When the Edmonton Oilers signed D Mark Fayne last summer, they acquired a solid shut-down defender who handled tough assignments in New Jersey. He’s a proven top-four guy, and will be back next season, but he took a step back to a degree in Edmonton. Why is that? Well it’s partially due to the fact that his partner, Andy Greene, was still in New Jersey.
Greene is New Jersey’s top defender, and is a top-pairing option in this league. He’s an advanced statistics darling, and has a proven track record against the tough opposition out east. On top of that, he’s got some chemistry with our man Fayne.
Why Is He Out There:
The Devils are entering a new era. The team is too old to compete, and likely needs to rebuild for a year or two to reload. New Jersey is also a team that routinely works with a budget, so dumping a long-term contract that pays $5 million a year is probably smart business.
Greene is 32 years old, and probably won’t be this good when the Devils are ready to compete again. Now, Ray Shero could try and compete this season to impress, but if not, a fire-sale could occur. Should that happen, I’d imagine the Devils would place the talented defender on the market.
What Does He Do Well:
Andy Greene is a pretty underrated defender in today’s game. The fact he plays for a mediocre team in a middling market is the biggest reason for that, while the fact he doesn’t play a sexy style also factors in. That said, Greene is an impressive defensive option that does a lot right.
He’s actually a solid offensive defender who does a good job of getting the puck up to the attacking forwards. His outlet pass is pretty strong, while his passing skills on the fly are pretty good too. He’s not an offensive dynamo, only 22 points this past season, but he is not a black-hole offensively. He can move the puck quite well, a solid plus.
Greene is a smart hockey player who displays, according to The Hockey News, solid poise. He’s a sound positional player who rarely makes mistakes, and faces some of the top opposition night in and night out. Together in New Jersey, he and Mark Fayne formed the Devils’ top-pairing on a team that went to the Cup Finals.
He’s not the sexy defender, but he’s a good stay-at-home option that rarely gets beat and holds down the fort against the best. He’s also called a “good team player” and a solid leader, which fits in with the locker room culture the Oilers want to build.
This past season, he averaged 22:32 per night, and was New Jersey’s top defender, a role he has held the last few seasons in an effective manner.
Where Will He Play / Where Should He Play:
If Edmonton traded for Andy Greene, he’d likely slot in on the team’s top-pairing next October. You could also make the case, and I’d agree with you, that Greene would be Edmonton’s best defender right from the start. Where he should play actually matches, as I believe Andy Greene is a top-pairing defender in this league.
The chart below shows Greene as a top-pairing option in all areas except for generating offense. That is partially due to the poor forwards on New Jersey’s roster.
What Will He Cost:
Greene would be a trade option, as he is locked up for the next five years at a $5 million per year mark. Effectively, you are getting Greene for the rest of his career. The Devils would likely want a fair amount for their number one defender, and would probably ask for multiple pieces.
Would the 16th overall pick and Martin Marincin get this done? Possibly. Would you need to add a prospect like Bogdan Yakimov? Maybe, although that seems like too much. Would Nail Yakupov straight across sit well with Oiler fans? Probably not, but it could be an option.
Closing Arguments:
The Edmonton Oilers need a top-pairing defender, while the New Jersey are likely to go young moving forward. The Devils need scoring, while the Oilers have an abundance on the wings. These teams, from the outside at least, look like good trading partners.
If New Jersey looks to reload this summer and trade Andy Greene, then Edmonton should be all over him. Greene is a proven top-pairing defender who has excelled with Mark Fayne in a tough assignments role. That pairing could carry Edmonton’s defense and allow Oscar Klefbom and Darnell Nurse to be sheltered in development.
The odds of Greene being moved? I’d say unlikely, but if the chance arises, then Edmonton should pursue this option heavily. He could be a real answer for the team moving forward.
[wpauction /]
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