Two players of interest have just completed their KHL regular seasons.Jaromir Jagr is a player Edmonton management has been quite public about over the last few months in terms of a possible signing. In the fall, Oilers coach Tom Renney said "he's on our radar. He has NHL years ahead of him. No question."
Linus Omark (photo) plays in the same league as Jagr and his rights are already owned by the Oilers via some prudent drafting. Since they played the 09-10 regular season in the same league it gives us a unique opportunity to see how they compare.
Jagr played in 51 KHL games and played 18 minutes per night. I haven't been able to find the EV breakout so we'll go with what we know. That means he played 918 total minutes while compiling 22-20-42 totals. That works out to 2.75 points-per-60 for Avangard this season. Jagr finished +19 on a team that (as far as I can tell) finished 79 goals over .500. Jagr popped 8 powerplay goals and 153 shots on goal (10 shots per hour).
Omark played in 56 KHL games and played a little over 16 minutes per night. I estimate he played 907 minutes while compiling 20-16-36 totals. That works out to 2.38 points-per-60 for Dynamo Moscow. Omark finished -14 on a team that (as far as I can tell) finished 11 goals under .500. Omark scored 7 powerplay goals and 105 shots on goal (6.9 shots per hour).
In terms of plus minus, let's list each player in comparison to the other forwards on their respective teams.
Dynamo Moscow (40+ games)
- Weinhandl +10
- Komarov -1
- Krysanov -3
- Nepryaev -3
- Hudler -4
- Shitikov -5
- Harju -10
- Kaluzhny -11
- Omark -14
Avangard (40+ games)
- Jagr +19
- Popov +16
- Svitov +14
- Kuryanov +13
- Shishkanov +11
- Vlasenkov +7
- Prestunov +6
- Averin +5
- Klepis E
- Perrin E
- Volkov -3
Interesting.
Looks like the Oilers managed to snag themselves another offense first, defense last minute man.
ReplyDeleteBTW, is that a nickname for #6 on Dynamo Moscow?
ReplyDeleteBar Qu:
ReplyDeleteYou beat me to it.
It's Russian for Thecaptain.
That made me laugh but good, dg.
ReplyDeleteOmark's linemates weren't exactly world beaters. He definitely got the short end of the stick in that department.
ReplyDeleteLooks like LT hasn't forgotten the reaction he received a few weeks ago in that trade options thread.
ReplyDeleteJust to add some gasoline to a possible fire here:
ReplyDeletePatrick Thoresen in the KHL this year:
56GP, 24G, 33A, 71 PIM, +45.
Disclaimer: He's played with Radulov and Zinovyev on the best team in the league for most of the year.
Yeah, there are all kinds of things we can't know about Omark's season as compared to Jagr's. Maybe Jagr spent half the game on the PP and we do know that Omark wasn't playing with two members of the Legion of Doom over there.
ReplyDeleteAll the more reason for him to sign a 2-way deal (his only option) and come to camp. The Oilers need to see what he can do.
As kinger reminded me (thanks for that) I just want to get out in front of this and say I like this player fine.
http://lowetide.blogspot.com/2009/12/6-prospect-linus-omark.html
LT asked...
ReplyDelete"How Good is Linus Omark?"
I suspect not very. Probably has a chance as a 2nd liner/PP specialist on a team without many other waterbugs, like a certain other YouTube Hero.
Your dead right. We won't know for sure till he plays a few games on this side of the pond, and if he refuses to ink that 2 way deal...
He will be Rob Schremp in mind, as well as in body. ;o)
Sorry, "you're". Must've killed that brain cell over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteI would make a line out of Omark, Lander and MPS and put all of them in Oklahoma together. They can talk in their crazy moon language to each other and wear cowboy hats.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the death metal.
ReplyDeleteThat's like putting Bonnie Bramlett and Elvis Costello together.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if The Waffle King's chances of coming over improve at all if Prendergast is canned. He's never sounded too impressed with the guy.
ReplyDeleteI shouldn't say that. He has lauded him heartily on occasion. I just never believed him I suppose.
ReplyDeleteI haven't followed Omark or his NHL status too closely, am I to infer that due to a rule in the CBA he must sign a 2-way contact?
ReplyDeleteOff-topic, but how much do Canadians love hockey? Here's how much:
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/yedz5jt
Omark could be trade bait for someone wanting to cash in on the next Fabian Brunnstrom. Except, who would be that dumb? Can we help Mike Milbury get a gig in tne NHL?
ReplyDeleteIts been referenced already, but I still think that signing Shitikov and nicknaming him "Shitty" is in the best interests of the team. At least for a year or two.
ReplyDeleteA more pertinent question:
ReplyDeleteHas he shown enough in the KHL for us to say there's a high degree of probability that he would be a decent option for the Oilers, i.e. someone who's better than the poorest guys we have now. (Excluding Jacques, who sucks, and Stortini, who's here for toughness.)
Do we have enough evidence to be justified in believing that Omark will be better than any of: Comrie, POS, Nilsson, Cogliano, Potulny, Gagner etc. Eberle? Those guys have his spot right now, so the real question is whether he has a good chance of being better than them.
I'm not sure what the answer is. As a fan, I'd like to see him play just for fun to see what he's got. But from an objective point of view, I don't think his KHL numbers give us a good reason to expect him to be any better than some of the crappy to average-ish guys in the lineup now. IMO, anyway.
Pouliot-Shitikov-Pisani
ReplyDeletekris said...
ReplyDeletePouliot-Shitikov-Pisani
Post of the decade right here although it's subtlety may escape some.
Pouliot-Shitikov
ReplyDeleteMeh, we've got enough duplicate skillsets on the roster already.
Jagr is probaby going to get offers from other clubs around Kovalev money. I'd say a 2 year deal at 4.5-5 million a season. There are enough teams out there with the cap space to go after him. Montreal, LA, Islanders, there are a handful of teams looking for a guy like Jagr to come in and play during their transition years or to spark them to the playoffs next year. He won't take a 2-way deal, it's not very likely.
ReplyDeleteI think we should try to get him on a 1 year deal and then he can bring in some big name prospect at the 2011 deadline.
You missed the subtle part Steve.
ReplyDeletekris said...
ReplyDeletePouliot-Shitikov-Pisani
Post of the decade right here although it's subtlety may escape some. (O t B)
That's some Grade III subtle right there, 'fer sure...
So what we are discussing is how good is this Linus Shoot-out Star, the same Omark who ended up more than 50 goals down the +/- ladder from Thoreson, the guy who wasn't good enough to play here already?
Linemates matter, of course, but c'mon now. If the guy can rack up a million dollar paycheck in the KHL, why would he come here on a 2 way contract with maybe a 50-50 chance of being an NHL player?
My money is on him becoming another Oiler fable like the infamous Traktor-boy. If LT has taught us anything, it is that a lot of things have to line up right for a person to make it in the NHL. If Linus had come over and played a solid year in the AHL this season his odds of eventually becoming an Oiler would be much better. Now he is running headlong into the coke machines and the Eberle/Gagner + smurf brigade, not to mention future franchise pick of Taylor/Tyler.
Too little, too late.
There was a defenseman a long time ago named Jim Niekamp. Nickname? Shitter. Wonder if he played in Russia.
ReplyDeletehttp://lowetide.blogspot.com/2007/09/nicknames.html
'm not sure what the answer is. As a fan, I'd like to see him play just for fun to see what he's got. But from an objective point of view, I don't think his KHL numbers give us a good reason to expect him to be any better than some of the crappy to average-ish guys in the lineup now. IMO, anyway.
ReplyDeleteThis is what I would have said if I was being thoughtful instead of trying for poop jokes.
No way Omark is better than our top tiny troops. If he wants over, he better learn Oklahoman.
5' 9", 168lbs.
ReplyDeleteHe'd be that cute little wide-eyed toddler hobbit. Surrounded by all the regular-sized hobbits.
that is small.
ReplyDeleteI peaked at about 5'7" 160lbs physically. Always makes me chuckle what's considered small in the NHL. Seriously though, those guys are just huge.
ReplyDeletePhil said...5' 9", 168lbs.
ReplyDeleteHe'd be that cute little wide-eyed toddler hobbit. Surrounded by all the regular-sized hobbits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LltEzmtTewg
I think my favourite nickname story was the one about the french guy who was called Smitty:)
ReplyDeleteI think 68 can still be a top six player but I don't know why he'd sign in Edm unless we offer the old Souray Overpay and I think the Oilers are gonna go scorched earth and tank '11 and in that case why spend on Jagr?
He might even be big enough for the Can women's hockey team. Come to think of it, that's the kind of 2-way ticket a guy might sign on for....
ReplyDeleteI think its obvious that a lot of you guys on here have not seen the guy play. That's alright but just know that stats only tell part of the story. I've watched perhaps 10 games this year and have been impressed enough to think that he can do some damage in the NHL.
ReplyDeleteJeff, I don't know if many of us doubt that Linus has the talent to carve a niche in the NHL somewhere, but there has to be the right combination of circumstances for it to happen. As bad as the Oilers are, for example, they are already long on short people.
ReplyDeleteMost indications point to Omark having to go through another town to become an NHL player, if he wants it bad enough.
Huh, we've already got the Scat Line with Poo, Pisser and POS.
ReplyDeleteC'mon, Quinn, just one game together is all I ask.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHe might even be big enough for the Can women's hockey team. Come to think of it, that's the kind of 2-way ticket a guy might sign on for....
ReplyDeleteFree Cigars and Beer at center ice!
Sorry to just Popov here but I've got a bit of a Weinhandl from last night. Got a cold that won't quit and a Shitikov I can't shake. To make matters worse I just picked up my drycleaning and not one of my shirts was Prestunov. No starch used so the collars aren't Krysanov for my liking. I'm like "Harju serious?" I think I'm going to pop a couple of Averin and down a few Jagr's to see if that'll help. Looking forward to the wife's bbq'd Shishkanov's later.
ReplyDeleteSteve: Hilarious Toilet flushing link...
ReplyDelete