Willis: Oilers fleeced Flames in Smid trade

[Cowboy89]

I don't even think he's reading into those numbers correctly either. The summary of his article is that if you paired any of Calgary's 1-4 D with their #5 D, the #1-4 D-men have worse numbers than when they play with their usual better d-partner. This just highlights that Calgary has 4 better d-men than Smid, and says nothing about how good or bad Edmonton's D is compared to Smid.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

I don't even think he's reading into those numbers correctly either. The summary of his article is that if you paired any of Calgary's 1-4 D with their #5 D, the #1-4 D-men have worse numbers than when they play with their usual better d-partner. This just highlights that Calgary has 4 better d-men than Smid, and says nothing about how good or bad Edmonton's D is compared to Smid.

Bingo. Willis needs to compare how those guys did with and without the other bottom pairing defencemen.

That being said, if he wanted to pen a blog entry about how Smid doesn't make his defensive partners better, that's one thing. But the claim that Edmonton "fleeced" us when they got nothing of NHL calibre in return is pretty funny.

[Enoch Root]

Willis got one thing right: this trade was a fleecing

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

I'm not sure either team got an NHL player or lost anything of value so it's a weird trade to revisit.

Even more bizarre that someone would spend energy on an article comparing performance of bottom pairing plugs. Maybe next he'll revisit the career arcs of Harvey and MacT and declare a winner in the tongue grab of 2007 (or whenever it was)

I don't think you know the definition of NHL player

[old-fart]

Was just going to post the same thing.

You mean Brodie posts better numbers with Gio than with Smid? You don't say.... what brilliant insight. And Gio posts better numbers with Brodie than with Smid? Wow... that's amazing. Wideman posts better numbers with Russel than Smid, and Russel posts better numbers with Wideman than Smid? That's some cracker jack analysis there Willis.

All this really shows is that the Flames are not morons and recognize that Smid is a third pairing guy, not a first pairing guy. Congrats. We got a third pairing D man that is a heart and soul guy, will block a shot with his face, can play the body and move people out from in front of the net and is well liked in the room.

Edmonton on the other hand got an ECHL goalie, and a guy that would rather play in Russia than in Edmonton.

On no planet other than "Tier 1 fan in Edmonton-land" is this a fleecing by Edmonton. I think any NHL GM not named MacTipsy would take a 3rd pairing NHL defenceman for an ECHL goalie. The fact Edmonton misused that defenceman and put themselves in a difficult position due to the cap and their need for a goalie just makes it more funny.

The additional fact that Willis loved the signing of Smid and was extolling his virtues less than 6 months before the trade ruin all his credibility on the subject.

[trumpethead]

Here's my chart:

Nuge-Hop 23 78.3% -0.0045 seven
Hall 62 55.3% -400.1 kool-aid
Schultz 19 9.3% -3.658 monkey
Yak 77 -12.2% +43.27 slingshot

I think it is fairly evident what this chart proves, so I wont waste anybody's time explaining what the numbers mean.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by getbak

Brossoit's AHL numbers are ugly:

2014-15 : OKC : 2 GP | 8 GA | 52 Saves | 4.07 GAA | 0.867 SV% | 0W/2L
2013-14 : OKC : 8 GP | 25GA | 199Saves | 3.60 GAA | 0.888 SV% | 2W/5L
2013-14 : ABB : 2 GP | 9 GA | 42 Saves | 5.72 GAA | 0.824 SV% | 0W/1L

Well these are the Oilers, so 2-8 and only allowing about 4 goals per game are good numbers.

[BigErnSalute_16]

This article is ridiculous, we already know that Brodie and Gio are much better together than they are apart so their stats with smid are irrelevant because they would have only played with him when the other was hurt, wideman and butler were only marginally held back by him last year. and this year widemans numbers look a lot better without smid because when he isnt with smid he is playing with Russell or Gio/brodie on the power play. That only leaves obrien as having negative numbers with smid and he was buried making him irrelevant too. Then Wotherspoon and engelland both have slightly positive numbers meaning that they are good matches for each other


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[zukes]

Originally Posted by trumpethead

Here's my chart:

Nuge-Hop 23 78.3% -0.0045 seven
Hall 62 55.3% -400.1 kool-aid
Schultz 19 9.3% -3.658 monkey
Yak 77 -12.2% +43.27 slingshot

I think it is fairly evident what this chart proves, so I wont waste anybody's time explaining what the numbers mean.

I can't stop laughing at this. Well, done!

[Biyaaaah]

Highest ice time for dmen in the last edm game went to Schultz and Hunt. 2 AHL dmen who couldn't even crack the flames roster.

Oil give away a roster player for zero return and lets be honest they don't have enough roster players to field an NHL roster. LOL

[Dion]

There was an excellent comment at the end of the article....

Kevin Collins · Mount Royal University

Fleeced?!?! Marginal NHL defenceman for two prospects that have yet to show any inclination that they will ever dawn an Oilers jersey? Flames received an NHL player while the Oilers received a forward who now plays in Russia and a goalie who plays in the AHL's farm league (ECHL). Essentially an NHL defenceman for nothing, yet the flames got fleeced due to possession stats? Absolutely terrible journalism.

[Rerun]

This was posted in the comments section of the blog...

Kevin Collins · Mount Royal University
Fleeced?!?! Marginal NHL defenceman for two prospects that have yet to show any inclination that they will ever dawn an Oilers jersey? Flames received an NHL player while the Oilers received a forward who now plays in Russia and a goalie who plays in the AHL's farm league (ECHL). Essentially an NHL defenceman for nothing, yet the flames got fleeced due to possession stats? Absolutely terrible journalism.

Michael Thomas Burris · Front-Office Manager at Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton In Lethbridge, Alberta
It appears the Edmonton Journal is completely already with their "writers" doing their job under the influence. What a terrible and inaccurate article.

Paul Tattrie · Memorial Composite High School
Thats some powerful glue your sniffing there Willis.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[topfiverecords]

I think the Edmonton Journal got fleeced.

[Vinny01]

My favorite part of the trade was the Oiler fans were absolutely devestated. Reading the HF thread about the trade was pure joy for me. For years earlier we had to listen how Smid was a top 4 or even top pairing Dman and the second they traded him he was an overpriced bottom pairing guy. Well he is a bottom pairing guy but he is exactly what we needed. Tee living even paid a premium to bring in another Dman that is similar in Engellend. Having some beef on the third pair is a great thing and I am happy the flames made that deal. Smid is only 28 and hasn't necessarily hit his peak yet, and at his age he has several more solid years ahead

[bettman]

Willis is another guy, that media guys never see. They just sit on their computer and speculate without showing up at NHL team games and practices. He is an Oiler fan with editorial license. Dangerously misinformed.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

The one nice attraction to living in the Bizarro World of Willis: We can pretend we fleeced the Leafs 22 years ago.

[getbak]

The Edmonton Journal did get one thing right, they named their Oilers blog, "Cult of Hockey".


"The Lowe is good. The Lowe is great. We surrender our will as of this date."

[T@T]

Haven't heard of this Willis guy before but he's good for a laugh at least.

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Horak should be on their team, but he bolted because he didn't get a fair shake. Seriously, with the C depth they have, how was Horak not on the team from the first day of the trade? Guy is a good player.

Yea, I think 2 games in the NHL all year sent him over the edge.

I believe he was trying to ask Oilers Management for a one way contract this season in hopes of being a 3 or 4th liner with the Oilers and spending less time in the AHL because he already proved he was a strong player during the 2013-14 season and they laughed and said he'd get a 2 way and that he was going to be a foundation piece for the AHL team.

He left to one of the worst teams in the KHL to get top minutes and prove himself. So far, so good. His faceoff % is pretty decent and he's been a scoring machine. Hopefully his rights will be traded at the end of this season (KHL contract expires in April 2015) and he'll get another chance.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Drury18

Yea, I think 2 games in the NHL all year sent him over the edge.

I believe he was trying to ask Oilers Management for a one way contract this season in hopes of being a 3 or 4th liner with the Oilers and spending less time in the AHL because he already proved he was a strong player during the 2013-14 season and they laughed and said he'd get a 2 way and that he was going to be a foundation piece for the AHL team.

He left to one of the worst teams in the KHL to get top minutes and prove himself. So far, so good. His faceoff % is pretty decent and he's been a scoring machine. Hopefully his rights will be traded at the end of this season (KHL contract expires in April 2015) and he'll get another chance.

Does Mulletville keep his rights "forever". If he plays 10 yrs in the KHL then wants to come back would he still belong to that burning mess up north?