Edmonton Oilers Trade Talk: “Oilers issues run deeper than goaltending… that right-shot D is a priority.” Says Dreger

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Sportsnet

Dave Tippett’s fate with Oilers ironically sealed by poor defensive play

In a 3-2 league, Connor McDavid’s team prefers to play 5-4 hockey. But lately, the other team gets to four just fine, while Edmonton doesn’t get to five very often at all.
…what does it mean when a coach who has a proven track record of building a stout defensive spine into previous teams comes to Edmonton, and in three years has a team that gives up Grade A chances like Oprah gives out cars?
…did a roster that could not — or would not — accept anything other than star-driven, stats-hungry hockey finally, stubbornly stop listening?
Somehow under Tippett, Edmonton never found a way out of being an easy team to play against.

"He definitely had it from above. There's no way he didn't have pressure from above." Friedman on Holland

— Ross Creek Nasty (@akaRCN) February 10, 2022

On Darnell Nurse

He’s busy trying to score points, rather than leading his team by making Edmonton’s slot a punishing place to stand.
It’s time to grow up, become the leader he can be, and set the template here.

On Connor McDavid

Connor McDavid uses his surreal speed to fly the zone and scorer highlight-reel goals, but not often enough to prevent chances in his own zone.
He’s great with the puck, but without it McDavid — who has spoken of his need to defend better, and has made strides — still couldn’t carry Sid Crosby’s equipment bag.

On Leon Draisaitl

We’re not in the room, so we don’t know for sure. But when a team is this streaky, we believe the top players (like Draisaitl) should be able to stabilize the effort. To achieve buy-in. To bring players like Jesse Puljujarvi — who has been entirely lost for two months — back into the fold.

On Pulju, Yamo, Barrie, and Kassian

Deadweight here for new coach Jay Woodcroft to figure out. Useful players who have absolutely forgotten how to help this team…

The Solution

If the best players don’t lead the change — buying in on trying to win a Stanley Cup, not a bunch of Harts and Art Ross’s — it’s only a matter of time until we’re writing this same column again.

BLH’s Thoughts: Man, tell us how you really feel about the team, Spec.

Spector isn’t the only guy to lay blame at the feet of Edmonton’s leadership core. Rob Tychkowski also said this in his column today,

“this isn’t a coaching problem. There are issues higher up the organizational food chain and in the dressing room that need to be sorted out.”

Issues in the dressing room? Surely he’s referring to the roster construction, but then again, I got a message late last night that said there was a massive blow up between a key member of Edmonton’s leadership team and Dave Tippett after the game… That’ll never be corroborated publicly of course, but would it really be that hard to believe considering the circumstances?

https://twitter.com/Michael_Traikos/status/1491813058393559054

I’m very much behind the idea of McDavid and Leon using their strengths to help out the team in other ways but, and I’ve said this before, until Edmonton’s wingers are capable of scoring more consistently, who’s going to pick up the slack in the production department?

I don’t think it’s debatable that the Edmonton Oilers need to find a way to become more difficult to play against. It has to be addressed sooner than later, especially if the playoffs come to fruition this year.

Something that Jason Gregor brought up on his show yesterday was that the Oilers have had 5v5 scoring problems for ten years (or more) and it’s never been solved.

Well, when you build a team around elite scoring forwards, you don’t address the thing that rewards you with good 5v5 numbers, defense and goaltending!

Fack me! It’s not bloody rocket science here. The spine of the team is where you build your team the strongest!

So, on forward, Edmonton has 97-29-93 down the middle on forward and I think we can add 71 to that now. I think that is about as strong as you’re going to get under the salary cap right there, no need to alter that.

The wings as it stands right now are shooting blanks but very competitive. I like that there’s a bit of fight on the flanks. I’d like more, mind you, and there’s not too much overpayment there aside from 44 and maybe 8 if you’re a nitpicker, but I think there’s room to be fluid here if some cap room needs to be opened up.

Their backend is a work in progress, but they’ve got three legit top-four options this year in 25, 5, and 2, with 75 on his way. Normally 22 would be, but he’s now Edmonton’s version of Shayne Gostisbehere and I would think that if Holland can pick up a right-shot defender with some bite and size, Barrie could (should) be headed out of town.

The defense needs another top-four shutdown defender (maybe two) this year and also to carry on after Keith’s deal ends. Is that guy Philip Broberg? Perhaps, but there’s also Markus Niemelainen (who’s older) and Dmiri Samorukov. My preference would be an older player in his late 20s/early 30s and on the right side. Somebody like Scott Mayfield from the Islanders would be perfect, in my opinion, and he’s a UFA in the summer of ’23.

Mayfield doesn’t give two flying farts who’s coming down his side or is hanging around his net, they’re getting hit. He also sticks up for his teammates and there’s not near as much on the Oilers as there needs to be. This is the kind of throwback player I’d offer a valuable asset for.

The club also needs one bonafide starting goalie who’s age appropriate. I’m talking about a guy who can start 55 games a year or more and is in his late 20s/early 30s.

I don’t know if Ville Husso (STL) is that guy considering he’s been a backup to date, but he’s really blossoming this year. Perhaps he could be another Cam Talbot-type?

Blame Holland all you want for missing out on Kuemper and Markstrom but it takes two to tango. He had a deal lined up for Kuemper but got submarined by Colorado when Seattle signed Grubauer and Markstrom wanted more money. Can’t blame Holland for any of that, but you can be sure he won’t be fooled for a third consecutive season. The Oilers will have a proper netminder in 2022/23, this I’m very confident of.

So just to put it out there (for myself mainly), if Holland goes big boy shopping, my three wants are:

(G) Ville Husso (STL) – UFA

(RHD) Scott Mayfield (NYI) – One year after this @$1.4M

(LW/C) Andrew Copp (WPG) – UFA

The Hockey Writers

3 Trade Destinations for Tyson Barrie

Winnipeg Jets

The first of the three possible destinations is the Winnipeg Jets. They are still feeling the effects of the sudden departure of Dustin Byfuglien years ago and lack a true power-play specialist on the back end.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes are a team that likes to take advantage of players that could be seen as outcasts and fit them into their system and become loved by the fans.
The Hurricanes only have three defencemen signed after this season with DeAngelo and Ethan Bear as RFAs and Ian Cole and Brendan Smith as unrestricted free agents (UFA).

PIttsburgh Penguins

Another team that makes sense is the Pittsburgh Penguins, but only if Kris Letang tests free agency.
What makes Barrie a great candidate is he would pick up the power-play duties as well as only be under contract for two more seasons at a much cheaper price. In a few seasons, if the Penguins are then looking to head towards a rebuild with their stars aging, they can easily cut ties with Barrie then and transition that way.

BLH’s Thoughts: Maybe Pittsburgh is an option for Barrie, but Carolina and Winnipeg are pretty sorted on the backend for players in that echelon.

I’ll keep saying it until it happens, but Seattle makes too much sense for me and it’s a market where Barrie would be willing to go to. He could share PP duties with Vince Dunn.

Maybe Arizona would take him on. I’m curious if LA would have him. Could Dallas look at him if Klingberg is moved on.

Speaking of Klingberg, if the Oilers really wanted to take a massive step in the right direction with their defense, it’d cost a lot mind you, a Nurse/Klingberg top-pair would be enormously good for Edmonton. But, like I said, it’d cost a lot and I’m not certain the Oilers could make that happen. Then again, somehow Vegas found a way to get Jack Eichel…

https://twitter.com/NHL_Watcher/status/1491918677041725459

Spector’s Hockey

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports a source suggesting Jack Eichel could make his debut with the Vegas Golden Knights within the next couple of weeks.
LAS VEGAS SUN: Danny Webster lists forwards Reilly Smith and Evgenii Dadonov and goaltender Laurent Brossoit as possible trade candidates.
VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Owen Krepps cites Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman discussing possible Vegas trade options. Friedman suggested Smith and Mattias Janmark while Marek proposed William Karlsson.
THE DENVER POST: Mike Chambers cites Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman telling NHL Network that he considers the Colorado Avalanche as a perfect fit for Claude Giroux.
TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving could be in the market for secondary scoring before the March 21 trade deadline. He also thinks the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens could be trade partners to address that need. A lot of the top contenders are seeking defensemen, which could give the Flames an edge in the trade market.
Aaron Portzline reports Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen could be busy at this year’s trade deadline. Pending UFA forward Max Domi is expected to be shopped and it seems center Jack Roslovic could be had for the right price.
- The Jackets have been shopping goaltender Joonas Korpisalo for some time but his play hasn’t done much to boost his trade value. They could listen to offers for forward Gustav Nyquist but might have to retain part of his $5.5 million cap hit through 2022-23.

Friedman on TJMS:

I think he offered like a 5th RD pick to Philly for Martin Jones, Philly wasn't doing that. I think that Korpisalo, I think that they were being asked for a couple of higher round picks, not a 1st, something Edmonton didn't want to do.

— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) February 10, 2022