On paper, he shouldn’t be there. Based on pedigree, he doesn’t make the invite list. Greg Chase is making a habit of beating the odds, and this time it’s the national entry at the Christmas tournament Canadians love more than Timmy’s coffee: The world junior team.
FIRST THINGS FIRST..
Let’s be real: He shouldn’t make the final team. Quoting TSN:
- Hockey Canada invited 41 players to take part in the development camp
that runs until Friday. The list includes 11 returning members from the
squad that finished fourth at the 2014 World Junior Hockey Championship
in Malmo, Sweden.
The list of forwards is daunting, and for a 7th round pick like Greg Chase, it should be over before it starts. Faced with the likes of Jonathan Drouin, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Michael Dal Colle, Max Domi, Bo Horvat, Curtis Lazar and Nick Ritchie, Chase would have to show up early and often in a good way to make this team as a role player.
Photo by Lisa McRitchie, used with permission
FIRST IMPRESSIONS….
Game one is done against the Czechs, and Chase had two assists playing alongside Nick Paul and Frederik Gauthier. You can’t find Chase’s contribution in the news stories that ran, famous kids like Ekblad (concussion) and Lazar get the black ink. However, in looking at the boxscore:
Greg Chase contributed on a line that did not feature a lottery pick, and it doesn’t really matter if he gets mentioned in the CP story. However, for Oiler fans this is another example of what Chase has been doing since before he was drafted: Showing up in good spots, turning heads and getting noticed.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
If Chase can make this team—even as a 4line agitator/winger who contributes when the opportunity arises, it represents an absolute home run for this prospect. The invite was awesome. Credit Greg Chase here, he took that invite as a means to a goal, not the prize itself.
This kid is something.
(Chase OKC photo by Rob Ferguson, all rights reserved).
They need guys like him on Team Canada , too many sweethearts and weak goalies have killed this team the last number of years .
He looks like a gem for sure. I have barely seen any oiler defend themselves, if they get hit. What does Chase do? Proceeds with a sucker punch. I absolutely love it. He also blew kisses to the Czech’s bench, after heading to the penalty box. Our version of Marchand soon please? Apparently he weighs 204 pounds now. Damn!
Most of the players that you mentioned would beat him out are going to be playing in the NHL next year. I think there is a good chance we see both chase and nurse on the team. Both of them are good role players which is exactly what Canada needs
Much is made of the 8 returnees, but druin, ekbald, rienhart, will most likely be in the NHL this year and the other 5 have a ligit shot at it. I’m guessing 4 returnees give or take 1
Oh goodie.
The Oilers making the playoffs, and Greg Chase to look forward to in another 3-5 yrs.
#ThanksKevin
You must of been the kid in school no one hung around with.
Hey, its me Ivan. The guy you accused on here of ‘attacking’ posters by disagreeing with some of them. I accused you of coming to this forum to say something intentionally to rile the readers up. Your comment has absolutely nothing to do with the article, its meant to get trashes, which it does.
This proves my opinion of you is correct, also its these comments of yours that will prevent me from ever taking your opinion on any topic here seriously, with your reputation on this site, you might as well stop posting, because very few people here, imo lol, don’t value yours.
Anyways, it’s early, but hopefully Chase can be one of those draft picks found in the later rounds that every team needs. A slightly bigger version of Marchand would be golden for this team. And who cares if he’s 3-5 years away.
Ivan, so if I have this right, you believe that we should all have the same upbeat, positive, koolaid drinking opinions after 8 years of this crap? I for one enjoy Conner and his realism. Take it with a grain of salt if you must but all opinions on this site are valid unless of course you disagree with Brownlee and get edited out. Weak in my opinion.
Keep it up Conner
There are a few sad sacks around here.
They just keep trying to bring the room down.
You can disagree with Brownlee anytime.
But if you want to keep harping on playoffs, kool-aid or brain trust over and over again then the mighty edit might come your way.
I never said anything about being positive and upbeat. His comments are designed to incite the masses, that’s all. He never provides any intelligent points, just spews the hate for KL. Every article ALL season and ALL summer.
At least when DSF was around he was smart enough to support his points.
8 years in the toilet is above criticism to you I guess. You might love it, but don’t expect everyone else to be part of your flock. We’re the laughing stock of the entire league 5 yrs running….have an ounce of pride for goodness sake.
I’m getting sick of that internet police gig crap you always seem to have going on. Grow a pair jr, get up off your knees and dust yourself off. Not everyone you cross paths gives a rats arse if you like them or not. Go elsewhere if you continue to feel the need to play babysitter.
Your pathetic. Plain and simple. I’m no internet cop. I’m just calling you out for saying the same crap over and over on this site. I’m glad your getting sick of it. Puts a big smile on my face.
Maybe it’s because it’s been the same crap on and on for 8 yrs now with the Oilers. Did you ever think that’s why. If the Oilers don’t change, why would fan perception change. Dreamers and realtists. Whatcha gonna do when that exstasy/kool-aid wears off Ivan?
I can only explain this for you. I can’t help you understand this, that’s your problem. I do find it kinda ironic that you don’t know the difference between your, and you’re. This might fall into that aptly titled pathetic category you mentioned. I’m not saying but I’m just going to say, if that (pathetic label) shoe fits, wear it. Don’t let it wipe that smile off your face though. I don’t want to take what little happiness is going on in your world right now.
For the Oilers to become credible again, they need guys drafted outside the first two rounds to have decent NHL careers. Chase is probably the best chance for that to happen. Other than him, I see Gernat, Simpson and Yakimov as reasonable bets. It’s a start.
Aside from the fact that this kid is proving he can play hockey, the best thing about his accomplishments are that they constitute a ‘feel good’ story. It has been a long time since an Oiler draft pick or for that matter an Oiler player has been the subject of a feel good anything.
Mitch Moroz doesn’t count? Winning the memorial cup? No? Ok.
~Sam Bennett couldn’t score against the Czech’s, well its pretty obvious he’s a bust, nice drafting Calgary~
We should see if we can trade him for a third rounder, you know, as a favor to Calgary to get him off their hands
YAY, an article about a hockey player playing hockey! WJC no less…well, tryouts anyways.
I happen to think Chase has a chance, because as mentioned above, a lot of last years’ team will be in the NHL (and they didn’t do so great last year anyways). I expect Connor McDavid to be in a feature role, but you can’t have a team of feature players, you need role players too, and Chase, while offensively gifted, can provide more than just goals and assists. As stated above, he’s over 200 lbs. which goes a long ways. Here’s hoping he makes the team, although making team Canada, at any level, is a very tough task…unless you play soccer.
So if he truly is WJC caliber maybe our future lines look like this IN 3 YEARS:
Hall – RNH – Yakupov
Perron – Draisaitl – Eberle
Pouliot – Chase – Purcell
Khaira – Gordon – Yakimov
Nurse-Schultz
Marincin-Klefbom
Nikitin-Petry
Davidson
Perron, Purcell, Gordon, Petry and Nikitin are all free agents after two years(one year for Petry). I doubt they are all resigned.
You are also missing Moroz. I don’t know if that was intentional, but I think he’s a regular Oiler in 3 years.
This team is short of Right shot players moving forward. I wonder if that even matters in modern hockey though…
That’s a pretty damn good point.
Perron is young enough that he’d make a nice signing. Gordon will be 33…
Guilty pleasure drawing the lines up.
I’m also really curious what people think the team will look like in 3 years.
Hall – RNH – Yakupov
Perron – Draisaitl – Eberle
Moroz – Chase – 2015 Draft Pick
Khaira – Yakimov -Veteran Free Agent Pickup
What will the Oilers forwards look like in 3 years?
2010 1st rounder – 2015 1st rounder – 2012 1st rounder
(traded for 2009 1st) – 2011 1st rounder – 2008 1st rounder
2016 1st rounder – 2014 1st rounder – 2017 1st rounder
Pouliot – Gordon – Scrub
Haha, you can add 2 more 1st rounders:
Pouliot was a 2005 1st rounder (4th overall)
Gordon was a 2002 1st rounder (17th overall)
And if they hold onto Perron, they’d have a 2007 1st rounder (26th overall)
This guy’s ceiling is higher than Moroz’ or Yakimov’s imho. Not that I’m down on those guys either!
For the first time in a long time I will enjoy watching AHL hockey. The OKC Barons should have a young fast and tough team. I am looking forward to seeing Yakimov develop into a young Handzus. Exciting times for sure
Impressive, keep it up kid!
The thing I like about Chase compared to others is… he wasn’t a scorer that scouts looked at and said “he has enough skill we can turn him into a role player”. He was more a role player that learned to score.
Being a role player is not an easily learned skill.
Oilers one hour preview about to commence on Sirius NHL network channel 211.
Almost every host on Sirius NHL network bashes the Oilers and say they will be a bottom five team again this year because they don’t have defence or centres.
Jim “Boomer” Gordon will be discussing the Oilers with Peter Burse and will have Jack Michaels on the show as a guest.
This is a great year to be drafting high, so it ain’t all bad.
One more no more is what management is thinking. Their choosing to leave that 2nd l/c and top pairing blue liner positions vacant more or less confirms this, no?.
I think they picked up the defensemen they thought was realistic to pick up without giving up assets, ie. Eberle, Yakupov, Schultz.
I think they tried to get a centre, there just wasn’t any worth paying big money for beyond Paul Statsny. It would have made more sense to trade Gagner for another centre, however I think they felt they were getting back a better player with size in Purcell.
Hard to say, I don’t think this team is bad enough to go bottom 5 again but middle of pack is where I project them to go.
I don’t think this team is bad enough to go bottom 5 again but middle of pack is where I project them to go.
___________________________________________________________________________________
No doubt it wasn’t from a lack of effort on MacTavishs behalf. Craig should patent that term, thanks but no thanks, just to make a dime everytime someone uses his phrase during his conversations. Sitting tight waiting for a waiver wire castoff in early October to be your second line center tells me Craig is in it to win it for McDavid. Edmonton is still very vulnerable even once they add that piece. Injuries alone will twist their arm to keep Draisaitl here no doubt.
I got roasted last Sept for my 25th place prediction. I have them at 27th this coming season. Right in the area they need to be for a shot at Conner. One injury could make all of Oilersnations wildest dreams come true next summer. This, all coming from the glass is half full kinda guy though.
insert tired, predictable, negative narrative. rinse. repeat.
insert tired, predictable, positive narrative. rinse. repeat.
That is what the Oilers have been doing to season ticket holders for years now.
The difference is the Oilers charge the people who fall for it thousands of dollars a year to watch a substandard product on the ice.
The realist are just trying to wake them up.
The only negative so far with Chase is the Hitmen jersey he wears!
Why is this negative? I am loving the fact that he is a Hitmen.
What happens to the Calgary scouts that are supposed to be superior to ours? The kid is playing in their own backyard and all their management, coaching and scouting staff, including those from the Hitmen, refused to draft this kid even in 7th round and let us pick him up right after their 7th round pick, and does anyone remember who is the guy they picked in 7th round?
I used to hate him but now just love him after we drafted him, and I love him even more because he is a Hitmen.
The guy the Flames picked in the 7th round (one spot ahead of Chase) played tonight on the Russian team as a first-pairing defenceman.
He also played in the Subway Series, and is a strong bet to make the Russian WJC team.
Kudos to Chase, he’s ready beaten the odds based on his draft position, but the Flames are hardly shedding any years over that pick.
So, what you are saying is that the phlegms wasted their 7th rounder on a guy that will bolt for the KHL at the first opportunity. Tough luck, bub. At least Chase can bring Stanley back for a visit to calgary in the off-season when we claim our 6th in a few years.
Well, maybe the last part of that is a stretch but I stand by the rest. Boo flames.
Better to have a 7th rounder bolt than the first overall. What happens if he scores thirty, or even just out scores one of the 6 million dollar triplets?
Well played.
I’ve been cheering against teams from Calgary since 1970 so I’d rather see young Mr. Chase playing for any of the 21 other teams in the WHL.
If a Dman
1. faces 1st line comp
2. Is top 30 in league at keeping % shots outside league average distance
3. top 30 in Blocks
4. top 30 in Hits
5. Top 30 in goals.
Would you call him a 1st line dman.
Can you tell me how many Dmen did that?
Fayne? lol
If I guess six (and it would only be a guess) would you let us know?
Also, where can I find the info for #2?
There goes Ricky again!
It’ll be curious to see if Chase can play well enough on merit that he deserves to be there, whether those picking the squad will allow him to force his way onto. Hindsight is 20-20, but imo they could have used Nurse last year.
I for one am loving the fact we may……..I say may, have found a gem buried so deep in the rock.
We need more of these Stu……..keep it up!
Chase and MarcoRoy are definite players. Let’s hope both stay healthy .
I like this kid regardless of what round he was drafted in. Looks like the scouting and a revamped farm system have started to have a positive effect. It is sad though to see Oiler fans turn on each other, I guess 8 years of losing will do that to a fan base.