JUSTIN SCHULTZ
Oh, those Oilers. Sometimes I find myself being so negative towards a player or a group of players that I need to pull myself back. Justin Schultz has had a very problematic season and much of that started last year. His development has gone off the rails, it seems, but I find myself wanting to find ways to stay positive.
I’m sure he’s trying. I’m sure he wants to be better defensively. He just hasn’t figured it out yet, I tell myself. It makes sense. Who would self-evaluate after being possibly the worst defenseman on a team that boasts Nikita Nikitin and come to the conclusion that status quo is just fine? I mean it’s extremely unlikely, right?
And then I see Reid Wilkens of 630 CHED tweet this gem out.
Ramsay on Schultz: "It's just a matter of convincing him how important it is to play without the puck." #yeg #Oilers
— Reid Wilkins (@ReidWilkins) January 20, 2015That is assistant coach Craig Ramsay, who runs Edmonton’s defense, saying in the middle of Schultz’ 3rd year in the NHL (employed as a Defenseman) that the staff has not yet convinced Justin Schultz that playing away from the puck is important. It’s about as damning of a one off statement about a Defenseman as you can get. Let’s pretend you were an Engineer, it would be the equivalent of your boss saying “It’s just a matter of convincing him structural stability is important.…
How does this happen? My best guess is that he was so offensively dominant with the Westside Warriors of the BCHL and then the University of Wisconsin in the NCAA that he just never had to learn what to do in his own end. Even in the AHL he dominated offensively (mind you playing with a trio of players who would all become NHL All-Stars). At what point did he actually need to learn how to defend?
Obviously the answer is “Not until now…. He needs to understand that he isn’t an offensive performer in the NHL. He doesn’t possess a particularly great shot from the point and he isn’t compensating by taking a great number of shots either. If he isn’t scoring like crazy then he has to balance the ledger out by being responsible in his own end.
Becoming responsible doesn’t happen if 45 games into his worst season ever we are still hoping the coach can convince him playing without the puck is important.
LINEUP
Fasth is getting the start today and that’s about all there is to say about the lineup. I am still not comfortable with Nikita Nikitin out there even if he played marginally better. The Ducks just placed Fistric on Waivers and I don’t know about anybody else but I would be willing to replace Nikitin with a troop of Girl Scouts so an NHL defenseman would be even better. In any event I think we are swiftly approaching the time where he needs to come out of the lineup (actually that was a while ago).
Hall RNH Eberle Pouliot Roy Yak Hendricks Gordon Klinkhammer Fraser Lander Purcell
Ference Petry Klefbom Schultz Nikitin Fayne
Fasth
OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME
1) Kick Start My Heart. Yak has been dangerous at times but he hasn’t scored. I think he’s hit the post 4 times at least in his last 3 games and those near misses are the difference between “Getting his game back on track… and “Continuing to struggle… for most observers. Nelson played a hunch to put him in the Shootout and it worked. If we’re lucky that kick starts his confidence and the pucks start going in for him. It’s pathetic that it took 3 years to get a 1st overall pick noted for his shooting to get a chance in the shootout but it is what it is. To me it’s indicative of the way the team has opted to develop Yak. They’ve treated him like a Bottom 6 player since they got him.
2) Don’t Go Away Mad. The Oilers need to stop taking boneheaded penalties late in the game. The club tried everything in their power to give that last one away. Back to back penalties from Hall and a Holding the Stick from Lander is a great way to throw games. It seems that if it isn’t Pouliot taking dumb ones then it will be someone else. That has to stop.
3) Dr. Feelgood. Nelson wants to loosen the Oilers up and so far so good. I’m still inclined to believe the better play from the goaltending is contributing a lot to the wins and in turn the happy good time feels that are permeating through the locker room but if Nelson can get these guys out of their funk then good for him. I hope it lasts and he gets labelled a “Yak Whisperer…. Now he just needs to find a way to get Hall scoring goals again. Then we’ll see smiles all around.
Puck drops tonight at 5:08PM Mountain Time on Sportsnet West. Tank On!
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