My goodness the current edition of the Edmonton Oilers could use a rocknrolla prospect like Miro Satan 30 years ago. The man flattened the AHL in a way Oilers fans will not see again.
The current Oilers have used most of their young assets (players and picks) in pursuit of older players. The ‘fringe’ roster spots usually passed along to youths are now occupied by men 30+ willing to sign a low contract in exchange for Stanley.
Soon, this management group is going to have to make a decision that impacts the department of youth. Here’s why.
The Athletic article today is all about Darnell Nurse’s passing gear and why he’s having such a fine season. It is here.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN FEBRUARY
- At home to: TOR (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- On the road to: STL, CHI (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- At home to: COL (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: PHI, WAS, TBY, FLA (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected results: 5-3-0, 10 points in 8 games
- January result: 2-1-0
- Oilers in 2024-25: 34-15-4, 70 points in 52 games
I have tonight as a loss for Edmonton, mostly because teams have a hard time going 4-0-0 in the NHL, especially at this time of year. The Avalanche have a strange roster, with future Hall of Famers marbled into the roster alongside men you’ve never ever heard of, or barely know. What is notable is that everyone who plays for the Avs has a role and is useful in that role. It’s a smart hockey club, top to bottom.
MATTHEW SAVOIE
Edmonton does not possess its 2025 first-round selection, and NHL general managers for bottom feeders have less interest in the first rounder for 2026. Why? These GM’s are selling hope, and a 2026 first-round pick doesn’t come with a photo op and several sketches about the new hire’s skills and ETA for NHL action. The lesser picks (second and third) have some value, but if the Oilers are looking for a feature player (starting goalie, top 4D, top three centers and top four wingers—12 men in all) then Matthew Savoie is going to be the ask. Every time. Why?
The Oilers top-20 prospect list has some nice pieces, but Sam O’Reilly isn’t close to the NHL and Maxim Berezkin isn’t a lock to sign an NHL deal with the Oilers or any other team. Beau Akey is an intriguing name, but his profile (mobile puck-moving defenseman who is 6.0, 183) doesn’t fit every NHL team in terms of attractive target.
I think Savoie is the ask. So, if that’s the case, does Bowman make that trade? I’m a believer in a strong prospect pool and actively dislike the state of the Oilers prospect list currently. I think Bowman makes the trade if the return gives the team a strong chance for Stanley. Bowman owes it to the team, the fans, the owner. That’s the job.
A big day on the Lowdown, as we preview the Colorado Avalanche-Oilers game tonight, discuss the Super Bowl (what DO you consume during the game) and celebrate pitchers and catchers reporting one week (or less) away! I’m at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section here and on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly. We can be heard at sports1440.ca; iHeartRadio, Radioplayer Canada, it’s available post-show on apple and spotify, and we tweet it out on X.
Colorado is on the 2nd of a back-to-back, 3rd game in 4 nights, with travel between each game situation (VAN Tuesday, CGY last night) – hopefully the Oilers can take advantage of that.
Both teams playing 3rd in 4 nights and Stauffer said Oilers did not get out of Chicago until 2am.
Hopefully the boys were able to recover yesterday and can worth through it tonight.
Go Oilers!
Yes but the Oilers are also playing their 3rd in 4 nights with travel in between (and their most recent travel was from CHI not Calgary). Of course, the Oilers had their back to backs at the beginning, it probably matters but both teams will not be at their freshest.
Bowman also talks about how great the goalies have been since November and the belief they have in them as well as a potential forward add is somewhat dependant on Nuge at C vs. W.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6121964/2025/02/07/oilers-trade-deadline-stan-bowman/
If it’s a lefty, I hope it’s one who can play their off side. I hope that 36 shows he’s capable of handling 2nd pairing minutes/matchups, but there’s a risk he’s better suited to 3rd pairing minutes and as much as Kulak’s had a great few years, I’m not super comfortable with 25-27 as the 2nd pair …
I can easily see them going after a C who’s played the W before to give them more positional flexibility (like Henrique last year). Laughton, Donato, etc.
I see from that article that Strudy is onboard with one of my TDL targets. Be interesting to see what more than a cursory glance at his fancy stats uncovers.
Tough matchups, just below 50-50 results. I’d be intrigued if there’s some salary retention
If they are going to trade Savoie in a package , they better be getting a legite top 6 shooting/scoring forward that has speed and some term after this year. That is just my thought. If they are entertaining moving that kid I wish they would have, or will bring him up prior to the deadline to see if he actually pops and if they don’t I think if he goes somewhere else and lights it up, it will suck lol.
Now who would be the guy that you would actually move him in a deal for? I honestly don’t have a clue . The trade boards really don’t have a sniper type guy that fits. Rackell is now in, but. Is he fast. Still can net. Few. And 3 years left at 5. Pitt would have to eat. He is 31.
Can the Oil swing a trade that they get A package deal of Oleksiak. ( 1 year left 4.6). And Brandon Tanev ( UFA 3.5) . Where Seattle eats enough or takes a contract to make it work.
you would get a huge D man that plays very Physical that can play 4-6.
Tanev is very quick and could play middle 6 ( Probably 3rd line). But is very tenacious and goes hard to the net. He is a grinder
That is just spitballing but those 2 would definately make this team a lot harder to play against defensively. Kills Penalties as well. He has the crazy eye look as well lol.
Tanev is up there on my list of preferred targets. Great motor, nose for the net, hard on pucks.
I’d pass … doesn’t out-chance middling opposition and his underlying #s are down from last year.
Unless it’s Crosby coming back, keep Savoie.
5-4 Oilers.
The trade is one for one
IF BOWMAN DOWSNT CALL UP SAVOIE TODAY AND NAME HIM CAPTAIN AND TRADE FOR OEL HE SHOULD BE FIRED FOR GROSS INCOMPETENCE.
Ooops. Too much coffee this morning.
Here’s a look at what the opposition’s bloggers are saying about tonight’s matchup.
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Nichushkin out really creates a pretty sizable hole in their lineup. A lot less deep (shallower?) then they were a few years ago.
Surprised they haven’t given Necas a look at 2C yet, he came up as C and wanted to play the position in Carolina. Not sure if it’s a good fit, but you’d think they’d tinker with the lineup before the trade deadline to inform their shopping list …
James Stefan to the ECHL.
He has a little stretch about a month ago where he seemed to be coming on but it was short lived and he’s been fairly non-impactful as a rookie pro.
I’m a million km away today in Seville, but I’m still getting PTSD every time I hear Miro Satan’s name as it reminds me of Sather’s worst trade by far. Might be one of the five worst Oiler moves ever (with Chiarelli responsible for the other four).
If we’re counting hirings/firings as “Oiler moves” hiring Tambellini has to make the Top 5 …
Moving Smythy over pocket change
Not securing clear and present value for Pronger
Not an actual move but: NOT trading for Worm ten years ago (again over pocket change)
I railed against the Satan trade but I don’t know that anything Slats did rates top five. I didn’t even look at Tambo moves.
Among the long term results of the Satan trade that may be forgotten is that Craig Millar, one of the players Sather got from Buffalo in the trade was dealt to Nashville two years later for a 3rd round pick which turned out to be Mike Comrie.
Further down the road, Comrie (when Lowe didn’t sent him to Anaheim) was sent to Philadelphia which ultimately netted Rob Schremp, Danny Syrvet and Jeff Woywitka. While nothing meaningful ever came from Schremp or Syrvet, Woywitka was part of the trade with St. Louis to obtain Chris Pronger. While Brewer was the centerpiece of the trade, Woywitka wasn’t just a throw in, he had been a 1st round pick in 2001 and went on to play 278 NHL games after the trade to St Louis.
So after giving up Satan, down the road the Oilers got a few good years from Comrie and one phenomenal year from Pronger. Of course the long term outcomes from Pronger subsequently being sent to Anaheim have been discussed more than a couple of times on here.
Aren’t trade trees fun?
Pronger was traded for:
1st round pick
1st round pick
2nd round pick
Recently drafted top 10 overall d-man (Smid)
20 year old coming off a near 30 goal season (Lupul)
It didn’t work out, clearly, but they got a haul for Pronger – there needed to be a massive name to be appease the fan base though.
Lines this morning per Tony B:
Arvy/McDavid/Hyman
Skinner/Drai/Podz
Janmark/Nuge/Brown
Perry/Henrique/Kap
Ek/Bouch
Nurse/Klingberg
Kulak/Emberson
Skinner
Pickard
———————–
No surprise on no changes with Philp back with the Condors.
That’s a solid line up. Thumbs up to that.
Pretty much the optimal deployment of our lineup. Nuge at 3C was inevitable and perhaps now it’s here as our new standard.
Glad to see Nuge as 3C and Arvidsson as 1LW.
3rd line is definition of low-event/shot suppression – would be great if Brown can get hot and cash on some chances while playing with two defensively-conscious linemates. I like Janmark and Brown together (particularly on the PK), but they need to start generating more offense.
They’re both generating more offense then last season, they’ve scored multiple goals paired with Nuge in their limited time together so far. The team is 2nd to 4th in goals for depending on the night in the western conference.
Lol Janmark has 2 goals (4 last year), so not much there. Brown had a famously horrible year offensively last year, so the fact his offense has ticked up from the Belanger-line is good, but they need more depth scoring.
If you think Janmark/Brown are the reason the team is among the league leaders in goals for, you need to lay off the devil’s lettuce, DevilsLettuce
I would suggest that the job includes looking past the current season and ascertaining if the trade makes sense without disregard for the next few season.
McDavid is only 28 years old and Drai only 29 (and showing no signs of slowing down). The likes of Nuge and Hyman and Ekholm are aging but the high end core of this roster (add Bouchard) will be priming for a while. The likes of Arvidsson and Skinner are on shorter term contracts and can be replaced in free agency in a rising cap world.
This team should compete for Stanley for years and Matt Savoie on an ELC for two more years will be massive – he could be a 60 point 2RW.
I’m not positive I trade Savoie for any rental, even Marchand.
Arvidsson & Skinner are place holders for Savoie. I’m not sure I would trade Savoie for Marchand. But I would certainly trade Skinner & Arvidsson for Marchand
lol there is no possible world where Boston trades Marchand for Arvi and Skinner.
LOL Skinner has been looking like a revelation lately & Arvidsson is a similar type of player to Marchand, much younger too. Never say never. Might work, throw in some draft picks. Who knows?
Huh?
1) Why would skinner waive his NMC to go to a team out of a playoff spot when he signed here to win a cup?
2) Why would Boston trade their captain, who is still playing quite well, in the middle of a playoff race?
3) If they were trading their captain, why would they trade him for two other wingers in their 30s, one of whom is a pending free agent?
4) What are you doing if you’re Boston if you make this trade? Not rebuilding by trading for picks and prospects, but you’re giving up the best player in the deal to add some 30 year olds?
lol
You do remember Marchand is 36 years old and UFA next season? It’s not as crazy as you try to make it out to be. This is a big spitball, don’t make more of it than it really is.
Remember breathe.
Let’s win the cup now, worry about tomorrow later. The Oilers will also be able to spend to the cap and attract free agents
lol
To each their own but I certainly don’t disregard the future when analyzing transactions – future including next season.
I asked Hart about the ability to trade the 2025 1st round pick (and locking in the 2026 pick to Philly with no trade protection) and the response:
Trent Miner is one of those players I’ve never heard of but, given Blackwood started last night in Calgary, the Avs likely start in net tonight, for the third time.
Rookie backup goalie?
Cue a Vezina-level performance.
#becauseoilers
That must be what the Avs are hoping for, otherwise they might have played him last night in Calgary.
I think teams generally go all out in the first of a back to back, trying to bank points while playing fresh.
We probably see Blackwood tonight due to the importance of the game for the Avs.
That and Calgary going into last night’s game was a greater concern for the Avalanche. If Calgary had won last night’s game in regulation, the Flames would have been 3 points back with 2 games in hand. Instead, Colorado wins and the gap is 7 points. The win also allowed them to stay 5 points clear of Vancouver, with Vancouver also having 2 games in hand.
Staying ahead of both Calgary and Vancouver keeps them in a playoff spot, and the head to head 4 point game with the Flames had a direct and significant impact on that race. Catching Edmonton might become more important down the road and all points help.
Maybe they start Blackwood again, but I believe Blackwood had his first bad game with the Av’s against the Oilers and has a career .890 against them in 5 starts. That may have influenced their thinking as well.
1) Savoie has to be close to untouchable given the state of the Oilers pipeline (and the fact they gave up a good, controllable asset to get him).
2) Looking below the first tranche of targets at the deadline, some intriguing names that might not require the Oilers to part with Savoie, including some struggling players. Buying low on a player who needs a change in scenery might be the play.
TOR: Nick Robertson – 23, making under $0.9M, RFA until 2029. Undersized young winger who can score. Down year and not doing well in Toronto under Berube. LW, but has played both sides this year. Not sure what the acquisition cost would be, but if Toronto is ready to move on, the upside is intriguing.
VAN: Carson Soucy – 30, signed for one more year @ $3.25M. Struggling stay-at-home type, LH, but playing the RH side. Pushed down the depth chart by VAN’s acquisition of a 3rd Petterson, actively being shopped. Not super exciting but he’s big (6’5″, 212) and might be able to help on the PK. If Van retains 50%, at the very least a Josh Brown upgrade at a $1.65M cap hit.
CHI: Ryan Donato, 28, pending UFA @ $2M. Lefty who can play C/LW although I think he was 1RW in the game against EDM. In the midst of a career year (51, 16-16-32, 13-10-23 @ 5v5). Will be buying an asset at its peak, but the cost may not be too dear. Does a 3rd Rd pick get it done? Does throwing in an NHL/AHL tweener that CHI can take a look at ( Phil Kemp?) convince CHI to retain 50%?
BUF: Henri Jokiharju, 25, RHD, pending UFA ($3.1M). Woodmoney numbers don’t look to bad, traditional counting stats (1-3-4 in 38) not so much. Klingberg insurance? Not sure how much/if he’s an upgrade on Emberson. He’s on Finland’s 4N roster, might be a player to watch. Any way to get the player without giving up Savoie?
PIT: Matt Grzelcyk, 31, LHD pending UFA ($2.75M). Playing 2nd pairing minutes with Karlsson, not sure what his usage was before Petterson was traded to VAN. Another player in the middle of a career year (highest TOI and point total of his career so far). Probably a higher acquisition cost (and more sure thing) than Jokiharju, although based on age the former may be more likely to be extended by the acquiring team.
BUF: James Reimer, $1M, positive goals saved above expected (not hating, but that’s more you can say about Skinnard (Picker?). Some cheap, experienced goalie insurance wouldn’t be a bad thing.
If there’s any way to add a F and D without giving up Savoie or the 2026 first, a healthy lineup could look like:
91-97-18
53-29-92
33-93-Robertson/Donato
13-19-90
28, 42
14-2
25-Jokiharju
27-49
36, 51
3) I don’t mean to close the book on Klingberg with the above, just threw same names at the page as an illustration. If he’s dynamite and obviates the need for any changes to the Top 4 at the deadline, great!
4) I think G6 of the 21-22 SCF was the last game that Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen line played together – crazy to think about.
5) COL got flamed for the Rantanen trade, and while I wasn’t a fan of the move, Necas is an interesting fit with MacKinnon, they’re such a fast team with those two in the lineup together. Do you think the teams had any heads-up the cap was increasing as much as it was before the official announcement? If not, I wonder how the significant cap increase would have affected the negotiations with Rantanen, and if they could’ve found a number they were both comfortable with. Probably not, but who knows.
Ryan Donato might be a solid depth addition, if he actually can play all three forward positions. That’s the kind of versatility Edmonton should be looking for at the TDL.
The other thing is they should still want a defenseman with the ability to play both sides, another Kulak would be spectacular.
So would another Stu Skinner to backup Stu Skinner, because if Stu Skinner gets injured, he can’t be replaced with Calvin Pickard & Olivier Rodrique for any length of time.
I can tell you that Buffalo fans are pretty much universally unhappy with Joker, and would be ecstatic to get a 3rd back. I don’t know what management thinks of him, but the coaching staff has him on the 3rd pair on a team starving for right-shot defensemen. Could you get him without giving up Savoie? Yes, yes you could. In fact I don’t think Adam’s would even bring up Savoie’s name.
If that’s the case, then I think that’s absolutely the type of buy-low addition to be looking at. Stetcher and a 5th (or 4th) for Joker at 50% retention? Sign me up (and I like Stetcher!)
What is it about his play that has him in the doghouse?
This blog has made my morning rhum cream and coffee even better every morning in Ocho Rios.
If they’re considering trading Savoie, which I doubt, firstly they need to see what he is at the NHL level. This could work two-fold because at the same time they can showcase him. If he performs well enough to prove he can be a fixture on the Oilers for years to come, there’s no way he’s used as trade bait, if not it may even hamper his trade value, though he could still be part of a trade for a difference maker. He may in fact prove to be equal or better than a veteran player already on the roster, who might find himself as trade bait instead. They need a looksee first. He might be Miro Satan.
I also think blowing a bunch of assets at the deadline to try and win one cup is a poor strategy.
A GM has to give their team as many chances as possible because so many things can go wrong in the playoffs.
Thats why young and cheap players are important. It ensures the cup window stays open for longer.
Agreed. The thing is flashy offensive adds at the deadline don’t often mean Cups. Guentzel didn’t put the Canes over, we’ll see about Rantanen
Adds that fix deeper weaknesses do make a difference, and they don’t ‘have’ to be expensive. Coleman Goodrow made a big difference to the Lightning, as did Manson to the Avs
The reason to me is quality depth is needed, enough grit, but if you have trouble scoring the issue might be more than the players can’t finish or aren’t good enough
Defense wins championships. I think they should be focusing on adding to their depth on the blueline & their depth between the pipes, as I’ve said before. Offense starts from good defense.
Forwards still play defense. You should watch Hossa or Bergeron.
Yes, they do. I’ll keep an eye out for Hossa & Bergeron.
I think about this often. Seems rare that the big fish acquisition(s) is what puts a team over the top at the deadline en route to a Cup. It’s more often the peripheral adds that shore up depth.
This team has the highest ceiling of any in the league. They need to raise the floor.
As much as I’d like to see Alex Tuch or Brock Nelson acquired, I think it’s likely that players along the lines of a Nedeljkovic, a Sissons and a Dumoulin (or similar) that marble the roster with enough quality that keeps EDM coming in waves with every shift.
Anyone see that Noah dobson is available? I don’t know how or who would go out- apparently the ask is a young scorer (maybe savoie?), but if bowman could pull some magic here could you imagine a d corps of
Elkholm-bouchard
Nurse-dobson
Kulak-emberson/Klinberg
That looks like a championship d to me. Would you do it? If I can talk to dobson and get a guarantee of a contract extension I pull the trigger on that all day. His contract is only $4m till the end of the season so maybe you could get retention and he’s currently on ltir so we could still have some space to bring in someone else by the deadline
I have trouble seeing a go forward plan to fit him in next year*, but that would be an amazing top-4.
*Although I keep seeing people online trying to fit Rantanen in next season, so I suppose it’s doable.
Came here to talk about Dobson. Lots of Isles fans seem to have the same view of Dobson as many Oilers fans have of Bouchard – great on offence, not great on D. Since he’s been hurt, their defensive game has become more solid. I haven’t looked into the fancies to see if that’s actually true or not.
It would be fun to think about but both Bouchard and Dobson are going to cost and I just don’t see how we can do it.
Respectfully, I don’t see any way that the Islanders move on from Dobson for anything less than an established top 6 forward under-25 with significant upside. They’re in a playoff race and he’s coming off a 70 point season. He’s having a down year and young defensemen don’t always develop in a straight line. There’s no way they move on from Dobson if the centerpiece of the return is a 21 y/o under a point-per-game in the AHL (and I’m high on Savoie).
Notwithstanding what the cro-magnon segments of each fan base think of the Dobson/Bouchard respectively, Bowman/Lou are smart enough to know what they have in each player.
If they’d do Savoie for Dobson straight-up I’d accept before they had a chance to change their mind/get a psych eval.
Oh I agree, just thought it interesting partly because there was a contingent who wanted Dobson on draft day.
Cont me among them. I wanted Dobson over Bouchard due to (likely exaggerated) reports of skating issues, which were a noted strength for Dobson.
I’m happy to be wrong about who was to become the better player.
Meant to reply to OP not you 😀
I was going to come and post something similar except, in addition to being worse than Bouchard offensively, I think he’s worse defensively and he’s likely to come in within $1MM of Bouch on his next deal.
Caveat: Noting he’s worse than Bouchard offensively and defensively isn’t staying he’s not a stud young d-man, he is, he’s just not at Bouchard’s level.
A better skater I guess.
My hope for playoffs for our forward group (without an add from outside. Keep powder dry for DMan upgrade please).
Hyman.McDavid.Arvidsson
Skinner.Draisatl.Podkolzin
Kane.Nuge.Savoie
Janmark.Henrique.Brown
Nyander.Ryan.Perry
Size, speed, some d conscience and scoring on every line.
Am I the only one that thinks Kane is done as an impact player in the NHL? Power forward on the wrong side of 30, coming off multiple surgeries and will have almost a year off from playing.
No. You are not.
Do you not want to find out? Maybe he is, but maybe he isn’t.
I don’t think anyone is saying “trade or move on from Evander Kane”. Pretty sure he can’t even be moved until he’s off LTIR, which won’t be until after the trade deadline …
He can be moved on LTIR, it’s his trade protection that creates an obstacle.
Him returning to form as a Top-6 player is certainly a risk. He might be an expensive crash-and-bang bottom 6 winger when he returns. Part of why I think adding another winger who can cash chances at the deadline is a wise idea.
Worst case scenario – Kane isn’t great, but you insured against that by acquiring a forward who can score. Best case scenario – more depth scoring.
Playing bottom six left wing isn’t exactly occupying an impact position.
He scored 24 last year while looking like a fella needing multiple surgeries, I have faith after seeing Klingberg look serviceable that Kane will benefit from the new and improve surgical world.
If he’s healthy enough to play he’ll make an impact, just maybe not a scoring impact* or (more importantly) an outscoring impact.
*He didn’t injure the hands/wrist this time though, so maybe this is less of a concern?
If he’s only a gritty bottom six forward, Edmonton can use one of those in the playoffs.
Who are you arguing with that’s trying to get rid of Kane? No one is saying that lol.
Rafa just raised the question of what he will be when he’s back
Not sure where you get that I’m arguing with anyone about getting rid of Kane? You’re the first person to bring it up.
Savoie might be NHL ready right now. He might be able to make an impact on the top 6, right now.
He has two full seasons left of his ELC and his value on that contract to the Oilers is massive.
I guess he’s not untouchable but I’d be remiss to move that asset unless it’s a slam dunk with term.
You’ve viewed Savoie probably the most around here that can give me a unbiased take on this player. I liked McLeod but what do you see in Savoie? I know he isn’t being zoomed on the PP. Does Savoie have the skill, speed snd smarts to possibly flourish with Leon?
Its an odd question given I’ve expressed exactly that numerous times, including in direct conversation with you.
That’s an odd way to start a conversation.
Lol
Its a conversation I don’t feel the need to have.
I’ve had it, with him directly. He knows my exact thoughts on the matter and its asking for me to repeat them.
I know I post alot so it seems like I have nothing else going on but, well, its not the case.
It was a joke.
Shouldn’t the team learn from its mistake with Holloway and maybe test drive Savoie before trading him for another complementary tricenarian?
Also, am really hoping the Oilers really test Miner if he draws in tonight in goal. Rookie goalie with one prior NHL start. Both of the top 2 lines should be potting 5 on 5 goals.
The thing is, Savoie is probably better right now than many trade targets.
If he was on any mid tier team he would be playing top six in the NHL.
Prospectional!
A busy Friday with just Akey & Wakely, Attorneys at Rest today–no billable hours for them. Everyone else toils.
With Day-man’s win yesternight, he became Flint’s all-time winningest goalie. Of course, Flint isn’t known as a goalie factory: Day is the only goaler in team history to be selected in the NHL draft.
Muskegon (Berry) @ 5 p.m.
Flint (Day, Clattenburg) @ 5 p.m.
London (O’Reilly, Nicholl) @ 5 p.m.
Peterborough (Stonehouse) @ 5 p.m.
Boston University (Lachance, Copponi) @ 5 p.m.
Notre Dame (Fischer) @ 5 p.m.
Vermont (Münzenberger, Määttä) @ 5:15 p.m.
All times are two times and are also Dalemead time.
Should add a couple of good arrows for O’Reilly:
– Tied for 2nd in OHL +/- with a +38.
– He is 56.2% on the dot this season.
The comparisons to Ryan O’Reilly are uncanny. Great 2 way player, similar offence/size. Ryan was in the show D+1 and his Erie team was mediocre but the Avs were brutal so the door was open.
If he peaks as that player that’s a terrific pick. If he’s less than that that’s still likely a solid player on a bottom 6 line which isn’t awful for a late first.
We wait.
No way I trade Savoie unless the return is a relatively young player signed for some term.
A trade around Savoie for Marchand would cripple this team going forward.
I agree on the surface that we need a strong prospect pool. But if Marchand gives us a legitimate boost to win the Cup (and he does), why wouldn’t we try? For this year, Marchand is considerably more valuable than Savoie.
We assume the Stanley window is 5 years but we don’t know.
And with the rising cap, we can continue to add pieces around the core for the next 5 years in the absence of great prospects.
There is more movement of 22-23 year olds in the league than I can ever recall so we can restock talent in real time. As they did this year.
This is the kind of thinking that shrinks a cup contenders window.
Sure there are young pros available every year, but it takes assets to acquire them. It took McLeod and a draft pick to acquire Savoie.
The Oilers already gave away Broberg and Holloway and now you want to trade our last significant young asset (Savoie) for a rental (Marchand)?
Why wouldn’t we try?
I would suggest a manager’s job is to look past just the current season.
I understand making the move and I also understand not making the move and I lean towards the latter.
Rising cap yes, but also rising salaries in connection therewith – value contracts will remain important.
However, the goal is to win the cup now.
I would say the goal is to win a cup I don’t really care what year it happens (as long as its within my lifetime). Taking a big swing and going all in on this year in a way that makes it difficult in future years is pretty risky, and the only way I’d be going all-in and putting every draft pick/prospect on the table is if the Oilers were adding (a) an elite goaltender, (b) top pairing caliber defenseman, or (c) a third forward capable of “pushing the river” as LT likes to say.
Marchand is none of those, and I don’t think the Oilers could cobble together a package to land any of those players without a significant on-roster asset moving out which might not be worth it.
McDrai are 28 and 29. Their primes will probably be over by the time they’re 32/33, but they should still have valuable years left into their mid/late 30s. The roster is getting older, and there’s a decent chance that the only players on the current roster who will still be heare by the end of McDrai’s 32/33 y/o season are Bouchard and Nurse. They will need to acquire players to build around them over time, and you can’t just sign FAs to plug holes every year like it’s a video game. They need to draft and develop.
The Oilers have been in win now mode for a while. Hence the roster is getting older. It’s a catch 22. Of course, every team needs to draft & develop. But because of their situation drafting & developing is on the back burner, they simply do the best they can, like most cup contenders do. It’s a vicious circle. I don’t think they need to go crazy at the TDL, they just need to add some depth pieces for a long cup run. They have some decisions to make, hope they get it right, with any luck they win Stanley in our lifetime. That’s all that matters for the Oiler organization as a whole and most of all the fans.