Edmonton Oilers could benefit from sending down rookies
The Edmonton Oilers entered the 2010-11 season with a crop of rookies and commitment to building their franchise for the future. The arrival of first round draft pick Taylor Hall, along with youngsters Magnus Paajarvi and Jordan Eberle have many in Edmonton
excited for the future of their franchise. The kids have joined the roster and had moderate success so far in this young season, and although Eberle cannot be sent back to junior, the option of sending Hall and Paajarvi back to their development squads has
to be an enticing one for the organization.
The Oilers are expected to struggle once again in 2010-11. The club managed to get younger over the summer, but did not do much to ensure an improved line-up for the new campaign. Instead the Oilers are keen on building and accumulating youngsters and draft
picks in the hope that it will pay off down the line. Three key cogs in the Oilers' future are Eberle, Hall and Pajaarvi. All three of these youngsters have tremendous potential and are expected to be top performers in the NHL as they develop. However, the
organization still needs to decide the best way to bring along the three blue-chip prospects.
Eberle cannot be sent back to junior, as he is 20 years old and played his over-year in the Western Hockey League last season. Understandably Eberle has had the most early season success, leading the threesome with three points in five games. The question
the Oilers need to answer is whether Eberle would be better suited to a season in the American Hockey League, where he would garner more ice time.
Eberle enjoyed a short stint with the Oilers' affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, last season, notching 14 points in 11 games. Perhaps this shows that the winger is ready for the jump to the NHL level. Conversely, Edmonton could send Eberle down, where he
would have an increased role and gain confidence, instead of spending a year on a floundering Edmonton side. Regardless of the club’s course of action with Eberle they are required to burn a year of his modest three–year entry level contract.
Meanwhile, the club has several options they can exercise with Paajarvi. The 19-year-old Swede has accumulated two points in five games this season and has not looked entirely out of place in the world’s most competitive league. Of the three players, the
Oilers may be most inclined to keep Paajarvi in the NHL. The winger developed in Sweden playing for the Elite League side, Timra IK. This means the club is going to have to use up the first year of Paajarvi’s contract in 2010-11 whether they want to or not.
However, the left-winger has two seasons of experience playing with men in Sweden and is maybe the most suited to the NHL game at this time. The Oilers need to decide whether they want Paajarvi playing a limited role with the big club, or getting plenty
of ice time with their AHL affiliate.
The final, and perhaps the most complicated decision, the Oilers have to make, is whether or not to send rookie sensation Hall back down to junior. If Edmonton decides to send Hall back to junior, in order to play out his final year with the Ontario Hockey
League’s Windsor Spitfires, they can save a year on his contract, delaying the start of his entry level deal by a year.
Moreover, Hall will develop a great deal in the OHL, where he is certain to play a major role on a Spitfire side that could once again contend for the Memorial Cup. Regardless of the decision Edmonton makes they will have to come to an agreement before the
ninth game of the season when the first year of Hall’s contract comes into effect.
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