Quick question, can you name four NHL players that have had the best years of their career as an Edmonton Oiler in the past eight seasons??? Crickets? That’s what I was expecting.
One more question; can you name four NHL players that have excelled following their exile from Oil Country??? Whoa whoa slow down and let me get a pen.
I swear, like most people who watch this team on a gamely basis, I consistently see a former Oiler tearing up the Oilers on the scoresheet prompting various die-hards to ponder why the player never played like that when we had him.
Are we cursed? Are the hockey gods really punishing the fan base to even out the successes of the 80’s?? Or is there a distinct reason?
THE EXAMPLES
Well we are all really familiar with the newest member of the club, and it’s not the double “D” we want to see. Yes, Devan Dubnyk. I’m willing to bet my favourite guitar, my car, my bank account, and my antique hockey card collection that nobody looked at Dubnyk’s performance last season and predicted he’d be in serious consideration for the Vezina trophy this season.
Dubnyk is just the most prominent example of former Oilers that have gone on to have formidable careers. I’ve chosen to look at players that have left the Oilers in recent seasons and found an organization that put them in a position to succeed. Let’s look at the list.
DEVAN DUBNYK
Last season: 34GP 11-18-3 3.43 .891
This season: 46GP 29-10-3 2.08 .929
My consensus: Dubnyk was groomed and brought up slowly in the Oilers organization. Behind poor defense groups, Dubnyk put up admirable numbers while becoming the starter. He let in the odd bad goal but for the most part gave the team a chance to win with above .910 save percentage goaltending. Under Dallas Eakins’ highly disastrous swarm defense system, Dubnyk was hung out to die and lost his confidence. Beach balls were difficult to stop. He moved to an organization known for goaltender development in Nashville and had bad habits. Upon working with Arizona’s Sean Burke, Dubnyk was quoted as saying he wanted so badly to believe Frederic Chabot’s way was the right way. He’s fired now and Dubnyk changed his style to become the bonafide starter he is today.
Reason for success: Incompetence for Oilers goalie coach and degradation of confidence corrected and restored.
DAVID PERRON
With Oilers: 38GP 5-14-19
With Penguins: 31GP 12-9-21
My consensus: While Perron was a revelation last season when he scored 28 goals, but this season Perron was on pace to score a measly 11 goals this year. Perron began speaking out about the team’s pouting and unwillingness to compete, suggesting Dallas Eakins couldn’t properly implement a plan for success or motivate the club. His play became soft and he didn’t spend much time with a proper NHL centre. For some reason, instead of applauding the player for taking a stand, MacTavish shipped the winger out for a 4th liner and a 1st round pick. Perron now has the luxury of playing with two of the best centres in the game: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Reason for success: Playing with Sidney Crosby, playing with a genuine competent NHL squad.
NICK SCHULTZ
13-14 w/ Oilers: 60GP 0-4-4, -11
14-15 2/ Flyers: 69GP 2-12-14, +6
My consensus: One of the players that doesn’t get the headlines is Nick Schultz but upon the news of him signing an extension, I looked into the season he is having and I found some more interesting things. Schultz came to the Oilers in the Tom Gilbert deal and I thought we finally had the shut-down d-man that is going to change our defensive group. Schultz was used mostly as a 5/6 guy with an emphasis on penalty killing, but occasionally stepping up into the 3/4 pairing. The Oilers gave Schultz senior the Ference treatment, where they played him as their top pairing guy. It was a miscast by the organization, and it made Schultz look like he was a terrible acquisition. During the fifth wave of rebuilding, Craig MacTavish traded yet another NHL defenseman for a measly 5th round pick. Fast forward to today and Schultz is a solid bottom pairing defenseman for a flawed, but significantly better(-than-the-Oilers) Philadelphia team.
Reason for success: Put in a proper position for his skill set.
ANDREW COGLIANO
Career average w/Oilers: 82GP 14-22-36, -5
Career average w/Ducks: 82GP 18-16-34, +7
My consensus: While the stats my not look like much of an improvement, it’s worth noting that Cogliano is playing on a team with much much much much much greater depth. The other fact of note is the incredible difference in plus/minus. While that stat may be underlying and becoming irrelevant with fancier stats like Corsi and Fenwick, Cogliano’s +14 and +13 rating the previous two seasons have a lot to say about his abilities. The NHL’s ironman (never missed a game in his career) plays hard and has been used as a special utility player for a cup contending team. That player was dealt for a second round pick that has yet to make an impact in the NHL.
Reason for success: Playing proper role with an adequate NHL club.
CHRIS VANDE VELDE
NHL career w/Oilers: 28GP 1-2-3
Current season w/Flyers: 61GP 9-6-15
My consensus: While this could be considered a crapshoot piece of evidence, I find it still worth mentioning. VandeVelde was homegrown after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2005 draft and after completing his college career with the University of North Dakota, VandeVelde was employed as the third-line checking centre for Todd Nelson’s OKC Barons. He warranted call ups in every season but didn’t show enough to make the big club on a regular basis. Vande Velde left via free agency and signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. They let him play yet another season in the minors before making the big club in his 28th year. He’s a late bloomer but his 15 points are more than many believed he was capable of.
Reason for success: Developed slowly and properly, but cut loose by that particular organization. Philadelphia is reaping the benefits now.
TOBIAS RIEDER
This season: AHL 73GP 32-21-53/NHL 59GP 11-7-18
Kale Kessy: AHL 71GP 5-7-12
My consensus: Tobias Rieder is currently in the NHL. PLaying well in the NHL. He’s actually on track as an NHL prospect at the ripe ol’ age of 22. While he never played a single pro game for the Oilers, he was drafted in a round that wasn’t the first and he’s in the NHL. Steve Tambellini’s parting gift to the Oilers franchise is dealing away the only decent draft pick from Tambellini’s entire tenure disregarding the first round. To put this into perception, here’s how the 2011 draft turned out other than the first round;
2/31: D David Musil, AHL defenseman. A year or two away from playing in the NHL and four or five years away from possibly making an impact.
3/62: G Samu Perhonen, European league goalie. Played poorly following his two post-draft seasons. Currently having breakout year in Europe. He’s an NHL free agent the Oilers do not have his rights anymore.
3/74: C Travis Ewanyk, AHL 4th liner. Ewanyk may have a lot of intensity and can be a role player, but limited offence suggests there’s no NHL potential here.
4/92: D Dillon Simpson, AHL rookie with upside. Simpson still has good arrows, but likely is a few years away from the big leagues. Should be brought along slowly.
4/114: Rieder
5/122: D Martin Gernat, AHL defenseman. Gernat is in his second pro-season and he hasn’t progressed following his rookie year. Unlikely to be an NHL player.
7/182: G Frans Tuohimaa, ECHL goalie. Tuohimaa was another flyer in the weakest position and hasn’t played well enough in the ECHL to justify another contract
Reason for success: Never playing pro for the Oilers organization.
WAIT A MINUTE, SOME GUYS PLAYED WORSE AFTER LEAVING…
Yes, for every Erik Cole there’s a JF Jacques. Ales Hemsky and Dustin Penner didn’t exactly blow anybody away after leaving the organization. Jeff Deslauriers didn’t become a bonafide NHL starter. Rob Schremp couldn’t get anything going in the NHL.
But to stop all the haters and trolls out there, I want to bring up the fact that some players that had success in Edmonton never built off their amazing performances. Does that mean they improved with the Oilers? No, I think it was because the organization couldn’t ice anybody better in the particular role and somebody is going to score given enough ice time at any point. Once they moved on they were exposed for what they can really bring on a legit NHL club. Here’s some examples…
DUSTIN PENNER
09-10 season: EDM 82GP 32-31-63
11-12 season: LAK 65GP 7-1017
Currently: Not active this season
RYAN POTULNY
09-10 season: EDM 64GP 15-17-32
NHL since then: OTT 7GP 0-0-0
Currently: AHL 24GP 1-3-4
RYAN WHITNEY
10-11 season: EDM 35GP 2-25-27
13-14 season: AHL 45GP 7-16-23
Currently: KHL 42GP 6-13-19
MAGNUS PAAJARVI
10-11 season: EDM 80GP 15-19-34
13-14 season: STL 55GP 6-6-12
Currently: AHL 20GP 5-9-14
COREY POTTER
11-12 season: EDM 62GP 4-17-21
14-15 season: AHL 25GP 0-10-10
CONCLUSION
The Edmonton Oilers are the laughing stock of the NHL, and pretty much the entire sports world (sorry to the New York Knicks, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Raiders and NHL’s own Toronto Maple Leafs).
The management’s incompetence has been beaten to death on the rig, and the constant media, player and fan criticism’s speak for themselves.
When will it end?? We already know the answer to that and i’m too tired of explaining the same conclusion after conclusion after conclusion. They said 10 million Elvis fans can’t be wrong, well at least 10 thousand sports fans can’t be completely wrong….right?
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
