January 6, 2020 /

2019/20 Edmonton Oilers GM45: Oilers @ Maple Leafs – 3P2W – Is Jake DeBrusk Available?

It’s time for another edition of Matthews vs. McDavid everybody! The Oilers will slide into Toronto and try to continue a relatively successful start to 2020. After shitting the bed for all of December and giving up what seemed like a substantially strong grasp on the Pacific Division, Edmonton has five points out of an available six in the new year. That bodes well and there’s room to grow from here.

That said, in their last ten games, the Leafs are undefeated in regulation time and are seemingly firing on all cylinders. It might take a pretty special level of compete out of the Oilers to walk out of the Big Smoke with one point let alone two, but I’ve got faith.

It looks like the Oilers finally have a second line. I mean a right proper one. Not a line thrown together with players who are on heaters, but one that is outplaying the opposition handily so far. The key to it so far has been young Kailer Yamamoto (a Peter Chiarelli pick if I’m not mistaken). His intelligence away from the puck and his tenaciousness in pursuit of it has been a breath of fresh air for Edmonton. How will Toronto handle this line?

Better yet, how will Edmonton handle Toronto’s big boys? The Leaf’s top three lines are running on all cylinders and it’ll take a Herculean effort to slow them down. I mean, 30 goals between the three lines over the course of their previous five games? That’s some epic depth scoring.

A few weeks ago, when these two teams met, it was a relatively unknown defender named Justin Holl that found a way to shut Connor McDavid down. I imagine young Holl will be tasked with this job once again, so that’s worth keeping an eye one given the fact that McDavid loves to come home and put on a show. In eight games he has 11pts (4g, 7a).

Is Jake DeBrusk Available Out of Boston?

According to Jimmy Murphy, Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk might be skating on thin ice right now? He’s been quite unproductive as of late aside from a two-goal effort vs. Buffalo, but even then that as on the hind end of a benching. A tactic Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy went to again versus the Oilers after DeBrusk coughed up the puck to Gaetan Haas to which the Swiss national entertainingly deposited it behind Boston netminder Jaro Halak. Murphy wonders if the next step is simply to healthy scratch the young winger.

If you watched that afternoon game between the Bruins and the Oilers, you probably would’ve seen DeBrusk on the bench so dejected. Even Oilers play-by-play colorman Drew Remenda commented on it. He was curious about how Cassidy was planning to rebuild the young winger’s confidence this way?

So my question is, could a deal be struck between the Bruins and the Oilers that would involve Jesse Puljujari and Louie DeBrusk’s boy? Is he not the kind of 40pt winger that could possibly thrive alongside McDavid, Nugent-Hopkins, or Draisaitl?

DeBrusk’s ELC will expire this summer but he’ll be a restricted free agent, same as Pulju. In addition to that, the Bruins will only have a shade under $18M to sign up to 23 players next summer according to capfriendly. Would it be out of the question that the Bruins take one of Jujhar Khaira or Alex Chiasson, as well as Puljujarvi, as they’ve got another year to run on their contracts?

My bet is that any deal like this would be a summertime deal when the shackles of the salary cap can be shed.

The Next Ten Games (41-50)

  • vs. Calgary Flames (19-15-5) – The Oilers should be bitter as hell coming back from the Christmas break and looking for retribution. In terms of gf/ga on the year, the Flames are -12 and Edmonton could feast on that. The Oilers have taken two of the past three contests. (WIN) LOSS
  • vs. New York Rangers (17-15-4) – Edmonton will get its first look at 2019 2nd overall pick Kaapo Kakko and welcome back former Oiler, Ryan Strome. This should be a scheduled win for Edmonton as the Rangers aren’t anything special this year. The Oilers have won three on the trot vs. the Rags. (WIN) WIN
  • @ Buffalo Sabres (17-14-7) – Generally, over the years the Oilers have had pretty good luck in Buffalo, but this year Jack Eichel is a man possessed and last time Rasmus Dahlin was out of the lineup. If Dahlin is back in for this game, he’ll add a significant threat. I like Edmonton’s chances here though. (WIN) LOSS
  • @ Boston Bruins (22-7-9) – The Bruins went into the Christmas break on a bit of a slump going 2-4-4 in their previous ten. This is going to be a challenge for the Oilers to win even when Boston is at their worst and there’s no better team to bust a slump against than Edmonton, right? (LOSS) WIN
  • @ Toronto Maple Leafs (20-14-4) – Toronto’s confidence was sky high before baby Jesus’ bday, but guess who comes to play each time he’s back home. That’s right, Connor McDavid. It will take a complete team effort for the Oilers to beat their nemesis, Freddy Andersen, though as he’s really had Edmonton’s number. (OT LOSS)
  • @ Montreal Canadiens (18-13-6) – I really enjoyed Edmonton’s performance against the Habs in their earlier match. If the Oilers can replicate that, I don’t see why a win is out of the question. (WIN)
  • @ Calgary Flames (19-15-5) – Round two! Ding. Ding. In Calgary, I think the Flames might be able to muster up a win here. (LOSS)
  • vs. Nashville Predators (18-12-6) – Is Pekka Rinne in net? If so, I’ll give this one to the Oilers. If it’s Saros, the Preds have a much better chance of success. They’ve been an interesting team to watch this year and are playing in a tough division. Their 42pts at the break had them in 3rd last in the Central… (WIN)
  • vs. Arizona Coyotes (21-14-4) – Hallsy’s back and if the Oilers would like to go that extra mile, they could show him how much of a powerhouse they plan to be next season by wiping the floor with Arizona, but it’ll be a tough game. Arizona is a lot deeper than the Oilers and their netminding has been much better. This needs to be a game where Edmonton’s defense shines. (OT LOSS)
  • vs. Calgary Flames (19-15-5) – Coming off of a 10-day break, Mikko Koskinen and the Oilers will be well-rested. In theory, they should be as ready as they’re ever going to be to take on their inter-province rivals. (WIN)

(Standings as of December 26th, 2019)

Three Players to Watch for the Maple Leafs

  • #34 Auston Matthews – As I said above, four goals and four assists in his last five. He’s a constant threat every time he has the puck in the offensive zone.
  • #88 William Nylander – This slick Swede is coming on strong lately which is good to see. That guy takes way too much flack in Toronto. Ten points in his last five games.
  • #53 Mason Marchment – Just called up from the AHL’s Marlies. Bryan’s boy is a shifty skiller. He’ll add some danger to Toronto’s 4th line.

Three Players to Watch for the Oilers

  • #18 James Neal – He’s in one of his flow states right now. The game is coming to him and I think he’s good for a goal or an assist at the very least. Toronto doesn’t have the greatest selection of defenders who are proficient at clearing out the front of the net where Neal makes his office.
  • #10 “Dwight” Joakim Nygard – How many people contributed to the swear jar after the speedy Swede missed that breakaway against Boston? The chances are coming and against a team who plays as wide open as Toronto does, he could find himself with a bit more time and space.
  • #97 Connor McDavid – There should be a few McDavid supporters in the crowd tonight and I’d bet that he won’t be disappointing. “Only” four points in his last five games.

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CategoriesArmchair GM Beer League Hero Edmonton Oilers NHL Rumors

TagsEdmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers trade rumors Jake DeBrusk NHL NHL Trade Rumors Toronto Maple Leafs

Beer League Hero Written by:

I'm the Beer League Hero! I am from Camrose, Alberta but I make my home in Taipei City, Taiwan. I've been through the ups and downs and the highs and the Lowes, the Bonsignores and the McDavids, the Sathers and the Eakins but I'll never leave my Oilers, no matter what! They're with me until the end and then some. GO OILERS GO!