward to him at the AHL level next season.
F John McCarron, Cornell:
I know Edmonton is obsessed with bigger forwards, but McCarron has been a major disappointment. With just 12 points in 31 games, the Cornell captain has been an offensive black-hole for most of the season. With this kind of offensive production in the NCAA, I can’t see McCarron producing enough at the pro-level.
He’s decently physical, but I don’t see him as overly physical and I’m not sure he does enough to be considered a real power-forward. He looks great on paper, but McCarron has not delivered on the ice for the Big Red.
VERDICT: I’d pass here. While McCarron provides decent size, he just doesn’t score enough at the NCAA level to be considered a prospect of note to me. Edmonton already has Mitch Moroz, Travis Ewanyk and Kale Kessy to fill this kind of role. Wasting another contract here just doesn’t make sense to this blogger.
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