Making Sense Of Jeff Petry

In a season where nothing makes sense, Jeff Petry and his current situation might take the cake for baffling and senseless. Petry is set to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, at the age of 27, and is expected to command a pretty penny on the market. As a result, Edmonton is likely to deal the defender between now and the deadline, March 2nd.

To me, this is a baffling thing. Petry has played 292 NHL games, all with Edmonton, and is just entering his prime. The Oilers invested a draft choice in the player, developed him in the NCAA, the AHL, and the NHL, only to deal him right when his best days arrive. How does that make any sense?

On top of that, Jeff Petry is Edmonton’s best defender. He’s a solid five-on-five defender who can contribute on the power-play and on the penalty kill, which has value. He’s a solid possession player on a mediocre possession team, and he can put up some offense. For those of you in love with the toughness part of the game, he’s really added that recently.

Petry plays against some of the toughest opposition and in some of the worst circumstances for Edmonton, while also playing heavy minutes. He’s a proven top-four defender at the NHL level, no debate, no doubt.

On Saturday, the Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson wrote a piece suggesting that the Oilers had actually not even offered Petry a contract, and that Petry’s agent believes that his client will in fact be traded. Matheson goes on to debunk a rumor that previously stated Petry received a long-term offer in the summer.

Why in the world would Edmonton not offer their best defender a contract? Stubbornness, that’s what it is. The Oiler brass, led by MacTavish, Lowe, Howson and Nicholson, have a vision for this roster, and it looks like said vision is stuck in the 1980’s defensively. It’s big, slow and physical shut-down defenders with small and soft skilled defenders. There is no mix on this blue-line.

The Oilers are content with Oscar Klefbom and Justin Schultz as a top-pairing for next season, which is a massively misguided approach. Yes, they are playing large minutes, but against second-tier opponents and with a zone-start push that only rookies get. Nikita Nikitin has been down right awful, while Mark Fayne has had some issues himself this season.

Andrew Ference is a decent third pairing guy, but he isn’t Jeff Petry, nor are any of the guys above, yet at least (I think Klefbom will be better, but time my friends). For Craig MacTavish to not even make an offer is appalling, it’s a slap in the face to the fans of this team, to Todd Nelson, and to the guys that are on that ice every single night.

Trading Jeff Petry for a magic bean return of a draft pick is simply setting this rebuild back yet again, admitting that winning simply is not a priority. It’s selling patience, a hope and a prayer that tomorrow will bring forth better fortunes. This mentality has been Edmonton’s prerogative for nine years now, and it’s failed at every turn.

Now, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported Sunday that the Oilers are trying to get Petry signed, and Bruce very well could be right here. Back in 2011, the Oilers shocked us all by signing Ales Hemsky at the last second to an extension. On top of that, a lot of recent Oiler stories have broken from the eastern part of Canada, where Garrioch is stationed. I doubt it happens, but it’s worth noting that this report is out there.

The only way to make sense of this whole Jeff Petry situation? It’s one of two things really, the Oilers are flat out too stubborn or Petry truly wants out. I could believe the second option, but if there isn’t even an offer, then that option goes out the window. To me, Edmonton is far too stubborn. Craig MacTavish wants a guy like Johnny Boychuk, he wants a Jason Smith in your face type, not a Jeff Petry type.

To me, not even making an effort to re-sign your best defender is absolutely pathetic, and a borderline fireable offense. This is not only making you weaker for the rest of this season, but for 2015-16 as well. Does anyone want to sit through another year like this again? I didn’t think so.

I hope an 11th hour agreement can be made, but it doesn’t look good as of now. In this situation, there is no sense, the Edmonton Oilers are about to flush away a good hockey player for nothing, and it is a damn shame. This is what bad hockey clubs do my friends. This could very well cost Craig MacTavish his job down the line.