Paajarvi Should Have Been Held Back A Year
Jonathan Willis
January 27 2011 09:47AM
This fall, some argued that the Oilers were making a mistake inserting all three of their blue-chip forward prospects into the line-up at the same time. The player I suggested should have been given another year of seasoning at a lower professional level was Magnus Paajarvi, and given what we’ve seen so far this season I think that would have been the correct decision.
It’s not that Paajarvi’s been a bad player. He hasn’t, particularly given his age and role on the roster. With Hall (and Eberle, prior to injury) playing so well, it sometimes seems Paajarvi doesn’t get his due. He’s still a player I think we can regard as a difference maker somewhere down the road.
The problem is that the Oilers are burning a year of Paajarvi’s entry-level contract while he isn’t a difference maker to give him limited NHL minutes, when they could be saving that year for when he’s a better player and giving him virtually unlimited minutes in the SEL or AHL. From a cap management and development perspective, that strikes me as flawed thinking.
This is particularly true when there are plenty of other options available. Let’s compare Paajarvi’s performance to that of two other forwards, one currently on the Oilers’ roster and one who the team bought out last year. For ease of comparison, we’ll adjust games played to Paajarvi’s 47.
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paajarvi, 2010-11 | 47 | 6 | 13 | 19 |
| Omark, 2010-11 | 47 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
| Nilsson, 2009-10 | 47 | 9 | 13 | 22 |
Given that this was always going to be a burned season anyway, the difference in performance between Paajarvi and a player like Robert Nilsson or Linus Omark is a trivial thing, but the fact is the Oilers could have got comparable play from either option.
In either case, there would have been tangible benefits:
- Paajarvi could play a much larger role on a lower-level professional team
- Paajarvi’s ELC would slide forward another year, keeping him at a lower pay threshold for one additional season and delaying his UFA eligibility by an additional season
- (If Omark) The Oilers would have had a better opportunity to evaluate Omark at the NHL level over an entire seaso
- (If Nilsson) The Oilers would have saved the money used in his buyout, as well as avoided the six-figure cap penalty for 2011-12
It’s not the end of the world that the Oilers chose to bring Paajarvi into the NHL this year, and I don’t doubt it will be valuable experience for him. It just doesn’t strike me as the best option.
fair enough
*Note*
I in no way think JFJ should be on this team
@Doug Sorensen
I would however like to see a comparison to some higher-profile SEL players in their first half of a season.
Ha-ha, ya I probably overshot Nilsson....though considering the "mid range" 2nd line LW/RW put up 42 and 37 points last year, I'm still confident he could produce at that level.
He just couldn't wrap his head around the rest of the game.
I mentioned MArkus Naslund earlier.
Guess i'm just an all or nothing guy. Fair enough TUG, i'll keep my mouth shut on Gagner and hope i'm wrong.
Paajarvi Better playing in the AHL ( must need online hits )? Sammy has proven to play at the NHL level. He without a dought helps those kids on that line. I wouldn't use him in a shootout or expect a 70 point player but he is a decent 2nd line center. What's the beef?
At the end of Training camp there were a whole lot of people who thought Paajarvi was going to have the best season out of the big 3. In the past 2-3 weeks MPS has been a different player. This season has been a learning experience, and one he probably needed.
He COULD have learned how to be a better NHL player in the SEL or the AHL, but something tells me that he needed to be broken into the NHL.
He's had a pretty average rookie campaign, but there are 30ish games left. I want to see his progression.
Interesting......
...Naslund had 11 pts in 71 games his first year
...But Sundin had 59 pts in 80 games.
Unfortunately Nilson is a pretty good comparison. Except that we now know he has little drive.
I didn't expect this to be a popular viewpoint, so I'm not surprised by the general reaction. A few minor points I'd like to make:
1. Jordan Eberle got 20 AHL games and and four seasons of Major Jr. before making the jump to the team this year. In his last year of junior he scored 50 goals and 106 points in 57 games after a very strong training camp. I'd argue that keeping him in the WHL/AHL in 2009-10 helped him develop his all-round game, and is part of the reason he is the player that he is today.
2. On the other hand, Sam Gagner got stuck in the NHL at 18 and though he put up points early on he was clearly out of his depth. Did that NHL time help or hinder his development? How does his development path compare to that of Logan Couture (an inferior player)?
3. The comparison wasn't to the career potential of Omark/Nilsson; rather, to their hypothetical production this season.
4. This article was not intended to bash Paajarvi in any way whatsoever. He's a fine player and one that I think will be critical down the road.
5. The decision to keep Paajarvi out of the NHL would have been made, not during training camp, but during the summer - just like the Oilers made that decision on Omark to the minors and Jones over Reddox in the summer. People act like TC is a legitimate contest, but the reality is the outcomes are largely predetermined - because player careers are a better indicator of performance than two weeks of preseason games and skating drills are.
Thanks to everyone for commenting, though.
is that a fancy way of saying you were wrong?
Question: Why do so many people think that the POG line's success so far is because of putting PRV and Omark together. Couldn't and shouldn't some of the accolades point to Gags as being pert of the success, not just a guy that is riding coat-tails?
Second: And slightly off topic, but someone mentioned Detroit. We all wish we could have their players, but I think calling their GM picks as genius is off the mark. If Holmstrom, Datsuk, Zetter, Lidstrom and other were so good, why weren't they taken sooner..even by Detroit. Drafting is skill, but also luck. A chunk of those players turned out to be wicked good, and drafted super late after selecting useless guys that haven't played or had any impact.
The bulk of your argument seems to be - "Eberle is turning out like this and Gagner is turning out like that."
I'm not actually in disagreement with your conclusion - though I don't really know what the purpose of saying it now might be - but you yourself have shown many times that pointing out specific examples that happen to support your argument doesn't prove much.
There are examples out there of almost every possible development path. There are high picks that played in the minors and developed beautifully. There are also high picks who played in the minors and never developed at all.
I don't see how pointing to a guy who developed well a certain way is in any way proof that another will do the same.
Again...I tend to agree with your conclusion, but you need to provide more of an argument than that to assert anything.
@Jonathan Willis
Do you really think another year of Junior would have been better for Gagner than the second line centre minutes and coaching of the NHL? That surprises me. I don't think his career path has hurt his development. I think his size and the fact that other teams have a lot of video on him has limited his statistics a bit, but I think a player learns more in the NHL as long as he is getting the opportunity to play.
I am not convinced that Eberle learned more playing another year of Junior than he would have being part of the Oilers squad, but I think that being removed from the poisonous room last year was a benefit so I am glad he played where he played. It was also probably good for his confidence to excel in Regina. I don't think Gagner needed any more confidence than he had coming in.
I think Eberle gained a lot of experience from his time in the AHL and his year in junior.
He was able to get better positionally and tune his skills before making the jump.
He was also able to completely dominate at a level before moving on. That does a lot for confidence, and confidence does a lot for a player's game.
Omark has the confidence, but not the fine tuning. a year in the AHL would help, and his games there did help. Now, I don't see any way he goes back there. He put up good points and now has to develop here.
Semin signed for 1 yr $6.7M..... say what now?
Does this give Hemsky ammo for a BIG payday? Similar pedigree, results, and injury history.
I am picking up what you're putting down LT. I too was one who suggested that MP should spend the year in the AHL to adapt, in fact I wanted Eberle down there all year too. I mean, why not? Not like we were going to win a cup with them in the lineup, and this would give them more development time whilst saving us a year of contract. Conversely, since this is a "development year", and wins dont matter, why not develop these kids whilst the heat isnt on, so that next year they are pros.
At this point, the only place PRV can go is NHL. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.
Even if some time in the AHL would still benefit him, the only way he goes is if he loses his D game, and nobody thinks that will happen.
Now if we could just get him to fill out sooner....
Gagner is a bust. Trade him.
Wow, what is Horcoff doing to live up to that contract?
Lowebellini needs to be fired! Take a little longer to make a decision already.
Not really serious about above post, just trying to spur some debate since work is brutal for me today.
You know, I had totally disaggreed earlier, but you did just make some good points. I don't think he benifits from a full season in the A, but, maybe like Omark, he would have benifited with 20 or 30 games. Side note, Did anyone catch Hall's comments about Windor. Something to the effect of the core arrived as 16 year old and build into 2 memorial cup champs....like what he feels is happening in Edmonton! This guy will be crazy good, because he wants it so bad, and the god given talent dosn't hurt either.
I know, it is crazy to see that abslolute will that he has. Makes me very happy MBS choose him!
I like the fact that the year Khabibulins contract is up is also the same year that they need to resign Hall, Pajaarvi, Eberle, and Whitney. Not bad timing there. Lose a 3.75 cap hit just when you need to sign some of the up and coming kids and our best defenseman.
Waxman, the way you spark debate gives me a headache. I don't want to defend Gagner anymore today, and I certainly don't want another Horcoff debate. I am glad you sent the disclaimer that you weren't serious in the post.
Now firing of Lowebellini? Lowe has been a bonehead enough times to lose his job, but he has also admitted his mistakes, which makes me think he won't make the same ones, which makes me want to keep him instead of breaking in a new guy. I am still pretty happy about his work putting together the spare parts to make a run at the finals in 2006. I have a feeling that he would plug the holes that need filling a lot better than Tambellini. I don't trust Tambellini to evaluate weaknesses and fill them with the personnel we need. So if he was gone I would not be sad.
EDIT sorry for the double post. I thought I lost my first one. Swore once or twice then went at it again.
@Bucknuck
lol
Thanks for trying Bucknuck. but I am now reserved to playing Mass Effect to ride the rest of my day out. See you all tomorrow (or later probably).
If you guys know hockeybuzz.com then you know who Eklund is. Check out this video some goofball made about him, LOL!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzMuCM01MtY&feature=player_embedded
@Doug Sorensen
HAHAHAHAAAA!! That's awesome! And so true.
btw.... the Sedin twins are being traded to Washington for Laich and Backstrom and an Ovechkin bobblehead. Trust me... E-10,000
Now back to Mass Effect
Q. Should Paajarvi have been in the NHL this season, right from the get-go?
A. No diggity, no doubt. (In my humble opinion.)
I would have picked him for my star except that Eberle had me at hello when I saw the 08/09 World Jrs. And at the risk of being ostracised for my noob-ocity, that was the same year I started following the Oilers.
Even I am fallible.
@Wäx Män Riley
I'm all over the credits for that game and its DLC...assuming you're playing Mass 2.
I have nothing else to add, just wanted to say.
NAME DROPPER!
On a COMPLETELY unrelated note I hope everyone's been watching Village On A Diet on CBC, Monday evening's.
*Absolutely NOT shameless self promotion*
RT, You aren't a season holder.
The Oil brass had a special meeting with those who pay, outlining the Oil SOTU. It was agreed to, and what they wanted.
And that my friend is how you sell corporate boxes.
And I agree that this direction is miles better than Torontos or Ottawas or Calgarys, although as much as I dislike Toronto, they are trying, albeit failing.
@John Chambers
I sort of have to agree with this. I really like JW and his views, but this is the feeling I got when reading this too.
I wish the Oil had a center who realized how fast and how open this kid is when possession changes. Hes gone like hes shot out of a cannon and inevitably has to wait for some puck hog smurf to get to the blue line where he waits.
A wee exercise in speculation for those who follow the dub. Anyone think RNH would tune into this PRV kids speed?
One advantage that may have been gained from a tour in OKC would be the opportunity to beat dmen wide and gain some confidence. I dont think PRV realizes how easily he could blow by these guys, maybe in OKC he would prove it to himself.
Young kid, foreign country, bunch of mouth breather media types, "pucks" begging for it. A bit overwhelming Im sure. The change in the kids game as soon as brass balls omark arrived was noticeable. Hes been good and getting better. Im fine with the decision to keep him up here... and yes Im a season seat holder.
Now that fn Jacques guy..... Ive about had it with funding his paycheck!!
@Jonathan Willis
Is Couture that much better or is he just on a team with some much depth that he does not always see the best defensemen and have a lot of top level talent to mentor him.
I know he is not playing with thornton. but remember cheecho, and to some extent setoguchi. are these top level picks or players who look better in san jose.
Not saying couture isnt the real deal but it still early.
We all remember how excited we were to se Sam in his second year. Were we not thinking 60 points.
And yes I have watched Couture play. He does make a lot of plays on his own.
no hemsky gets no where near semin money because hemsky scores maybe 25 goals not 40 - 45.
I hate Semin, what a little ........
Nope, gotta play through the first one before I hit ME2. My poor, poor wife. She stuck with me through Fallout NV, and now this. I am a lucky man that I am not divorced right now. ....yet
@Wäx Män Riley
Yeah, I played through Mass 1 twice before I started writing my Thesis. At least I could justify it later when I started working for BioWare on Mass 2, but at the time...
JW,
Eberle was left in Jrs. for another year because he was under-sized and his skating needed work. Not be cause he couldn't pass, shoot, or think at an NHL level.
He grew a bit, put on some muscle and his skating improved. Good move.
But MPS already has world class wheels and is 6'2" or so.
The areas he needed work in is adjusting to a new country, city, league and team.
So he is exactly where he is supposed to be.
JW,
Eberle was left in Jrs. for another year because he was under-sized and his skating needed work. Not be cause he couldn't pass, shoot, or think at an NHL level.
He grew a bit, put on some muscle and his skating improved. Good move.
But MPS already has world class wheels and is 6'2" or so.
The areas he needed work in is adjusting to a new country, city, league and team.
So he is exactly where he is supposed to be.
I feel that Paajarvi is best suited to learn the ropes here, this year. So if we kept him in the SEL or AHL he would be a more dominant player but he would not be getting used to NHL talent or NHL speed. I would still have an adjustment period like he has had this year but he would be a year behinf Hall and Eberle for seasoning.
Let's compare Stamkos and Paajarvi for ONLY A MINUTE. (They are not in the same league Yet)
Would Stamkos been better suited for a year of seasoning in the AHL because he only had 23G 23A 46P in 79GP and Paajarvi is on his way to 10G 22A 32P in 80GP (projected by TSN)
Stamkos had similar TOI but a minute more of PP time than Paajarvi in his rookie season, look that the quality of the PP units. (Paajarvi might get an extra 5 points if he had more PP time)
Paajarvi and the rest of the youth can spend this year getting better under NO PRESSURE to succeed.