Coming from an Edmonton Oilers point of view, BLH provides you with excerpts from the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation from all of the internet’s best sites including Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, The Athletic, TSN and more!
From NHL Trade Talk
6 Top-Six Wingers the Oilers Should Target This Offseason
No. 6: Mike Hoffman – He didn’t have a bad year (17 goals and 36 points), but it wasn’t a ‘see, I told you so’ kind of season. The Oilers could do a lot worse than one year of Hoffman trying to get an ideal center to help him pot 30 goals. At 31, this offseason is may be one of his last shots at landing a decent extension that will keep him somewhere for a few seasons.
BLH’s Thoughts: Hmmm, his numbers are starting to decline. Logic dictates that his salary demands should as well. Could Edmonton get this guy for something closer to $3M and would they want a player who effectively only plays in the offensive zone and on the PP?
No. 5: Dylan Strome – Strome is both a fit as a third-line center and a potential winger. That makes him an interesting option if the Blackhawks are looking to sell and don’t mind selling low.
BLH’s Thoughts: I’m kinda on the fence here. Strome is far too young to be heading to another team so soon. He’s going to end up being the next Alex Galchenyuk if he’s not careful.
No. 4: Zach Hyman – I would rank Hyman a lot higher because he’s an incredibly ideal fit… In the first couple of seasons, it might not feel like it’s that bad a deal, but if Hyman gets $6 million x six years, what are the chances that the team who signs him to that deal look back and wonder why they handcuffed themselves.
BLH’s Thoughts: If the Oilers are looking for players who give 100% and score 30-40pts a year, surely there are cheaper options, no? Don’t get me wrong but I do feel a bit burnt by the Milan Lucic drama and despite Hyman actually being able to skate well, what’s he going to look like in year 4-6 of the deal he’s about to sign with someone?
No. 3: Jake DeBrusk – He’s younger, he’s got something to prove and he’s a homegrown kid whose name is mentioned about as often with the Oilers as it is he’ll be potentially traded by the Bruins. With the right linemates, he has the potential to explode offensively. The Oilers would need to sign him if they trade for him, so that should be taken into account.
BLH’s Thoughts: DeBrusk would be a fantastic winger for either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl because he’s got a knack for finding the soft ice in the slot. Also, a motivated Jake DeBrusk is not someone I’d like to be playing against given his bloodline…
No. 2: Brandon Saad – Saad is a guaranteed 20-goal guy, which is exactly what the Oilers need. Imagine the Oilers acquiring James Neal three seasons before they did. That would have been a great trade for Edmonton because Neal was still effective and scoring at a regular clip for multiple teams.
BLH’s Thoughts: I’ve written about Saad before because I think his speed and championship experience would be a massive help in the post-season for the Oilers and unlike Neal, this guy’s boots don’t look like they’re leaving him anytime soon.
No. 1: Tomas Tatar – This is a player that will likely leave Montreal because there’s no future there for him. When he does, this is also a player who will have something to prove. Coming off a $5.3 million contract, Tatar knows he’s taking a huge pay cut. If Tatar does what Tyson Barrie did last season, he might sign a one-year deal at around $3 million and do everything in his power to knock it out of the park in a contract year.
BLH’s Thoughts: A couple of things here, there’s a history between Tatar and Ken Holland that goes back to their days in Detroit and Bob Stauffer has often spoken about a scenario where Tatar comes to the Oilers because he sees a “Tyson Barrie” type of situation where he could sign a 1yr deal to inflate his numbers and then try to score big next summer.
Tatar’s agent is Rich Winter who also reps Slater Koekkoek and a host of other Detroit Red Wings or former Detroit Red Wings. Meaning, there’s a relationship there with the agent and Ken Holland.
Personally, I dig the idea of Tatar in the top-six because he’s going to definitely help you in the regular season with regards to 5×5 goal scoring.
That said, Tatar’s kryptonite to date has been scoring in the post-season. I’d love to hear how that could be sorted out.
Give us a follow on the socials!
- Youtube: Beer League Heroes Channel
- Twitter: @beerleagueheroe
- Instagram: @beerleagueheroes
- Facebook: Beer League Heroes
