NO SUCH THING AS TOO MANY
Robin Brownlee
July 03 2012 02:28PM
The Edmonton Oilers are building some reasonable depth on defense in terms of quantity, but it seems to me there's still room to add quality and that's why it seems likely GM Steve Tambellini will make another move to bolster his blue line this off-season.
Even after added prized unrestricted free agent Justin Schultz to a blue line that includes Ladislav Smid, Ryan Whitney, Jeff Petry, Nick Schultz, Corey Potter, Andy Sutton Theo Peckham and Colten Teubert, Tambellini is open to adding another proven piece. Tambellini said so today.
"If we have a chance, regardless of who we have, we're going to do it," Tambellini told Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now on 630 CHED. "There's no question about that."
Tambellini's take, given how lack of depth on the back end – particularly as it pertains to defenseman ready to play in coach Ralph Krueger's top two pairings -- has been exposed the last couple of seasons, is welcome. You can't have too many real NHL defensemen. You can, as we've seen, have too few.
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
While every one of the players I've listed above is or projects as an NHL defenseman, it seems to me there's two tiers in the group the Oilers have in the fold and under contract now.
Petry, Smid, Whitney, Nick Schultz and Justin Schultz, if all the hype has merit, are legitimate options for top-four duty, although the extra body count does hinge on how Whitney's troublesome ankle rehabs and if Petry doesn't go sideways after making big strides at the end of last season.
As a group, the foursome of Potter, Sutton, Peckham and Teubert looks capable of rotating through the final two spots, with one in the press box. That said, it's hardly an untouchable bunch, given Sutton's age and that Teubert has yet to prove he can play beyond spot duty. Not a lot of margin for error.
It makes all the sense in the world for Tambellini to pursue another top-four guy. While that won't be big deal UFA Ryan Suter – the Oilers won’t get near his short list of U.S. teams – he might be able to move some of the usual suspects up front to get what he needs. If that bumps somebody in that first group of five down, so be it. If either Schultz, for example, is in Krueger's third pairing, the Oilers will be in pretty good shape. Tambellini will be taking calls and making some.
Sort them out later.
Listen to Robin Brownlee Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Jason Gregor Show on TEAM 1260.
"Sorry Brownlee I usually agree with you."
You don't need to apologize for disagreeing, but you're massaging the facts.
You can have your zone starts and blocked shots (any stat that makes your case) and you can even say "close" in career pts if you choose to believe .40 PPG is close to .51 etc etc.
If I'm a GM, I'm not paying over $6 million a season for a guy who skates beautifully and plays a lot of minutes, but doesn't produce 40 points with regularity. Jay has underachieved his entire career for a guy who was pumped big-time as a No. 1 overall pick and who eventually went 3rd. Very good player? Yes. But so is Yandle, and he's younger and cheaper.
Like I said, for me, it's no thanks to Bouwmeester. And he wouldn't much like the scrutiny here, either. That much I know first-hand.
@ Brownlee
Would it make a difference if JBouw was drafted in the 5th round? Does it seem relevant to cite his salary even though the Oilers aren't at all close to a cap team?
If you and Wes are playing fantasy GM and he picks JBouw as his #1 and you pick Keith Yandle, you've selected a guy who Dave Tippett uses 5th (meaning he prefers four of his other Demn) to take on the opposition's top players, while giving Yandle the most juicy offensive zone starts on the team.
Bouwmeester meanwhile soaks up minutes against the other teams' toughs, making the lives of his defensive counterparts far easier. He has done this for over a half-dozen years, despite being a terrible interview with transluscent skin. But isn't defensive aptitude a skill set that the Oilers should place the highest value on at the moment?
Tips of the hat to Alan Hull and Kent Wilson.
Oiler Domination to Follow -
Dominoes - Suter signs in Detroit, Carle signs in Chicago, Hjarlmsson gets traded to Edmonton for Anaheims second + Peckham.
Smid, Petry, Shultz, Whitney, Hjarlmsson, Schultz, Sutton, Potter, Teubert.
Replace Martin with Hjarlmsson if Suter signs with the Pens.
"(meaning he prefers four of his other Demn) "
Thanks for the added explanation. I was confused by the initial reference about Tippett using Yandle 5th.
Yandle is younger.
Yandle is cheaper.
Yandle outscores Bouwmeester.
I didn't say I'd go out and get either one, but if I HAD to choose between the two at this stage in their careers and at this point in Edmonton's rebuild, I'd look at Yandle first.
And money is always relevent. It's stupid to pay more than you need to just because you can.
@ Wax Man
No, I should have clarified that none of the fame 5 would be in play. My bad on that. I am just kidding around on Weber too. The cost would be outrageous.
@John Chambers
Good points but does this mean that if Jbo was given the soft parade in Calgary and lots of offensive zone starts, he would outscore Yandle? I'm not so sure.
One thing I DO know is that I am SO glad I am not a Calgary Flame fan right now. Those guys are so far in denial they are completely screwed. In Edmonton we are getting close to 'OK we have many pieces now maybe we can package a bunch to meet our needs'. In Calgary they are arse deep in 'OMFG we have nothing quick sign all the free agents to ridiculous overpriced contracts and give them no movement clauses.' Screwed with a capital S.
@John Chambers
As unfair as it is sometimes salary does come into play when judging a player. Because it is the same as anything. Is the worth of the commodity in line with the cost. In business no one would implement a procedure or machinery that would cost more money than it would make. It's the same in hockey. For dmen that make 6+ million they have to produce because with that high a cost in a cap system it would handicap a team to have to pay a defensive dman that much and then try to land a high end offensive defenceman for 6M+, and then have to round out your defense with 2-3 other top 4 dmen for 3 to 4 plus million per dman. It would be really bad formula for holding together a contending team. Take Chicago for example, if Florida hadn't come around and taken Brian Campbell off Chicago's hands, then guaranteed this offseason or the next one of the big 5 in Chicago would be gone (Kane, Toews, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook) because Chicago mishandled the allocation of their salaries.
@ John Chambers I don't think we need Yandle or Boumeister unless Whitney struggles. I agree if cap hit, tade cost and salary length were the same I take Boumeister over Yandle.
The fact that we are not close to a cap team today does not matter. We will be in a couple years. If you are only brining them in for 1 or 2 years how much do you give up to get them? Certainly not part of your future I would hope.
In a trade because of his draft position (Should not matter) his name, age, and expectations Boumeister would likely cost us more assets then Yandle. When the contract is up if we wanted to resign them I would think Boumeister would be at a much larger cap hit then Yandle.
If so,how can I find more information about that?