At the trade deadline, Ken Holland made a few additions with the intention on these players helping to transform this team into a contender. While the suspension to the season and injury prevented us from seeing too much of these players, I thought it would be worth something to review all three of these players at the same time.
#27 MIKE GREEN
2GP: 0-0-0
Yeah... this one is going to be a quick one. The 34 year old Green was brought in to provide some veteran experience and depth on the Oilers blue line. Green played just over 28 minutes through two games for Edmonton before suffering a sprained MCL. In those two games Green did post a CF% of 60.38. Green is still a good skater at his age and didn't do anything to stand out in a poor way. He registered two shots on goal through his two games.
There really isn't much else to say here. Green is a fine depth option on a third pairing that can help move the puck in the right way. If the season does pick back up later in the summer, Green should be healthy and prepared to contribute more to this roster. FINAL GRADE: C
#28 ANDREAS ATHANASIOU
9GP: 1-1-2
Athanasiou cost the most to acquire; two second round picks, so he came in with the most pressure to produce. Immediately he was put onto a line with Connor McDavid and almost immediately was taken off of it. What's the deal with Athanasiou?
Athanasiou produced both of his points in his first game as an Oiler. His assist, was a great seeing eye pass through the legs of a Ducks defender followed by a slick tip in by Tyler Ennis. With less than 5 minutes left in the game, Athanasiou crashed to the net and batted the puck in from a Tyler Ennis wrap around attempt. A goal and an assist in his first game looked like a great start for the speedy winger.
Athanasiou played 16:50 in that first game and after that game he never broke 14 minutes. Athanasiou played the next two games against Vegas and Winnipeg on McDavid's wing but the two never seemed to connect the way they managed to in the first game. Through those two games, Athanasiou only managed one shot.
Athanasiou is a player who likes to carry the puck which of course is something McDavid does a whole bunch. Two speedy puck carriers don't usually gel well together and it showed. The next game, Tippett put Athanasiou on a third line, centred by Sheahan with Kassian on the opposite side. From there until the stoppage, Athanasiou rotated between spots on the third and fourth line.
It isn't all doom and gloom for the speedy 25 year old winger. Despite playing around 12 minutes a night or less on the third and fourth lines, Athanasiou still made himself known. His north and south speed is great to watch and in three of those six games, he managed 3 shots on net. He wasn't rewarded for those shots but having a winger that is still able to create chances regardless of who he is playing with in the lineup is a good thing to have.
It's also important to remember that Athanasiou dealt with an injury in Detroit this past season and sustained another minor issue while in Edmonton. Adapting to a new team and dealing with an injury is no small thing.
As an RFA, you can bet Holland will look to extend Athanasiou. He is a skilled offense first player who needs to work on his defensive play but I do believe he can be an asset to this team moving forward.
FINAL GRADE: C+
#63 TYLER ENNIS
9GP: 2-2-4
Trading a fifth round pick for a proven NHLer is never a bad trade. Trading a fifth round pick for an NHLer who makes 800,000 a year and has 15-20 goal potential almost anywhere in the lineup? Easy money.
That is exactly what Tyler Ennis was doing in Ottawa and it was exactly what Ennis did once he was brought in to Edmonton. The 30 year old Edmonton native is the kind of player a coach like Dave Tippett adores; hard working, goes to the tough places, never takes a shift off. At 5'9 and 160lbs, Ennis will never be the most dominant player on the ice, but he makes up for it with good speed and hands and a solid work ethic.
Let's go over the numbers, Ennis had 4 points and 2 goals in his 9 games with Edmonton. Like Athanasiou, he scored his first goal and assist in his first game next to Connor McDavid. His second goal came in what could be the Oilers last game of the season from a hard working Yamamoto behind the net who caught Hellebuyck out of position and left Ennis in front for an empty net tap in. His other assist came against the Predators where he dished the puck behind the net to Archibald who fired a quick shot past the Preds goaltender.
None of these were highlight reel goals or plays but were all the result of simple hard working smart plays in the offensive zone. Ennis ended up playing most of his time with McDavid but showed the same level playing on the top line, as he did when he played some time with Sheahan and Archibald on the third line.
Holland has been signing and extended players in the past few weeks and though it is a very small sample size, the Oilers GM should offer Ennis another one year deal below 1 million. Regardless of where he slots into the lineup it should be well worth it for the Oilers.
FINAL GRADE: B+