WWYDW: Eric Gryba?

With less than two months to go until the start of the season the Oilers still find themselves with an organizational hole at the RHD position. One option that’s been floated around is the idea of bringing back Eric Gryba for another tour of duty on the third pair. Would you re-sign Gryba as a cheap option on the back end or opt for someone else? That’s the question I ask in today’s What Would You Do Wednesday.

When the season ended, the Oilers were linked to pretty much every right-handed defenseman under the sun. I remember thinking about doing a countdown clock about when Chiarelli would pull the trigger on a guy like Sami Vatanen or Tyson Barrie. The Oilers needed to find a guy that could fill the hole on that defensive right side, and I was convinced that it was going to happen. Even with the Taylor Hall trade chip sent away to New Jersey the acquisition of an offensive minded d-man (obviously) hasn’t happened and we’re still left looking for a power play specialist. It goes without saying that Eric Gryba would not fill that offensive role, but that doesn’t mean that bringing him back would be a bad idea either. 

According to Jim Matheson, Gryba has been offered a PTO from three different teams but is still holding out hope that the Oilers will bring him back for another year. With that in mind I turn the tables over to you fine citizens. Would you bring Gryba back as a veteran presence on the back end or would you continue the search for someone a little more infinitely more offensive minded?

I don’t think I’m talking out of school when I say that Eric Gryba will never be confused with Erik Karlsson. In terms of offense, Gryba is more likely to bank a goal in off his face than he is with a coast-to-coast beauty. Last year, Todd McLellan used Gryba almost exclusively in the defensive zone and on the penalty kill and he performed reasonably well in that role. Although the offense is lacking, Eric Gryba is good enough to be an NHL defenseman. Not to mention, the guy is gigantic and seems to fit the mould that Peter Chiarelli is looking to build from. Does size and decent defensive play merit another contract considering the current roster? You tell me.

Last week, we discussed the possibility of a bubble player making the team out of training camp. Most of you felt as though there aren’t many guys that would be considered as having an actual chance at making the opening night roster, but we are getting closer to training camp and there is still a spot available. Would any of the following guys be able to fill the role of a third pairing right-side defenseman?

The list of free agent, right-handed defensemen is not exactly ripe with options that would be a fit for the Oilers (as seen below). Obviously, players like Trouba and Ristolainen would be amazing fits on our team but they’re also restricted and the Oilers would have to give up assets to try to acquire them. Do any of these names seem like an upgrade over the familiar Eric Gryba? Maybe you would try to pry a guy like Trouba out of Winnipeg?

 

With the list of options getting shorter by the day I’m asking you if you would look at bringing Gryba back on a short term deal, or if you’d go with another option. If you think that the best course of action is to find someone else then I want to know who you’re thinking about? Is it an internal option that can handle the minutes? Trade? Regardless of what you’re thinking as a solution to fill in the defensive depth I want to hear about it. WWYDW is your chance to put on your management cap and make the tough decisions, and the third pairing RD needs your attention.