[News] STL places Paajarvi on waivers

[Husky]

Classic example of oilers picks being over hyped. I see the same outcome, to an extent with klefbom.

[Tinordi]

He was never very good because he had below average hands. Big fast kid that matured early but the warning signs were there in his draft year. He couldn't make plays at the speed he was playing, constantly flubbing the puck. He dropped from early rankings as a third overall guy to seventh with many thinking he should have dropped further. He was given a wealth of opportunity in St. Louis to compete and make it as a top nine forward, he didn't. It's not because Edmonton ruined him, he just sucks.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

He was never very good because he had below average hands. Big fast kid that matured early but the warning signs were there in his draft year. He couldn't make plays at the speed he was playing, constantly flubbing the puck. He dropped from early rankings as a third overall guy to seventh with many thinking he should have dropped further. He was given a wealth of opportunity in St. Louis to compete and make it as a top nine forward, he didn't. It's not because Edmonton ruined him, he just sucks.

Not to mention that St. Louis seems to have great player development. If they couldn't get much out of him, it seems unlikely that any other team will.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

He was never very good because he had below average hands. Big fast kid that matured early but the warning signs were there in his draft year. He couldn't make plays at the speed he was playing, constantly flubbing the puck. He dropped from early rankings as a third overall guy to seventh with many thinking he should have dropped further. He was given a wealth of opportunity in St. Louis to compete and make it as a top nine forward, he didn't. It's not because Edmonton ruined him, he just sucks.

He was always decent in close, mucking, garbage goals, that's what he was good at. Didn't have to have the hands to score those, just get in close and bat at the puck. He was rushed physically, shouldn't have played in the NHL that early. If he was brought along slowly he would have gotten stronger and not derailed by injuries.

Hard to give an organization like Edmonton, who continually rush players, the benefit the doubt here.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Hindsight would suggest that this is a guy who matured physically at a young age and pretty much hit his peak at 20 years old, and could not improve after that. Maybe he can carve out 3-4 more years as a crash and bang 4th line winger. But that does appear to be what he is. Maybe he can have a Dan Cleary like resurrection later in his career, but I think that is unlikely.

There's always some interest in reclamation projects for defensemen, you have to be pretty awful to not get sniffs from other teams with the number of games under mps' belt were he a defender. Just look at Paul Ranger or Cam Barker or John Michael Miles.

But as a forward it's much rarer for a guy like mps to hold much interest as almost every team that isn't being managed by Darryl Sutter already has some prospects ready to fill out the bottom part of their forward ranks if injuries or depth issues strike. Those prospects don't cost the waiver fee, don't add a contract, and give gms the opportunity to assess what they got and to build experience/reward hard work.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I see some parallels between MPS and Virtanen. Example of how poor hockey sense can hold a guy back

Curious comparison, given Virtanen is a power forward and Paajarvi is the complete opposite. There are a lot of guys who have failed to reach potential due to a lack of hockey sense - several of them actively play for the Oilers right now.

[Finger Cookin]

Seem to recall that Paajarvi was part of a similar trio as exists today, with Gagner and Cogliano, who were going to be a foundation of an iteration of the rebuild. Or maybe he was always a support beam and Eberle has somehow been a foundation guy for two iterations.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Curious comparison, given Virtanen is a power forward and Paajarvi is the complete opposite. There are a lot of guys who have failed to reach potential due to a lack of hockey sense - several of them actively play for the Oilers right now.

Paajarvi is 6'3, 210lbs. He's a big guy. Not the world's most physical player, but its not a crazy comparison.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Curious comparison, given Virtanen is a power forward and Paajarvi is the complete opposite. There are a lot of guys who have failed to reach potential due to a lack of hockey sense - several of them actively play for the Oilers right now.

Some thought MPS could be a power forward. Dude has a shot and size - but there were questions about his hockey sense and if his offense would translate to the NHL.
Which is probably where the comparison comes for me - the questions being asked about Virtanen are in some ways similar to the questions that were being asked about MPS during his draft year.

Oddly enough I rather liked MPS as a prospect, and I don't care for Virtanen much.

[fanman]

Originally Posted by agulati

Was he part of the 1st or 2nd rebuild

It's hard to tell. They're all blurring together.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Seem to recall that Paajarvi was part of a similar trio as exists today, with Gagner and Cogliano, who were going to be a foundation of an iteration of the rebuild. Or maybe he was always a support beam and Eberle has somehow been a foundation guy for two iterations.

Nilsson (15th overall-2003), Schremp (25th overall-2004), Cogliano (25th overall-2005) and Gagner (6th overall-2007) I would say were the first iteration of the rebuild forwards with Tom Gilbert, who Oiler fans were quick to point out finished 2nd in rookie defenseman scoring - tied with 1st overall Erik Johnson - as the future core on their backend with Dennis Grebeshkov. You may recall having to hear about how well the "Kid Line" was doing for the 2008 Oilers down the stretch, well after there season was over and playoffs were no longer a possibility.

Paajarvi was a transition first rounder between the 2 rebuilds in my opinion.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Here's a nice article for a quick laugh about that era's rebuild:
http://www.nationalpost.com/scripts/...5bff37&k=74781

Originally Posted by Oilers' future looking bright

Attention Toronto Maple Leafs: If you must rebuild, then this is the way to do it.
....
While the rebuilding pain still lies ahead in Toronto, the medicine has been swallowed and the needle suffered in Edmonton. The biggest ache -- a two-year, injury-plagued hiatus from the playoffs -- will soon be behind them. It is unlikely the drought will stretch to a third year next season.

[Locke]

He should sue Youtube for ruining his NHL career.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Locke

He should sue Youtube for ruining his NHL career.

Wasn't that more Omark?

So many hyped up prospects and nothing to show for it.

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Wasn't that more Omark?

So many hyped up prospects and nothing to show for it.

Who, by the way, could be seen diving all over the ice today against Canada in the Spengler Cup...

[Huntingwhale]

To bad for PRV. I thought he'd pan out to be a good top 6 guy. But he's just another big winger who doesn't assert himself physically. The worst thing the Oilers did to him was not send him to the AHL. Prototypical example of what can happen without development time.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Seem to recall that Paajarvi was part of a similar trio as exists today, with Gagner and Cogliano, who were going to be a foundation of an iteration of the rebuild. Or maybe he was always a support beam and Eberle has somehow been a foundation guy for two iterations.

Paajarvi was supposed to form the Oilers "Big three" with Hall and Eberle. He was quickly supplanted in that group by Nugent-Hopkins.

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Some thought MPS could be a power forward. Dude has a shot and size - but there were questions about his hockey sense and if his offense would translate to the NHL.
Which is probably where the comparison comes for me - the questions being asked about Virtanen are in some ways similar to the questions that were being asked about MPS during his draft year.

Oddly enough I rather liked MPS as a prospect, and I don't care for Virtanen much.

The people who thought he could be a power forward thought so based on size only, it was really never part of his game. Virtanen has holes in his game, absolutely, but the one thing he has never been afraid of is getting dirty or powering to the net.

[Vinny01]

Due to his size and draft pedigree I think someone takes a look. Again the Canucks are looking at adding young pieces to their aging group and this fits. Phoenix could also be a team that would look for help at forward.

[FlameZilla]

I'm sure he'll clear.

And then the Oilers will trade Yakupov for him tomorrow.

[keratosis]

Originally Posted by vinny01

due to his size and draft pedigree i think someone takes a look. Again the canucks are looking at adding young pieces to their aging group and this fits. Phoenix could also be a team that would look for help at forward.

$5?