Edmonton Oilers Post Trade Deadline Talk: Trades that Didn’t Happen and Kulak/Brassard Deals Reviewed

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Lowetide.ca

THOUGHTS ON THE DEADLINE

I like the Brett Kulak trade, for me this player was one of few on the board who could have helped Edmonton down the stretch. He can skate, is good in coverage, and I suspect he’ll play second pair often over the rest of the season. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him signed for next season.
Derick Brassard still has some skill left and I expect the Oilers will ask him to center a fourth line that outscores, even if it’s just a little. He might platoon with Josh Archibald on that fourth line and of course he won’t be an everyday player.
I can’t say Ken Holland did well, because the Oilers didn’t upgrade in goal. I can say he helped his team get better, and that’s a good thing.
The payment for Kulak was an overpay, but there was cap involved and Edmonton didn’t have a clean 2022 pick to offer.

BLH’s Thoughts: Personally, I was a little miffed that Holland couldn’t find a way to bring in some more beef for the post-season. I saw Josh Brown and Zach Sanford (OTT) get moved for mid-round picks and that’s a pair of players I would’ve liked to have seen in Oilers silks for this run.

I will say this though, there was a flutter of optimism when Minnesota picked up Fleury that Edmonton might be able to grab Kahkonen but SJ grabbed him instead.

(Man, did Bill Guerin have himself a deadline or what? Hope he can do something about his team’s 5v5 goals against though… Not sure if Deslauriers and Middleton will be able to bring that down enough. Fleury might help but I think the net is Talbot’s until he shows it’s not and I might not be in the majority, but I think he lost the Sturm/Jost deal. Sturm is a very underrated checker who’ll help Colorado tremendously.)

Now, I totally understand why Holland didn’t do anything with the goaltending. He believes in this group when they’re healthy and he’s being proven right.

Since February 1st, Mikko Koskinen has the 12th best SV% (.912) in the entire league for goalies who’ve played 10 games in that span. John Gibson has the worst SV% (.854) and Mike Smith put up a .894 SV%.

So we come back to LT’s comment on did Holland do well or not? I think he did considering what he had to work with. If your GM improves the team, how can that not be considering a job well done?

He got creative by getting both Montreal and Philly to eat salary on those trades and my opinion on Kulak is that the Oilers were looking for a defenseman that could dovetail with Bouchard and/or Barrie. Meaning, help cleanup some of the chaos when they’re on the ice. Charlie Huddy to Paul Coffey, if you will.

I don’t know a lot about Kulak, so I’m not going to comment on him as a player, but color me shocked when it was announced another Gerry Johannson client made his way to Edmonton… Johannson is based in Edmonton if you didn’t know from all the times Bob Stauffer has dropped his buddy’s name over the years.

With Brassard, the Oilers have been in on him for years and now they finally got him. He’ll play in Archibald’s spot when Edmonton is out of Alberta but I’m not sure what’s going to happen when the Oilers play at home. Do you think Woodcroft will play Brassard over Brad Malone and split up that “identity” line?

I’ll try to post more info on Kulak and Brassard from other publications below and in other posts this week.

All-in-all though, Ken Holland is going to let this group show what it’s got this year and if last night’s game against Colorado is any indication, they could be a bad matchup for anybody lining up opposite to them in the playoffs this year. I would’ve liked more muscle, but the post-season experience that the Oilers added yesterday is very intriguing. I’m excited to see how these boys do from here on out.

““I couldn’t do some of those things,” said Holland. “We weren’t in any position to add three, four, five and six million dollars to our payroll at the deadline. We’ll see where we’re at a year from now.” – Ken Holland

That quote should have fans excited.

Oilersnation

Edmonton Oilers acquire Derick Brassard from Philadelphia Flyers

With him on the ice at 5×5, the Flyers controlled 45.55 percent of the shot attempts, 66.67 percent of the goals scored and 45.95 percent of the expected goal share. Brassard’s PDO is significantly inflated at 106.9, suggesting his results are well above where they should be.
According to hockeyviz.com, while he contributes offence at an 11 percent below league average, he provides defence at a whopping eight percent below league average. That’s significant value in his own zone.
This year he’s won 51.3 percent of his draws and carries a career average of 48.7.

Edmonton Oilers acquire defenceman Brett Kulak for William Lagesson, 2nd round pick

With him on the ice at 5×5, the Habs controlled 49.12 percent of the shot attempts, 43.21 percent of the goals scored and 49.38 percent of the expected goal share. Kulak carries a 97.4 PDO that has been deflated by a low on-ice save percentage of 89.52 — a sign that his underlying numbers could improve.
According to hockeyviz.com, Kulak’s strength largely comes in the defensive zone. While offensively he contributes at a three-percent rate below league average, he contributes defence at a five percent rate above league average.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug5TZItGbZI&t=14s

BLH’s Thoughts: Let’s see how the metrics for these two veterans go when they’re playing for a better team as opposed to one of the league’s bottom feeders. Some guys thrive when they feel like they’re counted on a bit more and some players shrink when they’re only a bit player on a good team.

In theory, we should see a spike in production from both. To what degree, I’ve not the foggiest, but I hope the experience Brassard and Kulak have from their runs to the Cup final come in handy for the likes of McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nurse.

Trade Rumors

Spector’s Hockey: There was a rumor before yesterday’s trade deadline linking (Jake) Allen to the Edmonton Oilers. Maybe he’ll be moved in the offseason if Hughes gets a suitable offer.
- Nick Goss also mentioned DeBrusk’s new contract in his review of the Bruins’ failed efforts to land a notable forward before the trade deadline. He suggested the streaky winger’s new contract could make it easier to move him in the offseason, “but is anyone confident his performance will improve come playoff time?”
- Ethan Sears reports Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello decided not to move Semyon Varlamov at the trade deadline based on the goaltender’s play and the growth of young starter Ilya Sorokin.
The Hockey Writers: Pierre LeBrun noted during Sunday’s TSN Insider Trading segment that the Calgary Flames did actually look into reacquiring Mark Giordano before the defenseman was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. But, the Flames got clarification of little known rule in the CBA that they could not re-acquire Giordano from Seattle and have Seattle retain any salary or any of the cap hit in that trade. In fact, they couldn’t involve a third team to help either.
NHLRumors.com: Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Addams said that defenseman Colin Miller’s injury impacted his trade value.
- Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen on if teams were calling looking to get some salary cap relief: “Not so many. I mean we could have brokered a deal with our cap space if the offer was right.”
- Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeny on not trading forward Jake DeBrusk: “We’re going to need Jake. He’s an important part of our hockey club, and we want him to feel that way.”