A few weeks back the Edmonton Oilers traded goalie Devan Dubnyk to Nashville for forward Matt Hendricks. Many knew that Dubnyk, a pending UFA, was certainly going to be moved on from the organization. The Oilers got an asset for a player that wasn’t in the plans, yet many were upset. Why?
A lot of people, admittedly myself at first glance, were not happy with the player coming back. Matt Hendricks, a 32 year old veteran, is on the wrong side of the age scale, and has some miles on him. His underlying numbers don’t exactly scream out good defensively, and he has very little offense to show. Add in a contract with some term and decent money on it, and people were rolling their eyes at Eric Belanger 2.0.
After a few weeks however, I’m starting to think I judged a book by it’s cover, something we never should do. Matt Hendricks has quickly grown into a pretty solid player for the Oilers, and looks to be part of the solution for the team’s long standing bottom six woes.
Well, What Does He Do?:
The Oilers penalty kill has been an issue this season, but Hendricks has helped in this regard since coming over. He’s a decently smart defensive forward who handles these minutes well. He has shown well in these minutes since coming over, and has helped form a very good tandem with Boyd Gordon.
He brings a physical element to the table that simply isn’t in the lineup. Hendricks finishes his checks, doesn’t back down from anyone, and drops the gloves on occasion. It’s not like Theo Peckham either, who would go out of position to make a hit. Hendricks picks his spot and plays an effective, physical game.
He’s a leader too, and while he doesn’t have a letter, he certainly is a very vocal guy. We see him all the time during the broadcast communicating with his teammates, and is, according to coach Eakins, preaching the right messages in the locker room. The Oilers don’t have enough players like that right now.
Hendricks has some decent hands too, and while he isn’t going to put up a lot of offense, he certainly can make you pay when he gets in alone, evident from his days in Washington and his SHG against the Sabres on Monday night.
Matt Hendricks is far from a perfect player, and certainly is not a guy that is going to make or break the Oilers. That being said, the Oilers don’t have enough of these glue guys in their lineup. Hendricks is a decent bottom six option, ideally on the Oilers fourth line. If he is there with let’s say Lander and Pitlick next season, then the Oilers are in business.
Guys like Hendricks make you harder to play against, and give you that needed veteran voice. At the time I wasn’t totally on board, but after a few weeks of watching him I have changed my tune. Matt Hendricks is a useful player for the Edmonton Oilers, and will be moving forward.
The Oilers bottom six has been awful for years now, but Matt Hendricks seems to be exactly what the team has been lacking, and now looking for under Craig MacTavish. I’d suspect we see another Matt Hendricks added to the bottom six before training camp opens up in September, and that’s a good thing.
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