I have written about Jeff Petry so many times over the last few weeks that it is getting a little old. I get that, I understand that, I respect that opinion, but I must once again bring the topic up, because the playing field appears to have changed to a degree. On Wednesday night, TSN’s Ryan Rishaug sent out a very interesting tweet….
@TSNRyanRishaug: Oilers have had recent discussions with Petry camp. Wouldn’t surprise me if offer has come. Long shot with FA looming but never know.
TSN’s Darren Dreger also mentioned on Wednesday night that the Oilers are making a last ditch effort to sign Jeff Petry. Will it work? I honestly don’t know, but it is worth the effort, and this may be a sign of things to come in Edmonton.
Let’s face it, Jeff Petry is Edmonton’s top defender right now. I won’t go into too much depth, but he has a high hockey IQ, can move the puck, play all three areas of the game, and is solid defensively. He’s a proven top-four defender in this league, and he is about to enter the prime of his career.
No, he isn’t Jason Smith, but he doesn’t have to be! See, that’s the beauty of today’s game, defenders like Petry can excel, not just be considered soft because they don’t make the highlights with a bone-crushing hit every single night. This is a good defender that posts solid possession stats and fits today’s game to a tee.
The Edmonton Oilers, regardless of what happens with Petry, will need to add to their defense this summer. In an ideal world, the pairings go as follows:
- TBA – Petry
- Klefbom – Schultz
- Nikitin – Fayne
Without Petry, you need to add two defenders to that group. Who that addition is will determine whether Edmonton improves next season, but that is neither here nor there. The Oilers can do themselves a massive favor by re-signing Jeff Petry.
The Oilers, according to reports, hadn’t even offered Petry a contract, a stubborn move that showed that Craig MacTavish might not be willing to compete next season. Now, there is talk that MacT has revisited Petry and might be offering him a deal, this is a total 180 from the previous spot, but a great one nonetheless.
Look, Edmonton drafted Petry, they developed Petry, and they should reap the rewards of Jeff Petry as a player. He’s just under 300 NHL games, and is entering his prime with plenty of miles left on those legs. He’s a legit player, and makes Edmonton a better team moving forward. Keeping Petry also allows Justin Schultz to play a more protected role, which in turn will result in better results from the young puck-mover.
This sudden change of heart from Edmonton is a great sign, because it means that they have finally identified a good defender. That’s a step in the right direction, and I truly mean that. This team has flushed this type of player away far too often before, keeping this one would signal a change.
Look, the Oilers are known for dealing a player only to bring in an exact or lesser version for assets or more money (Deal Gilbert, sign Schultz). That needs to stop if Edmonton is to ever improve. If signing Petry means only one defender is added this off-season, then I am all for it.
What will a contract look like? I have four years by five million per season stuck in my head, but it very well could be more. I’m comfortable with saying that the deal should be in the five million a year range, but I will also say that I would draw the line in the sand at $5.5 M per season. Yes, it’s a high line, but he’s a good player, and a replacement this off-season on the right side will be VERY tough to find.
Jeff Petry isn’t Chris Pronger, but he is a solid defender. If the Edmonton Oilers can re-sign him before the deadline, it improves the 2015-16 roster and shows that winning might just be a priority in fall 2015.
After basically ignoring Petry for so long, it’s nice to see Edmonton circle back and make an effort here. Will it result in a contract? We can only hope.
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