If not, then he would have been qualified by the Oilers....in which case he would rather play for a guarenteed check in Sweden, then flip/flop between the NHL and the minors. If this is the case, why are we even remotely sad about losing a bubble player who would rather get a guarenteed check then possibly play in the NHL. That doesn't say "team first character guy" to me.
Bad call. With all the prospects we're likely sending to OKC next year? Pretty sure Reddox knew which guys were going to start getting the ice time and first call-ups. He wasn't a "prospect" for this team anymore.
It's probably to his disadvantage that he played enough NHL games this year that he's an RFA instead of a UFA. He might have signed on with another NHL team without much depth where he could have earned a call-up and become their Toby Petersen.
I really respect the way Reddox turned around his career. He was more of an offense-first guy coming out of junior who found himself in the ECHL when that offense wasn't good enough for the next level. He figured it out, changed his game and worked his ass off to make it to the show. Good for him and I hope he does well in Sweden.
That is a terrible read on the subject IMO. His agent likely knew what his options were and he was probably tired of the AHL scene or wasn't offered a high enough salary in the AHL to make it worth his while. He is not a superstar and he needs to maximize his earnings as hockey careers don't usually last until a person's retirement age. This guy was as much of a team guy as there was I don't see how anyone could question that of him?
Agreed BBO. Reddox is a RFA IIRC. The Oilers probably offered a two-way contract where he would be earning $60K or something if he was sent to the minors again. Considering the logjam for small forwards on the NHL roster, the choice was probably easy when SEL came along to offer several times the AHL Salary.
As for Reddox's commitment, ekcut must not know anything of Reddox's history. The Oilers sent him down to the ECHL, and Reddox changed his game from scorer to defensive workhorse and worked his butt off to make it back to the AHL. Not a high draft pick, he outplayed and outworked other players to earn his way into the NHL, not once, but three times with three different coaches (MacT, Quinn, Renney).
Agreed BBO. Reddox is a RFA IIRC. The Oilers probably offered a two-way contract where he would be earning $60K or something if he was sent to the minors again. Considering the logjam for small forwards on the NHL roster, the choice was probably easy when SEL came along to offer several times the AHL Salary.
As for Reddox's commitment, ekcut must not know anything of Reddox's history. The Oilers sent him down to the ECHL, and Reddox changed his game from scorer to defensive workhorse and worked his butt off to make it back to the AHL. Not a high draft pick, he outplayed and outworked other players to earn his way into the NHL, not once, but three times with three different coaches (MacT, Quinn, Renney).
Work ethic and team play were never question marks with the kid it was basically size and offensive skill that help him back. That said he worked his tail off to get to where he was and that deserves some respect IMO.
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It's too bad. Our PK improved significantly the same point he was called up to the Oilers. We needed PK help before, but it's even more important the more quality penalty killers we lose.
Actually I think our PK improved when we decided the diamond formation wasnt going to work and went back to the Box.
On Reddox, just not good enough to be a NHL'er. He was a injury waiting to happen in the NHL. Good luck in Sweden
He's expendable only if his role is replaced adequately. Throwing another rookie into the bottom six who can't PK worth crap doesn't help the Oilers compete.
When the Oilers finish 30th in the PK, and one of the better PK'ers leave, let's hope the management have an answer in mind. If not, it's probably another lottery finish in 2012.
Reddox is going to be the deciding factor on whether or not the Oilers are a lottery team. Okay. Anyways good for Reddox, all the best to him, I really grew to like him over last year.
Reddox is going to be the deciding factor on whether or not the Oilers are a lottery team. Okay. Anyways good for Reddox, all the best to him, I really grew to like him over last year.
Nope, not saying that. I'm saying the role of a decent Pk'er is. Most bottom five NHL teams usually finish bottom five in penalty killing as well. There's a correlation there. If the Oilers return with a similar or even worse penalty killing performance next season, don't expect the Oilers to challenge or a playoff spot.
I don't see Hartikainen as a replacement for Reddox. I see Hartikainen as a replacement for Jacques, or hopefully even Penner (less offensive, more physical boardworker).
I don't see Hartikainen as a replacement for Reddox. I see Hartikainen as a replacement for Jacques, or hopefully even Penner (less offensive, more physical boardworker).
I really didnt see Reddox as a very important PK'er. The reason our PK improved was because they changed from a diamond style no one in the NHL uses to the Box.
Cant Eberle take Reddox's spot on the PK this year being another year older? I think so. Also Cogliano's PK time went way way up this year, I would say he was more important to our PK than Reddox.
If he was that little bit bigger he would have been a great 4th line energy player. Problem was he was small and a lot of the Oilers are small so it wasn't a great fit. Think he will do well in Sweden!
Nope, not saying that. I'm saying the role of a decent Pk'er is. Most bottom five NHL teams usually finish bottom five in penalty killing as well. There's a correlation there. If the Oilers return with a similar or even worse penalty killing performance next season, don't expect the Oilers to challenge or a playoff spot.
?? Of course there's a correlation there..except in reverse. I'm sure if you check, the Oilers were in the bottom 5 in just about every other important category as well, including points, goals for/against, PP points, plus/minus, etc....
The 'correlation' is we were a poor team. The PK was just another aspect of that and it didn't really matter if we had Reddox or not. What we need are a couple of good players, better goal tending, better system play, better faceoffs...
Funny thing is, fix those and we will improve on the rest, including winning..
I really didnt see Reddox as a very important PK'er. The reason our PK improved was because they changed from a diamond style no one in the NHL uses to the Box.
Cant Eberle take Reddox's spot on the PK this year being another year older? I think so. Also Cogliano's PK time went way way up this year, I would say he was more important to our PK than Reddox.
I'd be more apt to try Paarjarvi there. He has size, speed, reach and is defensively aware already...
Good for him. Reddox has an incredible work ethic and managed to will his way on to this team, but anyone can see there is no place for him moving forward. He may have squeezed one more year out of being a "tweener" with the Oilers, but in the end he's too small for the bottom six and doesn't have enough skill for the top six. I wish him all the best though, seems like a heck of a guy.
Good news for Liam. Maybe he will come back as a better player and get a better opportunity, or maybe just have a good career over there. He deserves the opportunity and will certainly work hard for it.
