Around The League 40: As we barrel towards 40 teams

[Stickpucker]

Depends. Are we signing one (or both I guess) as UFA because they want to win (i.e. not having to give up assets and cap hit not coming in quite at $15M or whatever they could get in UFA if they want the most $$$)? Or are we trading for one of them this deadline?

In the former case I think we'd be potential dynasty, honestly. Like Golden State Warriors after signing KD. But that's just not realistic, neither would take that much of a discount and I don't actually see either hitting UFA -- Oilers would never just let either walk for nothing, if they believed there's any chance of that they'd trade them first and the acquiring team would want a new deal. But in that dream world I do believe adding the best player in hockey (or 2nd best) to this current team and only subtracting (could trade for futures) let's say Orlov & Fast would result in a dynasty team.

In a trade scenario, we'd have to gut the roster of some pretty significant pieces and then allocate a ton of cap to one of those guys. Let's say a trade for McDavid looks like -- Svech, Kotkaniemi, Nikishin, 1st. Not even sure that gets it done for the Oilers but even if it would that's a hell of a lot to give up for 1 player no matter how good he is. It would be interesting and maybe in the short term if Necas/Jarvis/Turbo stepped up on the wing this could be an improvement but even then it would be a risk in the short term and a bigger risk in the long term. I think the amount we'd have to give up to realistically get a McDavid would be more of a downgrade than the upgrade of adding him.

What doesn't get talked about is the personalities.

I think there is a non zero risk someone like McDavid wouldn't buy into Rods system or be a team player. A lot of guys respect Rod and that's part of what works. Some of these big personalities are more suited for NY than Carolina.

 

[The Jerk Store]

What doesn't get talked about is the personalities.

I think there is a non zero risk someone like McDavid wouldn't buy into Rods system or be a team player. A lot of guys respect Rod and that's part of what works. Some of these big personalities are more suited for NY than Carolina.

I could see a Matthew Tkachuk being a better fit here than a Connor McDavid for this very reason.

 

[MinJaBen]

I could see a Matthew Tkachuk being a better fit here than a Conner McDavid for this very reason.

Guys like Tkachuk never become available.

 

[Daeavorn]

Man, looking at how desperate some of these canadian teams are getting, I wonder if we can really get something good out of them.

We still may move a dman if we can get them to overpay for one out of desperation.

 

[Stickpucker]

Man, looking at how desperate some of these canadian teams are getting, I wonder if we can really get something good out of them.

We still may move a dman if we can get them to overpay for one out of desperation.

I think they're more likely to patch the hole in the hull to win now than to sell.

If Edm, Calgary, or Toronto want to overpay for Pesce....have at it.

Buffalo should be a team that is looking to upgrade at D as well. Lots of cap space and close to being a playoff team with tons of young talent.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Man, looking at how desperate some of these canadian teams are getting, I wonder if we can really get something good out of them.

We still may move a dman if we can get them to overpay for one out of desperation.

Weegar would be my choice. One of the rare examples where a long-term contract signed at 29 looks like it will age relatively well. Likely will come for cheap, basically UFA price because few can swallow the contract in whole. I'd take him over Pesce, personally.

 

[spockBokk]

Watched some of the OTT-TOR game last night…specifically was interested in how Klingberg looked since the brain trust has been linked to him in year’s past. Woof.

Man, he looked awful. Choosing to trade for Burns over signing Klingberg a few summers ago was most certainly the right call, even if my idiot self did not approve of that move at the time. I wanted them to sign Klingberg. Shows how much I know.

 

[cptjeff]

I think they're more likely to patch the hole in the hull to win now than to sell.

If Edm, Calgary, or Toronto want to overpay for Pesce....have at it.

Buffalo should be a team that is looking to upgrade at D as well. Lots of cap space and close to being a playoff team with tons of young talent.

I'm rooting for Pesce for McDavid, just to see the kind of riots Edmonton would throw.

 

[MinJaBen]

I'm rooting for Pesce for McDavid, just to see the kind of riots Edmonton would throw.

You and Cirreli both.

 

[DaveG]

Watched some of the OTT-TOR game last night…specifically was interested in how Klingberg looked since the brain trust has been linked to him in year’s past. Woof.

Man, he looked awful. Choosing to trade for Burns over signing Klingberg a few summers ago was most certainly the right call, even if my idiot self did not approve of that move at the time. I wanted them to sign Klingberg. Shows how much I know.

Yep. I'll gladly take the L on that one as well. I thought he could thrive here, but he's so bad defensively he makes Tony seem like Denis Potvin by comparison.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Watched some of the OTT-TOR game last night…specifically was interested in how Klingberg looked since the brain trust has been linked to him in year’s past. Woof.

Man, he looked awful. Choosing to trade for Burns over signing Klingberg a few summers ago was most certainly the right call, even if my idiot self did not approve of that move at the time. I wanted them to sign Klingberg. Shows how much I know.

He does/did look awful. So did Giordano, but he has an excuse as age is catching up with him.

More importantly though, is TOR forwards refuse to buy into defensive hockey. As soon as there's a hint of possession, they fly the zone trying for a breakaway.

I guess the mentality is: "our goalies suck, our defense sucks, so we might as well try to outscore teams."

Nylander is such a stud though. He looks dangerous every time he's out there. Would love if there was some way we could get him, but I think Toronto would do everything they can to keep him.

 

[chaz4hockey]

He does/did look awful. So did Giordano, but he has an excuse as age is catching up with him.

More importantly though, is TOR forwards refuse to buy into defensive hockey. As soon as there's a hit of possession, they fly the zone trying for a breakaway.

I guess the mentality is: "our goalies suck, our defense sucks, so we might as well try to outscore teams."

Nylander is such a stud though. He looks dangerous every time he's out there. Would love if there was some way we could get him, but I think Toronto would do everything they can to keep him.

Can they afford him and maintain a reasonably good roster?

That’s the issue in Toronto until Tavares contract ages out in ‘25.

 

[cptjeff]

Can they afford him and maintain a reasonably good roster?

That’s the issue in Toronto until Tavares contract ages out in ‘25.

I don't think they can afford him at all, and I don't think he's gonna be happy hearing the numbers that contending teams that aren't the Leafs are willing to pay- and I think he got an inkling of that as he and his agent were trying to gauge the market for a sign and trade this summer. His play is to try and get that $12 mil out of Toronto, but I don't think they can ultimately sign that check, and I think he's gonna have to take substantially less elsewhere. Somebody will give him 10 mil, ain't like he'll starve, but he's careening to be the man out in free agency.

And really, if they spend that money right, Toronto will be better for it. Depth and defense. They need some.

 

[HisIceness]

6 goals scored in one period in Tampa, Bedard has two of them.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I'm rooting for Pesce for McDavid, just to see the kind of riots Edmonton would throw.

Just to throw some gasoline on the thread.

McDavid for Aho + Slavin

Do you do it?

 

[SlavinAway]

Just to throw some gasoline on the thread.

McDavid for Aho + Slavin

Do you do it?

No

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

Just to throw some gasoline on the thread.

McDavid for Aho + Slavin

Do you do it?

Edmonton needs to add a 4th in 2027 or something, but I like the framework here.

 

[MinJaBen]

Just to throw some gasoline on the thread.

McDavid for Aho + Slavin

Do you do it?

No.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Systems may matter with Klingberg in the same way that it does for TDA. Esa Lindell isn't exactly Slavin but he's still a really solid defensive defenseman. Toronto doesn't really have an equivalent to even a Lindell. Brodie, maybe, but he protects Reilly on the top pairing and is better on his off-hand. McCabe is decent defensively, but not on Slavin or Lindell's level.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Systems may matter with Klingberg in the same way that it does for TDA. Esa Lindell isn't exactly Slavin but he's still a really solid defensive defenseman. Toronto doesn't really have an equivalent to even a Lindell. Brodie, maybe, but he protects Reilly on the top pairing and is better on his off-hand. McCabe is decent defensively, but not on Slavin or Lindell's level.

Agree, TDA is our worst of 7 defensemen this year so Klingberg would also be the worst of 7.

 

[cptjeff]

Just to throw some gasoline on the thread.

McDavid for Aho + Slavin

Do you do it?

Nope.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Agree, TDA is our worst of 7 defensemen this year so Klingberg would also be the worst of 7.

I don't want our slow start this season to cloud my judgement too much. Our group of D is particularly loaded and there's still some debate over which is more important, the PP boost that TDA provides or the defensive stability that Chatfield provides. Seriously, our PP looks dangerous with TDA on it. I normally don't associate danger with the Canes' PP LMAO!

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Our group of D is particularly loaded, though. And there's still some debate over which is more important, the PP boost that TDA provides or the defensive stability that Chatfield provides. Seriously, our PP looks dangerous with TDA on it. I normally don't associate danger with the Canes' PP LMAO!

Ok, but that doesn't change that he's still our worst defenseman this year.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Ok, but that doesn't change that he's still our worst defenseman this year.

In terms of defense, sure. Overall value, though, is debatable. I was referring to the latter thought. We haven't had a power play look this good in a while, and I hope that Brindy doesn't break it.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

In terms of defense, sure. Overall value, though, is debatable. I was referring to the latter thought.

Is it? He's -7 5v5 with low TOI. Does his PP work, vs. someone else make up for that? I don't think we can conclude that.