David Musil Gonzo?

David Musil most likely done in the Oilers Org.

Oilers figure he needs a change of scenery. Drafted in 2011, he has had ample time to develop and they’re disappointed by his slowed development. We’ve also got guys coming from recent drafts. Caleb Jones, Ethan Bear and William Lagesson to name a few.

Those are the words I was passed on this evening re: David Musil. I can’t say I’m surprised one bit. The boots were just too much of an obstacle to overcome and being a lefty on the backend did him no help either. Maybe it was just one too many Edmonton Oil Kings as well…

If you’re not aware of David Musil, here are a few quotes to give you an idea of what the Oilers were looking at in previous seasons:

Shoots: L Height: 6-4 Weight: 203
Born: 1993-04-09 Hometown: Delta, BC, Canada Drafted: 2011 by Edmonton, 31st overall

 

 

 

 

PRE-DRAFT

  • David has excellent size and strength and plays a rugged brand of hockey with a bit of a mean streak. He reads developing plays well and uses anticipation to break up plays before they become dangerous. He’s got good hockey sense in all three zones, but his offensive upside is limited due to his mediocre point shot.

    Maintains great gap control and always squares up to the puckhandler. Has good poise, plays solid, mistake-free game in own zone and is excellent positionally. Reads and anticipates developing plays well. Good laterally, but 1st step and straightaway speed are average. Is not good as either a PP quarterback or trigger-man— has weak shot and makes poor decisions in puck distribution. – Red Line Report via Oilers Nation

  • A physically imposing defender, Musil needs to develop more before he could be a serious addition to the Jackets lineup. His style, by his admission, is that of a Chris Pronger type. Of the current Jackets, Musil would be comparable to a Marc Methot type. Strong on playing the body, and while possessing the ability to move the puck, that’s not necessarily his strength. – Jackets Cannon
  • Another aspect of Musil’s game we have heard troubling things about is with the intensity and desire — some NHL evaluators have said that he is the product of hockey coming very easy to him early on and the natural physical advantage he enjoyed at a younger age. Now, his peers are catching up to him and surpassing him, and he’s not consistently bringing the kind of intensity you want. – Lighthouse Hockey

POST-DRAFT

  • With ~300 major junior games on his resumé and another 50 or so in a variety of international events, it’s time to turn him loose in the pros. Variously listed at 6’3 or 6’4 and over 200 pounds, Musil needs to show that he can continue to dominate physically when matched up against older and occasionally larger men. He also needs to prove he can skate with them. For all the outstanding fundamentals of his defensive game, it is his sluggishness afoot that may hold him back from making the bigs, at least for awhile. – Bruce McCurdy, Cult of Hockey
  • In an era where speed is king, David Musil is bucking the trend. Make no mistake about his potential, we’re talking about a player who—if everything breaks right—will play in the NHL as a pure defender and PK man. That’s a third pairing defender, along the lines of Ladislav Smid or Eric Gryba. – Lowetide

So there you have it. The overwhelming consensus is that Musil doesn’t have the footspeed to keep up in today’s NHL and the day of the pure shutdown defender are probably coming to an end and with it, these kinds of players are finding it harder and harder to make it to the NHL.

That said, one could argue that Adam Larsson is a pure shutdown defender. True, but he’s got much better wheels and his hockey IQ, in my opinion, is ridiculously good. He’s also got some of the sweetest hands for a defensive dman. And to add to all of that, he’s got ice in his veins. Perfect for playoff hockey.

I wish David Musil good luck as these AHL loan deals usually mean that the player’s time with their club is over, not helping is Musil’s pending free agent status.  I enjoyed watching him in his cup of coffee with the Oilers a couple of seasons ago. Hopefully, he’ll catch on with a club who isn’t as stacked on the left side and he’ll make an NHL career out of it yet.

What do you think? Should the Oilers be moving on from Musil or should they keep him around? Let us know in the comments below!

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Beer League Hero Written by:

I'm the Beer League Hero! I am from Camrose, Alberta but I make my home in Taipei City, Taiwan. I've been through the ups and downs and the highs and the Lowes, the Bonsignores and the McDavids, the Sathers and the Eakins but I'll never leave my Oilers, no matter what! They're with me until the end and then some. GO OILERS GO!

2 Comments

  1. cinnamus
    March 6, 2017

    Good Luck to him but there is no way he passes nurse, Sekera or Klefbom. And those 3 are here for the next half decade. Hope he makes it and has the last bit o the season to make an impression with Tucson.

  2. Ke_lly
    March 6, 2017

    Drafting Musil as early as they did was yet another faux-pas by the Old Boys Club. It was irritating at the time and, as usual their stretch did not pay off. Too slow is just one problem, he also does not move the puck very well and has zero offensive skill. Maybe he can catch on somewhere when Las Vegas opens up 8 new NHL d positions…probably not though.

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