Edmonton Oilers Player Grades For Games 41-50
The Edmonton Oilers are at the 50-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 41-50
FORWARDS:
Jordan Eberle. A. It took half a season for Jordan Eberle to finally hit his stride, leading the club in scoring over the last 10 games, capped with his best performance of the year in the Game #50 loss to Calgary.
Benoit Pouliot. A-. Like Eberle, it took 40+ games for Benoit Pouliot to resemble the man Craig MacTavish signed as a free-agent in the off-season. 7 points and +4 in his last 10. A lock on the 2nd line next season.
Boyd Gordon. A-. He is still the most consistent player the Edmonton Oilers have had all season. Boyd Gordon plays the right way, under a crushing load of TOI and horrific zone starts. His relative lack of offence is all that limits him.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. B+. He went through a dry spell on offence, but Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has become that player that is so dependable on defence, he almost never costs you. He is on the verge of something special.
Matt Hendricks. B+. I hope they don’t move Matt Hendricks at the deadline, primarily because of what he brings to the room and in terms of leadership, on the ice and off. What a gamer, consistently out-performs his talent threshold.
Taylor Hall. B. In the worst goal scoring slump of his career, Taylor Hall has been surviving on assists. Had a break-out game where he finally looked like his old self, then took a shot in practice…and hasn’t played since.
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Blackhawk Up
Anton Lander. B. 6 points in 10 games and a solid performance without the puck is making my critique of the player in the past overly harsh. Anton Lander may…may be in the midst of a break-out stretch. Maybe he is an NHL-er after all.
Derek Roy. B-. Right up until the Calgary game, I was thinking that Roy had more in the tank than I had anticipated, with 7 points in 10 games alongside Nail Yakupov. Then (shudder) came that disaster against the Flames. Hmmm.
Teddy Purcell. B-. Purcell has gone slightly cold on offence, although I continue to be pleasantly surprised with his defensive acumen. Teddy Purcell was +1 in his last 10 games, & taking a solid turn on the PK.
Rob Klinkhammer. C+. When the Oilers traded David Perron, the draft pick was considered the centerpiece of the deal. But Rob Klinkhammer‘s speed and physical play have me thinking he’ll be on this team next year. Pleasant surprise.
Matt Fraser. C. He has gone very quiet for a stretch of time, where I began to wonder if he was an NHL-er. But then came the Buffalo game, where his Dustin Penner-ish good side showed up. He has a shot, but needs consistency.
Nail Yakupov. C. He is showing signs, doing more of the right things, more of the time. But having said all of that, he still is a goal scorer that does not score much, and still has defensive lapses such as in the Calgary game.
Luke Gazdic. C-. A harsh grade, to be sure, but until the Buffalo game, Gazdic was persona-non-grata, barely seeing the ice. Then, he delivered his best game ever as an Oiler. I cheer for character guys like this. But he’s on the bubble.
DEFENCE
Jeff Petry. A-. This grade is somewhat of a damnation of the organization’s inability or lack of interest in signing the player who has been the club’s best D-man, game-in and game-out. We are seeing Jeff Petry come of age, just in time to sent him away?
Oscar Klefbom. B+. This kid is on the come. After a predictable series of good-game-bad-game from the rookie, Oscar Klefbom had suddenly strung together an impressive run. He has an outside chance at being a top-pairing guy, certainly a 3-4 man.
Mark Fayne. B. I find that people tend to be over-critical of Fayne. He is what he is: A veteran, complementary blue-liner. Most of the time, Mark Fayne delivers on my expectations. But could a guy with his experience be more consistent? Sure.
Justin Schultz. B-. I see this kid starting to return to the level that I saw when Justin Schultz first came on the scene. It’s a perfect example of how a player can bring a different level of play for the right coach. Arrows cautiously “up”.
Andrew Ference. B- See Mark Fayne. His lack of foot speed does indeed get Andrew Ference into trouble from time to time. But I never have to question the effort, work-ethic or compete of Andrew Ference. That’s worth a lot.
Nikita Nikitin. C+. Like so many on this squad, Nikita Nikitin seems to have responded well to Todd Nelson, and had only just recently started to settle in when he suffered a serious shoulder injury. Won’t see him again until late March.
Keith Aulie. D. Perhaps harsh, given that he sat so long, including a suspension that was a little severe, in my opinion. Problem is, he came back in the Calgary game and was terrible. Hanging onto his 7D job by his fingernails.
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A Winning Habit
GOALTENDERS
Ben Scrivens. B. The first time all season that an Edmonton Oilers goaltender has scored above a C. Ben Scrivens has battled, and made key saves that gave his teammates a chance to win. I’m not sure he will ever be a #1, but has showed well lately.
Viktor Fasth. C+. Viktor Fasth went from ice-cold to really quite good, within this 10-game stretch. I just do not know which goaltender he is, of the two. But I think he’s gone at the trading deadline, regardless.
Games 41-50 were the best stretch the Oilers have played all season long. It will be interesting to see if they can sustain that the rest of the way.