easternrefugee
Registered User
Keep your eye in Jere Sallinen coming from the KHL. I believe his game will translate nicely to North America with his style of play.
I hope so...our depth at any position but goal tender is honestly laughable.
Keep your eye in Jere Sallinen coming from the KHL. I believe his game will translate nicely to North America with his style of play.
Sounds like Josh Winquist is gone to Bridgeport (LT said AHL contract on Twitter)
http://lowetide.ca/2016/07/02/the-price-you-pay/
So the Oilers actually allowed one of their very rare scouting "wins" to leave with no return? This was a 22 year old AHL point producing machine who has a much higher upside than anyone else in Bako and they let him walk?
This team will have major cap issues shortly and Winquist could have been an inexpensive scoring option - one of the rarest things in the modern NHL. Not to mention that he has QB'd the power play everywhere he has played - something the Oil has a major issue with and no solution in sight.
Stupid is as stupid does...
It's an AHL deal, hardly stupid.
Bring the drama
Winquist was a hell of a player. He ALWAYS went to the net. He, like Pitlick, had injury issues because of the way he played. he was a VERY physical player. We have sooo many kids that are never going to make the NHL. Laleggia is crap on defense. he cannot stop the cycle and although he tries to check but he is brushed aside like a fly. Christopher is a liability. He takes stupid penalties and offers not much of anything else. Platzer is another forward who also does not play a physical game. In short, Winquist was a big loss here.
I think its a bit crazy to get worked up over them letting Winquist go. Can anyone actually tell me one thing that he really excels at other than putting up some points in the minors? He's not very big, he isn't very physical, not a great skater. Could he be an NHLer? Sure, but I don't really see anything in his game that would suggest he could benefit this team going forward. Guys like Slepyshev, Khaira, Caggiula, and Benson all bring things that this team needs. Whether it be size, shot, physicality, toughness, high hockey smarts and versatility. Its not like the Islanders gave him an NHL contract, and he probably saw that he wasn't getting one here so he moved on.
Slep has all the tools but no toolbox. JJ is a smarter version of the usual coke machine but will never contribute offence. Caggiula and Benson haven't played pro yet (and it's a big step - see Chase and Christoffer) so the jury is out on them.
Winquist is fast - not blow you away fast - but much quicker than in jr. Scout has called him the smartest player on any team he is on (from Lowetide) so hockey smarts covered. Physical see above. Tough - played the last month of his season on a broken foot following two major knee injuries. Got 6'7" Hunter Smith tossed from a game for his actions trying to get at Winquist. Also had a couple of line brawls with Kessy and Moroz. Listed as left wing but played most of last season as centre. Previous year as right wing. Both seasons point on PP. Sounds fairly versatile. And he manages to put up numbers too.
The point I wanted to make is how do the worst evaluators in the NHL let him walk away for nothing without seeing how he looks at the next level? Just seems stupid to me.
Slep has all the tools but no toolbox. JJ is a smarter version of the usual coke machine but will never contribute offence. Caggiula and Benson haven't played pro yet (and it's a big step - see Chase and Christoffer) so the jury is out on them.
Winquist is fast - not blow you away fast - but much quicker than in jr. Scout has called him the smartest player on any team he is on (from Lowetide) so hockey smarts covered. Physical see above. Tough - played the last month of his season on a broken foot following two major knee injuries. Got 6'7" Hunter Smith tossed from a game for his actions trying to get at Winquist. Also had a couple of line brawls with Kessy and Moroz. Listed as left wing but played most of last season as centre. Previous year as right wing. Both seasons point on PP. Sounds fairly versatile. And he manages to put up numbers too.
The point I wanted to make is how do the worst evaluators in the NHL let him walk away for nothing without seeing how he looks at the next level? Just seems stupid to me.
Losing Winquist stings, though I do think they did an okay job replacing him with Beck.
Beck-Khaira-Ford
Hamilton-Pitlick-Puljujarvi
Caggiula-Yakimov-Slepyshev
Pakman could also end up there if Pitlick or Beck beat him for a spot in camp, or Chai feels that he wants him down there to help Pulju (he's in the rare situation -if I'm not mistaken- where he's on a one way contract, but is still wavier ineligible.
Anyone else think Lander ends up in Bakersfield?
Maybe, but he's also the only centre we have that can fill in on 4C. I already think Pakarinen could be the 1st extra forward so they might be inclined to keep Lander in case a centre gets hurt (although they could also put Hendricks at C). Probably depends if Khaira has a good camp and if they feel comfortable putting him at C, or if Yakimov has a good camp and suddenly learned how to skate (I assume he'll be in camp?).
Letestu? That and there will be numerous guys on waivers if we end up shifting LD to the wing.
I wouldn't keep Lander as the 4th centre or the 13th forward. The guy has been one of the most frustrating prospects we've had. 3 points in 61 games last year, so he can't generate ANY offense by himself. At this point I don't care about him being claimed, he's 25 and has 31 points in 193 games. I think that basically protects him from waivers right there.
He's had so, so many chances. If he wants to bolt to Sweden or gets claimed, whatever. Send him to the AHL, don't keep him around the team. If he tears it up down there again, bring him up when and injury happens. I'd be shocked if he had a good camp.
That all said, I'm excited to see Khaira again. He keeps taking steps forward, ever since the BCHL. I sincerely think he has the drive to become an NHL-regular in a bottom 6 role.
Lander actually had a great camp last year and led preseason in goals for the entire NHL. I wasn't suggesting keeping him up because I'm afraid to lose him to waivers. I honestly wouldn't care if that happened. The only reason I suggested he might be kept up is so that the waiver eligible guys who might not be ready can go down and get playing time in Bakersfield rather than sitting in the press box. If they want to give Pitlick a shot as an extra forward instead of Lander then by all means be my guest.
I said fill in at 4C, i.e. if injuries occur. I think they'd rather send down waiver exempt players to Bakersfield to get playing time and keep Lander in the press box as an injury fill in.
They didn't even use Lander like that last year. They put wingers at center instead as it was quite clear TM had zero confidence in the kid.
Pitlick will get hurt sitting in the press box.
Ford signs with Grand Rapids.