MILES TO GO

The playoffs are underway in the American Hockey League, but the offensive leader–and most talented offensive player–is not on the roster. Edmonton and Oklahoma fans will say goodbye to Linus Omark over the summer, but we shouldn’t be surprised if he lands in another NHL city and thrives.

NHL equivalencies are the brain child of Gabriel Desjardins, the man who gave us behind the net for those days when we simply have to find an answer to questions like "how tough an opponent is Taylor Hall up against every night?" and have nowhere to go.

Gabe’s NHL equivalencies have certainly stood the test of time, and in the case of the AHL we nick all players by .44 when placing them into the NHL. Here are the NHL equivalencies for OKC Barons forwards in 11-12.

Omark is the class of the group, no surprise there. Edmonton’s skill wingers of the future are all on the team and younger than Omark, save for Nail Yakupov and he’ll pass the Swede on draft day. I believe the Oilers are missing out on a tremendous young player, but when the competition is Hall, Eberle, Hemsky and Yakupov then these things will happen. But please don’t try to tell me the Oilers have an interest in three scoring lines. They don’t, and proof will come when Omark is sent away this summer.

Magnus Paajarvi’s NHLE is in line with his rookie NHL season, we could see the same player following up MP’s 80, 15-19-34 debut in the NHL a year ago. I think the organization will try Paajarvi in a third line role this coming season with established linemates (say, Smyth and Horcoff or Belanger) and he’ll get a full season to show he can play in a support role.

Teemu Hartikainen is in many ways the most interesting player of the group. Hartikainen’s size and grit make him a "perfect fit" or close to based on team need. I can see the Oilers giving him a long look at training camp, hoping he’ll bring some muscle and a physical presence to one of the kid lines. Enormous opportunity for Hartikainen, depending on players signed and traded away.

Anton Lander had a tough NA debut, struggling badly in most areas at the NHL level and given little time to regroup in the AHL before the playoffs. I’m not certain his NHL time or the AHL numbers give us a true reading of him as an offensive player. We know it’ll be shy of Paajarvi, but he’ll get a chance again next year to play a regular shift and establish himself in North America.

Much has been made of the offensive output of Tyler Pitlick and Curtis Hamilton this year, notably an article by Jonathan Willis yesterday here at Oilers Nation. It focused on Pitlick, but the same things can be said of the former Saskatoon Blade as well. I mostly agree with Jonathan’s points, but would suggest there is a significant part of the equation missing from the discussion.

If Tyler Pitlick’s NHLE above comes on 14 minutes a night at evens plus 2 on the PP then this is not a player who will be able to survive offensively in the NHL.

If however–and I think there’s evidence–Pitlick didn’t become a regular in the traditional sense of the word until late into the season then the number above is likely unfair to Pitlick. In his last 23 games (including the 2 playoff games), Pitlick has posted 4-10-14 numbers. If he maintained that over an entire season, his NHLE would be 82gp, 6-16-22. Certainly not close to being a candidate for one of the skill lines, but given his other skills it would put Pitlick in a position to be a 3 or 4 line solution.

I agree with Jonathan’s overall view on the subject, and do believe Pitlick will end up being a 3 or 4 line contributor. However, the time on ice omission (it isn’t Jon’s fault, TOI in AHL is not available) is a major one, and I think there’s a degree of danger is making a decision on a player so early in his pro career. Jason Chimera didn’t do much as an AHL rookie, but blossomed when the opportunity to play presented itself. I think we need more evidence before making any kind of call on Pitlick or Hamilton. Miles to go.