Coming from an Edmonton Oilers point of view, BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation from all of the internet’s best sites including Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, The Athletic, TSN and more!
Longtime Edmonton Oilers beat writer Jim Matheson recently posted at the Edmonton Sun an article in which he suggest the club target a number of free agents this offseason. Let’s go over the suggestions right now and I’ll give you my two cents as we go!
“The Oilers probably want to get younger, somebody in the mid 20s range to work with the 39-year-old Smith. Whether that’s going after a UFA like Chris Driedger in Florida, even with his slim portfolio, or trading for an established Joonas Korpisalo in Columbus, which would mean finding a team for Koskinen, who knows?
BLH’s Thoughts: I’m curious if the Oilers might try to make a trade with Florida to get Driedger, sign him, and then make a deal with Seattle for them to take Koskinen at the expansion draft… Florida has to do something because they’re behind a barrel with Driedger in terms of trading him. They could pay Seattle not to take him, which would cost them a pretty penny or they could find the best trade return possible and move him that way.
It doesn’t hurt that his agent is based in Edmonton and friends with Oilers play-by-play colorman Bob Stauffer. Why else would we be hearing so much about a goalie playing for the Florida Panthers unless there was some sort of local link.
“The Oilers may want to get bigger on LW in free-agency but don’t discount Jaden Schwartz in St. Louis. He turns 29 in a month, fast (190 pounds, five-foot 10), but after two 50-plus point seasons he’s coming off poor 21-point (eight goals) in 44 games this year.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Despite what St. Louis management might be saying now, the Blues were softly shopping him at the deadline to see what his trade value was. This is the kind of player that would look good in Edmonton’s middle six.
Now, his traditional stats might’ve dropped recently but his relative fancies were decent last season. Nothing Earth shattering but the puck flowed in the right direction when he was on the ice.
- xG%: 4.53
- SCF%: 4.56
- CF%: 2.00
- FF%: 2.39
- SF%: 2.66
- HDCF%: 6.52
- HDGF%: 1.12
The other nice thing about Schwartz is that he’s been an experienced penalty killer and power play contributor in St. Louis his whole career and if Nuge is heading elsewhere, they’re going to need someone to replace him on the special teams units.
Oilers advisor Ken Hitchcock would probably have a good book on the long-time Blues winger and be able to steer Edmonton in the right direction with regards to their interest in him, maybe even help recruit him if they truly want to sign him.
“Ken Holland probably has circled Mattias Janmark, the ex-Dallas winger now in Vegas, as a free-agent to go after. He’s a very versatile third-liner…”
BLH’s Thoughts: A couple of days ago, NHL pundit Kevin Weekes said that the Oilers don’t have enough Rottweilers on their team. Janmark isn’t so much a Rottweiler as he doesn’t have enough “Sonofabitch” in him, but damn is he a hard worker.
Janmark was an effective depth player for the Dallas Stars last year and he’s proving to be that again for the Golden Knights this year. He’s such a good puck hound and with such high work ethic, he doesn’t allow the other team to win those battles often. The Oilers don’t have enough of these types on their team or in their system.
His relative 2020-21 offensive fancies look like this,
- xG%: -2.67
- SCF%: -2.96
- CF%: 0.87
- FF%: 0.62
- SF%: -0.52
- HDCF%: -7.71
- HDGF%: 0.74
His relative 2020-21 defensive ones look like this though
- xGA%: -0.14
- SCA%: -1.52
- CA%: -4.63
- FA%: -1.99
- SA%: -2.16
- HDCA%: 2.37
- HDGA%: -0.7
So what that tells me is that he’s a much better defensive contributor than he is an offensive one, but is that what Edmonton truly needs?
If the Oilers are looking for depth scoring, Janmark probably isn’t your guy (despite his hat-trick last night), but if they’re shopping for a player who is going to give the other team a hard time and create a lot of turnovers, he could be that guy.
I dig him because he’s a relentless forechecker, but maybe not someone I run out and sign on the first day of free agency.
“Keep an eye on Patrik Nemeth (Colorado) as a third-pairing LD possibility. The Oilers were interested but Detroit traded him to the Avs.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I’ve got to be honest, I know f*ck all about Patrick Nemeth. Looking at his numbers over on Natural Stat Trick leave me even less clear about the ability of this player.
(Numbers in brackets are his Detroit stats)
- GF%: 13.89 (6.99)
- xG%: -3.05 (1.46)
- SCF%: -5.42 (-0.30)
- CF%: -4.13 (2.27)
- FF%: -4.35 (2.57)
- SF%: -7.36 (3.52)
- HDCF%: 4.89 (2.32)
- HDGF%: 14.04 (14.58)
- TOI: 13:41 (15:43)
To my eye, he looks like an average 3rd pair defender. In Colorado he’s had trouble winning the shot share but in Detroit it was quite the opposite. Although on both clubs Nemeth has excelled at high danger chances, high danger goals, and traditional goals for.
Check out his advanced metrics here and judge for yourself. One thing that pops out is his scoring chances against. Every year they’ve been in the negative (that’s a good thing. The lower the number the better in against stats).
All of that being said, compared to Slater Koekkoek, somebody that is getting strong consideration from most pundits in the Edmonton area, Nemeth looks like Bobby Orr. Not really, but there are considerable differences between the two.
So there you have it. What do you think? Are you in agreement with Mr. Matheson with his three suggestions or are there better options that will be available to the Oilers this offseason.
Let us know in the comments section below!
Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick
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