[Signing] Oilers sign Nikita Nikitin (2yrs, $4.5mil AAV). Blue Jackets get 5th round pick.

[Ozy_Flame]

I think it's a good signing for the Oilers. It's a step in the right direction, as long as they know they need more than that. Nikitin should also not be put into a 1-2 position either. But he probably will.

[EldrickOnIce]

[Bandwagon In Flames]

That is some very sheltered minutes. He'll definitely be against tougher competition on the Oiler's blue-line. Lets see how he handles it.

4.5 is looking a bit steep now for a player who has only played bottom pairing minutes in the NHL. Also a bit young to have demanded so much, but hey it's Edmonton.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ruttiger

Seemed to go sideways for him in Columbus after Richards took over as coach. Will be interesting to see if a change of scenery helps and what effect Craig Ramsay can have when he gets to work with Nikitin.

Fingers crossed.

It isn't just what Ramsay can do with the defencemen he has, but if Eakins can actually convince his forwards to give a damn about defence as a whole. Until and unless Edmonton starts to commit to team defence (in the legitimate sense, not that swarm nonsense), anybody is going to drown on that blue line.

Nikitin is a decent start, but he is merely the first piece of about a half dozen required - and those pieces still missing need to be better than Nikitin is.

[Lanny_McDonald]

This has to guarantee Schultz is going to join the 6x6 club in Edmonton. Good times.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Where are these charts from?

[Arsenal14]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Where are these charts from?

http://www.hockeyabstract.com/playerusagecharts

Assuming he hasn't changed the default values the size of the bubbles relates to the average ice time and the color is related to Corsi - blue is better as far as I can tell. So Nikitin plays against terrible competition, relatively few minutes and Columbus allows more shot attempts against than they get when he's on the ice.

[EldrickOnIce]

^Left everything as default
Yep... darker blue better/darker brown worse, bigger bubble equal more icetime, further right equals more offensive zone starts, higher on chart equals better competition

So Tyutin/Johnson are there shutdown pair. Start in defensive zone against the toughest competition.

Murray/Wisniewski their offensive/two way guys - starting most often in the offensive zone and outshooting the opposition when on the ice.

They are trying to hide Savard and Niktinin, sheltering them against competition and defensive zone starts. Not tremendously successfully either...

For reference, Flames is hidden below:

Spoiler!

[Ruttiger]

Originally Posted by codynw

A change of scenery will definitely help. He's a shoe in for the Norris trophy, obviously.

If you say so.

[Ruttiger]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

It isn't just what Ramsay can do with the defencemen he has, but if Eakins can actually convince his forwards to give a damn about defence as a whole. Until and unless Edmonton starts to commit to team defence (in the legitimate sense, not that swarm nonsense), anybody is going to drown on that blue line.

Nikitin is a decent start, but he is merely the first piece of about a half dozen required - and those pieces still missing need to be better than Nikitin is.

They abandoned "the swarm" before the first half of the season was over.....much like a number of their forwards tend to abandon their D zone responsibilities.

[Red John]

$4.5 million/year for a third-pairing defenseman.

The Smid trade just gets funnier and funnier.

[howard_the_duck]

What an absolute mess in Edmonton. There is zero excuse to pay a 3rd pairing defenceman this kind of money. Once again just a total lack of a plan - round and round we go.

[MoneyGuy]

For the two years they'll need for guys like Klefbom, Marincin, Nurse and maybe Ekblad (??) to be ready, this is a good move. There are some good D prospects..

[timbit]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

There are some good D prospects..

They are no good.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Red John

$4.5 million/year for a third-pairing defenseman.

The Smid trade just gets funnier and funnier.

He was heathy scratched for 8 games and 7th in icetime..not even a full time third-pairing defenseman.

Oilers

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by T@T

He was heathy scratched for 8 games and 7th in icetime..not even a full time third-pairing defenseman.

NShultz, acquired from the Oilers at deadline, bumped him from the lineup on several occasions down the stretch and in the playoffs.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

NShultz, acquired from the Oilers at deadline, bumped him from the lineup on several occasions down the stretch and in the playoffs.

LOL that's fantastic.

Speaking of Shultz, after seeing this Justin and his agent must be drooling.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

I realize this is a Flames board but can we please maintain some semblance of reality?

4.5 is absolutely fair for a guy who would play 2nd pairing minutes on half the teams in the league and certainly in Edmonton.
...

Sure it's fair, but are you suggesting Nikitin is that guy?

[neo45]

Howson is probably a big Nikitin fan. One of his first moves as GM, and one of his only decent moves was trading Russel for him I believe

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by neo45

Howson is probably a big Nikitin fan. One of his first moves as GM, and one of his only decent moves was trading Russel for him I believe

Pure comic gold. They never fail to rely on the old boys club.

Just the Oilers being the Oilers