Greenbacks
Lowetide
March 15 2012 07:10AM
In our ongoing look at possible additions to the Oilers defense, we change the conversation from blue to Green.
Lord Almighty the team taking on Mike Green is going to have some gonads. Mike Green never met an injury he didn't like and in the last three seasons has played 75, 49 and (so far this season) 20 games. He missed a lot of time in 2010-11 with a concussion and this season his ankle and groin haven't been right. "Sports hernia" has been mentioned most often as the main culprit, although a 3-game suspension is the reason for him being out of the lineup most recently.
When healthy, Mike Green can impact a game offensively. Over 386 NHL games, his per season (82 games) average is 17-36-53 and almost half of his 82 career goals have been scored on the powerplay. For the Oilers already high octane future 5x4, this Green (offensive) giant would be an excellent fit.
Green is an RFA this summer as he ends a 4-year deal that came with a tidy $5.25M hit. That's lot of beans; he's not as expensive as Dion Phaneuf (6.5M) but the next contract is to come and Green's durability is a major concern.
HOW DO THE CAPS USE HIM?
ZONE STARTS
This is a small sample size, but Green got the same kind of treatment in 10-11. Capitals wanted their big bat in the heart of the order, and that means zone starts in the offensive zone. In this way, Green and Phaneuf are handled in a similar fashion.
QUALCOMP
Green isn't facing the tough opponents this season, in fact Washington is using Schultz, Alzner and the far less experienced John Carlson in tough minutes roles. Green played the same sort of minutes last year, and for Oiler fans looking at Green it's important to note that Phaneuf's role on his team (tough minutes defender) is not duplicated with this player. Mike Green is not a featured defensive player.
CORSI REL
Green's CorsiRel is solid, as it was a year ago. The puck is heading in a good direction when he's on the ice, and if the Oilers had a trio as strong defensively as Schultz, Alzner and Carlson they could use Green in this kind of role. They do not, and so Green on the 12-13 Oilers would likely have to play tougher opponents based on roster makeup.
TOI
- EV: 0-3-3, 16:23 per game
- PP: 3-0-3, 2:56 per game
- PK: 0-0-0, 0:58 per game
This isn't really fair, as Green has been injured for most of this season. When healthy, Green is a terrific PP defender: in 09-10, his last healthy season, he went 10-25-35 with the man advantage. In comparing Green to Phaneuf, the Leafs captain plays 3 more minutes a night at evens, 40 seconds more on the PP and 1:30 more on the PK.
In his last healthy season, Green played enormous (18:15, 5, 2) minutes for Washington and a team acquiring him would no doubt use him 25 minutes a night--it comes with the pricetag. A team like Edmonton would probably need to see him play a feature role defensively.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
Mike Green is like a younger Sheldon Souray: huge, definite positives that will require a large payment. The downside for Green--he's not an outstanding defender, he is extremely injury prone, he is likely to want a fairly long, expensive contract--make him unattractive at this time. We'll talk about it more on the series wrap-up, but the cost to pull Green out of Washington added to the new contract mean an extreme payment by the Oilers or any team looking to add Mike Green..
He might end up being healthy for a decade. Green is only 26, he could be a nice addition to the group of young NHLers with experience that includes Smid and will eventually include Petry. Green is a player of interest for the Oilers, in that they require a defenseman who can play heavy minutes and has experience in all three disciplines (EV, PP and PK).
I'd pass on the opportunity. Let someone else take the risk.
Did you even read the article?
Agreed, if Hemsky and Whitney have taught us anything, it's poor planning to count on injury prone players.
Green blows.
Hey LT,
This is a great series. Do you think you could include links to the other related articles? I don't want to miss any of them.
I'd take Green in a heartbeat. He's not great defensively, but he's not atrocious. He's not good enough to be on the Olympic team, but he was Washington's top guy when they were a President's trophy team. Boudreau was using him as a shut-down guy during the first half of last year - I think he's versatile, but bc his offense is so good he's known better for that role.
People are down on Green because of a poor playoff performance and 1.5 years of injuries. He can be acquired without trading our lottery pick which we can use to draft another stud D. His offensive upside is tremendous ... Maybe the best pp quarterback in the game.
If it's only about money, as in if it only cost next year's first rounder and say Omark, I highly favor adding this player. However I agree with Moneypuck - he shouldn't be your top guy, but your #2 guy.
FIST GO FLAMES!
Isn't he basically Ales Hemsky for defenders?
I love Green's game, but since I was an advocate for a short term deal for Hemsky because of injury concerns, I will stay consistent and say unless Green can come packaged with a 2 year extension at reasonable dollars, the Oilers should take a pass.
Guess all the partying at Stampede and on the lake in Chestemere was well worth it for Green this past summer. I say the Flames pick him up. Haha
You couldnt be any more WRONG. the oilers do NOT need a player like this. top 4 next year is already set. schultz-petry-smid-whitney. klefbom coming over potentially Is another guy. it would be an absolutely big mistake to go for another injury prone guy who is over paid. NO NO NO why are u promoting this on oilers nation?
Quick delete this article before Tambo reads it. Injury prone with a high price tag is his specality. He doesn't need any encouragement.
I remember rumors that the Oil were taking a defenceman with their 2nd first round pick after taking Dubnyk at 14 in 2004 - but Robbie Schremp was still on the board at 25 and they just couldn't pass on him. The next 4 picks ended up being Cory Schneider, Jeff Schultz, Mark Fistric, and Mike Green. Wonder how things would have changed for Schremp and Green had their draft numbers been reversed?
I know this isn't the article but I was at the game last night and Petry is AMAZING. He won almost every puck battle and every time he had the puck something good came from it.
This man is going to be a STUD!
As for Green... he wasn't on the olympic team only because he is not very good in his own end. Yzerman saw this. To get 5+ million as a defenseman you need to put up points and be solid in your own end.
So basically: Pro - Like a younger Souray, big bomb! Makes a big impact offensively Con- Like an older Souray, injury prone. Huge risk not worth taking.
That's depressing!
Also, no to Green. We need more d-men who can play the toughts without getting owned. He's not that guy. Whitney is sort of like the poor-man's Green anyways.
sounds like a $6 million dollar per year player in Edmonton. ShaneCorsonRiel and qualicom show he is worth ten million.
John Carlson.
"Absolutely NOT" reminds me of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6R86SXL1pI
I've thought about Green as a possible target for a while, and I can't help but like the idea despite the injuries.
Not only that, but he has all the attributes Tambellini looks for in a player. He played in the Dub, and was drafted in the 1st round.
Said it many times, Wideman instead of Green. Playing tougher and more minutes. Almost as offensively gifted. And will not cost us assets to get, and he's Right Handed, which is a must on our back line. Pair him with Shultz and you have 2 real d pairings who can play in all situations.
I wonder which player would have made a bigger long term impact on the Oilers from the 2007 draft - Alzner or Gagner? While it took him a bit longer to make the show, my guess is that Alzner would have been the better long term pick for the team than Gagner. 2nd line centerman are easier to find than solid top-4 d-men.
I'd still look at Dennis Wideman. He's cheaper, experienced, still young enough to be effective on a four year contract and a right handed shot that can provide us with around 35 points of offense.
As well, he is durable. He's played 75 games or more in every professional season he has played dating back to the 2004-2005 season.
These kind of players get trumped up and their downsides are overlooked.
Green = McCabe II. Albeit a more fragile version.
Pass.
Every thread it seems is pumping another D man. Is a top D man realistic, affordable, or necessary?
I think this a way more likely senario then the Ecklundish Phan-ugly idea. Green use to be what Erik Karlsson is for Ottawa. A quality top defender which the Oilers don't have is the difference of been 14th in the conferenece to being in the playoffs. In Washington's case hes the 2nd biggest reason that team may not make the playoffs.
Washington may deal him, because of his injury status and big cap dollars. However I think they are going to want a body to step in right away. I won't think about the Oilers dealing their top pick. In a fantacy world you would hope say a Musil, Hamilton or Omark, a third might pry him from Washington. But in reality its probably a Klefbaum, next years first, and say a Hamilton or a Pitlick. Not sure I like the price tag and the risk.
If the Oilers insulated their kids better with vetran talent or skill, I think they could of waited on draft picks. This team did not make the step it needed to this year.
that's who i like best also
With our lineup of overpaid fleeting and fledging veterans what do we realistically hope to get that will help long term and fit in with our youngsters ? Other teams like Florida are revamping into contenders in only one year as Keenan and others alluded to last night in intermission . Columbus seems resigned to the Oiler 4 year plan . Surprised ? Howson an ex Oiler .
Go with the youngsters and revamp the veterans for next year ! Underachieving veterans just take up playing time that might have been better served using and developing our youngsters . Time to pass the torch .Here's hoping we don't overpay Smyth to stay, like Hemsky . Our veteran base is not good enough . New management and coaching will not make us any worse by my estimation . Ridding of bad contracts might retard a one year return to a contender at least . I don't see a return to a contender with present management and possibly coaching . Time ripe for a change with this years poor results again .
Sure, injuries have hobbled him lately but Green is still only 26. He put together 2 seasons in a row where he was over a point per game. In one of those years he had 31 goals. For a D man to post these kinds of numbers is unbelievable. If he wasn't injured this year, you wouldn't be able to trade for him. You don't trade young d men who play a physical game and can post over 70 points a year. If he's available, Tambellini should be all over this.
Did you read it dumbass?
Interesting eye candy for the D challenged Oilers. If healthy, Mike would probably be a good #2 guy but he's never going to be a shutdown guy. The Oilers need a No.1 guy like Shea Weber. Weber is the Beauty and the Beast all in one package.
Oilers are far better off spending 6.5(longterm front loaded deal) on Weber than they are puttin 5.5 into a one dimensional guy like Greens jeans.
I love that people are down on Green because he is not great defensively but they are all over paying Wideman.
Weber or Suter please!
Yeah, so I'm just gonna edit this comment and walk away whistling
Considering Green is essentially Washington's 5th defencemen this season, this article makes me sad :(
But no, he's way too big a risk. Management does not have my blessing to pursue him in any way whatsoever.
Not all of us who aren't on Green's bandwagon have opted for a ride on Wideman's bandwagon.
@Quicksilver Ballet
I was thinking, was wondering...
...should the Oil go after Shea Weber? You think that would be a good idea?
Luongo for Horcoff.
@Shane
Good luck getting your hands on either one. Nashville is now a dangerous team. The kind of team that players don't leave. With Radulov potentially back that means they might be able to add some scoring to their sublime defensive system. If they go deep this year, both Weber and Suter will likely be signing long-term. Green is a pretty good alternative.
Sooooooo you like Mike Green and you don't have an anger problem...im glad we cleared that up...
I'm curious to see if Markov will make this list. There are obvious risks with this player - the top of the list being deterioration due to age, his injury history, and corresponding issues with his cap hit - but man is he a solid player when healthy. Vastly underrated, IMO.
With Montreal possibly entering a rebuild, could he be pried away for a 2nd tier D prospect and a 2nd round pick? Would this be worth it?
No kidding sounds like he just read the header
I would take Green as a replacement for Whitney in a heartbeat, however, Whitney would have to be dumped, or part of the trade.
I would trade for Green. How is this Whitney plus Omark. Say 25 for 5 years. Probably overpayment but don't really see any other top D possibly avail.