The Edmonton Oilers had a nice run in the 2017 and 2018 drafts, getting four players who have delivered NHL careers (defined as 100 games in the world’s best league). Evan Bouchard is going to tower over this group long before the final entry in his career reaches the Guide & Record Book. What’s more, the Oilers found some players in later rounds (VIncent Desharnais in 2016, Mike Kesselring in 2018). Are there more prospects from these three draft summers who could be late bloomers?
A CONVERSATION
None of the guys you’re looking at are any damn good. From the 2016-18 draft, players still in the system and with a recall chance include RHD Phil Kemp and goalie Olivier Rodrigue.
Like I said. Well, Rodrigue’s save percentages have been inside the top-10 for AHL starters two years running, and Phil Kemp’s even-strength goal share (58 percent) was the best in Bakersfield among defencemen one year ago.
Both men are blocked. On the contrary. Rodrigue is in position to be first recall. His competition is Collin Delia, who could be next man up but does not represent the same kind of competition as Calvin Pickard or even Jack Campbell. Connor Ungar is a brand new pro, his time is not now. Clear sailing for Rodrigue in my opinion.
What about Kemp? The Broberg OS is a boon for every RH defenceman in the system, all the way down to Max Wanner. In the case of Kemp, he’s unique in the group who could play behind Evan Bouchard and Cody Ceci on the Oilers depth chart. Troy Stecher is a puck mover with footspeed and reasonable defensive acumen. Joshua Brown is big, strong, tough and skates well enough to survive in the NHL. He would be stretched as an every game No. 6 in the NHL based on his Puck IQ resume, but is more likely to (imo) hang on to the No. 7 spot even over a player like Stecher. The Oilers like big, tough defensemen and Brown covers that area.
What about Kemp? He is neither Stecher or Brown. He has size, but isn’t dirt mean like Brown. He has a plus shot, but does not move the puck like Stecher. His speed is not burner level (Broberg is such a terrific skater, in the AHL everyone looks slow compared to him) but I would rank him well ahead of Vincent Desharnais.
The Oilers played him in one game and didn’t trust him to play defense? The Oilers played Philip Broberg sparingly and didn’t trust him until they had no choice. He rewarded them with fine play. Phil Kemp isn’t going to make the Oilers this fall, but he is on the recall list. We’ll see.
Anyone else? We’ve talked recently about Raphael Lavoie and I do think Matthew Savoie could force his way into the NHL lineup during the season. Lane Pederson we’ve talked about, Noah Philp perhaps later on although things could open up if he hits the ice on the fly and shows well early.
What’s the bottom line? I think it’s wide open if Broberg and Holloway land in St. Louis. The Oilers are a strong Stanley Cup contender, but an unusual one. The club has extreme strengths and genuine weaknesses.
What’s the appeal in running one of these guys out there during the regular season? The appeal is that one of these cats will land. Desharnais arrived as if he came from out of the sky, after an exceptional AHL season. There were no exceptional performances in Bakersfield last season, but in names like Rodrigue, Kemp, Lavoie, Philp and others, there is now a sliver of daylight not seen previously. It’s worth monitoring this fall.
What about PTO’s? Sure. Bring in a bunch. There are jobs in Edmonton! Maybe.
Ok, I’ve solved it.
Laine for Nurse, Nurse get’s free Rexall gift cards every week for mini-eggs.
Hyman to play for Nurse.
/end
Before the offer sheets there was text after text of capology gymnastics and who had to stay or go.
Similar today. It’s a time killer as it is impossible task.
I think we need to get Draisaitl signed, because a mistake there and everything goes all to hell.
Maybe these offer sheets are really intended to disrupt the Drai, Bouch and McDavid contracts
Wow I never knew Tyler dellow was Assistant GM of the hurricanes wow. Wasn’t he on here 10 years ago doing analytics as an oilers fan? If true man that would be rough going to a team that beat the oil in 06:(
Even Drai’s sister was at the McDavid wedding.
Not sure why that’s relevant or notable but I like it!
PTO Options (no more 30-somethings, team is old enough, as-is):
Forward:
Boris Katchouk
Sammy Blais,
Filip Zadina,
Kailer Yamamoto,
Steven Lorentz
Defense:
Gustav Lindberg
Caden Addison
Jakub Zobril
Goal:
Kevin Lankinen
Given the hole might be 4LW, I’ll take Cal Clutterbuck please
Well, he is a right shot RW, he turns 37 soon after the season starts and he was crushed, regardless of deployment.
One caveat, his OZ deployment was relately low, so there’s that.
But also the old bones & grey ballz…..
Can he still skate? That I don’t know….
He wasn’t crushed on a weak team says PIQ
If Lavoie shows well at camp he’s fine, I’m getting Cogliano vibes though
Cal is a hair above league average in top speed, and covers a lot of ground based on NHL Edge data.
To me it’s a no-brainer that he’s worth a PTO, that’s why I suggested it the other day.
I liked Carrick he’s a smart player. I thought he would resign and Henrique would move on. I’m glad Carrick received a 3 year from the Rangers. This was quietly one of Holland better trades a 3-C and 4-C for a Playoff run and then 2 years of my perfect Centre in Henrique.
Carrick was more of an “extra forward” than he was a 4C.
He was essentially a non-factor in the playoffs, right?
Further to this, Ryan, Perry and Brown should not be good enough to make this roster and they should waived on the first day to ensure the team is cap compliant.
Cal Foote is slow afoot.
Hard pass.
Cal Foote isn’t available at the moment because of off ice issues.
When will those clouds all disappear?
Where will it lead us from here?
With no lovin’ in our souls
And no money in our coats
You can’t say we’re satisfied
You can’t say we never tried
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFK1VRUcwCQ
ClaptonFranklin is GodI hate to be that guy, but the Nurse boat anchor is the true underlying issue. It is and will continue to ruin the Oilers cap structure for years.
It is nearly impossible to assemble a value D core when your 5th best dman is making 9 million.
So the key to future success is unlocking Nurse.
Nurse-Ekholm
Broberg-Bouchard
Done!
Summer 2027 10 team no trade list begins. He still has to agree to be moved, and for the rest of the years. That’s the kind of contract these modern Bobby Orr guys get
Well that’s not happening so no point on people stating it every article like it’s going to change.
It can happen. It’s not easy
I heard he’s behind Phil Kemp on the depth chart.
One item that might ease a bit of pressure is if the team does not start the season by taking a hard right turn off of Henday into a ditch. Never say never, but I don’t see them sitting in 30th 10 games in and having to play catch up all year…again. A reasonable start gives them a fall cushion to potentially get some games for the bubble boys so Stanley can see who is what.
Then we better ice a championship D core that doesn’t have Tyson Barrie as 2RD with Broberg and Stecher as the 3rd pairing.
D-Corps configuration to start season:
Nurse – Bouchard
Broberg – Ekholm
Kulak – Sketcher
I’d probably switch the second pairing around, and I’m not convinced that Kemp won’t take the 3RD job, but this is what I would try to start the season.
Ek has a proven track record of bringing along young D.
Broberg, in my opinion, has a lot of the same qualities that Gustav Forsling displays. The prominent differences are 4” in height, the greater wingspan and a 1st vs a 5th round draft pick. I think the Oilers really need to hold on to him.
As a result, I dug into his circumstances to find anything notable.
In a late-January transaction, Forsling was traded to Chicago for Adam Clendening by Vancouver. Apparently, the master talent evaluator Benning, was of the opinion that Clendening, a similar-sized 22 year old former 2nd round RHD, was much closer to being NHL ready. He had scored over 100 pts in 2+ seasons in the AHL. He also had played 4 NHL games in November.
Forsling was 19 years old, unsigned and in the midst of his second season in the SHL. Chicago signed him in the spring and he made the opening night roster at 20 years old.
Clendening finished the season playing 17 games in Vancouver and 11 in Utica. He was traded that July as part of the Brandon Sutter deal. Clendening, as most readers probably know, never gained traction in the NHL and has played more AHL, than NHL games. He is currently in the KHL.
Forsling played 1 game shy of 50% of Chicago’s games during his entry-level deal, while playing 30,18 & 5 games in the AHL during that same span. Injuries were also a factor in his GP totals.
Upon the completion of his entry-level deal he was traded to Carolina for DeHaan by Bowman (oh oh!), but could not crack that stacked ‘Canes DCorps. He ended up in the AHL all season playing for the shared (with Florida, hmmm) Charlotte Checkers.
He was waived prior to the start of the Covid season in January 2020 and claimed by Florida. Some have suggested that Quenneville was a big fan of the player while he coached in Chicago and was the biggest influence on the claim. He hasn’t looked back since.
Apparently Forsling is the fittest on the team. Forsling attributes his relatively new-found focus on health and conditioning to the influence of fellow Swede and vet teammate Patrik Hornqvist during his first season in Sunrise.
He said that Hornqvist really taught him how to get his body ready for the season. Physically, as well as mentoring him in fine-tuning his approach to nutrition. This was literally a game-changer for him.
I draw parallels with Broberg and Ekholm here. In fact, I think the top 4 should be Nurse-Bouch, Broberg-Ekholm, so Broberg can play on his strong side and Ekholm can anchor the right side, where I recall he played often in Nashville.
Similarly, I see Holloway as a great fit on the 3rd line with Henrique and Brown, who I see as excellent mentors for him. I also think both Brown and Henrique will score within the 20 goal range this season. I can also see Skinner start as the 1LW and Hollywood swapping spots by mid-season.
I hold on to both of them, they have far too much value in 3 years, when many of the current vets might no longer be NHL players. I’ve been one of the biggest supporters of Holloway pre-draft on this blog and I hold firm that he will soon be a significant point-producer in the NHL.
In addition, Broberg has only scratched the surface. We have, albeit a higher-priced, Forsling in our midst. Why let that uncommon and very difficult to acquire player go?
Get good players, keep good players and if they are young, hang on to them for as long as possible.
These players are the future.
If they’ do match Holloway will be on the third line with Henri. Janmark was great in playoffs, but he is like Kulak and doesn’t seem to stick higher up in season . I think he was going to be on the 4th line
As for Bro, I would move Kulak and Ceci and start him 3rd pair. If he progresses as he might I would start trying him higher up and give Ek reduced TOI in games they are controlling. More experience for Bro and rest for Ek. He’s a big fella and getting up there in age. Keep him as healthy and fresh for playoffs as possible
It seems Bro doesn’t want to play RD. So don’t make him
If the Oilers have hope of keeping Broberg long term they have to play him LD this season so Kulak has to be the guy to go. I see you want to move Ceci as well but it is not clear to me who you are replacing him with.
Have you tried getting them under the cap with a reasonable amount of players?
Option 1 – Don’t match. 354K over the cap at 21 guys. You can start the season by waiving players, hopefully get them back, probably have to LTIR Kane, you are short a LW. If you add using LTIR it will be tough when Kane is ready unless they fill in with players they will waive, or they can Stone Kane
Option 2 – Match Bro. Trade Kulak. I can’t find a way to get compliant to start, not waiving a player likely to get claimed, and get to 20 players
Option 3 – Match Bro. Trade Ceci. Waive Janmark, Ryan, Pickard and Brown, bring up Philp, Rodrigue, Carrick to get under, but I can’t get Savoie on so his bonuses don’t count if he’s called up. 20 players. Would have to LTIR Kane to have enough players in the right spots, and I’m not sure what you do if he comes back. Short a LW
Option 4 – Match both. Trade Ceci and Kulak. 21 players, 1.225M over the cap. You can waive players and get Savoie up to start, will have to LTIR Kane. When Kane comes back, you would have to waive Janmark and Ryan and promote Philp and play with 20 players
Option 5 – Match Bro. Trade Ceci and Kulak. 20 players and 1M under the cap. Need a LW and then 21 players. You don’t need to LTIR Kane and can accumulate cap to move in season, but bringing in a LW at 775K you will only be under 289K so you may gain 500K in cap space
Option 6 – Match Holloway. Trade Ceci. 21 players and 605K in cap space. Waive Ryan and get Savoie up so his bonuses don’t count to start. You don’t have to LTIR Kane, but will need to bring a D up if there is injury
Putting Kane on LTIR if there is a possibility he comes back isn’t a great idea to me. Who do you move out if you used the LTIR space? Given how JJ added, there aren’t any obvious players to move out and do things differently from these options, unless they do something unexpected we aren’t privy to
Maybe they move on from someone that they just signed because of this, but it wouldn’t be much of a move if it’s not a higher salary. Arvi has no protection. Jan has a 10 team no trade list but what the point, it’s not enough salary
It looks like if they match either or both trades have to happen. If they don’t match it’s still a good idea to free up more cap so they have some flexibility. The most obvious are with the two D, one or both. If they don’t match they have more RD than LD
And they will just have to trust the players they signed to step up. As you said I have no problem moving Ceci. He and Nurse as a pair are declining, that opinion isn’t everyone’s view but there are many including those that do analysis in the media that see it that way including Yost
Ceci is too expensive for a 3rd pair on this team. If it’s not working with Nurse why would they do the same thing for a 3rd season? And it has been terrible in two playoffs. Why do they have 8 NHL regulars on D? I can’t see how Stecher is a worse option. Because he is a better fit for what Nurse needs, and with Nurse his size isn’t a problem
I have seen him play on the Oilers and over the years, and he’s not bad, if not ideal. If Brown or Stecher can’t play at an acceptable level (which would surprise me because they can get NHL contracts), maybe Kemp can step in and surprise us. Unfortunate, but this day was predicted when Holland gave Nurse his contract (and others), bad contracts mean a loss of team quality
It’s a cap efficiency contest at the core. This and other things are why I didn’t enjoy Holland’s time, and am not a fan of Bowman’s hiring even if there wasn’t the other stuff
I say go the non LTIR route, try to gain some cap and roll the dice that you can do something
Hehe. That was a long answer to a simple question.
I finally found it near the end. You would replace Ceci with Stetcher.
I am one of the few here who also thinks Stetcher is a better match for Nurse stylistically but I haven’t seen enough of him in years to know if the can handle that role all season.
For myself I sign Holloway and Bouchard and trade/give away Ceci OR Kulak to start the season with Kane on LTIR as is strongly rumoured to happen.
If Broberg is amenable to playing RD until they can find a proper solution I trade Ceci. If the team wants a long term relation with Broberg and that means he wants to start on LD I trade Kulak. I think they have to give him that much to repair the relationship.
With Kane on LTIR and Ceci traded I am cap compliant with Savoie up for opening day so as to be able to recall him later in the season. If I trade Kulak I am a little light and Ryan has to go down on waivers for a day to make it work until Savoie is sent to Bakersfield. That gives me a 22 man roster.
I run with that until Kane is ready to come off LTIR to see what happens or what other moves become available.
Sorry about the WOT
To me they have few choices so they have to dance with the one they brung. They will use LTIR but it’s – again – short term thinking
The ‘All In’ mentality is why teams have windows. Going all out and depleting your team on such a risky bet is, well stupid. Florida’s roster was not one I would look at and think Champs
Holland said you have to keep getting in to the playoffs, which is correct. Then he face planted by making decisions that limited the future chances of ultimate success
You can’t guarantee winning a cup because there are so many variables. But when you start 10M ahead in a 100 M race because Connor, you can build strategies around that
Connor amd Leon who I believe will stay have years of top level and elite play. If you don’t take that into account you are doing the wrong thing. When you have Connor you are strategizing for more than one cup. Or you should be. If you aren’t, to me you don’t get it, you don’t understand what you have
As you said if the 2 kids wanted a combined 3M you can move a contract and can do that if you want to. That was what should have happened given 8 NHL regular D. They were dithering like Tambellini and got the Mike Tyson ‘everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face’
Also, there are no simple answers to this problem!
I don’t know how you came up with your cap thought. I had to trade C and K to get to a 20 man roster and big problems when Kane comes back. From media guys the other GMs are grinding Bowman because he has no leverage. Which will happen later
I have a spreadsheet that I update. I have for years. No particular lines or order.
LW – Skinner, Nuge, Holloway, Janmark – $11,865,457
C – McDavid, Draisaitl, Henrique, Ryan – $24,900,000
RW – Hyman, Arvidsson, Brown, Perry, Savoie – $12,536,667
Forwards – $ 49,302,124
LD – Nurse, Ekholm, Kulak – $18,000,000
RD – Bouchard, Broberg, Stetcher, Brown – $10,268,417
Defence – $28,268,417
Goal – Skinner, Pickard – $3,600,000
Buyouts – $3,016,667
Overage – $3,550,000
Misc. – $6,566,667
My spreadsheet says that adds up to $87,737,298 leaving us compliant by $262,792.
It changes, of course, if they trade Kulak instead of Ceci.
The crunch comes when Kane is healthy.
Right. I think unless you want to become a cap expert it’s better to use Puckpedia GM. Because it incorporates all of the ridiculous nuances of the cap, by people trying to make money doing it. A straight up spread sheet misses things
There are other sites, I don’t like them but that doesn’t mean they aren’t good
I tend to wonder if CapWages is more accurate at some things than Puckpedia.
I wonder the opposite.
I mean, who is running capwages and where are they getting their info?
Hart has connections with agents and managers, etc.
I don’t know where capwages gets info from.
CapWages is slow to update & they don’t show buyouts or overages while including guys unlikely to make the team imo.
I assure you my spreadsheet is exactly correct. I have been doing this for years.
Feel free to do the addition yourself. All of my numbers are straight from Capfriendly before it went down. No idea why you think I can’t imput numbers into a spreadsheet. Capwages and Puckpedia are missing info.
I agree with your numbers FWIW.
And I haven’t used Puckpedia GM, but your numbers are easily extrapolated from the Puckpedia Oilers main page by taking the overage showing, putting Kane on LTIR, removing Ceci and adding Savoie.
I don’t doubt it. I’m not sure how you get compliant to LTIR Kane.
I suspect Kane will show up to TC and fail his medical. At that point the team will put him on LTIR.
At least that is what I would do.
The rumours are all over the place about the relationship between Kane and the team regarding surgery for whatever the problem is BUT . . .
if they are on the same page as one of the rumours says there is another way to extend the window before cap decisions have to be made.
The team simply announcing that Kane wants to give rehab another couple of months to see if that solves the problem before going under the knife.
It doesn’t really hurt Kane to do that since he isn’t playing for a contract this season but it might get him to the TD on LTIR.
I also have been running a similar spreadsheet for years! Go figure. Our numbers match except for one item… what us this miscellaneous you refer to?
Buyouts and Overages.
The Oilers went over the cap by Brown’s and Perry’s bonuses to the tune oF $3,550,000 and they are in the hole another $3,016,667 for Campbell and Neal. Total comes to $6,566,667 of cap space that doesn’t put a player on the roster.
The problem with the crunch if Kane returns early in this scenario is not survivable unless Kane is willing to entertain a trade or he is replacing Arvi, who is either on LTIR or traded….
Yup, it will be decision time for sure. I just think that the longer the Oilers can delay the decsion the more info they get on Holloway and Broberg’s potential as everyday players while waiting to see if there is another injury or trade possibilities open up. Use the time they have.
Kane can be traded without his permission as of February 28th as a fallback position/alternative as well.
Did the overages/buyouts make sense?
What is the delta between Holloway and Jarventie? Jarventie seems to have less edge. AHL scoring looks similar.
The Delta is that Jarventie has had major surgery and I am sure needs an AHL year at least. Agreed I don’t think he’s as aggressive or fast, but plays hard and is big
Given his draft position he must have been seen more as a Schaeffer/Lavoie type where as Holloway had higher pedigree. Not #14, but a first rounder
He is fast, but probably won’t be an NHL option until next season, when he is 100%. He is still very young, so he might surprise mid to late season, but it is doubtful.
I don’t think so either. Savoie is a better player, and a scout Gregor had on said he needs a year as well. For him it’s strength
I would think that Lavoie would be the logical “1st up replacement” for Holloway at 3LW. I actually think Henriques left wing might be the perfect spot for him….
I’ll be somewhat surprised if they don’t match Dylan, but far from shocked.
Lavoie is definitely the most ready. I agree a very good rounded C is perfect for him
I have no idea what they are going to do. This summer has been crazy and the end of it is going to bug me for yonks. I am expecting the next few days will add to it
Jarventie
AHL
136 GP , 38 G, 48 A, 86 PTS
0.63 PPG
NHL
7 GP , 0 G, 1A, 1 PTS
0.12 PPG
Holloway
AHL
63 GP , 25 G, 23 A, 48 PTS
0.71 PPG,
NHL
89 GP , 9 G, 9A, 18 PTS
0.2 PPG
RJ by that is behind DH. As we saw with Brown he almost certainly needs to get his game back
At 4.5 he’ll play RW if they need him too. Derek Ryan probably wants to be the 1st line centre too but that doesn’t mean it’s the best option for the team.
Think Lawton was right in saying what this does is forces the team to make some decisions. I thought they should have already, now they have to
Great point.
Yup.
They surely are forced to but I still think there is no good outcome, as compared to where we were on Monday.
Planning on having both those guys in the lineup for $2.5MM combined vs. trying to find a way to move players out in order to get them in for close to $7MM (or any combo) is just, well, sigh, disheartening.
It’s the worst
Brian Lawton made a point last night that I think is quite notable: he mentioned that Paul Coffey has a large voice in the org, which we all know.
I would presume he very much wants Broberg in his defensive group!
My hope as well.
Trade Ceci and that gives the majority of the money for Broberg. The sweetener pick you have to give up is basically not likely a big one. Then we start Broberg instead of Ceci. Seems simple. Or is it to simplistic of an idea?
It’s what I would do.
My concern with this plan is that if the team hopes to keep Broberg past the two year contract it sounds like they have to make room for him on the left side sooner rather than later.
Both Ekholm and Kulak have 2 years left on their deals. I have no illusions that Nurse will be tradeable in that timeframe but I don’t see an issue past the 2-year mark so much as the issue being too many lefties for the next 2 years.
LD is packed right now but, looking forward, there is noone coming on the left side and a couple with chances on the right side (Kemp, Wanner, Akey).
When Broberg is an RFA, both Kulak and EKholm are UFAs, I believe.
Yes, but if the Oilers want a happy Broberg they have to make sure he is either OK playing RD or find a way to make room for him on the left side. The relationship needs some attention and, at this point, I think it is the team that has to make the first move.
If say they can get Shultz, Shattenkirk or (more likely) Barrie for cheap, and trade both Ceci and Kulak in order to keep Bro & Holloway. Can a RD of Bouch/Barrie/Stetcher/Brown/Kemp hold the fort until a proper 2RD can be landed? Admittedly is a thin and risky way to start the year, but it does keep young talent in the house.
Am I smoking the drapes?
I don’t imagine them moving both Ceci and Kulak.
I’m not sure Barrie is even a 3D in this league and I’m not sure Stecher and handle 82 games. In any event there is nothing close to a 2RD and given the 3rd spot behind them would be very questionable – yikes.
Also, if they are in LTIR, acquiring a legit 2RD seems like it might be an impossible task
Is this Gustav Lindstrom?
Maybe Tyson Barrie?
If they either (a) lose Broberg or (b) match on Broberg but trade Ceci then I think there could be a PTO.
I mean, I’m comfortable with Stecher in the lineup but (a) every night and (b) are we sure he’s fully ready for camp (cyst removal surgery)?
I’m fine with Stecher as 7D/4RD, that d-man likely plays half the games due to injury, etc.
But am I comfortable with him at 3RD and Josh Brown as the 7D/4RD.
I wish Phil Kemp had a month of NHL games on his resume and we’d know more.
Who is the right shot D in Kelowna that Bobby Stauffy is talking about on the radio?
I haven’t heard the comment, but it I am guessing Cal Foote or even Justin Schultz.
Thanks. I think it was Schultz. He was responding to a caller who was suggesting Barrie, and countered with Schultz. Seemed more enthusiastic about Schultz. In his Bobby way, it seemed like “prophecy.”
Ekholm-Bouchard
Broberg-Schultz
Nurse-Stecher
Brown
???
I’m not sure what I did but I apologize.
You are welcome to post your articles on this site, but please link them. I’m not sure it’s necessary for you, or anyone, to pass along future ideas for articles. I hope you understand.
That was not my intent – apologies.
A couple of things:
-Lowetide I’ve been reading your blog for over a decade now and I want to say that I love how you share your opinion without ramming it down people’s throats. You leave open the possibility to have your mind changed and look at the positives of what certain players bring without writing them off due to their negatives.
-For my second statement, I think the Oilers should sign both Holloway and Broberg. There is too much potential for them to live up to the contracts and more into the future. I would put Kane on LTIR first then speak with San Jose about Ceci + 2026 2nd round pick for “future considerations” unless they are willing to pick them up if you waive him (doubt it). When Kane is healthy you look and figure that out in the future.
People are overstating the difficulty of moving either of these contracts next off season if need be, they would each have 1 year left and some team would be willing to give a 8th overall and 14th overall pick a 1 year chance on a team like Chicago, Utah, San Jose etc to see if they can form into what their potential is.
If Broberg is a top 4 dman this and next season, it’s a bargain deal at his age and skill set.
If Holloway is a 3rd line winger with potential to move up and score 15 goals and 30-35 points, he will have covered his salary easily. They won’t be Ales Hemsky in 2006 but they will be players not only playing at the level they need to be playing, they will be doing it for years ahead.
This is a reasonably argument and part of me is on board except for one thing – I don’t think they can match if they think there is a realistic chance they’ll NEED to move the contract next summer in connection with the Drai and Bouch extensions.
Moving a close to $5MM contract in late August probably isn’t easy even if Broberg had a solid season. Sure, I guess a deal could be “agreed to” before then but there continues to be risk there.
There is always the fact that the buyout on Broberg would be VERY cheap at 1/3 – catch there is the risk that he gets hurt and finishes the season on LTIR – can’t be bought out in that situation.
As far as trading Ceci to the Sharks – I don’t think it should/would take a 2nd round pick but really just guessing (based on some info out there).
I wouldn’t be planning on trading Broberg and I do not think it would impact either extension. It would impact players lower in the pecking order.
As for the Ceci trade, I was just going high and making sure there is no money coming back. That’s the main concern for me. Most teams would want to send at least something back.
Agreed.
The Yamamoto pick was a good pick. It didn’t end great after he got paid and struggled to find his prior top game but he gave this organization some real good years and, at least for a while there, would have gone higher in a re-draft.
Even Samorukov provided value as he was used to acquire Kostin who, firstly, gave the Oilers a real nice half season and some playoff moments and, secondly, was used by Ken Holland to absolutely fleece Steve Yzerman (who took on Yamo’s contract to buy out and then over play Kostin).
Skinner and Bouchard speak for their own.
McLeod provided solid value. He showed us why some thought he could be a first rounder but also why he wasn’t. This kid has the tools to be more than he has shown, maybe he’ll get there. In any even, he also provided the Oilers with some good years and they he was traded for clear value. I wonder if the Oilers end up making that trade if they knew that Holloway might be lost from the middle of the lineup?
Even Rodrigues is a good player – I hope Olivier Rodrigue also has an NHL career. He took big steps last season and his arrows are good – big year for the kid.
The first run with Drai and Nuge was epic.
Covid ruined everything!
I can feel the warmth from Tyson Barrie’s hand rubbing.
I’ll bite, what are the genuine weaknesses? And don’t all teams have weaknesses? No team is perfect.
Scorng to many Goals and allowing GA at garbage time. This is the best Oiler team since the mid 80’s it’s going to be fun watching how many 20 plus Goal scorers we end the year with.
Fourth line is sketchy at best and RD has questions. Inability to accrue cap space if Kane is LTIR is a big one since that is how contenders try to deal with cap limitations during the regular season.
I think everything else has a ‘reasonable’ to ‘excellent’ answer in place.
Philp emerging could go a long way to solving the fourth line not really being a line situation and those who know his game better than I do say that is possible to likely.
2RD & 3RD and maybe D depth would be my major concerns if I was evaluating the team. I think this is why so much angst over Broberg. Not that he is a known or perfect solution so much as there is a strong feeling that last year’s solution was found to be inadequate in the playoffs.
This is a/the big one.
Lots of posts about roster and lineup construction cite “we’ll fix that (2RD) at the deadline” but that becomes much harder with limited cap space if they are using LTIR.
A $4MM player is $4MM of cap to fit in – not $1.3MM (the portion of the contract left for the season. They could pay extra and extra for double retained but still need $1MM.
Last season at the deadline they only had a few hundred thousand but due to accrual/pro rating were able to fit in two players (with retained).
That might not be an option this season.
Andy Strickland believes the Blues plan to play Broberg with Parayko and for him to run their PP – if they get him.
Pretty ambitious about the PP. I think once he gets settled he’ll be good at it, if he gets there
Good morning – so well put