Oiler UFA and RFAs

Part 1 – Introductions and Allan Rourke

With the Oilers signing Grebeshkov, Nilsson, and Gilbert early this “off-season” the question comes back what should they do with the other UFAs and RFAs. Now I know that the Oilers have many other RFA contracts (ex. Troy Bodie) but, I will limit these entry to players that have played at least 15 games with the big club.

Introductions:

The UFAs

Player	07/08 team	07/08 compensation	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
Geoff Sanderson	Edmonton	1,500,000	41	3	10	13	-7	16
Marty Reasoner	Edmonton	950,000	82	11	14	25	-17	50
Curtis Glencross	Columbus	522,500	36	6	6	12	+8	25
	Edmonton		26	9	4	13		28
Allan Rourke	Edmonton	475,000	13	0	0	0	-1	5
	Springfield		44	3	11	14	-6	24

The RFAs

Player	07/08 team	07/08 compensation	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
Joni Pitkanen	Edmonton	2,400,000	63	8	18	26	-5	56
Jarret Stoll	Edmonton	2,200,000	81	14	22	36	-23	74
Marc Pouliot	Edmonton	942,000	24	1	6	7	-1	18
	Springfield		55	21	26	47	-11	47
JF Jacques	Edmonton	650,000	9	0	0	0	-3	2
	Springfield		38	11	14	25	-13	63
Danny Syvret	Springfield	567,000	36	1	7	8	0	14
	Hershey		27	1	11	12	-4	29
Zach Stortini	Edmonton	475,000	66	3	9	12	3	201
	Springfield		4	3	2	5	0	21

Now that the introductions are out of the way let’s get down to what the Oilers should do with said players:

UFAs

I will start with Allan Rourke as out of the UFAs he earned the least, so if nothing else he will win at being the first player talked about in this blog.

Originally brought to the club as part of the deal that also brought back the Oilers 3^rd round selection in 2008 (later parlayed into Dustin Penner) for a 2^nd round pick in 2008. Rourke filled the role of utility defensemen when Souray, Tarnstrom, and Greene went down to various injuries from Nov. 10 – Dec. 10. During his time with the big club Rourke suited up for 13 games (the team went 6-6-1), playing an average of 10:55 per game. Which means that he played the equivalent of roughly 2 whole games while the team was playing .500 hockey. However he was dependable enough that he was only -1 during the time.

Now what should the Oilers do? Well with Grebeshkov, Gilbert, Staios, Greene, Souray, Smid already signed and Pitkanen a pending RFA and other prospects knocking on the door, Rourke would be pretty low on the depth chart. Relegating him to Springfield for the length of his new contract barring another rash of injuries. However, I would like to see the Oilers re-sign him as he is the ideal 8^th defensemen reliable and cheap. As well, if nothing else he could enhance the Falcons lineup for the 08-09 season by adding a guy who has been a career AHL player.

Coming Up: Part 2 Glencross – Sanderson