Edmonton Oilers add Mark Fistric via trade
Jonathan Willis
January 14 2013 01:43PM
The Edmonton Oilers actually added two defencemen to their training camp roster today. The big news was the acquisition of hometown defender Mark Fistric from Dallas for a third round pick; the smaller news was the recall of Taylor Fedun from Oklahoma City.
A reasonable Oilers’ blue line depth chart likely looks like this:
- Ladislav Smid/Jeff Petry
- Nick Schultz/Justin Schultz
- Mark Fistric/Ryan Whitney
- Theo Peckham/Corey Potter
- Taylor Fedun/Colten Teubert
The middle two pairings are flexible - I can see the merits of a Nick Schultz/Ryan Whitney second pairing or a Ryan Whitney/Justin Schultz second pairing, too.
Right now, of course, Theo Peckham isn't really in the conversation. According to the Oilers, he "aggravated a hip flexor." The Oilers will know that Fistric is healthy entering camp - their deal with Dallas is dependent on Fistric first passing a medical exam. Meanwhile, Fedun is only around for training camp:
Theo Peckham has a hip flexor, Tambellini confirms. No timeline. On Fedun, Tambellini says he'll stay for camp and then go back down.
— Dan Tencer (@dantencer) January 14, 2013
Fistric, a rough-and-tumble third-pairing defender, is a necessary addition to an Oilers blue line missing both Peckham and Andy Sutton; he's a player in the same mold and given his age and past NHL seasons can arguably be expected to perform better than either of the guys he's replacing. Additionally, he has FISTric right in his name, which is bound to please the comments section here at Oilers Nation.
He's also likely to feature in a few highlight reel hits that will similarly please Edmonton fans:
FIST! for Fistric!
Sweet. Maybe we will get to see more Kevin Bieksa impersonations.
Damn! I've been camped here all day waiting to use that line!
That's a pretty tidy pick-up for a 3rd round pick - his contract must be up this year.
It is and he does help some.
6 real life NHLers playing in the Oilers top 6. Incredible!*
*How sad is it that just having 6 NHL defensemen impresses me these days?**
**I am fully aware 1 of them has not played a single NHL game but I think we can all agree he is better than the AHL and that makes him a defacto NHLer.
That is a good deal. It's what the organization needs, plus he is playing in his home town!
Not quite the WOW trade.
I remember a lot of people saying he should be a guy Edmonton should look at every time we played them last year. I don't really know a lot about him but i DO like the fact that they just made a trade to get better. Even if its only marginal improvement.
I'm very happy with this trade, let's hope FISTric plays with the beef that he's been playing with for a while
Great pickup, now we just need Getzlaf and we should be a contender
So does this trade move the oilers up to second or first in the sports illustrated power ranking?
I like him already.
Actually this addresses our toughness issue and gives us an immediate improvement on the blue line, I expect this to be a bigger improvement than you think
ERMAHGERD!
Fistric is the Open Ice Hitter that I've been saving myself for!
After watching those videos I have a new contender for my Star this season.
But it's close, and not much was given up.
Makes me feel better for J Schultz - one less big hitter to watch out for in the west. Plus, it will be nice to have a tough defender to maybe put out there with JS whenever a game gets chippy.
No, but if the Octane could sign Olivia Wilde, SI would change the ranking to 1st!
Oh sure, im just saying its not HUGE. It may create some more balance which might result in a big boost. Its not the same as adding say... Streit or something (just grabbed a name, not saying they should target him)
Excellant pick up for a 3rd. The back end just got tougher, the team just got tougher, and Fistric demands you keep your head up coming across the line.
Good Job , love this move. We just got a tiny bit better in the fact he brings that Andy Sutton presence, BOOM.
Love this pickup for the Oilers, roster is filling out quite nicely. Still a lot of question marks, but it's definitely possible our Oil will be in the hunt for a playoff spot.
For me a WOw trade would bring in one of the three:
1)Top 4 d-man.
2) Gritty second line center.
3) A legitimate young goalie to push Dubby.
Decent player and a decent insurance policy for a 3rd round pick. I wonder how long it will be before Peckham is sent along his way or down to the farm.
Like the others, I am still waiting on the "wow" factor trade and this ain't it...
The thing about the "Wow" trade is that is was said when the idea was an 82 game season and different CBA issues were being discussed. May not be there now. I still hope they do something to keep improving.
So basically the Oilers just traded for Craig Muni.
I like this. A lot.
I forgot part of my comment. I meant that it's close to being a wow trade for this team. As in: Wow - A trade!
Considering all of those highlights where be blows up rushing D-men, this is an underrated comment.
Fistric is a great fit here. Having a legit NHL D-man as our #6 is a wonderful change. Add in the fact that he is a punishing hitter, willing shot-blocker, and can play decent minutes and I love it.
IMO- Theo is done. Tuebert brings more or just as much and has more potential. Fistric- Tuebert. No not paired togeather, just = N-A-S-T-Y D .. And Good old Smid. no pushover.
Hey do a write up on SMID, I think all or most of ON, love this guy and how far he has come. He is a warrior.
We're trading picks now? Does this mean (dare I say it) it's time to WIN?!
Clearly not the wow trade that is (or isn't) to come. Obviously everyone will love this trade as it adds an NHL defensman for giving up, in my opinion, absolutely nothing. 3rd round pick might as wwll be 7th rounder. Good move, but clearly shows how weak we were (still are?) on Defense.
Don't let Wanye see that Tencer tweet...
Please list all the #2 players that fit that definition.
Some of you guys......and you know who you are...should really just find another team to cheer for...
The WOW trade not happening was explained away weeks ago.
The Canucks just signed Cam Barker!
Several other teams are looking for a 4 - 5 physical type D man.
Fistric shows up as top 4 D man in every Dallas Depth chart that hasn't yet reflected the trade.
What other trade that has occured since the lockout ended impresses you more???
Wake up!! Well done Oilers!
It's a WOW trade because for the first time in history, the Oilers' fan base is unanimous in thinking that this is a good trade. I remember people being mad that we gave up Brewer for Pronger.
And Yes.....the Kevin Bieksa impersonation was Priceless!
That was Vern Fiddler.
@Old Retired Guy
I like the trade, but Fistric has never been a top-four defenceman in Dallas, and wasn't projected to be one this year either.
#2 Mikey seemed to imply it was Fistic....
Either way it was Priceless.
#36 Jonathan Willis
Agreed. As Joe Niewendyk put it...it was the right time to move some of their younger D men up the depth chart.
I'm just saying that the vast majority of depth charts out there had him as a top 4 pairing last year.
I do not mind the addition,............not sure why Dallas gave up on him?
Good replacement for Sutton.
Surprising how this move quieted a lot of the anti-ST folks. I like the move, not just for the actual player and his abilities but the flexibilities it gives the team in its pairings, something we havent had in ages.
What I would love to see (perhaps wishful thinking) is to see some of the extra bodies in the body 6 and AHL be used to grab a couple solid energy physical guys. The third line is pretty much set with the contracts of Smythe, Horcoff and Jones, but we have some bodies to move to create a 4th line ala bruins (thorton, Campbell). A line that can go out and keep the other team on their toes at times.
Some of the more reputable sources like The Hockey News have already taken Firtric out of the Dallas Depth Chart
Most of the other (although less trustworhty) have him in the top 4 last year and this year.
Fox SportsDepth Chart Position First Second Third Fourth Center Benn Roy Fiddler Eakin Left Wing Eriksson Whitney Morrow Nystrom Right Wing Jagr Ryder Vincour Petersen Defensemen Robidas Goligoski Daily or Daley Fistric Larsen Rome
CBS Sports Defensemen Stephane Robidas Alex Goligoski Trevor Daley Mark Fistric Philip Larsen Aaron Rome
CBC Sports
Defense 1 Stephane Robidas Trevor Daley Philip Larsen Defense 2 Alex Goligoski Mark Fistric Aaron Rome
And yes I know that depth charts often times do not reflect reality.
Good addition. Likely only a six or seven, but he is needed. What i don't understand is why the oilers wouldn't make more moves like this (pick for a legit bottom of the roster type) instead of drafting mitch moroz. Potential and proven are two completely different animals. Bottom of the depth chart guys are almost a dime a dozen, and it makes me wonder why we dont just draft bpa. Even if you end up with small scoring forwards, you can trade them for more than you paid. Last year you could have easily got a third for reider. I would always draft bpa, and trade surplus prospects for more picks. eventually your team will become stronger. To summarize: glad oilers aquire player instead of just burning a pick.
Charts didn't paste well.
So either take my word for it or go to the sites..
I like this pick-up considering the cost. However, he is not the big hitter that the videos show him to be. Obviously he did make those hits, but he is not a Kronwall. Just a steady stay at home guy who is hard to play against and makes you think twice about heading into the corner with him.
Yup now we just need that dirty gritty Finn in the line up to piss people off. I still was hoping that Kiril Tulupov would get a shot. That guy was just a beast
Don't have to worry about dusting off the Norris trophy case, but good addition at 6/7 to replace Sutton. Who know might be a good surprise. Good clean hitter, minimum PK minutes...unlike Peckham.
Now need to something at Center .?
Would have liked to use that on tristan jarry though.
I'd go along with the consensus that he's potentially a solid 6th D Man. More importantly to me is that he's the TYPE of Dman we need/can use right now....especially given what's out there.
All in All Oilers Nation seems pleased!
His age also helps him fit in perfectly with the Oil's current setup.
Ryan Kesler,Jordan Staal,Ryan Getzlaf, Eric Staal,Joe Thornton, Patrice Bergeron,
Any would work behind the Nuge.
That was just a quick look .It is not like I'm a Gm and following the other teams that closely.I'm sure there are more younger centres out there that would fit the bill.