February 6, 2020 /

2019/20 Edmonton Oilers GM54: Sharks @ Oilers – 3P2W – Stand Pat or Double Down?

Tonight the Sharks roll into town and normally I’d say that this is going to be a real challenge for the Edmonton Oilers, but I am not feeling that way this morning. That Sharks roster is chalked full of AHLers thanks to the massive injury bug that has taken out Bob Boughner’s key players and that fin is not one that I fear. I mean, the Sharks are 4-6-0 in their last ten and -39 on the season and I can’t see them improving on that with Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl out of the lineup. Then they have 3rd pair defender Brendan Dillon perched up on the top pairing with Brent Burns?… My Lord…

That said, these are the types of games that the Oilers have failed to show up for in years past and these games can be risky too. San Jose has nothing to lose at this point. So if they play a bit rougher and one of Edmonton’s better players gets hurt, it’s no skin off their back.

So I’m going to be looking for the Oilers to be starting this game on the right foot. I wanna see them make some tape to tape passes, control possession in the Sharks end for a sustained period of time and get a few shots on net in the first few shifts. This is going to be an unpredictable Sharks team with all of the young players slated to be in the lineup but one that can be controlled due to its downgraded forward group. Edmonton will have to be wary of San Jose’s threats from the point as they made the Oilers look foolish a couple of months ago.

On a completely different note, here’s Jesse Puljujarvi making a mockery of the SM-Liiga as he used to in the AHL… Last I checked he’s only three points off of the scoring lead. I hope Mr. Holland can find this boy a suitable place to continue his career if it’s not going to be in Edmonton.

Should Ken Holland Stand Pat or Double Down at the Trade Deadline?

The Cult of Hockey ran a poll recently (below) asking its fans what they think the Oilers should do at the NHL’s trade deadline and after hearing David Staples on yesterday’s Oilers Now, I feel like going through the options with you.

  1. Trade for a Top 6 Winger
    Presumably, this means a player like Tomas Tatar (MTL), Tyler Toffoli (LA), Andreas Athanasiou (DET), Mike Hoffman (FLA), Mikael Granlund (NSH), Josh Anderson (CBL), or maybe even Ilya Kovalchuk (MTL) depending on where your line in the sand is. This would cost the Oilers a piece (or three) of their future and I don’t believe they are at the point where they can say they have enough in the cupboard to “go for it” this year.
  2. Trade for a 3rd Line Center
    Is this player a player like JG Pageau (OTT)? If so, that’s more high-end futures going out the window for a rental. Or is it a player like Chris Tierney (OTT), Derek Grant (ANH), Erik Haula (CAR), Nick Bonino (NSH) or Curtis Lazar (BUF)? In that case, those players COULD be a tad cheaper depending on the player.
  3. Trade for Depth Vets
    Is Joe Thornton a depth veteran? I know Luke Glendening is one. It’s too bad Mikko Koivu couldn’t be had, he’d be a lovely addition. David Backes anybody?
  4. Do Nothing
    It wouldn’t be unheard of to stick with the group you have if you feel it can take you into the post-season.

I voted for the 3rd line center if I recall correctly. I feel like once you get into the playoffs, you need the puck as much as possible and to do that you’ve got to win faceoffs. Skilled wingers who can skate like the wind are nice when opposing defenses make mistakes or breakdown, but the playoffs is when defense tightens right up and nullifies quick and skilled teams.

We’ve heard Oilers GM Ken Holland say that he wants to reward his team if they’re very close to making the playoffs. In addition to that, I think Darryl Katz would REALLY like his team to be in the post-season this year. Holland also mentioned most recently that the targets have been identified and it’s time to start working the phones.

My personal feeling is that the best course of action is to tinker with the roster. Add a cheap veteran piece or two for depth and dance with the girl that brought ya. Reward the players that have worked their asses of to get this team to where it is right now.

So we wait and see. Do you think it’s possible that another team might want some older players for their AHL clubs? Edmonton has a few of those to spare and getting them off of the books would open things up a bit more for Mr. Holland.

https://twitter.com/dstaples/status/1224734487801520128

Three Players to Watch on the Sharks

  • #9 Evander Kane – Now, the team’s best player with Couture and Hertl out. He plays the game in an old-school manner and right on that line. Problem with him is, even if he does cross it and you want to take him out, you can’t. He’s a fantastic fighter. We’ll see though, when he’s not properly motivated he can disappear from games.
  • #28 Timo Meier – I like this player but he’s been a bit inconsistent in his career. He’s either a pest built like a tank or a complete ghost. As soon as he finds his sweet spot (if he finds it), he’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
  • #65 Erik Karlsson – The swashbuckling Swede isn’t what he once was but he can still move the puck and rack up the points and I expect him to get on the scoreboard at least once in this game.

Three Players to Watch on the Oilers

  • #83 Matt Benning – This will be Benning’s first chance to exact revenge on Evander Kane for that dirty high stick that put him on the IR this year.
  • #49 Tyler Benson – Time to shake up the roster and give it some youthful exuberance. I predict one of Jujhar Khaira or Patrick Russell will be coming out and the local minor midget phenom makes his debut at home. Expect some hits, clever passes, and some excellent work along the boards.
  • #29 Leon Draisaitl – The Coyotes ended his point streak and now it’s time to start a new one.

These lines are going to change. As I said above, Tyler Benson should draw in and there’s the slight possibility that James Neal might return. In that scenario, Jujhar Khaira and Patrick Russell would most likely come out. I’m curious if William Lagesson could make an appearance instead of Caleb Jones. That’s just a guess on my part, as is who the starting goalie will be. Mikko Koskinen didn’t play poorly against Arizona in Edmonton’s 3-0 loss, but it was a loss and that might mean Mike Smith is back in.

The Next Ten Games (51-60)

  • vs. St. Louis Blues (31-12-8) – I’m not 100% sold that the Oilers will be focused on this game seeing as they play Calgary the next night. They have played well against the league’s best this season at times though. Can McDavid and Draisaitl beat the Blues in this one as they did at the All-Star game? (WIN) WIN
  • @ Calgary Flames (27-19-6) – If you thought last night’s game was fun with all the fights and cheap shots, this game is going to be bonkers. It always seems to be in Calgary. Losing three times to the Flames and that post-game celly by Rittich will be eating away at the Oilers. They’ll be doing their damnedest to bring home the two points. (WIN) WIN
  • @ Arizona Coyotes (26-21-5) – The Oilers put up a touchdown on the Coyotes right before their bye-week and I don’t imagine that sat well with Taylor Hall and co. That said, they’re on a bit of a slump in their last ten (4-5-1) and Edmonton is flying high as of today (6-2-2). On the other hand, just when the opportunity presents itself to the Oilers they usually take the night off. (LOSS) LOSS
  • vs. San Jose Sharks (22-26-4) – Man, this Sharks team is bad. With Vlasic, Karlsson, and Burns on the back-end no less… Can you believe the Golden Knights fired Gerard Gallant to hire San Jose’s old coach? I think this will be a scheduled win for McDavid’s boys. Watch out for shenanigans from Evander Kane and Timo Meier. (WIN)
  • vs. Nashville Predators (23-19-7) – Since the Preds hired NJ’s old coach, they haven’t been scoring much and that’s not a good sign when you go into Edmonton. Couple that with Pekka Rinne’s game falling right off of a cliff and the Oilers should be able to walk away with two points. (WIN)
  • vs. Chicago Blackhawks (24-21-6) – The Hawks are coming on as of late and I think they could pull this one off in Edmonton. Maybe Drake Caggiula does the ex-Oiler thing and scores. (LOSS)
  • @ Tampa Bay Lightning (30-15-5) – This will be a fine test for the Oilers. Tampa has found their stride at the right time and are looking very dominant. Might we see another ex-Oiler in Pat Maroon score or drop the flippers? I expect McDavid to be flying in this one. (LOSS)
  • @ Florida Panthers (28-16-5) – This match-up is going to be a fun one. The Panthers have some really fun players to watch like Huberdeau, Barkov, and the very underrated Vincent Trochek. Which Sergei Bobrovsky might we see if he gets the call though? (WIN)
  • @ Carolina Hurricanes (29-18-3) – It’s hard not to like what they’ve built in Carolina. Andrei Svechnikov is already a scoring phenom at 19-years-old and it’s hard to overlook the wonder Finns (Aho/Teravainen), right? How will this team be sans Dougie Hamilton though? Can the Oilers sweep back-to-backs again? (WIN)
  • vs. Boston Bruins (29-10-12) – Edmonton goes from one team who doesn’t lose in OT to a team that seemingly only loses in OT. The Oilers gave the Bs a pretty sound beating last time they played and we’re close to the trade deadline here so I’m not sure what the rosters will look like. I like Boston for this one though. (LOSS)

(Standings as of January 20th, 2020)

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CategoriesArmchair GM Beer League Hero Edmonton Oilers NHL

TagsEdmonton Oilers NHL San Jose Sharks

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!