from David Staples of The Cult of Hockey,

Jeff Petry is 27-years-old, in the prime of his career as an NHL defenceman. He’s likely got five or six years left where he will play at peak or near peak performance.

Petry has also been the most steady defenceman on the Edmonton Oilers for years now. He’s constantly sent out to play against the toughest competition in the NHL’s toughest conference, but more than any other Oilers d-man, he’s held his own. In fact, most d-men on the Oilers have wilted when asked to face the monster attackers of the West game in, game out, forwards such as Ryan Getzlaf, Anze Kopitar, David Backes and Jonathan Toews. But Petry has done OK. He’s not the kind of true No. 1 d-man the Oilers need, but he’s shown he can generally hold his own against the best of the best.

He’s not a great passer, but he passes OK. He’s not the toughest NHLer, but he generally takes the man. He’s not a big point producer, but he’s asked to carry the puck a ton and he moves it fine.

continued