Guys The Oilers Should At Least Call: Andy Hilbert

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 20, 2009 4:13 PM MDT in Analysis

Andy Hilbert

#11 / Left Wing / New York Islanders

Height: 5-11

Weight: 194

Born: Feb 06, 1981

Drafted: 37th overall, 2000

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	SOG	PCT	QualComp	QualTeam	Corsi/60
2008 - 09	67	11	16	27	-3	22	167	6.6	2nd	7th	-5.6

Andy Hilbert has spent most of his career as a perpetual prospect, with the label "possible top-six forward" firmly affixed. It made sense; he scored very well in college and in the AHL, but somewhere along the way Hilbert made a transformation. Scoring stars who spend a lot of time in the minors seem to make one of two decisions:

Spend a lot of their career in Europe
Develop in other areas

Hilbert did the latter, turning into a defensively responsible, bottom-six guy. He got job with Chicago, and got picked up by Pittsburgh when the Blackhawks tried to send him back to the minors. He found himself on Sidney Crosby's wing and scored 18 points in 19 games.

That was the situation in July of 2006, when Hilbert was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Islanders. Despite that flash of offensive ability in Pittsburgh, his goal and point totals in New York have been underwhelming:

2006-07: 81GP - 8G - 20A - 28PTS
2007-08: 70GP - 8G - 8A - 16PTS
2008-09: 67GP - 11G - 16A - 27PTS

Yet, there is one thing that stands out about Hilbert: his plus/minus. Here are his numbers for those three seasons, and in brackets next to them the Islanders' total plus/minus as a team:

2006-07: +10 (+5)
2007-08: +2 (-51)
2008-09: -3 (-76)
Totals: +9 (-122)

That's significant. Andy Hilbert has consistently put up decent +/- numbers over three seasons with one of the NHL's worst franchises. It isn't easy to do that. It becomes more difficult given that Hilbert:

routinely played against top opponents
routinely played with poor linemates
took far more defensive zone than offensive zone draws

Last season, Hilbert earned 700,000 $. He isn't likely to get much of a raise on that this year; in fact, he may be in tight to get a regular NHL job at all. If the price is right, Hilbert could be at worst a very effective fourth-liner, and at best a possible replacement for Ethan Moreau on the third line. He'll be useful on the penalty-kill and he'll certainly do more to help the Oilers win hockey games than most of the young fringe guys looking for a lineup spot.

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Not Captain Material

You mean future Detroit Red Wing – Andy Hilbert?

by Mr DeBakey on Jul 20, 2009 4:24 PM MDT reply actions

Wow I did not even know that the guy was a UFA. After reading, I sorta looked him up. I am surprised that Isles did not sign him considering they dont really have good bottom 6. Guy certainly flew under the radar( I couldnt find him on the sportsnet site, damn he is good at hiding).

by SumOil on Jul 20, 2009 9:31 PM MDT reply actions

The Oilers have too many forwards under contract. One doesn’t solve that problem by signing more. The cap is also probably going down next year.

When Cleary went to Detroit, he went to Detroit’s training camp on a tryout basis.

If a third line guy wants to come to the Oilers training camp on a tryout basis, or sign a cheap one-year contract in September, fine.

by godot10 on Jul 21, 2009 11:32 AM MDT reply actions

Why not a cheap one or two-year contract now? We aren’t talking big money here.

And I’d gladly put a guy like Steve MacIntyre on waivers to make room for a useful NHL’er.

A posse ad esse.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and OilersNation.

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 21, 2009 1:01 PM MDT up reply actions

Too many forwards

The Oilers have sent away three forwards without bringin any in. That helps clear the glut.

Besides, the real problem is that the Oilers have too many forwards under contract who haven’t proven capable of playing the roles they’re being slotted for. Hilbert would represent a step in the right direction in that department.

A posse ad esse.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and OilersNation.

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 21, 2009 1:03 PM MDT up reply actions

How is a contract that might be worth a million at the max going to hurt our cap situation next year? Next year pouliot’s contract will be over. we cant just sit pat at 47 or so contracts. A GM should always look to improve the team. Whether it means shedding contract or taking it. At present Andy Hibert seems better than 2/3 rd of our bottom 6 guys

by SumOil on Jul 22, 2009 12:03 AM MDT up reply actions

Detroit

Apparently the Red Wings are interested…

A posse ad esse.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and OilersNation.

by Jonathan Willis on Aug 4, 2009 5:26 PM MDT reply actions

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Northwest Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	52	32	15	5	69
Minnesota Hockey Wilderness	51	25	19	7	57
Colorado Mile High Hockey	54	26	25	3	55
Calgary Matchsticks and Gasoline	52	24	22	6	54
Edmonton The Copper & Blue	51	20	26	5	45

(updated 2.4.2012 at 4:07 PM MST)

20 - 26 - 5

Streak: Won 2

Oilers Schedule

Next 5 Games

Detroit Winging It In Motown	Sat 02/04	8:00 PM MST
@ Toronto Pension Plan Puppets	Mon 02/06	5:00 PM MST
@ Detroit Winging It In Motown	Wed 02/08	5:30 PM MST
@ Ottawa Silver Seven	Sat 02/11	12:00 PM MST
Toronto Pension Plan Puppets	Wed 02/15	8:00 PM MST

Last 5 Games

Chicago Second City Hockey	Thu 02/02	W 8 - 4
Colorado Mile High Hockey	Tue 01/31	W 3 - 2
@ Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	Tue 01/24	SO - L 2 - 3
San Jose Fear The Fin	Mon 01/23	SO - W 2 - 1
Calgary Matchsticks and Gasoline	Sat 01/21	L 2 - 6