Value of: James Wisniewski

[Oscar Lindberg]

The Rangers should sign him. He'd be a fine plug in for this retool season, and he'd be miles better than Girardi.

 

[RodTheBawd]

He looked fantastic in Carolina, wish we held on to him.

 

[The Cheez]

One of the most frustrating things for me last year (and in previous years too) was seeing Justin Schultz continuously put out on the power play and look bad out there. I wanted Edmonton to at lest give their other defensemen a shot (pun intended) rather than him.

I don't know much about Wisniewski, but hearing people describe him as a defensive liability, injury prone....puck moving defenseman doesn't fill me with confidence that he should be even signed as a #6 and given power play time over the other existing D.

(Though as I said, I don't know much about Wisniewski, so maybe comparing him to Stanley Cup champion Justin Schultz isn't a fair comparison ).

Wouldn't hurt to give him the chance though. If he fails than oh well, but if he plays half decent then we can just keep our younger guys in the minors and maybe develop them better. That's just my opinion though

 

[major major]

I don't think you can rely on Wiz being a good PP QB for a whole year at this point. I'm sure Wiz would be an absolute last resort type of thing for Edmonton.

I don't think he ever stopped being great on the powerplay. The issue is hes gotten so dinged up he can barely skate, and might be too big of a liability at 5 on 5 to keep him in the lineup.

Unlike Justin Schultz though he's actually very good at the powerplay. If that's your main concern then Wiz is the best guy you can get.

 

[The Jones Zone]

If Feder Tyutin could get a deal with someone, Wiz will get a chance somewhere


2tin is god awful

 

[McSuper]

One of the most frustrating things for me last year (and in previous years too) was seeing Justin Schultz continuously put out on the power play and look bad out there. I wanted Edmonton to at lest give their other defensemen a shot (pun intended) rather than him.

I don't know much about Wisniewski, but hearing people describe him as a defensive liability, injury prone....puck moving defenseman doesn't fill me with confidence that he should be even signed as a #6 and given power play time over the other existing D.

(Though as I said, I don't know much about Wisniewski, so maybe comparing him to Stanley Cup champion Justin Schultz isn't a fair comparison ).

Thats why it needs to be at a low enough cap hit to bury it in the AHL . Got to remember this is not MacT with his stupid Future Norris crap . Chia is not after to make the tough and unpopular decisions .

 

[Dazed and Confused]

One of the most frustrating things for me last year (and in previous years too) was seeing Justin Schultz continuously put out on the power play and look bad out there. I wanted Edmonton to at lest give their other defensemen a shot (pun intended) rather than him.

I don't know much about Wisniewski, but hearing people describe him as a defensive liability, injury prone....puck moving defenseman doesn't fill me with confidence that he should be even signed as a #6 and given power play time over the other existing D.m

(Though as I said, I don't know much about Wisniewski, so maybe comparing him to Stanley Cup champion Justin Schultz isn't a fair comparison ).

Big difference is Wisniewski has a established history of success at the NHL level QB'ing the powerplay. In a third pairing role he'd be fine.


Comparing Schultz and Wisniewski is also a bit off. Yes they're both offencive defenceman that are weak defencively, but beyond that their styles are very different. Wisniewski gets in trouble for being too aggressive physically (will run around the defenceive zone), Schultz would just let guys skate by him. Also offencively they're not really compareable, Wisniewski has a big shot and is a better passer; Schultz relies on speed and his puck carring skills, or "sneaking around" to find soft spots in the defence and get a wrist shot off.

The big issue with Schultz is how the Oilers used him up on the PP, he's not a guy you can have at the "top of the key" so to say. His shot isn't good enought to be effective all the way from the blueline, nor is he that good a passer/has good vision. If he can set up in and arround the LW faceoff circle, he'd be much more effective, which is how I believe PITT used him.

 

[major major]

That's a great summation. And I have to reiterate that a Wiz's passing is outstanding. He'll do a few of the worst giveaways you'll ever see, but the rest of the time it's tape to tape on some play no one else saw coming.