This is the Vollman Sledgehammer, final edition, for the 2014-15 season. It’s both priceless and worthless. Priceless because it is searing in its rage toward specific players, worthless because there wasn’t much good going on in this season. What about now?
Apologies if this is difficult to read, these graphs are available at the brilliant Puck IQ, free of charge. The graph uses Dangerous Fenwick and Qual Comp is now time on ice versus elites. What can we learn from these two graphs? A few things.
First, Luke Gazdic was the last pure enforcer on the Oilers, kind of the last great western (which is ‘Outlaw Josey Wales’) ever made. I always marveled at his popularity among teammates, but one can never underestimate having an enforcer on the ice to make things right. If you ever saw Dave Semenko as an Oilers player, you know. The rules changed, then ended, the role, but Gazdic has shown in the last decade he wasn’t just muscle and hair. He is an excellent evaluator of the game and a quality broadcaster.
The Oilers as an organization are now much smarter in their approach. The Gazdic spot on last year’s graph belonged to Corey Perry, who did much good with it. Moving up and down the depth chart, Perry delivered 19 goals. I imagine that role could go to Ike Howard, but we’ll have to see. Based on Andrew Mangiapane’s usage a year ago, he may also be a candidate for the Perry role:
Five Guys
The five forwards who faced elites most often were Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman and Vasily Podkolzin. I think Podkolzin is getting underrated by many observers, for me he’s tip of the spear for a young group that will hopefully house Howard and Matt Savoie this coming season. Young players who are playing against tough competition.
This group is my “endangered species” population. Skinner and Perry are gone, Janmark is rumoured to be dealt and Henrique is a player we’ll likely see play a lesser role in the season to come. Finally, for kicks, I’ll throw in the Boston Bruins so you can see Trent Frederic from 2024-25:
When I was younger, as many road hockey players wanted to be Dave Semenko as Wayne Gretzky.
The enforcer and the physicality was so well respected. This is what lingers today in me and others.
Standing beside Semenko one day he was an absolute giant. Physically and in sheer presence.
When you have this guy on your side you play just a little bit bigger, you play a little more physical. You push a little harder. Chirp a little more. If things get a little out of hand, you know this guy’s coming.
On the “last great western” piece I have to respectfully throw the Coen Bros. True Grit into the ring, and suspect some may consider No Country for Old Men in that genre as well.
Random aside, while both of the above are just fantastic, for me nothing beats Inside Llewyn Davis in the Coen’s discography.
Now back to hockey!
Very positive that the Oilers largely removed from the bottom left. The replacements were both sheltered though :think
1) Mangiapagne has a history of winning possession in hard min, last year was an outlier
2) Frederik – I dont get any of it with him
3) Ike and Savoie – we’ll see .. on the positive side they arent being asked to replace hard min players
Now fix the goaltending! 🙂 (yes take your time, actually just spend all your time extending 97, the goaltending will be improved on eventually)