The rumor mill is starting to get all warmed up and the Oilers are right in the middle of it.
Dreger just said on TSN in Edmonton that teams have "talked to Boston about the potential of a trade" for Dougie Hamilton.
— Mike Cole (@MikeColeNESN) June 25, 2015
This has got me thinking. Would you trade Jordan Eberle for Dougie Hamilton?
Boston is surely looking to upgrade their scoring and of course everyone and their dog knows that the Oilers are looking to upgrade their defense.
Personally, I’d do that deal a million times over but I can’t see a trade like that being a one for one. I believe their looking to offload a few of their veterans to open up space and their RW is lacking that true skilled scorer. Could Loui Eriksson be of any help to the Oilers?
I have a hard time thinking that Boston would move their soon-to-be no.1 right-handed defenseman but if he’s looking for $6-7 million, that puts the bruins in a helluva situation given then have only $7 million in capspace available and then need to sign 2 or 3 defencemen and perhaps 1 or 2 forwards. They would have to demand more than Eberle. Who would you consider giving up in addition to #14.
On the other hand, if Eberle’s $6 million were swapped for Hamilton’s newly signed deal, Edmonton would be no worse for wear. Problem being, that’s this season. What about next season or the season after when Yakupov’s and Draisaitl’s deals expire. The year after that when Nurse’s and McDavid’s deals expire… Peter Chiarelli will have to get infinitely more creative then than his last go with the Bruins.
But back to what a potential deal might look like. Dougie Hamilton is a top pairing defender now at the ripe ol’ age of 22 and I don’t know any teams that would be willing to lose that unless their return is magnificent. So how about this:
To Boston: Jordan Eberle, Oscar Klefbom, #16 overall
To Edmonton: Dougie Hamilton, Loui Eriksson, and Malcom Subban
I’m not happy to lose Klefbom or Eberle but if Hamilton is truly available, the Oilers have to get in on that.
David Staples had a nice piece on dealing for Subban last month here. With the Bruins signing Zane McIntyre out of college, it could be safe to say that perhaps they’re not as convinced that Subban could be the for them. The Bs, I believe are desperate to rid themselves of Eriksson’s contract and there’s only 1 year remaining on his deal worth $4.5 million. This sort of swap could offer the Bruins a bit more financial flexibility whilst adding a proven NHL goal scorer and a very promising defender, something the Oilers have a few of in their system.
Klefbom is going to want upwards of $4 million per year in his next deal and if Edmonton were to deal that #16 to the Bruins, they could perhaps move that along with their own pick (#14) and other assets to a team in the top 5 and draft Noah Hanifin. The Coyotes and Maple Leafs are taking offers, what about the Hurricanes? Hanifin is a hometown boy and would benefit immensely from the tutelage of Zdeno Chara.
What do think Oilers fans? How would you acquire Dougie Hamilton? Let me know in the comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @beerleagueheroe or on Facebook!
If you’ve got an extra minute, head over to the Beer League Heroes t-shirt shop and pick one up today. Every dollar received helps keep this beer swigging ship afloat. Thanks!
-BLH
You said you would make that deal quickly. Do you mean if you were the Oilers or.if you were the Bruins?
Thanks for reading Matt!
I’d be speaking on behalf of the Oilers. I think the Bruins would have to have a deal in place for that top 5 pick in order to select Hanifin, or even Provorov when I think about it now, for them to move as fast as the Oilers would.
What is Klefbom worth? I think he is more valuable to us then to other people. I cringe about losing Klefbom. Can we do it with draft picks instead? next years first? both seconds? please keep Klefbom and Nurse.
Thanks for reading nesral!
I also cringe about losing him but he’s a definitive top 4 dman in the NHL now. He showed last year he could handle the workload. And I can’t see Boston wanting more draft picks if they’re going to lose Hamilton now. Trust me, you want Hamilton. There’s a S-ton of left-handed shooters in the Oilers’ pipeline.
I’m alright with the trade a little steep with Klefbom in the deal but I would definitely not want Malcom subban. I know he’s developing but has been for what like 4 or 5 years now and still is horrendous
Thanks for reading T Maks!
I can see where you’re coming from with Subban but as we all know, it takes the longest for a goalie to develop and Subban still has some time to go before he’s labeled career AHLer.
Eberle + Schultz or (Marincin + 57rd pick 2015) = Hamilton + Erickson
Thanks for reading flyfish1168!
I don’t know how the Oilers are going to pawn off Schultz (and his upcoming contract renewal) and an AHL scratch for Hamilton and Eriksson. Eberle is fine but other teams are not going to want the Oilers castoffs. It’s plain and simple. The Oilers will have to stump up for Hamilton.
I like the deal in general, but something that hasn’t come up in a while is the buy out of Nikitin. This is a must in order to fix the problems the oilers are currently facing. I am unsure of the cap hit that goes with it but the oilers would be able to potentially lock in a better forward via free agency with the extra scratch.
Thanks for reading Dustin!
I can’t argue against that. Nikitin is a problem and getting rid of him should be in PC’s top 5 of things to do this summer. I wonder if they’re going to look at trading him. Sneak him in a deal and hold on to some cash as oppose to buying him out and paying him again next year.
Definitely not Klefbom. I would be starting the talks with Yakupov, Marincin, 16th, and if need be, next years 2nd. Then see if it needs to get to Eberle and next years 1st. An offer sheet of 7.3 mill would be next years 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. If Eberle and Klefbom were to be included in a deal , it would be almost cheaper to offer sheet him.
Or a blockbuster. Eberle, Yak, Marincin, 16th for Hamilton and Lucic.
Thanks for reading Anthony!
Why would Boston want Yakupov and Marincin? Given their histories and all. They’re going to want someone who can put the puck in the net. Someone they know and has a history of doing that at the NHL level. They’re going to want some defence to cover for Hamilton. Someone who can play the position the “Bruins” way. Remember the Boston Bruins old boys club is running the show now.
Your understanding of offer sheets needs some work.
You’re right that it could be only a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd if Hamilton gets 7.3M per year, but that’s only if the contract is FOR 5 YEARS OR LESS. If the contract is for more than 5 years, then you have to average out the total value over 5 years and then determine the picks based on that. So if he gets 7.3M over 7 years, as is the more likely contract length, that’s 51.1M divided by 5 years = 10.22M average salary, which means you’d have to give up 4 1sts.
Doesn’t sound like a good deal to me.
No thanks.
Klefbom/Eberle and #16 for Hamilton?
Seems like a bad business move to send them more than what signing him to an offer sheet would cost. Also why do we need to eat Bruin salary to deal away good young players?
Not sure I wouldn’t actually rather have Klefbom at under 5 million long term than Hamilton for over 7. I actually think Klefbom was pretty spectacular covering Schultz’s butt most of the year. Play him with a better Dman like Fayne and see what he can do. Hamilton has only played with better or equal to Fayne partners.
Thanks for reading Max!
I can dig what you’re saying but the value or right-handed top pairing defenders is top dollar. The offer-sheet idea, I’m not a huge fan of. What happens if the Oilers miss the playoffs and do well in the lottery again… The rules have changed. It’s time to go all-in now that McDavid is here.
I guess if I thought the Oilers were one top pairing right handed Defenseman away from being a cup contender I would give a top 6 forward and top 4 defenseman and eat salary to make it happen.
Hate the offer sheet or not it is a better business decision. Deal with the McDavid/RNH/Yak/Draisaitl offer sheets when they happen…not years in advance.
The fact is Dougie Hamilton doesn’t “fix” everything the Oilers need and what is his play going to look like in EDM. Certainly going to look different paired with an inferior partner than what he was playing with in Boston
I wonder if Boston would deal Hamilton for Yakupov, Klefbom, and #16.
That’s 3 first rounders, including a #1 overall pick, and they save at least 3M in cap space for this year. I know Yak is a far cry from Eberle, and it might seem like offloading your castoffs, but he’s also a great bet to bounce back and has a steal of a contract right now, just when Boston needs it.
As Edmonton, I’d do that deal.
Why not Marincin instead of Klefboom, our 16th pick and maybe throw in a prospect currently in the system. I too cringe when someone puts Klefboom in the mix. Their going to get a decent player at 16 with draft being so deep with talent this year. But what do I know, it’s probably a good idea I’m not a GM.
Make it happen.. What ever cost.. I am very excited to get McDavid !! But if we could get Stud Dmen Like Dougie… Wow.. I am very impressed…
My feeling is, No Trade!!
Why give up great assets in Eberle &
Klefbom when we can submit an offer sheet for Dougie that will blow his socks off!! I agree, it would be fantastic to add
a guy like him to our young and talented
studs, but at what cost?
Thanks for reading AJ!
I think because the Oilers will run into cap issues down the road and will be forced behind the 8-ball. Boston brass aren’t dumb. They’ll need their socks blown off in order to move him. And we can’t have our cake and eat it too. Some of the cake has to be passed around to the other guests at the party.