The Ryan Jones/Oilers thread

[robcynd]

Hey guys, I'm a big Ryan Jones fan, I think he's a really good grinding/finesse player.

Nashville let him go to waivers last year, and Edm. picked him up.

What I don't get is that since he entered the NHL he's had limited playing time (under 8:00 a game).

He does well with that time, but the Preds let him go?

I don't get it. The Oilers are making me mad too, they are playing him 3-7 minutes a game, which isn't any time to do anything nice, but he's still doing well.

He got a goal tonight, and he has 6 minutes in the 3rd thus far...

Look if you don't play you can't score or do the things that help your team win. I think Jones deserves a 3rd line or maybe a 2nd line spot...

He's never had that chance.. hell who knows what he would do with 15-18 minutes.

Ovechkin is a lock for 50 goals a year right?

Imagine is he only played 10 minutes a game... would he get 50? NO

He'd get around 30 or so...

Let R. Jones play some time... and he'll put up points and a good +/-

Sometimes people need a chance, he needs a chance.

[30ranfordfan]

You're right, people need a chance to play. Otherwise how could they produce?

But the comparison with Ovechkin doesn't work. Of course he wouldn't be able to get 50 goals with only 10 minutes a night, but nobody with that talent would spend 50 minutes on the bench.

Jones isn't a bad player (I'm an Oilers fan, I've seen him play) but I'm not sure how he could end up on the third line. Take a look at this depth chart:
http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/teams/depth-chart/EDM

Now, I'm not going to rant and rave about how great the Oilers lineup is. Fact is, they're probably going to finish in the bottom 5 again this year. But which Left Wing are they going to sit more than Jones? None of them. Penner, Hall, and Paajarvi are all much bigger cogs in the Oilers today, and certainly bigger players for them in the future.

With Jones' skill set, he's never going to top out as a big time scorer. He's a grinder. We know this. For him to develop into a solid 3rd line guy, he likely has to hope to be picked up by someone else. Could he be the next Kirk Maltby? (I say that as a compliment. Heck of a good player for a lot of years, and one the Oilers gave up on too quickly). I guess so. Will he? I haven't seen enough to make me think 'yes' but I wouldn't give an absolute 'no' either.

[robcynd]

the ovechkin comparison does work...

jones has never had big minutes.

Obviously they wouldn't sit Ovie out like that... obviously.

But if they did he wouldn't produce as most player wouldn't

It's like they want Jones to score 1 point per game while playing 3-8 minutes a game.

that is stupid.

Play him big for a few games, and if he chokes... then resort to this.

I guess they know what they're doing... they see him in practice, I don't lol

I do know this... in the little time he does get to play, he does good things, and he's tough.

I just hate to see him get 6 minutes average per night on the 4th line and get 20 points on the year...

if Ovie got 6 minutes per night, he would get more than 20 points... probably about 40 or so, but his production would drop.

nashville never played him a whole lot either, they played him more than edm. does, but not more than 12 minutes a game.. I've seen him play in nashville several times.

He was a Hobey baker runner up I believe, and his stats in college were stellar for a very respectable team. (Redhawks)

My point on this is frustration, and maybe i'm bias, but if you don't play big minutes, you can't score.

Lets play someone like Bobby Ryan on the 4th line (I know he is a great talent and clearly deserves to be a top 6, but this is theoretical)

Ryan would get 10 goals and 15 assists maybe on the 4th line

Ryan Jones in a top 6 oppurtunity, through 70-82 games (full season)... would score 40-60 points...

That's good for a lot of teams... but as long as he's held down in the 4th line, he'll be a 20-30 point guy his whole career, and I will personally think what could've been.

[robcynd]

no one else has a opinion on this?