Since when do the Oilers have 4 Top 4 D-men?

by Joe Girth on Jan 20, 2012 2:30 PM MST

I make sure to watch every Oilers game (don’t ask me why, I can’t figure it out myself), typically on TV but I do get to go to the occasional game so I tend to hear a fair number of quotes and regurgitated opinions from the MSM. In the time since Tom Gilbert was assaulted I have heard numerous times on Sportsnet and the radio that the Oilers are without 3 of their top 4 defensemen. My first reaction was just to laugh at the mere thought of "the Oilers Top 4" mostly in a pity and self-loathing kind of way, but upon hearing it over and over again it really started to bug me.

This is why I would like your help, oh noble C&B enthusiasts, to figure out who this magical number 4 is supposed to be. For the purpose of simplicity, we will pretend that Whitney has at no point returned to the active roster to show us his Frankenfeet and that he is still firmly among the ranks of our MVP Gilbert and Ladislav Smid as the top 3 d-men on the Oilers this year.

My question to you is simply this, after the top 3, how do you rank the Oilers defensemen?

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this FanPost are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of the staff.

Poll

After the top 3, how do you rank the Oilers 4th - 8th defensemen?

Barker, Sutton, Peckham, Potter, Petry -- Tambi's a genious!

11 votes

Sutton, Barker, Potter, Peckham, Petry -- Who wants to win any way?

14 votes

Potter, Peckham, Sutton, Petry, Barker -- Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

44 votes

Sutton, Petry, Potter, Barker, Peckham -- If we hope really hard maybe things will get better.

134 votes

Petry, Klefbom, Marincin, Musil, Gernat -- Always in motion is the future.

126 votes

329 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 27 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Combo of 4 and 5… 4 because you have Sutton, Petry, Potter at the forefront.. but 5 because Barker is no where on the list

by Trites on Jan 19, 2012 6:47 PM MST reply actions

Lol, I added that last one just for a laugh but I had the same thought about no Barker once I posted it. Hopefully they sign him up for that extension soon before someone snatches him up!

The Edmonton Oilers – Rebuilding through character assassination since 1998

by Joe Girth on Jan 20, 2012 12:41 AM MST up reply actions

Same here Joe…almost voted 5, but went with 4 because Barker and Peckham were at the back of the bus…I wish Tulupov would pick up his game because he’s tougher than Hordi or Eager….don’t want to remind us all, but man we stunk last night…thought we may have been outshot 20-0 in the first ten minutes…that must be close a record…18-1 was bad enough.

by Otiepitotie on Jan 20, 2012 5:24 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

I hear there’s a team in the Saskatchewan Wild Goose League that has their eye on Barker.

by gvblackhawk on Jan 21, 2012 3:13 AM MST up reply actions

Yeah but I heard they’re not offering him 4 times the league minimum so he might not take it.

The Edmonton Oilers – Rebuilding through character assassination since 1998

by Joe Girth on Jan 21, 2012 7:23 AM MST up reply actions

Tyler’s nickname of “Barbaro” for Whitney is much better.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jan 20, 2012 3:13 PM MST reply actions

WOW that is awesome! I never bothered to look up the reference before, but that may be one of the best mocking nicknames I’ve ever heard.

The Edmonton Oilers – Rebuilding through character assassination since 1998

by Joe Girth on Jan 20, 2012 3:47 PM MST up reply actions

You know, I really didn’t think Tambellini was the type to read blogs, but sure enough, he showed up to vote for option #1, who knew?

The Edmonton Oilers – Rebuilding through character assassination since 1998

by Joe Girth on Jan 20, 2012 3:54 PM MST reply actions

Lowe Tambi and Renney must have voted…now that’s funny!!

by Otiepitotie on Jan 20, 2012 5:26 PM MST up reply actions

Could be, that or Cam Barker now has 3 new SB nation accounts.

The Edmonton Oilers – Rebuilding through character assassination since 1998

by Joe Girth on Jan 20, 2012 5:31 PM MST up reply actions

Never underestimate voter sarcasm.

by Yeti# on Jan 20, 2012 7:43 PM MST up reply actions

I never underestimate sarcasm itself, it’s my greatest weapon and weakness, I also almost made the Tambi group ALL Barker.

The Edmonton Oilers – Rebuilding through character assassination since 1998

by Joe Girth on Jan 20, 2012 9:35 PM MST up reply actions

I can’t vote any of those options because you have the order all wrong in my opinion lol. I think they should be Sutton, Potter, Barker, Petry, and Teubert or maybe Fedun based on his play before he was injured

by Trevor.Moeller on Jan 20, 2012 7:31 PM MST reply actions

Shit. When we include Fedun in the listings we know we’re really fucked.

by Yeti# on Jan 20, 2012 7:44 PM MST up reply actions

Barker before anyone on the list except Peckham is incorrect.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jan 20, 2012 8:04 PM MST up reply actions

Hey Derek, just curious, how would you rank all of the current Oiler Dmen?

The Edmonton Oilers – Rebuilding through character assassination since 1998

by Joe Girth on Jan 20, 2012 9:47 PM MST up reply actions

Gilbert

healthy Whitney
Smid

Sutton
Petry

Potter

Barker
Peckham

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jan 20, 2012 10:10 PM MST up reply actions

Thanks, you must be rubbing off on me, that’s my list to a tee!

The Edmonton Oilers – Rebuilding through character assassination since 1998

by Joe Girth on Jan 20, 2012 10:41 PM MST up reply actions

Me too, although Smid is overtaking healthy Whitney for me. Perhaps it is because it’s been so long since I’ve seen health Whitney that I forget what his true ability is. Smid has had a real breakout year….kudos to him. Other than that, Derek is spot on.

by gvblackhawk on Jan 21, 2012 2:50 AM MST up reply actions

The temptation was there to list a dozen different combos but I wanted to keep it simple and yes, I was also tempted to list Fedun (WITH broken leg) before Barker. I was pretty sure we wouldn’t all agree entirely but option 4 is how I see the current mix.

The Edmonton Oilers – Rebuilding through character assassination since 1998

by Joe Girth on Jan 20, 2012 9:31 PM MST up reply actions

Not sure which Teubert you’ve been watching. He has a very difficult time anticipating and reacting to the NHL transition game. He is an AHL defenseman who needs to develop his game for a couple more years for sure. The Oilers are doing him (and themselves) a huge disservice by bringing him up. He’s not even a top pairing for OKC yet. This is a prime example of poor management by Tambellini, who should have found a way to bring in a veteran 6 or 7 d-man rather than rushing Teubert. Same goes for Peckham, Gagner, Petry (could give a dozen other examples). The best organizations (eg. Detroit) let their players develop in the minors; the Oilers throw theirs to the wolves.

by gvblackhawk on Jan 21, 2012 3:04 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs

Tambo must sign Petry (74 GP) at summer. 1, 3 or 5 year contract? He should be a 3rd line defender, no rush on him.
Same to Peckham (144 GP – UFA 2012) as 7th defender on the team?
Whitney & Smid expire 2013, Gilbert 2014, its the right time to make a major plan for the defence! If Tambo had one, make a new one.

bring Sheldon Souray back!

by Screaming69 on Jan 21, 2012 3:06 AM MST reply actions

The way I see it, tamby doesn’t have to re-sign anyone, just keep on pushing them prospects through!

The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years

by OilLeak on Jan 21, 2012 6:03 AM MST up reply actions

Rumors say Smyth would like to be traded at the trade-Death-Line to a Stanley Cup team to return in the summer. It should come back but a useful defender and we have a win-win situation

bring Sheldon Souray back!

by Screaming69 on Jan 21, 2012 6:11 AM MST up reply actions

For a pure rental player that teams already know isn’t going to resign with them, I highly doubt there would be better than a 3rd round pick or a weak 2-way contract player coming back to us.

The Edmonton Oilers – Rebuilding through character assassination since 1998

by Joe Girth on Jan 21, 2012 7:33 AM MST up reply actions

It’s funny as I genuinely feel like Smyth is overpaid and no one in the league would pay him as much as the Oilers are at this stage in his career (note: I’m a huge fan and know everything he’s done but a 6 mill cap hit is way too much, 4.5 salary is also too high). So I love the rental player idea (cause we need more teenagers in the system) as I’d like to see him win a cup and all… I’m just curious what he’d be resigning for next year with the Oil? I get Oct/Nov he looked worth every penny to everyone (but me) but I’d imagine he’d have to sign for half his contract for it to be reasonable… this might actually end in another contract dispute. I wouldn’t pay him more than Jagr or Selanne for instance…

by Czechboy on Jan 21, 2012 9:03 AM MST up reply actions

Barker before Peckham?

I don’t know DZ, I think Peckham can occasionally play well on PK. Barker…..not so much!

At any aspect of Hockey!

by PerryK on Jan 21, 2012 10:41 AM MST 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