My friend Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal made an appearance on Lowetide and Jamieson (TSN1260) yesterday. In his casual style, he used that giant brain to suss out the picture on left defense for the Oilers. Edmonton’s general manager has committed to each of Darnell Nurse, Brett Kulak and Philip Broberg, he said. Why, then, are we focused on a deadline acquisition of a LHD with hair on his ass? Good damn question.
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: Is Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft saving another season?
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers ride high-flying offence to strong January finish
- DNB: Are the Oilers actually good again or are they simply benefitting from an easy schedule?
- Lowetide: Are the Oilers getting enough out of their AHL prospect pipeline?
- DNB: Oilers give a third-string university goalie the experience of his lifetime
- Lowetide: Oilers rookies Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway arriving right on time
- DNB: Oilers trade target: Scouting Blue Jackets defenceman Vladislav Gavrikov
- Lowetide: 3 trades that could help the Oilers this season and beyond
- New DNB: Oilers’ Zach Hyman subscriber Q&A
- Lowetide: The 5 biggest reasons for Edmonton Oilers’ recent turnaround
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers’ 2022 NHL Draft class gains momentum
- DNB: What I’m hearing on Oilers’ trade deadline plans
- Lowetide: Is Oilers’ Vincent Desharnais an NHL defenceman?
- Lowetide: Unusual Nugent-Hopkins line gives Oilers coaching staff options
- DNB: The Oilers scratching Jesse Puljujarvi shows it’s time for them to part ways
- DNB: Oilers must act at the trade deadline
- Lowetide: Oilers midseason review of 2022-23 reasonable expectations
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers’ December sleep walk a touch of deja vu
- Lowetide: Bakersfield Condors’ 2022-23 season review to date
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2022
OILERS AFTER THE DEADLINE
I also talked to Travis Yost of TSN on Lowetide and Jamieson yesterday, and told him my idea about acquiring Chicago defenseman Jake McCabe. He agreed heartily! Plus, there was news that Brock Boeser was next man out in Vancouver. Interesting, but probably impossible (via CapFriendly).
Kailer Yamamoto stays on LTIR until after the season, Chicago retains on McCabe and Vancouver retains 50 percent on Boeser. Edmonton surrenders the next two first-round selections, Xavier Bourgault, Jesse Puljujarvi and Warren Foegele.
Once the season ends, Yamamoto can be activated, play on the No. 3 line with McLeod/Holloway, or Nuge can slide down to play on the Janmark-Nuge-Kostin line. Not sure who plays LW with McDavid-Hyman if it isn’t Nuge. Maybe Holloway? Kostin? You’d love a strong two-way options. I like the defense and the Oilers reshape the RW position. Thoughts? I think I prefer this for the run to Stanley.
This model has Jack McCabe added with $1 million retained (cost: First-round pick in 2023, Jesse Puljujarvi) and Taylor Raddysh acquired for Warren Foegele. The ‘Hawks probably get better offers but we’ll pretend it works for this exercise. I also added Marcus Johansson for a third-round selection. The roster has depth, I think defense is especially strong, and there are nine good wingers for the centers three plus Ryan McLeod if it comes to that.
I don’t like trading Jesse Puljujarvi and Warren Foegele but it’s dollars in, dollars out. One note: Eight defensemen will be needed for the playoff run. Markus Niemelainen makes nine. The 14th forward (in Bakersfield) would be one of Devin Shore, Raphael Lavoie, James Hamblin, Tyler Benson, Justin Bailey or Xavier Bourgault. Just a guess.
MATVEY PETROV
The young man turns 20 in a month, and honestly 19-year old seasons in junior with flashy numbers don’t impress me much. You’re supposed to dominate in junior at that age. Still, Petrov’s totals (21-48-69 in 46 games) lead the OHL and his last 24 games (12-31-43) have been outstanding. He’s consistent too, although the goals (40 in 63 games one year ago) are shy. Shows he has range. A forward who was depth pick working out? Tyler Wright has drafted a pile of them since 2020, Petrov could be the best one. We wait.
BROCK BOESER?
I know he makes big dollars, but Boeser has value. At five-on-five, he is scoring 2.55 pts-60 on an addled team and his shot share and rel shot share is good. The goal differential is in the ditch, but it’s difficult to get past his .855 on-ice save percentage. Blaming Boeser is complicated because of that number. I think Ken Holland should make the call. Find out what a trade looks like. There’s room for a first-shot scorer on RW.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
A packed show on TSN1260, 10-2 today. Dave Naylor, CFL on TSN insider, will talk about CFL free agency and Tom Brady’s latest retirement. James Duthie from TSN will drop by to talk all manner of things, including the NHL All-Star Game and the Super Bowl. Salim Valji from TSN Calgary talks Connor Bedard and his big night. Geroy Simon, Elks Assistant GM, will give us some idea about free agency (less than two weeks away) and the state of the franchise right now. Kevin Laramee from Soccer Today will chat about John Herdman’s decision to stay as coach of Canada’s national men’s soccer team. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
Was at the Condors game tonight. Game sure changed in the later 2nd and into the 3rd.
Lavoie and Bailey best forwards.
Bailey has speed
Lavoie quite strong, quick hands, could still use some more burst and agility
Lavoie and Tullio got many offensive zone starts
Lavoie kinda has a presence to him. Or maybe it was just me because he was one I was really paying attention to.
Lavoie doesn’t back down
Bourgault didn’t have much of anything going unfortunately.
Kesselring glides effortlessly on the ice. Light on his skates. You know how some guys are heavy on the ice and have to keep their legs churning (like a Malone for instance), Kesselring is the opposite. He could probably glide all the way end to end it seemed.
Pickard quite a few subtle good saves especially with his legs
Kaldis got himself into bad positions for his teammates about 4 times
Benson – meh
Tullio needs to get stronger
Phillips – invisible, Zary as well. Surprised by Phillips. And man is he small. I would say tiny actually. Seriously, like you know when you see a huge guy and you can’t get over how big he is? Phillips is like that but the other way.
Great report, thank you.
thx, yw
as i reflect more on the game….
Tullio did have that trademark Tullio try, his forecheck was pretty good, Lavoie as well.
Lavoie was around the net a lot. Good sign. Goes to the HD areas.
I wonder if Bourgault is sick. If I’m honest his game was quite disappointing. No jump, not much assertiveness. almost seemed like he could be taken out of the game – like it was up to the opposition how well he played, not up to him.
I couldn’t see all that much in our D-zone (only one period) but did see Kemp box out aggressively using his stick horizontal to the ice a couple of times ala Webber/Chairot pairing in their run to the finals a few years ago. “None shall pass”
Kesselring with the lob out of the zone and Philp puts in the empty net.
5-1 Condors.
A FANTASTIC 3rd period sparked by a huge SH goal by Bailey late in the 2nd.
Kudos to Pickard who get the team in the game through 2 when the Wranglers carried the play. 32 saves on 33 shots with under minute to go….
Bailey with a strong play in the defensive zone on the boards and just takes off, powers thought the neutral zone and in to the offensive zone – quick pass to Malone who gives it right back and Bailey with a tricky bad angle shot the fools Wolfe.
4-1 Condors with under 5 to go.
Justin Bailey with another great goal. Man.
Drai talks about how he hasn’t been overly happy with his play despite the stats and thinks he can play better:
https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2564377
https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/all-star-all-content-from-2023-nhl-all-star-weekend/c-340650868
Nuge and Hyman are the “quiet heartbeats” of the team….
Another Lavoie hard drive to the net and crash crease by Tulio leads to a mad scramble in front of Wolf but the Condors couldn’t quite bang it home. Stays 3-2 with 9:30 to go.
Shots in 3rd, 12-3 Condors so far.
Condors have completely flipped the flow of the game and are coming in waves in the 3rd period – a Gildon point shot tipped in by Greg McKegg – 3-1 Condors with 13 min to go.
A good forecheck shift by the Lavoie/Esposito/Tulio line – Demers with a nice pinch down low, Lavoie takes puck off sidewall and rips a tricky shot on net. Puck bounces back to the point, great keep at the line and shot on net by Gildon and Lavoie roofs the rebound for a 2-1 lead early in the 3rd.
@scottcwheeler
I don’t think reasonable minds can watch the Wranglers play right now and not come to the conclusion that Dustin Wolf’s the best goalie in the Flames org at the moment. The Wranglers might win the Calder Cup because of him, and the Flames might miss the playoffs without him.
That’s the general sentiment here in Calgary. But that’s not how old man Sutter rolls.
The Condors may have broke Wolf tight similar to how the Oilers have broken Markstrom….
There’s no room for him unless they trade Vladar which they probably will this off-season.
They could bring Wolf up for the playoffs with no cap implications…of course they have to get there first.
Condors largely dominated in the 2nd period but Justin Bailey picks up a loose puck SH, goes in on a 2 on 1 – looks pass, looks pass, looks pass, cuts the middle and roofs it with a minute left to send the Condors to the 2nd break tied at 1.
Justin Bailey shorthanded. Nice.
I can’t see giving up any large asset for an improvement in LD this year. We’ve committed to developing our young dmen and you can’t waste assets mid-way through that process. The only way you get McCabe is if Kulak goes the other way otherwise you block Broberg. How much better is McCabe than Kulak? Not sure that swap is worth it this season let alone next. Get some bottom pair insurance – sure no problem – as long as it’s cheap and doesn’t effect Broberg.
RD is the same issue but with one exception. Bouchard is coming along, has the same job as Barrie, and will be blocked by him as soon as next year. Not workable since he will need a new more expensive contract in the summer. Holland was smart to keep Barrie this year as it gave Bouchard cover through his struggles without Keith. But Barrie probably needs to go this summer even though I like the guy. Cap rules. Ceci is two way 2nd pair guy who is playing over his head on the top pair with Nurse. Deharnais is a 3rd pair defensive specialist. The only place to spend a significant asset(s) upgrading is 1RD, but even then, Bouchard is projected to fill that slot in 6-18 months. That’s why Karlsson is the only guy who could make a real difference to the Oilers. But both Barrie and Bouchard would have to to the other way along with a forward who has a contract in place next year (Fog or Yamo) and cap retained by SJS to make it work.
As for the forward group – again there is only one thing that will really move the needle – getting a true shutdown RH3C that Woody can deploy against the otehr team’s best at home to give McDavid and Drai clean air. ROR is available if he healthy plus his contract is up this summer. His on-ice numbers have always been great but they are ghastly this year – although his 5×5 SP is terrible as well. Could be a buy lower opportunity if you know what’s going on. Coutourier is hurt and the other elite guys are unavailable. Bjugsted is a backup plan and nothing more. Would be good to off-load at least one of Yamo and Fog in any deal for a shutdown C.
I agree with alot of this except I’m not overly concerned is a legit top 4LD was acquired this year and its effect on Broberg. I’m fine with Broberg/Kulak competing for 3LD/7D and Deharnais fighting to be in the mix – that is depth that would/could help win a championship while Broberg gains playoff experience in the sheltered role.
Going forward (i.e. starting in October), 100%, Kulak would need to be moved out.
As far as Bouchard and 1RD, I think he can play material minutes with Nurse right now, today – he’s done so last year and this year and the numbers support. I know the visual on Bouch’s d-zone game isn’t great but he’s played well with Nurse and those have not been easy minutes.
I don’t see them moving away from Nurse/Ceci any time soon but I would have time for:
Nurse/Bouchard
Broberg/Ceci
Kulak/Barrie
Broberg fully unproven in that role but a test-drive (and Kulak moves up if the drive fails).
I’m with you for the most part. Kulak is a decent 4-5 guy and the price point is not outrageous. You need those guys when injuries hit the top 4.
But you’ve hit the core of the issue. The team needs to know if Bouchard can play with Nurse and we don’t have 2 years to wait and see. Broberg on the 2nd pair with Ceci is smaller hill to climb. Pretty confident he can do it. If mgmt has real questions about Bouchard making the leap – and SJS would take Barrie, Bouchard and Yamo – then I’d think long and hard about Karlsson.
ROR is also a piece that would move the needle this spring if the team was confident Bouch could play with Nurse next season. So 1RD and elite 3C are the pieces I see as making a difference. Anything else is just injury protection and unlikely to make a significant difference.
Summarizing!
Petrov finished with the one goal and 3rd star honours in a 4-2 loss. However, he has now fallen to 2nd in league scoring.
Pretty awesome that’s he’s been able to keep his focus with everything going on back home.
Keep it up young man!
Condors’ PP looking full value for their 14.6% season average (good for 31 in the league…..)
The more I watch Kaldis, the more I DON’T want to continue watching him. No offence to the man but he’s an ECHL player to my eye. Just got absolutely walked in front of the net, while going down to one knee, on what should have been a non-chance. Pickard bailed him out with a great glove save.
He’s played far better in the past, one suspects a nagging injury.
Can’t disagree – he’s been poor for a while this season – I do believe he missed games with injury though – could very well be less than 100%.
Yeah, he was 31-27 even-strength goals while he was on the ice last season and as of seven games ago he was 11-20 this season. He’s an elevator shaft this year.
3 seconds in to his first shift, Lavoie takes the puck hard down the right wing, cuts in and gets a solid shot off – it continues.
Ryan Holt
@CondorsHolty
·
4m
Calvin Pickard (8-3 in 11) gets the start. Niemelainen remains out. No Carter Savoie after leaving last game.
With the #LetsGoOiler
on break, a big presence here including Jay Woodcroft.
Condors owe Calgary one!
Petrov gets NB on the board late in the second. #22 for #22:
https://twitter.com/OHLBattalion/status/1621319934943838209?cxt=HHwWgoCy2YD5ioAtAAAA
Jake McCabe.
He’s an interesting target. Someone difficult to evaluate since he’s always played on bad teams. By my gut instincts and bias, I don’t like the player, but a lot of good shows up on the numbers.
Plus side of the ledger
Evolving Hockey has him at 64-53-59. Those are exceptional numbers for a d on a bad team… especially one who plays top pairing QOC.
LT’s covered the PuckIQ. He looks too good to be true somehow this year. DFF% of 48.4 against elites on a bad team is impressive.
In 2019-20, he played top pair with Risto. He had also had good shot metrics (DFF 51.2%), but terrible GF% (38.9)
He’s played top pair comp since 2018-19 and continues to do so, on two different, but poor teams.
This season, he nearly passes the JP test, but 20 seconds of 5v5 toi/g short.
He rates 2nd lowest on OTF starts, which is a good sign he’s not being sheltered by OTF.
He’s certainly a fit. He’s sort of poor man’s left shot Larsson in terms of deployment (PK1. PP 0. Top QOC)
Negative side of the ledger
By PuckIQ, last year, he got destroyed against the Elites, but I’d need to look into teammates, injuries and stuff to figure out why.
By the now outdated Turtoro numbers, he’s not terrible, but not a very great transition d.
He’s never had a point per 60 at 5v5, so not a lot of offense. That’s usually a red flag for a guy who doesn’t pass well.
He’s only 4rth in toi/g on a bad Chicago team. That’s a bit of a reality check.
Looking at the minutes this year, the one curio is that Jack Johnson is playing more toi/g. There is a gap of about 40 seconds. There’s the argument that coaches will do stuff like this to balance or anchor a pairing.
Still Jack Johnson is not good, at all. Last year he played #6 minutes on the Avs.
Contrary to this, McCabe plays mostly with Seth Jones, while Jack Johnson mostly plays with Connor Murphy.
Why would a guy playing on a top pairing be playing 40 seconds less per game than a now 36-year-old Jack Johnson?
Most coaches will give out minutes from most to least aligning with whom they think are their best d.
Below average mobility cited as an issue. That’s a concern since none of our right handed d are burners.
K. Gretzky: Niemo is day to day – won’t play this weekend but should be back after the AHL all-star break.
Didn’t update Savoie but I read “week to week” yesterday.
Lavoie has “put in the work”.
Bourgault, Savoie and Tulio – continue to get stronger.
Probably the most improved player he’s seen within a few years – still working on his defending but he’s gone from Bambi out there to confidant and even “arrogant” – in a good way.
To whom are you referring in ‘most improved player’? Thanks
Ooops, sorry – that is Michael Kesselring…
We keep talking about a LHD, but is there a LHD available that plays the RH side? I’m thinking in terms of “insurance” in case there is an injury on the RH side?
Gostisbehere.
The ghost played top-pairing (by toi not qoc) minutes with Chychrun this season.
The Ghost played on the right.
Yep. Broberg.
@TSNRyanRushaug
Getting ready to drop a pod with @Jason_Strudwick today. Taking your comments and questions. Feels like Puljujarvi situation coming to a head here. IMO needs to be full money out deal even if it takes an asset to do it. They need the space desperately.
Which asset?
Good sign that Holland sees the urgency in the McDavid window. Unfortunate that Jesse hasn’t had a season like 21-22.
Great time to be an Oiler fan! Trade dead-line discussions on how to go from final 4 to Stanley.
How many years will you have to wait until your team makes the playoffs again and competes to raise another Stanley banner, ha ha ha. Just kidding ya, HH.
But seriously if these are the deadline prices if I was a playoff team I’d be selling my depth defensemen too
I was thinking the exact same thing. If McCabe gets you a 1st…how many 1sts would Ceci get us?
I know Ceci isn’t really a depth defenseman on our roster, but that’s mostly due to lack of options rather than talent level. I’m not dissing Ceci at all, he’s played great for us and is way outperforming his contract. But at this rate…the haul coming back in a trade would be gigantic.
1st round pick for McCabe?
Trade for Boeser who has all of 0 value by Doms model for a team with no cap?
Did I miss happy hour?
(I might note I like Boeser and he’s had a rough couple of years but that’s a job for a team with cap space like Anaheim or Arizona)
But when your agent gets permission to trade you, you know you ain’t got no value
Tyler Yaremchuk
@tyleryaremchuk
·
1h
BREAKING: Leon Draisaitl reveals that the mullets for him and Connor McDavid are the product of a bet between McDavid and Dylan Holloway https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/svg/1f602.svg
Apparently the Oilers rookie said that if they win 6 in a row, 97 had to grow the flow.
So Mcdavid bet on Oilers losing? Why?
How many times in a season does a team win 6 games in a row. Also both Leon and Connor have old souls from the Eighties in them.
You’ve never made a friendly wage with buddies that you’ve were just as happy to lose?
As usual Connor 3D chessed a Macgyver solution to a 6 game win streak.
This is amazing oh my lord hahahaha
That scrap Kulak had last game really opened my eyes. A big, mobile defensemen we knew about. That was a seriously good scrap. Is that nastiness going to be part of his repertoire heading down the stretch? If it is, and he’s engaged like that, well for me that solves a lot of our need for a left side defenceman.
It could also say as much about the opponent. How would Kulak look squared up against Greenway, or Reaves?
Not trying to take the piss out of him, it was entertaining and impactful. But I’d also be wary about any expectations of Kulak being regarded as a big league pugilist.
I also remember Kulak upping his “nastiness” last playoffs and appreciating it.
He’s an Alberta farm boy so he’s got jam if he needs it
But he’s actually on the smaller side for a D, very good skater
I wouldn’t want to be on the recieving end of those haymakers. Now the league knows do not piss off Kulak
.
That was an interesting period in Oilers history.
Words can’t describe it.
Click on the little homunculous next to “79 COMMENTS” above. you will find what you need there.
Whoa I had no idea this existed!
homunculous, the things you learn at lowetide.
At the same time, it’s got itself surrounded.
, -ent
It was indeed a 17,223 sellout for Connor Bedard in Calgary last night.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/juniors/article/bedards-legend-continues-to-grow-with-dazzling-performance-at-packed-saddledome/
Flames could be in the running for Bedard if Vladar shits the bed this month.
They’re hungry for stylish hockey there
Bob pretty much came out and said categorically to Louie that the Oilers are activating Yams on Feb 12.
They better get a replacement for Yamo as I don’t see him being healthy the rest of the season.
It’s shouldn’t be to hard to replace a 4 Goal scorer.
2nd SH TOI/G for forwards.
A very responsible 2-way game that has led to him having the higher goal share on the team among forwards.
High penalty drawn rate.
Etc.
No doubt he’s struggled this season but the game, and his game, is more than just goals and, from my eyes and ears, his coaches and his teammates value him.
They seem to be winning without him and his 3.1 Million contact. That is $775,000 per Goal and $387,500 per Assist. Unless the salary cap goes way up we need a better bang for our buck than Foegele, J.P and Yamo at $885,0000 for the grand total of 13 Goals.
The Oilers have also won games without Connor McDavid in the lineup….
No doubt those three have disappointed as a group and, in fact on the podcast last night, those 3, as a group, the “mushy middle”, were listed as my bad thing from the first 50 games.
As far as the statement, I was responding to, Yamamoto, while disappointing in his offensive production, brings more than just goal scoring.
What exactly does he bring more than a hungry player like Kostin? I already know your going to say defensive awareness which can be had and found at the dollar store. The Refs are onto to Yamo they’re not so easy to hand out a penalty because Yamo is weak on the puck. I also believe the opposition is onto him. N.H.L is tough league even the best players have something taken away they get better at something else. Yamo is not adapting but the league has.
Bob pointing out a trade is coming in the next ten days if the Oilers are going to activate Yamamoto. It is pretty clear the casualty will be Pujo.
He goes on to wonder if something creative could be accomplished. He briefly mentioned, as an example, taking on LTIR as part of the Pujo trade to gain more cap space.
Now, I have no idea how extemporaneous this thought was or if he’s actually thought about it deeply, but I don’t really like the idea. It would have to be someone on LTIR who comes off the books at season’s end. No way would Holland be looking for LTIR that would impact next eyar’s books.
Is that former Detroit Red Wings’ forward Gustav Nyquist’s music I hear?
It is.
Monahan and Debrusk also went through my head but I think both are due back in the next couple of weeks. Nyquist looks like the best bet and someone Holland would consider re-signing in the off-season.
Jenner, Gavrikov and Nyquist for Puljo, a prospect and a first rounder?
Be nice but doubt that gets Jenner added in.
Right now I am drinking beer. One of my cousins died 2 days ago and another one is in a vegetative state No need to sympathize it’s all cool one way or another – my work has half driven me crazy, and as a result am lashing out as is my want.
I like to follow the Oilers, because of an accident or two that brought me to the altar of NHL in Edmonton of all places.
This blog is one of the coolest things on the internet these days. Serious and I mean serious brains dissecting the Oilers hockey team.
What’s particularly great is knowing that there are several posters on Lowetide who not only can kick my ass with hockey know how but could probably do the same were we to meet up in an alley. The second part isn’t so great for me, but proves the argument.
Right now I am drinking beer. one of my cousins died 2 days ago and another one is in a vegetative state – my work has half driven me crazy, and as a result am lashing out as is my want.
I like to follow the Oilers, because of an accident or two that brought me to the altar of NHL in Edmonton of all places.
This blog is one of the coolest things on the internet these days. Serious and I mean serious brains dissecting the Oilers hockey team.
What’s particularly great is knowing that there are several posters on Lowetide who not only can kick my ass with hockey know how but could probably do the same were we to meet up in an alley. The second part isn’t so great for me, but proves the argument.
Hang in there, Hunter.
Hang in there.
What brand of beer are you drinking?…:) This is Lowetide after all.
Czech Budvar
Good choice, very tasty to help soothe your losses.
i hope for your sake its a delicious heifeweissen
Love the Budvar on a hot day. It is not a hot day in Edmonton. I love your audacious prediction lotteries Hunter and I even agree with one or two of the things you write. Hang on to yourself and know that a bunch of folks share your love of the oilers, this blog, your beer choice (or not, this is still the new/ol Al Gore and there will be ‘corrections’) and value what you bring to our community.
Signing up for the team with Boeser on it please. That’s a team that can go to a cup final.
I don’t mind adding Boeser but it can’t be at full salary…there has to be some retention on the deal:
Tyson Barrie + Kailer Yamamoto + 2nd rounder for Luke Schenn + Brock Boeser (2mil retained).
I like both Tyson and Kailer, but this might fill the remaining “needs” this team has been looking for. Not to mention, Vancouver is ready to deal and has two players that could fit our holes pretty well.
Sending $7.6 million in cap hit and expecting retention on top of that would be a complete non starter for Vancouver.
They are trying to shed cap…not add it.
Is Boeser a decent first shot scorer? Sure. However, he’s never hit 30 goals (closest was his rookie year), he’s never been particularly fast, not overly physical and doesn’t kill penalties. His staple is finding a soft seem and ripping a shot for a goal. He also isn’t going to get any PP time on Edm’s roster. Doesn’t scream playoff addition to me.
IMO I think the team has more pressing needs than adding a softish, slowish one dimensional player, who is not elite, for the playoffs. Based on team need and cost, Bjugstad seems like a much better fit together with some more D depth. Frankly, I’d rather keep Jesse at his $3M, let him walk in free agency and keep his size and defensive play for the playoffs than trade for BB.
Meier is all the things Boeser isn’t, plus all the things Boeser is. He’ll cost more to acquire for sure, but if we’re making room for Boeser I’d rather spend more assets and get the better player.
He’s still an RFA in the summer and (if he can’t be signed with term) could be traded to recoup some of the assets spent to acquire him.
Jesse was also a healthy scratch in the playoffs last year. And his “confifdence” is down this year. Can he be counted on in the playoffs?
I’m not sure the Nucks would have interest in Barrie given they already have Hughes for the PP……
Barrie and Yams contracts both expire next season…I think Barrie with only 1-year left on his contract @ 4.5mil would be a very tradeable piece in the offseason to help Van City’s “rebuild” and shed some salary. I imagine they would have some very interested parties with how productive he is.
I definitely agree that Pool is better suited for the playoffs and would probably help the team more in the post-season. This is why I chose to trade Yams instead.
And yes I agree that with Hughes, Barrie is a bit redundant. But as I stated above…he could be used in the offseason as trade bait to get something else for their roster. He would become even more attractive with only one year left at a team-friendly 4.5mil.
Boeser is interesting, but I’m not sure he’s the player type we need.
Boeser is a right hand shot which is helpful. In the recent past, he used to tee it off pretty good.
He’s not much of a 2-way player, like at all though.
Our only 2-way players in our top nine are JP, Nuge, Yamamoto, and Cloud. I don’t really think of McDavid as 2-way, but he rates out pretty well on Evolving Hockey’s defensive metric.
Nuge gets a lot of credit reputationally for his 2-way play and he certainly looks the part, but his Evolving Hockey numbers show a different result.
What’s interesting is that our only highly rated 2-way wingers in terms of defensive percentile are Yamamoto and JP–either one or both of which might not be on our team soon.
Defensive percentile EH 3-year ratings
Nuge – 18th percentile
Puljujarvi – 95th percentile [!]
Yamamoto – 46th percentile
McDavid – 68th percentile
Draisaitl – 2nd percentile
Kane – 13th percentile
Boesser – 12th percentile
McLeod – 83rd percentile
Hyman – 12th percentile
Bruin’s ratings
Marchand – 98th percentile
Bergeron – 99th percentile
Pastrnak – 78th
Krejci – 79th
Hall – 85th
Zacha – 60th
Last year’s 3-year defensive ratings for Colorado
Landeskog – 93rd percentile
Quit Winning for Mackinnon – 25th percentile
Kadri 45th
Burakovsky 20th
Lehkonen – 92nd
Rantanen – 89th
Nichuskin – 99th
If JP goes, we definitely need more of a Lehkonen than a Boeser type. Either way, we probably do.
This really is the problem and you’ve highlighted it well with this analysis.
Everyone here in Oiler-land wants Mo’ offence and mythical “first-shot scorers”.
But the real problem for the Oilers are that too many of our forwards need directions to their own zone sometimes.
There is a reason why Vancouver stinks … they have a team full of Brock Boesers (aka – cherry-picking forwards who give no effort with respect to the defensive side of their play). He’s not the worst of the bunch (Miller is) but he’s never going to be a defensive stalwart either.
I want nothing to do with bailing Vancouver our of their predicament of paying > 30 million to a bunch of soft wingers. They are suffering from the same issues that we did 10 years ago, and all the other teams in the NHL were just total vultures then (aka – Hall for Larsson).
Brock Boeser gets traded to Edmonton at 25 cents on the dollar, or Vancouver can keep this over-priced, over-hyped player until his contract is over. He has negative value.
Thanks!
I’m not sure who this year’s Lehkonen is though. Any ideas?
Timo Meier has a 56th percentile, but the cap doesn’t work.
Miller’s 3-year rating for defense is 7th percentile.
Athanasiou’s defensive rating was at the 4th percentile when we traded for him.
Do Foegele and Ryan do well on the defensive ranking?
Trying to under stand the what EW is putting into it and I’m guessing they show decent/well, though you didn’t list their percentile.
I find that these numbers make the most sense if you look at the context of what type of minutes and QOC the players play. In other words, the EH numbers aren’t able to adequately adjust for QOC.
For example, if you compare a McDavid to a Mackinnon, the QOC is going to be even since they’re best-on-best players. It’s completely fair to compare their numbers.
However, if you compare a Derek Ryan to a Mackinnon, it’s not going to work since they play different minutes. You can’t use them to compare a 4rth liner to a 1st liner.
Foegele and Ryan actually do have good EH numbers (Defensive percentiles), but they’re playing a different tier of player. So is McLeod for that matter.
Foegele’s in the 67th percentile and Ryan’s actually at the 97th.
Thanks, good to know I’m looking in the right ballpark. And yes, fair enough that QoC would have an effect.
If we have to trade with Van–and it remains to be seen if a modern day trade between these two teams can happen–the most available roster member is Luke Schenn.
We should probably be discussing whether Schenn is something the Oilers can use and if so, would he be worth the likes of outbidding other possible suitors. TBL, for eg, has rumoured interest.
Desharnais just obviated the need for Schenn. He is better and cheaper.
The need is top 4 left D more than another 3rd pairing D.
8 NHL games played.
Less than 100 minutes of ice time (all situations).
Less than 10 minutes of 5 on 5 ice time vs. an elite player.
Zero playoff games.
Not sure anything is obviated yet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sys9LCUo-AU
What kind of price wins that bid?
I mean, I would’t mind adding the player but it would be a deep depth move and I don’t think I’d go higher than a 3rd rounder.
Would he play over Deharnais?
In this moment, I would’t play him over Deharnais but, of course, we don’t know if Dehanranis’ current level of play will sustain (let alone sustain when the level of comp and intensity ratchets up).
I know, I know – Schenn is > Deharnais – its tough to argue that he isn’t but Deharnais brings “an element” that Schenn doesn’t which seems to help the group.
Honest question: what element does Desharnais bring that you believe Schenn couldn’t?
A 2023 first and more for Jake McCabe is silly talk.
Definitely was hearing it’s a buyers market, sure as shit that’s not what a buyer would be paying.
Didn’t we all say the same thing the last time Holland dealt with Chicago?
McCabe was even called “3rd pairing, at best” elsewhere in the thread!
Seravalli characterizes his archetype as 3rd Pair / 1st unit PK
I had looked at boeser….but then thought Canucks would be trying to unload cap to possibly up horvat offer. Which seemed direction when they resigned kuzmenko instead of capitalizing in primo asset – with a primo cap hit who also is running a bit hot (PDO 101.9 but watching him for a bit leads me to believe he will likely remain in upper echelon of sh% he’s just sneaky good at finding pucks and soft ice in high danger areas)…just thought they wouldn’t consider eating any cap for length on boeser’s deal.
Now that they seem to have embraced going into race with Philly for “team that must make decisions by spinning a wheel). He definitely coukd be ideal target – If he is getable in 4 million ish range. I’m fine with 1st and bourgault for a young top 6 RW that fits mcdrai window for sure. I’d go one step further and see if I could get any takers to eat 25-50% more of that hit for some picks honestly (probably not but that would be massive)
I’m don’t hate the McCabe deal wasn’t a too big a fan of raddysh when I looked at him though. All state he’s getting fed 65% ish oz starts and a huge chunk of his goals are PP. He is young though and his possession uptick in CHI might not be as heavily improved as effect of playing with toews as I seemed to remember thinking. Didn’t register he was only 24 last time I looked.
I just hate 2024 1st going out this deadline and kulak not with it. I don’t hate kulak it’s just trying to approach deals two prong for this year and next type plans (thus in the chychrun/bujgstad aisle if coyotes flinch on price to more reasonable). I’d pay more for chychrun as he’s still cashable offseason if you decide to adjust D after giving test run.
But yeah main thing is we should finally not be in LTIR next season so in better position to not be trading completely hamstrung and cash 1st at deadline with less added on top.
In my head:
If they can repeat conference final or better then I’d be aiming to have as much free cap this offseason as secondary goal. There’s a real possibility, with cap still essentially flat, to get some sweetheart 1 yesr deals in free agents and likely another round of of unqualified RFA’s looking for dance partners.
Travis Yost pumping the Oilers tires this morning!
https://www.tsn.ca/talent/nhl/oilers-on-the-rise-in-weakened-western-conference-1.1914376
And yet most posters want to sell off all those out scoring forwards for marginal upgrades on LD.
Then we’e one injury away from Kostin and Janmark playing aside McLeon.
I’m seeing nothing but high risk gambles everywhere.
Yost wants an upgrade on D and net lol
Boeser sure would round out the top six nicely, I have to say. Not sure how that would all work out? But the roster you’ve mapped out looks well-constructed. McCabe would be OK, but I’m not totally sold he would make that much of a difference from what is already in place. The defense appears set, as you say they need 8 D for the playoff run, making Neimelinen the 8th, not the 9th, and that’s going to have to do it. The focus will need to be on up grading on RW & the acquisition of a RHC for the fourth line to help out Derek Ryan, who is probably best suited as a winger at this stage of his career. Everyone has a grandiose idea about what should be done with the roster in order to chase the cup. I don’t think it’s wise to mortgage the future just yet. Holland will nibble around the edges with his roster, and they probably will reward him with a respectable run in the playoffs, maybe even surprise everyone and win the cup. Who knows? But regardless, it’s a process, they will be stronger next year and the year after, they will be even stronger.
McCabe (or Gavrikov) is necessary as insurance for an injury to Nurse. One should have a somewhat plausible plan on a critical path. Nurse is a single point of failure at this point, with no backup.
I’d rather they find someone who’s a pending UFA if the aim is to find top-4 LHD insurance.
Maatta?
Neither Gavrikov and especially not McCabe would be able to replace what Nurse brings in the event of an injury.
Aim higher … Provorov.
I’m not as down on the defensive group as some but I could sure see the benefit of adding another legit top 4 defender. Like you, I do like the depth but they could use an upgrade at the top of the order.
The depth, while quite solid in my opinion, is also quite inexperienced:
Bouchard – 16 playoff games
Broberg – 47 NHL games, 1 playoff game
Dehearnias – 8 NHL games, 0 playoff games
Niemelainen – 43 NHL games, 0 playoff games
I don’t count Ryan Murray as a playable option (nor Jason Demers before anyone goes there).
Lets also not forgot the important footnote: The Oilers drafted Petrov with the draft pick that Kyle Dubas refused to accept for the rights to Z. Hyman……
Who knows if the Leafs would have picked Petrov but he’s Oilers’ property because Dubas was stubborn.
I fon one have not forgotten that fact. Analytically a dumb move by Dubas; he forced Edmonton to a higher cap that benefitted all of their 31 rivals equally, while refusing a draft pick that would have helped Toronto alone.
Sorry about nit-picking, but his “NHL playing rights” are Oiler’s property. That is a big distinction and a pet peeve of mine in the discussion of professional sports. I know you get that, and that it is colloquial or shorthand language, but language like that influences even how people perceive players like Jesse for choosing to play in Finland for one season.
Still a great point however that Petrov is an Oiler’s NHL prospect under those circumstances.
Make sure you tweet this to Marek daily after Petrov joins the Oilers in a couple of years.
The scenario that includes “Kucheroving” Yamamoto sounds great in theory but unlikely in reality. Just yesterday Stauffer said the words “When Yamamoto is activated for the game against the Habs on February 12″……..
I like Jack McCabe added to the lineup. I believe the 7-team NTC was agreed to during pandemic times where things were a bit tighter in Canada than the US and many US-born players had no interest in coming to Canada. Perhaps McCabe is now amenable to Edmonton – although he’d be agreeing to two full seasons so I’m not so sure.
An acquisition of McCabe would need to include a disposition of Kulak in the off-season.
Locking in two seasons of McCabe at $4MM – is that “do-able” with Broberg pushing for 2LD in the next 2-12 months? When Broberg passes McCabe, we have another $4MM 3rd pairing d-man (see K. Russell. see T. Barrie). Then again, we would also have a cheap-ass 2LD – Broberg is ELC next season and unlikely to get a big dollar second contract.
I’d feel MUCH more comfortable if Chicago retained $1MM on that deal – what would that cost asset wise?
Tyson Barrie is not a 3rd pair defenseman.
I don’t disagree but he has, at times, played third pairing on the Oilers.
He played less per game at 5 on 5 during last year’s playoffs than Bouch (and Ceci of course), for example. Its was close, there was essentially a 1st paring and two 2-3 pairings, I acknowledge that.
In that last 8 games (since they went to 11/\7), he’s a minute less per game at 5 on 5 than Bouch.
He’s not a “3rd pairing d-man” but he often plays the 3rd amount of 5 on 5 ice among RD in games…
How much time he spends on the ice 5 on 5 is as much based on lining up the pairs and who the partner’s are. It is a combination of styles and abilities. Barrie was with Kulak in the playoffs so that Keith could help Bouchard.
Ethan Bear played first pair minutes for an entire season with Nurse. He wasn’t then and isn’t now a “1st pair” NHL defenseman and likely never will be.
Barrie’s five on five ice time is also a function of whether the team is trailing, tied or ahead particularly further into the game. No doubt he is not a shut down player, but they like him to help get the lead.
Your original post is suggesting that the Oilers are overpaying him as a “3rd pair” defender. When you combine is overall contributions to the team at 5 on 5 with what he does for the PP, the Oilers are getting their money’s worth.
You inferred many things about Barrie, in a post made about McCabe.
“we have another $4MM 3rd pairing d-man (see K. Russell. see T. Barrie).”
The only thing I could have potentially overstated was that you inferred he is over paid,
It was your statement that he is 3rd pairing. Then you back pedaled a little by saying you don’t disagree with my first post, but then went on to defend your characterization anyway.
And you don’t get to decide what opinions you put in post that people can respond to if they disagree with them.
At 5v5 on a deep D corp, to me he is. Other than goal share currently every analysis I’ve seen says he’s poor at defending entries and D zone defense. This matches what I see
Not every play, but there is a reason two teams that were/are better than the Oilers moved on. He’s helping now, but they need more going forward
A McCabe acquisition would need to include a Barrie disposition in the off-season, not Kulak. A contender cannot continue to run both Bouchard and Barrie and expect to contend. A spot has to be opened for Desharnais. Kulak and Broberg provide cover for the right side, and the guys in Bakersfield on the right side are getting closer.to spot duty.
A spot needs to be opened for the 26-year old rookie based off of 8 games played as a 7D?
Seems aggressive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sys9LCUo-AU
The McCabe trade idea actually came from a caller to Stauffer’s show pre-Xmas and was floated past Friedman and immediately shot down as Elliotte believes McCabe’s NTC is essentially all the Canadian teams and there is no desire on the part of the player to come up here.
Elliotte’s spouts a lot of BS, but he’s pretty connnected with agents and everything in this stance aligns with reality, so I’d have to say he’s probably right. That hasn’t stopped Bob from pushing this trade idea, but it has been much more of a soft-peddle since.
I wasn’t aware of Bob’s love for McCabe but if he got it from management that’s a good sign. McCabe is the best shutdown D available imo.
He got it from a caller, ie a listener.
If McCabe is the best shut-down D-man available, then has every NHL team he’s ever played for gotten scored on so much?
Chicago should send Edmonton a first to take on that terrible contract.
The article I linked to in regard to McCabe may change your mind.
Nothing in that article changes my mind … McCabe is a 3rd pairing D-man (at best) on a contending team. Too much cap hit for too long. Easy pass.
Would Orlov count?
I doubt he’s available as WSH is currently in the wild card and, while no lock, its probably highly unlikely they fall quickly enough to sell….
I don’t think Washing can afford to let Orlov go, after NYI just got Horvat.
For Horvat on an expiring contract, Van got a lottery protected first and two former 1st rounders who look middle 6 at best along while retaining 25% ($1.375).
AB has 2 x $4.150 left then UFA and AR has 2 x ELC left.
Following the general consensus, I consider centers more valuable than wingers so BB should theoretically be cheaper all else being equal (which it is not in this case). That being said the 2023 draft is also being touted as stellar so 1st round picks are considered more valuable than other years.
Looking at salary retention trades to get a feel for what this may cost.
If the Oil are looking at getting Van to retain 50% for remainder + two more in addition to the trade value of the player, then we break into down into the separate categories:
So, 2023 1st + 2023 2nd + XB + JP for BB with 50% retained. Does this get it done?
Just to keep setting the record straight – Raty was not a first round pick. He was selected 52 overall. No pre draft projections or post draft re assessments change that fact.
He could be Tyler Benson like, he could be Kucherov like. No one knows. But he was a 2nd round pick.
While technically true…9 forwards selected in the 2021 draft have played games in the NHL.
Raty is one of them.
13 forwards selected in the first round have not played a single game in the NHL.
Patrick Alvin said after the trade that he feels the Canucks got the equivalent of 3 first round picks in return for Horvat.
Shocking – Patrick Alvin talks up the value of one of the players he just received in a trade – a trade that no Vancouver fan wanted to see happen!
He is still a 2nd round pick, and one and half seasons worth of evidence post draft entirely based on NHL games played doesn’t prove much of anything.
It proves he can play and score in the NHL while playing very limited minutes which is a very good result for a 54th overall pick
He got called up because Clutterbuck and Palmieri got injured and Raty was their top prospect in no small part because the Islanders hadn’t drafted above 52nd since 2019 and their 2019 first round pick hasn’t panned out yet either. The Islanders have an aging team with one of the worst prospect pools. Not a great combination. Opportunity is a huge factor, particularly early after the draft. Twelve early games, doesn’t prove he is the equivalent of a first rounder. Maybe the Canucks get lucky.
Seems like one of Raty’s two goals was against the Canucks in Vancouver, so they got a good scouting report on him. Probably believe he can score 82 in 82 after watching that game.
Employing this hopeful logic, I want you all to know I am the equivalent of tall, handsome, and wealthy. So equivalent.
post of the day !
Being first one to play a game is stupid and meaningless
This is a huge overpay for a guy with 9 goals, who has never once scored 30 goals in his career. He’s not physical or hard to play against, doesn’t PK, and he needs to be on the PP to produce (35% of his goals have been scored on the PP).
I have no interest in throwing the Canucks a lifeline by ridding them of Boeser’s bloated contract.
Boeser has 24 EVP…Nuge has 26.
Nuge has more points on the powerplay then Boeser does altogether, while also taking face offs and running a shut down line.
Nope. Vancouver doesn’t want to retain, that has been stated in the news multiple times. They are under no pressure to trade him and can easily wait for more in the off-season when there is more cap space available.
So, to retain over $3M for two years to a divisional rival, against their intent, you would probably need to add another major piece.
Now no one is going to offer Van the haul you described either because Boeser isn’t worth that much ransom. they will see it as too much for that level of player. Most teams are going to see their cap issues mitigate over this summer and next so really the cap thing is only about the next two months and who wants to pay a 1st or more to get over a two month hump?.
That’s why this trade doesn’t happen now. It doesn’t make sense for the buyers and it doesn’t make sense for the sellers.
Van by the way is on record as stating this is not a rebuild. They are not trading Petterson and Hughes for eg, so they’re not actually blowing up the team. That means their intent is to keep the Boesers and Demkos on their roster.
Nope…they’ve been shopping Boeser for months and have even given his agent permission to explore a trade deal.
Whether or not that comes to pass before the deadline remains an open question but all it takes is one other team.
You’re missing the point yet again: IF other teams are willing to take the full cap hit. That’s why agents have been shopping him for months and yet he is still a Canuck.
I’m pretty sure Vancouver would retain some…just a question if how much.
oh you’re pretty sure ? that changes everything I guess… your track record speaks for itself 😉
I don’t believe that Jake McCabe adds enough to the Oilers to warrant sending assets out to obtain him and having him signed for 2 more seasons after this one. I don’t see a guy who is much of an upgrade over Kulak, if at all, and even if you got Chicago to retain half his salary (more assets out), it would only be $750,000 cheaper.
Kulak and McCabe are the same height with McCabe having an extra 7 lbs of weight. He does seem to use that weight a little more being credited with more hits per 60. Kulak is probably the better skater.
McCabe is pretty much a 29 year old career 2nd pair, but that career has been on non-playoff teams and not even border line non playoff teams. In his 6 full seasons with the Sabres the team had the poorest overall record in the league, never had a season above .500 and finished dead last twice. Chicago was 27th in the league last year and this year their in a dog fight with Columbus for 32nd.
He is one player and the placement of his teams do not rest on his shoulders, but it does it still indicate 2 things to me:
1. He has not played a meaningful do or die game his entire NHL career so no one knows how he’ll play in those types of games. That’s a big ask to think he can come in and play 20 minutes a night on the Oilers in games down the stretch and hopefully into the playoffs. At least Kulak has a track record.
2. The talent he has had to beat out to be on the second pair most seasons has probably not been good. I won’t list them all here, but the list of left shot D on the Sabres outside of Marco Scandella (who played ahead of him for 3 years) and Dahlin (who played ahead of him as a rookie) is not a compelling bunch. In Chicago, he has been Seth Jones primary partner, but we know who drives the bus on that pair. His competition this season is 36 year old Jack Johnson, who was a healthy scratch for Colorado in the playoffs last season till Girard got injured, and Caleb Jones. Johnson actually plays slightly more time both 5 on 5 and killing penalties so calling him a first pair defenseman is generous, like when Bear played with Nurse.
If he was a pending UFA who could be obtained as insurance for a non-first round pick, (like Kulak and Kulikov were) he might have been a good target, but at his salary and term and the likely cost to get him, I don’t see it as the right move for the Oilers.
McCabe coming to the Oilers as part of a package including Toews – well that would be interesting to consider – but not as the feature component.
Yeah – this sudden interest in McCabe is head scratching.
He sucks … seriously would he have even played for Colorado last season in the playoffs? He’s at best a 3rd pairing defenseman on a true contender.
He’s over-priced and he has zero playoff experience.
What’s so great about Jake McCabe?
Amazing trivia: Philip Broberg has played more NHL playoff games than Jake McCabe.
Another thing that jumps out about his history is that he’s frequently injured or unavailable.
In eight full NHL seasons, he’s only managed to play greater than 70 games three times (77,76,75), and never once played 80 games in a season.
Prospectrov!
Matvey Petrov may not be at the summit of the OHL leaderboard at season’s end, but he’s there now. As our esteemed host mentioned, Petrov is on a mother of a streak ATM.
The Petrovian One is the only prospect in action tonight…and you can watch him on the telly! Puck drop @ 5 p.m. Owl River time on TSN+.
In his last 13 games Petrov has scored 3+ points 7 times.
Count me as opposed to acquiring Boeser. Both his cap hit and one-dimensional style of play aren’t things I think this team should spend cap or assets on. If we want to talk about a VAN winger to target, I still have time for a Yamo+ for Garland swap.
Yamo for Garland would be a nice swap – issue really is the salary retention as Garland has 3 more years after this one, ideally the Nucks retain close to $1.5 million on that.
That is a big ask imo. Gonna cost.
Health matters, so on a personal level I hope I am wrong, but I think Yamo will always have injury issues due to his size and the way he needs to play to be effective. Long term I take Pulju over Yamo.
Ideally there’d be some cap retention but I wouldn’t have an issue making that deal without retention. Garland is a more sturdy, proven, and better player than Yamo while bringing pretty much everything we and the team love about Yamo. To me, that’s worth the possible 4.95mil cap hit (assuming it can be made to fit).
Hyman McDavid Holloway
Kane Draisaitl Garland
Garland is a much better target than BB … that guy is super aggravating to play against. He also produces at 5v5 unlike BB who needs to be on the PP to produce.
Boeser has 24 EVP.
Nuge 26
Yamamoto 11
Jesse 10
Holloway 9
Foegele 9
This isn’t the own you think it is lol
well, I like that LT is pushing the chips in …. Vegas is going to limp to the finish line and may not get in. This is a GREAT YEAR to go for it.
Cup #6 coming in JUNE
I’m a big fan of Boeser, he exemplifies the first shot scorer that would thrive with 97 or 29. You’d think Vancouver would want the moon the stars and a lottery-protected sun t retain 50% for 3 years though, no?
To a divisional rival? Better throw in a constellation as well as the sun, the moon and the stars.
I think the Dys have to realize that they are not going to be competitive in the next 3 years, so maybe the divisional aspect won’t be as much of a factor.
I’m all for LT’s suggestion of Puljujarvi, Foegele, Bourgault and 2 firsts out for McCabe, Raddysh, and Boeser in, I just don’t think that gets it done. Cap space is probably the most valuable asset in the league right now and teams are going to want a lot for it.
They keep claiming they’re not in a re-build. They’re apparently clearing cap space for a reload, so they’re expecting (rightly or wrongly) to be competitive within that three year time frame.
I also don’t see what LT is offering bringing back those three assets with extended retention on two of them.
That’s what makes some of the cheaper deadline options so appealing.
Using Bjugstad and Gost as an example, at 50% retained for Puljujarvi (plus pick) the Oilers would create cap space.
Bjugstad plus Gost (50%) has a cap hit of $2.7M for 2 roster spots. Puljujarvi plus Shore/Desharnais/etc. currently cost $3.7M+.
So Puljujarvi plus pick(s) for Bjugstad/Gost opens enough cap to add/keep another player on the roster.
Unless there is a target for the cap space this year, it really is a non-issue for next year as contracts will come off the books.
I am on-board with an aggressive play by Holland using Pulj, Yamo, Foegele, and a prospect or two as bait. I’d hold the first rounder unless a good player with term was coming the other way.
I can’t recall who first suggested Bjugstad and Ghost.
One other reason it makes sense is that Coyotes might find the opportunity to rehab JP’s value and flip him down the road. That’s kinda their thing.
The price is always the question.
You’d think they’d have some interest in Puljujarvi as least. And yes, we’re assuming those two will be relative bargains, but we don’t know that for sure.
Frank Seravalli on the radio just now…
He expects Boeser to be the next domino to fall.
Also thinks Patrick Kane could end up in Vegas replacing Mark Stone.
I wonder if vegas will take a run at Timo Mier. That would be the best stone replacement.
Makes a lot of sense
I really hope LV throws what little left they have of draft capital and prospects to the Hawks for Kane. In no universe does this year’s version of Patty Kane replace what Stone brought to that team.
I really also hope Demko goes to LA … he’s totally over-rated, and that contract would quickly become an albatross for them.
These moves would make the Pacific division a total cakewalk for the Oilers for the next half decade.
Agreed
To me the same issue with Boesser for the Oilers. They don’t need more goals, they’re at the top there, they need less GA
Whatever targets they have should be two way capable enough with the puck types that will help with the tire fire defending they collapse into when put under playoff type pressure
This is also my issue with Barrie. I see an average puck mover outside of having the O zone on the PP, average skater which when undersized is not good, and soft defensive coverage prone to losing the plot the hotter things get. He’s also not good on defending entries. His weaknesses are at the heart of the team’s weaknesses
Bouch also loses coverage but is a very good puck mover, the best Oiler D at defending entries, and is young so will improve in zone D play
A solid replacement for this year but how are they going to pay him going forward unless Stone is done?
Kane is way overrated. Sure he will pick up points, but only if he gets PP time and he’s a massive liability defensively. Kane to Vegas would be great for everyone else. But I suspect they put all their chips in for Meier.
We don’t know how serious Stone’s surgery and Friedman was speculating it’s possible Vegas pulls a Kucherov and he returns for the playoffs after they acquire someone like Meier.
First!
(seeing as people were getting nostalgic yesterday)
Ha – I missed that
Well, not really. But fun once in a while!
I’ve resisted that a few times.
Fist, ftfy.