The best offence is a good defence.
The best offence is a good defence.
The Okotoks Oilers took an unconventional approach to addressing their goal scoring issues with the acquisition of elite offensive defenceman Jordan Davies in a three-player trade with the Nipawin Hawks on trade deadline day.
“For a team that really struggles offensively typically your first answer is to go and get an offensive forward,” said Oilers head coach/GM James Poole. “We felt this was one to go and tackle the issue is to add another offensive defenceman that can really help our powerplay and our five-on-five play.
“He's a player that really moves the puck very well. Our transition game hasn't been as good as we would like and we think (Davies) can really help that area of our game.”
Okotoks sits 10th in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with 132 goals for and boasts the fourth-ranked powerplay.
The 19-year-old defenceman has a proven track record of putting up points from the blueline. Davies had seven goals and 20 points in 29 games with the Whitecourt Wolverines this season prior to being traded to Nipawin in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League on Dec. 1. In 133 games over three seasons in Whitecourt, the Sherwood Park native has registered 24 goals and 68 points. Davies also suited up in seven games with the WHL's Tri-City Americans in 2013-14.
“I'm really excited. It's a good opportunity for me,” Davies said on Monday. “They're a young team this year, but they're still in the running for playoffs.
“I was a letter in Whitecourt and I've definitely been in the league a couple years and I'm excited to bring a bit of a leadership role.”
Davies came at a big cost for Okotoks who dealt 1997-born rookies Devon Brooks and Keillan Olson and future considerations to the Saskatchewan squad on Jan. 10.
Brooks, who was swiftly traded from Nipawin to the Drumheller Dragons on Sunday, had seven points in 27 games while Olson potted four goals and 13 points with Okotoks.
“Two good kids that are good hockey players,” Poole said. “Where we saw them fitting in next year with so many players coming back was a little bit up in the air.
“We felt with our depth in the 97 birth year and the fact we're going to have six defencemen coming back and up to 11 forwards, we're sitting pretty good.”
Birth years were a major factor in the transaction.
Poole said the move addresses concerns for both this year and next year as the 1996-born Davies becomes just the fourth player in his birth year on the club (along with forwards Trey Degraaf, Jordie Lawson and netminder Brian Wilson) and the only one on defence.
“We looked at where we're at this year and next year and we felt it was a trade that helps both,” Poole said. “It gives us a top-end defenceman that really improves our depth. It really makes us a better team on the back-end.
“And the '96 birth year was something where we were really short. Going into next year we wanted to have some quality 20-year-olds that can be leaders and we felt Davies fit that bill.”
