Zack Stortini Is On Waivers
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 1, 2011 11:34 AM MST
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TSN is reporting that Zack Stortini has been placed on waivers by the Edmonton Oilers. With sixteen forwards on the roster, and only those deserving of roster spots exempt from waivers, a decision needed to be made on who to keep and who to send away. Bruce commented on this exact situation on Sunday, and this is what he had to say about Stortini:
Superficially in the same boat as JFJ, a long-term project who has a marginal role on the current Oilers but would have to clear waivers to be sent down. Is a proven NHLer in the sense that he has over 250 games in the bigs and hasn't played a game in the AHL since 2007 October, however the Oilers have more depth on the wings now than at any time in Zack's tenure. I would be very surprised if he was put on waivers and shocked in he cleared. More likely he will stick around and shuttle between fourth line and the press box as he has done all year.
Well, Bruce is now very surprised, and I would suggest that he's about to be shocked too. Steve Tambellini may be stupid but he's not stupid - he knew that this situation was coming, and presumably, knew that Stortini was one of the guys on the bubble. I believe he probably looked around for a trade for one of the more marginal men on the roster and didn't find one, which means that no one thought Zack Stortini was good enough to trade for. Maybe these other general managers were playing coy and are willing to risk waivers, but to be honest, I doubt it.
Zack Stortini is not a particularly valuable player as an enforcer. In fact, he's probably the most mocked fighter in the league, which is kind of the opposite of what you want from an enforcer (incidentally, had he been branded differently ("pest" comes to mind), he'd probably have a much better chance at getting picked up). I think Robin Brownlee was right that his last fight was the last straw for the organization, and frankly, I think it might cause a few other teams to take a pass too.
As for me, I'm actually pretty pleased with this move. I don't think Zack Stortini was the sixteenth best forward on the roster, but he wouldn't be making my top thirteen either, and there was some chance that one of those guys (Liam Reddox, Linus Omark) was going to be sent out instead. I've complained in the past about Steve Tambellini not making decisions on players. In this case, he identified a player that his coach had given up on (Stortini was a HS on opening night, and he's never really recovered), and made a decision. That's commendable.
And as for Zack, his one elite skill was hard work, and it's impossible not to respect a guy like that. He's played his heart out for this club over the last few seasons, and deserves appreciation for that. I don't think it will happen, but I hope he gets picked up by someone else, and if it happens, I wish him nothing but the best.
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But..
To quote YEGronaldo, he said it best..
I know everyone in the league makes fun of Stortini, but you know what they say about JFJ – nothing. Cuz he’s useless & invisible
St. Louis?
A posse ad esse.
The Copper & Blue|OilersNation|Hockey or Die!
Twitter: @JonathanWillis
Mail: jonathan.willis@live.ca
by Jonathan Willis on Feb 1, 2011 11:40 AM MST reply actions
To be clear, that’s not my guess. I’d probably guess Anaheim or the Islanders.
A posse ad esse.
The Copper & Blue|OilersNation|Hockey or Die!
Twitter: @JonathanWillis
Mail: jonathan.willis@live.ca
by Jonathan Willis on Feb 1, 2011 11:47 AM MST up reply actions
I hope he gets picked up by someone in the east, except the Island. He’s not much of a skill guy but he’s got too much heart to not have at least a bit more of a career.
by Stephen Sheps on Feb 1, 2011 11:52 AM MST up reply actions
If this was the last year of his deal, I could see someone picking him up, but I think teams will balk at committing 700k (and for most clubs, that also means an NHL roster spot) to Stortini for next season.
Abney, Abney, oh why TF did we have to pick Abney?
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 1, 2011 12:19 PM MST up reply actions
Detroit.
Manager at Vancouver Whitecaps and western Canadian soccer website Eighty Six Forever and infrequently-posting flunky at Edmonton Oilers blog The Copper & Blue.
by Benjamin Massey on Feb 1, 2011 12:39 PM MST up reply actions
Sorry Scott… I know I beat you to the punch but I took down my certainly less formed and thought out reaction to the same issue…
No worries. The site always goes bonkers with six posts about the same thing every time there’s news.
Abney, Abney, oh why TF did we have to pick Abney?
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 1, 2011 11:57 AM MST up reply actions
as you said, the only good thing is that they did not try to send down omark or reddox
Rebuild is a convenient excuse for GMs who dont wish to do their jobs
Which was a real possibility. I’m convinced that MacIntyre is here to stay for the year (and that “MacIntyre” is here to stay for as long as Renney is coach), so really the only other player I may have gotten rid of first is Jacques, but JFJ has actually been playing better recently, so it’s not like this is a horrible call. That’s especially true when you consider that Zorg getting claimed gets the Oilers out from under a contract that they’d rather not have.
Abney, Abney, oh why TF did we have to pick Abney?
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 1, 2011 11:56 AM MST up reply actions
The thing which hurt Stortini the most was the fact that he was deemed as the guy replacing Laraque. And the fans started to expect him to become the best fighter in the league. But that did not happed and he was a below average fighter. However what he became was a pretty good forechecker and excellent defensively for a 4th liner. Oilers did not try to change 46’s image for the fans. They never talked about him as a pest or as a normal 4th liner. Time and again he was the fighter and was encouraged to do so.
Rebuild is a convenient excuse for GMs who dont wish to do their jobs
Branding
I think this is a branding problem. He is an effective 4th liner, but not a fighter and he was branded as a fighter.
I wonder if anyone else will pick up on that.
Yeah, Stortini definitely could have used a new publicist. The “fighter” label was a real disservice to him. That said, part of being an effective pest is drawing more penalties than you take. I was aware of his excellence in this area this season, but the whole drawing more penalties than you take thing is new to him this year. In his three previous seasons, he’d always had a negative penalty differential. Maybe he’ll be able to reinvent himself a bit.
Abney, Abney, oh why TF did we have to pick Abney?
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 1, 2011 12:01 PM MST up reply actions
he could use me as his publicist. I have been bullish on the guy for three years plus, and I very rarely bring up fighting. It’s in his basket of skills as something he’s ready and willing to do at the drop of a glove, he’s not particularly able though.
His strength is as an agitator and as a serviceable Hockey Player who won’t hurt you while he’s out there making life miserable for the bad guys.
To me he’s an ideal player for a “team tough” approach, a guy who can play the game and be out there at somewhat regular times and answer the call as it arises, rather than a Designated Goon slowly turning to stone on the bench.
Writer for The Cult of Hockey, The Copper & Blue, and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Feb 1, 2011 5:25 PM MST up reply actions
I really would be sad to see Storts get claimed.
If he got 2nd line minutes in OKC, got some good touches, got some goals, got some confidence back, he could probably crack the team next year.. ….If not… he could replace Moran or Ondrus in OKC, play a full next season in OKC, and be ready when playoffs come around and we need grit/depth
The problem is Stortini’s look. He’s not mean enough to rep his ugly face, If you had his ugly caveman mug, with glenX’s nastiness, he’d be a fixture for sure!
by One_Roy_Save_On_The_Calendar on Feb 1, 2011 12:05 PM MST reply actions
It would certainly be good for OKC if Stortini goes unclaimed, so I won’t exactly be torn up if he clears. That said, I’ve cheered for the player for long enough that I’m pulling for him to stay in the NHL.
Abney, Abney, oh why TF did we have to pick Abney?
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 1, 2011 12:12 PM MST up reply actions
Frankly, I was pretty shocked, it seems stupid stupid to me. My understanding is that Stortini, while very limited as a hockey player, could play a fourth line shift at least without hurting his team. Now, I may be overevaluating him due to my superficial reading of Oilers’ blog, but still, how does this move make sense? Surely he’s not better than JF Jacques, even if you decide you need McIntyre for the extracurriculars?
He may clear because most teams have enough forwards who are better than Stortini, but the Oilers aren’t most teams. In that sense, I’m not sure how one justifies waiving Stortini ahead of Jacques.
I’m pretty displeased, too. I’d have to go dig up some articles, but I’m pretty sure that by the numbers, Zorg’s beating out JFJ (even if the latter has been picking it up recently.)
I think Bruce McCurdy had a look an article looking at Stortini on CoH fairly recently, and it showed him in a pretty positive light.
Aside from that, I just like how he brings it every time he’s on the ice. I kind of hope he gets picked up by a team that will give him some ice time again.
I think Bruce McCurdy had a look an article looking at Stortini on CoH fairly recently, and it showed him in a pretty positive light.
I think I’ve had some articles looking at Pisani on C&B; they did much the same thing.
Manager at Vancouver Whitecaps and western Canadian soccer website Eighty Six Forever and infrequently-posting flunky at Edmonton Oilers blog The Copper & Blue.
by Benjamin Massey on Feb 1, 2011 1:05 PM MST up reply actions
Jean-Francois Jacques: The Next Mark Messier?
Manager at Vancouver Whitecaps and western Canadian soccer website Eighty Six Forever and infrequently-posting flunky at Edmonton Oilers blog The Copper & Blue.
by Benjamin Massey on Feb 1, 2011 1:25 PM MST up reply actions
Andrew Cogliano: The Next Steve Tambellini?
Writer for The Cult of Hockey, The Copper & Blue, and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Feb 1, 2011 5:21 PM MST up reply actions
Ryan Jones: The next Gilbert Brule?
by One_Roy_Save_On_The_Calendar on Feb 1, 2011 7:04 PM MST up reply actions
Sure, they probably could have let go of Jacques first, but we’re talking about the 14th and 15th best forwards on the roster here. I’m willing to give Renney and Tambellini the benefit of the doubt there, especially since there are implications for next season. If they’ve decided Stortini isn’t in the plans for a winning team (reasonable IMO), and have tried to trade him without success, why not try to get out from under the last year of his contract by waiving him? With Jacques, it’s easy enough to just walk away once this season is over.
Abney, Abney, oh why TF did we have to pick Abney?
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 1, 2011 1:36 PM MST up reply actions
I agree with the contract thing aspect but I’m not giving them the benefit of the doubt. If they can stop themselves from being stupid enough to re-sign either JFJ or Smac then that’s a positive step.
In theory, there is little difference between practice and theory, but in practice there is!
You guys have got the contract wrong. Zack signed a three-year pact in the summer of ‘08, and will be RFA this summer. He’s got 40% of one year ($800 K salary, $700 K cap hit) to go.
Very cheap gamble for any team looking to add a little hustle and muscle.
Writer for The Cult of Hockey, The Copper & Blue, and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Feb 1, 2011 5:20 PM MST up reply actions
Huh. And so you are right. My bad on that one. That makes the move somewhat less understandable (Jacques is now clearly worse), but still not the end of the world IMO (Stortini likely isn’t among the best 13 forwards now let alone once the team adds some players).
Abney, Abney, oh why TF did we have to pick Abney?
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 1, 2011 5:25 PM MST up reply actions
Renney gave Colton Orr regular shifts and tough starts. Even if MacIntyre himself isn’t re-signed, someone in the hired knuckles genus.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Yep. I tend to treat this as an isolated issue now so long as they don’t blow big money on it a la Boogaard.
Abney, Abney, oh why TF did we have to pick Abney?
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 1, 2011 5:25 PM MST up reply actions
We know they’ve had Laraques in a sauna and threw money at Boogaard, I’m not going to be surprised when they chase Koci or Zeiler
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
The majority seems to be that people would have rather waived someone else ahead of Storts, and count me in that group. I loved his heart, and he did well as long as he wasnt asked to do too much. Im souring on Renny more and more as the season goes, this being a major point against. (Scott mentioned Tambo made the decision, but I imagine Renny told him which guy to send away).
But I am hoping he doesnt get picked up. Sure itd be nice to see him stay in the NHL, but I think it would be good for OKC to have him on the roster. He can teach the kids what it takes to get to and stay in the Big League, and maybe he can develop into a teacher type role for them.
Insert Witty Comment Here
I’m sure the coach had a huge impact in this decision.
Abney, Abney, oh why TF did we have to pick Abney?
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 1, 2011 1:41 PM MST up reply actions
FUCK! I’m going to have to change my profile pic.
Writer for The Cult of Hockey, The Copper & Blue, and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
You should just add “FFS” across the top of the picture.
Abney, Abney, oh why TF did we have to pick Abney?
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 1, 2011 5:35 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Jeas-Batiste dun dun Emaneul dunh dunh dunh ZORG!!!!!!
by One_Roy_Save_On_The_Calendar on Feb 1, 2011 9:12 PM MST up reply actions
here’s the silver linings i can find here:
1. Storts prolly won’t get claimed due to the embarrassing and pathetic nature of his last fight with Barch, (maybe last fight in NHL) He was the laughing stock of the league that night. Maybe mgmt, who HAD to clear a roster spot, is gambling that no-one will take a 4th liner who can’t throw a punch.
2. If he clears waivers, It helps OKC stay in the playoff hunt, and gives Storts the opportunity to redefine him game. (he entered the NHL at 21 and had his role defined for him) Hopefully he becomes an AHL beast, and gets called back up to the oil in our next playoff race! ( 2 years???)
3. If he clears waivers, that screws him for contract negotiations next year… If he stays and plays every game and scores 5 goals, he probably ends up in arbitration beside JFJ.
by One_Roy_Save_On_The_Calendar on Feb 1, 2011 7:20 PM MST reply actions
I sure as hell hope Jacques doesn’t get a QO and a chance at arbitration. Other than that, agreed!
Abney, Abney, oh why TF did we have to pick Abney?
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 1, 2011 7:51 PM MST up reply actions
I meant to reference last summer’s arbitration in regards to JFJ. Which was ridiculous, but slightly expected, here’s why……
There was an article or two that summer about how JFJ was starting the year on the first line!!!
remember that???
Here’s the theory: (correct me if/WHEN i’m wrong)
Player Agents are lawyers
lawyers go to University, get degree’s and then pursue further study and examinations
Stock-brokers go to University, " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " ’ " " " "
Player Agents are Stock-brokers. (I bet you love this line, because " I know what you did last summer!!!!" actually 3 summers ago i think…..)
……and when that first article came out about JFJ on the first line,
he became AN OVER-VALUED STOCK, but as any Stock-broker will tell you, when you overpay for something, it may be best to hold on and pray pray pray it goes back up!!!!!
by One_Roy_Save_On_The_Calendar on Feb 1, 2011 8:18 PM MST up reply actions
Arbitration last summer was good for Jacques; the threat of a hearing got him a nice contract, and I’m sure it would do the same this summer. The man plays in enough games that arbitration virtually guarantees him a one-way contract, which is why I’m hopeful they don’t bother with a qualifying offer. Sometimes you need to cut your losses, so to speak.
Abney, Abney, oh why TF did we have to pick Abney?
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 1, 2011 11:43 PM MST up reply actions
JFJ is proof that there are teams out there who will take a 4th liner who can’t throw a punch.
In theory, there is little difference between practice and theory, but in practice there is!
I love Zack Stortini, he seems like an oiler for life, was praying i might get to see him with his first playoff beard!!!
I honestly believe he thinks he’s helping the team when he hugs, Drops the gloves, doesn’t risk messing up his hands so he can still help out later in the game, with his only slightly below average passing and puck control skills. Other guy possibly breaks a knuckle on Zack’s Caveman Mug. ….and they both get 5 minutes
Almost convinced myself there….almost
by One_Roy_Save_On_The_Calendar on Feb 1, 2011 8:31 PM MST up reply actions
A Zorg playoff beard would reach Weirian proportions if it went more than a couple of rounds.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
OMG i just realized…..storts in OKC, OKC in playoff hunt, may get to see that beard earlier than expected, you know that if they make the playoff the oilers organization will send a camera crew down there to cover
by One_Roy_Save_On_The_Calendar on Feb 4, 2011 1:17 PM MST up reply actions
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