If there was anything I hated more than marking while I was in Grad School then I've blocked it out of my mind. I remember being an undergrad and thinking "This TA is a jerk!" Then I became one and was forced to read countless (it seemed) papers written by terrible, terrible undergrads and at that point I understood. TAs arent jerks. They're just broken inside because they've seen the worst humanity has to offer in paper form.
And so it's taken me some time to get around this stack of papers that I know are complete and utter trash that was the past Oiler season. Sadly, the best seasons are the easiest to grade. It's the worst ones that you have to take the most time with and consequently you hate them even more than normal. You begin to resent them like your wife or children, and that's not fair. It isnt fair to me or to them but that's just the way it is.
My plan here is to Grade the team in 4 phases: Forwards (Fringes), Forwards (Regulars), Defense, and Goaltending.
The Oil used 23 forwards this year so they were just one guy away from being able to ice 8 lines on the season. It isnt the most in the NHL, it definitely isnt the least but some of these guys played for Edmonton so long ago that it was easy to forget they even played at all. I will be marking them based on a mix of their role, expectations, production, and overall effectiveness. Or, in other words, I will give them a mark based on "Whatever the heck I feel like." And, like a cruel Prof once did to my Canadian Political Science class, all the marks will be handed out in reverse order of grades: Worst on top, best on the bottom.
THE FRINGES
F- Linus Omark. 1GP, 0-0-0. F- isnt actually a real grade. It doesnt exist, so it is especially cruel of me to award it to someone but I promise you he deserved it. Omark is an NHL player the same way Steve MacIntyre was an NHL player. The simple fact of the matter is that Omark was a scoring forward incapable of scoring and quit North American hockey before the end of the season. Lots of players come into the NHL and cant hack it, but not too many came in with the numbers of supporters Omark had. He didnt just disappoint himself, his teammates, and his coaching, but he disappointed all of those who supported him. Tweener, quitter.
F Ben Eager. 7GP, 0-1-1. Eager was billed as a tough player who could play a bit when he was acquired. He had speed and a mean streak when he arrived under Tambellini's watchful eye, but like the GM that brought him, brain injuries played into his downfall. He never appeared to be the same after concussions derailed his willingness to engage physically. Eager left Edmonton and added just 8 points in 44 AHL games. That's an F in Edmonton and an F in OKC.
F Ryan Hamilton. 2GP, 0-0-0. He played because he was one of the Coach's guys from the AHL. There's no way he's an NHL player but Eakins needed some kind of comfort early in the season. Hamilton is a big body and at 29 years old is about as mature of a hockey player as he's going to get. AHL forward.
D- Mike Brown. 8GP, 0-0-0. I'd be inclined to give Brown a higher grade because he did still bring a physical presence via hits, but I think those hits came because he never had possession of the puck. In his time with the Oilers Brown had a 32.8% Corsi rating. That is easily the worst for any player who played at least 10% of the season. He was a poor possession player on a poor possession team. In San Jose he was infinitely better but he was also at the bottom of their forward group. Sweet moustache though.
D- Steve Pinnizotto. 6GP, 0-2-2. He was a call up out of necessity. Calling him up didnt rob the Barons of a difference maker but he's veteran enough to do what the coach asks of him. I'd be inclined to give him a higher grade but the reality is that in 6 games he had 2 shots on net. Warm body, not much else.
D Anton Lander. 27GP, 0-1-1. Anton Lander is supposed to be a fixture on the bottom 6 for the future and he could have been 4C already except for the fact that he brought nothing offensively. 1 point in 27 games is, frankly, pathetic. The GM wants a bottom 6 that can contribute. The only reason he's a D and not an F is because he was the best forward in OKC. There's a gear he just cant find at the NHL level yet but there's still hope, but that's about to wear thin. He's the invisible man.
D+ Roman Horak. 2GP, 1-0-1. Horak scored 1 goal in his 2 games with the Oilers but he's an AHL player until he proves otherwise. He should get a chance to take a bottom 6 spot if he can for next year if MacT cant get more established guys in. He's an undersized skill player who might have a fringe career unless he breaks out soon. Tweener.
D+ Tyler Pitlick. 10 GP, 1-0-1. If Tyler Pitlick only played the couple of games before his first knee injury he might have had a better mark. Unfortunately all the snarl and physicality he showed in those games was undone by his invisibility when he showed up again at the end of the season. No, it isnt fair that an injury affects his grad, but life isnt fair and I'm not handing out gold stars and participation ribbons. Didnt bring enough.
C- Will Acton. 30GP, 3-2-5. Will Acton could have a future as a 13th forward or 4C in the NHL if he can keep that Faceoff Percentage at 50.3% or higher and keeps contributing with a bit of offense. The downside for that projection is that his sh% is sky high and he's unlikely to replicate his scoring (still just 3 goals in 30 games) without upping the number of shots he takes. My grade is giving him credit as a stand in 4th line this season. It's a generous mark but I'm a generous guy. Coach's kid can play a little. Emphasis on little.
B- Mark Arcobello. 41GP, 4-14-18. I've said it before, I'll say it again. Arcobello grew on me as the season wore on. He destroyed the AHL when he was sent back down, clipping along at almost 2 points per game. He didnt score nearly as much with the Oil but he provided offense when he was partnered with quality players. His performance as an undersized player was remarkable. He didnt look out of place and more often than not good things were happening when he was on the ice. He finished the year #1 on the Oilers in Corsi%. I know that doesnt mean a lot to everybody (yet), but 48.1% on THIS team speaks volumes.
THOUGHTS
Most of these guys are AHLers and maybe 2 or 3 have a shot at an NHL career of anything more than what they saw this season (not including Brown). I'm not overly optimistic about any of them except perhaps Arcobello. If the Oilers want hockey players in their bottom 6 then they can start with him and fill in players around him.
Good marks are going to be hard to come by on a team this poor. I'm not very touchy feely about this roster.
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