This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!
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The Athletic
The Edmonton Oilers guide to saving an NHL Draft on just three picks
- “Holland would be wise to package the second-round selection (No. 56) in an effort to increase the number of picks for Edmonton this season.”
- “A great example of this kind of dealing down was delivered by Craig MacTavish in 2013. Edmonton’s then-GM dealt down twice and turned one pick into five…”
- “Edmonton sent away No. 37 for No. 83, No. 88, No. 94, No. 96 and No. 113, effectively giving the team five shots at a winning ticket.”
- “One other area the Oilers could take advantage of this year is “draft and follow” selections… A draft and follow pick is a very young player for the draft season and someone who may not have been deployed in a feature role.”
- “The Oilers would be wise to grab one or two picks at the end of the draft in an effort to increase the chances of landing future NHL players.”
- “The Tampa Bay Lightning have chosen players after selection No. 200 a total of 14 times since 2011… Names who have landed in the Lightning system include Ondrej Palat, Matthew Peca, Nikita Gusev, Joel Vermin and Samuel Walker — all of whom have played in the NHL.”
BLH’s Thoughts: If Holland could turn #56 into five more selections, I’d be all for that.
To be honest, I’m a big fan of this plan laid out by Lowetide. I can’t remember which GM told his scouting staff to swing hard at this year’s draft but that team won’t be the only one and that’ll leave some talent on the board in the later rounds. Plus, if it’s been working for Tampa, why not go ahead and copy it.
I think another plan might be to trade down but for picks in multiple drafts so that Edmonton could give themselves some more trade capital for the deadline.
The Athletic
5 Oilers assets that could have value in a trade this summer
- “The 2024 first-round selection is the Oilers’ most valuable trade piece outside the NHL at this time.”
- “Target: Inexpensive and substantial No. 2 right-winger or a second pairing (RH) defenceman, under control.”
- “Ryan McLeod is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, and that’s a sticky wicket for the team and player.”
- “Target: Inexpensive and substantial No. 2 right-winger or a second pairing (RH) defenceman, under control.”
- “…it’s possible a team will find Kailer Yamamoto an attractive trade option without a contract coming back, then a buyout is the play for management.”
- “Target: Buyout dollars used to procure No. 2 right winger (Jesper Fast, Ivan Barbashev) or a second pairing (RH) defenceman in free agency.”
- “Edmonton has some cap issues, and if Kostin (who is arbitration eligible) takes an aggressive approach to his next contract, Oilers management may decide to shop him.”
- “Ceci, at $3.25 million, would be an easy contract to trade to a team that needed a righty defender who could play second-pairing minutes.”
- “Target: Replacement for Ceci on the second pairing.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Is Nugent-Hopkins a possible trade asset? Brett Kulak? Dylan Holloway? Philip Broberg? What about Evan Bouchard?
I think all of those players could be moved in the right deal if Ken Holland were presented with something he feels would jettison this club into the top three or four teams in the league. Although, I’ll add the chances are quite minimal those players I named above are dealt, but never zero.
I don’t think McLeod and/or Kostin will try and squeeze Holland this summer. That’s never a good plan when you’ve basically got a lineup spot guaranteed on a Cup contender.
Just as an aside, do you think it would be smarter to bring in a veteran RHD to play on the 3rd pairing in order to slow role Vincent Desharnais a bit? I think he’s not far from hitting his ceiling as an NHL dman but I would prefer to see him utilized in a more specialty role. Maybe bring him in when a chippy game is expected or on long road trips. Is that too much?
Trade Rumors
Spector’s Hockey
- (Connor) Hellebuyck projects to be the Jets’ best trade chip as he could fetch a significant return if they rebuild or intend to retool on the fly. Possible trade destinations could include the Los Angeles Kings, Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings.
- From the Kings, the Jets could look at Sean Durzi and Gabe Vilardi along with prospects like defenseman Brandt Clarke and Francesco Pinelli.
- Peyton Krebs, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and prospect Matthew Savoie or a first-round pick could be the Jets’ asking price from the Sabres.
- The Jets could want Shane Pinto as part of the return from the Senators.
- Jesper Bratt of the Devils is a great player but the winger wouldn’t help the Jets down the middle.
- As for the Wings, maybe an offer of prospect center Marco Kasper, goalie Ville Husso and the ninth-overall pick in this year’s draft might entice the Jets to listen.
- Turning to Scheifele, he could be the hardest player for Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff to part with. The Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings and Calgary Flames are Billeck’s suggested trade partners.
- He suggested pursuing defenseman Brandon Carlo and winger Jake DeBrusk from the Bruins…
- Seth Jarvis or Martin Necas and Brett Pesce from the Hurricanes…
- Prospect center Marco Kasper or the 2023 ninth-overall pick from the Red Wings
- Perhaps a straight-up swap of Elias Lindholm with the Flames.
- He suggested pursuing defenseman Brandon Carlo and winger Jake DeBrusk from the Bruins…
BLH’s Thoughts: So there you go Oilers fans. If you’re thinking Edmonton can compete with some of the other prospect-heavy teams at the deadline, you might be mistaken.
For shits and giggles, what could the Oilers offer to entice the Jets to send them Hellebucyk or Scheifele?
- For Hellebuyck: Skinner, Bouchard, Holloway, and a first rounder.
Yuck… But just going off of what was suggested, the Oilers can offer a handful of players who are close to NHL ready or already NHL players. LA could compete with them there but Edmonton’s kids that I threw out there have a higher ceiling in my opinion.
- For Scheifele: Nuge? Bouchard, Holloway, and Bourgault?
If the goal for Winnipeg is to get a bona fide player or players back, Nuge definitely fits the bill unless the plan is to sit low in the standings for a little while and pool up some prospects while still appearing to be competitive. But honestly, would you do that trade? RNH is on a sweetheart long-term deal and Scheifele isn’t that much better.
Either way, I reckon for the Oilers to acquire one of the Jets’ big boys it’ll take a miracle. Ken Holland isn’t going to blow things up for one or two players and besides, the roster is in pretty good shape as we approach the end of the flat cap era, right? All he has to do is shore up the bottom six forwards and add another impact defender. Then, Bob’s your uncle.
