The Oilers sent defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron and a third-round draft pick in 2008 to the New York Islanders in exchange for blue-liner Denis Grebeshkov.
-CP
Let's face it, MAB has been given plenty of opportunities to succeed in his time with the Oilers, and with the exception of the odd top corner slap shot, he failed miserably.
He had a real tough start to the season, but he managed to get his shit together around game 10. For the next 20 odd games, he looked like a genuine NHL defenseman and powerplay threat. However, his last stretch of games have been nothing short of terrible.
Last 18 Oiler games (Up to and including January 8th):
Smith: 18 Games, EVEN
Hejda: 18 Games, EVEN
Staios: 11 Games, EVEN
Smid: 16 Games, +1
Greene: 17 Games, -3
Bergeron: 18 Games, -11
Also, it's not like he put up those numbers against quality NHL competition. According to Behindthenet, MAB has been playing extremely soft minutes this year:
Jason Smith: 16th
Jan Hejda: 28th
Ladislav Smid: 95th
Steve Staios: 122th
Matt Greene: 457th
Marc-Andre Bergeron: 517th
I think MABs recent stretch of poor play was the nail in his Oiler coffin. There's a point where you just have to say to yourself "this guy isn't going to get any better" and move on. Bergeron is a 26 year old bottom pairing defenseman, who possesses good tools but just can't seem to get his head in the game. Generally, if a player reaches that age and has not at the very least shown progress in his ability to think the game, I think it's time to move on.
2 comments:
This guy has the talent, but couldn't put it together or keep it together. I'm tired of trading for the future, it's time to trade for actual veteren NHL players.
And to further your point on suckyness that is MAB, we had to throw in a third rounder just so the Islanders would take him.
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