Rewind back to the 2011/2012 season, FAIL FOR NAIL! The Edmonton Oilers were continuing their phase of finishing at the basement of the NHL standings to land a very high first-round draft pick every season. Nail Yakupov was the projected #1 overall pick in that draft. But after selecting Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins first overall the two previous years, along with having Magnus Paajarvi(remember him?), Jordan Eberle, Ales Hemsky, and Sam Gagner joining them in the top six, most of the hockey world imagined the franchise finally using that pick to address their defense, either by using the pick on a defenseman or trading it for one. Oilers management did intend to draft Ryan Murray, but that feeling was vetoed by owner Daryl Katz, insisting that Yakupov be taken first instead. And so with that, then GM Steve Tambellini opted out of pressure to select yet another offense-first forward.
Let me first preface by saying I’ve always loved the PERSON Nail Yakupov. I wasn’t a fan of the PLAYER Nail Yakupov. You put him in the top six with skilled linemates, and he could put up points, but he wasn’t the sort of player who could make his linemates better. Put him in the bottom six, and you’d think he was a healthy scratch every game. If he were a centreman, you could justify 3rd line minutes for depth down the middle. Not the case, however, as he was a one-dimensional winger. The Oilers already had an overabundance of that in the pre-McDavid era. It’s unfortunate because I think Yakupov could’ve had at least a respectable NHL career on another team. It was just a fundamental error by the Oilers to pick him, as he was never the right fit in Edmonton. I firmly believe that this draft decision, along with the hiring of then Coach Dallas Eakins and his swarm defense approach, is what led to the best player in the league becoming an Alberta resident. The Yak Attack’s Theo Fleury impression is the only worthy highlight we have to remember him by.
Murray was taken second overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets, one of eight defensemen in the top 10 of the first round. Of course, Edmonton blew a blatant opportunity. Why wouldn’t they? In a redraft, aside from Murray, I’d have picked Morgan Reilly(5th), Hampus Lindholm(6th), Matt Dumba(7th) or Jacob Trouba(9th). There was also a goalie from Russia in that first round named Andrei, who I’ve heard is pretty decent. You could also make the case that after drafting Oscar Klefbom the same year as RNH(long before his career ending injury), having Jeff Petry(before he was hindered), Justin Schultz(before he was a whipping boy) and eventually drafting Darnell Nurse, they could’ve also entertained offers for the pick to bring in a more experienced blue liner who could handle top 4 minutes. But the past is the past and without the past, we wouldn’t have Connor McDavid. Then Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli thought he corrected this mistake by trading a first and second round pick in 2015 for Griffin Reinhart, taken 4th overall in 2012. Needless to say, the mistake wasn’t fixed. The Oilers didn’t need another forward prospect in 2015 after McDavid anyway. But between Reinhart and Mathew Barzal, who would you want more? Seeing the Bruins pass up on Barzal themselves, as well as Kyle Connor and Thomas Chabot, while having three consecutive first round picks, somewhat redeems how terrible the Reinhart trade wound up being.
Murray, the former Everett Silvertips captain, hasn’t had the same results as the other defensemen I mentioned. It has been an NHL career plagued by injuries. He played in just 37 games for the Stanley Cup winning Avalanche last season. Turning 29 at the end of September, the nine-year veteran has 128 career points in 432 career games and is a career +13. One might believe this signing signaled a potential Tyson Barrie move to free up cap space and have a much cheaper replacement on defense. The way I look at it is that Jay Woodcroft and Dave Manson liked to utilize the 11-7 system on more than one occasion when they took over behind the bench. Icing seven defensemen has benefits, especially if one gets injured mid-game. Last season, Barrie SLIGHTLY improved his defensive play after the coaching change but is still not exactly a guru at defense. Having an experienced and steadier partner might give him more freedom on the ice, knowing that Murray can cover for some of his shortcomings. Philip Broberg can also still be in the lineup and learn while having his development relaxed and not stymied.
With the signing of Murray, GM Ken Holland now finds himself being -400K and some change over the cap, and we’re still waiting on a Ryan McLeod re-signing. Edmonton could occasionally scratch players like Mattias Janmark, Derek Ryan, or Warren Foegele to remain cap compliant, but that would also make it tougher to look for a piece or two at the trade deadline. For now, with Murray becoming the fourth Ryan on the Oilers roster, let’s celebrate FAIL FOR NAIL turning into FRYIN’ WITH RYAN!
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