This in from Asst. GM Keith Gretzky, news that the Edmonton Oilers organization is going to do the right thing by not bringing in another strong veteran d-man to compete for ice time with top defensive prospects in Bakersfield of the American Hockey League.
It has been rumoured for many weeks that the Oilers were going to make such a signing — and wrong-headed move — but here what’s Gretzky said when asked by Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now if the organization planned to bring in a right shot replacement for departed veteran AHLers d-men Ryan Stanton and Kevin Gravel.
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“You would love to always have that,” Gretzky said of the idea of bringing in such a stalwart veteran. “I know if I went to Woody (Condors coach Jay Woodcroft) and said, ‘Hey, would you like another veteran D?’ of course, he’s going to say, ‘Yeah, we all do.’ But at the end of the day we all believe that we have a lot of young kids, and I’m not saying they’re all going down there, but if you’re saying (Philip) Broberg, (Markus) Niemelainen, (Dmitri) Samorukov, there’s three. And you got (Filip) Berglund, (Michael) Kesselring and (Phil) Kemp, and (Vincent) Desharnais.
“We have a lot of D (for the Condors). And when you go to the American League, it’s not good if the kids are sitting in the stands. You might take a little bit of beatings once in awhile, but that’s why you have good goaltending. We really believe our forward depth will help the young guys, and I think (asst. coach) Dave Manson has done an unbelievable job with all our young D, and this is a great chance for them to grow. I’d rather they are playing, personally, just so they can further their career and get better and get to the NHL quicker.”
1. Huzzah! The Edmonton Oilers have made the mistake in the past of having solid AHL veteran — who have little chance of making it big in the NHL — block the development of young prospects. Glad to see this won’t happen this year.
2. If Holland were to bring a veteran right shot NHL d-man on a PTO in training camp that would be a different matter. If that vetearn doesn’t make the Oilers, Edmonton won’t have to offer him a deal, or find room for him in the AHL.
3. It’s not easy to get the right mix at the AHL level. You need enough veterans so that your team is not overwhelmed with constant losing. At the same time, prospect players need to be put into key Core 12 positions (the top two lines or third line centre, top 4 on defence and top goalie). They need power play and short-handed time. This year in Bakersfield, for example, prospect d-men Philip Broberg, Dmitri Samorukov, Markus Niemelainen and Filip Berglund should all be in the Core 12, as should goalie Stuart Skinner, forwards Raphael Lavoie, Dylan Holloway and Kirill Maksimov, and maybe one or two other players on Entry Level Contracts.
4. Examples of veteran AHLers blocking the path of younger prospects? In 2014-15, veteran Brad Hunt took minutes that could have gone to promising younger d-men like Jordan Oesterle, Brandon Davidson and Dillon Simpson. All three of Oesterle, Davidson and Simpson played plenty but the could have played more, including on the power play. Last season Gravel and Stanton were excellent for Bakersfield, as was 26-year-old Theodor Lennstrom, but their presence, along with the presence of Max Gildon, a loaned player from Florida, blocked some opportunity for Kemp and Kesselring when they arrived late in the year. This coming season the Oilers might have an issue at forward when it comes to blocking prospects if Kyle Turris, Tyler Benson and Cooper Marody all get sent down and join a forward group that already includes vets like Brad Malone, Seth Griffin and Adam Cracknell. It’s good to have solid AHL vets, just not too many of them.
5. Bakersfield won’t be short of high quality d-men, even without Gravel, Stanton and Lennstrom.
- Samorukov, 22, was a Top 4 d-man on his team in the KHL last year and he excelled at the role.
- Berglund, 24, was a Top 4 d-man in the Swedish Elite League for the last two years. So was Broberg, 20, for much of last season, before he got banged up.
- Niemelainen, 23, was a Top 4 d-man in Finland last season, then played 21 games in the AHL.
- Kesselring, 21, has played two years of US college hockey, Kemp, 22, three years, with Kesselring getting 27 AHL games last year, Kemp 14.
- If one of William Lagesson or Slater Koekkoek fail to make the Oilers and clear waivers, that will mean one d-man with major North American pro experience on the roster.
- Bakersfield also has big right-shot Vincent Desharnais, 25, on the roster with an AHL contract. He played four years of US college hockey and is now heading into his third minor pro season. The team will have a tough choice with him, as he made the Condors team last season. If he plays in the Bake, does he block Kemp, Kesselring or Berglund? If the organization doesn’t see Desharnais as a future Oiler, it’s hard to justify him playing ahead of the other three, unless he proves himself as dramatically better, enough to earn an NHL deal.
All told there is already fierce competition from many d-men in Bakersfield, with some of them already having excelled in leagues as good as the AHL. It’s evident there’s no great need to bring in another veteran to show them the ropes, not when you have former NHLer Manson to do just that. Edmonton’s on the right path here by refraining ti add that extra veteran.
Again, my own hope and expectation is to see a Top 4 D with Broberg and Niemelainen on the left side, Berglund and Samorukov (a left shot) on the right, and with Kesselring, Kemp, Desharnais, Kaldis and Lagesson in the bottom pairings, likely with Broberg and Berglund on the power play units and all the Top 4 guys killing penalties.
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