When you take a look back at Peter Chiarelli’s Boston Bruins, you’ll notice a pattern. Each one of those teams had a very physical element to them. I’m not talking about just Shawn Thornton and Milan Lucic, either. I’m talking about some serious bruisers at just about ever single position.
Odds are, Adam Pardy will not return to Edmonton and that Eric Gryba is, at best, 50/50 to comeback. Without those two, Darnell Nurse is the only physical defender currently on the Oiler roster. That won’t fly for Chiarelli, nor for Todd McLellan, who always employed a physical and shut-down defender in San Jose.
Could Luke Schenn, who was traded from Philadelphia to Los Angeles mid-season, be one of those tough guys for Edmonton on defense? The pending UFA will certainly have some appeal.
Why Is He Out There?:
The Los Angeles Kings have some questions to ask. After missing the playoffs in 2014-15, the team bowed out in five games to San Jose this year. LA is already up against the cap and will need to re-sign Milan Lucic while also adding a top-four option to their defensive group. While Vinny Lecavalier is likely to retire, the Kings still will need to shed some dollars.
Schenn, who is a pending UFA, only played on the third pairing in LA and may well be allowed to walk to save some money.
What Does He Do Well?:
The 26 year old Schenn is a classic stay-at-home defender. At 6’2” and 229 pounds, this is a big boy who plays a heavy and physical game. He’d likely be a fan favorite in Edmonton due to his ability to throw huge hits and to intimidate the opposition. He’s also not afraid to drop the gloves, he’s a stand up guy.
Schenn has, according to his The Hockey News Scouting report, “excellent” shut-down ability. While he’s not a sexy player, he is strong in his own zone and he does do a good job against the cycle and of breaking up opposition chances. He’s a very steady defender, he reminds me a little of ex-Oiler Steve Staios.
Luke Schenn is also described as “Strong positionally” and he’s a guy who blocks a ton of shots. In addition to that, Schenn is mobile enough where he won’t get burned too often by opposition forwards when he gets caught out of position.
Offensively, Luke Schenn won’t be playing on the powerplay and he won’t be lighting up the scoreboard. He does have a good first pass and he can move the puck out of the defensive zone well enough to be an asset in that regard. He’s certainly ahead of Gryba in that regard. He’s got a strong shot, but his scouting report suggests his offensive instincts aren’t very good.
Where Will He Play / Where Should He Play?:
Luke Schenn, should he sign with the Edmonton Oilers, would likely be the best right-shot option the team would have. Therefore, he would slide in opposite of Oscar Klefbom on the top-pairing. Now, if I were coach, I’d rather have Mark Fayne as my top option than Schenn, but I doubt many will agree. Either way, this role is far over Schenn’s head.
In reality, Luke Schenn should at best be a number four defender. In an ideal case, he’s likely a very good number five option who should be on your third pairing. If Edmonton signs him this summer, they better have numerous other options on the board to fill spots higher in the lineup.
What Will He Cost?:
Straight cash, homie. Luke Schenn is likely looking for a multi-year deal at decent money. With the defensive market being what it is, there is a strong chance that he gets overpaid by a team that is desperate and who misses out on other options. I would suggest a three year deal worth around $3,250,000 is fair value for this player currently.
I suspect, however, that he gets more on the open market. If he does, the Oilers should stay away.
Closing Argument:
One suspects that the Edmonton Oilers will be looking for more size and toughness this summer. If that is the case, we can’t ignore the possibility that they look to add that to both the offense and the defense. If that’s the case, then Luke Schenn becomes a legit option for this hockey club.
He’s a young stay-at-home defender who brings both size and physical play to the table. While he’s certainly not the top option for many, he’s a realistic one and an option we must consider.
If the price is right, Luke Schenn can be a valuable piece as a role player.
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