Edmonton Oilers Player Grades: Games 31-40

The Edmonton Oilers are at the 40-game mark of the 2014-15 season. At each interval, I will assign grades to each player who has played at least 1 of those 10 games, using the following key:

A = Exceeding Expectations
B = Meets Expectations
C = Below Expectations
D = Immediate Improvement Required
F = Demotion Imminent

GAMES 30-40

FORWARDS:

Dec 1, 2014; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Boyd Gordon (27) battles in the face off circle with Arizona Coyotes Arizona Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal (11) during the third period at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Boyd Gordon: A. Game-in and game-out, Boyd Gordon the face-off wizard and PK stalwart has been the Oilers MVP. That he has kicked in a little offence has been a pleasant plus. IMO, the Oilers should hold onto Gordon like grim death.

Matt Hendricks: A-. Graded ever-so-slightly behind Gordon because of an off game (perhaps due to illness, over the holidays), but Matt Hendricks continues to deliver in the Effort & Effectiveness department, and scores a goal or two.

Jordan Eberle: B+. Perhaps slowed primarily by injuries early, games 30-40 have easily been the best this season for Jordan Eberle. He has only recently begun to look like the elite scorer that he can and should be.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: B. Off a little, perhaps because his line-mates have been off, but these eyes still believe that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is one of the few players to have taken a step forward this year over last.

Taylor Hall: B-. Taylor Hall is not close to 100% healthy. He does not appear to just be having “off-nights”, but in general seems to be missing that extra gear that makes him so deadly. The results are visible in his statistics.

More from Oil On Whyte

David Perron: B-. I felt that David Perron had just started to re-discover his game, shortly before he was dealt. They will need to replace his usual production, his abrasiveness, and his ability to manage the puck. We’ll see.

Teddy Purcell: B-. The revelation for me is that Teddy Purcell appears to be capable of being a very decent 2-way forward. His ability on the PK will (to some extent, at least) mitigate shortcomings in his physical game.

Derek Roy: B-. He is a “real” NHL center, and he has demonstrated that for the Oilers so far. I do not believe, however, that Derek Roy is capable of being a 2C in the NHL any longer, as his career is on a gentle decline.

Matt Fraser: B-. The jury is still out. Matt Fraser has a touch around the net and the ability to be physical in the defensive zone. His skating is just ok, and his line was torched over and over again in the Detroit game.

Leon Draisaitl: B-. I’m not one of the people who thought that 39 NHL games hurt Leon Draisaitl in any way, shape or form. We will see if this half season in the WHL advances his career or not. He’ll be on the roster next Fall.

Rob Klinkhammer: B-. An after-thought in the Perron deal, Rob Klinkhammer is either a way better player than I thought he was, or he just looks better on the Oilers than on the Penguins. Either way, an upgrade for the 4th Line.

Benoit Pouliot: B-. Benoit Pouliot is NOT a 1st Line NHL’er, but he is a solid NHL veteran for a 2nd or (better) 3rd line. He IS a 2-way player, albeit more solid defending than on the attack, where his speed does not equal a pure scorer.

More from Oilers News

Mark Arcobello: C+. Through no fault of his own, Mark Arcobello was mis-cast as a 2nd Line C in this league. Was not remarkable enough on either side of the puck to be a long-term solution for the Oilers. Good luck to a good guy.

Nail Yakupov: D+. The wheels have come off. My theory: In his efforts to correct Nail Yakupov’s defensive liabilities, Dallas Eakins flat-out over-coached the kid. The player should be one of Todd Nelson’s biggest projects.

Anton Lander: D+. Sorry, call me Mr. Unconvinced. Yes, he’s been “fine” since his re-call, but again…that 3rd Line was absolutely lit up the other night. I just don’t see the foot-speed or the offensive touch at this level to stick.

Tyler Pitlick: D+. Perhaps an unfair grade, as players can’t help injuries, but Tyler Pitlick is absolutely snake-bit, and it is clear since his injury that Klinkhammer (!) is a superior 4th Line winger. I don’t like his chances.

Luke Gazdic: D. To my eye, Luke Gazdic has regressed in the last stretch, and I think the fact that he is in the press box so much lately says that the coaching staff feels the same way. He may be on a short leash.

Jesse Joensuu: F. Good god, did this guy’s stock plummet. He was such a nice surprise (again) coming out of TC, and for the 1st 10 games of the season, the 4th line with Joensuu on it was the Oilers best.

DEFENCE

Dec 31, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jeff Petry (2) controls the puck as Calgary Flames left wing Jiri Hudler (24) defends during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Petry: B-. Can anyone out there, anyone, explain why Craig MacTavish did not sign Jeff Petry to a long-term deal. No, he’s not a 1 or 2D, but he IS a 3D, and a good one. Easily the Oilers best defenceman.

Mark Fayne: B. While he has the occasional moment, Mark Fayne has remained for the most part unspectacular but rock-solid. He, like Petry, is a 3 or 4D cast as a 1-2 man. That’s not his fault. A valuable cog in the wheel.

Oscar Klefbom: B-. Rookie D-men like Oscar Klefbom will have the occasional off game. But that Islanders game was a glimpse into the future for a kid who could end up on our top pairing with Darnell Nurse.

Andrew Ference: B-. I find that Andrew Ference gets more criticism than is warranted. Yes, his relative lack of foot-speed occasionally gets him into trouble, but he is generally smart and solid.

Justin Schultz: B-. Since Todd Nelson has arrived, Justin Schultz has gone from an absolute tire-fire to a player that looks like he could be a 2nd pairing guy and PP specialist. Encouraging, but consistency is his next big step.

Brad Hunt: C+. Brad Hunt has turned into a reasonable call-up guy for the Oilers, and played reasonably well while Nikitin was on the IR. An All-Star in the AHL, I suspect Hunt sticks as a 7-8 guy in the organization, next year.

Nikita Nikitin: C+. Small sample, but in the handful of games back from injury, Nikita Nikitin has been much better. This grade may be harsh, but I’ll wait another 10 games before pronouncing him “the guy we thought we were getting”.

Keith Aulie: C. He is what he is: A 6-7D. And I never see Keith Aulie growing past that point. In a short period of time, 2-3 prospects will pass Aulie and he will be looking for work elsewhere. Until then, a stop-gap journeyman.

GOALTENDERS

Dec 31, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers goalie Ben Scrivens (30) gives up a goal to Calgary Flames center Joe Colborne (not pictured) during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Ben Scrivens: B. Ben Scrivens has been way, way better since the coach(es) showed confidence in him and has been used like a #1. It’s still very much a debate whether he is more than a very good-back-up, but at least he’s “back”.

Viktor Fasth: D. Viktor Fasth has been brutal. There’s no question in my mind that he will not be an Edmonton Oiler next season. Has he been given a fair shake? Perhaps not, but has not made the most of his opportunities either.

Home / Oilers News