Linus Omark, the most talked about and dissected name among Oilers fans, is going to get a chance to prove he can play in an NHL top six. If you told me this a month ago, I would have laughed you off and not thought twice about this. That said, here we are, September 16th, and talking about how Linus Omark could become an impact player for the Oilers. No folks, that’s not a typo, and this isn’t either, I believe Omark will shine.
It’s a perfect storm. Toni Rajala leaves the organization in a shocking way and heads home, and center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is on the shelf while Taylor Hall shifts to center to fill the void. While David Perron is there, the Oilers have a hole in the top six on the left side. Will Yakupov move over again? Will Ales Hemsky shift wings? Both are valid questions, but I don’t think either happens.
I think Linus Omark is going to get his chance in Edmonton’s top six, and prove a lot of people, self included, wrong.
In pre-season game one Omark skated with Nail Yakupov, and it looks like he is going to skate with Ryan Jones and Sam Gagner the next game he gets into. That’s being given a real chance with some real skill players, and I think that says what Dallas Eakins thinks of this kid. He had some praise for his ability earlier in camp too remember.
We’ve talked about it before, but Linus Omark is a talented young player and has lots of skill. He knows how to move the puck and how to score. You can’t teach talent and you can’t teach skill, and Linus has both of those. No matter what side of the Omark debate you are on, its impossible to deny the kid that.
Omark posted a pretty good total of 27 points in 51 games back in 2010-11 when he was playing with a few relatively skilled players. Omark showed in that audition that he can score at this level, and actually was one of the Oilers bright spots that season. He brings an offensive flare that is NHL worthy.
He struggled a little bit in 2011-12, posting only three points (all goals) in 14 games. That being said, Omark didn’t really play with skilled players and thus saw his production fall.
When looking at Omark’s in-depth stats and possession numbers, we see a guy that put up NHL worthy numbers when playing with legit offensive talent, and players that can actually cycle the puck at an NHL level. Sure he looked bad with guys like Colin Fraser, but who wouldn’t. When he played a top six role, he was pretty good in it.
Sure, he isn’t the biggest guy and he has the same kind of skill set as the rest of the Oilers top six. You can never, NEVER, have enough talent, you just can’t. Omark might be small but this kid busts his tail and had a knack for drawing penalties and going to the dirty areas last time we saw him.
He wants to be in the NHL and is getting a clean slate. People with skill usually find their ways in the NHL. Don’t give me Rob Schremp either, because Linus Omark is already more established at the NHL level than Robbie ever was, and that is a fact.
Look, I don’t know about you, but I’ll be rooting like heck for Linus Omark to make this roster. With RNH probably missing the first couple of weeks and Taylor Hall likely moving to center, who better to try than Omark in that vacant top six wing spot?
No one else has the talent to do it that is a realistic option (No, Hemsky switching wings isn’t going to happen) so why not put a kid out there that has had some success before and is motivated big time? It’s worth a chance, and I think has to happen during the pre-season and early regular season.
Say what you want about Linus Omark and his ‘attitude’, this kid wants to play in the NHL. The past is the past people, forget about it and move on. Omark is back and Tambellini/Renney (The ‘two’) are gone. The kid can play hockey and is uber-skilled. Not giving him the chance would be the first true mistake of Dallas Eakins tenure in Edmonton.
Think what you will about Omark, but this is a decent hockey player and one who should be given a chance. Linus has a big supporter here, and I know others are with me on it. Have at it Linus, we’ve got your back.
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