Some Things Worth Remembering About Last Season's Team

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 2, 2009 3:20 PM MDT

Particularly if you're trying to fix their problems:

5-on-5 Goals For: 152 (7th in the West)
5-on-5 Goals Against: 150 (10th in the West)
Powerplay Percentage: 17.0% (10th in the West)
Penalty-killing Percentage: 77.5% (14th in the West)
Faceoff Percentage: 47.9% (13th in the West)

None of these numbers are especially good, but I see two in particular that rank right at the bottom of the Western Conference; a pair that could be fixed simultaneously and inexpensively. Moreover, a pair of urgent problems that none of Chris Neil, Nikolai Khabibulin, or Dany Heatley will especially help.

Now, I'm not an NHL GM, but it seems to me that when your team's greatest statistical weakness could be greatly helped by signing Samuel Pahlsson or John Madden or Manny Malhotra or Dominic Moore or Radek Bonk, it behooves you to move quickly to get it done rather than frittering away your hours pursuing players from Ottawa who are either a) superfluous or b) crazy.

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Shiny Toys

The only logical thing to do is make a pitch for one of the guys listed, and I’d be thrilled with that, I really would.

As such, I expect an announcement of a 6 year $20MM deal with Saku Koivu based solely on the fact Katz has heard of him and got his hockey card at McDonalds a few times.

by Poo Czar on Jul 2, 2009 3:34 PM MDT reply actions

Fuck, I’d take Koivu at $3.2M/yr. Any day. Hell, I’d pay half that again for him without flinching.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Jul 2, 2009 3:47 PM MDT up reply actions

$3.3M. I fail at math today.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Jul 2, 2009 3:48 PM MDT up reply actions

Whoops, that was supposed to be $50MM. Looks like I suck at numbers today too.

When trying to make a point about a ridiculous overpay for a famous name, it helps not to fat-finger the keyboard…

by Poo Czar on Jul 2, 2009 4:05 PM MDT up reply actions

Heh. No worries. Yeah, 50/6 is a bit much for Koivu. I think something in the 25-30/6 range is more reasonable, understanding that Havlat (30/6) was had at a big discount.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Jul 3, 2009 11:27 AM MDT up reply actions

It really is puzzling. You get two more centres who can win 52%+ faceoffs and you have the media talking about how this team has incredibly has a “miracle” turn around.

This team could have Koivu and Malhotra for a combined 5 million and let Gagner develop slowly on soft minutes. And yet, we really see no indication that management is even aware of that.

Puck possession is won and lost on a team’s centres. As our team sits now I’d be more interested in moving some dead weight at wing (Nilsson, Penner) and upgrading at centre.

For interest’s sake, Koivu won 54% of faceoffs last season. Malhotra won 58%. Both are currently unsigned and with potential suitors dwindling could be had for a song.

But then again, developing Cogliano and Pouliot at centre is probably more important, right? Right?

Sigh…

by Jon Kerber on Jul 2, 2009 4:10 PM MDT reply actions

Don't forget

Moore 54%

and on the cheapo side:

Yelle 52%
Betts 49%

by Derek Zona on Jul 2, 2009 4:23 PM MDT up reply actions

This team could have Koivu and Malhotra for a combined 5 million

Says who? Malhotra’s bolted from the Jackets because they won’t pay him, and Koivu’s still got enough that he’s not taking $3M unless it’s (maybe) to play with his brother, but even then, he’s a $4-5M player on the open market. He’s hovered around 0.8 PPG most of his career and put up decent advanced numbers against middling competition last year, after surviving, though not exactly thriving, against tough competition in ‘07-’08. He’s a good veteran top-sixer who won’t come cheap.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Jul 3, 2009 11:34 AM MDT up reply actions

JW, it’s very comforting knowing you’re out there somwhere in internet land, because it’s nice to know that someone else scratches their head as hard as I do when they see the glaring holes on the roster neglected time and time again.

by ykmisfit on Jul 3, 2009 3:44 PM MDT reply actions

Even if Malhotra doesn’t come in under $2M, you’re going to have to give him a tonne of money for him not to be worth it. When Handzus is making $4M, Bolland is taking home $3.38M a year, Holik had 3 different teams give him well over $3M+ contracts AFTER his play started going rapidly down hill, and Madden had an awful year, is 36 years old and still making almost $3M. I’d put Malhotra with, or above all of those guys.

Manny may end up commanding a contract in the $3M range with multiple years, but he’ll earn it, and you’ll see guys like Horcoff, Gagner, and Cogliano have better years because of it.

by ykmisfit on Jul 3, 2009 3:55 PM MDT reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Oilers Schedule

Last 5 Games

@ Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	Sat 04/07	L 0 - 3
Anaheim Anaheim Calling	Thu 04/05	OT - L 2 - 3
@ Los Angeles Jewels From The Crown	Mon 04/02	L 0 - 2
@ Anaheim Anaheim Calling	Sun 04/01	W 2 - 1
Los Angeles Jewels From The Crown	Fri 03/30	L 1 - 4