The Oilers added to their defensive depth by signing Mark Fraser to a one-year two-way contract. Who doesn’t love a good sequel, right?
Mark Fraser is back! Why is he back? Well… I’d bet that the Oilers wanted to have some veterans down with the Condors to help young prospects acclimatize to the professional game, and Fraser fits the bill. One thing that is a little bit strange, though, is that Fraser is another left handed defenseman in an organization that is ripe with lefties. Does it matter for the AHL level? I don’t know. I’d guess it definitely doesn’t matter as much as it does at the NHL level. What I do know is that surround kids with veterans and having defensive depth is never a bad thing, and that’s exactly what this deal is. It’s obvious that the Oilers wanted to bring in a guy that can help out in Bakersfield and signing Fraser to a two-way deal seems like a pretty safe bet.
Is it a big, sexy signing? Hell no. But depth matters, and so does surrounding youngsters with guys that have been around the block a few times. I doubt we will ever see Fraser play another game for the Oilers, but stranger things have happened. Thoughts?
Fancy Math
Numbers from Mark Fraser’s last tour of duty with the Oilers, courtesy of Lowetide.
- 5×5 points per 60: 0.19 (7th among D)
- 5×4 points per 60: nil
- Qual Comp: 2nd easiest among D
- Qual Team: 3rd pairing, poorest available among D
- Corsi for 5×5 %: 43.1
- Corsi for 5×5 % REL: -0.7
- Shots on goal/percentage: 5 shots/20% (2nd among D>5 or more shots)
- Boxcars: 42, 1-1-2
- Plus Minus: -15 on a team that was -51
Mark Fraser’s Career so Far
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006-07 | NHL | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | -1 | — | — | — | — | — | |
2007-08 | AHL | 79 | 1 | 17 | 18 | 96 | -7 | — | — | — | — | — | |
2008-09 | AHL | 74 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 152 | -5 | — | — | — | — | — | |
2009-10 | NHL | 61 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2010-11 | NHL | 26 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | |
2010-11 | AHL | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -3 | — | — | — | — | — | |
2011-12 | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | -2 | — | — | — | — | — | |
2011-12 | AHL | 25 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | |
2011-12 | AHL | 20 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 31 | |
2012-13 | AHL | 30 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 114 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | |
2012-13 | NHL | 45 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 85 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
2013-14 | NHL | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 33 | -8 | — | — | — | — | — | |
2013-14 | NHL | 23 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 43 | -7 | — | — | — | — | — | |
2014-15 | AHL | 18 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 45 | -1 | — | — | — | — | — | |
2014-15 | NHL | 34 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 55 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | |
2015-16 | AHL | 60 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 136 | -5 | — | — | — | — | — | |
NHL Totals | 219 | 4 | 18 | 22 | 302 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
