Kostka is a very interesting player because of his skill set and the numbers he posted in the American Hockey League. He's also interesting in that the NHL team Kostka players for (Florida Panthers) has more depth than the Edmonton Oilers.
In this way, Kostka represents a possible "gem" via the waiver wire.
The Florida Panthers aren't the 75 Habs on the blueline, but the team does have plenty of experience and high draft picks:
- Edi Jovanoski
- Brian Campbell
- Mike Weaver
- Jason Garrison
- Dmitri Kulikov
- Keaton Ellerby
- Erik Gudbranson
KOSTKA RESUME
- Has good size for NHL blue (6.02, 210)
- Can move the puck well and has improved in the AHL (fewer mistakes, good reads) during his 236 regular season games at that level.
- Is young enough (25) to help a team after growing into a role in the NHL (should he prove able to do it).
- He appears to have turned the corner. Panthers coach Kevin Dineen: "He's just found a level of stability. He's a little older, a college guy who's been in the pros for three years. His intelligence has been a strong point. He's got patience with the puck, so he's done a good job in training camp and has earned a longer look." Source is here.
- He finished 3rd in AHL points among defensemen a year ago (54) and led the league in goals by a defender (16).
- He finished in a tie for 16th for PP goals (11) last season in the AHL. His 20 PP assists also tied him for 16th in that category
- He shot the puck 199 times last year in the AHL. That total ranked him 2nd in the AHL among defensemen.
He is absolutely better than Chorney and likely better than Potter. I think he is precisely the type of player v3.1 should be watching for and (hopefully) picking up.
ReplyDeleteHe's totally better then Chorney.
ReplyDeleteWe need him and another gem to boot.
Give us a d-man Steve, LT's dying here!
Not trying to play devil's advocate here LT but do you really see a D corps with:
ReplyDeleteBrian Campbell
Dmitry Kulikov
Ed Jovanovski
Jason Garrison
Keaton Ellerby
Erik Gudbranson*
Mike Weaver
as being a step over the Oilers with 4 of the top 6 having a total of 329 games played? With Whitney and Schmeebs in the lineup I'd take the Oilers top 6 hands down.
Plus if a guy can't crack THAT lineup what's he really going to bring here. I don't see much more there than we already have with Potter...who I've been quite pleasantly surprised by.
Toss in the fact that we are so amazingly gifted at forward that our D is seldom going to have to handle the puck. Har. Possession is 9/10th's of the law.
poweatif....reading back to front something a Canadian might say to a buff Italian
Kind of hard to get really excited about the new season when we know our GM isn't going to do jack until the trade deadline...
ReplyDeleteixnay on the efenceday on aiversway.
ReplyDeleteHave you even heard about how deep this years draft is? Com'n, get with the plan.
His big jump in shot total indicates to me that he went from non-PP to PP last season.
ReplyDeleteI don't know. My line in the sand is Potter not Chorney. I suspect he's similar to Potter without the NHL games.
Whitney
Gilbert
Smid*
Petry
Sutton
Barker
Peckham
Potter
*injured
These are our top 7 Dmen, right? So wouldn't the pickup have to be Potter worthy at least? And even he is going down when Smid returns?
spOILer: I think we're looking at things from the opposite side. I'm thinking this is an ideal time to add a player, who has a decent number of games (I'll guess 5) to impress before people get healthy.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that's your viwepoint, which is cool. But there's a chance to add talent here, and maybe grab a useful player.
I don't know that Kostka is anything, maybe he can't skate or has tourettes.
But maybe he can play. I don't think there's any harm in bringing him in.
Wouldn't you rather give Potter that opportunity? I think he's earned it. And I think it says something to his teammates if one doesn't.
ReplyDeleteI do work at the same place as Ellerby's mom, and by all accounts he is a decent kid, and it would be lovely to shake him lose from FLA's tree. But that ain't gonna happen, so I think Kostka is a decent consolation prize. Frankly, anything is better than an AHL call-up at this point.
ReplyDeleteI think Potter gets the opprtunity no matter what. Whitney hasn't played a game in months and Smid is hurt. I can't imagine either of those guys are going to be available for the first few games at least.
ReplyDeleteSo the top 7 is more likely:
1. Gilbert
2. Petry
3. Sutton
4. Barker
5. Peckham
6. Potter
7. Teubert
I'm taking Kostka.
How do you figure Potter is out, if there is a waiver pick-up? Is there confirmation that Whitney will actually play opening night? (I ask, b/c I've been too swamped to even think about looking)
ReplyDeleteCabbie: garrison and weaver were two of the 18 dmen who faced tough comp, with weak teamates and killed them in GA.
ReplyDeletethey were the #1 shutdown pair in the league.
tough compPair
Weaver-Garrison
your second pair is
Campbell-jovinovski
and third pair is
Kulikov-Ellerby
If your not quite good enough to be Kulikov-elerby then there is a good chance you are 2nd pair on oilers.
well, i sure hope they pick someone up, the more depth at D the better, right?
ReplyDeletenot sure how that might affect our 50 contract limit though..?
What about McCabe? Some rumors out there are suggesting he might getting some offers from the Oilers, would it be worth it?
He is better then Chorney. He is what we hope Chorney becomes in 2 or 3 years. Potter is going to start the year here for sure. SMid isn't going to play for at least a month, so we need someone. Oklahoma coach was on Stauffer today saying they only have 6 dmen and have to make a minor league trade or hope we send someone down So we send down Chorney (who will clear waivers) and pick up Kostka to be our 6/7 dman. Whoever plays better between him and Potter stays up when Smid comes back. Chorney plays top pairing minutes and improves, instead of being our pressbox dman (which will not help his development).
ReplyDeleteIt helps our depth and gives us a chance to see if we pick up a diamond in the rough. Give him a shot, and if it doesn't work out or Potter clearly outplays him then he is waived again when Smid is back. No real risk here.
The Oilers have one contract left. You have to be damn certain you know what you are doing when you use it.
ReplyDeleteThus, it would make more sense to try trading for him, with one contract out for one contract in.
The mistake Tambellini made was during the off-season, not getting a more reliable and proven guy defensively than Barker.
The problem is that Barker isn't a sure safe thing. The OIlers needed a sure safe veteran addition at defense. Betting on a rehab project was extremely poor judgement.
Kulikov's probably up top with Ed.
ReplyDeleteWeaver and Garrison will probably be relayed to 6/7 at the end of the year.
Personally, I would look at Montreal. Between Markov, Subban, Gill, Gorges, Spacek, Campoli, Diaz, Weber, Yemelin and Woywitka, someone decent should be available soon.
ReplyDeleteWhen assessing Florida's defense, you folks are forgetting about Gudbranson.
ReplyDeleteGoing to be a stud.
QCoilers said...
ReplyDeletePersonally, I would look at Montreal. Between Markov, Subban, Gill, Gorges, Spacek, Campoli, Diaz, Weber, Yemelin and Woywitka, someone decent should be available soon.
Both Markov and Gorges are on IR.
I'm not sure how we can demand a waiver pickup when we know little about the injuries. It makes even less sense to burn a contract spot if the time frame is 1-2 weeks. We don't know enough about either Whitney or Smid.
ReplyDeleteBased on the bunch of "ifs" though, Kostka is someone to consider, while also considering the opportunity cost of missing any other future waived players (of course, that would require having a pro-scouting department).
But this option is by no means the clear-cut right move right now.
DSF: Both of 'em will come off 2 weeks max.
ReplyDeleteIn fact only Markov is on IR.
ReplyDeleteThe other 2 are Eller and White.
27 players still at camp.
One will be cut soon.
Woywitka is probably the one who will get cut. He's an interesting option, since he did manage to play 63 games (17:56 toi/g) for Dallas last year.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I would target Weber. He's still pretty young, had a couple of strong years in the AHL and was decent in last year's playoff. He's probably 8th or 9th on their depth chart, so he shouldn't be that hard to get.
Tambellini is delusional:
ReplyDelete"We do have lots of forwards and we’re banged up a bit on the back-end, at least on the short-term,” said Tambellini. “I’ve had discussions with other general managers but nothing that makes sense now. Our depth (defence) when healthy is pretty good. We could use a top three defenceman in a trade. But is that going to happen? I don’t see that.”
News Summary: Huberdeau sent back to the Sea Dogs today. El Nino on the IR. Scheifele signed. Brunnstrom signed by the Wings... to a 2 way, lol.
ReplyDeleteHad Justin Braun needed waivers yesterday, he's a guy I would've taken.
I don't like Yemelin or Weber; they need time in the AHL. Weber's played in the Swiss League his whole life. He doesn't need his small frame tested in the NHL. I can't justify giving my last contract spot up for that, whether we can get them down to the A or not.
If Detroit could cash a base runner every now and then, I'd sure appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteSpoiler:
ReplyDeleteThe hell you talking about?
Weber played for Kitchener.
Emelin was 5th in KHL D-men scoring and 1st in Goals.
Certainly better than Oilers' bullshit.
Shit sorry, meant Diaz not Weber. Although I' sure that would been obcious to you. FPB.
ReplyDeleteYemelin has had one good year in the K. The rest were utter shite. Doubling his goal total from his previous 155 games combined. I'd be very wary and want to see some shooting percentage and PDO, before tieing my last contract to that wagon. Unbelievable difference in stats year over year.
Spoiler: aren't you talking about Rafael Diaz, and not Weber?
ReplyDeleteNice post by the way FPB. I see we have another season of gallic arrogance and trash talk ahead of us. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteSpoiler: Anyway. Aren't we wasting contracts with guys like Hordichuk anyway?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there's a dope in the AHL we can let go.
Johan. Motin.
ReplyDeleteword ver: drylisc. What wakes up Bryan Murray in the middle of the night.
LT: Not even sure he's in the AHL.
ReplyDeleteFPB...
ReplyDelete...none of the 49 contracts don't expire till next summer.
If you want to get rid of a contract you have to trade one, or send Nugent-Hopkins, Pitlick, or Hamilton back to junior, or wait till next summer.
Godot: Can't you buy'em out/trade/loan?
ReplyDeleteDSF:
ReplyDeleteHe's delusional in a way, and right in a way.
I mean... we have 5 #5 D's sitting around here. In a way, sure, that's great depth.
The problem is we only have 2.5 top 4 D's sitting here, and that's being generous to Smid.
We could have a ton of injury to our 5-6-7 D and not miss a beat.
Any injury to anyone in the top 4 and we're fucked though.
.... oh, Whitney and Smid are out and we only have one top 4 left? Shit.
If you pick up a player off waivers don't the rules say you have to keep him on the roster for a certian amount of time, otherwise he goes back to the original team?
ReplyDeleteI think that's why picking up someone less then Potter puts Potter in a bad spot.
Someone tell me if I'm wrong on this.
jj - if you try to send him to the AHL at any point during the year, he can be claimed back by the team you took him from who can then keep him in the NHL or return him to the AHL (again passing through the rest of the teams via waivers), he also is then open to the rest of the league in terms of a waiver claim if his own team does not claim him.
ReplyDeletegodot10:
ReplyDeleteYou might be able to gain a contract spot by recalling Brule and hope someone picks him up at half price?
If you're going to claim a defenceman off of waivers I think that the only time it makes sense is to poach a "pretty close" prospect from a team that's deep at the position.
ReplyDeleteFor example, L.A. poached Kyle Quincey from the Wings a few years ago.
They won't get a dman, even a waiver guy. The Barker and Sutton acquisitions raise this question: Are two #1 draft picks enough for Kevin Katzbellini?
ReplyDeleteDoubt it.
Everybody knows the Arenmonton Oilers have to wait til' the monopoly is secure. 2 more years of Khabi! Maybe two more #1 draft picks til' it's built!
word ver: lanshers- lashes Lander gets when he tries to win.
I think PDO's summary is dead on, maybe the best I've seen, but i don't surf the Oilogosphere that widely.
ReplyDeleteI don't see the point of adding another bottom end guy. The problem fron July 1 (and before) is a top 3 Dman, just as Tambellini has said in two separate interviews. They would love to add to the D too, and they know where they should add. The waiver wire is only the answer on the margin, unless it's a true talent that a wealth can't protect. We are nowhere near that point of marginal differences yet.
FPB said...
ReplyDeleteSpoiler: Anyway. Aren't we wasting contracts with guys like Hordichuk anyway?
Doesn't matter if the Oil are unwilling, or cannot, divest themselves of that contract. In Hordichuk's case, I see them as unwilling to give up a whole season of an enforcer they signed as a free agent over two weeks of bottom 6 defensive help.
Spoiler: Yeah manner of speaking.
ReplyDeleteAs said earlier Johan Motin is probably not really precious anymore.
Dregger was on the TEAM 1260 this morning, reporting that Toronto and Edmonton are talking. Apparently Franson is looking to start the season in the pressbox, and the Leafs are still looking to improve their top 6 depth.
ReplyDeleteBy the sounds of things, Schenn and Gunnarson are off the table, and Gardiner is highly regarded by the org. Which basically leaves Sloppy-seconds, Liles, Komisarek and Franson for NHL-level D.
Anyone interest you on that list? What would you give up?
Jordan:
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they might be talking about something like Franson for Omark?
Similar ages, contracts, both RFA's next summer?
I would be completely interested in Komisarek if he didn't have a high contract.. or more importantly a longer one.
ReplyDeleteI've always swayed towards that kind of d-man... the banging, stay-at-home type. I think we could use his toughness in front of our goaltender. He shoots right. He gets a bit of a bum rap with the Leafs. He had great seasons in Montreal, for the type of player he is.
Too bad about the contract though. Unless we were moving out one of our less desireable contracts, everything I said is all moot, because $4.5M/yr until 2013/14 isn't a good idea.
I have moderate interest in Franson.. good PP skills, but I think we really need a player who excels at defense.
Tom Gilbert had a great quote recently that I loved hearing from him.. something to the tune of: our forwards are very skilled, I just need to get them the puck and focus on defense. I was kind of floored to hear something like that from him. I'll leave it at that though so it doesn't turn into a Gilbert debate.
BTW, my post was directed to Jordan who mentioned the T.O. players available.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the OP, I don't know anything about this d-man. So far he seems to scream stay away due to what seems to be a career NHLer... and I'm not sure I'd say he has the skill set we really need. But, again, I don't know enough about him.. just what I've read out there since seeing this post.
He's a right shot. I would grab him if:
ReplyDeleteA) it didn't cause problems with Florida
B) it doesn't put us at 50 contracts.
C) He can skate
What's to lose otherwise with a skilled big right shooter?
Tencer tweets:
ReplyDeleteFrom: @dantencer
Sent: Oct 5, 2011 10:11a
Powerplay units today: Hall-Nugent-Hopkins-Hemsky + Omark-Smyth-Eberle. Horcoff and Belanger, Petrell and Jones doing the PK..
I like the looks of those ST personel (except Jones af course)
Sad to see PRV not have a home on a special team.
There has been a lot of talk about fliping Hemsky or Omark for a D-man. I don't like the value of moving either for Komi, because of contract and his overall effectiveness over the last few years. He's a more expensive Sutton. Pass.
ReplyDeleteI don't see Franson as enough of an upgrade for what this team needs right now (top 4 D). I would try to make a move for Gunnersen. I really like Omark, and would be loathe to move him, but would consider it for a stright up trade. I would also look at moving Hemsky for Gunnersen and a Pick in the upcoming draft (3rd?).
If the Price for Gunnersen was Gagner, how much more would you want to pull the trigger?
Powerplay units today: Hall-Nugent-Hopkins-Hemsky + Omark-Smyth-Eberle. Horcoff and Belanger, Petrell and Jones doing the PK..
ReplyDeletewhich unit outscores the other. 2 of the first we are going to here alot of Shoot from the Crowd.
MTL pick up Betts and put Woywitka on waivers.
ReplyDeletePP options look good. I believe the Omark line will outscore the other one.
ReplyDeleteOne good thing is no Horcoff on the PP (Smyth can take those draws). Although that will change if none of them can win a faceoff.
As for the MPS thing, I expect he'll be on the point with Potter, and the other pairing will be Gilbert and Barker
Both Chorney and Whitney practicing in full contact drills today.
ReplyDeleteEager still wearing red.
3rd day in a row for lines:
4-93-83
94-20-14
91-10-23
37-57-28
Probably your opening night lines.
All as per @NHL_Oilers twitter feed.
DBO,
ReplyDeleteGood point about 91 as PP D.
They tried him there a few times last season and also in this pre-season.
Would Woywitka be a top 4 dman in Edmonton? With Whitney and Smid out, he has to be better than Gilbert-Petry-Barker-Sutton. Probably.
ReplyDeleteWith Smid or Whitney back, is Woywitka still a top 4? Maybe.
There has been a few articles out about Sutton being under-rated and more effective than people think over the last couple of seasons.
ReplyDeleteBased on his pre-season play (limited as it has been) I think he might be a reasonable 4D once whitney is healthy, let alone now that he's injured.
Is he better than Barker? That's a tough call.
I don't think Woywitka has ever been anything than 3rd pair in the NHL.
ReplyDeleteWith Chorney and Whitney practicing with full contact, I expect no waiver pick up.
Chorney was reported to have stretched scar tissue and not re-injured the knee.
Woywitka should absolutely not be a consideration for this team, no.
ReplyDeleteIsn't there a trade market for Jones right now? Couldn't you flip him and maybe a prospect for a #3 or 4? That would help and we have replacements at the ready.
ReplyDeleteJones as a trade...
ReplyDeleteI've always been one to not want to trade away a player like this... but I think I'm coming around to the idea of "sell high".
However, there is a plus in that he is a superb team guy that actually can play decent hockey. He can score goals when our top lines are struggling.
We're all anxious to bring in every single rookie we have though, so I'll caution against that idea. Having some vets in there to shoulder the burden isn't so bad. Plus it helps with team chemistry when you have a guy like him in the dressing room. And again, unlike other "great locker room guys" we've had, he can play a solid enough game to hang on to him.
But I must admit, I'm tempted to want to sell high here too...
Racki:
ReplyDeleteWhat are you talking about? We traded Comire for him. I can only assume he must be better than Perry.
I would be completely interested in Komisarek if he didn't have a high contract.. or more importantly a longer one.
ReplyDeleteRel Corsi says he was TOR worst D man last season (-6.6).
He is crappy and expensive.
I would be completely interested in Komisarek if he didn't have a high contract.. or more importantly a longer one.
ReplyDeleteRel Corsi says he was TOR worst D man last season (-6.6).
He is crappy and expensive.
But other than that he's got a lot going for him.
he was TOR worst D man last season
ReplyDeleteyes he was!
Aulie was toronto's best for the 40 games he played:
he faced the 25th toughest situation in the league was one of 18 tough situation dmen better than league average and ranked 12th for tough comp guys right around Doughty, Staal, Yandle, Whitney.
TOR sent him to the marlies this year?
I would love this guy on our team.
Commonfan14: not to mention he was the centerpiece in us acquiring Chris Pronger, of course. :P
ReplyDeleteRich: Hope you're sarcastic.
ReplyDeleteKomisarek is a guy who lived on being paired with Andrei Markov, and can't make a pass to save his life.
Sure he'l get the puck back, but he'l give it away as soon as he got it.
I tought Woywitka played very well in the preseason. The dices were rolled before TC.
If the oil can pick him up, go. If you go overdrive with the contracts you can waive him again.
@flamingpavelbure:
ReplyDeleteAm being extremely sarcastic. Ever since it was floated I've been against Komisarek.
Probably more from a term remaining and dollars perspective more than anything. His contract will be a millstone when it's time to start re-signing the kids.
But I think you nailed it that Markov really carried him around - and he was able to cash in with a nice free agency contract. Good for him, bad for the team that has him.
Off track a little, the reading today on ON has been interesting regarding rumors of Vish one day coming back to replace 3.1.
Connolly on IR: after a fall in Practice: Upper body injury.
ReplyDeleteMatt Walker was also put on waivers, I'm betting he passed allready. He would have worked in a pinch.
ReplyDeleteAre we sure Connolly didn't break a hip on the fall too?
ReplyDelete@racki,
ReplyDeleteyou are mistaken, that would be a lower body injury ... LOL
Based on his pre-season play (limited as it has been) I think he might be a reasonable 4D once whitney is healthy, let alone now that he's injured.
ReplyDeleteIs he better than Barker? That's a tough call.
By reason of the transitive property, he can't be both a reasonable 4D and not better than Barker.