Winter 2011: #2
Summer 2011: #6
Winter 2010: #9
Summer 2010: #8
Winter 2009: #10
Summer 2009: #10
The major story regarding Anton Lander broke in the early days of summer camp: his skating, long considered a small negative, had improved greatly.
- Oilers Skating and Skills Coach Steve Serdachny: Anton has had incredible development. He's made incredible strides in his skating and his quickness, he has so many great intangible qualities and a fantastic individual. Foot speed, mobility, efficiency have been a part of his program and something he's been working on. This guy is a dedicated learner and working hard to become an Edmonton Oiler.
- Stu MacGregor at summer camp: “His effort is so consistent, every shift. The best way to put it is he works smart. He’s really intelligent, good on faceoffs. That really stood out for us. His skating may have held him back from being a first-round pick, but it’s improved
- 10-11 Boxcars: 49, 11-15-26 in the Swedish Elite League.
- Desjardins NHL equivalency: 82, 14-20-34
- His faceoff numbers in the SEL were just below 50%.
- Lander was 28th in the entire SEL in time-on-ice last season at age 19.
Lander arrived at camp and kept impressing the coaching staff and the fanbase. His impressive speed married to solid 2-way play in pre-season meant he was in the mix for an NHL job at center; when Sam Gagner was injured late September it was Lander (ahead of Brule, O'Marra and others) who won the 4line job for the Oilers.
Anton Lander has not delivered a strong season at the NHL level. Oiler fans will know the 4line has been a dead zone so far this season. Blaming Lander for it is ridiculous, but the math facts tell the story of his season:
- 5x5/60: 0.33 (11th among forwards)
- Ozone %: 50 (8th among forwards)
- Qual Comp: -0.083 (10th among forwards)
- Qual Team: -0.425 (12th among forwards)
- CorsiRel: -22.5 (13th among forwards)
There's no real way to look at those stats and create a positive spin. Lander and men like Lennart Petrell, Ben Eager and Darcy Hordichuk have been bleeding all over everything. There are some things we can point to as "less than disastrous" including Dennis King scoring chances (as compiled by Jonathan Willis) but the math suggests he should be in OKC. Coach Renney's choices for the 4th line have been curious this year, and Lander is included in the group.
Lander is getting 9:20 EV every night plus a buck forty on the PK. Among rookie forwards, that number ranks 8th in the entire NHL. Edmonton owns the 7th best PK in the NHL, and Lander is the 5th F option on the Oilers--ahead of Lennart Petrell. His faceoff percentage is 40.7 in 150 sorties, and we know that's a pretty good number for a rookie.
Anton Lander is an excellent prospect. His improved speed and quickness were so good he won a job in the NHL, and he may one day flourish in the role. His performance so far this season is predictable, and unfortunate in that he should be in OKC building momentum. I don't see a reason to punish him for it. Anton Lander is the second best prospect in the system.
I would say Klefbom's upside is higher. Is Petry off because he has enough NHL games, or you still hate him :-)
ReplyDeleteHF has a nice summary of the CHL prospects up.
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/13445/talent_on_blue_line_leads_chl_pool_for_edmonton_oilers/
Ducey: Yeah, Petry will play his 50th game tomorrow and that means he's a graduate.
ReplyDeleteAs for Klefbom, I nicked him a little because of the injuries.
A big drop from #1 to #2. I would put Teubert ahead.
ReplyDeleteI would put Teubert ahead.
ReplyDeleteof Plante? Sure.
I'm interested in what people realistically think Lander's ceiling is. I remember hearing or reading someone (I think it might have been Gregor) in the media say that they think Lander might push Gagner aside one day, which is just silly in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteMost scouting reports I've read on the guy describe him as being a third line checking center type. So what do we think we're likely to get out of him? Frans Nielsen? Malholtra? Bolland? Eric Belanger?
I think he's going to be Doug Jarvis as a player type with a little more offense. That's at the top end. If he could score 15 goals a year while doing the dirty work at center that's a helluva player.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's because this is the player I want him to be but he reminds me a lot of 10 in regards to already having a defensive clue at such a young age/low number of GP.
ReplyDeleteHelluva shot for his first goal but if that was a regular part of his arsenal he would have went higher in the draft. He isn't a super kid so he'd need better linemates to bring the offensive side out of him and I don't think he's had more than six really good chances to score; that's just from memory but at no point have I believe him to be snakebitten.
Not the best way to break him in if you're looking for him to develop into a Bolland but a great way to break him in if you don't care if he only ends up as a 15 goal/35 point fellow.
Likely to be a PK/faceoff ace for years to come but with his offensive numbers dependent upon having top quality linemates.
I see some Horc in Lander too. Lander might be slightly ahead of him at this age.
ReplyDeleteGiving him Bergeron and moving him to wing is kind of reminiscent of Komrade's early days too. Hopefully Bergeron can help stem the tide on that line and give Lander a half decent chance.
But because Lander's upside is a little limited, I would have Klefbom second too. Lander is a whole lot closer to graduating though.
A young 10 would be sweet.
ReplyDeleteThe one we got is having a great year (last year too until the injury), but 33 isn't young for a C logging heavy minutes, regardless of how good of shape he keeps himself in.
#2 is a career third liner at best? Come on son!
ReplyDeleteSmarmy: I don't think that's the case. 15 goals and outscoring tough opposition? That's a helluva player, and he's not going to get PP time on this team.
ReplyDeleteWe could have talked about this tomorrow but I saw it mentioned earlier so let me reiterate: we have elite special teams.
ReplyDeletei've seen a few great PK Oilers editions but never have I see an elite PP. It's a bit weird knowing there's a chance they could score on every advantage.
I think it's premature to establish a ceiling, top end etc. By all reports he has improved dramatically in variou phases of his game. Considering he was thrown in at the deep end, right out of Sweden, teamed with revolving linemates, I would be surprised if he didn't struggle a bit. I would suggest that a more valid rating would be in another twenty games. NHL hockey hasn't slowed down for him yet and Center is a tough position.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that makes Lander a special player is the dedication the guy shows to improve himself in his play. The way Serdachny spoke about Lander and the things he did over the last year he was in Sweden convinced me Lander was something special. Now, I don't know if he is the number two prospect, but on the other hand he is playing a regular shift in the NHL and alot of other prospects aren't.
ReplyDeleteOilers had offered Peckham and a 2nd rd to the Leafs for Cody Franson but Leafs wanted Gagner + Pitlick and a 2nd rd draft pick -@Treenasoil
ReplyDeleteI thought he/she was credible to begin with; its starting to get rather thin.
Blake Comeau on waivers. He scored 24 goals last year, played PK and PP, and plays physical. He makes $2.5 mill this year then he's an rfa. I'd love to see us pick him up and send Lander down. It would give us an upgrade on our bottom 6 for the rest of the year, plus he's 25 and can still improve. YOu can then play Gagner where he's most comfortable, and allow Belanger to solidify the 4th line better then Lander.
ReplyDeleteI think Lander has an excellent chance to develop into the Martin Hanzal player type.
ReplyDeleteRe: Comeau
ReplyDeleteThe NHL isn't an effing rotisserie league.
The Oilers are at 49 contracts. They need to save that last contract for a defenseman in case Whitney can't stay healthy.
If you want to demotivate Hartikainen and Vandevelde and most of OKC and encourage Omark to scoot back to Europe, claim a forward.
Renney
ReplyDelete-Whitney is good to go tomorrow
Tencer talks with Tambellini
Whitney makes the team better instantly. Just stay healthy there big man.
ReplyDeleteAs this is an Anton Lander post.........here is a link to a game worn AL #51 jersey on Swedish ebay......btw 3050 Swedish kr is about C$450.......http://www.tradera.com/timra-ik-matchtroja-anton-lander-auktion_252702_143882702
ReplyDeleteI suspect a Bigos type will be replacing a Martindale type on this list.
ReplyDeleteGood news on Whitney. He'll eat up some of Teddy's minutes, anchor Petry, and help out over-matched forwards on the road.
I'd like to see this team play with a healthy Potter and Sutton too. I think they'd be a real handful to a lot of teams in the league.
Better now than later.
ReplyDeleteBetter then than now.
1,2,3, and then 4.
...and allow Belanger to solidify the 4th line better than Lander.
lander: .50 PPG SEL @ 19
ReplyDeleteSince 1991 a total of 16 19 year olds in the .5PPG SEL have come over to the NHL. On average they NHL PPG is 7% higher than the 19 yr SEL totals.
I wpuld hope fort 1.07 X .50 = .54 PPG NHL career.
I posted a very interesting link at the end of the previous thread, where it was more on topic, plus some belated blather, as I am prone to do.
ReplyDeleteDoes the cool set malinger on stale threads of yesterday? I wonder how many kids these days take that song literally. I'm at the age now where the difference between yesterday and today is a hazy blur, unless the heavens decree a ten game win streak, or the season commences by circumnavigating the Bermuda triangle.
No complaints about Lander in this spot. The Oilers have 'graduated' seven in a year and Ted will be the eighth. Hall, Eberle, Ted, Paajarvi, Omark, Peckham, Petry, Dubnyk.
ReplyDeleteThree legitimate top six forwards, an NHL goaltender, Petry who looks like a probable top four Dman and Paajarvi, who despite his struggles is certainly a top nine guy at least. You could probably say the same about Omark. Peckham has lost his way but here's hoping.
So yeah the list is going to look a bit thin when that talent is taken off of it but looking at the remainder there is some certain quality. If Lander turns into a Horcoff that's pretty damn good. Some of the younger kids are probably going to be better but the jury is still out on these guys.