|
Pitkanen's days in Oilers' silks numbered? |
|
|
|
|
|
Edmonton Oilers General Manager Kevin Lowe is facing several key player personnel decisions this summer, one of the most important of which involves the future of promising blueliner Joni Pitkanen.
KLowe has 16 RFAs on his plate this year, six of which currently reside on the Oilers’ NHL roster, including:
Joni Pitkanen ($2.4M)
Jarrett Stoll (currently makes $2.2M)
Robert Nilsson ($1M)
Denis Grebeshkov ($950,000)
Tom Gilbert ($900,000)
Zach Stortini ($530,000)
Pitkanen, obtained this past summer in a mult-player trade along with Geoff Sanderson and a third-round draft pick (2009) from the Philadelphia Flyers for Joffrey Lupul and former Edmonton captain Jason Smith, has shown moments of brilliance this season.
When he’s healthy, (has missed 18 games with knee, groin and hip flexor injuries) there are brief flashes -– dare I breathe these words, so as to risk insulting those who worship this legendary Oiler – of Paul Coffey.
Let’s be clear, the resemblances are preliminary, but nonetheless occasionally apparent. Coffey, a defensive legend who helped define the breakout for generations of blueliners, is without question, in a league of his own.
He’s hoisted four Stanley Cups and is a three-time Norris Trophy winner, who has been commemorated in the league’s shrine, the HHOF, as one of its most revered defenceman to ever lace ‘em up.
Pitkanen, well, boasts plenty of promise.
Nonetheless, there have been nights this season, when Pitkanen has peeled off the opposition like an onion, leaving teary-eyed D-men in his wake – okay, perhaps merely frustrated.
Joni’s stride is a beautiful thing to watch, and stirs the Rexall Place crowd to its feet – when it’s witnessed in full flight!
And therein lies the quandry – that potential isn’t rearing its head quite as often as it was earlier in the season.
In fact, his play in both the defensive and neutral zones has been suspect on more nights than not – even average, one could argue – for sometime now.
His mediocre play was no more evident than in the Oilers’ recent win over Columbus. Stripped of the puck in the neutral zone by Jackets’ forward Jason Chimera, Pitkanen was forced into a checking roll along the boards.
Instead of playing the body, Pitkanen elected to play the puck, subsequently lost his man, thus compromising his partner’s assignment (Staios) and costing his team another unnecessary goal against.
Badda-boom, badda-bing…the puck was in the net.
It’s an annoying occurrence that’s becoming all too familiar for Pitkanen – losing the battles along the boards and turning over the biscuit.
It’s not as though he’s about the become the next defensive sacrificial lamb (ie: Tom Poti) for the Rexall faithful, but Joni’s upside is a little, well, upside down at the moment.
In 49 games in Edmonton Oiler silks, Joni has posted respectable point totals of 7-11-18 (one game winner), and a less than respectable +/- rating of –7 with 44 PIMS.
Selected 4th overall by the Flyers in the 2002 NHL entry draft, Pitkanen’s recent play has left Lowe scratching his head.
Make no mistake, Lowe gave up plenty – blueline grit and character, and offensive potential – to obtain a bill of goods that supposedly included a defensive specialist who excels at the transition game and jumping into the rush.
We’re all still waiting for the bill of goods to arrive, Joni! The clock is ticking.
Oilers recall Peckham
The Oilers have summoned defenceman Theo Peckham from Springfield on an “emergency basis.”
The 6’2”, 223-pound native of Richmond Hill, Ontario was the Oilers second choice (3rd round), 75th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
The burly d-man has scored 6-4-10 with 113 penalty minutes in 42 games with the Falcons this year. He is second on the Springfield roster in penalty minutes and has scored a pair of power-play goals.
The Oilers are very high on Peckham, whose star is rising rapidly with the organization. Peckham is the team’s number-one defensive prospect in the “A” at the moment.
Peckham could be in the lineup tonight when Edmonton takes on the Blue Jackets in Columbus.
Join the Discussion:
»