Hey, Edmonton Oilers fans, here’s another player review, this time, I’m reviewing my first forward: Luke Gazdic. Where does Luke Gazdic fit on the Oilers depth chart?
Potential
Luke Gazdic was a waiver pickup early on during the 2013-14 season from the Dallas Stars . Gazdic, according to Hockeydb is a big nasty enforcer, standing at 6’3 and 240 pounds. Purely as a depth player, Gazdic was added to the Oilers roster in response to a nasty stick swinging incident from Zack Kassian on Sam Gagner early in the season, which caused Gagner to miss a significant amount of time due to a broken jaw.
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Gazdic did fit the bill as an enforcer. According to HockeyFights.com, Gadzic would fight 15 times during that 2013-14 season, winning ten of those fights. In 2014-15, he would fight only 7 times, winning two of those fights. Unfortunately for Gazdic, he’s an enforcer. The enforcer is a dying breed in the NHL. The game is simply too fast for a spot to be required for a full time enforcer. Look around in the NHL: how many teams actually employ an enforcer? Going off the top of my head, there’s Arizona recently signing John Scott who…..does not really do much. Big titans like McGratton? Bissonnette? Banished to the AHL last year.
Fighting is a taboo subject in hockey nowadays. Personally, I do not mind fighting, but I understand why some are adamant for it’s removal for the game. It’s a respectable stance. However, the main question is: Can Luke Gazdic become more than an enforcer?
He recently had a talk with Joanne Ireland from the Edmonton Journal.
Here were some interesting quotes:
"What Gazdic still must do is prove that he can make plays regularly, while being a physical force when necessary — which is why he intends to come back leaner and just as mean.“When I first broke into the league it was all about strength and size, and they always wanted me to be bigger and stronger. Now it’s changed. Now it’s about being a little leaner, a little quicker so I’ve thrown off a few pounds.“I think I’m going to drop a couple more,” said Gazdic, who figures he’s down to 230 pounds, which is about an eight-pound drop.“That doesn’t sound like a lot, but for a guy who has played at that weight for the last four years it’s a big change. I’ll probably end up losing about five more because I am hoping to come to camp just under 225.“It’s made a difference,” he continued. “I really feel it on the ice."
Gazdic is not a dummy. He can see that the league is changing around him and it is up to him to adapt, with a noticeable focus on becoming faster. Yet, for potential, I am not expecting a great miracle to come out from Gazdic. Statwise, he is not known for contributing on offense and when he is on the ice it seems that the opposition has the puck more often. Potential wise, I think it’s going to be a difficult year for Gazdic. I’d love to be wrong, but I do not see him breaking outside the Enforcer tag. There is not enough skill with and without the puck for Gazdic to hold down a consistent job on the fourth line.
Performance
Last season was not a great one for Gazdic.
GP: 40 G:2 A:1 P:3 PIM:43 +/-: -4
Injuries impacted Gazdic but for a guy who is playing on the fourth line and as an enforcer, the lack of points is not a shocker.
Projections
Sadly, I do not think Gazdic will appear in many games this year. While Todd McLellan did employ a John Scott with the San Jose Sharks last year, giving some hope for Gazdic to play on a continual basis, I would hold off on that projection. With a Fourth Line projecting (in my humble opinion) of Hendricks– Letestu– X, the X is crowded with the likes of Rob Klinkhammer, Tyler Pitlick and Iiro “the hero” Pakarinen. I’d imagine Pitlick or Pakarinen are given a good long look, with Klinkhammer taking for the 13th/14th man duty. Which would mean Gazdic would be on the outside looking in.
If Gazdic makes the team, I do not think he would play more than 20 games, scoring at a similiar pace from last year. There’s just too much of a log jam there with players who are more efficient.
It’s nothing against the guy. Gazdic is a great guy for all accounts off the ice and in the community; I just do not think he will be playing much this year.
He’ll work his butt off for sure though.
Next: Edmonton Oilers Players in Review: Oscar Klefbom