Stu MacGregor and his staff have fired 32 bullets since 2008's entry draft, and regular readers of this blog know I'm impressed with the results. Not just the two #1 overall selections, or even the MPS and Eberle picks. Not even the 2nd round picks like Anton Lander, Tyler Pitlick, Martin Marincin, Curtis Hamilton and David Musil. Those are solid names, and along with Oscar Klefbom (another first rounder) should form the heart of the Oilers rolling out over the next decade and beyond. Along with those selections, MBS and group have gone deep into the draft to find some gems. Temmu Hartikainen, Tyler Bunz, and now Martin Gernat. How good will he be?
Over the years, the Oilers have been known for massive amounts of hyperbole in regard to their draft picks. So most fans take statements like "we had him in our top 35" with a grain of salt. After all, when you select a young man #122 your list is probably exhausted and the "reach list" might be on the table.
In the case of Martin Gernat, the MBS statements may be true.
- Stu MacGregor after the draft: "watched Gernat a lot. He's a big guy, skates extremely well, 6'4", still quite slim, passes the puck very well. Really quite excited about what he might be able to bring. "
The kid is a tall tree and he has some magic moves, plus he can play the position. His WHL numbers (6gp, 5-5-10 +6) are stunning. He is tied for 6th in overall points, leads all defensemen and all rookies. It's also worth mentioning that the Oil Kings have scored 18 goals overall, meaning Gernat is in the mix on a lot of goals. He's 2-2-4 on the PP, meaning he's at a point-per-game at even strength.
It's important not to get ahead of ourselves, this is a depth pick and his last two weeks might be the highlight of his career. Still, this is an astounding debut and a delightful result for the Oilers and their fans. Martin Gernat could be a player. A real one.
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Nation Radio is on the air at noon Edmonton time today. You can listen live on Team 1260 (the prompt is on the upper right) and of course the podcast will be up later at ON. Scheduled to appear:
- Former Oiler Sean Brown will drop by to talk to me about the Taylor Fedun injury and changing that nasty icing rule. We'll also touch base on his time as an Oiler, his experience in Europe and what he's up to these days.
- Timo Seppa from Hockey Prospectus will join me to talk about the HP Annual. It's getting a lot of play as a "must read" and reminds me of the old Bill James Abstracts. The Oilers section alone is exceptional.
- Thomas Drance, who interviewed Elliotte Friedman this week about his newfound interest in advanced stats.
- Matt Bugg from dobber hockey will talk to us about getting an early read on the 2012 entry draft. I've been hearing that it's a very good draft, and will ask Bugg for his opinion. We'll also discuss Gernat and his ability.
- Corey Graham, Oil Kings PBP man will discuss Gernat, the Oil Kings solid start, the lack of scoring from the usual suspects and the pure joy of a WHL road trip.
Email questions and comments are welcome at nationradio@theteam1260.com and tune in if you have time. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hey LT,
ReplyDeleteSeason has started but I must have missed the Bettman ruling on the Smyth-Fraser trade. Could someone fill me in on Tambo's penalty for doing nothing wrong?
Hi Douglas,
ReplyDeleteYes, you missed it. NOT! I swear it's the craziest league in the world. My kids ran a tighter ship when they played Lego Island.
How long before the other WHL teams get pissed off that the Oil Kings are essentially using the Oilers' Euro Draft Budget to bring in their imports?
ReplyDeleteI guess maybe the answer to that is "however long it takes the Oil Kings to matter in the WHL".
Just seems like an unfair advantage for the Kings (though a smart development move for the Oilers).
This seems like the Marincin scanario 2.0. I was at the Kooteney game on wednesday (my friend and childhood linemate made the team =)) and Gernat looked good. He pulled of the best hip check I can remember in a looong time. The guy he hit went ass over tea kettle, face first in the ice. Beauty. But let's see if he can sustain a PPG throughout the season, atleast not fall off like Marincin did. I don't think he will because 11/12 Oil Kings >>> 10/11 Cougars.
ReplyDeleteObviously it's way too early to be making any sweeping statements about the 2011 draft, but does this draft seem a bit different to you LT, at this point, than the 2010 draft.
ReplyDeleteMorrow had a great camp for PIT, while Klefbom is barely playing in SWE. I'm by no means saying Morrow will end up the better player, maybe he will, maybe he won't, just that I don't really remember there being much of that last year.
Or Saad starting the year with CHI, as compared to Musil (who is doing just fine in the WHL, different positions, etc). It's definitely true that a lot of teams passed on Saad, but just minor hints that, at this point, this draft may have just a few more questions than the 2010 draft.
Al Davis has died. If I may, can we wait until at least noon before posting anything in questionable taste.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm speaking to Raider fans here.
speeds: Yeah, I'd agree with that. The 2011 draft had some questions all through it, and honestly the RNH selection may or may not be the best one from 2011.
ReplyDeleteCouturier looks pretty damn good to me, and there are others (Larsson, Landeskog) who seem ready to impact things.
Long road as you say, but certainly 2010 didn't track this way. Even from the beginning.
Ask Brown is he was actually a willing fighter, or if he did it to keep a job.
ReplyDeleteAlso ask him about MacT. Those two never saw eye to eye on Brown's ability or career path.
Say what you will about Davis (and you can say a lot) but it was stuff like this that I like best about him:
Davis, elected in 1992 to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, also was a trailblazer. He hired the first black head coach of the modern era — Art Shell in 1988. He hired the first Latino coach, Tom Flores; and the first woman CEO, Amy Trask. And he was infallibly loyal to his players and officials: to be a Raider was to be a Raider for life. (Josh Dubow Oakland AP)
Woodguy: The interview was pre-recorded yesterday, but it was a good one and we agreed that we'll do it again. I'll make sure to ask him those questions next time.
ReplyDelete@ speeds
ReplyDeleteI watched a fair bit of the Chicago-Dallas game last night and the Hawks were using Saad on the first line quite often although not late in the game.
A couple of other game notes:
The winning goal was scored on a rebound of a Souray bomb from the point.
Jamie Benn is a beast.
Hossa had EIGHT shots on goal and finished the night -1.
Take that Jim Corsi.:)
That's not to say that the 2010 draft is definitely better than the 2011 draft, or that the 2011 draft is a bust.
ReplyDeleteHindsight is 20/20 and all of that, but it's not like the 2010 draft looks flawless. I still like the sounds of Pitlick (#31 OV) as a prospect, but if the Oilers could go back in time would they take D Justin Faulk (#37 OV) instead? Maybe
Yeah, I think we'll know a lot more this time next season in regard to 2010. Those 2nd rounders are going to be key, but the depth picks might turn up something too.
ReplyDeleteI think 2010 will be a strong one for MBS. 2011? We're just getting started.
What a divisional MLB playoffs it was. One of the best ever.
ReplyDeleteAs for Al Davis, god bless him. I'l always support a man who likes to be unconventional, but because he likes it, but because he thinks it's right (And sometimes is!).
As for the prospects, I was amazed Philly sent Couturier for 5 mins of PK. Did a good job.
All of my top 15 prospects are doing quite well, put aside Jamie Oleksiak
Well I had Couturier #2 and Saad #30, but RNH #1, Klefbom #24 and Musil #26. So I'm not certain I can bitch much about MBS top of the draft.
ReplyDeleteMBS has done a very good job with bullets he has been give. taken a little bit of everything: scoring,playmaking, grit, D and goalers!!
ReplyDeleteNot sure, if conventional wisdom is correct and D take longer to develop, that our young D are going to be ready during 2nd contract of our 1st wave of FWDS. So unless the plan is to trade for a couple of top 4 D men, we might have an unbalanced roster as we try to compete for WC Finals. Also if Whitney's feet don't get better we might need 3 top 4 D.
Souray played 2nd pairing minutes for Dallas last nite. And Chicago played Keith a paltry 27 1/2 minutes last nite.
LT: I still have Couturier N1 haha.
ReplyDeleteSaad was down where he was picked. He'l have to prove he belongs. If he does he'l be a generational bird.
Did not rate Klefbom. But I can always let D-men slide cause it seems there's much more a crapshoot involved.
On a sidenote, playoff baseball makes me wish the Nats weren't so brutal.
Oilers finally sign Martindale!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not saying the Oilers had a terrible day or anything, FWIW I had Klefbom ranked slightly ahead of Morrow as well. I had Saad ahead of Musil, but not crazily ahead or anything at that point in the draft.
ReplyDeleteI will say that I'm a big believer that, for D, the development post draft is very important, and arguably more important than which specific D you pick within a certain tier of prospects.
So, IF there was reason to believe that Morrow was going to be in a much better developmental environment for his 2 post draft years than Klefbom, and I had him rated roughly the same as Klefbom, maybe slightly behind, that COULD be a factor in deciding between the two.
Oilers finally sign Martindale!
ReplyDeleteYup.
Here's the press release:
Oilers agree to terms with Martindale
Saturday, 08.10.2011 / 1:23 PM / Transactions
By Edmonton Oilers Press Release
General Manager Steve Tambellini announced today the Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms with centre Ryan Martindale on a three-year entry level contract.
Martindale, 19, spent last season with the Ottawa 67’s in the Ontario Hockey League, playing in 65 games, collecting 83 points (34G, 49A) and 28 penalty minutes.
The 6’3”, 207-pound Brooklin, Ontario native played his entire junior hockey career with Ottawa, recording 207 points (84G, 123A) and 97 penalty minutes in 243 games played.
Martindale, who was Edmonton’s 5th choice (3rd round), 61st overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, is currently with the Oilers top affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons.
Edmonton Oilers hockey is presented in part by the Rexall Family of Pharmacies, Molson Canadian, ATB Financial, Cenovus Energy and Ford.
Dubnyk’s new mask. A replica of CUJO’s 95/96? Well, there sure are some striking similarities..
ReplyDeleteGernat looks like a 5 tool prospect.
ReplyDeleteNot only does he have 10 points, but he scored a nifty shootout goal as well.
What bothered me was RNH size, a better Gagner but still small. If Gagner was a keeper then Coutourier made sense. That's why I'm totally focused on OKC as in Matindale, Hamilton, Pitlick development. Size, strength and defensive skills. As to defense, I would think that Musil is the closest. He's had quality coaching all his life. So by Christmas of next year he should be in play
ReplyDeleteGernat looks like a 5 tool prospect.
ReplyDeleteNot only does he have 10 points, but he scored a nifty shootout goal as well.
One of his regulation time goals was on a breakaway.
A Dman on a breakaway.
True story.
A Dman on a breakaway.
ReplyDeleteTrue story.
I miss Joni Pitkanen.
Smid got a breakaway once. He fell down, though :(
ReplyDeleteSmid got a breakaway once. He fell down, though :(
ReplyDeleteDid he hurt himself? It was probably Staios' fault.
Another good candidate for the Oilers to add on D could be Jamie McBain. He was a healthy scratch in Carolina yesterday because they have too many similar players. He's a righty, young and has a decent track record.
ReplyDeleteSmid got a breakaway once. He fell down, though :(
ReplyDeleteDid he get up and smash his own face into the glass?
http://video.oilers.nhl.com/videocen...id=4&id=122188
ReplyDeleteLove Gernat's smooth skating for a big man.
I could get behind an Oilers D-man named McBain...
ReplyDeleteMENDOZAAAAA!
Here's hoping Gernat saves some of that for the 2nd half of the season.
ReplyDeleteOil Kings are just stacked on D this year. Seriously it's just a scary core, difficult to think of any CHL team that has as defence as good.
FPB, yeah, 2011 really burned my britches as well. I had the top 3 as:
1. Larsson
2. Couturier
3. RNH
I really really wanted Larsson, but if they wanted a forward it would have been Couturier.
I can't believe freaking New Jersey got Larsson 4th, and then Philly snagged a talent like Couturier 8th. Winnipeg was really out to lunch passing on SC, let's hope for their sake their man is who they thought he was.
Watching the Leafs-Sens game, Lupul scored a PP goal on a redirect in front of the net...surprising. The very next shift he whiffed along the boards and let the Sens break out with speed heading the wrong way though =).
"Ice to see you".
ReplyDelete