SOB for MVP Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 The Edmonton Oilers have issued qualifying offers to seven players whose contracts are expiring and are eligible to become restricted free agents, GM Steve Tambellini announced minutes ago. Offers have been extended to goaltender Devan Dubnyk, defencemen Jeff Petry, Theo Peckham, and Alex Plante, and forwards Sam Gagner, Chris VandeVelde and Linus Omark. The latter is of particular interest given Omark’s highly-public plea on Twitter for the club to give him a chance elsewhere. Not so fast, Linus, as the club has been unable to trade him, and is apparently unwilling to see him walk away to another NHL team. He’ll need to walk on water instead, likely to the KHL or the Eliteserein in his native Sweden. If he chose to sign an offer sheet with another NHL team, Oilers would have the right to match or (more likely) accept compensation. The other alternative is that Oilers could sign him to a decently-priced two-way contract that would be attractive to other NHL teams in the trade market. Not an ideal situation for the talented Swede, but that’s why they call it “restricted” free agency — the club has the options, and they intend to use at least some of them apparently. What’s often most interesting about lists like above is the names that are not announced as they slip quietly into the club’s past. Of the nine potential RFA’s who saw time with the Oilers this past season, two were not qualified, namely Cam Barker and Taylor Chorney. Both were billed as mobile puck-moving defencemen, but neither was able to seize the day with the big club. In Chorney’s case he was afforded a number of opportunities since leaving college in 2008. He was given at least a cup of coffee with the Oil in all four seasons since, a total of 59 games during which time he posted just 1-6-7 and a scary-bad 31. Of course the lion’s share of that opportunity came on the 2009-10 team under Pat Quinn, where he was given a ton of own-zone starts while mostly partnered with Jason Strudwick and playing in front of another rookie, Jeff Deslauriers. Not an ideal situation for any kid, but in truth Chorney seemed overwhelmed. In much briefer appearances in subsequent years he has never made much of an impression, and didn’t in a brief trial with St. Louis Blues this past season, who claimed him off waivers, then returned him to the Oilers a month later after just two appearances. Barker meanwhile was an expensive mistake, but just an annual, not a perennial. The Oilers signed him last summer to a $2.25 MM dollar contract which, combined with the 1/3 buyout of his old deal which Minnesota had to pay him, made him the rare case of player who effectively got a raise in the process of being bought out. He played just 25 games for the Oilers, sidelined for an extended period with an ankle injury, but ineffective both before he went down and after he returned. Barker scored just two points on the season. Besides Omark, the other players who have been extended are all fairly obvious decisions, even as Oiler fans patiently wait for the likes of Plante and Peckham to make that next step. There’s a reason that clubs retain rights for seven years, it takes many young players, especially d-men, most of that time to prove their worth. More to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connauton Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Oh boy, feel bad for Barker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billabong Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 i would give barker a 1yr/2m....one of these days he is gonna find a team that works for him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EternalCanuckFan Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 If Barker's not snapped up in free agency, I would offer him a chance to try-out at training camp. His stock has fallen a lot in the last few years but he did play quite well when he first started out in Chicago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billabong Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 omark is a cancer....why wouldnt you consider yourself lucky that you can just let him walk??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashian Kassian Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 If we could get Barker for relatively cheap I wouldnt mind bringing him here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassian Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Is our defense really THAT bad people are wanting to sign Barker? Are you being serious? He's struggled with alcohol addiction ever since he was young, doesn't put up much points and is absolutely dreadful defensively at times. To be honest, I wouldn't even sign him to play for the Wolves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susraiders Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I like the way that Barker plays. I wouldn't mind him if he were to accept a big pay cut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry Goose Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Is our defense really THAT bad people are wanting to sign Barker? Are you being serious? He's struggled with alcohol addiction ever since he was young, doesn't put up much points and is absolutely dreadful defensively at times. To be honest, I wouldn't even sign him to play for the Wolves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedman Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Barker is clearly not the same player he was 3 years ago. He ruined his career with the alcoholic problems most likely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.Doughty Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Barker was drafted 3rd overal... just letting everyone know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linden_Kesler Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I don't get that people are glad we let Gragnani and Rome walk but think we should go after Barker. Really? I don't want to keep either guy but both are better then Barker at this point. This isn't the Barker from the Blackhawks that had a decent season a few years ago. This is a shell of his former self. If you want a former 1st round d-man who under achieved, we could keep Parent who is better in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpursCanuck Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 Barker has just lost his way...he'll come back, mark my words, was excellent for the Hawks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Garrison Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 Barker is a 90 overall beast in my NHL12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unknown33429 Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 If we could get Barker for relatively cheap I wouldnt mind bringing him here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashian Kassian Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 He couldn't cut it in Edmonton.......Edmonton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unknown33429 Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 Yeah I said cheap, he wasn't brutal in Edmonton, and if we got him for a cheap price he would be a big upgrade on Alberts and Rome. I would certainly take him as a 7th guy wouldn't you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashian Kassian Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 Normally yes, but something tells me he still has some demons. Edmonton, I think, was his second chance but he must still have issues, assuming all the alcoholism stories are true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NucksBruins Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 He couldn't cut it in Edmonton.......Edmonton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marleau_12 Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 People just wanna take a chance on everybody. Jesus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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