Pitlick was injured late in the regular season, but in a conversation I had with PBP man Bob Ridley it sounds like the young man may return if the Tigers make it past the Red Deer Rebels.
Lots of scouting reports have hit the Al Gore since his draft day, and some of the items I've read are a little misleading based on what we were told on draft day.
Here's what Redline said: "Accelerates briskly out of cross-over and blows by defenders. Has an NHL calibre shot right now. Flashed the ability to power through defenders. Can gain separation in corners with sharp twists and can turn on a dime. Patient playmaker. Long-limbed with farmboy like strength. Aggressive and finished checks. Can shield the puck and work it down low, but often gives it up due to his eagerness to come off the wall and attempt to dance around defenders. Work in progress defensively - will come back deep and battle for the puck but lacks awareness in coverage assignments. Green in many facets and was stuck on a Mankato team that was every man for himself, but was a big-time talent."
Pitlick's offense (56gp, 27-35-62) ranked him 3rd among WHL rookies and his EV stats (56gp, 22-19-41) suggest he might be a player. His 22 EV goals rank him 2nd among Tigers during the regular season despite missing several games and playing only sporadically on the big scoring line.
He is a strong candidate for the OKC Barons roster in the fall.
Teubert a healthy scratch in Hamilton tonight. Barons are down 2-0 thru half of the first period.
ReplyDeleteJDD is having a good night 3 goals on 6 shots.
ReplyDeleteI spoke to Pitlick himself in Red Deer on Saturday and he thought he might be ready for a Game 7 if necessary, and was pretty coinfident about being ready for round 3. He got the cast off a little over a week ago now.
ReplyDeleteWow, 4-1 Hamilton.
ReplyDeleteMagic beans and our million dollar AHL goalie both do not look to be helping tonight :(
ReplyDeleteIt's probably because Omark is pouting.
ReplyDeleteI blame LaForge.
ReplyDeleteBig mistake by the Barons to bench Teubert.
ReplyDeleteThat guy was the Kings best defensive prospect and he's can't miss kid and this isn't any way to treat him.
Pitlick was thought of as a 1st round player, picked 31st - the "second round".
ReplyDeleteThat made me think of the upcoming draft, and the buzz, about our pick in play, as Trade bait.
I have a guess ( % ) of that happening.. I am guessing around 25%'ish.. Maybe, but not likely..
Gerber seems to have settled things down but the horse is out of the barn for tonight.
ReplyDeleteThat top line has been quiet and the NHL kids haven't done much so far.
Having said all that, the Habs are up 1-0 and that is the worst item of the night.
Julien's Julienne if they lose the series, no?
Julien's Julienne if they lose the series, no?
ReplyDeleteIf he can get out of TD Garden without getting set on fire first.
not sure what to say about the rumours of the top pick being in play.
ReplyDeletethat wasn't even whispered last year which probably speaks to the value of hall and seguin compared to this year's crop.
LT: I am surprised anytime Ctl Doesn't beat Bos in the playoffs.
Boston looks lazy.
ReplyDeleteGetting beat to every puck, making low percentage break out passes.
And Chara gets away with clearing it over the glass.
That seems like a pretty disrespectful thing to do to Tuebert.
ReplyDeleteKaberle looks pretty pissed to be playing hockey this late into April.
ReplyDeleteAh... Danny Syvret does not belong in the NHL playoffs. That was a lol-worthy moment.
ReplyDeleteI gotta give the Barons credit for sitting the former King property if he was indeed the weakest link.
ReplyDeletethis guy's nowhere good enough to have sense of entitlement so he should take the kick in the ass for what it is.
Man, these playoffs are off to a bad start as AFAIC.
Bolland's out for G2 so that's a kick to the Hawks hopes and Ctl's got the early jump on Bos.
Overall goals are super hard to come by league-wide.
How are you guys following the Barons game?
ReplyDeleteBuffalo wins G1. It's going to be a long, hockey filled spring.
ReplyDeleteIf spring ever arrives.
Pitlick doesn't impress me as much as most folk. He seems destined for the Raffi Torres type of player. Relied heavily on the PP for his points this year and had two very good offensive players (Vey, Etem) to hide behind.
ReplyDeleteI like Hamilton and Marincin more out of the 2010 second round than the kid who gave up on a college education after 8 months.
"...his EV stats (56gp, 22-19-41) suggest he might be a player. His 22 EV goals rank him 2nd among Tigers during the regular season despite missing several games and playing only sporadically on the big scoring line."
ReplyDeleteLT / Dorito...which of you is talking out his ass? ;-)
Heatley can go fuck himself.
ReplyDeleteI can be counted among those that have never been overly excited about Pitlick. I can see why others like him and I certainly hope he pans out, but his offensive totals have only been OK to date.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that we need a few seasons of pro experience before we can get a good view of a prospect's offensive however. Hopefully the ELC is a sign that he'll be heading to OKC next season.
I read a lot of PP points through my boxscore amalgamations.
ReplyDeleteGuess I'm going back to re-check those then.
If the 31st overall pick produces a Raffi Torres without the Raffi Torres issues, I'm satisfied.
ReplyDeleteMy counts have him at 4-14-18, not including Sept/Oct (I wasn't keeping ST stats yet), so I guess I could have been over-exaggerating.
ReplyDeleteDorito: No worries, I was just too lazy to look it up myself.
ReplyDeleteThe decision to scratch Teubert tonight is curious after all the organizational talk about how important it is for young players to experience playoff intensity as part of their development. Strange.
Even if he was the "weak link", and from a lot of the stuff I've read he clearly wasn't, you'd still think it would be beneficial to toss him. Suss the kid out.
Injury?
Just came on to post something similar Dennis. Coming off the worst regular season since the lockout with respect to entertainment the NHL delivers this batch of opening night shit. I nearly left the game during the last dead puck era and I won't make it through another. 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 2-1 (OT).
ReplyDeleteTotal number of goals scored by the losing teams through 8 games?
4.
All sorts of factors but the one that gets me is the number of blocked shots from players just standing in the way. Defensemen have so much gear so it just doesn't hurt anymore. Bob Gainey tried to point this out a few years ago but got laughed at.
My solution would be to increase the size of the nets in height and width so that goaltenders actually have to move to make a save. If they can't cover the entire net those shots from the point that do get through will score because the goalies won't be able to see them. The result will be that defensemen will be asked to get out of the way and let the goalie do his job.
Well, without intending to rake any muck, "having some asshole" wasn't exactly the sort of issue to which I was alluding.
ReplyDeleteAlthough obviously you want players who play clean, too.
I think Steve meant cocaine. But I'm only guessing.
ReplyDeleteknighttown:
ReplyDeleteLove your suggestion, if only because it'd rid the NHL of Roberto Luongo
I would be a lot more excited about Pitlick if he was playing pivot all the time.
ReplyDeleteMonths ago I'd hope that either Lander or Pitlick would develop into the top nine faceoff winning and PK acing pivot that we sorely need and can't see to acquire or develop.
then I learn Pitlick's playing wing in the WHL.
Don't get me wrong, he seems to have a little bit of an edge ot him and he's got good size so we could use that on the wing as well.
but I want him tried as a pivot first.
KT: I usually watch a lot of Pens games this time of year because I used to really love Malkin and I really like Crosby. That's an an option anymore so I figured I would follow Chi.
all kids of shutouts and low scoring games and it's pulling on my enthusiasm needle to say the least.
OTOH, it's super easy to bet on:)
-125 tonight for the under on 5.5 in Philly. That was a slam fucking dunk.
Speaking of issues;
ReplyDeleteOne of the Sam Gagner comps ran into some legal trouble today.
Moore: way to just obliterate my carefully constructed discretion.
ReplyDelete*Moose
ReplyDeleteBah - exams are making me sargly.
Kyle Wellwood just fell and the SJ ice didn't crack.
ReplyDeleteGuess the Bay area got our ice plant.
dorito's right, he had 21 points on the PP but only 5 goals. So I'm also right in that 22 of his goals were scored at evs.
ReplyDeleteLike dorito, I like Marincin and Hamilton more than Pitlick, but it's too early to tell.
SS -
ReplyDeleteIt was either cocaine or extremely poor taste in facial hair. I had a 50-50 shot.
Mmmmm. Stoll with the sweet chin music.
ReplyDeleteThat's a concussion.
How sick would it have been if we had drafted Toffoli, Marincin and Hamilton in the 2nd round last year?
ReplyDeleteMy guess on the ''dead puck'' thing is that it's a coincidence. Don't believe it will happen too much.
ReplyDeleteAs for the too much padding it doesn't hurt anymore that's the biggest load of bullshit i've ever heard.
3 Habs went down just this game on blocked shots. It's normal guys get more padding, the shots are harder.
If Pitlick becomes a Raffi Torres, I'd say that's a pretty good 2nd round pick.
ReplyDeleteI like the comparison because I definitely don't see Pitlick playing at center in the NHL, or even the AHL if/when he gets there. He's definitely a RW in my opinion.
As for next year, I'd personally wouldn't mind him playing another year in MH, but his offseason and training camp will decide that. If he's ready to turn pro, then it's great that he's eligible. If not, then there's really no sense rushing him.
I remember when Pitlick was drafted, there was a top ten list of draftees who were most nhl ready and he was on it. Looking back I guess the list was way off.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Pitlick's upside is anything like James Neal? Big power winger with a heavy shot?
ReplyDeletethat fill a gaping hole, big winger who can score
Has anyone actually looked into Pitlick's AHL eligibility for next year?
ReplyDeleteI don't know the ruling, but surely MH would fight to have him back. This doesn't seem the same kind of scenario where Rajala was able to walk away from Brandon this year, what with his military commitment.
I see this playing out in the media exactly like Brule's waiver status did a couple year back. No one had a fucking clue.
Dustin Penner 0 0 0 -2 1 shot
ReplyDeleteIf LA had more healthy bodies Penner could be a scratch.
Anyone bitching about the Penner return now?
ReplyDeleteMaybe we can trade back LA's third rounder in 2012 for him.
ReplyDeleteNot very surprised that Teubert was scratched for this playoff game. I went to the last reg OKC game of the year Sunday. Wasn't much of a game, but Teubert and Gerber had a tough time. Teubert screened Gerber twice for goals with little pressure in front and got caught up ice for a 3-1 when shorthanded. On the other hand he was very generous with crosschecks and was very aggressive blocking shots. Marincin was surprisingly low event. Marc Arcobello (who I never heard of) had a terrific game. Very small, but the puck found him in soft ice over and over. Sort of like Jordan Eberle, but better skater and smaller body.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone actually looked into Pitlick's AHL eligibility for next year?
ReplyDeleteWddoguy from the previous thread:
As per capgeek:
If a player aged 18 or 19 signs an entry-level contract with a club (with his age calculated on Sept. 15 of the year he signed the contract) but does not play in at least 10 NHL games, the contract will "slide" or be extended one year. The extension does not apply if the player turns 20 between Sept. 16 and Dec. 31 in the year he signed the contract.
Depending on the contract's structure, the player's cap hit can be affected either by an increase or a decrease. Players who sign at age 18 can have their contract extended (or "slide") two seasons.
CBA reference: Section 9.1 (d) (P. 23-24)
Pitlik turns 20 on Nov 1, so his ELC will start ticking 11/12 regardless of where he plays.
Now "ELC starts ticking" isn't the same as "eligible for the AHL", but I can't believe that the CBA would include a provision whereby the ELC would start for a player who wasn't AHL-eligible.
Looks like Zach Stortini didn't play tonight either. Not happy about that. He played centre last week.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIf LA had more healthy bodies Penner could be a scratch.
ReplyDeleteNo kidding.
You would have thought that Lombardi would be familiar with how Carlyle had to bench him in the playoffs in Anaheim.
When I saw the trade at the deadline I wondered why LA paid so much for him when St Louis gave up Brad Boyes for a 2nd rounder - same age, same contract, similar performance.
I guess it's the George Laraque illusion applied to a slightly above average hockey player: "He's big! And he looks good when he actually shows up once in a while. And he's BIG!".
Actually some benching and public criticisms from the coach may help L.A.'s cause for next season. It seems like the MacT way is the only method to get this guy to shape up in the summer and come back to play some decent hockey.
Add to the fact that it's his contract year, maybe he'll show up to play.
Maybe.
Dorito, Pitlick came from the NCAA so he's eligible for the AHL anytime the Oilers want him there. Similarly Marincin came from overseas so he is also AHL eligible.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Penner return, just because he's struggling now in LA, and keep in mind the entire team is struggling especially with Kopitar out, doesn't mean he isn't a quality player. He'll bounce back next year to his norm. Part of me hopes he sucks next year though, and the Oilers can resign him at a bargain price.
From the line stats, Stoll a junk yard dog in the dot tonight; Penner "Putting on the Ritz" as SpongeBob Coke Machine.
ReplyDeleteThe MacT/OTC bad cop/good cop 20-20 is tilting to the left again.
Uni is right.
ReplyDeleteNot 100% about the exact rule, but I think that since Marincin and Pitlik were not drafted into the CHL as 15 year olds, the AHL rule doesn't apply to them.
As a 20 year old next year I'd like to see Pitlik play in the AHL. No use keeping him in a lower league if he's physically ready for the next step.
If Marincin's is mature mentally he should go to the AHL too, if not then another year with the Cougars.
As for the Penner return, just because he's struggling now in LA, and keep in mind the entire team is struggling especially with Kopitar out, doesn't mean he isn't a quality player.
ReplyDeleteI'd give you that if he wasn't playing on the 4th line. If he stinks it up in the playoffs its going to reduce his value quite a bit. Razor was just ripping him last night.
He is a quality player though. But he definitely needs to be in a comfort zone. LA's tough love policy is unlikely to be successful - as MacT found out.
Sitting Tuebert doesn't seem like a big deal. The Barons dressed their 6 oldest and experienced defencemen.
ReplyDeletePenner's a quality player. He isn't playing well currently but last night was the first sign of life from a bunch of their veteran forwards since the Kopitar injury.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe Penner's the problem. Having said that, I really don't understand the Teubert anger. Buddy was a HS last night, pretty much all of these guys have been in the same boat throughout the season. It's not unheard of in the AHL, teams often carry too many players at a specific position.
Now if he doesn't play AT ALL during the post-season then we're certain he's the 7th guy. However, my guess is they include someone out on Saturday and put Teubert back in.
Plante or Montgomery would be candidates imo.
That's a tough decision to make, since Montgomery has been lights out as the primary shutdown man, and Plante has been keeping pace since paired with him from all accounts. It's just a case of too many defencemen at the same level, great for depth though.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of the posts here were faux ire though, mocking Tambellini for getting the 7th best defensive prospect out of LA instead of something in their top 5 at the very least. I heartily approve of the derision.
Stoll killing White bodes badly for White and the Kings. San Jose just lost a top 4 defenceman, and LA is going to lose arguably their best healthy centre to suspension.
Scratch that, apparently Plante was paired with Petry last night, and looked lost.
ReplyDeleteTuebert in for Plante wouldn't surprise me.
All 1991 birthdates are eligible for the AHL next season, regardless of where they were drafted out of or played last season. Honestly, I'm not sure where the confusion is coming from, as the AHL eligibility rules haven't changed in a long time.
ReplyDeleteLT, I agree, Penner is a quality player and I have said that all along despite my thinking the return on the trade was fine. I am surprised to see him struggling to put up points on the Kings. If the Kings somehow manage to stick around for a bit, I suspect Penner will break out.
ReplyDeleteBackside recovery for goaltenders is the single biggest reason why scoring is down again.
ReplyDeleteGoals that were once scored off rebounds and passes across are drying up. Blocked shots are also affecting scoring totals.
I'm not sure if having bigger nets is the answer but they certainly can trim goalie equipment even more than they have. Pads used to come just above the knee. There's no reason to have them come all the way up to the groin.
fpv: yes fear of injury would affect whether or not people dive in front of pucks. If goalie pads were cut just above the knee you would see less butterfly and more of the bottom of the net open to shooters.
When I was a kid the stat went something like 90% of all goals were scored along the ice. I don't think there was an actual study done but those goals have dried up completely.
It used to be that you had to be a little nuts to be a goalie.
I'm under the belief/impression that CHL euro imports are only subject to CHL rules if a CHL team drafted them before an NHL team.
ReplyDeleteSo Marincin and Rajala can go where their NHL teams want them to and players like Stransky (on Stoon) are subject to CHL rules as he's draft eligible this year for the NHL.
The way people talk about Pitlick reminds me of the way people used to talk about Stoll in the sense that everyone says "he is going to be a pro". Lets hope the reports are bangon.
ReplyDeleteSmarmy nailed it assuming this blogger is right.
ReplyDeleteIf this link is right, here are the rules (its a private agreement between the CHL and NHL, so unlike the CBA you can't read the document for yourself)
Here is the main text for those who are link adverse:
There's a good bit of confusion about the rules surrounding junior players because they're not in the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, something everyone can access. The rules are in a private agreement between the NHL and CHL (Canadian Hockey League, made up of the QMJHL, OHL and WHL). A lot of people think the AHL has a rule that someone has to be 20 to play there. Common misconception. It's not a rule made by the AHL. If it were up to them, they would take everyone over 18. Officially that's the AHL's policy in fact.
The NHL/CHL agreement states that a player with junior eligibility signed by an NHL team must be returned to his junior team if he's not playing in the NHL. It's part of a deal that provides CHL money for players produced (sort of like the IIHF agreement between the NHL and European countries). The NHL agrees to send the teenagers back because CHL needs these players - its top players -- to make money. If the CHL didn't make money, they couldn't produce players. You scratch my back, I scratch yours.
Specifically, the rule says that if a player played in junior before they were drafted by the NHL, then they have to either be 20 years old by Dec. 31 OR have played four years of junior in order to play in the minors . That second condition rarely comes into effect. It would only apply to players who began in the CHL at age 15.
Players who are not drafted from the CHL, like NCAA and European players, aren't held to these rules. Players who were drafted out of Europe and then play in the CHL later, can play in the minors under the age of 20. European players drafted out of the CHL are held to it. Nationality is not part of the equation -- it's where you were drafted from (which league developed you).
Penner was slow to get going with the Oilers when he arrived (OK really slow)
ReplyDeleteHe seems like a guy who needs the right Feng shui to get his game going.
Why is there so little Edmonton MSM coverage of the OKC team?
The run in to the playoffs was gripping.As Oiler fans we have seen most of the guys up with the big club.
We get baseball scores from games that are beyond meaningless and yet we hear nothing about the barons?
It used to be that you had to be a little nuts to be a goalie.
ReplyDeleteUntil the girle man Jacques Plante came along. From there it was just a short leap to Manon Rheaume.
Until the girle man Jacques Plante came along. From there it was just a short leap to Manon Rheaume.
ReplyDeleteBesides being easier on the eyes, she'd probably be better in goal than Khabibulin.
Playing with out a mask was more insane then nuts.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a goalie it was more of the "being nuts" variety. Slappers off the thigh or chest/shoulder area left bruises.
Stoll gets a game suspension
ReplyDeleteDoing his part to get the Oilers a better pick.
ReplyDeleteIf I understand the NHL draft system correctly (and there's a good chance I don't), LA's pick is currently 19th, but if any of Chicago, NYR, Buffalo or Montreal make the Conference Finals it rises a spot, and if two or three of them do it would rise two or three spots. If on the other hand LA make the Conference Finals then the pick falls to 27th.
commifin:the end of the Cold War en francais
I'm not concerned that Teubert was a HS last night; I just don't like the return and the trade based on what we know about the player and the fact it seems he might be an arsehole; and not the good kind of arsehole who's only one on the ice.
ReplyDeleteI had lots of reason to dislike the return way before last night.
As for Penner, I don't care how he's doing with the Kings inasmuch as knowing what he did for the Oil and knowing they dealt him without exploring if he'd like to stay around.
That and the return therein is my problem.
If they can turn that Kings 1st rounder into something real then I'm wrong.
but if they don't then I'm not because I could see what old 27 did for the Oilers.
...and knowing they dealt him without exploring if he'd like to stay around.
ReplyDeleteHow do you know this?
I don't particularly care about anything to do with the Oilers.
ReplyDeleteIs there any reason I should care?
Like, I know they have the 1st pick lol, but so what about it? it's not like they are going to fuck that up, unless they manage to.
ReplyDeleteAnd if/when they do, so what? they're going to blow next year, and the year after that, so lots of nice picks to look forward to.
*Tambo fanboy*
Anyone can rightfully be unhappy with the return on Penner. It makes the franchise weaker, and takes a step or two backwards, which are never easy to swallow.
ReplyDeleteThe things you can't assume with any level of authority, is that there were better offers out there, that they didn't ask for different players but were rebuffed, or that Penner was willing to stay in Edmonton without testing UFA.
Management hasn't earned any benefit of the doubt, so its easy as an Oiler fan to guess that they flubbed this, and possibly be correct.
But you're probably wrong too.
On a lighter note, my lady just ordered me a oldschool 99 Campbell Conference allstar jersey for my upcoming birthday.
ReplyDeletelife isn't all bad.
Anyone on the Roloson bandwagon for the cup run? He earned his ring back in 06. Time for the hockey gods to pay up.
ReplyDeletedanny: you either makes every excuse or you don't.
ReplyDeleteI don't.
you do.
Newfoundlander fight!
ReplyDeletedennis, that might be the easy conclusion, but im confident, after many years of conversing with you guys, that im easily persuaded by truth. Im not easily persuaded by propoganda,
ReplyDeleteI love things that prove me wrong and teach me new stuff. Your take of a lot of things simple doesnt do that, so Im left with it being your opinion on the matter.
If you want to rack it up as my intelligence, then so be it. I dont even care enough to argue. Cheers.
Danny, when interviewed right after the trade Penner said he was disappointed. He also specifically stated that no one had at any time bothered to ask him if he wanted to stay, ever. He also said he might have been open to staying buy it was a moot point now.
ReplyDeleteNow Penner could be lying, but I don't see a reason why he would, and no one in the organization contradicted him. It was a trade for a trade's sake, and someone was going be moved, that seems pretty obvious.
Also you remember the Stu's "You don't need to make a trade" falling on deaf ears? I don't always agree with him, but this time Dennis's narrative looks to be the most probable.
Thanks, uni. I think I missed that Penner interview. I still think there's too many things we don't know that could imply that Penner was not going to stay, though. Perhaps the truth will reveal itself in time. Lowe does usually end up blabbing to someone eventually.
ReplyDelete