I'm extremely high on Klefbom but I have a tough time seeing the Oilers making the playoffs if all three of Schultz, Klefbom, and Petry are getting consistent minutes. I would much rather see them give Klefbom one more season over in Sweden and sign a veteran stop-gap or bring in a legit top 4 guy like Hjalmarsson.
Worst case scenario, Klefbom comes over next year and we don't resign Whitney.
I hope he comes to camp and maybe plays in a preseason game or two, but I definitely think he should be in the SEL this year. 2013/14 would be a good year for him to make his NHL debut.
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the sooner we get klefbom in the lineup the better. no need to delay his and the teams development in the AHL/SEL if he is NHL ready and makes the cut.
Let's burn another teen by rushing them into the NHL.
Unfortuantely that is just what will happen if he came to camp in earnest and had an out in his sweden contract. The oilers vets are so totally and purely horrendous any 18 - 19 year old kid will make the roster. This goes back to cogliano and gagner.
I think it would be better to have Klefbom in the AHL this year than to have him in the SEL. It will allow him to adjust to the north American game before starting in the nhl
the sooner we get klefbom in the lineup the better. no need to delay his and the teams development in the AHL/SEL if he is NHL ready and makes the cut.
That's just it though... being NHL ready should mean he can play in the lineup for basically any team in the NHL... not just the mediocre Oilers because they have no other decent options.
Not sure if it's official thats hes coming for main camp but I hope he does, I would personally like him to stay in Sweden for another year to hopefully put up some more points then I would put him in the AHL for 1 full year so he can get use to the small ice.
There is no need to rush this kid especially with Justin Schultz in the fold for next year.
the sooner we get klefbom in the lineup the better. no need to delay his and the teams development in the AHL/SEL if he is NHL ready and makes the cut.
With Schultz and Petry, this is an excellent way to get another lottery pick and burn out at least one good defence prospect.
-our top 6, and dubnyk will have matured a large part since last year
-we have a different defense since last year with whitney healed up and schultz coming over from minny, as well as petry maturing and taking over huge minutes from gilbert the give away machine last year
-a new coach and coaching system, with the addition of yakupov and a probably matured paajarvi
these factors alone will take us out of the lottery ... throw in the fact that you cant call up klefbom from the SEL when our d-corps drops like flies again, and it only makes sense to have him over here.. he is a stud he belongs here, he was a steal at his draft position and will surely provide a better presence than tueberts pylon tactics. the deciding factor for me would be simply building a team chemistry with the guys as soon as possible so he can gel with the coach, guys and doobie,and to start learning the system as soon as possible..
That would be a bit of an bad decision if that promise by Kreuger is true.
I'd perfer to see Klefbom in the AHL this year over the SEL to prepare him for NA hockey and the NHL, but straight to the NHL is bad news for both the player and the team. A double whammy of dumping another 19/20 year old into the toughest position in hockey at it's highest level, and what it says about the team's lack of ambition for next year and it's unwillingness to shore up some major issues on defense.
I know people are saying "well, you have to start competing for the playoffs now right?", but if Klefbom is on the roster next year they are gunning for another lottery pick year. One complete unknown on defense(Shultz) is enough to make for a lot of mistakes incoming as it is.
That would be a bit of an bad decision if that promise by Kreuger is true.
I'd perfer to see Klefbom in the AHL this year over the SEL to prepare him for NA hockey and the NHL, but straight to the NHL is bad news for both the player and the team. A double whammy of dumping another 19/20 year old into the toughest position in hockey at it's highest level, and what it says about the team's lack of ambition for next year and it's unwillingness to shore up some major issues on defense.
I know people are saying "well, you have to start competing for the playoffs now right?", but if Klefbom is on the roster next year they are gunning for another lottery pick year. One complete unknown on defense(Shultz) is enough to make for a lot of mistakes incoming as it is.
Having watched the kid play all weekend at the development camp, I think he is NHL ready. That said, I would vastly prefer it if he has a year to dominate in the SEL to shore up his confidence, especially, offensively.
bottom line is if Klefbom comes to camp and makes the team based on his skill and ability to read the game then why bother sending him anywhere? if he shows up and looks to be nhl ready and top 4 ready which is plausable as he has been playing against men since 16, then let the kid play. we arent handing over spots here, if he earns it he earns it. the whole he should go to sweden and put up points agruement is nonsense. he should only go back to play in SEL if he isnt NHL ready, not because we want him to not be rushed.
bottom line is if Klefbom comes to camp and makes the team based on his skill and ability to read the game then why bother sending him anywhere? if he shows up and looks to be nhl ready and top 4 ready which is plausable as he has been playing against men since 16, then let the kid play. we arent handing over spots here, if he earns it he earns it. the whole he should go to sweden and put up points agruement is nonsense. he should only go back to play in SEL if he isnt NHL ready, not because we want him to not be rushed.
No one is saying Klefbom is too small:
and there is a big difference between the development path of the most talented forward born in 1993 and a 20 year old defenseman.
The only way bringing in Klefbom makes sense is if we strike out in free agency/trades (no Hjalmarsson etc.) AND if J. Schultz looks developed and ready for top 4 minutes.
I have a tough time seeing that work out if the Oilers are sincerely looking to make the playoffs but it would give us the following defence:
Petry-Smid
Schultz-Schultz
Klefbom-Whitney
I'd feel a lot more comfortable bringing in a veteran for the year (and then potentially having Klefbom replace Whitney next season) but we'll see what happens.
Can't see why it's so difficult and everyone's worried he'll be ruined. Isn't that what training camp is for?
If he's better then our 7th dman he plays on the team.. if he's not he goes back.
If he's on the bubble they have a decision to make. My guess is he'd go back.
And when I say better I mean it's pretty obvious he's outperforming Peckham, Potter, Sutton. I think that would be pretty hard to do but once again that's what training camp is for.
not really, it should be the same constant as the draft
always draft BPA
always have the best players in camp on your team
"hey this yakupov is really special, but he is a winger and we need a goalie so we'll take subban 1st overall"
is equally as stupid as
"wow Klefbom is heads and shoulders above peckham and potter, he is a true talent.........lets send him back to Sweden"
the oilers job is to ice the best team possible, if they feel he makes the team better, he should stay. If not continue him on his development path.
Those two scenarios are completely different. Of course you should always draft the BPA, but sometimes it's in the organization's long term interests to ensure that a player is developed properly and not rushed in the NHL. For example, When Gagner was 18, he made the Oilers because he was the best option the Oilers had for a center on their NHL roster. But it may have been in his better interests to play another year in the juniors and ensure he was developing properly.
Those two scenarios are completely different. Of course you should always draft the BPA, but sometimes it's in the organization's long term interests to ensure that a player is developed properly and not rushed in the NHL. For example, When Gagner was 18, he made the Oilers because he was the best option the Oilers had for a center on their NHL roster. But it may have been in his better interests to play another year in the juniors and ensure he was developing properly.
so going back to London and putting up 150pts while still not playing defensively would have been better for Gagner? it could be easily argued that gagner has progressed effectively defensively and i dont think another year of JR would have done anything beneficial for him. he was ready for the NHL.
How can you say "developed properly" when the player is going to play in another league away from your coaching staff and control? unless he is going to OKC where the oilers have an overwatch of the development. If he is mentally and physically ready to play in the NHL then you play him. Develop him everyday in practice and over 82 games.
Those two scenarios are completely different. Of course you should always draft the BPA, but sometimes it's in the organization's long term interests to ensure that a player is developed properly and not rushed in the NHL. For example, When Gagner was 18, he made the Oilers because he was the best option the Oilers had for a center on their NHL roster. But it may have been in his better interests to play another year in the juniors and ensure he was developing properly.
I don't buy the developing crap. No one is going to convince me that Sam Gagner would magically be a point per game player in the NHL now if he went back to Junior for a year or two.
Some players just keep getting better and some level off. That's probably the hardest thing about scouting is determining who is still improving their game and who isn't.
so going back to London and putting up 150pts while still not playing defensively would have been better for Gagner?
Possibly, nobody knows for sure. Another year to develop confidence, physical maturity, etc. before playing against men may have helped him out, or it may not have. But there are lots of cases where players were probably thrown into the NHL before they were ready to handle it. They may have been the most talented player in their teams' camps, but that doesn't necessarily mean they should be on the team.
For Klefbom, maybe in camp we determine he's worth playing on the bottom pairing. Is he better served to play minimal minutes at the NHL level or play big minutes in the SEL?
