He’s one of the more interesting names on the free agent list this summer when it comes to defenders. The Edmonton Oilers are in desperate need of a top-four defender, and Alberta native Mike Green might just fit the bill. Green is a dynamic offensive defender, but certainly has some warts to his game.
As a second pairing option, does he make sense for Edmonton this off-season, a team that needs multiple top-four defenders? It’s a good question, one that we’ll look at today.
Why Is He Out There:
Just a few seasons ago, Mike Green was the premiere offensive defender in the NHL, but he’s fallen off since then. Green has run into injury and consistency problems, and from the outside it looks like he has fallen out of favor in Washington.
After routinely scoring over 50 points a season and running the power-play in the capital city, Green hit the wall in 2010-11, and hasn’t returned to form since. Green is going to want a payday this summer, while the Caps already have John Carlson, Karl Alzner, Matt Niskanen and Brook Orpik in the lineup.
The numbers game and contract demands of Green likely force him to the open market this July.
What Does He Do Well:
Mike Green is an elite offensive defender, I don’t think we can debate that point. He has a bomb of a shot, and can run a power-play unit from the point. He’s a player who has scored 30 goals (!) in a season in his career, and who usually posts high point totals.
His passing skills are very good as well, and he has proven he can play with highly skilled forwards. His first pass is pretty smooth, and he excels at getting the puck out of the zone with it. His wrist shot is pretty good too, making him more dangerous in the offensive zone.
Green isn’t overly big, only 6’1” 207 pounds, but he likes to play a physical style. He’s more than willing to throw his body around and initiate contact, which is rare for offensive defenders like him.
Defensively, he has his warts. He’s not terrible in his own zone, but he struggles with certain aspects. He’s not great at clearing the front of the net, and he is prone to getting caught out of position. That said, he’s described as a “fourth forward”, so these warts are to be expected.
Skating wise, Green passes the test with flying colors. He’s fast, there isn’t another way to describe it really.
The thing with Mike Green is, he isn’t going to come to Edmonton and be a shut-down defender. He’s a terrific offensive defender who likely slots in on the second pairing against the second-tier opposition. Give him a healthy dose of offensive zone starts and power-play time, and he’ll be very successful.
Where Will He Play / Where Should He Play:
Mike Green would be Edmonton’s second best defender behind Oscar Klefbom in my mind. That said, it’s still too high on the depth chart for Green. Edmonton would likely slot him on the top pairing, but he isn’t built for it, it’s a bad fit in that regard.
What Green is, like I mentioned above, is a solid second-pairing defender who makes his money in the offensive zone. He’d be a perfect fit as Edmonton’s number three in my mind. So, if the Oilers can trade for a guy like Brent Seabrook or Dion Phaneuf, then Green would be a perfect secondary add.
What Will He Cost:
Luckily, Mike Green will only cost a contract spot and money. If Edmonton wants to spend assets on trading for a defender, they can, and they can still add a guy like Green on July 1st. Previously, some thought Green would look for $6 million per season, but I can’t see someone giving him that.
If Edmonton wants to sign Mike Green, I think an offer in the neighborhood of four years and $5 million per might get it done. Is that an overpay? Probably, but as always, defenders get too much on the open market.
Closing Arguments:
The Edmonton Oilers have two holes on their blue-line, and must add two top-four defenders to fill them. They need at least one top-pairing guy, and a second pairing option if they want to compete for the post-season next year. Mike Green is not a top-two defender at this level, but he’s certainly a guy capable of handling a top-four job.
Mike Green, at the right price, is a good fit as an offensive defender for Edmonton’s second pairing and top power-play unit. He’ll cost a fair amount of cash, but if the Oilers feel he can help, I think it would be a worthwhile investment. He can’t be the only addition this summer, but he can help if added in the right role.
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