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Oilers Sign Belov-a Player |
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The Edmonton Oilers did something on Thursday. No, I'm being serious here. The Tambellini-era is over. The Oilers are actually going to start doing stuff again. Get excited.
The team signed UFA defenseman Anton Belov. who played in the KHL last season. Belov received a one-year entry-level deal. Does this mean he can pull a Roman Cervenka on us next summer? Perhaps.
There's plenty here to be excited about. Well, maybe "excited" is too strong of a word. Happy? Yes, happy might be better.
Belov has some size (6'4", 219), he's not ancient (age 26) and he has a history of putting up some points. He played in 46 games for Avangard Omsk in 2012/2013, posting a career high in goals and assists (9-17-26).
That's all fine and good. But what does it all mean? Think Jan Hejda.
Remember when the Oilers found Hejda under a pile of rocks in the Czech Republic, and they brought him over as a UFA in 2006? He actually turned out to be a pretty good player. With luck, Belov will be a similar situation. I'm not saying he plays like Hejda...All I am saying is, it's a similar circumstance. Defenseman who is playing pro in Europe, who is more or less in the prime time of his career. With luck, he'll be good enough to give the Oilers 5/6 minutes in 2013/2014. Worst case scenario? They send him to the AHL and he disappears at the end of the year. No big whoop.
He was +8 and had 4pts in 8 games for Russia at the recent World Championships. That tells me this guy is probably good enough to play in the NHL.
The signing does make me do a little head scratching, to be honest. I mean, certainly, you can't have enough prospects. I'm just wondering what it all means.
Justin Schultz and Jeff Petry are the only two guys you know for-sure will be on the Oilers. Belov is left-shooting, and the Oilers were starving for one of those. From what I just read (thank you Jonathan Willis) Belov can skate and is an offensive weapon worth consideration.
I'm still sticking with my story that Craig MacTavish is not a huge fan of Ladislav Smid, and therefore, he could be vulnerable to trade. Thing is, Smid is one of the Oilers defensemen...hell, players...that offers a measurable level of toughness and snarl. The Belov addition is not exactly like going out and finding a prize fighter. Smid's toughness will be in demand next season, so regardless how MacT feels about him, he's likely staying.
Ryan Whitney is gone. Mark Fistric, is gone. Theo Peckham, gone. The Oilers like how Fistric hits, but hated his mobility (or lack thereof) and his puck-movement skills. A friend of mine who knows a bit about hockey suggested to me the other day the plan in Edmonton in 2013/2014 is to have four defenseman who could be considered "puck-movers". Schultz, Petry, and now Belov gives the Oilers three.
I'm going to disagree with Willis's article when it comes to Oscar Klefbom. He says it will be harder for him to crack the line-up next season with this signing. I say it won't. Who likely gets the shaft in this situation is Taylor Fedun, who's been impressive as all get out in the AHL this spring. Klefbom is as important to the Oilers future as Justin Schultz is. I think he'll be paired with Schultz and be playing top pairing minutes by the end of the season. I don't care how young he is. He's that good.
You could see the pairings in Edmonton in October be something like Smid/JSchultz, Belov/Petry and Klefbom/NSchultz. Nick Schultz can play right or left pairing, so that opens up options. Maybe Corey Potter sticks around to be the #7 guy. With this configuration, you have three puck-movers, a tough guy, and two all-around-ers. I've heard Klefbom compared to Nick Schultz a number of times recently, and that wouldn't be so bad.
Looking at the Oilers roster, I'll suggest this move likely closes the door on the potential signing of UFA Mark Streit. Maybe I'm wrong about this, but I don't think I am. Considering Streit's age and the 411 on Belov, maybe it's for the best.
Next up? Watch for Oilers GM Craig MacTavish to nab the best UFA goalie option from Europe.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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