I think old Glen Sather would look at the current Oilers roster and try to make a small tweak on defense. A typical Sather trade would involve dealing a player the roster had outgrown for someone who had more utility. Pat Price to the Pittsburgh Penguin is an example. Please read this.
Sather used to spend time playing a winger on a feature line and then deal his ass for something good. He would get the heart of a career from Kevin McCelland and then include him in a deal that brought back Adam Graves and Joe Murphy. Of course, it helped that his players were famous because Stanley runs, but Slata had a way of turning something into something else.
He was kind of like that Tatum O’Neill scene in Paper Moon where she confused the store clerk and walked away with some real money.
It doesn’t always work, and there’s an element of danger about it. The Washington Nationals picked up infielder Curtis Mead earlier this year for not much, and unlocked his bat in a big way. He looks like he’s going to have a real run here and third basemen with plus bats have high value. The Nats cashed him last night for an injured pitcher (Connolly Early of the Boston Red Sox) and I kind of like the BoSox end of that trade. We’ll see. Washington’s new management are aggressive and there are many positives this year, so maybe they got it right.
That brings me to Stan Bowman. He made a Slats trade when bringing in Vasily Podkolzin as his first move, and I also liked the trade for Ty Emberson. However, I wonder if upgrading Emberson this summer might be a good tweak for the roster. You know, Connor Murphy is no spring chicken and the RH depth chart goes Evan Bouchard, Connor Murphy, Ty Emberson, Josh Brown, Beau Akey.
I would love to see Artem Zub here, but Steve Staios knows his value. Maybe there are zero RH options available who grade out better than Emberson. I’d have a look if occupying Bowman’s chair. The right side of Edmonton’s deense goes from elite to older veteran to guy who is stretched on the second pairing pretty quickly.
Identifying 3 obscure Edmonton Oilers prospects who may be NHL-ready
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7469935/2026/07/26/edmonton-oilers-prospects-nhl-2026/
I’m very curious to see if Marjola can translate to the NHL. From the very little I’ve seen, super creative/slippery.
Marjala is extremely skilled – a bit like a poor mans’ Ales Hemsky as far as skill with the puck – not as “tough” with respect to going to hard areas and taking contact but a center which is helpful.
Hopefully he’s bulked up a bit the off-season as, if he has, he may have a chance.
I’m a fan of Zub and was pining for him at the deadline
I have no idea (then or now) if Staios would move him, but we’re now in late July and the Sens haven’t extended him yet, so that’s not nothing
I like Emberson and he’s tremendous value at $1.3M, but he and Zub are in the same boat, 1 year left on their contracts and then UFA, and he’ll be in line for a bump in pay
And I think Zub is a more substantial player right now, and would really smarten up that right side with Bouch/Zub/Murphy for the coming season.
Let Zub walk after this year and shop for a 2RD that moves Murphy to 3rd pairing minutes for ’27/28
Why did San Jose give-up on Shakir was he not developing or is a case of too many assets and not enough ice time. I’ve heard not enough hockey sense but he has the skills. Shakir has the pedigree could it be a case of popping at age 25? Has Podkolzin shifted the trade winds in our direction when it comes to Russians. If Bowman could somehow pull a Sather and get Marchenko for 1 year scoring 40 plus then trading him for a boatload next spring. Sather was the King at pump and dump.
I’d love to see the Oilers add Marchenko, not sure they have the assets Columbus would be looking for in order to get the deal done.
i don’t know that SanJose gave up on Shakir. He was always a project type defenseman. But they drafted two defenseman in the first round this year, have other prospects bubbling up, and added Kesseling and Trouba in addition to Nurse in the off season so they were dealing from a position of strength,
They attributed positive value to Nurse at his cap hit and wanted to get Nurse acquired…..
Why Shakir they must have felt he was spinning his tires? With the cap going up several teams overpaid just to get past the floor. We lucked out Nurse needed a fresh start we needed cap room. My favourite trades are when both teams win-win.
Sometimes players gets traded because that’s what it takes to get a deal done.
Asset overload.
San Jose has a bunch of highly regarded D prospects.
LD:
Sam Dickinson
Mattias Havelid
Leo Sahlin-Wakkenius
Hoaxi Wang
RD
Keaton Verhoff
Ryan Lin
Eric Pohlkamp
Dickinson, Verhoff and Lin all project as top pairing D and Pohlkamp might get there too based on a lights out season at NCAA Denver.
Nurse, Trouba and Kesselring all provide veteran cover while the youngsters reach their potential.
Seven defenseman listed and you project 4 top pairing. Sounds about right for you.
Another group massively over-rated.
Dickinson has 1st pairing potential but is far from a lock or a “projection” and his first year pro was middling. He could there, he’s far away.
Ryan Lin does not project as a 1st pairing d-man at this point. He is a bottom third first round pick that will be going back to junior and will always be undersized. A very good prospect but not someone that projects to anything at this point.
LT, you wrote in your athletic article that Levi had 15 goals saved above expected in the AHL. Is there an AHL advanced stats site you subscribe to? Was that number among the best in the league? Thanks
https://x.com/bluelineshq/status/2081370780584047027?s=46
Would be amazing to add Marchenko, but I don’t know how we could outbid Montreal. They have so many trade assets.
With respect, is this dude’s “random feeling” any different that anyone else’s random feeling? I mean, I could tweet that or Reja or Godot or you or Sierra or anyone else and would have the same merit, no?
I didn’t know he was available, but there is lots of smoke about him being on the trade market.
There was other sources mentioning a Canadian team as destination. Link
With his cap situation/ability, you’d hope Bowman at least makes a call.
Another source mentioned that two teams are involved.
RG.
Im guessing it would cost Savoie plus and I would not do that. I don’t think Howard as the main piece comes close.
You’re massively over rating Savoie.
Marchenko is a 6’3″ 201 LW/RW with a 31 goal 74 point season on his resume.
Savoie could only be that player in his dreams.
There is no plus that could make up the difference.
Umm. Yeah.
I don’t think these folks know how good Marchenko is or know that he has a ridiculous $3.8m cap for next season.
He a big guy who can fly. 93rd percentile for speed and 97th percentile for most miles skated.
https://www.nhl.com/nhl-edge/skaters/kirill-marchenko-8480893
Jfresh has his WAR ranking at 91st percentile.
https://x.com/JFreshHockey/status/2069489406914785475?lang=en
I don’t think so – Savoie from Feb 1 on he was on a 60 point pace at 22. I expect him to be a 55 to 65 point two way player that can play both special teams. I think he is the exact type of player CBJ would want in a trade package. You’re right though, we may not have the “+” part
Hey Sam Reinhart was also one year from RFA, when Buffalo traded him for a first and Devon Levi…
Wait a minute…🤩
Devon Levi is Oilers property….😂😂😂
Players go on heaters all the time.
Rarely does that equate to who they are.
Marchenko was the RW on the Columbus PP and generated 218 SOG last season.
Savoie did get some PP time but only had 138 SOG in all game states.
Besides, Columbus already has a speedy little guy who kills penalties, Connor Garland.
It would cost Savoie, Podz and a 1st round pick equivalent assets and then we’d have to pay him $10MM plus after this season.
We would need to keep Podkolzin. 🙂
Howard – McDavid – Hyman
Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Marchenko
Nugent-Hopkins – Dickinson – Kapanen
Joseph – Samanski – Frederic
You could switch with Hyman depending on opponent.
You could also rotate Howard and Podkolzin.
Flip Nuge with Howard if you’re defending a lead…
That top six would be unstoppable.
I don’t think CBJ does the deal without Podz included.
Columbus likely wouldn’t need/want Podkholzin since they already have a younger, cheaper version in Kent Johnson who had a down year after shoulder surgery,
The previous season, he scored 24 goals and 57 points in 68 games at a $1.8 million cap hit.
After acquiring Val Nichushkin, Conor Garland and extending Cole Sillinger and with Dimitri Veronkov also in the picture, they have several players filling that role.
I’m really very curious. Do teams not have two of any player type and if so, are there like 25 different player types?
FYI, Marchenko scored 20 EVGs last year. Podz had 18 and has a reasonable contract for the next three years.
Remember when 37 goal scorer Pavel Dorofeyev was traded for a late 1st round pick, a third rounder and a lat 1st rounder two years down the road? Those were good times, huh?
Columbus has FOUR players suitable for that role.
Do they really need 5?
Podkholzin scored 19 goals and 37 points while Marchenko scored 27 goals and 67 points.
One of these is not like the other.
Remember when Vegas was forced to trade Dorofeyev for cap reasons not because they wanted to.
Those good times hardly compare to the Columbus good times where they have Marchenko under contract for another season and still have $14.5 million in cap space to sign Adam Fantilli to reach a full 23 player roster.
One of these good times also not like the other good times.
They won’t move Marchenko unless someone knocks their socks off and Podkholzin is not a socks knocker.
He is a hardworking winger being zoomed by generational players and would be a third line winger on almost any other contending team.
One of those gets PP time, yes.
I noticed that you just avoided my question (so did everyone else).
Columbus doesn’t want good players? Is Columbus getting a star player back for Marchenko?
Why is Marchenko getting traded if Columbus doesn’t have to? Isn’t that weird that a team with so much cap space would trade such a good player? So, so weird that a team that won’t move Marchenko is looking to move Marchenko. So, so werid.
Good times. Exactly like the other.
I myself would start the negotiations with Devin Levi and a first. 🙂
Looking at RD and other opportunities, I was thinking a deal with Carolina that looks something like:
Emberson + Frederic
for
Alexander Nikishin + Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Why it happens, AN is looking for a big payday, rumours are that he could be traded. To be clear, I propose that he won’t get that in E-Town, but might want a chance at a Cup and to increase his scoring totals with the Glimmer twins.
Then flip JK + Howard and the 2028 1st
for Marchenko or a similar kind of deal.
Podz gets more fellow countrymen on board and Babs gets AN and SM learning how to play defense.
Ekholm – Bouchard
Shea – Murphy
Walman – Nikishin 2 x $2.5 million
Mukhamadullin
Why would carolina trade for Frederic and Emberson? TF is negative value right now and signed for eay too long. Emberson is a good 3RD, but far from someone you would go out and trade for. They might duml Kotkaniemi on us in exchange for those two I guess, but you’re not getting anybody with value back.
Why would San Jose take Nurse’s full contract?
This is a riff off of LT’s post, where are the potential opportunities? Federic is a known commodity and has yet to show his true form. He is big, fast, physical and he was starting to show flashes of his former self at the end of the season.
Carolina has been on the look out for toughness for years. The are actively looking to offload JK. Maybe it is enough for them to bite. AN is reportedly looking for an $8,000,000 AAV, which is ridiculous for a player with 1 year of NHL experience playing 3rd pairing minutes.
Maybe the relationship is broken and maybe the computer boys like Emberson’s metrics and for the sake of cap savings they pull the trigger.
I agree and understand the premise of your article. The job of a GM, hired to win Stanley, is seek opportunities to improve the roster.
Keep up the recent good work, SB.
Giving out A’s before the test is even given.
Report cards come in the spring
how is that different than you giving out Fs before the test is given?
Can you point out the instances where I have prejudged the results of the upcoming season? I do not believe I have.
I believe my definitive statement on the team has been “They have bodies in all the spots.” “They should not spend their remaining cap space until they know where the gaps are”.
You guys always extrapolate and hyperbolize what I actually say.
i felt the same about your reply. Keep up the recent good work is not close to stating SB has successfully brought Stanley back to Edmonton.
No, “us guys” don’t always extrapolate and hyperbolize what you actually say. You have a pattern and you are being called on it. Nice try though.
I understand that point of view, and I don’t disagree, however, for me, its never “all-in” or do anything to “win now”, the GM’s job always includes a view to the medium and, even, long term. Ensuring young talent on value contracts is important (although the rise of “out of ELC RFA contracts” is a thing now).
Bowman is only thinking as far as his job lasts. Stan knows if we don’t make the playoffs he’s fired. Stan has been retooling on the fly since he was hired his vision of his team is shaping up. Stan believes in a farm system that reward players with a call-up. You just never know (Podkolzin) if a 25 year-old discarded from his draft team may pop and Bowman is filling the cupboards with big-skilled wingers. Even though the Holland strategy vs Bowman style may end up even on the scoreboard I much prefer Bowman style.
I think its clear that Stan is thinking beyond just this season, as he should, as is his job.
Of course Stan is thinking a couple years down the line. Yet I think Stan is sharp enough to know if we don’t make the playoffs this year heads will roll including himself.
Well, that’s not what you said a couple hours ago which was “Bowman is only thinking as far as his job lasts” which could be short lived if this season is another disappointment.
I know it’s hard to do nowadays but Stan comes from the generation that can chew gum and walk at the same time.
What doest that have to do with your contradictory statements?
I have been saying exactly that, that he is building his cup contender along with a view to the medium and long term future. You are the one that has the expression statement his is “thinking only as far as his job lasts”.
Agreed. Whatever he’s built that he leaves behind is his résumé.
Sure Is a shame they passed on RD Brek Liske to trade down and grab another future 4C.
Reading up on him it is a head scratcher. Seems to project for NHL size, seems to have a complete game and can move. Maybe they didn’t see him as contributing soon enough and felt the need was greater at C? Another left shot C?
Even if he doesnt contribute soon enough, he would undeniably have more trade value being a right handed defender with his size and game.
The draft was a headscratcher as a whole imo.
As it stands today (and as it stood on draft day), Berzkalns has every bit a chance to make it in the NHL as Brek Liske does and every bit as a chance to be as impactful.
As it stands today Brek Liske would be a substantially more valuable prospect to the Oilers depth chart.
Brek Liske ceiling for the Oilers, replacing Connor Murphy.
Berzkalns ceiling for the Oilers, replacing whoever is the 4C? Who they can get for free at anytime anywhere they want.
Both have the same chance making the league, just one probably doubles the playing time of the other, small things.
Meh – Rick Pracey doesn’t think so and I believe he and his team was a ton more information on both these players, and more views on both these players that any of us.
For all we know Liske is playing in Europe in 5 years and Barzkalns has developed that offence Pracey thinks he has in him with some work.
I so much enjoy reading thoughts and
knowledge on the construction of a Stanley Cup roster.
It’s no surprise some of the best minds in hockey spent their time here, reading your work, and sharing their analysis and opinion.
Thank you
For me, tonigh to upgrade on Emberson at 3RD as far as value given his $1.2MM.
For me, Emberson is an underrated player and is a very strong 3RD defensively and his efficiency with moving the puck has increased and is still developing. I also think he’s an undervalued penalty killer.
Can he become a 2RD? Maybe not but can he not have a Connor Murphy type career? Maybe he’s too small for that but, if Murphy got hurt I query if he could fill in at 2RD and at least tread water for a bit.
What muddies that a bit for me is Shakir is a legit prospect with 2nd pairing upside. He’s just establishing himself in the league but is at the age and experience that those tall, lanky and rangy d-men sometimes pop. He’s blocked on the left side subject to injury.
I also think that Regula can play on this league if given consistent ice – tough to see it in this org right now but I do think the org values him.
Even Connor Murphy,
He had an okay run as an Oiler, but he was a number 7 in TOI/game on the Blackhawks.
He somehow worked with Nurse who’s now gone obviously.
Relying on a number 7 from a non-playoff team to play top four minutes, at 33, on a cup contender is a risky bet for the Oilers. He added four [!] minutes per game in his Oilers stint.
Let’s not forget Nurse is gone and Walman played bottom pair last year.
Current Oilers D – 2025-26 TOI/game
• Evan Bouchard: 24:41
• Mattias Ekholm: 20:36
• Connor Murphy: 20:27 (Oilers only; 16:33 Chicago)
• Jake Walman: 18:45
• Ryan Shea: 18:53 (with Pittsburgh)
• Spencer Stastney: 16:02
• Ty Emberson: 15:31
• Shakir Mukhamadullin: 17:09 (with San Jose)
Walman and Murphy only played 51 minutes together last year. It went poorly.
In the ~51 minutes Walman and Murphy played together:
• CF% 28.6
• xGF% 37.4
• SCF% 27.1
• HDCF% 38.9
I sure liked what CM brought in the playoffs last season. I agree, more cover on D would be a good outcome.
Chicago was clearly pushing their youth while protecting an asset until they traded him.
Murphy wasn’t playing 7th most minutes because they had 6 better defenders.
His Chicago numbers don’t mean all that much imo.
It’s sensible to temper one’s enthusiasm for Connor Murphy. He’s 33 and has a career-high 19 point season.
He’s more of a #5 and PK specialist than he is a top-4 D. He’s a luxury 3rd pair D, similar to Kulak, and would look great on a 17 min / night tandem with Ryan Shea.
The objective for Stan Bowman this season may be to find a #2 RD who can elevate Walman, push Murphy down and Emberson out of the lineup altogether.
In 24-25 Murphy was playing over 20 minutes. I don’t know why he wasn’t playing as much in Chicago this year but it wasn’t based off performance. He was arguably their best dman this year by
a lot of metrics. Im guessing they were trying to force development on their young D like Kaiser, Levshunov etc. because it sure doesn’t look like they were earning their ice time on merit. Levshunov had a goal share of 36% at 5v5 and was 4th in 5v5 toi..
Chicago rebuild is an absolute mess and they just let two of their better D go in Murphy and Crevier
51 minutes is nothing. And Walman was not healthy last season. New team for Murphy. I am not sure those numbers tell us anything meaningful.
Agreed, it was too small of a sample.
Walman lost effectiveness after his preseason injury last year. It was undisclosed. Without knowing what it was, it’s hard to know how it impacts him this season.
I share the concern about Murphy though. His TOI with Chicago is a red flag. I know everyone cites that Chicago was pushing youth but I don’t really buy it. Coaches want to win.
Levshunov had a 36% goal share while starting in the ozone 65% of the time. Murphy had a 47% goal share while starting in the ozone 30% of the time.
Their deployment makes no sense other than they are trying to make Levshunov a top 4 defenseman by forcing him into top 4 minutes..
Unless there is an IR injury or a treads before the start of the season, both Stastney and Regula will be waived. Zero chance they put either Shakir or Emberson on waivers and they can only keep 7D (or no extra forward).
Bob has expressed the potential for a trade if a dman making along $1.5MM. Return would likely be a depth forward. Unless it’s a depth forward of real utility, I’d prefer to see if they can slide both Stastney and Regula though waivers and keep the depth.
They have tons of legit depth forward options – 2 legit forwards need to be cut as well.
They are 9 NHL D strong and 15 NHL F strong.
This is where a 3-goalie decision can be questioned.
The one major negative I see of the 3-goalie situation is its takes away a roster spot for a skater, and the Oilers have lots of good options at forward and D for that 21st skater.
Just watched a team steam roll the league running a 3 goalie system.
Yes we did. It doesn’t always turn out that way.
Nope, but when their tender went down they had a system in place that carried them onwards.
Id prefer they cut bait with Jarry altogether, awful trade.
Jarry may be the best of the 3 come September 29.
Depends, if you have lots of young players that are waiver except that can play, it’s easier. Carolina had a talent pipeline.
Oilers have all sorts of call up options on forward and defense.
I do think Goaltending is more important than losing a Regula-Stastny on the waiver wire. It won’t surprise me Andersen-Jarry tweak a hamstring-Groin both these Goalies aren’t spring chickens anymore.
I do think there is a non-zero chance there is a goalie in IR (short term) come opening night opening up a roster spot for a short period of time.
That’s based on nothing but personal speculation.
Carlo will likely be available at the deadline, even if he plays well in St. Louis. He is a stop gap until Adam Jiricek is ready.
Carlo is toast.
The Connor Murphy no trade clause is what peed my off the most about the signing.
I didnt mind the $4m per year (reasonable price), I kinda didnt mind the 5th year (cost of doing business with free agents), for a mostly one dimensional and getting old quick, but premuim position, 2RD.
This is exactly the type of player that Bowman should be looking to upgrade on as soon as an opportunity presents itself. Maybe even at the trade deadline or next summer.
And that no trade clause will stand in the way.
Having said that, I never thought about upgrading Emberson instead. Very interesting if Bowman could find a way to upgrade Emberson into a true 2RD, while Murphy slides into 3RD where he is better suited over the term of his contract.
Think of it from the player’s standpoint, he demanded the NMC pretty much to avoid exactly what you suggest, right? He probably doesn’t sign without out, especially not a few weeks before the market opens for him and for a very reasonable (now below market) AAV even with the term.
I’ve never been to Edmonton but because I am an Oiler fan I get to see a lot of the local news items on my IG and FB feeds, and it looks like the city and surrounding areas certainly had a “tie your everything down” evening weather-wise last night. Hope everyone pulled through with minimal damage! The Alberta weather certainly seems more aggressive than usual this summer for you.
Neighbour’s tree got whacked, my garbage bins were overturned, can’t find my backup running shoes. Some wild photos today online though. Agree with you, hope everyone is safe.
Here’s hoping no repeat of Black Friday, 1987
We’ve been much luckier 296km south in Calgary. June and early July were crap weather wise (June always is) but its been super hot the last week in July and, over the course, of this month we simply have not got the storms that Edmonton has – we often do but not recently. I read something like 12mm of rain in Calgary vs. 240 in Edmonton this month.
I will say that Bowman always seems to be shopping. I don’t agree or like some of his moves but he is very active in trying to improve.
And not active in a Chiapet way haha.
I still feel like 3C and 2RD are areas where we can look to add an upgrade during the off season. If Dickenson goes down, then I don’t trust Samanski that high and am not sure RNH has the boots for that role. Similarly, our depth on RD, while no longer paper thin thanks to Mukh, still feels tenuous should Bouch or Murphy not be available.
It’s like that for every team. Unfortunately the only way to really solve those is have a deep prospect pipeline.
Unless the player is a perfect addition or a true player for the future, you can not waste picks and top prospects on them.
At least with Dickenson and Murphy, they fit the need and were able to be resigned at reasonable contracts.
I think some folks focus too much on individual offense. You can’t have a bunch of goal scorers because of the cap especially when you’re top heavy. Getting guys who take pride in and want to play hard D is a great plan for a team that struggles with defense, they bring that to the table
It’s also great that JD and CM aren’t puck optional. Both scored in the playoffs. They have ability. A lot of the third lines we see mentioned in comments here are mid reg season types that stepped up to opportunity in the playoffs
I seen the same positives with JD and CM in the playoffs. Gives me pleasure and confidence Stan brought both of them back. Those boys can help win Stanley
Stan had Murphy for near a decade. Stan knows exactly what Murphy brings. A stay at home D-man that can jumble up the cycle and a rock in the middle of the ice that is very good at boxing out the opposition. How many own goals and backdoor goals will quietly disappear this year? I also think Murphy knows exactly the time to be a dink he doesn’t need cue cards.
Zack Whitecloud.
With the acquisition of Simon Nemec, the ascendance of Zane Parekh, and a younger Brayden Pachal, the Flames might want to move on from 29 year old Whitecloud who has two seasons left at only $2.75 million.
Conroy isn’t going to help the Oilers. Plus, some of his VGK metrics have wobble.
Pretty sure Conroy is in a a spot where he would consider all options for the right price.
As for wobble, Murphy, in 9 seasons in Chicago has a positive goal share only once…8 seasons ago.
And in-depth analysis of Whitecloud here:
https://flamesnation.ca/news/zach-whitecloud-calgary-flames-report-card
I honestly don’t see the Flames and Oilers making a deal during Conroy’s run as GM. He has made comments over many years about the Oilers, and I very much doubt he’s going to lend a hand. No matter,
Whitecloud has value but I hate trading for 29 year old deensemen who were recently trade by teams who know what they’re doing.
This. They need to go in the other direction and find young Whitecloud. Bowman does seem to get that, the team is younger than before
Is it?
Remember that every veteran is a year older and, in his time with the Oilers, Bowman has signed Dickinson 31, Walman 30, Murphy 33, Ekholm 36, Anderson 36, Kapanen 30, as well as Joseph and Shea who will turn 30 during the upcoming season.
While they have added a couple of younger players in Dach and Mukhamadullin, even Emberson and Statsney will soon turn 27.
Seems to me they are net older.
I looked and one article had the Oilers 9th oldest team. The Canes Knights Avs and Florida are older at least when it was written
Holland has the Kings at #2 already, weren’t the Oilers the oldest team at one point when he was GM?
The Battle of Alberta is alive-kicking when it comes to Conroy-Iginla. Bowman will find good deals involving Guérin-Staios-Grier. I get a kick when someone suggest a trade with Calgary. I’ve learned to never say never but Conroy is not trading us Whitecloud. The only deal Conroy will do with Edmonton is if we somehow acquire his son from Seattle.
I wonder why Murphy had poor goalshares? Hmm.
1) Conroy has, in the past, not done what’s best for his team to not deal with Edmonton – he has a track record in this regard.
2) History of littered with good d-men having bad numbers on bad teams. Equating a d-man on Chicago over the last number of years vs. Vegas is dishonest. Look at Seth Jones as the prime example.
I would be very interested in Whitcloud, that’s a massive value contract.
Of course, we can all discount the phrase “ascendance of Zane Parekh” who barely played hockey last year between being injured and a healthy scratch and, when he did, was one of the most sheltered d-men in the league at under 20% TOI vs. elites and, well, non-impactful.
Whitecloud may be better than Emberson as a 3D, but he’s not an upgrade over Murphy at 2D, and the goal should be to look for a today or very soon better 2RD